Da Isle Of Doom

Chapta 12

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Da Isle of Doom

 Prologue

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Krurgan’s driver came to a halt where the newly cleared trail through the jungle split off from the main track and heading in the direction of the volcano. Behind the truck the other vehicles came to halt while they waited for Krurgan’s to get movin’ again.
”Dis must be it.” The largest of the Snake Bite nobs said to the driver, “Dat git lover said dat da Death Skulls ‘ad cleared a path right up da git fort. Now let’s roll.”

“Its dark in dare.” The driver pointed out, “We’ll ‘ave to take it slow.”
”Just do it.” Krurgan said, “Da git lover aint comin’ us now is ‘e?” and he looked down at a sack that was tied closed on the floor of the truck. The sack twitched slightly as Sophie moved about inside and every now and again there was a soft muffled moan.

 

Had Hazug been hunting the vehicles of humans or most of the other alien species he had encountered then finding them in the dark would have been a simple matter of watching out for the light given off by the electrical lights they overwhelmingly used. Orks however tended nit to bother with such frivolity as headlights and so Hazug was forced to use alternative means to locate Krurgan and he band of renegades. Fortunately the viewing device built by the alien tau did more than just allow him to get a close up view of distant objects and the notes provided to him by Mek Batrug included instructions on how to adjust the device so that it would allow Hazug to see in the dark. The mekboy had explained that this worked by amplifying the limited amount of light available and also by focusing on things similar to light that were not normally visible such as heat. Therefore it was possible for him to observe particularly hot objects during the hours of darkness. Objects such as truck and battlewagon engines. Even the jungle canopy could not block this heat from being picked up by the device and so when the warcopter caught up with Krurgan’s force Hazug could pick out the row of vehicles as a glowing white line set against the darkness of the jungle.

“Down dare.” Hazug shouted at the pilot and he waved towards the jungle below.
”I don’t see nought.” The pilot replied as he tried to see what Hazug was pointing at. As far as he could see there was nothing below them but trees.

“Just take us down.” Hazug shouted, “And fly dis thing where I tells ya to.”

“Right ya is boss.” The pilot said and he began to descend.

Hazug continued to observe the renegade convoy through the tau viewing device and as the warcopter got lower and the treetops came closer the single line began to break up into distinct blobs representing the different vehicles of the convoy. Hazug guessed that the smaller blob at the front of the convoy would be the of Krurgan and his nobs themselves and that Sophie would be right there with them. The problem was that dropping down onto something as small as a truck was going to be difficult and so Hazug turned his attention to the next vehicle along. This appeared to Hazug as another light truck and therefore too small for him to risk jumping down onto, but behind this came the largest heat source and he reasoned from this that it was most probably the battlewagon that Krurgan had convinced to join his attack. If all of the orks who normally travelled inside it were in there now then it held were fifteen passengers plus the crew. However, Hazug was not planning to fight against all of them, all he wanted was an easy place to land.

“Dis’ll do.” Hazug called out, “Stop ‘ere.” And the pilot brought the warcopter to a halt, hovering just above the trees. There was a complete lack of any gunfire from the ground below and Hazug smiled as he realised that Krurgan’s force remained unaware of his presence here, the noise of their own vehicles’ engines drowning out that of the warcopter.

As he put the viewing device away Hazug turned to the pilot once more and shouted at him.

“Meet me back by da main track.” He yelled and then, gripping his warscythe in both hands he leapt from the hovering warcopter.

Crashing down through the trees Hazug landed on the roof of the armoured battlewagon, startling an ork gunner who did his best to swing his belt fed weapon around to face the ork nob before he thrust the blade of his warscythe through the ork’s chest. Even without its energy field active the blade was still deadly sharp and Hazug skewered the unfortunate ork with minimal effort.

As soon as the body of their comrade slid down into the battlewagon’s interior the orks inside began to yell and scrabbled towards the various firing points, leaning out and trying to get a clear shot at Hazug. But the Blood axe nob did not remain still to be shot at and instead he ran towards the front of the battlewagon, his heavy footsteps echoing inside the vehicle. He did not slow down as he came to the front of the battlewagon, instead he used his run up to help him leap across the gap between the battlewagon and the truck immediately in front of it, calling out the orks’ traditional war cry as he flew through the air.

“Waaargh!”

He landed amongst a unit of startled Snake Bite orks, the unit that was supposed to have been guarding the main gates of the fortress and immediately he grabbed hold of the nearest one and threw him off the truck.

“Da git lover!” the nob in charge of the unit yelled and he got to his feet and drew his sword, “Geddim lads!” but before he could take attempt to land a blow on him Hazug swung the butt of his warscythe at the Snake Bite nob and caught him under the chin, knocking him backwards. The nob screamed as he fell between the bars of the truck’s roll cage and the vehicle lurched slightly as it ran him over and prompted another brief scream.

