THE BLACK ORK By ( Steve Turner ) |
SAGAS OF THE FALLEN ANGELS |
'Not that I know of.' said Voltron. They both stopped in front of a vault that was sealed by a large metallic barrier. Uzimel did not see anything that would enable them to open the structure. 'Don't worry, Uzimel. All Masters are granted unconditional entry.' The commander removed the gauntlet from his right hand and pressed the palm of his hand into the middle of the barrier. They could both here a deep rumble then the obstruction vibrated as it sunk into the floor. 'I know what you are thinking my brother. No, the Dark Angels cannot remove their fallen brothers from their sensor augeries and data records. That is a big problem for them.' he laughed. Uzimel could sense his leader smiling behind his golden helmet. Uzimel stepped inside the vault and looked around. Ultraviolet light glowed from the ceiling. 'Take a look at this brother.' said Voltron. The commander pushed a rug away, revealing a large iron ring underneath. He bent down on his knees and grabbed the ring with both hands. He then slowly rose, relying upon the additional strength from his artificer armor. Voltron grunted as a tiny crack appeared in the floor. The crack spread, revealing the outline of a heavy stone block that had been carefully cut into the floor. Voltron grunted again and strained against the ring. Ever so slowly the huge stone began to rise. Uzimel could hear his master's labored breathing as he continued to lift. The artificer armor began to whine as unseen machinery stressed. Voltron's back was now perpendicular to the floor, only his arms continued to move as he lifted them up to his chest. The iron ring struck against his breastplate. Uzimel watched intently, he had even forgotten to breathe; he was so engrossed in watching Voltron's effort. Blood for the Bloody Angels!' groaned Voltron at the top of his lungs. The commander shrugged and flung the stone aside. Voltron kneeled down again and peered into the opening. 'Look here!' he pointed down. Uzimel saw a metal ladder, braced into the opening, leading down into more darkness. 'Call the terminators. Phase one of our mission is complete.' said Voltron. Shortly Uzimel returned with all three squads. Voltron telepathically spoke to them 'Now we can attempt to locate any Fallen Angels held prisoner.' 'What about the Orks?' asked Uzimel. 'Obviously there are a lot more of them than I predicted. However, I don't believe they can access this part of the base, this is the only entrance to the prison that I am aware of.' said Voltron. 'On the other hand, I'm sure the Orks will search any and every section they can possibly access. Be prepared for another encounter.' Voltron turned his back on the terminators and climbed down through the breach. The ladder led to another tunnel. Voltron stepped off the bottom rung and looked around. The tunnel was just wide enough for three terminators to stand abreast of each other. 'Kill your lights and go to infrared.' he said. 'Better to meet the enemy in the dark.' A big dark green Nob stuck his choppa through a rent in the power armor of the last Dark Angel left alive in the command center and viciously twisted the blade about. The space marine lifted his bolter with the strength from the last beats of his twin hearts and stuck the barrel in the Ork's maw. His trigger finger jerked in a death spasm and blasted off the top of the Nob's skull. 'We's beez moving on Boys!' shouted the Warlord. The big black Ork pointed to a hatch mounted in the floor behind the dead Dark Angel captain's console. 'Look what I find, let's see wheres it goes.' he grinned. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 'This tunnel runs under the command center.' said Voltron. 'I want an assault cannon and cyclone missile launcher on either side of me. If we do encounter more Orks, it's to our advantage to fight them in this tunnel since it limits the numbers they can throw at us. They will come at us in waves. Therefore, the terminators from squads Primus and Secondus must be synchronised as they change spots while firing, otherwise we'll be overrun.' Voltron paused for a moment then continued, 'Uzimel, I want you to remain in back with the assault squad. We'll save your support for a final thrust in case we break through our firepower.' 'Yes, my lord.' said Uzimel. He quickly stepped to the back. 'I smell Orks approaching sir!' sergeant Krokus of the first squadron said over the comms-link. He had grown up on a savage feral world frequently invaded by the green aliens. The human tribes had successfully developed into fierce warriors, quite capable of protecting themselves. 'Everyone quiet. They may not know we're here.' commanded Voltron. The commander could easily make out the first approaching Orks by the gleam in their squinting eyes. 