Da Boss Of Da Dead

Chapta 16

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Da Boss Of Da Dead

Prologue

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Epilogue


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The inventory was staggering. While the tomb of Mazakatek had held only a few hundred necrons, Khab held over a hundred thousand still in stasis. Added to that were two completed starships of the same type that Ibon had seen part finished upon first entering the facility. In addition to that were hundreds of vehicles as well as the machinery needed to manufacture as many more as materials could be found for. All Ibon needed to do was turn them back on and the necrons would be able to sweep the ork from the system.

Power was the key issue. During the thousands of years that glacial ice had been able to get inside the facility at Khab the power generation and distribution systems had been damaged by the ice forcing its way between numerous key components. This meant that there was no longer enough power to activate the other systems that would actually allow the ice to be cleared.

“Cryptek.” The necron pilot signalled Ibon, “Overlord Mazakatek demands an update on our situation.”

It was unlikely that Mazakatek had actually ‘demanded’ anything. His position was far too precarious to risk alienating the crypteks that managed all of his technology for him.

“Can you connect me?” Ibon asked.

“Yes cryptek, patching you through now.”

“Ibon, this is Astrast.” The other cryptek transmitted form the palace, “Have you found anything?”

This made more sense to Ibon. The ‘demand’ had in fact come via another cryptek.

“I have indeed.” Ibon replied, “Khab contains enough troops and vehicles to wipe out the krork hoards. Including their spacecraft.”

“The krork have launched an assault. We repulsed them, but they may be back and we must be able to do more than simply defend the palace. How soon will these forces be available?”

“System damage is severe and the facility cannot be reactivated without outside intervention.” Ibon replied. Then something occurred to him. Just as the conversation between himself and Cryptek Astrast was being relying via the command barge, so too could power for the Khab facility. Like most necron technology the command barge drew its power remotely from its base, even Ibon himself got power this way. The emergency power storage cells at Khab were now close to being drained, but if Ibon were to hardwire the command barge into the power grid here then the power needed to recharge them could be broadcast from the palace itself. It was risky of course; if anything went wrong at the other end then the connection could function in reverse and take what remained of Khab’s power. But the risk was remote and there was no other way open to Ibon. He ran a quick calculation based on the capacity of Khab’s storage cells compared to the ability of the command barge to draw power from the central grid, adding on some time for setting up the link.

“I can bring the first of them online in ten days.” Ibon replied, “This will include a pair of raiders with which we can destroy the krorks’ orbiting craft.”

“Continue Ibon.” Astrast said, “I will inform the overlord that he will have victory in ten days.”

 

Many of the nobs standing around Kazkal Kromag’s hastily improvised throne were different to those who had made up his court only a day earlier. The losses suffered first by the Huntsman’s attack and now during the disastrous attempt to assault the necron tomb had opened up a lot of vacancies and nobs of several clans had seen their chance for advancement. Amongst them was Two Heads Smasha Butt Face who, thanks to the admirable driving skills of Gorrid had been able to escape the necron pylons. The two-headed ork stood beside Hazug as they waited to see what the warboss would have to say about this debacle.

Kazkal growled as the painboy prodded one of his wounds again with the proboscis of a squig and squeezed it to force it’s healing saliva into the wound.

“So wot we got left?” Kazkal demanded.

“We lost more dan ‘alf wagons boss.” One of the nobs replied, “Almost dat many lads an’ all.”

“Most of da fightas and bommas is gone too boss.” A second nob added.

“I didn’t ask wot we lost!” Kazkal bellowed, “I asked wot we still got. Or do I needs to go round and count all da lads meself?”

“We got about an ‘undred sixty wagons boss.” One of Two Heads said, the other chimed in with, “But most of ‘em is da smaller ones. Dey was fast enough to dodge dem necron mega-zappas.” Then, with both heads shaking slowly he added, “I don’t think dat any of da battle fortresses got away.”

“Soddit.” Kazkal exclaimed, “Now wot about me lads?”

“Dey is leavin’ boss.” Hazug said solemnly, “Loads of ‘em managed to get away, but dey aint ‘angin’ about. We’ll need some lads wot ya can rely on to knock a few ‘eads together and get ‘em back.”

“I’ll do dat.” Gorgoga said. The goff nob was still eager to get his own back on the necrons, now not only for the loss of his mining settlement but also for this latest defeat and he held up his power claw and opened and closed its grip a few times.

