Arkhans Story Part 5

 

Arkhan finished his drink put the mug down next to the heavy bolter. He ran through the working bits he recognised on the weapon. He'd seen one or two in the underhive carried by the heavies. A bit of him looked forward to firing it just maybe not in this ork infested situation. Dax stirred, "Another day then Arkhan" he sat up and stretched his arms. His face showed all his years, Arkhan had no idea how many winters Dax had seen but admired him greatly the way he just kept going no matter what. His faith seemed unshakable it seemed. They would need that the next few days.. If they last that long. Dax scanned the ground in front of the outpost. The sky was clear and air crisp despite the clouds of smoke lingering in the air. Dax moved back to the heavy bolter and checked over a few things, "They'll come in force today Arkhan. They don't seem to have made great strides at the Hive so some will get bored and looking for easier action and that will most likely be us." Arkhan grimaced, "I had a nasty feeling you would say something like that Dax". He smiled "You can always count on me to bring the emperors good news".  Despite it all Arkhan laughed, he was glad he was out here rather than still at the Hive. Who knows what it is like in there at the moment.he dreaded to think at least here he can see the sky!  That was still a novelty to this underhiver. Arkhan looked around, 3 heavy Weapon teams were all that was left to defend the front gate. There were not that many on any battlements at all. He scanned the battleground in front of the outpost. Small fires still burnt amongst the vehicle wreckage and ork corpses lay everywhere. The smell would get quite bad once the wind turned Arkhan thought. Wait what was that. He focused the heavy bolter sight on an area by a burning Agri crawler. Movement, not Orks but something similar.... Smaller. Dax noticed Arkhan had spotted something. He moved the heavy bolter magazines so they were at hand easier. "What ya got Arkhan?" Arkhan could see more creatures now, "Not human definatly"

Just then Captain Vanden came up the battlements, Dax frantically waved him to  duck  down. "What we got troopers" Arkhan replied while  keeping his eye on the  creatures  "Not Orks but similar smaller though sir" the Captain did not look happy. impressed "Gretchin... Damn that means a full attack is coming and someone leading it. The others were to random piece meal no tactics  we have obviously attracted the attention of a boss. Right save the heavy bolter rounds for Orks and bigger things. They'll use the Gretchin to soak up ammo so save the heavy stuff OK.." Dax and Arkhan nodded." I'll drum up some more guns". The captain moved off to talk to the other heavy Weapon teams. He had one finger over and ear started talking as he walked. A few minutes later several Pdf troopers and other survivors started coming up to the battlements clutching their Las guns. They spread out as best they could. Dax picked up his Las gun and raised the barrel over the edge of the wall, Arkhan pulled out his pistol and moved to the battle ment edge. A Pdf Sgt moved along the line keeping as low as possible. He offered words of encouragement or advice as he went. A guttural roar erupted from outside the walls a deep Waaarrrrrgh hit Arkhan in the chest. The gretchin surged forward clutching crude looking pistols. The Sgt raised his bolt Pistol. "Let em. Have it!!!!" he fired and the whole battle ment erupted in fire. Several gretchin dropped straight away. Arkhan shot with his Las pistol he downed several before he had to reload. As he was reloading he spotted Orks moving up trying to get as close as possible without being seen. "Dax! I'm going on the bolter" he shoved his Las pistol in his trousers and grabbed the handle of the heavy bolter. Explosions erupted inside the perimeter, Arkhan flinched and instinctively ducked. He quickly steadied himself and looked out into the battle the gretchin were still coming there seemed to be so many. Arkhan could still see the Orks waiting. Well let's give them a surprise shall we. He pulled the trigger and the bolter roared!!!! Arkhan couldn't help but smile, a storm of heavy bolter rounds impacted around where the Orks were waiting. They didn't see it coming and Arkhan was certain he got a couple. The Orks roared in anger and charged forward stepping on the gretchin of they got in the way. Arkhan targeted the Orks with bursts of heavy bolter fire. The Orks returned fire their crude weapons spitting out bullets causing the defenders to duck. Rocket's slammed into the walls taking chunks of rockcrete out. Arkhans heavy bolter was causing havoc amongst the Orks but some carried on with such grievous wounds. They didn't seem to care, one ork had its arm torn off by a bolter round all it did was raise its good arm and surge forward. The Orks reached the gate and  started hammering on it with their weapons. Arkhan could not get those so concentrated on the ones he could.the battlefield now was utter chaos. Orks surging forward and the defenders lashing them with all manner of weapons. Flamers thought Arkhan that's what they need. He remember being utterly terrified of them in the under hive. That blast of heat when one went off near you. Still made Arkhan shudder. A loud squeaking and clanking could be heard across the battlefield. That could never be good Arkhan thought. Dax was engrossed in reloading the heavy bolter and shooting with his Las gun. Out of the woods burst a metal horror. Standing 8 to 9ft tall with metal claws and guns lashed all over it. "What the hell is that!!!!!" Arkhan yelled. He aimed the heavy bolter at it and fired a burst. The bolts bounced off the armour or exploded harmlessly.  