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Waaargh! Hazug! Chapta 13 | |
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Waaargh! Hazug! Chapta 13 |
“Ya
got it Purgan!” Hazug yelled at the pilot of the warcopter who was
laughing madly at the sight of the burning battlewagon, “Now ‘ave a go at
dat lot.” And Hazug pointed towards the swarm of orks and genestealer
hybrids rushing towards the black armoured marines using their wrecked
drop pod for cover. “Goddit.”
Purgan replied and as the warcopter swooped down at a steep angle the
light cannons mounted beneath its stubby wings rattled, the sound audible
even over the noise of the twin rotors and on the ground below the swarm
scattered as the rounds tore through them. “Now
is our chance.” Claudius said as he pulled Vartus to his feet and climbed
out of the gully. Then he turned to help both the marines still below out
as well,” We must make it to the drop pod before those aircraft are done
with the genestealer brood.” “Hold
your fire.” Claudius replied, “It appears that we have landed in the midst
of an ork operation to clear themselves of the genestealer taint. We are
heading for you now. Be prepared just in case the orks deal with the
genestealers before we reach you. They will surely turn on us
then.” Claudius
and Tenus helped their colleagues along, Claudius supporting the injured
Prosnow and Tenus dragging Vartus along as he tried to keep up with
non-functioning armour. When they reached the drop pod the two warcopters
overhead were still carrying strafing runs. “There’s
something wrong with one of those warcopters captain.” Greystorm said as
he helped Prosnow into a position where he could rest his heavy bolter on
the drop pod. “What
do you mean brother?” Claudius asked. “I
mean take a look at them captain, or rather at their passengers.” The
other marine replied and Claudius looked up into the
sky. His
enhanced vision, coupled with the optics built into his helmet allowed him
to focus on the two open-topped aircraft as they circled and he tried to
pick out the squads of troops they both carried. On one of the craft he
could clearly see a group of orks, small by ork mob standards but enough
to fill the warcopter while on the second what he saw was altogether more
interesting. As far as he could tell this aircraft was carrying human
troops. “Yes
brother, I see.” Claudius answered, “Though I must confess that I do not
fully understand.” The
gunfire ceased and for a few moments the only sound was that of the
warcopters’ engines overhead. “Ork
reinforcements incoming.” Corrim said and he pointed towards a cluster of
approaching ork vehicles. Most of these were lightweight trucks and
buggies, but the marines saw that there was also another armoured
battlewagon and a vehicle that bore the unmistakable outline of a marine
rhino armoured personnel carrier underneath all of the ork
modifications. “Are
they with the warcopters or the genestealers?” Varrin
asked. “Stand
to.” Claudius ordered, “Wait for my command. Either way, they are not on
our side.” And then the two warcopters did something that the marines did
not expect. They
came in to land. The
two aircraft set down just long enough for their passengers to disembark
before lifting off once more and now that they were on the ground the
marines could see that one of them had indeed been carrying human troops.
Wearing more armour than typical Imperial Guardsmen, the humans were
nevertheless more lightly armoured than the marines. However, the hellguns
they carried openly had enough firepower to punch right though powered
armoured whilst their carapace armour stood a fair chance of withstanding
fire from bolters for a time, though not from Prosnow’s heavy
bolter. But
more interesting than the stormtroopers were the two men that disembarked
from the warcopter with them. One was a tall man who carried a long rifle
that Claudius recognised instantly as the weapon of a vindicare assassin
while the other was older and carried no obvious weapons. His face
however, was well known to Claudius and his squad. “Inquisitor
Darien Rell!” Claudius called out, standing up straight and walking out
into the open in front of the drop pod, “You are under arrest. You and
your men will surrender yourselves to my men and accompany us back to
Imperial space where you shall face judgement.” “Judgement
for what exactly captain?” Rell replied, noticing the rank markings on
Claudius’ armour. Claudius
did not reply. Instead he watched as Hazug and his Blood Axe commandoes
joined Rell’s group and looked towards him. Hazug placed his tau viewing
device against his eye again, focusing on the marines and zooming in for a
closer look. Instantly Hazug’s warscythe caught his notice and the veteran
marine recognising it for what it was, the product of the ancient necron
civilisation. “They
didn’t tell you did they?” Rell asked, “They didn’t tell you what I’m
trying to do here?” “You
are here on a fool’s errand.” Claudius responded at last, “The orks will
not adjust their plans to suit you.” “Just
remember who’s really in charge around ‘ere alright?” Hazug hissed at him
and then he turned to his commandoes, “Nugkor, Drogon, go tell dat lot to
stop. Tell ‘em dat we is tryin’ to get da marines to give up.” Then he
glanced at Rell and added, “And tell Two Heads dat if anythin’ goes wrong
‘e’s to kill all da marines and dat inquisitors lads an’ all. Let ‘im know
dat dare’s only eight marines left and dat dey aint got no anti-wagon
rokkits, just dare regular shootas and one big shoota.” “There,
you see?” Rell called out to Claudius, “I’ve had them stop. Now perhaps we
can discuss a mutually agreeable solution before the orks desire to fight
gets the better of them.” Claudius
looked round at his men. With just eight marines including himself, to of
who were wounded and with no weapons suitable for taking on either the
orks’ armoured vehicles or aircraft he knew that if it came down to a
fight then it would just be a matter of how many orks his men could kill
before they themselves were killed, leaving Rell still here on Crasus
Minor even if he was killed in the crossfire. Claudius reached up to his
helmet and released its seals before lifting it from his
head. “Speak.”