“We is gonna need dat lifta-gas bomm now boss.” Hazug said, “We needs to try and get it past dem mega-zappas and blow up dare fort.”

“Wot if we used da bomm against da mega-zappas?” a nob suggested, but this just drew a snort from a large mek.

“Da bomm aint even finished yet!” he snapped, “Last I ‘eard it’ll be about ten days before its ready. Den it’ll be another ten days at least before we ‘ave another one done. Wotcha gonna do if ya use da first bomm and it don’t destroy ‘em all?”

The nob did not reply, instead his shoulders slumped and he retreated back between the other nobs present as they all glared at him.

“’Ere boss,” another mek suddenly said, “wot about lettin’ da ship bosses blast da fort from space? Kroozers is dead shooty.”

“Because we is right ‘ere ya berk!” Kazkal yelled, “One kannon shot or rokkit falls a bit short and I’ll lose ‘alf me lads.”

“Ya never know boss,” one of Two Heads began, “maybe it’d it ‘im on da ‘ead and den no damage would be done.” and then both heads bared their teeth at the second nob to be trying to get out of the warboss’ sight in as many minutes.

“Wouldn’t work any ‘ow boss.” Hazug said to the warboss, “Even if a kroozer could land a shot on target, da necron fort’s deep under da ground. All dat rock’d protect da thing from da bombardment.”

“Well den Hazug,” Kazkal said, “I’d say ya got ya work cut out for ya. Ya’ve got ten days to figure out ‘ow to get around dem mega-zappas with dat bomm. Can ya get it done?”
”Sure boss.” Hazug replied.

“Good.” Kazakal said, “Still, I don’t see wot da necrons could possibly do in ten days with us still campin’ right ‘ere near em.”

 

Hazug waited until dusk. Then, accompanied by his servants he set out towards the scene of the battle. His hope was that by leaving his truck in Two Heads’ care he would be able to move about undetected and locate a safe route through the network of necron pylons. He would rather have had a mob of Blood Axes to accompany him, but he was the last of his clan in the system and he did not feel able to rely on any other orks to be as quiet as he wanted them to be. An eldar, a gretchin and a human on the other hand would be able to sneak around with him.

“Master look!” Ratish suddenly called out as they approached the battlefield. In the darkness ahead tiny lights could be seen bobbing about to one side and as Hazug watched they began to move across the battlefield.

“Are they necrons?” Sophie asked, her grip tightening around her lasgun.

“Wrong colour mon-keigh.” Mayleth said, “Those are the flames of wooden torches.”

“Then who are they?” Sophie asked, “I thought all the orks that survived the battle withdrew.”

“Dey did.” Hazug said as he took the tau viewing device from his belt and set it for nighttime use. Holding it up to his eye he looked towards the torchlights. Through the viewing device the flames of the torches showed up as brilliant white globes set against the greenish background. Holding those torches Hazug saw the unmistakable shapes of gretchin and their ork masters as they picked their way over the battlefield, stopping at every body and wreck to search for anything they could take. Though the viewing device did not display colours properly in night vision it did pick out details very well and the clothing of the greenskins was clearly marked with an assortment of skull designs.

“Lootas.” Hazug said as he watched the swarm of Death Skulls picking over the dead.

“What about those turrets?” Sophie asked, “Why aren’t they firing?”

Hazug looked around, still using the viewing device to peer into the darkness. Though the light from the Death Skull torches made seeing directly past them tricky, the glare obscuring the viewer’s optics, Hazug knew that he should have been able to see the massive necron weapon emplacements from here.

“Dey aint dare no more.” Hazug said, “Dat’s why da lootas aint getting’ shot.”

“Where’d dey go master?” Ratish asked.

“Under da ground I guess.” Hazug answered, “To keep ‘em safe.”

“They will have returned to the tomb.” Mayleth said, “The y’ngir can teleport their weapons to and from the battlefield at will.”

“Master could use dem teleportas to get to da fort.” Ratish said, “Just like last time.”

“Idiot creature.” Mayleth said, “Do you really think that you just sit on one of those weapons and wait for the y’ngir to take you back inside their headquarters?”

“Master can-“ Ratish began.

“Quiet!” Hazug hissed as he put the viewing device away, “Da lightnin’ would fry anyone wot tried getting’ close to da mega-zappas. We needs to find da door to da fort if we’s gonna get inside. Now let’s go. I wants to go and see some of dem lootas. Maybe dey’ve seen somethin’ dat’ll ‘elp us.”

