tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7195365584905886722024-03-13T07:31:38.656-07:00septem ipsumAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-31268108702438048652014-10-13T06:43:00.001-07:002014-10-21T11:15:06.867-07:00 Heresy Lists for campaignConnor pre heresy:<br />
Lords of war:<br />
Kurze 435pts<br />
<br />
HQ<br />
Praetor with thunder hammer, lightning claw, iron halo and digital lasers 185pts<br />
<br />
Elites<br />
Contemptor with extra close combat weapon 175pts<br />
<br />
Troops<br />
Terror squad with extra boltgun 135pts<br />
Terror squad with extra boltgun 135pts<br />
Terror squad with extra boltgun 135pts<br />
<br />
Fast Attack<br />
10x Raptors with 2x melta guns 280pts<br />
8x Raptors with plasma pistol 225pts<br />
6x Raptors with plasma pistol 185pts<br />
<br />
Luke<br />
Lords of War<br />
Vulkan 425pts<br />
<br />
HQ<br />
Praetor with iron halo dragonscale shield, mantle of the eldar drake, digital lasers and paragon blade 190pts<br />
Librarian level 3 with refractor field, artificer armour and dragonscale shield 180pts<br />
Command squad with power weapon 115pts<br />
<br />
Elites<br />
5x firedrakes with thunder hammer, dragonscale shield and master with master crafted thunder hammer 350pts<br />
<br />
Troops<br />
Tactical squad 150pts<br />
Tactical squad 150pts<br />
Pyroclast squad with power weapon 170pts<br />
<br />
Heavy Support<br />
Land raider phobos with armoured ceramite 270pts<br />
<br />
Legion list: Ultramarines<br />
<br />
HQ<br />
Company Champion with artificer armour, power sword and refractor field 120pts<br />
Praetor with combi-plasma, paragon blade, digital lasers and iron halo 175pts<br />
Navigator 50pts<br />
<br />
Elites<br />
Contemptor pattern dreadnought with kheres pattern assault cannon 190pts<br />
<br />
Troops<br />
Tactical squad with extra close combat weapon and sergeant with artificer armour 180pts<br />
Legion breacher siege squad with sergeant armed with thunder hammer and artificer armour and squad with melta gun and graviton gun and entire squad with melta bombs 335pts<br />
<br />
Lords of War<br />
Marauder Bomber with Inferno bombs 400pts<br />
<br />
Allies<br />
HQ<br />
Archmagos Dominus with mechanicum proctiva, cyber familiar, machinator array and abeyant 175pts<br />
<br />
Troops<br />
Thallax cohort with photon thruster 160pts<br />
<br />
Heavy Support<br />
Myrmidon destructors with irradiation cleanser, conversion beamer and volkite culverin 215pts<br />
<br />
<br />
Chris<br />
Lords of War<br />
Ferrus Manus 455pts<br />
<br />
HQ<br />
Spearhead Centurion 80pts<br />
Iron Father Autek Mor 225pts<br />
<br />
Elites<br />
Medusan Immortals with two graviton guns and artificer armour 290pts<br />
2x Apothecaries with artificer armour 110pts<br />
Gorgan Terminators 200pts<br />
Legion dreadnought with multi melta 125pts<br />
<br />
Troops<br />
Tactical Squad 150pts<br />
Tactical Squad 150pts<br />
<br />
Heavy Support<br />
Predator with lascannon sponsons, magna melta canon, machine spirit and aroured ceramite 215pts<br />
<br />
<br />
Mike<br />
Lords of War:<br />
Horus 500pts<br />
Lord of skulls with ichor cannon 898pts<br />
<br />
HQ<br />
Abaddon with power sword 215pts<br />
<br />
Elites<br />
Dreadnought with chainfist, close combat weapon, two melta guns, frag assault launchers and armoured ceramite 200pts<br />
<br />
Troops<br />
Tactical squad with extra close combat weapon and artificer armour 180pts<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-28323651102495742532014-10-07T16:55:00.000-07:002014-10-07T16:55:59.286-07:00A crimson harvest<br />
<br />
By the time the wolves arrived, the battle was already in full swing. Nobody was sure how it had happened but the forces of chaos had arrived en masse to a deserted world, prompting the other races to investigate. First on the scene were the orks, hoping for a war. Immediately they started to attack the chaos and a full blown war had ensued. The wolves just watched as the two bitter foes struct at each other. Had they not been detected by a reserve force of orks joined by a crude titan, they would have been content to let them destroy themselves and finish the survivors off. The titan opened fire and forced the wolves to retreat to the safety of the nearby mountains, hounded by ork jets pouring black smoke through the otherwise clean skies. It was at this point that the dark eldar made themselves known. In a terrible, albeit impressive, display, they erupted from a webway portal and obliterated the perusing orks. A single dagger hulled raider floated down towards the wolves where Bjorn stepped forward to greet their apparent savior. A single, jade armored figure dropped to the ground before him, completely undeterred by the ancients size.<br />
"Most esteemed one" bowed the stranger, with a mixture of respect and mockery in his tone. "I notice you seem to have some trouble with the other races set upon this planet? Might I suggest a temporary alliance of a mutually beneficial kind?"<br />
Bjorn was taken aback by the forwardness and total lack of fear the stranger had, but he could not deny that right now they needed their help if they wanted to find out what the chaos had found on the planet.<br />
"What would the benefit for us be if we were to allow you to fight alongside us xenos?" Bjorn rumbled through his vox, sounding like thunder itself.<br />
The dark eldar smiled. "Why, the relic of course"<br />
Bjorn was once again surprised, why would they hand them the only prize that could be gained by this fight? "Then what is your benefit?" He questioned.<br />
"The survivors of the enemy races, I want them, and alive. None of your "Emperor's forgiveness" or the like. Alive for us and us only."<br />
Bjorn rumbled. The thought of the traitors living for longer than they should was bad, but whatever the xenos had in store would be far worse if the stories were true. But how could he trust them, when his last encounter had them kidnapping aspirants from Fenris itself. Right now, as much as he hated it, he had no other choice. "I shall watch you, Xenos" he growled.<br />
"That is all you will be able to do" the stranger smirked, before leaping up onto his craft.<br />
<br />
On the battlefield, the stranger was keeping his promise. As the wolves piled into the foray they found every target already beset on. Each time the wolves closed in on their prey something fell would appear and kill the foe. Bjorn himself entered the fray and charged at a horde of orks to see them suddenly fall to the floor convulsing from poison wracking their bodies. Deep in the heart of the chaos lines, Bjorn spotted the stranger midst a group of what could only be described as monsters. At his side a psyker blending perfectly the arts of combat and psychic mastery to destroy her opponents. But the spectacle that was the stranger was nothing short of a masterpiece. Any foe that stepped before him was cut down with merciless efficiency, some unaware they were even dead until he stepped over their headless corpse. Every challenge was met with the simple downward lightning strike of a sword. Within a few short moments the chaos lines had been decimated, the most striking being the group of pathfinders camped inside the nearby tower had taken shots at a looming vindicator and successfully detonated its ammo reserves turning it into a smoldering ruin in seconds. The stranger found himself in front of a pair of titan mockeries. The smaller one before him paid him no heed and was blasting at the wolves who had been forced into hiding in the nearby forest. With a flick of his wrist a nearby duo of talos descended upon the metal walker and began dismantling it piecemeal. This left just the larger one. From atop its parapit, the ork Warlord was bellowing, its flag proudly proclaiming it as a high ranking member of 'eadrippas clan. The stranger ran towards the titan, allowing the wolves terminus ultra to distract it as he reached its abse and began his rapid climb to its peak. At its top amidst a rickety gangway, the two lords faced each other. The titan lurching back and forth unleashing torrents of fire and belching acrid smoke, with the occasional ground shaking shudder as its killkannon fired. The two adversaries eyed each other up before each bellowing a warcry and charging. The ork warboss was far bigger and stronger, each blow a killing strike, but the eldar was far quicker and better trained, and the ork couldn't land a single blow upon its foe. The stranger ducked and pirouetted around the ork titan, leaping from gangways and slashing out at the great ork. Whilst the orks attacks were always missing, the eldar was the exact opposite, and soon all the wounds were taking their toll. The warboss was getting slower, and more sluggish. Soon, the warboss was left a panting, whilst the eldar was as fresh as ever, if not seemingly healthier, its blade dripping with the blood of the warboss. With a final bestial roar, the ork lunged for its foe, but the eldar simply sidestepped the creature and with a flourish decapitated the warboss and let its body crash to the ground. The stranger turned its attention to the titan, but before he could do anything a gleaming blue halo enveloped it and in an instant it disappeared, leaving the eldar hovering momentarily in mid air. As he plummeted to the ground he landed with deadly grace, no harm befalling him, just in time to watch the remnants of the chaos forces be decimated by a charge of helions, dragging their foes into the sky and tearing them apart like carrion, spreading their entrails over their still fighting brothers. The fight was over, and the wolves hadn't even spilt blood. The stranger walked up to Bjorn.<br />
"Told you, you could only watch".Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-2787418760359997662014-10-02T16:31:00.000-07:002014-10-02T16:31:54.603-07:00A dark fateKha'esh looked upon the system with hunger. So many different foes, so many different tastes of pain awaited them, laid out like a platter before him. He could hardly contain his excitement at the prospect. The pulsing mechanicum planet in the center was of no import or nuisance to him, having far transcended such technology even in something taken for granted as his blast pistol by his side. Each foe had settled on their own planet, surrounding the mechanicum world that was according to vox chatter being nicknamed "The Maw", and each was warring with other factions whilst trying to gain a foothold on The Maw below for its bounty of technology. Kha'esh thought he had been alone among the eldar race until a communication breached through his ships comms systems and revealed that his cousin were here too. It was no matter, he opperated outside of both kin as evident by his rather unusual kabal, containing elements of both species of the eldar. He even had the audacity and courage to keep a dreaded psyker in his midst, and kept her as his courtesan and most trusted adviser. It was because of her that he had been kicked out of Commoragh but he had set up in his own sub dimension and as of yet had remained undetected. He had fled with his kabal and a few loyal rebels including a hellion cult and a ingenious, albeit insane, haemonculus. Kha'esh snapped his attention back to the monitors as he felt the chill over his mind when Abeya walked on to the bridge.<br />
"What is our target then?" her voice slipped into his head without her even moving her lips.<br />
He gave a slight shiver, as he always did when his mind was invaded like that. Love her or not, and as often as she did it, it always felt unpleasant.<br />
"I think them" Kha'esh said, pointing on his display to a large fortified area patrolled by blue-grey enhanced mon-keigh.<br />
"Them it is" Abeya spoke softly. "Do we try out our new tactics?"<br />
"I think we can have some fun, yes"<br />
<br />
<br />
Krom stood there, unmoving as a statue. His detachment had been sent to guard the entrance to a great ravine where the space wolves lay encamped. It was a menial job, one of eight packs that lay around the central reserve, where an abandoned dark angel fortress had been occupied by Bjorn and the rest of the wolves. The moon was full, an omen of good luck for the wolves. He knew no attack would come to them this early, each was still reeling from the onslaught of the renegade mechanicum, but it still paid to be vigilant.<br />
"Krom!" came through his vox, followed by a blurt of static.<br />
He stiffened, suddenly aleart, his enhanced senses searching the surroundings, but to no avail.<br />
"This is Krom, what is happening?"<br />
His reply was met with stuttered vox splutter for a few minutes until one line finally made it through.<br />
"The Terra Templars! They are attacking us!"<br />
Krom was aghast, brothers attacking him again? Why would they do something like that? A tinge of fear that all brothers felt when heresy was mentioned caused bile to rise in his mouth. He barely had time to register the thought of heresy when something caught his eye, or rather, the absence did. There was no moon, it had disappeared, and it was cloudless. He scanned the skies, searching for a sign, but there was none, it had simply vanished. His acute eyesight scanned the skies above until he noticed that the stars were still out, but a now distinct circle was the cause of an absence of all light. He stared deeper, and he could swear he saw slight flickers in the dark, like the glint of dark steel. The next thing he knew, an explosion detonated in the heart of the encampment. He had seen no shot, heard no sound but the purple fire erupted from the ground. Krom turned just in time to see a group of bloodclaws get peppered by thousands of sharps of virulent poison shards. They clawed at their suits desperately trying to escape as they inflated inside there suits to the point of bursting before dying an agonizing death, their own armour their tombs. A pair of sleek black hulls descended from above, one smaller than the other, but each spraying death. Some astartes died on the spot, the virulent toxins overworking even their advanced systems as they fell to the ground, some fell to the ground clawing at their skin until there was nothing left and some simply collapsed, foaming at the mouth and unable to move as every vital system shut down. They were the lucky ones. Great nets scooped up victims and were hung from below the sleek hulled craft, ready to carry his brothers to whatever hell hole they came from.<br />
Krom found himself pinned down in a narrow crevice between a few rocks along with a group of grey hunters. The rest of the encampment had regained their composure from the attack and were fighting back, forcing the dark eldar to retreat in their ships to a safer distance whilst still taking shots from above. The astartes regrouped and calculated the losses. The initial group guarding the camp numbered a full 51 astartes. Mostly comprised of three full units of blood claws and two full units of grey hunters alongside krom. Now, few more than twenty were still standing. They scanned the heavens above for signs of their foe, but the next wave came from nowhere. Their was a distinct sound of laughter and howling and the brief shriek of jets before they arrived. A hail of shards assailed them from every direction in a crossfire, instantly felling four astartes, followed by the ravening madmen themselves, shouting out the names of limbs as they swept by with razor sharp hooks, maiming and decapitating as they went. In the midst of the madness, Krom stood strong and with lethal precision shot a pair of the dark eldar from the sky in rapid succession. The astartes took point and with concentrated fire finally drove them off, but the astartes were beginning to run low. Only thirteen were left, and the dark eldar weren't done. A bestial roar echoed around them and suddenly they were beset by hulking monstrosities of flesh and metal. They charged in a frenzied state, ignoring the peppering of explosions on their bodies as they threw themselves at the remaining astartes. Krom launched himself at the nearest and with a swipe of his axe took off its arm. The beast roared and lunged for his head, narrowly missing it. He ducked below the creatures swing and buried his axe hard into the creatures side, but if the creature felt anything it was only more rage. It lashed out again, this time making contact with Krom, sending him flailing through the sky before crashing down a short distance later. He felt splintered ribs and a cracked pauldron but he had no time to examine his wounds as the beast was thundering towards him. He dragged himself to his feet and raised his pistol, firing rapidly at the creatures faceplate. A shot hit home and its head violently snapped upright as it missed its stride and came crashing down in a mess of muscle. Quickly, Krom retrieved his axe from the creatures side and in a fell swoop decapitated it. He looked around expecting the usual cheering of his men, to find only two remained, standing among a pile of dead astartes and a trio of lifeless abominations. His muscles burned, and his hatred flared in his mind. First heresy, now this slaughter. He wanted more, to take the fight to the beings responsible for either atrocity. And all of a sudden, that gift was granted to him. From above, a trio of shapes descended. Great metal constructs with great claws and tentacles hummed as they slowly fell to the ground. A single lithe figure dropped down from one and stood facing Krom. With barely a thought he drew a pistol and in quick succession killed the remaining two astartes. Kroms hatred reached boiling point at the utterly casual killing of his final brothers.<br />
"Ah, mon-keigh. You have fought well... very well in fact. You will make a great addition to our haemonculus labs, I think you will find yourself very much at home there".<br />
None of it made any sense to Krom, but the mocking tone in the xenos filths voice tipped him over the edge. With a bestial roar he ran at the alien, swinging his great axe with two hands in a death blow. But the strike never hit. The alien simply stepped to the side and with a simple motion drew his own slender blade and plunged it deep into Kroms back, shattering his spine. He fell to the ground, paralyzed, as the alien loomed over him.<br />
"Such a shame... I had hoped you would be more. Oh well, maybe once he is done with you, you may be of some use".<br />
And with that, Krom drifted into unconsciousness.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Did the mon-keigh believe the false recordings?"<br />
"Yes my lord, the mon-keigh will be at war with their brothers in no time"<br />
"Good, all is according to plan".Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-9380549436550950422014-09-11T15:27:00.001-07:002014-09-11T15:27:10.304-07:00The nightmareThe writhing black shadow of Kurze stood hunched on the outcrop, gazing out over the assembled Dark Angels. They were fools, all of them. He had sent out a false distress signal and they had believed it, and here they were, like lambs to a slaughter. His face twitched with uncontrolled spasms of murderous rage. He could feel his warband behind him, eager to attack. It was almost time, all he awaited was the arrival of the enemies commander, a worthy foe. He had tracked them since the devastating attack by the orks where they had been all but wiped out. This was all that was left of them, and they believed they were heading into an extraction point. Finally, he saw his prey. A lone speeder zoomed into view, bristling with guns and surrounded by a force field that pulsated different hues of misty darkness. It was time. With a simple motion he stood upright, and he unleashed hell upon his foes. The first over the outcrop were his bikers, storming forwards in a surge aiming straight for the assembled ravenwing, wanting to test themselves upon the imperiums finest. At there front, a chaos sorcerer sending out bolts of eldritch fire into their midst. Behind them came the raptors, launching themselves forward with screaming jump-packs, leaving black contrails behind them blotting out the sun. The ravenwing turned in response, and unleashed a storm of bolter fire, but it wasn't enough. The raving madmen were pockmarked by explosions but it didn't slow a single one. They fell upon the ravenwing like a storm upon thatch. Lightning claws and chainswords fell upon the astartes and they fell like wheat from a scythe. No amount of "holy protection" could save them. It was nothing short of a complete slaughter, the likes of which would make the stomach of any mortal man empty. Strings of entails hung from lightning claws, and the ripped open ribcages of the ravenwing were displayed on the front of the bikes in mockery of angels.<br />
Sammael could do nothing but stare in disbelief at the utter destruction the night lords brought. He watched the first of only two surviving squads of ravenwing get butchered with no warning, and now watched as their remains were paraded around the battlefield as trophies. He felt his mouth fill with bile and his head fill with rage at their defilement. It all happened so fast, the moment they had appeared he had ran back to sableclaw, by the time he was mounted and it was in the sky, the destruction had started. He watched as a hooded and robed figure surrounded by darkness stood motionless like a ghost upon an outcrop of rock overlooking the battlefield. He could have sworn it was watching him, his every move. He blinked and the figure was gone, leaving Sammael to be unsure whether or not he had even seen the ghostly spectre. He turned his attention back to the battlefield. The surviving ravenwing had feigned a retreat lead by the black knights, leading the first group of raptors into a trap which beyond all expectation worked, and within seconds a hail of bolter and plasma fire engulfed the raging warriors and they fell where they stood. Briefly, the ravenwing reformed alongside the knights and lead a charge against the second group of raptors, but before they could the air filled with lightning as a group of terminators arrived, spraying destruction in every direction. The battle was in full swing now, and the dark angels were grossly outmatched. The slower and less mobile forces of the night lords had arrived with a vindicator and dreadnought entering the foray. With a quick touch of the consoles in front of him, Sammael ordered the only other land speeder with him to attack the now closing in vindicator, and he himself split off to attack the dreadnought. Within seconds, both craft were at the rear of their targets, and a few missiles and storm of assault canon shells later both were quickly out of commission, the dreadnought sending screams of rage into the sky. He turned back to the battefield to see a horrific sight. The spectre was back, this time standing in the midst of a pile of dead bodies, with a single astartes raised above his head, talons holding the limp corpse in place, the corpse of what he realized was the ravenwing company champion, looking like a child in his hands. Only sammael, his co-pilot and the other speeder were left, the rest of his force was nothing more than gore on the spectres claws. The rest of his force mercilessly gutting the dead remains of the ravenwing and stealing armour and weapons. The spectre beckoned him, a challenge. Sammael turned to his co-pilot and instructed him and the other speeder to escape to another extraction spot, and handed him the ravenblade. He then dismounted, and walked towards his fate. The closer he got, the closer Sammael realized this was no astartes, he was huge. A daemon prince surely he thought. The spectre had the ghostly outline of an astartes, in perfect proportion, but gave off a fear of such dread that even he, an astartes, felt fear for the first time. He found he was trembling, the idea that he could be afraid confounded him, he was an astartes, the most perfect warrior in the universe yet here he was, genuinely afraid. He had cast greater daemons than this back into the warm so why was this one so special? And then, with an almighty screech that his questions were answered. It was over in an instant, a bright piercing light from the heavens and all of a sudden the night lords bikers were gone, erased from existence with the power of the ancient gods. A great craft descended from the heavens, too large to hover by all laws of physics but there it was. Another flash and a portal errupted from nowhere, and a solitary figure walked out, thin and lithe. Sparks of lightning crackling from his outstretched blade. A few seconds later two groups of hulking warriors appeared from the gates, followed by a gigantic lithe titan, and any remaining night lords were sent to another dimension by the ancient powers contained within there weapons. Alone stood the spectre, now robbed of his cloak of shadow. The realization of what he was looking at did nothing to relive the fear of his foe, only heighten it. Before him, stood a primarch. Not just any primarch, but Kurze. He was over twice the height of him, with jet black hear and a single red streak at the fore. A single nervous twitch on the side of his mouth and suddenly he was in front of him. Sammael quickly feinted to the left, but not quick enough, a great gouge tore through his armour and ripped off his left pauldron. He sprinted towards the dead body of the champion and took up his calliban blade, just in time to deflect another blow, the strength sending him sprawling. He lept to his feet, but too slow. His claw was heading straight for his head, a deathblow. All of a sudden a blade blocked it before him, the tall figure standing beside him. Kurze snarled at the interruption. "Eldrad" he snarled before striking again, his lightning fast blow was countered once again by the eldar, and Sammael realized he now had a chance. He swung at Kurze with all his strength at the same moment as Eldrad, but to no avail. The primarch parried both blows with ease, spinning as if he weighed nothing and breaking apart from the duel. The primarch easily outclassed both fighters but the duel would allow more troops to arrive in support. With a grin, Kurze activated his jump pack and screamed off into the night, disappearing in seconds. The sound of cruel laughter following in his wake.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-27534589200449863252014-08-14T11:51:00.000-07:002014-08-14T11:51:04.674-07:00'eadrippas revenge<br />
Sammael strained in the seat of Sableclaw, the battle was going poorly. His high vantage point let him see the swirling mass down below. His army had been investigating reports of rogue mechanicum actions in the sector when without warning an ork Rok had crashed through the heavens. They were immediately beset upon and the ravenwing had been on the back foot since the start. Even the arrival of the local forces trio of knights hadn't proven to be such a boone as he had hoped. They proved effective at first, the two paladins cutting a vast swathe through the orks at least allowing the ravenwing some time to recuperate, but it was a temporary respite as the orks unleashed a fully fledged battle titan of there own and in a short space of time destroyed one of the paladins and left the other and the errant damaged, there shielding barely holding. Sammael had ordered a retreat to a waiting recovery zone where their orbiting cruiser had dropped a rapid ascent space ladder to assist in recovering the troops. They knew it was not a fight they could win, just a retreat they would force the enemy to take great cost in every step they took. Sammael had witnessed the ork leader, one who had aptly named himself 'eadrippa. A brute of an ork that took delight in his namesake, charging any and all signs of leadership within the Dark Angels ranks. But more scary was that this ork was cunning, not a mere violant barbarian.<br />
<br />
A flashbang as sableclaws night halo deflected an incoming rocket forced sammael back to the action. The small craft nimbly avoiding enemy fire and flying too low for flakk guns to bring to bear. Bursts of heavy bolter and assault canon fire ripped through the orks like invisible talons, but it was like dropping bolter casings into a canyon. He searched for any sign of 'eadrippa, but of him there was no sign. Far to his flank, the pair of knights were also fighting a fiery retreat. Great blasts of heat turned enemy walkers to molten slag, whilst crater sized explosions tore apart orks by the dozen as the paladin fired. The orks were massing in there general direction, unable to keep up with the rapid retreat of the ravenwing. Only groups of bikers were capable of harassing the ravenwings retreat. The knights however were on unsure footing, and fighting and retreating was a much slower process. It was during this massing that 'eadrippa made himself known. He charged at the paladin, headlong and bellowing a challenge to its princeps. In response, the paladin activated its giant chainblade and struck out at the ork warboss. In an act of what could only be viewed as incredible, even by astartes standards, the warboss dodged the whirling blade of death and ran between its legs. With a mighty cry, the warboss reached up with its massive claw and crushed the giant walkers ankle-hydraulics with ease. The knight lurched and fell to its knee, crippled by the blow. Its battle cannon now wedged in the dirt in a struggle to keep it upright, its chainblade still desperately swiping away at the orks, shredding them in swathes. 'Eadrippa emerged from the titan to stand before it, roaring with laughter as it was too close to swipe at.<br />
"Look boyz! It kneels before me hahaha! Is this not proof that I am the greatest?!"<br />
He then walked casually forwards towards the titans cockpit as it frantically tried to stand up. The nearby errant desperately trying to help his comrade but the arrival of the stompa that had already claimed one of his kin sent him running to the space anchor, shields at maximum to his rear as he fled what would be a pointless sacrifice. 'Eadrippa grapped the crew compartment and tore it off, exposing the princeps inside. He enjoyed the sheer look of terror on the mans face, savored it just long enough and then slowly reached inside. He placed the half-blunt buzz saw seated at the base of his claw against the mans head, watching the princeps look of sheer horror as he realized what was about to happen. With a laugh, 'eadrippa activated the saw and the mans head became mulch in seconds.<br />
"Scrap the remains boyz! Turn it into a Gorkanaught and please da godz!"<br />
<br />
Sammael could do nothing but wince, such ruthlessness made him swallow down bile. But nothing could be done here, the orks had won but the ravenwing had retreated with minimal losses. They would not forget what had happened here today, and nor would the last remaining knight.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-53777891655722783572014-08-08T09:18:00.002-07:002014-08-08T09:18:34.176-07:00chapter fall<br />
<br />
Jacen stood there, reeling from the blast. His ships warning sensors were on full alert. The screen showed multiple breaches along the hull, and many signals showing the intruders were inside. It had taken them completely unawares. The moment they had cleared the hungry planets atmosphere, a ship shrouded in some unknown technology appeared beside them and opened fire. Kreig had immediately run off to the nearest breach with his squad of terminators in a desperate hope to protect the ship, the two chapters odds a pushed aside for now, united against a common foe. The ship rocked again against the onslaught.<br />
"Librarian, the ships shields are being completely bypassed, and our astopaths and navigators can't signal anything, and our guns have been silent the moment the ship appeared, we have been rendered useless sir"<br />
Jacens face wrinkled, what on earth could do such a thing. Before he could ponder that thought, his vox exploded with a hiss of static before he heard the unmistakable shouting of Kreig.<br />
"Brother, we can't hold much longer down here, I have not seen our opponents once through the battle haze and our visors refuse to work, we are fighting helmet-less and can't see further than our hands, its like the machine spirits are rebelling against us. We are heading to the hanger bay, tell the rest of the ship to regroup there"<br />
With that the static went. Jacen was glad that at the very least the vox was still working. He went over to the ship vox panel and after a burst of static it died down and let him speak.<br />
"All warriors, this is Librarian Jacen, fall back to the hanger bay, I repeat fall back to the hanger bay and regroup there"<br />
Jacen turned to the ships captain.<br />
"Ma'am, I will head down to aide them in any way I can, close the blast shields behind you. If you need me contact me via astropath"<br />
She nodded and he stormed out of the bridge, his elite bodyguard close in tow. As the great blast doors slid closed, he was surrounded by near silence, only broken by the occasional spats of gunfire from distant parts of the ship and the occasional boom when the enemy ship opened fire. He paused for a moment before hurrying down a nearby corridor to the maintenance ladders. The time for safety was not now, and so without a second thought they simply jumped down the great shaft, hurtling to the next level in the blink of an eye. This way they rapidly arrived at the hanger level, only to find the door sealed shut. His bodyguard braced themselves against it and tried to force it open but to no avail. Seeing no other option, Jacen reached into the warp, his eyes glowed red and his veins shone like lava before he unleashed a torrent of heat, reducing the door to molten slag in seconds. What lay before them was a nightmare. The surviving astartes, barely two hundred combined from both chapters now, were holed up in a corner of the hanger with a makeshift barricade. Surrounding them were hundreds of what at first appeared to be humans, but twisted, augmented and utterly relentless. Bolter shells tore great chunks out of them, but they ignored it completely. Only the total dismemberment would stop them. There guns, whilst not as rapid firing as the astartes bolter shared the stopping power, and every few shots a precious astartes would fall wounded, or worse.<br />
Howling in frustration, Jacen hurled himself at the nearest bunch, his bodyguard joining in and reveling in unleashing their battle rage, great bone protrusions extending from there arms as they impaled and decapitated the augmented men. Jacens sword rose and fell, eldritch lightning leapt from his fingers and rolling fires erupted from his mouth, he was an avatar of death. But no matter what he did, a few continued to get back up. The augmented men were beginning to realize the new threat, but they were already among them, and were too slow to react. But soon Jacen realized they were not only impervious to pain, but also there human bodies belayed there superhuman strength. A trio of them grabbed one of his bodyguard and lifted him into the air, whilst a third smashed each of the astartes limbs to pulp before the four of them tore his torso in half as the brother screamed in agony and helplessness. The sight enraged Jacen but it also distracted him long enough for another augmented man to sneak behind him and with all its strength it lashed out. The strike hit Jacen in the ribs, his armour split and his ribs cracked and he was left struggling for breath at the floor, an baroque weapon aimed at his head, before he could cry out the augmented man disappeared in a storm of gore. Where it had been now stood Kreig, thunder hammer and storm shield in hand.<br />
"Thought you would need a hand brother" Kreig smirked whilst helping him up.<br />
"Oh I never thought I would want to hear that from you captain" he laughed.<br />
Between them they set about the continual destruction of the augmented men, bolter fire licking from the makeshift defense post and the now two remaining bodyguard ripping a fell toll among them. Soon there were only a few left. Jacen raised his hand to turn a trio into a smouldering husk, and then watched as the now only remaining bodyguard tore another to pieces, roaring in victory. Before he could celebrate more he disappeared in a cloud of green smoke. Stunned, Jacen turned to meet the new threat, blindly launching a grief and anger filled ball of fire towards his target. There was a great explosion and the room fell silent. When the smoke began to clear, he finally saw what he was facing. Standing at the other end of the vast hanger, was the unmistakable shape of a Magos. A lord of the mechanicum. A hulking scarab like machine grafted to his back made him tower over his subordinates, who in turn towered over an astartes. Quickly Jacen turned to Krieg.<br />
"This is not a battle we can win, right now the very ground we stand on is now against us, get to the thunderhawks, and travel to the nearest water rich planet you can find, they rely on technology for there power and will find little there. I will delay them as much as possible, but if it seems like I am lost, leave me and save yourselves. Understand?"<br />
Kreig nodded, though Jacen could see his reluctance and being able to face this foe directly. He ran off in the direction of the surviving astartes, and Jacen began his slow walk to the Magos. The fact they weren't opening fire on him both concerned him, and comforted him. If they had no reason to talk he would be dead by now, he could see the great weaponry held by the hulking myrmidons. At least now he knew the nature of the augmented men, they were tech thralls, and the magos was clearly leader of the hungry world. It sent a shiver down Jacens spine to realize the power this man could wield. By the time he had crossed the hanger to confront the Magos, he could hear the powering up of thunderhawks. He looked at the magos, the twisted combination of man and machine.<br />
"I am Librarian Jacen, of the astartes dragon kin. Why have you deemed fit to attack us magos?"<br />
The lord stared at him for a moment, before a sudden burst of static erupted from its vocal ports. It was laughing, and that was even more unnerving.<br />
"Tell me.... what is it like for an astartes to feel hopelessness?"<br />
Jacen was taken aback by the question.<br />
"What do you mean?"<br />