He said to Rell. “Thank
you captain.” Rell replied. Then he looked at Torris, “Sergeant wait
here.” And he began to walk forwards, stopping when he realised that Hazug
was following him, “I think I should do this alone.” He
said. “’Ow
about I just talk to ‘im alone and tells ‘in dat ya aint in charge of
anythin’?” Hazug said, “Or alternatively, ya can let me ‘ear everythin’
dat ya tells ‘im so I knows ya aint tryin’ to double cross
me.” “I
assure you-“ Rell began. “I
is goin’ to talk to ‘im. Ya can stay back ‘ere if ya wants.” Hazug
interrupted. “Very
well.” Rell replied and the pair of them continued towards the marine
captain. “It
don’t look like ya is goin’ anywhere right now.” Hazug commented, looking
at the wrecked drop pod. “Of
course he does.” Rell replied, “Surely you can tell from his clothing that
he’s a Blood Axe. This isn’t the first time that he’s worked with the
Imperium. He helped my man back there to deal with former Governor
Highbalt before he could cause the entire sector to be over run by the
denizens of the warp.” “It
was me wot sliced up wot ‘e turned into.” Hazug added. “Surrender.”
Rell replied and Claudius snorted. “Actually
I was thinking that I would surrender to you.” Rell said and Claudius’
head turned quickly back towards him. “Watch
it.” Hazug said sternly to Rell. “Of
course I would.” Rell told Claudius, “And when we are done here I’m sure
that the ork leader will allow us to leave and you can take me back to my
peers where we can evaluate the success of my mission.” “Apparently
the prospect of fighting a few billion bio-engineered killing machines was
more attractive to them than fighting a few tens of thousands of human
troops at a time.” Rell said, “So, do we have an agreement
captain?” “My
men and I will not take orders from xenos filth.” Claudius
replied. “And
nor would I expect you to.” Rell said, “You just need to assist me in
ridding this world of the genestealers. I believe that such operations are
just what you’re trained for aren’t they? So do we have an agreement or
not?” Hazug
just snorted. Some
distance away a single alien figure watched. Though the conversation was
taking place too far away for the genestealer to overhear it was clear
that the two groups were both acting in opposition to the genestealer
brood on the planet and in an instant this message was passed to the
others of its kind and their slaves by means of the telepathic link they
shared. Then the figure turned and began to run
away. While
the bodies of the infected orks and genestealer hybrids were gathered
together to be cremated Batrug and the apprentice mekboys made straight
for the battlewagon that had ended up in the gully. The fire burning in
the wreck of the second was dying down, but it along with the rocket
strike had gutted it and the meks doubted that there would be much that
they could salvage from it while the open topped tracked vehicle was still
in good running order and some of Two Heads troops were looking that over.
On the other hand the one in the gully looked largely intact but obviously
could not be added to the warband’s inventory. But although it looked
intact from the outside the damage from the grenade was far worse inside
it. But still Batrug noticed that one of the apprentices was sat in what
remained of the drivers seat and was studying the
controls. “Marcog,
wotcha up to?” Batrug asked, “Dis wagon aint gonna move without bein’
pulled out.” “I
was just tryin’ to figure out ‘ow dis thing was driven.” Marcog
replied. Two
levers controlled the steering of the all tracked vehicle, while a pair of
pedals controlled acceleration and braking. A third pedal was present for
shifting gear, but the pattern of the slot in the floor told Batrug that
it allowed for distinct control of what gear was selected without the need
for an extra shifting lever. This meant that it seemed that the third
lever positioned beside the driver’s seat was totally
un-necessary. “Wot’s
it do?” Batrug asked. “Dunno.”
