Tag: warhammer

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.

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 (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.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (7)

It only takes the Robocarer a few minutes to get Timothy up, much faster than his father ever could. Of course, it is devoid of any love or banter. It is method, mechanical in doing what is required before it places him in his battle chair.

It gives him time to think about his drunken conversation. Something about it fills him with foreboding. The General will do the will of the Emperor no matter the cost.

Now sitting in his chair, he dreads what the future may hold.

He drives out of his room and it into the turbo life. It is a fluorescent white, as if valiantly trying to will hope itself into existence.

The door opens and Timothy enters the command centre. The first thing he notices is the stench from the commander. It is all pervasive. There a myriad of computers with flashing screens manned by people in white suits. In the centre is a translucent screen showing a blue and green planet. The odd large city on its surface was visible in places under its clouds.

“Good, you are here Timothy. I wanted you to see this. This planet Anubis 1034z is the next target of the Tyranid. A huge chunk of their armada will shortly arrive. As you can see it is lush and green, a hyper habitable planet with a large populations. For weeks, I have pondered how it could be successfully defended. Now, from our conversation I know that it cannot.”

No Timothy thought. This was not how he envisaged it being interpreted.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (6)

Timothy awoke in a bed many hours later, His head was aching and his stomach felt like convulsing at any moment. It was a small, sparse room enclosed by steel. His robocarer had been diligently waiting for him to wake.

“Do you want to rise, Sir?”

“No, just push me over in the bed onto my other side.”

Timothy almost lurched as he was gently moved. That was some great ale, he thought to himself. The general had not spared the good stuff and that was a good sign of respect.

He tried to close his eyes but it made him feel worse, like a motion sickness from feeling the ship traveling through the warp.

“Are we in the Warp? he asked his robotic company.

“Yes, the ship entered it shortly after your return,” came the reply.

Eventually, though he could no longer keep his eyelids open.

“Timothy, Timothy. You must rise. Your presence is being sought on the bridge,” the robot said in an almost manic repeating cycle.

Timothy realized that he had dozed off once again. Hours must have passed. At least, he was feeling much better save for a thirst.

“Yes, you are authorized to get me up.”

That was all that he had to say. The robot knew how to do the rest and quickly too.