Kruk "Stonetoof" Nuzgrub
Stonetoof's Beginnins
Stonetoof spent lotza yearz near da Imperial 'umies 'n had learned da Emperor's tongue. Dis skill kame in handy when Stonetoof's band uv merry blood axez offered dere servicez ta anudder WarBoss who wuz hopin ta git ta Earth ta start a Wagghh, da WarBoss gladly aksepted da band 'n dey all hopped onto a 'ulk dat wun uv dere warphead's wuz convinced wuz 'eadin ta Earth. After lotza months, 'n no Earth, a mutinee okkured 'n Stonetoof's band uv merry Blood Axez ended up in kuntrol uv da 'ulk. Much damage had okkured ta da 'ulk in dis insurekshun 'n it wuz klear dat dey had limited time left ta survive. Yoozing 'iz great powerz uv persuashun, Stonetoof managed ta talk da warphead (threaten) inta warpin dem ta da nearest inhabitable planet. Dis turned out ta be an Imperial outpost planet named Agean III dat boarderz da Stubby home worlds.
Da 'ulk wuz steered directly at Agean III 'n da Warphead tely' ported da krew off da 'ulk. Much ta da Warphead's dismay, 'e wuz not allowed ta join da team on da planetfall. 'e wuz directed ta steer da 'ulk ta a landin on da planet. It wasn't until after da 'ulk entered da planet's atmusfere dat da Warphead realized dare wuz no way ta break da fall. Ta dis day, da 'ulk provides Stonetoof's gang wiff much bitz 'n kibble ta scavenge.
Da 'ulk krash attracted much Imperial attenshun. Stonetoof kwikly realized dat 'iz band uv merry men kould not live tru hostiliteez wiff da Imperial Forcez on da planet. Instead Stonetoof offered da Blood Axe gang's servicez in minin da hot core uv da planet dat da Imperial 'umies kould not tolerate. Dis trade allowed both da Imperial Outpost 'n Stonetoof's gang ta grow.
Stonetoof's Ambishuns
After several yearz uv da uneasy alliance Stonetoof (who's boyz now outnumbered da Imperial troopz lotz ta 1) Stonetoof began ta git anxiouz about da raw materialz runnin out (da old 'ulk). 'e started ta search fer more tangible payment from da Empire den power cellz 'n konstrukshun material. 'e wanted a space ship. A fully funkshunin spaceship dat did not rely on da vaguariez uv da warp fer steerin 'n propulshun.
Stubby Incurshuns
Da kooperashun between da Imperial forcez 'n da Blood Axe gang wuz not simply out uv nicety. Agean III's proximity ta da Stubby home worldz in kombinashun wiff da density uv mineralz on dis planet made it an appealin targit fer Stubby minin parteez. Durin deese raids, da Blood Axe gang made a name fer demselvez by ruthlessly repelin da Stubbies. It wuz in wun partikularly ferocious fight dat both sidez ran out uv bullitz 'n resorted ta fisticuffz ta finish da battle. Several Orkz decided it wuz not good enuff ta simply kill da Stubbies, dey felt da need ta pummel da Stubbies severely about da head 'n shoulders. From dis moment on, Stonetoof's boyz wuz known collectively az "Stonetoof an 'iz 'Eadbangin boyz".
'EadBangin Boyz git Skilled
Although Agean III wuz not colunized by da Imperium, it certainly contained it's share uv life. From tribal 'umanoidz ta great serpent beastiez dat proved more intelligent den Stonetoof's snotlin hordes. Dis provided no end uv battle praktice fer da 'Boyz. Tru dese exercises, Stonetoof's radder un'Orky methodz uv trainin 'n praktice gained fame.
Da Imperium gitz Nervous
Az Stonetoof's band grew in size 'n skill at arms, da Imperial Forcez git more 'n more nervous. Stonetoof's barterin skillz git more aggressive wiff each new Boy dat popped out uv it's hatchin mound. Stonetoof still viewed da "alliance" wiff da Outpost az necessary kuz 'e knew if da alarm went out ta da Imperial Fleet, 'iz 'Eadbangin Boyz would git dere 'eadz banged. So 'e took 'iz time 'n kontinued ta trade. Stonetoof focused 'iz trade effertz on gittin lotza Imperial teknologee. Da 'ulk wuz mined out 'n da beasty villagez dat git looted 'n pillaged only provided food 'n buildin materials. Wot Stonetoof needed wuz ta feed da Outpost Kommander's greed ta git 'iz handz on da really "juicy" teknologee (a spaceship).
