Warp Rift #20 Supplement - Tyranid War - part IV.pdf - Warp Rift - trzeci

Chapter 8

Something Different

I.______

The Hive Mind of the Tyranids had been aware for so long, it had outlived some short lived stars.

Certain very large, very hot stars only lived for a few thousand years, then died in a sudden flare of

self destruction. The Hive mind had lived longer than those stars.

The Hive Mind felt old.

Not because it had lived longer than some stars. For the first time in its existence, it could feel the

minds of new, young minds. The Hive Mind could sense the new enthusiasm, the new sense of

purpose, and the new perspective emanating from the new, young hive minds that had spawned from

the breakup of the original Hive Mind. When the old Hive mind had become aware, so long ago, the

only other minds it could sense were the far older minds of rival hives. The very newness of the new

hive minds made the older Hive Mind feel old. Very old.

Something new came into being for the Hive Mind to consider. Jealousy. Then bitterness. The

jealousy of the old for the young. The bitterness of the old contemplating the theft of opportunities,

and maybe replacement of the old, by the young.

The young hive minds must be reabsorbed, or destroyed.

The Hive Mind of the Tyranids sensed a new, young mind not too far away, feeding. The Hive

Mind began pulling all its strength, still loyal to it, together. Began moving toward that new mind.

Began a new war. Against itself.

Thousands of Tyranid ships moved to a command, to the task of war.

II._____

Lynx sat bolt upright in her bed. Clear as a white hot pain through her head, an awareness touched

her mind. Instantly she new what it was. She never had felt it so close before, but had felt the distant

presence many times. Ever since the war of the Tyranids had started, years ago. Lynx instantly knew

that the hive mind had returned to real space very near here. Lynx stood on the wooden floor, the

warm desert night air had made garments and footwear unnecessary. Lynx momentarily wished that

she and her crew had all been roomed together, so much more could be done more quickly.

Lynx looked around the dimly lit room, as her mind whirled with quick decisions on what to do.

She and Pen had been trying to infiltrate this world for a couple of months. Lynx had assumed the

role of a hard bargaining Trader, with Pen as Lynx's lieutenant, the bodyguards and other staff as crew

of the Trade ship.

The Trade ship was a heavily armed, fast cargo carrier. It must be warned. It might not escape as

it is. Lynx padded around the dark shapes of the room's furnishings, to the hand case on a table. The

specialized communications equipment was very small, but very powerful. Being a Trader meant that

otherwise suspicious equipment could be brought along, and priced high enough, that most customers

would not want to buy what an Inquisitor needed.

Lynx began giving commands. The powerful comm set was barely powerful enough to punch

through the interference that confirmed the Tyranids were indeed very near.

The Trade ship was ordered to break orbit. Now. There was no time for a shuttle to get to the

surface, and back, before the Trade ship was caught and destroyed. The ship captain was relieved -

her screens were full of enemies bearing down on her - she had not thought a shuttle would make it

either. The best chance was for the Trade ship to break clear of the interference, and call for help.

Besides, the Trade ship captain didn't like being shanghaied by an Inquisitor in the first place, this was

her chance to be quit of the Inquisitor, and flee impending doom, both at once. The Trade ship captain

was also glad that this star system was a binary star. The extra gravity of the small, white, very dense

companion star meant that any ship coming out of non-space had to be farther away, or be shredded by

the contrary forces of non-space velocities and real space gravity wells called stars. More time for the

Trade ship captain to escape the trap of hundreds of Tyranid ships spreading out into a web.

Lynx gave no further thought to the Trade ship. Time now only to consider how she and her party

would survive.

III.____

Pen sat with her back to the red-brown rock face.

Ever since Lynx had yanked Pen out of a sound sleep, Pen and all the others had been moving at

full tilt. To just be propped up here, on this high ledge, overlooking the broad blue-green of the river

valley, and just rest, was a little piece of paradise.

On this hot desert planet, only the river valleys, or lake valleys, held any forms of life. Life

brought here thousands of years ago by humans. It was said by the inhabitants that the river valleys

resembled little slices of once green Earth. Pen had never known Earth, and never would. That some

part of Earth had been transplanted, was enough for Pen to imagine the green grandeur of faraway

Earth.

Pen's injuries compelled her to shift her position. She also turned her head to see how the other

wounded were. There were four other wounded team members propped up in the shade of the

overhang. Only one technician had been killed, and these four wounded, when the bombardment had

caught Lynx's party trying to flee the city. Pen could see the black smudges rising out of the blue-

green valley, where once there had been villages and a city. The streaks of light, the flashes of star-

radiance, the rumbles of thunder, were far distant now. Other valleys were getting the same dose of

Tyranid attention. Pen felt oddly embarrassed that her injuries were only from a collection of falling

stones, as they all climbed this stone wall.

