Army Fluff Guns of Sotek

Got another short story here

Spoiler: Saurus, Part 1

There was a great hubbub around the return of the Star Canoe fleet. Many were eager to learn of the results of the expedition, of news on the whereabouts of the Slann. And a great amount of speculation; they hand brought back the Slann, the Slann was dead, the fleet had been attacked. That was for the chittering of the Skinks to worry themselves about. Xi-Boc was interested in the facts from an operational and security perspective.

He paced back and forth in the Saurus Temple Guard barracks, occasionally pausing to pick at some corrosion on his wristbands, gifted to him after leading a suicidal charge against the cursed ratmen some century or so before. he'd been the only one to return too, after having been excavated from the mounds of bodies.

A Skink messenger eventually turned up with grave news. The squad of Temple Guard sent into the stars had not returned. There was, however one warrior did return and was waiting down in the regular barracks.

Ka'rah stood to attention, laser rifle by her side, cold slit eyes staring straight ahead. Dozens of other Saurus were busy preparing themselves for duty around her. When Xi-Boc entered, they stopped and turned standing themselves at attention in his presence. He walked directly up to Ka'rah.

"Are you the one from the fleet?"

"Yes"

"Only survivor?"

"Negative sir, there were twenty saurus aboard. Seventeen have returned"

"But you were the only one to survive the boarding action?"

"Affirmative."

They stood for a short while, staring.

"You are one of the New Brood, yes?" The question was of a rhetorical nature. The bright orange dorsal scales were an unmistakable mark of those spawned on this new world.

"Affirmative. Second spawning."

The question was more of an accusation. The old warrior was mistrustful of the new spawnings. The orange dorsal spikes indicated clearly that this saurus was not one of those who had come with the temple-ship fleet from the World That Was.

"Come with me, I want a full report on the actions of the boarding party"

Xi-Boc turned abruptly and stalked away. Ka'rah breathed a sigh of relief and followed him.

He lead her into his private meditation chamber and let out a guttural rumble. A slender Skink entered moments later with a data pad and stool.

"This is Aktaka, my scribe. He will note what we discuss for later consideration." the old Saurus explained before turning to face Ka'rah. "Now, tell me of the operation, how you came to be involved and what happened to the Starseer's retinue."

Ka'rah stared into the cold, yellow glare. She nervously flicker her tongue. "I am unsure why I was selected. It appeared to have been an unplanned decision to include me. I was called up just before the mission commenced. There is a great suspicion over my generation. We have not yet been tested in battle. I suspect it was a sense of curiosity that informed the Starseer's decision."

The Old-Blood simply grunted. Ka'rah continued, "He had access to a greater number of warriors aboard the fleet but, from the briefing he gave, he did not expect enemies, let alone enemies in the number we encountered. Even will all of those on board we would not have enough for the resistance we encountered. While I understand a Starseer has great powers of divination, those powers were largely based on the ability to tap into a geomantic web. We do not have access to that here."

She was looking for any kind of reaction in the Old Blood. His adjutant was scribbling rapidly on his tablet. She plunged on, "The first five levels were clear as we ventured further, following the signal and the Starseer's instincts. Greenskins were encountered on the 6th level behind locked door that had to be broken through. We were unable to ascertain the numbers, position or strength of the enemy and so they were able to setup and ambush. Correct weapon choice was hard to make in the instance due to enemy use of ranged weapons but at close quarters. Sticking with close combat weapons helped for repelling the initial ambush but showed severe weakness when ranges rapidly changed. Mixed range combat with- "

"Enough! You talk too much soft-scale. Your kind always do. Twittering on like Skinks." Xi-Boc roared.

His words echoed away leaving just the sound of burning torches. The Old-Blood pointed at two bullet wounds on her battle-scarred hide. Blood still oozing from one of them.

"Is this how they went down? Their decades of war experience now obsolete?"

"One did. But not before taking down many foes. The fighting was in tight confines, in the bowels of the temple-ship. The other two went down fighting hoards of greenskins, hand-to-hand. The battle was lost from the outset, there were just too many. "

Xi-Boc considered this for a moment. He then reached out for Ka'rah's weapon, picking it up and turning the laser rifle over a few times, running a claw along the serrated blade at the end.

"And this is what saved you?"

She lashed her tail back and forth in frustration. He still seemed to be admonishing her for the crime of being young. She kept her voice calm and level out of deference though.

"As I have previously stated, the fighting took place in close confines for the most part. I perhaps killed as many with my blade as I shot. "

After turning the weapon over one more time, he handed it back.

"Five of your charges were killed, along with the rest of your squad. You did not meet your primary objective and were forced into a fighting retreat. You failed your mission." He spat out.