More Orkz!
Agean III started attractin attenshun in da Ork Kingdom, Stonetoof's wierdboy had bin sendin out messagez tru da warp braggin about deir akomplishmentz 'n da size uv dair merry band uv boyz. So, dis kould not go unchallenged. Much ta da Imperial Outpost's konsternashun, a Wagghh started on Agean III between Stonetoof 'n several raidin Ork clanz. Two hulkz popped out uv da warp ta Stonetoof's wonder (how do day do dat?). Wiff huge tely' porters, LOTZA 'n LOTZA Orkz showed up ta challenge da boyz. Wot da invadin partiez did not know wuz dat da Empire wuz ready ta help defend Agean III wiff fully funkshunin planetary defensez. After both 'ulkz wuz shot out uv orbit (more 'ulk kibble), only lotz uv da invadin Orkz survived. Virtually all uv dem wuz decimated by da unlikely alliance uv da Imperial troopz 'n Stonetoof's boyz. A few wuz kept alive ta grow skillz dat Stonetoof did not 'ave. Several different banz uv Orkz wuz represented in dis maraudin party (Snakebites 'n Evil Sunz bein da two most kommon). Before Stonetoof realized, 'e had Boarz 'n Bikez runnin around da planet. Da most impressive kapture howiver wuz wun uv da Warphead's dat wuz kontrollin da hulks. Kwikly 'e took several uv 'iz Rejekz 'n gave dem ta dis Warphead az slavez so dat day would learn dese un-teachable skills.
Many raukuz eveninz wuz spent wiff Imperial Forcez gamblin fer da mineral ritez ta variouz sitez around da planet. Da wun dat git discussed da most, but never aktually wagered on wuz a gold mine dat wuz rumoured ta be beneath an ancient 'umanoid castle. Da problem wuz dat dis planet az had several periodz in it's historee where 'umanoidz rose 'n fell, each time kreatin da trappinz dat go along wiff civilized society (buildins, roadz etc). Literally thousandz uv ruinz 'ave bin katalogued by da Imperial Forcez on da planet. None uv which wuz ever found ta be full uv gold. Now Stonetoof wuz a determined 'git 'n if dere wuz free gold ta be found tru which 'e kould purchase wot 'e needed ta git off dis rokk, den 'e would find it (or 'iz boyz would die tryin).
Da Search
Stonetoof's sizeable band wuz growin tired uv da day ta day Ork life. Killin beastiez 'n 'umie typez wuz gittin borin. So Stonetoof gave dem a purpose. Git da treasure! Da great search divided da planet inta sekshunz wiff a Ork skwad 'n sum runtz bein assigned ta each. Off dey went wit a purpose. Tunz uv kibble wuz found in dis great lootin uv da planet. Old ruins, decayed ekwipment 'n vehiclez from yearz long gone by wuz gaddered by da tunz. Much ta da Mechboyz glee.
Da Find
After searchin fer a kuple uv years, da original banz uv Stonetoof's boyz grew inta LOTZA 'n LOTZA Orkz. It wuz durin a settlement uv a new camp in an old ruin some boyz literally fell inta an old mine. Dis mine wuz kwikly cleared uv de offendin life 'n ta da amazement uv da Ork's dey found GOLD! It turned out dat dis settlement wuz built on a gold mine uv old 'n wuz kwikly skorched when da mine wuz tunneled inta a lair uv some radder fiendly beasties. Dis must be da lode dat da Imperium Outpost had bin talkin about.
Da Bait
Stonetoof kwikly klaimed da settlement az 'iz base uv operashuns. It only took 2 monthz uv battlin between da now rival Ork banz ta rest kuntrol. Stonetoof kept da best, most well trained, loyal Orkz fer himself before sendin da search partiez out (Orkz bein Orkz, uv kourse dey fight, den if wun found da gold, dey'd brag about it 'n Stonetoof would kum in 'n take it).
Now dat da gold wuz bein mined, 'e had da bait ready fer 'iz real goal. 'e invited da Outpost Kummander Zimm 'n 'iz 'umie boyz ta Orkton 'n proudly displayed 'iz find. Kummander Zimm kould not contain 'iz greed. Stonetoof played kagey 'n led da Kummander ta believe Stonetoof would "give it ta him" fer some power cellz 'n stuff.
