Warhammer 40k Fanfiction - Hero Imperator (English)

Chap. 15 - Day 74 (Part 5) - Astra Militarum

Little was the time I had to assimilate all these changes, and little was the time I had to do anything about it. Anxiety gnawed at my nerves as I listened to the static emanating from the communications device, silently longing for a response from the other end. Fearing that the same thing would have happened on the other side of the battlefield.

—Colonel Tairon speaking. Identify yourself. —Thanks to the Emperor that my prayers were heard.

—It's nice to hear you again, Colonel.

"Harrus?" —His voice did not hide his astonishment. —What happened?

—Our command center was attacked. The responsibility of the southern front now falls on my shoulders.

—So you too.

—What does it mean?

—The command center of this sector was also attacked. Thanks to the Emperor's will, I was at the front, but I lost many officers.

—Two command posts attacked with precision. This was no mere coincidence.

-I agree.

—Colonel... What is the situation?

—The orks attack us, commissioner.

—Where is it located? I'll join you right away.

At this point, my words were meaningless. The weight on my shoulders was much greater than I thought. I couldn't do this alone but... The colonel was on the other side of the battlefield... And... We wouldn't be able to resist that horde that was charging at us. What should I do?

-Negative. The main front will be established on the city plains near your position. Commissioner, take your men and...

Before I could even finish speaking, a loud sound escaped from the communications device, forcing me to turn my ear away, and causing me to experience loud tinnitus for several seconds.

My head was spinning, that deafening sound saturating my auditory sense, as I listened to the rumble of the earth around me. What was happening?

—Enemy Fire!

I barely managed to regain some of my hearing when I managed to hear the voice of a soldier in the distance, and immediately, the endless laser fire of those behind me.

They arrived. The orks were already here. How could they advance so quickly? Were they supposed to be three miles to the east? What the hell was happening? Still disoriented, I picked up my communicator again, and desperately tried to contact the colonel again.

—Colonel Tairon! Colonel Tairon! Do you receive me!? —But there was no response. —Damn... Preston, let me know any superiors immediately.

Seconds passed and nothing appeared over the speaker. With my mind slightly clearer, I looked up and saw them. The green tide that was bearing down on us, while my men instinctively took defensive positions. However, the lack of response from a superior increasingly irritated me more and more.

—Preston! Contact me...! with...

My words choked in my throat when I realized that I was still carrying the metal device in my hand, but the cable that linked it to the signal repeater was cut. I looked back for a second, and a shiver ran through my body, not seeing Preston and the two communications assistants.

They should be there... Right behind me, just over twenty feet away. However, there was none there. Just a small crater, and human remains, blood, and pieces of metal scattered in all directions.

My frightened eyes turned forward... Staring in terror at the ork force we knew we wouldn't be able to stop. One look was enough to know that there were thousands, perhaps millions more than us, since my eyesight was not able to define the horizon above the mestas from which the orks came. Like rabid ants to defend their anthill. And a gasp, full of despair escaped me.