Regular Dakkanaut
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Hello everybody! Sorry about my last "Story" I posted (Dragons in the mist), I just lost inspiration as I lost inspiration. However, I am very inspired with my Tau!
The concept behind the story is:
My Tau Commander was unnamed, I could not decide on a cool, unique name that I liked. I then searched through the Tau dictionary and found the word "Spoon". I then found a rough translation of "Hard". I put two and two together and Shas'O Cal'Ukos (or Commander Blunt Spoon) appeared. However I hate having random silly names without justification, and I needed a project to keep me occupied until Christmas. So, without further ado, Chapter I of my name justification! (This is for fun, but C&C is always very welcome).
Chapter I - Flight from Ulthak
"Forwards! For the greater good!" Our Shas'Ui roared with unparalleled determination. His command was met with the thunderous sound of hooves sprinting forwards, along with volleys of energy being fired towards the tide of Tyranids massing on the horizon. Both forces surged towards each other, a swarm of chitin and flesh on one side - a gun-line of plasma and railguns on the other.
As we assumed firing positions around various rocks and craters, our rifles began to carve through the aliens like a knife. For every creature we felled, another took its place; their massed dead providing a temporary shield as they drove further towards our position. A thick, toxic cloud began to envelop the battlefield, causing our targeting arrays to malfunction. Our helmets, now rendered useless, were hastily removed so we could continue to sow death among their ranks.
By the time we had re-assumed an optimal firing stance the smoke had smothered everything; now I could barely see my comrades. The sound of scuttling filled my ears as I tried to acquire a target, in desperation I began firing wildly into the smoke; the sizzling of flesh suggesting my shots found their mark. All around me I could hear the cries of Fire Warriors as they were butchered by those monsters; in panic I threw a Photon Grenade to try and stall my demise. The bright, searing light illuminated thousands of ghastly forms tearing apart my friends before I was plunged into the darkness once more.
I ran. My instincts of survival grabbed hold. I no longer knew what to do, so my legs took over. The cracked desert earth now had rivers of blood flowing through it, one could easily have mistaken it for a marsh at this point. All of a sudden I was thrown aside by a charging Carnifex, it's gargantuan armoured form ploughing through pockets of resistance. I lay on the ground, my left leg mangled - unable to move. 6 vibrant glowing eyes stared hungrily at me; I knew that this was the end. My vision faded into a bright white light and all of the sickening noise ceased...
A white hot stream of Ion incinerated the Carnifex atop me, it's shriek returning me to the world. Still dazed, I could make out a Riptide dancing around the beast while drowning it in bursts of plasma; it's sleek white form like that of a ghost. The shocked Carnifex toppled over, it's chitinous hide peppered with burns. 2 more of the beasts emerged from the smoke, charging towards the Riptide; the first one jumped toward it and tackled it to the ground while the second ripped off its leg. The battlesuit defiantly slammed it's shield into the monster atop its torso, the Carnifex landing 30 feet away in an agonising thud.
A loud humming began as the Riptide attempted to power up its Nova Reactor, in the hope of supercharging its repulsor field. The humming ceased as sparks and fire leapt from the crippled battlesuit. I braced myself, for I knew what was about to happen. The puzzled Carnifexes, on the other hand gingerly backed away from the Riptide.
A sphere of dazzling light slowly expanded, before quickly collapsing into a ball of condensed energy. Zap! The ball exploded, signifying the end of the brave battlesuit; its body being torn apart by a surge of superheated gases. The Carnifexes were melted by the intense heat, the only thing stopping me from evaporating was the charred husk of the beast felled by the Riptide only moments ago.
Having survived the various encounters, I began to crawl away from the battlefield before I was caught in another skirmish. As I crawled away, I noticed the plumes of vile smoke beginning to disperse. Each pull of my arm was agony, but I knew I must escape this horrid place. My body felt as if it were on fire, slowly shutting down from sheer exhaustion. After what seemed like an hour the smoke had cleared entirely, allowing me to gaze skyward at the stars.
I found a small crater and huddled inside it: The burnt ground cradling my limp form so I could rest and recuperate, as dusk settled on the desert plains. I clutched my datapad with a tired hand and set up the tracking beacon, my only hope of getting off of this forsaken rock being rescue. I slowly drifted into a deep sleep as a freezing wind scoured the sand, turning the desert into a frozen wasteland.
