Rapid Fire Challenge: Failure - April 2019

[Race Bannon]

Prompt: Failure

Maximum length: 500 words

Deadline: 30 April 2019

Where to post submissions: In this thread

Note - please make sure all submissions adhere to the forum rules. Any entry that breaks one or more rules shall be removed.

 

++ Sorry this is late ++

[Race Bannon]

The canyon within the Verdant Lock of Genar III was a hell-scape.  Shattered bodies and wrecked vehicles littered the tiered canyon walls.  Combined forces of the Imperium were stalemated against the impressively numerous Orks.  Yet none of that mattered to Haqe; the squad of Raven Guard Scouts patiently lay at the lip of a cave nestled within an inverted salient allowing for optimum visibility.  Adjusting his camo cloak, Haqe then stretched his fingers around the grip of his preferred weapon.  The Heavy Bolter had remained silent throughout the battle so far, while the snipers from the rest of the squad felled the occasional high-priority target.

 

A Militarum command vehicle appeared in the valley to the south and Haqe realized they were out of formation.  He glanced to the north valley where most of the Ork forces were funneling from and saw a Megatrakk rumbling toward the Imperial lines.  He looked left to Sergeant Burar who had noticed the same through the sniper rifle scope.

 

Burar commanded, “Megatrakk primary.”  The sniper rifles around Haqe whistled with practiced chain fire.  Haqe could see some shots land, scraping armor away, but the machine’s speed meant more shots missed.  Smoke blasted from the engine as one shot penetrated the scrap armor, yet the Trakk’s speed seemed to increase. 

 

Looking back and forth, Haqe could tell nearby Imperial forces were compensating for the new threat, yet the Ork driver was weaving around incoming fire.  His current trajectory would bring him close to the Scouts position.

 

“Brother Sergeant?”  Haqe’s hand muscles tensed above the trigger.

 

“We must not give away our position.”

 

Brother Duvor protested.  “The command vehicle must be defended.”

 

Burar did not look from his scope.  “Free fire on primary.  Haqe, engage within seventy meters.”

 

Again, the Trakk’s armor was pelted with sniper shots and the driver wildly twisted trying to dodge, while innocently bringing the vehicle closer to the Scouts.  It passed a marker the Scouts set-up before battle to gauge ranges and Haqe settled the bipod legs further into the dirt.

 

As the Megatrakk passed another marker, Haqe squeezed the trigger quick and high caliber missiles raced away blasting more chunks of armor, but the Ork vehicle did not slow.  Holding the trigger and leading the Trakk, more Bolter rounds landed without noticeable effect.  Holding his breath he focused on the wheels, blowing one away. 

 

The Megatrakk flipped, ejecting the driver into the air and toward the command vehicle.  Haqe noticed the Ork clutching a metal cylinder.  Knowing it was a bomb; he stood, lifted the Heavy Bolter and pulled the trigger to empty the ammunition drum.  Bolts filled the space between him and the Ork until a few found the mark, turning the Ork into organic debris.

 

The bomb continued falling and bounced off the top hatch of the command vehicle, then detonated a half-second later, peeling armor and incinerating the inside.

 

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