40K Dangerous Terrain - Fauna

The home world of the Bogan Tribe is called Terror Australis. A world of only one small continent, and bypassed by most colonising expeditions for two reasons. Only the coastal section of the continent is able to be settled by any civilised people and the interior contains many terrifying natural dangers and the crazed remnants of old settlements.

Recently an Ork Roc crashed landed in the middle of the continent but its Ork forces were quickly killed by the flora and fauna of Terror Australis. Only some Grots managed to make it to the eastern coastal cities and towns where they took over. But that is a story for another time.

This post covers the dangerous fauna of Terror Australis.

Two headed giant jumping rats.

One of the more feared of the fauna as they are likely to hunt you down and stomp you. They look cute in the distance but when they have just stomped you and both heads are ravenously devouring your body you soon change your mind.

Here some Space Rangers face down these creatures

Jack and Jill a roos and their sheep

Descended from the remnants of ancient stations these tribes drove their sheep from pasture to pasture. They think that anyone near their sheep is a thief and must be killed immediately. Very much of the shoot first ask questions later after checking the bodies for valuables.

They ride rusty old tractors which have a surprising turn of speed and agility in all terrain. They are  able to prosper in this dangerous land and are useful as scouts and guides if you can offer them enough sheep.

Their sheep are crazed by the harsh environment and will crush any threat by swarming and stomping it. Here are a few photos of the Space Rangers in a woolly situation.

Drop Bears

One of the most scary of all the terrors of the bush of Terror Australis. Lurking high in the trees they launch themselves down on unsuspecting passersby, knocking their victims out and then eating them while they are still fresh.

Their trees are surrounded by the bones of their unfortunate victims.

Here the Space Rangers wisely give these Drop Bears a wide berth and move warily past them. On the ground a Drop Bear is not too dangerous but if you see one, there are bound to be plenty more in the trees around.

Crocodiles

One of the terrors that would be recognised on other worlds, these crocodiles differ only in their more aggressive behaviour and the ability to hunt in packs.

Here the Space Rangers form a firing line to blast the crocodiles - hopefully they have not let them get too close as the crocodiles are as fast on land as in the water.

The next instalment will cover some of the more dangerous flora.

Episode Six - Mad Mary and her Mechanical Minions

Captain James T Cook and the HMSS Endeavour - VSF 1770

“Space the new frontier.  These are the voyages of the Her Majesty’s Star Ship Endeavour.  Its five year mission: to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilisations; to boldly go where no Englishman has gone before.”- Captain James T Cook

Captain’s Log: 15 June 1895 – Europa - moon of Jupiter!

After leaving Mars Cook received new orders from the Admiralty by aethergram "The daughter of Lord Backstabber has been reported missing. You are to look for her on the moons of Jupiter. We believe she is on Europa setting up some sort of weird suffragette community against her fathers wishes. Nonetheless, her father has lost contact with her and is yelling at the PM to find her. So act promptly."

"What do you think Captain" said my trusty man Cheerful Rodgers.

"Well, the Lord Backstabber is famous for being a complete idiot and I certainly would get as far as away as possible if I was related to him. Nonetheless, we have our orders. Ship Commander Robert Molyneux, please set course for Europa, moon of Jupiter."

Just as they reach Europa a further signal was received from the Admiralty. "We have received information that the Prussians will be looking for her as well. Apparently she has made some mad mechanical minions using some Martian Technology that the Prussians want for soldiers. You must find her first and secure any valuable mechanical items. We know it is unlikely that a woman can invent anything but she is British so you never know. Watch out for the Prussians!"

After searching Europa for a while the Endeavour found the settlement, unfortunately there was also a Prussian ship landing at the same time. It was Kapitan Jacob T Koch of the KISS Bemühen.

The landing ship of the Endeavour has landed closer to the settlement but the Prussians are already on their way.

The opening situation. Mad Mary's settlement to the bottom left, Prussians from the bottom right and our British hero's at the top left. Across the board, infestations of mushroom forests and giant carnivorous lady beetles. 

The Prussian column

The Endeavour's landing team. 

Lady Mary's Settlement. Well organised with power supplied by wind generators. Her Factories and staff have been busy and she has already produced a number of her mechanical servants. Some she has armed to keep the beetles away but her main project is her butlers. 

The Prussian column comes under attack from some beetles from the nearby Mushroom forests.

The Endeavour's crew moves out but the beetles also come out to attack them.

Prussians lose some men but kill the beetles

Cook's men also blast the beetles and lose some men

The Prussian column comes under further attack! Beetles to the left, beetles to the right.

Cook sends the Marines into the mushroom forest to clean out the beetles while he and the crew march forward through the gap destroying beetles as they go. When the marines get through they will be able to protect his flank from the Prussians.

Lady Mary moves her mechanical soldiers towards the gun fire she hears in the distance.

The Prussian column is under heavy attack but destroys all but one beetle for the loss of two men.

The British marines have cleared the mushroom forest for the loss of two men while the crew have forced through the gap for the loss of two men. A further marine squad comes up in support.

An over view of the battlefield. Cook is closer but Koch is not far away and has more men.

Cook meets Mary while holding off the beetles. No beetles dare attack Mary and her mechanical soldiers.

Koch and his Prussians suffer a further attack and lose two more men, slowing their advance.

Eventually the Prussians make it through and Mary addresses both companies.

Mary made it quite clear that she had no interest in helping either of them. "You and your commanders are all fools. There is no money in mechanical soldiers! I am going to give every housewife her own mechanical butler, mechanical maid and gardener. Women will finally be free of tedious house work!"

But said Koch "we will pay you plenty for your mechanical soldiers, and then the husbands can stay home and help with the house work."

Cook looked concerned and said "Well the husbands can stay home, I am not sure about house work!" His men nodded in agreement, as did some of the Prussian soldiers.

Mary just sighed and said "Go away. Tell my father that he is an idiot. A revolution is coming!"

Just before Cook and Koch wandered back to their respective space ships with their crews they held a short discussion. "We could try and take them by force but those mechanical men looked nasty! And of course it is rude to attack a woman." "I think we should just say we found her and she was safe but there was nothing else here, the mechanical men are clumsy and only do women's work." "Good idea!".

Both Captains made similar reports, and as Victoria and Wilhelm both agreed, Mary was left alone.

Cook on the Endeavour woke to the usual shouts from Cheerful Rodgers, "Orders from the Admiralty. A base has been over run by alien monsters and we have to go and save them!"

"Oh great" thought Cook, "another adventure".