Stormboy

"I dunno wot you been told...Stormboy mobs is mighty bold! We're da hardest of da lot...We make you lot look like Grots!"

- Typical Stormboyz Drill-Chant

Stormboy drill-chant Ork Stormboyz strive to stand out amongst the anarchy of Ork society. They studiously ape authority figures, practise things until they can do them right, and openly polish their boots in public places, much to the disgust of their elders. Yet no matter how much they fly in the face of Greenskin values with their wilful forward planning and blatant regard for the rules, Stormboyz are still Orks. They live to get stuck into a good, bloody fight as quickly as they can. To this end, the Stormboy Korps strikes deals with local Meks to equip them with large, noisy Rokkit Packs. These they use to propel themselves toward the foe amid resounding (and suspiciously well synchronised) bellows of "WAAAGH!", striking the enemy line like ballistic missiles and hacking apart anything unlucky enough to find itself in arm's reach.

Role
Stormboyz serve as the shock troops of many successful warbands, are far too efficient and discipline by the standards of right-thinking greenskins. Their contrary stance to the good old-fashioned values of anarchy and disorder manifest in a desire to be organised and obedient. Nevertheless, they are still Orks, and share the Orkish desire to get into battle as quickly as possible. To this end they go to war strapped to Rokkit Packs that, when activated, propel their wearers forward on great tongues of oily black flame. Orks grow up faster than humans, but young Orks sometimes takes a year or so to find their place in Ork society. This can lead to feelings of rebelliousness and anger in an Ork youngster, and he may run off to join a Stormboy camp, especially if he is a military-minded Goff or Blood Axe]. These camps provide direction for Orks who are sick of being told they can do whatever they like. Young Orks can become addicted to the regimented life of a Stormboy, and dedicate their lives to the time-honoured martial discipline of drilling, marching and hurtling through the air.

This odd Ork formation serves as a place where a young Ork can rebel against the anarchy of Ork society by following orders, conducting precise military drills and polishing their boots. Heckled and laughed at by most other Orks the Stormboyz spend hours each day marching about and chanting, saluting each other and generally carrying on in very un-Orky ways. The jeers of the other mobs tend to fade away when battle is joined though and the Stormboyz prove their worth. Using potent rokkit packs, they fly into the fray on pillars of smoke and fire. As they age, most Orks leave the Stormboyz for "proper" mobs, but some gain a taste for it, especially Orks of the Blood Axes klan, and will rise to command whole formations of black-booted young Orks.

Despite their strange ways, the Stormboyz are a force to be reckoned with upon the battlefield. They are always eager to prove their prowess to friend and foe alike by putting their battle-drill into practice, and use their Rokkit Packs to ensure they are the first to get stuck in. Flying into battle is seen as most undignified by the older Ork warriors, who far prefer to charge headlong into the enemy waving their arms and shouting at the top of their lungs. Still, even really old Orks realise that airborne nutcases are invaluable when attacking Imperial bastions and defence lines. After all, a hurtling great lump of rocket-powered Ork can be a very effective weapon in itself. Unfortunately for the Stormboyz, the volatile Jump Packs made by the rare Mekboyz willing to work for them are anything but reliable -- a Mek finds the sigh of a malfunctioning rokkit pack as amusing as the next Ork, it is a common sight to see a Stormboy corkscrewing into the distance or ploughing into the ground, much to the entertainment of his comrades. Despite their proclamations of military genius, Stormboy battlefield doctrine is very much a case of pull the level, shout "Ere' we go!" and hope for the best.

Notable Campaigns

 * Who's Da Boss? (982.M41) - During fierce fighting on the Exodites world of Lyrithar, Boss Zagstruk takes personal offence at being outmanoeuvred by the lightning-fast Wild Riders of Saim-Hann. Enraged beyond words as his cowardly foes retreat into the Webway, Zagstruk lights up his rokkit pack and gives chase along with a hard core of his most devoted Stormboyz. The portal closes behind Zagstruk, and Da Boss is next seen some ten months later when he stalks into the encampment of Warboss Golgrot. He slaughters a couple of dozen Lootas, and reclaims his stolen Fighta-Bommer. No-one has the guts to enquire as to Zagstruk’s recent whereabouts, but all note the fresh batch of red and white Eldar helmets dangling from his belt.

Notable Stormboyz

 * Zagstruk - Zagstruk is the fanatical and merciless Ork Warboss of a much-feared band of Stormboyz known as the "Vulcha Squad". His squad gets its name from Zagstruk's personal aircraft, a massive red Fighta-Bommer called Da Vulcha that is an antique by the standards of modern Ork aircraft. Nevertheless, it still packs a fearsome payload, not least of which are the Vulchas themselves. Boss Zagstruk and his Boyz fly in low attack runs over the front line, riding in the belly of their Vulcha, and at a barked command from Zagstruk, the Vulcha Boyz plummet towards the battle below into the heart of the enemy, iron-plated boots first. To make sure his feet hit the hardest, Zagstruk is equipped with Da Vulcha's Klaws, a pair of bionik legs that allow him to perform his favourite manoeuvre -- the fly-by decapitation.
 * Brikkfist - Brikkfist is a Stormboyz Nob that serves as a bosun to the notorious Ork Freebooter Kaptin Bluddflagg when the need arises for assault skills. Boisterous, rabble-rousing and violent, Brikkfist is usually found at the heart of where the fighting is thickest. Strapped to a volatile Rokkit Pack, he flies towards his foe's lines to quickly get to grips with the enemy.

Notable Stormboyz Formations

 * Flashy Skyboyz - A Stormboyz formation that serves the Bad Moons Flash Git Gashrakk Da Flash. Gashrakk likes Stormboyz because, like him, they prefer to keep themselves clean and polish their kit all the time. However, he has never got used to the way they insist on saluting him when he walks past.

Wargear

 * Slugga
 * Choppa
 * Stikkbombz
 * Rokkit Pack - Stormboyz use crude rokkit packs to propel themselves across the battlefield in huge, bounding leaps. Whether they smash into enemy lines or a solid ferrocrete wall is a different matter entirely, however.