The room echoed into silence again.

"But you fought well and killed many enemies, and remained alive. You can wear your battle scars with pride. Now leave. I have much to contemplate."

The grizzled old Saurus turned and walked towards an alter at the far end of the room. Ka'rah stood for a moment, stunned at the sudden change in sentiment. Aktaka tapped her on the shoulder and lead her out of the room.

After closing the doors Aktaka turned to Ka'rah who was still standing in a state of confusion in the corridor, "He is extremely uncertain about what the future holds for him and his generation. Stubbornness and prowess with club and spear have always been his greatest strengths, and it has been for those that came before him for thousands of years. Now, things have changed. The old certainties have vanished and he still mourns for the old world and those who were lost in its destruction."

"He's still mourning after twenty years?"

"Well he has lived a long life, over eight centuries, and such a passing of time is such a small part of it"

He tapped at a few things on his tablet before looking up.

"Don't you also feel it? I've heard that the New Brood have feelings of loss too."

"For a place we have never know. Yes, its sometimes there at the back of my mind. I've seen it too. Or thought I've seen it. In dreams…"

"It's something to contemplate on, certainly. Now, I am sure we both have duties to attend to."

The Skink tapped a few buttons on his tablet before disappearing down another corridor.

Ka'rah pulled her own tablet out from its holster on her belt and looked at it, swiping a few times. The scheduled duties had been changed and she was now expected to be in the jungle somewhere north east of the city. A good forty-two run. But first, she needed to bathe and eat. There had been no time to rest since disembarking from the Star Canoe.

 

Did a silly sketch that spawned an idea in my head for another short story

Spoiler: Street Lizards of Necromunda

Getting a team onto the planet was easy. Simple bribery. And it didn't even take gold. It turns out weapons are a better currency in human crime circles, and they had access to so many weapons. Research notes carried from the Old World about the adventures of Skink spies and diplomats amongst the Empire seemed to be surprisingly useful when dealing with the Imperium. Or at least its underworld.

There were signs that an artefact existing somewhere on the planet of Necromunda, one of many scattered through space when the temple-fleet had emerged from the warp. The world was deep in Imperial territory and controlled by street gangs and criminal organisations. Infiltration, subterfuge and sticking to the shadows. This was the instructions given to them before they set off. Getting reinforcements would not be an option.

Ka'rah looked at herself in the cracked and grimy mirror. She turned this way and that, fascinated by the sight. Ital, the Skink Chief, had come up with the idea of blending in with the inhabitants by dressing like them. The idea had a mixed response. Ka'rah was entirely convinced while the Skink priest Te'al'k objected strongly. She'd worked very hard to be awarded the feathered headdress and cloak of the priesthood. Ka'rah had, however started building up a personal style from day one. There was a banging on the door behind her.

"Have you finished in there? We need to leave" came the commanding voice of Ital. She picked up her laser rifle and headed out.

"Lets go" Ital said gruffly, "We're already running late for the meeting". His head crest was covered in bright green markings, making it look almost like some of the louder hairstyles of the humans youths around here.

"So what are the chances this is just and ambush?" Ruq-Gar asked. He was a large saurus, wearing a larger jacket and carrying an even larger gun.

"Approximately one hundred percent" Ital replied as he fastidiously prepared a cigar to smoke. He almost always had one in his muzzle these days. "We are going to show that we mean business and we won't be fucked with by warm-bloods. That's where you and Ka'rah come in. "

"We're still hauling a case full of illicit nuclear ammo though?" Ter'an asked, gesturing to the armoured suitcase he was carrying. He was a well-built Skink with a set of highly modified goggles on his forehead.

"You never know, it could turn out to be just a deal" Ital said, shrugging.

The five saurians climbed into the ramshackle vehicle parked out in the street. Ter'an clambered into the driving seat and started the engine with a huge roar.

They pulled up outside the ruins of what had been a chapel. The top of its ruined steeple was lost in the smog that hung low and menacing.

"So, they are going to have eyes on this place. I want the two Saurus to find positions of covering fire. See if you can sniff out their snipers if they have any. Take them out silently if you can. Ter'an, stay with the truck. You are our escape plan. Te'al'k, you are with me. We are probably going to need a ward at least for the opening moments of this. Its going to be an absolute hell show out there so none of you should consider fucking dying." He puffed heavily on the remains of the cigar, before dropping it and grinding the end into the cracked pavement.

They split up to take up their assigned positions. Ital and Te'al'k walked into the chapel, the Skink Chief carried the briefcase, his tongue flickering nervously. The old wooden floor creaked under their claws. Ash and rubble were piled up to one side, evidence of a fire long ago that had left a gaping hole in the roof. He stopped in the middle of it. A small point of light burned with a bright orange flame for a moment in the darkness up ahead. A towering man walked out into the light where the two Skinks stood. Muscles rippled under his heavily tattooed skin. He wore bright orange sports armour decorated with spikes and obscene symbols. A huge vapour stick was gripped in his yellow teeth.

