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Waaargh! Hazug! Chapta 3 | |
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Waaargh! Hazug! Chapta 3 |
Rell,
Jarr and Cubrim walked onto the bridge of Saval’s starship. In here almost
a hundred crewmen plus roughly that number again in half-human cyborg
servitors worked to operate the five kilometre long ship’s flight
systems. “Then
I suggest we waste no time.” Rell replied as he climbed the stairs to the
pulpit. “Helm!”
Saval yelled, “Disengage from the station and begin acceleration to the
transit point.” “It
will likely take us about eight hours to reach the transit point.” Saval
said to Rell, “Then it’s all up to my navigator.” “Excellent.”
Rell said, “Has the station attempted to contact me since I came aboard by
any chance?” “Vox!
Have there been any messages for our guest?” Saval called
out. “No
my lord.” The senior communications officer answered, “Shall I check with
station control?” and Saval glanced at Rell. “No.”
the inquisitor said, “In fact I’d like all further transmissions between
here and the station blocked other than essential messages sent from the
bridge only.” “Yes
my lord.” In
the command centre of the space station several of the inquisitors that
had been present at the meeting with Rell watched as the signals from
Saval’s ship ceased abruptly when the ship was just a few thousand
kilometres away. “Officially
we have no authority to prevent him from going.” Another
commented. “Maybe
not.” A third added, “But he came to us seeking our support. When we
refused him he should have respected that.” “He
must be stopped.” Another voice said and the inquisitors all looked in the
direction of the figure whose appearance was masked by holographic
camouflage. “How?”
the female inquisitor asked, “We could have acted while he was still
aboard the station but now his ship has left and destroying it here will
bring too much attention.” “We
will send a team after him to Crasus Minor.” The concealed figure
answered, “There he can be dealt with far from prying
eyes.” “But
who can we send into a system containing millions of orks?” one of the
other inquisitors asked. “I
will send for Captain Claudius.” The concealed figure replied, “The Death
Watch will handle this for us.” Gharrit
and Graffgan peered out of the forest at the human occupied
farm. “Dare.”
Gharrit said, pointing to where one of the human farm workers emerged from
the main house and headed towards the barn. From behind the two orks one
of the hooded figures stepped forwards and growled. “Nah.”
Graffgan said, “Dey is just gits. Dey is worthless.” And then the warband
retreated back into the forest. It
seemed odd to Hazug to be starting a journey in the battlewagon with so
few orks inside it. Designed for a crew of four plus up to twenty
passengers it was normally crowded. There had been occasions when the
number of occupants had fallen due to battlefield casualties, but that
would occur at a later stage of a trip than this was. In keeping with Evil
Suns tradition the battlewagon was painted red. Not only did was this the
favoured colour of Two Heads’ clan, but it was also a well-established
fact that red ones went faster. Two Heads himself drove the battlewagon,
though it was somewhat of a squeeze for him to fit into the driver’s seat
that was designed for a typically sized ork rather than a larger nob.
Hazug stood just behind him, holding on to one of the many places where
something stuck out from the hull to provide an unofficial handhold.
Meanwhile both Drazzok and Ratish sat in the passenger compartment to the
rear of the vehicle, Drazzok stuffing handfuls of food into his mouth from
the pack Hazug had brought along while Ratish hung onto Cuddles’ leash to
stop the squig from trying to take any of the food for
himself. “Okay
dis is about where Kobar said dat ‘e found me lads.” Hazug said and then
he smiled as he realised that once again he had orks of his own clan to
command. From
the rear of the vehicle Drazzok felt it decelerate. “Is
we dare yet?” he called out. “Good,
cause we is outta grub.” And he held the pack up and shook out the last
few crumbs onto the floor. Hazug
looked at a map of the area and then peered out through the vision slit in
front of Two Heads. Hazug
held onto his handhold tightly as Two Heads took the battlewagon over the
crest of a hill fast enough for the heavily armoured vehicle to take off
briefly and then come back down to the ground with a sudden lurch that
prompted a startled squeal from Ratish and a roar from Drazzok. “Getting’
us to da farm.” Hazug replied as a cluster of human built structures came
into view ahead of the battlewagon through the vision
slit. Drazzok
snorted. “So
dese gits is supposed to be able to tell us whether dey’ve seen any
wildboys about den is dey?” he asked. “Well
dare’s one of ‘em right dare to ask right now.” Two Heads said as he saw a
figure close to the farmhouse. Hazug
looked for himself and he noticed that it was a relatively small example
of the human species. Then it turned and looked towards the battlewagon
before turning back around and running into the
farmhouse. “’Ope
dey gone to get somethin’ to eat.” Drazzok
commented. Two
Heads braked sharply, bringing the battlewagon to a halt in front of the
farmhouse before turning off the engine. “I’ll
go talk to ‘em.” Hazug said, “Drazzok see if ya can pick up on any lads in
da area while Two Heads covers us with some of da big shootas. I aint
takin’ no chances.” “Wot
about Ratish master?” Ratish asked from the rear of the
battlewagon. “Ya
better come with me grot.” Hazug replied, “Bring
Cuddles.” Human
with grey hair and a short beard stepped out of the farmhouse at the same
time as Hazug emerged from the battlewagon, followed by Ratish and Cuddles
and then Drazzok. The farmer walked towards them cautiously before coming
to a halt when Two Heads climbed up to one of the weapon mounts fitted
with a pair of belt fed automatic weapons and chambered rounds in them.
