Thuds hand slowly floats back down.
Nah. ElTee
He has barely enough smarts to look a little embarrassed, but he manages it.
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Thud scratches the exposed metal patch in his skull. That was a lot of words and not alot of them were about da Emprah so most just don't click. But Mama Leni is very likely not looking at him, so he doesn't voulenteer. Or should he? He's good at going places with people!
Thud slides down the nearest wall, which takes a while because he's as tall as the hallway itself, and brings his Picture Scripture up on his lap from the chain woven into it's spine. The book might as well be an artifact at this point. It's been through The fire and fury of battle, the dank and damp of the sewer, and the handling of an ogryn and it's still in perfect working order. Not a single page is ripped. Truly, the Emperor Protects. He opens its lock with a truly gentle and reverent little thump and turns to the hymns of Sanguinalia. He half humms to himself the tunes of the hymns he sees with a peaceful smile that is not at all home on his ugly, scarred face.
Thud is quiet. Too quiet. He's been told to be quiet quite often recently and the ElTee is looking grumpy like those Drill Instructor Lit'le uns at Boot's Camp. So Thud trudges along muttering darkly about the darkness and occasionally reciting litanies in perfect High Gothic.
Thud does not exit the back of the Chimera. It would take far to long to squeeze through there. Instead, he places one hand on the roof of the Chimera and hauls himself up and over the side. With his other hand he snatches his shield from its place strapped to the inside wall. His boots hit dirt and the ground shudders. He takes up position on the right flank of the line. His Evicerator, quiet at the moment, still gleams threateningly in the choked light of battle. He spots the sniper nest and looks to Leni, begging with his eyes to be set loose.
We follow the beam as the world around it slows. The beam flashes across the relatively narrow gap to its target in the blink of an eye. Just before it hits, reacting faster than thought, Thud's holy implants emit a pulse of sanctified energy, countering the fell and corrupted influence on the shot's aim. The shot refracts ever so slightly and catches Thud's polished, shiny Bon'e'ead implants at an acute angle. The polished sheen reflects the shot instead of absorbing it. The needle of concentrated death leaves only a carbonized streak in its wake.
Thud sends a burst at the cowering cowards behind the tank traps, then yells down, AYAA ELTEE! DEM BROS GET TA PLAY! CAN I PLAY TOO!?
In the background of Leni's orders is a constant roar of stabber fire and Thud shouting glorious imprecations against his targets interspersed with poorly worded curses and cackling laughter.
Thud takes one look at the flood of targets in front of him and responds, Just gimmie! He snatched the first one that comes in to reach and rapidly (for him) loads. Soon the chimera starts vibrating again and brass casings cascade out the side of his weapon!
Thud is confused. His ammo can is gone. It was right here! He checks his pockets. Not there. His other arm. Not there. He thinks about checking his crack, (people always talked about pulling things out of there) but there wasn't enough space to reach. The crew never knows how close it came to true horror.
From up top, the constant rust of heavy scrubber fire suddenly stops. A single cultist from the group of twenty Thud had been turning into Emperor-Blessed Chunky Salsa remained, surrounded by the ankle deep soup of his fellows. That one man grinds, clearly blessed by his profane masters. Thud immediately rips the empty ammo can from the weapon and chucks it at the defiant heretic. His face has just long enough to register surprise before the metal ammo can splits it in two.
Inside the chimera, Thud squats down faster than anyone his size should. He basically goes from standing to kissing his own butt goodbye in less than a second. Parts of him that were slightly sweaty are now steaming and he's moaning in discomfort. Dirty boomy warpy grox-crap ... he grumbles under his breath. Just lemme at'em. I'll bonk'em good, you see...*grumblegrumble*
Thud grunts up above. How he heard the plan over the roar of his gun is a bit of a mystery. Maybe he sees where this is going and just intuitively decides to switch weapons. Either way, the rhythmic pound of his high caliber gun stops. The huge Mauler, both barrels smoking dangerously from the continuous fire, is laid on the floor by a meaty paw from above. The hand then moves to a bulky bag stashed by the wall and held there by one of tree trunks that Thud uses for legs. From within Thud pulls a pristine (and, worryingly, loaded) Heavy Stubber. This disappears up the hole where the Mauler had come from and a low chuckle rumbles over the chimera's local vox. Jus say da werd, ElTee, and I'll start cuttin' da grass!
