Warzone: Borhelia - a mini-campaign on the planet Boreliah in the Esenie system!
The time had come. This was the big one. This battle could very well decide the fate of this planet. The Esenie sector was full of planets and the battles over it were numerous. But this planet; Esenie X, was about to die. Logan Grimnar shook his head silently as he pondered over the destiny that lay waiting. If they couldn’t halt the Tyranid assault, the Inquisition would almost certainly order a Terminatus and seal the fate for this war-ridden planet. It was a shame. Esenie X had prospered for years until the Tyranids arrived. The Imperium had much to gain to keep this rich planet alive, it mustn’t fall to the Xenos. Logan shook his head again. He was a long way from Fenris and he longed for his white, harsh home world. Still, in the service of the Emperor, who was he to see to his own needs? This world, Esenie X, and its inhabitants had homes too. He sighed and went to look over his maps again.
***
-They’re doing a pincer!
Ragnarus Quirinius of the Black Ravens stared at the dataslate as he studied the intelligence that poured in from several scout squads.
-They’re surrounding Point 42!
-You are right, Ragnarus. It seems that the remains of the force from Helvunica is teaming up with another force. I think we could be in for a real fight!
Logan Grimnar smiled and continued:
-But we’ll outsmart the xeno arses this time! We’ll do our own pincer! We still have time. Ragnarus, take command of your Black Ravens. Head full steam ahead to Point 42 from the east. I will lead my own force from the west. If we can clear the flanks and get our chaps in the streets we will have a good chance to stop the filth!
-Yes, lord Grimnar...
-I will address the guard. With their support we’ll stand a good chance to win this day. For Russ and Fenris!
-For Russ and Fenris!
Ragnarus left the tent and Logan looked a long time after him. There is something about the Black Ravens… he couldn’t put his finger on it… but it was something in their scent that told Grimnar that they had much in common… somehow they smelled like… wolves! Grimnar had to talk to Ragnarus later, if there was time, about this.
***
-Has the Inquisitor arrived?
Logan Grimnar studied at the maps and spoke at the same time, clearly showing his disregard for the Ordo Malleus.
-Yes, Lord Grimnar. But Eisenhorn had business elsewhere, pursuing the Chaos forces. He sent his apprentice instead.
The clerk was wary of the great wolf lord. Grimnar’s temper was widely known through the Imperium and more than once the bad temper went to rage when he was delivered bad news. Not that the Inquisition necessarily meant bad news, but it was an ongoing grudge between the Space Wolves and the Inquisition for centuries now and the Wolves made no attempt to hide its dislike for the Inquisitors.
-Oh, but send him in then!
Grimnar spoke through his teeth.
-Yes, my lord, but…
-What clerk!? What?
-It’s a a young girl, my lord…
The clerk dived out from the tent and at the same time showed the hooded figure, who were waiting outside, to enter it and then hurriedly moved away.
Inquisitor apprentice Ellen Ripley looked after the clerk and sighed. She was young, but her youth had fooled many people into thinking of her as an inexperienced newcomer. That was a mistake that many had paid dearly for. Ripley was young alright, but she was extremely dangerous to her enemies.
The tent was gloomy and damp. It could barely shut out the increasing cold outside and the smell was not very pleasant. In the middle was a great table with some maps laid out. From a kerosene lamp a dim light shone on the maps. Logan Grimnar stood with his back towards Ripley and looked at the maps but turned when he heard her approach. He raised an eyebrow when he laid eyes on her.
-Well, well, well… The Inquisition has sent a schoolgirl to do a mans job… tell me, girl, how are you supposed to… oumpf!
Grimnars voice was suddenly replaced by a groan as the Inquisitor apprentice rapidly moved around him and grabbed him from behind and locked his arms. Grimnar tried, but he couldn’t escape the tight grip. He was impressed and started to laugh. The grip tightened even more and his laughter stopped, as did his breathing.
-I am going to let you go now, Logan Grimnar of the Space Wolves. Please don’t waste any more precious time by questioning me as a soldier in the duty of the great Emperor. We have work to do!
Logan nodded with great difficulty. His face was turning blue. Ripley slowly let her grip go and stepped back. Logan panted but grinned. He liked this girl… or woman rather. Nobody had ever succeeded in holding him in such a tight grip. Nobody.
-You’re right apprentice! Very much right, indeed...
Logan said that with a long growled voice. He looked at her with a new interest. She looked like she was hard as nails and deadly as a Foolian frost-spider. That was a combination he could appreciate. He turned to the maps and gestured to her to join him.
***
The Land Raiders moved flat out on the road. A few kilometres away was Point 42. A nearly bombed out city, but with several vital installations intact. Point 42 was extremely important as shield generators of several cities was powered from here. Deep below. The shields at Helvunica had held, but the Tyranids had managed to destroy a lot of other shield generators. If more generators were destroyed by them, nothing would stop them from launching an all-out assault on this planet. And that would be the end of Esenie X and probably the whole Esenie sector.
