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Finding the right material for my 'guest' to use wasn't as difficult as one might think, I had plenty of charcoal from the fire pit. Although finding a piece small and wieldy for writing took time, and a Tyranid Warrior's blade to make cuts and sharpen it. Then came getting her to agree on using it. Her basic understanding of my language meant a simple game of charades was needed to convey the plan here. Yet she was apparently reluctant to use an impromptu charcoal pencil to write to her family.
"This is a damn privilege and she just wanted to push it."
Eventually, I was able to convey I had nothing better and it was either that for she could forget writing a letter she got to work. Still had no idea what was written but she kept the page close and looked pretty annoyed when I eventually said she needed to hold onto the thing for a while.
And angry glare and possible swearing in Aeldari later it was a manner of getting a good night's rest, for as short it was for them then were for off. Long before the sun ever came up and boy was she cranky about it. She did get used to the idea of riding on a Hormagaunt, just planting her rear atop it and looking less uncomfortable than before. Which wasn't to say she would reframe from physically expressing her disdain for doing gut still. But progress was progress.
"This should be the final time I go on the march like this." I felt grateful at the thought, of no more paranoid walks through potentially hostile territory once I set up at the crash site. This march I had the Cruiser hovering overhead ready to drop back on Gaunts and Raveners over the heads of anyone who attacked me.
Thankful lady luck either decided to go easy on me today or was sleeping. Cause on the very few times we encountered Eldar using controlled fires to torch Ork bodies. They steeled themselves and took up clear combat stances but never made any aggressive moves as the hundreds of biologically engineered killing machines gave their parties a wide berth. Then went back to their business like nothing happened, which is good, it meant the leaders of these Craftworlders were convinced I was the lesser of two foes and were focusing on the Orks. It was difficult not to feel intimidated by these encounters though, the tall well-armored warriors had all dedicated whole portions of their lives to combat. So it was a lot harder to maintain my concern in these moments unlike when I met up with any Exodite. I pointedly kept my hostage as out of view as possible from them, lest that provoked a hostile response. Or give anyone an incorrect idea as to what I was doing out here.
The bizarre aspect of the marching force, well there was admittedly a few now that I was considering it. But one of the most bizarre aspects was Tinker and his Ork Mechboyz companions. The moment I permitted them to leave their sizable dugout all of them immediately dove into the piles of corpses for scrap. Like some primal instinct of kleptomania kicked in. They had gutted every scrap of metal they needed from the bodies and vehicles as they were able in order to make their personal armor sets, although most of it had been eroded away by the acids from the Spore Mines, not all had suffered similar fates. I never tried stopping them from collecting what they wanted for their new gear. It was refreshing to see them acting Orky after I had hypnotized them into sitting wordless and thoughtlessly into a dugout. They were still individuals, just so long as I never robbed them of it again. Plus then having some real body armor and not some overalls and clothes looted weeks ago from some already dead Ork.
The armor they wore had been bent, nailed, and strapped on plating with anything they could find. All used by other Orks and damaged by acidic so had to be chosen with a lot more purpose and care. Which the Mechboyz did with far more diligence than one would expect from Greenskins. Thick plates covered their entire bodies and came close to looking like armored nobz is not the right size and bulk. Plus only Tinker was inclined to try and make anything powered and that was only the upper portion with a 'grappy claw' mounted on a backpack of sorts. It was for holding another shoota really. How the thing was powered I wasn't sure, it had a very small homemade engine that looks like it shouldn't work. But that was Orks for you, they could just make stuff work. That and the hefty guns they carried were at the center of my force with me. Mainly to keep them as out of sight as possible.
The bulging of their heads, carapace plates here and there, slightly purple hue to their skin, and even the one with the extra clawed limb. All that telegraphed they were Genestealer hybrids and a part of my forces. I wasn't about to risk some Eldar either not making that distinction or just not caring and firing anyway. Losing any of my Mechboyz especially Tinker would significantly slow down the escape ship project. Even if I could grow new Orks it would take a while to do so and find new Mechboyz.
So I wanted to just blaze ahead but maintain just enough speed to hold the formation and not spook any of the eyes undoubtedly watching us. The vanguard of Genestealers and Lictors keeping an eye out for anything would be useless if I was going so fast they couldn't do their job.
We were just traveling through the jungle, in a sizable brood, currently- in a formation like always with me at the epicenter. It probably looked threatening to everyone how quietly we moved, melting around trees like water. Further trampling the weaker greenery that couldn't present enough of an obstacle. It was only recently that I'd learned about just how quietly my Brood did anything, at least to an outsider's perspective that is. To me, the sounds and even smells, were just sensory information being sent to me as background buzz. If I tried ignoring it things got silent as the grave. Any animals that might be near were either scared or hunted out by my Hormagaunts and I did so without considering that.
