The Shanty Town Elder

Elder Khanst emerged from the bunker with little fanfare. But that was to be expected. The Ash storm had lasted for 3 days and his town was just beginning to dig itself out from under the carnage. Behind him Telila, the town’s doc, kicked at a partially submerged piece of plasteel.

“Doesn’t look too bad,” was all she said.

Khanst just nodded without looking over his shoulder. He looked around at what was left. The walls had held up well, although he was sure there would be digging involved to remove any natural ramps that formed from the shifting wastes outside. The nomads would quickly realize the strategic importance of being able to get over the walls so easily thus making the removal of wastes from around the walls his town’s first priority.

“Thank you for the Shelter ‘Tel’,” Khanst said as he turned to face the doc.

“It was my pleasure Khanst,” she said as she winked.

There wouldn’t be much time. Nomads and scavvy bands were quick to immerge from the dust and debris. With the storm lasting so long hunger would be a powerful motivator, and his town was now vulnerable.

Walking down the main street through town Khanst noticed the merchants were quickly setting up shop. ‘They’re always the fastest to get back to normal’ he chuckled to himself. Taking advantage of the empty paths through the market Khanst eyed the wares. In the last three years he had served as town Elder he gotten to know the usual guilders, or their representatives, that braved the wastes. On the surface they all paid homage to Lord Helmawr and their wares were perfectly legal. But outside the hive walls Lord Helmawr’s strong arm was not quite so firm. Many traders also dealt with black market items. After all ‘slaught’, ‘spook’ and the various other drugs of choice were so much more profitable.

“Glad to see that you weathered the storm Gaul. Looks like you got some new hardware I see,” Khanst said picking up a rectangular device with tubes and wires protruding out at odd angles.

“You have an eye for quality Elder Khanst,” the slightly rotund merchant said with a smile. “But, I am sure this is out of reach of even your deep pockets.” And with that the guilder reached out and relieved the elder of the device.

“Perhaps, but has my shipment arrived?”

The guilder looked around, slightly nervous.

“Relax Gaul. The Enforcers won’t learn of your little side business, just so long as you keep Talila supplied with the Stinger patches – unofficially of course.” The Elder let the words hang in the air momentarily before moving on his way.

Khanst left the guilder’s quarter and headed towards the gates – his little town’s ‘red light’ district. Emira and Jinty were a pair of Delaque who had left the hive for reasons all their own. Not only did they run some highly profitable businesses catering to various pleasures, but they were an invaluable source of information of what was happening. Not just within the walls of ‘Hive’s End’, but also the occasional tidbits of information from out in the waste. And at times – even within the hive itself. As he drew near to the gates the above ground portions of the buildings were in ruin – but not to worry. Peeling apart some smaller sections of what used to be a wall he found what he was looking for, a tube extending four meters into the air. As he climbed the ladder he pulled at the stock of his nomad long rifle – a specialized weapon afforded to him by his position – bringing it over his right shoulder. As he reached the top of the ladder he was able to rap the bulkhead door with one hand.

After a few moments a distant metallic clang resounded. He was sure the two had sheltered a large portion of the population, for a slight fee of course. Still this is where the bulk of his work force would come from.

“There you are boss.”

The Elder turned around to face his second, the town’s former leader. “Do you have the rest of the boys Zatar?”

“Everyone except Gurst and his juves, apparently they threw some kind of ‘ash storm’ party and paid the price.”

“It doesn’t matter. There will be other to replace them.”

Khanst sighed. Not many of the buildings above ground had survived. Who knows how many perished because they had tried to brave the elements. But one thing was for sure, “Hive’s End” would rebuild. He would see to that.