ARTEMIS KLENCH

     There are few things as beautiful as an Imperial Leman Russ 'Demolisher' Siege Tank. Sixty-eight tons of steel and ceramic (seventy-two with full combat loading) with enough fire power to take out a city block in the blink of an eye. Especially one of the Cerebus 306th Tank Regiment. Camouflaged in black, dark grays, oranges and reds. Rumbling, creaking, and moaning through the night with the background sounds of Imperial radio chatter.
     The smell of ozone, benzene and exhaust bathed the turret hatch as Commander Artemis Klench rested his elbows on the opening. Drumming his fingers on the stock of the storm bolter as he scanned the scenery. Scenery - battered, abused and vacant ruins of the Imperial City of Oxethy clawing at the ink black sky of Gahenna III.
     Somewhere up there locked in orbit hung the Imperial battle fleet that brought him here for the sole reason of destroying anything even remotely resembling Chaos. The only thing he had found so far was an orbital bombardment that eliminated his entire command save him. He still wasn't sure whether it was form a Chaos warship or Imperial but the fact remained that his tank was alone and still needed to rendevouz with the Capela 1034th Heavy Armor Regiment on the far side of Oxethy. That shouldn't be a problem given Oxethy was deserted, shouldn't it?
     "Multiple heats three-one-oh degrees", announced the driver over the tank's comm. system. "count between one-three and one-five. One-oh-five meters"
     "Copy! Power up boys! Get ready for some action!" ordered Artemis. "Head for them!" Found something number two.
     Debris popped and crunched as the Demolisher clawed it's way down a dark alley toward the "heats". Artemis could hear the sound of a scuffle as they neared the end of the alley that opened onto a wide boulevard.
     "Halt!" he commanded under his breath into the comm. link.
     The tank lurched to a stop, skidding on a patch of gravel and sat chugging idly. Shortly, sailing into view, flew a Black Templar marine scout landing on his back right at the opening of the alley. Blood trailed in the air from his face, if that was still his face. Following closely behind leapt a bezerker chaos space marine. Leaping nearly eight feet into the air with chain sword held high and whirring loudly. The bezerker landed full force onto the scouts abdomen with his knees, causing the him to spout a gout of blood from his mangled mouth. Clutching his arm he brought down the chainsword with full force and severed his arm at the shoulder. Blood spilled from the torso and quickly pooled into the alley.
     Artemis was shocked, amazed, impressed and enraged at the site of his fellow man being butchered by this traitor. Anger and adrenaline raced through his body. "Hey! You traitorous dog! Why don't you pick on someone MY size!", roared Artemis.
     The bezerker paused his maniacal dismemberment and slowly rose to a height of about seven and a half feet. Turning slowly and clasping both hands into fists, one enclosing the whining chain sword. He took two steps toward the Artemis so he became enclosed in the darkness of the alley and his eyes shown a sickly green. His tortured breath hissed in and out of his face plate.
     Artemis returned his imposing stance with a grin from ear to ear. The sweat of excitement trickled down his back and flanks. "Smile for the BIG GUN you little BITCH!!!!", he growled through the grin.
     Steam vented from the face plate of the bezerker and he disappeared, having leapt straight into the air. Artemis raised the Demolisher Cannon and slammed the firing button. The tank ached and sagged into the rubble as the cannon discharged it's shell into the air. Blood, gore and debris from the surrounding buildings rained on the tank and Artemis.
     Artemis partially composed himself still unable to wipe the grin from his face, now a grin of ecstasy. "Into the street!", he whispered into the comm. system.
     The tank lurched to life and continued it's clawing along the alley and into the street, smearing the obviously dead scout on the way. As soon as they were free Artemis swiveled the turret down the street toward where the rest of the "heat" should be. About twenty meters away, now distracted, stood ten bezerkers beating the living daylights out of a squad of Black Templar scouts. The bezerkers all turned toward the Demolisher. Hissing and steaming and whirring their chain swords, they glared at the site of the black Demolisher crunching, creaking and mumbling onto the thoroughfare. Side sponson heavy plasma guns rotated forward to meet the scene. The lascannon swung in compliance.
     Artemis, now standing on the rims of the hatch, surveyed the ruins and the sites of carnage. "Ready all weapons! Fire on my mark!" mumbled Artemis into the comm. system. The Demolisher ground to a halt.
     "All right who wants some? Come-on you pussies come and get some! There is plenty for all. You wont go home hungry." He eyed each of the bezerkers guaging thier edgieness.