Da Sting
By now, Stonetoof understood Imperial re-supply schedulez 'n decided dat da next wun would suffice in gittin Stonetoof wot 'e needed (a spaceship). Stonetoof git da gold ready ta "give" ta Zimm, it wuz "ko-incidentally" da day before da next Imperial supply ship wuz ta warp in 'n resupply Agean III.
Two dayz before da trade, lotza Orkz (yoozin dere minin gubbinz) burrowed dere way inta da Outpost kompound 'n made ready ta spring. Stonetoof 'n 'iz entourage walked right inta da kompound da next day wiff several tunz uv gold (enuff ta give ta Zimm 'n 'iz korruptable troops). Gold duz strange tingz ta 'umies. Wiff a long standin 'alliance' 'n da sight uv gold, not wun uv da 'umiez stopped ta tink "Hey deze guyz iz armed ta da teef". It wuz a simple matter fer LOTZA Orkz ta overtake lotza Imperial Cadian Shokk Troops. Several 'umiez wuz kept alive ta teach dem how ta operate da tely' porta. In kuntrol uv da outpost now, all dey had ta do iz wait fer da supply ship ta appear. Az soon az da supply ship hailed da planet, Stonetoof gave da word fer 'iz Warphead ta jam warp signalz 'n prevent da ship in orbit from sendin a distress.
Wunce da ship's hail kame in, Stonetoof ordered da tely' porta aktivated an wiffin an hour uv beginnin, Stonetoof 'n lotza uv 'iz best Kommandoz wuz in kuntrol uv a starship! Wot a katch! Dis starship had tunz uv stuff! Dis starship wuz an Imperial Tranz Galaktik Supply Galleon. Wiff a kumpliment uv lotz (now deceased or kaptured) krew, it wuz capable uv supplyin several dozen such outpostz wiff wun trip. Dis ship wuz even kumplete wiff a runabout 'n a small freighter, both capable uv atmusferic flight. Stonetoof even ensured dat da 4 pilotz on board wuz kept alive.
Playin' Da Oddz
Az Stonetoof learned by goin tru Zimm's personal logz, nobuddy in da Imperium knew about da long standin alliance wth da Orkz on dis planet. It seemed dat Zimm 'n 'iz gang wuz slowly gittin rich tradin wiff da Orkz 'n did not want ta attrakt any attenshun 'n screw up a good ting. In fakt, da Imperium did not even know dere wuz Orkz on Agean III. Well well, Stonetoof kould not let such an opportunity pass.
Lightnin Strikez Twice
Very kwikly after da takin da supply ship Stonetoof took akshun ta keep da 'umiez from learnin da truth uv Agean III. 'e knew (from goin over da Outpost's rekords) dat Agean III did not attrakt much Imperial attenshun. Dis site wuz literally ignored by da Imperium. It wuz a bakkwater world wiff no real value ta da Imperium, udder den az a listenin post. Wiff dis in mind, Stonetoof sent da supply ship out ta da next outpost on it's scheduled stop (usin kaptured 'umies) 'n had wun uv da 'umiez send a distress from da ship sayin "under attakk by Stubbies". Stonetoof even saw fit ta jettison Stubby 'n 'umie debris in da spot dat da signal wuz sent from, knowin full well dat someone would kum 'n investygate. Dey den returned ta Agean III 'n waited. Nobuddy showed up. After two monthz uv waitin, Stonetoof started ta realize dat 'iz rooze had wOrked.
Da Plan
Wiff less den four monthz until da next supply uv Agean III, Stonetoof had much ta do. 'iz mekz started learnin how fly da strange kraft. Da freighter had a very unfortunate trainin aksident dat destroyed da Imperial Outpost 'n 3 uv da four 'umie pilots. Da Imperial landin beakun wuz da worst uv da loss. Dis made da next delivery uv suppliez ('n anudder spaceship) very risky. Wiff no beakun da Imperium might send in warshipz ta help skope out an unknown situashun.
All wuz kwiet 'n goin akordin ta da plan (az much az an Ork kin follow a plan) on da day da next shipment wuz ta arrive. Stonetoof 'n 'iz boyz wuz parked in da runabout behind wun uv da moonz 'n usin signal stashunz on da surface, able ta see da akshun. Out uv da warp came tree ships, da expected supply ship 'n two radder large frigates. Stonetoof wuz not about ta let a challenge go unanswered, instead uv tely' portin onto da supply ship, 'iz boyz tely' ported right smakk dab in da middle uv da bridge uv wun uv da frigates. After a kwik fire fight, Stonetoof owned da bridge.
