As the battle between the two Ork Klans commenced in the Warp, it quickly attracted various entities wandering the chaotic dimension.
When faced with attacks from a stronger enemy, the two Klans would temporarily unify and fight together.
Once the threat was eliminated, the two Klans would immediately resume their battle against each other.
The Warboss of the Blood Splatter Klan was not a stranger to the Warboss of the Red Fog Klan. However, the moment they met, the atmosphere between them became immediately volatile.
This was because the Red Fog Klan's Warboss was significantly larger and had numerous crude metal implants grafted onto his body.
The reason the Red Fog Klan initially attacked the Blood Splatter Klan was simple:
They had been lost in the Warp for a while, and besides the occasional Daemon they could fight for amusement, they were overwhelmingly bored.
Upon spotting another Ork fleet, their first instinct was to fight, and then absorb the survivors.
Clearly, this attempt was unsuccessful.
The Blood Splatter Klan, having fought the Imperial military, possessed demonstrably better technical prowess. The Red Fog Klan, conversely, had primarily fought Warp entities. Those Daemons left behind only scattered residue when killed, giving the Ork Meks nothing to "I fink" new designs from.
Nevertheless, the fighting with the Blood Splatter Klan had significantly boosted the Red Fog Klan's "I finks" capability.
Through constant, repeated combat, the two Ork Klans had developed a dynamic that was almost like brutal, continuous rivalry.
To ensure the Boyz below did not become too bored, both Warbosses of the Blood Splatter Klan and Red Fog Klan tacitly avoided fighting personally, instead engaging in daily boarding actions against each other for sport.
It was during this time in the Warp that they found a Cruiser, damaged and drifting for an unknown duration. After undergoing a 'friendly' exchange with the Warp entities residing within, the Ork Meks finally utilized the vessel's Warp drive and navigation system to successfully guide the two Klans back to the material universe.
Once again seeing the surrounding planets and the busy-looking Orbital Station cluster nearby.
The two Klans united once more, intending to seize the 'iron lump' floating in space before meticulously dividing the spoils.
However, the focused fire from the Orbital Station cluster's weaponry wiped out a large portion of their scrap ships in a single volley. This forced the two Warbosses to rally their Meks and find a countermeasure.
A Mek from the Blood Splatter Klan was the first to "I fink" of a solution.
By making the torpedoes perform a short-range Warp translation in space, they could bypass the Void Shields entirely, thus avoiding the defensive fire.
Evidently, he was successful.
The suddenly weakened Void Shield of the Space Station was then breached by the flagship of the Blood Splatter Klan ramming it headlong.
Following this, a Red Fog Klan Ork Mek, seeing the success, instantly shouted.
"I finks I can do dat too!"
Immediately, more Warp-skipping torpedoes were launched from space, flying past the Void Shields and detonating within the Space Station.
Then, the Ork scrap ships, before the Imperial Navy fleet could properly engage, plunged into the Orbital Station like a volley of crude arrows.
The Indomitable and the other Imperial vessels, having adjusted their firing positions, looked upon the Orbital Station cluster, now impaled by Ork ships across one-third of its structure, with complete frustration.
In the current situation, they could not open fire.
The Space Station's Void Shields were gone, and the Ork ships were jammed into the structure. If the fleet fired, causing the Ork ships to explode, no one could guarantee that the resulting shockwaves would not cause the entire Orbital Station to detonate as well.
If they were to preserve the Orbital Station, the only recourse was to deploy all available Navy troops and Boarding Teams, and seek assistance from the Astra Militarum to land more forces via transport barges to clear out all the Orks.
It was imperative to remember that this was the Mandeville Point; this Orbital Station cluster was a crucial facility, vital for the transit of Imperial forces.
Moreover, this Orbital Station cluster was also a commercial hub, an essential junction for surrounding sectors, making its value incalculable.
However, before the worm-like Departmento Munitorum could fully react and allocate proper forces, the fleet had to ensure the station did not fall.
They also needed to suppress the Ork assault quickly, otherwise, no one knew what the Orks might "I fink" up next.
After all, the Space Station was now littered with metal, shattered craft, and all manner of detritus.
As the Imperial Navy, they possessed some understanding of the Ork "I finks" power.
Upon receiving the distress call from the Station Master, the Indomitable immediately began deploying its Naval Marines and Boarding Teams.
The other Imperial vessels followed suit.
Massive waves of landing craft and smaller insertion vehicles surged toward the station's surface.
Simultaneously, all the Astartes were gathered together.
They were tasked with executing a far more complex mission.
Two Dark Angels volunteered to be the first to deploy via a Thunderhawk Gunship to the Space Station.
They were better suited than others to gather intelligence.
They had to immediately locate the Ork leaders and place a Teleport Homer. Following this, the remaining Black Templars Astartes would be instantly teleported to the beacon's location to execute a Decapitation Mission. Once the leaders were slain, the Orks would panic, break ranks, and likely descend into internal fighting.
This represented the best chance for the ground forces, which only numbered in the tens of thousands.
Based on the size of the Ork ships, the strongest leader inside was likely just an Ork Warboss. Such an enemy was not difficult for the Astartes to handle.
Conversely, the chaotic frontal assault was ill-suited for the Astartes deployment.
Although these Angels of Death possessed superhuman reflexes and physicality, even they could be reduced to shreds by dense, continuous enemy fire.
The protection offered by Ceramite Power Armour was not limitless.
It was at this moment that Axion silently materialized.
This mission was originally one Thien was expected to participate in, but since Thien was still recovering from having his arm and leg severed by Axion, the automaton insisted on taking his place.
The Inquisitor, who had intended to object, recalled Axion's ability to casually sever an Astartes limb, and concerned for his own safety, silently backed away.
The two Magos of the Adeptus Mechanicus remained completely silent.
They clearly did not believe the Orks possessed the capability to inflict any meaningful harm on Axion.
During the past few hours, they had manufactured temporary rigs in the Hangar Bay and repeatedly tested the bionics Axion had created.
The results, however, had rendered them speechless. The durability of the bionics far exceeded that of Ceramite Power Armour. They had even brazenly attempted to test them with Power Weapons.
But even a Chainsword only managed to leave a faint scratch on the surface; no further damage was inflicted.
And according to the information they had received, Axion's chassis had previously endured Bolter fire and even attacks from Iron Warriors using Power Weapons.
Yet, he had remained completely unscathed.
Given the crude technology of the Orks, as long as Axion exercised basic caution, a mere force of Orks, relying solely on numbers, posed absolutely no threat to him.
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