Fist stared at the intercom for a moment. For the past one hundred and fifty days he had been pushed to his limits while training to become a Sergeant in Lord Helmawr’s Enforcers. For all that time he had managed to keep his nose clean and out of trouble. He could not imagine what he could have done to draw this kind of attention, so it was with great trepidation that he reported as ordered.
Fist’s knock on the Commandant’s office was answered promptly and he was called inside. The office was plush by the utilitarian standards of the Enforcers. Several bookcases were lined up along the back wall behind the desk that dominated the room. The desk itself was centered underneath a rare fiber-optic light that funneled sun light this far into the interior of the hive from the outside, a rarity that the stature of the office provided. The sharp contrast of light from what Fist was used to, almost distracted him enough to keep him from noticing the heavy set man standing off to the side of the room.
“Ah, Corporal Fist, please have a seat.” The Commandant said to Fist without standing. When Fist produced a salute he waved it off and again directed him to the chair.
Fist thought about refusing the offer, that he would prefer to stand, but then thought better of it. As he sat down, the man standing off to the left of his commanding officer shifted and started to say something, which was met by a hand held up. This silenced the stranger, at least for the moment.
“Corporal, I have been reviewing your records and I must say that I am happy with your progress. So much so, that I am recommending you for a new assignment, effective immediately.” The Commandant watched Fist for a moment before continuing.
“The gentleman to your right, my left, has brought a situation to the attention of Lord Helmawr himself, a situation that requires our immediate response. You have been assigned to a brand new precinct in the underhive. I know it is not an assignment worthy of your achievements at this academy, but it requires your unique leadership qualities. You will be leaving immediately, and with an understaffed patrol. Do you have any questions?”
Corporal Fist resisted the urge to clear his throat before replying. “Only one sir, will I still graduate with my class?”
The Commandant chuckled as he stood. “No son. You have achieved a good enough score to pass this course. Your record will show satisfactory completion of this school, you are effectively promoted to Sergeant as of this afternoon, and the only thing left is for you to report down to the supply Sergeant and draw your kit. Your newly assigned patrol will meet you there.”
Sergeant Fist stood and accepted his Commandant’s offered hand. “Thank you sir. I will enforce Lord Helmawr’s edicts with all effort.”
The two men shook hands, Fist offered one more salute, and then marched out of the office to begin the next chapter in his career.
Once the door shut behind the eager young man, the Guilder finally spoke up.
“I can’t have such a newly discovered dome to be entrusted to such an inexperienced whelp Colonel. This demands an ‘Iron hand’, a hand that wields the power of Lord Helmawr himself.”
“Bring it down a notch Guilder. This ‘inexperienced whelp’, as you refer to him, comes with the direct recommendation of Judge Malkavoy himself. You will not find a man more ready to accept this responsibility. At least not one that’s available at this time.”
“Very well Colonel. But be advised that you will be held responsible if he should fail in his mission.”
-=-=-=0=-=-=-
“How dare you lose face like that?!” The proud Escher warrior actually cringed under her Matriarch’s rebuke.
“As a result of your failures we have lost a major route to our holdings within the underhive!” The elder was beginning to get red in the face, and Fushia was getting nervous.
“Your team is getting split up. We can no longer afford such visible mistakes at the Bifrost! We are taking five members of your gang and sending them on an errand for the greater House. As for you, you are being sent further down to manage our chemical salvage operations.”
Fushia stood up to defend her honor. Instead she felt two heavy hands land on her shoulders and pressed her back into her seat.
“You leave immediately, take her away.”
The gang leader was dragged snarling from the room. Once she was away the door to the elder Escher’s office was closed.
‘I just can’t tolerate incompetence such as that,’ thought the woman. ‘And now I can have a more… direct influence upon our efforts regarding this recent discovery… coup more of the profits.’
-=-=-=0=-=-=-
"Cross! Come ‘ere!”
The old gravelly voice caught the younger man’s attention. Turning around to look at his father, still dressed in his grease and soot encrusted factory overalls, he noticed that he was carrying a data slate. Not wanting to keep his father waiting he ran quickly across the small courtyard that lay behind their house.
“It would seem you and your fellow delinquents have been given a job.”
“We’re not delinquents pop,” Cross said as he finally got close to his father. “I just choose to run with a gang instead of working the factory.”