As if by some unspoken command, a myrmidon raised his archaic weapon and fired at the furthest thunderhawk, the weapons beam getting stronger and stronger, producing a loud keening wail that only rose in volume and pitch the further it went until it struck the flyer. In an instant the ship, already fully laden, exploded. In quick succession the other myrmidon fired its own gun, what appeared to be a heavily modified plasma cannon, into the remnants of the ship. A flash of green told Jacen this was the gun that atomized his last bodyguard. These were weapons of a bygone era of unlimited power.<br />
"By which I mean, how does it feel to know you are all about to die... for nothing, and with no hope?" The magos quipped. Another burst of static, which this time was interrupted. It looked shocked, and turned to look at Jacen.<br />
"What are you doing?"<br />
Before Jacen could respond that he was not doing anything, a great flash lit up the hanger. Standing between Jacen and the Magos, stood the mighty form of Bjorn. With a mighty roar and single sweep the myrmidons were no more, and he turned on the thallax bodyguard of the magos, who now was sprouting panicked binary to his troops. Gates opened and more thallax, myrmidons and thralls poured out, but more flashes announced the arrival of more space wolves, at its head was a group of terminator armored wolf guard, who set to work attacking the nearest foes with cries of glee and laughter. The remaining dragon kin and terra templars exited the thunderhawks and joined in, not ones to relinquish a good fight. Krieg smiled as he crashed into the nearest thallax.<br />
Jacen realized this was now Bjorns fight witht he Magos and headed off in the direction of Kreig, sending spouts of lightning into the thralls and thallax, short circuiting their delicate cybernetic brains. As he reached Kreig he watched as he wrestled one down to the ground before stamping on its cybernetic core and destroying it.<br />
"You seem to be enjoying this Kreig" Jacen shouted as he fried a group of thralls.<br />
"How can i not, their heads are so high, a single swing makes them go so far!" Kreig bellowed as he made good on his quote and sent a thallax head clattering off into the distance.<br />
Meanwhile, bjorn had gotten to his prey, but the Magos had no fear. He raised his hands and strange devises unleashed searing beams of utmost darkness into Bjorn, sending him crashing to a knee.<br />
"You may be a hero of the Imperium Bjorn, but you are still a machine, and I am the lord of all machines!" the Magos babbled, raising his hands for another strike, but before he could Bjorn send out a burst of broiling flame, taking the Magos by surprise. Before he could compose himself, Bjorn had him in his claw.<br />
"You are not my lord, Magos" Bjorn growled, so deep his external vox clipped the words.<br />
"Not yet" the Magos replied, and with a smile an integral teleported vanished him out of Bjorns grip.<br />
Bjorn roared in frustration, and turned the nearby bodies into naught but dust. As he turned around he saw battle was done. But he had arrived too late from the distress call, the dragon kin chapter was so low in strength they would never be a chapter again, only to be absorbed into others or to fight on as a crusade until they died.<br />
Jacen looked out at scene whilst Kreig came up to him.<br />
"My chapter took heavy loss here. My planet will not gain sufficient recruits for a long time. I can only dread to think what crosses your mind now" Kreig said, his voice laden with grief.<br />
"I do not have a chapter anymore. I have not even got a company. I have but sixty-three men left, and a pair of dreadnought chassis with nobody to inter. I already know what my chapter want, we spoke of this day happening, but not so soon. We will crusade until life leaves us"Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-78867551186027805662014-07-29T02:23:00.002-07:002014-07-29T02:23:36.699-07:00The great beastThe moment the races were pulled through the gas filled atmosphere they realized what the planet truly was. A forge world. And not a normal one, but a rampant forge world far out of the imperiams fold. The entire planet was a gigantic sprawling city, with spires jutting out into the sky like spears trying to thrust into the heart of space. At it's epicenter was a great circular gravity well, bathing the surrounding cities in an eerie pulsating blue glow. The planet was sentient, and hungry.<br />
High above the planet, the eldar watched the jaws of oblivion begin to close shut around the armies that would have waged war upon them. It was hardly a spectacle to see so many die, afterall they had witnessed and in sometimes organized the entire genocide of entire races, a few ships was hardly a pinprick in the universe. But the planet fascinated them, something had gone awry during its construction, and it had grown some level of sentience, and they could feel it, even up in there lofty positions, and it scared them. It was after many hours of staring in awe at the great planet that Eldrad finally returned, and not alone. At first they thought he must be casting some ward and quickly the other seers readied themselves for defense, but it was not so. Standing behind Eldrad, was the figure of what could only be described as an angel. It was Baharroth, the cry of the wind, the guardian angel of the Eldar. It was then that the farseers realized truly the threat of the planet. If it consumed those ships, it would finally have enough of the precious materials needed to ensure the entire planet would be come a fully mobile sentient space station, something no race could endure. Despite knowing it would cost a vast amount of their number to die, the farseers solembly entered the crystal dome and began there enchantment. As one they began, and as they began the great gravity well began to falter.<br />
Quickly the other races realized the pull was weakening and all made haste for the atmosphere, and soon scattered themselves in the surrounding planetary system. Afraid of the planet, but sorely tempted by its secrets. And so the races settled down on nearby planets, in sight of the great red beast, and settled for war against both the other races who sought to kill them or take the prize. The eldar, thankless for saving them and having lost all but 3 of there farseers, set themselves up on the outskirts, knowing there would be more than one conflict to come there way.<br />
Deep in the red planets core, lights flickered on. Binary code flashed throughout an otherwise dark room. Ancient technologies that should better be left alone was activated, and archetech from the darkest days of the imperium powered up. The planet readied itself for war, and its master let out his first smile in centuries. Finally, it was almost ready.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-68014282236752217852014-07-16T02:47:00.002-07:002014-07-16T02:47:17.429-07:00A new start<br />
Carolynn felt it before she saw it. A great shudder ran through his body, an icy fist gripped his spine. The air tasted of copper and his view became hazy. All of a sudden the world was silent, the pulsing of his blood through his veins playing a great bass note in the emptiness. Then, it started. Screaming, all around him. The screams of men and women alike. His senses returned to him and then he saw the cause for the commotion. What he at first had mistaken for the sun was the great engine flares of an imperial battleship in low orbit, its thrusters burning away at the atmosphere. Emblazed upon its side was the unmistakeable heraldry of Lord Rex.<br />
"You fucking arsewhole!" Carolynn screamed to the skies, but his voice was just another in the billions of screams as the planet entered its final seconds.<br />
<br />
Lord Rex looked down upon the doomed planet. It had been tainted by Chaos, and who knows how many had turned renegade thanks to the damned dragon kin. And not least that the world was a secret tomb world. No, this world was a threat and it had to die. He looked over at the control pannel before him, the great letters in high gothic proclaiming the virus torpedos were ready. He exhaled a deep breath.<br />
"This is for your own good"<br />
And with that, he sent the planet to its doom.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
There was nothing. And then, there was the warp gate. Almost at once, the forces that had careened through it to escape the wrath of Rex emerged. The dragon-kin and terra templars were hotly persued by a great ship of black, a night lords battleship. Both sides emerged from the warp ablaze, but neither side was going to give way. It was only the oncoming planet that forced them to split ways to avoid being pulled into the planets gravitational well. Before either force could safely manouvre around the planet, a great beam of light enveloped both armies. Try as they might, the ships were to badly damaged to escape the tractor beams, and so each succumbed to the planet, diverting all power to prevent a collision and form at least a decent landing.<br />
The lower through the atmosphere they went, the battleships auto-turrets kicked in. At first each race thought they were once again attacking one-another but soon realized it was another combatant. Orks. Orks were everywhere.<br />
<br />
<br />
Hidden away, atop a spire protected by clouds lay the Pale Spire. Eldritch energies surrounded it, with a nimbus of light at its tip. Inside, Eldrad took his council. Beside him sat Lucifer and Gabriel of craftworld Impala. Looming behind them was there emissary, a wraithknight. Dean sat in the cockpit looking through Castiels eyes. To eldrads other side was the farseer Thaine, alongside his aide Kun, surrounded by a council of warlocks. Such psychic might and coalition of craftworlds had not happened in millenia, but through eldrads predictions it is on this planet that they must do so. For the fate of the galaxy lays beneath the crust of the planet. And unknowingly the new combatants were about to make history.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-32246086924693703472014-05-29T10:00:00.002-07:002014-05-29T10:00:49.286-07:00Theater 3, chapter 7.3<div class="AppContainer" style="bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI', 'Segoe UI Web Regular', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Helvetica Neue', 'BBAlpha Sans', 'S60 Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; left: 0px; line-height: 19.99359893798828px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px; width: 1024px;">
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<span lang="EN"><span lang="EN"><strong>Shades of Grey - Part Eight</strong></span><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: normal;"></span><br />The first 50 -60 foot was not that hard, even free climbing. He’d ditched a lot of kit, rolled his cape around his Bolt Pistol and slung it over his back, the shotgun and the heavy gear he’d hidden, didn’t fancy being blown off the face with his own gun ! The rock was some of the smoothest and featureless he’d attempted, he never had liked such sites, they were more suited to the monument mason than the climber and he hoped he wasn’t scaling his own sleep-stone. If this continued he’d string some <span lang="EN-GB">cams as he had no intention of screwing this up, there was too much resting on it.</span><br /><br />At least there was little in the way of loose material to worry about, the face seemed firm so far and there were some holds, you just had to search for them. From below he had scoped what looked like a vertical fissure above his current position which might make for easier going, for at its top the face became less acute and the surface had appeared rougher through the monocular.<br /><br />The wind now was more noticeable, warm gusts flicked at every loose edge of kit sending them into flapping cacophony’s of sound like dying flies and above he could still make out from time to time the wheeling bird’s, preying that at least one of them would be a <span lang="EN">Y</span><span lang="EN-GB">’</span><span lang="EN">dach, the key, if there was one, to his friend’s survival. From what he had seen so far, the creatures the Baron’s took to summoning would prove a very potent and deadly foe. If the merest scratch could lay low someone as strong and fit as Nathan, they would tear through the population of a City like Grey. Carolynn just prayed that that that strength, a constitution borne from years of life in the open, free in the wilds of Zalthar would prove up to fighting the malignancy for long enough. He took a moment to pause and assess his position, patting the top pocket of his tunic to reassure himself the paste was still there. Last dark, after he had made camp, he had foraged for Gum Bushes. </span><br /><br />An evergreen shrub that grew prolifically in most of the wild and forgotten places on Zalthar, the Herder’s used them for a number of purposes, but this dark he had just one in mind, the simplest use, the making of Gum. Back beneath his tarp with the burner on, he added strips of fresh bark peeled from a handful of twigs to a cup holding a bout thee thumbs of water and bought this to the boil. He then let the mixture reduce, slowly boiling off the water until he was left with a sticky paste, the “Gum” he needed to catch himself a Sliver Hawk without damaging the bird. A blob of this gum on the ledge where the Birds alighted to approach their nests was all it should take, if he remembered rightly.<br /><br />The bark itself was stringy and strong and so often used for binding, in cycles gone it may have been used to attach spear tips, but now it was more likely to be encountered in doubling-up Bolter magazines or as part of improvised field dressings‘. all you needed to remember was to apply some clay or wet mud to the cut from where you took a branch and the shrub would heal and so be there the next time it was needed ! It was not much of a price to pay considering that in so many ways Zalthar itself gave them the tools they needed to fight off all comers. It had given them the toxin to kill the Tyranids, the lay of the land to stem the incursions of Chaos and it had given Carolynn his life that night in the storm when it slayed his assassin ! It also gave them life, through the great herds of Morac, clean water from its many springs and the materials to live at one in its vastness, all things that would be sorely needed to triumph against the darkness that he could feel coming.<br /><span lang="EN-GB"><br />Just above him now, Carolynn’s fingers found the fissure. About 1” wide it ran up to where the face eased and looked to make better going if he were to get to the height the </span><span lang="EN">Y</span><span lang="EN-GB">’</span><span lang="EN">dach preferred for nesting. He followed the fissure, hand over hand and this time deployed cams every 30’ to make the descent a great deal easier once he had bagged his prize, for time was very much still the essence. Another 20 or so feet and the slope did begin to tip back from the vertical and when he was able to find a shallow ledge on which to rest a knee, he pulled out his monocular and scanned the cliff above. He could just make out a few smatterings of weathered guano, a clear indication of a roost or nest, but he needed to spot some fresher deposits if he were to find this cycles preferred location. Higher still and to his right, just where the face pushed back out from itself, where this over-hang began, he could see what looked like two or three parallel ledges. Little more than feint pencil lines from here, they were probably about 2” to 3” wide, just, and there, as he watched a bird flew in to one of them, beak full of insect wings by the look of it, food for a hungry chick ? Making as much haste as circumstances permitted, he strung himself a route across to where he had seen the bird alight, and as luck would have it, encountered two further nests on his way. The first was an untidy mess of twigs, partly collapsed and showing signs of a possible struggle the way the sides appeared pushed out from within. Predated ! The second was a text book nest, a semi-circular cup attached to the ledge with mud and cobwebbs, a tight basket of interwoven twigs, lined with moss and feathers and containing a plump-looking chick that had begun to develop feathers and was beginning to stretch fine wings, though these still retained the juvenile, “claw” at the ‘elbow’, a trait from earlier generations that obviously held sufficient advantages for it to be retained in early life, no-doubt making traversing a nest in such precipitous locations that bit safer. Hurriedly moving on, Carolynn found a second nest where the ‘smudges’ did indeed manifest as ledges. There were several when he climbed along further, but only two held chicks, and so these he gummed, before retreating back, giving the nests as wide a birth as he could to tempt the adults to return.</span><br /><br />Lowering himself back down to the knee width ledge, Carolynn strung a crude sling to take his weight and settled back to wait, monocular at hand. To pass the time, he scanned the valley which was surprisingly wide and a good deal more fertile than it appeared from following the river. The frequent floods there from melt water scoured the ground, making the vegetation sparse and straggly, but away from the main channel, the plants grew thickly and were underlain with lush grasses, from a herders point of view an excellent spot and definitely one to keep in mind should they ever need to move Bronze Hearth. Beyond the valley, rose the Eastern spur of the Worldspine’s, and even from here he could make out even by light the orange glow on the base of the ugly smudge of yellow-brown smog that marked Grey, he could even still taste that places rancid air. Air that had been breathed too many times and laced with all the chemical waste the place pumped into the world by the tonne. Small wonder a creature spawned in such a place would be the toxic spawn of the God of Decay. Out there too was Jed and Nate and Martin’s children, had he made a mistake bringing them along ? There was suddenly a commotion above a flapping of wings and the cry of a bird in some distress. Unwinding his support, Carolynn was soon scaling the face along his pre-rigged pathway to the nests a nd stuck luky at the very first. Carefully bagging a female Y<span lang="EN-GB">’</span><span lang="EN">dach, he slid along to the second nest just to clear away the gum as it had served its purpose. Un-rigging that end he returned to the first nest where he “milced” the female into a paper topped jar, before cleaning her feet and releasing her. He de-gummed that nest too, and was soon taking out cams in his return to the cleft and the descent to the valley below.</span><br /><br />Of that descent and the ride through light and dark, he remembered little after, save the feeling of relief as the destrier’s, hot and panting for having been ridden harder than he would like, crested that final ridge and he could just make out the bluff beneath which nestled the old huts and within, his friends. All his friends he prayed. Although themselves sensing his purpose or merely the end of their journey, the destrier’s themselves seemed to find an additional reserve of energy and kicked hard into the last leg , so he was soon skirting the track towards the huts and the waiting form of Jed, standing taller than he remembered, and looking purposeful, gun in hand and every sign that the place was fully under his command. Then a discreet “thumbs-up“ told him all he needed to know, then he was dismounting even before his horse had stopped and flying under the canvass to find Nathan. His friend looked better than he had hoped, the subborn bastard was yet to bow down to the fever that still clearly ravaged his system.<br /><br />“Hi Joe, I’ll explain later, now I need you to get some water heating on the fire, let it boil thoroughly OK ?“<br />“Sure Car, good to have you back.“ and with that he was off.<br />“Hi.“ giggled Mariah.<br />“Where’d you go ?”<br />Came Jed’s somewhat sullen voice from the entrance.<br />“To get this”, answered Carolynn, holding up the phial of Y<span lang="EN-GB">’</span><span lang="EN">dach Milc,”It is the one thing I could get to in time that had any chance of saving him, I will tell you all about it later, it is something you too need to know of, part of a lot of things you now need to know, just as I did when I came to the Lead Lands, but for now, I need to prepare it, you OK to hold watch a bit longer ?”</span><br />“Course.” was Jed’s clipped reply, and he was gone.<br />“Mariah, you OK to go take care of the horses ? They need a good watering and something to eat, then a good rub down. You alright with that ?”<br />“Sure”, came her giggled reply, and she too was off.<br />“Soon have you fixed” he said to Nathan, wiping a damp cloth across his brow, “I remembered the Y<span lang="EN-GB">’</span><span lang="EN">dach old friend, even made that climb we spoke about !” There was no sign he heard, but that didn’t deter Carolynn from telling his friend all about the valley of the Sliver Hawks.</span><br />“It’s ready Car” exclaimed Joseph, returning with a bowl of still bubbling water cupped in his cloth bound hands.<br />“Thanks Joe, you want to stand it down for me, we need to let it cool some, but I wont need it all, so pour some off for me into this mug, then take some Tea from my pack and fix a brew would you ?”<br />“Of your Tea !” came the mock reply of disgust.<br />“Get out of here, and thanks Joe.”<br /><br />Once the water had cooled, Carolynn took the phial of Milc and emptied 8 drops into the water.<br />“Come on my friend, no idea what this tastes like, but if you were right, it’ll do you the power of good” said Carolynn as he helped Nathan drink.<br />That same dark, as they sat around the small fire, banked and hot to keep out the alpine chill, Nathan’s fever broke and a little while after he opened his eyes. Over the rest of that dark, after two more cups of Milc, he again found his voice.<br />“Hi”, was his first word, as if he knew he’d been away, so to save him forming questions, Carolynn and Jed filled him in on events back to the rain and the dark and the “man who attacked them, for there were still small sensibilities at large. Once Joseph and Mariah had seen Nathan was getting better, it was off too bed for them for Kell willing, the next light would be the start of their return to Bronze Hearth and a long light.<br /><br />Once they were settled, Carolynn gave Jed and Nathan the full account, the Daemon’s attacking and his ride to Lope-Fang Crag<span lang="EN-GB">’</span><span lang="EN">s to look for the Y</span><span lang="EN-GB">’</span><span lang="EN">dach. It was chance too, for them to explain to Jed that the Lore was deeper than he knew, but that his time to learn was at hand. They spoke too of the remainder of the journey, for none were certain how Nathan would manage. He certainly felt better, but the fever was strong and had hit him hard, physically he was still quite weak, and as they could not realistically split the party, they would need somewhere to hold up for a few days. And so it was that as the next light broke, the five of them were already well on the way home to Bronze Hearth, with Nathan flat out on a frame of wood, made into a towed stretcher of sorts with one of the canvas’s, behind the strongest of the destrier’s roped to Jed’s horse that he shared with Mariah. Up front as he knew the way via Lope-Fang valley, went Carolynn with Joseph, glad they had a route off the main tracks for a while, for he doubted they’d hold off any sustained attacks whilst down one man.</span><br /><br />That dark, having to rely on Bolt Pistols so as not to obliterate their prey, Carolynn and Jed went hunting. They had set camp, still half a light from the valley and Nathan said he was well enough to sit propped up with a shotgun and look scary. Half a dark bagged them three “Vemin”* and Joseph and Mariah, both of whom had instantly taken to fishing, between them landed enough for breakfast and a few spare to dry over that darks fire.<br /><br />*Vemin - An indigenous Mammal, similar to the Hare of Terra, but larger throughout. A common game animal on Zalthar, often reaching plague numbers after short snows.<br /><br />By the third dark, the way was clear for Jed to ride on ahead, and by light he was back with help from Bronze Hearth. By that dark they were all back, and for Carolynn and the now walking Nathan, albeit with a stick for now, next light they were in front of the Council of 7. Ben and Alice, ever there for the two of them took in Joseph and Mariah for them, both parties seeming thrilled with the idea.<br /><br />That left the two of them with time to think, for the meeting with the Council would have repercussions far beyond Bronze Hearth, beyond the Lead Lands.<br /><br />End of Part Eight<br /><br />Next…. The Council of 7 ! Who will stand against the Chaos loose on Zalthar once more ?<br /><br />Mk</span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span lang="EN"><strong>Shades of Grey - Part Six</strong></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN"><strong></strong></span><br /><span lang="EN"><span lang="EN"><span lang="EN">Come dark they pulled clear of the track to camp and the who bunks where question suddenly became apparent. They should have realised dark would be the hardest, but neither Carolynn or Jed had had any children and although Nathan had been a father, and an absent one at that, it was so long ago he’d forgotten. The problem was eventually solved by Jed and Nathan taking the watches and Carolynn having both Joseph and Mariah for what would prove to be a long and sleepless dark for him, for after a few understandable tears, one of Nathan’s “song‘s” and a story from “uncle Jed”, both children were out for the duration.<br />“The sleep of the just !” Carolynn was sure that’s why some adults got so angry with children, it was envy, a jealous envy of the innocence, of the yet unbroken promise that everything would be alright because someone told you it would and you had yet no reason to disbelieve. But it was that which was the inherent vulnerability, for they possessed the cruellest thing that could be stolen !<br />As he sat at the opening of the canvas gazing out into the dark Mountains, Carolynn tried to recall such a time in his own life, a time when he believed it would all be alright and try as he might, he could think of none. There had only ever been one person just in who’s company he had found anything remotely like such peace, but she was gone now, and he had never found anything like it since !<br /><br />It was quiet here, refreshingly so after Grey, for the City always seemed to have something to say both by dark and by light. Out here though, almost every sound was cautious, measured and had a very real purpose or was not made at all. Drifting in countless thoughts, the dark passed him by, neither asleep nor truly awake, until stirred into action by the coming light and the emergence of a horizon far to the East. Then as the Mountains swallowed their shadow’s, a new light was upon them and the smell of Jed’s cooking had the children wide awake and giggling at the novelty of eating outdoors food cooked with a fire, when all food came in ready to heat and eat sachet’s for the most part. It was more than enough to have them dressed and up, running to find Jed and see for themselves what he was up to and what it was that smelled so good. Carolynn watched them until they reached Jed, then focussed on re-packing their gear and folding away the canvas for today’s leg of their journey. By the time he got it all tied away, both of them were lying on their backs deep in conversation as to who would burst first with the amount they’d eaten !<br /><br />“Morning all” he called, getting a hi from Nathan, a grunt from Jed and silence from the children who were still wrapped in their bursting debate ! He grabbed a few bits to eat in passing, carrying on through camp to check the destriers before this lights journey.<br />With the snow not so very distant, Zalthar’s Sun was low in the early light sky, the road was clear and they made good progress till it began once more to fade, but were still making slower going as the destrier’s responded naturally to the additional weight by pacing themselves accordingly. Therefore as the light was coming to a close, they were still higher in the Worldspine’s than he would have liked, an so it was with greater care that he searched for a suitable spot to camp for the dark.<br />He found one relatively quickly, a side trail from a bend in the main track, which rose steeply until the gradient became too severe, then it turned and snaked along the steep contours, doubling back upon itself as it climbed. It ended in a wide ledge at the foot of a sheer cliff where there stood the ruins of two, possibly three old shacks, the fourth side of each of which was the cliff itself.<br />“This will do nicely.” Remarked Nathan, “How do you find these places Carolynn ?”<br />“I just look for what shouldn’t be there,” he replied, “then follow it !”<br />“Very good, like its that easy.”<br />“Tell you what, you try next time and see for yourself how it goes and I guarantee you’ll be surprised ! Right, down everybody, Mariah and Joe, you can do the horses this time, make sure they all eat and have something to drink, then come get me and I’ll show you how to do the harnesses.“ The other’s set about their tasks like clockwork, gear unpacked, canvasses up, fire lit and whilst Jed got some food on the go, Nathan watched the main track in both directions for a while, satisfying himself that they had not been obviously followed. By the time Carolynn caught up with Mariah and Joseph, the horses had been fed and watered and they were giving them a rub-down as they had been taught.<br />“Very good you two.” praised Carolynn, “diner’s almost ready, so wash-up and come get some !” He didn’t have to repeat himself.<br /><br />Nathan was suddenly next to him, “You got a moment ?” at which he excused himself and he two of them walked a way off from the fire and the eagerly waiting diners.<br />“Saw someone cross the track, about three mile back, and by the angle I’d say they’re headed this way !”<br />“Just one ?”<br />“Yeah, I think so, but I’d only just turned East as I’d been looking West for a good two, three before so I don‘t know.”<br />“Well for now safest to assume there was more than one headed this way, come on, we have some new recruits to brief.”<br />Back at the fire, Joseph and Mariah were inhaling dinner and were not far off finished. Carolynn waited for them to put their bowl’s down, before to Nathan ‘s amazement,<br />explaining to the two of them that they were possibly being followed just as he would have done to himself or Jed ? What was even more strange was the children’s reaction, for they seemed to know exactly what he was saying and what was expected of them. Carolynn had spoken long with Martin about how he approached the harshness of life in Grey with kids and he had told him that he just gave it to them straight. His philosophy was always tell them the truth, just not all of the truth unless necessary ! And Carolynn had seen no reason to interfere with his wishes.<br />They set up canvass in the Western most and structurally soundest ruin, one that retained most of it’s four walls and part of its roof. Watch and corral for the destrier’s was in the middle ruin, as that to the East was little more than an outline of mud-bricks now. 1<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">st</sup> watch was Nathan and Carolynn got to spend another night with the two children, who he knew were going to find it difficult. Before bedding down, he left them with Jed for a while and undertook a brief survey of their home for th night.<br />They were fortunate with their location indeed as the broad ledge held virtually no cover along its entire length save the ruins they occupied. It had been quarried at some time and most of the loose material they left underfoot seemed to have some suppressive effect on plants, which were short and straggly and discoloured where they grew at all. He pulled out his monocular and studied the track to the East for some time, moving the field of vision along the verges too, but there was no signs of life and so satisfied there was nothing to see, he set off back to the ruins.<br /><br />Then from behind him came the sound like displaced gravel and he spun, shotgun raised dropping to one knee, only to face an open expanse of ledge. Cautiously, he sidled over to the edge and looked down the way they had come and again, nothing ! Confident of what he had heard and that stones rarely displace themselves, he pursued the sound, moving at a crouch closer to the lip of the ledge, peering down into the deepening shadow’s as dark fell, yet still there was no sign of anyone or anything out there. Slowly he began to retrace his steps, back towards the ruins remaining crouched, shotgun with it’s solid slug/HE load-out poised, the safety off. As he got closer, Nathan saw him and advanced out to meet him.<br />“What gives ?“ he whispered, also peering out into the gloom yet seeing nothing.<br />“I think we may have company, about 70 yards out and very light on their feet.“ replied Carolynn jabbing toward the suspected location with his gun barrel.<br />“Lets back-up.” Slowly they began to retreat toward the ruins, keeping their gaze to the East. Reaching the second ruin, Nathan slipped inside to warn Jed and check upon their charges as Carolynn took up position in the now empty door recess. From within he heard Nathan whispering and then the sound of Jed’s shotgun cocking as he slid a shell into the chamber. An automated “clunk, clunk, clunk” heralded the cycling of the auto-loader of Nathan’s grenade launcher too, this would not be an easy kill for someone that was certain !A moment later,Nathan re-appered at the doorway and he and Carolyn cautiously advanced across to the Easternmost ruins broken wall’s, still unable to make out any opposition. The dark was silent, and that was not right for starters.<br />“There should be birds still out at this time,” whispered Nathan in a a hushed tone, ”but there‘s nothing, no sounds whatsoever and that means someone or something has them spooked. “<br />“Could be us ?” said Carolynn ?”<br />“We might be scary to those in the know, but last I heard that weren’t birds,” chuckled Nathan despite himself. Then, away in the distance, a lope-cat howled, a hollow, desperate howl. More guttural than either of them remembered , then fell abruptly silent. This was followed by another, then a 3<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">rd</sup> until soon there were some half dozen of them out in the dark, crying to the new moon that bobbed in and out of thickening high cloud. Further off, thunder rumbled and moments later an electric blue flash lit the whole horizon, the sky darkened, and almost imperceptibly to start, the first drops of rain fell. Carolynn and Nathan pulled up the hoods on their capes, and whilst Carolynn held their post, Nathan slipped back, returning with a sheet of heavy canvas and ties which they hastily hung from the ruin and lashed against the rising wind as the rain came on harder and the last vestiges of light vanished. Soon there was a steady patter as each peered out his end of the bivouac, a fresh clap of thunder resonating from the cliff at their backs behind , staring out into the down pour, looking for a sign they were or were not in danger. The rumbling above and constant drumming of rain made it almost impossible to hear anything out there, and equally hard to see. Lights would make them to easy a target and a fire was now out of the question. Carolynn sent Nathan back to look in on Jed and the children and they ran a cord from the bivvy to the tent for Jed to pull if need be, as shouting would be next to useless.<br /><br />“All’s well !” he informed him on his return, the children liked the rain and weren’t afraid of the storm, Jed gave them the furs and they are Yeti’s now or something.<br />“Well you might as well get and hour or so Nate, doubt we’ll see much till this lets off a fair bit, I’ll wake you when it does !”<br />“Fair enough, no point us both being tired.” with which he pulled his cape tight up around his shoulders, rested his head on his pack and closed his eyes, then within moments he was out for the count.<br /><br />“Not long since I was doing this last.” Thought Carolynn, recalling the passage in the High Valley, metallic beetles, the incessant rain and a slumbering Jed that time. It had been a dark just like this, the rain coming down in sheet’s, soaking everything, flashes of intense blue light and the booming in the peaks as though a great battle was being fought high-up in the cloud shrouded summits ! He looked out on each flash hoping something would be given away by the electric strobe of the lightening, but pt was to no avail ! One thing was certain, they would be here for the duration and whatever was out there would be only too aware of that too and for now, it seemed as though it suited it’s purpose to wait, he hoped !<br />It felt good to be dry in the wet, the rain now beat a hard rhythm on the tarp, his spine shivered and he could feel something else, out there, in the dark. It felt heavy, but not “wrong” or bad. Lightning flashed again, and suddenly there was someone, something standing at his side.<br />“Nate !“, he swung the shotgun, and pulled up sharp, for it was now sitting next to him, legs crossed and holding his stare. Nathan had not moved, as though he’d never spoken out, he… “<br /><br />“Carolyn isn’t it ?“<br />He was still pointing the shotgun, but felt no urge to fire and the air held the ozone chemical freshness of rain, that unmistakeable smell that followed a storm, and as he sat opposite a figure in the rain he had never met, he felt he had known them, “For, for..”<br />“Ever ? Not quite, but a long time yes. I will tell you more later but for now hear this. “You“, with which the figure reached out with it‘s arm gesturing the canvas too, “All of you are being hunted by those called forth by the Baron‘s. There are two of his servants and they come !”<br /><br />Carolynn blinked splashed rain from his eyes, and reached out to wake Nathan, for there was that smell… With a ripping slash, the side of the canvas was torn open and the pouring rain drove in.<br />“Nathan !” he yelled and at the same time catching sight of a vague outline off to his right, Carolynn fired. The object staggered, then rose and came on again, blending in and out of focus in the sheets of rain. He stepped back, cycled the next round to check it was HEAP and fired again. This time the top of the form burst apart, stinking, vile fluids and rotten tissue splattering the two of them, as Nathan had just reached his side.<br />Then a second figured barrelled out of the dark, clawed arms flailing and caught Nathan off guard, sending him staggering back, blood spreading across his cape from some unseen wound. Carolynn spun and swung with the “assassin’s sword” he had hidden about him for Grey. It bit briefly, the mono-filament blade opening up the apparition from mid back to neck, staggering it’s momentum and causing it to turn to face its tormenter.<br />As he recognised the face he felt his knee’s weaken, for it was one of the Baron’s Daemons. Although it had staggered under his first onslaught it was not deterred and swung a hideously malformed and long clawed arm at him, which he instinctively raised his sword to block. As the Daemons clawed paw struck the blade it was severed cleanly from its host, but the monofilament did nothing to impede the momentum and it smashed into his midriff, knocking him clean off his feet, showering him in filth and sending him sprawling in the mud and rain<br /><br />Dragged from cover by the shots and seeing both his friends prone and some distance from their foe, Jed fired on semi-automatic, the first slug stopping the Daemon cold, the next HEAP round almost vaporising it where it stood in a fountain of vitriol and lumps of rotten flesh..<br />Shouldering the shotgun, he grabbed the prone Nathan, seeing Carolynn already trying to regain his feet, and part carried, part dragged him over to the shack and under the canvass with Joseph’s help. He tore back his cape and his shirt till he could see the wound, an ugly ragged cut across Nathan’s sternum and collar bone that was bleeding profusely.<br />“Grab the first aid kit from… thanks, Mariah ?” The young girl handed him the box, and he unwound a bandage and a gauze pad, first shaking anti-septic powder over the wound before pressing the pad down hard to stem the bleeding.<br />“Let me,” it was Joseph again, “I must press hard and keep pressing yes ? I have had to do this for my Dad, twice. How do you think my sister knew to go for the 1<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">st</sup> Aid kit, being in charge of a pub and drunk men was part of the job Dad says.”<br />“Well you hold on tight, I’ll see if Carolynn’s OK, won’t be long I promise.”<br /><br />Jed found Carolynn checking the 1<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">st</sup> corpse, making sure that even in it’s ruined state, the thing presented no further risk<br />“What in Kell’s name is that, I, euuc, euuc, eruuuch” and with that Jed lost his diner at the sight of the Daemon’s pulverised remains and the stench, cloying and foul even when diluted by the persistent rain<br />“How’s Nate ?”<br />“Euu, s, s.ssorry bout that” Jed spat, “Sorry. He’s cut quite bad, Joseph’s got a pad clamped on the wound.”<br />“Joseph ?”<br />“Calm down, he’s fine. Those two kid’s were great, reckon they’ve seen more trauma than me ! They know exactly what was going on. Anyway, I need you to see him and I’ll hold out here for the time being, see if I can’t get the bivvy back up.” Jed finished, looking at the collapsed canvas.<br />“I’ll take that, thanks’ Joseph.” said Carolynn, taking the pad from over Nathan’s wound and taking a quick peak at the wound beneath. It was not as deep as he’d feared, but was jagged and the skin around it looked red and swollen. It did not look good.<br /><br />Whilst Jed stood guard, Carolynn made good the Canvass, reassuring Joseph and M , both of whom he kept away from the nightmarish forms of the Daemon’s that had attacked them, by involving them in the re-building and caring for the rapidly deteriorating Nathan, who had now developed a high fever and was wracked by delirious , sweat drenched dreams. Soon they had managed to re-rig the canvas to keep out the continuous deluge of rain, and in the half of the shack that retained it’s roof and a hearth, Carolynn put pay to caution and had banked up a hot fire, so as to generate as little smoke as possible, to at least dry a few things with which Nathan could be made more comfortable. Having made good their shelter, Carolynn managed to get Joseph and M to rest for a while, giving him time to get a better look at Nathans wound.<br />The skin around the cut was puffy and had begun to turn an unhealthy greenish grey, with early signs of necrotic tissue on the ragged edges where the Daemon‘s claw had ripped the skin. And then there was the smell, it reminded him of that dark down in the bowel’s of the smelting hall and the ceremony too the Dark Gods ! They needed to get Nathan to an Apothecary, and fast, but the incessant drumming on the canvas and occasional distant rumble said that wasn’t happening anytime soon </span><div dir="ltr">
