Thursday 14 August 2014

'eadrippas revenge


Sammael strained in the seat of Sableclaw, the battle was going poorly. His high vantage point let him see the swirling mass down below. His army had been investigating reports of rogue mechanicum actions in the sector when without warning an ork Rok had crashed through the heavens. They were immediately beset upon and the ravenwing had been on the back foot since the start. Even the arrival of the local forces trio of knights hadn't proven to be such a boone as he had hoped. They proved effective at first, the two paladins cutting a vast swathe through the orks at least allowing the ravenwing some time to recuperate, but it was a temporary respite as the orks unleashed a fully fledged battle titan of there own and in a short space of time destroyed one of the paladins and left the other and the errant damaged, there shielding barely holding. Sammael had ordered a retreat to a waiting recovery zone where their orbiting cruiser had dropped a rapid ascent space ladder to assist in recovering the troops. They knew it was not a fight they could win, just a retreat they would force the enemy to take great cost in every step they took. Sammael had witnessed the ork leader, one who had aptly named himself 'eadrippa. A brute of an ork that took delight in his namesake, charging any and all signs of leadership within the Dark Angels ranks. But more scary was that this ork was cunning, not a mere violant barbarian.

A flashbang as sableclaws night halo deflected an incoming rocket forced sammael back to the action. The small craft nimbly avoiding enemy fire and flying too low for flakk guns to bring to bear. Bursts of heavy bolter and assault canon fire ripped through the orks like invisible talons, but it was like dropping bolter casings into a canyon. He searched for any sign of 'eadrippa, but of him there was no sign. Far to his flank, the pair of knights were also fighting a fiery retreat. Great blasts of heat turned enemy walkers to molten slag, whilst crater sized explosions tore apart orks by the dozen as the paladin fired. The orks were massing in there general direction, unable to keep up with the rapid retreat of the ravenwing. Only groups of bikers were capable of harassing the ravenwings retreat. The knights however were on unsure footing, and fighting and retreating was a much slower process. It was during this massing that 'eadrippa made himself known. He charged at the paladin, headlong and bellowing a challenge to its princeps. In response, the paladin activated its giant chainblade and struck out at the ork warboss. In an act of what could only be viewed as incredible, even by astartes standards, the warboss dodged the whirling blade of death and ran between its legs. With a mighty cry, the warboss reached up with its massive claw and crushed the giant walkers ankle-hydraulics with ease. The knight lurched and fell to its knee, crippled by the blow. Its battle cannon now wedged in the dirt in a struggle to keep it upright, its chainblade still desperately swiping away at the orks, shredding them in swathes. 'Eadrippa emerged from the titan to stand before it, roaring with laughter as it was too close to swipe at.
"Look boyz! It kneels before me hahaha! Is this not proof that I am the greatest?!"
He then walked casually forwards towards the titans cockpit as it frantically tried to stand up. The nearby errant desperately trying to help his comrade but the arrival of the stompa that had already claimed one of his kin sent him running to the space anchor, shields at maximum to his rear as he fled what would be a pointless sacrifice. 'Eadrippa grapped the crew compartment and tore it off, exposing the princeps inside. He enjoyed the sheer look of terror on the mans face, savored it just long enough and then slowly reached inside. He placed the half-blunt buzz saw seated at the base of his claw against the mans head, watching the princeps look of sheer horror as he realized what was about to happen. With a laugh, 'eadrippa activated the saw and the mans head became mulch in seconds.
"Scrap the remains boyz! Turn it into a Gorkanaught and please da godz!"

Sammael could do nothing but wince, such ruthlessness made him swallow down bile. But nothing could be done here, the orks had won but the ravenwing had retreated with minimal losses. They would not forget what had happened here today, and nor would the last remaining knight.

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