Welcome to the thread for the for the N17 campaign in Durham.
Current house rules:
Card deck should be a minimum of 14 card with no duplicates, no maximum limit.
Cycle 1 is limited to gang war 1 except Orlock and Genestealer cults.
Participants:
@Ardavion
@Madmac
@MordianBlue
@Patch
@pressure
@CaptainDangerous
PROLOGUE
The transport carriage groaned and squealed as it made its way up Hive Primus to the command centre. Lord Commander Albanus glanced at the purity seals in its interior, reassurances from tech priests that it is safe coming to the forefront of his mind. The commander of all armed forces of the planet Necromunda was hoping this would be the last use of his strategic skills, skills he had honed from a lifetime of war, he started in the Astra Militarum as most do, digging trenches, but was quickly spotted for his command potential after taking temporary command of a unit of guardsmen when all the officers where killed, that was a long time ago he reflected.
A groan from a cleared throat brought him back to reality, the ever present Commissar Sergius, always behind him like a shadow, always a grim look on his face, no matter how good the wit. He knew why he was there, to kill him if he put a foot wrong, luckily he hadn't, yet.
The carriage stopped at the command centre, only one of the two doors opened with a whoosh, on the other a side a guardsman was standing to attention with a perfected salute. "Just get the door open will you." "yes sir" he complied and with a heave and push he unceremoniously made his way into the room, a stomp clash from the other guardsman completed his arrival. At once he saw the massive shape of Captain Ezekiel of the Imperial Fists, he had seen Astartes many times, but they always inspired a mix of awe and fear. The giant turned and greeted him "We meet again Albanus, as always my men are ready to command" "Thank you Ezekiel, we will have need of them soon enough".
"Report" he directed at the junior officers sitting at their command stations, one, Targus rose and saluted, ill and pox looking, like most youth he thought. "Sir the enemy fleet is still blockading at the outer reaches of the system, we have had only one supply ship make it through in the past 24 hours, food is critical and there are riots breaking out all over the lower hive, reports are that manufactarum productivity is down again from yesterday".
"Any news from the navy?", "They have still been unable to break the blockade or draw the enemy into a decisive battle, no warp emanations on the scans from the relief task force either".
"What of the PDF?" he responded, "sir, the fortifying is behind schedule, too many units are needed to control the riots in the lower hive, if the enemy made planet fall we would not be ready"
"You would not be ready" Captain Ezekiel interrupted "we have two hundred marines and four thunderhawks armed, fuelled and ready to go right now".
"It is a dangerous position we are in gentlemen, I wont deny it, I think it is time we made the difficult decisions, send orders to seal the lower hives and all PDF forces are to work on the fortifications" Albanus commanded.
"But sir productivity will drop to zero" Targus objected. There was a familiar click-pop sound come from Commissar Sergius, he had just unfastened the strap on his pistol holster, Alabanus raised his hand to stop losing another a junior officer to that lethal laspistol, it was good to get objections to orders, it showed they could think
"Tell me what you think the productivity will be if the hive is overrun Targus?"
------
Nalaya was 17, or so she thought, she wasn't recorded anywhere, living on what she could find and sell in the lower hive. Not having any affinity with any one gang, just whoever paid best. It was easier to work alone, not having to look out or help anyone else, she of course knew people, she would meet them in the watering holes but also knew they wouldn't hesitate to turn her in for the chance of a bounty.
She was joining the ever growing crowd at the entrance to a landing pad, hoping she could grab some food that had regularly been given out to the lower hive from the upper, keeping the lower mob happy so that the upper could live in peace.
It was different today, there was a line of enforcers blocking the great doors of the pad, she could see the grim determined faces they had today, the usual bribes would not work.
Nalaya moved out of the crowed towards some containers to the side, nimbly jumping up onto them to get a better view over the crowd, looking again at the enforcers they armed with the devastating shock mauls and shield, lined up like a wall blocking the way, she saw there would be no pickings today and decided to move on to somewhere else when a man in blue and gold lined robes emerged from the behind the line of steely men.
He gestured widely and began "Citizens of Hive Primus, there is nothing for you here today, go to your domiciles, go to your manufactorums."