<br /><strong></strong> End of Part 6</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Segoe UI', 'Segoe UI Web Regular', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Helvetica Neue', 'BBAlpha Sans', 'S60 Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.99359893798828px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Segoe UI', 'Segoe UI Web Regular', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Helvetica Neue', 'BBAlpha Sans', 'S60 Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.99359893798828px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Segoe UI', 'Segoe UI Web Regular', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Helvetica Neue', 'BBAlpha Sans', 'S60 Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.99359893798828px;"> </span><iframe height="0" id="trackingIframe" src="https://skypewebexperience.live.com/content/3-14-1744/tracking-iframe-outlook.html?sts=1400706872169&sessionid=268610bd-62ee-411b-8959-ece69d4f8d74&hostproperty=outlook&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fdub111.mail.live.com&dynamicConfig=%7B%22Data%22%3A%7B%22visitorSampling%22%3A0.001%7D%7D" style="border-width: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI', 'Segoe UI Web Regular', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Helvetica Neue', 'BBAlpha Sans', 'S60 Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; left: 0px; line-height: 19.99359893798828px; position: absolute; top: 0px;" width="0"></iframe><iframe height="0" id="SWEiFrame" src="https://skypewebexperience.live.com/content/3-14-1744/swe-iframe.html?sts=1400706872246&sessionid=268610bd-62ee-411b-8959-ece69d4f8d74&hostproperty=outlook&origin=dub111.mail.live.com" style="border-width: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI', 'Segoe UI Web Regular', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Helvetica Neue', 'BBAlpha Sans', 'S60 Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; left: 0px; line-height: 19.99359893798828px; position: absolute; top: 0px;" width="0"></iframe><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Segoe UI', 'Segoe UI Web Regular', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Helvetica Neue', 'BBAlpha Sans', 'S60 Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.99359893798828px;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-75557249572537919192014-05-21T14:23:00.000-07:002014-05-21T14:23:42.535-07:00Theater 3, chapter 7.1Yep, you got what you asked for! More from Mark!<br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><strong>Season Three, Chapter Seven </strong><br /><strong></strong><strong>Shades of Grey - Part Five</strong></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">"Tell them what ?</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">”</span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> came a voice from behind Nathan at the top of the stairs. It was Jed. Carolynn looked at Nathan, his face a plea of what to do next. Jed however was not in a patient mood, they had clearly crossed some line with him that he was not best pleased about. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“</span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">So, do we tell our friend</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">’</span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">s WHAT exactly ?</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">”</span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> he repeated, but more firmly this time, an edge to his voice. Jed</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">’</span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">s tone clearly crossed a line with Carolynn, for eyes afire, he rounded on him !</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">"Let me get this straight before it goes any further. Are you questioning my judgement, based upon you hearing my indecision as to whether or not I mention something to our hosts, the importance or the lack of, you have absolutely no idea about ?</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">”</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">All the confidence and bravado visibly drained from Jed and pale faced he sat, rather upon the low wall that bordered Martin<span lang="EN-GB">‘</span><span lang="EN">s roof, harder than he</span><span lang="EN-GB">‘</span><span lang="EN">d probably intended. </span><span lang="EN-GB">“</span><span lang="EN">When, I suppose that I</span><span lang="EN-GB">…</span><span lang="EN">what I meant was,</span><span lang="EN-GB">…</span><span lang="EN">.if they are our friends, shouldn’t</span><span lang="EN-GB">’</span><span lang="EN">t we,. not</span><span lang="EN-GB">…</span><span lang="EN">.try</span><span lang="EN-GB">…</span><span lang="EN">.no. No, I’m sorry alright !</span><span lang="EN-GB">”</span><span lang="EN"> Jed turned his face away, unable to look at the two of them, Carolynn in particular. He could not quite remember the last time he had heard that tone in Carolynn’s voice, but someone had died soon after. He remembered that, for it had been the very first time he had seen a dead person.</span></span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">"Carolynn !</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">”</span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> broached Nathan, with a look that said “Kell man, that was a bit harsh“, but Carolynn was having none of it, and turning to Jed said,</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span lang="EN">"Nathan and I have a few things to discuss, we will meet you downstairs. Shortly !</span><span lang="EN-GB">”</span><span lang="EN"> And with that terse remark, Jed was summarily dismissed.</span><br />
When he’d gone Nathan, clearly less than happy with how thing<span lang="EN-GB">’</span><span lang="EN">s had been dealt with, turned to him. </span><span lang="EN-GB">“</span><span lang="EN">Was that really necessary to speak to him like that ?</span><span lang="EN-GB">”</span><br />
<span lang="EN">“You’d prefer I do it when the shell’s are flying and people are dying and he chooses that moment to question your or my integrity ? I gave him the benefit of the doubt for this trip, after the way he handled himself in the passage in the Mountains, and because I saw the man he was becoming. Today I saw the boy he was, a boy who has no place doing what we do ! There will be a time and a place to talk with Martin and it isn’t here or now. “<br />“You maybe right, but your people skills suck.” Nathan laughed, infectiously and the grim resolve Carolynn had been carrying for longer than he thought snapped, as his face broke into a grin, then he too was laughing.<br />“You are right as well I will apologise, didn’t realise how strung out I was. Thanks’ Nate for once again being my social compass, I do so easily lose my way. All those years looking after number one I suppose.”<br />“You don’t have to remind me, you gave my Bella and me a run for our money when we took you in. Poor woman had that many sleepless darks she swore she’d become nocturnal !” at which there was more laughter with a good deep sound, the sound of shared friendship. Carolynn flopped down with a deep sigh against the rail of the balcony, Nathan doing likewise. After a few moments to appreciate the slightly more pleasant night air, Nathan pulling back from his deeper thoughts said what they both were thinking<br />“We really need some time to think, so how about we give ourselves until after the Trades. I’m betting they still need time and the Trades going smoothly will give them that and get all the delegates out of Grey and out of their way“<br />“It also gives us a very strong hand at the negotiations.” Carolynn remarked as the pieces of what Nathan had said fell into place and a scheme germinated !<br />“What we need to do is ….” and so it was they plotted away the last of the quiet Dark, on the roof of the Inn with the remaining half bottle of Sallowclh to ease their conspiracy.“<br />As the light broke, they called down to breakfast and ate well to soak up the last of the Sallowclh, along with a few glasses of Martins cure-all, which as well as washing out the taste of Grey’s air, they were assured was good also for hangovers !<br />Grey used standard Terra time, so it was by 10 GST (Grey Standard Time), Nathan and Carolynn had found their place at the Trade-Talk and business commenced. The deal they sealed for Bronze Hearth was a good one, certainly better than folk back home would expect, but the two of them did not exploit their advantage of their hosts being pressed for time to the degree they could have, believing it unwise to attract to much attention. The Trade Hall’s proximity to the smelting hall also did not make staying around a welcome prospect besides, they also had other far more pressing matters to discuss before their departure from this City but even so they were not back at the inn until gone 22.30 GST<br /><br />Upon their return, they were offered dinner and with the younger children in bed, they sat down to eat with Martin, Hannah and Jed and talked of their relative days. The PDF had called at <span lang="EN-GB">“The Gallery” earlier, in a rouse of questioning everyone about last darks riots and the arson that took place. What they actually did was to out stay their welcome, drink as many free drinks as possible and get rowdy and abusive, scaring off the only 2 paying customers he’d had all light. Martin said such things were becoming too frequent and not just for him, it was the experience of many of the local retailers to have PDF Troopers turn up and help themselves to merchandise. The worst thing you could do then, as some found to their cost, was to complain, for this attracted severe retaliation in the form of damage to themselves and their premises and a marked increase in future payments. Martin had avoided this so far, but it had cost him a small fortune in free drink’s ! </span></span><span lang="EN">Again the Sallowclh came out and tales began to flow, with Martin telling them how before </span><span lang="EN-GB">becoming an Inn keeper he was a metal worker by trade and it was these skill’s that had first got him work here in Grey. The plan had been to take the place on so he could work the metal shops by light, then help his Gloria, his wife in the Inn come dark until the Inn began to pay its way. Gloria’s illness and sudden death had put pay to all that though and he’d been managing the “The Gallery” ever since he first came here. </span><span lang="EN">Now he just wanted out, the place had overgrown itself and it was going to get a whole lot worse before it got any better. </span><br />
Carolynn told of how he remembered City life, how it had been almost 60 cycles now since he had left behind the stench of the rotting Hives, and not once had he wished to return. Life in the Ceramite Cites could be harsh, but the air was clear and the dangers too, tending not to be the kind that stabbed you in the back or smothered you in your sleep. Jed had happier tales of a life in Bronze Hearth, open to the elements yet free of the smog and smell of too many people into small a space.<br />
After a few more rounds of Sallowclh, sensing the time was as right as it would ever be, <span lang="EN-GB">Carolynn</span><span lang="EN">and Nathan told of what they knew about the Baron’s plan’s and their development, taking Martin and Hannah to the roof so they could see for themselves the work that was underway. The remainder of the meal passed in virtual silence. Hannah eventually excused herself and left the Courtyard where they were seated, following which Jed announced he was tired and was going to turn in, and hurried after her. </span><br />
“Any idea’s gentlemen, would be greatly appreciated, for I’m all out !“ said Martin, with a little mania in the giggle that followed the remark, as he poured himself another , the other two declining a refill by politely sitting a hand over their glasses.<br />
“Here’s to the Baron’s, “ Martin rose unsteadily, raising his glass, arm fully outstretched to the heavens, “Who as they are not part of the solution, must be part of the problem !“<br />
“I’ll drink to that,” said Carolynn, raising his glass too.<br />
“Seconded !” replied Nathan, doing likewise.<br />
“The Baron’s,” toasted Martin, “May they rot in a hell of their own choosing !“<br />
a sentiment echoed by his two companion’s.<br />
Carolynn glanced at Nathan, who nodded in acknowledgment.<br />
“Alright to get some caffeine on Martin.” said Carolynn, “We have a long day tomorrow.”<br />
“Of course my friends, be my guest, but you are, aren’t you, my guests !”, Martin laughed hollowly at his own pun and the air of maudlin upon him was thick and heavy.<br />
“You had any offers on this place even ?” asked Nathan, whilst Carolynn could be heard clunking about in the kitchen .<br />
“One !” Martin scoffed, but it was way too little.<br />
“What about renting the place ?”<br />
“Wouldn’t give me sufficient capital to get somewhere to go. Even with another job on the side and Hannah earning I couldn’t afford somewhere to go too !”<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Carolynn returned with three mugs and put them down on the table, “Have a little Martin, the herbs I’ve added will take the edge off !”</span><span lang="EN">“Thanks‘. I’m sorry, I’m not good company when I‘ve sunk a few.”<br />“Get that down you,” said Nathan, “we need you sober.”<br />“Why ?” he asked.<br />“Because we have an proposition for you.”<br />Sipping their caffeine, </span><span lang="EN-GB">Carolynn </span><span lang="EN">and Nathan explained.</span><br />
In Bronze Hearth, Old Man Orsan, one of the village Elder’s was bedridden and so living with his son and daughter-in-law and had been for some time, being unlikely he‘d return home. In short, his “pod ” was empty. If Martin could rent out <span lang="EN-GB">“The Gallery”, he could rent the old man’s place and still have a few Rad Bonds* spare. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">“Part one, getting you all a house</span><span lang="EN">.” summed up Nathan.</span><br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></b>*Rad Bonds - Local Space Sector currency and the most stable form of plastic-money on Zalthar and its neighbouring Planets.<br />
<span lang="EN"><br />They went on, suggesting to Martin he set himself up as the “metal-smith” to Bronze Hearth, he had the skill’s and as they had not had one for some time, all their work had to go to Ridge or Blue Slide,* both of which were a light and a darks journey at the least.<br /><br />*Ridge and Blue Side, the nearest two Cities to Bronze Hearth.<br />Blue Side is a permanent City, carved into the softer rocks of the Aspine’s, a smaller range of Mountains than runs off the Worldspine Range about 40 miles to the south-West of Bronze Hearth. Set in a steep-sided valley, the City rises almost vertically up a long single South-facing cliff accessible only via climb-ways and a series of elevators.<br /><br />Ridge is Bronze Hearths closest neighbouring Ceramite City during the High Grazing, lying some 50 miles North in a “V” shaped valley that cuts into Mount Lamina, 7<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">th</sup> highest Peak in the Worldspine Mountains at 26, 752 ft.<br /><br />They also explained to Martin there was the Caravan work, they often needed repairs and provisions to sell were always top of their list. Plus there was other passing trade and the fishers when the snows came and they went to the low grazing valley’s. If that was not steady enough, they explained he could always find a high herder shift or two. </span><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
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“Part two, helping find employment !” said Nathan.<br />
<br />
Nathan explained that Carolynn and he would be leaving on the light and the herd would leave at the end of the cycle for the low grazing. They would help him set up shop and as for Hannah, she could get work easily and the younger kids could go to the school during the snows and there were odd jobs around the herd in high grazing. They would also be a lot safer there than in Grey with it approaching melt-down.<br />
“We know it’s a lot to think about, and we will help all we can. I think you would like Bronze Hearth, I know the kids would. And we get a metal-smith out of it, means no more sharpening my own tools again !” Carolynn laughed and slapped Martin’s shoulder, but the mans face seemed miles away.<br />
“The people are a good crowd,“ added Nathan, “You would be an object of curiosity for a while, till something new comes along, then you are straight back to old news I’m afraid !“<br />
“You’re right, it’s a lot to take in”, said Martin, “but we all know the clock here’s ticking and I’m not stuck with choices really am I. We have about a week, maybe two before those fortifications are complete, which ties in with the Trades being completed. Face it, Grey’s not a place you visit is it, it’s a place you come to cos you have too, so once the Trades are gone, there’ll be no more outside interference and the Baron’s will then do as they please. With the snow’s only just over a cycle off, no-one will be that anxious to leave so..”<br />
“So ?” asked Carolynn.<br />
“So you’ve got yourselves a metal-smith, provided the kid’s don’t have a problem !”<br />
<br />
Dawn on the 3<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">rd</sup> light in Grey was the same sickly and pallid affair with the senses, Carolynn and Nathan having sat up most of the dark again talking, for the longest time with Martin, but also between themselves, running over again when and how they could help Martin. They had not foreseen however, how this might play out.<br />
They were down for breakfast early, Nathan with a fold of Rad Bonds to settle their bill. The family were already up, and judging by the strange look on their faces, Martin had already discussed thing’s with his children<br />
“Did you hear, we are to have a new life where you live.” Smiled Joseph, a warm smile matched by that of his younger sister.<br />
“Thank you for offering us this,” said Hannah, “I know Dad’s been trying to get us out for some time, but we had nowhere to go !”<br />
“Guess it’s a hit then Martin,” said Nathan, “Sounds like everyone’s in agreement, you will be in touch soon as the rental’s arranged I take it ?”<br />
“Actually, I have a bigger favour to ask,” said Martin, and all of a sudden, the room seemed deathly quiet.<br />
“I would like you to take Joseph and Mariah with you today !”<br />
“OKaay - “ said Carolynn, “You….”<br />
“Sure I’m sure, and so are they. I think our time-table of one to two weeks was, optimistic to say the least !” Throwing down a hard copy of the local news onto the table as he spoke. Carolynn picked it up. On the front page the headline read “Protesters killed during “Slum-clearance“ programme.” Some 40+ “protesters”<br />
Had been gunned down complaining about one of the “dead-zone‘s” being bulldozed through their homes, as was their right. The PDF allege they were fired on first, but no fire-arms could later be found amongst the dead. Over 100 more were wounded, as apparently something somewhere went wrong, leading to a Heavy Weapon Remote being turned on the crowd for less than 2 seconds. Less than 2 seconds for a chain gun was a lifetime, or in this case, 40+ lifetimes !<br />
“OK, better get them ready, they’ll need good thick clothes, especially long pants as we’ll be riding, and I don’t want them getting grazed legs now ! Journey’s 2 days, but we’ll need food for 3, and plenty of that magic potion of yours t…”<br />
Martin placed all the items Carolynn had rattled off on the table, and when the kids stood up, it was clear both were dressed for the occasion. Nathan and Jed smiled as Carolynn nodded his approval.<br />
“Right then, Jed, Nate, grab your kit, Nathan and I will take one of you each and Jed will distribute your kit about his horse, you OK with that ?”<br />
“Yes Mr Carolynn”, snapped Joseph “Can I ride with y…”<br />
“That’s Carolynn to many and Car to my friend’s of which I thought you were one ? And yes, long as Nathan doesn’t mind, you can ride with me for now.”<br />
<br />
It took what felt like an age with the arranging and rearranging of kit and supplies and small children, but eventually the goodbyes and see-you-soon’s had all been said and they began on foot, the hoses picking their way slowly up through the meandering streets and levels that lead up the cliff face that was Grey. By midlight, they had reached the top, and were now able to ride through the smog bound lunar landscape of the suburbs, putting appreciated distance between them and this shite-hole.<br />
“What’s your house like Carol..Car ?” asked Joseph, the first of a hundred more questions about Bronze Hearth and “his” Mountains you’d expect from one as young and bursting with curiosity.<br />
“This is gonna be one long journey.” Carolynn thought to himself !<br />
<br />
End of Part 5<br />
<br />
Mk <img alt="Emoji" class="ecxEmoji$1F60A$AC0 ecxRenderedEmoji" src="https://a.gfx.ms/Emoji_1F60A.png" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-84288344198007018732014-05-16T15:19:00.003-07:002014-05-16T15:19:41.453-07:00Theatre 3, chapter 7<div class="ContentRight WithRightRail FullView" data-link="class{:~tag.contentRightClass(Layout.IsFullView, Layout.ReadingPaneMode)}" style="background-color: white; bottom: 0px; font-family: 'Segoe UI', 'Segoe UI Web Regular', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Helvetica Neue', 'BBAlpha Sans', 'S60 Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; left: 205px; line-height: 19.99359893798828px; min-width: 428px; position: absolute; right: 160px; top: 0px;">
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<span lang="EN"><strong>Season Three, Chapter Seven </strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><b><br /></b><strong>Shades of Grey - Part Four</strong></span><br />Back on the roof, Nathan hastily replaced the panel they accessed the shaft through before the two of them, discarding the last two screws and then they were up, running zigzagged at a crouch back to the edge where the funicular cars left the smelting plant. As soon as the next empty wagon cleared the concrete lip, they jumped, the entire thing rocking so unsteadily as they landed it felt like it was about to part company with the cable. They ducked down beneath its riveted sides, trying to remain unseen, for there was no sign that their presence had been detected and they were anxious it should remain so.<br />“U 22/23 !”, Carolynn chanced a quick note of the stage number and crouched back into the wagon, They got on at 16, for he remembered the strange configuration of spars beneath the bridge from which the number hung and where this escapade had begun. He was as confident as he could be that those same spars would be accessible for a jump clear on the way back up and so would need to be ready by U 16/23 then. What was less certain was whether they could do so unseen by anyone, especially the PDF, for there was no way if they were caught in the wagon even Carolynn could talk his way out ! Sorry officer, my mate slipped and fell and I was helping him out just wouldn’t cut it,<br />“U 20/23 ! ”, Carolynn patted his holster to ensure the snap was shut, just heightened anxiety given what they had found and at the prospect of what they now needed to do, even without this jump. It was also the first time he had seen Nathan like that. His solid friend, never phased by the shite happening around them, calm, logical ! Kell, he’d almost been in bits, not good. It would be like losing his right arm in the field, and as friends went he didn’t even want to contemplate it<br /><br />“They’re quite gentle really, unless you do something like threaten their calves, but I learnt how to behave around them from Nathan right since I was little and Carolynn has shown me stuff too. He can sort of talk to them somehow, I know that sounds daft, but some of the low herders, the ones that work in with them can move so as to calm them if they get spooked and they know these songs that can even stop them from stampeding !” Jed was telling Hannah about life with the herd, with those of the Lead Lands, and she was fascinated. Her father had locked up a while back, things out in the streets were deteriorating still further and a couple of buildings were burning. The night air was full of smoke, mixing to a soup with the smog, punctuated now and then by the scream of sirens as a second tender, flanked by several PDF vehicles arrived. The first had foolishly come unaccompanied and been driven off, its crew injured by home-made promethium bombs, rocks and a couple of slugs from black market firearms. The PDF responded with baton rounds at first, then live firing from their “Marksmen” on roof-tops or custom built VTOL’s with sponson mounted “sniper seats” ! Shops had shut, windows were being boarded-up and most of the good folk of down town Grey imposed their own voluntary curfew, so it was all too easy to see why the pastoral life of a Herder might seem so attractive, yet Hannah seemed genuinely captivated. Jed told her the tales from his part of the World Spines, of High Valley, of Bright River Falls and as she found it so entrancing, he had to tell her the tale of the Shadowfin’s twice !<br />“You will be able to swim with them ?” she questioned in awe.<br />“Well I will have to see, but that’s what the fishing-folk hope will happen now the river is cleaner. They say they used to help them by herding the fish into the shallows, right into their nets.”<br />“It’s hard here to remember even clean air !” she sighed, everything is so filthy and polluted and they have cleared the woods and forests for miles around to burn in the mines and for furl for the smelting ovens where they cast the lead into blocks to sell”<br />“Can I get you another drink Sir.. I’m sorry, another drink Jed, and Hannah, how about you ?”<br />“Sure !” said Jed, “Thanks, I will be back in a moment, I’d just like to go to the roof for a moment if that’s OK, see if I can catch sight of my friends as they should be done with the sight-seeing by now.”<br />"I’ll take you,” said Hannah, come on it‘s this way.”<br /><br />“U 17/23 ! You ready Nate ? We‘ve got to go at 15/23!”<br />“As I’ll ever be,” said Nate, “You could count us down my friend, lessen the shock !” he joked.<br />“Remember it’s a jump and grab, the bridge has several spars across the track, all only about one and a half meters above us, so don’t jump to hard or you’ll hit one and the closer we can get to the back of the bridge, the less chance we’ll be seen !” The wagon clunked over the next set of rails that had not been laid that evenly. “Probably hard to find anyone with experience in such archaic transport this day and age.” thought Nathan to himself. It was certainly the first one he had ever seen in all his years in the mountains !<br />“U 16/23“, whispered Carolynn, “time to get ready for that jump!”<br />The funicular ground an creaked its way up at what now seemed a maddeningly slow pace, gears grinding as cogs’ so worn they should have been replaced struggled to gain traction on one another, when slowly the outline of the bridge began to materialise. Carolynn could not see anyone from where he stood, but then the bridge blocked most of their line of sight and even if they did spot someone, it was not as if there was much they could do about it anyhow, for they had no choice but to take the jump.<br />“U 15/23, let‘s go !”<br /><span lang="EN-GB">Carolynn <span lang="EN">and Nathan launched themselves into the air, arms outstretched, hands grasping for the cast iron spars beneath the bridge, praying that it shielded them from prying eyes on the road above. Carolynn’s hands grabbed a section of cold iron work and closed around it, clinging on for dear life. Swinging his legs sideways, he was able to pull himself up until he sat cleanly upon the cross-member, immediately turning to see that much to his relief, Nathan was completing a similar manoeuvre. Climbing up through the spars, Carolynn was eventually in a position to swing out and steal a glance at the road, which by the luck of Kell, appeared to be empty both ways. Not wanting to pass-up this chance, he signalled to Nathan the way seemed clear and they both scrambled the last few feet up the bridges wrought iron scroll work and dropped down as nonchalantly as possible onto the road.</span></span><span lang="EN"></span><br />Carolynn had just straightened up and as Nathan, was about to walk off in the direction of the inn when a voice challenged them from in the smog at the far end of the bridge.<br />“Freeze you two !”<br />Carolynn did not quite halt but slowed to an almost imperceptible pace, gently attempting to turn, as he heard the gun chamber a round and stopped. “Stay where you are and don’t move !”<br />There was the sound of the same hard-soled boots on tarmac as Nathan had heard on the roof of the smelting plant down below and he guessed they were uniform, standard issue, making this one PDF too. Standard Autogun too then, capable of a burst tight enough to fell them both even if the person on the other end wasn’t particularly good, so not much “wiggle-room” then, great !<br />“PDF shut this bridge and the road back to the Centre, why are you here ?” exclaimed a rough voice. “<br />That was good “ thought Carolynn, “for if he was asking that, he’d not seen them climb up from below.”<br />“We’re not from Grey” he answered, his Herder accent almost imperceptible at times now thick and rural “My friend and I were trying to find the inn where we were staying and seem to have got ourselves lost !”<br />“You maybe lost, but you aint deaf and there are patrol’s both ends turning people back from here, how’d you miss them ?”<br />The footsteps behind Nathan were getting closer as the Trooper crossed to their side of the bridge,<br />“You must have passed one of them, why did they let you through then eh ? I don’t think you could have passed them, in which case what have you been up to ?“<br />“I think there was some trouble, that’s why we left. Maybe they were dealing with those causing the disturbance, we saw…”<br />“Bollocks ! There was any agro down the East End they would have alerted me, told me to stop any that as tried to make a run for it, which is a more likely reason for you being here !”<br />Nathan could sense the Trooper just to his rear right, smell the alcohol on his breath and the sweat and smoke of his clothes, hear the slight breathlessness of someone not it the peak of fitness and the faint slur to his speech.<br />“Better and better“, thought Nathan, probably unfit, maybe carrying a few extra pounds and he‘s had a few glasses of Sallowclh to boot.*<br /><br />*<b>Sallowclh</b> - pronounced sal - ok. An ancient and traditional strong spirit drink, brewed from fermented Snowberries, Morac milk and a secret plant extract that allows the successful blending of the two. Without this extract, you get a really, really bad alcoholic drink that is actually poisonous in large quantities, known as Sank.<br /><br />“Kneel down arsehole !” he bellowed at Nathan, who felt the spray of spittle against his neck just before the Trooper kicked him savagely in the back of his right knee so he dropped to the floor hard.<br />“And stay down. You ! You come here.” he yelled at Carolynn. “And quick about it, I aint got all dark !” Carolynn did as he was told and turned and hurried over to where Nathan knelt in front of the Trooper, who was looking a little unsteady now, his gun shaking ever so slightly in his hands as he waved it about precariously.<br />“Oh that’s great,” though Carolynn, “Get through all that only to be shot accidentally by some pissed PDF bully boy,” for in the 12 paces it took him to get there, Carolynn arrived at a similar conclusion as to the state of their new friend as Nathan had. “Over the limit and over weight, that’s handy.” he thought to himself, making sure he presented himself as awkwardly as possible to the man as he reached him..<br />“You, on your knees too ! The Trooper yelled, showering Carolynn this time<br />“Yes Sir !” he toadied, dropping smartly to his knees, pretending to almost unbalance as he did so, which made the Trooper scoff at his clumsiness, and as he reached eye level with Nathan, for a moment he could have sworn he saw his friend wink ?<br />“Now you two sacks of shite, I wanna know when you came here, where you’re staying and exactly what you think you are doing littering the streets of my City ! And if I think, just for one moment, you are not being straight with me, if I think you‘re jerking me around, you are gonna find your sorry arses in a whole world of hurt, capiche !”