Sunday, June 21, 2009

Final Webway Portals and Astramalleus History

Eldar warpgatesWhile my wife was out last night, I watched our daughter. And during that time, I managed to finish my final two webway portals. I think they look quite good considering their crude nature. I'm sure once I slap some paint on them, they'll work a little better. In fact, I may do that tonight, but I'm not making any promises. I have a few Father's Day activities I have to participate in so I may not get to it. Besides, I kinda want to start on that Manufactorum I've had sitting around for a month.

Based ManufactorumDoesn't it just tempt you to do something with it? Note to anyone who wants to do any sort of standing column/pipe/smokestack type of thing: there are baby bottles that are long and thin and mostly used for storage (as far as I can tell) and they're awesome for pipes and tubes. You don't want to buy them brand new because they're expensive as all things related to weddings, babies and funerals are but if you pick some up either used (they were boiled before they'd sell them) or from friends who have extras, you can get them for nothing or next to. Sometimes they're graduated and have numbers and markings on them. If they're raised in the plastic itself, you'll have to strip them off with an exacto knife or something similar but it's not hard. If you can find some that are just printed, more power to you.


Astramalleus TerminatorSo, continuing from before:

The Astramalleus or "Star Hammers" are an Ultramarine descended Chapter chartered during the 23rd founding in the fallout of the Age of Apostasy. Because of a change in the fundamental rites and doctrines of a Marine Chapter, a young Captain, aided by many veteran troops, managed to steal a Battle Barge and defect. After wandering for years scrounging supplies wherever possible, they managed to find a planet with a tribal level of civilization which they chose to make their home. They lived in safety until outside events changed their course forever.

Captain Ullce Walach was alerted to a large spike in Imperial transmissions in the general area. An Ork Waagh had been encountered and was heading for the Imperial hive world of Hajic Secundus. With over 9 billion inhabitants and several large foundry complexes, this was a world the Orks could not be allowed to have. The Waagh was estimated to reach the planet in six days. No significant Imperial reinforcements would be able to arrive for at least a month. Walach and his navigators took calculations and estimated they could be there in ten days. Taking this before the entire assembled Marine force, Walach described the situation and asked for volunteers to travel to Hajic and hold off the Waagh. Every Marine stepped forward. They had rebelled against the changes in their Chapter, not against the Emperor or the Imperium. They painted their gray armor black and began preparations.

Twelve days later, six days after the arrival of the Orks, Angels of Death descended from the skies of Hajic. The beleaguered and overwhelmed Planetary Defense Forces considered it a miracle from the Emperor himself. Marines began devastating assaults on Ork strategic positions and hit-and-run attacks to take pressure off the Defense forces. For 22 days, the Renegades fought with valor and skill against an enemy that hopelessly out numbered them. They fought holding actions to allow time for citizens to be moved or Guard forces to regroup. They attacked captured foundries to keep their building facilities out of Ork hands. On the 21st day, all the remaining Marines on planet gathered to defend the Camarko Pass, the only remaining way into the Valley and Hive City of Camarko, largest city on the planet and home of the Imperial Planetary Governors. Ork blood flowed ankle deep and when the bodies grew too numerous, they fought on top of the bodies. Every Marine lost was a great blow to the defenders, but they were enough. On the twenty-second day, elements of two Marine Chapters arrived and began to fight. Within two more weeks, seven other Marine Chapters, including a contingent of Ultramarines, had responded and and elements of the Imperial Navy and the Imperial Guard and signalled their estimated arrival times.

The renegade forces had paid a heavy cost. of 278 Marines who had made planetfall, only Walach and 63 others had survived. Once it was clear that the arriving forces were enough to the task, Walach made preparations to leave the planet. The other Marine Chapters, seeing the work the renegades had accomplished and knowing the penchant of Marines to keep their own counsels, did not inquire too deeply into their identities or their reasons for leaving before the job was done.

As fate would have it, they were recognized before they could leave. One of the last responding Chapters was the Grey Storms...

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