Tag: 40k

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (29)

Those faces would be etched into his mind with all the others that fell with him during battle. Some tears rolled down his eyes as he continued his lonely journey. There was a deathly silence apart from the intermittent sound of gunfire.

Thankfully, the lift that would bring him to the depths of the city was still functional albeit covered in blood.

“Floor 122”, he commanded.

The lift descended for several minutes.

The lift door opened revealing a Tyranid right in front of him.

It lunged at him. The wheelchair’s automatic defences kicked in leading to immediate machine gunfire that pushed the monster back. Shaken, he nevertheless drove forward. Horrible shrieking came from it before it slumped lifeless to the floor.

Timothy could see his ship now and his wheelchair raced to its destination. The loading bay automatically opened creating a ramp and then closed once he was inside.

His care-bot automatically activated.

“Do you need a wash, sir? There’s much dust and other detritus on you?”

“Not till we’re off this world.”

He immediately went to the control panel. The care-bot strapped down his wheelchair and then itself. A few moments later they were leaving the atmosphere. Timothy looked back at a planet ablaze but there were still pockets of green and blue here and there. All that destruction but there was still hope, especially without the Emperor.

Then he had a moment of clarity about what he should do next. He would bring Wheelchair Wars and the fight against the Emperor to the Imperium. Now, to find a planet in a different quadrant so that he can start again.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (28)

Timothy looked down at his hands. He expected them to look different. He had just annihilated the Emperor’s representative and all of his troops that were on the ship. He expected a physical change but maybe that was just more nonsense to keep people under control.

He stayed at the helm for a few more hours. The remaining Tyranid forces were now the hunted and being cut down without difficulty. It was time to activate his escape plan. The President would never forgive his large-scale use of nuclear weapons and he expected arrest once the civil authorities were back in full control.

Hence, he had developed the escape when he had been given full control. A spaceship was waiting with his trusted care-bots in one of the lower decks of the city. Instinctively, he knew now was the time.

He commanded that the large door be opened. Then saying nothing he simply drove out. They could figure out the rest themselves.

Once outside, the smell and scenes of death were everywhere. Partial human bodies and Tranid corpses were littered everywhere. Fortunately, his wheelchair had a setting for tracks and he was easily able to drive over it all. It was tough though when he recognized some of the faces.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (26)

Timothy sized up his options. The Tyranid would eventually get through the door. Then an important shield in the event of artillery fire or even orbital bombardment would be useless and immediately be fatal.

Therefore the monster must be confronted.

He knew that the fate of this world and many others now rested on his demur shoulders so he gave the command –

“Open the door.”

For a brief moment, they were hesitant to comply.

But that changed once I activated the wheelchair’s weapons systems.

The people crowded to the rear of the large cavernous room.

The banging stopped as the door slowly opened and then the Tyranid slithered in once it was able to, its stench engulfing the room.

The six-legged monster prepared to pounce.

Timothy bobbled back and forth as his heavy machine guns fired.

Blood splattered from the Tyranid and it darted from left to right.

Timothy turned with the creature mowing down many of the civilians and many of the computers in the process.

But the creature was spent, many of its limbs now blown off as it curled up and died.

Timothy stopped firing and ordered the door closed once more.

One of the survivors limped to do so.

“Did the Tyranid injure any of you?”

Two women hobbled forward, their legs lacerated.

“Shoot them.”

One of the officers shot them on the spot before they could even plead for their lives. No chances could be taken.

Timothy went to a control panel that was still functional. The planet’s forces were in the ascendancy.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (25)

They had been kept in reserve for just when the fighting was most intense. Maximus immediately saluted him and gave him a tactical update.

“Overall the city’s defense is holding up. The use of tactical nukes has helped greatly However, a sizable Tyranid force is approaching our current position. I recommend a tactical retreat.”

“That is not possible Maximus. If this position falls, we lose the war. It must be defended to the death.”

Maximus nodded in acknowledgment.

Timothy knew that this might be the last time to see them. But this was not the time for goodbyes.

