Marsh Silas IIS: Squad Stories

Chapter 21

Port Narak sprawled along a protected inlet on the southern coast. Rows upon rows of hangars lined the multiple runways and there were forests of Skyshield Landing Pads. Fleets of Valkyries, Vulture gunships, Vendetta heavy gunships, Sky Talons, Arvus Lighters, RE-45 shuttles, and Aquila Landers were parked on the tarmac, in front of hangars, or on the landing pads. On separate airfields within the complex were arrays of strike fighters, ground attack aircraft, bombers, and transports. There were even drydocks for Navis Maritimum ships, all of which were currently unoccupied.

But the largest area of all were the massive, square-shaped tarmacs on the eastern side of the complex. These were reserved for the largest ground-to-orbit craft operated by the Navis Imperialis and Aeronautica Imperialis. Three Tetrarch Heavy Landers rested on their landing skids. These massive vessels had seven batteries of single-gun turrets—two light, four medium, and one heavy—plus a nose-mounted cannon. Such ships were capable of landing companies of troops and they dwarfed much of the surrounding structures.

Enemy Valkyries stormed over the base, raking parked aircraft with lasers and rockets. Two hangars burned and columns of black promethium smoke rose high into the air. Anti-aircraft batteries across the entire complex pounded away at the enemy fliers. Streams of red tracers flowed into the air among huge banks of exploding flak. Blue, yellow, red, pink, and green flak-bursts puffed through the gray morning sky.

A tall fortress wall ran around the entire perimeter. Two whole sections had been destroyed and the gate was overrun. Bastion towers along the walls continued to fight back as well as the countless bunkers and Firestorm Redoubts which studded the defenses. But as the Traitor Guardsmen advanced, combat spilled further into the complex.

Ironsides watched for a few minutes as the Kasrkin and Astartes convoy sped down the road. The Torium Coast which Narak sat on was even lower than the river plateaus. From the advantage of height on the southbound route, Ironsides could observe the entire unfolding battle. Interior Guard forces inside the sprawling spaceport put up a heavy fight. Suddenly, Minnath sappers destroyed another section of wall. When the cloud of rockcrete dust faded, another echelon of Minnath Guardsmen pushed through.

Finally, he ducked back down. 6th Squad checked their weapons in preparation for the assault. Despite having been awake for over a day, they were still ready to fight. Energy stimms provided a much needed boost, but it was the Kasrkin's grit and determination which warded off sleep. Their hands moved across their weapons with speed and deftness.

Unlike the line squads, the assault section forewent the roles of sharpshooter and reconnaissance trooper so that two squad members could serve as ammo bearers. Their Taurox Prime was stocked with extra ammunition and fuel for Hudnail and Tatum's Heavy Flamers. Both men hastily refueled their weapons while Padmore and Tritten took more stubber belts from the racks.

Padmore handed one to Ironsides and he loaded the ammunition backpack which fed his Echon Pattern Mark III Assault Stubber. He battened down the cover, handed it to Messer, the other assault gunner in the squad, and turned around. Messer mounted the kit on the back of his Carapace Armor and secured it. Ironsides double-checked the harness and clamps before securing the belt to the weapon.

The Echon Pattern Mark III was a large and powerful variant of the Heavy Stubber line of weapons; twin-linked, belt-fed from a backpack of two-hundred rounds, although Kasrkin modifications allowed it to carry more. If handled correctly, it proved to be a surprisingly accurate, rapid-fire weapon.

"When we get in there, those heretics are going to be forced down the avenues of the interior defenses," Walmsley Minor said. He stood at the rear of the Taurox Prime and held the netting stretched above their heads with one hand. "Ironsides, Messer, that's where I want you to focus your fire. Don't waste shots on individuals, aim for larger groups. Tatum, Hudnail, I ask for your restraint. Some buildings may still have loyal Cadians inside and I do not wish any to die by our hand. We are there to rescue and protect; we shan't do either if we kill our own men. Sync?"