Underhiver Report: Renewed Conflict in the Up-Sump Habs

++++ EXCERPT FROM THE TRI-HIVE ENQUIRER ++++

++LOCAL HIVE NEWS REPORT++

It was early in the 2nd Work Period when gunshots were heard coming from the Hab Block 5-23 yesterday. Roggie Vergas was on the scene and gave us a first-hand account of the action:

"I always head past Lho-asis on my way to second shift," he began, "and this time was no different. They have the best Sump Ale! But when I heard the tell-tale crackle of a man's flesh being evaporated by plasma, I knew it was time to scoot!"

"I got a good look at them though. Honestly, I think the Escher gal just got spooked. Who wouldn't? Those Delaque boys have the creepiest tech I ever saw. It ain't right, walking around like some sort of Emperor-damned ghoul..."

(It is worth mentioning that he is referring to this particular gang's trademark headwear; a holographic image of a jawless skull, leering at their victims. The gang calls itself Shades of the Ebon Oath.)

"That's when she vaporized the bastard. At least, she tried to. It looked like he got a good chunk of his arm taken off, and he went down like a bag of corpse-starch. Then it all went tits up."

"The damn spooks started popping up everywhere! The Escher gang was pretty scattered, I think a few came to help their pals but sensibly hoofed it the opposite direction when they heard the screaming."

"They started HOSING the Escher girls down... I'm talking like shit down the drain. Automatic gunfire like you wouldn't believe. It was even worse that some of it was silenced.... you would expect that much gunfire to be a tremendous racket! It wasn't though. It was like they were firing them from the next block over, but I was watching it with my own eyes."

"Those Escher hightailed it after that. Can't blame 'em. I even saw their head gal get beaned by the top spook. They held her in place with one of those fancy guns... made everything crumple. No way I can describe it. But she acted like she couldn't get away from the spot the spook shot... like it kept pulling her back to it."

"Next thing you know, old dead-eyes walks up and cold clocks her with his fancy cane. They didn't do nothing with her.... just kind of tossed her back into another alley. Not sure why. Maybe they were showing her she was worthless... just tossed her out like the trash."

"Haven't seen the Nasty Girls Club back in this block since. Maybe they are just coming up with a clever way to repay those spooks. Or maybe they are steering clear... which is what I'm gonna start doing before Second Shift. The Ale ain't worth this kind of trouble."

With that, Roggie had nothing more to say. 

We here at the Enquirer have to agree with Roggie.... if you can, we urge you to avoid Lho-asis and the surrounding blocks. It seems likely that the Escher are looking for revenge, and these Delaque are not known for valuing the lives of hive citizens.

The local recreation den of hive workers, now seen patrolled by the eerie watchmen loyal to the Shades of the Ebon Oath.

Note from the Editor: Regrouping of the Houses

Lately there has been little activity in the Sumptowns, as all houses inexplicably pulled their gangs from the area. Speculation has been rampant, but it appears there was some kind of a holiday truce or ceasefire, as we observe the blessed Day of Helmawr's Generosity.

For off-worlders who may not know of this holiday, our venerable Lord Helmawr allows one day per year in which hive citizens may exchange ownership of minor goods that had been assigned to them, and work shifts are generally shortened to a mere 16 hours, rather than the usual 18.

Although a cessation of the fighting is a welcome change for most of the Marimoor sub sections, many are left to wonder when the conflict will begin again. 

Rickus "Toothless" Fergeson speculates: "If I had to divine it myself, I'd put creds on the fightin' startin' agin as soon as the Gangers catch wind of the new areas that drained out in sector 4052," he declares, licking cracked lips and eyeing the extra corpse starch rations we brought to secure this interview with the local Rat Wrangler.

"I plan on headin' out mahself, right soon," he adds, motioning to a pile of exploration gear he has acquired. "I could use a taste of the Emperor's blessing, rightly so... I am sick of the damned rats always getting away with my teeth." To accentuate his point, he blows a quiet whistle through several missing teeth. How he lost the teeth to the rats is anyone's guess.

More anonymous interviews revealed the same attitude is shared by many locals of Sumptown M-32: most believe it's only a matter of time before gangers begin flocking to our settlements again in search of pillage.

This editor urges you to comply with the wishes of whichever gang will offer you the best chance of survival. The Emperor favors the shrewd, and the gangers are likely to kill you outright if you resist their influence.

We also are obligated to say that if you are complicit in recidivist activity of any kind, please report to the nearest Enforcer Precinct (Such as Patrol Precinct Magenta-Theta-Z if you are in the Marimoor sub sector or surrounding area) for debriefing. Please be sure to bring all illegally obtained goods for confiscation and the Enforcers are likely to make Helmawr's Justice much more swift.

And to all: Benevolent Day of Helmawr's Generosity to you and yours!

Star Carter - Head Editor of the Marimoor Minute

Underhiver Report: Extreme Goliath Brutality In the Septivista Genetoriums

++++ EXCERPT FROM THE MYNERVA UNDERHIVE TODAY++++

++LOCAL HIVE NEWS REPORT++

Latest word from the Underhives indicates that a massive show of force was organized by the Goliath gang "The Blood Stones" this week, trapping a Van Saar sponsored gang;"Circle of the Illuminated." 

The Circle are rumored to be in league with the Slave Guild and had been supplying the guild with a steady stream of captured underhivers before the conflict erupted.