"Man the ecosystem of any world I end up in would be gradually totaled if I'm not careful." The barren land of my stronghold and the two months the Biocrusier spent sucking the nutrients and killing the surrounding jungle was clear. But there were other ways for me to upset the ecosystem, like blasting tons of acids into the surrounding air, how does what damage that could cause. Would the area around the landing zone even be habitable? That was over a four-mile-wide circumference and not to mention the long spire stretching into the atmosphere just standing there. For now, it would eventually lose that stability and then fall over and stretch for so many miles over the ground. Yet another reason to get off this world before the Exodites try kicking me off for desecrating their maiden world. A lot of Eldar were protective of these planets.
"We're making good time and perhaps a night assault would aid in the surprise factor."
The element of surprise would be my best ally, especially when I was looking to lose as few troops as possible. Attrition tactics were never going to be smart for me, specifically now that I had broken away from the spawning pools at the landing zone.
"Take the site then build that ship."
We made great progress throughout the day and with everyone but the Eldar needing sleep I decided to just keep going mile after mile. Things were quiet and nothing got close or attacked us, a miasma of burnt flesh was in the air more evidence of Eldar hacking their way through the Orks. But they were few and very much far between.
The sun was setting, etcetera, etcetera, I have done this so many times I feel like I'm narrating my life at this point. When Elor made a surprise visit. Well, it wasn't that surprising He said he'd come for the letter and while the wording was 'when I am able' I suspected the man would do so as quickly as possible. I didn't even need to have his sight picked up by the Lictors to know the Eldar causal strolling up to the hundreds of murder machines on a reptilian ride.
So I took her, really should ask for the chick's name, and have the frontal curve of my Brood to expand around him. I wasn't about to leave the protective barrier they formed. He didn't have a smile nor neutral expression, if anything I'd call it concerned or even dire.
"The letter is right here and you can talk for as long as you'd like." I knew it would hurt to keep playing the gracious host. Elor ignored me and instead beelined it straight for her and they exchanged a short hug and some warm words before taking the letter.
"This is most appreciated, and the boon has been replied in kind." A folder paper, similar to hers, was held out to me. I snatched it with perhaps a lot less tack than I should have.
"Thanks, this is great. Did you speak with her family on the other manner?"
"I have other duties and breaking away to be here will not go unnoticed either," Elor looked more irritated than concerned though. I guess I have taken it for granted that he just kept walking up to my base. He had a life beyond coming over to speak with me. "It shall not be risk-filled endeavor the are a grieving family for their offspring and sibling, and quite a large one at that."
Nodding slowly I was about to flip Absolam's letter open and start digging into Absalom's words before Elor's sharp tone cut me off.
"If you truly plan to leave, it needs to be done soon." It didn't take a genius to catch a hit given so obviously like that.
"I will within the month," That was the most out-of-nowhere time frame I could give Elor. As I had no means of actually knowing Tinker and his Mechboyz abilities. He got the nose of the aircraft done fairly fast but I wasn't even sure if that part was going to work. Actually, I needed to have a serious talk with Tinker as to what was needed for an aircraft to enter the atmosphere.
"I just need some time to locate something within the crash site."
Elor looked downright annoyed. "What exactly could be so enrapturing within this derelict vessel? At first, a simple extermination of the Orks was the most obvious choice yet now..." He trailed off, scanning the leaves and branches never truly looking for anything. He sighed, the thick emotional waves coming off made me feel uncomfortable. "A month is it?"
"Or shorter depending." I tried to sound confident and reassuring but if he was uneasy I couldn't help but mirror the sensation. "I want to get off this world and avoid a pointless battle with you guys that plan has never changed." My mouth moved before my brain could slide a filter between it.
Elor looked to the letter then his lady friend with a thoughtful expression before speaking to her in their native tongue. A brief but volatile argument descended between them. Not to the point where they were shouting at one another but close enough. He kept trying to sing out some encouraging lines be she was taking none of his platitudes.
"That's the emotion vives I'm getting there anyway."
It ended with her whipping around and brushing off Elor's attempt to take her arm. He sighed deeply and scanned the various Tyranids arrayed around him and mostly behind me. I wondered for a moment if he was contemplating taking her on his raptor and trodding off, surely he wasn't that dumb to think they'd get away, right? Nevertheless, he turned away and mounted his ride.
"Be quick Micheal, not everyone's patience is infinite. Certainly not mine."
Absalom letter.
I was so quick to open it and read what he had to say.
Great Carrier,
One of the Xeno breeds consistently insists I write this so I shall be keeping it brief. I am doing well under their care, as I am certain that's why this one continues to pester me to write.