Logan Grimnar watched as the Land Raiders and a Rhino headed for the city and then turned his attention to his right. The Tyranids advanced en masse. There were countless numbers of sinister looking bugs. He raised his Axe of Morkai and roared. The battle had begun! He moved out to meet the alien hordes with his trusted Wolf Guard and a pack of Grey Hunters. And Sigismund, a very old Dreadnought, was there for support, as was an enormous Baneblade.
-Attack, attack, attack!!!
Grimnar howled and rushed to meet the Tyranids head on.
***
Ragnarus Quirinius looked at his Black Ravens with pride and he felt the wolf inside him howl. He must talk to Logan Grimnar after the battle… if they survived. Ragnarus had to tell Grimnar about his Black Ravens, about the kindred between them and the Space Wolves. He didn’t want to hide it anymore! Why should he? The feral bloodlust was burning within him and he was as much as a Space Wolf as the great Grimnar himself! Yes, he would speak to Logan Grimnar… it would be like coming home… he hoped…
***
The Black Raven Master had deployed a sturdy defence with Whirlwinds, Vindicators and Predators. With support of the Imperial Guard tanks the Tyranids would suffer horrendous losses. Ragnarus turned to the Space Marine infantry;
-Brothers of the Black Raven. Today we stand before a menace. The Tyranids are after this planet. Will we let them? No! Today you, Black Ravens, are the hunters, not the prey. Today, you’ll fight as hunters. Today you’ll prevail as hunters!! Today you’ll howl as true hunters!!!
The Black Ravens cheered.
-Embark and make the Emperor proud! Let’s end this now!!
Ragnarus raised his trusted sword and pointed it towards Point 42. The Black Ravens embarked in a few minutes and were then on their way to glory.
***
Inquisitor Ripley moved slowly through the forest with her retinue. In front her, a squad of Grey Knights, the finest warriors of the Imperium, advanced almost silently. She could hear the battle rage as explosions, screams and howls found their way to her position. The forest opened up and before her was a terrifying sight. Gigantic creatures were rapidly advancing towards the Imperial Guard tanks, which held a line of defence in front of several squads of Space Wolves and guardsmen. One Leman Russ suddenly exploded as some slimy acid hit it. But a Baneblade poured shell after shell into the oncoming hordes. Ripley ordered the attack and the Grey Knights responded without a word. They charged right into a large creature with four huge claws. It bled already by the incoming fire it had received and was a easy prey for the silver terminators. Their Nemesis halberds cracked with blue lightning as they hacked the monstrous creature to pieces. Ripley took aim and shot more into another large monster when suddenly the ground started to shake. She screamed to the Grey Knights to silence the Tyranid artillery and then braced herself for whatever was about to come. She was never touched by fear, but when a gigantic Trygon erupted from beneath the ground she felt a kind of anxiety. Monstrous creatures emerged from everywhere! She risked a glance to the Point 42. The power pylons still held, but among the ruins she could see swarms of Genestaelers frantically tearing at everything in sight. Things looked bad. She turned to face the Trygon which advanced towards the Baneblade. She glimpsed something coming towards her and ducked at the very last tile. The acid projectile missed her by mere inches and hit a Leman Russ behind her. At the same time the Trygon crashed into the Baneblade. Its huge claws tore into the metal of the vehicle and somehow managed to hit the power core. The Baneblade shook and then exploded in huge fireball. The explosion engulfed Inquisitor Ripley, her retinue and a squad of Wolf Scouts. Ripley fell. As she hit the ground she could feel her blood pouring out of her side. Emperor, help us, was her last thought.
***
Logan ran like a young Blood Claw. He felt vigorous and alive. In front of him the Tyranids had split up. Hormagaunts, Termagaunts and Rippers were rapidly advancing towards him and his men. Behind the hordes lumbered a large Carnifex, its evil eyes looking straight at him.
-Come, my little darling! Give daddy-o a wet kiss!!
Logan yelled to the creature and mocked it with his long finger. Sigismund then let loose his arsenal at the Hormagaunts and a Wolf Guard sprayed the Termagaunts with a Heavy Flamer. The critters fell, but still came on. The Baneblade aimed at the Carnifex at hit it several times, crippling it, but it still strode forward, intent on killing the humans. Logan hurled himself into the Hormagaunts. Limbs flew all around and the Hormagaunts were wiped out. He continued to run into the rest of the Termagaunts and with the Wolf Guards aid succeeded in killing that mob too. Then Logan saw another Carnifex heading his way. There were two of them very close! He screamed for assistance and the Baneblade again roared into action, crippling one of the Carnifexes even more. A couple of Land Speeders arrived with their assault cannons firing shell after shell into the second monster. Both Carnifexes were now severely wounded. One fell as a result of the fire and the other one was charged by Logan. He jumped up on one huge claw and at the same time chopped of the other. He then continued up the Carnifex’ back and slashed his axe deep into the neck of the Carnifex. The Wolf Guard tore into legs of the Carnifex and it fell. Dead before hitting the ground. Logan jumped down to the ground and looked around. The whole flank was secure. Nothing had withstood his assault and the support of the Baneblade. His raised his axe once more and howled!