Three-Eared Moe told Underhive Today:

"I heard a tremendous racket coming from the Genetorium jus' down the Hab-way, something real sinister like. I know those booms anywhere. Those were Goliath Stub Cannons, like the one that took me thumb off, see!" (At this point, Moe waved around a clearly infected stump on his left hand.)

"Anyways, I couldn't hear those techy boys on account of the helmets and doo-hickies they wear, couldn't hear 'em shouting. But I heard them dying. I can assure you o' that..."

According to Three-Eared Moe, the Blood Stones had been lying in wait for the Van Saar for some time.

"Scuttlebutt says that these Stones fellas had info coming from above. Some kind of fancy folk. Wasn't no noble, but he carried himself like one, smoking on a Lho with one o' dem fancy long sticks. I wish I had gotten close enough to smell the pelt he wore, it looked so fresh and warm..." (Moe trailed off at this point, apparently reminiscing.)

"My boys say he's from off-world. I believe it... I didn't get close enough to hear em talk, but he didn't look like a Hiver. He had a couple o' boys with him last I saw, the kind that got funny helmets. Offworlders for sure."

Another eyewitness, Scraper Ferron, told Underhiver Today about what he saw from his shack's window:

"It was a bloodbath. Those Van Saar boys walked right into it. Those big'uns, the Goliaths, they had the high ground. Offworlders on one side, Goliath on the other, Van Saar in the middle like a mutie rat caught between two Gyrinx. . I don't know how many of those Van Saar made it out alive, but I doubt they'll be back for more anytime soon..."

One local Medicae can corroborate Scraper Ferron's account:

"The Van Saar brought two of their own in, bloody messes both. I couldn't work on both, so they directed me to the older fellow, I believe they called him "Owl". I never got to learn his real name... he died on my table. I was trying to dig out an enormous Stub Cannon round from his gut but I couldn't stop the bleeding fast enough.

"The younger of the two they brought in died much faster, I'm afraid. I couldn't do anything for that boy. I felt bad taking their credits for the work I did on Owl, but I have to replenish the little stock of IV plasma that I have left. I hope they have the sense to stay away from those Goliath fellas... they clearly mean business."


Other testimony from around the settlement of Septivista was a bit more colored:

"I am glad that they killed a couple of those dirty Spider-lovers... Don't need them coming in here driving the price of corpse starch up!" -- Baker Korb

"Glad to see those Goliath boys are keeping the riff-raff out. A few more bodies to haul ain't nothing to me." -- Lester the Carrion Hoister

"Hope they rough up that 'Wolf' guy a bit before they turn him over to the Guilders. He was a right ass when I tried to show him some of my wares. He literally looked down that big nose at me. Ha! Serves him right. Sorry we can't all be as up-hive as those Van Saar fancy boys!" -- Reggis the Las Peddler



Underhive Today will bring you updates as this story unfolds.

For the time being, the editors are recommending to use extreme caution in the areas around Septivista while the two gangs are active in these regions. Other reports, from individuals who wished to remain anonymous, indicate that the Goliath are now using the area to transport goods of an unknown nature. We recommend not becoming involved by avoiding the area if at all possible.

May the Emperor protect!

Gang Focus: The Rust Wolves of House Orlock

The Rust Wolves are a rowdy bunch. They show little regard or concern for the legality of their operations, preferring the tangible benefits of Credits and influence, rather than adhering to any particular code of ethics. That being said, they are one of the most internally loyal gangs operating in the Drained Sump Seas to date.

Part fraternity, part militia, this group of rugged individuals found that their perchance for revelry made them well suited to organizing fighting rings in the Underhive. Sponsoring such events such as "Corpse Grinder Kyle versus Killer Karen," the Rust Wolves have made a tidy sum of Credits by attracting large crowds to the Blood Pits that house these bloodbaths. This was further supplemented by organizing gambling rackets built around betting on the combatants.

Recently, this particular enterprise brought them into conflict with the Nasty Girls Club of House Escher, who were operating their own gambling ring based upon dice and card casinos. The Club accused the Rust Wolves of infringing upon their own realm of influence, to which the Rust Wolves responded with indifference at best, mockery at worst. 

A short conflict erupted, after which saw sharply decreased gambling activity by the Rust Wolves. With the decrease in revenue generated by the events, there are rumors that the Wolves themselves are participating in the underground fights, as they are unable to provide enough sponsorship to attract more infamous champions of the Pits. There are also rumors that a new Escher girl is has replaced the previous Mop Girl in cleaning up the blood spilled in the Blood Pits (which many speculate is a pointless exercise).

More rumors speculate that the Rust Wolves are uncharacteristically melancholic as of late, not because of a perceived loss in the conflict with the Eschers, but because they have found something in the Underhives that was believed to be lost... something that has given them pause in their recklessness. The most wild of rumors speculate that it is a wise man who is now advising the Wolves, telling portents of the future. Whatever it is, the wild nature of the fraternity has diminished, and they are more focused on their goals than ever.

Only time will tell if the continued aggression of the Rust Wolves will be their downfall. As more House-sponsored gangs are provoked to violence, it may only be a matter of time before these Wolves discover they have bitten off more than they can chew. With the rumors surrounding them, it is anybody's guess as to what is motivating their efforts...