Blow Em Up! thunders Thud's voice from overhead.
Thud roars and laughs in equal measure as the bunker evaporates. He's not looking directly at the blast, of course. That would mean not looking at the targets he's firing at. But even a sidelong glance at titan class weaponry is unhealthy at best.
Thud blinks at just the right time, the light shining through his eyelids, but even his eyelids are made of stern stuff. When he opens them again, he's probably the only person in half a kilometer not blinking spots out of his eyes.
The steady THUMP rattling through the bones of the Chimera as Thud's Mauler goes off has become almost comforting as small arms fire adds stecatto pings to its thunderous beat. Thud has completely commandeered the front arc of the turret. In his right hand, braced precariously on the lip, is the Mauler, its muzzle brakes black with carbon, hurling twinned death at anything even remotely armored. Usually such a weapon would take two hands to stabilize, but not today. Today is the Day of the Emprah's Wrath, and Thud is His Instrument. In his left, lifted high and waving in wild abandon, is his Evicerator, its revving engine adding to the rumble of the Chimera to bring forth a symphony of death. Huge as he is, Thud makes a tempting target. Weak las shots glance and small caliber rounds bounce off his new carapace body armor occasionally, but no large rounds with a chance to penetrate have found him. The Emprah Proteks indeed. His implant's lights dance across his skull as it feeds him constant litanies of battle and protection which he bellows in barely comprehensible low gothic.
The gun clicks. But it shouldn't be dry, not by a long shot. Thud looks confused. The ElTee starts talking, but Thud understands little of it. If a gun clicks and the rounds aren't spent, that means a jam! Thud quickly cycles the action.
Thud needs no more encouragement. The Mauler immediately swings bear on the new target and opens fire!
Thud is confused by the Magos' shot, but he was a Cog bro, so whatever. As soon as Drips opens up, he does too!
Thud is confused. Like, not the normal half-understanding things confused. Like, REALLY confused. He sees Himself everywhere... Uhhh, ElTee? You gotsda be seen dis..., right?
And in the background of Cormaeg's admonitions, the steady THUMP THUMP of heavy gunfire and the indistinct growl of Thud shouting Ecclesiastical Imprecations.
Thud focuses fire on the nearby ones chucking fire. The Mauler sends a quartet of slugs into the air as his concern for 2nd squad naggs in the back of his mind and his Implant screams.
There's a Righteous Fury in there too!
ElTee? Somethin' be movin' in da big 'ol glass ta Pearl! Thud says hesitantly, then roars out to the other Ogryn,
Da Emprah Proteks! Not just frum da las or da krak or da choppa! Da Emprah Proteks even Here. Wherever here is.
Thud suddenly roars onto the Chimera channel, Piglet! Watchin'ya nose! Dere biggy diggy hole dere, ya blinders!
- 2 DoS! Thud keeps his eyes peeled, as ordered. The rumble of the Chimera and the sturdy earth before giving him a calm that allows for quick reflexes.
Thud watches in awe as the giant walking death machine jumps over him, then actually gasps as the Titan steps over him. Never had he felt so disregard. So ignored. So small. The feeling is utterly foreign, and it fills him with devotion. His heart fills with love and fear and loyalty. If the servants of da Emprah can so this, imagine what He Himself could do!
The last guy to have his gun previously owned by a Magos was "recruited" by the AdMech...
