Da Boss Of Da Dead

Chapta 18

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Da Boss Of Da Dead

Prologue

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There were a few further reports of encounters with the necron defences during the morning, but nothing warranted Hazug remaining in the Death Skull camp any longer when Warboss Kromag needed to be brought up to date with events.

“See?” Ratish said to Sophie as they walked back to the warboss’ camp, “Master not need another git. Dat other one is no good to us.”

Sophie lashed out, kicking the gretchin.

“Well I’ll get the money eventually.” She snapped at him, “You see if I don’t.”

“Ouch! Master, da git is attackin’ Ratish. Send ‘er back to be with da other one.”

“Shuddup da pair of ya!” Hazug shouted, “Now I aint buyin’ another human, but I aint getting’ rid of Sophie either. Any more arguin’ while we is tryin’ to get back to da boss without bein’ spotted and I may just leave da pair of ya ‘ere. Goddit?”

He took the silence to mean that they understood.

Upon their return to Kazkal Kromag’s camp, Hazug headed straight for the warboss and showed him the map.

“Ah Hazug me lad.” The warboss said, “So wot did ay find out dare?”

“Mayleth’s right boss.” Hazug said, “Da necrons is teleportin’ dare mega-zappas about. Dey can make ‘em appear where dey wants it looks like.”

Kazkal frowned.
”So we can’t get around ‘em den?” he said.

“Maybe not boss,” Hazug replied, “but dare may be another way.”

“Like wot?” Kazkal asked.

“We ‘it ’em again boss.” Hazug told him, “We gets every lad and wagon wot we can and launch another attack. Only dis time we waits until we can get as many lads as we can ‘ere rather dan attackin’ straight away with wot can get ‘ere quick. We’ve got nine days to bring in more lads.”

“Why nine days?” Kazkal asked.

“Da bomm’ll be ready den.” Hazug told him.

“So we’ll just smash through to da fort and den used bomm?”

“Nah boss.” Hazug said, “I don’t wanna take da bomm into da battle, I just wants da necrons to think dat dey is under attack by enough lads dat dey’ll use all of dare mega-zappas to try and stop us.”

“But did time we’ll ‘ave enough lads to destroy ‘em, right?” Kazkal said, smiling.

“Dunno boss.” Hazug told him, “But I reckons dat if da necrons ‘as to use all of dare mega-zappas to stop ya from getting’ to dare fort in one direction den I’s can sneak around in another and get da bomm inside dare fort.”

“’E’s sayin’ dat ya’d just be a distraction boss.” One of Two Heads said.

“Dat’s right boss.” Hazug said, “Ya only ‘as to stay in da fight long enough for me to get into da fort and set da bomm.”

“So ya is sayin’ I aint to blow up da mega-zappas den?” Kazkal asked, confused. As a Bad Moon he was not used to trickery in battle, only in bartering.

“I don’t know if ya’ll be able to anyway boss.” Hazug said, “But if ya do blow ‘em den even if dey does spot me comin’ with da bomm dey’ll ‘ave to send most of dare lads against ya instead.”

Kazkal considered this.

“But dey kept four of da mega-zappas back near dare fort last time.” He said, “Wot makes ya so sure dat dey’ll send all of ‘em dis way next time?”

“Cause next time ya’ll ‘ave more lads boss.” Hazug said, “Plus ya’ll ‘ave all da stuff wot was too slow to get ‘ere last time.”

“Like da big guns boss.” One of Two Heads said, “And kans.” The other one added.

“Da stompas is still comin’ an’ all.” One of the meks present said, “Dey’ll get da necrons’ attention all right.”

Kazkal smiled. He had been waiting for an opportunity to try out the miniature versions of his gargants every since they had been seized from a rival who had been planning to use them to usurp him.

“Don’t forget da squiggoths boss.” A nob in the simple clothing of the Snake Bites clan said, clearly determined not to let only the new-fangled technology of the other clans to be talked about, “Let’s see ‘ow well dem zappas ‘old up when we lets a few squiggoths loose on ‘em.”

“Dat’s true.” Kazkal replied, nodding in agreement, “Shoot a squiggoth and ya’ll probably just make it mad.”

“Dare’s somethin’ more boss.” Hazug said, “Somethin’ dat’ll really get da necrons attention.”

“Oh yeah? And wot’s dat den?” Kazkal asked.

“Well when I was in da gargants fightin’ da necrons it looked pretty done.” Hazug said, “’Ow close are da meks to ‘avin’ ‘em finished?”

Kazkal’s smile grew even bigger.

 

The mekboys reacted with glee when the order came through from Kazkal Kromag and they frantically ran about making the final preparations. In the construction zone around the massive war machines gretchin where whipped and beaten to hurry them up as they cleared away valuable equipment that was wanted for future use. Meanwhile tanker after tanker was driven up to transfer its precious fuel for the gargants’ engines.

