novelraw Chapter 8: 7th Company
Chapter 8: 7th Company
As the Company Commander of the 7th Company, Everich, steadily advanced alongside his warriors, the path ahead looked like an immense, hopelessly entangled metallic web.
Meanwhile, the giant obsidian statues in the distance resembled looming, slumbering predators.
When the Company Commander charged to the end of the passage and arrived at the expansive hall beyond, the putrid stench of tainted blood wafted over from the slaughterhouse, drifting into his intake grilles. A battle had clearly taken place here; fragments of Power Armor and severed limbs were scattered all over the ground.
Just as Everich became certain they had not been discovered, a squad of Immortals wielding Gauss Rifles appeared in front of them, blocking their path.
In an instant, deep green flashes illuminated the semi-dark passage.
Yaroc, the Standard Bearer pressed right up alongside Everich, was struck twice in the chest by Gauss fire. The immense energy tore open his armor, and blood sprayed outward.
The Standard Bearer contorted and fell to the ground, his primary heart and secondary heart entirely ruptured.
"Combat formation."
Everich extended his hand to support the company banner, handing it over to the Adjutant beside him.
Using the complex frameworks as cover on both sides, while the Space Marines attempted to close the distance between them and the enemy to seize the advantage, a scorpion-shaped Necron vehicle suddenly rose from the ground and fired its main cannon.Boom!
A scorching pillar of fire rushed into the air, just like an ink stain in water.
At the edge of the shockwave, three Space Marines were flung away by the force of the impact, smashing fiercely against the metallic bulkheads to the side. The bulkheads did not yield to the sudden, massive impact of shattered flesh and Adamantium.
Even separated by his armor, Everich still felt the heat of the explosion blowing against his face, and his warning sensors shrieked frantically.
He staggered but still managed to remain standing, roaring as he commanded the charge.
"For the Emperor."
When the Second Company Commander, Pyriser, heard the sound of explosions coming from the west side and saw the billowing thick smoke and flames in the sky, he was in the midst of sneaking close via a hidden passage.
They had approached one of the energy nodes of the World Engine, but a dense wall of darkness filled the Space Marines' line of sight.
"Everich, report,"
Chapter Master Amulad's voice came through the helmet's communications array. He had noticed a distinct heat signature suddenly appear on the tactical display screen.
"I am afraid we have already been discovered, Chapter Master."
"Gather your forces and advance to the energy node."
"As you command, Chapter Master."
After Everich finished replying, he ordered his combat squad to swiftly disengage from the battlefield. Navigating through a labyrinth-like expanse of conduits, he led them toward the central passage where he was located, converging with the other squads he was able to contact.
As they advanced, Everich rode Point. The shadows cast by the massive platforms overlooking the surface enveloped everyone.
Out of instinct, he raised his head to look up, seeing a row of Xenos holding Gauss Rifles pointing down at them.
In the blink of an eye, disintegrator beams assaulted them like raindrops.
Everich rolled to take cover beneath the shadow of a statue.
Another Adjutant of the company, Gerris, was distracted, resulting in a sliver of sluggishness. He paid the price for his laxity. A scorching beam blew a hole open in his torso, roasting the Space Marine alive inside his armor.
Accompanied by a loud clanging sound, he fell to the ground.
Everich responded with the roaring counterattack of his Bolt Pistol. As the statues around him were torn to shreds, he caught a glimpse of the targets situated upon a notched main support beam.
Under his lead, the remaining Space Marines raised their Storm Shields, evading the enemy's firepower while performing a flanking maneuver.
Everich pressed himself tightly against the base of the nearest platform and then looked around, weighing the terrain and how he would lead them to traverse the remaining distance to the energy node.
Several narrow passages were formed between the walls and the bases. Above them were observation platforms supported by metallic struts. In the distance lay anti-aircraft firepower arrayed upon ringed frameworks, defensive turrets, and clusters of sensor probes.
As the firepower of Bolters continued to suppress them, Everich drew back his body and bumped against the rock wall.
"Company Commander, we are being ambushed."
