Nuke-nuke go boom! Civil war happen! And worse too! (rp) [Archive]

28-07-2003, 14:10

Deep Underground, in the furthest reaches of Clan Skryre territory

A pair of Skaven make their way through an earthern tunnel, illuminated by the sickly green light of a Warpstone lantern. Like all Skaven, they look like humanoid rats, not the prettiest of things to begin with, but these two are espicially bad. The first of the Skaven is a bit of a runt, small and skinny and covered in patchy light-brown fur, fallen out in some places and burnt off in others. He wears a complex system of harnesses containing a wide range of tools, as well as a large pair of wire-frame glasses which rest on the edge of his long nose. The second Skaven towers over the first, or at least would if he was not forced to stoop in the narrow tunnle. His fur tends towards darker brown and he has managed to hand on to most of it, but there are still patches of burnt fur, especially around his hands. He is missing his left eye, which looks like it has been gouded out at some point in the past, and the rest of his face is a mess of scar tissue. On his back is a very large backpack, just small enough to fit in the tunnel and evidently containing something very heavy indeed.

"We nearly there yet-yet Tritch?" barks the larger one,"not know-know how long Frel can carry this"

"Hmmmm", says the other one, who we assume to be called Tritch, and gets out a map which he studies for some time. "Yes-yes. Not far now till we reach-reach old caverns. No-one find-find us there, we test-test in peace!". They resume walking down the tunnel.

"Tritch?"

"Yes Frel?"

"You think-think Warlord will be mad we stole one of his nuke-nuke to test-test?"

"If he not test-test, how he know it if work-work? Sure he say 'it too dangerous to test-test near our homes', but we know he mean test it when he not-not looking."

"You sure-sure he mean that? Cause Frel think we might-might not know how big nuke-nuke with Warpstone boom-boom, and that might be dangerous!"

"Not worry Frel! You survive up to now, yes-yes? Tritch know-know what he doing! We be extra-extra careful!"

The two emerge from the tunnel into a large natural cavern with a stream running through the centre and stalagmites and stalagtites littering the floor and ceiling. They move across to the other side of the cave and Frel drops his heavy rucksack with some relief.

"Careful! We not want to set-set off early!" squeeks Tritch from the cover of a nearby rockfall.

They open up the backpack and take out a large modern looking metal cylinder, festooned with extra protrusions with look like an alchemists drugged up nightmare and with multiple chunks of the green-black warpstone placed around it, all contained within sturdy brass struts. Frel carefully takes the top of the cylinder, revealing circuitry and electronics, again mixed with bizarre alcehmy and more chunks of Warpstone. Tritch spedns the next few minutes tinking with the device, adjusted the parts with precision tools, and in one case a hammer. Finally he stands back, a satisfied grin on his face.

"It done! it ready! You knock-knock it about a bit on way here, but Tritch fix-fix!"

Frel takes a roll of cable from his backpack, plugs one end into the nuclear device and begins to wind out a cable. He has got about a hundred metres away when Tritch stops him.

"That should be enough, we be safe-safe here, Tritch reckon"

"You sure-sure, we got-got more cable and we still get good-good view from edge of cavern?"

Most unusually for him, a doubtful thought crosses Tritch's mind about their current enterprise.

"Ummm, maybe a bit-bit further!"

They wind out a little more cable until they are standing about 200 metres from the nuke, which seems to satisfy both of them. Tritch plugs a simple button detonator on the edge of the cable, then turns to his colleague.

"Any words to mark-mark this great day, Frel?"

"Ummmm, I hope Warlord not kill-kill us for this!"

Tritch sighs for the final time, and pushes the button. Frel gets his wish, the initial blast vaporises both terribly naive Skaven before they even have time to say 'Squeek!' The blast rips through the underground tunnels and caverns, collapsing vast areas of the underground and causing a major seismic event. Those poor stupid Skaven...

[OOC - The nuke is obviously a major disaster for the Skaven, but anyone wants to play along it can have gone off under a part of their country, causing a severe earthquake, as we as leaking radioactive dust (and worse, warpstone dust) onto the surface. Any other underground nation can obviously be similarly affected.]

28-07-2003, 14:15

NEWS FLASH - A 5.9 magnitude Earthquake struck Fluttergork this morning, causing widespread damage to the Ketchup producing industry, as well as causing the President's House of Cards to fall over.

President Iosef Nilats had the following to say "Our seismic sensors detected nothing prior to this event, and our lead scientists will be conducting an investigation. In the meantime, all ketchup will be rationed."

28-07-2003, 14:39

OOC: I guess once the Skaven got their hands on a nuke it was inevitable. The Old Ones would be much more careful with it. :)

28-07-2003, 14:41

Following investigation and discovery of unauthorized nuclear testing, Fluttergork sends diplomat Dick Richard to The Skaven to ask for an aid package for the destroyed ketchup industry.

Slutbum Wallah

28-07-2003, 14:58

28-07-2003, 14:59

---Post deleted by NationStates Moderators---

28-07-2003, 15:10

Massive earthquake, huge destruction of land and buildings, irradiated land, plus warpstone dust that will horribly mutate any living creature into a horrible, evil monster.

You are asking people to volunteer for this?

A good excuse for if you ever leave the game. :wink:

OOC: Well someone might want it. Admittedly, it's one of the least pleasant disasters that could possibly befall a nation, but still...

IC:

"Oh dear-dear, this not good-good, not good at all! Many tunnels cave in, many-many Skaven buried. Last Skaven in the know-know said we lost 15,000 at least, and many-many more buried! Warlord buried too! Whole palace of Warlord buried under cave-in from above, many-many large rocks. All Skaven think her dead-dead! Digging out not going well because many Skaven fight-fight to be new Warlord! We not-not find Grey Seer Hakflem either! Not-good! Four-rain Hem-bass-seas still ok though, which is good-good, otherwise we be in real-real trouble! Need-need help!"

28-07-2003, 15:12

"Help? You want help? You destroyed my ketchup industry because you don't have nuclear controls!!!! And now you ask for help.... :twisted: "

28-07-2003, 15:12

Following investigation and discovery of unauthorized nuclear testing, Fluttergork sends diplomat Dick Richard to The Skaven to ask for an aid package for the destroyed ketchup industry.

IC: Dick Richard finds the under-ground is in absolute anarchy, and no-one is currently in charge. It is only his diplomatic status that stops him getting killed by irate Skaven on numerous occasions, and he's not sure how long even that will last.

OOC: You really want the earthquake to have happened under your nation? Bearing in mind the errrrrrmmm.....other side effects...

28-07-2003, 15:15

(OOC - I think it just happened nearby enough to cause a slight earthquake. if it was underneath it would have been more than 5.9)

Crimmond

28-07-2003, 15:20

28-07-2003, 15:21

"Help? You want help? You destroyed my ketchup industry because you don't have nuclear controls!!!! And now you ask for help.... :twisted: "

"Hey-hey! Don't blame Tcheet! I not even in charge here, I just-just on com-poot-tarr! No-one in charge here! And we need-need help to save lives, and you worry-worry about ketchup!"

Meanwhile:

Contact has been lost with Dick Richards somewhere in the under-ground Skaven nation. Circumstances are as yet unknown.

OOC - Ah ok. Sensible man :D

28-07-2003, 15:24

The People of Fluttergork send an aid package containing toilet paper, razor blades, oodles of noodles, and a copy of War and Peace.

We never like Dick Richard anyway. You can have him.

28-07-2003, 15:27

"Have you heard about these poor Ratmen?" Father Brice asked out loud in the library. All the other monks looked up, leaving their studies where they were.

"No." Father Taylor answered after some seconds of silence.

Father Brice seemed very sad. He finally explained the Skaven had toyed with the atom and that everything went wrong.

"What can we do to help them?" Father Little Joe asked.

They all seemed helpless.

"The fate of the Ratmen is in the hands of God now. Maybe, we'd better remind him of these uncareful creatures. We will make a prayer for the Ratmen before dinner." Father Brice said.

They all nodded and got back to their books.

28-07-2003, 15:27

To stop the infighting between the Skaven, 2,000 troops in radiation suits arrive with a few hundred HAZCOM teams.

After equipment is unloaded from the dropships, the CO of the troops looks down at a Skaven and talks through a commlink, "Tell your people you have a new Warlord, Lord Reil Tian. We are here to stop this senseless bickering when you need to be working to save your nation and yourselves."

OOC: Just temporary, no one attack me for it. I just find this is the quickest way to help these people organize.

There are more than a few friendly fire incidents as the Skaven, still unsure whether they are under attack and out of communications, think the troops are the first part of an invasion force. The Skaven are only using muskets, but since they are firing thumb-sized lumps of warpstone the effects are pretty nasty when they hit. Basically you are going to have to shoot your way through some groups in order to get them to stop attacking you. More groups have blockaded areas of the tunnels and are killing anyone, Skaven or otherwise, who attempts to get to them.

Some of the Skaven do listen though, and help the troops get to where they are needed. Unfortunately, just a few hours into their mission the troops hit the other obstacle of a veritable queue of huge black-furred Skaven who want to challenge Reil Tain for the status of Warlord.

28-07-2003, 15:29

The People of Fluttergork send an aid package containing toilet paper, razor blades, oodles of noodles, and a copy of War and Peace.

We never like Dick Richard anyway. You can have him.

The aid package is stolen by a gang of rampaging Skaven using the confusion to attempt to gain themselves more territory.

In all likelihood, Dick Richard has been eaten by now by one of the packs of Skaven cut off from their food supply. Cannibalism is on the rise in those hard hit areas where Skaven are desperate to survive.

Crimmond

28-07-2003, 15:36

Sigma Octavus

28-07-2003, 15:41

If you lose your Grey Seer, at least you have Pikrit (whatever) at the Shentavo Academy.

The nation of Sigma Octavus cannot give help to the Skaven. Even tho we want to, we are financing a war. No help for the Skaven, sorry.

-----------------------------------
http://fireflies.finalheaven.org/colorimg/thaoshi3.jpg
Herm Chaknov
The Rogue Nation of Sigma Octavus
Head of the ISNA
Head Council Member, NATO

29-07-2003, 01:51

The troops take refuge where they can and return fire with thier E-11s as dropships hang overhead, telling the Skaven to cease fire.

Where the troops meet challengers to Tian they escort them to the troops LZ, where hundreds of workers are securng in a low radiation zone. They are shown demonstrations of our weapons and then sent back, with a promise to "look into the matter" or "we'll do our best".

Most of the Skaven flee in terror when fired upon by heavier weapons, but progress is still dangerous since it's impossible to tell the raiding Skaven from the non-offensive Skaven before they attack, and despite their low tech level, the Skaven are frighteningly effective at ambushes and tunnel fighting.

The challengers don't take no for an answer, and by now a huge crowd of Skaven onlookers (in the thousands) had gathered round to watch what they think will be the fight to be Warlord. With no fight apparently forthcoming, the Skaven crows starts to get increasingly rowdy and it looks like a riot might be imminnent.

External Transmission:

"Please-please help us! Warlord looks dead-dead and many Skaven dead too, many more fighting each other and many-many more trapped! Much-much panic! Tcheet find safe-safe place to transmit from, but not sure-sure how last before Raiders come this way! We still getting earth-shocks (aftershocks) from nuke-nuke, and more tunnels looking like they fall-fall!"

DNS

29-07-2003, 02:04

29-07-2003, 02:07

Skaven!!! what were those instructors we sent you good for? *Sigh*

But since you are in serious doo-doo, we're gonna donate a anti-radiation team and enough WADC canisters to neutrilize the radation. About time they got a field-test.

OOC: the WADC anti-radiation canisters have been pre-RPed, and are not a god-mod. They use a Radiophage, or organism that eats nuclear radiaion.

"Well, Warlord listen, but other not-not do, and now Warlord flat-flat! You might-might have to fight to get-get to nuke-nuke site, many-many Skaven gone crazy with big-boom, think-think we under attack! Warlord is dead, so many fight-fight for position and 'way-to-talk-to-lots-of-Skaven-at-one-time' broken!"

DNS

29-07-2003, 02:10

DNS

29-07-2003, 02:10

triple post, no idea how.

DNS

29-07-2003, 02:11

Triple post, no idea how.

29-07-2003, 02:13

We get the point, we'll send in a peacekeeping force of 15,000 DNS regular infantry to guard your nation, along with the 1st Space Fighter wing.

They are mobilizing and en route.

"Good-good, you come find-find Tcheet while you here ok? Not want to die-die to raiders! Troops good-good, but some-some still get killed, Skaven fight-fight well in tunnels. You stick together and keep-keep calm and you drive-drive off Skaven-Raiders. Errrmmmm...Space fighters not fit-fit in tunnel though, best-best leave at home!"

DNS

29-07-2003, 02:16

Kandarin

29-07-2003, 02:20

We are sending a convoy of 300 KD-31B Mole burrowing tanks across the subterranean border to assist in clearing out the tunnels.

29-07-2003, 02:21

The space Fighters can keep the surface clear, and we have a few Skaven soildiers sprinkled into our army, they can help the other troops in the tunnels.

Expect them in about a day or so.

"Skaven will help-help, might make other Skaven think-think twice about fight-fight, since you appear less-less like invaders. Tcheet looking forward to you coming here-here! Tcheet think-think he better barricade the door a bit-bit more, Tcheet hear fighting outside!"

29-07-2003, 02:28

We are sending a convoy of 300 KD-31B Mole burrowing tanks across the subterranean border to assist in clearing out the tunnels.

"Good-good plan! We had-had magic digging massheens, but they all-all probably crushed under rubble. Tanks protect you from-from panicky Skaven too! Be-be careful when enter under-empire, not-not want to cause any-more cave-ins with digging!"

Crimmond

29-07-2003, 02:29

29-07-2003, 02:37

The troops begin to think this was a bad idea and begin to retreat, very subtly to the dropships.

Soon there is only a handful of ships left.

The leader looks at the Skaven. "There is nothing we can do. We can't transport the resources we need to help."

Seeing thier blank looks, "You're on your own! Lord Tian give up control. Now... scat!" He fires his blaster into the air, then heads to the dropship. "All units we are pulling out! Board your designated transport immediatly. Prepare for decontamination upon arrival in Needles. ETA, 22 minutes after liftoff."

The dropships dissappear and leave the Skaven to clean up thier own mess.

The announcement that Tian has revoked control is the spark that triggers the riot, as the multiple potential Warlords and their supporters attempt to kill the others. The weak are crushed in moments, and eventually the strongest of the forces fall back to lick their wounds and plan a horrible death for their rivals. The bodies of several hundred Skaven litter the ground to mark the battle, the latest casualtis of this crisis.

Throughout the Skaven Under-empire, the fighting has turned from random outbreaks of violence to almost a full blown civil war between the possible Warlords, still too numerous to name, but likely to be reduced in number very quickly. The fighting increases in horror as the candidates seize the Clan Skryre weapons of war and use them upon their enemies. The tunnles are soon filled with the acrid death of the poison wind, the crack of jezzails and the hellish warpfire burning those unfortunate enough to be caught in its path.

Kandarin

29-07-2003, 02:51

Alcona and Hubris

29-07-2003, 03:09

OOC: Oh well, nothing better to do...
The Skavern miners had been listening to the magic box for hours...but not sitting idly by. They had been befreinded by a man they called Pit-Mit...a sullen man who spent late hours in the mine checking and rechecking the various angles and other matters...his name to the rest of the world was Peter Macvel, or Lord Pitrimits...his family had lost most of thier money in gambling and bad loans over the years...he was forced to take up work as a mining engineer.

As that day passed, he entered the mines and found his freind..."Lot" no one knew his real name...it was unpronoucable to most humans...he had convinced the Skavern miners to help break into a regional milita armory and seize a cashe of weapons...

Lot was looking at the contraption on the water..."I not go-go above water...I sink down-down to the bottom..."
Pitrimits turned and barked..."Listen, the boat floats...you float with the boat...we go to the Skavern Island off Vrak's coast..." I thought you wanted to do this or not!"

29-07-2003, 03:38

Several of the tanks are filled with researchers seeking to examine the relatively strife-free epicenter of the explosion to discover the effects of the warpstone on the nuclear radiation. While the main group of Mole tanks digs into the populated area of collapse, about a dozen begin digging toward the old tunnels that the bomb was set off in.

OOC: Kandarin...You're a genius.

Tha atmosphere inside the Mole burrowing tank was almost suffocating for the small crew, and sweat glistened on their brows as they made painfully slow progress towards the approximate location of the initial blast. Suddenly, the external resistance on the first tank goes as it enters a large cavern...and then it drops, turning over and over as it rolls down a slope, before finally coming to rest upside down at the bottom. Luckily, the crew were all strapped in correctly and aside from some minor cuts and scrapes they are all alright. External cameras show they are at the bottom of a quite vast cavern, which appears to have been made by the blast. Crewmen Philips, James, Kein and Brookshaw get up to see what state they are in.

"This is pretty wierd", remarked crewman Philips,"it shouldn't really have done this. It should have just caved in"

"Yeah", replied crewman James, "maybe its a property of the rock around here, we'll have to get some samples before we...awww dammit!"

"What is it?", said Philips walking over to the console

"We just lost camera two. It survived all that way down and it just cut out now. That just takes the biscuit that does."

"Can we get out and fix it?", suggested Brookshaw

"Not if you ever want to have children, Brookshaw. The rads are pretty astronomical out there, and...", another screen goes black in front of James," oh shit! We just lost camera three two. That shouldn't have happened!"

"Maybe the rads are doing something to the cameras?" suggested Brookshaw again, but an expression of worry was beginning to work its way onto his face.

"Can't happen. You get EMP during the blast, not afterwards". James alters a few controls and is just giving instructions for camera two to survey the area when it too goes dead. The aura of dread is almost palatable, the crew are aware if they lose another camera they'll be blind. James brings the footage from camera four online, and for just a split-second it shows an outstretched claw...and then it too goes black.

"What in hell was that...?" whispered Philips, the first to recover from the shock.

"I...I...I think we should use the ermmm, comms?"stuttered James, an idea met with general approval by the rest of the crew.

Philips moves over to the station and begins pressing buttons. The colour drains out of his face as he does so, and the next thing he says the crew already know, "It...isn't working. Must be the radia..."

The tanks shudders as something heavy hits into the outside, throwing the crew to their feet. They rise and look at each other in abject terror as their is another thud shakes the tank.

"Oh SHIT! We've gotta get out of here, we've gotta get out!"

The thuds stop, being replaced by a great shaking of the tank, and the terrible screech of metal being torn. All of the crew are paralysed with fear, except Philips, who fumblingly grabs a pistol from the locker next to his outstretched arm.

The tearing grows definately loud, and a section of hull plating is torn away from the rest of the tank, just opposite Philips. He looks up through the hole, and sees a terrifying apparition, the warped head of a rat, with a jaw easily a metre in length, lit by green fire burning within, and with black glowing stones for eyes. He screams, and fires a couple of shots to no effect, before a great claw bursts into the tank and pulls him screaming outside, where the beast bites him in half and chews him down, the rest of the crew can hear the gristle of flesh being torn and the snap of bones.

The beast's head bursts into the tank and turns to the other crew, who are still paralysed with terror. It snaps at them, but they are far enough away to be safe from its jaws. It takes a deep breath...and exhales a cloud of green foulness which burns like no fire on earth. The chorus of screams is horrific as the flesh bubbles off the bones of the remaining crew, and silenced for good as the beast smashes its claw into the tank once more, crushing the entire left side.