Now Wot?!?
It wuz klear from da kallz uv da udder two ships, dey had no idea wot just happened. Stonetoof's chief mekboy (Skeeter) kwikkly smashed da fusez fer da kommunicashun array preventin any 'umiez still alive from kommunicatin ta da udder ships. Now Stonetoof iz an Ork, tru 'n tru 'n in a situashun where an Ork duz not know wot ta do, dey do wot kumz naturally, dey CHARGE! Stonetoof ordered a smashy kourse wiff da udder frigate. Wunce done, da mekboy busilly started tryin ta figger out how ta shoot da big gunz. 'e successfully jettisoned da escape pods, da garbage 'n two emergency hatchez kausin an explosive dekumpreshun dat killed da unit uv Imperial guardsmen dat wuz stashuned wiff da ship. It wuz kwite a display from da udder frigate. Az da udder frigate started evasive maneouverz ta guard against a friendly ship gone crazy, da Mekboy finally found da right kontrolz 'n started shootin. Da Ork runabout wuz kwikly vapourized by an ill fated shot, killin da best Ork pilot dat Stonetoof had. Not ta be dismayed, 'e ordered more Dakka Dakka. Da second frigate now out uv firin posishun due ta it's maneuoverz had itz rear end pointed right at da onkumin frigate. Fer kwite a few minutes, Skeeter pushed buttons, pulled leverz 'n generally frantiked about. All da while gainin ground on da 2nd frigate. Stonetoof began ta wonder if 'e would learn how an Imperial star drive wOrkz by seein wun operate from da inside. Az da distance klosed, Skeeter began ta figger tingz out. In wun great blaze uv glory, Skeeter ran an energy weapon shot straight up da intake uv da frigate in front uv dem. Da glare uv da exploshun permanently blinded most uv da Orky bridge krew (includin Skeeter).
Stonetoof, now turned 'iz sightz ('n da ship) ta da supply ship who by dis time wuz on da udder side uv da planet furiously tryin ta warp out. Wiff a frigate 'n a blinded Mekboy, it wuz kwite a feat dat dey kaught da supply ship 'n kut off it's escape path. Anudder dilemma, 'e holdz da bridge uv a ship wiff Imperial krew on board tryin ta stop dem, no kommunicashuns, a blinded Mekboy, no runabout fer support, wot ta do? wot ta do? 'e did not want ta shoot da galleon, 'e wanted da booty on board. 'e must fix da kummunikashuns. Wiff Stonetoof yellin at Skeeter ta fix da radio 'n Skeeter blind, Stonetoof had no choice but ta fix it 'imself. Askin Skeeter wut 'e did ta break da radio gubbinz, Stonetoof tought it should be an easy matter ta fix it. Skeeter said ta find sumfin "konductif" 'n stik it inta da slotz dat use ta 'ave da fusez in dem. Well, Stonetoof tought, Runtz are konductif ta helpin 'out, so 'e stuk wun in da slot. Amid bright sparkz 'n lotz uv kafuffle, da Runt skwirmed 'n skreamed but da radio krakkled ta life. 'e kwikly ordered 'iz boyz on da planet ta git onto da freighter soon az dey kin. Da krispy Runt stopped skwirmin 'n da radio stopped wOrkin. "Hmm...", tought Stonetoof, "How many runtz duz it take ta power a radio?"
Wunce 'e wuz able ta chase da galleon ship inta range uv da planetary tely' porta 'iz boyz materialized on board. A supply ship duz not 'ave a large krew ta begin wiff, let alone men skilled at arms. In typical Ork fashshun, LOTZA Orkz tely' ported onto da. All da krew 'umiez wuz killed, along wiff most uf da invadin Orkz from 'green fire'.
Now, how ta deal wiff da Imperial krew tryin git access ta da bridge. "Ahhha!", realized Stonetoof, "Let da buzzer skwigz inta da ventilashun system". Which 'e did 'n den waited a bit. Da bangin on da bridge door stopped 'n da ship started ta smell da stench uv 'umie death.