“What’s wrong with working in the factory? It’s honest work.”
“There’s nothing wrong with it… I just want to get out and see something other than the smelting pots here in Hive City.”
Taking the data slate from his father Cross read it.
“Are you sure you want to send me Pop?” Cross said as he looked back into the face of his father.
“There’s no one else I would consider, make me proud. And, don’t call me Pop.”
The old gravelly voice caught the younger man’s attention. Turning around to look at his father, still dressed in his grease and soot encrusted factory overalls, he noticed that he was carrying a data slate. Not wanting to keep his father waiting he ran quickly across the small courtyard that lay behind their house.
“It would seem you and your fellow delinquents have been given a job.”
“We’re not delinquents pop,” Cross said as he finally got close to his father. “I just choose to run with a gang instead of working the factory.”
“What’s wrong with working in the factory? It’s honest work.”
“There’s nothing wrong with it… I just want to get out and see something other than the smelting pots here in Hive City.”
Taking the data slate from his father Cross read it.
Directive from the office of House Orlock. To the faithful members of Smelting Dome 6796. You are hereby directed to provide your House with one gang of faithful men. They are to report to the local mayor fully equipped to accompany House Orlock representatives down hive. This is to take place immediately.
Signed,
Mayor Dentz
“Are you sure you want to send me Pop?” Cross said as he looked back into the face of his father.
“There’s no one else I would consider, make me proud. And, don’t call me Pop.”
-=-=-=0=-=-=-
Lusion paced back and forth. He could feel the eyes of his men on his back as he crossed the small room, each trying to discern what was going through their leader’s mind.
‘There is just no way to verify this source,’ the Delaque leader thought to himself. Turning around he walked slowly back to the other side of the make shift room he and his boys had set up down in the tunnels that had become their refuge. ‘Not while we are holed up down here.’
This continued on for several more minutes before anyone dared to say a word.
“Come on boss, what is it?” Shade finally asked. “I mean you call us down here and all we’ve done is sit and watch you walk back and forth.”
Lusion turned and looked each of his four subordinates, all that was left of a once might gang.
“Gentlemen,” he said pausing for affect. “It has come to my attention that a new dome has been discovered, and not far from where we stand.”
The Delaque raised his hand to quiet the murmuring that had jumped up among their small group.
“It is not a large find, and travel to and from is difficult for now, but it has promise.”
The news encouraged Logan. ‘Finally, a new start,’ he thought to himself.
‘There is just no way to verify this source,’ the Delaque leader thought to himself. Turning around he walked slowly back to the other side of the make shift room he and his boys had set up down in the tunnels that had become their refuge. ‘Not while we are holed up down here.’
This continued on for several more minutes before anyone dared to say a word.
“Come on boss, what is it?” Shade finally asked. “I mean you call us down here and all we’ve done is sit and watch you walk back and forth.”
Lusion turned and looked each of his four subordinates, all that was left of a once might gang.
“Gentlemen,” he said pausing for affect. “It has come to my attention that a new dome has been discovered, and not far from where we stand.”
The Delaque raised his hand to quiet the murmuring that had jumped up among their small group.
“It is not a large find, and travel to and from is difficult for now, but it has promise.”
The news encouraged Logan. ‘Finally, a new start,’ he thought to himself.
-=-=-=0=-=-=-
Caldius strode confidently to the makeshift platform. He had a mission, and he was going to show these people the way, even if it killed them.
“Fellow citizens of the Undying Emperor! A new day is emerging.” He allowed his voice to trail off. When he was confident that he indeed had his audience’s full attention he continued.
“Citizens, I am banding men together to reclaim once what was once lost for the Emperor.”
Again he allowed his voice to trail off before continuing.
“I have been given sponsorship from among those who seek to share with all of Necromunda, the news, and purge those who would oppose the undying Emperor.”
Slowly raising his hands Caldius scanned the crowd as he had seen others do, “House Cawdor calls you forth to follow me on this mission. All who seek to share what we know come with me!”
And with that Caldius turned and decended from his pulpit. From among the two score of people who Caldius had actually drew attention, a small handful of men moved to follow the hooded man. From the balcony across the street two men, hooded and robed in orange, moved.
“He has passion, I’ll give him that,” the shorter of the two men said to the other.