With a flick of a switch the warscythe’s blade came to life and with a single swing, accompanied by a loud roar of anger Hazug cut through all of the orks sat along the left side of the truck before they even had the chance to get to their feet. From behind him two other Snake Bites attempted to grab hold of Hazug, but the nob was much bigger than either of them and he simply elbowed each one in the face. A sudden ‘crunch’ and the clammy feel of blood on his flesh telling him that he had broken both of their noses.

Up above the truck’s gunner drew his pistol and took aim at Hazug. But the first shot went wide; a victim of the typical poor ork marksmanship and Hazug did not let the gunner get in a second shot. Instead he thrust his warscythe upward, cutting effortlessly through the floor of the gun emplacement and from there up into the torso of the gunner himself. The ork died without making a sound and his pistol clattered to the floor of the truck before bouncing over the back and onto the ground, another shot ringing out as the force of landing on the ground triggered the round in the chamber. The accidentally discharged bullet tore through one of the truck’s tyres and the whole vehicle swerved as the driver fought to regain control.

Hazug roared as he felt a knife slice open his arm while he tried to steady himself. But it was only a superficial wound and in response he delivered a kick to his assailants kneecap that sent him rolling over the back of the truck also and just as he was picking himself up off the ground he looked up in horror just in time to see the battlewagon bearing down on him.

Gunfire rang out from the battlewagon as some of its passengers took pot shots at Hazug and the Blood Axe nob ducked as they bounced off the truck.

Another Snake Bite roared and lunged at Hazug, but he expected just such a move and sidestepping the attack he grabbed hold of the Snake Bite and spun him around so that he was positioned between himself and the battlewagon just as there was another volley of gunfire. This time the shots were better directed towards Hazug but rather than hitting him they instead tore into the Snake Bite he was holding up as a shield and the smaller ork’s body jerked about under their impact. With his attention focused on the battlewagon behind him Hazug failed to noticed the other two Snake Bites from the mob and all of a sudden he felt them tugging at the warscythe he now held one handed, trying to wrest the lethal alien weapon from his grasp.

“Dat’s mine!” Hazug yelled, dropping the bullet-ridden body of the Snake Bite, “Get ya own.” And then he pulled the warscythe close to him, dragging both Snake Bites with it. Snarling, he leant forwards and opened his mouth wide. One of the Snake Bites let out a scream as Hazug bite down on his throat, a scream that was cut off suddenly as his windpipe was ripped open. As the Snake Bite collapsed, clutching at his throat in a futile attempt to stem the bleeding Hazug spat the chunk of bitten off flesh into the face of the other. The Snake Bite let go of the warscythe to wipe the blood from his eyes and in that moment Hazug took the opportunity to drive the warscythe through his skull. Deactivating the weapon to save power Hazug then vaulted over the lower barrier that separated the rear passenger compartment from the seating towards the front of the vehicle and landed next to the surprised driver.

“Geddout.” He said sternly, snarling and leaning close enough to the driver of the truck that he felt Hazug’s breath on his face. The driver reacted simply, by nodding and then leaping from the vehicle.

Hazug slid across into the driver’s seat and grabbed hold of the steering wheel before the truck could veer off the track. Ahead of him he could just about make out the truck that held Krurgan and the other nobs in the darkness and he accelerated towards it. Both vehicles lurched and shuddered as Hazug drove into the back of the truck in front.

“Its Hazug!” Krurgan yelled at his gunner, “Blast ‘im!” and Hazug saw the rocket launcher mounted on top of the truck turn to face him.

Hazug swerved just as the rocket was fired and there was a ‘whoosh’ as it flew past him close enough that he felt the heat from its exhaust. From behind his commandeered truck Hazug hear the dull ‘boom!’ as the rocket struck the thick frontal armour of the battlewagon but failed to penetrate it. Then as the gunner fumbled with another rocket an tried to reload his weapon Hazug pressed his foot down on the gas pedal again.

The two trucks lurched again as they collided and this time there was the sound of grinding metal as the chasses locked together. Hazug grabbed hold of his warscythe once more and pulled himself up onto the truck’s engine while it was still running, using it as a springboard to jump over onto the other truck.

“Hukruk, Gnarshnag grab ‘im!” Krurgan yelled at the Snake Bite nobs nearest Hazug and both lunged towards him even as the truck still rocked while the driver attempted to shake loose the other truck, “Keep goin’! Keep goin’!” he then yelled at the driver, waving at him to continue driving along the darkened trail.

Gnarshnag was the closer of the two and as soon as he was close enough Hazug head butted him before he drove the end of his warscythe’s shaft into the stomach of Hukruk and sent both nobs staggering back, steadying themselves on the truck’s roll cage.