The beast stalks away into the darkness, smelling more prey nearby...

Kandarin

29-07-2003, 03:53

The beast tears into the next tank in line, but in this it makes its mistake. The second tank blocks the tunnel that the rest came in through. As it tears into the tank, the tank grinds to a halt, bringing the one following it crashing into its rear, followed by the next tank crashing into the third tank's rear, and so on. Finally, the commander of the last tank in line makes a realization...

"Let's get the hell out of here."

The Mole set itself into reverse, going down its own tunnel, as the creature slowly devours the other eleven vehicles and their crews.

Inside the last Mole, sensors were going off.

"What's that noise?"

The external microphone brings a sound of tearing metal, resounding in the distance as the beast rips its way through the eleventh Mole.

And then a light appears, dimly, on the screen, of something coming down the tunnel...a green light, with glowing eyes...

The last radio signal that the tenth Mole sent before its destruction was "Unknown enemy of great power in epicenter tunnels. All Kandarin units, evacuate to our own borders NOW".

29-07-2003, 14:27

29-07-2003, 14:28

Back to the Chase...

A tense chase begins between the rapidly reversing last mole and the ravenous beast. The crew gradually make out more and more about it as it draws closer and closer:

It stands twice the height of a man and moves with great strides of its long legs. Its head is similar to that of a rat, but longer and thinner, with four great horns, two pointing back and up and two curving forwards. It’s jaw is very large, and filled with three rows of teeth which grind together as it snaps at it’s feeling prey. The beast’s eyes are sunk slightly into its head, and are pure black, looking more like perfectly oval pieces of Warpstone than eyes of a natural creature, and they glow a sickly green in the darkness of the tunnel The body of the beast is proportioned oddly, unlike either a human or a Skaven, though the basic form is the same, two arms, two legs and head. It is thin and emaciated but seems to radiate muscular power despite it. Its hands and feet end in long claws, of the same black material its eyes are made from, but slick with some dark liquid. It is covered in patchy fur, some parts of it are light-brown while others are a darker-brown. Possibly most horrific, it looks like it is made out of the fur of two Skaven, since there are faces on the left side of it’s chest and on it’s right shoulder, their empty eyes staring at nothing. Lashing behind it is its tail, like tht of a rat but much longer and some degree thicker too. Across the whole beast, wisps of Warpfire play across it’s fur, and behind it a dark cloud follows.

The chase continues, and the Mole tank looks to be pulling away...until the beast switches to all fours and begins to rapidly closes the distance. The Mole tank breaks into another open cavern, and as soon as the beast enters it leaps...landing with a crash on the roof of the tank and putting great gashes in the thick metal with its claws as it grabs hold. The Warpfire flickers across its surface grow brighter, and crackle like electricity towards it’s hands, then jump as acrid green lightning to the hull of the tank, dancing across the surface. Inside the tank, the consoles and lights explode, plunging the crew into darkness. As the lightning grounds out from the tank and into the earth, the Beast begins to tear away the hull on the roof, to reach its next meal...

...It is sometime later, and the Beast jumps out of the ravaged tank and disappears into the tunnel the Mole tank was aiming for, leaving bloody footprints behind it. The tank has been torn open and looks disturbingly like a open rib cage, and the blood of the crew leaks to form a great stain on the earthern floor of the cavern. The dark cloud that follows the beast remains also behind, filling the cavern with the scent of putrescent decay, as well as the ever-present smell of blood.

As the Beast looks for it’s next prey, primitive thoughts go through its monstrous head. It can feel the presence of its kind nearby, but it can also feel their weakness, and is disgusted by it. It will go to them, and show them fear, show them that the only power is to have your enemy fear you. Show them the true path! The beast raises it’s head an exults a great guttural cry, barely recognisable as language at all, which rings throughout the tunnels:

Praise be to the Horned Rat!

Tarasovka

29-07-2003, 14:50

"Ooooohhh...

Stupid Skaven-Skaven! You dumb-dumb as clan Fester, yes!
Not good-good!
Tar-ras-skovyan smart-smart guys tell you not to make nuke boom-boom! You listen-listen? Nooooo!
And no - big-big war!

Hmmm...

Tar-ras-skovyans say they send-send in smart-smart guys to study effect, yes? 20 smart guys.
In huge-huge suits! In strange-strange masheens...
http://www.stalker-game.com/russian/images/_game/scientist.jpg
Smart-smart guys look-look like walking eggs...

But they protected by STALKER troops, yes?
http://www.stalker-game.com/russian/images/_game/soldier.jpghttp://www.stalker-game.com/russian/images/_game/nps_big_stalker_faction.jpg
Ooooooohhh... they look-look bizarre too, yes?
And 200 of them too.

But they-they come! And clan Fester warriors also come to protect-protect smart guys, yes! 1000 Fester warriors, with more ready! They-they armed with plasma weapons! And they-they even knows how to shoot-shoot in right direction! So not-not attack them and they not-not kill you, right?

And special-special forces team set out to find the Tar-ras-sov-kar hem-bas-sad-dor. They come-come silent and nobody knows-knows they come-come! They too silent for men-thingies, yes? Me not know-know how many, but they not many-many to stay silent, right?
http://www.digikitten.com/playhousev2/files/Mishgan/ASniperCover.jpg
They look like metal boxes-boxes, right?

So Tcheet not worry-worry!"

Grey Seer Kreesr,
Clan Fiior,
General Advisor to the
Taraskovyan Department of Handling of the Skaven Affairs
on the territory of the Grand Duchy.

Feline

29-07-2003, 14:59

OOC: Sorry for the belated reply.
IC:
The feline embassy shook. A scientist stationed there ran over to a console, and activated the quantum pinging array. "High levels of radiation in some uninhabited caverns... caves falling in... huge shockwave. All indicative of a nuclear warhead detonation." Roger Jokav, the ambassador, barked out orders. "Get me the warlord. Distribute radiation protection suits. Get down to the collapsed caverns with magnetic digging tools and laser cutters. Move Move move!" he said, while thinking to himself, 'God, we warned them against nuclear weapons.'

A Crimmond group arrived, and Feline troops marched over to them. "The Skaven have there own procedures for selecting warlords. We are also trying to stablize the country, and we would appreciate your help. But the Skaven are a sovereign, er, people."
Suddenly the group came under attack. The Feline embassy guards returned fire with their ionised beam weapons, stunning several Skaven.

Back in the embassy, which thankfully is protected from radiation due to lead plating installed on the walls before the actual final layer was installed during the interior decorating of the caverns.
"Sir, the Skaven warlord is buried under the rubble, and Crimmond is trying to seize power." "Get the process of selecting a new warlord up and running, NOW. And dig the Skaven warlord out. He might still be alive."

Outside...

10 troops with a large grey sphere run out of the embassy, and run around a group distributing radiation suits. They run over to the pile of rubble where the Skaven warlord is. They put the sphere on the ground, and it extends four legs, and opens up. Rocks with iron in them were lifted up and attracted to the sphere. Slowly, but surely the rocks were removed. More troops came to dig out the rocks without iron in them.

Back at the embassy, the ambassador walked out, of course in a radiation suit. He got onto the embassy's only vehicle, basically a suped up golf cart. It was in the embassy, and was protected from radiation because of it, so its not knocked out. He, and an attache, drove to the Skaven government chambers. A loudspeaker sounded in skaven. "Attention. Radiation suits available at the Feline embassy, as well as shelter from the radiation. Please, we implore you, take the suits, and come back here, and begin the democratic selection of a new warlord." he repeated the message.

OOC: Skaven, respond to us attempting to save the Skaven, including the warlord, underneath the pile of rubble, and our attempts to start a democratic process in your nation, just in case the warlord is dead.

DNS

29-07-2003, 15:19

DNS's 1st LI land above the Skaven underkingdom, already in anti-radiation suits. The Skaven members of the 1st LI, around a hundred in number, start leading the others down into the tunnels.

"Come-come, I-I shows you-you the way, yes I will-will."

Sigma Octavus

29-07-2003, 15:26

A single dropship sets down above the tunnels. 4 SOET in HCA (Hazardous Combat Area) suits walk out. They each carry a G36, 2 pistols, a baton, an ammo pack and a rocket launcher. They are going to help out with the rioting in the tunnels. One spots a nearby tunnel entrance and gestures. All 4 approach it and enter.

They can hear fighting echoing up the tunnel and pull out their G36's. They load rubber bullets and walk down the tunnel, ready for anything.

Feline

29-07-2003, 15:29

Commanding Feline's efforts there from a console in the glorified golf cart, the ambassador notes the arrival of more troops from more nations. "We are trying to resolve the situation, and welcome your help." he sends to them. "Please do not try to establish a government, this will lead to further fracturing of the society, as we are already attempting to do this, and save the warlord."

Feline

29-07-2003, 15:29

Alcona and Hubris

29-07-2003, 15:35

“No-no! You know-know humans float, but Lot sure that Skaven sink! Boat see-see Skaven and sink-sink to bottom of sea! Can we not-not just us tunnel to get there? We might have to fight-fight other Skaven, but at least water not try-try and kill us!”

Lot plays with his assault rifle nervously as he waits for a response.

“Please-please?”

The engineer looked at him,
"Lot, you have marvled at the human objects that we have...the air drills, the stuff that goes boom in the hard rock, the massive machines that pull the rock to the surface...the problem is time, we don't have it to dig all the way to the Skavern tunnels...and you've already been on a boat...you remember when you went to sleep and woke up in the man tunnels? You were put to sleep...and put on a 'boat', you didn't sink...the boat will keep you from sinking,...if you hide in the boat...in the man places...the water will not see you and try to kill you...I know your worried...but to beat the water will make you stronger...that and think of what the other Skaven will say if you announce you have travled above the water..."

Vrak

29-07-2003, 15:39

An aide suddenly rushed up to Ipshi Hagwonak who was currently conduction negotiations with a Skaven delegation on a remote island.

[OOC: http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=53571&highlight=]

"Pardon me," Ipshi said to Skaven, "I'm afraid an important message came in. Shouldn't be too long."

"shfk jkasdf..."
Translated from Vrakian

-Ambassador. There have been reports of an earthquake in Fluttergork. Preliminary Intel reveals that there may be a link with the Skaven.
-Hmmm. It seems that either these Skaven know nothing about it or are holding back from us. What does the Diplomatic Corps advise?
-Proceed with caution. Find out their loyalties and their true purposes. As well, we are attempting to contact Alcona and Hubris for consultation. They apparently have contact with another group of Skaven. Above all, the World Court proceedings take precedence. We don't know what the Skaven are about but in this particular juncture we can't afford to leave ourselves vulnerable.
-Indeed. Can we offer assistance should the topic arise?
-Uncertain Ambassador. It depends on what it is and what our capabilities are.
-Okay. Relay that the message has been acknowledged and understood.
-As you command.

Kandarin

29-07-2003, 15:40

The other 288 tanks, naturally, made a hasty retreat for the border. Border fortifications were rigged with explosives, collapsing their tunnels. It was as if fear had infected their souls.

Sigma Octavus

29-07-2003, 15:43

The SOET, unaware of the danger, pressed forth into the tunnels. They had shot numerous Skaven with rubber bullets, leaving them laying down in pain instead of fighting. When they ran out of rubber bullets, they switched to Anti-personnel.

"Okay people. Keep this by the books! Only fire when fired upon and everything will work out"

Three "Yessir!"'s echoed thru the tunnels.

DNS

29-07-2003, 15:59

A scout fireteam of 1 Skaven, 3 humans, and 2 elves make it down to one of the main tunnels.

"Is it usually this quiet?"

"No-no, usual big-big noise. Cheep wor-worried."

"Yeah, me too. Guys, keep your safety off."

They look around the totally deserted cavern, and slowly begin to walk down it.

Sigma Octavus

29-07-2003, 16:10

One SOET turns on a com link to another.

"Hey, Elinari."
"Yeah? What?"
"Have you noticed that there hasn't been any Skaven around for a while. What's up with this?"
"I dunno Jack. Seems a little quiet. Should be Skaven all over the place."
"Well, watch your back."
"You too."

They cut the link and kept on walking, lighting up the tunnel with their flashlights.

DNS

29-07-2003, 16:14

Alcona and Hubris

29-07-2003, 16:20

[OOC: http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=53571&highlight=]

-Proceed with caution. Find out their loyalties and their true purposes. As well, we are attempting to contact Alcona and Hubris for consultation. They apparently have contact with another group of Skaven.

OOC: Great, now I'm going to have to RP this too :lol:

From: Outer Ministry
To:Vrak Diplomatic Envoy
Subject: Skaven.

At the present time we have no formal treaty with the Skaven, we do have a group of 'international workers' from that nation...we have contacted the Ministry of Security to locate them and gain any infomation about possible causes of Earthquake...we have noted that gelogically there are no faults in the area, but indications of deep limestone deposits in that region. (what you would need to have stalagmites and tites)

Sigma Octavus

29-07-2003, 16:23

"Wait a second, isn't that a light over there?"

"Take cover! I'll see if their friendly"

"Alright Quand, be careful"

The DNS soildier in charge of the fireteam, an elf, walks slowly forward towards the lights. He takes out his flashlight and waves it.

(is this referring to my squad?)

DNS

29-07-2003, 16:26

Vrak

29-07-2003, 16:27

**********
ENCRYPTED - MED
**********
****
International route - A&H Outer Ministry
****
****
route complete
****

From: Vrak Diplomatic Corps
To: Alcona & Hubris Outer Ministry
Subject: Skaven

Understood. This situation has been assigned a level 3 priority. We think it best if we pool our knowlege regarding the Skaven. Our officer in the field has been instructed to keep us updated.

Sigma Octavus

29-07-2003, 16:30

(No, I'll RP it.)

All four SOET stop moving as they see a light bobbing in a tunnel near them. They all halt and raise their rifles.

"Could be hostile Skaven. Don't fire yet."

(They won't shoot, unless shot at.)

DNS

29-07-2003, 16:32

The DNS soildier slowly walks towards the SOET, his gun hanging by its strap at his side.

"Hello?! Anyone there?" shouted the DNS soildier, nervous as hell.

Sigma Octavus

29-07-2003, 16:36

"Weapons down men. Doesn't sound like Skaven."

They kept their weapons down, but ready, and walked towards the light. The come around a corner and encounter a nervous looking soldier.

29-07-2003, 16:38

The former Palace of the Warlord

Slowly but surely the Feline contigent manages to clear the rubble to allow access to the the Throne room, the last reported location of the Warlord. The Palace has been hard hit, it certainly looks like it has suffered a lot more than other tunnels an equal distance from the blast. The Throne room is breached, and their are countless bodies buried under the stone pillars which have fallen, bringing down part of the roof with it. Unfortunately, the Throne appears to have been crushed under one of the pillars, and there is a body still on the ravaged throne. From the pieces of his ornamental armour left in one piece, it is clear that this was the Warlord. The contigent is preparing to leave, when one of them notices something, the pillars all appear to have fallen outwards, which is very unusual. Further investigations ensue, and the terrible truth comes to light, this was not a result of the nuclear blast, the collapse of the Throne room was caused by a bomb planted just above the ceiling, detonated in the confusion.

The numerous tunnels of the Skaven Under-Empire

All the forces dispatched to help those affected by the blast or to quell the violence find their tasks very difficult, there is no communication and the waring Warlords-to-be seem intent on either killing the outsiders for prestige or trying to get them to attack other candidates. It quickly becomes evident that the peacekeepers have a mammoth task ahead of them. This happens to the forces from Feline, Tarasovka and Sigma Octavus. DNS however, is going to encounter something else...

The Tarasovkan special forces find that while the diplomatic quarter is intact, it has been taken over by one of the more powerful potential Warlords, who is protecting the diplomats (they still have most Skaven in awe) but ruthlessly killing any-one who tries to get near them. He has collapsed all but a few tunnels to the embassies and turned the remaining tunnle into death-traps.

Some of the Skaven take the suits offered by the Feline staff, but not many. In the confusion, explaining democracy is not going overly well either, and rumours start to spread that one of the Feline embassy staff is a potential Warlord. Recruits to his forces start flocking to the Embassy and pledging their support to him. They then start stopping other Skaven from geeting near, fearing they might try and assassinate their new leader.

DNS Scout Fireteam - Somewhere in the Under-Empire

It is quiet as a tomb in the caverns they pass through, and the Skaven member of the team begins shaking with fear. He is powerless to explain what has him so spooked, it seems something primal and overwhelming. The elves and humans do their best to keep him moving, but soon the fear begins to trickle into them too. The shadows appear to grow longer and the air drops rapidly in temperature. A terrible smell filters into the cavern, it smells like rotting flesh and blood. The silence is overpowering, every breath rasping through the still air and every footfall echoing through the tunnel.

Then the silence is shattered by a deep gutteral roar which ends in a high-pitched screeching scream which echoes through the tunnels over and over again. The smell gets infinitely worse, until the Skaven claws as its nose as if it is burning. A regular thump of large footfalls seems to be drawing closer, but its impossible to tell what direction is coming from. The Skaven gibbers to himself in half-words, being apparently to scared to even think properly.

The dark of the the tunnel opposite them begins to fade, as it is lit by a pale green glow from somewhere out of sight. On seeing this, the Skaven lets out a quiet squeek and curls up into a foetal ball, shivering violently. The light starts to grow brighter, and the scout team can now hear heavy breathing, getting nearer and nearer.

29-07-2003, 16:39

OOC: Didn't see your last posts, assume both the Sigma and DNS teams are there for the nasty thing approaching...

Sigma Octavus

29-07-2003, 16:41

Yep.

DNS

29-07-2003, 16:44

"What the h3ll is that?" The DNS soildier that was meeting the Sigma team whirls around, bringing his gun to bear towards the green light. "You know what that is?" He shouted over his sholder towards the SOETs.

"Hey Cheep, you all right?" One of the human soildiers moves over next to the Skaven. "Your looking like 10 miles of bad road man." He crouches over Cheep, putting his body between him and whatever was coming.

Sigma Octavus

29-07-2003, 16:48

The SOET whip up their rifles at the noise and one replies to the DNS soldier,"No, we just got here!"

They all go into a knealing position and move towards the DNS team. They make sure that they won't hit any friendlies if it comes to firing.

One SOET loads up dum-dum rounds in case they need extra stopping power. They all turn on their laser sights.

DNS

29-07-2003, 16:54

"Crud, where are you guys from anyway?" The DNS soildiers take cover behind rubbel and overturned carts that litter the tunnel. The human soildier guarding Cheep gets worried, he seems to be getting worse.

Sigma Octavus

29-07-2003, 16:57

"We're from Sigma Octavus. Where are you from?"

The SOET who is talking moves over behind a boulder and gets in a good position to mow down whatever is coming.

29-07-2003, 16:59

The light continues to grow brighter, and the breathing louder. The air in the cavern is becoming almost too putrid to breath, the troops are having to fight down the urge to gag (assuming they haven't got gas masks). Another roar echoes through the caverns, this time it seems much louder, or much closer, again it starts low and ends in a hideous drawn-out screech.

The light at the end of the tunnel draws closer, and now it is two lights, two glowing green eyes, and a gaping maw lit by the same sickly light. The thud of footsteps becoming quicker as it's tred breaks into a run, the earth shaking under its feet.

Tarasovka

29-07-2003, 17:00

The Black Wolves team, numbering a total of 15 operatives of the "Star" infiltration team, was pinned down in one of the tunnels leading to the embassy sector.
Periodically, something weird would whistle past them.
The operatives didn't know what it was
- Sire, there is no way we could get through, flanking maneuvers limited!