A voice broke out from the crowd "Give us our food, we need to eat", more angry voices started to ring out from all over the crowd. The man in the robes quickly made his escape the crowd seeing this took on an angry tone and the shouts become even more aggressive.
A tall man with a bright green mohawk and more confidence sounded out "If they're not giving it, lets take it", a roar sounded out as they moved towards the enforcers, barked orders from within the ranked men saw the shock mauls power on in unison.
At first the enforcers had the upper hand with their superior armour and weapons, each swing of the mauls breaking limbs, blowing open chests and popping heads, Nalaya was horrified but couldnt turn away from the carnage that was unfolding. She saw the green mohawk man was joining in but gesticulating at something further back from the crowd, it was armed Goliaths, working their way up towards the crowd where they're strength could overpower the enforcers. They must have come to take everything for themselves Nalaya decided, wouldn't have been worth her time anyway. A goliath with a large gun had made his way onto a gangway with a view of the unfolding scene, he sighted it down on the enforces and opened fire, a stuttering report sounded out as it sprayed bullets over the scene, slicing down the crowd and enforcers alike.
A loud rumbling noise heard above everything made it everyone stop and look, the landing pad doors where closing, one on each side inching there way towards the centre, designed to withstand all but the heaviest weapons at over 10ft of reinforced plasteel, all fighting stopped as gangers, enforcers and the crowd watched the doors seal them inside, with a menacing thump they contacted each other and the noise rumbling stopped and silence fell over the carnage that had been wrought.
----
Hive Primus high in the upper atmosphere was able to dock the smaller ships directly to the hive, Lord Commander Albanus was in the command centre overseeing the arrival of a transport ship from Tallarn carrying 3 whole divisions of troops, desperately needed in what was to come. They had managed to brave their way through the blockade and where on their final approach to touch down and discharge the troops.
"MALFUNCTION" one of the enginseers alarmed in their unique monotone mechanical voice.
"Status?" Albanus made is way over to the tech station, Captain Ezekiel of the Imperial Fists joining him.
"Sector 314G. Defence launcher 32. Primed" the enginseer reported.
"Get it on the display, I want see what's happening" Albanus instructed him.
The screen flickered into life and showed one of many missile launcher stationed around Hive Primus, as he watched he saw it rotate and a bright flash emitted from the rear of one of the missiles and it was gone, screaming up into the air leaving a trail of smoke behind it. Climbing higher and higher it soared towards the Tallarn transport.
"Coms, warn the ship, tell them to activate shields" he ordered the command team.
Junior officer Targus stood from his position and laughed to himself:
"You shall all become children of grandfather nur..."
His face exploded,
"Traitor" Commissar Sergius proclaimed, his smoking pistol still in hand.
"Shutdown the missile" Albanus instructed anyone and everyone.
It was too late, the missile struck the vessel midway on its belly, designed to have a delayed fuse to cause maximum damage it seemed as though it had done no damage from the exterior but in reality it was punching its way through the decks of the ship still firing its engine at maximum thrust, as it reached the centre it detonated.
The vessel cracked in two as a blinding light emerged from between it, followed by gigantic flames, it hung in the sky for several seconds before it started descending, the front coming straight down towards the command centre.
Albanus always knew he would die in service to the imperium, but had never thought it would be like this.
"Emperor protects" Captain Ezekiel said to himself.
Albanus' mind was overcome with surprise, the last thing his mind would ever do, not because the massively powerful genetically engineered warrior beside him had said that, but because he believed it.
-----
Nalaya was in a half sleep in her cot, down in a hole in the bottom of the lower hive, surrounded by her meagre possessions before she was thrown clean out sprawling across the floor, a hive quake she thought, but more powerful than she had ever felt before. She emerged from her hole into the main street and the damage was obvious, building with their backs broken, debris and dust everywhere.
But something else caught her eye, down in what was the waste disposal there was a faint green luminance, she went over to it and looked down at what appeared to be glowing fungi in a cavern tall enough to stand in, she lowered herself in.
Once in the cavern she could see many different tunnels leading in different directions, she picked one, her honed instincts saying it was the safest and ventured forth. Emerging into another cavern with more tunnels, there had been a warren underneath the hive the whole time, she picked another tunnel hoping there she could find the riches to turn her life around.
