For the Emperor

[imetaspacemarineonce]

-1-


[In the 40th millenium, there is only war. So the fighting prompt is the FIRST prompt instead of the last one.

The enemy artillery has moved on, finally, past the trench the remains of the 203rd Cadian were hiding in, only to be replaced by the quieter but still alarming rumble of the enemy ground forces incoming. As soon as she was reasonable confident they weren't about to be shelled into goo, though, Mira sprang out of the dirt and shouted.]

Don't sleep all day! Up and at them, lads, before they get bored and go home!

[The Imperial Guardsmen that still could sprouted up from the ruins of the trench and charged, lasguns sending cracks of deadly light across the battlefield and into the oncoming enemy force.

Are you charging along side her? Are you charging AT her? Either way, prepare for a whole lot of people to die horribly.]

-2-


[After a battle, in the mess hall of the 203rd Cadian regiment's transport ship. Losses were over 40%, but the Imperial Guard are still in high spirits, somehow. Mira raises a toast to the survivors.]

Here's to the best damn regiment this side of Terra itself! Ten million orks, traitor legions, and we sent 'em both packing with sweat and blood and lasguns! You do the impossible every damn day so that humanity is still around tomorrow to look death in the face and spit in its eye!

[A hearty cheer comes back.]

-3-


[In some hypothetical RP. Mira is looking at something utterly mundane, let's say a park, in confusion.]

Who designed this? The sight lines are all blocked off by those trees! A whole Leman Russ could hide in there and we wouldn't be able to get a clear shot at it until it was driving right down our throats.

[She dragged both hands down her face before looking over at you.]

I've always wanted peace, but now that I have it I find it to be a very strange thing indeed.

Comments

[imetaspacemarineonce]

[Mira allowed herself a second or two to crow in triumph, even though realistically she had had very little to do with it.]

HA! TAKE THAT YOU BLUE BASTARDS!

[Now to deal with those traitors. Not having a dying soldier in her arms, Mira shouted commands a split second before Nelia could give the order to fire.]

[hungry_for_justice]

[The battle was far from over-but the 203rd's Dantius had popped the leading tanks, blocking the further advance of the Tau's armor. As they broke up and scattered to avoid the artillery strikes, some of the Tau vehicles rammed each other, bumping onto one another and sheering off anti-infantry guns and markerlights from their bumpers. Others tried to turn to blast the hole wider, but they only served to further snarl the growing traffic jam as the forces to the rear kept pressing forward into the still open gap. If Mira didn't have enough weapons to exploit this as she might hope, then at least the Tau were failing to get their attack rolling again as they reeled from the damage.

Up on their position, the sisters were having no easy time of it, going to the flamers as the Kroot urged their degenerate beasts forward and shapers lead the charge into their ranks. A few Sisters Repentia broke from the ranks and charged forward, tearing a choice few to shreds before they were themselves ripped apart, their huge weapons and lack of armor leaving them little chance to respond to attacks that they might have easily dodged in battle armor or parried with a lighter and shorter blade. They bought precious time however. Nelia helped wrestle a heavy flamer into position to roast a pack of Kroot hounds, then turned it on the leader who might have though himself safe fifty yards back.]

Burn for the Emperor, Xenos! It is the greatest service you can do for him!

[One of the Riptides turned it's attention to the 203rd and gave Mira a good look up the barrel of it's burst-cannon...and then in an ear-shattering explosion, a rocket-propelled shell tore that arm from the huge battlesuit. A cry went up from the guardsmen-a cry of relief, of salvation. The tanks had come-and tanks such that the 203rd might not have seen since they left Cadia. Tanks that guardsmen dream of seeing on battlefields like this.]

[imetaspacemarineonce]

[Guardsmen who minutes ago had been staring death in the face now cheered openly as the Imperial tanks finally arrived and the Kroot advanced burned under the Sister's loving attention. At Mira's shouted orders, most of her men remembered enough discipline during the moment of levity to fire into the Kroot's flank, picking off those they were hanging back far enough to not get incinerated. Mira herself blasted the legs off of three Kroot carnivores in a row, leaving them easy pickings for the Sisters or the Guardsmen to finish off.

With the new Imperial reinforcements, improved morale of their foes, and annihilation of half their armor column in thirty seconds, the Tau were rapidly re-evaluating their chances, and all along the line, there were signs that they were starting to withdraw.]

[hungry_for_justice]

[That was a pair of Baneblades back there, so Mira might have to shout a bit more than ususal to jostle her troops from their joyous cheers. Still, with the cream of Imperial Tankers so near at hand, there were all kinds of opportunities for a lasgun or a bolter to have an effect.

Morale was high, but the Sisters were paying the price for their heroic stand. Bolter fire from their little redoubt was slackening off, and when a squad of Seraphim took wing to plant melta-bombs on a pair of battlesuits, only three made it back to their lines intact. Many of them put more faith in the Emperor than in cover, and while their armor was fantastically tough, it was not Space Marine grade. Worse, if the battle continued much longer unabated, it would become a death trap for them, the suits of beautiful armor rendered inert and immobile when their power cells depleted.

So instead of rallying her sisters to charge after the Tau, Nelia charged the survivors with administering to their fallen sisters. She had to check for wounds on her walking Sisters as well, for many of them would remain stoic and silent rather than report injury. To lead Sororitas in battle successfully, one had to be mindful of their little quirks, like their inability to admit weakness. And as much as Nelia wanted to charge after the Tau...to do so with the wounds she herself had taken might be unwise. A mono-blade had slipped between her armor at the hip, and her little adventure with the flamer had not been without a few burns on her own flesh and armor.]