Booty
At da end uv da battle, Stonetoof 'n 'iz boyz kaptured a fully operashunal Imperial Star Frigate, A 2nd Imperial Tranz Galaktik Supply Galleon (kumplete wiff atmusferic runabout 'n freighter) 'n a nearly full kargo hold uv munishuns, suppliez 'n ekwipment. Da real jewel kame when Stonetoof read da manifest uv dis supply galleon. Dis ship wuz kumin bakk from pikkin up a regiment uv Cadian shokk troopz from a war torn planet. Stonetoof did not believe 'iz eyes. Da kargo hold uv dis ship kontained two Leman Russ main battle tanks, two Hellhounds, a Chimera, a Beakie Predator 'n a Whirlwhind. Now datz a katch! Az it turned out, da vehiclez wuz bein returned fer repair 'n not in da greatest uv shape (oh well, 'iz Mekboyz would 'ave loadz 'o fun "fixin" dem up).
Flee!
Da problem wiff bein succesful wuz dat it attracted attenshun. Dis time, dere wuz no preventin da full wraff uv da Imperial fleetz 'n gruntz. Stonetoof decided on da better part uv valour. 'e pakked up lotz uv 'iz boyz, az much ekwipment az 'e kould wiffin a few dayz 'n hid in da next star system fer da next few months. Upon returnin ta Agean III, 'e discovered dat da Empire had indeed responded. All uv da boyz left behind wuz dead. Orkton wuz in ruinz 'n dere wuz no Imperial presence ta be seen. 'e placed some senserz on da planet 'n returned ta 'iz hidy spot fer anudder couple uv months. Kawshusly approachin Agean III, 'e learned dat nobuddy had returned ta dis site. Da Empire seemed ta 'ave decided "problem solved". "Well, well, no sense 'n lettin such a good planet go ta waste" pondered Stonetoof. So dey setup shop again. 'e decided it would be appropriate ta rebuild Orkton. Ta dis day, Stonetoof maintainz 'iz 'Eadkwarterz in Orkton.
Wagghh Storeez
Most battlez fought by Stonetoof 'an 'iz boyz 'ave been against da local kritterz uv Agean III. Dere 'ave been some notable ekseptshunz howiver. After all, space iz a highly populated place 'n it iz kwite unlikely dat Stonetoof's konkwest uv Agean III would 'ave gone unnoticed fer very long.
Mutant 'Umies
Practicin wierdboyz do many funny tings. In their studiez dey praktice controllin da warp. Ta an Ork Dis meanz tryin tingz 'just kuz dey kin. Fer example, it iz kwite humourouz fer a warphead ta trow 'iz voice ta fool 'iz komrades. Wut a newly learned wierdboy duz not understand howiver iz dat if ya do not kuntrol da warp, tingz wiffin da warp kin kuntrol ya.
Out on forragin duty wun day wit 'iz mob, Padgrok da fledglin wierdboy did not understand dat da funny voice 'e wuz throwin wuz not 'iz voice at all, but a Chaos warlord seizin an opportunity ta venture forth inta da material world. Padgrok wuz a hit wit 'iz mob buddiez fer bein able ta do all sortz uv neat stuff dat 'e kouldn't do yesterday. Materializin at will 'ere 'n dere around da forest seemed funny right up until da time when Padgrok disappeared fer a few minutes, den lotza minutes, den LOTZA minutes. Da mob git worried dat they'd git in trouble fer losin da wierdboy. After an 'our dey decided they'd head bakk ta Orkton. Dey started bakk when Padgrok appeared before them, only it wasn't Padgrok. 'e wuz 'not kwite right'. Although 'e seemed ta be dere, ya kould put your hand tru him. Now Orkz aint slow 'n dey knew straight away, dis ain't da Padgrok dey had kum ta know 'n luv. Wun Ork took off fleein bakk ta Orkton scared ta death. At da ear piercin sound uv an Ork fleein in terror, Padgrok seemed ta git angry 'n started growin non-Orky appendages. 'e started ta glow. Brighter 'n brighter 'n brighter. When no-wun kould stand ta stare at Padgrok any more 'e seemed ta explode in light. When da Orkz looked up again, dey wuz facin a wierd lookin 'umie 'n several odd lookin beakies.
"Freedom!" da Chaos Lord bellowed! Kwikly dispatchin da handful uv terror strikken Orkz, da Chaos Kummander kontinued ta funnel troopz tru da kwikly shrinkin portal ta da warp. Knowin dere wuz more livin beinz ta korrupt 'n torture, da Kummander launched 'iz chaotic horde towardz da fleein Ork.
