Tag: 40k

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (18)

The name caught him off guard and he merely nodded in agreement. He looked around and could not see the face of his enemy. And anyway, the Tyranids had to be stopped. Surely, this would be the will of the Emperor

Their leader spoke once more.

“Perhaps you would like to rest? There has been much for you to take in.”

Timothy looked over at his loyal troops who were waiting patiently at the rear of the large cavernous chamber. His mind was made up in an instant.

“Yes, please show me and my men to our quarters. There will be enough time for war.”

“As you wish.”

Timothy thought that was the end of the surprises but he was wrong. Even the residential units were splendid with ample space, and marble floorings, and the furniture was of the finest wood. He instructed his carebot to lay him on the bed. It was made of the finest cotton. And this wasn’t an exceptional quarter. An ordinary family had lived here. They had been moved to make way for him. And each of his men had something similar.

After a few minutes, he realized there would be no offering of women and drink. How times had changed? He slowly drifted off asleep.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (17)

When the train stopped, they were led out into a large cavern. Timothy struggled to believe his eyes. The walls were covered in live video streams of strategic positions throughout the planet. Then in the distance after an array of desks and computers was what was the main console.

Timothy powered his wheelchair forward not quite sure if he could believe his eyes and then whispered.

“You have a planetary defense system?”

The tall, muscular man walked up alongside as the clattering of shoes against the floor, and the sound of computer keys getting pressed fell silent.

“Yes, we do. After my election..”

“Election!”

Timothy immediately activated the armaments on his wheelchair and prepared to fire. Never before had he heard such heresy. Only the Emperor or his ambassadors can appoint leaders.

“Before you fire, there are certain things you should know. Firstly, we are of the same blood. I am one of your many descendants. Secondly, we only began elections after the Emperor gave up on this world. The ambassador on this planet left once he saw the Tyranid fleet head in this direction.

This world was on the precipice of disaster but then we thought of Wheelchair Wars and that our heroes would never just give up.”

Timothy’s finger was almost on the button to fire but it never went further. The wheelchair returned to its normal state.

“My name is Timothy The Younger by the way.”

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (16)

They led him into the heart of the city. It was clear that everything had changed utterly from when he was last there. There was a natural smile on the people’s faces, they looked radiant and full of happiness in their immaculate white robes. The floor and walls looked like marble and the entire place was well lit. It smelled of the roses that were interspersed along each corridor. And this wasn’t the upper echelons of the city. Not even close, not that that seemed to matter. There were elevators dotted around the place with people coming and going as they pleased. It was strange. The people felt free. Timothy felt an intense pride in what had been achieved.

It wasn’t long before the fingers started to point at Timothy and his entourage. First, it was just the younger ones, and the older ones looked somewhat stunned. Then the furious clapping started. The crowds grew thick. It reminded Timothy of his great victories, and yet it seemed a different world, if not a different universe.

After a few minutes, they reached an international train transportation system. An open carriage was waiting for them. It was wide and spacious. Once, they were inside the doors automatically closed. It quickly transported them into the heart of the huge city. It was swift, even faster than what it had been centuries ago.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (15)

Timothy brought his battle chair to a halt a few feet from the welcoming party. A tall muscular man kitted out in body armor and carrying a large laser on his back began to speak.

“Timothy, welcome home! Everyone here already feels like they know you to some extent. Everybody has seen the replays of your most famous battles fighting for the Omega. You are also family to a significant portion of us, including myself.”

Timothy had intended to let him finish speaking but just found himself blurting out –

“Family?”

“Yes, family. All those women you had during your prime fighting days sired many births. Then after you left, any trace of you was highly valued and your offspring sired many, many more. Not just on this planet but throughout the sector. For instance, you are my great three times grandfather. So, you are not just here to defend your homeworld but also your progeny.”

For a brief few moments, Timothy was stunned but he regained his composure.

“Well, I better get to it. There is a war to be won.”

“Follow me. The planet has much changed since you were last here I’ve told. The air wasn’t even breathable.”

“Indeed and I had been hoping to use that to our advantage. Those plans will have to change.”

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (13)

“Not what you expected to see, is it?” the ambassador croaked.

It was as if his heart had been pierced by a bullet. Except, this wasn’t a physical pain that he was experiencing but something far worse and it pulsated through every part of his being.

The ambassador continued.

“You have been away far longer than you thought. All of our journey has not been through the Warp. Not that you noticed. Some of our journey was done at light speed. Time went far faster for the people of Uisneach than it did for us. Everybody that you ever knew on that planet is long dead.

I have seen it in your eyes- questioning the wisdom of the Emperor. Perhaps, now you will understand the better not to question him.”

A million different thoughts swirled through Timothy’s head. Sweat dripped from his forehead as his body temperature rose exponentially. He was in his battle chair. All he had to do was to turn on its weapons and he could kill everyone on the bridge. But it would achieve nothing.

He latched onto the thought of saving his home world and tried to block out any other thoughts.

Then he simply said.

“I serve the will of the Emperor.”

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (12)

All of Timothy’s former confidence and exuberance returned in the coming days. Finally, he would be back on his homeworld and there was a glorious battle to look forward to. That part though increasingly worried him. Even as he drilled his loyal troops in the shuttle area, negative thoughts and those bordering on chaos kept entering his mind.