He re-entered the control and ordered it sealed.

The battle ebbed and flowed throughout the planet. Some cities had already repulsed the attack and were now on the offensive.

Closer to home, his troops were fighting valiantly but suffering greatly. It pained him to watch his valued troops slain one by one. After another few hours, it became clear both sides were close to exhaustion.

Then there was a large bang on the steel door. The people in the room gasped. The enemy was at the door. Timothy looked at his monitors covering the vicinity. A large six-legged Tryand was the sole survivor. Everyone and everything else outdoor that door was dead.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (24)

Timothy banged his hand on the console. The hive mind had altered its tactics. The majority of the Tyranid forces now inexplicably move towards Timothy’s position. Tyranid spies must have relayed details of the defense network before they were exterminated.

For the first time, Timothy surveyed his surroundings and felt fear. Not for himself but for everybody else. This would be a very bloody and long battle. He roared out the command “Contingency 21 (a).”

All non-military personnel were to be evacuated through secret tunnels under the huge mega city. Most would not get the opportunity to use them but that is all he could do.

Wave after wave now attacked the city. Defensive artillery cut a swathe through them but some of their forces managed to enter the lower levels of the city. Timothy viewed the close-quarter fighting that ensued. Humans were being ripped apart piece by piece but occasionally taking a Tyranid with them.

Hours passed and the massive number of casualties only increased. Inch by inch, the Tyranids went forward. The ultimate war of attrition continued and they were now closing in on his position.

Timothy ordered the larger metal door to be opened and summoned his most loyal troops. The ones that he had fought with on Irideon 5.

Wheelchair Wars 3 (Part 23)

The Tyranid menace rained down from orbit in ever heavier waves. A long-orbit satellite, already the last functional confirmed that they were committing their entire fleet. Life on this planet and possibly thousands more now hung in the balance.

Screams of panic came from outside. Timothy had the large metallic doors sealed.

Timothy could see the intense fighting throughout the planet. Some minor fortifications had already fallen. But Timothy had ensured that a nasty surprise awaited the seeming victors. The fortifications were all rigged to explode. It was merely a matter of pressing a button on his screen. Alien and human life incinerated in an instant.

Another even nastier surprise was the use of the atom bombs. These were strictly prohibited as a threat to stability, not only under the Emperor but every other Empire in the galaxy too. But Uisneach as a free world had forged its own path.

The President had argued against their use but Timothy had convinced him that it was the only way. Of course, he had insisted on a limit to the number that would be used fearing that the planet would be left a toxic wasteland. Timothy had nodded dutifully, then ignored him.

The Tyranids had formed large biospheres near the largest cities. Timothy had heard about these super monsters before. They had to be stopped before they tore down the defensive positions. He gave the order for the first thirty nuclear missiles to launch.

Some of them target spaceships in low orbit. For a few moments, the room went deathly quiet. Then large cheers went up as one large mushroom cloud and then another rose into the atmosphere. Timothy immediately ordered the next round of missiles to be prepared. But the Tyranids changed their tactics pulling their ships back from low earth orbit and spreading out on the ground.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (22)

Timothy found himself hitting his pen off the table as he waited hour after hour in the control room for the battle to begin. An update was given every thirty minutes on the Tyranid fleet. It became that their whole armada would be involved.

The latest report told him that the Tyranid fleet had entered orbit. But he didn’t need the update. The gasp from those around him as the images from the multitude of cameras positioned all over the planet dimmed one after the other.

This was what he had been waiting for. The planet’s military leaders were all on the console in front of him kitted out in full military attire.

“Fire the planetary defense and do not stop until the enemy has been defeated.”

Timothy glanced over at the display to his left. It showed that the large guns were cutting a swathe through the enemy fleet. Then their response came.

The skies grew darker still as large and small explosions began to pulverize the surface of the planet, especially close to its two megacities.

Timothy once more turned to the console. The military men mostly looked stern and determined but others were nervously twitching.