Hazug roared and reactivated his warscythe and swung its blade in a wide ark, but the Snake Bites were expecting him to do this and they ducked below the deadly moving blade. However, Hazug did not stop the weapon swinging before its blade struck part of the truck’s roll cage and sliced through its metal structure without effort. This weakened the support for the gunner’s position mounted at the top of the roll cage and there was a groaning sound as the remaining supports bent under the weight and the gunner scrabbled to get clear before they gave way entirely.

The truck then lurched again as the driver struck a rut in the trail and there was the sound of tearing metal as the two trucks were separated and the driverless vehicle behind slid out of control into the undergrowth where it struck a fallen tree and was thrown into the air, landing upside down and rolling end over end before erupting into flames.

Ignoring this Hazug swung his warscythe again, this time in a downward arc that sent its blade slicing through the gunner’s torso before he realised that he was under attack. Then he lifted the other end of the weapon sharply and struck Krurgan under his chin.

“Where’s Sophie?” he demanded, scowling as the dazed Snake Bite stared back at him.

Brug drew his sword and roared as he swung it at Hazug’s head, but the roar itself warned Hazug of the imminent attack and he raised his warscythe to parry it. The two blades met and Brug watched in horror as his was severed. Hazug then kicked at the Snake Bite’s leg, striking Brug in the knee and causing him to fall to the floor of the truck.

Knull dived at him and Hazug stepped aside to let him pass. But with little room available in the truck Knull cried out in alarm as he found himself unable to stop before falling over the back of the truck. The ork nob reacted just fast enough to grab hold of the back of the truck and found himself being pulled along behind the vehicle, his feet dragging along the trail.

Before Hazug could act to break Knull’s grip on the back of the truck there was a sudden ‘crack’ of a gunshot and a bullet whizzed past his head. Spinning around he saw that Krurgan had recovered his senses and drawn his pistol. Fortunately in his haste he had neglected to take proper aim and thus narrowly missed Hazug. Hazug brought up his warscythe, holding it in front of him so that its blade pointed directly at Krurgan. However, before he could strike Forknar called out to him.
”Lookin’ for dis?” he shouted and Hazug looked around to see him standing with one hand gripping what remained of the truck’s roll cage tightly and leaning over the side clutching a large sack that clearly held something living that was trying to get out, “Yeah,” Forknar went on, “It’s ya git. Now let go of dat fancy choppa or da bag goes over da side.”

Hazug frowned and deactivated his warscythe. Behind him he heard Knull clambering back up into the truck and Hazug first looked down at Knull and then turned his attention back towards Forknar. Or rather to the trees behind him.

“Now ‘and over dat choppa.” Krurgan said, holding out his hand and it was then that Hazug acted.

“Not likely!” he snapped and he delivered a kick to Knull’s face that sent him tumbling from the back of the truck and into the path of the battlewagon trailing behind it. Then, before either Forknar or Krurgan could react to this Hazug hurled the warscythe towards Forknar. The deactivated weapon pierced the sack where the ork held it, severing his fingers and Forknar screamed. On instinct he let go of his grip on the roll cage to take hold of his wounded hand but this sent him tumbling over the side of the truck just like Knull, rolling down the slope beside the trail. As the ork fell the momentum of the hurled warscythe sent the sack that held Sophie flying away from the truck until the warscythe embedded itself in the trunk of a tree with the sack hanging from it. Before any of the Snake Bites could stop him Hazug bounded across the truck and leapt over the side towards the tree where his warscythe was sticking out, the convoy of ork vehicles continuing to move along the trail behind him.

From the back of his truck Krurgan looked into the jungle as the driver reduced speed.

“No!” he snapped, turning towards the driver, “Forget about da Blood Axe. ‘Ead for da fort, ‘e can’t stop us now.”

The driver just nodded and Krurgan felt the truck accelerate again.

In the undergrowth beside the trail Hazug walked up to the tree where his warscythe had embedded itself. Now that the ork vehicles and their noisy engines were some distance away he could hear the muffled cries coming from within the sack and with his bare hands Hazug tore it open, catching Sophie as she tumbled out. Like Salia had been when Hazug had found her Sophie was bound and gagged and Hazug plucked the gag from her mouth.

“Hazug!” she cried out, then she glanced over his shoulder and added, “Look out!” Looking around Hazug saw Forknar now charging through the undergrowth towards him.

“Waaargh!” the Snake Bite yelled.

Hazug set Sophie down on the ground and ran towards the charging Forknar.

“Waaargh!” he shouted, matching his opponent’s furious war cry.