Would he be able to watch the obliteration of his world if commanded?

If the Emperor was truly all powerful surely he could snap his fingers and put the enemy out of existence?

He knew such thoughts were heresy. But still they came.

Instead he tried to think of the positives. Of seeing his father and Audrey again.

He patiently waited till the day came that he could set his wheels on Uisneach once more. And he knew that it had arrived when the summons to the bridge came.

He drove out onto the bridge in full military regalia with all his medals proudly strapped to his chest.

But then he stopped his wheelchair stunned, his mouth ajar at what he saw in front of him.

It was Uisneach and yet it wasn’t. He recognized the two megacities protruding from the planet but other things were so different. He had expected to see a barren, poisoned world but there were lush forests, grasslands and agricultural fields covering the planet with ostensibly human settlements dotted throughout. The sea was a deep blue hinting at abundant marine life.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (11)

Timothy felt a sharp jolt through every fiber of his body. Exhalation but with a mix of dread. Finally, he would make it back it his home planet, back to the Alpha. And bloodletting and women too. It had been far too long.

But the threat from the Tyranids is grave. Everybody and everything he had ever loved or known faced destruction. His homeworld faced losing all of its life and being transformed into a dead rock. No more hive cities and even its toxic atmosphere would be no more. But if it were to be the end, it would indeed be glorious. A battle to the end against the Empire’s ultimate adversary.

The Emperor’s Representative wretched croaky voice brought him back to the moment.

“We’ll reach Uisneach in just a few days. The Alpha has been notified of your arrival. The world’s population is being enlisted into the armed forces. You are to lead the planetary defense, for the glory of the Emperor.

You will face a large Tyranid force. Plans are already in place should it look like to planet may fall. The Empire must persist no matter the cost.”

Timothy suddenly found himself talking.

“Uisneach will not fall.”

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (10)

The day that Timothy would never forget started just like the dozens of ones before. Opening his eyes, the care-bot was there by his bed awaiting any instructions. Timothy had planned to ignore it just like every other day. His compact room had long felt more like a prison cell.

But then it spoke –

“The General has instructed you to visit his quarters in two hours. This directive has been given the highest priority.”

The thought of seeing that mass murderer sickened him. But, it was the will of the Emperor and he would obey.

“Get me up,” he commanded.

The robot meticulously went through the required routine. It gave Timothy time to think but he could think of nothing for the General to want to see him

Two hours later he was entering the General’s lair in his battle chair.

The room stank of decay. The General was standing there waiting for him in the middle of the room. His face was almost skeletal and he was draped in black cloth.

He began to speak.

“Do not be shocked by my appearance. I have been away from the Emperors life force for too long.

I have seen the hatred in your eyes. But I did what needed to be done for the good of the Empire and Emperor. It has largely been successful. There is just one hive ship of menace left and it’s next target is Uisneach.”

Timothy feels what little muscle he has, has grown tense. He wants to open fire to save his home.

“But there will be no Terminatus of Uisneach. Wheelchair Wars has become known throughout the Galaxy. Therefore the planet must be defended and that is what I want you to do.”

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (9)

For the next few weeks, Timothy failed to leave his room. The blank canvas of its walls was his only entertainment. He did not talk to his men and spoke as little as possible to his care-bot who nevertheless insisted on giving him updates.

Timothy remembered the first time he had heard about the Terminatus decree. He was young at the time and it was from his father. It was something that he could barely conceive and it had immediately sent a shudder down his twisted spine.

Over the years he had learned more. Some people had told him that the Emperor would never actually do such a thing. Others told him that it had already been done to many worlds. That even a billion human deaths would mean little to the Emperor. Such says seemed almost heretical to him then but now he knew better.

Each time he heard that robotic voice of his care-bot, it had news of another world that had been turned to dust. Fortunately, most had only been barely hospitable in the first place. Thousands of lives were lost instead of billions. But that wasn’t always the case.

“Timothie, nneeww report. Termminnatus Sigma 214568.”

His dreams had become nightmares. All he could think about was all the families that were being obliterated. All the sons watching their mothers and fathers being disassembled before their eyes. All he could have hope for was that they were quick deaths.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (8)

The General continued to speak, his scarred face barren of emotion.

“And yet the enemy must be stopped. The Tyranids cannot be allowed to simply cut a swathe through the Empire. You, Timothy, confirmed what I already knew. The best way to destroy this enemy is by depriving it of what it needs most – life to gorge on. It might not stop them here but we will gradually sap their strength till they are no more.

Prepare to fire the Terminatus missile.”

There were audible gasps from those on the bridge.

“Prepare to fire, that is an order.”

Timothy began to sweat, and his heart raced. But there was nothing he could have done or said to change what was about to happen.

“Fire,” the General commanded.

Timothy looked out. A white speck hurtled away from the ship towards the beautiful blue and green planet. Deathly silence gripped the bridge.

Then it seemed to disappear into the green haze for a few seconds.

Perhaps, it had failed Timothy had thought.

But then the first dash of red appeared and it began to slowly expand. Timothy left the bridge to return to his dour quarters. He knew what was about to happen and couldn’t just sit and watch it. Over the next few hours what was once a thriving world would become a barren rock devoid of all life.

All those men, women, and children, their homes and dreams would be no more.