Horror at Hougham

Looking around the dimly lit APC Corporal Teach snorted to himself.  Top brass had not been happy with the way things had unfolded at Maxton goods holding yard and to make amends they had decided that the 2^nd Company of the Dubris Planetary Defence Force should spend some time patrolling the Quartz zone. That was bad enough in itself, but he and his troops had been assigned to Hougham without, an area that had an ill-repute.  The rumours were that the place was riddled with tunnels made by who knows what and that people went missing there.  As the APC was coming to a stop, Medic Norcross leant over and gave Teach a hip flask.  “Have a swig of that Teach, doctor`s orders, it looks like you could do with it.  Teach gave the medic a wry smile and took a swig from the flask before handing it back to the medic.  Standing up Teach looked at the soldiers in the APC “Right, we`ll make this fast.  I don`t want to spend any more time in this accursed place than the rest of you.  Rackham, Bonny, Hornigold, Skyrme, Norcross you are with Read, take the left flank.  L`Oloanais, Kidd, Avery, Vane, you are with me, we`ve got the right.  Keep your eyes out for any danger people.  Now, dismount!”

The vibrations from the APC must have alert the creature to presence of the PDF.  No sooner had the troopers started their patrol than the creature burst from out of the ground near Lance corporal Read`s fireteam.  A look of terror crossed Read`s face as she recognised the creature, an Ambull.

Without out hesitation all of the soldiers opened fire.  A hail of shots from Las-guns, Auto-guns, bolt-guns, hit the creature most deflected harmlessly off its chitinous armour.  The concentrated fire from the auto-guns of Hornigold and Rackham blew a hole in its almost impregnable hide.

Enraged the Ambull charged towards the cause of the pain it had suffered.  Hornigold and Rackham continued spraying the creature with auto-gun fire blowing a second hole in the Ambull, but nothing could stop its relentless charge.  The two troopers tried to hold off the Ambull, but a backhand sent Rackham flying backwards through the air.

Ignoring the looming presence of the creature Norcross rushed over to the injured Rackham.  His injured were severe, broken ribs, internal bleeding, but he would survive if they could get him to proper care.  The medics fearless example in coming to the aid of the injured trooper spurred the rest of the squad into action.  They charged into combat to support the embattled Hornigold.

The melee was a blur of preternatural strength and human determination.  The two forces were finally balanced until Corporal Teach ordered his men to open fire into the melee.  In their attempts to help their comrades they managed to take three of them out of the fight leaving Hornigold to be crushed in the claws of the dread Ambull.

The Ambull`s beady eyes scanned the area trying to decide which of its prey it should pursue next.  For a moment it gazed at Norcross, but its attention was soon focused on Teach and his men as they opened fire on it.  Shots once more bounced off its hide and the creature roared as it charged towards the squad of PDF troopers.

The Ambull first disembowelled L`Oloanais, then it crushed Avery`s skull with its second swipe.  This was more than the troops could take and they broke and ran.  Two soldiers were cut down as they tried to flee from the fearsome.  Only Corporal Teach was able to stay ahead of it.

As the creature feasted on the bodies of his comrades, Norcross lead those that he had managed to help to safety.  Lance corporal Read (light arm injury), trooper Rackham (serious chest injury), and trooper Skyrme (maimed left leg) owed their lives to the bravery of the medic.