'All bolters ready, fire on my command.' said Voltron, and then he squeezed a short pulse from the nozzle of his plasma pistol, instantly incinerating the first group of Orks. 'Fire!' he shouted out loud. The assault cannon beside him wailed as large bolts tore into the next pack of green-skins. Voltron maintained his psychic link 'Move forward. Our firepower will drive them back in these close quarters.' A loud burst rocked the ground as a krak missile exploded into the mob. The aliens were all instantly blown to bits. The two terminators beside Voltron carrying heavy weapons dropped back to reload. Voltron fired a larger pulse from his plasma pistol to provide quick cover while two more terminators stepped beside him firing their heavy weapons. Voltron holstered his pistol and pulled loose a strap of frag grenades from his chest. He pulled the pin on the first one and flung the entire strap into the advancing horde. The Orks immediately raised their arms, shielding themselves as the first grenade detonated. The terminators' boots crunched against the remains of the dead Orks as they marched. 'My cannon is jammed!' yelled one of the Fallen Angels beside Voltron. 'Drop down with me.' Voltron told the two gunners beside him. 'Bolter rolling firing sequence, begin now!' Voltron commanded the marines behind him. Sergeant Krokus fired both barrels of his storm bolter along with the other two heavy gunners beside him. Then they knelt down and began to reload as the third row of terminators behind them fired their storm bolters. They knelt down next and the fourth line fired. The terminators in the first row along side their commander had repaired the jammed assault cannon. 'Excellently executed!' Voltron praised his men. 'We should be approaching a cavern, we'll no longer have the luxury of the close quarters provided by this tunnel.' The two terminators standing beside Voltron switched places again. The gunner manning the cyclone missile launcher spoke 'Sir, our last set of rounds are loaded.' 'Give it everything you've got, make sure every shell hit its mark!' Voltron ordered. Both the assault cannon and cyclone missile launcher fired simultaneously. 'Sergeant Krokus, accompany the four gunners back to the armory for more ammunition.' said the commander. Then he put his gauntlet up to his helmet and concentrated. The air around him clouded. The oncoming Orks momentarily halted, sparks fell from Voltron's armor. Then two huge fireballs emerged from the eyelets of his helmet, engulfing the rushing Orks. The green-skins howled as they burned. 'Charge!' shouted Voltron. The commander ran straight through the mass of flaming Orks, knocking them out of his way with his pistol and black power sword. Voltron immediately assaulted the next pack. The surviving Orks tried to strike back but the Fallen Angel fired a pulse of plasma into them. The force of his sudden charge forced the rest of the aliens to fall back into the cavern. Voltron fired two more pulses from his plasma pistol with a wide dispersion into the opening of the large cave. Then he waved his troops forward and sent them another psychic message 'We have to reach the entrance of another tunnel that leads to the prison. It's located about twenty meters along this wall.' he pointed to it. 'Sergeants Obsidius and Striker, you will remain at this entrance and wait for Sergeant Krokus to return with the gunners. You can seal this passage from inside the tunnel so you'll be safe from the Orks. Let me show how to activate the doorway.' Voltron motioned them over and revealed a small button hidden in the tunnel wall. 'Press this and the door will close. Press it again to open the door. Simple, isn't it?' The two sergeants both nodded. The commander looked at the rest of his terminators 'It's time to form the Iron Wing.' Voltron and Uzimel stood side by side. Seven more terminators lined up on both sides of them, four in the first rank, and three behind them in the next. An assault terminator armed with lightning claws and another holding a thunderhammer stood side by side at the end of each column in order to prevent any Orks from slipping behind the formation. The remaining five terminators lined up in two ranks behind the commander and his aide, ready to replace any casualties. The Iron Wing had its back to the wall. The two columns of terminators fired their storm bolters into the oncoming Orks, forcing their enemy into the focal point of the formation. Voltron and Uzimel hacked at the Orks with their power swords. The traitor marines slowly edged along the wall, pressing towards the passage leading to the other tunnel. Suddenly the Orks stopped charging and pulled back. Three Orks armed with rocket launchers emerged from the crowd and took aim at the Fallen Angels. 'They're practically firing at point blank range.' Voltron mused to himself. 'I hate it when Orks use tactics!' 'Duck!' he shouted to his men. |