The machine looked like it shouldn't stick together let alone move!  The giant metal thing stopped turned slightly and disappeared behind a blaze of flame and smoke. Bullets hammered into the outpost walls several defenders fell or were thrown off the battlement. The defenders guns fell silent and the Orks surged forward. Arkhan hammered the Orks with heavy bolter fire plenty fell but there were plenty more. Creaking and grinding ment the ork robot thing was finding a new target. Arkhan and Dax dived for cover as bullets lashed around them. Arkhan curled in a ball against the battlement as shrapnel  and bullets filled the air. "We gotta keep firing!" Dax yelled, they could hear thumps at the gate now as the Orks reached it. Arkhan crawled back to the heavy bolter, Dax joined him and checked the bolt linkage. He threw a thumbs up to Arkhan. Arkhan braved the shell fire and started firing into the Orks. He didn't want  to...... What he wanted was to run but being from Razors gang you didn't leave your mates. Dax was practically like family now to Arkhan and he didn't want to let him down. Captain Vanden appeared on the battlement with a tube like weapon. He crouched down and checked the 3 foot long tube. He stood up  aimed at the ork  machine and fired. Smoke and  flash erupted around the Captain. At first Arkhan thought he'd been shot but he saw the Captain drop behind cover. A huge explosion blast shook the battlement and the ork fired slackened. Arkhan swung the bolter sights round and saw the ork robot in flames and facedown. The Orks still continued their assault. Captain Vanden was gesturing a a few more  extra defenders started to man the wall. They looked nervous, Arkhan thought. "Not much ammo left get ready to ditch the gun!"  Dax  yelled at Arkhan. Dax signaled the Captain. Who came running over.  "Sir we are almost out of ammo." Captain Vanden nodded   "Right as soon as your ammo goes join the wall defenders with your personnel weapons. I'm pulling any non fighters back into the underground store. Its all we got and we wil make our stand there. Hold out as long as you can!"

Arkhan fired into the mass of Orks. The heavy bolter making a loud chattering as it cycled through the belt of ammo. Dax looked at Arkhan and shook his head. Arkhan noticed they were down to their last bit of ammo. Arkhan watched in slow motion as the last few bolts went through his bolter and then click! The gun ran dry, Dax with his military training quickly took up his Las gun and started firing over the battlements. Arkhan took a second longer to react. He grabbed his shotgun and lent against the battlement. He took a few short breaths and popped up. It seemed more scarier now he didn't have a big gun! The defenders were valiantly firing whatever weapons they had down into the approaching Orks. The front of the outpost was a mess of fire smoke and greenskins. It seems their little outpost has attracted more attention now from the ork horde. Arkhan fired a couple of slugs into the horde of greenskins. He ducked back as a hail of fire peppered his location. Explosions rocked inside the compound. Arkhan hoped the Captain had got everyone in the underground store. He stole a quick look behind. Vehicles had been moved to form barriers around various doors but Arkhan could see bodies lying in the open. "Keep shooting lads!" the PDF Sergeant yelled. He unleashed shot after shot from his bolt pistol. Arkhan racked his shotgun and fired knocking an ork off its feet. It started to get back up but another slug from Arkhan went through its neck and it collapsed clutching its throat. He noticed more Orks were at the gate and not many defenders could get an angle on them without getting shot themselves. "Dax! Their all over the gate man!" Arkhan shouted. Dax took a quick look and grimaced his face told Arkhan everything. "Get ready to move round to the edges, the front is gonna fall very soon. We won't be able to hold out here much longer. Soon its gonna get real ugly." Dax leaned in close and whispered. Suddenly with a flash of orange the ground shook and the front gate section seemed to lift entirely. Arkhan and Dax were thrown to the side. Smoke and debris filled the air. Arkhan slammed into the battlement by the emperors mercy he and Dax were still inside the base and not thtown out. Arkhan coughed up dust from his lungs he as sat up. The front of the compound was a mess collapsed wall ork and human bodies were crushed in the blast. Seemingly the Orks overdid the blast and caused a fair chunk of damage to themselves. Arkhan grabbed Dax and shook him, "Hey! Get up we can't stay here" Dax shook his head groggily reached for his Las rifle and pulled it in close. A roar went up that was definatly Xenos. The Orks had recovered then. Arkhan and Dax sprinted to the stairs and down into the main compound. 2 wrecked crawlers had been moved around the underground store entrance as a last barracade. A couple of other barracades were around other entrances to the interior of the base made in desperation as a last defence. Arkhan could see Shem, Kahla and Silus clutching guns behind the 2 crawlers and looking very nervous. Arkhan and Dax headed towards them. At least Arkhan would fall with friends he thought better than dying in the dark and cold of the underhive as he had expected. As they ran Dax suddenly dropped blood spurting from his shoulder. Arkhan skidded to a halt and grabbed Daxs blood soaked shirt. He started to drag Dax towards the barracade. He noticed Shem and Kahlas mouths drop in horror, he didn't want to turn round but he also couldn't help himself. As he turned the world went into slow motion, he saw Orks running through the smoke and flame into the base. Several little barracades fell as Orks poured over the beleaguered defenders. A massive ork came striding in through the middle of the chaos, it stood a foot taller than the other Orks and was clad in armour plates. In its left hand it held a massive axe and in the other hand it wielded a huge pistol. The defenders fire bounced off the Orks armour. Arkhan sped up his dragging of Dax, "Leave him Arkhan run here" Silus shouted, that angered Arkhan. You don't leave mates behind. Razor  had always said that