"No prizes for just who might be the one asking him."
They have kept within some secluded den I cannot and would not specify the location of. As I am certain they shall check this letter later. Only armed warriors surround and while I am treated well my situation as a hostage is not exactly hidden. Even if no one desires to converse with me and for that I am grateful for.
"Yeah, he's still a man born in the Imperium."
While it still saddens me to be away from your presence, I know my return to the out family is inevitable. I know I am awaited and never lost heart in your plan to ensure my safety. The Brood shall survive under your guidance and these filthy aliens that pollute our world swept away by the angels from the void.
"You're getting back Absalom, that part is non-negotiable."
All that said, I have to say that something serious must be happening here. I don't know what but if I've read the situation correctly there is unrest you are aware of. They argue often and point and gesture toward me and no longer make any attempts to hide the fact they despise and wish for my death. For what reason, I do not know, and assume Great Carry you are already aware of this and this letter shall reach you regardless of them checking.
If so be safe, I know events must be changed beyond the walls I have been sheltered in.
- Absalom
He was right of course, I knew the Exodites were turning their gaze onto me now that the Orks are becoming a diminishing threat. But I doubted Elor knew this is how Absalom would write this. Sure I knew as things got hotter for me so too would it for Absalom, that pretty much went without saying, and why I kept treating my hostage and Elor so well.
Even if my main focus was finding scrap or killing Orks. I never let my subconscious mind completely wander away from my charge.
"Was this suppose to me Elor trying to convey even more haste onto me?" Was he so eager or perhaps running out of excuses to pacify those that opposed the Eldar-Tyranid ceasefire and alliance? I want to get off this planet and trade for Absalom as soon as possible. But I can't make Tinker and a dozen other Orks work faster at building something that's gotta take weeks. Nor completely convey why I can't just leave. I gotta take the word of Absalom that things are getting worse there. And who knows if he is even getting the full picture.
"One thing for sure is I don't know the motives and thinking patterns of everyone else on the Eldar's side. That's what terrifies me the most here, not being able to judge the situation for myself completely..."
The continued force march to the crash site annoyed my Eldar into just getting as comfortable as she could and then just leaning forwards to sleep. We made it through, in the middle of the night when even I was starting to feel the strain of staying awake. Although I had an easier time staying up than she did.
To call the Orkish crash site a fortress much less fortified was an overstatement. The walls still had their blown-open holes from before and Lictors kept reporting back and extremely unorganized and meager forces of Greenskinns there. They weren't really Guarding as it was mostly Gretchen mozying about and either carrying stuff for the few hundred or so boyz or just getting kicked. Said Ork boyz held extremely rudimentary equipment compared to the ones that marched on my stronghold. Many of which even held onto makeshift spears that I doubted could even kill an Ork. Their masculinity was great like all Greenskinns but once more compare them to the army that attacked me and one would find no contested. All this is enough to convey these were the runts and grots of the army left behind to Guard or maybe we're just left behind here. Cause they weren't fast enough to get going or got trampled by the larger ones.
They were trying to fix the wall. Although it was mainly them picking up the broken wood of the previous one and then tieing it all together to make barriers. My Gaunts could easily crawl over the sharpened wooden sticks and Ork height 'wall'. Or just have the Centaurs smash a hole in it, the thing was wood and sharpened crudely as it was couldn't hurt any of my brood. It was barely worth the effort of organizing an assault on the place. They were Orks so the first sign of an attack had any Choppa boyz trying to rush my brood's firing line. Bunches of Shoota boyz trying to mount their own loose line and inaccurate volleys on the barrier were knocked off by Centaurs. Then unceremoniously hacked apart by a counter-attack by Hormagaunts and Raveners.
They were not like the Orks we've faced before, so I mainly focused on locking down the main encampment. Lictors and Genestealers were my stealth force so they made a beeline for the ship to start clearing it. Gretchen ran away as soon as their larger brethren began to dwindle in size. It was an easy fight and it all but confirmed that the Ork threat was really being mopped up. If this was the force remaining compared to the massive Waaagh I faced over a week and a half ago. Heck the camp itself was a mess of broken down tens from either the acidic clouds or just the Orks hastily trampling over it all.
Once I was certain the came was secure and my Gaunts flowed enough into the entry points of the vessel and my guest was secure enough with some Raveners in a tent. I now had to turn to the green skins within my party. Tinker and the other boyz were restless, having been denied a good fight once again but my next orders might mull them over.
"Plenty of scrap here, now I need you to start building that ship so we can take this Waaagh into space. It needs to be large enough for you to fly and at least two others to fit in and keep air locked into the space." I only really needed to explain all this through the telepathic link but wanted to be careful. This was an Ork contraction I was going to fly in.
