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Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Target Sighted!

    The Land Raider lumbers along the uneven terrain, a stark contrast to its escorts. The land speeder squadron breezes weightlessly over the trees and brush of the countryside. A pack of Fenrisian wolves dodge agilely over rocks and limbs.
    "I have him in my sights," calls in from the lead land speeder as it crests a low hill. Their prey is just reaching a bridge over a flowing river. "Good. The planetary defense is here. They should detain him long enough for us to catch him."
       The Wolf priest leading this hunting party calls back. "Scan for the commander of this force. I will speak to him. I will need rank and name so I can.... " His words cut off by the blast from a Leman Russ battle tank. 
       The blast struck the speeder, crashing it to the ground. Both pilots alive but still trapped in the suddenly grounded machine. The other speeders dart away before they are struck with shrapnel. Then shells and las blasts came from the other side of the river. A landing pad is located just off the banks. Several guardsmen come rushing out of the doors of the fire base. Lasguns bolts flare out at the wolves in the woods. The suddenness of this attack shocked the Space wolves.
     "Tap their comms!" barks the wolf priest. "I want to hear every command. And switch ours to  channel 113.4 so they can't tap ours!"
     One of the crewman calls back "We already got it. Transferring it to you directly."
    The chatter over the Imperial vox is terrible cacophony of orders and questions. "I thought they were on our side" and "slay the traitors!" Over all the noise, the commander is trying to regain control. Unfortunately for him, most of his orders just go unheard.
     The Space Wolves jump into action as the momentary stun of Imperial forces attacking them. Even the Fenrisian wolves know that it is time to hunt. The speeders fire off their multi meltas as they race toward the Leman Russ that took down one of theirs, The large wolves coming through the woods charge headlong at the guardsman coming from the bunker. While the massive troop transport lumbers forward with the renegade in its sight, the machine spirit fires off its multi melta.
     The renegade, being caught in the middle of this horrible fire fight rushes straight to the safety of the fire base.
     Then, not far from where the renegade is running, there is a bright explosion of blue smoke and pink fire and lightning. The flashes block out scanners of both sides. Displays in the tanks of both side momentarily show blue smoke curling up from a large blue eye. Out of the smoke in the field appear creatures borne of the Warp. Their pink skin and large claws and beaks tell the truth of what they really are. Horrors of Tzeentch. And in the middle of them all, an imposing horror, carrying staff and book, immediately starts chanting. The psychic connection to the warp very close as the gate starts closing. The daemons chant as they are still spilling on to the battlefield. Sorcerous blasts launching through the gate at the Space Wolves closest to them with little actual effect.
     The guardsman seem as surprised as the Space Wolves to the sudden appearance of warp born entities. Over the sudden silence of the vox only heard as a whisper was, "They have come. We are blessed!"
     Suddenly, all the noise and commands launch over the vox channels. The Wolf Priest smiles inwardly. The confusion tears the guard apart and will be easy pickings. Finally, the commanders orders to kill the wolves come through. Lasguns fire immediately, scattering the last of the Fenrisian wolves. The Punisher Leman Russ lets loose with every thing it had. Gatling cannon and heavy bolters launching shells at the Land Speeders, sending another to the ground helpless to aid their brothers further. The battle cannon on the other tank bombarding the land raider to little effect. The armor of the Astartes holding out from the ordinance.
    The Land Raider moves forward, Inferno cannons burning  the daemons, sending almost half of them back to the warp. Sky Claws jump out from where they were lurking to pounce on the heavy weapon squad. The guardsman fled without even defending their position. A squad of Grey Hunters also come into view to bring death to the "Imperials." Their holy bolters raining down on the daemons.
   Through all the clatter and explosions, curses and confusion, only one man moves with real purpose. The renegade charges toward the fire base. The real purpose of this location comes to light. Over the hills behind the Imperial base comes a Valkyrie gunship. Everyone there realizes in that moment the Valkyrie is landing at the base. They are coming for the marine.
    The defense force holding on a sword edge. The morale hanging by a thread. Shots are being fired wildly, barely hitting, let alone damaging. Psychic energy from the daemons causing more damage than the every shot fired. Yet, the daemons are still charged and only through their warp energy did any survive the onslaught. The Land Raider still rumbles forward and deposits the wolf priest's entourage on to the field. The priest  charges into the guardsman blocking their path to the lone marine. The soldiers that survived the initial charge fled the death that followed. The Wolves understand they don't need to eliminate the Imperial ranks. They just need them out of the way.
    The punisher battle tank is taken out of commission by a well placed melta bomb and a few well placed swings of a power fist. While on the other side of the field, the Blood Claws pulled the crew out of the Leman Russ battle tank.  
     With the guardsman effectively  neutralized the wolf priest charges his prey. Like a wolf pouncing on a grassland hare, the elder Wolf slashes and muscles into the renegade. The lone marine succumbs to the fury of the Space Wolves and as he goes down, the Valkyrie turns and flies away.
     Another day won for the Space Wolves. This win is only the beginning of a very long day. This traitor will yelp before the day is out. All of his secrets will be revealed. 
     

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