A warrior shouted over the vox array, trying his hardest to overcome the cacophonous environment. Even though he was roaring, his tone still seemed extremely calm.
After the message was sent out, there was a momentary pause, and then an indistinct voice cut in.
"Support is on the way."
The brief reply swiftly vanished. Everich could only vaguely discern that this might be Soshyan's voice.
After the second volley of return fire, a string of relatively small explosions swept across the observation platform, sending fragments spraying in all directions like a shower.
A tactical squad rushed over to provide support.
Everich stood up and roared a command before the thick smoke produced by the explosions could dissipate.
"Don't give them time to react!
Take them out!
Take them out right now!"
The Astartes broke from cover and began their charge, leaving the dead behind them.
Two hundred Necrons with stiff pacing formed into a line, emerging from several passages, and immediately began a counter-charge.
"Fire!"
As soon as Everich roared, he immediately felt the blast wave of the Bolter volley fired by the warriors obeying orders behind him.
The effect of the volley was brutal. Rows of Xenos fell under the fierce assault, their corpses pitching headfirst into their kin, twitching and spinning under the strikes of the bolts.
Spare parts flew off in all directions, and the wreckage piled up like sandbags, tripping up the Xenos following closely behind.
This was not a completely one-sided attack; there were similarly Space Marines killed in action under the enemy's returning firepower. However, the stringently disciplined Astartes drew their melee weapons before the first batch of cannon fodder drew close.
An injured, filth-covered Necron resembling a tech-thrall arrived before Everich, holding a bladed Gauss Rifle.
The Company Commander greeted the opponent with his screaming Chainsword, slicing it into the Xenos's chest.
The Necron didn't die immediately, twisting against the weapon in Everich's hands.
Without the slightest pause, the Astartes flung the pathetic wretch away. The force was so immense that the wreckage spun through the air and crashed into its lowly kin.
The 7th Company Commander then hacked down a second assailant with a low, sweeping slash.
A squad leader of the tactical squad arrived at Everich's side with zeal and confidence, joining the chaotic melee.
As he charged into the crowd of enemies, severed limbs fell like rain. His face, unadorned by a helmet, displayed a terrifying type of fury.
Beyond the corner of his eye, Everich saw another brother-in-arms decapitate an enemy attempting to fire, stirring up even greater zeal among the warriors.
However, despite suffering a heartless, wanton slaughter, these lowly Xenos still stubbornly refused to rout. They were all soulless machines, utterly lacking the concept of fear, and they would not become enraged due to the deaths of their kin either.
"Drive them back!"
Everich roared through clenched teeth, smashing an enemy flat with a single strike from his Combat Shield.
But just as he was about to exert his utmost effort, he suddenly fell backwards. Two or three corpses lunged up from the ground and tackled him. These machines still possessed the ability to move even if only half a torso remained.
In the frenzy, he lost his shield, but while blindly fumbling amidst the sea of fallen corpses, he found the hilt of his Chainsword.
Flipping the switch of the Chainsword, Everich sliced open metal to free himself.
But very soon, countless other hands grabbed onto him, attempting to drag the Astartes down. When he tried to stand up, icy skeletal hands clawed at his armor.
This was not how humans fought, and it was also exceedingly rare for Xenos to willingly die in this manner, even when there was something worth doing so for.
This was exactly why Astartes were deadly warriors. They were the ultimate weapons against any enemies who would naturally be permeated by fear, because a Space Marine could control and drive out their own sense of fear.
But Necrons were another kind of enemy, a kind of enemy that even Space Marines were unable to rout.
"Damn it."
Everich spoke from between his teeth. He shook off a machine whose upper ribcage was the only thing remaining and stood up with the help of his battle brothers.
"Now we have to finish off all of them."
The company continued to advance under the encirclement of the Necrons, but a shot suddenly struck his flank. Everich felt a burst of violently erupting pain.
"Mmh."
He staggered, and this gave his enemies exactly the opening they needed.
A metallic Necron suddenly becoming chaotic lunged at the injured Astartes, and immediately following that, the assailant's weight dragged him down. Their icy-cold touch flooded his senses.
(End of Chapter)