A day later, Ork Hive City.
Inside the Governor's Mansion at the top of the spire.
It had long been completely transformed into a command post that, even by Astra Militarum standards, was quite respectable.
"What in Gork and Mork's name is going on? All the Sneaky Gitz I sent out haven't come back. Your invention doesn't seem to be working, does it?"
Under the bright lights, an Ork Warboss in military uniform was facing a massive glass window, then turned his head and spoke to another Big Mek dressed as a mechanic behind him.
Several months had passed since this Ork force occupied the Hive City.
During these months, the Ork Warboss, Harkya Bloodaxe, had used every means possible, and with his excellent planning and operational abilities, caused the industrial Hive City's production capacity to explode at an astonishing rate, arming his Ork Boyz to the teeth.
Despite this, what made him both annoyed and somewhat excited was that the prawn army wandering outside was truly cunning and tough, repelling his attacks again and again with fewer numbers.
So, Hakya adopted the suggestion of his chief Big Mek and sent a team of Sneaky Gitz, equipped with a so-called latest invention, the 'Stealthy Blue Cloth,' to secretly infiltrate the prawn forces, hoping to directly decapitate that cunning and formidable prawn leader.
But a day had passed, and they found that not a single Sneaky Git had returned to the Hive City. The outcome was self-evident: the mission had failed.
"Boss, this is unavoidable."
The Big Mek obviously didn't think it was his fault and immediately said, "I reckon that prawn leader must be very cunning. They must have been prepared for our plan long ago. The Sneaky Gitz weren't as cunning as them, so they must have been wiped out."
But don't worry, Boss. After so many battles with the shrimp, I now have new brilliant ideas, and I'll soon figure out some good stuff. Then we'll definitely get good results and ignite an even greater 'Waaagh!'
"Alright, I can reluctantly accept that reason."
As he spoke, Hakya began to ponder if he had missed anything. "Right, did you see the descriptions from the Boyz Galya took out to fight?"
"Oh, Boss, you know the temperament of those Boyz. The strength of the shrimp must have been exaggerated!"
The Big Mek vigorously scratched his head with the wrench in his hand, a cunning and certain glint flashing in his eyes, his tone very confident. "What about shrimp with fire and wings, prawn Killa Kans bigger and stronger than the Boss, psychic shrimp that can throw tanks into the sky, and even one that looks like an ordinary prawn but is so strong that Galya couldn't resist and was roasted alive... Do you think that's believable? Just listen to it."
"In my opinion, those Boyz must have failed to hold the line, and the cunning prawn Commander seized the opportunity, crushing them in an instant. In their panic, to exaggerate the facts, what lies couldn't they make up?"
"Indeed, that's very possible."
The Ork Warboss ground his sharp, thick teeth. "But we still have to be careful, or if we die and meet Galya by Gork and Mork's side, we won't be able to properly laugh at him."
"It's fine, it's fine, Boss. You are wise. Our defensive fortifications are absolutely impenetrable to those shrimp!"
Hearing this topic, the Big Mek immediately became excited.
He patted his chest and said, "With the armor strength of those shrimp, they can only bully the unprotected Boyz outside. If they really want to attack the city, it's absolutely impossible! You can rest assured about this, Boss."
Hakya nodded at the Big Mek's analysis, relieved... Of course, those Orks could never have imagined that as they were making their estimations about the so-called shrimp, the situation might have already undergone some small changes.
Outside the Hive City.
Outside the Armageddon Steel Legion's logistics base.
"By the Emperor..."
Yarrick murmured, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Even as resolute as he was, he couldn't help but reach out and pinch his thigh.
The pain was perfectly clear, indicating that he wasn't hallucinating. But if it wasn't a hallucination, the scene before him was truly bizarre.
Unfolding before Yarrick was a wall of steel, composed of countless armored tanks of various types, seemingly without end.
Their total number was about one hundred and thirty, with numerous rare tank models, completely uncommon even in Astra Militarum armored regiments, displayed casually as if they were street vendor goods.
The light from the star of this system softly pierced through the sky, scattering upon the grim angles of these steel creations.
The muzzles of various guns and cannons resembled the fangs of giant beasts, exuding an aura of war and an extremely strong sense of oppression.
In a trance, as a loyal follower of the Emperor, Yarrick suddenly understood, in a certain sense, the ideology of the Omnissiah's followers.
Anyone who witnessed this scene, with even a shred of aesthetic sense, would naturally believe that there must be a Machine God who dominates all these machines in this world, and these steel armors before them were the perfect embodiment of His glory.
"Please."
Adam was not surprised by Yarrick's undignified reaction; he merely made a faint gesture.
Hearing this, the latter barely recovered and walked forward.
"Five Baneblades, five Hellhammers, five stormlords, five stormswords, and a large number of Hellhound Armored Vehicle, Rogal Dorn Tanks, Leman Russ Executioner, Hydra flak tanks..."
The more Yarrick inspected, the more astonished he became.
Previously rare models of Super-heavy Tanks were ubiquitous here.
As an Imperial Political Commissar, he dared not even contemplate where these items came from, or whether a single strike cruiser could possibly hold so much equipment.
[Thinking breeds heresy]
After a quick silent prayer, Yarrick barely managed to suppress the distracting thoughts in his heart.
"How about it? Can your armored regiment adapt to so many heavy vehicles?"
Seeing that the other party had recovered, Adam asked.
"Of course, every soldier of the Steel Legion undergoes incredibly rigorous training. We are one of the best armored regiments in the Astra Militarum."
The Political Commissar immediately replied.
"Very good."
Adam nodded with satisfaction and then led the bewildered Yarrick to another open space.
'What is it this time?'
During the walk, Yarrick couldn't help but think.
However, after the previous baptism, he believed that nothing could shock him anymore.
But, as it turned out, thinking that way was clearly too soon.
"What is this?"
A minute later, Yarrick spoke blankly.
"Haven't you seen it before? The Ignatus Power Armour, specially for Inquisitors, and its matching master-crafted bolter. The quantity is rather limited, only about a thousand sets."
Adam introduced it very thoughtfully, "You can give it to your guard or use it to organize assault forces."
"However, this is only a thousand sets, which still cannot cover every Astra Militarum soldier in your regiment. Therefore, I have prepared other good things."
As he spoke, a huge box was dragged over by Lucia with her bare hands. Yarrick could see that it was filled with Aquila-pattern golden badges.
"This box is full of rose rosary, over ten thousand of them in total. I haven't counted them precisely, but take them and distribute them to your soldiers."