<br />“ Yes Sir !” Carolynn and Nathan responded, and sensing he had these two out-of-towners beat, the trooper went for the cuffs on his belt. He dropped his eyes for just a moment, but that’s all it took Carolynn to grab the end of his Autogun and rotate it 180<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; line-height: normal;">°</span> until the muzzle contacted the Trooper’s midriff and his finger having located the trigger, fire it twice. With two muffled ”chumph” sounds the rounds blasted two fist sized holes in the Troopers middle, collapsing him across Carolynn as he stood into the Trooper’s fall, barrelling him sideways in a rugby tackle toward the side rail of the bridge. The wrought iron fret-work scroll’s slowed him briefly, but then the Trooper was gone, spiralling away into the dark, his tumbling form swallowed by the smog long before it’s inevitable convergence with the roof of the smelting hall far below !<br /><span lang="EN">“Phew.“ Carolynn gasped from the adrenaline spike rather than the exertion of the whole thing.<br />“Come on Nate, time to make ourselves very scarce I think !” and the two turned for the Centre, Carolynn briefly inspecting the front of his cape for any signs of the altercation with the Trooper, though in the dark, smog draped street he could see no obvious marks nor traces of blood. They needed to get as far from here as possible and off the streets though, to avoid getting drawn into this any further by the Authorities for there would be some trace. He had worked with death enough to know that no kill is ever clean, there is always a little tell tale evidence passed on. They walked as brusquely as they dare, for to run, here at this time of the dark would be little short of a confession to some deviancy, unless you were being pursued by someone. By now he guessed they were little more than 2 or 3 levels over from the “Gallery”, the name he now remembered, of Joseph’s father’s inn. His thoughts strayed to Jed, what would they tell the lad ? Knowing things was about to become a liability and he was not a practiced liar.<br />“Time enough with us two,” he mused, “and that’ll all change !” He afforded himself a quick glance at Nathan and straight way slowed them down, for if he too looked that purposeful then guilty was not a that much of a long shot for anyone else who cared to take note of the two outsiders who “Went that way officer.” The buildings about them reared up and the alley’s narrowed, too far up-hill, those about the central plaza were more evenly spaced, so they hung left, Nathan then noticing one of the self-aggrandising bas relief’s that stood several meters high and a as a tribute to ready money. It had probably looked grander in its day, for the chemical soup that passed for air here had begun to dissolve the layers at a rate that in a few more cycles would have the carving look like a map of the lower World Spine Mountains and the seemingly random peaks and troughs of nature.<br />“This way”, Nathan took them sharply left, then into a street that rose at a silly angle to the right and they were then in front of two substantial corrugated iron clad gates that were beginning to swing open.<br /><br />“Guys, guy’s, sorry about the gates, but its been mad here tonight ! There were riots down the street and then scores of …” the Eldest daughter moved the babbling Jed aside.<br /><span lang="EN">“Let me get your friends something to freshen them, enough of the questioning for now !” Hannah prised the two of them from the attentions of a relieved Jed and sat them down at one of the courtyard tables, whilst Jed turned his attention to helping Martin close-up again, rolling the massive gates back and dropping their wood block latches firmly in place. Hannah handed them each a glass of the same clear drink as they had upon their arrival and it was just as cleansing and equally appreciated.<br />“Some Sallowclh !” proposed Nathan, which took Carolynn by surprise, but remembering Jed’s enthusiastic curiosity at such times and the need now more than usual for “normality“, he saw where he was going with this, so added, “Bring the bottle, it is after all our 1<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">st</sup> night in Grey !”<br />Martin disappeared for a moment, hurriedly reappearing with a slightly dusty bottle and was soon charging glasses. “Don’t forget yourself Martin“, Nathan added, “And for your eldest ?” the later a polite question as ever with him.<br />“To our new friend’s, said Carolynn, raising his glass to Martin, “and your family for saving us in this City !”, which made Joseph blush and hurry away to do ‘something’, whilst waiting for his excitement to subside.<br />Soon in an atmosphere so relaxed it was hard to connect the goings on at the smelting hall and the dead Trooper with the same dark for Carolynn. Joseph and his younger sister had retired and the rest were sat in a group, discussing Martins business opportunities or the lack thereof in a very animated way, having put more than a dent in a second bottle of Sallowclh. Carolynn had laid of the liquor as he felt to tense and appreciated and had the whole train of today’s events on permanent loop in his head, looking for any mistakes, which he appreciated was not helping himself or anyone. So, as he did at times like this, he slipped away, taking the stairs two at a time until he was on the roof with it’s panoramic views of Grey.<br /><br />What were they going to do, go to Lord Samuel ? And what would he do, send in the PDF ? Hardly a plan, the Inquisition ? It was not until after, until he’d had a chance to reflect upon it all that he realised just what that could mean to the people of Grey, Kell the people of Zalthar, because there was no telling where the Inquisition would stop, or even if the Inquisition would stop. They were not renowned for their moderation and as this would be the 2<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">nd</sup> time they would have been called here, they would not go easy on folk. Their displeasure would be made only too clear. <span lang="EN"><br />Looking to the East, it seemed that the PDF still had the area of the bridge and the levels leading to and through the district locked down, with Heavy Weapon Remotes and their crew’s deployed at all the major intersections Carolynn could see. They were formidable pieces of kit these remotely operated vehicles, they were tracked with heavily armoured chassis and often had a twin chain gun or heavy bolter load out. Whilst they would be sitting ducks in an open war, they excelled in urban pacification, their bulk and soulless cybernetic menace, often enhanced by painted-on teeth and eyes was usually enough to deter all but the most fool hardy rioters. Here in Grey they sat dominating the junctions of roads and levels, stabiliser’s deployed to support their armoured bulk with the ferocious recoil of their weaponry, whilst their crews sat in the comparative safety of an adjacent building directing their every move.<br /><br />Then it suddenly struck Carolynn what was happening, shapes began to form across the cityscape, linking what at first had appeared to be random locations. There was a ring, all though he could not determine all the positions along its length it was big and as he looked he could make out more and more elements, way more than just security measures for the Trades ! In some places, whole gangs of labourers were out in force along with a lot of Heavy Plant, diggers and dozers, even one or two anti-grav lifters hauling plasti-crete could be seen in the little “diorama’s” formed by the Arc lights. Illuminated industrious “bubbles” in the dark ! Seemed though the Baron’s were aware of their unpopularity after all, for down town Grey was becoming “Fortress-Grey“ at an alarming rate. In some places, whole swathes of shanty‘s had been raised, to create twenty, some thirty yard wide “dead-zones“ for free fire, dotted with steel spikes strung with razor wire! They were probably soon to be mined with hundreds of those little anti-personnel spring mines,* if they had not done so already on the QT.<br /><br /><span lang="EN">*Spring Mines - Often small, spring launched air-blast anti-personnel weapons. Cheap and effective, they have left horrendous legacies of indiscriminate carnage and mutilation on millions of Planets for thousands of Years, often long after hostilities had ceased.<br /><br />The Baron’s were clearly preparing to hold on to what they’d got, no matter what the cost. A fortified Palace, deals with the Dark-Gods, as Carolynn could see it, the only thing they were short were Soldiers. Sure there were these “PDF” types about, but from what Nathan and he had seen so far they were not Lord Samuel’s PDF, they fell well short of that bar, these were just hired Goon’s in PDF uniforms and would not be much use against an enemy that fired back. They were fine for shake-downs and as pseudo-police at times of civil unrest, but against an organised revolt, or intervention from the Governor and the “Real PDF” or the Guard Unit’s of the Inquisition, even with Fortress-Grey and it’s minefields, their Heavy Weapon Remotes and Sniper VTOL’s, they would be as much use as a chocolate fire-guard ! What was clear, packed like sardines in their flimsy shanty‘s, the civilian population of Grey would be massacred, caught like “Human shields” between the Baron’s Feudal Levy and whomever was sent to bring them back in-line, they would stand little chance. Getting out would not be an option either, for the Baron’s would not willingly let folk go and forsake their protection and even if they did, where would they go to? Many were dispossessed, having little beyond what they had invested in Grey itself, and with the snows soon to wrap the World Spines in their icy grasp, just wandering off and trusting in providence was not an option. In the valley’s the temperature often dipped to - 10<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; line-height: normal;">°</span> C or lower, up here in the Mountains it sometimes got to - 30<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; line-height: normal;">°</span> C which with no cover would be lethal. No, the people of Grey were not going anywhere for the foreseeable future.<br /><br />What Carolynn could not understand, was that if he and Nathan had found these Cultists so relatively easily, all be it with a little bit of luck, and spotted the growing defensive perimeter, how come the Imperial Authorities seemed so blissfully unawares ? They were infamous for poking their noses in everywhere, a finger in every pie. The Inquisition would not have deemed Zalthar free from Chaos, then packed up shop and left, that much was certain. They would leave an Agent or ten, ticked away, waiting for someone somewhere to screw-up and they’d be right back, righteous indignation glowing, torches and pitchforks ready to hand out to the mob so <span lang="EN">they could go and hunt them a heretic ! So where were they then ? Why was Grey not crawling with Imperial Spies or </span><span lang="EN-GB">disciples of the Officio Assassinorum ready to pop a cap in the first Baron that forgot to praise the Emperor after a particularly satisfying dump ?</span><br />Something was either very wrong, or he was missing something desperately obvious and he did not find either appealing. What to do, what to do ?<br />“Come on oh smart mind, come on, if your so smart, you figure things out, its what you do, have always done so don’t fail me now !” He was walking in tight little circles, oblivious to his surroundings, when…..<br /><span lang="EN">“Penny for them ?” Carolynn sun at the sound of Nathan’s voice.<br />“You are letting down our hosts my friend. What is it up here that has you so totally captivated that light is almost upon us and yet you stand alone, as if all the troubles of the world were yours and yours alone ?”<br />“I, I am sorry. Look !” Carolynn took Nathans arm and turned him towards the site of the construction of the nearest redoubt. “They are preparing for War, a long and bloody one from what we have seen. What should we do Nathan ? Who do we tell of what we have seen, do we tell our friend’s first. Do we tell Martin and his Family ?”<br /><br />End of Part Four<br /><br />Mk <img alt="Emoji" class="ecxEmoji$1F60A$AC0 ecxRenderedEmoji" src="https://a.gfx.ms/Emoji_1F60A.png" /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-79715766222571844702014-05-13T07:21:00.004-07:002014-05-13T07:21:48.533-07:00Theater three, chapter 6 cont 2<span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><strong>Season Three, Chapter Six</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Shades of Grey - Part Two</strong></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><br />Carolynn <span lang="EN">and Nathan had moved as one, a symbiosis of action that had prevented the pair coming to harm on many an occasion, now saw them through another impetuous and fool hardy action that was likely to get them killed.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Or worse”, realised Carolynn, for the PDF could be found riding shotgun for most of Zalthar’s nefarious low-life’s with high ambitions, and that would certainly include the Lead Barons of Grey. New money with old habits, gambling, protection rackets, prostitution, narcotics and people trafficking to name but a few. He knew they should leave it alone, that the two, rather thee of them should make the Trades and go. Anything suspect going down here could, should be left for the Agents of the Imperium to deal with, after all that’s what they got paid for wasn’t it ? Trouble was, if whatever was going down, used the Baron’s private funicular in plain sight with apparent impunity, chances were the PDF locally anyhow, were either involved or had be persuaded to turn a blind eye and look the other way!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Still, whatever was or was not going on, the fact was they were committed, the strong smell of fresh blood alone told them something was wrong here in the heart of the Capital of those with whom the herders were about to trade a considerable stake of their livelihood ! As a result, Carolynn </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">and Nathan now found themselves with two semi-conscious women and a young man, the later of whom looked like he’d been trampled by a Morac, in a private freight funicular under a sheet of canvas late in the dark. It would not look good if they were found out.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“What are we doing ?” hissed Nathan , “We are supposed to be here to trade peacefully with these folk !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Don’t know about you,” replied Carolynn, “But if we are trading a sizeable sum of Bronze Hearths hard earned for necessary supplies to last out the snows, I’d like to understand a little more about our ‘partners’ practices and from what I’ve seen so far, those leave a bit to be desired ?” Replied Carolynn, then, “She dead ?“ Gesturing to the woman Nathan had just finished examining.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Fraid so, and for some time.” </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">"This one isn’t but she don’t feel to bright. !” Carolynn added, taking his hand off the dark haired woman’s neck having felt for a weak carotid pulse. “How’s he ?” He then asked Nathan as he was beginning checking over the guy.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Not good either. Pulse is low and his breathing’s kind of raspy. If he won the fight, then the losers in a bad way ! These two should be on their way to an Apothecary, not chucked into a fright car. How far we got to go ?” </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“The point marker we just passed was 17/23, and as the numbers are going down, I’d say 5 or 6, so we need to be looking for a place to get of before we reach the terminus.” Answered Carolynn, peering out into the dark. They both fumbled with their capes, releasing their Bolt Pistols from holsters, checking the load-outs and thumbing off the safety’s, before sliding them back again. Nathan also pulled out some ‘smart’ grenades, handing a couple to Carolynn. “Work just fine without the Launcher, just tap the base and throw. Can’t set the time without the tube is all !” Carolynn continued to stare out into the dark and the smog. What earlier had been a serious irritant, now looked like being their best friend.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“That was 21, only 4 more to go and I can’t see shite, just the sides of this channel, which are way too steep or to far off to reach here !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Well you had better get us off this thing soon, or we’ll be star guests at a party we weren’t invited to !” Nathan looked a little worried.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Come on then, stand-up Nate as we won’t get a second go at this !” Carolynn helped him to his feet as the wagon lurched on downwards to the sound of creaky gears and the whine of taught cables and to make matters worse, water still dripped out into the cut in places, making everything damp and slippery with algae. As the wagon dropped past 22, Carolynn suddenly spied their way out, for the track dipped as it entered the terminal, the roof about 2” clear, an easy jump so long as they timed it right and that was,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“ Now !” at which they both leapt clear, landing crouched then running stooped until they were in the cover of several ventilator outlets and large fan housings that were, that were chanting ?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Now that doesn’t sound too reassuring.” Whispered Nathan, as they slid themselves closer to get a better listening position, but they still did not recognise any of the words.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“I Know several languages, but that’s none of them.” Said Carolyn. “There are sounds of High Gothic, but just sounds, not words, could be its one of the foundation languages it is derived from, but its lost on me.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“In that case we are going to need to get a look see, I’ll check these vents aren’t alarmed, then see if I can get a panel off and have a poke about inside. Cover me !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“No problem !” With which Carolynn moved closer to the central vent nearest the rungs of what looked like a maintenance ladder and the only visible access to the roof he could make out. Bolt Pistol in hand he pulled up his cape, smoothing his outline to blend with the already cluttered roof furniture of vents, tanks and the large fan-housings of cooling systems. In their lea, the two of them were also partially covered from the rest of Grey, rising on the cliff before them like a vast curtain of scrap vanishing into the darkness and ever present yellow smog that clung to the place like mould. Nathan finished testing resistance across the various components of the buildings vents and having also given them a thorough visual inspection, signalled to Carolynn he was satisfied the place was not wired, and began removing a 2” square section to gain entry. The whir of the huge fans and the mounting dirge-like chanting from within obscured Nathan’s nevertheless stealthy use of his ever present tool kit to remove the plate and surreptitious entry to what proved to be part cooling duct, part maintenance shaft. With a central access ladder, the shaft was clearly designed to afford access to long runs of bundled cabling and equally complex pipe-work junctions that along with the cabling, disappeared into a number of horizontal crawl spaces that lead off at about 12” intervals. Pleased to have secured such an ideal entry, Nathan swung his light about the space, scarcely able to believe how easy this had been, until the beam came to rest on a socket wrench, snipped wire ends and pair of discarded work gloves that finally made the connection. Added to the lack of dust and dirt that would rapidly accumulate in such a place, it became immediately apparent that this construction had been recently re-fitted, and in all probability, whatever security it may warrant had yet to be installed. Satisfied he was not leading them into a trap, he climbed back to the opening to wave Carolynn over, when he froze, as he was suddenly made out the sound of footfalls over the chanting and mechanical throb of the fans on the roof behind the vent in which he crouched. Nathan desperately scanned the section of roof where Carolynn was keeping watch, but of there was no sign of him. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“He must have had to relocate.“ Nathan reassured himself, slowing his breathing, and listening intently, trying to make out further sounds that would give away the position of the intruder, for an intruder it most certainly was. The boots that had made those first tell tale sounds he could tell had hard soles, not made from Morac Hide as were those of </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Carolynn’s, for </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">they would have made scarcely a sound at all ! The quiet of the Mountains taught those who chose to make them their home the true value that could be found in a sound. Nathan gently slid his hand up inside his cape, reaching the holster and sliding out his Bolt Pistol, his thumb quietly releasing the safety as he did so. Then, from the dark somewhere behind him came a muffled sound, followed by a sharp exhalation and the noise of something settling on the roof. Moments later, </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Carolynn’s face appeared at the opening, “All clear Nate, come and give me a hand shifting our guest will you ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Sliding out of the vent, Nathan helped Carolynn pick up someone in a PDF uniform and bundle them into the now somewhat cramped space at the top of the shaft he had opened up. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Handy !” Exclaimed <span lang="EN-GB">Carolynn, peering down at the central ladder and crawl spaces, clearly impressed with the entrance Nathan had secured, “You certainly know how to pick them, anyone ever tell you that if you ever felt like quitting herding, you’d make a great burglar.”</span> </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Yeah, you, last time you dragged me into some crazy stunt of yours !”<br />“Dragged ? Don’t remember ‘dragging you’ onto that lead wagon. Can’t take credit for that, I…”<br />“You jumped first and you knew I’d have no choice but to follow, just to haul your sorry arse out of the next disaster !”<br />“You do have a point I suppose, but we have no time to debate the rights and wrongs now, this body is gonna be missed by someone at some point in the not too distant future, so we have to get a move on.”<br />“Unless …” Mused Nathan.<br />“Unless what ?”<br />“How did you kill them ?”<br />“Neck as…”<br />“Great, in that case we can have a good look see around the edge of this roof top, I mean its probably 60” to 70” in places, then there are parts where the cliff naturally drops away. It was an industrial accident waiting to happen !”<br />“Make that a really sinister, creepy burglar Nate !”<br /><br />Having found a section of roof that dropped away to a side of sheer, empty cliff, they had disposed of one problem, but Carolynn and Nathan were still up against the clock, for the intruder had taken up time they did not have to spare. Back inside the cowling at the </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">top of the shaft</span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> it was time to make a hard call, continue this dark, or risk it and try a return run the next ? But that was when a change in the monotonous chanting rising from deep within the structure intervened and swayed their hand !</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Mk </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-71426763018311855172014-05-13T05:19:00.002-07:002014-05-13T05:19:57.609-07:00A treasure from mark!<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">A short synopsis on the Politics of the Herders</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">The Herder Clans of Zalthar were first united by the formation of the “Council of 5”, formed from the 5 Elders from the 5 largest Clans, to save the Morac Herds during the time of the Tyranid Invasion of the Planet. It was retained after the Invasion, as a tool to represent what at the time was a threatened and declining society.<br /><br />By the time of the 1<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">st</sup> Chaos Incursion, the Council of 5 had become an elected body, representing the Herder Nation. It had bought about many improvements and the Herder life-style had ceased to decline, bolstered in part by disillusioned escapees from the Hives and large Mining Conglomerates and Corporations<br /><br />After the 2<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">nd</sup> Incursion, the Council of 5 was </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">quick to act. In each Ceramite City, it formed the impromptu “Listening-Councils”. These consisted of 13 Men and Women from all groups, with all but 3 over and over the age of 18 Grand Cycles, elected by the entire population. It was the role of these “Listening-Councils” to hear all local civil and legal matters, especially accusation of collaboration after the incursion, keeping record of accused and accuser for 6 cycles after. The Council would then put its findings to the Population for their decision. Most saw innocent people free to carry on with their daily lives, whereas the guilty soon came to light and were often handed to the “Council of 5” for final Judgement. Thus “Witch hunts” and panic were avoided.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><br />Despite its popularity and the improvements it bought about, the Council of 5 itself was not felt to be as representative of the individual Clans. Therefore, it was reformed as the Council of 50, an</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">elected Ruling Council of representatives from the Listening-Councils of the 49 Ceramite Cities of Zalthar, the Head of the Council and its 50<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">th</sup> member with right of veto, was an honorary position offered to is the Governor as a sign of respect and as an acknowledgement of his Imperial Position and Title. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><br />The 3<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">rd</sup> and final change was one necessitated by the need to simplify the situation of the unnecessarily large </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Listening-Councils“. </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Each City replaced its </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Listening-Councils with a smaller “Council of 7”, run on the same lines, though reduced to 7 Men and Women from all groups, with all but 3 over and over the age of 18 and all but 1 over the age of 16 and all over 10 Grand Cycles of age. The 7<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">th</sup> member was also elected as the Cities representative on the </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Council of 50, in addition to their place on the Council of 7.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><br />The Councils political creed is “</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Illegitimi non carborundum”, "Don't let the bastards grind you down".</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-10603324515845241042014-05-13T05:18:00.000-07:002014-05-13T05:18:12.230-07:00Theater 3, Chapter 6 cont.<span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><strong>Season Three, Chapter Six</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Shades of Grey - Part Three</strong></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“For it is Father Nurgle to whom we give praise, for it is he will claim us all !</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">When the puppet pretender falls from the gate, and the path of the four is open, the Father will come to collect us, rid us of these forms that bind us, unite us all through decay, dissolve us all till we are one !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Who in Kell’s name is Father Nurgle ?” Whispered Carolynn, though a sideway’s glance at the whitening face of Nathan told him he probably could live a long and fulfilling life without knowing the answer.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“All I know,” said Nathan, “Is what I heard from Jahicham, the old Seer of the Herders of the Lead Lands. He was the longest lived of us, but kept himself to himself, ling in a hut at the entrance to a small cave way up just above where the trees climb. People say he could see things that are yet to pass, and so people would take him gifts in return for his ‘Seeing’. That is how he lived, though he was sleeping with the stones before you ever came to Bronze Hearth. Folk say he warned of Dark Gods, four of them, who he said commanded ’Ruinous Powers’. Power to corrupt men through their base desires, their fate, anger, lust and despair. The God of despair they also referred to as Grandfather or Father, for he was the eldest and the bringer of pestilence, disease and decay, so was one of the most terrible, for he could strike all things down. It is said that there were some debased tribes on Zalthar that used to worship him for the power he could give men, but power with a cost, a power that could destroy a mans mind. There were many terrible tales told around the fires during the long darks. Ben may know some, for he has a mind for such things, I preferred to forget them.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“What would the Lead Barons want to evoke such madness for ?” asked Carolynn</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“The power I suppose.” said Nathan,” They may not know of the madness, such things’ tend to be overlooked by those power hungry individuals, especially those who know their power will not last. Zalthar will again become mined out, and they know that, and so even the thought of pacts with these Dark Gods may seem better to them than losing their power!” </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Below, a mournful chanting had begun again, it was clear whatever was going on was far from over.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“If we believe that the Barons or others are seeking such pacts, we need to see what is happening. We cannot go to the Council without more than just some overheard chanting by persons unknown Nate ? Trust me, from what you have said, I’d rather not know, but we have to do some very serious business with these people, trade that will affect how, Kell even if some of us get through the snows !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“I know, and you are right, but that certainty does not change the fear of these Gods I learnt from those tales all those cycles ago. They are entities that cannot be trusted and want no less than to enslave all men to their cause !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Well they shall not have you, me, Jed nor any of our people, but I cannot sit by and risk their interference in matters upon which all of the Herders of the Lead Lands may soon depend !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Don’t get me wrong my friend,” said Nathan, “I will do all I can, but you need to know how deep the fear runs in me and a great many others who can remember darker times on Zalthar. Bronze Hearth was not always the place of light and laughter it has become, for many cycles it was beset by darkness and surrounded by enemies. Have you never wondered why we still have a twelve strong team of high herders out dark and light, with enough firepower to start a small war ?. When was the last time you saw any of those herders firing so much as a single round to do anything more than scare-off a pack of Lope-Cats ? I can assure you though it was not always so, I can still remember the relief of counting in the night shift at light break and realising we had only lost one that dark. What was worse still is that sometimes we never did find their bodies ! It was only the coming of Lord Samuel that saw the end of such things. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">He formed the first Company of the PDF, the Zalthar Defence League, real fine troops they were, not these goons you see here today, they are a disgrace to the uniform.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">The Hives knew nothing of the struggles in the wilder places of Zalthar. That is one of the reasons why, despite so much space, the early Governors’ positively encouraged that form of Imperial expansion, keeping people in spaces that could be more readily defended and controlled. When we return to Bronze Hearth I will ask Ben to tell you more of the Civil War here and the Wars of the Wilds that followed for many years after ! But enough now of my warbling, you are right we must go and I will follow you into the worst this world can throw our way, you should know that by now my friend !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“I know, and you are right. There is much of this world I do not understand, not meant to understand or even know of, for as you say the Hives were designed as much to keep things in as keep them out !” and with that Carolynn clasped a rung and swung himself out over the central ladder, swiftly followed by Nathan, and together they began their decent.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Jed on the other hand was getting a very different introduction to Grey, courtesy of Josephs elder sister, Hannah, however even she could not disguise a town, become city that was close to boiling point. Twice since dark Martin, Hannah’s father, had needed to close the thick planked and corrugated iron clad outer gates to his inn due to hostile mobs coming to blows in the streets nearby, wrecking havoc in their wakes whilst the PDF struggled to keep a semblance of order beyond the city centre. That they had tied down tighter than a drum and folk that attempted to interfere with that paid heavily for their folly. Hannah had taken Jed up to the third floor roof for a grandstand view of Grey and he had gazed out over a central district that from above looked more like a fortress. In the back of his mind was the silent prayer that Carolynn and Nathan were keeping out of trouble, though part of him was very doubtful. Hannah had also explained to Jed that more and more mines were failing in Grey as seams were depleted , which in turn had made competition for profitable shafts so fierce and violence such a common occurrence, the Baron’s were drafting in more and more PDF every light. Even with such measures in place Jed could see this was a city fast coming to an end as one. Soon there would not be the wealth to sustain it, at which point it would begin to shrink, or explode and all he was seeing pointed to the later. Hannah’s father Martin explained later that he was desperate to get his family clear, but everything they owned was tied up in the Inn which he was finding impossible to sell, no-one was buying at this time of uncertainty and he was struggling keeping his family safe ! It was increasingly clear the PDF’s priority was not protecting the masses, but keeping the Baron’s safe in their ivory towers, clear and distinct form the experiences of the many. Jed made a note to pick Carolynn’s brains when he returned, surely he would have some suggestions.</span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><br /> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">As Carolynn </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">and Nathan penetrated deeper into the structure, not only did the chanting became louder, but they began to detect an awful smell that grew along with the noise, and at first, neither could place it. It was not until they had climbed down about five stories, that Nathan reminded Carolynn about the time after the Sigma Mine explosion, the Morac that stampeded and were found dead several days later that he recognised what it was. It was the air of decay, the stench of death. Within that stench though was also the stink of neglect and despair that had permeated his entire childhood in the Hive, a sickly odour as foreboding now to him as an adult as it had been then to a child. It was the scent of his nightmares, his sleepless nights and of all the bad things that had ever happened in his life. it made his stomach heave, leaving a bitter acid taste of bile in his throat and beads of sweat across his brow. It was hot and clammy this far down in the draft of smelters’ and hot lead, so he signalled to Nathan that he needed to take five, try and clear.., to. A flurry of morbid thoughts crossed his mind, petty worries, childhood concerns, things many of which he thought he had forgotten, like breaking Ms Kalenski’s window. Where had that come from, there wasn’t even an association for…But there didn’t need to be did there</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Nate, you feel OK ?” he asked.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Yeah, fine considering it stinks and is hot as Hades in this shite-hole !” came Nathan‘s whispered reply, followed by equal concern.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Why‘s that, you not feeling to bright ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“I think something or someone down here is trying to f%$k with my head. Well not my head in particular, just altering thoughts, the bad ones ! It’s trying to increase feelings of fear and fuelling anxiety by messing with memories, so given how you feel about this you need be wary Nate. I may be able to fight it, but you won’t and try as I might I cannot use what witch sight I have to help, so if you begin to feel things are getting worse than they should, tell me and we’ll get out, try another approach yes ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Sure, but you looked worse than I feel, so if you’re good to go I guess I am.” and with that they continued on their way down.