What Happened

Time jumped. Emperors belly, that hurt thought Hammerhand. He felt ravenous. What was he doing here? Where is here actually? I am in deep shit he thought. Looking around he changed the thought. We are in deep shit is more correct.

Arvus Departure

The blocky steaming shape of Arvus lighter hunched on the pad as if hiding from the bleak grey sky overhead. A light drizzle was falling. Not an auspicious start to a new venture thought Hammerhand as he ran from the rear ramp of his Chimera which had backed up to the lighter’s loading ramp.

The spaceport was still under sporadic sniper fire from disgruntled elements of the local population. The Tau had left in their own ships once it had become abundantly clear that they could no longer deceive the planet into submission.
Most of the locals seemed indifferent to their liberation and welcome to the Imperium. Some downright resented the damage to their interests, homes and families that had occurred. Hammerhand suspected much of the resentment may have been due to the exuberance with which Moloch and Caliban had executed their instructions. Both were now stowed within the lighter.

Off to the Hulk thought Hammerhand. Hawk had reinforced his forces within the hulk as a prelude to purging it and taking control. Hammerhand had been summoned to join him and leave Commissar Steele and Captain Pilgrim in command of the Imperial forces with the tasks of suppressing all resistance and completing the reintegration of the newly discovered world.

Hammerhand ran up the loading ramp of the Arvus. A solitary lasbolt crackled by missing him by a good distance and striking sparks from the toughened hull of the small space freighter. Hammerhand scarcely noticed as he was musing on the Hulk and his and Hawk’s predicament should it decide to depart.

The Off Switch

“Just who do you think you are addressing,” retorted Hammerhand. He had immensely enjoyed saying that as he had always wanted to drive some pompous appartchik demented with it. Hammerhand blessed Hawk again for giving him these opportunities to say what he had always wanted to, to the power bullies, thugs, psychopaths and commissars.
“Your life is hostage against any deviancy. Those who question the Inquisitor Hawk’s methods must to answer to his Excellency."
“Contact Hawk now,” Ordered Marshall Vikrumm.
“The is no need as I am the Lord Inquisitor’ plenipotentiary representative on this planet with full legislative and legal powers as constituted by the Imperial Decree Inquisitorial. As such I am outside the Imperial command chain and superior to any officers of the Imperial Guard and the Commissariat.”
“What, what, how dare you,” spluttered Vikrumm.
“By order of this associate rosette and mandate of delegated Inquistorial authority I pronounce you traitor to the Emperor, may his name be revered. Do you have anything to say in your defence before sentence is pronounced.”
“Yes I have this to say in my defence,” Vikrumm snapped contemptuously as he worked the flap of his bolt pistol holster.
With a well practiced, smooth and fluidly effortless motion Hammerhand palmed his spring loaded laspistol. A new circular black rimmed orifice was created in Assault Marshall Vikrumm’s forehead. He looked astounded. Little blood tricked out as lasbolts tended to cauterise. Vikrumm fell backwards sliding across the map table. His staff were transfixed. As the back of Vikrumm’s head smacked onto the floor small pale grey gobbets of his impact dislodged brain splattered on their shiny boots.
“Staff Officer Russ, remove the mess that the traitor has got himself into.” Ordered Hammerhand. Hammerhand congratulated himself that he was now beginning to get the hang of this inquisitorial thing. He pulled Moloch’s control transmitter from his jacket pocket and signalled the control unit to bind and immobilise Moloch.
“Just ask nicely,” he remarked in a conversational tone.
“I suggest that Commissar Steele takes over for the moment while I consult with Hawk concerning a succession for the Assault Marshall”

Devilfish

A taloned hand punched through the bulkhead separating the seated armoured suited Tau warriors from the drive compartment of their Devilfish transport. An evil demonic visage followed. It emanated waves of unnatural horror that clung to any who saw it like a stench of death and decay. The warriors nearest to the apparition were retching as they tried to squirm themselves as far away from it as possible. They were crammed too tightly together in the transport's troop compartment to use weapons or in any way defend themselves or escape. It paused to allow them to appreciate the horror of their predicament. It spoke to them, not in words but directly and repulsively into their minds. "Canned meat I like that." Caliban launched himself into the compartment faster than the warriors could react. A spray of blood, bowels, gobbets of flesh and gurgling screams resonated around the compartment. In less than a minute Caliban was grinning, and preening itself while hovering over a layer of minced tissues awash with blood. The intercom snapped and spat. "Ah, the pilot," murmured Caliban and reached through the ceiling of the compartment. The Hammerhead lurched and spun. Caliban teleported. The Devilfish raced out of position and smashed into it partner in formation. Both hit the ground with an immense flash and explosion.
Further down the line of Devilfish and Hammerheads the same events recurred.

The sentry reported to Gann Arfur, "Flashes and explosion on the horizon, Sir, North West , sensors suggest 20 kliks distance."
"Any idea Hammerhand?" asked the Gann.
"Probably my and Hawk's pet."
"What sort of pet?"
"Our daemonhost, I let him off his leash just before I Ieft to come here. I have also asked him to bring his associate Moloch this time."

Last Orders

Hawk had ordered Hammerhand to make contact with the landing party, mainly Belisimar Inducted Chem Slaves, podded approximately half the planet away. After Sophia had departed with the phase bomb Hammerhand had ordered Caliban to follow her.
"Follow her," he had ordered, "kill her if you can. Don't take any chances, she will best you in a straight fight. Sneak up when she is otherwise engaged and then try to kill her."
Caliban had responded, " I will drink your soul, but hers first, and teleported out.
You will need to be a lot smarter than you are Caliban thought Hammerhand, but just stick to her and she might just make a mistake.

