Yarrick The Omnibus (Warhammer 40,000) by David Annandale

Author:David Annandale
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, pdf
Publisher: Games Workshop
Published: 2018-06-15T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

Prelude to Volcanus

1. YARRICK

We rode hard. There would be no rest until Volcanus, and none then either. The troopers slept on their benches. Drivers took shifts. The convoy travelled without stopping. The flames of Tempestora followed us through the rest of the night and were still bright in the dim morning. Before the hive disappeared over the horizon, a cloud of dust rose next to it. The orks were on the move again. Our lead was a small one.

Setheno and I met with Stahl and the other captains in the lead Chimera. We examined the map of Armageddon Prime on his data-slate, and raised Brenken on the vox.

‘How are the defences?’ I asked.

‘Progressing well,’ she said.

‘Will they be finished?’

‘I could do with an extra year. But they’ll be as finished as time permits. Your actions bought us several new tunnels and a completed redoubt. That’s valuable. You have my thanks.’ She knew there were other soldiers present, and was speaking for their benefit. ‘Captain Stahl,’ she added, ‘well done.’

Mora, a florid-faced officer with greying stubble, frowned but held his peace. The rest of the officers did not react to Brenken’s reminder of which captain had command. I made a note to watch Mora.

‘Thank you, colonel,’ said Stahl. ‘What are your orders? We are currently making all speed to reinforce your position.’

The vox spat static while she thought.

‘The Chimeras will be welcome,’ she said. ‘But given our casualties, we have to consider what will be the most effective use of our strength.’

‘A few hundred bodies added to the main force won’t make a significant difference,’ I said.

‘I’ll rely on your judgement,’ said Brenken. ‘Can you slow them down still further with harrying attacks? More time at this end would help.’

I exchanged glances with Setheno and Stahl. They looked as doubtful as I felt.

‘We still don’t have a clear idea of the enemy’s strength,’ the captain pointed out.

‘Beyond the fact that it is considerable,’ Setheno said.

‘The ork warlord held back much of his strength at Tempestora,’ I said.

‘He did what?’ Brenken sounded as alarmed as she should be. ‘What kind of ork does that?’

‘He is called Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka,’ I said. ‘We would do well to remember that name. His destruction will be key to ending this threat. The danger he represents is something we have never encountered before.’

‘Then reconnaissance is our best move,’ said Brenken.

‘It is.’

‘Captain,’ she told Stahl, ‘learn what you can of the enemy heading for Volcanus. We’ll decide on our course of action based on what you learn.’

Surveillance meant giving up our lead. The loss wasn’t a great one. We were a few hours ahead of the orks, a few hours that had no clear tactical value, and that could be taken from us if it turned out that the orks had any form of air support.

We were on the main highway linking Tempestora to Volcanus. Though repair crews worked on its length constantly, Armageddon’s brutal climate and the heavy volume of traffic that normally travelled it had left its surface cracked, pitted and uneven.

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