"Yey Boss wez gonna make a big flyer!" Tinker's excitement and enthusiasm was good. But only time would tell if he could make something worthwhile.
"Get inside and check the hangers of this Crusier, there might be the parts your looking for there." If anywhere can have an engine to build a flyer it will be there. An escort came around them as the Orks eagerly made their way inside.
The Orks being interconnected meant they could wordlessly coordinate in a way standard ones couldn't. It made their actions and movements far more coordinated and efficient when working on a common project. I decided to add orders for Tinker to be in charge going unchallenged just to ensure things went as smoothly as possible. I still felt uneasy about getting into something that might not be fully pressurized for high altitudes and thin air. Tinker might be fine when he flew it but I wasn't so sure about myself or the changes to my body being much help.
"I can only wait and judge once they've made better progress." I thought grimy, there was no estimated timeframe for how long this would take, even if they worked around the clock. It was going to take a long time to get this ready.
"Time I probably don't even have if Elor's words are any indication." He was getting restless about her being my hostage as well. This means I was right he wasn't getting friendly because he thought I was an alright guy but figured this would go smoother that way. Elor doesn't know my only means of getting off this world is a ship the Orks are building. So to him, it looks as if I'm stalling for no good reason and should just get off the planet.
He gave me that map for those other ones, if it could be trusted that is. Not like held the means for checking though. Besides that telling him my I couldn't relinquish my hostage in the nearest possible future wouldn't fly too well. Sure Elor knew I wanted her to ensure I'd have an ally trying to keep the Exodites from trying to kill me. But saying I am building an atmospheric ship to fly up to my Biocrusier either wouldn't convince him to be patient. Or give the Eldar something to scheme on, because I'll be flying on an extremely makesift aircraft into the air with no escort or countermeasures.
Yeah better to keep that piece of information hidden.
But how long would that guy wait before he too loses patience and decides to try and get her back the hard way? A pair of Raveners and double gaunt security was added the moment I considered the fact I had encouraged him to speak with her family. I couldn't think of a better way to speed this up. Just wait for Tinker to nab what he could from the ruins of the hanger bays and maybe not need to build us some engines and thrusters from scratch.
There was a buzzing in my head that took precedence over everything else.
I paused, Tinker was sending me an image of something. Sure I could get a good glimpse from our link but I had to get it with my own eyes, leaping onto the nearest Hormagaunt and speeding into the ship. My heart was beating like a drum in my ears as my body was flooded with joy at the idea of what he found. Up and over and sometimes ducking down from the debris clogging the hallways we found them like a heat-seeking missing missile on an aircraft's engines.
The room we blasted into was large but cluttered with dozens of emptied cargo carries and metal fallen from the ceiling. I dove off my ride and almost fell over from the disorienting motion. Staggering for a minute and let my eyes soak in the natural and illuminated light sources to see. To say I smile giddily at the sight won't do what I felt justice, because stilling right in a massive but ruined hanger bay and at the center of it all. Light up by the sun's rays and large flood lights Tinker's Mechboyz carried like standard ones was a looted imperial aircraft.
"Well, I'll be dammed! You actually found a passenger ship!" Okay, that was being generous here, the decrepit aircraft looked as if someone shot it up with a minigun, threw it into a blender, then tried attaching sheet metal with gum and string to repair it. Only one of the back landing legs was out so the whole thing was just leaning on one side. There were dents and cracks all along the wings with no glass covering the cockpit and it just had no tail wing. This wouldn't fly in its current state that was certain.
After scanning the triangular wings, cockpit location, and hanger I realized this was probably an Aquila Lander at some point. The kind the Imperial navy used to ferry personnel around, I knew its description from the Chiapas Cain books and the time I visited the wiki to get a picture of the thing. Modified, of course, to fit Orks in the pilot's chair and more in its hangar bay.
"Tinker do everything to ensure this runs again to my specific instructions." If there was any aircraft I wanted to take into the upper atmosphere it was going to be one designed to do that. Not one from scratch, plus an existing chassis with a lot of the components there was god sent. There were plenty of scraps and who knows what else in the other hangers.
As Tinker and his Mechboyz moseyed about to start gathering the materials, figure out what was needed to get this done, and work their Ork magic to make it work. I let relief flow through me, we had an aircraft with far less of a chance at killing me, it also meant they didn't have to build one from scratch either. So it was safe to assume the incredibly indeterminate amount of time my getaway ship was going to be ready in just got significantly lower.
"Now that I've gotten this problem done it's time to get down with the inevitable new one." Like how Elor and I were going to trade hostages behind the Exodite and Craftworlder's backs...
