Ufthak Blackhawk
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The following paragraphs contain spoilers for: | Where Dere's Da Warp Dere's A Way (Short Story) |
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The following paragraphs contain spoilers for: | Brutal Kunnin' (Novel) |
Ufthak Blackhawk, known as Gargantsmasha[2c], is a Bad Moons Boss, who served in Da Meklord's Tekwaaagh![2a] before becoming his own Warboss of a Waaagh!.[7i]
Biography
Before he attained his current rank, Blackhawk was a Boy in the Boss Badgit Snazzhammer's mob. Blackhawk claimed he was Snazzhammer's second in command, but this was contested by his fellow Boy, Mogrot Redtoof. Their rivalry for this position continued, even when Da Meklord's hordes fought an Adeptus Mechanicus fleet.[1]
Snazzhammer's mob invaded one of the Mechanicus ships and were charged by the Da Meklord with escorting the Mek Da Boffin to its Warp Engine. This was so Da Boffin could install his invention, the Warp Dekapitator, which would take Da Meklord's fleet to where the Mechanicus ships had last Warp travelled from. Before they reached the enginarium, though, the mob was attacked by a Tinboy, which blew apart Snazzhammer's head. Blackhawk gave the order to retreat and the surviving mob followed him, much to Redtoof's outrage. His rival questioned why they retreated and Blackhawk knew that if he wanted to take Snazzhammer's position as Boss, he had to lead the attack on the Robot. Acting quickly, Blackhawk picked up the dead Boss' weapon, the Snazzhammer, and led the mob against the robot. He managed to destroy the Robot using the Snazzhammer, but the resulting explosion tore apart Blackhawk's body. As his rival lay scattered across the ship's floor, Redtoof picked up the Snazzhammer and claimed he was the Boss now. The mob did not argue with him and they left the dying Blackhawk behind with the Mad Dok Drozfang, who had accompanied them. After being told what had happened, Blackhawk called the mob a bunch of ungrateful Grots and asked Drozfang to finish him off. Blackhawk hoped he would be reunited with the Ork Gods Gork and Mork and they would grant him a new body so he could fight again.[1]
The Mad Dok, however, had other ideas, as Drozfang felt Redtoof was not fit to lead the mob. Instead it should be Blackhawk, as he was the one who was brave enough to attack and destroy the Tinboy. Despite being fearful of what Drozfang would do, Blackhawk gave in, as he came close to death. Thankfully the solution to fix Blackhawk was close by and the Mad Doc soon attached his head to Snazzhammer's headless body. The operation was a success and Blackhawk not only lived, but was now larger and more powerful than he was before. Drozfang then led Blackhawk to the engine room, where the Da Boffin had already installed the Warp Dekapitator. However, Redtoof demanded to be the one to active it, instead of Da Boffin, and the two were arguing with each other when Blackhawk approached them. Just as Redtoof was about to bash Da Boffin's head in with the Snazzhammer, Blackhawk grabbed it and presented himself to the mob. Blackhawk then headbutted Redtoof and as his rival collapsed, he brandished the Snazzhammer and asked if anyone else wanted to the mob's Boss. No one did and Blackhawk solidified his position as Boss. This pleased Drozfang and Blackhawk privately swore he would repay the Mad Doc, with Teef and "volunteer" patients for saving his life. He then told Da Boffin to active the Warp Dekapitator, which the Mekboy did.[1]
The device worked as intended and brought the Da Meklord's fleet to the Forge World Hephaesto, just as Da Boffin hoped that it would. Unfortunately, to the Big Mek's surprise, the forces of the Freebooter Kaptin Badrukk had already invaded it. Rather than have their forces fight each other for the right to loot the Forge World, the two Ork commanders agreed to share Hephaesto between them. Da Meklord told Orks, though, to make sure there were "accidents" that would cause the Tekwaaagh! to gather the most prized loot.[2a]
After a long and exciting battle on Hephaesto against Mechanicum forces, including a brawl by Da Meklord's Gargants against Legio Hephaesto Titans[2b], Ufthak gains infamy by using a Shokkjump Dragsta to teleport onto a Warlord Titan command head, disabling and then destroying the massive machine.[2c] Ufthak next commandeers a Space Marine Centurion Warsuit, allowing the Orks to overrun much of Node Primus.[2d] At the height of the battle, the Iron Warriors Warpsmith Gavrak Daelin leads an attack of his own, unleashing a Daemon Engine known as the Te’Kannaroth.[2e] Ufthak, alongside Kaptain Badrukk, manage to defeat the Daemon Engine by using a flyer to push it into a volcano.[2f] After the battle both Ufthak and Da Meklord survive, with Blackhawk now known as "Big Boss".[2g]
Ufthak next came into conflict with the Dark Eldar, defeating the Archon of the Kabal of the Hollow Heart Dhalgar.[6] This provokes Dhalgar's older sister, Master Archon Dhaemira Thraex, to move against Ufthak in a bid to secure his own powerbase.[7a] Thanks to the actions of Dhaemira, Ufthak inadvertently enters a Webway Portal during a race, with him and his boyz finding themselves in the outer reaches of Commorragh.[7b] After using a captured Drukhari to activate the Webway Portal at will, the Orks are able to mount a major invasion of Port Tavarr complete with Gargants.[7c] After the Dark Eldar seal the Portal, Ufthak is able to use the Weirdboy Uzkop and Big Mek Da Boffin to reactivate it and continue their invasion.[7d] Dhaemira is forced to retreat from the Orks during the struggle, though they are able to trap Ufthak in the Webway.[7e]
Fighting deeper into the Drukhari city, Ufthak next sets his sights on capturing a spaceship to return to his Waaagh! before it collapses into anarchy. Ufthak is trapped and forced to fight against a captured Space Marine and various horrors in a Wych Cult arena.[7f] Ufthak is ultimately teleported back to his forces by his lieutenant Mogrot Redtoof.[7g] The Orks mount a new attack on the Dark Eldar, and Ufthak engages in a final battle against Dhaemira, the desperate Archon is eventually forced to convince Ufthak to leave through a portal in order to finally be rid of them. The Orks are then able to steal the Archon's flagship Heart's End and escape while leaving behind a mob of Grots to bog down the Dark Eldar.[7h] Ufthak, now with the captive Dhalgar, is able to successfully operate the Dark Eldar vessel and renames it Starsmasha. Ufthak challenges and kills Da Meklord in single combat and begins Waaagh! Ufthak.[7i]
Wargear
In battle, Ufthak wields a Shokk Rifle and Power Weapon known as the Snazzhammer, which once belonged to Badgit Snazzhammer.[5] Ufthak Blackhawk used to balance his blasta on his loyal squig, Princess.[4]
Images
Conflicting sources
- In the Black Library website's story description for Where Dere's Da Warp Dere's A Way, Ufthak's name is given as Ufthak Snazzhammer.[3] The story itself, however, calls him Ufthak Blackhawk.[1] This was possibly a result of confusing Ufthak with his boss, Badgit Snazzhammer.
Sources
- 1: Where Dere's Da Warp Dere's A Way (Short Story)
- 2: Brutal Kunnin (Novel)
- 3: Black Library: Where Dere's Da Warp Dere's A Way (last accessed 25th June 2022)
- 4: Warhammer Community :Ufthak Blackhawk Spreads His Waaagh! To Black Library With a New Novel and Miniature (09/12/23)
- 5: Warhammer Community: Ufthak Blackhawk Rules (last accessed 21/7/2024)
- 6: Road Rage (Short Story)
- 7: Da Big Dakka (Novel)