Hazug then began to head towards the nearest cluster of torches with his servants keeping close behind him.

“And be careful all of ya.” He said, “Da Death Skulls may be a bit jumpy and I don’t want ‘em shootin’ ya by mistake.”

 

The scattered bodies had once been the occupants of a battlewagon. The vehicle’s thick armour had failed to protect them and now they were just corpses to be looted.

Kaggath of the Death Skulls had had his troops line up the bodies and now a trio of gretchin was going along each the row. One gretchin went through the orks’ pockets, another removed jewellery and the third pulled out all of their teeth under Kaggath’s watchful eye. Meanwhile the orks under his command were now gathering up the twisted and burnt remains of the battlewagon itself while another had gone to fetch a vehicle so that they could take the scrap back to camp.

“Wotcha!” Hazug called out from a distance and Kaggath reacted by spinning around and pointing his weapon at the Blood Axe.

“Sod off!” he shouted, “Dis loot is ours.”

Upon hearing this the other Death Skulls nearby came rushing to where Kaggath stood, ready to defend their spoils.

“I aint after ya loot.” Hazug said as he emerged from the darkness, but he kept his own rifle to hand, “I just wants to ask ya a few questions.”

“Go on den.” Kaggath said, his weapon still aimed at Hazug.

“I ants to know if ya’ve seen anythin’ of da necrons out ‘ere.” Hazug asked.

“Nothin.” Kaggath said, “Tell ya wot though, if ya ‘ands over da nice lookin’ shoota ya got dare and dat choppa an’ all I’ll let ya go and look for ‘em somewhere else.”

Hazug just stared.

“No.” he said eventually. Behind him his servants waited for instructions.

“Ya must be able to count git lover.” Kaggath called out, “I got me a dozen lads ‘ere and all ya got is a runt and a couple of gits. ‘Ow ya gonna stop me mob killin’ ya and takin’ wot ya got?”

All of a sudden a shot rang out from the darkness and the ork in Kaggath’s mob that held the largest weapon suddenly had his head jerk back as a bullet passed between his eyes and he fell dead.

“I don’t need a mob when I gots a Thuggrim.” Hazug said, a smile spreading across his face.

“Dare’s still more dan ten of us.” Kaggath said.

Another shot rang out and another Death Skull fell dead. The remainder now began to look around nervously, trying to determine where the attack was coming from.

“Yeah, but Thuggrim’s a bit mad.” Hazug explained, “So wot with all ‘is different personalities I’ve still gotcha outnumbered I reckons.”

“I aint seen nought.” Kaggath said, glaring at Hazug, “Now sod off and let us get on with our lootin’. We was ‘ere first.”

“I aint after ya loot.” Hazug told the Death Skull, “But I needs to know wot da necrons is up to. Dare was an ‘ole bunch of mega-zappas ‘ere a few hours ago, but dey’ve gone now. So who d’ya reckon I should ask?”

Kaggath paused while he thought about this. The longer he and his orks were stuck here, apparently in full view of an expert sniper, the more loot would be taken by other groups. Then it hit him that the easiest way to get rid of Hazug was simply to tell him what he wanted to know.

“Zorgart Scraploota’s set a camp over dare.” He said, pointing away from the battlefield, “’E’s brought loads of Death Skulls together. We got ‘ere too late for da battle though.”

Hazug smiled, guessing that the tardiness of the Death Skulls may not have been an accident. By turning up late the Death Skulls had left Warboss Kromag’s forces to do the fighting while ensuring they would be able to collect whatever they wanted from the battlefield afterwards.

Nodding at Kaggath, Hazug began to back away.

“’Ead for dat bunch of trees behind us.” He said quietly to his servants, “Dat’s where Thuggrim’s ‘idin’.”

“How do you know?” Sophie asked, “He wasn’t even supposed to come with us.”

“I knows dat.” Hazug replied, “But dat’s where I’d be if I was ‘im.”

 

Sure enough, Thuggrim was lay beside one of the trees, his good eye looking down the sights of his custom rifle. Unsurprisingly Drazzok was with him, the Snake Bite sat further into the small cluster of trees and munching on the severed limb of a gretchin that had presumably died during the battle earlier that day.

“’Ow’s it taste Drazzok?” Hazug asked.

“Like crap.” The weirdboy replied, “I doubt even ya git could make it taste good.” And he threw the limb aside and stood up, “Now wot’s da meanin’ of comin’ out ‘ere and not leavin’ me any decent grub?”