- I know that, lieutenant! Will have to go through by force!

- Yes, sire!

- Men, stay alert and try to be as stealthy as possible... as possible.
Star 10 and 11, take out the shooters on that ridge to the left, Star 2 and 3, cover the right flank, move out!

- Yes, sire!

The troops carefulyl moved out, eliminating all resistance.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, the 1000 Skaven Fester fighters have taken position in tunnels leading to the tunnel network of the Fester clan under the Duchy and prepare to defend it, witj more Fester and Taraskovyan NGF troops heading in.

- Skrik feel nothing-nothing?

- No-no... you smell-smell anything?

- No-no... only Skrik's dirty fur, yes!

- Dirty fur? Me take-take bath not long ago!

- Yes, how much not long-long ago?

- 2 month-months!

The Skaven warrior proudly bumped his torso with his fist. He was in a sort of futuristic armor, of a very resitant alliage, but yet - very mobile. He was wielding a large long rifle, probably a plasma one. The numerous warriors that were near them were wearing the same armor and had a bit the same weaponry.

Note:
Fester clan are citizens of the Duchy and have a tunnel network under our territory. From this network, several tunnels lead towards the tunnels of the Great Clans. The Taraskovyan Fester warriors are defending those tunnels.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The STALKER group moved towards the epi-center of the explosion. In front of them, were two digger machines that were digging a tunnel right straight to the objective. After them, was a group of APC's that was progressing through the tunnel, carrying troops and scientists, one other digger machine was just in front of the rear APC - just in case of the behind of the tunnel would collapse. Everything was closed by a group of soldiers on foot who were making sure there was no one behind them.
Suddenly, something flapped on the ground. The rear APC immediately turned on his rear lights and...
In front of the covering STALKER group were several HUGE rats that were "smiling" very angerly at the Taraskovyan group.

http://www.stalker-game.com/russian/images/_game/wolfrats.jpg

- Uhm, Vlad... I don't think he says "hello!"

- Neither do I, Stas, but better not... greet them either...

- Ignore them and they'll go away?

- Exact- ... OH SHIT!!

The group of 12 huge rats rushed at the covering group. The group itself rushed to the APC and took cover in it, shooting through the haches. The APC opened fire from it's heavy turret...
The rats were eliminated but suddenly, a terrible and long squeaking was heard through the gallery, with some other weird noises mixed to it...
In the first digger machine, the digging speed was increased susbtantially and the column sped through the tunnel.

Sigma Octavus

29-07-2003, 17:06

(The suits the SOET are wearing are fully self-contained. Rebreathers, oxygen-filters, everything.)

They could see it, but not what it was. It grew closer with each second. The SOET tightened their fingers on the triggers, ready to blow this thing away.

"Wait for it......"

DNS

29-07-2003, 17:07

"We're from Sigma Octavus. Where are you from?"

The SOET who is talking moves over behind a boulder and gets in a good position to mow down whatever is coming.

"DNS, we're both NATO countries if I remember correctly."

The light at the end of the tunnel draws closer, and now it is two lights, two glowing green eyes, and a gaping maw lit by the same sickly light. The thud of footsteps becoming quicker as it's tred breaks into a run, the earth shaking under its feet.

2 of the DNS soildiers panic and start fireing at the approaching eyes. Hearing the gunfire all but the human taking care of Cheep start fireing wildly at the eyes.

OOC: their in radiations suits, so they have gas masks.

Sigma Octavus

29-07-2003, 17:09

The SOET open fire. Bullets from both NATO countries fly into the thing.

(I knew, but I don't think my SOET did.)

DNS

29-07-2003, 17:17

One of the DNS soildiers throws a fragmentation grenade. Another one shouts at him, "You idiot, you'll bring down the tunnel roof!"

OOC: Alright.

29-07-2003, 18:35

The beast bursts into the cavern, as shots thud into it and richochet into the walls around it. Now it is close enough for the two fire teams to see it properly, in its full horrible glory, and the aura of fear grips them as it did the Skaven.

It rushes forward, stumbling slightly as the frag grenade goes off to the left of it, but still coming, oblivious to the damage the bullets are doing to it. Just before it reaches the first man, it throws its mouth open wide and lets out another roar, this one deafening in volume, which shakes the cavern, causing dust and pebbles to rain down from the ceiling. As it screeches, flecks of black spittle fly from its mouth, splattering across the ground and onto the arm of the lead SOET trooper. Vapour rises as the spittle begins to eat through his suit, as well as melting the rocks it has splashed upon.

It tenses for a moment, as if it is going to leap, and its black eyes appear fixed on the DNS trooper who threw the grenade.

29-07-2003, 18:39

The engineer looked at him,
"Lot, you have marvled at the human objects that we have...the air drills, the stuff that goes boom in the hard rock, the massive machines that pull the rock to the surface...the problem is time, we don't have it to dig all the way to the Skavern tunnels...and you've already been on a boat...you remember when you went to sleep and woke up in the man tunnels? You were put to sleep...and put on a 'boat', you didn't sink...the boat will keep you from sinking,...if you hide in the boat...in the man places...the water will not see you and try to kill you...I know your worried...but to beat the water will make you stronger...that and think of what the other Skaven will say if you announce you have travled above the water..."

"Arrghhh! I went-went on a boat! Sea get-get me this time cause I escaped last time! Hmmmm, or maybe Sea scared of me! Yes-yes, that sound right! Sea scared of Lot! Scared to kill-kill him! Lot invincible!"

He waves his AK in the air and fires off a few shells, to the appreciation of the other Skaven, who always get their courage from numbers.

"Alright! We go over Sea and find-find place, where world not gone crazy!"

Alcona and Hubris

29-07-2003, 19:05

Pitrimit thought...
Well I can get them on the boat!...yeah!

The Lord directed them to load themselves and the men on the boat, actually it was an old WWII torpedo destroyer that had been awaiting a radio and radar upgrade that had been back ordered...a little tampered whiskey had left the Milita guard a little 'sleepy'...

As the Skavern held themselves in the crew quarters with the arms...Lot, who now seemed to want to see the sea not kill-kill him, stood on the bridge with his human acomplice.

"Now, we have a choice Lot, we can either make for some long lost island for you to live on...or we can set out to do what we orginally stole all those weapons to do...help your Clan-clan gain the Warlord with man weapons...and reward me with lots of warpstone"

*****
In the gathering light, a group of men and a woman in green jackets strode up the side of a hill. Above them was an old shafthouse that had the words Skavern Lund painted on it's side...
The first man banged on the corragated metal that was acting as a door, yelling..."Open up in the name of the Duke..." Finally, he pushed open the door and looked inside...rusted equipment stood around with a path through the dust headed to the mine head, and down into the darkness where faint lights could be seen...
"Alright, the mining company said they lived down in this abandoned shaft and came over by a tunnel to work...get your lights and side arms ready...they are not expecting us..."

Sigma Octavus

29-07-2003, 19:13

The SOET with the melting arm panicks for a second. There was nothing like this in training or any other conflict! He whips out his combat knife and cuts off the armor on his left arm. Luckily none of the stuff hits his flesh.

He and the rest of the SOET concentrate their fire on its head. The one with dum-dum rounds switches to armor-piercing when he unloads his rifle into the creature.

DNS

29-07-2003, 19:18

The DNS soildier who threw the grenade was scared stiff, and he did what came natural to him, repeat the last action he had done. He grabbed his last grenade and threw it into the mouth of the creature, what ever it was. For some reason, the inside of his suit had gotten very smelly in the last few seconds. :wink:

The other DNS soildiers blasted away at the creature, running mostly on instinct.

29-07-2003, 23:23

Tarasovka

29-07-2003, 23:28

OOC:
Uhm...
Should I await a post of yours to the current progress of my men or should I go on without it? :shock:
See my post above, the one with the giant rat in it :?

29-07-2003, 23:56

The skaven scouts of Clan Lanetal slipped through the darkness and silence, whiskers twitching madly. Behind them in the gloom of one of the main tunnels, a huge number of motorised sleds followed. Like their new comrades in the Whispering Voices military, they were in complete environment-sealed bodyarmour, with filtration devices and rebreathers. However, unlike the helmet and HUD devices possessed by the humans guarding the convoy, the skaven had organic membraneous films over their skulls, stretched tight, allowing their whiskers and sensitive noses to be used to full effect.

The convoy had been moving for quite some time; corpses of skaven and creatures alike were piled in large sickening heaps upon the sleds; malevolent moving compost heaps. A small unit of Shepherds moved in the centre, their chicken-legged bodies carrying them along with odd jerking movements, their sensor arrays scanning the smaller passages as well as the main one for unwanted biomass.

The skaven scout at the head of the convoy, accompanied by two humans, sniffed. He smelled someone ... another rat-man, close by.
"Soon we meet-meet them, yes-yes. I smell-smell Eshin, yes-yes. Bastard hate-hate. We kill-kill, make more food for the fish-fish." His eyes gleamed, and the humans on either side said nothing, but their tracking systems and scanners would give them a good lock on anything approaching.

30-07-2003, 13:01

OOC - Sorry about the delay. Missed your post and then went out :oops:

The Black Wolves team, numbering a total of 15 operatives of the "Star" infiltration team, was pinned down in one of the tunnels leading to the embassy sector.
Periodically, something weird would whistle past them.
The operatives didn't know what it was
- Sire, there is no way we could get through, flanking maneuvers limited!

- I know that, lieutenant! Will have to go through by force!

- Yes, sire!

- Men, stay alert and try to be as stealthy as possible... as possible.
Star 10 and 11, take out the shooters on that ridge to the left, Star 2 and 3, cover the right flank, move out!

- Yes, sire!

The troops carefulyl moved out, eliminating all resistance.

A furious gun battle results, the Black Wolves have the advantage because of their automatic weapons, but the Skaven jezzails have the advantage of their emplaced positions. Suppresive fire does its work from the Black Wolves, and several Skaven fall, the rest falling back further down the tunnels. However, one Black Wolf took a Warpstone slug in the leg, and another one was winged in the shoulder.

The tunnel carries on, and seems to get lower and narrower. It look like this area has been deliberately partially caved in by the Skaven. The Black Wolves can hear whispering Skaven voices from ahead of them, but they are out of sight, somewhere down the tunnel.

Meanwhile, the 1000 Skaven Fester fighters have taken position in tunnels leading to the tunnel network of the Fester clan under the Duchy and prepare to defend it, witj more Fester and Taraskovyan NGF troops heading in.

- Skrik feel nothing-nothing?

- No-no... you smell-smell anything?

- No-no... only Skrik's dirty fur, yes!

- Dirty fur? Me take-take bath not long ago!

- Yes, how much not long-long ago?

- 2 month-months!

The Skaven warrior proudly bumped his torso with his fist. He was in a sort of futuristic armor, of a very resitant alliage, but yet - very mobile. He was wielding a large long rifle, probably a plasma one. The numerous warriors that were near them were wearing the same armor and had a bit the same weaponry.

Note:
Fester clan are citizens of the Duchy and have a tunnel network under our territory. From this network, several tunnels lead towards the tunnels of the Great Clans. The Taraskovyan Fester warriors are defending those tunnels.

Some raiding parties do attempt to breach the line, but are quickly driven back by the superior firepower of the Fester troops and then the attacks stop, probably as the Raiders look for easier pickings.

The STALKER group moved towards the epi-center of the explosion. In front of them, were two digger machines that were digging a tunnel right straight to the objective. After them, was a group of APC's that was progressing through the tunnel, carrying troops and scientists, one other digger machine was just in front of the rear APC - just in case of the behind of the tunnel would collapse. Everything was closed by a group of soldiers on foot who were making sure there was no one behind them.
Suddenly, something flapped on the ground. The rear APC immediately turned on his rear lights and...
In front of the covering STALKER group were several HUGE rats that were "smiling" very angerly at the Taraskovyan group.

http://www.stalker-game.com/russian/images/_game/wolfrats.jpg

- Uhm, Vlad... I don't think he says "hello!"

- Neither do I, Stas, but better not... greet them either...

- Ignore them and they'll go away?

- Exact- ... OH SHIT!!

The group of 12 huge rats rushed at the covering group. The group itself rushed to the APC and took cover in it, shooting through the haches. The APC opened fire from it's heavy turret...
The rats were eliminated but suddenly, a terrible and long squeaking was heard through the gallery, with some other weird noises mixed to it...
In the first digger machine, the digging speed was increased susbtantially and the column sped through the tunnel.

From time to time, the crew of the vehicles hear what sounds like a deep roar echoing from somewhere else in the tunnels, as well as a constant scratching noise that just doesn't seem to stop. A couple of times, the rear vehicle spots eyes reflecting its lights, but they never come out far enough to be recognisable.

And then there is a horrible squeal as the the digger hits some unnaturally hard rock and comes to a smoking stop. Just what they needed...

(They just hit warpstone)

30-07-2003, 13:06

Pitrimit thought...
Well I can get them on the boat!...yeah!

The Lord directed them to load themselves and the men on the boat, actually it was an old WWII torpedo destroyer that had been awaiting a radio and radar upgrade that had been back ordered...a little tampered whiskey had left the Milita guard a little 'sleepy'...

As the Skavern held themselves in the crew quarters with the arms...Lot, who now seemed to want to see the sea not kill-kill him, stood on the bridge with his human acomplice.

"Now, we have a choice Lot, we can either make for some long lost island for you to live on...or we can set out to do what we orginally stole all those weapons to do...help your Clan-clan gain the Warlord with man weapons...and reward me with lots of warpstone"

"Help-help Clan! We been-been tools of the other clans for too long! We go and help-help them to become Warlord! Steal Warpstone-maker from Clan Skryre! Make Clan Eshin strong! And give friend-Pitrimit lots of warpstone, so he tell-tell humans what to do!"

The Skaven of the Skaven gather round and start whooping and waving their guns in the air.

Tarasovka

30-07-2003, 13:31

OOC:
No prob!
Justa thing - the Black Wolves are in heavy armor of this type:
http://www.digikitten.com/playhousev2/files/Mishgan/ABWguy.jpg
IT's a Halo one :D
Very protective, heavy but still very "maneuverable"! :shock:
Anyway...

IC:

The group was progressing. The leader team was clearing the way.
Star 10 and 11 were putting up a supressive fire over the ledges and the ridges. Star 2 and 3 were advancing through their side, making sure no one attacked from the flanks.
Star 5, 6 and 7 were the leading team.
And they were pinned down. The tunnels were twisty, and treacherous, with skaven gun positions nearely every 5 meters.
Star 10 and 11 finalyl cleared out the ridge and the rest of the team moved out to help the leading team.

- Lena, to the right, to the right!

- I see it...

The woman operative turned around and shoot a Skaven that peered out of nowhere at nearely a point blank range. She prepared to throw a grenade to block the small tunnel when an other mad Skaven jumped out and shoot a warp stone at her. The impact was more powerfull than one would have expected. The stone incrusted itself into the higher layers of the armor, making the lower layers bump into the shoulder of the operative. She was slightly thrown away, with her right hand still pushing the trigger and decorating the Skaven with a dozen of bullets.

- Lena! Shit, Grish, cover me!

- Go!
Spirit team, this is Spirit 6, need back up, now! Man wounded, repeat - man wounded! - the last was said into his helm radio.

The man operative rushed towards the woman, tossing a grenade into the small tunnel. The woman was fine, although the deformed lower layers of the armor were aching into her shoulder. Suddenly, with a loud squeak two more Skaven jumped out of nowhere. They have dug their way through a not very solid land mass! The operative that was covering the woman shoot one of them dead. But received a warpstone into the leg part of the armor. Yet again - the stone deformed the layers of the armor and ached into the operative's leg. A big deal of pain it was. The operative crumbled down. Spirit 6, who was armed with a plasma rifle, sent two charges on the Skaven warriors, burning them and killing them both. He finished it all by blocking the newly digged out gallery with a grenade.

At this very time, Spirit 14 and 15 erupted on the scene, and behind them, covering each other - the rest of the team.
Spirit 14 bent on one knee near the two "wounded".

- Shit! This armor has a layer of ceramic titan over it! It is made to resist the heat of a plasma charge and the impact of a tank shell!

Spirit 6 only shrugged.

- Seems as if it isn't enough to resist a warpstone.

- It IS enough. The warpstone just... muted upon impact!

With that, Spirit 14 extracted the two charges from the operatives' armors.

- Yes, they did mute. And not a simple muting! Must have been because of the explosion. Lena, Stan, you allright?

The two operatives nodded and slowly stood up. Spirit 1 arrived. He inspected his men shook his head and gave one order.

- Move out!

And yet again, covering each other the group moved out...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- Uhm... Skrik?

- Yes?

- You smell-smell anything?

- Yes-yes. Rieask fart-fart?

- No... uhm... you hear-hear something?

- Yes-yes! OH! Raider-raider!

The Fester warriors suddenly were facing a group of raider Skavens. And being better armed and armoured than the raiders, the Fester quickly drove them off...
Without an incident of course. One of the Fester forgot that in order ot kill an enemy, you need to point the gun at him and not at yourself.
As result, one Fester casualty was listed under: friendly fire.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BABAH! SKRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIK! FROUM! Pssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhht.

The column stopped. The crew of the leading digger came out and inspected the boreing(sp?) tip. It was ugly damaged - deformed. There were several replacement parts in the rear, but the rock was solid. To the right - the rock seemed softer. The engeneers, under the cover of STALKER troops started replacing the metal tip, while the APC's worryingly scanned the tunnel for ennemies. The termal visors seemed to be out. Night vision - also. The closer they were getting to the epicenter, the more trouble it was...

- Stas, you think we're here for long?

- Don't know Vlad, but keep your rifle ready...

- I hope they repair the machine soon.

- Me too Vlad... me too...

A lonely squeak was heard through the gallery...

30-07-2003, 13:51

Embassy Rescue Team

OOC - Understood about the armour. I'll basically put what hits or could hit the troops, and you can say what (if anything) makes it through.

The two operatives nodded and slowly stood up. Spirit 1 arrived. He inspected his men shook his head and gave one order.

- Move out!

And yet again, covering each other the group moved out...

The tunnel ahead is insanely low but by crouching the team can still make progress. They start to do so, being very careful indeed after hearing the voices from up ahead. Advancing forward, they can see some movement down near the end of the tunnel, but its too far away to make anything out. Suddenly, they hear a voice from above.

"Now-now! Burn-Burn!"

A sheet of Warpfire roars into the tunnel from a hole in the ceiling as a Skaven Warpfire thrower team spring their trap, a little too early as it turns out, since they only catch the lead Black Wolves rather than the whole team. The Warpfire sets not only its targets, but also the rock itself on fire, and the whole tunnle is lit by almost blinding green-white light. The Skaven maintain the barrage, filling the corridor with flame so its impossible to get past them. A noise is just audible over the roaring flames:

"Whahahahehehehe!!!"

And then the flames slow a pathetic dribble and stop, looking not unlike a water pistol running out, though obviously far more lethal. With a series of frenzied squeeks, Skaven charge down the narrow tunnel, firing their Warplock muskets inaccurately at the Black Wolves. Meanwhile, the Warpfire thrower team frantically try and reload in their cubby-hole above.

Epicentre Investigation team

BABAH! SKRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIK! FROUM! Pssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhht.