"Feth you!!" Arkhan spat out he pulled Dax. A shadow appeared and Captain Vanden leapt over the barracade clutching a chainsword and his Las pistol spitting fire at the ork. "Die Xenos scum!! “ the las shots bounced off the the Orks armour as it strode forward.   It raised its pistol, fired and  Captain Vanden collapsed dropping his chain sword. Arkhan had managed to get Dax to the barricade and hands pulled him over the barracade. He looked and saw Captain Vanden struggling to move his chest a bloody mess. The rest of the Orks had stopped in the court yard to watch their boss. There was some fighting on the edges and it looked like some off the barracdes had fallen Orks were disappearing inside those sections of the base. The ork boss laughed at the Captain trying to get up. This made Arkhan unfeasibly angry and He found himself charging forward, much to Kahla and Shems shock. He had lost his shotgun in the chaos so swept up the captains chainsword. He stood in between the ork and the wounded Captain Vanden   the ork seemed puzzled then smiled and raised his pistol. Arkhan stared  into the blackness of the barrel imagineing the bullet inside having his name written on it . Arkhan spat dust out of his mouth, "Coward!!!!!" he shouted and thumbed the activation switch on the chainsword. It revved into life, "Coward come meet your doom!" Arkhan yelled, the underhive had taught him to not back down not matter what the odds. Throne knows what he thought he could do but he knew he wasn't going down without a fight. The large ork tightened his grip on the pistols trigger," Coward!! Fight me!!!" Arkhan yelled desperately. The surrounding Orks started to grunt to each other. The ork bosses (Arkhan assumed) eyes flicked to and from the other Orks. It then dropped his pistol, raised his axe and bellowed a loud waaaaargh. The rest of the Orks joined in, a wave of foul smelling breath and  noise hit Arkhan. Well it seems he had got what he wanted at least he can die doing something good. The chainsword felt reassuring in his hand. He hadn't used one before but had used a sword so at least he had an idea of what to do. The fear had gone now just acceptance that he was going to die but he would make this ork remember him. The ork stared down at him, it snorted and did a few practice swings with its axe. The underhive had taught Arkhan a few things, bigger
opponents... Don't let them have it all their own way. Arkhan sprinted forward and swung the chainsword. The ork was caught by surprise and didn't raise his axe in time. The chainsword bounced of the  Orks leg armour sparks flared up. The ork swung round to face Arkhan, his face veiled in fury at this upstart human. Arkhan was faster that was his only advantage. The ork leapt forward and swung a huge blow at Arkhans face, he ducked and rolled out of the way. The ork had clearly seen this before and was already swinging a back hand blow at him. Arkhan quickly and desperately swung the chainsword up to parry. His arm Jarred with pain as he blocked the Orks blow . He could never stop one of those blows with the sheer mass of muscle the ork possessed merely redirect the hit.  The Ork boss at least realised this wasn't going to be a simple kill. That would  satisfy Arkhan when he fell. He fainted left, the ork fell for it and Arkhan lunged right and slashed his chainsword. The teeth bit into the Orks side  and blood splattered into the air. The Ork bellowed in rage and charged Arkhan. An axe swing caused Arkhan to step back but the ork was ready and a fist swung  into Arkhans side. The air exploded out of his lungs as the ork fist made contact. Arkhan fell to the floor struggling to breath. Thankfully he had still held onto his chainsword. He rolled away as the giant axe embedded itself in the ground where he had been lying. He flicked his wrist out and caught the ork on the leg with his chainsword. A small splattering of blood this time but it made Arkhan smile. The ork was not impressed. A relentless series of blows assailed Arkhan and he managed to parry or dodge most of them until he slipped on the some loose ground. The axe slammed deep into his right shoulder . Pain shot through his body, white hot and raw. Blood splattered everywhere but this time Arkhans blood. He collapsed to his knees. His arm dangling loosely held on by a few last strands of flesh, blood spurting out onto the ground. Must be an adrenaline kick now he thought as it oddly didn't hurt as much as he though it would. The ork raised its bloodied axe in triumph. It bellowed loudly and the other Orks joined on the celebration. No, not having this Arkhan thought. I stood against an 8 ft tall ork and got in a few hits. He does not get to celebrate like that. Arkhans world was slowly fading... He reached to his boot grabbed the knife and threw it with his last burst of life. He collapsed to the ground, time slowed... The knife flew through the air, the ork boss turned to finish Arkhan off and stopped in surprise as the knife plunged into its eye. A smile crossed Arkhans face as his view faded, he saw the ork boss charge over to him. This was it he was ready to see the emperor... Then the Orks head exploded..........