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">The access shaft was older where they‘d paused and narrower, the walls covered with a thick dust in ochre streaked hues the colour of Grey’s smog. The cable bundles were loose in places, new wires strung covering gaps in the old and the pipe work was no longer separate but intermingled and leaking, turquoise scabs of verdigris clustered around the joints and the smell was cloying. From the next horizontal crawlspace, the chanting was loudest yet, so with just a moments hesitation, Carolynn slid in and was staring down through a vent into the cavernous space of a smelting hall, filled with row upon row of robed figures, all facing a hooded and similarly robed figure who stood facing them, arms outstretched, flanked by two initially indistinguishable shapes. Carefully, Carolynn ran his finger up the right hand seam of his cape until it rested against the flap of a pocket, from which quietly withdrew his monocular, an object of rare quality * he had won from some fur-traders on their way through Bronze Hearth several cycles past now. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">* It was engineered on Athemar, a Forge World renown for the quality of the Lenses and </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Prisms in the </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Optical Instruments it produces. The method used to manufacture Athemarian lenses is known only to a select cadre of Tech Priests, with each only ever being instructed in one stage of the process by their predecessor. A victim of its own paranoid secrecy and greed, Athemar also used to manufacture several ranges of high quality precision weapons, but unforeseen deaths and accidents broke the chains of knowledge and so the skills were lost !</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Carolynn’s monocular used </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Prisms, and so was smaller and weighed but a fraction of conventional binoculars or telescopes with the same optical properties, perfect for when his kit was just what he could carry !</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">What he saw almost lost him his grip on it as the indistinguishable shapes became distinguished before him.<br />“Kell !” his stomach heaved again and he rolled onto his side hand across his mouth, stifling the risk he may cry-out or vomit.<br /><br />The indistinguishable shapes were what had been the young man and sole surviving woman from the lead wagon, or at least they had been, and the remaining resemblance was ebbing fast. Their already beaten and broken bodies were now strapped to tubular metal frames, the only thing holding them up, each frame anchored in the centre of a circular steel “dish“. Their faces bore rictus grins, eyes wide and lost in madness as their flesh seemed to roil pulsate from within. Their arms and legs seemed to be decaying before Carolynn’s eyes, streaks of grey green discolourment spreading inwards to claim any patches of remaining healthy flesh. Sliding back along the crawl space, in hushed tones he gave Nathan a brisk explanation of what he had witnessed, how the two were paraded, their accelerated decay part of some grotesque “ritual” or something of the like.<br />“You could just end it, two shots and…” began Nathan, but Carolynn lifted a finger to his lips to silence him.<br />“I feel exactly the same way, for Kell’s sake I was in there with a gun at my side and what would have been a clean shot. And yeah, it would end it for them, but also for Jed, you, me, probably that guy Martin at the Inn and his three kids for sheltering Terrorists. Then there would be some kind of diplomatic incident with Bronze Hearth that would see them slapped with reparations for sending assassins to Grey and so it would go on.!”<br />“Yes, I know how it goes, it’s just..<br />“That being able to do nothing makes you feel like shite,” offered Carolynn. “But they will not get away with it, not so long as we can get word to Lord Samuel. Their tune will change once the Inquisition gets its hands on them !“<br /><br />The chanting began to rise in fervour, their diabolic ceremony headed towards its inevitable conclusion and Carolynn knew they needed more if they were going to sink this disgusting cabal of heretics.<br />“Pass me that monocular of yours will you ?“ asked Nathan, at which Carolynn must have looked concerned, for he explained “I couldn’t look, but I might be able to help our case, look !”<br />Nathan took out his ever present tool kit and did what he did so well. Using some of the off-cuts of wire he had picked up from where the work had been going on at the top of the shaft, wire most wouldn’t even notice, he was able to connect a digital picter to the digital display of Carolynn’s monocular, set it to record and Carolynn slid back into the crawl space to get the evidence they needed.<br /><br />The ceremony moved on, becoming ever more frenzied, until the chanting was little more than individuals hysterically ranting as they swayed drunkenly in exhaustion. Their “High-Priest” stood motionless, arms reaching for the stars rambling incoherently through the froth and bubbles of foam flecking his lips as the ruinous powers left him.<br />By his side, the racks were empty, the straps hung loose and the dishes were full with purification. In each there had formed strange shapes, both human in aspect but twisted, malformed with pale green mottled and diseased skin, cruelly clawed limbs, wide tooth filled maws and a single milky white eye in the centre of their foreheads below one, the other two’s upwardly curving horns ! They were not creatures of Zalthar, but foul things in league with Jahicham the Seer’s Dark Gods, and as the ceremony reached its fanatical climax, both approached the High-Priest from whom they took a piece of parchment, before disappearing off through a hitherto unnoticed door at the back of the Hall. To have communed with such “Daemon’s” was true Heresy indeed ! Carolynn needed no more, so secreting the modified monocular, he crawled back out of the side shaft. The two of them then rapidly ran through a well practiced drill, checking their weapons and kit, ensuring all was present and correctly stowed away for the journey back, for there could be no delays or hesitation if they were to succeed. “Ready ?” said Nathan.<br />“Ready !” confirmed Carolynn, and they were off !<br /><br />End of Part Three<br /><br />Mk</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-47314679716918864422014-05-12T07:44:00.002-07:002014-05-12T07:44:56.005-07:007th edition woesWith 7th edition on its way, and whilst also undergoing primarch rules testing which is now complete and will be posted soon, we are taking a brief hiatus from the campaign. It will continue when 7th rolls around and we are all used to its rules. Many of you will also notice Mark has taken an indefinite Hiatus to gaming, as you have noticed. Reasons for this are unknown, but we hope he joins us again soon. Until then he continues to write fluff for our campaign whenever able. But to celebrate our campaign and the new edition, a the campaign will finally exit the eye of terror... but everyone will be changed....<br />
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Connor:<br />
A Tau expeditionary force into the eye of terror came out corrupted by the whispers of chaos. The combined arms of the Tau and Chaos forces have lead them to be a true fear in the warp. But now, as a warp gate opens, they make there move....<br />
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Luke:<br />
The dragon-kin have come through the warp changed. There mutations had developed to a worrying degree, and in there darkest time when they were about to forsake the emperor for the quick release of death, vulkan came to them. Whilst any other chapter would see him as a psychic projection of tremendous magnitude, the dragon-kin see him as there salvation. It is unknown what created the representation, whether the machinations of chaos or the emperors will, but what is known is there veneration of the emperor is back with holy vigour, with the giant man at the forefront of every battle.<br />
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Peter:<br />
A shadow in the warp was alerted by a sudden tear in the fabric of reality.... curious, the shadow hurries towards the warp gate, like a moth drawn to a flame... and a mysterious world looking strangely familiar....<br />
<br />
Chris and Dave:<br />
After the fateful events on Zalthar, the Terra Templars refused to follow into the eye of terror, and instead followed with Lord Rex. Along the way they picked up a contingent of Raven Guard under shadow captain Shrike, waiting for the moment they get to strike out against the powers of chaos....<br />
<br />
Oli:<br />
Whilst the PDF, now drafted into Lord Rexs' retinue, prepare for war against the forces that erupt from the warp gate, another force of evil lies in wait, out of sight....<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The next stage of the campaign will deal with this new planet. What is it? Who is on there? And why is it strangely familiar?<br />
I have prepared LOTS of awesome stuff for this. I also have a few plans:<br />
<br />
1) Population Control.<br />
This planet has a population... however it will not be loyal to the emperor we know, or to chaos. But there will be ways and options to sway populations and gain them in battles. This will be represented by a squad of acolytes for players.<br />
<br />
2) City Control.<br />
You will be able to control cities and towns. This will result in bonuses to players.<br />
<br />
3) New phases.<br />
To do a game it will be less of me saying "you vs you". Instead there will be a planning phase. At the start each player will have a landing point on this planet. It will have stats etc BUT wont be able to be destroyed. A landing point will have rules like this:<br />
Hold:<br />
Influence:<br />
Defense:<br />
Relic:<br />
Offense:<br />
<br />
Each of this will have something next to it, representing special rules. You will get a stat sheet like this on every province you try to destroy, gain or take over.<br />
<br />
4) Influence.<br />
Influence is gained when you take over a populated area. Population will have 1 of 3 viewpoints:<br />
Reluctant<br />
Aggressive<br />
Defensive<br />
Reluctant people can not be gained by simply taking over, only by fighting someone else for the land. The fear of two armies clashing makes them fight for the winning side. Aggressive will fight for whoever takes up the land in either a battle or simply taking over. Defensive can only be taken over by people who take over the land, seeing two armies fight is likely to have them somewhere in the thick of it being killed themselves.<br />
After a set amount of infuence is gained it grants you access to acolyte squads.<br />
<br />
5) Followers battles<br />
When you reach a certain amount of influence, you can send your followers to battle for you. This will be done using the game Dystopian Wars. A standard match of just 500pts will cover most battles. With the apoc idea of 1000pts being available too.<br />
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6) Limited Resources<br />
You will start the game with 2000pts. When you take over a land, your 2000pts is moved there etc. You can opt to place any of your force in previous places of land you have taken over. For example, if a player has 4 pieces of land owned, he can place 200pts of his army in one piece of land, another 200pts in another piece of land, and 800pts in each of the other two pieces of land. This results in a lot of smaller scale battles, to try help the newer members. It also means NO FORCE ORG CHART bellow 500pts.<br />
<br />
<br />
As stated, WIP. Will be completed in time for 7th.... keep reading ;)<br />
OliAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-85988124020129671302014-05-03T14:01:00.000-07:002014-05-03T14:01:08.802-07:00Theater 3, chapter 5<span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><span lang="EN"><strong>"Shades of Grey" - Part One</strong><br /></span>The Province of Jadir had never been prepared to go mineral and even if it could, with 92% of it above 17,000 feet and with a population of less than a quarter million, where would they have started ? It all happened when some Geologist accidentally discovered what turned out to be veins of Lead Ore, a mineral believed to be “mined-out” on Zalthar, whilst taking Core-Samples looking at the Strata for possible faults, prior to sinking the first shafts for foundations of the<span lang="EN-GB">“</span><span lang="EN">Hive</span><span lang="EN-GB">’</span><span lang="EN">s</span><span lang="EN-GB">”</span><span lang="EN"> they had planned for this Sector ! Suddenly all these 2-bit Claims and Corporate Land-Grabs they were buying up at a very </span><span lang="EN-GB">“</span><span lang="EN">acceptable</span><span lang="EN-GB">”</span><span lang="EN"> loss were potentially worth a small fortune and the bubble well and truly burst. Speculation they realised, though a wild lover, made a bitch of a Mistress ! The potential profits of others now called all the shots and Zalthar’s </span><span lang="EN-GB">“</span><span lang="EN">Lead - Rush</span><span lang="EN-GB">”</span><span lang="EN"> was well underway.</span><br /><br />Compared to Bronze-Hearth, <span lang="EN-GB">“</span><span lang="EN">Grey</span><span lang="EN-GB">” could not have been more different. It was a Dog eat Dog</span><span lang="EN">shanty-town on near vertical cliffs, fringed with slag scarps, punctuated by <span lang="EN"><span lang="EN"><span lang="EN"><span lang="EN">adit</span><span lang="EN-GB">‘</span><span lang="EN">s</span></span></span></span></span><span lang="EN">, foul smelling levels and furnaces</span><span lang="EN-GB">’</span><span lang="EN"> that poured filthy black smoke into the wind through make-shift chimney</span><span lang="EN-GB">’</span><span lang="EN">s. Seething with life, like an old black and white pict-feed of an ant</span><span lang="EN-GB">’</span><span lang="EN">s nest, although almost everything in Grey was a strictly one-man show unless you were an outsider, it which case you were mistrusted by all ! You could acquire almost anything there, like a Dante designed Market of Souls where you could buy anything you desired and sell anything you needed, especially if they were things you should not be buying or selling. </span><br /><br />Carolynn was seriously pissed, as for the second time in a row, Nathan and he had been advised that the Council had “chosen” them for the Honour of this Grand Cycles trade run to Grey, before the Herders had to leave the World Spines and the snows came, before they had moved the herd to the safety of their cold-grazing pastures in the warmer valleys far below. It was to be Jed’s first, a point he would have taken issue with, but after what happened up top in High Valley he could not question the dependability of his friend. Even so, the dangers at Grey were people and he’d rather take on a whole mine of metal beetles with no more than a spanner than deal with a town overflowing with prospectors, money-lenders and protection rackets. He’d seen it all in the Hives and it had taken him cycles to get the stink off !<br />“I know they couldn’t have chosen Ben and Liz but why us ? Every shite task there is and you can be assured it will have one of our names attached !” He was fuming.<br />“Its co’s they need someone with smarts, someone who will not get mugged even before they get there, shite you know well why, so stop sulking or it’ll be a long 140 miles !” snapped Nathan, fed up with another mile of his friends moaning.<br />“Yeah, sorry, just could have done with some time-out this Grand Cycle, its only been 7 since I nearly got cooked remember ?” Carolynn holding up and waving up his right arm by way of mock proof *<br /><br />* See Season 2 Chapter 6.<br /><br />“Oh, my hero !“ cooed Nathan, laughing in a last attempt to break Carolynn’s mood, “Going to flash your War-Wound in Grey ?”<br />“We have enough close-combat kit for Grey ?” Cut in Jed, changing the subject. “What you pack Car ?” he added .<br />“Na, if its show and tell, you lead Jed !” Came the reply “Nate said you got something new ?”<br />“Too right, last Train through Bronze Hearth, guy traded me a……..”<br />Carolyn knew the rest, so shut up whilst Jed entertained them all with the tale of how he got a great deal on a <span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB">Magpul</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> FMG-9 style folding submachine gun, though things had come on some since the first gen weapons back before the long-night. Still made a comfortable package, folded it was less than a foot long and would tuck away nicely in Grey, not the kind of place you wanted to go flaunting your fire power ! </span>Both Nathan and Carolynn had Bolt Pistol’s for company. Although of a lower calibre than their common counterparts, they fired discarding sabot armour piercing shells that effectively almost doubled their armour penetration. With a high-explosive core behind the penetrating cap to ensure they delivered sufficient stopping power, all in a delivery system discrete enough they could just get away with hanging out of sight in a shoulder holster beneath their baggy capes. For longer ranges or more serious situations, Carolynn and Jed carried their shotguns and Nathan had acquired himself a something for large scale crowd control for this trip, in the shape of an ex-Guard <span lang="EN">Programmable </span><span lang="EN-GB">Grenade Launcher that could throw an inch wide shell up to 2‘000 foot. Far enough he was proud to say that “You’d not get caught in the blast !” What’s more, the timing of the blast could be set in advance, and with such kit Carolynn was satisfied their stay in Grey would not be too unpleasant !</span><br /><br />The light was fading fast now, the shadows of the World Spines rapidly lengthening into the pure ink-black of mountain dark, far from the light pollution of the Cities and the Hive’s.<br />“Whoa !” Called Carolynn, pulling - up his destrier, the same heavy horse they all rode, an ancient breed even on Zalthar, a healthy testament to the constitution of the horses shipped here all that time ago by the 1<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">st</sup> Terran’s to colonise the planet. Used as a War Horse on their home world for centauries, they were a good strong horse with a short back and an average of 14 hands of well defined musculature, more than capable of dragging the three of them and their kit the necessary distance. Sliding from their saddles, they walked a while away from the road, to some pine scrub on a slight rise, from where they could sight the track they’d used for some 3 - 4 miles in either direction. Whilst Nathan and Jed got on with the task of pitching the tarpaulin, Carolynn busied himself with ensuring the destrier’s were fed and watered, before giving each a well earned rub-down and checking their shoes and hooves after a hard days graft. By the time he was done, the tents were up and Jed had Morac steaks ready to go.<br />“Quiet” said Jed, “I mean the road was. No sign of man nor beast all light, not since we left that second village, “White Pines” wasn’t it ? Seemed awfully empty, apart from that old guy who pumped the water. Reckon they are all off making their fortunes in Grey. They say you can pick it up by the side of the roads there, I’m going to have a go myself when we get there, I’m going to…”<br />“Make sure that under no circumstances we get parted for one thing, ” cut in Nathan. “There are to ways of getting rich there, ones to dig for it, second to take it off someone who has, and I’ll wager there’s many more doing the later !”<br />“Nate’s right Jed. There are some dangerous folk get attracted by easy money and we don’t know there’s not still someone looking out for me, or any one of us after that business with Kern.”*<br /><span lang="EN"></span><br />* See Season 2 Chapter 5.<br /><br />Carolynn banked their fire with a charred branch, ensuring it warmed without flame.<br /><br />“There’s none of us can take chances now, not even in Bronze Hearth and not in a town like Grey. You know there’s 24’00 or more folk there now ? 4 Great Cycles ago there was barely 600, with over half of them herders like us, only there in the summer cycles, gone before the snow. You’ve never seen that number of folk in one place have you ? Well I have, and it aint how people were meant to live, it messes with your head, makes them do all kind of crazy things. Place like Grey would chew you up and spit you out quicker than the blink of an eye, and there’d be squat Nate and I could do except to make sure you got a burial if you were lucky !”<br /><br />Carolynn held Jed’s gaze just long enough to satisfy himself it had sunk home, to make sure Jed had seen just enough of the real fear that still lurked deep in the pale green of his own eyes, an unshakable residue from the horrors they had borne witness to as a child in the Hive. Those fears would whisper more wisdom as to the perils of mankind and would tell the lad more than he ever could.<br />“Doesn’t mean we won’t get to have a look about though !” said Carolynn, patting Jed’s shoulder light heatedly, before the mood got too sombre. It was late and there were some terrors you’d not want walking in your dreams !<br />“You two go get some rest, I’ll take the first stint. Sleep well, we’ve a long ride still come light, especially you Jed, you are doing breakfast !” He ducked the reply that whistled past his ear off into the alpine dark.<br /><br />With Jed and Nate turned in, Carolynn took a stroll up to the horses, giving each a cursory look over, making sure each was tied off tight for the night. One shuddered as far off a Lope-Cat called mournfully from the peaks. Scanning the horizon to the north, even from this distance Carolynn could make out a faint glow in the sky, must be where Grey sat, big enough now even to light the mountains. Pushing such thoughts from his mind, he sat next to the fire, pulling his saddle blanket up around him to keep out the chill mountain air. He was not happy going back into that kind of world, it had almost broken him once, as a child and he still feared it as a man.<br />Nathan took over at mid dark and come light, he awoke to the smell of food, always a good sign. Jed was cooking, whilst Nate had taken down and packed one tent and was just about to start on the second. They ate quietly, no-one having much to say, then packed in the same silence, prepared the destrier’s and were soon back on the road North.<br /><br />Another day and a half’s riding and the landscape began to change, although they were still some 11 miles out from Grey. First, they noticed that everything began to take on a darker hue, plants, rocks and the very ground itself covered in a patina of black. The trees and shrubs began to thin, and within a mile had disappeared altogether, leaving the landscape bare and barren, soil washed away, signs of rock and mud slides bordered the road where the retaining vegetation had gone. Everywhere there were blind levels where eager hands had dug, only to come up empty, like some bomb crazy pilot had strafed the area for months on end or someone had called in an orbital bombardment. They smelt Grey several hours before they heard it, and that was sometime more before they saw it, and no matter what they had seen last time, nothing <span lang="EN">could prepare them for what it had become. The place had more than quadrupled in size, having vomited itself another two miles down at least and every square inch was occupied. They past silently past mile upon mile of shanty’s dotted through a smoked landscape of undulating spoil heaps, chimney’s, furnaces and clanging foundries that assaulted all their senses. It was deafening, their eyes watered and the air was so thick they had to tie scarves around their faces. They could taste the smelters, feel the grit in their mouths and noticed all about them was grey with stains of yellow, rivulets of soot with a strange metallic sheen. The shapes of people drifted ghost-like in and out of focus through the low cloud and smog, which as they reached the drop, was lit from below with the orange of fires further down the cliff slopes.</span><br /><br />By now they were on foot, leading the destrier’s, uncomfortable and in need of reassurance of their footing, clearly uncertain in the hired respirator gear the horses of Krieg had became accustomed to. They threaded their way ever down into the thickening morass, hemmed in by Coe’s,* smelters, chimney stacks and adits, though the throng of its spectral inhabitants towards the Lead Markets, financial nerve centre of this teeming necropolis.<br /><br />*Miners cabins, often containing the adit or shaft to the mine itself.<br /><br />They had toyed with leaving the horses, but in this place had not deemed it wise, and although they slowed them and were themselves clearly distressed, they were and would remain alive. By now it was almost impossible to see more than two or thee feet, and it was then that they found salvation in the shape of Joseph. A mine brat and street child, he couldn’t have been more than 7 or 8, but slipping his head momentarily out of his poorly fitting ex-Army gas mask, he introduced himself, established where they were headed and negotiated a price. Slipping a piece of red dyed rope into Carolynn’s hand, he took the other end and was of. He took them sideways, ever left-right or right-left and immediately the journey became easier, the throng opened out and they were often alone on an alley or terrace at an angle far less punishing for the horses. They had followed Joseph’s crab like route for a while, when the side streets started to open up and the smog, almost imperceptibly at first, began to thin. After a while they could see 10-12 feet and the buildings were becoming more substantial. The heart of Grey had been mined out and some of its wealthier inhabitants had taken it for their own and as those with wealth and power often do, set about improving things, though strictly for themselves, or their indirect benefit in terms of the Market Halls.<br /><br />These now rose in front of them like huge ships from the fog, each one more ornate than the last, adorned with Family Coats of Arms, Industrial and Corporate Logos, even the Imperial Aquila graced some frontages, and it was no surprise that the Imperium had a hand in this !<br />“Pays well then !” came Nathan’s muffled response.<br />“Some yeah “ replied Carolynn.<br />“This way gentlemen, this way”, and Joseph turned hard right twice until they were headed back up-hill for a few yards, until the roof-line dropped again, the walls closed in and they turned off the main drag and under a low gable, to where was constructed what millennia ago on Terra, would have been a coaching Inn of sorts. An older man limped forwards and pulled back a huge sheet of industrial polythene to allow them entry, pulling it back again behind them. Somewhere off to the side strummed a very aged battery of fans, which judging from the fact that the stinging in their eyes was beginning to ease, was acting as a crude but nevertheless effective air conditioning. A young girl stepped forward with a tray of drinks, whilst what may have been her younger sister took hold of the red rope, signalling to Carolynn and his companions to let her take the horses off towards two split barrels which held water presumably.<br />“This is my family Sirs, come, my sister will give your horses a drink and my father has theses for you. They make the air taste better.”<br />Carolynn pulled aside his scarf and nodding agreement, took a glass from the young woman’s tray and tried a sip. It was clearly a drink adapted for the purpose, for it did feel fresh in his mouth.<br />“Here Sir spit, fist few sips, wash your mouth and spit, don’t swallow.“ added Joseph and following the suggestion, Carolynn began to feel the awful cloying taste of Grey begin to dissipate. Soon the others had joined him as did Joseph, in a ritual sip and spit, until all taste of the city had gone. Excusing himself, Carolynn then crossed over to the destrier’s, noticing how good the air was as he did, catching sight of a battery of different fans and a row of what looked like extractor hoods. Despite the polythene and the “air conditionings” rudimentary look the system certainly worked.<br />“Thank you ?” Nathan offered his hand to the man he assumed to be Joseph’s father.<br />“Martin Sir, I’m just…”<br />“Nathan, or rather Nate, please” said Nathan, warmly shaking Martins hand “and thank you Miss for the drink. Fascinating, tell me Martin is this all your handiwork ?” Nathan indicated towards the fans and such, at which Carolynn knew that was him occupied for as long as Martin remained conscious. Jed meanwhile was talking with whom he suspected was Josephs older or oldest sister and from their shy laughter and awkwardness of his posture, Carolynn guessed that was Jed occupied too !<br />“I hope you like it Si…“<br />“Carolynn” he said to Joseph, “Although Joseph, my good friends call me Car.“ he smiled. “Is this your folks… Hotel ?” he then asked Joseph, hoping that was the right word. It was an Inn, explained Joseph, and the best in these parts for cost and more importantly hygiene it would appear from the colourful descriptions in his sales pitch, when describing the facilities of opposing establishments. Joseph and his sisters, being Hannah talking Jed and Mariah unharnessing the horses helped their Dad run the place now. Joseph explained that his Mum was with the Emperor now, she had got sick the first snows they were here and they could not afford a Doctor. He said he didn’t miss the Church school he used to attend, as his Dad taught him here, whereas school was right near the top of Grey and they had made him sing ! His father still talking with Nathan and elder sister also busy, Joseph slipped readily into what was clearly a well rehearsed role, insisting he carry Carolynn’s pack and blanket before escorting him across to the opposite side of the yard, to one of the most bizarre buildings he had ever seen.<br /><br />The Inn was literally wedged into a gap left between the lower storey of a tall corporate building and part of the sheer cliff face to which the majority of Grey precariously clung. Despite being made solely from no more than scores of different pieces of timber and clad in polythene and other sheet plastic, two such immovable bastions allowed it to safely rise to an impressive three storey’s with a fourth clearly underway. The inside was even more eclectic than the out, with no two fixtures and fittings the same, like an interior designer sketch book. Carolynn’s room was on the second floor and though sparsely furnished, had absolutely all he needed and more besides, and after Joseph bought him a pitcher, he washed the rest of Grey off ! He then lay back on the bed a checked the details of their approaching trades on his Cogitator -Link, plugging directly into the Cities Cogitative-Mesh to ensure a secure connection. After spending a while checking details were correct, Carolynn agreed a time for two meetings the following light and was issued with Access and Trading Codes. The task entrusted to Carolynn and Nathan and one that Jed would learn, was the art of negotiating the trade of any surplus Morac, their Meat, Hides and the like, even carcasses, for other goods they would need to get them through the migration, the snows and into the new season, just as their fathers and their forefathers before them had done. Here, one of the prime trades is obviously for lead, not just for filling shogun cartridges, adding to the casting of bullets and shell, but mainly for water-proofing Pods at the joints and chimney flues and such. In exchange, an awful lot of folk wan to eat and many will want hides to keep warm and dry before the snow’s arrive.<br /><br />There was a tap on the door, which swung open to reveal an excited looking Nathan. “You Ok ? Sorry but I got carried away, you should see how he’s done this place Carolynn, guy’s a genius ! Rigged most of it from kit no one wanted, recycled the whole of the air-con, part from the air, that’s donated by next door !” Which set them both laughing, only to be joined a moment later as Jed appeared in the doorway to Carolynn’s room too, looking very pleased with himself.<br />“You guys need me until later, I was wondering if I could do third watch again ? That way I can show Hannah how you like your breakfasts doing can’t I as I know how to do…..”<br />“Who’s Hannah ?” piped Carolynn and Nathan in unison.<br />“You know, she is Joseph’s sister, the one .. “<br />“Who kindly fed and watered the horses ?” asked Nathan mischievously, adding “and she cooks too ? My, my and at so young an age too, well I …”<br />“No, !” Jed almost cried out in his growing frustration, “Hannah was the one who gave us all drinks.”<br />“Oh” said Carolynn, “Well we’d like too wouldn’t we Nate. “<br />“We would” agreed Nathan, “We really would.“<br />“But you see we really both need to get on with a joint strategy for the trade talks you see, before we get too sleepy. They are really important, I mean you wouldn’t want someone to starve or freeze to death because we were too tired to remember the right foods….”<br />“Or enough fire wood !” added Nathan.<br />“No, I suppose not, it was just ….never mind. I’ll go get on with ….”<br />“Go on Jed,” said Nathan, “We were just fooling with you. I‘m doing first, Carolynn second, which leaves you free for breakfast by my reckoning.”<br />“And right now !” added Carolynn, “So why are you still here ?” Jed paused for a moment as the wreckage of his hopes was reassembled, smile and was gone, only to reappear moments later<br />“Thanks !” he said, and was gone again, as Nathan and Carolynn collapsed in laughter.<br /><br />That evening, they stripped down and cleaned their guns, whilst talking trade, namely who would deal with who, the strengths and weaknesses of the Council of Grey and what a harsh snow would mean. After a couple of dry hours debate they decided upon a break, and so Nathan and Carolynn stepped out into Grey proper, to the East of the Business District where every other building was a bar and they’d get a better feel for the place than through the Council There were a lot of people who were certainly not best pleased, the new hike in taxes to meet the revised Imperial tithes had a lot of people mad, especially given their piss poor performance at defending Zalthar when there was an incursion. Many had kept stum whilst Lord Inquisitor Hector-Rex was on world, but now he’d apparently gone, many felt more comfortable to vent their feelings on the matter. They had to leave one of the many “Aquila” Bar’s in Grey sharpish, after a fight broke out and the PDF arrived to break it up, as they were well known for being none too fussy who they collared, so it was best to be where they weren’t . There were a lot of Professionals now in Grey, mainly working the old “Trial Levels” to the South of the centre, but Grey’s Red Light District, Strip-Joints and Massage Parlours did not appeal toe either of them, instead they found a club with dark corners and settled down for a few well earned drinks. It was a good plan whilst it lasted, trouble was in a City where a great may had moderate to severe lead poisoning, if you were half way sane you attracted attention. In Nathan and Carolynn’s case, this came when Nate won seven straight games of pool in a row, before pool cues got broken on heads, fists and feet started flying and it was time to leave Club/Bar number 2 ! That was Grey though, a smouldering slum full of folk living cycle to cycle, light to dark looking for a fortune or an excuse to implode. All around Arc lights blazed cutting a false light into the mountains, accompanied by a unrelenting cacophony of industrial sound that struck its beat all cycle round and Carolynn was truly at a loss to understand how people could exist in such a space. Even in the Hive, there had been times of silence somewhere !<br /><br />Carolynn and Nathan crossed the strip of the terrace that formed most of the streets in Grey heading up and West, back towards the Markets, hoping the entertainment may pick up a bit. Instead the number of PDF Trooper simply seemed to increase, revellers getting fewer and further between. Shortly, their route was blocked by a natural ravine that ran vertically parallel to the cliff, cutting into it to a depth of some 18’ to 20’ that probably contained a stream in an earlier life. Now it was an ugly black scar holding the rails of a narrow gauge </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">gravity plane </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">funicular</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">, a cable railway that used the weight of the fully loaded wagons of smelted lead going down to the Market to pull empty wagons back </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">to the heights.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Well that’s different”, said Nathan, “Guess the neat stuff is too pricey to risk carting it down that slope, sure explains all the PDF Goons in this part of town !“</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Carolynn peered over as a wagon rumbled downwards, then in hushed tones, whispered to</span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Nathan,</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Don’t know what they’re shifting, but it aint lead in that wagon !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">And then He could smell it too !</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">End of Part One</strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"></strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Mk </strong>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-82984472192137708402014-04-21T04:15:00.001-07:002014-04-21T04:15:03.464-07:00Theater 3, chapter 4<span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><strong>Season Three, Chapter Four</strong><br /><strong></strong><strong>Man of the Cloth</strong></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">In the days following the Daemons, they did manage to scrape some concessions from the Authorities at the Fort and Art and a no longer quite so traumatised Dodger agreed with Zee for part of the State Bounty to go to </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">McAllen and the rest to the Family of his friend Jan, of whom they never did find a single trace ! They had expected the Fort to be more gracious, but an additional patrol weekly was all they’d concede for now despite the death, which they argued this could not be attributed to the Daemons, “With certainty !