Holy Emprah! Da Church is walkin' and da sky is fallin', guys! Hold on ya yer butts! Thud shouts down the hole. This is immidiately followed with a bellow out toward the enemy lines that can be heard even over the engines, Ready or Not! Here HE comes! He then keeps his eyes out for any holes big enough to swallow the chimera or ground that looks to rough to traverse, like the Cloud-snow that will swallow you or the Lying-Pack-Snow that crumbles in spite of looking solid.
Thud is having a blast riding up in the free air. The land is just as blasted as he remembers, but somehow riding over it makes it less bad. It still smells of churned earth and smoke. The shells flying overhead drone on like a freight train in the sky. All we needs is lefty right ways, ya? he comments in an effort to help.
Thud enters the Chimera and immediately goes straight for the hole in the roof where the turret was and where men on stretchers can be lifted. Thankfully that space is made for a turret and Thud doesn't upset the balance of the vehicle riding there too much. He can't hear Mama Leni's speech directly where he is, so he relies on the vox bead in his ear. Her stern, direct talk is a comfort to his soul. He words like rocks kneading out the nervous knots in his gut.
As the prosessions drift past Thud's implant starts flickering and occasionally beeping at him. Suddenly some connection in his head is made and Thud gasps. He looks nervous, like a kid who forgot his homework. The implant chirps again and he ducks to reach inside the chimera. He's back a moment later with a sensor and incense. He strides to the front of the group, spots a hand flamer and snatches it from a very surprised soldier. One small burst of promethium is enough to light the entire sensor on fire. And some of the incense too!
He checks that his two huge munitions bags are in place within reach of the turret where he's thrown them. Yes? Good. He was going to need those. In one was his Heavy Stubber and ammo he'd managed to get out of the Armory without anyone asking why. The second was the weapon the Eltee had gotten. Somehow. The thought of slamming the huge Mauler Cannon up on the bracing points of the turret and going to town was enough to send a shiver down the spine.
Thud hears the command and takes his spot by the chimera. He's going to be first in after the steery guys because he's going to be in the empty turret position. But to get there he's going to have to face DA DARK. Not much of it, but still. No matter what he said to this Bruvas, DA DARK would never loose its hold. Not completely. It was like staring down a Ice Worm next. Death and loneliness dwelt there. But there was light in the turret. His implant beeps and flickers lights, suppressing certain synapses and enhancing others. He feels a song to the Emprah, a hymn of bravery in his mind. He can do this. He can do this...
- fail
Ok. I'll be done. Come see me, Cuthbert. ;) Oops, I did the math wrong. The dice don't like you, man.
Thud accompanies the LT on his little shopping trip and when they come back Thud's foot falls sound... heavier.
He carries with him two large munitions bags marked "Thud stuffs" which he quickly stores in the Chimera away from sight. The chimera's suspension actually dips a bit when they're deposited.
OH SNAP!
Thud nods and turns back to the group. That'll be fixed now. Hey Eltee! Wants me to come with ya for da gettin' stuffs? I can carry it!
Thud turns from Grox to face his two brothers square. His brow knits together when they report their willful disobedience. His eyes quickly find their handler.
please be compatible with an MIU
Thud drops the launcher in Dreamer's hands and returns the sign. His large fingers make the Aquila look like the bird of prey it represents.
Thud turns his huge, jagged grin on Dreamer. He doesn't really respond to any of the names, suggesting that he'll probably respond to all of them. He takes the large metal weapon in one hand and gives it a few experimental swings. It's empty tube whooshes and howls impressively, but Thud seems unimpressed. Eh. It's all hollow and stuff. No Fump to it. I guess I could handle it if ya want. I like dis better. He pats the handle of his Evicerator that's peeking over his shoulder.
Thud takes immediate notice of the new guy now that he didn't have the distraction of remembering his gift to Leni. He looks the grizzled beefcake of a man up and down before smiling that terrifying and yet child-like grin of stained marble protrusions masquerading as teeth.
Cormaeg's praise brings a proud straightening of Thud's spine. Doing things the right way is so awesome! Thud nods vigorously at Leni's suggestion of combining it, seemingly just happy to see her happy.
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