The crunch of gravel made Pen spin her head back around. Lynx. Carrying some equipment in

either hand. Pen began to sit up.

"No need. Remain comfortable." Lynx commanded. "I'm here on business of the sort that is your

specialty. I need to make use of your memory."

Lynx sat down the equipment and set it up with practiced ease. A pair of two dimensional screens

lit up.

"There is something different about the presence I feel." Lynx began, almost whispering, "There

is something different about these creatures, altogether."

The screens came into focus, as Lynx selected the spy monitors she wanted. Lynx and her team

had been placing spy monitors all over the planet for months. The purpose had been to try to identify

the Tyranid infiltration that was rumored to be taking place here. Pen hoped that the new purpose was

to keep them all alive, until help could come.

A quick series of views, like snapshots, paraded past Pen's eyes. Valleys. High plateaus. Views

of space around the planet.

"Wait...Uh." Pen interrupted. "There is something strange here...uh." Pen hesitated.

"What is the matter?" Lynx asked. "What did you see?"

"It's not what I saw," Pen sounded hesitant, "I got an impression. I think." Pen closed her eyes to

let the string of images play back in her mind again.

"Don't take too long thinking it over," Lynx said in a low voice, "We have a lot to review before

the sun sets. I don't think it will be long now before the Tyranids land to strip this planet's valleys."

"This is not right." Pen said, her eyes still closed. "The enemy is bombarding population centers,

not industrial locations, or fortress sites. Don't they normally smash resistance, then round up what's

left for their cursed DNA vats?"

"Hmmm... I missed that evaluation." Lynx said, "I only thought of the bombardment as a preamble

to invasion. My mind is so heavily engaged in masking our whereabouts from that enormous mind out

there, I fear my evaluations of data may be lacking." Lynx said the last so weakly that Pen almost

missed it.

"At least your sensing of the enemy's mind gave us warning." Pen said gently. "We had time to

gather ourselves, our equipment, and be on our way out of the city before the first blows fell on the

city. I wish there had been some way to save some of the people."

"Humph." Disgust was on Lynx's face as she replied, "We both know that the entire population

was infiltrated thoroughly enough that no one could be trusted. Those new Tyranid agents are human

enough looking that they can cause much havoc. We had only heard of widespread rebellion on this

planet actually breaking out yesterday. Then a Tyranid fleet shows up the next day. What better help

can the Tyranids get, then having a planet's population fighting itself when they arrive?"

"Yes, and this planet's defense force was divided against itself, as well." Pen lamented. "Only that

company of marines, way up North, to try to put up a defense."

Pen noticed the odd look on Lynx's face, during the moment of silence.

"May I ask, why have we never contacted that company of marines?" Pen asked, quickly. Then

added. "I would feel a lot better having many of the Empire's best around us right now."

For a moment, Lynx did not answer.

"Those marines are not really part of the Empire." Lynx stated, flatly. "That brotherhood of

marines calls themselves the Misfit Brotherhood. And rightfully so."

Lynx moved over beside, and then sat down next to Pen, so that both of them could look out over

the valley and watch the flickers of distant battle on the horizon.

"Inquisitors don't think much of the Misfits." Lynx began. "They are an unruly lot. They claim to

be loyal, but keep their own laws, not the Empire's."

"I have never heard of them before." Pen said evenly, "I barely knew that there were any marines

on this planet at all, but for the grumbling of this planet's administration. I thought nothing of it,

because most planetary governments don't like 'Imperial watchdogs' anyway."

"The Misfits are not watching for the Empire, but for themselves." Lynx growled, "The industries

on this planet, and others in the sphere of control of the Misfits, serve that brotherhood. The Empire

only gets safe passage and nominal trade sanctions. The only real benefit the Empire gets is a safe

frontier on this edge of the Empire."

Lynx ran a finger along the scar on her face, thoughtfully, then continued.

"The galaxy is full of strange stories, and the Misfit Brotherhood is one of the strangest."

"Please tell me, Lynx." Pen offered, "We can review all those videos you have recorded back in

one of the caves."

"I don't want to move you around that much," Lynx answered, looking concerned, "You won't heal

up any faster, getting knocked about."

"I'm fine, only bruised and stiff." Pen answered firmly, stiffly trying to get on her feet.

"No, stay still." Lynx commanded, a half smile chasing the concern from her face. "I'll tell you."

Pen collapsed back the few inches she had managed to rise, back into a disordered heap among the

camouflaged coverings.

"The Misfit Brotherhood is from a star cluster, not to far from here, at non-space speeds." Lynx

began, a larger smile appearing as she noted Pen's relief at not having to rise.