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Of more help was Father Fidem, a Priest, running Fort Speakes only School as well as Ministering to its population.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Been a while since you Gentlemen frequented any educational establishment I’ll wager”, said the Father, “let alone a church !“, seeing off the last of his pupils for the week, “Come, for I do not believe this is a conversation the subject of which is suitable for all manner of ears !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“What could you know of the purpose of our visit ?” asked Zee incredulously.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“I know you three seek answers to matters of dark doings and the foul creatures’ bought forth to carry them out !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“How can…. “</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“I have could I have ministered to the Guard all these years and not know the gossip at the local Fort ? Come now Gentlemen, what kind of question is that, Captain ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">To say that caught Zee by surprise would be a gross understatement, for few new of his military career, let alone used his rank in conversation !</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“That, Father, was another life, for now Zee will suffice,! Replied Zee, his voice suddenly steely, almost brutal. If looks could kill…..</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“This way then Zee, Gentlemen,” indicated Father Fidem, ushering them through to to one of the Churches more private Chapels, where chairs were proffered . “Come Gentlemen, please do take a seat and tell me, how may I be of service ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“As you correctly surmised, we do come for answers concerning followers of the Dark Gods, specifically Daemons ! Two like these“, Art pulled a drawing from his pocket and handed it to the Father. The photo’s did….!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Didn’t develop properly or failed to capture the image, despite several attempts you were trying to say ?And now, even the bodies have vanished, dissolved no ? Back into the Warp-stuff from whence they came !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Yes. That’s right. Do you know of these things ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">The Father rose, excusing himself and left the Chapel, returning forthwith carrying an strange looking tomb with curled pages and that distinctive “Old-Book” aroma. He rested the book on the lectern and called them over,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“These fellows”, he said, pointing to an elaborately edged illustration that matched their Daemons to a T,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“These “Most Foul Beings” are his minions and do bring the Skulls of his enemies on which he might rest and their Blood to anoint his Great Brow. Gentlemen, they are known as Bloodletter’s !” The Father made the sign of the Aquila upon mentioning the word, before continuing, “They are minions, servants if you will. A Lesser Daemon of this God !” He flicked through the pages, “For this chap” he pointed to a hideous picture of a huge creature, similar in form but 10 -20 times larger, sitting atop a throne made entirely from hundreds probably thousands of skulls of all sizes and shapes, but most unmistakably Human. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“He is known a Khorne, God of War and one of the four Dark Gods of Chaos ! Let me try to explain.” the Father too sat down.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“The beings you fought were manifestations‘, a being of pure Warp energy’s physical projection into the Material Universe. A construct given form using the power of their state as Warp Entities. Imagine it as a projected film, where the images are solid. When you destroy the image however, you do not destroy the being itself, no more than destroying a projected image would destroy a film ! The residual form that remained, was the left-over power from the God who invest power themselves in the creation of their minions. That is why all the servants of a particular God bear some features of that God and so all look a little alike. Here, take some time to look through this, I will fetch us a drink, Zee, if you would be so kind as to assist me.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Zee nodded and the two left Art and Dodge to their study.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“That was a bit below the belt Rodriguez !” Snapped Zee.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Well you could have been straight with your guys, said you knew me !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“I do know you, which is precisely why I didn’t. How was I to know what kind of gig you had going down here, cos the shit you used to play with was the sort that stuck !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Well you aren’t being straight with your guy’s, why would you of all people need to find out more about Daemon’s, they find a new one you aint fought yet? Oh, no wait, don’t tell me you are still doing the, you are you son of a bitch, you’re still doing the f*%$!ng Guard bit, that Nidd War Vet shit !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“And you, just when and it what parallel universe did you start polishing the Emperors ring ? More to the point, the reason no-one does the Church when they drop out of sight is the down-side ! Have you seen, hell do you even know the penalty for “Blasphemous Acts ?” I do, had to hand over a few Blasphemers when I was working the Imperial. Picked up this one guy where the Officio Assassinorum and The Adeptus Ministorum had joint jurisdiction. Now this guy had fallen foul of the Officio Assassinorum before and as we know, the Assassins are not the best people to get on the wrong side of, but this guy is begging me to hand him over to them rather than the Ecclesiarchy. He was saying he’d rather go to the Clades than the Church !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Guess he didn’t have these then !”, at which ‘Father’ Rodriguez pulled a couple of Data Wafers from his vestments and handed them to Zee, the look on who’s face went slowly from one of concern to intense scrutiny, then dismay !</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“We have both done some pretty low down scum sucking things in our time Rod, but. Huh, huh,” Zee half-heartedly laughed, “But we could say, “At least I’ve never worked for the Church !” Guess that just applies to me now”, Zee said, flipping the Data Wafers too the floor in disgust.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Why Rod, what was so bad that the Ecclesiarchy looked better ? What was worse than the Church, I mean I‘m struggling here to find a reason, hell I want to find a reason I really do, but it ‘aint coming ?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">The only “Lie“ I‘ve told my boys, hell even then it‘s just the young Lad as I‘ve known him less than two years and it‘s hard to get your head around for a grown man, is what part of the Imperial‘s I was with and the facts as to why them and I parted company. He knows I‘m a killer, that’s what we do in the Bounty business when our powers of persuasion fail an all. We bag-em and tag-em. Now that ’aint a whole heap of deception, not for me at any rate, and I can sleep some nights now. But the Church ? Hell - man, that’s some serious shite, given your day jobs teaching kiddies, kissing babies and comforting widows like its no big deal ?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">So come-on Rod, help me out here, when was your epiphany, was it like having ‘The Emperor’ his self tap you on the shoulder ? Saint Rod, since you have killed so many, how’s about saving some, Iv…..”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Zee was off his feet without even seeing the fist that connected solidly with his jaw, but he was not so off guard he wasn’t able to hook Father Rodriguez’s legs out from under him on the way down and spin across, jamming his combat blade against the Priests throat !</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Rolling aside, Zee sheathed his knife, rubbing his chin as he sat up.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Son of a, you still work it then Rod !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“And you still don’t know when to shut up ! It ever occur to that cynical mind of yours that I might have actually seen the light ? After Jo was killed I lost the plot some. Realised I had nothing, that my life was just “empty”! There was no-one gave a rats-arse if I was alive or Dead, cept bad men who paid me to do bad things worrying they might have to find someone who’d cost more ! I had no Family, no Friends, except you, and you were about less and less until one day you just never showed. They found you kit and your ID and enough of a body that was a DNA match, and so assumed you’d worked that last one too many or someone from your past had caught up with you and that was it, you were officially MIA, then in 6 months “Dead !” </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">But they never found “</span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Lizzie</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“, nothing at your gaff no bits of her with you, nothing unusual there most would think, except you had no Ammo with you, no empties and no clips, no mag’s belt’s or drums ? That’s what convinced me all was not as it seemed even though that was the only mistake you’d made, otherwise for all intents and purpose’s you had disappeared perfectly ! Not a trace of you to be found. I had a drink to wish you farewell that lasted right through to the Autumn, until two Monks found me, inebriated, beat-up, robbed and not in the best of health. Took them 4 months to get me back fighting fit, and then I stayed behind for a further 4 months working on the Farm and helping teach, figured that would pay my debt to them for, well for basically “saving my shabby hide“. Also, forever with the angle, started off with the idea I may need patching up again some time, and if my slates clean it‘s not so hard to ask a 2<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">nd</sup> time. Thing was, longer I stayed, less I wanted to leave. Three square a day and after the first month I was not looking over my shoulder at every turn. Found I had a gift with the Kid‘s too, being a big one for so long myself I suppose. Seemed to be able to get through even to the toughest of them, so they asked me to stay on you see, and weeks became months, the months became a year and here I am now six years down the line a fully fledged Priest. First time I ever chose to do something rather than it be something I was left doing.” Rod suddenly looked a good deal older than Zee remembered.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Here, there’s me droning on, forgive my poor hospitality, think you‘ll like this !” With which Father Rodriguez poured Zee a mug of a very sweet and invigorating home-brewed herbal “Tea” from a large stoneware flask left warming by the fire. Then he was gone for a few moments whilst he delivered two mugs of the same to Art and Dodger.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Zee rubbed his chin, Rod’s right arm had lost done of it’s clout that was sure, but he had asked for that one. Provoked a response to see where the “Old Rod” lay.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Thank you !” Zee said to Father Rodriguez on his return. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“They’re a good couple to have by you in all weathers and we’ve built ourselves a nice little business, mainly private calls through Fort Speake and all essentially </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><br />kosher. I found being “Dead” was fine but “Skint” sucked, this keeps good food on the table and a Speeder in the air.<br />Reason we’re here, Art’s seen Daemon’s, but not this close, the Lad Dodger had never seen them before and is understandably rattled.<br />“That’s why you are going to give him this !” said Zee pulling a waxed-paper parcel from an inside pocket and handing it to Father Rodriguez.<br />“Whoa ! You do not see many of those these day’s. Wont ask where you came by it. What an exceptional gift, you know it’s a ward, offers protection against magic’s intended to harm the bearer and I have seen or rather felt one work once. Guy was standing there in a torrent of witch-fire and didn’t get so much as a singed eye-brow. A lot depends upon the power of the blessing and a good one should have a very faint blue….“ Father Rodriguez’s words failed him as when cupped upright in his hand, Zee’s “Medallion” gave off a piercing blue light, before reverting to a steady glow.<br />“Like that ?“ said Zee.<br />“Just like that !“ agreed Rod, “Who blessed that, the Emperor himself ?” and the two men laughed as Rod delicately re-wrapped the Medallion, sliding it into his breast pocket.<br />“What a truly wonderful gift. Friendship always was important to you ! If that does not restore his faith and awaken his courage, can’t think what will !“ So finishing their Tea, the two men returned to Art and Dodger who were still leafing fervently through the ancient tome Father Rodriguez had left them to study !<br />“They sure fit the bill Zee, looks like we banished our first “Bloodletter’s”! Guess we can add “Banishing Daemon’s” to the Company blurb eh fella’s, sounds good don’t you reckon ?”<br />“Aye, sure does, but as with all things new, a fresh opponent requires fresh weaponry, and Father Rodriguez here is just the man for that. If you would Father !”<br />“Master Dodger, if you would be so kind as to kneel in the sight of the Emperor”, Father Rodriguez gestured to the bas-relief of the Emperor, whilst reaching inside his vestments as Dodger, somewhat self-consciously knelt.<br />“My son, for reaching out on our most glorious Masters behalf to strike down those that would prey upon the very souls of his subjects I hereby do award you his sign, so all those that do cast their eyes upon it will know upon who’s authority you act and who’s blessing is upon you in all such noble acts you do perform upon his behalf !<br />Hence forth you are now his Herald, an Agent of the Emperor in all you do, and that upon accepting his Authority, you will live your life in accordance to his will ! What say you ?”<br />“I will live my life in accordance to his will !” replied Dodger, beaming with pride and then with a look of awe, as Father Rodriguez hung the “Sign of the Emperor” on its gold chain round his neck and it glowed an even fiercer Blue as he let it fall to rest against the lads chest.<br />“May he watch over you and your in all that you do, and give you strength when all mortal strength may fail ! Arise, and go forth as an Agent of the Emperor !”<br />Art and Zee applauded for all their worth, and Father Rodriguez embraced Dodger, whispering in his ear,<br />“I know you will make him proud, and you are amongst good friends whom I know are also most proud of what you have accomplished . For to banish a Daemon is a great deed, but what is infinitely more, by so doing you banished your own fear, and that is one of the mightiest deeds a man could ever hope to achieve !”Then, holding Dodger’s hand high, Father Rodriguez exclaimed,<br />“For this is now a man that has gazed at the truly foul form of the enemy, a form with one singular purpose, to strike fear into the souls of man. But this man before us today has met that gaze and with the belief in the righteousness of his cause and the courage of his friends, has struck-down that which sought to bring harm to those who are mild and meek, too weak to fight such a monstrous evil who would prey upon them ! For this is truly a Noble-Man !”<br />More applause and congratulations, and the Tea was soon replaced with wine and more glasses as the odd member of Father Rodriguez‘s Congregation called by. All were eagerly introduced to the “Daemon-Slayer” and regaled with tales of great daring, the kind of tales Zee had hoped Dodge would hear and that these might come to mind again when all other hopes seem lost ! For these would become the bed-rock of a newly carved “courage” and hard earned “Belief-in-Self” that would serve him well in times to come, for something had already assured Zee that this was far from over. If anything, it felt more like they were at a beginning, and whatever way you sized it up, it did not look good !<br />“Dodger, or should that be Sir Dodger” laughed Zee with a mock bow.<br />“I trust that gift will serve you as well as it did those whom before it shielded against the fell magic’s of Chaos my friend, ! Also, as I like to think I’m a man of my word, a little something for when it gets up tight and personal until we finesse your style with a close-combat weapon ! Here,” Zee handed Dodge another package, “From Art and I as a solid, “Welcome to the Firm”! Your names on the letter heads, in fact all the stationary and advertising, so here’s your cards !”<br />Dodge opened the package, and indeed, his name was on their business cards, but also, as part of “To our good friend and Associate, Art n’ Zee” intricately engraved into the stock of a very fine Mars Pattern Mark IV Command Laspistol ! So fine, it looked as though it had never fired a single shot in anger.</span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Thought that was the one for you and I’ve made Zee promise he’ll not blow this one up Dodge. Welcome to the Firm, as of now you are a full 1/3 rd Partner ! That’s capitol, assets, property and debts !”And the three enjoyed a well earned joke, in the face of a new beginning, one that was going to warrant a whole new take upon their situation !<br /><br />That night, the almost second thoughts nature of their weekly strategic planning meeting took on an all together far more formal air ! It also for the first time ever, had set out four chairs’! The fourth had to be unbolted from “Eileen II” , as interior décor was no-ones strong point and they had no fourth chair. Visitors were a rarity indeed ! At 8.30 pm precisely, the internal com went. “Access requested at South-Eastern Quadrant Gate No.3, Single-Male, no weaponry detected. Compound Scan indicates the following: £rd finger-left hand a Cyborg replacement. Legal/registered repair, Parts No‘s, RT 111784, 111785, 111.” …Zee hits fast forward…. “ Beta-thymine 0.7 microgram’s in susp…” and again “….XENIX Acid, residual. ++end+++ . Finally, I mean there is secure and ridiculously secure. Right, try to get this the first time !“ Mumbled a clearly agitated Zee.<br />“Security Code Alpha 04903070b - Suspend - Reduce internal to Delta - @ incapacitate - Continue to run enhanced Alpha on external - Confirm Alpha 04903070b. “ How I really miss just saying Hi !” Mused Zee pushing another button, one that flipped the control panel, leaving an unremarkable pict in it’s wake, a Black and White of “Eileen II” half way through restoration. This one saw her stripped to the skeletal frame-work which Art, pictured standing to the side with welding mask up and oxy-acetylene torch in hand, had just illegally lengthened. He had also added a third seat and optional internal stowage or room for a fourth seat. They could have gone for a larger Speeder, but it was quite a gap to the next level, one with a lot more HP and therefore a great deal heavier, noisier and altogether larger and so less discrete, not at all what they wanted. It also used a different registration technique, meaning it was less likely to get lost in the teaming requests for domestic vehicle registration. Cogitators’ had made un-registered or false registration instantly recognisable and so pointless, though you could get away with alterations to what you had to some degree, and that was all the window Art needed to get through !<br /><br />“Evening Gentlemen” said </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Father Rodriguez with mock flourish, in response to which Zee arose to do the honours.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Dodger you know and Art I’m sure you remember, guys, this is Father “Fidem” Rodriguez, ex Imperial, ex one of our types, not good with false names and way more comfortable with Father Rod. Anymore you want to know you could Cogitate, but it would be far quicker, not to mention polite to ask. Next FAQ, can I trust him’ this is like “for real” and if I can’t, I could wind up dead ! Hell, you could skip that question with “Hey, do we even need this chump ?” We have managed thus far with three and yeah, there are now Daemons, but as we’ve seen Daemon’s go down and there are big books about them and entire sections on the “Unsanctified” sections of the “Cogitative Portal”* on how to nail their scaly, unholy-arses !</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">*Bit like the legal and in some less forward thinking Countries the - </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">boo-hiss grossly unfair, denier of freedom of speech </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">-“Illegal” internet</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><br />“To address those in order, I have known Father Rodriguez, Rod and you “son-of-a-bitch !” for some years. That has been through some thick and thin times and I have never once called for help and it gone un-answered ! If that is how you measure “Trust”, then I trust him 100%.<br /><br />Second. Do we need him, as we can get info from “The Dove” now, faster and better than ever and from every Cogitative Portal in the Land, straight to our VDU’s, or when Art’s latest work is complete, to our HUD’s, Head-up-Displays, in other words, straight to our helmets with no middle man !<br />But, as all of us know, knowing the path, is not the same as walking the path, never was, never will be ! Cogitators can give you all the information, but that is their limit, they can give you every minute detail but still fail to give you an answer ! No, its more than information that’s required, what’s also needed is experience of the enemy, and that is one thing Father Rodriguez has in spades.<br />There is also no guarantee that he would want in for this one anyway, as before right now, as my allegiance is to the two of you above all other considerations, I’ve not asked him ! Questions as I’m done “ And with that Zee sat back,<br />“Strikes me we have little to lose” said Dodge. “Seems to me that if we don’t find the source of these Daemons and put a stop to it, chance s are when there are enough of them they’ll find us, so the only real choice is do we go for it, or find another planet, for I cant imagine they’d stop with Fort Speake and think, ah job well done lad‘s, lets settle here for a bit !”</span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“”Eileen II” will take an extra seat “ was Art’s considered reply, economical but full. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“But before I bolt it in, I’d like to be sure we can work together as a Team !”<br />“Understood,” said Zee. “So we take the Father on something prior, to see if he is the round peg for our round hole. A Rookie-Run !” </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">At which all eyes turned to the Father.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Well Gentlemen, it would appear you have me at your advantage. I do have one consideration though, I need to be sure that the Church can cover my duties, for as I explained to Zee, this is no rouse on my part, the Children need a teacher and the Church a Priest as minister to the congregation and offer spiritual guidance to the community. That my absence not be disruptive is my one caveat !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Best you get hold of your.. Bishop is it to ask for time-out ? Said Zee. “Then I suggest we reconvene in one week from today to see what gives. I’ll leave the outfitting of “Eileen II” for you to discuss with Art, your handedness etc. Talk with Dodger about you equipment needs, I’m sure he can fill much of it from our stock and then arrange the procurement of any “additional items”. Just try to refrain from anything to eye-catching or exotic, and he has a good head for figures, so don’t go taking the proverbial ! If there is anywhere we should not go and people we should not meet, then you need to make that clear to me before I select our “trip“ and should there be any difficulties these two cannot overcome, </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">which I sincerely doubt, you bring them and an explanation to me, then the three of us will make the call !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><br />Mk</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-42260615066043440362014-04-17T09:19:00.001-07:002014-04-17T09:19:48.152-07:00Theater 3 chapter 3<strong style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Free Bird”</strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Zee was feeding his breakfast scraps to the Ravens, for Corvids had done well from mans wasteful lives, scavengers of all sorts thrived and business had been booming, though he would take some convincing that was a good thing. There was something in the air that didn’t sit right for him, a memory half repressed, a familiar smell he just could not place…and the harder he thought, the further away it seemed to get.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">"You endangering the wildlife with your cooking again Zee ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">The subtle whir of servo’s alone would identify the culprit of that remark had he not known the voice as well as his own.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Morning to you to Art, your unnaturally…”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Awake ! Yeah, couldn’t sleep.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“You too, must be catching”.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“What do your feathered friends tell you Zee ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“I’m not even sure what to ask them Art. You been on the Vox yet today, find any new gigs ? It’s been two weeks and the work was pouring in, now its just dried up on us, what the Sam Hill is going on ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Knout, Nada, nothing gives this fine day”, Art slung his half eaten toast out into the building rain, but the Raven’s were long gone to drier quarters.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“We could canopy-up and take Eileen to the slopes ?”, he half-heartedly suggested.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“That can be a bit risky even with the lid down Art, if they pop flakk we need all the visibility we can get !” </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“We do have the decoy cluster launchers, they’re good for 4 or 5 incoming for sure.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“You tested them Art ? We’d need better than that, especially flying for scoops, man I thought those days were behind us.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Then maybe I have the answer, or at least part of it if you will let me show you what’s been keeping me up nights, come to my lab !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">And it dawned on Zee that he had once again fallen for the uncle Art lecture tour, but was forced to admit, Art had surpassed himself this time, over the past few months since completing the up-grades to “Eileen II”, he had been building a UAV, a remotely piloted drone and it was awesome !</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">He’d used mainly standard components, but the genius lay not just in their choice, but the way he had combined them and rather than attempt to make a failing utilitarian one size fits all UAV, he had made several interchangeable suites to bolt on as mission parameters may dictate. Power came from a single Hawk 11CK jet engine with variable venting to allow full VTOL capability allowing operations without relying on a tug to get airbourne. There was a passive and an active search suite, advanced communications relay to aid tracking, both with a live and close-up stills pict feed. Hell there was even a cogitator module to enable unpredictable defensive manoeuvres’ if attacked from the air or with self guided or remote missiles. Where he had stopped short, was an all out offensive model, his argument being they were available ”off-the-peg” and he was right, most R and D was in offensive UAV’s. Besides, Art argued why would we need one, we were typically covert low profile, not about to single-handedly launch the 2nd Crusade and anyone who wanted a lot more muscle went to the </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Officio Assassinorum.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">So, unperturbed at the thought of getting his new toy wet, Art ensured Dodge was ejected from his bed and dragged out for the inaugural flight of, what after a protracted and occasionally heated debate, in part a testimony to its passive characteristics and with no small amount of irony, became known as “The Dove”. It also helped that Art had sprayed the thing gray and a Dove was the first gray bird they could conjure up ! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“It handles like a dream, Art, this will give us a serious edge when it comes down to small targets in big places, the hours it would take in Eileen, not to mention the gallons of gas she gets through.” enthused Zee.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“That was the main idea, the fact that almost every job involves serious arse-numbing hours crammed in Eileen who was, lets face it, not built for comfort, and I would never sleep at all if I thought too long and hard about the number of times we have nearly been blown from the skies !“</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“So you figured there had to be a better way, well I’m a living testimonial to right you were on that one, I….“ the Vox cut Dodges gushing admiration for Art’s creation mercifully brief.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“That was McAllen from below the slopes, says he had been having problems with sheep being mutilated, so he went out, as did two of his friends and his son and has not seen nor heard from one of them for almost three days. He contacted the Fort, and they told him they would release missing persons reports on the guy if he didn’t show after a week !” “And so let me guess,“ chipped in Art, “he was less than happy and would us to take a look, no ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Doesn’t sound like Bounty Hunting to me ?” said Dodge. “Sounds like someone needs to go back to the legal’s at the Fort and ask more to be done if he is saying he knows who did it. If he doesn’t, then it is a missing person‘s gig.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“This is one we could do pro-bono, like for the Community.” explained Art, “People around us are asking for help they’ll not get any other way. Fort wont listen, no money or powerful opinions to consider, so who do they go to ?”explained Zee, “and its not like we are snowed under with work gentlemen !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">First task was to contact McAllen for last sightings, the area his holding covered and where his livestock had been harmed, as much background as possible. Two of the sheep had died, their carcasses disposed of, Zee went to see the third whilst Dodge and Art set up “the Dove” to perform a parallel grid search with the ridge as the fixed point, any sheep or McAllen‘s hand’s that had crossed there were as good as dead.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“So this is the animal ?” asked Zee, having climbed to one of McAllen‘s lambing sheds with him, and although he was no expert, he was only too readily able to recognise the fear in the creature, it was almost palpable.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“What do you think happened “ asked Zee ?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“it’s the same lot that had sheep away from me these last two years, law won’t touch them !” a depressing tale Zee and Art heard far too many times, McAllen was too small a cog for the machine to be compromised, no matter that these animals kept his family alive and now a friend was missing. That he was a single man was the only fortunate note to the tail, for there would not be one more widow left to starve on the “Support” the Imperial Administrators should be providing.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Zee had a closer look at the animal, no easy task as it shied from him in out right panic, but what he could see puzzled him greatly.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“They usually this distressed some, what must be almost eleven days and this ewe seems as scared as if it happened only yesterday ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Trouble is Zee, no-one knows what those bastards do to make their “sport” with these animals, so its hard too tell, but I see what you mean. I’ve seen sheep trapped in the snows for 4 or 5 days, starving and unable to move that were not as panicked as this one. She don’t sleep, hardly eats, so I’m having the surgeon back to see what she says.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Let me know will you M</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">cAllen, and we will take a look for you.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Afraid I can’t pay you that much..”<br />“Don’t have to, spoke with Art, this ones on us, we don‘t just take Mr. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">McAllen.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><br />Dodge and Art’s parallel grid search had been running for 2 day’s and although they could plot every animal on that graze, there was no sign at all of any human interlopers’ and yet the distressed Vox from McAllen confirmed another fatality. With Art running “the Dove”, Zee took Dodger with him to ground zero, and what they saw explained the jittery timbre of the Shepherds’ tone on the Vox. This animal had quite literally been torn to pieces, covering an area of some 12 - 15 foot. It was although the unfortunate animal had been hit by a grenade, but the flesh had most definitely been torn, not blasted. Zee could think of no satisfactory explanation.<br />“Any ideas Dodger ?” Although he looked as though priority one was hanging onto his lunch, he mumbled “Dreadnought“, then had to walk back to Eileen and sit with his head in his hands for a while. Zee and McAllen walked the scene, looking for something, anything that might give some idea as to who or what did this. As “the Dove” passed over, Zee keyed into it’s </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">advanced communications’ relay putting the entirety of the </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Scarp Lodge‘s cogitative powers, it’s links and Art at his disposal.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Impressive”, said Zee, and in a voice that could not have been clearer were he standing next to him, “That even you can use it ?“ came Arts dry humoured response. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Ha bloody ha, you need some new material my friend. No, this you plank, with this much capacity, we become far more independent, can do follow-ups there and then rather than at the arse end of the day when we get back to </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Scarp Lodge </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">totally knackered and not thinking fit !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Gets my vote ! What service might I perform for you today oh mighty Zee ?” </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Why would Dodge mention “</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Dreadnought” ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Probably because if the animal has been ripped apart, it was probably not by something man sized, due to the shortness of the limbs, whoever or whatever did that would have had to stand on one part of the Animal and grab another to do so, and whilst the first tear would have been difficult, all the subsequent goes, with all that blood ? You could question if even wearing Tactical</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Dreadnought Armour would let you do that, whereas for the real-deal, a Dreadnought, it would be comparatively easy !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Easy to spot too, a </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Dreadnought</span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> out here on a cliff face, on this graze strip, I mean it’s not exactly</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Dreadnought friendly, and why sheep, with all that power you’d be knocking over Banks and buying Islands and the like ! The thermal imaging on “the Dove” is good for what, half mile each side if its flight path, so we can do the math. How fast would it needed to move to be get inside the grid then back to over a half mile out for a subsequent pass to not to intercept it ? That would have to be one speedy Dreadnought if I’m right , and over this terrain ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Well yeah, yes, that would take a entirely re-engineered Dreadnought, something that far from the STC we’d have heard about surely, any how I’ll do </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">the math, no more guesstimates, though.