“Hmm,” the second man nodded in agreement. “But passion will only take him so far. Unless he can learn how to stir the masses, how to share his passion, it will only take him so far.” Then the pair turned to leave. “And if he can’t inspire vision, then he will be of limited use to us.”
“Fellow citizens of the Undying Emperor! A new day is emerging.” He allowed his voice to trail off. When he was confident that he indeed had his audience’s full attention he continued.
“Citizens, I am banding men together to reclaim once what was once lost for the Emperor.”
Again he allowed his voice to trail off before continuing.
“I have been given sponsorship from among those who seek to share with all of Necromunda, the news, and purge those who would oppose the undying Emperor.”
Slowly raising his hands Caldius scanned the crowd as he had seen others do, “House Cawdor calls you forth to follow me on this mission. All who seek to share what we know come with me!”
And with that Caldius turned and decended from his pulpit. From among the two score of people who Caldius had actually drew attention, a small handful of men moved to follow the hooded man. From the balcony across the street two men, hooded and robed in orange, moved.
“He has passion, I’ll give him that,” the shorter of the two men said to the other.
“Hmm,” the second man nodded in agreement. “But passion will only take him so far. Unless he can learn how to stir the masses, how to share his passion, it will only take him so far.” Then the pair turned to leave. “And if he can’t inspire vision, then he will be of limited use to us.”
-=-=-=0=-=-=-
Part 2
Part 2
Gorit growled loud enough that several of his ‘bodyguards’ actually turned their heads to look at him. The Guilders had graciously provided him with, “three of the Hive’s finest” to look after him. “Humph”, he grumbled again. ‘These dregs couldn’t fight their way out of a saloon at closing time,” the Goliath thought to himself.
For the past ten hours the three men, and one woman, stumbled their way through the tunnels that their Leader, Gorit liked the sound of that, had brought them to. The air was stagnant and reeked of a wide variety of unidentifiable odors that, combined with the very low levels of light available, made them all very nervous.
Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the tunnel had widened enough to accommodate a small town. Well, what once had been a town. Old stores and drinking holes lined the street. Some of the windows were boarded up, others were missing completely. Debris and sediment from age old sewage lined the streets, and there was not a sound to be heard.
A slightly rotund man, with his long beard twisted into twin braids, stopped short and held up his hand. He turned his head around so quickly that the braids and tails from his bandana flew straight out. “D’you hear that?”
The rest of the group stopped short and for several moments they all stood perfectly still. Just as a lithe female of the group, a well armed bounty hunter type, turned to chastise the bearded scummer, some dust and dirt skittered off a building at the far end of the street.
For the past ten hours the three men, and one woman, stumbled their way through the tunnels that their Leader, Gorit liked the sound of that, had brought them to. The air was stagnant and reeked of a wide variety of unidentifiable odors that, combined with the very low levels of light available, made them all very nervous.
Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the tunnel had widened enough to accommodate a small town. Well, what once had been a town. Old stores and drinking holes lined the street. Some of the windows were boarded up, others were missing completely. Debris and sediment from age old sewage lined the streets, and there was not a sound to be heard.
A slightly rotund man, with his long beard twisted into twin braids, stopped short and held up his hand. He turned his head around so quickly that the braids and tails from his bandana flew straight out. “D’you hear that?”
The rest of the group stopped short and for several moments they all stood perfectly still. Just as a lithe female of the group, a well armed bounty hunter type, turned to chastise the bearded scummer, some dust and dirt skittered off a building at the far end of the street.
-=-=-=0=-=-=-
The scent of flesh things threatened to overwhelm its self control. For so long it had waited and now they were almost in reach.
As the flesh things moved closer it signaled the others to prepare to attack. One of the others could not wait and moved too soon, alerting the flash things. Now the targets know that it is near. It signaled the attack.
As the flesh things moved closer it signaled the others to prepare to attack. One of the others could not wait and moved too soon, alerting the flash things. Now the targets know that it is near. It signaled the attack.
-=-=-=0=-=-=-
Gorit growled loudly. There was no way he was going to back down now. Not when he was so close to staking his claim to this dome.