The column stopped. The crew of the leading digger came out and inspected the boreing(sp?) tip. It was ugly damaged - deformed. There were several replacement parts in the rear, but the rock was solid. To the right - the rock seemed softer. The engeneers, under the cover of STALKER troops started replacing the metal tip, while the APC's worryingly scanned the tunnel for ennemies. The termal visors seemed to be out. Night vision - also. The closer they were getting to the epicenter, the more trouble it was...

- Stas, you think we're here for long?

- Don't know Vlad, but keep your rifle ready...

- I hope they repair the machine soon.

- Me too Vlad... me too...

A lonely squeak was heard through the gallery...

The scratching sound continues, seemingly growing louder, and the troops on rear guard can see the glint of lights in the distance. A few tense minutes pass, and then a lone rat scampers out (probably getting blown away in the process).

Just after the troops have time to calm down after the rat, a tide of squeaking rats, hundreds upon hundreds surge down the passage towards them, biting each other in a frenzied rage. Most of them are normal sized, but there are a few large rats in amongst them, bounding towards the rear guard. They just keep coming too, more and more entering the light as the lead rats draw closer...

Tarasovka

30-07-2003, 14:29

Embassy Rescue Team.

Suddenly, it was hot. VERY hot. The two operatives in the lead were caught into something... flammy...
Several spirits rushed towards their comrades and puleld them out of the fiery grip. Their armors did protect them and had heat-deflecting systems(for anti-plasma resistance) and interior short-cycle cooling systems, still long exposure wasn't "advised".
The tunnel was blocked with fire. Three operatives opened supressive fire through the wall, not really hoping to get anyone, but simply not to receive warpstones in the meanwhile.
The two operatives were fine, although their armors were still hot.
They leened against some cold rock and awaited for the armor cooling systems to cool it down.
The skin of the operatives was damaged by the heat of course, but hadn't it been for the armors - they'd be toast - and now, they were only slightly burnt and "shocked" by the heat. Without reacting to the outer world, hearing nothing and percieving nothing.

And suddenly, the fiery machine stopped.
Without awaiting any orders, two Black Wolves armed with heavy plasma rifles opened fire in the direction of the flame-throwing machine, while seven others opened fire at the Skaven roaming their way.
The operatives took shelet behind the rocks and were shooting the attackers from cover.

Spirit 1 talked into his radio helm.

- Treesk, take your fighters and move them to the location indicated on the digital map.
...
What do you mean byt "not-not undi-ir-rs-stand"?
...
ARGH!
...
You take-take Fester-Fester with you, yes? Yes! You see small masheen on you arm-amr, yes? You see pretty blinking cross point-point in blue-blue? Good-good! You see big blue dot in circle-circle? That you is, yes!
So you move-move and watch masheen! When your dot-dot comes to cross-cross, you will find us, right?
NOW - MOVE OUT!!!

Spirit 1 took his rifle and unloaded the magazine at the attacking Skaven.
Soon, the reenforcements will come and the Skaven will hold ground around that position, where they choose better - since he was certain a Skaven commander and his warriors would secure a tunnel better than humans would, while the Black Wolves press on into the embassy sector.

Back at the entrance to the Great Tunnels, a force of 100 Skaven Fester Clan warriors was moving quickly through the tunnels, in the direction of the Black Wolves team.
The tunnels leading into the Duchy were still heavily guarded, each and every one of them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epicentre Investigation team

- OPEN FIRE!!!

The troops opened fire. The tunnel was narrow enough, which gave a certain advantage to the STALKER troops.
Several men wielding heavy plasmathrowers came out of the APC's and were awaiting for the first waves of rats to come before burning them alive.
The APC's were pounding the rats with their massive cannons, while the troops used their plasma and automatic rifles.
The commander of the force came out of his APC and headed to the engeneers.

- How much long? - the commander said into his helm radio.

The squealings of rats, yells of agonizing beasts mixed to the sounds of plasmathrowers working and the burst of bullets were astounding. All troops had special isolated and filtering helmets, so that their ears don't explode because of the sound havoc. The air in the tunnel became unbreathebable because of the plasma-flame exausts and of the fumes of rotting rat corpses and the troops swtiched to the oxygen reserves attached to their backs.
Already four STALKERs were dead fighting off the overwhelming enemies.

- 5- 10 minutes, not more!

- You have 3 minutes!

- Bu-but!

- NO BUTS! EXECUTE ORDERS! NOW!!!

The engeneers doubled... no - quadrupled the efforts and soon the boreing tip was replaced. The digger turned to the side of the soft rocks and went back into digging a tunnel, the column following him.
The covering group retreated to the APC's.
The rats have killed already six men, among them a plasmathrower and now - his weapon was a bout to explode...
The column sped through the newly dug out tunnel, the rear APC still shooting incoming rats from his turret gun and the soldiers firing from hatches and openings...

Alcona and Hubris

30-07-2003, 14:30

"Help-help Clan! We been-been tools of the other clans for too long! We go and help-help them to become Warlord! Steal Warpstone-maker from Clan Skryre! Make Clan Eshin strong! And give friend-Pitrimit lots of warpstone, so he tell-tell humans what to do!"

The Skaven of the Skaven gather round and start whooping and waving their guns in the air.

Bloody twits...
Alright, now we are going to head for a small island here....he points down towards the map...and what ever you do...get down below before you fall off and the sea-sea decided to try to kill you again...

what I do for griffens is bloody idiotic...

******
The men in the old mine have found a few females and some small litters of Skaven...the general reply is
"Go help-help Clan," and "Warlord dead....Pit-mit something"

The lead Security officer stands outside in the morning, looking down on the minning operations below..."I've got a bloody headache..." He pulls out a phone..."Operations Center, tell the boys in outer that we don't have much to go on...just something about a warlord being dead, a clan system, and much fighting...and something about a 'Pit-mit' and a 'Lot' character...have no further info at the moment...looks like they have started to dig for home..."

*******
To: Vrak Diplomatic Corps
From: Outer Ministry, Alcona and Hubris
Subject: Skaven Population Interview

Present Skaven population has been found to be less than understandable by Security Operatives...It appears that subjects are part of a 'Clan' system and that there have been reports of a death of a 'Warlord' have yet to understand remaining information. Also, we are unsure of majority of Skaven poplulation's location...but have been informed by Interior Ministry that they will only dig out from island as too afraid of water to go over it...

DNS

30-07-2003, 14:33

Bullets continue to impact into the Beast's rotten flesh, but it doesn't fall. The ones that hit the head appear to send it reeling for a moment, but it shakes its head, finishes tensing...and leaps. It's arc is sligthly interrupted by the explosion of the frag grenade in its face, which causes it to crash down ontop of the DNS trooper instead of hitting him with its claws. He's not exactly going to be healthy and some bones have definately been broken, but he's probably alive. It climbs to its feet, letting out another ear-splitting roar and looking round at it's foes. Then, regarding its assailants with its eyes brimming with hatred, it inhales deeply...

"What the hell is this thing? And why arn't you using those rocket on your back?" shouted one of the DNS soildiers at the SOETs. (I think I saw that they had them earlier.)

One of the DNS team loads his M-203 grenade launcher on the bottom of his WICW( modification to regular WICW ) and fires it blindly at the creature. The other DNS soildiers keep pounding it with bullets.

Vrak

30-07-2003, 15:35

**********
ENCRYPTED - MED
**********
****
International route - A&H Outer Ministry
****
****
route complete
****

From: Vrak Diplomatic Corps
To: Alcona & Hubris Outer Ministry
Subject: Skaven

Understood. The Skaven seem to rely heavily upon this "warpstone" but we don't know what its long-term effects are. As well, they don't seem to like being above ground. They are also very inquisitive.

Sigma Octavus

30-07-2003, 16:10

One of the SOET pulls up his rocket launcher and aims it at the beast. He fires and the rocket flies into it's side.

Spyr

30-07-2003, 16:37

Reiden Harsk, Spyran ambassador to the Skaven, was quite concerned. Within the confines of the Spyran embassy, an air of uncertainty reigned. A powerful explosion had rocked the embassy, and Skaven society seemed to have responded by devolving into chaos. He had ordered the embassy entrance barricaded, to keep out any rampaging groups of ratmen, but no one had made any hostile moves towards the embassy, probably because one faction of Skaven had secured the tunnels to the embassy district, and was trying to keep everyone else out... a welcome measure of security, but he was worried about the possibility of becoming a pawn in Skaven politics.

Harsk turned to watch someone in Spyran military uniform coming over the barricade. The man was a member of the embassy's security detail, one of six such soldiers. Harsk himself was a military officer, bringing the total combat personnel to seven, with an equal number of civilians. Not enough to try and force their way out of the Skaven tunnels... but their food and water suppies wouldnt last for very long, so a solution had to be found.

The soldier approached Harsk and saluted.

"Sir, it was as you thought... the Skaven Warlord is dead, and various potential successors are battling to assume the post. Central authority is nonexistant."

"Then we shall have to wait, and hope for positive developments. Did you get any idea of the relative size and power of the aspiring Warlords and their factions?"

"No, sir, but I could try to find out... may I ask why?"

"The Skaven, as far as I can tell, resolve issues of political sucession through strength. I suspect that the next Warlord will be determined by physical combat between candidates, and I assume that applies to the greater civil war currently raging. The clan or group can take over the best tunnel and most valuable resources will be the one to hold political power when this is over. If we support a faction and help them take control, we will have the favour of the new government, leading to advantages for Spyr. However, if we support a candidate who fails, the new administration will be.... less than friendly towards us."

"So, what do we do, sir?"

"At the moment, we hold still and keep our position secure until we have more information. Until we know enough to see where our advantage lies, we simply watch and wait..."

Tarasovka

31-07-2003, 18:08

OOC:
A little... bump? :?

31-07-2003, 18:51

Tarasovka

31-07-2003, 19:11

DNS

31-07-2003, 19:14

OOC:
A little... bump? :?

OOC: Sorry I haven't replied yet, very busy last couple of days. All current plots going on should get a reply in the next few hours or so, as well as more information on the various Warlord candidates so people can pitch in on a side if they like.

OOC:
In fact, take your time! I'll be flying to Moscow tomorrow.
I do have a comp with i.net there, but well - I'll be spending the first week away from Moscow, so no comp 8)
So take... your... time :wink:

I wonder if its colder than San Fransisco this time of year?

Tarasovka

31-07-2003, 19:19

OOC:
A little... bump? :?
OOC: Sorry I haven't replied yet, very busy last couple of days. All current plots going on should get a reply in the next few hours or so, as well as more information on the various Warlord candidates so people can pitch in on a side if they like.
OOC:
In fact, take your time! I'll be flying to Moscow tomorrow.
I do have a comp with i.net there, but well - I'll be spending the first week away from Moscow, so no comp 8)
So take... your... time :wink:
I wonder if its colder than San Fransisco this time of year?
OOC:
Moscow is VERY hot in Summer and moderately cold in Winter :?
Winter average is like -17 to -25 degrees Celcius.
Summer average is like +23 to +32 degrees Celcius.
AVERAGE!!!
But lets not clutter the thread ;)

01-08-2003, 13:47

OOC - Finally done! Sorry about the delay (Me bad-bad!)

Embassy Rescue Team

The plasma shells thump into the rock around the Warpfire Thrower Bolthole, but because of how they’ve dug it, there’s no line of sight to them unless you stick you head out underneath them, which is not an advisable proposition.

The first wave of Skaven reinforcements are cut down before they loose off more than a couple of shots, but the remainder have the common sense to dive into cover on either side of the tunnel and take up the fight from there. A couple of poison wind globes are hurled at the Black Wolf position, obscuring visibility with their thick green smoke, but doing little else against the NBC sealed troops.

Further down the tunnel more shrieks and yells can be heard, as well as a bell tolling over and over again as the alarm is raised and more Skaven pour down the tunnles towards the battle.

<OOC - Feel free to have the Fester turn up now>

Epicentre Investigation team

And then, as suddenly as they appeared, the rats retreat down the tunnel and disappear into the darkness. The squeaking and scratching is still on the edge of hearing though. The earth from here on is fairly soft, but with the occasional vein of harder rock which precipitates a higher pitched whine from the drill. A tense half an hour passes, and then the drill screams as it hits something much harder than the rock it was going through. It holds up though, and the digger breaks out into a vast spherical cavern, right at the bottom. Panning across what they can see with the cameras, they see what looks very much another digging machine, ripped open and emitting a cloud of thick black smoke. Sitting crosslegged on a rock outcrop, observing both the destroyed vehicle and the newly arrived convoy is a single Skaven, grey in fur with four great horns protruding from his head, two pointing back and another two curling forwards. He puts a paw over his eyes as the light swings around the point at him, and climbs to his feet, supporting his weight on a gnarled staff topped with a human skull.

<OOC - You are at the epicentre, and that is the remains of the first Kandarin digger-tank destroyed>

The Courageous Wave-Rats!

Most of the Skaven head below decks, clutching their guns like they are magic talismans that protect them from the sea, but Lot stays and looks at the map.

“Hmmm. Man-thing maps unusual, very simple! You not-not have to worry about above and below, yes? When we get-get to Skaven-tunnels, it will be very-very dangerous, many Skaven will be fighting. We have gun-gun, but they have many-many more Skaven! We must plan-plan what we do before we get there. Lot have plan though! Clan Skryre always been powerful because they have way to make-make Warpstone. Big secret though, very few know! When Lot worked for Clan Eshin, Lot sneaked down there once-once, just escaped with life! Deep-deep under earth there is big circular gate, made from brass and black stuff. Wind blows out of it, makes even Skaven sicken and die-die! Rock put in the wind turn-turn into Warpstone! That why-why Clan Skryre so powerful! We capture that, we new-new power!”

The Beast attacks!

The Beast throws its head back as it inhales, and looks about to level its head and exhale when it is simultaneously struck by a grenade in the chest and a rocket in the side. Black blood sprays out from its wounds, spraying the floor as well as the nearest troops, where it begins to dissolve through their armour like a powerful acid. It vomits forth a cloud of semi-liquid green vapour, but because of the impact the stream does not pan over the troops as it intended to, but instead just catches a single SOET trooper before the beast is hurled back and the stream sprays across the ceiling. The trooper’s armour covered in the vile stuff armour, starts to dissolve away in clouds of thick smoke, it will be gone in mere seconds. The fluid on the ceiling starts to drip down, like acidic rain, dissolving through anything in its path, and the cavern is soon filling with smoke as the acid does its work. Worse still, loose soil begins to stream down from above as a portion of the fluid melts up through the hard rock cavern ceiling.

The Beast slowly hauls itself to it feet, and the blood flowing from its wounds reduces to a trickle, and then stops. The wounds do not close, but the Beast seems to have somehow overcome the injury inflicted on it. It throws back its head and roars again, this time as the cavern shakes the flood of earth from the ceiling doubles and the cavern begins to collapse...

Tcheet’s Pirate Radio broadcast

“Hah! I back online! Try and shut-shut Tcheet up, would they? I got an Stay-ar Org and I not-not afraid to use it! Tcheet safe-safe for moment, tell-tell you about who Warlords are, who fight to be true Warlord!

General Nevar of Clan Skryre: Former general of previous Warlord, Warlord Bekow. Nevar hold-hold Palace of former Warlord, and surrounding tunnels too! Many amongst military support him, he got-got many Stormvermin and may engineer too!

General Direk of Clan Skryre: Also general of Bekow, Direk hold-hold less than Nevar, but quickly steal-steal Embassy tunnels and stay there. Direk dig himself in, Nevar try to remove him, but not work so far. Direk got mix of forces, his-his army from before mainly!

Engineer Leav of Clan Skryre: Chief Engineer of Warlord Bekow, Leav got many-many weapons of war and many-many engineer to make them work too! He not got many troops, and he seize odd part of tunnels too! Leav seize-seize only lowest tunnels and mines, and stay there. Tcheet not understand!

Raider Achyu exiled from Clan Skryre: Former engineer Achyu exiled after killing brother of Warlord with faulty Warp-lightning gun. He organise Raiders into big almost clan, give-give them tech so dangerous that normal engineers not use! They attack now, try to gain enough power to be made clan-clan!

Clan-Warlord Useth of Clan Pestilens: Head of Clan Pestilens attack to take Warlord position from Clan Skryre. He not-not release plague yet, but only metter of time-time! He seize-seize some mines, but not make major advance yet!

Clan-Warlord Touke of Clan Moulder: Touke send many-many giant rats and Rat-Ogres to attack tunnels of Nevar, big-big fight! Fight still go on now, that why Tcheet in danger, both side want Computer to call-call for outside help!

Clan-Warlord and Deathmaster Damas of Clan Eshin: Damas done nothing yet, Tcheet very-very worried indeed. Damas no-no doubt going to kill-kill other Warlords to be himself, prove-prove he greatest. Damas best-best assassin in Clan of Assassin!

Phew! That all major Skaven trying for Warlord, their many-many other small Skaven who probably going to die-die! We still-still not know what happen to Warlord Bekow or Grey Seer Hakflem. Oh dear, sound-sound like more Skaven coming to try and take-take computer! Tcheet back-back soon!”

DNS

01-08-2003, 14:42

The Beast attacks!

The Beast throws its head back as it inhales, and looks about to level its head and exhale when it is simultaneously struck by a grenade in the chest and a rocket in the side. Black blood sprays out from its wounds, spraying the floor as well as the nearest troops, where it begins to dissolve through their armour like a powerful acid. It vomits forth a cloud of semi-liquid green vapour, but because of the impact the stream does not pan over the troops as it intended to, but instead just catches a single SOET trooper before the beast is hurled back and the stream sprays across the ceiling. The trooper’s armour covered in the vile stuff armour, starts to dissolve away in clouds of thick smoke, it will be gone in mere seconds. The fluid on the ceiling starts to drip down, like acidic rain, dissolving through anything in its path, and the cavern is soon filling with smoke as the acid does its work. Worse still, loose soil begins to stream down from above as a portion of the fluid melts up through the hard rock cavern ceiling.

The Beast slowly hauls itself to it feet, and the blood flowing from its wounds reduces to a trickle, and then stops. The wounds do not close, but the Beast seems to have somehow overcome the injury inflicted on it. It throws back its head and roars again, this time as the cavern shakes the flood of earth from the ceiling doubles and the cavern begins to collapse...

"Arghaa!!," 2 of the DNS soildiers(1 elf, 1 human) scream as the start ripping of their outer layer of anti-radiation gear. The other ones start scrambling to run out the tunnel that the SOETs came in through, grabbing the Skaven member of the team along with the injured elf that had been throwing the nades. The ones that had been acid soaked run after them, just ahead of the caving in ceiling.

"That thing's not right! It shouldn't be able to fscking do that! Lets get out of here!" shouted one of the DNS soildiers at the SOETs.