Da fleein Ork managed ta raise da alarm in Orkton just az da Chaos regiment kame krashin tru da woods. Dere wuz only time ta enable da city shieldz 'n man da walls. Da gate gubbinz failed ta operate 'n seal them inta da town. So wit da city gate wide open Stonetoof 'n 'iz boyz prepared their defense. Now Orkton iz pretty well defended wit proper killin fieldz setup before da city, so Stonetoof felt konfident 'iz boyz would stand their ground. Many 'umiez would die in da "no man's land" between da woodz 'n da city walls. Da city shield did itz job very well dat day. No shooty bit would krumble any mortar or brikk at all.
Stonetoof wuz marvellin at da shield holdin up when 'e realized dat 'iz boyz wuz not fairin az well az da shield. Da mutant 'umiez wuz still kumin! Da 'umie bodiez piled up outside da city. Still dey kame! Shieldin themselvez wit mutant 'umies, da mutant beakiez moved forward toward da city gate.
Just az Stonetoof didn't tink tingz kould git any worse, BUGS! Big Purply Wunz! Toward da city wallz dey rushed. Da mine fieldz stoppin only a handful uv da purple beasties. It only took two stepz fer da bugz ta git over da wallz dat no other animal had been able ta klimb. Several uv da beastiez took seeminly fatal hitz from da shokky fence but dat still did not stop them. "We'z in fer it now boss" muttered Stonetoof's Banner Runt. Stonetoof kwikly unloaded 'iz bolter inta him.
It took lotza Orkz ta kill each beasty. Dis left fatally few ta guard da gates. Az da boyz wuz gittin da upper hand wit da bugz a new threat materialized inside da walls. Daemons! Hideous dogz 'n 'uge swordsman wuz more than a match fer Stonetoof's remainin few boyz.
Stonetoof kwikly started kallin fer a retreat inta da kaves. So began a mad rush uv boyz runnin 'n skreamin past huge daemonz dat easily slaughtered da terror filled boyz. Wit hell houndz brayin 'n klawin at anythin green 'n movin, Stonetoof wondered if dey would even make it ta da kaves. Da kavez seemed a lifetime away. Wit each step da kave git kloser an kloser. Az Stonetoof ran past Tusk Manor, 'e tought maybe dere wuz a chance dat dey'd live. Stonetoof looked over 'iz shoulder ta see a sea uv greenskinz runnin towardz him. Klearly dey wuz only momentz away from all bein slaughtered. On 'e ran pushin 'iz boyz 'n runtz ta da side. 'E needed ta git inta dat kave! From behind him shotz still rang out, boyz skreamin wit terror az dey klambored over each other ta git ta da kaves. Several snotlinz wuz trampled ta death by da mob. Stonetoof wuz startin ta be overtaken by da mobz. 'e felt a tug, a kikk, a grapple. 'e fended dem off in a mad frantic attempt ta git ta da kave. More tugs, anudder kikk, 'e lost 'iz balance near da shield generator an down 'e went inta da mukk. Az 'e went down 'e knew 'e would be trampled an 'e tought ta 'imself "dis iz gonna 'urt". Den dere wuz blakkness.
Stonetoof memberz wakin up an tinkin "Geez, Gork looks a lot like Skeeter. An why iz Gork yellin at me ta wake up 'n tell 'im wut da zog happened?" Gork turned out ta be Skeeter after all. Lookin round, Stonetoof wuz amazed ta find most uv 'iz boyz wanderin round in a daze wunderin wut happened ta dem. "Why ain't we dead?" wuz a kommon kwestshun. "We are dead ya dum git" wuz da kommon response. After a day or so uv arguin wheter dey wuz dead or alive, Stonetoof klaimed dat dey "Wuz alive"! Dere wuz much rejoicin!
Ta dis day, da only known fakt about wut happened wuz a bright light envelopin da remainin Chaos beinz an den da light disappearin an wit it da Chaos regiment. Nobuddy knowz why or how it happened. Stonetoof seizin da opportunity deklared dat dey had won 'n nobuddy ever kwestshuned wut 'appened anymore. Stonetoof az told da story so many times, 'e now believez dey really did fend off da chaotic mass.
Beakie's Bane
Sooner or later, Stonetoof knew dey would attrakt Imperial attenshun. How 'n when wuz da kwestshun. In preparashun 'n ta keep da boyz produktif, Stonetoof 'n Skeeter developed a kontingency plan fer any unwanted guests. In orbit dey layed LOTZA mines, dey built etary defense grid an setup city shield generatorz dat should hold up against even orbital bombz. Da first few testz uv these shieldz fried many Orkz, but Skeeter "fixed" 'iz design until da shieldz wuz perfekted (well, an Orkz definitshun uv perfekt).