Partially this was because he was suddenly being threatened with being
shot, but also it was because of the surprise of seeing a two-headed ork
appear unexpectedly. “We
don’t have anything worth taking.” The farmer said nervously. Then he
looked back towards the farmhouse where a girl was peering out of the
door, “Go back inside honey.” He said in the human language,
gothic. “I
just wants information.” Hazug said as he also came to a
halt. “Plus
some grub if ay got any.” Drazzok added without looking at the
human. “What
do you want to know?” the farmer asked, addressing the question directly
to Hazug. “We
is ‘untin’ for wildboys.” Hazug replied, “’Ave ya ‘ad any around ‘ere
recently?” “No.”
the farmer replied, “But then again we don’t get many orks here at all. I
grow crops for human consumption. There is little meat around to attract
feral orks and not much for the caravans to trade
for.” Hazug
frowned and he was about to take another look at his map for another farm
that could have attracted bands of wildboys when the farmer suddenly spoke
up again. Hazug’s
frown turned to a grin. An ork warband coming anywhere near the farm would
have made its presence known from the amount of noise that it would make.
Wildboys would have been just as loud as well. The only explanation Hazug
could think of as to why they would not alert the farmer to their presence
was if they had an instinct for remaining hidden. Like
Blood Axes. “That
way.” He said, “The tracks came right up to the tree
line.” “Nice
one.” Hazug replied and he began to walk towards the forest, “Drazzok,
Ratish, with me.” He called out, “Two Heads can ya follow us nice and slow
in da wagon?” he then asked and both of Two Heads
frowned. “Slow?”
they said in unison, “Wagons aint meant to go slow. Dat’s wot walkin’ is
for.” One continued. “Just
follow us.” Hazug said, “And be ready for us to come back inside real
quick.” Two
Heads both growled as they disappeared back inside the battlewagon and
shortly after the vehicle’s engine growled even louder and it began to
creep forwards. Hazug
led the way to the edge of the forest and paused before heading into it.
The trees here were sufficiently spaced that Two Heads’ battlewagon was
able to follow, the plough mounted on the front of its hull tearing up the
undergrowth. “Dare’s
no one ‘ere.” Drazzok said as they continued into the forest, “No lads
anyway.” “Dey
may ‘ave moved on.” Hazug replied, “I needs to find some
tracks.” Then
there was the sound of the battlewagon crushing a thick hedge behind
them. “Well
ya better do it before Two Heads flattens everythin’ with dat bleedin’
wagon.” Drazzok commented. Just
then Cuddles began to strain at his leash and began to
growl. “Bad
squig!” Ratish called out, digging his heels into the ground to try and
hold the creature back. “Probably
just a smaller squig.” Drazzok said. Then he smiled, “Maybe we could eat
it.” “Let’s
see where ‘e takes us.” Hazug said and Ratish stopped trying to hold
Cuddles back, instead following as he was now the one pulled along at the
end of the leash. Cuddle
pulled Ratish into an area of denser woodland where the battlewagon could
not follow. “Wot’s
‘e up to?” one of Two Heads said as he braked, “’Ow should I know?” the
other responded, “Well let’s go ask ‘im den.” The first said and turning
off the engine he got up and exited the battlewagon, “Oi! Hazug!” he
yelled and then the other added, “Where ya goin’?” “Cuddles
‘as got da scent of somethin’.” Hazug responded, “Garb ya shoota and come
with us.” Two
Heads went back inside the battlewagon before reappearing with a rifle in
his hands. Jumping down from the vehicle he then headed after
Hazug. Cuddles
led the orks to a trail part way down a slope and it was obvious that
someone had been here recently. “Tracks.”
