"Just a few more seconds everybody, and it shall be functional." stated Tech-priest Darvius as he poked a slender looking power-drill into the damaged radio unit. Moments later, blue sparks followed by several small shards of flying metal meant that the repair operation might take a little longer than Brother Darvius had previously thought.
After ten minutes of much cursing and banging of metal, Darvius adressed his fellow soldiers. "Brothers, pray for the soul of the radio, for it has perished."
"Bull Shit!"
This simple statement stunned the Techmarine and every Space Marine present. All eyes turned to the voice that said it. The Imperial Guardsman got up and presented himself.
"Simon Logan, Armed Warfare And Counter Surveliance, Radio Operator." The soldier walked over to the giant machine, his own radio slung over his back. The bemused Darvius scowled at this human.
Logan sank to his knees and rubbed his face, the camouflage cream that every A.W.A.C.S soldier wears, began to run. "What we have here is a very simple problem...."
"And what, pray tell, is the problem?"
"Well, the whatsisname is conflicting with the doo-dah."
"Huh?, how do we fix this problem then?"
*WHACK*
Logan applied his boot to the side of the radio, Darvius almost became the first Space Marine to have a heart-attack. However, Logan did fix the radio and it once again crackled into live.
Smiling, Logan got to his feet, shook hands with the infuriated Techmarine and walked back towards his battalion, who were now wild with laughter. Several of the A.W.A.C.S troops fell to the ground clutching their stomachs. The Space Marines were infused with anger and seethed with silent rage.
Darvius connected the radio to a small uplink, this would allow Recon Force Alpha Zulu to exchange information with HQ and Recon Force Alpha Charlie. Once again, Logan got to his feet and walked over to the radio. He was the only member of Force Alpha Zulu with any knowledge in the art of signals. Lifting the handset to his mouth, Logan spoke.
"H.Q this is Recon Force Alpha Zulu, do you copy us down? Over."
Nothing but static greated the Recon Force of the Dark Brotherhood and the A.W.A.C.S soldiers. Logan smiled nervously and gave the radio a solid whack.
"H.Q come in, this is Recon Force Alpha Zulu, do you copy us down? Over.....HQ, DO YOU COPY US?"
"Maybe their radios damaged too, I'll check with Recon Force Alpha Charlie."
"Alpha Charlie, this is Recon Force Alpha Zulu, do you copy us down? Over."
Nothing but static, then the radio crackled into life.
"We copy you down, Over"
"Have you established communications with HQ?, Over."
"That is a negative, satelite uplink shows HQ is reporting an 80% failing vital signs, Over."
"Wha.....80%??"
Quickly, Logan switched to the main ground force frequency.
"Any Squad Leaders this freq, rendezvous with Sister Teams and fall back to primary LZ."
The radio crackled back, somehow, one brave squad leader was still alive. In the background, the sound of inhuman roars and ghastly screams pierced the air.
"Th....this is Red Leader....HQ is at 5% operational status...we've been hit real bad. Many losses."
Logan's eyes grew wide with fear, turning to his men, he saw the terror in their eyes. Even the mighty Dark Brotherhood looked a little frightened.
"Losses....what losses?"
"Captain Harris."
Stunned, Logan got to his feet and removed his
cap from his head, as did the other members of the A.W.A.C.S Recon unit.
As a final gesture, the A.W.A.C.S soliders gave a final salute to their
commander. With fury in his eyes, Logan picked up the handset once more.
Logan tuned into the Imperial Artillery, through
the din of shells being fired and ejected, he could just be heard.
"Remaining fire teams, engage in primary and secondary objecitves, Over."
"Recon Force Alpha Zulu, is that you? thank the Emperor. We have just got word from Strike Force Lightning, they are able to commence an air-strike. They need you to paint the target, Over."
"Copy that, Over."
Logan switched back to the main ground force frequency.
"Red Leader, do you copy? Over."
Through the static and the shooting, Logan could just make out a faint voice.
"Info from Recon Force Alpha Charlie shows that Air Strike on Co-Ordinates X3-S4 will reduce the Eldar forces to 10% operational status. Over"
"Copy that, will RV with you ASAP, hang tight bro. Over."
A different voice crackled into the radio, the sound of super-sonic engines roared through the handset.
"Alpha Charlie this is Delta Sierra, we need some paint on the ground for payload. Over."
Logan tuned into Recon Force Alpha Charlie. "Alpha Charlie, this is Recon Force Alpha Zulu, do you copy us down? Over."
"We copy you down. We have target confirmation for air-strike on enemy forces. We have confirmed visual on ground force troops being......being......being butchered." The Radio Operator of Alpha Charlie turned towards his fellow soldiers, Logan could just hear him. "Somebody shut those bastards down." A massive flurry of fire erupted from within the radio.
A mile from where they stood, the troops of Alpha Zulu could hear the heavy shots of Battle-cannons and Heavy Bolters, it looked like Alpha Charlie had tank support.
"O.K lads, listen up. We have to advance towards the enemy and paint a target. We will all go, but believe me. Some of us 'aint coming back." The voice was cold and stern, a tall Guardsmen got to his feet, a terrible scar ran from one corner of his face to the other slashing one eye in the process. That eye was now bionic. The soldiers name was Grant Drage, leader of the A.W.A.C.S force, and survivor of the Eldar assault on Jakton Vexus. He turned to face the 11 Dark Brotherhood Space Marines.
"Warriors of the Emperor, I am Grant Drage. I was one of the very few survivors of Jakton. I know full well of the Eldars destructive capabilites. I lost my eye to the Scorpion Exarch Tanis, in return, I took his left arm. Some say this was a fair exchange, I say not. We understand if you don't wish to join us, after all, this has no direct threat to the Imperium."
One of the Dark Brotherhood Space Marines got
to his feet, standing over eight feet tall, the Dark Brother dwarfed even
the tall Drage. "It may have no direct threat with the Emperor, but it
does with us. After all, the snivelling Ultramarines are in alliance with
the Eldar scum. No, we will accompany you, and we shall avenge the fallen
Brothers."