Da power grid on da planet wuz now detektable from a distance. A power signature kumin from an old Imperial outpost on a death planet did not go unnoticed fer long. Da Sektor Kummander responsible fer monitorin dis reejun decided dat it should be investygated. After 'iz initial skout shuttle did not kum bakk (or wuz ever heard from again), 'e sent anudder. Dis second shuttle met da same fate.
Stonetoof kept wunderin why da 'umiez kept givin him ships. Dey sent wun shuttle, 'e kaptured it, dey sent a second shuttle 'e kaptured it. At dis rate, 'e kould build a fleet! Wut would dey send next 'e wondered gleefully.
Da Sektor Kummander now kwite worried, decided ta kall in some support. 'iz report ta Earth reported dat several attemptz at scoutin Agean III wuz met wit large numberz uv un-identifiable opposin forces. Wit da Nekron skare uv late, 'e tought dis vague descriptshun would be taken seriously an 'e would not be blamed fer lettin a skourge run rampant in 'iz sektor. Dis way 'e would not be held responsible fer losin more 'umiez 'n ships. Wiffin weeks, a kumpany uv Ultramarinez reported fer duty ta da sektor Kummander. Upon learnin uv da kowardly kummander's hasty akshuns, da Ultramarinez Kumpany Kummander executed da sektor Kummander an took kuntrol. Ultramarine skout skwadz wuz deployed an reported bakk dat da system wuz heavily mined an rekwired klearin prior ta further investigation. After a short time, dis wuz akkomplished an da system wuz ready ta be investygated properly.
Wiffin a day, Agean III wuz targetted az da primary source uv power emanations. These sourcez uv power wuz krude, unsteady an kould be attributed ta power sitez operatin fer long periodz uv time without maintenance. Planetary skanz showed massive life forms, but dat iz not unusual fer a death world. Da fakt dat dis planet did indeed 'ave an organized power grid, kombined wit da obvious minin uv da system, lead da Ultramarine Kummander ta send 'iz men planetside fer a right good look see.
Planetfall proved fatal fer da skout shuttles. It wuz plain ta see from da bridge uv da battle barge (parked in high orbit), da shuttlez wuz skanned, trakked 'n methodically shot out uv da sky az dey entered da atmusfere. Dis wuz turnin out ta be a real battle tought da Kummander. Battle bargez are not meant fer planetary assault without supportin vessels. Da Kummander, az assault protokolz kall fer, kalled in support. Da rekwest wuz responded an vesselz dispatched.
Da Kummander wuz amazed at how kwikly da Imperial beauracracy answered 'iz rekwest. Well, well 'e tought, da Emperor would be proud today. Ta 'iz utter bewilderment, da support frigate an a supply galleon showed up on 'iz view screenz tree dayz ahead uv schedule.
Hailin frekwenciez wuz opened an standard ship ta ship approach vektorz wuz plotted. Da inbound shipz wuz not answerin 'iz hailz howiver, although 'e wuz chilled, da Ultramarine Kummander realized 'e wuz sweatin. Az da shipz approached, 'iz emmissionz officer detekted heavy jammin kumin from da inbound ships. "Okay, dis isn't going well" da Kummander tought. 'iz emmisionz officer also plotted da frekwenciez an direction uv da jammin an determined dat dis jammin would 'ave effectively prevented any outbound transmission from leavin da Agean system.
"Shields up!" da Kummander yelled. "Tactical, take us ta the other side uv the planet and prepare for immediate warp jump!". Az da barge sluggishly turned an started movin, da mysterious (but now known ta be hostile) frigate easily overtook it. Several shotz from da Frigate brought da barge's shieldz down an den immobilized da ship. Da Kummander wuz absolutely stunned, "An Ultramarine Company ambushed! By the Emperor's cape, I don't even know who this enemy genius iz". Az da frigate approached, da ship ta ship radio beeped an on screen came an Ork's face. Da Kummander wuz taken bakk by da site uv a ferocious Ork wit da largest tooth 'e ever saw on an Ork.
Da Ork not only spoke, 'e spoke in da language uv da Emperor. "Da Emperor's gonna cry a lot today!" an da screen went blank. Da Kummander wuz klearly shaken. 'e ordered immediate planetfall by any means. Ta dis day, dis order iz da only time an Ultramarinez vessel wuz ordered ta "Abandon Ship".