Hazug said as he crouched down on the trail and ran his fingers over them,
“I’d say less dan ‘alf a day old.” “Wot’s
‘appenin’?” Two Heads called out as he slid down the slope towards them
and them came to a stop when he reached the trail. “Hazug’s
squig’s gone and found us some tracks.” Drazzok replied. “Hazug
don’t think so.” Drazzok said. “I
don’t think dat dey aint wildboys.” Hazug said, “I know dat dey aint
wildboys.” “’Ow?”
Drazzok asked. “Cause
wildboys don’t wear boots.” Hazug said, pointing to a deep boot print that
clearly came from an ork manufactured boot. “Wot?
All of ‘em?” Hazug responded, “Wildboys aint gonna be doin’ over no
civilised lads unless dare’s an ‘ole load more of ‘em and if dat was da
case den dare’d still be a load of ‘em without any boots. No. Dis lot aint
wildboys.” “So
we is wastin’ our time den?” Drazzok asked. “I
reckon so.” Hazug replied, “We better go try another farm.” And he stood
up straight. Then all of a sudden he drew his pistol and spun
around. “Master,
wot’s wrong?” Ratish asked. “Dare’s
someone ‘ere.” Hazug said softly. “Well
dey aint orks.” Drazzok said, his voice still at its usual orkish
level. “Da
gits from da farm maybe.” One of Two Heads suggested, but Hazug shook his
head. “I
‘eard somethin’ over dare.” He replied, pointing with his pistol, “Da
farm’s back da other way.” “Well
its gotta be gits.” Two Heads said. “Maybe.”
Hazug said. Then in a raised voice he called out in gothic, “Come out
where I can sees ya.” But there was no reply and no one came into view.
Beside him Cuddles began to growl. All
of a sudden a hooded figure burst out of the undergrowth and came charging
down the trail towards the small group of orks and without stopping to
think Hazug swung his pistol around and fired. The
single shot clipped the charging figure and it let out a cry of pain and
tumbled into the undergrowth. At the same time another two hooded figures
appeared and came running through the undergrowth towards the
group. “Let
rip!” one of Two Heads bellowed as his raised his rifle and fired, sending
out a hail of bullets that tore through one of the figures and sprayed
blood over the trunk of tree just behind him. The
other figure kept on coming and Hazug fired again, just missing
it. “No
master. Ratish leave it in ‘is box at ‘ome.” Ratish replied and Hazug let
out a low growl in frustration. Another
burst of gunfire from Two Heads’ rifle brought the charging figure down.
But just as it seemed that the attack was over Cuddles let out a bark and
tugged at his leash as the figure Hazug had shot and injured reappeared.
Between falling into the undergrowth and his sudden reappearance the
figure had quietly crawled much closer to the group and as he leapt
towards them he landed within reach. “Kop
dis!” Drazzok shouted and he swung his staff upwards, delivering a blow to
the figure’s head that sent it sprawling backwards. Then
came the sound of a large group forcing its way through the undergrowth
and as Hazug looked around he saw several more hooded figures approaching
through the forest, these accompanied by orks and gretchin in the colours
of various clans. “Wot
da bleedin’ ‘ell’s goin’ on?” Two Heads exclaimed and then the other
asked, “Wot’s dat lot doin’ out ‘ere?” “Back
to da wagon!” Hazug yelled as he fired his pistol in the direction of the
approaching warband. Then he grabbed hold of Cuddles leash, taking it from
Ratish and heading up the slope. The squig was reluctant to follow,
instead trying to charge at the oncoming warband, but Hazug was far
stronger than Ratish and he easily pulled Cuddles along with
him. “Dare
it is!” Two Heads shouted as the battlewagon came into view and Hazug
breathed a sigh of relief. Part of him had been concerned that something
would have happened to the battlewagon, trapping them here in the forest
with enemies all around. But now escape was at hand.
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