OOC: what is this thing anyway?

~~~~~
Back at the DNS command center:

"You know, none of these warlords fits me as being a good choice to rule the country."

"Well, someone has to."

"What about this Tcheet fellow"

"Um, he dosn't sound like a very powerful figure..."

"Still looks better than the other ones though.."

Sigma Octavus

01-08-2003, 14:57

The 3 SOET grab the one covered in acid and drag him out of the tunnel, firing blindly at the beast. When they get to a safer position, it is too late. The acid has melted thru the armor and is eating thru the SOET inside.

"Fsck! What the hell is that thing. It took a rocket in the side for fsck's sake!"

DNS

01-08-2003, 15:03

"I don't know, but it can't survive this!" said one of the DNS soildiers as it quickly ran out towards the beast and fired a grenade into the ceiling above its head. He quickly ran back out.

Meanwhile the other DNS soildiers being dumping water from a nearby overturned waterwagon on the acid soaked SOET, hoping do delude the acid.

01-08-2003, 15:07

OOC: what is this thing anyway?

A Verminlord, effectively a greater demon of the Horned Rat, the god of the Skaven. It was summoned by the unholy energy released when the warpstone nuke went off. Just out of interest, it isn't actually immune to normal weapons, its just very very hard, requiring a large amount of simultaneous firepower to kill. Aside from that, its fast, strong and pretty smart (though it is more cunning than actual intelligence). It's surrounded by an aura of fear, but this affects Skaven a lot more than any other race. Its claws, teeth, blood and breath are all extremely nasty, burning through armour like acid, and then afflicting the unfortunate with symptoms similar to the black death and rabies, which mercifully kills the victim very quickly. The black cloud that follows it around (as well as the awful smell) is actually spores containing the above disease.

It basically embodies all the worst bits of the Skaven, its poisonous, diseased and takes a perverse pleasure in inflicting violence. It doesn't need to eat, but does anyway, just because its a painful way for its prey to die. It isn't very nice. Fortunately for the rest of the world, they don't tend to hang around long (the magic runs out) and don't play well with others (so the skaven can't really use them as a wartime weapon without it killing a lot more skaven than enemies)

Here's a picture, though the one you are fighting is somewhat darker coloured:
http://www.saveplumislandairport.org/whgallery/PicturesFiles/Skaven/VerminLord.GIF

Sigma Octavus

01-08-2003, 15:07

The SOET help the DNS soldiers overturn the cart and hope that it wasn't too late.

Another SOET fires his rocket launcher down the tunnel, hoping to hit either the creature or something inside the cave. Either explosion would help collapse it.

"Let's see you survive a couple hundred tons of rock, motherfscker!", he screamed after the rocket.

DNS

01-08-2003, 15:13

OOC: jebus thats an ugly warhammer 40000 figure. And I really hope that this one has a bigger loincloth.

Sigma Octavus

01-08-2003, 15:17

OOC: jebus thats an ugly warhammer 40000 figure. And I really hope that this one has a bigger loincloth.

(I don't thinks that's 40k. The only one with demons are the Chaos Marines, or at least, last I checked. It's not a CM beast and it's not Tyranid, so its just Warhammer.)

Alcona and Hubris

01-08-2003, 15:18

Most of the Skaven head below decks, clutching their guns like they are magic talismans that protect them from the sea, but Lot stays and looks at the map.

“Hmmm. Man-thing maps unusual, very simple! You not-not have to worry about above and below, yes? When we get-get to Skaven-tunnels, it will be very-very dangerous, many Skaven will be fighting. We have gun-gun, but they have many-many more Skaven! We must plan-plan what we do before we get there. Lot have plan though! Clan Skryre always been powerful because they have way to make-make Warpstone. Big secret though, very few know! When Lot worked for Clan Eshin, Lot sneaked down there once-once, just escaped with life! Deep-deep under earth there is big circular gate, made from brass and black stuff. Wind blows out of it, makes even Skaven sicken and die-die! Rock put in the wind turn-turn into Warpstone! That why-why Clan Skryre so powerful! We capture that, we new-new power!”

The Engineer looked at him, and smiled...
"Ah very good, Lot...very good...what we need to do is find a backway in. We presently have a good number of Ak-47's, a rag tag assortment of machine guns, two 85mm recoiless rifles with a good deal of ammo and 80 pounds of C4. Also, we have a few stinger missles and an arc-welding torch. Off the boat, actually we can haul the two naval machine guns off of this old tub when we drop anchor, here. We need to cut out the warpstone area and seize it. Do you think you can draw the tunnels of the Skaven on one of the maps...indicate the levels with diffrent colors from those chart pens over there...just like that 'underground' map I showed you one, remember..."

01-08-2003, 16:25

The Beast attacks!

Once again the beast faces a grenade from the DNS Soldiers and a SOET rocket. As the rocket whistles down the tunnel towards it, the Beast hurls itself to one side, and the rocket impacts into the cavern wall behind it. The wall begins to crumble as the Beast bounds after the teams, hissing and spitting. The grenade arcs up and impacts squarely in the centre of the ceiling, precipitating a deep rumbling from above. The beast has almost made it out of the cavern when the ceiling gives way, dumping hundreds of tonnes of rock down into the cavern. A particularly large rock crashes down into the cavern mouth, cutting off visibility into the cavern. A great cloud of dust comes down the tunnel from the rockslide, but after just 30 seconds the sound of falling rock has ceased, and there is silence from the cavern.

The SOET who was covered in the Beast’s vile breath begins to convulse and throw-up black bile as the fluid burns his skin and he begins to suffer the effects of the associated disease. The rest of the affected troops manage to wash most of the acidic spittle away, but some are now short of NBC sealed gear, definately not a desirable thing down here.

Alas, the moment of peace is not to last, as the soldiers slowly become aware of a faint squeaking and scratching noise on the edge of hearing, that sound like a veritable plague of rats, coming from somewhere down the tunnel. That noise is getting louder...

OOC - Even more horrifically, the Vermin Lord that you fought lacked not only the Glaive, but also any clothes at all.

Also OOC - It’s a Warhammer miniture for the Skaven army, being the only race in the game to have a greater demon and not be Chaos.

The Courageous Wave-rats!

“Hmmm, not-not sure we can cut it out, it miles underground, furthest down we ever dug! Best thing we can do, is go to old natural caverns here”, he draws part of the map,”and from there we can sneak-sneak into Clan Skryre tunnels, through concealed tunnel here.” He draws a bit more and circles a section. “Then, we kill-kill the guards and steal-steal a digger-machine. We dig-dig escape, and take digger-machine to natural caverns. Then, we take-take Digger machine as far down as natural caverns go-go, before digging across to Warpstone gate-gate!”. He completes the sketch map. “We have to fight-fight when we get there, but we win-win because of guns! Then we steal-steal Warpstone and escape, or seize-seize gate and hold gate!”

DNS

01-08-2003, 16:32

OOC: :x why must I always fight the nude guys. What happened to clothes? They were a pretty big fad once apon a time...

IC:

"What now? Aw hell no, not rats, I hate rats, with their little claws and tails and I'M GETTING OUT OF HERE!!!" one of the DNS soildiers panics and starts scrambling up a tunnel to the surface. The other DNS soildiers help pick up the injured SOET and start heading up as well, the Skaven recovers from his brush with the Beast and follows them after tossing a few grenades at the advancing hordes of rats.

"Cheep-Cheep not get stuck here with big-big beastie, wait for-for me guys-guy"

Sigma Octavus

01-08-2003, 16:36

(Only two of my SOET aren't contaminated. But only one is going into the convulsions.)

"Crap...we don't have anything for this. Sorry man, but we can't take you with."

The SOET nodded thru the convulsions, and closed his eyes. The commander of this group, also contaminated, raises his pistol and fires one shot. The convulsions stop.

(Mercy killings legal where they come from. And included in their training. Besides, we may need to have all able bodied people firing.)

The look up at where the scratching is coming from.

"Hideo, you have that flamethrower?"
One of the SOET looks up,"Yes, sir. I have it in my pack."
"Well, bring it out, we may need it."

They begin retreating with the DNS troops.

DNS

01-08-2003, 16:40

The leader of the DNS team looks disgusted at the mercy killing, but dosn't comment apon it.

Sigma Octavus

01-08-2003, 16:41

(All they know is combat. They trained thru their childhood and teen years, they are military thru and thru)

DNS

01-08-2003, 16:43

(All they know is combat. They trained thru their childhood and teen years, they are military thru and thru)

(oh, well my guy dosn't know that.)

01-08-2003, 17:10

Rats! Rats! RATS!!!

The scratching and squeaking continues to get louder as the rats draw closer and closer. Light reflects off multitudes of eyes at the end of the tunnel as the rats cover the last ten metres to the retreating troops. And then they surge into the light, a giant swarm of rats warped by their exposure to the warpstone into a rabid mass of mindless fury. In amongst the tide of normal rats there are larger specimens which seem to have been affected worst by the warpstone, one with jaws more suited to a crocodile than a rat, another with the leering face of a human and one with a mass of slick tentacles coming out of its back. There are probably worse besides, by the darkness hides all but the nearest.

The grenades explode in the midst of the lead rats, blowing them into messy stains and resulting in a combined shriek from the wounded. More rats surge over the bodies of the fallen to chase the troops. Blasts of the flamethrower hold them back, lighting up the tunnel and revealing the vast numbers of rats stretching into the distance. Still they come, rats half-burnt to death leaping for the rear troops before they are cut down by fire. For the most part they are being held back, it is now a question of both ammmunition and time...

Alcona and Hubris

01-08-2003, 17:16

The Courageous Wave-rats!

“Hmmm, not-not sure we can cut it out, it miles underground, furthest down we ever dug! Best thing we can do, is go to old natural caverns here”, he draws part of the map,”and from there we can sneak-sneak into Clan Skryre tunnels, through concealed tunnel here.” He draws a bit more and circles a section. “Then, we kill-kill the guards and steal-steal a digger-machine. We dig-dig escape, and take digger-machine to natural caverns. Then, we take-take Digger machine as far down as natural caverns go-go, before digging across to Warpstone gate-gate!”. He completes the sketch map. “We have to fight-fight when we get there, but we win-win because of guns! Then we steal-steal Warpstone and escape, or seize-seize gate and hold gate!”

The Outer Isles Lord looks at the rat....
If I didn't know better, I'd sware he watches too much A-Team
"If we need a digger machine, why don't we just get a human digger? See that mark there, that's an active coal mine. They have a big face digging machines, of course were going to have to lose some weight on this old tub before we can carry it...but that mine decends towards that line you drew there, What is that? And where was the epicenter of the earthquake? He goes over to the news relay and looks through the notices on the screen...He walks back over and places a big red x on the map. Where is this in relation to the Skavern tunnels?"

****
It is a wonderful morning on the Isle of Oriana,
The officer of the watch stared out, without moving...a small twitch at the corner of his mouth...the sun was rising over the opostite shore, the waves were slapping rythmicly at the dock...perfection...except for the picture was missing the AMN Vampir. He continued to stare for a moment and then said...quietly at first...
"Find that ship please, gentlemen...call Internal Security...and tell them that we are 'missing' a ship...a small ship,....A small Warship...FIND ME THAT F****** BOAT NOW!!!

****
Security Alert RED
...All nations of the Kalatchen Coast.
We have a missing Topedo Boat, AMN Vampir....
advise if you have any contact
Immediatly...approach with caution.
Intentions Unknown
Repeat, Intentions Unknown

DNS

01-08-2003, 17:28

The paniced DNS soildier manages to make it to the surface and radios for help. Soon 2 other fire teams get to the entrance/exit to the tunnel. Both have a flamethrower and rocket launcher set up at the top of the cave.

~~~~

"We need to get out of Here!!! Forget the rats and just fscking run for it!!" said the leader of the DNS team, who was carrying the member of the team that had been crushed. The rest of the team follows, a few dropping nades behind them to try and slow down the hordes of rats following them.

01-08-2003, 18:13

A couple of quick murders by the skaven as its human friends were down a different tunnel, and two more Skryre skaven were added to the growing mass of corpses on the pallets moving down the large tunnel towards the city.

The huge robotic Shepherds had split, now. Two gone to the front, two to the back, the rest in the middle. Heading into the small corridors with human and skavens, little Shepherdesses (referred to as "Bo Peeps" by the soldiers) moved on guard duty, just able to fit in most of those corridors by virtue of their 6' height, their white armor plates and heat-resistant lacquer glinting.

Xanthal

01-08-2003, 18:19

The U.S.S.X.'s Earth colony is recovering quickly from the nuclear blast. The city of Tali was destroyed, but as there were only a few inhabitants human damage was minimal. Some parts of the desert have been altered in landscape, and the nation is using it's auxilliary water lines as several sections of the primary lines were destroyed in the blast. Atomic stabilizers have eradicated the radiation threat, and repair of the waterlines is underway.

#If anyone is wondering about the city of Tali (formerly five million inhabitants), it's because most of the nation was abandoned in the move to space. Krytan is the only city left with a population of over 100, and many of the smaller cities are completely abandoned.#

Sigma Octavus

01-08-2003, 18:27

The SOET get separated from the DNS troops. The commander falls over from the disease and is covered with the rats. The two remaining duck down a corridor and the rats run past them, not turning.

"Holy fsck! This is completely FUBAR!"

"Yeah, we gotta get outta here! Where's the map?!"

"The commander had it.......FSCK!"

"Well, Hideo....it looks like we're going to die down here."

"Yep."

With that, they ran further down the tunnel, hoping to come upon some friendly Skaven or an exit.

Spyr

01-08-2003, 22:41

inside the Spyran Embassy tunnels

Ambassador Harsk stood over the communications console as Tcheet's voice faded out. The political information that had been transmitted was invaluable, and Harsk wondered if, when this was all over, he should find the little skaven and give him a block of cheese...

But no matter, this was not the time to ponder such things. Right now, his primary concern was the interest of the state, and after that the survival of his embassy staff.

One of the embassy guards turned to Harsk.

"Sir, do you have a plan?"

"Not even close, I'm afraid... If this were a normal nation, I'd throw our weight behind Nevar, as he holds the support of the primary military elements, as well as the governmet headquarters. But, in this case, I'm not sure he'll have an advantage..."

"It sounds like he should, sir..."

"Yes, but with so many forces vying for control, and no government until it ends, holding the former Warlord's throne room simply means you'll be the target of every other force... Nevar may not be able to maintain his forces if he is constantly assaulted by the other factions. Yet, we want to preserve the status-quo... we opened relations with the skaven under Clan Skryre, and we should maintain that Clan in power to ensure no 'change of policy' towards the surface word. Direk seems a good option, provided he doesnt suffer too badly from attacks himself... if the others tire themselves battling Nevar, then we can boost him in a push through the remaining factions and get him in power... but at the moment, supporting him would only bring the wrath of the other contenders, and they are of great concern..."

"Concern, sir?"

"There are factions which arent moving.... perhaps, like us, theyre waiting for the right opportunity to gain an advantagling, e. The Clan Eshin arent moving, but they probably wont until the fight for the Warlord post trims itself down... the other Skryre faction's actions make no sense, but skaven arent stupid, so they're hiding down there for a reason, and I wish I knew what it was. And, most troubling, Pestilens has yet to deploy whatever stockpiles of bioagents they have..."

Harsk paused for a moment, his hand unconsciously moving to the sword sheathed at his waist.

"Corporal?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Distribute the gas masks to all embassy staff, to be carried at all times... just in case."

Sigma Octavus

01-08-2003, 22:56

(Gone till sunday. Be back then.)

02-08-2003, 00:56

The Courageous Wave-rats!

The Outer Isles Lord looks at the rat....
If I didn't know better, I'd sware he watches too much A-Team
"If we need a digger machine, why don't we just get a human digger? See that mark there, that's an active coal mine. They have a big face digging machines, of course were going to have to lose some weight on this old tub before we can carry it...but that mine decends towards that line you drew there, What is that? And where was the epicenter of the earthquake? He goes over to the news relay and looks through the notices on the screen...He walks back over and places a big red x on the map. Where is this in relation to the Skavern tunnels?"

"Tunnels go many-many places, but further we are from here", he points at a point on the map near the epicentre, "more chance we have of mett-meet Skaven on way there. Or something worse-worse! Steal-steal human digger good-good idea, mean mission less dangerous. Still need-need to get into natural tunnels here, but less chance of fight-fight. We going to island yes? Wide-wide tunnel to there, we take digger down tunnel, then we turn-turn here, and dig-dig! Take couple of days, but better than fight-fight!"

Rats! Rats! RATS!!!

The paniced DNS soildier manages to make it to the surface and radios for help. Soon 2 other fire teams get to the entrance/exit to the tunnel. Both have a flamethrower and rocket launcher set up at the top of the cave.

"We need to get out of Here!!! Forget the rats and just fscking run for it!!" said the leader of the DNS team, who was carrying the member of the team that had been crushed. The rest of the team follows, a few dropping nades behind them to try and slow down the hordes of rats following them.

The tide of rats follows, biting at the heels of the team. There is a horrifying moment when one the team members trips and falls, but he is hauled up by his friends before the rats can do any serious damage, he ecapes with just a few bites. Grenades do their bloody work once more, spraying rat parts all over the tunnel walls, and then the troops just turn and sprint for the exit, not even looking behind them. The team bursts out into the night and fire teams teams open up, driving back the rats with their flamethrowers and rocket launchers. And then the rat just stop coming, the remainder fleeing down the tunnel in a maneuver that belies their tiny individual intelligences.

The SOET get separated from the DNS troops. The commander falls over from the disease and is covered with the rats. The two remaining duck down a corridor and the rats run past them, not turning.

"Holy fsck! This is completely FUBAR!"

"Yeah, we gotta get outta here! Where's the map?!"

"The commander had it.......FSCK!"

"Well, Hideo....it looks like we're going to die down here."

"Yep."

With that, they ran further down the tunnel, hoping to come upon some friendly Skaven or an exit.

The two remaining troops head down the corridor and find themselves up to the knees in liquid, best not to ask exactly what, but it doesn't feel too solid. It should mean that the rats lose their scents anyway. Ahead of them, they can hear the distinctive tones of Skaven talking in Queekish, it seems like they are having some sort of argument. As the troops draw closer, it becomes easier to make it out:

First Skaven: "I tell-tell you! I heard it, just like-like the story!"

Second Skaven: "You talk-talk rubbish! It not-not exist! It just tale they tell-tell to baby-rats to scare them! You stupid-Skaven! You just afraid of going down-down here, in case other Clan come and kill-kill you!"

First Skaven: "Am not! I brave-brave Skaven! And I tell-tell you it real!"

Second Skaven: "It not-not real! Nothing Kiri hear make-make Kiri scared of silly tale!"

From deep within the tunnels comes a sound now unfortunately familiar to the SOET troops, a deep roar rising to a piercing screech that echoes through the tunnles for an unatural amount of time. Although, last time it wasn't followed by the noise of two Skaven wetting themselves...

Xanthal

02-08-2003, 00:59

If the Skaven would like, we can transfer some or all of them to planets suitible for their habitation but without the meddling of other higher life forms present to destroy them.

02-08-2003, 01:10

Cash and Carry

A couple of quick murders by the skaven as its human friends were down a different tunnel, and two more Skryre skaven were added to the growing mass of corpses on the pallets moving down the large tunnel towards the city.

The huge robotic Shepherds had split, now. Two gone to the front, two to the back, the rest in the middle. Heading into the small corridors with human and skavens, little Shepherdesses (referred to as "Bo Peeps" by the soldiers) moved on guard duty, just able to fit in most of those corridors by virtue of their 6' height, their white armor plates and heat-resistant lacquer glinting.

There is a shout from further down the tunnel:

"For Clan Moulder! Man-things die-die!"

A couple of dozen Skaven surge forward, waving their melee weapons menacingly as they burst from the shadows. In their midst stalk a trio of Rat Ogres, fully twice the height of a Skaven and many times more ugly, they cover the intervening ground in several mighty strides and do their best to bring their mighty claws to bear. That isn't it though, there is a movement closer to the ground too, as a half-dozen Clan Moulder packmasters drive their Rat Swarms forward, and rats as big as dogs rush the expeditionary force, some coming from side tunnels but most from straight ahead.