Transport drop shipz an gunshipz wuz immediately launched. Az da frigate pounded da barge wit blaster fire, it wuz klear it would not survive. Da Kummander ensured 'e wuz da last ta leave. Just az da kommanderz gunship wuz disgorged from da now flamin launch bay da frigate finished da destrukshun uv da barge. From da dekk uv 'iz gunship, da Kummander kept askin himself, "But how?".
Fokusin on da task at hand, da Kummander grouped 'iz fleet uv assault 'n transport vesselz ta a spot on da planet dat wuz not emanatin power. Az da fleet entered da atmosphere, dey started takin flak from planetside. Wun transport blossomed inta vapour, a gunship exploded. Ship by ship, 'iz hopez uv makin it ta da surface so dey kin fight like marinez dwindled.
By da time 'iz fleet landed an regrouped, dey had been reduced ta less than lotz uv kumpany strength. Da only two gunshipz dat survived wuz no longer flight worthy let alone battle worthy. Several transportz survived 'n kontained 'eavy artillery, dis wuz some hope. A mix uv taktical an devestator skwadz wuz alive, none at full strength. Dey skuttled da gunshipz an da transportz. Not wantin ta leave da 'eavy artillery fer Orkz ta play wit, dey kamouflaged them an trodded off on foot inland.
After weekz uv scoutin 'n foragin, karefully avoidin skirmishes, da still proud Ultramarine kumpany decided enuff wuz enuff. Dey wuz takin kuntrol uv dis rokk. Dis planet wuz klearly infested wit greenskinz 'n need ta be cleanzed. Findin an Ork settlement wuz eezy. In short order, dey overran it an took it over. Torturin some gibberin Orkz, dey learned uv a great "Ork Town" nestled in da mountainz dat lead ta da sky. Da marinez reazuned dat dis town held a tely' porter an a kommunicashun device. Hope at last uv gittin' reinforcementz.
More weekz uv searchin 'n skoutin ta find da city an skout it out. Several skirmishez wit da Orkz reduced da Ultramarinez number even more. Da situation wuz grim, lotz uv Orkz in a very well defended city dat wuz nestled inta a valley. Da Orkz knew dey wuz 'ere 'n dey did not 'ave time ta finish skoutin da city. Dey must take it now! Dey would need ta breach da wallz an rush in. Dere wuz alwayz Orkz movin 'eavy machinery around da kuntryside, so dere wuz no risk uv bein 'eard az da Basiliskz wuz moved inta position.
Az da Basiliskz opened fire on da wallz uv da city, a most disturbin site unfolded in front uv them. Da city wuz protected by a seeminly impenetrable shield. Shell after shell sizzled an krakkled in mid air az dey strukk da shield. Orkz appeared over da battlementz an made hasty (yet effective) defensive positions. Da only way da Ultramarinez kould save face now wuz ta anihilate da Orkz an bring da Emperor's Word bakk ta dis planet. Da Ultramarinez sallied forth. Pulsy rokkitz came flyin out uv da city an two uv da tree Basiliskz wuz sent dizzyingly out uv kuntrol, rammin inta da sidez uv da valley ta bekum nothin but so much kibble. Da Kummander gambled 'iz last kard an ordered 'iz terminatorz ta teleport inta da city an destroy da shield generator dat wuz now clearly identifiable by da lightnin emanatin from it each time da shield wuz strukk. 'iz terminatorz appeared inside da city. Da last Basilisk exploded az it's breach must 'ave jammed while tryin ta support da brave terminators. Da kommander's heart sank 'n wuz sure 'e felt da Emperor kry az da terminatorz wuz kut ta ribbunz immediately upon enterin da city by unmerciful flamer an point blank melta gun fire. Several Orkz wuz torched along wit da mighty terminators. "Have these fiends no honour? Killing their own with abject glee?!?" skreamed da doomed Ultramarinez Kummander.
Da Kummander knew at dis point, hope wuz gone, all dat remained wuz ta die fer da Emperor. 'E ordered a charge across da killin fieldz dat wuz in front uv da city gates. Beakie after Beakie died in da hail uv fire dat da Orkz poured inta them. Not satisfied wit killin da beakiez from a distance, da Orkz poured out uv da city gatez toward them.
Az da charge faltered, da Kummander looked ta da entrance uv da gate an saw da same big toofed Ork 'e saw so many weekz ago on 'iz barge's main view screen. Da Ork looked 'iz way an wuz 'eard ta mutter "Wot da zog? Yer still alive? Blodgit, aim dat shooty plasmy gun over 'ere fer a minute". An den dere wuz nuffin.