The men of 2 Platoon, 56th Lumberman's Guildmuster are now fighting a desperate holding action against a large scale counter attack by Ork Warbands on the extreme right of the Imperial's offensive operation into the Usamiljen mountains. This offensive coordinated with the Mechanicus' own push out of Prima Jama in the western portion of the continent is seeking to split Ork armies in the mountainous region in half, making them easier for Astartes and the Imperial Guard to bring to battle and destroy. However, fighting at the cities of Usamilplatz and Saltzkhost have ground to a standstill and efforts by the Guard and other formations to join the two axis of attack through the Hamlis Valley have also been rebuffed by massed Ork firepower. Now a combined Ork attack, swinging wide to the east of Saltzkhost has hit a soft point in the Imperial rear, pushing a green regiment of Jornathii men to their absolute limit, they are working hard to coordinate with their scattered platoons and join with any reinforcements to hand as they attempt to prevent the Imperial's southern axis of attack from being surrounded. Now we will see The Woodcutter's Due...
It is now early afternoon, with the Precpians' now joined with the men of 2 Platoon under Lt. Hoffens, and the local Ork artillery threat dealt with, the Imperials can catch their breath for a short while. Taking stock of the wider situation as best as he can manage it from his makeshift command center in the farmhouse of 1215 Bruno Avenue. It appears that the immediate thrust of the Ork attack over the evening has run out of steam. Scattered firefights can be heard across the area, but scouting and observation indicate that the 56th Lumberman's Guildmuster has held out. With the vox network still largely inoperable, runners begin working to carry messages to other platoon and company commands, slowly through the afternoon, painting a picture of the wider field.
As the PDF's officers work to determine an outline of force disposition, Brother Klethos, 2 Platoons' stoic Astartes companion, opts to lead a raiding force into Ork territory to gather supplies and score a desperately needed morale win for the PDF.
Klethos and his small team of volunteers make their way from the farm on Bruno Avenue, through the woods, and northeast, following natural ridges towards a series of small overlooks that offer better visibility of Breznasobor and the eastern suburbs of Saltzkhost. From there, the team sees evidence of growing Ork habitations and chooses a less established area to strike.
Fireteam Klethos stalks through the underbrush towards the Ork encampment
The population of the Ork encampment is minimal, a few Boyz kicking around their huts and shouting insults at a small collection of gretchin. A quick visual inspection reveals the Orks to be 'Freebootaz' a type of alien mercenary who do not align with their species Klan Kulture.
Klethos steps out from behind the treeline and lets loose a score of Bolt rounds into the Freebootas in the encampment.
The Plasma gunner and the rest of the fireteam, having picked their targets join Klethos' fire into the alien settlement
The Freebootas, alerted now from the untimely death of several of their grotz, swing customized shootas toward the treeline and let loose a very impressive but ultimately ineffective torrent of solid slug rounds towards Fireteam Klethos.
Shots criss-cross Solchnya street as both sides trade heavy fire back and forth
Looking to tip the action into the Imperium's favor, Klethos leaps forward, pulling his combat blade and charging across the street. The rest of the fireteam follows closely behind, coming across the street with a furious charge.
Clearly the Emperor himself smiled upon Klethos' charge, as Imperial shooting during their advance on the encampment proved enough to slay each of the remaining Freebootas. Their steaming corpses slumping to the ground just as the Imperial soldiery made footfall into the camp.
The Imperials quickly begin upturning the camp, looking for ammunition, food, or any other supplies of note that could be carried back.
Klethos, finds an injured Grot, scrabbling through a box of mortar shells. He dispatches the creature with his boot before calling one of the Guildsmen over to add the explosives to his gear.
As the fireteam finishes its digging, Ork Deffskullz arrive from a nearby encampment accompanied by a fearsome Killa Kan. The Imperials beat a hasty retreat with their loot. Brother Klethos stands defiant against the approaching foe.
The Guildsmen, having met the treeline, turn and find their Astartes leader staring down a combined arms Ork assault on his own.
The Mortifactor, unwilling to show his back to the enemy, begins hammering out shots into the closing Orks and their stomping contraption. The guildsmen turn back into the fight and begin hastily adding their fire to Klethos'. Now finding themselves strung out across the road.
The Orks continue forward; the killa kan's 'eavy shoota opens up down the road, hitting with more accuracy than might normally be anticipated from the greenskins thanks to its grot pilot. One of the guildsmen is struck by a round and collapses to the ground with a non-fatal injury. This convinces his comrade furthest from the road to make for an escape with his share of the captured goods.
The Orks are closing in on Fireteam Klethos.
The Plasma Gunner lets out a despairing cry as Brother Klethos is engaged by the whole of the encroaching Orks. The Astartes warrior does not flinch, instead producing a Krak grenade alongside his combat blade and diving low under the massive swing of the Killa Kan's buzzing saw blade.
A massive detonation occurs, bathing the area in a haze of smoke. Now the valley comes alive with the clamour of nearby Ork's. The sounds of violence sufficent to begin truly rousing the horde. The Plasma Gunner picks up his wounded compatriot, casting furtive glances over his shoulder at the burning remnants of the encampment. The trio of guildsmen makes for the ridges before the Orks close on them
In the aftermath, Brother Klethos was reduced to -1 wounds, even after his additional 'free' Transhuman Physiology wound. In the end he did manage to slay the Killa Kan, but was himself laid low by the explosion of his Krak Grenade. I decided to roll twice on the serious injuries chart for him, one for each of the 'death' wounds he sustained. His first gives him "Old Battle Wounds," meaning that his lingering injuries from this encounter may preclude him from being included in future games if he is chosen by the players. I think it is justifiable to say that an Astartes in the field and distant from the Apothecaries of his brotherhood maybe experience some hardship after a one-on-one melee against an Ork light walker.
His second score, gives him 'Bitter Enemy: Killa Kan' in the context of Mordhiem this would have meant the character gained Hatred against the specific character that injured them. As I'm running things in a bit of a modified way (to say the least) I'm going to treat this as any Killa Kan that Klethos might encounter. It's probably safe to say that he's gotten a bit of a vendetta against them now.
In the dusk hours, forward pickets occupying fresh trenches at the edge of 2 Platoon's position on Bruno avenue. A lumbering form, steaming with small embers of cordite smoke still burning off its chipped and broken armor.
Klethos, holding a blood slick Ork Choppa spoke from the gatering darkness.
"Ready yourselves, they are coming"
Thank you for reading!
-Your Favorite Madman-