Marcog replied, shrugging his shoulders, “Should we pull
it?” “Best
not lad.” Batrug said, “Better to let a runt do it. Just in case
like.” “Just
in case of wot boss?” Marcog asked. “Just
in case it blows up.” Another of the apprentice meks commented from where
he had been listening in on the conversation. “Dat’s
right Horrok.” Batrug said, “No go fetch us a runt. One of ours though,
best not get dat Ratish just in case dis thing does blow up. Hazug’s a
good customer and dare aint no future in blowin’ up ya customers’
runts.” “Goddit
boss. Get a runt we can do without.” Horrok said and he climbed out of the
battlewagon before returning shortly after, dragging a struggling gretchin
with him “Wasn’t
doin’ nowt!” the gretchin yelled “Well
now ya is.” Batrug said, aware that Horrok had undoubtedly interrupted the
gretchin while it was up to no good, “Come over ‘ere and take ‘old of dis
lever.” “Wot
for?” the gretchin asked and Batrug pulled a wrench from his tool
belt. “Cause
if ya don’t I’m gonna come over dare and unscrew ya ‘ead.” He said and
then Horrok shoved the gretchin towards the front of the battlewagon.
Tumbling down the inside of the sloping vehicle the gretchin came to a
halt when it hit the back of the driver’s seat and Batrug grabbed him and
pulled him closer, “Now take ‘old of dis ‘ere lever and when I gives ya a
shout I wants ya to pull back on it.” He said. “But
why does ya need to shout if ya’s right next to me?” the gretchin
asked. “Cause
we won’t be right to net to ya when I gives da shout.” Batrug answered,
“We’ll as far away as we can get.” The
orks withdrew from the battlewagon, leaving the gretchin all alone still
holding the lever. They ran a short distance away until they reached a
slight dip in the ground that offered cover and lay down in it looking
back towards the battlewagon. “Now!”
Batrug shouted. Nothing
happened. “I
said now!” he repeated. “I
can’t ‘ear ya.” The gretchin shouted back from inside the
battlewagon. “Yes
ya can.” Batrug shouted. “If
dis gretchin can’t ere me den maybe I ought to rip its ears of and nail on
some new ones.” Batrug shouted. “Me
ears is fine. I’m pullin’ da lever.” The gretchin shouted and he pulled
the lever. Immediately there was a hiss and a cloud of vapour erupted from
beneath the battlewagon. “Wot
does it mean boss?” Horrok asked. “It
means dat Hazug needs to see dis.” Batrug said as he got to his feet and
as he rushed off to find Hazug he shouted back at the apprentices, “And
someone get dat grot to let go of dat lever.” “So
wot is I lookin’ at?” Hazug asked as he stood inside the battlewagon with
Ratish by his side. “Wot
do I keep tellin’ ya?” Hazug said, interrupting him, “No speako meko.
Speak proper.” “If
I pulls dis lever den another gas is fed into da engine with da fuel.”
Batrug explained, “It makes it all burn ‘otter and da wagon goes faster.
Only ya don’t normally see stuff like dis when ya’s usin’ controls like
dese.” “Why
not?” Hazug asked. “Cause
it takes two ‘ands just to steer and ya need to keep ‘old of da lever at
da same time. Da only way dat it’d work is if-“ “If
da driver ‘ad three arms.” Hazug said, interrupting again, “Dis means dat
dis wagon was built specifically for da genestealers don’t it?” he added
and Batrug nodded. “And
dey didn’t get it in da city.” Batrug said, “Us meks makes a point of
knowin’ wot one another’s up to. We may not know everythin’, but someone
would ‘ave noticed someone makin’ a wagon for lads with three arms. Da
only answer is dat dese genestealers ‘ave found ‘emselves some meks out
‘ere.” Hazug
smiled. “Why
is master ‘appy about dat?” Ratish asked. “Cause
if dey’s found a mek den dey’ve got a workshop an’ all.” Hazug said, “And
dat means dat dey ‘as a fixed fort we can be ‘untin’ for rather than just
chasin’ ‘em all over da place.”
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