This True Action Story is of TWO Brave Praetorian Guardsmen loyally manning their gun, under the unrelenting assault of a fanatical force of woman warriors. "Target advancing vehicle, front aspect... 24 degree left." Corporal Higgins barked the orders as he had a hundred times before. "Target, 24 degree left, Confirmed." Private Bloggins confirmed the order, as he had done a hundred times before. They were a team, 4 components - the Corporal, the Private, the Lascannon and the Machine God itself - combined into one deadly artillery piece, the true god of war. The Lascannon re-levelled after the last shot, and moved slightly to the left, sighting up on the assaulting vehicle. "Range... 382 metres..." "Range 382 metres, Confirmed" The crosshairs settled on the centre of the vehicle's mass. "Confirm Power Level...", running out of power was always on the Corporal's mind, it had happened once before, in the heat of battle, and he had vowed to stay on top it ever after. The Private checked the level indicator, "Only one shot left... best make it count". He scanned the corner of the trench, mentally confirming the number of Lascannon power Cells they had remaining. "FIRE !" screamed Corporal Higgins, as the vehicle turned slightly, improving the shot's chances. "LASER AWAY!" The Lascannon flared up, flashing its bright beam of destruction across the trenches, and streaking across the battle field faster than anyone could tell; ending its path in an explosion, as the vehicle was torn apart. "Target Destroyed..." Corporal Higgins reported. "RELOAD!" called the Private, he turned to the corner of the trench and shuffled over in the tight confines of the trench, and picked up a fresh Cell. His ears perked up, "You hear something ?" he whispered to the Corporal. Corporal Higgins turned his head, taking his eyes away from the binoculars, and listened, wary of infiltrators coming in from behind. The Private cried out at the noise "HALT! Who goes there? Sgt.Miller, that you ?...". At first it did look like the squad leader Sergeant Miller, however when it got too close, it changed, morphing itself into that of a deadly shape-shifting assassin. Bloggins cry out again "Bloody Hell! ASSASSIN! ASSASSIN! Its a BLOODY Shape Shifting ASSASSIN SHE-BITCH", he voice trailed off into his own obscure Battle Cry. He immediately grabbed the nearest handy item, the heavy Lascannon power Cell, and as the She-Bitch stood on the verge of edge of the trench, with all his might & rage swung it against the stealthy black attack-tress striking her hard against the side of her evil face, laying her out flat on her back, but still alive. The Corporal out of immediate reach, picked up a nearby rock and threw it on her, crushing her broken skull into bits. Her body lying outside the trench, broken, without ever having made even a single attack. And so it was recorded, two Brave Praetorian Gunners who with nothing more then their _Bare Hands_ and _Bold Hearts_ triumphantly defeated their ignorant Foe. Both men were awarded "Lady Elspeth's Cross of Courage". Corporal Higgins was promoted Sergeant, and is now commanding the Battalion's Lascannon Battery. Private Bloggins, promoted Corporal, is widely recognised as the "Battalion's Deadiest Man with a Lascannon Cell"; the fame however has not yet gone to his head. Additionally, both men wear the Battalion's mark of a Chosen Man, a white strip around his right arm, denoting expertise and respect in his field; as well as exemption from extra duties. A Truly Inspiring Story for Loyalist, and a Fear Inspiring tale for our Enemies. Good Night, and Machine God Blessings to all. - by Lawrence, Sept. 21, 2001