-----
STAY TUNED
Current house rules:
Card deck should be a minimum of 14 card with no duplicates, no maximum limit.
Cycle 1 is limited to gang war 1 except Orlock and Genestealer cults.
Participants:
@Ardavion
@Madmac
@MordianBlue
@Patch
@pressure
@CaptainDangerous
PROLOGUE
The transport carriage groaned and squealed as it made its way up Hive Primus to the command centre. Lord Commander Albanus glanced at the purity seals in its interior, reassurances from tech priests that it is safe coming to the forefront of his mind. The commander of all armed forces of the planet Necromunda was hoping this would be the last use of his strategic skills, skills he had honed from a lifetime of war, he started in the Astra Militarum as most do, digging trenches, but was quickly spotted for his command potential after taking temporary command of a unit of guardsmen when all the officers where killed, that was a long time ago he reflected.
A groan from a cleared throat brought him back to reality, the ever present Commissar Sergius, always behind him like a shadow, always a grim look on his face, no matter how good the wit. He knew why he was there, to kill him if he put a foot wrong, luckily he hadn't, yet.
The carriage stopped at the command centre, only one of the two doors opened with a whoosh, on the other a side a guardsman was standing to attention with a perfected salute. "Just get the door open will you." "yes sir" he complied and with a heave and push he unceremoniously made his way into the room, a stomp clash from the other guardsman completed his arrival. At once he saw the massive shape of Captain Ezekiel of the Imperial Fists, he had seen Astartes many times, but they always inspired a mix of awe and fear. The giant turned and greeted him "We meet again Albanus, as always my men are ready to command" "Thank you Ezekiel, we will have need of them soon enough".
"Report" he directed at the junior officers sitting at their command stations, one, Targus rose and saluted, ill and pox looking, like most youth he thought. "Sir the enemy fleet is still blockading at the outer reaches of the system, we have had only one supply ship make it through in the past 24 hours, food is critical and there are riots breaking out all over the lower hive, reports are that manufactarum productivity is down again from yesterday".
"Any news from the navy?", "They have still been unable to break the blockade or draw the enemy into a decisive battle, no warp emanations on the scans from the relief task force either".
"What of the PDF?" he responded, "sir, the fortifying is behind schedule, too many units are needed to control the riots in the lower hive, if the enemy made planet fall we would not be ready"
"You would not be ready" Captain Ezekiel interrupted "we have two hundred marines and four thunderhawks armed, fuelled and ready to go right now".
"It is a dangerous position we are in gentlemen, I wont deny it, I think it is time we made the difficult decisions, send orders to seal the lower hives and all PDF forces are to work on the fortifications" Albanus commanded.
"But sir productivity will drop to zero" Targus objected. There was a familiar click-pop sound come from Commissar Sergius, he had just unfastened the strap on his pistol holster, Alabanus raised his hand to stop losing another a junior officer to that lethal laspistol, it was good to get objections to orders, it showed they could think
"Tell me what you think the productivity will be if the hive is overrun Targus?"
------
Nalaya was 17, or so she thought, she wasn't recorded anywhere, living on what she could find and sell in the lower hive. Not having any affinity with any one gang, just whoever paid best. It was easier to work alone, not having to look out or help anyone else, she of course knew people, she would meet them in the watering holes but also knew they wouldn't hesitate to turn her in for the chance of a bounty.
She was joining the ever growing crowd at the entrance to a landing pad, hoping she could grab some food that had regularly been given out to the lower hive from the upper, keeping the lower mob happy so that the upper could live in peace.
It was different today, there was a line of enforcers blocking the great doors of the pad, she could see the grim determined faces they had today, the usual bribes would not work.
Nalaya moved out of the crowed towards some containers to the side, nimbly jumping up onto them to get a better view over the crowd, looking again at the enforcers they armed with the devastating shock mauls and shield, lined up like a wall blocking the way, she saw there would be no pickings today and decided to move on to somewhere else when a man in blue and gold lined robes emerged from the behind the line of steely men.
He gestured widely and began "Citizens of Hive Primus, there is nothing for you here today, go to your domiciles, go to your manufactorums."
