Hidrus Quintus was mostly composed of oceans, and islands of varying sizes, full of ports, wood and stone houses, and large metal walls which served several functions in the center of each landmass.
The first and obvious function was to separate the nobles from the commoners, as their palaces, mansions, and exotic commerce stood behind the walls.
Defense was the second function, a single fortified position on every island where the population could fend off attackers until Imperial reinforcements arrived.
Sheltering the population against a natural event that happened annually on this planet was the third function.
The months of storms and devastating rains will cover the planet, lightning will fall from the sky as if it were the Emperor's wrath, and gigantic waves will swallow any ship that dares navigate during these times.
The Noble district was reinforced and had a drainage system to avoid flooding, lookout posts, and automatic defense systems in case of enemy attack.
However, the commons were not so fortunate. They would give their values to the nobles as payment to enter the walls, and even if they did, the high class would not treat them kindly.
They would be crammed into reinforced warehouses with as little as possible to survive until the months of the storm ended.
They would receive nothing if it depended on the nobles, but the high class maintained an image to the Administratum, who would question why so many people died on a relatively peaceful planet in a few months.
Hidrus Quintus had Ork presence, but not enough to cause that much death without something serious happening.
Preparations were made for the months of the storm in Le Refuge Ombré, the largest island in Hidrus Quintus and the governor's palace location.
The governor, a man known as Mathias Lafaille, stood in his office, reading reports on the wall and its defense's condition. He was a tall, fair-skinned, and slightly plump man, with white hair indicating his age.
Suddenly, a knock on his door interrupted his work.
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
"Enter."
A beautiful woman entered, she had black hair, extremely pale skin, mature features, and completely white eyes, indicating her blindness. She wore red and black robes and carried a golden staff with the symbol of an eye.
She was Jacqueline Boucher, the Astropath responsible for the interplanetary communication of Hidrus Quintus.
"Lord Mathias." She bowed.
"Speak Jacqueline, don't waste my time." He refocused on his report.
"I bring worrying news." She replied hesitantly.
"What news?" The governor frowned, putting his papers down.
"About the Orks."
"Oh! I already knew. You can leave."
"Did you already know?" Jacqueline asked confused.
"Yes, you are a day late. Those nasty Xenos attacked the forbidden ruins for some reason a few weeks ago. Let them continue, those ruins have been the source of trouble and superstition of ignorant fools for generations. Maybe the population will calm down when the Orks destroy them."
"Lord Mathias, the Ork amount is worrying! The more the Orks fight the stronger and smarter they get! We must contact the Imperium for reinforcements before it is too late!"
"Enough! The months of storm approach, let the Orks fight, the sea will devour them, and we will never worry about the Xenos again."
"I understand, but if you allow me, may I tell you about my vision?"
"Speak."
"I see a castle of black stone, with a metallic king inside, surrounded by soldiers, and sitting on a throne covered by a green light."
"What does it mean?"
"I don't know, it's a confusing vision, I…"
"Leave, you've wasted enough of my time, the storms are almost here, I recommend you prepare as well."
"As you wish, Lord Mathias." Jacqueline bowed and left the office, walking through the palace's halls, stopping in front of a large glass window, watching the dark clouds in the sky, a sign of what would come. "Who are you, metallic king? What does your presence bring to this planet?"
Meanwhile, Governor Mathias opened his desk drawer and removed a white powder, inhaling it fervently as his pupils dilated and glowed pink.
-Tomb-
Weeks passed and the battle reached a stalemate, the Orks gave up on surrounding the tomb after my defenses sank several ships. The remaining ones kept their distance, firing their long-ranged weaponry, however, the few projectiles that hit their mark did not cause serious damage.
The Xenos under the water tried to advance occasionally while my Immortals reported everything until something caught my attention on the eastern front. The Orks used large stones as shields against the Gauss weapons, but several explosions occurred behind the rocks as they suddenly moved forward.
What happened?
I controlled a Scarab and circled the rocks, seeing Orks using explosives to rip them from the ground and push them forward as a moving wall with a larger Ork leading the pack.
Was that a Nob?
That's a problem, this battle is taking long enough for the Orks to grow. Soon, the Oddboyz will appear.
The Nob wore a larger and more armored diving suit; and held a Big Choppa in his left hand and a Kombi-Weapon in his right.
What did he expect to accomplish here? The stones are helping to approach the defense line, but then what?
-Away From The Battlefield-
"Kome on, Boyz! Kep diggin'!" The Nob shouted in a tunnel dug at the bottom of the sea.
The Boyz used pickaxes and drills mounted on their arms to dig the rock, eventually breaking upon hitting a black wall covered in green lines.
"We arrived!" A Boy shouted to the Nob, who turned to the ones behind him.
"Whut are ya gits do'n stand'n 'der?! Do as da boss said an br'n da 'plosives!"
The Orks left the tunnel and returned carrying several metal barrels similar to the depth charges and pilled them against the black wall.
"'Eryone stays back!" The Nob aimed at the barrels, pulled his weapon's trigger, and…
-Tomb-
BOOM!
"What the hell was that?!"
An explosion echoed through the tomb and a screen with Haratek's face appeared beside me.
"My Lord, the Orks blasted a hole in the tomb."
"What?!"
"They dug a tunnel to the tomb wall and blasted a hole in it, my Lord."
"GRRR! I will…"
"My Lord, allow me to eliminate these pathetic creatures for defiling our precious tomb."
