Okka Conglahr sat in the Council chamber and stared moodly at the holo terminus set in the chambers table. Around him the Kin’s leaders of the Mining expedition were sat in the lead ship Murym’s meeting room and there was a palpable aura of distaste.
“It is the Imperium’s problem” spoke Olfa Greggor. “They have enough resources and troops to throw their weight around. They should have enough for this mess.”
“And if they do not?” Asked Bokka Leggit. “If they fail to stop the Baurggs in this system our hold is next in their path.”
This was true. Imperio was the sector capital for the Imperials. The Votann Hold world had been established in a desolate system with nothing but minor planetoids and a dying sun blasting them with saturated radiation. No sane race would establish a presence there if not for the valuable ores found in dense quantities on those planetoids. Discovered by the Votann, the system had been claimed and a Hardened Kinhost vessels plied the void consuming the floating rocks as quickly as the Tyranid swarms could consume a planets biomass.
A central hold had been constructed in one of those planetoids. Vast smelteries and construction factories had been invested in, clone vats and kin had been steadly growing to meet with the demand for more workers. It could certainly fend for itself against the normal raiders and scum that was unfortunate enough to poke its nose into the Leagues business but not enough to fend of a full scale invasion by a determined opponent. This was calculated as such by the League. The system was of no interest to anyone, save the League, before the Kin’s investment. Most would not even know it was there to be plundered. But the imperials called the Tyranids would know. They would sense the life of the Kin working their platforms and send their tentacles towards them. Defending the hold would be imprudient. Evacuation would be costly. Potentially the losses could be recouped if and when the Tyranids moved on.
Bokka Leggit continued. “If they fail to stop the Baurggs and they strike at our hold we will have no choice but to return to League space with what we can. We all know not everything can be moved in time. There will be accusations of bad management and worse yet…. Of wastage.
There was a murmuring and a few kin banged their hands on the table in protest.
Bokka raised his voice slightly “If we side with the Imperials here, in their worlds, we can shield the hold from losses. We can fight on ground we like, free to fall back as we may, let the Imperials fight for every inch while we rip the heart from the Baurggs forces. If we fail to stop them it’ll give the hold more time to evacuate and reduce our losses overall.”
Olfa Greggor raised his head again “the Imperium doesn’t like our kind. They’ve made that plain enough when we’ve tried negotiations before. What makes you think they’d take our help even if we offer it. They’ve brought in enough ships and material to conquer half the sector. They ain’t the local lads. Its those genetically altered mad buggers they’ve brought in. That means trouble”.
Okka raised his hand. “The trade envoy brought with him one of their “Inquisitors” he said he speaks for their high council. They are willing to over look their usual ire in the name of expediency if we provide assistance. They offer a contract for our help. We would get a valuable trade agreement in addition to protecting the Hold.
Olfa Greggor spat “So they’d be in charge of us. Not while I take breath. I’m no mercenary and neither are our kin”
“The contract would be for the defence of the orbital mining colonies and outer works. We would be free to conduct are own affairs as an allied power.” Said Okka. “Should the colonies fall we would lose the trade contract but such a loss would not hurt us as we have done without it before.”
“ We should vote on these terms, If the Kin are to go to war I think this is our best path. I have asked the Grimnyr to consult with the Votann…..” and like a poker player laying down four aces he looked at Olfa Greggor “….and the ancestors agree”
To be continued.....
Well what would it be if another year did not pass and I didn't try a new army. This time the Leagues of Votann and their Space dwarf / Squat model look alikes caught my eye
Wish they'd caught my eye it sooner when there was a copy of their introduction army box going at the local flgs. Oh well.
At the moment I have the
Combat Patrol and the
Einhyr Champion giving me a small but effective force. I'm planning to run them as the
trans hyperian alliance but didn't like the colour scheme just their out look and lore so they have a green and white armour sort of like the box art and an Orange shoulder badge to match their league.
Haven't painted them all yet but already looking to expand them with vehicles and more heavily armoured troops.
Wildwood brown contrast went in the leather belt and accessories. Buttons on the wrist got picked out and reshaded as needed.the visor has an area that was red but I used the orange contrast I had used for the shoulder to pick it out. The visor had itself was silver. For the models with their space hoods up I went with more nocturn green. Hair colour is going to be orange or light blonde or grey as needed.
