The explosive bolts dropped 3 of the Guardsmen, followed by a burst from the Marines’ Flamer which sent another 3 Guardsmen screaming from the battle and washed up against the still-closing rear hatch on the Chimera. The volatile Pyrethrium washed over the Chimera’s fuel cells, and with a ear-splitting roar, the Chimera was torn apart from within.
Ducking flying shrapnel, the remaining Guardsmen held firm, but were simply ripped apart in the ensuing charge from the enraged Marines.
Down on the other flank, the Scouts and second Tactical Squad charged past the wreckage of venerable Shadowbane, Bolt-fire from the scouts dropping several of the opposing Guardsmen.
The leading squad’s momentum carried them forward towards the Lascannon Sentinel, and the novices ducked in under the walker, firing Bolt Pistols at point-blank range into the vehicles armour, and driving their combat knives into the leg joints. One of the Scout’s bolts ripped through the Lascannon’s power-pack, and the young Marines were thrown to the ground in the ensuing explosion, two of their number unable to rise again. The others advanced implacably into the nearby Guard squad.
The Guard attempted to reform their bruised line, with the squad on the left flank moving up, and the Commissar bravely urging the Command Squad behind a convenient rocky outcrop, out of the line-of-fire from Ragnarok’s Assault Cannon.
On the right flank, a full volley from the Leman Russ ripped the second Tactical Squad apart, the sole surviving Marine regardless picking himself up and resuming his implacable advance. The Troopers attempted to overwhelm the leading Scout squad with weight of numbers, and managed to drop one of the novice Marines, but lost one of their own number to the Scout’s Combat Knives.
The advancing first Tactical Squad brought their bolters to bear once more, zeroing in on the opposing Guard squad.
The volley punched 4 of the opposing Guardsmen from their feet, and sent the rest scurrying towards the rear, to attempt to hide behind the Commissar’s coat.
Ragnarok’s Assault Cannon coughed to life, rounds pinging off the rocks and a single bullet spinning a Command Squad trooper to the ground.
Meanwhile, the second Scout squad piled into combat, and between them the two Scout squads were simply too much for the beleagured Guardsmen, cutting them down to a man.
In response, the Guard’s heavy weapons attempted to redeem their fallen comrades, with Heavy Bolter fire killing two of the scouts, and a burst of Multilaser shots from the remaining Sentinel felling the sole Tactical Marine accompanying the Scouts.
