The Forge Breakers - Sump Strong

 The Forge Breakers - Prologue

House Goliath gangers have been present in Sump City for decades, their muscle and strength a welcome skill at sea and on the docks.  They've also found success in the fighting pits of Sump City, wrestling some of the terrors that are brought ashore from the Sump Ocean.  House Goliath Tyrants up hive prize sump creatures as pets, especially Sump Crocs.  

However these gangers have been loners, drifters and chancers. There are no great foundries to be found in Sump City, but with the growing wealth and so close to the mantle of Necromunda that may change, especially if the Orlocks start mining this far down.  The Forge Breakers are led by Arnold 'Ankle Breaker' Axle and their goal is simple.  Be biggest and strongest gang in town and smash some faces in the process.

Chapter 1 - Wounded Muscle

Arnold was fuming and when Arnold fumed Sump City knew about it. Bane sat in the corner, shotgun shells being picked from a gaping wound in his back by the doc. Hannibal had lost a finger but seemed more concerned about a lost cigar. The empty bunk of Sledge a reminder of a grisly end. Only Red, pumping iron and stims in the back was in good spirits. On face value the forge breakers had stamped their place on sump city. They controlled the main central settlement, good shake down money and one lucky sumper had been sent uphive to be unborn. The fighting pit made good money and the Guderain had set up a contract with them. The drug dens were filled with crack heads and a good source of stims. Yet it had taken a heavy toll on the newly arrived Forge Breakers. Arnold knew who was to blame, the damn chem alley cats in their clash out at their hideout. Arnold lent on his wounded leg and called to his number two. Bruce had led the gang since his boss was taken out by a chem alley juve in the first clash. Bruce wondered if he shouldn't issue a challenge to the old Tyrant, finish him off for good. He was taken from his thoughts by Arnold's voice. ' I want you to get out there Bruce and put the word around. 25 credit bounty on the chem alley cats. And whilst your at it make sure you let those stupid chiseled chin helmrawr boys know where they can find the girls. They might just do us a favour'.

Chapter 2 - Orlock Ambush

Arnold looked round as the disused tunnel network. As far as he could tell he went stratight under the main Sump City settlement and as far out as the Corpse Farms near the great elevator shaft. It might make a better place to re-locate the synth still too. Know one else knew about it. The arrival of the Enforcers in town had made his growing paranoia even worse. The Chem City Alley Cats had been taught a lesson, which was good, but Arnold was now even more fearful of where their atetntion might head next. His eyes turned to Bruce, who was co-ordinating the tunnel search. His number two was good, too good, he would need to have an accident soon.

Hannibal approached, 'Its good Tyrant Boss, no signs of any scummers, reckon we can make it ours.

Suddenly Arnold heard gunfire erupt all round, exlposions to his right ruptured an old plasma pipe. He saw Red the Juve clucthing his face, he screamed ' my eyes!'.

Arnold saw a shape moving behind an old rusty container, and noted the tell tale bandana.  Gun fire erupted his way but whistled over his head.  Arnold brought up his plasma pistol and let off a few rounds, the gunfire stopped.  He looked around, most of the chamber was filled with smoke and the gang were pinned but other than Red looked OK.  Arnold shouted 'Forge Breakers, its the treacherous Iron Dogs, make for the exit!'.  Arnold saw Bane, Sly and Seagal form a group and head for the exit laying down a whithering cover fire under Bane leadership.  Yes, he would defintely need to be dealt with.  

Arnold looked to his right, he saw three Iron Dogs vaulting over a pipe and in a frenzy took apart Max the Pit Fighter.  No matter, he wasnt a Goliath.  Arnold knew the way out was the way Bane went but he needed the kudos of an Iron Dog head.  He charged the the writhing shape that had taken his plasma shot.  As he did Hannibal at last turned his grenade launcher on the enemy, Arnold couldnt work out if he was firing at a target or just hoping to bring down the whole tunnel network.  

'Aaaaaaargh' and with a thump Arnold came to stop, his charged had faletred.  He hadnt realised that the Orlock scum had been behind a plasma tank, in his rage and anger Arnold now found himself stuck between the rusty industrial fittings.  The Orlock got up 'More muscle than brains Arnold, you stupid fucking scummer'.  Arnold took a hammer to the face and went out cold.

He woke back at the hideout, laying in his bunk.  Bruce was in the doorway.  'You rest boss Tyrant, we lost the tunnels but i got everyone out, even Red, and killed me one of the Iron Dogs.'

Chaper 3 - The fuzz

It happened so fast.  Seagal was doing his rounds in the foundry level.  The noise of the turbines heating the furnaces had drowned out the permanent noise of the upper sump and Seagal lent against the rusty banniester of the gantry he was perched upon.  It gave away his lack of inetlligene given the integrity of the bannister and the size of Seagal.  It held, Seagal none the wiser to the danger.  The low life of the Sump worked the foundry below, serfs, little more than slaves.  This place could do with some proper Goliath labour from up hive he thought.  Well at least these sump rats would return to town and then fall foul of some racketerring, also controlled by the Forge Breakers.