"That star cluster is rather small, only about a hundred stars, and only about a dozen habitable

planets with another half dozen barely livable planets. The cluster is peculiar because it’s like a great,

hollow, circular lens. That star cluster is doubly peculiar because it is the real space dumping ground

for non-space wrecks."

Lynx noted the puzzled look on Pen's face.

"Yes, dumping ground." Lynx went on. "No one knows why the energy dimension that is non-

space behaves the way it does. Only that it does strange things within its own boundaries that defy

every understandable principle within our own dimension. So. Travel across the galaxy becomes

possible. At a price.

"Sometimes there are incidents where large amounts of energy gather and swirl in a storm of such

energy, that an entire arm of the galaxy could be extinguished, should the storm break into real space.

"We have known since the discovery of non-space, about the tides, currents, and eddies of the

energies we travel through. I don't think we will ever know where the storms come from, or why they

suddenly quit."

Lynx stared thoughtfully at the dim red sphere of the sun, nearly completely hidden by the smoke

of a distant burning town.

"Any ship caught in such a storm is not likely to survive." Lynx continued, solemnly. "If the ship

should survive, or at least the passengers and crew survive, then the ship is so far off course, so twisted

around and spun off in an unknown direction, that no navigator in the universe could find a way back.

"So, the ship drifts on the currents and flows of energy in non-space.

"This is where the Misfits come in. Some scientists belief that all the neutron stars in that star

cluster I mentioned earlier are the cause. All that gravity spread out tends to focus the currents in non-

space, and even slow whatever is traveling in non-space, so that it falls back into real space. Right

near the center of that lens shaped star cluster.

"Over the eons, many Imperial ships have been lost, along with many from other races and times.

Some of those lost warships, colony ships, traders, cargo haulers, and everything else 'fell' out into real

space near that cluster's center. Sometimes the crews and passengers were still alive. Or, at least,

some part of them.

"Those survivors settled those dozen habitable planets.

"Because the human survivors were not the only race to 'wash up on the beach', the humans had to

fight against Orks especially, and others. Fortunately for the humans, marines from many chapters

were among the survivors of lost warships. During the crusade against the Ork holy wars, many ships

were lost in non-space. It would seem that there were many survivors from those lost ships, to help

conquer that star cluster. To survive, those marines and others, had to adapt to a new, harsh reality."

Lynx was staring at Pen now, and Pen could not read the expression on Lynx's face. Lynx stopped

talking for a couple of moments, so that Pen wondered if Lynx was finished.

"Um... What do you mean?" Pen asked. "You seem preoccupied."

"Oh. Well, those Misfits were only rediscovered a hundred years ago." Lynx went on, more

rapidly. "At the height of the last, great Ork holy war."

"Rediscovered?" Pen interrupted.

"Yes. The cluster of stars, and its warring inhabitants had been located by a Trader merchant,

hundreds of years ago." Lynx went on, in low tones. "The Empire was not in any hurry to claim the

territory, even if the inhabitants claimed to be loyal subjects and warriors of the Empire. You see, it

was too far off even the minor trade routes, and that cluster had no resources, or strategic location, for

the Empire to wish to involve itself in the fighting over those stars. At least at that time. The minor

worlds of a minor star cluster were forgotten, as an obscure footnote in some grand star atlas. Then

the great Ork war, and a rebellion in the Empire itself. The worlds of the Misfits were forgotten no

longer.

"To the surprise of everyone, the Misfit Brotherhood appeared. Right at the end of the great

expansion of the Ork hordes, and just as the rebellion broke out, the Misfits burst on the scene. The

Ork expansion into the sector nearest the Misfit's home worlds was smashed and driven out. The base,

and fleet, of an Imperial admiral gone rebel, was pulverized so thoroughly that it is thought that no

rebel survived.

"An Imperial administration detachment was sent, to thank the Misfit leadership, and provide

assistance in rejoining the Empire.

"At first the delegation was welcome. But after only a month, the entire team was rounded up,

stripped of everything, and herded onto a fat, slow bulk freighter and banished. When the team finally

reached a headquarters of the administration, the team reported that the Misfits wanted no Imperial

dictates on behavior or organization. Take them as they are, or leave them to themselves.

"Well, that caused a stir among the bureaucrats, to be sure. The Inquisitors were called in. Three

times an undercover Inquisitor infiltrated the Misfits. Three times, each was discovered. Stripped to

the skin, each was launched in a lifeboat toward an Imperial base somewhere, from a Misfit warship.

"So. What does the Empire do? Declare war? On a people who declare themselves loyal to the

Empire?

"It would only take large fleet elements, and large marine and Imperial infantry forces to bring the

Misfits to heel. The rebellion was at its height, large forces could not be spared. The Misfits would

have to be allowed to hold this part of space their way.