***
Ragnarus disembarked out of the Rhino. Things had to happen fast now. The moments just after disembarkation were the most dangerous as the slight disorientation could spell doom from stray bullets and such. Ragnarus was experienced though through countless battles. He quickly assessed the situation and ordered the troops forward. Things look grim in the city, he realized. There were Genestealers everywhere and behind them, advancing at an alarming rate, Hierodules, Carnifexes and countless hordes of lesser, but still dangerous, creatures followed. The Land Raiders would not make it. That was Ragnarus sure of and he knew that this battle really hung in the balance. He leapt over a tank trap and ordered his men to follow him. His aim was a large building, full of Genestealers. The assault terminators opened fire and killed droves of Genestealers. Then the assault went in, led by Ragnarus. He jumped to the right and left, dodging claws and teeth, while at the same time severing limbs from the Genestealers. After a couple of minutes of frenzied fighting only a Broodlord stood. Ragnarus took a deep breath and charged it. The Broodlord managed to dodge Ragnar and tore a deep hole in his side. Ragnarus lost his orientation for a second as the toxins from the Broodlord kicked in. His enhanced body steadied itself though, before the Broodlord could take advantage of its initial attack. Ragnarus parried a horrible blow from the monster with his sword and then threw himself on the ground, rolled under the Broodlord and swept his blade upwards in the groin of the giant Genestealer leader. The Broodlord looked astonished, Ragnarus thought, and then fell almost cut in half. He looked to his left and saw a couple of Black Raven squads work its way together through a sea of Genestealers. They had somehow managed to escape from the unfortunate Land Raiders which were on fire to the rear. It was close, really close. If Ragnarus and the remains of the Black Ravens and Space Wolves could reach the power station and seal it shut, the Tyranids would have a hard time opening it. He looked to his right and saw a Black Raven Captain desperately fighting for his life. It was too late for him to do anything. The Captain was torn apart by a huge monster along with his personal retinue.
-To the power station!! Go, go, go!!!
Ragnarus yelled and started to advance. One Black Raven squad nearly made it but were caught by a Carnifex and were almost wiped out to a man. Ragnarus hesitated. The opposition was too much. With luck the power station wouldn’t be breached yet, but the Black Ravens really had to withdraw before further casualties added up to much. He voxed Logan Grimnar and briefed the Space Wolf leader.
***
Logan Grimnar sighed. This battle was lost, there was no doubt about that. But the power station was still intact and the Genestealers in the city had vanished. He requested air support from the navy to try for a last cleansing. If the Tyranids suffered enough perhaps they would start to pull back. Perhaps. Logan Grimnar cursed and addressed the Imperial Navy Command.
***
Logan Grimnar and Ragnarus Quirinius entered the infirmary. On a bed lay Ellen Ripley, inquisitor of the Ordo Malleus. She was a sleep, but would survive. Logan looked at her and shook slowly on his head. She was really pretty, he thought.
-So, Ragnarus, what do you say? She fought like a cornered lioness, didn’t she?
-Oh, yes, Master Grimnar. She’s a tough one. Pity she’s a inquisitor, though!
Ragnarus reply was harsh… a little too blunt. Logan Grimnar looked astonished at Ragnarus, but said nothing about it. Instead he turned to Ellen;
-Tough she is, Ragnarus, tough she is!
-Oh, she’s awake, Master Grimnar…
-Did… we… win?
Her voice sounded broken and frail.
-Yes, Ellen, I think we did somehow… technically speaking. The Tyranids took us hard, but the power station still stands and the shields still work. I have no doubt they will be back, but we also gave them a sound beating… they will bide their time. Its up to us to disturb that now as much as we can...
-Good… then… we have… work to…
-I’m afraid you will not be involved in those matters, Ellen. Inquisitor Eisenhorn has requested your assistance in a mission up north. Looks like you’re up against the ruinous powers. They are on to something and he wants you there as soon as possible.
Logan Grimnar grinned as he spoke:
-I wish I could join you, Ellen, but I’m needed here...
-Best of luck… to you… then…
Ripley closed her eyes and fell asleep again.Logan and Ragnarus slowly left the infirmary and moved outside. A new day had broken and a new battle was surely to come. The battle at Point 42 was lost but the shields were still functioning. That was some kind of victory at least – the fate of this planet had to wait a little longer. Logan and Ragnarus walked in silence towards the makeshift bar to have a drink before it all began again
____________________________________
Written by Tony Melander (2010)