'Citizen, idenfy yourself.'  It was voice that had no business being anywhere near the Sump.  Seagal turned.  Stood before him was the cleanest and biggest Enforcer he had ever seen.  Brandishing an enforcer riot shield, it bellowed its command again.  

'Your last chance Citizen, identify!'.  Frag this Seagal thought and brought his shot gun up. 

'Identfy this'.  He shouted back and shot a solid round of shells at the Enforcer.  The Enforcer grunted, flew back and slumped down.  Blood seeped through the armour.  The shell had torn straight through the sheild and armour.  The enforcer was in a bad way.

Suddenly the whole district went up in sirens and flash grenades.  The serf labour scattered.  Another enforcer was upon him.  Seagla squeezed off another shell with a boom.  This time it flew off the armour of several patrolmen bearing down upon him.   

Seagal saw muzzle flash and then his head hurt, really hurt.  The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was Bruce appearing down on the factory floor level with the hulking form of Bane next to him.  Bane roared and twin pulverizes in hand lept at the enforcers now crawling down below.  

When Segal woke he was in the doc shop being pumped full of stims.  Bruce was standing next to him'

'What happened Boss?'.  Bruce looked at him and drew a long drag on his stim stick. 

'We got a visit from the enforcers that came down Sump couple weeks back.  Seems they're throwing their weight around.  We werent the only gang to get hit.  Orlocks got slammed in the tunnels, but you need to lay low for a while.  You took out one of their best 'Judge Giant'.  He survived, i reckon lucky for you, but he's pissed and so is their governor, goes by the name of Dredd.  Took all our sacred gymn weights.  What a bastard.  Stay here, doc will patch you up. 

At that moment Sly came through the doc shop curtain.  His bolter slung over his back.  The red hot barrel suggesting it had only reentley been fired.  

'Forge Boss.  Its the foundry, its been hit again.  Orlocks jumped our sentries.  Some of the gang being brought over now to see the doc.  They took out the refinery tanks.'

'Where was Arnold for Forges sake?!?' Bruce thundered back at Sly.

'He got hit again boss, out cold.  said something about not seeing it coming.'

Bruce motioned to Sly ' You're with me, lets get back to the hideout.  I need to know what is going on'. 

Chapter 4 - Power and weakness

The last month had been a turbulent time for the Forge Breakers, their apparent strength in territories and gang muscle was built on a foundation of sand.  Their Leader, Arnold, had suffered humiliation time and time again with Bruce holding the gang together on a regular basis.  In Goliath terms that was a death sentence, a challenge was inevitable.  

The threat the other forces in Sump City posed never went away despite Goliath attempts to stamp it out.  The enforcers had mounted yet another raid on the refinery and this time they meant business  and had detonated several large blasts taking out key capabilities.  The enforcers had simultaneously shut down the fighting pit.  Word on the street was that Radtek Riggers were still using it for closed entertainment.  The Alley Cats had shown little respect and had even loosed one of their pets to prey on the Force Breakers as sport, but they'd at least had a bloody nose that might make them think twice about challenging again.  Lastly the cowardly Orlocks continued to ambush and pick away where they can.  Arnold was the laughing stock of Sump Town, he'd even heard in the bars and narco dens a new saying, 'doing an Arnold.  It was made even worse by the lack of news from the House leadership up hive, which grew infrequent and supplies and messages were left unanswered.  He needed new allies or he would soon be fed to the crocs in the Sump.   

One Sump evening he had been visited by a mysterious man.  Dressed in a military uniform  drowning in lapels and medals.  He spoke of campaigns of glory, of his various leadership qualities.  Arnold didn't recognise any of the battles and also noticed that the man was accompanied by a bodyguard whose expression suggested that not all of the man's tales were accurate.  But no matter, Arnold had been beguiled by the man's leadership qualities, tactical genius and general superiority.  These were the qualities he needed.

As the Sump hour grew late the man beckoned to his Bodyguard who brought forth a box. 

'A gift from House Greim.  Use it well Arnold of House Goliath, Breaker of Forges'. The man's high diction gave way that he came from the spire reinforced by his use of a handkerchief to mask the smell of the Sump .    

Arnold looked in the box.  A heavy calibre bolter with supporting loading chamber backpack was in the box.  This is it Arnold thought, this is what turns the tide.  So caught up was he in his thoughts of conquest that he did not hear the parting words of the man.

'I bid you farewell and fortune in battle.  House Greim has its own interests in this Emperor forsaken place and i expect you and your men to aid the interests of House Greim in due course.  The price may be heavy but the glory in serving under my banner is worth a 1000 lives.'