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">A less than happy looking Dodger tapped Zee on the shoulder, still pale he did seem to have regained his speech, this time to form a further puzzler. </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><br />“Ogryn ?” a suggestion that had real merit, and whilst more feasible than a </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Dreadnought they again lacked any physical evidence of such a presence. It hit the same wall, just from a different angle. There were no foot prints, DNA, few signs of anything beyond pure malice. It began to look increasingly like the one option open to them was to back-pedal their technological advances, for a good old fashioned “night in the woods“, so to speak. Zee could just see the look on Art‘s face when he raised the matter. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Putting Dodger through the mill still niggled, but the logic was sound. Firstly he had had a free choice, and better he loose his lunch in a friendly than his life in a real match. It had been a long three days to be no further forward, so they sat to plan that night after a meal, just fish and pasta, the taste for meat having declined of late. They went at it from the top as per, beginning with a base line of “facts” that was somewhat sparse, ruling out more than any inclusive grouping.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Predation - Unlikely as little evidence of any of the carcasses being “consumed”;</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Rustlers - Unlikely, where is the angle for profit;</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Protection Racket - No demands’ and destroying so many stock animals works against the racketeers:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">…………..</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">…………..</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">And so the list went on, means to carry out the Act remained a big one, laying close to the heart of the puzzle. Then there was McAllen’s friend, of whom even the desk-jockey’s at the Fort now had listed as “Missing”, hooray for progress ! Of this Jan, there was no sign whatsoever ? Zee had spoken to anyone locally who would speak, revealing little, just the odd superstitions and even these were inconsistent. Then there were the wounded animal, traumatised and with odd injuries, unlike anything Zee had encountered before. It was they finally agreed, going to have to be done the hard way, “a night out “ just as they used to. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">That remains of day and much of the following were therefore surrendered to forcing sleep, interspersed with cramming food and thoroughly preparing, checking and re-checking kit. No-one was assuming anything about this one, other than this would not be easy. Fighting what you can see, what you know could be hard, few probably appreciated that more. Fighting what you could not see, what you did not know, how do you prepare for that ? Whatever had done for those mountain sheep, would do for the three of them with relative ease, but they did have eyes and ears in “the Dove” as the like they had never known before. Zee spent a couple of hours over the still’s, Art had used cogitative enhancement to build these into 3D topographical images that could be viewed from 360 degrees, perfect to set themselves up with overlapping fields of fire, the last kill as ground zero for want of a better idea. Art then pre-programmed “the Dove” with three distinct flight plans, covering the area in concentric ring, each distinct enough to be recognisable from the ground, set to change on the hour. He jury-rigged three drop-tanks, to give an extended flight time of 14 hour, low as it was entirely powered, whereas a pilot would ease some of that with glides and thermal‘s, getting an additional 50% maybe. McAllen’s offer of support was graciously declined, they needed it tight and he was an unknown, in a world that all of a sudden contained them in abundance. The one deviation Art suggested, was three anti-personnel mines at the centre, a fail safe position they all appreciated, but an opportunity to draw “first blood” all three were content to try, every break they could get ! <span lang="EN">The mines were used, but with a 175% Sheep Weight Trip !</span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 21.299999237060547px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span lang="EN"></span><br /><span lang="EN"><span lang="EN-GB">Zee hadn’t realised he’d missed the contact with the earth, the land that in the last few weeks he had let become remote, distant. It worried him how easily and eagerly they had allowed themselves to depend upon systems and displays rather than keep faith in and trust their own senses, vowing never to let that happen again ! Here he felt a greater sense of self, a surety and calm he only now sensed had been absent in the wires and VDU’s. Here he felt more comfortable. With the IR glasses, Zee scanned the rising bluffs of the cliffs to his right and left, dipping down the drop that ended in the graze, an ink black scar cut from the sky that ran back into the pale folds of the Limestone. The night was close and quiet, punctuated only by the occasional chatter of bats or the nearby drum of insects, the scuff of a hoof or a low bleating from some distant sheep. Neither sight nor sound of anything out of place all night, save the far away hum of “The Dove‘s” turbo high-up on her frequent passes. The ash grey light of the dawn bought with it no change, save the occasional cloud shadow as the weak sun made the odd brief foray from behind their gathering banks and the mournful day shift of October bird song took up from the dawn chorus. Come 9.30, they called it a day, falling back to the pre-prepared position high up in the same cliffs that had their backs all night, to their tents, stores and fuel cache to prep “The Dove” so they could slide as inconspicuously as possible into a second night outdoors.<br />“Well that pretty much tied in with the feeds we were getting.” said Art. ”The Dove” saw what we saw, as he whizzed randomly through the stored stills on one of the base monitors. “Always good to have a 1<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">st</sup> person confirmation that what we saw was what we got.”</span></span></div>
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“It can record pissed-off and an aching arse that thing, can it ?” Laughed Dodger, “Because that’s what I got last night !“</div>
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“Stop winging Dodge, less you can come up with a better plan, especially as you and Zee get first rest, I’ve still got 4 hours watch to go, which you are welcome to take you know, just have to ask !”</div>
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“Think I’ll pass thanks Art, see you in four” at which a clearly uncomfortable Dodge slipped off to his tent.</div>
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“Happy days !” exclaimed Zee getting the burner going under some coffee and food always seemed a bright idea after an empty night, “No point having empty bellies too huh Art !”<span lang="EN">“You deactivate the mines ?“ Art called after Dodge ?</span></div>
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“Yah !“ tumbled back an already sleep fringed reply.</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Stretched back in his tent, Zee could hear Art tinkering with “The Dove‘s” systems and would be until she was so high once more he couldn’t reach. Some times he too yearned for that compulsion, that heady sense of driven in which he could lose himself, but he knew it was not for all and indeed to some it was a curse. He still could not shake his sense of unease, that niggling worry that eventually decided his siesta was a sentence and so gave up treating it in any other regard and got up.</span></div>
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“Off for a scout about Art” he called over,</div>
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“Cool !“ came the slightly distracted reply, and grabbing a lighter Combat Shotgun from its holster in “Eileen II‘s” passenger compartment, he was off, though not sure whereto. First he skirted the natural amphitheatre wherein lay their ambush zone, ground zero for the fire fight that would topple this miscreant Sheep-Stealer, murderer. Then from the lip of that ridge, he ascended by as direct a route as possible, circumventing the area’s of ‘Pavement’ to obtain the crest, where Zee knelt and withdrew a large package from his pack. From this, he withdrew an object with which he had a long and somewhat uncomfortable relationship, a Misaer Blade !</div>
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Originally a gift from his Uncle Pietri his fathers younger Brother, it was a weapon with a considerably salacious past before ever coming into his possession.</div>
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According to family records it is believed to have been created sometime toward the start of Old Night around the 25th Millennium from Metallurgical analysis, although different samples had apparently given different dates. The sword was of an old Terran, Eastern European design, with its single cutting edge suggesting a fighting as opposed to duelling weapon. It is not clear when it entered the Family, but some say it returned with an Ancestor from the Great Crusade around the 32<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">nd</sup> Millennium.</div>
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One thing is certain, it has on more than one occasion been the cause of great Family crisis, one Great-grandfather having being given the Death Penalty for having used it to behead his wife’s lover, another to take his own life by Seppuku, Japanese ritual suicide, having lost most of the Family Wealth and Estates at Cards.</div>
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For Zee, it had come with him when he received the obligatory Family Commission, reaching as he did the Rank of Captain in the Imperial Guard’s 99th Elysian Drop Troops Regiment/Detachment D-99. A Veteran of more than 17 Combat Drops, he was Severely Injured whilst fighting against the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Kraken’ leading to his being Honourably Discharged !</div>
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</div>
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It was with this Sword that Zee first took a human life, that of a mortally wounded fellow Trooper, who would have been unable to be evacuated before the position they occupied was overrun by ripper-swarms. So why strangely now felt like the time to get reacquainted, he had no idea, but the return of movements he had thought forgotten, alone on the ridge devoured the next two hours in the blink of an eye.</div>
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“You look…….all the better for that walk, have to tell me the route sometime ?” Art smiled as he saw the almost contented look on his Zee’s face.<br />“Will do my friend, what gives with the Grumpy Bunny ? He still sparko ?”</div>
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“Sure is, guess he needed it more than we thought, even slept through breakfast. Plan B still plan B for tonight or you want to shake things up a little ?”</div>
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“How so ?” asked Zee.</div>
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“I don’t know.” said Art, “Maybe just alternate our positions, move us all round one. Stop familiarity breeding contempt an all that. Sometimes just a new spot livens you up some, those memories of the last quiet night not replacing what you see or hear in this one.“</div>
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“Sounds like a plan, all one Clock-wise then, or East for you. Yeah, like the sound of that, we’ve been getting a little lazy of late, have you noticed ?”</div>
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“Yeah ! All this, “ Art indicated “The Dove” and all it’s paraphernalia with the sweep of his arm, “Kinda sucks you in to a bubble sometimes, can give a man a false sense of security that’s not in our best interest. I think that’s why I went for passive suite’s, I wanted an <i>and, </i>an <i>also</i> not an<i>instead of </i>for us down here and even so it still tries to lull you, just something we have to be wary of as we’ve both noticed. Anyway, she’s gassed and ready, so let’s get her up and away, I’ve managed 17 hours with the three reserve Tanks, so she’ll hang there till the……” Art noticed the Sword poking up from Zee’s pack ..”till the morning again. You sure you’re OK, I mean. “</div>
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“Look I know from your folks remember, what happened, that boy, the “Nidd’s”, Hive Fleet Kraken. It isn’t going to happen again, not here, not whilst there’s me and Dodge here, come-on, a bit of faith in your Partners in Crime Zee !”</div>
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“Its not that Art, not that at all, was just an acquaintance I had to renew is all. And it’s done OK, just have to trust me on this one !”</div>
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“I can do that. Come on, lets get her up and working.”</div>
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Between them they set “Eileen II” straight, her nose to the wind, and Art began the pre-flights.</div>
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“Old Night ?”, As he sat cured in his new position, Zee’s mind was briefly taken to wondering what such times must have been like ? The Age of Strife, the 1<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">st</sup> Psyker’s to walk openly amongst man…Enough ! He could day-dream later, now it could get him and his friends killed. He lifted the glasses again and swept the rocks to his left and right.</div>
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“noth…., hold .”, he adjusted the zoom, “What was …Sheep !” False alarm, just one of McAllen’s Sheep getting more confident around their scent, that and the feed he<br /><span lang="EN"></span><span lang="EN-GB">had given them to scatter between the rocks to keep them in by ensuring they had to root about</span><span lang="EN">for it. The night was still quiet, </span><span lang="EN-GB">“The Dove‘s” turbo , the bats and the bugs, even an Owl once in a while, but very far off. Zee focussed on the graze next, now a powdery grey in the moonlight, with the odd whitish smudge of Sheep here and there, heads down, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings whilst chewing intently at the coarse grass of these rocky ridges. Still, no sign of anything worrying them tonight for sure, making the most of the grazing on a cool October evening.</span></div>
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“Zee ?”, It was Art, “Your 8.30, movement I can’t get an SP on !”<br />Zee swung his glasses hard left, focus ring spinning, boulders, shrub, shrub, tree-line,</div>
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“Nothing Art, shrubs or tree-line ?”</div>
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“Tree-line.”</div>
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Zee scans left-right, still no sign of any movement, shadows look like shadows, the moon ducks behind a cloud, making everything darker, right to left, shadows……</div>
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“Nothing Art !” He noticed his pulse racing slightly, so breathed deeper, slowing his breaths, letting each one out slowly until his heart began to slow ! Strange, he didn’t normally get this anxious over a job, what was so different about this one that should have his heart racing he’d hunted down mass murderers and worse, why the hell would a Sheep killer have him all keyed up ? And if it had him ?</div>
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“Dodge, its Zee. You OK ?”</div>
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“Sure Zee, you got something ?”</div>
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“No Dodge, just a check-in, make sure alive and kicking is all.”</div>
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“Well alls dandy down here, too quiet by far, but nothing gives, what about Art ?”</div>
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“I’ll give him a shout next, out.”</div>
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“Art, all OK with you and clear from above ?”</div>
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“Clear as a bell, nothing moving here except us sheep.”</div>
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“Funny, Zee out !”</div>
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“Nothing”., and so Zee sat back and waited. Minutes passed, hours and still no trace of anything out of the ordinary appeared and there was nothing registered by “The Dove” either, life simply meandered on, but still Zee felt uneasy. He went to stretch, and suddenly noticed his left leg was wet from the thigh down. He reached down and his leg was oddly warm too, and bringing his hand away found why. It was covered in blood !</div>
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Hastily grasping for his pack, Zee grabbed the small halogen lamp off his belt and within seconds had assured himself he wasn’t loosing blood, as far as he could tell wasn’t injured nor as importantly was he about to be. Crouched, his heart in his throat and Mk VIII’s safety off, he next checked Art and Dodge were similarly situated before he cupped the rifle in one hand, sliding out the Misaer Blade, its bloody blade almost black in the moonlight. Gore dripped from the weapon, whilst more trickled from the scabbard, pooling at his feet, soaking his combats as the sword bled ! It wasn’t often Zee was stuck for words, though now his very thoughts were numb, not with fear, but incredulity. It had to be sorcery, for his mind was sure and unexpectedly calm, the coppery taste and earthy smell assuaging any thoughts that it were not real blood.<br />Sliding the Misaer Blade back finished soaking his leg and he gripped his <span lang="EN">Mark VIII </span><span lang="EN-GB">rifle with both hands he voxed “Relocating, Relocating”, before moving at the crouch to the cover of the next rock crater, to uncompromise himself as best he could for now,</span></div>
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”You OK Zee ?” cut in Art.</div>
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”I’m fine, needed a better 20”. he replied. What else could he say at this point ?</div>
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“Sure ?“ It was Dodge this time.</div>
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“Sure I’m sure Dodge, cheers !“</div>
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Zee pulled up his glasses and scanned a 360 <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; line-height: normal;">°</span> arc around his present position and he saw nothing. This was not right !</div>
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“Art, Dodge, scope my 20 !” he called as calmly as he could muster, sitting motionless, waiting. Seconds passed.</div>
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“Scoped, you’re clean !” Art was the 1<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">st</sup> to reply.</div>
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“Cleaner than clean !” Followed Dodger</div>
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Zee felt his jaw stiffen, and realised he was getting angry, so put that hastily back in the box with a noisless laugh at himelf, concentrating on scanning the Sheep nearest the,</div>
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“Fu$% !”</div>
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There, in the moonlight, were 2 or 3 dark grey shapes, some 8 foot tall at least, with an un-natural sheen to what looked like scaly flesh, one reaching out a huge talloned limb, to point towards the nearest group of panicking sheep</div>
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Zee chambered a round, called “On -target ! Priority* !” and put his 1<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">st</sup> round into the back of the head of the marginally closest to him, seeing it jerk.</div>
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*Each to select their Priority Target, often though not exclusively the closest to the shooter.</div>
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As Zee looked to place a 2<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">nd </sup>shot he saw the second one twitch, its head violently jerked back into the path of his 2<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">nd</sup> round as it was spun by Art’s 1<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">st</sup> or 2<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">nd</sup> shot. Both began to fall as he put a 3<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">rd</sup> round into the middle lower back of the first he’d hit just as a mass-reactive shell from Dodgers Absolution Pattern Rifle tore off its left arm at the shoulder ! The second was hit twice more, pulping its head as it fell, only to be blasted back up into the air. Having dropped onto one of the pre-placed mines, its body was flung violently skywards end over end, its colleague blasted full of jagged holes from shrapnel and rock splinters !</div>
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All was then again suddenly quiet, apart fro small stones and fragments of rock clattering back to earth. Zee hoisted his glasses to his eyes and scanned the scene, making out one, no two unmoving shapes, waving this too Art, who moments later voxed through “Dove‘s” confirmation. The three in unison, crept up from their scrapes at the crouch, and as Zee and Art moved slowly for wide cover, Dodge began to close.<br />“Don’t forget there are still two lives mine in there and after one detonation, I’d class them both as “unsafe” even when deactivated so,…. So just keep away from them !”</div>
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When they were at 30 yards, Zee stopped and took-up a firing-stance , Art and Dodge continued to move in at the crouch, covered through his scope, Zee watching the prone figures for any signs that this is not what it seemed. At 15 yards, Art was to do the same. Dodge, or whom ever did this leg, left his rifle at his scrape, it was always a shotgun for the last moves, but at 20 yards Dodge slowed, so Art moved up. From halted now Zee, as they naturally approach from down wind, could smell something was not right. Dodge wouldn’t take another step, and as he drew level, Art could see why. Zee started to move forward too as Dodge, face white, lost his lunch, breakfast and everything in-between, before his legs went ! Zee was nearly level as he went and managed to check Dodge‘s fall, lowering him into the recovery position, laid down “Lizzie” and scooped up the 12 Gauge, carrying it on toward the kill, past Art until he stood over the prostrate grey forms.</div>
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This close, they were not grey, but a deep blood red, covered in a scaly hide that struggled to contain their abhuman musculature. Around its neck, amongst a Maine of thick dark fur, one had a brass symbol hanging from chain of the same metal, and around their massive shoulders, thick, heavy chains holding huge 2-handed swords a good 2metres in length that coruscated Foul, Dark Energy. Their feet were cloven, and each arm ended in powerful, talon fingered hands that woul have been more at home on a lizard. From the ruin of this ones head it is hard to tell, but its kin has a skeletal face with far too many teeth, some great canines, and a head topped with a set of impossibly large horns, at least three sets of two, the largest of which must have been almost a metre in length. Zee gags. He did not know these abominations, but knew of them, they were servants of the Ruinous Powers, Daemon’s of the Dark Gods.</div>
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Daemon’s, little wonder that they’d had nothing from “The Dove” Question was, what were they doing here ? Zee’d heard no talk of Cult’s for a score or more years ! Zee walked over to Art, who was supervising Dodger, who did not look good at all, his face was pale and he was rocking slightly, clearly in shock.</div>
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“Dodge, Dodger !”, Zee yelled at the lad, trying to snap him out of it. “<span lang="EN">Dodger, those things, their no problem, they’re dead see”, he pointed to the forms, “They’re gone, finished, can’t stay here without a form you see !” But Dodger just stared blankly ahead. This was going to take quite some time !</span><br /><span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
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Mk </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-19168493137136765592014-04-17T09:18:00.002-07:002014-04-17T09:18:53.188-07:00Theater 3, chapter 2<span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><strong>Season Three, Chapter Two</strong></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><strong>Unity on the Bounty</strong></span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><br />It was cold, but only the same cold as yesterday, and any other day he could remember since, well since whenever. See, amongst other things that were a bit different, the temperature never changed nor the humidity down here.<br />Zee adjusted the sight one more click for windage, now that could be a problem, depending where you were, here, it was 2 clicks of a problem, now near the ridges it could be 8 or 9 clicks of a problem, on a bad day, 12+ and a prayer !<br />Another thing that never changed, was some thieving ba&%$d’s trying to run off with someone else’s hard eared livelihood ! Today, that was not going to happen. Zee lifted three fingers, a signal to Art and the Dodger as to what he could see of the opposition, Art lifted three in return, but then the tell, Dodger lifted four !<br />He followed this with a thumb, meaning he’d got a bead on the 4<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">th</sup>, an OK from Art just left the timing, Zee would give them 3, patting “Lizzie“, his prized possession. At just over 1.8 m and weighing in at 55 kilo’s, his Astarte’s pattern Mark VIII <span lang="EN-GB">heavy needle sniper rifle. Similar to the Deatwatch Mark IX, a little shorter, a fraction heavier, not tailored to fit with no built-in Cogitator, but more importantly, unlike the Mark IX unlicensed possession of a Mark VIII was not subject to summary execution. And alive was good in Zee’s book. He cupped the gun to his shoulder, held up 1 then 3 fingers, leaving Art number 2 and Dodger the 4th, the one the two of them could not make. Zee was no show-off, taking two, just damn good at what he did and with the Mk VIII, he was in possession of a far superior piece of kit with which to do it ! The numbering was always North -South, unless prearranged alterations required other considerations. The same suited, you didn’t need too many distractions in this job, the job itself kind of provided those for you. The timing 1 - 10 in quarter minutes, why, he had no idea, might have read it in a book or seen it of TV someplace. He held up three fingers.</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><br />“Three,” Zee mentally counted down the quarter minutes.<br /><br />……<br /><br />“Two.”<br /><br />…..<br /><br />”One !”<br /><br />With two gentle squeezes, the first one lost his head, well enough of it to ensure what was left would not miss the part that had gone and number three he dropped with another clean head shot as the guy turned to see what had happened to his partner in crime. Zee then swung the scope and saw thumbs up from Art and the Dodger. Relief flooded him as the tension released his muscles and fully opened his diaphragm, and boy did the air taste sweeter than he remembered. A chill shivered its way down his relaxing muscles, then a Crow let out its grating call like a nail on rusty tin. Always a good sign for if there was anything moving down there, he’d not be so keen calling his buddies. Chances there would be Kites circling above soon too, and with darkness not to far off it was time to move before more of the fauna lit them up surer than neon !<br />15 minutes later Zee arrived at the Land Speeder, an old Tornado variant stretched to add a third seat and additional internal stowage space and with a whole heap of extra goodies, many of which flirted with “legal“ for domestic use. She went by the name of “Eileen II” and represents a very good night at cards, as well as the “firm‘s” most expensive investment to date. Art was in the process of stripping off the camo nets and disposing of the heavy foliage they’d used to tidy her away.<br />“Nice one Art, clean as it looked ?”<br />“Guess, did you see how the lad did ?”<br />“I know, how’d he make that fourth, kind of eyes we had don’t you miss them ?”<br />“Yeah, but that’s why we bought in the kid, never was a job for old men and cripples”, Art laughed, tapping his Cybernetic left leg a result of working the wrong gig with the wrong “friends”.<br />“Guess that makes me the old man then.”<br />Zee took the netting, rolled and strapped it away as Art thumbed the engines, two </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">AS 9-60 Ramjets,</span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> and whilst waiting for the systems to power-up, swung out the rig for the </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">pintle-mounted </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Heavy Bolter, sliding it out, testing the smoothness of the run and tensioning the </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">.998 calibre </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Bolt</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">feed as he did every time, one of his life’s rituals that Zee for one found reassuring. Couple of minutes and they were hot and circling the sight of the shoot out as Dodger waves them in and Art was steering with one hand whilst stressing with the cargo net release with the other, until his nerves get the better of him an Zee reached over and tapped the auto-pilot to on</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“There was a reason we paid good money to have that up-graded, I think not dying was one of the considerations Art !” he shouted over the noise of the thrusters levelling them out.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Below, Dodger had all four bodies stretched out ready, their possessions in a separate pile that he was sifting carefully, with a third passenger, even with the power modifiers, they didn’t have the capacity to haul trash, so they had to look to less than 3 tonnes, and some of that was them, add another four bodies, ammo, weapons…. suffice to say it could be tight. Zee belayed down the to give Dodger a hand shifting the bodies, and whilst Art was securing the nets top-side, he too gave the men’s possessions a perfunctory look.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">”Anything take your eye Dodge, reckon you’ve earned yourself a bonus.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Well, this kind of..” Dodger held up a Hellgun.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Better but a whole heap hungrier than a standard Lasgun, but…” Zee leant over and picked up a seemingly standard holstered Laspistol</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">”One thing I don’t understand, did you holster that for transit ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">"No, why ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Well look at the gear they have here, one Hellgun and three ex-Guard M35 Lasguns, the Galaxies most commonly encountered Las weapon bar none. But wait, why use an M35, when you’ve a Mars pattern Laspistol tucked away ! As good, not quite the range, but with more of a punch than the 35, this is a </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Mars Pattern Mark IV Command Laspistol, given to Guard Officers once they attain a field command. Question is then, why’s it in the holster ?”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Zee tossed Dodger the pistol.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Anything look or feel strange about it to you ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Meant to weigh, …. 900 grams or thereabouts right ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Arts got you all wrong Dodge, you can listen !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Knock it off Zee, you know I listen to you guys, even your ‘remember when’ tales that would send most folk into a coma ! Point is, this here probably weighs a little over 1,000, was one of their better guns, but it’s still holstered, and even buttoned too, in which case I’ll wager it’s a ‘life assurance’ piece.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Give the lad a prize, sling it over by those rocks. And as Dodger did so, Zee took up one of the M35’s, giving it a once over, feeling it still held some heat from having been fire ready, he guessed it was not another trap, and loosed a round at the holstered pistol, yelling, “Fire in the hold !” to alert Art of the following, “Crumph !” as Pistol and Holster disappeared in a ball of flame and a strong smell of Promethium.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Some form of Thermite charge, enough to take your hand and most of your arm I’d say, so yeah, an insurance piece, and Dodge, sorry, it was a good gun, but even Harvey wouldn’t attempt to disarm a ‘life’ piece, and he’s insane ! Tell you what, I’ll have a chat with Art so as when we get the Bounty on these four, we’ll cash all this with Spence and see what he has “out-back” as I’m sure you could use a decent side-arm for starters, your M36 Pattern is more suited for what we do than a Hellgun, that back pack alone weighs in at some 10 kilos and it’s real cumbersome getting in and out of Eileen, so we cool with that ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“We’re always cool Zee, we three are the Ice-men !”, at which set the two of them laughing, deep happy laughter that soon had Art going as Dodge re-told the story of the too-good-to-be-true Mars Pattern Insurance Piece on the run back to Fort Speake, the one place that afforded anything like a secure, stable community in these parts, where lay the “firms” second largest gross asset, the Scarp Lodge.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">As with all the buildings around and including Fort Speake, Scarp Lodge was literally cut straight into the cliff, the only thing that afforded the original settlers any security. Art swung the Land Speeder over the Pad, easing down on the throttle, dropping it feather-light as ever, legs still on full extension after having “dropped -off” their cargo at the Bondsman’s and cashed-up. Zee keyed in a further series of number’s, opening the Lodge, having already de-activated their security protocol’s, being shot out of the sky by their own Flakk Missiles or sliced and diced by their “on-point” Lasgrid was not the kind of homecoming he had in mind. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">They had got lucky ay Spence’s, for to start with, he was four sheets to the wind, and so more than eager to please, but a new toy of this calibre was always gonna cost ! Whilst Dodge was helping the Bondsman unpack the last piece of “cargo”, Art and Zee had a board meeting, which swiftly concluded that the lad was worth further investment. They both liked Dodge, he was amenable, attentive and bright, with a near natural affinity for fire-arms that matched even Zee’s. More importantly though, he listened and did not appear to out to prove anything, none of which they now knew was an act. They’d given him a room at the Lodge some fourteen months back, when he’d begun his training for real, too long to sustain an act, and long enough for Art to do all the back-ground checks he was so infamous for, even the Imperial Guard hired him from time to time. Even so, it had been 10 months before they had taken Dodge on a “live-one”, for it was not a job you </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">learnt the basics </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">on, those were a pre-requisite !</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">And Spence did come up with the goods, at 1,750 less their profit from the sales, Zee reckoned it worth it for an Absolution Pattern Sniper Rifle. Not a Las weapon like Zee’s Mk VIII or Art’s older Mk IV, the Absolution Pattern Sniper Rifle was a ballistic weapon firing solid slugs. Still a very effective bit of kit though against all but heavily armoured targets, but as they had no Astarte’s hunting planned, it was unlikely to prove an insurmountable problem. Spence had cut them some slack though, throwing in a tripod, silencer, a telescopic sight and 800 rounds of 50/50 HE and AP. Zee took one look at the telescopic sight, rejected it and after an extra 250 changed hands, he was truly happy with a 0X29, a copy of the X30 Scope on the Deatwatch Mark IX, and a surprisingly good copy at that. Dodge was simply immersed in a blissful trance that provided Art and Zee with many a cheap laugh at his expense. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">But now was time to unwind, time to get the first decent nights sleep in three days, for tomorrow would be a very long one indeed, it had taken him nearly two to sight-in “</span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Lizzie</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">”. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Mk</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-35166924595771659682014-04-17T09:18:00.000-07:002014-04-17T09:18:08.474-07:00Theater 3, chapter 1<strong style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Road to Nowhere ?”</strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><strong style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">And so it was written in the Scroll‘s of Zalthar, that in the 3<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">rd</sup> Age, in the last dying moments of the Second Great Incursion did </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Be'lakor, First Daemon Prince of Chaos and his strongest Lieutenants’ combined the sum of all their </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Unholy Powers to maintain the Warp gate the victorious Inquisition were attempting to close, and thus allow the remains of their Demonic Horde to escape destruction upon the Lorelei Crystal Plains ! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Upon learning of </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Be'lakor’s </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">intentions, raising Arias, the slayer of Daemons aloft, Lord Inquisitor Hector-Rex plunged back into the fray to battle the </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">First Daemon Prince of Chaos in single combat. The Lord of Torment drew forth his great sword, “The Blade of Shadows“, </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">and did call upon the Lore of the Master of Change, the powers of the Great Tzeentch himself ! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Some say it was the Great Tzeentch himself that created Zalthar,* or Zal</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">’</span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">tchzr as it was first known, taking Crystal’s from his own Great Crystal Labyrinth and placing them in the void so that he may grow upon them a world with undistilled raw magic at it‘s heart ! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">*On Zalthar, the Power of Tzeentch is strong ! Therefore no spell from the Lore of Tzeentch can never be miscast, such results are ignored. Also any unsuccessful casting attempts may have a re-roll !</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"></span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><br />It may have been this power into which </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Be'lakor tapped, or the amplification of the Crystal’s themselves that twisted and fed his magic, increasing it’s power tenfold, rolling back the folds of reality itself, turning the Warp-gate into a Warp-hole, pulling into it’s unholy depths almost all that stood before it ! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><br />Be'lakor, First Daemon Prince of Chaos, his strongest Lieutenants’ <span lang="EN">and the remains of their Demonic Horde vanished in an instant, as did Ulraka, a Daemon Prince, and Khorne</span><span lang="EN-GB">‘</span><span lang="EN">s Executioner , along with his Daemonic War Host.</span></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span lang="EN">All across Zalthar, untold numbers of Necron’s had stood motionless in the same precise, pristine ranks they had held for millennia, the only motion small, discrete scuttling in the shadows. There had been generation after generation of Scarabs, able to a-sexually reproduce on demand, never too many, always enough. Thorough, driven with a singular purpose for a cycle, every cycle ! There was no down-time, even recharging was opportunity to inspect and if need be repair thy neighbour ! If it was broken, they fixed it, dented, they straightened, dirty, they cleaned, stiff they lubricated and as Jed and Carolynn found out, if it were infected, they purged ! And when you could not be efficiently repaired, you were recycled, intelligence module separated and re-fitted in another function unit. Fast, efficient and no childhood or instructions required, the only problem had been to narrow the parameters of thought, to save having to carry out awkward routine dumps of Giga Byte’s of superfluous memory. No intrinsic value, no purpose, no allocation. Reverse engineered AI, they redesigned the Net, so the holes were so big it only caught the largest pieces of information necessary<br />But the energies of the Warp-hole were such that even behind their Logic Engines, safe in their Mechanical Skin, the Necron’s were still not immune. As it folded space, so it folded time also, and a Glorious event so long in the coming, so eagerly anticipated, was condemned to a foot note in the history of what was to become known as the “Great Zaltharian-Rift”.<br />The Silent King came home. Not to pomp and ceremony, or such an approximation as Necron’s could manage. Not even the orderly transfer of power and information from the two remaining<span lang="EN-GB">Phaerons of the Triarch. It was </span><span lang="EN">just an </span><span lang="EN-GB">ignominious pretext. For as the first green lights glowed and sentience registered, their forms simply disappeared </span><span lang="EN">at the precise moment of their reawakening, their huge Monolith’s and all manner of tools and machineries’ of War gone in an instant !</span></span><br /><span lang="EN"></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB"></span><span lang="EN"><br />Also lost to the Maw of the <span lang="EN-GB">Primordial Annihilator were the bitter rival Chapter’s of the Astarte’s, the Terra Templar’s under Captain Krieg of the 1<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">st</sup> Company and the war weary surviving Dragon-kin, with their now legendary commander of a long and bloody campaign, Chapter Master Azus Drake-son. Men, Machines, Transports and Supplies all disappearing in the blink of an eye !</span></span><span lang="EN-GB"></span><br /><b></b>Even though themselves still only on the approach to Zalthar, the Flagship “Darkening Light”, and the entire Word Bearers 19<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">th</sup> Coven’s Fleet suffered the same fate, Malidus laughing madly “You see, you see !” as one by one his ships dropped of the Sensors.<br /><span lang="EN"><br />It was as if the Warp recognised those with War on their minds, or with a Darkness in their<b> </b>hearts, and took them for its own !”<br /><br />Only Lord Inquisitor Hector-Rex and his retinue’s did remain, possibly their pious Soul’s saved them from the touch of the Warp, or the unseen hand of a Greater Power that had other plans for his </span><span lang="EN-GB">Auditorii Imperator, his “favoured - one” ! Certainly a few sections of the Inquisitorial Forces and parts of the PDF were not so fortunate ! </span><br />Of Lord Samuel, The Dean and Lux, initially there was no trace, the Warp-hole had the same effect upon almost all electronics, especially integrated circuits, as the Electro Magnetic Pulse from a Thermonuclear Explosion, although mercifully it proved temporary.<br /><br />For the herders of the Lead-Lands, all eyes had turned to the Heavens for the most magnificent pyrotechnics they had, and possibly would ever see. For Carolynn though, it felt as though someone was turning his brain inside out without any form of analgesia. But as they had done in times past, too ancient to have been recorded and long slipped from memory, the Crystal’s held sway for its “Children”. It’s possible they had “other” plans in store for them, but only time would tell, and at this moment, time it would seem was more relative than ever !<br /><br />But then, as fast as it had expanded, the Warp-hole shrank, it’s vast energies literally collapsing in upon their magic’s expired, leaving no trace of its existence. But before it closed, whilst Psychic Screams Howled and Witch Fires of every imaginable, and several unimaginable colours coruscated the heavens‘, something vast and disquietingly organic slid in unnoticed !<br /><span lang="EN"><br /> Mk <img alt="Emoji" class="ecxEmoji$1F60A$AC0 ecxRenderedEmoji" src="https://a.gfx.ms/Emoji_1F60A.png" /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-57283572742778439792014-04-09T12:31:00.001-07:002014-04-09T12:31:25.496-07:00Theater 2 chapter 8Dean just stared at the oncoming swarm. Daemons. They were rushing towards him at an alarming rate, screaming praises to the blood good in voices from another world, leaping distances towards there foe with an unholy vigor. There was rage in there eyes, and pure hatred. Just staring at the creatures gave Dean the shivers. He felt Lux shudder too, a slght rattle through the armoured behemoth. He checked his weapons systems, everything seemed perfect. He reached out to soothe the machine spirit of Lux, who was going through a variety of emotions. It was not best pleased to be fighting along the newly promoted Krieg, afterall he had caused crippling damage. But the spirit was pleased to be fighting alongsde a dreadnought, a fellow kin-spirit, and pleased to be fighting at all. The fact it was repaired at all in this time was miraculous, but the machine felt slightly better, healthier almost. Dean smiled as he waited for the order to strike, an order which came from a being far scarier to him than the pair of bloodthirsters that came hurtling towards them on blood drenched wings. And that being, was Rex.<br />
Krieg stood there, impatient. He hated being ordered around, especially after his recent promotion. And to top it all off, by a HUMAN no less. But, he had communed directly with the emperor, and was the closest Krieg reckoned he would ever get to the divine being. He was torn with emoton over Rex. He hated him as he had swept in from nowhere and simply taken over. No heed for any formalities, he just did it. He also admired him. Everyone knew of Rex's exploits, and he couldn't have had anyone bar the Emperor beside him to make him feel more at ease at fighting daemons. And lastly, lastly he felt a tange of fear. For to gaze upon him was to gaze upon a being taller than an astartes, with the power to vanquish any foe in his hands, the psychic power to destroy the most powerful daemons and the authority to anihilate worlds but with a word. Such power would corrupt all but the most pious men, and Rex was one such man. Krieg switched his attention back to the oncoming daemons, in particular the great canons being pulled into place behind a makeshift barricade. Krieg quickly voxed the predator to track, target and destroy the one that was lining up for a shot. Before it could open fire, the lead bloodthirster let out a bloodthirsty roar. The battle had begun.<br />
<br />
Life... The thought ran amok in an empty mind. A word.... what was a word.... Suddenly his mind burst into full conciousness. A galaxy spanning intelect gathered from millions of years contained within the hyper complex and vorpal sharp mind that could only belong to a god. Conciousness... that meant it was alive. And if it was alive, then it was safe. It reached out with its mind to find its metal shell in perfect condition. Perfect. It was fine then. It then reached out to inspect its planet, to find to its ammusement an unusual variety of species warring upon the planet. A large amount of defenses were down, but one unlucky group was winding there way through a shard-trap. With but a simple thought, they adtivated. It smirked at the pict feed as the trapped warriors paid no heed to the danger that surrounded them. It decided watching there deaths was meaningless, and began its slow activation cycle. It was time to reveal itself once more.<br />
<br />
The only warning they had was the sudden blank in the warp that caused Jacen to drop to the ground. An ear splitting whine was followed by eldritch lightning leaping from the crystals. A dozen was killed in almost an instant. All Azus could do was gun it on his bike and hope the others followed suit. He sent an immediate vox cast to the escorting stormtalon to give them covering fire and to try and destroy the hostile crystals, and told the stormraven to find a save haven to land and escort them away. Jacen had recovered almost immediately, and watched the horror around him. Only when a crystal activated right near him and blasted apart half his squad did he get his bearings. Escape was the only option. He looked over to the rest of his squad and instructed them to group as close together as possible. He pressed in against them and before the crystal fould fire again ripped open a miniature warp gate and lead his men through. Cold hands clawed at his armour, whispers of temptation tried to lead him astray, and the strong taste of copper stained his mouth. But it was over within seconds. They were away now, on the outskirts of the crystal field, far enough to not be shot at but close enough to see the carnage. Luckily, the stormtalon had blasted apart enough of the crystals to create a safe landing area and the few survivors were being escorted away. But it had been a wholesale slaughter. Two dozen were dead and a few more were unaccounted for. It had been a grave day for the chapter, but at least the most important had survived.<br />
<br />
The battle raged on around them. Lux Aeterna was performing admirably, blasting apart daemons wherever they were, and trampling them to death underneath his iron shod feet. Up there, Dean felt like a god. Below he witnessed many acts of heroism, especially from the terra templars dreadnought who single handedly was blasting apart as many daemons as him through a mixture of close range flaming and filling them with hot lead from his assault canon. The rest of the chapter had to deal with bands of daemons materializing in there midst, and in short disciplined order showered them in a storm of boter fire. Kreig oversaw the battle for the first time as a general more than a fighter, and in an act of tactical genious parked his squadrons predator in the path of re-enforcement daemons forcing them into the path of a rampaging titan. Soon all the daemons forces were spent, aside from two. The two bloodthirsters roared in bestial fury, each pitting themselves against the most dangerous foes. Lux and Rex. Rex flung himself at the first, knowing this fight would be one of absaloute minimal effort. He didn't even consider the need to defend and with honed skill, plunged Arias into the creatures heart. Before the beast could even react, its body rippled and it exploded in a mass of blood and gore. Rex turned to face the other Bloodthirster, only to see it impaled on a two foot spike jutting from Lux's reaper chainsword. It was over within a second. Dean activated the blade. The daemon seemed to rapidly expand, muscle and sinew stretched to its limits. And with the sound of tearing muscle, the daemon was ripped in two, half of its body hurtlng up the chainblade and the rest falling to the ground in a fountain of gore.<br />
"Damn" thought Dean. "Thats going to jam up the servos..."<br />
<br />
Oli<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-49570183717306183872014-04-08T02:07:00.000-07:002014-04-08T02:07:03.311-07:00Theater 2, chapter 7<b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The Mourning After !</b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Next light, though the disc of the new Sun was way past Mount Sacrum, it was Nathan who found him, the Crow’s showed him the way.</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Have to say you’ve looked better”, was the best he could manage, hoisting levity into the hollow of hopelessness he felt upon first seeing him. It did not looked good, his right arm bloody and raw, the sleeve of his tunic and cape, ripped and charred and bloody, his eyes closed and sunken in a face pale as death. They had bought a make-shift litter, which they used to get Carolynn back to Bronze-Hearth and it was then into the hands of the Apothecary !</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Of the Assassin, if indeed that’s what they were, there was not a great deal to go on, save an incinerated mess of cloth and a few pieces of what looked like human remains. The intensity of the strike had melted much of it together, so Nate buried what he could find in a shallow scrape, certain the Lope Cats would dispose of it that dark !</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Kell !”wasn’t like they owed the thing any favours now did they ! He still felt shitty about it though, such was the curse of being “Nate” !</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">All that really mattered now was time, and Nathan still hated waiting. As far as the “Accident” went, Ben, Alice and himself had begun the disinformation process already, with a tale of Jed, Carolynn and a run-in with a stray young Morac ! The young males in particular were apt to wander at a certain age, becoming increasingly independent minded and could get pretty “feisty” when you tried to bring them back in to the herd. It was such a common occurrence no-one gave it a second thought. Fortunately, the Apothecary had known Nathan since he had first come to administer services to the Lead Lands Herders, and over that time, Nate had helped him “fit-in” with a naturally very insular people where folk largely kept themselves to themselves, so there were no questions like what part of an angry Morac causes burns !</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The Apothecary emerged from Ben and Alice’s Pod after quite some time with a tired, weary look. All looked at him expectantly, Nathan handing him a warm glass of Sallowclh, hanging on to the strange little triangular bottle.</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“That arm will need a fresh dressing every 2 lights, keep him on fluids and off his feet and don’t use any potions, creams or oils on the…“ he faltered a little but recovered well, “…on the graze on his right arm ! I‘ve put some coolant‘s on and a local anaesthetic, I’ll make up the necessary preparations and bring them here when I come 1</span><sup style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">st</sup><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> light. Time is what he needs, but if there’s any worry, call, otherwise see you all then.”, and with that, he was gone.</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Time !” said Alice quizzically.</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“You pay him ?” Ben asked Nathan almost abstractedly.</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Wouldn’t take anything </span><b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and</b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> that’s twice he’s said if there’s any worries we’re to call him straight back”, replied Nathan, “not sure if that’s good or bad ?“ - at which they all looked a bit puzzled.</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Alright if he stays here Alice, Ben, I’ll sit up with him this dark, appreciates a bit late to be asking, s’only moving him would be…. “</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Out of the question Nate” said Alice, “You can’t move him now, Ben and I‘ll take turns too, here I‘ll fetch us all some more to drink too,” noticing the empty bottle in Nathan’s hands.</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Then they went in to see him.</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Carolynn looked comfortable now he was warm, dry and his wounds dressed and clean. With his eyes closed, he rested, breathing shallow but regular. “The Apothecary said he‘s fit and healthy, and that all works in his favour”, explained Nathan, noticing Alice’s worried look “if anyone can ride this out it’s Carolynn, he’ll be giving us grief for going out looking for his sorry arse next, you’ll see !” and pulling out a chair, he flopped down next to the bed. </span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“See you later Nate, I’ll bring you that drink, maybe get something on to cook yeah ?”</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Here”, said Nathan, handing Alice a roll of bills, “this is for our bed and board, please take it, he’ll never recover if he thinks he’s freeloading, you know that”. Nathan pressed the roll into her hand “Diner you say, sounds good, I’ll see you</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">then, and thanks to the pair of you !”.</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">It was just getting light when Nathan woke. He did so with a start in a flurry of “What time, when …. How long have I ….is, Carolynn, is he...”</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“I‘m fine Nate, its nearly light , Ben‘s here, Alice and Jed are still sleeping, so all’s fine with us my friend” said a low but familiar voice, “How are you keeping ?”</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">It was not for another 5 cycles that they went back to the field, and as Nathan had predicted, the Lope Cats had been busy. There was not a clue as to who it had been and there was no-one reported missing from Bronze-Hearth, nor by any of the Trains. Carolynn’s memory of the that dark was a little patchy from the moment of the strike, but nothing he could remember was of any consequence, apart Carolynn remembered, “Apart from the Blade, where is the blade I saw, with a natural shine, about 2 - 2 ½ foot ! It cant have vanished, it was just too large for the strike to have melted it away, there would be something left Nate, some trace substance !”</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Well we’re looking , we’re looking alright !“</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Carolynn stopped and walked over to Nathan, “Nate, I’m concerned because if that blade isn’t here, then there are two options as I see it, one, that crispy critter is still alive after an un-survivable dose of electricity ! Or two, there is more than one, and I don’t know which idea I like least !”</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Yeah, alright, I get your point, and your right of course, neither of those is a pleasant thought !”</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Guy’s, guy’s, over here !” It was Alice just a bit further towards the band of scrub that ran along this fields Southern edge.</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">”What you got ?” asked Nathan when they’d reached her.</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“This !” she said triumphantly, gesturing to an object protruding from a tuft of Sedge in the Ice Grass.</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Carolynn reached down and retrieved a long, thin bladed knife.</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Does that tell us a good deal more about our friend “ Asked Alice, handing it hastily to Nathan ?</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Like he, or she doesn’t buy their kit locally !” said Nathan, “You know more about this Blade Carolynn ?” and passed it on to him.</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“It’s a Monomolecular Blade, probably of Dark Eldar construction and this innocent looking gadget could slice through something like your Pods with ease !”</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“How come ?” asked Jed</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Because the Pods are made of </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Ceramite, same stuff as a Space Marine’s Power Armour, and that’s one of the things it’s intended to do ! “</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Kell !“</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“You think it was an Imperial Assassin after all then Carolynn ?” asked Ben.</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Can’t say if I’m honest, and that dark things happened too fast and what was left after was so little I just have no idea. This is one of the Assassins favoured weapons, but it doesn’t feel like that’s what it is, and what or who ever used it that dark missed, they don’t miss. None of this adds up, but I know one thing for sure, if it were an Assassin, chances are we’ll find out soon.“ </span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“They’ll send another one ?“ asked Jed, open mouthed.</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Certainly, doesn’t look good on their CV to get Birthday Cards from Contracts ! Better get you that Shotgun sooner than later, in fact I could save a fortune and leave you mine in my will.”</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">No-one laughed.</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Later, back at his Pod, Carolynn popped the low wall panel, reaching in, he removed a long tin box. Un-snapping the lid, he dropped the Blade inside before popping it back, putting everything back as it had been. And he hoped it would all stay that way for some time to come !</span><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Mk</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-43747692805278747222014-04-07T12:42:00.000-07:002014-04-07T12:42:00.577-07:00Theater 2, chapter 6<span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><strong>Killing in the Rain</strong></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Beetles ? They leave their lieutenants un-poisoned to guard, and their King goes off into the Stars to find a cure to save beetles. Am I missing something here?” There was an air of total incredulity to Ben’s voice he wasn’t trying to mask.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“You’re missing the point Ben, I think the beetles are just part of it, they maybe tidy up the place whilst no-ones around, just like they do in nature. They get rid of the waste, the carrion. Without them we’d be knee deep in shite and rotting carcasses, I mean what else do you think strips down the dead Morac’s for Kell’s sake ! The important bit was that chamber and the Crystal, holder, no Sarcophagus for want of a better word. I stood in the same room as it and it was a Psychic void. Have you any idea the amount of power that thing could contain ? If what’s in there gets out, I don’t want to be on this planet, Kell not even this system !” </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Well I still don’t know what to make of it, but the whole business is at least sealed off which…. “</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Still gives us a shape-shifter to deal with !” announced Nathan, returning from his trip to the market and old man Orsan’s home. “Still bed-ridden and been so for cycles and the Apothecary says the next time he moves, it will be to the burial grounds in the Peaks.” </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Then at the market, what Alice saw was…..”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“Someone being someone who’s identity they thought they’d get away with borrowing to check us and this place out” replied Carolynn, “and they will find us, that’s what they do, Kell that’s all they do !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“So we just wait for a stiletto in the spine, is that it ?”demanded Ben, “Just wait to be hung out to dry, well I’ve done near death and I’m not doing it again !”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“No!” said Carolynn, “by now, if things are as they seem, it will come for me or Jed, figuring we have the most to learn from, so Jed stays here with the three of you. These things are good, but they are still flesh and blood, and if this one was top-class, we would not be having this conversation now, believe me. I will draw it off, and then see how the cards fall, you can write to me with any objections ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“No-one to watch your back ? You think you have a chance ?”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">“You think I have a choice Nate ? I’ll see the four of you next light, at exactly when the disc is full over Mount Sacrum. Accept no reason for me to alter that in any respect, we understood ?“ And with that, Carolynn shouldered Shotgun and pack, and disappeared into the continuing drizzle, as a fresh peal of thunder echoed through the distant Peaks, and the rain picked up its pace once more.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">A long way away, the forgotten and disused Eldar Webway Portal was steaming, each fresh drop of rain evaporating as it struck the surface. In his cell in the Moon-House, Samuel had ordered the Psychic Dampers switched to their maximum setting, sensing all was not well, but still Crowley howled the moan of the damned !</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Aboard his ship, Lord Inquisitor Hector-Rex prepared himself, reciting the Litanies’ of Purification as he strapped Arias to his side, the Force-Sword he had used to fell the Greater Daemon</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">An'ggrath, Lord of Bloodthirsters, Guardian of the throne of Skulls and favoured of Khorne. Fighting the Daemon was what he did, it was the very fibre of him, the reason why he had come to a failing planet like Zalthar that was ripe for the taking. It would not fall on his watch, as he had demonstrated with those Dragon-kin, the “would be sons of Vulkan“, loyal son to the rightful ruler of mankind, our beloved Emperor. Hector knelt at the very thought of his leige, for to have been in his presence, he an Auditorii Imperator, yes indeed he was blessed. He took a sideways glance at the world spinning in the void below, the rich blue of the seas, the vast western desert and majestic snow-capped mountains. By his grace it would look exactly the same the next time he viewed it from this very portal, and swearing an oath of the moment, he pressed it into place by the cluster of purity seals and the many chains’ that held the huge golden Aquila in place across his chest.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">His forces were already in line, Fighters fuelled and armed, Assault Craft loaded and ready to go at a moments notice. He had already demanded that that up-start Samuel declare Marshall Law and place such PDF Forces under his Command as he deemed “necessary” to ensure he had a sufficient force Planet side in advance. There was no telling where the fabric of the materium was at its thinnest, where the Warp would haemorrhage its foulness forth onto Zalthar. That leak would have to be plugged as soon as possible to allow his troops time to intervene, wrap up the incursion in full and destroy it utterly ! Yes, it would be most satisfying, his consultation with the Emperors Tarot read well and the Grimoire suggested the “catch” would include some very notable names indeed.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><br />Carolynn stopped, the storm had found its second wind, the rain was pouring hard and thunder and lightning challenged one another in a battle royale older than time itself. There was someone there, of that he was certain, but what had they sent and was the </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Officio Assassinorum involved at all ? Was it a Clade killer that lurked just out of sight in the rain counting off the seconds of </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Carolynn’s </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">life ? The Callidus Temple was well known for their use of shape-shifting to attain their nefarious ends, and this bore all their hallmarks’, apart for it’s clumsy execution. This did not have the feel of a devious plot to stealthily creep in and assassinate an “enemy of the state,” as sanctioned by one of the High Lords of Terra. This was amateur hour, for </span><span lang="EN" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Carolynn t</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">ruly believed what he had told the others about the certainty of their demise, it being sooner rather than later. He pulled his cloak tighter against the rain more from habit, for he was already sodden and the water squelched in his boots. One more dazzling blue bolt lit his surroundings and told him all he needed to know now, the hand of Kell would turn the next card.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Samuel was furious, Lord Inquisitor Hector-Rex had him declare Marshall Law and the streets of every Hive were now deserted, an already frightened people now penned in in abject terror, of what they were not to be told, merely that the Dark curfew was in their best interest. Those that disagreed, under Lord Inquisitor Hector-Rex’s two Imperial decree‘s, to Prevent Civil Unrest and/or Undermining of Imperial Security, were just shot. Large sections of the PDF had been placed under the Lord Inquisitor’s Command and “Urban Pacification Squads “ composed of troops supposedly hand-picked by him ensured that dissenting voices were few and far between ! Basically Samuel had both hands tied behind his back and Hector just fiddled with the tightness of the knot for his own amusement. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;"><br />In the Warp, a thousand, thousand bloated tentacles, taloned fingers and excessive tongues caressed the veil of the imaterium, each one searching for that one loose stitch that would begin the tear. Those wiser and more beguiling simply listened for there is <span lang="EN-GB">a certain sound a soul makes, when it is torn from a living host that is easy to follow !<br /><br />Aboard his flagship the “Darkening Light”, Malidus “the Crow”, Dark Apostle to the Word Bearers 19<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">th</sup> Coven, grinned as he peered into his “Prying Glass”, fashioned from a pane of glass that held the last reflection of Sister Evangelista of the Adepta Sororitas, before she was burned at the stake having been wrongly declared Heretic and Extremis Diabolus by the Ordo Hereticus. The Glass afforded Malidus a limited “Witch-Sight” or Prescience, a foresightedness allowing him to glimpse events yet to pass.<br />“Drachaen“ he cawed, calling for his Coryphaus, to whom the military matters of the Coven fell whilst he attended to their spiritual needs. “And send for that worm Mourvin, my excuse for a First Acolyte, and have him fetch my Accused Crozius, for I fear we may soon be at War”. Muttering commands to the single Bridge-Crewman, Malidus‘s quick temper and Lightning Claw having ended numerous promising Naval Careers, he continued to chuckle mirthlessly to himself whilst awaiting his audience.<br /><br />Long after the others had retired, The Dean was still putting Lux’s repaired knee through its paces, a punishing regime of set pattern combat exercise s within a framework like the asanas and pranayamas of the Ancient Terran Buddhist Philosophical Art of yuj sam<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; line-height: normal;">ā</span>dhau. These were the physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that sought to attain a state of permanent peace of mind in order to experience one's true self, a stilling of the changing states of the mind also referred to as Yoga. With “The Dean” and Lux </span><span lang="EN">Aeterna though, such a union</span><span lang="EN-GB"> also created the most terrible of weapons, Man and Machine honed to mechanical, physical and mental perfection !</span><br /><br />The storm raged all about Carolynn, dancing shadows surrounded him as he willed his protagonist to strike, to end this torment of being stalked, hunted like an animal.<br />And then, in answer to his prayer, the card was dealt.<br />A flash to his right as a blade was caught in the electrostatic discharge of the next bolt causing<span lang="EN">Carolynn to feint left, placing his hand upon the Great </span><span lang="EN-GB">Lorelei<b> </b></span><span lang="EN">Crystal, in who’s protecting lea he had carefully sheltered with this singular purpose. The lightning strike passed through the Great Crystal, turning the world the same violet hues as the stone itself. It arced through Carolynn, so it was the Assassin who was on the receiving end of some 4</span><span lang="EN-GB">0,000 Volts travelling at 1×10<sup style="line-height: 17.749998092651367px;">8</sup> m/s. Even a trained and thoroughly dedicated Assassin is not that fast ! Just the magnitude of the heat and magnetic forces alone would have been enough to destroy their internal organs, 40,000 Volts saw there was not much left to suggest what or who had stalked them or why ? Carolynn’s soaking cape helped, but you play with that kind of fire, you get burnt, and his right arm bore a jagged scar for its length, that would heal, becoming a permanent reminder, his own lightning strike !</span><br /><br />The energies also woke Zalthar’s other Crystals, those that escaped Mineralogical detection by all save the ill-fated <span lang="EN">Professor Norman. Such Crystals even now </span><span lang="EN-GB">lie unnoticed amongst the Lorelei Crystals in the field where the unfortunate remnants of the Dragon-kin are searching for safe passage from their pursuers in the </span><span lang="EN">Inquisition !</span><br /><span lang="EN-GB"></span><span lang="EN"><br />And the smouldering Eldar Webway Portal, unnoticed and untended for Millennia, was in no condition to harness coruscating energies of such magnitude as that of a now linked Crystal Matrix and it cracked. Then, of those </span><span lang="EN-GB">thousand, thousand tentacles, fingers and tongues caressing the veil of the imaterium, searching hungrily, ceaselessly, one tongue found the one loose stitch and began the tear ! The </span><span lang="EN">blood was in the water, and how patiently those Sharks had waited !</span><br /><span lang="EN-GB"><br />Mk </span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-719536558490588672.post-88864265466534410602014-04-04T16:55:00.001-07:002014-04-04T16:55:39.049-07:00oncoming stormLord Rex just sat there, shocked. If what he was reading was true, then this planet would have to be taken as quickly as possible. His gaze met the screen again, and the news still haunted it. A warp gate had opened near the planet, a beacon to all things foul in the universe. He was now in a galactic hotspot for evil. No doubt eldar would appear to try shut it down, orks would come to try harness its power, tyranids would come to absorb the warp power, and god forbid, chaos warbands and daemons would emerge. So far the daemons had been contained, but what lay within.... Without warning, his questions were answered. A great hulk, tentacled and bristling with guns emerged. He knew that ship, and the horror it bought. Last he heard it was spearheading raids for..... and then it hit him. This was to be a location struck by Abaddons 13th black crusade, and the Crimson Slaughter were here to claim it for him during the sword strike into the Imperium. The greatest war since the heresy had arrived to even this backwater planet. He clenched Arias, he would not let this planet fall to those accursed beings, not whilst there was still breath in his body....<br />
OliAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543826374770234691noreply@blogger.com0