"And so has been. And still is. The Misfits do things their way. Their ships are not like Imperial

designs. Their marines are not like Imperial marine chapters or brotherhoods. Their government is

not like the Empire's. Only warriors participate in government, and each warrior has a voice in the

matters politic, whatever rank, that voice is equal. Humph."

Lynx shifted her sitting position, as the last vestige of the setting sun played redly on her face.

Pen thought that Lynx's face had a wicked, angry look in that light. A little tremble passed through

Pen.

"If you ever see any of their marines," Lynx began again, "you'll see what I mean. Our own

marines have departed from the basic 'battle black' coloring of their armor. Different chapters,

brotherhoods, and legions of marines have adopted any number of color schemes to represent their

individual organizations. It has long been so.

"Remember that the Misfits are made up of the survivors of many 'castaways' lost in storms?

Well. Present day Misfit marines have as many color schemes represented as there are presently

different chapters, brotherhoods, and legions of Imperial marines. Some have even decorated their

armor with such garish colors, that they look like harlequins, the patterns are so wild.

"But. If you measure results, the Misfits do get results. Think a moment. These wildly

individualistic outcasts are able to stymie, then tell the Empire to 'butt out'. At the same time, they

smash and trash rebelling marines, Imperial infantry, and Imperial fleets. And for garnish, the Misfits

drop regiments of Misfit marines into the middle of one of history's greatest Ork expansions, and stop

the Orks like a sun swallows a comet."

Pen decided that Lynx definitely had a wicked, angry look. The color of the light be damned.

Lynx's eyes had a burning red tint, as she looked closely into Pen's face, and said:

"How could I contact these wonderful fighters? I'm an Inquisitor. I would be as welcome as an

Ork spy! They took the name 'Misfits' to themselves, thanks to some Imperial administrative

bureaucrats that did not care to notice the culture of the peoples they met! That culture no longer even

tries to fit in to the Empire! Or welcomes representatives of that Empire!"

After a moment, Lynx settled back, and leaned her back against the cold stone wall. She fell silent

for several minutes.

Pen decided to cherish the silence, as true darkness rapidly descended on the valley below. The

flames of the burning towns in the valley made garish contrasts in the river of darkness that was the

valley.

"Look." Pen suddenly said. "The invasion landings have begun."

Everyone on the ledge, or in the cave mouths, could see the brilliant trails of 'shooting star' streaks

in the sky. The telltale marks of hundreds of enemy craft bringing enemy warriors to the planet.

IV._____

Pen watched the suns rise into an angry red dawn. The little blue companion star was visible near

the larger orange sun again. A bright, pure light to cut through the smoky dawn.

Pen turned her back, and walked with a limp back into the cave. She sat down in the place

prepared for her. The images were still flickering, uncaring of her absence.

Pen would have been sick at the sights, years ago, when she first met Lynx. Now she was just

numb.

The pictures from space showed enemy ships all around the sky.

The spy probes at key places on the planet showed hordes of enemies swarming in the valleys.

Except that there was something different.

The ten foot tall, multi-limbed, red Tyranid warriors ... were not red. They were green, mostly,

with bits of red here and there.

The nearly human sized, multi-limbed, blue nasties ... were not blue. They were green mostly,

with a little blue here and there.

But, that was not all. For the first time, Pen and Lynx were able to watch the Tyranid enemy

devour a planet's life. There were little creatures, big, or fat, or even creatures that had no limbs at all.

Some devoured plants, others just drank in water, still others devoured the corpses of the slain as

Tyranid warriors sought out all resistance. Thousands on thousands of all these creatures roamed the

valleys, leaving nothing but lifeless rock behind. But, the strangest creatures were the creatures that

devoured the creatures that had first eaten some part of the planet's life. These were large, centipede

like creatures, that went around gobbling up the lesser Tyranid creatures, only to then disappear into a

Tyranid landing ship. That ship would then rocket off into space, when so many of the centipede like

creatures had entered.

Pen was sure that this was all somehow part of the process that the enemy used to convert the

planet's life into more Tyranids, and Tyranid bio-construct slaves.

Pen watched the monitors, as the Tyranids descended on the small farm houses along the river.

Watched as a big green warrior cut down a woman, then lifted a small wriggling body impaled on its

sword, to its mouth...Pen found a reason to look at a different screen. Only to be greeted with the sight

of one of the medium sized green-blue killers chasing two young people. Just as the green, clawed

arms reached out to grasp the two people, a dog leapt on the back of the green-blue monstrosity. Pen

saw the brown and black creature torn to pieces, and then the two young people were caught anyway.

Pen was sure her fate would be the same.

Warp Rift #20 Supplement - Tyranid War - part IV.pdf

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