Then he had had to kill the Tau warrior to acquire his skimmer. This was most likely a mistake but how could he get half way across the planet in the timescale Hawk demanded. Sophia and Zakalwe had already eaten precious minutes from his schedule. But even in a skimmer how can he get across half of a civilised planet without falling foul of the local gendarmes when he did not speak much of the lingo or know anything of the customs. He could not use Zakalwe as a point of information, and anyway the fellow had been such an idiot to get in the way of Sophia's sword.

Time to go

Hammerhand examined the suited figure. For the greater good, he thought. So thats who they are. Its unusual having Tau and humans living in this way. Zakalwe did say they had been invited in. I wonder why but no time for that now. Its time to depart. He took a last look around the workshop that had seemed a paradise when he arrived. He mentally reviewed Hawks orders and the recent events in the workshop. He grabbed a bag and filled it with some of the smaller useful tools.

New trick

"The phase shifter keeps our phase in step with the C'tan sword. What Zakalwe failed to remember is that a de-tuned phase sword is still a sharp bit of metal that can cut you."
Hammerhand shrugged poor Zakalwe had never been much of a fighter. Perhaps this was what he had hoped to learn from Hammerhand. He had never understood his system of levels or his motivation for helping.

"Hawk, sends his instructions,"reminded Sophia. She picked up her sword.
"Caliban, clear up the mess," Hammerhand gestured vaguely between Sophia and Zakalwe.
"Don't get too clever Hammerhand," warned Sophia.
"Pulse bomb is charged," replied Hammerhand, "Over there." He gestured.
"Give me Inquisitor Hawks orders."

Landin Plan

In the empty hangar Hezakk addressed his Bosses and their Mobs.
"We have rich pickins on the dirtball below. All we need to do is land and chop the scummy humin natives into bits and then enjoy the planet. We is goin' to build a huge base here and all the Orks lookin for the tru leader will flock here and join our waaaghh against the useless humins."
Fat useless grot on steroids thought Garzakk. Call yourself a boss, you wouldn't know Bossin if it bit you on your green arse

Energy Transference

Caliban suddenly teleported in with a flash, a high pitched crack and a stench of burned rotting flesh. Its containing box creaked and buzzed.
"No need for the fuss and noise," remarked Hammerhand. "You won't break your containment. In fact you will never get out unless and until I release you."
"Who or what is that," asked Zakalwe eagerly.
"This is Caliban, one of Hawks pets, and if it ever gets out of the box it will eat you alive, literally."
"Come we have work to finish."

Hammerhand and Zakalwe had spent the last 3 days working on a use for the energy stored by the micro particle converter in his survival suit. The well equipped workshop had made the process easy. Zakalwe's help had made it even easier. Hammerhand still did not trust the ease with which Zakalwe had transferred his loyalty to him. Hammerhand had therefore insisted on making the teleport beacon homer for Caliban himself. He wanted no mistakes when it came to Caliban. Dealing with Caliban was a bit like juggling anti matter bare handed.
Hammerhand still vividly remembered the day he and Hawk had summonsed Caliban and forced it into the containment box.

Attakk Plan

“See dat planet.”
“See the readouts here. Deres fighting goin on.”
“If we's to go back we needs a base and some fightin and winnin' and loots an slaves and some time to build our boys back up to strength,” Hezakk set the strategy.
“Now for some cunnin tactics.”
“We need all the boys, so lets put dis scummy hulk down on dat miserable planet, dere,” He waved a broad taloned finger at an equatorial continent.
“Den once were down we gets the bikes and truks out and smashes and loots de nearest town.”
“Get the grots onto it,” He ordered.
“Right away Boss,” Replied Garzakk. You useless fat git he thought.
He stomped out of Hezakk’s control room down the scummy corridor shouting orders at the grots and lesser orks he came across.
“We’re goin’ down.”
“Brace for battle landing.”
“Get weapons ready.”
“Get the weird boyz to get this hulk out of warp.”
“Grots to the engines and wait for more orders.”
Useless bastard he thought.

Under the Silent Surface

The red painted Hull had blackened in Hyperspace. The corroded reddened hulk slipped through hyperspace leaving only a faint trail through the vortex. It was hunting.
"No Dats dem over dere." grunted Garzakk, pointed a taloned green finger.
"You betta be right dis time," snapped Boss Hezakk, in reply.

Dog Belly Dreams

An unexpected helper

"I know that you are from off planet," the flamboyant man continued. "You qualify as an Unreal even if you do not know how to behave as one."

Hammerhand stepped close to Mr Zakalwe Iridescent. His right hand slipped up his left sleeve and closed around the grip of the extensible steel bar he kept strapped to his left forearm. Low technology, he thought, but capable of smashing skulls and so effective at close quarters.

"Just a little moment, I am on you side and that of your masters," pleaded Zakalwe. "You have technology we do not have and we have technology you do not have!"

An Introduction

"Just one littlest quickie question," asked Mr Iridescent.
"No", stated Hammerhand, "there is no scope for negotiation. I need information now. I do not have time to answer every question you have. You have an opportunity to work with an "Unreal". Either take it or leave." Choose now or I will chose for you."
The flamboyantly dress little man was taken aback by this outburst. Then he brightened. Took a breath. drew himself up to his full height.
"Zakalwe," he said and stuck out his hand.
"Interesting."
"Who owns this place?"
"I do."