     Any of the scouts still alive limped, crawled or ran for cover. The bezerkers stiffly walked toward the tank that now loomed fully on the street. Face to face. Artemis could hardly contain his excitement.
     Time stalled and everything was noticeable. The same as the moment before you collide in an automobile accident. The moment when you know exactly how everything is going to happen, everything you will do and nothing can change it.
     The bezerkers all vented steam and charged the sole survivor of the Cerebus 306th Tank Regiment. Thundering power armor on the concrete road.
     "With the might of the Emporer himself I send you on the quick road back to the Warp. ... MARK!!!!!", screamed Artemis hands raised in praise to the heavens.
     The Demolisher came alive as every weopon fired. Laser beams blasted from the lascannon, plasma bolts puked from the side sponson heavy plasma guns, and frag grenades were belched from the autolauncher into the oncoming rush of chaos. Each report jolting the tank back some inches. Artemis crouched to the storm bolter and joined in with a steady stream of bolter shells. Ending with the launch of the Hunter-Killer missile off the side of the turret and the Demolisher cannon itself. And the finally punctuating with the sudden blaze of the search light.
     Bits and peices of bezerker bodies, armour and weapons were tossed aside and vaporized as they attempted to navigate the hurrican of destruction.
     The smoke cleared amongst the clatter of falling debris. Nothing remained but a massive charred hole in the road with a small center of clear slag and glass. Artemis shuddered with delight still unable to remove the grin. Oh this tank was beautiful. The shattered building on the left side of the street screamed under the strain and collapsed backward into a sea of dust.
     "Oh baby!", muttered Artemis as he braced himself on the opening of the hatch.
     Crunch. Artemis, startled, fumbled at the stormbolter and swung it dead square at the scout sergeant in the doorway of a ruin. One eye had been replaced by a messy, empty, red socket. His left ear was missing and there was a chunk missing from his left leg that would have made any normal man collapse in agony. The sergeant just stared at Artemis. Partly in disbelief and what he had just witnessed.
     "Imperial Leman Russ Seige Tank Commander Artemis Klench of the Cerebus 306th Tank Regiment. Do you require any assistance?" declared Artemis. Then realizing he was pointing the stormbolter at him quickly swung it aside.
     The sergeant continued to stare for more moments then, chuckling, replied, "Thank You, Commander Clench. Having cleared this area we will signal for Evac. You have helped much." He limped out to lean on the track of the Demolisher, trying to take the pain from his leg.
     "Scouts! Front and center." Bellowed the sergeant.
     "What's your destination Commander?" asked the sergeant as the scouts scrambled painfully into formation.
     "Starport Pythias." he answered.
     "How many are there of you?" the sergeant asked.
     "Five." he replied.
     "Five", the sergeant repeated, "Where are they?"
     "Right here in this baby. Crew of five and the best tank crew in all of Cerebus", Artemis banged his palm on the turret.
     "Cre-! Only one tank. In the middle of this place?" sputtered the sergeant in wonder.
     "Yes, sir. Rest lost due to orbital bombardment." replied Artemis. "We have just enough fuel to reach our rendevouz."
     "Good luck guardsman. The way to the Starport is not all clear. You will meet resistance." cautioned the sergeant.
     "Well, the Emperor himself and this baby will see us through. We have no doubt on that." Artemis exclaimed proudly.
     "No doubt on that", the sergeant said through a smile. "Far well Commander Artemis Clench and may the Emperor be with you." the sergeant blessed.
     The tank rumbled from idle and began to move forward. The sergeant hobbled out of the way. "...And may the Emperor be with you as well!" replied Artemis replied beaming.
     The tank picked up speed. Thundering beneath a battered traffic sign that read: Pythias Starport 47 km. The sign collapsed to the road with a heavy clang after they passed.
     The sergeant continued to chuckle. as he watched the Demolisher pass his troops. "You know they'll never make it" warned one of his scouts. The one with a large gash on his chest and blood streaming down his face from multiple head wounds leaning against a wall.
     "That crazy guardsman. If he doesn't make it, great. The galaxy is not safe with someone like him alive. On the other hand, if he does make it", he turned to the scout, "I almost pity the forces of Chaos" mused the sergeant.
     Into his comm. link, "Scout squad nine requesting evac at coordinates ..."
End.

ARTEMIS KLENCH

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