Battle of Paichnidia

The defenders of Paichnidia held their formation, shields raised for protection against the enemy bombardment. The crackle of energy filled the air as artillery shells impacted the shields and detonated. Some of the men staggered; a few actually fell, the holes in the formation quickly filled by the veteran soldiers.

Arrayed in their motly armor, the Men of Scrap held the line. The equipment of their ancestors would see them through to the next phase of this battle, which the artillery ceasing fire signaled.

With a mighty cry, the enemy infantry charged forward. The Men of Scrap did not know who they were, only that they had invaded a Coalition world, and Wanax decreed they would honor their covenant with the Cabal. The Men of Scrap did not care who they faced. Shields now lowered and javelins readied, waiting for the order.

"Cast!" shouted the commander, and hundreds of missiles launched from human hands. No simple pointed lengths; small rockets fired to accellerate in the direction they were thrown, and small explosive charges detonated at impact.

Holes were blown in the enemy, but they continued to charge. The defenders gripped their spears and prepared to receive, as they had trained.

The wave of bodies crashed like thunder on the line. The Men of Scrap held their line. Here and there it seemed they would buckle and falter as they fell, but they quickly adjusted and gave not one inch.

In the immediate aftermath of the battle, it was clear to see where the Men of Scrap had fought. A field littered with enemy corpses, thickest in a thin line of mixed enemy and Men - and beyond the line of the few Men fallen, not a single fallen body.