The Fangs of the Wolf

Written by Ben Hodges
ben.hodges@talk21.com

“Three fragging days we’ve been out here and not a trace of the enemy! I know HQ have their reasons but still, three squads just to hold this communications post in the middle of nowhere. At least it’s not like I’m in any danger, not like those saps on the front line.”

* * * * * *

Gunnar moved silently through the trees, following the directions that flashed up on the inside of his visor. Scenting the still air he picked up the familiar odours of his wolf brothers and their equipment, he turned his head slightly and saw them, shadowy figures slipping through the bushes to his left and right.

Suddenly a pinprick of red light appeared about 20 feet ahead of him; he raised his hand to halt the squad while he saw what this was. As he watched it, it moved in an upwards arc and began to glow more brightly, at the same time the scent of tobacco came to his nostrils and he growled involuntarily. He gave the prearranged command to his brothers and they moved out.

* * * * * *

The sentry looked around nervously as he smoked, not that he was at all worried you understand but he’d never liked the dark and anyway, sometimes he’d swear these woods moved. He drew back his hand to throw the cigarette from him but froze as the shadows before him suddenly gathered together and rose up towards him.

* * * * * *

Dropping the body of the sentry over the wall the wolf scout moved on, tapping his ear bead mike he activated it and reported in, “Target three down, no trouble here.” Gunnar listened to the reports coming in, when all five targets were eliminated he broke his silence and sent out on squad frequency “Objective one complete, prepare for entry.”

The pack soon gathered at the main entrance, moving like ghosts in the half-light of dawn. Melta bombs were soon fixed to the door and activated. The resulting explosions broke the door in half and melted the surrounding frame. Moving swiftly inside they were met by two stunned guards, knives flashed briefly but not before one of the guards hit the alarm button.

“The time for silence is over, my brothers”, Gunnar commanded, “We must prevent a message being sent at all costs. Forward!”

The squad drew their weapons and moved on, their power swords glinting blue in the harsh lighting of the corridors. A bleary-eyed, half-awake guardsman stumbled out of a side passage to investigate the alarm. A blade cut through the air and two separate thuds were heard as the body hit the ground. A signal from Gunnar sent Ragnar and his flamer down the passage to clear out any remaining guards. The rest of the scouts prowled onwards. The other three were soon sent down side passages as well to search for any resistance and the comm centre. Gunnar made his way along the passage cautiously, the alarms having died some minutes earlier, he carefully looked around the corner and saw a room guarded by two men. “This must be the place” he thought before ordering his pack to join him. They gathered by the corner and prepared for the assault. Ragnar leapt out from the junction spraying liquid flame down the corridor, the guardsmen never saw him and any attempt to cry out was prevented by the engulfing flames. The squad spread out by the door, at a whispered command by Gunnar two bolt pistols stitched a hole in the centre of the door and frag grenades were thrown through. The resulting explosions blew the door into the corridor and the carnage was revealed. The radio operator was still sitting on his chair with blood leaking from his nose and ears where the concussion had hit and the other men were lying around the room in varying stages of dismemberment. Gunnar moved in swiftly and removed the radio operator from his seat. Finding the correct frequency he swiftly sent out his message. He then destroyed the console with a correctly placed melta charge, all that was left now was clearing the post of its former inhabitants. “Let’s cleanse this place, brothers.”

* * * * * *

Orbiting the planet, the Space Wolf force waited impatiently. The reports came in from the surface and were passed on. “Their defences are down, Lord Grimnar. They are ripe for the picking.”

Laughing aloud, Logan replied “Well then my brothers, prepare for battle! We move now!”

Fiction