Straetenroad 1 (Overrun rooms)

A young man in a rather clean flak armour stood before a long trench going far into the horizon on the both sides. The trench was filled with heavy weapons installations - heavy bolters, autocannons, lascannons, everything that could stop an incoming army. Around the trench were never-ending ruins of a huge city which once brought up lots of youth to Cadian regiments, but behind their backs it was still relatively untouched, with millions of people still living there and hoping to survive past next night. Hundreds of thousands soldiers were stationed around the trench, all busy, going here and there, carrying ammunition for heavy weapon teams and Basilisk artillery installations.

Helios just did his daily 12 hours of heavy lifting and finally had a chance to get a lho-stick break with his fellow comrade pvt. Veronica Lochten, one of the few examples of females serving in the Guard. But the times were dire, a new Black Crusade was hitting Cadia hard, so many women had to take arms to defend the Imperium and somehow earn money for food. Veronica was a cheery fellow, smiling and keeping her spirits up all the time before she could "Die for the Emperor or die trying". With a lho-stick in her grinning mouth and a short blonde braid waving on the slight breeze, she approached Helios and gave the young guardsman a pat on his shoulder.
-Sup, wetpants? Got your share of lifting for today? - she said in a light-hearted tone, smiling widely at Helios.
Helios gave her an annoyed look, as he didn't like that nickname which had no connection to reality whatsoever:
-Cut it out, will ya? I told you many times, commissar just spilled his recaff on my pants! - his somewhat angry remark made Veronica laugh her ass of, which caused a slight smile to appear on Helios's face as well.
-Ah fine, fine, Hely, whatevs. Are you ready? I spoke with Kale from the recon team today, they say that the khornite force is a day-walk from here already. - she said with the same cheery voice as she took a puff of her lho-stick and looked into the sunset where the enemy attack should be expected soon.
Helios smoked for a couple of seconds, recollecting his thoughts and looking into the sunset as well, answering:
-Yeah, more than ready actually. I've asked Lieutenant Parrington to assign us to the same squad under Commissar Mortz, and they say that he's a good man, people under his service fight better and cope well in the 375th. - a slight blush and awkward smile gave him away as he gazed on Veronica, causing her to giggle cutely and say:
-Hah, good job, squaddie! Now we'll have a chance to see each other die from a closer distance! - both of them shared a laugh at Veronica's statement joke, but they were interrupted by a loud announcement from the forward scounts. Khornite army was already approaching.

A few moments later, both of them stood ready in formation, surrounded by their squadmates, before them lied the tench with heavy weapons and the sandbags cover for themselves, should the heavy weapons fail halting the enemy. Basilisk batteries were already unleashing hell on the heretics from afar, but main force had yet to meet the attacker close and personal. Veronica gave Helios a confident smile and a reassuring nod.
-After this, the alcohol is on me. - she said to Helios, holding her lasgun in a position to fire.
Helios nodded back and smiled, anticipating the party. Maybe it would be the good time for him to finally confess as well... but his train of thought was interrupted by the loud sound of autocannons firing at the chaos troops who were already in sight. Measly cultists were falling one by one, giving off only some weak return-fire from laspistols and grenade launchers. Everything seemed well enough for now, Helios' squad wasn't even ordered to shoot yet. But then... bloodthirsters appeared right in the trench, slaughtering the heavy weapon teams with their daemonic swords. Squads of guardsmen were immidiately ordered to fire at the trench, unleashing devastating attack from tens of thousands of lasguns at the same time. It obliterated everything - daemons, cultists, their own guardsmen who were still alive in the trench. Nothing could escape alive... but the heavy-armored Khorne Berzerkers.

Helios was firing all he had in his lasgun, but suddenly Comissar ordered:
-Brace for impact! - and like a clockwork, the entire squad immediately fell down to minimize the impact of a Chaos Predator tank's missile that was launched at them. Helios's head rang a bit after the explosion, but gladly he was not hurt. His eyes immediately started to search for Veronica and he let out a relieved sigh when he saw her smiling face and a thumbs-up, raising to fire back at the enemy... only to be encountered by loud screams
"BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOOOOD! AAARGRRGAAARGARGARGA!!"
Three Khorne Berzerkers charged at their squad, but the array of lasgun fire could manage to kill only one of them before the rest were in melee-range of the squad. Helios fired back with everything he's got, but with a corner of his eye he saw a berzerker charging at Veronica with a terrifying roar, swinging his chainaxe in all directions. She managed to dodge the first strike, but her terrified face said everything for her. It was too much. She wasn't ready for this. With a terrified scream, she started to run away from the berzerker. Helios wanted to yell to call her back, but he was too late.
-If you're not going to serve in combat, you're going to serve on the firing line! - yelled the Commissar who just slain with a mighty strike of his power-sword the berzerker which attacked Veronica a moment ago.
-No... - quietly whispered Helios as tears started to appear in his eyes. The Commissar drew his laspistol and shot retreating Veronica in the back. The red laser ray stuck her spine and penetrated her body, stopping her on a spot. With blood dripping out of her mouth, she first knelt and then fell on the ground, breathless. She didn't get to die for the Emperor after all.
With tears covering Helios's terrified face, he kept shooting at the enemies before him, squad's morale was completely restored after such a grotesque execution. Helios was shocked, afraid, heartbroken... but he still fought and killed for the Emperor.