Krank, one of the scummers hired to watch his back by the Guilders who were sponsoring him, had rushed ahead to inspect the falling dirt. He entered an old gambling den and was out of sight for several minutes when a flurry of gunfire erupted from within. The strobe of the gunfire within, lit up several of the windows, but didn’t reveal anything. When the gunfire stopped the street was quiet once more. The three others remained where they were waiting for Krank to come back and report what he had seen, but when nothing more was seen or heard for several more minutes they grew restless.
“Hey Vype,” Gorit called over to his female bounty hunter. “Why don’t cha go check out what’s up with Krank?”
“Stuff it muscle brain!” she spit back, never taking her eyes off the building her friend had disappeared into.
“Alright then, we’ll all go.” Gorit said.
The remaining two hired guns stared at their employer for a minute, not sure if they were supposed to believe him or not.
“You heard me! Move it!” And to emphasis his point he leveled his brand new shotgun at their backs.
The three of them approached the old den warily, weapons at the ready. There was no further indication of any movement and the silence was tormenting them. Even as they entered the front room the silence was over powering.
Several tables and chairs lay strewn about the room, as well several mummified corpses, the remnants of yesteryear. Krank was no where to be seen.
“Krank!” Gorit called out. “Not funny man!”
Vype edged closer to the far doorway, and Gorit just panned his shotgun around. The bearded scummer, Gorit had never bother to learn his name, moved to far side of the room. As he approached what used to be the bar he had to step over several corpses, and he was careful not to disturb their slumber. When he reached his objective he leaned over to look over the bar.
Gorit’s heart leapt into his throat as the rotund little man let out a blood curdling scream that defied his size and gender. Spinning to face the new threat Gorit saw his hireling being pulled over the bar and out of sight.
On instinct he began pumping solid slug shells into and through the bar in an attempt to kill whatever it was.
Vype also turned to face the threat. From her vantage point she could see behind the bar. The sight that met her eyes caused the veteran to hesitate. When she finally began to bring up her boltgun to bear something shot out from the far room and struck her in the left temple. She never even let out a scream.
That was all it took. Gorit broke and ran back out into the street.
Krank, one of the scummers hired to watch his back by the Guilders who were sponsoring him, had rushed ahead to inspect the falling dirt. He entered an old gambling den and was out of sight for several minutes when a flurry of gunfire erupted from within. The strobe of the gunfire within, lit up several of the windows, but didn’t reveal anything. When the gunfire stopped the street was quiet once more. The three others remained where they were waiting for Krank to come back and report what he had seen, but when nothing more was seen or heard for several more minutes they grew restless.
“Hey Vype,” Gorit called over to his female bounty hunter. “Why don’t cha go check out what’s up with Krank?”
“Stuff it muscle brain!” she spit back, never taking her eyes off the building her friend had disappeared into.
“Alright then, we’ll all go.” Gorit said.
The remaining two hired guns stared at their employer for a minute, not sure if they were supposed to believe him or not.
“You heard me! Move it!” And to emphasis his point he leveled his brand new shotgun at their backs.
The three of them approached the old den warily, weapons at the ready. There was no further indication of any movement and the silence was tormenting them. Even as they entered the front room the silence was over powering.
Several tables and chairs lay strewn about the room, as well several mummified corpses, the remnants of yesteryear. Krank was no where to be seen.
“Krank!” Gorit called out. “Not funny man!”
Vype edged closer to the far doorway, and Gorit just panned his shotgun around. The bearded scummer, Gorit had never bother to learn his name, moved to far side of the room. As he approached what used to be the bar he had to step over several corpses, and he was careful not to disturb their slumber. When he reached his objective he leaned over to look over the bar.
Gorit’s heart leapt into his throat as the rotund little man let out a blood curdling scream that defied his size and gender. Spinning to face the new threat Gorit saw his hireling being pulled over the bar and out of sight.
On instinct he began pumping solid slug shells into and through the bar in an attempt to kill whatever it was.
Vype also turned to face the threat. From her vantage point she could see behind the bar. The sight that met her eyes caused the veteran to hesitate. When she finally began to bring up her boltgun to bear something shot out from the far room and struck her in the left temple. She never even let out a scream.
That was all it took. Gorit broke and ran back out into the street.
-=-=-=0=-=-=-
The flesh things responded just as it had anticipated. It was good to feed once more, but it needed more. With a simple gesture the others began to pursue the survivor. It was only a matter of time.
-=-=-=0=-=-=-
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