Ground Zero

The U.S.S.X.'s Earth colony is recovering quickly from the nuclear blast. The city of Tali was destroyed, but as there were only a few inhabitants human damage was minimal. Some parts of the desert have been altered in landscape, and the nation is using it's auxilliary water lines as several sections of the primary lines were destroyed in the blast. Atomic stabilizers have eradicated the radiation threat, and repair of the waterlines is underway.

Over the next few days, green vapour begins to seep up through the rifts in the earth left by the blast, some blowing across the country, some falling to earth and some even dissolving into rivers and lakes.

OOC - It's warpstone dust left over from the blast, it is pretty unpleasant stuff. It causes mutations to most who come into contact with it, and they tend to strike fast and hard. It also causes virulent diseases to those in its vicinity. Its a bugger to clean up too, because no-one, not even the Skaven know what it really is, and how it does what it does.

02-08-2003, 01:46

The Shepherd's sensors go off, recording and analysing this new threat. The two at the front spend milliseconds tracking, before opening fire. Rockets hurtle from pods, tracking their way to the rat ogres; enough automatic fire is sprayed from their auto-targetted rotary cannons to turn a main battle tank into shards, and that is directed at the horde of rats and skaven.

As soon as the Shepherds fire, targetting information is relayed via the FELIN systems to men and machines alike. The middle and back sets of Shepherds scan for rear attacks, and pick off the trickle of rats coming in from the sides. Soldiers unleash DUP shots, single-tap and bursts, into the formidable rat ogres that are visible over the pallets. In the side corridors, the Shepherdesses track the ratling swarms, spraying them with machine gun fire. The lives (humans and skaven) retreat back into the midst of the convoy, not wanting to risk their lives quite yet.

Xanthal

02-08-2003, 01:47

After the deaths of over three hundred citizens the populace has been quarantined. The U.S.S.X. colony on Earth has come to a grinding halt, and a science vessel has been put in orbit to find a way to cleanse the warpstone.

02-08-2003, 02:43

In the very cramped cockpit of a two person digging machine, a pair of AO Fade personnel sweat buckets in the overwhelming heat. Neither of them looks happy, but one of them looks particularly put out about his current stuation.

"Oh, this is just great. AO Command wants one tonne of Warpstone now, while the Skaven are in the middle of a goddamn civil war! Why the hell not earlier? Why they hell can't they just wait?"

"You know I couldn't tell you that, even if I did know. Suffice to say it must be a good reason."

"Hey, do you think it's got anything to do with the war on Raem? Just before we left I overhead a couple of generals saying we were planning to commit forces. Why the hell would they need this shit?"

"Okay, so two things happen in the same day, and they're automatically related? Will you just keep your eyes on the Nav and stop thinking so damn much? I don't want to hit a block of granite just because your head is off in the clouds somewhere"

With a grumble, the first man returns to his console and the digger continues its sweaty trip downwards towards the Warpstone mines.

Steel Butterfly

02-08-2003, 02:45

OOC: Who could have thought a good RP could have came from a stupid, n00bish title like that :lol:

Xanthal

02-08-2003, 02:56

Deal with it... That's the way the Skaven talk...

Vrak

02-08-2003, 11:50

Security Alert RED
...All nations of the Kalatchen Coast.
We have a missing Topedo Boat, AMN Vampir....
advise if you have any contact
Immediatly...approach with caution.
Intentions Unknown
Repeat, Intentions Unknown

**********
ENCRYPTED - HIGH
**********
****
international route - Outer Ministry, Alcona and Hubris
****
****
route complete
****

To: Outer Ministry, Alcona and Hubris
From: Vrak Military High Command
Subject: Missing Torpedo boat

Understood. Be advised that any hostile attempting to breach the sea cordon in place for the World Court will be met with maximum force from Vrakian forces. You are authorized to conduct search, pursuit, and destroy operations for this missing boat within the cordon using your own vessels but you must notify the VNF Boarhunter re: Admiral Killamo. Your authorization code should you need to conduct search, pursuit, and destroy is 58697 Uniform Delta Delta.

Alcona and Hubris

02-08-2003, 18:11

"Tunnels go many-many places, but further we are from here", he points at a point on the map near the epicentre, "more chance we have of mett-meet Skaven on way there. Or something worse-worse! Steal-steal human digger good-good idea, mean mission less dangerous. Still need-need to get into natural tunnels here, but less chance of fight-fight. We going to island yes? Wide-wide tunnel to there, we take digger down tunnel, then we turn-turn here, and dig-dig! Take couple of days, but better than fight-fight!"

"Yes, but the closer we are to the epicenter, the more likely the tunnels will have collapsed. Well first things first, we need to get that machine...then we need to decide what to do from there"

****
He was in muck, or really water mixed with dust from the minning above him...No tunnel out of here....where could they have gone? ...a woman in a green jacket dropped out of the lights above, on the steep slope..."Sir, we have a report of a missing Topedo boat...one of the local Militia's had her and she vansihed last night with the crew..."
He pulls himself out of the water at the bottom of the shaft, and starts to climb up...between the sets of rails..."Damn, do they think the Skavern did it...."No sir, we have been informed by the Interior Ministry that Skavern are afraid of water, they don't like to be above ground...."
"Then who...f*** check the local Armory this instant...I have a hunch...I want a list of all local Milita leaders this instant...damn Adel..."

02-08-2003, 22:32

:idea:
Our small nation will send alcohol to stop infections from war or the mutant blast stuff

DNS

02-08-2003, 22:37

"Fsck it, we can't take out that many rats without an entire army's worth of men. This is hopeless."

"Well, at least we got out of there, and the wounded are being airlifted to the hospital."

"Yeah, this time."

Paradiszia

02-08-2003, 22:38

:?:

Spyr

02-08-2003, 23:26

inside the Spyran embassy tunnels

Ambassador Harsk looked over the supply manifest. Despite his plans to turn this civil war to the advantage of Spyr, he knew he had only a handful of men, and an insignificant armoury, certainly not enough to have much of an impact on events as they were progressing. Thus, until an opportunity arose, his focus should be on the security of his staff.

"Corporal!"

"Yes, sir?"

"Get the civilian secretaries out to the other embassies. Have them check who's still here,and what resources they have at their disposal. I am loathe to rely on the dubious protection provided by the local warlord contender, so it might be advantageous to organize the other embassy security staff, if such exist, in case of trouble."

"Right on it, sir."

[OOC: Is anyone else still in the embassy district?
And, for future reference, is it possible to leave the area through the skaven guard forces, or would it be necessary to fight ones way out?]

03-08-2003, 01:34

The Clean-Up Crew

The Shepherd's sensors go off, recording and analysing this new threat. The two at the front spend milliseconds tracking, before opening fire. Rockets hurtle from pods, tracking their way to the rat ogres; enough automatic fire is sprayed from their auto-targetted rotary cannons to turn a main battle tank into shards, and that is directed at the horde of rats and skaven.

As soon as the Shepherds fire, targetting information is relayed via the FELIN systems to men and machines alike. The middle and back sets of Shepherds scan for rear attacks, and pick off the trickle of rats coming in from the sides. Soldiers unleash DUP shots, single-tap and bursts, into the formidable rat ogres that are visible over the pallets. In the side corridors, the Shepherdesses track the ratling swarms, spraying them with machine gun fire. The lives (humans and skaven) retreat back into the midst of the convoy, not wanting to risk their lives quite yet.

The lightning raid turns into a massacre as the Skaven are cut down before they can even get close to melee range. The rats fare better as they are quicker and smaller, but their claws and teeth just can't do any damage to the Shepherds. The Rat-Ogres fare worst of all, splattered across the walls by the explosive rockets. The Skaven flee squeaking, their morale shattered and their natural instincts taking over. In just a few seconds, all that the troops can hear is frantic squeaking vanishing into the distance, and then even that falls silent.

Picking over the bodies, a few of the Skaven at the back had small thumb-sized chunks of the green-black warpstone, but everything else is relatively worthless.

The way appears clear to move deeper into the tunnels.

03-08-2003, 01:43

OOC Issues

Just answering a few points, etc...

Spyr: It will be neccessary to fight your way out of the embassy district, though unsurprisingly most of the troops are facing out, and indeed at the moment many are being pulled away to repel an attack (Tarasovka's). I'm interested to see if you or anyone else think it is worth me telegramming people with embassies and telling them what's happening. Answers by telegram though, don't want to cluttr the thread if I can help it (he says from an OOC post...)

Xanthal: I'm going to leave the results of the warpstone clean-up up to you, if you want anymore information about warpstone then send me a telegram and i'll give you some more details. However, the warpstone i am using is exactly the same as that used by Warhammer Skaven so if you know that already, all well and good.

Steel Butterfly: You try talk-talk like this and see if it not sound-sound n00bish in title, yes? :D

03-08-2003, 01:47

03-08-2003, 01:48

The pallets are directed to next to the mass of the bodies. Troops in their enviro-gear carefully, with tongs, extract warpstone fragments and put them in sealed alloy containers. The biomass is scooped up by arms on the pallets, and scout scubberbots (small automated robots designed to set off traps with basic visual links and sensor arrays) are sent out into the path of the convoy, making sure no other ambush gets as close.

Alcona and Hubris

03-08-2003, 17:39

The Courageous Wave-Rats!

"Yes, but the closer we are to the epicenter, the more likely the tunnels will have collapsed. Well first things first, we need to get that machine...then we need to decide what to do from there"

"Sound good, you beter at planning than Lot, so I leave-leave up to you. We going to Vrak island, yes-yes? After we steal-steal human digger?"

"Well, the problem is that we need to figure a way through a massive security cordon...It seems Vrak still hasn't cleared up it's international problems...

It's located here...and the cordon is here"...He draws a very thick red line across the map...wait...if we come at it from this direction, there is only about 8 miles between the line of the cordon and the island. Hmm, maybe we can bluff ourway in...but first we need to make a raid there." He points again at the nearing shore line.

Sigma Octavus

04-08-2003, 03:59

The two SOET look down the cavern in the direction of the all too familiar sound and notice noise behind them. They decide whatever is in the direction away from the beast would be safer. No matter what it is.

Spyr

04-08-2003, 05:32

in the Spyran embassy tunnels

Ambassador Harsk was looking over the embassy armory... besides the rifles carried by the guards, there was only a grenade launcher and a couple of boomsticks, which were certainly not what he needed to dive into the politics of a civil war...

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a throat being cleared behind him. He turned, coming face to face with Dr. Robert Akagi, Science Attache for the embassy.

"Glad you've decided to come out of your lab, doctor. Anything I can help you with?"

The doctor grinned. It was a rather disturbing expression, almost like a child about to open his birthday presents, but scientists who designed weapons systems usually had an air of disturbing amorality.

"Mr. Ambassador, sir, I request permission to investigate nearby tunnels... I need to know whats going on out there!"

"Whyever would you want to go out there, doctor? Theres nothing out there but war and death."

"Yes, yes, thats the POINT! There is so much death out there, and much of it... much of it will be death by WARPSTONE!"

"Oh, dont start about your magic rocks again. I know they're some sort of highly radioactive power source, and the Skaven seem to have come up with military applications..."

"Warpstone is fascinating! It defies the paradigms of simple science... and when else but now can I.. can our nation... ever hope to observe this substance on the battlefield? I must gather data! I must!!!"

Harsk considered things for a moment. He was loathe to let someone roam loose in the middle of a war, but the doctor WAS a bit unhinged... he had even taken to lighting his bedchambers with warpstone lanterns, and the smell of it seemed to have rubbed off. Maybe it wouldnt be such a loss to be rid of him...
Harsk reached into the armory locker, pulling out a shotgun and a couple of gas grenades.

"You have your pistol, doctor?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then take these and go conduct your 'observations'."

"Thank you, sir!"

Harsk watched as Akagi eagerly scrambled over the barricade and left the embassy, then turned and started checking the ammunition cases.

04-08-2003, 13:49

The Clean-up Crew

The pallets are directed to next to the mass of the bodies. Troops in their enviro-gear carefully, with tongs, extract warpstone fragments and put them in sealed alloy containers. The biomass is scooped up by arms on the pallets, and scout scubberbots (small automated robots designed to set off traps with basic visual links and sensor arrays) are sent out into the path of the convoy, making sure no other ambush gets as close.

The lead scout scutterbot drives off down the tunnel, followed by its numerous brethren. An hour or so passes, and although the sound of fighting filters down through the tunnels from elsewhere, the expeditionary force do not encounter any further resistance. The tunnels they are in are gradually sloping both east and down, and alternate between natural caverns and Skaven-dug ones. The tunnels branch off often, but because of the size of the Shepherd robots, there is only one real way the force can go, following the large tunnel.

One of the lead scutterbots in a side tunnel picks up a very brief flash and a surge of elctromagnetic energy on its sensors, and then its sensor feed cuts off. Another scutterbot on the other side briefly sees a Skaven move out of the shadows before there is another flash and surge, and it too ceases feedback. From the tunnels to either side of the convoy come more and more green-white flashes as whatever is being used toasts more scutterbots. The Skaven are being very careful not to get anywhere near the main tunnel. and convoy though

The Courageous Wave-Rats!

"Well, the problem is that we need to figure a way through a massive security cordon...It seems Vrak still hasn't cleared up it's international problems...

It's located here...and the cordon is here"...He draws a very thick red line across the map...wait...if we come at it from this direction, there is only about 8 miles between the line of the cordon and the island. Hmm, maybe we can bluff ourway in...but first we need to make a raid there." He points again at the nearing shore line.

"Hmmm, Skaven not so good-good at bluffing men-things, we stand out a bit-bit to them! Lets raid-raid first, think about how to get-get through red-line later. Skaven ready to fight-fight! We steal-steal digger machine from there, yes? What the plan?"

Lost...

The two SOET look down the cavern in the direction of the all too familiar sound and notice noise behind them. They decide whatever is in the direction away from the beast would be safer. No matter what it is.

They round the corner and run into the two Skaven, one of whom gives a shreik and vanishes behind a rock while the other stands his ground.

"Hey? You not big-rat-horror! You just man-thing! Hey, Ligref! It just men-things!"

The Skaven who must be called Ligrif emerges from behind his rock and walks back over, still looking very nervous.

"I Kiri, and this pack-brother Ligrif. General send us here to see-see what is going on, because Ligrif a lazy stupid Skaven and Kiri not run-run fast enough. What you doing here? This not nice area of tunnels, near-near where big-boom is! We hear other-things too, some Skaven say Great Horned One send big-rat-thing to punish us! It make terrible roar-screech like we just heard! Kiri a little worried now, thinking about going other way!"

Not the safest embassy in the world...

Ambassador Harsk was looking over the embassy armory... besides the rifles carried by the guards, there was only a grenade launcher and a couple of boomsticks, which were certainly not what he needed to dive into the politics of a civil war...

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a throat being cleared behind him. He turned, coming face to face with Dr. Robert Akagi, Science Attache for the embassy.

"Glad you've decided to come out of your lab, doctor. Anything I can help you with?"

The doctor grinned. It was a rather disturbing expression, almost like a child about to open his birthday presents, but scientists who designed weapons systems usually had an air of disturbing amorality.

"Mr. Ambassador, sir, I request permission to investigate nearby tunnels... I need to know whats going on out there!"

"Whyever would you want to go out there, doctor? Theres nothing out there but war and death."

"Yes, yes, thats the POINT! There is so much death out there, and much of it... much of it will be death by WARPSTONE!"

"Oh, dont start about your magic rocks again. I know they're some sort of highly radioactive power source, and the Skaven seem to have come up with military applications..."

"Warpstone is fascinating! It defies the paradigms of simple science... and when else but now can I.. can our nation... ever hope to observe this substance on the battlefield? I must gather data! I must!!!"

Harsk considered things for a moment. He was loathe to let someone roam loose in the middle of a war, but the doctor WAS a bit unhinged... he had even taken to lighting his bedchambers with warpstone lanterns, and the smell of it seemed to have rubbed off. Maybe it wouldnt be such a loss to be rid of him...
Harsk reached into the armory locker, pulling out a shotgun and a couple of gas grenades.

"You have your pistol, doctor?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then take these and go conduct your 'observations'."

"Thank you, sir!"

Harsk watched as Akagi eagerly scrambled over the barricade and left the embassy, then turned and started checking the ammunition cases.

Akagi sees rather a lot of Skaven running backwards and forwards, it looks like they are scrambling to fight off an attack. All fairly uninteresting for the scientist, but then something in the corner of the cavern catches his eye. A pair of the short, slightly burnt Skaven who are generally in the vicinity of the machines are stooped over a small device, with a number of lumps of Warpstone laid out around them. On closer inspection, the small device looks like a gunpowder bomb with a long fuse, inside a bigger, currently empty container made of some kind of dark metal. The Skaven are lining the space around the bomb with chunks of Warpstone, packing it in to the container. One of them takes a big handful of Warpstone chunks to put in, but the other knocks them from his hand and snarls at him.

"Idiot! We want to collapse only part-part of the tunnels! You want to bury us all-all! You stupid-Skaven!"

They return to their work, carefully working out how much warpstone they need.

Spyr

04-08-2003, 14:47

Seeing the Skaven preparing the warpstone bomb, Akagi grinned gleefully. At last, the perfect opportunity to examine the explosive properties of this magnificent substance!

He adjusted his spectacles, and hopped over to the bomb, nudging one of the skaven aside and peering at it intently.

"Such a simple design... what is the yield of this device? Its blast radius? Warpstone seems so inconsistent, do you have a formula to determine its explosive force potential?"

As he spoke, Akagi took a small digital camera from the pocket of his lab coat, and started snapping pictures.

[OOC: Akagi is a tad insane... his curiosity overrides what little self-preservation instinct or common sense he has. Then again, 'insane' may only be relevant in comparison to humans... his behaviour probably seems a lot more normal to Skaven ^_^]

04-08-2003, 14:47

Tcheet’s Pirate Radio broadcast II

"Tcheet still kickin! Whole bunch of Nevar Skaven came to steal-steal computer, but clever Tcheet flee-flee out the back with computer, and find new place to hide-hide! Not say-say where I am, in case Skaven who want computer come find-find me! Anyway, lots happened since last broadcast, Tcheet try and tell-tell you!

General Nevar of Clan Skryre: Not doing well! Nevar attacked by Achyu, Useth and Touke all at once, they put-put aside differences to kill-kill him! Nevar good general, so he not dead-dead yet, but he outnumbered many-to-less! Rumour say-say that Nevar getting desperate, thjat he consider using more nuke-nuke to keep self safe! Tcheet hope-hope that isn't true!

General Direk of Clan Skryre: Direk not been attacked by other Skaven, but I hear-hear he being attacked by men-things from up top! I guess it serve him right-right from stealing man-thing ambassadors. Not know how battle go-go, I hear-hear only that it still go on!

Engineer Leav of Clan Skryre: Not hear-hear anything of Leav at all, excepty all scouts sent to spy-spy don't come back-back. Leav probably made tunnels into death-trap, cause he engineer and good-good at things like that. Tcheet still not know-know why he go where he go!

Raider Achyu exiled from Clan Skryre: Achyu ally with Useth and Touke and attack Nevar. Battle go well-well for allies so far, but they lose many-many troops to take tunnels. Achyu Skaven also been raiding other sections of under-empire, taking many-many slaves, not know-know where to

Clan-Warlord Useth of Clan Pestilens: Allied with Achyu and Touke, send many mad-mad Skaven to attack Nevar. Still not release death-plagues, but rumour say-say they about to, cause they recently take-take water supply to Palace where Nevar force-force is. Many-many will die!

