Leic-Arrian Conflict - Imperial Guard

5th Tiranian Light Infantry movements and battles on Leic-Arran

Captain Uartus lifted his head from the map and starred out into the cold night air. The imperial navy had dropped his force just at the start of the northern most mountain range. Captain Fredricson and the remaining garrison force had turned up a little later.

Lord Dante " Uartus you are to move to comms station 23/24 and secure planet wide comms."

Captain Uartus " Tiranian infantry forces moving out sir"

Uartus muttered under is breath. Lord Dante had forgotten to take into account that there was not enough transports for the whole force to be mobilised together. The airborne corps would have to go first and the rest of the regiment would move up on foot.

Captain Uartus " Ziggs get moving, the rest of the regiment will follow on behind you on foot, take Captain Fredricson's garrisons force but you have operational command. May the Emperor go with you and be advised that there could be 'nids on the road up. Uartus out."

Captain Uartus "Ziggs, your on your own the regiment has been ordered to support Colonel Rock of the Catachan 35th and his penal battalions hold Pegasus Bridge just to the south of your position. Uartus out."

The demolisher exploding knocked Ziggs clean off his feet. Well 'Mad Mike' had done it this time, he'd ordered the tank support to steam forward and the infantry had not been able to keep pace. They had lost 2 tanks so far and the third not being far behind. The flanking manoeuvres had both failed probably due to the appearance of demons in the enemies ranks.

Another explosion rocked the position, the chaos marine land raider was raising hell and there was nothing anybody could do about it. Coupled with the fact that the raltings had suddenly dropped of the com-net seconds after securing the comms station and Mad Mike had screamed something about 'nids before the demolisher had bought it.

Sod this thought Ziggs, they were getting creamed by concentrated bolter fire. He sounded the general retreat, and where was that artillery support that had been promised. Corporal Jones was cut in half by an explosion. Ziggs dove for cover, he'd be luck to get out alive never mind back to the rally point.

Sergeant Major Ziggs " Captain Uartus, taking heavy casualties, withdrawing from the comms station. Lost most of the armoured support and the reserves are bogged down on the track ½ a click south of our position,. Over."

Captain Uartus " Ziggs, Commissar Zena wants to speak to you when you return, over."

Sergeant Major Ziggs " If I return, sir, Ziggs out."

Uartus looked at the map, his armoured infantry had been torn apart moving to support the space marine advance on the space port and most of the 'pathfinder' company had mysteriously dropped out of the com-net 2 hours ago. Deta company was holding the landing zone and the tank riding infantry were stuck with the reserve armour. He didn't like this, he would only have 2 companies to attack the bridge with and no reserves.

In the distance Uartus could see the Eldar were fleeing the bridge and the ork attackers looked were intent on chasing the Eldar down. Good that would leave the bridge undefended and he could move in without a fight. Then they could dig in and wait it out till the space marines stopped ponsing about and take the space port.

Lord Dante "Uartus what are you waiting for move to support the 35th Catachan regiment at new location, co-ordinates 256-359. Hurry the situation is worsening. The Eldar will hold the bridge."

Captain Uartus "Lord the Eldar have fled the bridge without a shot being fired. What about the original mission, the bridge is in sight and we could take it up opposed!"

Lord Dante "Your have your orders Captain now follow them! Don't fail me Captain."

Typical marine thought Uartus, glory boys the lot of them. With that Uartus ordered Echo and Foxtrot assualt companies to turn and head for the new location. Seconds later his command chimera followed suite and turned.

Lord Dante "Follow original mission and secure Pegasus Bridge Captain Uartus."

Captain Uartus "But sir we are minutes away from the Catachans, I can see then just up the trail!"

Lord Dante "Now Uartus or I will have your head."

Uartus put his binoculars down, and shouted "incoming air attack, cover." Two ork fighter bombers roared overhead. Then it came the whistling sound and seconds later Uartus flew through the air, the last thing he remmebering seeing was Corporal Scree running back down the road away from the bridge.

Uartus regained consciousness to see the attack on the bridge fail before it has started, the infantry was deployed all wrong and the armour was too far ahead of its infantry support. Immediately he started barking orders into the comms set but already he could see that is was to late. The 53rd Royal Praetorian company was wiped out in one assault. Then the tanks went next, one by one. What had Fredricson being doing?

Lord Dante "Uartus breakthrough the bridge and give immediate fire support to the attack on the space port now!"

Captain Uartus "The resistance on the bridge is too heavy, pulling back sir."

Lord Dante "You will pay for this treachery. Do you hear me Captain."

Uartus stood on the bridge, making the deal with the orks was the best thing that he had done during the campaign. At least he had accomplished is original orders. Shame the commissar had to be killed, he had liked Zena, even admired the man but war was hell.

The artillery fire stopped and all the squads checked in. 2nd Platoon from Foxtrot Assault Company was not answering radio calls. Lieutenant Covak reported that there was nothing left of the platoon's position and had ordered some squads from the 'Pathfinder' company to re-man the positions. Uartus didn't feel right, he sensed that something was wrong not with the artillery fire but with one of the troopers.

In the distance Uartus could see the Blood Angels approaching the bridge. Nothing was going to get through. Not even those pathetic marines. He turned and ordered the artillery to open fire. A minute later a land raider exploded. Within minutes the rest of the armoured vehicles in the marine force had come under repeated artillery fire.

There was panic over the comm-net, something about a strike force behind the Tiranian's line. Minutes later a sergeant radioed in to say that a squad of marines had been killed when they had appeared beside the secondary bridge. A troop of rough riders had ridden them down in a bloody charge.

Moments later there was another out break of panic, Lieutenant Kane reported that several of his squads had disappeared behind the bridge gear house. Uartus could feel something, something was wrong. He thought he saw movement over beside the mortar position. Come to think of it where were the crews.

The artillery had ripped apart the marines armoured convoy. There were a few marines but they were uncoordinated in their attacks. Only moments ago Captain Tycho had been hit by an artillery shell sharing the same fate as Lord Dante had. The heavy weapons marines seemed to be trying to take down the bridge with little effect. Repeated artillery fire eventually drove them off.

Uartus walked over the bridge to survey the damage; over behind a wood an exterminator was burning slowly. That assassin had almost broken out but Uartus had personally put a stop to that. He was alive which was more than could be said for most of the marines that had stupidly charged down the largest guns of the Imperial Guard.

A few assault marines had wiped out a whole company but they had never got close to taking back the bridge. Almost all the armour was still functioning. Better dig in because they would be back in greater numbers. Fighting for the right side or the wrong side, it was all the same thing. Just one day in what Uartus feared would be a long war.

Stuart - Imperial Guard

Last updated: October 30, 2001