Millennia ago, on a long forgotten battlefield on some far distant planet an ork army had first witness their human enemies deploy a gigantic bipedal fighting machine that seemed to bring with it the power of a god. Reasoning that if humanity could bring its gods along to fight with them then the orks could too, one of the mekboys present that way had undertaken the work that led to the creation of the very first gargant and since then the practice had caught on.

One of the first acts of Warboss Kazkal Kromag upon assuming the position of leadership had been to order a pair of the mighty fighting machines to be constructed for his planned crusade and now, finally they were to be put to use.

Assuming they worked that was.

Fully fuelled and fully armed, the gargants stood in silence as their crews took their places. Hundreds of gretchin were herded inside to keep the engines running and the weapons supplied with ammunition, while in the command centres located in the heads of the machines the largest of the meks stepped up to the levers that would bring them to life.

There was an explosion as the first gargant was started, a pre-prepared charge that set the engine running just long enough to start up the pumps that then fed it with the fuel to keep it going. The commanding mek smiled and looked out of the gargant at the second one and was just in time to see a cloud of smoke erupt from it’s exhausts as it too started up.

Pulling a funnel towards his mouth the mek shouted into it, his voice carried down the tube connected to the funnel that disappeared down into the floor.

“Left foot!” he shouted, “Move!”

In the city outside orks cheered and fired their weapons into the air at the sound of the massive ‘clump’ that represented the first step taken by the gargant. Moments later the second gargant also began to move and with a lumbering, almost waddling gait they headed for the hills.

 

“Dare ya go.” Mek Batrug said to Two Heads as they looked at the repaired rhino, “It’s all done. Ya got a new big shoota at da front like ay ‘ad before, but now ya also got a turret wot mounts a big boomgun wot combines da ‘itin’ power of ya solid kannon rounds with a massive blast.” At this point Batrug waved his arms, spreading them apart to represent an explosion covering a large area, “But like I said, dare aint enough room for carryin’ lads like dare was before.”

“Not a problem.” Two Heads replied, “Me battlewagon’s still got loads of room.” Then he spotted Hazug approaching with Mayleth beside him,” Wotcha Hazug.” He said, both heads smiling, “Like wot Batrug’s done with me rhino?”

“Very nice.” Hazug said, honestly impressed at the way the armoured personnel carrier had been turned into a tank. Over time he knew, more and more modifications would be carried out until the original design was unrecognisable and the vehicle became just another battlewagon, “Two Heads, I needs a favour.” He then said, “I needs to borrow Gorrid from ya.”

Two Heads both looked puzzled.
”Gorrid?” one asked, “Wot for?” the other added.
”To drive me truck.” Hazug replied, “I needs ‘im to take Mayleth somewhere. I got a job for ‘er and I needs to stay ‘ere. Gorrid’s ya bets driver, so I wants ‘im to take ‘er. Don’t worry, it aint far.”

“When?” Two Heads asked.
”Tonight,” Hazug said, “when da sun goes down. Dey should both be back by sun up tomorrow.”

 

The feed from the lunar relay station was perfectly clear, the orks were assembling an army even larger than the to have already attacked. However, this time rather than simply fling their forces headlong against the necron defences as they had done before the orks were building up a more balanced force that apparently included the two massive war machines that the deathmarks had so spectacularly failed to destroy.

“How long?” Mazakatek asked.

“We estimate that the most powerful units will not arrive for at least another day my lord.” Nalloshtek told him, “However, we cannot be certain if the krork will attack straight away, they seem to lack night fighting capability so may wait for first light the following day.”

“It is even possible that they will delay longer my lord.” Astrast added, “We have observed other forces approaching that will not be here for at least three days. If the krork wait for their forces to be at maximum strength then we have until at least then.”

“There remains a question about whether all of the krork will attack my lord.” Tumanatan added, “During the earlier attack a large number of them, including many heavy vehicles did not take part. Instead they remained away from the battlefield until the fighting was over. At that point they sent small groups into the area.”

“A reserve force, used to keep us off balance perhaps my lord.” Astrast suggested.

“Possible.” Mazakatek said, “If. May. It seems there are many possibilities but no certainties.”

“There are few certainties in war my lord.” Nalloshtek said, causing Mazakatek to glare at him suddenly.

“But not matter what,” Mazakatek said, “you expect the krork to launch another major assault in three days, yes? While Ibon will not be able to supply reinforcements for another six days after that? Will our defences be able to hold them for that long?”

“Possibly.” Astrast replied, “We lack knowledge of how capable their heaviest machines are, but it seems likely that they will eventually overwhelm us. Though I expect our pylon network to inflict massive damage on their force.”