I awoke only hours later, my rest interrupted by a tumbleweed blowing into my face. The blue sun was just rising over the horizon, I decided to explore my surroundings while the beacon transmitted to orbit. Using my pulse rifle as a makeshift crutch I was able to feebly stand. Taking a moment to view my surroundings, I observed that the desert had began to transition into a rocky canyon with scattered vegetation. The canyon itself was titanic, it's faces at least 250 meters tall, with various caverns and outcrops.
I unstrapped my cumbersome backpack, rifling through its contents. There! I pulled out a pair of binoculars and raised them to my eyses. The lens was cracked, everything was too fuzzy to make out anything useful. Cursing, I threw the binoculars to the ground in a fit of rage, they shattered into many pieces as they bounced across the cracked earth. I slumped down onto a nearby rock, my thoughts wandering to the night before.
Images of my squad members - my friends - being torn limb from limb haunted me, their blood-curdling cries plaguing my head. I was a coward. I should have been stood shoulder to shoulder till the end, not sat on a rock in middle of nowhere. I had disgraced the code of fire.
I could not think like that, it would not get me anywhere. I had to keep moving, running the risk of another Tyranid encounter could prove fatal in my condition. This time there would be nobody to save my skin. I was alone. I collected up the remnants of the binoculars, then re-attached my backpack. I checked the suns position, I had about 10 hours till nightfall.
Slowly, I made my way towards the canyon. Despite my tragic situation, I could not help but admire the breathtaking scenery. Glistening rocks, fine sands and crystal clear skies while a blazing blue sun scorched the ground. The terrain became more rugged as I delved deeper into the mighty fracture upon the world. Progress ground to a halt. I sighed at the monumental task ahead, nevertheless I pressed on defiantly.
Soon it became more like climbing than hiking, due to the unusual inclinations of fallen boulders. Eventually I came to a near vertical face of rock that had fallen from the cliff. I reached out and grasped one of the cracks, it's razor-sharp edges slicing through my gloves and skin. I moaned in pain as I lifted my leg into a foothold. Slowly and methodically I made my way up the rock. Around halfway up there was a small nook in which I rested for a while. My hands were bloodied and my hooves chipped and cracked.
I gritted my teeth as I commenced the climb. The pain was incredible. Each pull was like somebody was trying to rip my arms from their sockets, my legs were threatening to collapse entirely. Grab. Pull. Grab. Pull. Each one got me slightly closer to the top. "Just a few more to go..." I told myself through a grimaced face. Two more... One more... There! I was on top of it.
Now I just had to wait. Eventually somebody would come. Several days I was forced to sit idly, my hopes ebbing away as the sun rose and set across the desert skies. Rescue did come, if slightly overdue.
The drop-ship zoomed into view with a sonic boom shattering the air around it; its body glinting in the light. Mere moments the craft took to reach the ground, it's powerful thrusters sending clouds of sand into the air as it landed with a hydraulic hiss. The ramp opened slowly, revealing several Fire Warriors. I counted 3 in total as they descended the metallic slope. "Is there anybody else with you?" A female voice inquired, with a heavy heart I replied: "Negative, you are the first Tau I have encountered in days."
"Damned Tyranids." She sighed mournfully, heading back into the confinement of the ship. The other two fire warriors flanked the ramp, watching in silence as I struggled into the craft. Not a word was spoken the entire journey to high orbit around the planet. Any attempts by me to spark conversation were quickly denied with harsh stares, I had no idea what I had done to cause such unrest. "Docking commencing" A robotic voice announced, finally breaking the monotonous silence. The craft pressurized and the ramp opened into a hangar bay buzzing with activity.
Upon departing the craft I was escorted to the bridge, where I was introduced to Shas'O Fu'Las of the Air Caste. His body was tall and lean, he stood an entire 2 feet above my stocky self. "It is a surprise you are here, for very few who set foot on that planet returned; we are glad to have you aboard the Endurance. Seeing as you returned alone, I see it fitting that you be reassigned to Shas'Ui Tel's squad. The female fire warrior removed her helmet, "Las! You cannot be serious, this spoon is of no use to me. I do not need any liabilities to babysit!"
"I am deadly serious, Tel. I believe this particular Fire Warriors talents may be of use to you. Now I have pressing matters to attend to, I shall leave you to be acquainted." With that the Air Caste Commander turned and strode towards the command deck. "Come on, spoon." Tel sighed "I had better take you to the barracks.".
It took weeks before Tel accepted me among her squad, I still did not know why she disliked me so. It has been 5 weeks since I had set foot upon the escaped from the clutches of death and set foot upon the Endeavour - but this is where my story, truly begins.
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