Clan-Warlord Touke of Clan Moulder: Touke continue to send many-many giant rats and Rat-Ogres to attack tunnels of Nevar with Achyu and Touke. He got biggest force, but he suffer many-many more casualties than others. Look like Touke probably get stab-stab by others when they win-win!

Clan-Warlord and Deathmaster Damas of Clan Eshin: Still done nothing, hold-hold force back, defend Eshin-tunnels from Raiders. Damas is smart-smart Skaven.

That all for now-now, Tcheet on frequency 106.9 if others want to speak-speak to him. Hope everyone out there stay safe-safe!

DNS

04-08-2003, 14:51

04-08-2003, 14:57

The Mad Bombers

Seeing the Skaven preparing the warpstone bomb, Akagi grinned gleefully. At last, the perfect opportunity to examine the explosive properties of this magnificent substance!

He adjusted his spectacles, and hopped over to the bomb, nudging one of the skaven aside and peering at it intently.

"Such a simple design... what is the yield of this device? Its blast radius? Warpstone seems so inconsistent, do you have a formula to determine its explosive force potential?"

As he spoke, Akagi took a small digital camera from the pocket of his lab coat, and started snapping pictures.

"Hey!" squeaks the Skaven pushed out of the way, "Who you?"

The other Skaven pushes out his chest in pride as the scientist takes interest in his bomb.

"You interested in Warpstone? You must be smart-smart man-thing, only smart-smart Skaven use Warpstone. We enginneers from Clan Skryre, we very-very smart Skaven! We build-build bomb to collapse tunnel, make bomb right size so not-not collapse too much tunnel! This bomb blow up, say...20 metres? But it burn hot-hot, hot enough to melt through stone! We build it with small hot boom! At least that what we plan! We take about two-dozen fingers", his gestures to the finger-sized chunks of warpstone,"and put around bomb. They inside metal-case so they burn hotter and not fly apart, collapse tunnel! Warpstone a bit unreliable though, sometimes blow up big-big, sometimes blow up small. We build two more bombs so if first not work, we use-use other ones!"

He turns to the other Skaven, growls and smacks him on the head with a paw.

"But we don't leave extra bomb so close-close to first bomb that all three explode, do we! Not like last time, stupid-stupid-Skaven! We not want to blow up pack-brothers this time, Idiot-Skaven!"

04-08-2003, 15:10

Transmission to Tcheet from DNS command.

/beginning transmission/
>Glad to here your doing ok,
>but we have reservations about
>the current warlords.
>We belive that you might do a
>better job of leading your
>country. We are willing to
>help you if you are
>interested.
\end transmission\

Tcheet modulates his return transmission so it only reaches DNS command

"Hmmm...not really think-think about it. Problem is that Tcheet not good fighter, or good leader, and Warlord must-must be both. Best Tcheet can hope-hope for is becoming advisor to new Warlord, so Tcheet can try-try to do best for Skaven, while not having to fight-fight to keep position! Tcheet not-not know who would make best-best candidate, all seem pretyy bad-bad. Last Warlord was smart-smart, he knew future of Skaven Under-empire lay with talk-talk, not fight-fight. Not sure-sure if Warlords-to-be think-think like that! This not-not good time for Skaven Under-empire!"

DNS

04-08-2003, 15:14

Spyr

04-08-2003, 15:25

the Mad Bombers

Akagi's grin widened as the bomb was explained to him.

"Ah, I must say that I'm glad to have enountered another man of science, and one who shares my fascintion with this wonderful warpstone!

Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr. Robert Akagi, former head of the Spyran Strategic NBC Development program. I still would be too, except... you want to see how something works on the battlefield, right? So you dont bother installing safety measures, some people suffer epidermal liquification, and you get relegated to a post as Science Attache in a diplomatic embassy. Though, I suppose it was a blessing, for it brought me closer to an even more interesting area of study... warpstone!

When do you plan on deploying this bomb? I would love to observe it in action!"

Alcona and Hubris

04-08-2003, 15:47

Hmmm, Skaven not so good-good at bluffing men-things, we stand out a bit-bit to them! Lets raid-raid first, think about how to get-get through red-line later. Skaven ready to fight-fight! We steal-steal digger machine from there, yes? What the plan?"
The lord smiles...
"We attack at dawn, just the sight of large rats with guns should make them fall about the place screaming, of laughing...ZZAP has a reputation as having a high drug use rate. We will be there in a few hours, just follow my lead...we will round up the miners and stick them in the dry house. I never really liked those guys..."

Xanthal

04-08-2003, 16:00

The Science vessel has been unable to find a way to cleanse the warpstone, so they will instead be initiating a wave neutralization of the entire U.S.S.X. All residents have been put in a sealed area that will be shielded from the wave. Alerts have been sent out to all nations to avoid U.S.S.X. airspace for the next 24 hours.

Sigma Octavus

05-08-2003, 05:21

Lost...

They round the corner and run into the two Skaven, one of whom gives a shreik and vanishes behind a rock while the other stands his ground.

"Hey? You not big-rat-horror! You just man-thing! Hey, Ligref! It just men-things!"

The Skaven who must be called Ligrif emerges from behind his rock and walks back over, still looking very nervous.

"I Kiri, and this pack-brother Ligrif. General send us here to see-see what is going on, because Ligrif a lazy stupid Skaven and Kiri not run-run fast enough. What you doing here? This not nice area of tunnels, near-near where big-boom is! We hear other-things too, some Skaven say Great Horned One send big-rat-thing to punish us! It make terrible roar-screech like we just heard! Kiri a little worried now, thinking about going other way!"

Lost...

The two SOET look at the Skaven. "I'm Erik, and this is Hideo. We ran into your big-rat-thing and thought we killed it. Guess we were wrong. Anyways, do you know a way out of these tunnels?"

05-08-2003, 13:38

The one sane Skaven in the Under-Empire

/transmission to Tcheet/
>Sometimes the old adage about throwing
>a duck into water is correct, you need to
>try it before you can dismiss the idea. Some
>of our greatest leaders were nothings until
>the circumstances were right, then they
>became hero's. We have an infantry devision
>above you, and we can get to you if you need
>protection.
\end transmission\

/transmission to DNS Command/
“Throw-throw duck into water? Tcheet not-not understand, is this man-thing thing? Know-know what you mean though, many-many great Warlords of the past were unlikely leaders at first-first, but became great Warlords. Tcheet not-not sure still, Warlord have to fight-fight other challengers, tooth and claw, to keep position, and Tcheet not-not good at fighting. Tcheet small, and Tcheet smart-smart, but Tcheet not good fight-fight.

Feline-men-things say-say something about changing system so fight-fight not necessary. Sound-sound good, but Tcheet not-not know how it could be done. Many-many Skaven would resist change, think that Warlord who fights is strong Warlord! They could be right-right. Anyway, protection for Tcheet sound good-good, I come up and meet you, Tcheet not-not bad at sneaking”
\end transmission\

About fifteen minutes later a small figure emerges from the shadows near the infantry, looking around furtively and clutching a laptop under his arm. His fur is extremely pale, almost white in fact and is is indeed very small and puny for a Skaven, only reaching four foot in height. His most distinguishing feature is his eyes though, which seem to be bright with a curious fascination at the world, and indicate probably the smartest Skaven in the whole Under-Empire. Even as he draws closer he is taking in everything around him, studying the infantry men, looking at their postions, their equipment and their posture.

“Greetings, men-things from D-N-S. I am Tcheet, and I’d like to go-go somewhere safe-safe if that ok”

The Mad Bombers

Akagi's grin widened as the bomb was explained to him.

"Ah, I must say that I'm glad to have enountered another man of science, and one who shares my fascintion with this wonderful warpstone!

Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr. Robert Akagi, former head of the Spyran Strategic NBC Development program. I still would be too, except... you want to see how something works on the battlefield, right? So you dont bother installing safety measures, some people suffer epidermal liquification, and you get relegated to a post as Science Attache in a diplomatic embassy. Though, I suppose it was a blessing, for it brought me closer to an even more interesting area of study... warpstone!

When do you plan on deploying this bomb? I would love to observe it in action!"

“Pleased to meet-meet Akagi! I Pitch, and this good-for-nothing-disaster is Shael”

Shael gives a meek wave

“Sound like your history like-like mine”, says Pitch, ”’cept it was Shael who messed up, and I get blame-blame! He my apprentice, I think he only make engineer when he have so many accident he kill-kill Pitch! Stupid Shael put bombs to close-close, and squash-squash Warplock Engineer under rubble! They very mad, and put Pitch and Shael in deep tunnels, where we do-do no harm. Civil War mean each side need-need all the engineers they can find-find, so we useful again! Until Shael mess up again!”

Pitch puts the last finger of warpstone into the bomb and starts packing in the remaining space with gravel and earth from the tunnel floor. When the metal drum is full, He puts on the lid, which already has a hole to pull the fuse through, and nails it down. He picks up the remaining fingers that were unused and puts them in his pouches, all except one which he bites a chunk off and starts to chew it.

“Bomb done. Embassy-tunnels of Direk under attack by scary men-things, they wear armour which make them not-die when shot, or even set on fire! Direk say they break through unless we do-do something drastic, so we going to drop-drop tunnel on their heads. Skaven dig-dig over tunnel now, to get safe-safe place to put bomb. We go-go there now, you can come if you like-like, see warpstone bomb go boom-boom! Might-might be a bit dangerous though, many-many Skaven getting shot!”

Pitch gathers up the rest of his tools, and Shael picks up the bomb, which obviously is quite heavy. Akagi notices a third Skaven lurking nearby, who moves over when the bomb is finished and beckons the party to follow him to where they are needed.

The Courageous Wave-Rats!

The lord smiles...
"We attack at dawn, just the sight of large rats with guns should make them fall about the place screaming, of laughing...ZZAP has a reputation as having a high drug use rate. We will be there in a few hours, just follow my lead...we will round up the miners and stick them in the dry house. I never really liked those guys..."

Lot nods and goes off to organise the rest of the Skaven. Within a few minutes they are assembled on the deck, wielding a variety of blunt istruments acquired from various (probably non-essential) parts of the ship. All of them have their guns strapped on their backs. Lot walks to the head of the group, with his own rifle slung and carrying a length of metal piping.

“You want miners not killed, yes? We knock them out-out with clubs, threaten with guns if they get-get jumpy. Dee over there”, Lot points at one the Skaven, a female one as far as the lord is able to tell, who gives a little wave, “she find-find lots of wire, so can tie-up the miners so they not die-die! We really make effort for this, Skaven fight-fight normally lethal!”

Ground Zero

The Science vessel has been unable to find a way to cleanse the warpstone, so they will instead be initiating a wave neutralization of the entire U.S.S.X. All residents have been put in a sealed area that will be shielded from the wave. Alerts have been sent out to all nations to avoid U.S.S.X. airspace for the next 24 hours.

Numerous tunnels break the surface in the week or so following the blast and many Skaven emerge onto the surface, their normal mild agoraphobia overridden by their fear of the fighting below. The Skaven fleeing appear to be predominantly women and children, although their are a fair few male Skaven too. They stay well away from any human settlements or vehicles, and try and hide their presence as well as they can (which isn’t that well given the numbers). They settle in areas which provide some cover, like rocky outcrops and forests, and don’t appear dissuaded by the zones of warpstone contamination.

Lost...

The two SOET look at the Skaven. "I'm Erik, and this is Hideo. We ran into your big-rat-thing and thought we killed it. Guess we were wrong. Anyways, do you know a way out of these tunnels?"

“Yes-yes! Kiri know-know way back alright, and we go-go now, since we know horrible-rat-thing exists! We take you back-back to tunnels of General Nevar, he ask you about what you saw-saw, and you be safe-safe. Kiri know-know secret way into tunnels to avoid big fight-fight going on.”

Kiri turns to go, and beckons the SOET to follow him. Ligrif is already heading off in that direction.

Alcona and Hubris

05-08-2003, 15:30

Lot nods and goes off to organise the rest of the Skaven. Within a few minutes they are assembled on the deck, wielding a variety of blunt istruments acquired from various (probably non-essential) parts of the ship. All of them have their guns strapped on their backs. Lot walks to the head of the group, with his own rifle slung and carrying a length of metal piping.

“You want miners not killed, yes? We knock them out-out with clubs, threaten with guns if they get-get jumpy. Dee over there”, Lot points at one the Skaven, a female one as far as the lord is able to tell, who gives a little wave, “she find-find lots of wire, so can tie-up the miners so they not die-die! We really make effort for this, Skaven fight-fight normally lethal!”

"Just follow my lead, I have an idea when we arrive, get some of your fellows to jump out onto the dry land and throw those ropes off to them...we need to 'tie' down the boat...like we untied it yesterday..."

In the dawning daylight the coast of ZZap loomed ahead, A large massive dock stuck out into the water, the lord piloted the ship up to it.
"See those ropes, throw them over those large knobled things on the dock," Ye yelled.

He pushued out the gangplank and then said, "follow me."

DNS

05-08-2003, 15:37

One of the DNS soildiers goes up to Tcheet and confirms his identity. "Alright little guy, we have a transport incoming to get you off the ground here. We're gonna give you a choice where to go, temporary asilum in DNS, our command base nearby, or we could take you up to SNES which is probably the safest of the options."

OOC: SNES is my main spacestation.

Spyr

05-08-2003, 15:41

The Mad Bombers

Akagi was excited by the thought of seeing the Skaven bomb in action, and the mention of combat, probably involving even more warpstone technologies, was icing on the cake... especially since they seemed to be fighting a relatively high-tech human force.

At the thought of humans in the tunnels, something began to tickle at the back of his mind, something he should be thinking of...

Of course! The memory card on the digital camera would be close to full by now!

Akagi removed it, replacing it with one of his many spares. It was a good thing his mind was so brilliant... otherwise, he might have lost the chance to gather valuable visual data!

He then looked around, and saw Ambassador Harsk stepping out of the Spyran embassy for a look around.
Akagi threw the used memory card to the ambassador.

"Be a good lad and put that with the rest of my research materials. The Skaven are about to collapse a tunnel on some armoured men-things, and I dont want to miss seeing a warpstone bomb in action!"

Akagi turned and hurried after the the engineers.
"Mr. Pitch, if I'm not mistaken, you just ate some warpstone? What are its nutritional properties?..."

As the doctor dissapeared into the tunnels, ambassador Harsk looked down at the memory card in his hand.

"research...bomb.... ARMOURED MEN-THINGS???!!!"
Harsk spun around and started barking orders.

"Prepare to make a communications broadcast, on as many frequecies as possible. And, someone get me in contact with Direk... I need to find out how the hell he got into a firefight with a human military unit!"

Xanthal

05-08-2003, 16:00

The captain of XSC-09, the 'Discovery', sighs as he looks at the monitor showing the concentrations of Skaven. "They're all over the place, aren't they?"
The lieutenant at OPS nods. "We can't conduct a sweep of the area. Not with them around..."
The captainflips off the screen and sits in the command chair. "Okay... Time to think of a plan B. We need something to decontaminate large quantities of warpstone from the atmosphere, as well as the surface and underground tunnels of the Skaven... Without killing any of them."
"Impossible, Sir."
"Get all the labs working on it. The only other solution is to beam the Skaven out of there, and the warpstone makes that impossible. Not that there's anywhere to beam them all to, even if we could."
"Sir, if we cannot find an alternative we should attempt to contact the Skaven."
"Now who's suggesting the impossible? They're scattered throughout the nation, and I doubt any of them has so much as a radio."
"We could use comm drones."
"Jesus, Mark... What a fantastic waste of drones... Though you may be right, it could work. Unfortunately we're not equipped with comm drones. Hail the Falador and get them to launch the drones."
"Hailed Sir. They'll be here directly."
"Good. Then, let's wait."

DNS

05-08-2003, 16:05

A transport Red Hawk lands near Tcheet and the group of DNS soildiers, a fireteam of skaven guards exited the ship and took defensive positions around it. The leader of the fireteam walks over to Tcheet and the DNS soildier talking to him, "We-we reade to go-go? I-i don't want to-to stay here-here long time"

Alcona and Hubris

05-08-2003, 16:40

To:
Vrak Diplomatic Corps
From:
Interior Ministry,
Alcona and Hubris
Subject: Skavern

At the present time, we have become aware of the disappearence of the local Skavern population to an unknown location. They appear to have stolen a large cache of weapons facilitated by a tratior.

Disagreement has occured about connection between Skavern and missing boat.
1) boat and weapons dissapered on the same night
2) Skavern are massively hydrophobic...we had to tranq them all to get them here in the first place....tend to dig underneath bodies of water
3)Tratior is belived to be Peter Macvel, or Lord Pitrimits who has been out of luck recently.

Current estimate is that the Skavern are digging from an abandoned mine shaft somewhere on the island to the 'home' tunnels while Macvel abord the torpedo boat and has escaped with a payment of warpstone for the weapons and is headed for parts unknown. Last course he was on was south, five miles off of the coast of Dark Island. We will be sending a ship to patrol within the cordon...The ARN Bell to see if he has pentrated to hide...

******
The Under Minister of the Interior was a neat tidy person, who was grubling all of these things to the Chancellor of Alcona and Hubris...
"Ah, now I need to tell those Navy boys to send some ship to go inside the cordon, because the damn Adel will rebel if we don't try to guard the bastard..." The Chancellor looks up from his drink, and says "give it here...he picks up a red phone and makes some setting changes on it...

Encryption level - MED
*****
To Fleet, All ships...
*****
The ARN Bell is to go to Vrak waters and search cordon...notify Vrak fleet upon entering their water. Code is...ah....58697 Uniform Delta Delta.
This is your Chancellor speaking...hic.

###########
Around the navy the transmission is printed out on every ship, including the AMS Vampir....

OOC: I'm tired of my present government...

Sigma Octavus

05-08-2003, 17:43

“Yes-yes! Kiri know-know way back alright, and we go-go now, since we know horrible-rat-thing exists! We take you back-back to tunnels of General Nevar, he ask you about what you saw-saw, and you be safe-safe. Kiri know-know secret way into tunnels to avoid big fight-fight going on.”

Kiri turns to go, and beckons the SOET to follow him. Ligrif is already heading off in that direction.

Lost....

The SOET nodded and followed the Skaven.

Xanthal

05-08-2003, 19:16

The Falador, having arrived several minutes earlier and been briefed by the Discovery, launches a full spread of comm drones towards earth. The drones level off at 100 feet above the surface and begin blaring their broadcast in all directions, making the signal audible to anyone within the regional U.S.S.X. and anyone within a few hundred miles of the border.
"This is the Xanthalian ship Falador. All Skaven in the U.S.S.X., converge on the southern gates of the nearest city to you. Get within one mile of the gates, but do not enter the cities themselves. Inform those in the tunnels. Beginning in one hour we will initiate a localized transport at the specified areas once an hour five times. After the fifth initiation of the transporter we will be cleansing the entire area. All Skaven left over will be killed, so get to the gates. Falador out." The drones fall to the ground, inactive.

05-08-2003, 20:09

The Courageous Wave-Rats!

"Just follow my lead, I have an idea when we arrive, get some of your fellows to jump out onto the dry land and throw those ropes off to them...we need to 'tie' down the boat...like we untied it yesterday..."

In the dawning daylight the coast of ZZap loomed ahead, A large massive dock stuck out into the water, the lord piloted the ship up to it.
"See those ropes, throw them over those large knobled things on the dock," Ye yelled.

He pushued out the gangplank and then said, "follow me."