A shot suddenly rang out as Thuggrim fired his rifle.

“Another kill oh great one!” he called out, “I will ensure dat Hazug and his slaves are safe.”

“We’re already here.” Sophie said.

“Shush.” Drazzok said, “’E’s enjoyin’ ‘imself.”

“But he’s shooting at orks.” Sophie pointed out.

“I knows dat.” Drazzok said, “But I don’t knows dem, so it don’t matter. Now get over’ ‘ere and let us see wot grub ya got in dat bag. I is ‘ungry still.”

As Drazzok snatched Sophie’s bag from her and began to rummage through it, removing anything that looked edible Hazug brought him up to date.

“Dat Death Skulls nob said dat dare’s an ‘ole load of ‘em set up camp. Said dat dey missed da battle entirely.”

“Dat’s bleedin’ convenient.” Drazzok said, spitting crumbs as he spoke.

“Yeah, well dare’s a big nob wot’s brought together an ‘ole loads of ‘em.” Hazug explained, “So I reckon dat if dey’s wanderin’ all over da place den dey is da ones to ask if dey’ve seen any signs of da necrons while dey was at it.”

Having listened to the translation of this exchange Mayleth leant towards Sophie and whispered to her.

“Be careful no to get your hopes up too much mon-keigh.” She said softly, “You may not get what you want.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She replied.

“Yes you do.” Mayleth said, “You’re wondering if your sister is with these orks.”

Sophie did not reply.

 

Dozens of large campfires illuminated the sprawling Death Skulls camp. The infamous clan of looters and thieves had set up their camp within the hills, selecting a location just out of sight of the battlefield and Hazug could not help but wonder if maybe some of them had been here while the battle raged, waiting for their chance to loot the remains.

As they approached the campsite the group saw several large signs written in the glyphs of the ork language. These proudly proclaimed the best offers for particular types of recovered scrap or offered the service of vehicles capable of moving heavy loads for those mobs that had discovered things too large to move by themselves.

A cluster of gretchin with their faces painted blue watched the approach of the group from on top of a flat boulder. One of these jumped down as the group went passed and ran closer.

“Lookin’ for somethin’ boss? I knows dat places for da best stuff.”

As Hazug looked down at this gretchin he noticed out of the corner of his eye that two more had dismounted the boulder and were creeping towards the group from behind, tiny blades in their hands. But before he could do anything about this, Ratish detected their approach also.

“Sod off!” he yelled, picking up a stone and hurling it at one of the creeping gretchin.

“Try nickin’ from us will ya?” Drazzok demanded, storming towards the first gretchin to have approached them and as the terrified creature backed away, holding up his hands the Snake Bite swung his staff hard enough to lift the creature of its feet. Screaming in pain the gretchin crawled back towards the boulder where the other gretchin had got to their feet, several clutching an assortment of rocks and sticks. However, not one made any further aggressive moves when Hazug, Thuggrim, Mayleth and Sophie all aimed their weapons towards them. Slowly the gretchin withdrew, putting down their crude weapons and retreating into the darkness.

“Let’s go.” Hazug said simply, “I wants to find dis Zorgart.”

“How do you plan on that?” Sophie asked, “There must be over a thousand orks here.”

“Easy.” Drazzok commented, “’E’ll be da biggest.”

As the group made their way towards the centre of the campsite, reasoning that it would have grown out from around Zorgart Scraploota’s location they saw similar scenes repeated over and over again as orks argued over the value of battlefield loot that mekboys were not offering prices that were as amazing as advertised for and gretchin pickpockets sought any opportunity to relieve the unwary of their belongings. Twice Drazzok knocked one of the creatures aside with a sing of his staff without breaking stride and once he not only knocked the gretchin to the ground but made sure to stamp on it as it lay in his path. Sophie could not help but notice how happy the weirdboy seemed as he demonstrated his superiority over them.

“I reckon dis is it.” Hazug said suddenly and he pointed to a ring of burning torches set into the ground ahead of them. Within the ring was a battlewagon painted in the blue and white of the Death Skulls clan. The rear of this vehicle was open topped and mounted here was a large throne upon which sat an equally large ork with his face painted bright blue.

“Wotcha want?” another blue painted ork demanded when the group reached the ring of torches. He was not as large as the ork on the throne, but he was still a nob.

“We is ‘ere to speak to ya boss.” Hazug said sternly, staring the Death Skull in the face.