“You had better be correct Astrast.” Mazakatek replied, “For all our sakes.”

 

There were gretchin everywhere, Mayleth observed. The smaller cousins of the orks moved randomly around the camp, seeking to acquire anything not nailed down as soon as the item’s owner’s attention was elsewhere. In some cases nailing something down was only a temporary solution as some of the gretchin had access to tools.

Mayleth picked her way between the gretchin. She could of course have killed dozens of the creatures, but if she went down that route then she was risking discovery if the bodies were to be found and she did not have the time she needed to dispose of them covertly.

Gaining access to the human section of the campsite was fairly straight forwards, though the humans had set guards to keep gretchin away they were not profession soldiers and Mayleth crept past them even more easily than she avoided the gretchin with their superior senses of hearing and smell. From there she worked her way through the camp until she found the human she was looking for.

“Mon-keigh.” She whispered into Salia’s ear as she slept, “Mon-keigh, wake up.” Despite being surrounded by humans Mayleth had left her translator set to translate between her own language and that of the orks.

Salia woke when Mayleth shook her and was about to cry out in alarm at finding the dark eldar staring down at her when Mayleth extended her arm and clamped a hand over Salia’s mouth. Then she lifted a finger to her lips.

“Be silent.” Mayleth whispered, “Do you understand?”

Salia nodded.

“Good. Now you are coming with me. Do you have any belongs you want to bring?”

Salia shook her head.

“Then follow me.” Mayleth said and she took her hand from Salia’s mouth and silently disappeared into the shadows.

Salia looked around, for a moment wondering if she was still asleep and dreaming.

“Mon-keigh, hurry.” Mayleth said softly, “We cannot delay.”

Acting quickly, Salia pulled on her boots and followed Mayleth.
”What’s happening?” Salia asked, keeping her voice low.

“We are trying to escape unnoticed mon-keigh.” Mayleth replied, “So it would help if you stayed quiet.”

“Why should I trust you? You’re not even human.”

Mayleth stopped and looked back at Salia.

“The beasts did this to you for being too slow.” Mayleth said, grabbing hold of Salia’s face and making sure to apply pressure to one of the bruises, “Go back if you enjoy it.”

Salia stared at Mayleth.

“Or keep quiet and follow me mon-keigh.” The eldar said, snarling and then she continued on her way.

Salia followed once more. She could see Mayleth continuously looking form side to side, but when Salia attempted to copy this without the eldar’s superior night vision all that she saw was blackness. Then Mayleth halted and held up her hand for Salia to do the same.
”What’s wrong?” Salia asked.
”You are too loud for starters mon-keigh.” Mayleth said and then she pointed ahead to where Salia could just about make out the shape of a man,” There is a guard.” Mayleth said, “Wait here while I deal with him.”

“No wait-“ Salia began to say but before she could stop her, Mayleth had already set off and was bounding silently towards the man.

Salia watched in horror, expecting Mayleth to murder the man while his back was turned. But instead she wrapped an arm around his neck and clamped her free hand over his nose and mouth.

Mayleth gasped as she felt the fear of the man; with his air supply cut off he clearly believed himself about to die. But Mayleth knew better than that and at the precise moment that she felt his body go limp she suddenly relaxed her grip and gently laid him out on the ground.

“Now mon-keigh.” She called out, no longer keeping her voice low, “We must hurry.”

“What did you do to him?” Salia asked as she ran to Mayleth, “Is he dead?”

“My master said nothing about killing,” Mayleth said, “and by keeping him alive I was able to feed on his fear.”

Salia looked down at the unconscious man.

“I know him.” She said and then she kicked him, “I don’t like him though.” She added.

Mayleth smiled.

“Follow me.” She said simply.

Mayleth led Salia further from the camp, again taking care to avoid the gretchin. This continued until they heard the sound of an engine and Salia ground to a halt.
”Orks!” she hissed, “We’ll have to go back.”

“Nonsense mon-keigh.” Mayleth said, “How do you think I got here? I didn’t walk all this way. There is only one of the beasts ahead and he will drive us back to our master.”

“’Our’ master?” Salia repeated.

“Yes,” Mayleth replied, “From now on you belong to the same beast as your sister and I.” Then she grabbed hold of Salia’s arm and pulled her towards the truck.

In the darkness its grey and green pattern blended in well, while Gorrid had been convinced to cover his usual bright red clothing with something more sombre.

“Dare ya is.” He called out, “I was startin’ to wonder if ya was comin’ back. Dare’s grots about. Look.” And he kicked at the body of a gretchin that he had disembowelled and left lying beside the truck.