Lot squeaks rapidly to a couple of Skaven, who tense and leap the gap from the ship to the land, covering a distance of a good 6 metres in one standing jump. A few more Skaven gather the ropes and hurl them across, whereupon the first two secure them as best they can. As the Lord crosses the gangplank, one of them salutes him a joking kind of way, and then they scamper back into formation behind him.

The group moves out, the Skaven even ceasing their incessant chittering to be as stealthy as possible.

The one sane Skaven in the Under-Empire

One of the DNS soildiers goes up to Tcheet and confirms his identity. "Alright little guy, we have a transport incoming to get you off the ground here. We're gonna give you a choice where to go, temporary asilum in DNS, our command base nearby, or we could take you up to SNES which is probably the safest of the options."

A transport Red Hawk lands near Tcheet and the group of DNS soildiers, a fireteam of skaven guards exited the ship and took defensive positions around it. The leader of the fireteam walks over to Tcheet and the DNS soildier talking to him, "We-we reade to go-go? I-i don't want to-to stay here-here long time"

“Hmmmm, not-not sure about this. Tcheet want to stay near Skaven Under-Empire, so Tcheet can tell-tell what is going on, try and make fight-fight as short as possible. Other Skaven come and tell-tell Tcheet things so I can tell-tell you and others too. How about this? Tcheet stay here, Tcheet know safe-place to hide, and you men come, keep-keep Tcheet safe. If you want help-help Skaven, there are many-many Skaven who want to flee-flee the fighting, need somewhere to go-go! Could you help-help them? I could send-send message to them, tell them where to meet-meet you, and you help-help them to safety?”

The Mad Bombers

Akagi turned and hurried after the the engineers.
"Mr. Pitch, if I'm not mistaken, you just ate some warpstone? What are its nutritional properties?..."

“Newt-trish-show-nal-pro-perr-tees? Not know-know what you mean. Pitch know it taste good, make Skaven more awake and think-think better! You want-want some?”

Pitch takes out a finger and offers it to the doctor. The third Skaven holds out a hand to stop them, and then scuttles off.

“I think they not-not quite ready for us yet, not finished dig-dig tunnel. Always it is smart-smart engineers who wait for other, stupid-Skaven! It like this where you are too-too?”

As the doctor dissapeared into the tunnels, ambassador Harsk looked down at the memory card in his hand.

"research...bomb.... ARMOURED MEN-THINGS???!!!"
Harsk spun around and started barking orders.

"Prepare to make a communications broadcast, on as many frequecies as possible. And, someone get me in contact with Direk... I need to find out how the hell he got into a firefight with a human military unit!"

It is quickly established that Direk is very busy directing the defence of the embassy compound, though one of his aides arrives to talk to Ambassador Harsk. The aide is only about 5 foot tall, with slick brown fur that is obviously kept well groomed. He radiates that degree of sliminess that would probably make him some kind of salesman if he was human.

“Greetings to you, Ambassador Harsk. I am hearing that you wish to know-know about men-things that attack us? We know little, they strike without warning and kill-kill many Skaven, they survive out best-best weapons. Not you worry though, soon they be dead-dead, Direk say for us to collapse tunnel on them with bomb-bomb. Hope that sets your mind at rest-rest, Ambassador. You are safe-safe here”

Ground Zero

The captain of XSC-09, the 'Discovery', sighs as he looks at the monitor showing the concentrations of Skaven. "They're all over the place, aren't they?"
The lieutenant at OPS nods. "We can't conduct a sweep of the area. Not with them around..."
The captainflips off the screen and sits in the command chair. "Okay... Time to think of a plan B. We need something to decontaminate large quantities of warpstone from the atmosphere, as well as the surface and underground tunnels of the Skaven... Without killing any of them."
"Impossible, Sir."
"Get all the labs working on it. The only other solution is to beam the Skaven out of there, and the warpstone makes that impossible. Not that there's anywhere to beam them all to, even if we could."
"Sir, if we cannot find an alternative we should attempt to contact the Skaven."
"Now who's suggesting the impossible? They're scattered throughout the nation, and I doubt any of them has so much as a radio."
"We could use comm drones."
"Jesus, Mark... What a fantastic waste of drones... Though you may be right, it could work. Unfortunately we're not equipped with comm drones. Hail the Falador and get them to launch the drones."
"Hailed Sir. They'll be here directly."
"Good. Then, let's wait."

Skaven continue to pour up from the war-torn caves, onto the surface. They begin to split off into small communities, putting as much distance between themselves and other Skaven communities as well the exit tunnels they arrived through. It is evident the Skaven are smart but primitive, they have brought little or no technology with them but they adapt very quickly to the unfamiliar surroundings, rapidly overcoming their fear of the sky above them and instead concentrating on staying alive. Groups of scavengers move out from the communities and begin to collect whatever food is in the areas they have settled. They generally do this by finding a plant or animal and then sampling it, pronouncing it edible and then taking it back. In all the time they are watched, the Skaven never pronounce anything unedible.

Lost...and found!

The SOET nodded and followed the Skaven

Kiri and Ligrif lead the SOET for some time through the winding tunnels of the Skaven Under-Empire. Sounds of fighting filter through, but Kiri picks his route well and manages to avoid any confrontations, although there are some hairy moments on the way. Eventually, Kiri turns to the SOET.

“Alright, we here. Just have to get past guards now”

Kiri rounds the corner into a much larger tunnel, in which there are thirty or so Skaven, armed with a variety of melee weapons and looking very tired and battle-weary. The tunnel they are in has blood splattered over the floor and there are numerous bodies nearby. Kiri squeaks out:

“Hey-hey! It Kiri and Ligrif, we return from scout-scout! Bring informations and men-things to talk to Nevar!”

The Skaven move out of the way, letting the unlikely party pass through with only a couple of dirty looks. The tunnels wind around some more, and numerous other guardposts are passed, most with simple weapons but some decked out with some of the slightly more crazy elements of Skaven Engineering. At one point a field hospital is passed, with numerous injured Skaven being seen to, in one way or another. It is all pretty grim.

After what seems like an age, Kiri talks his way past one more guardpost, this one attended by the large black Stormvermin, and then leads the SOET into a large, partially collapsed chamber, which looks like it was once a Throne Room. Sitting on a section of rubble which probably corresponds to where the Throne once was is the largest Skaven the SOET have ever seen, standing some 7 foot tall and heavily muscled. His fur is jet black, and he is missing his left eye, in its place is a large chunk of Warpstone. He bares his teeth, and reveals that many of them are metal replacements for teeth lost in his numerous battles. His claws have been metal plated, and he wears a suit of chain-mail like armour, articulated enough to allow the full range of Skaven movement but still providing a degree of protection.

“Ahhh, Kiri. I see-see you have found some friends...have you found-found the information I sought too?”

“Yes, General Nevar. These men-things have seen-seen the Rat-Beats themselves! And lived too!”

“Hmmm, it appears the tales may still be true-true. Kiri, Ligrif, you are dismissed, report to the armory for equipment and then-then attend a guard station”

Kiri and Ligrif slink away, grumbling slightly.

“So, men-things? What can you tell-tell me about this Rat-Beast? And why you are down here-here too? You pick bad-bad time to explore these tunnels!”

DNS

05-08-2003, 20:20

The one sane Skaven in the Under-Empire

One of the DNS soildiers goes up to Tcheet and confirms his identity. "Alright little guy, we have a transport incoming to get you off the ground here. We're gonna give you a choice where to go, temporary asilum in DNS, our command base nearby, or we could take you up to SNES which is probably the safest of the options."

A transport Red Hawk lands near Tcheet and the group of DNS soildiers, a fireteam of skaven guards exited the ship and took defensive positions around it. The leader of the fireteam walks over to Tcheet and the DNS soildier talking to him, "We-we reade to go-go? I-i don't want to-to stay here-here long time"

“Hmmmm, not-not sure about this. Tcheet want to stay near Skaven Under-Empire, so Tcheet can tell-tell what is going on, try and make fight-fight as short as possible. Other Skaven come and tell-tell Tcheet things so I can tell-tell you and others too. How about this? Tcheet stay here, Tcheet know safe-place to hide, and you men come, keep-keep Tcheet safe. If you want help-help Skaven, there are many-many Skaven who want to flee-flee the fighting, need somewhere to go-go! Could you help-help them? I could send-send message to them, tell them where to meet-meet you, and you help-help them to safety?”

"Let me radio base, one second." The DNS soildier talkes back and forth to base for a while, and eventually they seem to agree on the other end.

"Alright, we've got a platoon that we will use to secure your location, and another one will secure this area for Skaven to escape. We'll be getting a few more Transports to pick them up."

Alcona and Hubris

05-08-2003, 20:39

OOC: I have persmision to use ZZapp
He leads the group along the vast, towering coal dock to a gate...which has a sleepy guard... The walk out and continue to follow the tressle until they come to a young man, with long hair...who seems to be very, very baked...
"Tell me my good man, do you happen to be selling any Hash and Sash?"
inquires Pitir...
"Hey dude, there's like...giant rat things...you know...rearwards...a to port...no...to bow man...yeah to bow..." states the young man who is scratching himself...in a very obsene location.

"Ah, no, their the new band...ah...Killameornot...yes just back from a world wind tour..." The engineer explains, with a hand gesture...

"Oh, so they'd want some Hash and Sash man...I mean...you know...the world don't want...well you know the MAN....he...well...ah...what was I saying"

"You were saying that Killameornot was your favorite band and you were going to give me...their manager...your entire stash of Hash and Sash..." He grins at the young man and bends down towards him...

"Oh...NO, man...I don't give my stash to just no one...I give you half off man...cause your....your the coolest bunch of rat men I know...what happend to your fur man!"

"Here, fifty Kondors worth", he throws the note on the ground....
"Oh man, Here you go man....He hands a giant bag, semely out of nowhere to him..."Hey, you boys enjoy...and make rat love...man...can I come?"

"Fine, bleb...follow us..." The begin trudging up the hill, with the wasted pusher following behind, well he seemed to be tacking up the street.
past closed stores to the large shaft house halfway up the hill...where steam rises from behind...most of the stores are closed, the group continues to climb up to the gates of the minning operation that read:

Cool Dudes Coal
We mine Coal cause it's natural
******

ARN Bell...

"Ah captain, we have a new mission...we are to head to the World Court security cordon and enter...begin a sweep for that missing ship." said the ensign

"What the f***"
The captain is looking over a very large party out on shore, his ship had a watch crew on board and was off the coast of Eris Kristalli...and part of Taskforce Wyvern..."Who sent those orders...god damn it...the Naval Ministry knows were out here, with a detached company...and it's a better job for two frigates not one lone destroyer..."
"Ah, sir...it's from the Chancellor sir..." the ensign squeeked...
"Damn fool, I bet the Interior Ministry is behind these orders, bloody twits all of them...go find the crew...and get them on board...we leave in, oh f*** three hours..."
"And get the Commadore on the line, I need to speak to her directly..."

06-08-2003, 01:05

With a crash of falling earth and stone, a large drill burrows out into the tunnel, followed by the rest of the digging machine. As it emerges into the tunnle, lights flick on and swep across the tunnel, both in front and behind the digger. It turns and drives down the tunnel, the drill slowly spinning to a stop now that it is not required.

"Any sign of life out there?", asks a member of the two man crew slowly boiling inside the tiny cockpit. He is holding a pair of joysticks which must be the movement controls, while his co-pilot stares into a monitor.

"Not a soul, I guess they must be all off fighting somewhere. Lucky us..."

The digging machine continues to rumble down the tunnel, which looks like it has been extratcted as part of a mine. Upon finding a slightly larger tunnle, the digging machine performs a three-point turn and continues it's journey downwards in reverse. Before long, the tunnel ends in a rough rockface which looks like the current area being mined. The lights pan across the rock, revealing the distinctive green glint of Warpstone all across the walls.

"That's the stuff. Get in the HardHat and get out there, i'll relieve you in fifteen minutes"

The co-pilot grumbles under his breath and heads out of the cockpit into the back of the digger. The back doors swing open, and the HardHat lumbers out. It is a bipedal walker, standing 4 metres tall which looks like it is supposed to have an open cockpit, except this one has had it reinforced and sealed off, probably to protect the pilot from the effects of the Warpstone. One of its arms ends in a drill, a much smaller version of the one on the digging machine, while its other ends in a broad scoop. It walks over to the wall and begins to drill out the warpstone chunks, periodically stopping to tip its scoop into a machine in the back of the digging machine which looks designed to filter the warpstone fragments from the other types of rock, which it spews out of the side.

Slowly but surely the Warpstone is collected.

Sigma Octavus

06-08-2003, 02:26

Kiri and Ligrif lead the SOET for some time through the winding tunnels of the Skaven Under-Empire. Sounds of fighting filter through, but Kiri picks his route well and manages to avoid any confrontations, although there are some hairy moments on the way. Eventually, Kiri turns to the SOET.

“Alright, we here. Just have to get past guards now”

Kiri rounds the corner into a much larger tunnel, in which there are thirty or so Skaven, armed with a variety of melee weapons and looking very tired and battle-weary. The tunnel they are in has blood splattered over the floor and there are numerous bodies nearby. Kiri squeaks out:

“Hey-hey! It Kiri and Ligrif, we return from scout-scout! Bring informations and men-things to talk to Nevar!”

The Skaven move out of the way, letting the unlikely party pass through with only a couple of dirty looks. The tunnels wind around some more, and numerous other guardposts are passed, most with simple weapons but some decked out with some of the slightly more crazy elements of Skaven Engineering. At one point a field hospital is passed, with numerous injured Skaven being seen to, in one way or another. It is all pretty grim.

After what seems like an age, Kiri talks his way past one more guardpost, this one attended by the large black Stormvermin, and then leads the SOET into a large, partially collapsed chamber, which looks like it was once a Throne Room. Sitting on a section of rubble which probably corresponds to where the Throne once was is the largest Skaven the SOET have ever seen, standing some 7 foot tall and heavily muscled. His fur is jet black, and he is missing his left eye, in its place is a large chunk of Warpstone. He bares his teeth, and reveals that many of them are metal replacements for teeth lost in his numerous battles. His claws have been metal plated, and he wears a suit of chain-mail like armour, articulated enough to allow the full range of Skaven movement but still providing a degree of protection.

“Ahhh, Kiri. I see-see you have found some friends...have you found-found the information I sought too?”

“Yes, General Nevar. These men-things have seen-seen the Rat-Beats themselves! And lived too!”

“Hmmm, it appears the tales may still be true-true. Kiri, Ligrif, you are dismissed, report to the armory for equipment and then-then attend a guard station”

Kiri and Ligrif slink away, grumbling slightly.

“So, men-things? What can you tell-tell me about this Rat-Beast? And why you are down here-here too? You pick bad-bad time to explore these tunnels!”

Found!

"From what we saw of the.....thing, it was large and powerful. It took numerous rockets and grenades and still came. We dropped a couple hundred tons of rock on it, but it may still be alive." Erik explained to the large Skaven.

Hido spoke up then. "We were sent here to help quell riots among the Skaven. We had two other members, but they are no longer with us."

Vrak

06-08-2003, 09:04

OOC: Oh my…your Chancellor broadcast the code to all the ships?? Now this should be interesting…

IC:

**********
ENCRYPTED – MED
**********
****
international route - Interior Ministry - Alcona and Hubris
****
****
route complete
****

To: Interior Ministry - Alcona and Hubris
From: Vrak Diplomatic Corps
Subject: Skaven

Understood. From our end, we haven’t been able to determine more from the Skaven we’ve encountered. Mostly just cultural matters. Be advised that the ARN Bell should contact Admiral Killamo of the VNF Boarhunter before crossing the cordon. The destroyer VNF Fury is presently heading to the island as a precautionary measure.

Have you been able to determine the properties at all of this “warpstone”? The Skaven prize it very highly. In fact, their whole society seems to run on it – much like oil has a great importance in a modern nation. If Peter Macvel is aboard the torpedo boat with this “warpstone” then what would be the best approach?

We’ve managed to secure a sample and are sending it back to the nearest research facility for testing.

06-08-2003, 09:18

The Minister for Agriculture was quietly reading a report when a rumble shook his office, plaster dust covering him like devil's dandruff.

Damn, was his secretary moving the lobby furniture around again?

something out of the window caught his eye, the Careers Centre.
It had been built a couple of months ago, but he was sure that it wasn't meant to list sideways at 45 degrees.

blinking with disbelief, he reached for the phone and told his superiors....

09-08-2003, 14:59

OOC: Sorry about the delay everyone. My computer appears to have died a somewhat painful death and mt attempts to return it to life have been less than successful. Hopefully should be able to post again on monday.

Vrak

11-08-2003, 06:53

== Bump cuz I like this RP ==

OOC: Check your t-grams Skaven.

12-08-2003, 20:52

The Whispering Voices detachment leaves the tunnels ... seemingly returning with what they had come for.

Biomass, tonnes of it in the form of dead skavens.
And warpstone.

As a precaution, remote DNA sampler drones are left skittling along the tunnels, looking like mechanical cockroaches, hoping to meet something big and bad.

Vrak

13-08-2003, 10:19

== Where where is Skaven? ==

Spyr

13-08-2003, 14:13

The Mad Bombers

“Newt-trish-show-nal-pro-perr-tees? Not know-know what you mean. Pitch know it taste good, make Skaven more awake and think-think better! You want-want some?”

Pitch takes out a finger and offers it to the doctor. The third Skaven holds out a hand to stop them, and then scuttles off.

“I think they not-not quite ready for us yet, not finished dig-dig tunnel. Always it is smart-smart engineers who wait for other, stupid-Skaven! It like this where you are too-too?”

Akagi takes the warpstone and begins nibbling at it experimentally.
"You say it has properties which increase alertness and intellect? This substance will never cease to amaze me! Perhaps I could employ it as a condiment for my meals...

Dont be disheartened by the ineptitude of your inferiors. Great minds like you and I will always be surrounded by fools, shining pillars of brilliance in a sea of incompetence. But the unenlightened masses do have their uses... they can be set to tasks that would otherwise distract us from our work, and seeing as their intelligence is far less than our own, can be used to test theories and inventions without risking ones own brilliant mind."

It is quickly established that Direk is very busy directing the defence of the embassy compound, though one of his aides arrives to talk to Ambassador Harsk. The aide is only about 5 foot tall, with slick brown fur that is obviously kept well groomed. He radiates that degree of sliminess that would probably make him some kind of salesman if he was human.

“Greetings to you, Ambassador Harsk. I am hearing that you wish to know-know about men-things that attack us? We know little, they strike without warning and kill-kill many Skaven, they survive out best-best weapons. Not you worry though, soon they be dead-dead, Direk say for us to collapse tunnel on them with bomb-bomb. Hope that sets your mind at rest-rest, Ambassador. You are safe-safe here”

Harsk looked at the Skaven aide. He couldnt help but be reminded of a spokesperson or politician... perhaps the Skaven WERE ready for democracy...

"First, let me assure you that I have full confidence in General Direk and his ability to maintain the safety of the embassies here. However, I am not certain if he is aware of the options he has to deal with this threat. It is quite likely that the attacking force mistook your forces as a threat, pehaps thinking that you held us foreign diplomats hostage for political leverage. Rather than waste resources and skaven, not to mention a whole tunnel, in fighting, Direk might consider allowing me to serve as an intermediary to negotiate with the attackers and see what they want. That way, everyone's needs could be satisfied without further bloodshed."

NationStates Jolt Archive

Nuke-nuke go boom! Civil war happen! And worse too! (rp)