In his good hand Forknar clutched a branch that he had broken off a tree, holding it above his head as a simple club. Seeing this Hazug reached out and took hold of Forknar’s wrist in both hands, squeezing hard enough that the Snake Bite dropped his weapon. Forknar growled and swung his mutilated hand at Hazug, striking him a blow around the head that failed to break his grip on Forknar’s wrist.

“Steal from me will ya?” Hazug yelled, “Well let’s see ya steal anythin’ again.” And he twisted Forknar’s arm backwards, causing him to roar with pain. Hazug increased the pressure and Forknar cried out again as Hazug felt the Snake Bite’s shoulder dislocate. With Forknar distracted by the pain Hazug brought up his knee into his stomach, knocking the wind from him. Spinning around while maintaining his grip, Hazug hurled Forknar head first into the nearest tree trunk and there was a sudden ‘crack’ before Forknar collapsed in a heap, “Kop dis!” Hazug yelled, stamping on the back of Forknar’s neck to produce another ‘crack’. Hazug continued to rain blows down on the already dead Snake Bite and blood began to pour out from beneath the corpse.

“Hazug!” Sophie cried out and Hazug regained his focus, looking around to where his servant lay beside the tree that had his warscythe protruding from it, her wrists and ankles still bound. Breathing heavily Hazug returned to Sophie’s side.

“Is ya ‘urt?” he asked and she shook her head.
”Hazug, what happened to Salia?” she asked as Hazug crouched down to untie her, “Is she-“

“She’s fine.” Hazug interrupted and then he paused for a moment, “Though thinkin’ about it she may still be tied to dat chair. I left ‘er with Thuggrim’s lot.” With Sophie untied Hazug stood up again and pulled his warscythe free from the trunk of the tree, “Come on den,” he said, “let’s get back to da fort.”

“What about them?” Sophie asked, pointing in the direction that the convoy of ork vehicles had gone and Hazug shrugged.

“Aint no way of us stoppin’ ‘em before dey reach where dey is goin’.” He said,” I’ll just ‘ave to deal with ‘ow many of ‘em is left when dey comes back.”

“Do you think they will?”

“Unless dey all gets killed. Now get a move on, dare’s a copta waitin’ for us.”

 

Krurgan was furious. Hazug’s sudden appearance had cost him a unit of troops as well as two of his own nobs. However he still had a significant force, one much larger than the limited number of orks that Hazug had reported encountering at the old human fortress and more importantly despite having secured the release of his human servant Hazug himself was in no position to stop Krurgan from reaching his destination.

The truck emerged from the jungle trail into the clearing where the human fort was located. There was patchy cloud in the sky that further limited the amount of light available to see by, but the shapes of the ruined fort and the ork vehicles parked in front of it were still visible.

Where Hazug had earlier approached the fort cautiously, seeking to determine exactly what he was facing Krurgan was not one to hold back his actions and all he saw was a target to be attacked.

“We’re ‘ere!” Krurgan yelled and he grabbed hold of his large battle-axe before leaping from the still moving truck and rushing towards the fort, given that all of the vehicles in front of the structure were parked with their engines off he ignored these for now. If they remained intact for the duration of the battle then he would happily allow his force to loot them, but for now they were mere obstacles to be worked around. Behind him he heard the three remaining members of his unit following after him, just as eager to engage their enemy.

After the truck came the battlewagon and as soon as it entered the clearing it came to a rapid halt and its gunners opened fire, spraying both the fort and the parked vehicles with bullets. At the same time all of the battlewagon’s hatches swung open and the large mob of orks held within came rushing out, yelling with excitement.

“Come on lads!” their leader shouted, “Last one to kill somethin’s a worthless grot!” and they too charged towards the fort.

More gunshots rang out, but these did not come from any of the orks charging the fortress. Instead they came from a group of orks that had been waiting out of sight on the roof of the fortress. Now they crawled forwards, continuing to use the structure of the building as cover while they fired. Most of the gunfire was directed at the battlewagon rather than the orks in the open. Such small arms fire had no hope of inflicting even the most minor damage to the armoured vehicle, but it did present a threat to the exposed gunners and when one was hit the remainder ceased fire while they retreated inside the vehicle for cover.

The next vehicles to enter the clearing were the three tracked carriers, all open topped vehicles. Two of them were laden with orks that immediately jumped clear of their transports and joined in the charge against the fortress. On the other hand the third tracked vehicle mounted a large projectile weapon and its crew swung this weapon towards the fortress, aiming for the rooftop where the ork defenders were still targeting the battlewagon. There followed a sound like a clap of thunder accompanied by a massive muzzle flash as the heavy cannon was fired.

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The Warhammer 40,000 universe is the intellectual property of Games Workshop Ltd. The fiction presented here is a derived work. It is completely unofficial and Games Workshop Ltd has not endorsed any of it.

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