The Gann's Race

The Belismar Boys got moving as Sweetfruit fell in Blur induced slow motion face first.

Retribution

Debris jagged,burning, molten, toxic and crushing blazed down from on high. The kalm kept the Belismar boys disciplined in the bombardment despite squads being instantly obliterated as some of the larger chunks hit pay dirt. Athelwist nudged Alfus and signalled look at the Gann and Sweetfruit. The Gann was signalling, "Blur 75%, Kalm, 25% By squads move NW." Sweetfruit looked furious and was pointing to the South towards the still distant rumble of machinery. He drew his powersword. He is mine signalled Alfus to Athelwist, rapidly taking aim and firing a burst with his lasrifle.

Orbital Strike

"I want a tactical strike on the identified orbital defenses of the target", ordered Hawk.
"I can send a battlefield orbital bombardment group from cover at max gees to hit the target in the identified solar orbital within 30 minutes. They will hit the exposed orbital defenses with a targeted bombardment of lance strikes plus area and randomised bombardments to maximize results using an orbital bounce to minimize risk to the fleet detachment," stated Captain Pilgrim.
"Expected collateral", demanded Hawk.
"Our tactical analysts predict 50% probability of 75% damage to Belismar boys, who at the moment are irretrievable. After the bombardment they predict 100% recovery or the residue." Replied Pilgrim.
"Where is Sweetfruit?" asked Hawk.
"With the Belismar command Squad"
"Do it." Ordered Hawk.

Flash Bang

Flaming debris from the Thunderhawk fell with thuds and screams from the Belsimar Boys. Shots started sniping in from the horizon. The rattling grinding noise was coming closer. A second Thunderhawk fusion flame appeared over head. This time the blazing line from the horizon was steady and a second explosion flared overhead. A third fusion flame appeared above and the leeringly bright line joined it to the horizon and was almost immediately followed by yet another blazing flaring debris casting detonation.

Alfus and Athelwist cowered in a depression on the ground they had so recently captured. One of the first transport's engines had crashed on to the command platoon crushing the Captain.

"Lost three Thunderhawks!" snapped Inquisitor Hawk. "Stop the disengagement."

Splashdown

Hammerhand fell the last few kilos but hit the sea with little visible impact other than a few ripples on its wind disturbed surface. The energy transference system of his survival suit consumed the kinetic energy of his arrival, storing it for use to propel him in his survival suit to the shore. Hammerhand set sail for the distant port he and Hawk had identified as the planets major transportation hub including docks and a spaceport.

Some Light

"Where is that cursed transport", snarled Athelwist. The Belismar boys were getting restless. There was an ominous rumbling creaking noise just over the horizon. Masks on was signalled, kalm 100%. Complaints died down amongst the Chemdogs. "It should be here soon", signalled Alfus with his fingers. "They told us it would be a quick in and out, bit like you Athelwist."
At that moment a blaze of light appeared above. "Thunderhawk on fusion drive," Alfus nudged Athelwist and waved his gaze upwards.

A beam of light seared from the distant horizon seeking and joining with the fusion flare of the thunderhawk. The fusion light wobbled twice and a colossal flash lit the sky.

Here comes trouble thought Hammerhand as he saw the searing flash on the distant horizon.

A Quiet Moment

The world below seemed innocently peaceful. As he fell Hammerhand's mind drifted back to his apprenticeship on Mars with the Enginseers. The satellite images that Hawk had shown him of this world reminded Hammerhand strongly of Mars and the manufactoriums and design workshops, yet unlike Mars many parts of this planet seem pristine, untouched by habitation.

Freefall

Hammerhand enjoyed the rush of air past his face. He was now in the lower atmosphere floating down at a mere 250kph. It had been a roller coaster ride until now. Almost all of the energy of his drop onto the planet had been stored in the entry suit by the creation of a handful of antimatter molecules held in magnetic field. The micro particle converter had been one of his own creations. He had not bothered telling Hawk knowing his antipathy to anything that was not classical Imperial technology. He had jettisoned it at 8km. It had exploded spectacularly halfway across the planet. He hoped that and the Belismar boys would get the attention of anyone on the ground.

More Hand Signals

Standing amidst the shattered bodies of the enemy Alfus saw hand signals flickering around the platoon again. The Lieutenant had ordered kalm only, blur off, form perimeter, hold position, await thunderhawks. Alfus slipped off his mask as everything slowed down. Too much blur and you burned up. How much was too much was an imperial secret.
He nudged his mate, "What do you reckon they are, twists?" He pointed at the shattered armoured suits scattered around."
"Do you reckon we should do a Yarrick now we're finished with gun-babies?"
"Why not," Athelwist replied. "What about that over there, that smart expensive looking box?"

Look at That!

Shards of tracer flicked past Alfus and his squad. They were breathing kalm so it seemed as dangerous as a light show. The shards flickered and steadied on one of the pods. It glowed red and then exploded shredding a squad that had just disembarked. More pods were pitching down, their thudding impact drowned by the throaty crack of the enemy fire. Hand signals semaphored from squad to squad. The chem dogs passed orders by hand as their masks precluded verbal orders.
Alfus read the signal, mix kalm with blur 50:50 and advance on enemy. Forward we go he thought as blur coursed through his muscles. On this mix the squad advanced at the double. The enemy tracer fire seemed so slow that Alfus tried to catch some in his hand until he realised that was a bad idea. The Belismar boys rocket forwards covering the 2 kilos to the enemy guns in under a minute. More hand signals, this time torch them. Alfus open fire on the armoured figures that appeared to move incredibly slowly as they reacted to the sudden appearance of the troopers.
Soon their armour began to glow and split under the impact of hundreds of lasgun shots at close range.