Mayleth glanced at the corpse and then leapt aboard the truck, getting into the front passenger seat.
”Get in the back.” She said to Salia as Gorrid got back into the driver’s seat.

Salia did as she was told and even as she was still climbing up Gorrid put his foot down on the gas pedal and the truck rapidly began to accelerate.

“Is she okay?” Gorrid asked as he heard Salia cry out from behind him.

“She’ll be fine.” Mayleth replied, glancing around to make sure that she had not been left behind.

 

Sophie was woken by the sound of a cry of pain. Looking round she saw that Hazug’s truck was once again parked alongside the two red coloured vehicles of Two Heads’. She had seen Gorrid take Mayleth off somewhere in the truck late the previous evening, but had no idea when they had got back. Disappointed by having to abandon her sister, she had turned in early. From the sounds of it, she guessed that Gorrid and Mayleth had encountered necrons and that Mayleth had been injured. Then there was a second cry, followed by an orkish shout.
”’Old still ya git or it won’t be done right.” Drazzok yelled.

Puzzled Sophie began to creep in the direction of the voices. Whatever was going on it was happening inside the battlewagon and Sophie walked up the base of the large rear ramp and looked inside. Then she gasped in amazement.

Inside the battlewagon Salia was sat on one of the benches with Drazzok beside her. The weirdboy had a narrow sharpened bone in his hand that he dipped into a small pot and then pressed against Salia’s skin.

“Hello Sophie.” Salia said when she saw her sister staring at her. Then she cried out again.

“Stay still I said!” Drazzok snapped. Then he looked around to where Hazug stood watching him, “Ya really ought to be getting’ a dok to do dis.” He said, “Or maybe a runtherd. Dey tattoos stuff all da time.”

“I told ya I can’t do dat.” Hazug said, “If anyone knows we is changin’ dat tattoo to a Blood Axe on den dey may run off and tell Zorgart. I thought Snake Bites was supposed to be good at tattooin’.”

“Da great Drazzok can do anythin’.” Thuggrim called out from where he sat in the turret, his eye pressed up against the cannon sight.

“We is.” Drazzok said, ignoring Thuggrim’s outburst, “But we normally just does it on lads wot can stand bit of pain.”
”What happened?” Sophie asked, suddenly finding her voice.

“That eldar woman came for me in the middle of the night.” Salia said, “She snuck me out of the camp to where an ork was waiting in a truck and I was brought back here.”

Sophie dashed into the truck and threw her arms around Hazug.

“Oh thank you.” She exclaimed, “But I thought you said you wouldn’t pay for her.”

“’E didn’t.” Drazzok said, “Dat’s why I is changin’ dis tattoo for ‘im.”

“You mean-“ Sophie began.

“‘E nicked ‘er.” Drazzok interrupted, “Still, it was only from Death Skulls. Dey expects to ‘ave dare stuff nicked.”

“Da way I sees is,” Hazug said as he pulled Sophie off him, “Mayleth found ‘er and finders is keepers. But since belongs to me an’ all, dat means Salia does too now.”

“Well its official now.” Drazzok said, leaning back to admire his handy work, “Dis git belongs to da Blood Axe clan.”

“Ratish still don’t see why master needs another git.” Ratish said. The gretchin had been sulking at the far side of the battlewagon while Drazzok worked to cover up the evidence of Hazug’s theft.

“I told ya ya stupid grot.” Hazug said, “I needs someone to make sure dat Mayleth ‘as wot she needs for fightin’ in da pits. Unless ya wants to volunteer for dat?”

Ratish shook his head furiously.

“Pansy is mean.” He said, “Let da gits clean up after it.”

Hazug grinned and looked down at Salia and Sophie.

“See,” he said, “now we is all ‘appy.”

“Not quite.” Drazzok said and when the others all looked at him he added, “Well I aint ‘ad not breakfast yet ‘ave I? Wot's gits good for if not for cookin’?”

 

The three days given by Astrast in his estimate for the orks forces to reach full strength came and went without any sign of an attack and Mazakatek began to get impatient.

“What are they doing?” he demanded of the crypteks as they analysed the surveillance feeds.

“Nothing my lord.” Astrast told him, “There are only a handful of units still approaching and none appear to be of exceptional strength. I do not understand why they have not yet attacked us.”

“Do they seek to merely contain us?” Mazakatek asked.

“No my lord.” Tumanatan replied, “The krork remain concentrated to the south of our position. They have made no attempts to encircle us. I believe that they are waiting for us to make the next move. The smaller parties we have observed must be watching for any sign of movement by us. Perhaps they hope to engage us beyond the range of our pylons.”

“Well then,” Mazakatek said, “it would seem that the krork are going to miss their only chance to defeat us. Unless they attack within the next six days we will be the ones to overwhelm them.”

 

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