A voice broke out from the crowd "Give us our food, we need to eat", more angry voices started to ring out from all over the crowd. The man in the robes quickly made his escape the crowd seeing this took on an angry tone and the shouts become even more aggressive.
A tall man with a bright green mohawk and more confidence sounded out "If they're not giving it, lets take it", a roar sounded out as they moved towards the enforcers, barked orders from within the ranked men saw the shock mauls power on in unison.
At first the enforcers had the upper hand with their superior armour and weapons, each swing of the mauls breaking limbs, blowing open chests and popping heads, Nalaya was horrified but couldnt turn away from the carnage that was unfolding. She saw the green mohawk man was joining in but gesticulating at something further back from the crowd, it was armed Goliaths, working their way up towards the crowd where they're strength could overpower the enforcers. They must have come to take everything for themselves Nalaya decided, wouldn't have been worth her time anyway. A goliath with a large gun had made his way onto a gangway with a view of the unfolding scene, he sighted it down on the enforces and opened fire, a stuttering report sounded out as it sprayed bullets over the scene, slicing down the crowd and enforcers alike.
A loud rumbling noise heard above everything made it everyone stop and look, the landing pad doors where closing, one on each side inching there way towards the centre, designed to withstand all but the heaviest weapons at over 10ft of reinforced plasteel, all fighting stopped as gangers, enforcers and the crowd watched the doors seal them inside, with a menacing thump they contacted each other and the noise rumbling stopped and silence fell over the carnage that had been wrought.
----
Hive Primus high in the upper atmosphere was able to dock the smaller ships directly to the hive, Lord Commander Albanus was in the command centre overseeing the arrival of a transport ship from Tallarn carrying 3 whole divisions of troops, desperately needed in what was to come. They had managed to brave their way through the blockade and where on their final approach to touch down and discharge the troops.
"MALFUNCTION" one of the enginseers alarmed in their unique monotone mechanical voice.
"Status?" Albanus made is way over to the tech station, Captain Ezekiel of the Imperial Fists joining him.
"Sector 314G. Defence launcher 32. Primed" the enginseer reported.
"Get it on the display, I want see what's happening" Albanus instructed him.
The screen flickered into life and showed one of many missile launcher stationed around Hive Primus, as he watched he saw it rotate and a bright flash emitted from the rear of one of the missiles and it was gone, screaming up into the air leaving a trail of smoke behind it. Climbing higher and higher it soared towards the Tallarn transport.
"Coms, warn the ship, tell them to activate shields" he ordered the command team.
Junior officer Targus stood from his position and laughed to himself:
"You shall all become children of grandfather nur..."
His face exploded,
"Traitor" Commissar Sergius proclaimed, his smoking pistol still in hand.
"Shutdown the missile" Albanus instructed anyone and everyone.
It was too late, the missile struck the vessel midway on its belly, designed to have a delayed fuse to cause maximum damage it seemed as though it had done no damage from the exterior but in reality it was punching its way through the decks of the ship still firing its engine at maximum thrust, as it reached the centre it detonated.
The vessel cracked in two as a blinding light emerged from between it, followed by gigantic flames, it hung in the sky for several seconds before it started descending, the front coming straight down towards the command centre.
Albanus always knew he would die in service to the imperium, but had never thought it would be like this.
"Emperor protects" Captain Ezekiel said to himself.
Albanus' mind was overcome with surprise, the last thing his mind would ever do, not because the massively powerful genetically engineered warrior beside him had said that, but because he believed it.
-----
Nalaya was in a half sleep in her cot, down in a hole in the bottom of the lower hive, surrounded by her meagre possessions before she was thrown clean out sprawling across the floor, a hive quake she thought, but more powerful than she had ever felt before. She emerged from her hole into the main street and the damage was obvious, building with their backs broken, debris and dust everywhere.
But something else caught her eye, down in what was the waste disposal there was a faint green luminance, she went over to it and looked down at what appeared to be glowing fungi in a cavern tall enough to stand in, she lowered herself in.
Once in the cavern she could see many different tunnels leading in different directions, she picked one, her honed instincts saying it was the safest and ventured forth. Emerging into another cavern with more tunnels, there had been a warren underneath the hive the whole time, she picked another tunnel hoping there she could find the riches to turn her life around.
-----
STAY TUNED