“This is what we’ve been waiting for. Keep me updated at all times.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (21)

A few days later, news filtered through that the Tyranid swarm had entered the star system. In just a few hours their attack will have started. The Ambassador’s ship had left orbit.

Timothy felt so alive. Life felt good. The faces of dread on those around him could not quell his spirits. This was what he had been born to do.

He went straight to the command to view its screens of what was happening across the planet. Uisneach’s generals had been well informed of exactly how matters would progress. It had been a shock for them at the meeting when he informed them that Tyrranids in human form were already walking among them. They were here to sew dissent among the masses and to launch suicidal attacks on critical infrastructure such as the power grip and key communication installations just prior to the main attack.

They had listened. Their doctors postulated that they could be rooted out through a blood test. A back story was then fabricated about the population needing to receive a vaccine. What followed was a series of attacks against the injection centers. Horrific pictures were beamed across the planet of father’s carrying blood soaked children in their arms, of mother wailing over small bodies. But from a military perspective, it was a total success. Nothing of military or strategic value had been lost, and the Tyranid first wave had been extinguished.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (20)

The President had a vast array of advisors none of whom had ever seen combat. Still, he listens to each of them attentively. He had summoned Timothy to his war cabinet over two hours ago. Still, he had barely the opportunity to speak among the chatter of economic support and financial precariousness. They didn’t seem to be getting the dire nature of their situation.

They were dressed in suits. None of them were carrying weapons apart from Timothy. A rookie mistake. There could be a Tyranid sleeper agent among them.

Eventually, he snapped.

“We need to discuss our war strategy. This other nonsense can wait.”

The room immediately went quiet.

The President met his eyes.

“Yes, you are right. These issues can be dealt with by those who survive.”

“Thank you, Mr. President. I wish to recommend the following strategy and the relevant preliminary must be put in place at once.”

There were gasps and murmuring as he went through it.

The President then spoke.

“Timothy, we value human life here. We can’t just sacrifice such vast numbers.”

“Then you and everyone here will die Mr. President. The Tryanids do not feel pity or remorse. They feel nothing at all. All they do is consume world after world mercilessly. And this world will be next if you don’t follow my advice.”

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (19)

The days passed and Timothy and his troops grew to know what was a new world. Timothy was continually impressed. It had progressed beyond anything that he had expected. The only thing that bothered him was most of the progress was made after the Emperor’s grip on the planet had been loosened. This was not the way it way it should be. It was thought that the Emperor was the savior of humanity.

It was something of a shock that women were now treated on a par with men. In the latest wheelchair wars, they tried to reduce the bloodletting as much as possible. The poor’s health needs were met almost as much as those of the rich.

The Emperor’s ship had never left orbit. He sensed the nervousness of the people. They feared his return only slightly less than that of the impending Tyranid invasion. On a trip to the surface, he saw people pointing to its proximate location in the now blue sky.

He wondered if one of the Gods of Chaos was at work in the World but they were far from the Warp and the telepaths among his troops sensed nothing. A terrible truth dawned on him. They were doing better due to the Emperor’s absence.

He decided to rid his mind of such thoughts by focusing on the planet’s defense. After learning more, he was now quietly feeling more confident.

The planet had multiple lines of defense. The first was its multiple-battery orbit guns dotted around the planet. They were the best Timothy had ever seen. Almost too good. Who were they to be originally used against?

Then there was the planet’s federal army, which consisted of a land force, a navy, and a space force. The best troops in the land forces were modeled on the Space Marines and had undergone body augmentation and were fitted with the best lasers and blasters that money could buy.

The navy consisted of hundreds of battleships, aircraft carriers, and corvettes. The space force had nearly a thousand advanced fighters but no large ships.

There was also a territorial army, a large reserve force containing millions of men, albeit much more lightly armed with mostly machine guns and rocket launchers.

Finally, there were the militia. These had the poorest equipment and consisted of the young and old who were able to fight.

Now, it was a matter of finalizing exactly how the planet’s defenses would be used with the planet’s President.