"I didn't know they made mutants so small." He chuckled. "And what are you suppose to be? Some Devil's Night decoration?"He gestured towards Te'al'k.

"Are we talking or are we doing a deal?" Ital said bluntly.

"Alright, alright, keep ya tail on, just having some fun. Lets do some business then, as you said. You've got the nuke pellets right?"

Ital picked up the briefcase. He snapped the clasps and opened it up, showing hundreds of little, glowing canisters. He put it down, picking up a pack of ten little canisters and tossing it to the huge man who caught it expertly. He examined it closely before passing it to someone unseen off to the side.

"And you, have you got the artefact?" Ital asked.

The man took a long drag on his vapour stick and blew a huge plume of grey-green smoke.

"Sure. Give 'em the gear boys."

A shot rang out from the darkness and was stopped mid-air by Ital's head as blue sparks radiated around it.

Wha-?" The ganger reached for his gun but a blast of laser fire hit him in the face and chest from above. The vapour stick exploded in a cloud of green gas.

Ital ran forwards, jumped off a row of pews before bringing his spiked obsidinite club down on the first shooter's head. Te'al'k called out a warning in Saurian before throwing a ball of light that burst, blinding all who saw it. Half a dozen or so men who had been hiding in the shadows writhed on the ground but another dozen ran in behind them. Ruq-Gar jumped down from the rafters, blood and viscera around his jaws.

"Duck" he yelled in Saurian before opening fire with the heavy bolter. Wood and gangers splintered and folded under withering fire.

"Look out!" Te'al'k called as a grenade landed beside Ruq-Gar. He stepped aside but too late. The blast sent him sideways, slamming into the wall, opening up dozens of wounds on his thick hide. He pulled out his bolt pistol and staggered to his feet, continuing to blast away.

Ka'rah, who's jaw and club were also smeared in human blood stayed on the upper floor and took careful aim with each shot. She'd blasted the guy who threw the grenade and was trying to provide covering fire for Ruq-Gar. Her tail thrashed with frustration as she fought down the instincts of her kind to bring tooth and claw against her enemies.

Ethan, a low ranking gang runner, looking to enhance his position sneaked through the rafters of the chapel. He sighted the reptilian creature on the floor bellow, firing down at the melee on the ground floor. He drew his knife and with visions of glory in his mind, he jumped down, aiming the knife between the creature's clavicles. It hit, just off centre, mostly deflected by heavy saurus back plates but sunk in a few inches. Ka'rah roared and turned with bloody murder in heart. A red mist descended and the next thing she knew, she was standing over shreds of flesh and organs. Blood in her mouth and on both hands.

"I could really do with some help out here", Ter'an called through the radio. He manned the big gun mounted on the rear of their truck. Two carloads of gangers had turned up and he was trying to hold them at bay. He aimed a spray of lead at the rear of one of the heavily modified vehicles and caught the gas tank. The explosion lifted it up and over, slamming onto the roof of the other. The Skink let out a trill of excitement but had to duck quickly as a hail of return fire peppered his position.

Te'al'k tended to Ruq-Gar, trying to stem the bleeding while Ital and Ka'rah finished off the remaining gang fighters. A number of fires were burning in the wooden structure and it wouldn't be long before the whole thing was engulfed.

"I think we've done enough damage here" Ital said, withdrawing a long curvy dagger from one last ganger. "Don't forget the goods."

Heading out, they saw Ter'an almost surrounded. Ka'rah opened up with her lasgun Ital started shooting with his plasma pistol. They both rushed to the side to draw fire so Te'al'k to help Ruq-Gar to their truck.

"Did you pick up that nuke shells you threw to them earlier?" Ka'rah asked

"No, they must still be in the chapel somewhere…" Itar responded, reloading his weapon.

They both looked at the building, now almost fully engulfed in flames. A series of massive explosions tore through the building, throwing everyone to the ground. The heat was intense. Itar and Ka'rah shook themselves and used the moment to make a dash for their getaway vehicle. Ter'an had already dismounted to help Te'al'k. He dived into the driving seat when he saw the others running over. Gunfire ricocheted off the truck's armour as they threw themselves into an open door and the truck was speeding off while they scrambled to close it.

 

My Skink Starseer Tik'ol'tec who has featured in a number of my short stories and who I need to make a model for one day

Art by Hanmonster
https://bsky.app/profile/hanmonster.bsky.social
https://x.com/kalydali

 

That's a cool pic. Definite thumbs up from me.

