Force Majeure Session Two: Securing the Landing Zone

By mathey, in Only War Fan Fiction and War Stories

WARNING: Spoilers for No Surrender.


Alpha Squad moves up a corridor in the damaged docking arm as power and gravity fails. They see the Severan Dominate defenders closing a hatch door to seal it off from the collapsing, venting structure. The Troopers lead their comrades in an assault on the door, braving intense fire from heavy bolters and lasguns. While the hatch is closed by the rebel forces, the squad quickly re-opens it and charges in.


The Guard battles with entrenched traitors who try to keep them suppressed from behind crude metal bunkers. Using their jump packs, several members of Alpha are able to get to several catwalks overlooking the bunkers. Despite coming under fire from an enemy soldier wielding a flamer, the squad continues its advance and overcomes the embedded defenders.


There is little time to celebrate their initial victory in gaining a foothold, as the docking arm has collapsed and they must claim another one in order for Imperial landers to safely reach the star fort. Accompanied by Lieutenant Sava Nikishin, the ranking surviving officer of the Void Shrikes, and his small fragment of remaining Vostroyans, the 1st Aerial Assault presses on past the juncture at the base of the arm and moves up another arm's massive corridors.


While they encounter more foot infantry manning simple bunkers, their new approach puts them at their enemy's flanks. The Troopers capture several weapon emplacements that were firing on Imperial Navy vessels along the way, and they cut down the surprised defenders left and right.


Alpha Squad ends up in the hangar bay at the terminus of the functional docking arm and the Commissar confers with Sergeant Kravos, the NCO who now commands their Platoon following the death of Lieutenant Grimes in action. Lieutenant Nikishin makes some suggestions on defense preparations and the officers come up with a plan for an expected counter attack.


The Vostroyans and Aerial Assault will have to hold the docking arm against the traitors while the Imperial reinforcements are sent to Lycurgos. If they fail, the enemy will be able to easily destroy the slow landing craft before they gain a foothold.