20060717

Head Hunt

a second chapter to the 'Enforcer' charecter...


-=-=-=-

“It’s time to move out! This is getting to be a bad habit Enforcer Fist – having to wake you up whenever something needs to be done.”

Fist peered through the fogginess of his sleep deprived mind and eyes. Sergeant Taylor stood at the foot of his bed just inside the doorway of his room, he was in full kit. “I’m up sarge,” he said as his feet met the cold tiled floor.

“We’ve got a lead on some Goliath troublemakers and I want to move before they catch wind of our intentions. Be in the briefing room in 10 minutes,” and with that Sergeant Taylor headed on down the hall banging on a couple more barracks doors as he went. Fist glanced over at his chronometer. 0343 – still pre day-cycle, ugh.

-=-=-=-

Once outside of the compound the dome light levels still had not been brightened to signal the start of the day-cycle and Fist could barely make out the outlines of his fellow patrol members. Silver was the easiest to ID as he carried the Heavy Stubber for the group, but Corporal Giant was harder. Unless he turned to face you it was virtually impossible to make out the slight blue glow emitted from his suppression shield, but differentiating between Sergeant Taylor and Alpha was another matter. Both were equipped identically with bolt pistols holstered. But K9.0 was another matter. Anyone who’s heard the gyros of a kill-dog revving up for an attack cannot help but know what is near – even in near perfect darkness.

“Fist, on me,” called out Sergeant Taylor. “Once we enter the Goliath compound you’re to stay close to me and Corporal Giant here.”

“We must move swiftly Sergeant.” At first Fist thought the almost inaudible whisper came from the Corporal, but when he had turned his head to peer into the darkness as well, he pulled his shotgun up and to the ready. Sergeant Taylor put his hand gently, but firmly, on top of the shotgun and pushed it down. “We must go now,” the whisper called out again.
“Alright lead on, but know that any treachery will be dealt with swift retribution,” the Sergeant replied in a whisper. There was no visible reaction from the vague outline of the down-hiver, and they moved on into the inky darkness.

-=-=-=-

The glow-lights slowly had begun to illuminate as they closed in on their target. Just short of a small tunnel through a pile of debris Sergeant Taylor called the patrol to a halt. Without a word he indicated that Alpha and his kill-dog were to patrol the area and prevent the patrol from being ambushed from behind. The rest were signaled to follow him through the tunnel.

It was only about fifty meters to the far side. It opened up into a cluttered dome that had obviously seen a partial collapse. The roof was only ten to twenty meters above their head, and many structures that had once soared up into the air, now lay ruined on their side making it very difficult to traverse very far without having to climb over, under, or around some sort of barricade. Before they were aware of it they were practically on top of Ripper. Only forty meters away, but behind several stacks of crates, he was alone.

Sergeant Taylor signaled Silver to take the left flank with his Heavy Stubber. Fist was to follow him and Corporal Giant underneath a lone remaining walkway connecting to the building their target was in. The trio had made it halfway towards their prey from the tunnel when it became apparent that their arrival had been anticipated.

“I wondered when Lord Helmawr’s lackeys would arrive. You are just in time for our morning target practice,” and with that Ripper whistled out and ducked behind some crates. Immediately a Goliath heavy stepped from the far shadows and let loose with a flurry of rounds from his heavy stubber, Thud, thud, thud Silver dropped with several impacts across his Carapace armor. Although he was stirring there was a lot of blood coming from a nasty wound to the left side of his face. Sergeant Taylor paid him no mind and pushed Fist and Corporal Giant forward. “We are here to get that scumbag,” was all the sergeant said as he motioned in Ripper’s direction.

The trio moved forward using an overhead gantry as a shield from the enemy Heavy Stubber, but the side effect was that it also blocked their view of Ripper’s perch. “Come on now. Helmawr’s finest, hiding like sump spiders! What will the boys back at the precinct house say,” came a taunt from the shadows above. Sergeant Taylor halted the group and as he looked up into the darkness above autogun fire thudded into the crates on their right causing all of them to flinch. The incoming fire caused Corporal Giant to pivot and place his shield between himself and the new threat. Fist moved back into a pile of barrels and discarded industrial debris for more protection and Sergeant Taylor began to return fire with his Bolt Pistol. “Fist, keep moving and deliver our message!”

Thwip, thwip, thud, thwang! The Goliath Heavy found his range and angle once more. For now Fist was being ignored as all of the incoming fire was directed at the Sergeant and the Corporal keeping them pinned in place. Fist had to crawl under and through the debris he found himself in and as he cleared the other side he could clearly make out the form of the Massive Goliath standing boldly on a walkway just short of the dome ceiling. His form bathed in light in time with the staccato of his heavy stubber. Thwing, twang, thud, thud, *grunt* Fist heard one of his companions groan under at least one impact from the machine gun zeroing in on their position.

Without waiting to discern the effect it had on his fellow Enforcer Fist switched the selector switch on his combat shot gun to slug and took time to ensure he was aiming center mass of the Goliath currently raining death on his companions. BOOM! was the report from his shotgun. It was not clear if his round had found its mark, but the effect was the immediate silencing of the enemy’s weapon. Pwoom! a bolter round impacted against a barrel adjacent to Fist’s face. Fortunately the round penetrated the drum and exploded on the interior causing the lid to blow a good fifteen meters in the air.

Without hesitation Fist pivoted to his right and took aim in the general direction his peripheral vision had caught a flash. Switching the selector to ‘special’, BOOM! he let fly a round specializing on hunting out entrenched foes.

“Hungh!,” came the reply from the shadows above. Fist was about to mount the ladder leading up to the concealed perch when the Goliath Heavy Stubber began to bark again, this time directed towards him. Thwang, thupp, thupp, thwip

Sergeant Taylor called him back.

“Nice work Fist. You get to keep your job for another day. Let’s pull back and check on Silver.” And then he addressed the shadows, “What’s the matter Ripper! Got nothing left to say?!?” But only silence greeted them.

“Aaaaaagh!” came a cry from the right and as a youthful looking Goliath came into the shadowy light. Sergeant Taylor calmly leveled his bolt pistol and squeezed off several rounds, Crack, Crack! finding their mark neatly in his chest knocking him back off his feet. The message was clear and he didn’t get back up.
The rest of the Goliaths kept their distance and could not put effectual fire on the Enforcers line of retreat. Silver was still moving around and groaning on the floor, but clutching his heavy stubber. Now that he was closer Fist could see that there was severe damage to the heavy’s face. It looked to him that most of the flash, and probably some bone was missing from his left cheek bone on down to his jaw line. The medics would have to piece together and replace most of the side of his face, but other than that it looked like he would live.