Although... I can't unsee the fact that his belt has a stylised Old One face with its tongue going down to a rather questionable part of his anatomy.

Necromunda, playground of the misfits and miscreants. Makes sense that a team of lizardmen could go there and be treated as locals by the local undesirables. I have a feeling most of those hivers wouldn't realise that they aren't actually mutants but are in fact an otherwise unheard of xenos race. And even if they do know, it's a coin flip whether these sorts would even care.

Also, I'm sure you're already aware, but lizards actually wearing clothing? I approve. XD

 

I didn't really think about that, they don't really have stuff beyond the essentials. And not to go too deep into it but if they follow reptile anatomy, that would be much further back anyways.

I've not read too deeply into the lore but as long as they stay out of the notice of any higher level autorities, they should be alright. They just gotta watch out for the gangs and make sure at least a couple survive long enough to complete their mission I guess.

It's a good way to add individuality. Plus also I like playing dress-up with my characters way too much. I've got a couple of striped hyen gnolls I do this all the time too as well.

 

True. Though the average schmuck doesn't know that, and probably looks at Baldur's Gate 3's dragonborn for anatomy reference if they care for that. But we here in Lustria are far too mature to be tittering about such things, I'm sure.

Biggest threat would probably be genestealer cultists. They'd be the ones that would not only recognise them as not being mutants, but also actually have an interest in learning of this new lifeform.

The Guns might want to try and get in touch with a Rogue Trader at some point. Depending on the Trader in question, that would be the easiest way to truly get the details on their new reality (though still no doubt slathered in Imperium propaganda) and form the closest thing to a diplomatic relation that they're going to get with the Imperium of Man. Assuming that the Trader can profit.

 

Well I just had to read up on what exactly a Rogue Trader was. I just thought it was some kind of pirate or black market merchent. Its so much more! Also you are right, hooking up with a RT (that won't just liquidate them) would be a great way to start integrating them into the larger galactic community/economy. I've just been naratively nervous about exposing them to the Imperium seeing as they are Xenos occupying a forge world and operating their equipment. Seems like something that would get so far up the Imperium's collective ass, it would never see the light of day again.

We'll see the way the narrative evolves when I start actually gaming and writing out battle reports.

 

Haha, yup! That Warrant of Trade is such an interesting licence. Permission to dilly dally with xenos (albeit the watchdogs would prefer you not over-do it)? Trade in heretical technologies? Pretend like you are actually Jean-Luc Picard but in the 41st Millennium? Of course, it only goes so far, but avoid the Inquisition having reason to look closely at you, and you essentially have a licence to do whatever you want! Hire Kroot mercenaries as your personal bodyguards? What are the planetary governors going to do as you negotiate a trade with them? Report you? You have a Warrant of Trade, possibly even from Holy Terra itself, as a permission slip! Just don't mingle with Chaos and still serve Imperium interests and all the governor can do is shake an impotent fist!

While outright alliances with xeno nations are very frowned upon, if the more politically-savvy Rogue Trader can spin it as using the xenos and directing them at outright hostile forces to the Imperium, like for instance, Chaos, then that's a different kettle of fish. That's exploiting the xenos, not allying with them. Legal loopholes are fun like that. And so long as their attention is directed to those enemies of mankind, they themselves aren't being one of those same enemies. After all, is that not the Imperium's unofficial stance on the Tau?

(Yes, I do like the Rogue Traders, how did you guess? )

 

I don't quite know the Imperium's take on Tau, its been 15 years since I was last involved XD
But yes, from what I've read, so long as they are looking out for the betterment of the Imperium then a blind eye can be turned. And these lizards sure do love to hate Chaos. Seeking it out and destroying it is their default behaviour and the key reason to get tooled up. They faced Chaos space marines briefly some time ago and did not have a happy time of it.

 

First draft design of the self-appointed chief engineer Huax-Ty.
Started life on the Old World as a low ranking and not very good Priest. Reinvented themselves after coming to terms with the new world they had landed on and found they had a natural affinity for machines and all things big and industrial. They were behind the first reverse engineering of vehicles to figurure out how they worked and is now working with a large team of skinks, kroxigors and reluctant saurus to figure out and restore a large steel mill to working order. The task has claimed a dozen or so lives so far but Huax-Ty presses on, regardless. The ends justify the means.

 

Love the character designs, especially the clothing choices mates!

 

Some more doodles while at work. No one in particular, just some lizards with guns for the GoS lot.

 

Such a happy smile to be carrying a las-rifle instead of a club.

 

Might just be happy to finally be out on the battlefield and see some action

 

A skink priest made up for the day of the dead festivities