Weapons of Heaven: Dust and Rubbles

1

The elite forces within the ranks of the Watchers, the Paladins fought the Insurgents around them. Swarms of men in grey armor attacked them from all side. Had it not for the sandbags deployed by the Shield Platoon of the Spartan Brigade, Gardus and his squad would have been killed a long time ago.

The Paladin peeked through the sandbags and fired his rifle; the recoil shook him momentarily. He watched his target fall with shattered visor and bleeding face. His aim jumped to the next one and fired, targeting the same part. His enemy's visor shattered, he fell backwards with blood spraying from his face.

"I'm out of ammo!" A Paladin with a yellow helmet yelled as he discarded his empty magazine. He glanced at Gardus before drawing his combat knife.

Gardus checked the holster of his armor and realized that he, too, was low on ammo. The magazine fed onto his rifle was his last and it would only be a matter of time before the Insurgents either completely overwhelms them or a violent melee will ensue.

If they get to the Insurgents first before they open fire.

He glanced behind and saw Paladins with orange helmets, grabbing whatever object near to them and hurling it at the enemy. Their subordinates had resorted to improvised weapons. The Insurgents are closing in to their position.

Gardus emptied his last clip at a squad of enemies. He discarded the now useless rifle and drew his combat machete at the enemy.

"It's an honor to serve with you, Brutus." Gardus said with a sideway glance at the yellow helmeted Paladin.

Brutus nodded in respect. Although both were in the same rank, Gardus was his senior by a year. He was still a Warrior when Gardus was promoted to the rank of Full Paladin.

They waited for the bastards to come close, ducking and taking cover at the sandbags that serves as their shield against the rain of bullets speeding at them. A Warrior Paladin fell to the ground with a hole on his faceplate, clutching his bleeding helmet before twitching and dying. Garos, Gardus thought. He was like a son to him, but duty has ended his life. There's nothing he could do about it now.

When they were in range, the Paladins vaulted over the sandbags and attacked the nearest Insurgents. Despite of the wild melee, the Paladins managed to maintain discipline under chaos. Gardus swings his machete at the weakest parts of the Exo Armor Mk IV that the Black Poison Insurgents wore. The edge of his blade saw through hard fabric, skin and flesh. The blade was soaked in ruby crimson liquid as soon as it had finished its job.

Swinging again, his blade sawed through the forearm of an Insurgent, amputating it in half. Another strike was made and the tip of Gardus' machete pierced through the glass visor of an Insurgent, penetrating the bone of his nose until it reached the back of his brain.

Gardus drew the machete from the dead Insurgent. His Paladins has successfully killed the Insurgents that made up the front line of their attackers. However, the second and third line stood meters away from them, out of reach. Their rifles were trained at the Paladins. Their leader, an Insurgent with a grey armor and red trimmings, grinned behind the grey visor of his faceplate. A signal from him would all it takes before the Paladin becomes martyred in their duty.

"You've killed dozens of my men!" The leader said. "Now you die, you chicken shit!"

The Insurgents were about to open fire when an explosion suddenly rattled them from behind. Turning, they saw a squad of superhuman soldiers led by a winged Angel with a burning sword. Upon closer inspection, the Angel was actually an Archangel, wearing a golden armor and red cloak.

An inscription on his left shoulder indicates that the Archangel was The General of the Heavenly Hosts himself.

Michael swung his sword at scores of Insurgents, who had turned about and fired at them. Their corpses burned in an instant when his blade touches the surface of his armor. A rocket sped towards him; he flapped his wings at the direction of the explosive warhead, making it bounce back towards his attacker.