“Lots of lads want to speak to da boss.” The Death Skull replied and he indicated a line of orks that extended away from them, “Get to da back.”

“Da back eh?” Hazug said and he looked along the line, “’Ere!” he yelled, “Does ya lot want me and Drazzok Headbanga waitin’ in line all night right behind ya or is ya gonna let us go next?”

“Who’s Drazzok Headbanga?” one of the orks in the queue called out.

“Over to ya now I thinks Thuggrim.” Hazug said.

“Da great Drazzok Headbanga is da greatest and most powerful of all da weirdboys!” Thuggrim bellowed.

“Yeah!” Drazzok called out, “I is.” And he shook one of his arms to make the assorted totems and bells that dangled from it jangle together.

The Death Skulls glared at Drazzok for a few moments until one of them found his voice.

“Weirdo!” he yelled and he turned on the spot and ran away.

“Weirdo! Weirdo!” other orks began to yell as they too panicked at the thought of standing in line with an impatient weirdboy whose head could explode at any moment and joined the first ork in getting as far from Drazzok as they could manage.

“Oh look,” Hazug said to the nob, “it looks like we is next don’t it?” and with a large grin on his face he stepped to where the first ork in the queue had been stood just a few moments earlier.

“Da boss will see ya now.” The nob replied.

Zorgart Scraploota stared down at the group as they approached him, focusing mainly on Hazug.

“A git lover.” He said, “Dare’s only one git lover on dis world wot I knows about. ‘E’s one of Kazkal’s lads. Dey say ‘e owns a fightin’ pansy an’ all. Just like dat pansy ya got dare.” And he looked at Mayleth.

“Dat’s me. And I is ‘ere on behalf of da big boss.” Hazug replied, aiming to remind Zorgart that although he ruled this camp, the planet had another ruler.

“So wot’s ‘e want den?” Zorgart asked, frowning at Hazug’s reminder.

“’E wants a way into da necron fort.” Hazug said.

Zorgart snorted.

“I don’t care about no necron fort.” He said.

“I knows dat.” Hazug said, “Dat’s why ya ‘id ‘ere with ya lads while we was doin’ all da fightin’ today.”

Zorgart did not reply and that told Hazug that the statement was true. If Kazkal Kromag found out that the Death Skulls leader had kept a force of this size out of the battle then Zorgart’s days would be numbered so low that even a snotling could count them.

“Ya lads is walkin’ all over dese ‘ills I reckon.” Hazug went on, “So all I’m askin’ is for me to able to ask wot dey seen.”

“And in return?” Zorgart asked, “Wot’s in it for me?”

“I tells da big boss wot ya lads seen.” Hazug said, “Unless ya’d rather I tells ‘im wot else dey did today.”

“Dey didn’t do nought.” One of Zorgart’s attending nobs replied.

“Dat’s da thing.” Hazug said, “D’ya really want da boss findin’ dat out?”

“I gots me another idea.” Zorgart said, snarling, “’Ow’s about I just ‘ave me lads kill ya now? I’ll take dat fancy choppa ya got and ya git and ya pansy can work for me from now on.”

Hazug smiled and set his rifle down at his feet. Then as several of the Death Skulls nobs began to advance he took the warscythe from his back and swung it towards the battlewagon. The impossibly sharp alien blade cut through the metal of the battlewagon just as easily as if it was flesh and as one of the rear axles was severed the entire vehicle dropped down at one side, tipping Zorgart Scraploota from his throne.

“Oh yeah?” Hazug shouted as the Death Skull lay sprawled at his feet, “Well come an’ ‘ave a go if ya think ya ‘ard enough!” and he held the tip of the warscythe towards Zorgart’s throat at the same time as Thuggrim aimed his rifle at the nearest target. Reaching out with one hand, Drazzok then gently pushed the rifle so that instead of pointing at a torch it was pointed at a Death Skull.

The Death Skulls froze, unsure of how to react as their leader was held hostage. Though his death would mean promotion for one of them, it may not be as beneficial for any rival challengers.

Staring into Hazug’s face, Zorgart broke the silence.

“List maker!” he shouted a thin human stepped from the shadows.

“Yes lord?” the man asked nervously.

“Take dis git lover to see da meks.” Zorgart said before he looked back at Hazug, “If anyone knows if me lads ‘ave seen da necrons it’ll be da meks.” He said.

Hazug slung his warscythe over his back once more, stepped back and picked up his rifle.

“Right den,” he said to the man, “lead da way.”

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