"Fine, you have my permission to eliminate the Orks."
"I will not fail you, my Lord." Then the screen disappeared.
So, advancing from the east side is a distraction too, the Warboss knows what he's doing.
I have to trust Haratek to deal with the invaders. Meanwhile, I need to finish the Orks outside. The defense lines prevented them from advancing, so I will focus on the ships.
I'd like to avoid using this unit due to its unfinished repairs and avoid attracting attention, but maybe I can use it, judging by how the war has escalated and no Imperium forces have arrived yet.
I activated my flying units with a mental command.
-XXXXXX-
A green portal opened in the sky outside as several flying war engines flew from it, the Doom Scythes and Night Scythes, powerful machines that cut the air at deadly speeds, making turns and maneuvers that would kill living beings.
The Night Scythes devastated the Ork vessels with their Twin-linked Tesla Destructors, while the Doom Scythes reduced the ships and their crews to ashes, occasionally splitting a ship in two with their Death Rays.
This surprised the Orks, their ships were not equipped with A. A. defenses, but that didn't stop them from trying to shoot down their enemies, firing everything they had.
Gol D. Loota ran into his office inside his ship, taking a piece of paper and a quill, writing a letter. The handwriting would look like several childish doodles for any other species in the galaxy, but to an Ork, it was a refined language.
"Dear Mekboy Zazzog Brasshead. How are yer? Yer Warboss Gol D. Loota, I know dis kan be an inconvenience, but I need yer help… WHERE 'DA ZOG ARE YER GIT?! 'DA TIN MAN 'AS FLYAZ! SEND OUR FLYAZ ERE NOW! OTHERWISE, I WILL RIP OFF YER ARMS AN' LEGS AN' MAKE YER SWIM AROUND 'DA ISLAND WHEN I KOME BACK!"
He tied the letter to his Parrot Sguig leg and released it outside; where it disappeared over the horizon, flying towards the Orks island.
-The Rugged Isle-
The Squig crossed the ocean, reaching its destiny, there, the Overlord's concerns became real, the Orks evolved and the Oddboyz appeared, in this case, Mekboyz.
The Mekz altered the island, clearing forests and vegetation, and leveling the ground, building long airstrips beside large metal sheds. Large shipyards stood on the shores, where bigger, faster, and tougher ships were made, and best of all, with more Dakka.
The Squig entered a metal shed where several Meks worked, and landed on the biggest one's shoulder.
"Craaa! Message from 'da boss!"
The Mek read the letter and his eyes widened, springing into action.
"Hey! Message from 'da boss! Put our Fly Boyz 'n 'da air!" He shouted to all the Orks.
Vehicles were pulled from the sheds and onto the large airstrip with a cacophony of screams, gunfire, and metal, the Blitza-Bommer and Dakkajet, Orks warplanes.
The Flyboyz entered the pilot's seats and the Grots in the gunner's seats. The Orks pressed several buttons and pulled levers on their panels, bringing their engines to life with a smoke explosion.
Some literally, as a few planes exploded in a fireball due to unreliable Ork technology.
A Mek walked to the middle of the airstrip, holding a flag in each hand and making random signals to the confused pilots. Seeing this, he threw the flags aside, pointed his Slugga upward, and fired.
BANG!
"Go! 'Da boss iz wait'n for yer!"
There was no need to say it twice, the planes raced across the runway, taking off and crossing the sky toward the battle that awaited them.
-Tomb-
Haratek rode a Scarab wave, moving quickly through the tomb, accompanied by several Canoptek Spiders and Wraiths.
The Spiders walked on the ceiling as the Wraiths used their Dimensional Destabilization Matrix to enter and leave reality, crossing walls and following the Cryptek.
The wave stopped inside a large chamber with a hole pouring smoke and water, where it dissipated, revealing Necron.
Two Despoteks, Immortals modified by a Cryptek to serve him, six Cryptothralls, curved metallic creatures with a single eye in the middle of their head and bladed arms, and several Necron Warriors armed with their Gauss Flayers.
"This is the place. Pathetic creatures, you have invaded the tomb of Akatosahk Ulthagakh, your trespass will not be tolerated, surrender and I will give you a quick death!" Haratek watched the hole in the tomb.
Suddenly, a scream came from it.
"WAAAGH!"
Orks ran from the hole, shooting everyone they saw.
"Why did I waste my breath on these stupid beings? Attack!" He commanded and his troops obeyed.
Warriors formed battle lines with Haratek between them and the Despoteks beside him, while the Cryptothralls stood in the front.
Gauss Flayers and Blasters shot in synchrony, accurately hitting the advancing Orks, who fired their Shootas back in response.
Canoptek Spiders climbed the walls and ceiling, their Particle Beams joining the Gauss rays in destroying the Orks.
Haratek had the upper hand, but that did not last long. Several explosions blasted holes in the tomb wall, revealing more tunnels as an Ork horde entered, firing at and damaging the Warriors.
"WAAAGH!"
Haratek mentally ordered part of the Spiders to stop shooting and repair the damaged Warriors, simultaneously, the Wraiths entered the battle.
Several Orks were pierced in the stomach by sharp-ended metallic tentacles in the middle of the great chamber.
They looked down confused, wondering where it came from, only to be lifted by the tentacle's owners, Wraiths, eight-legged machines with a cannon on their back and belly and a long tail.
A Wraith lifted an Ork to its single green eye's height. The green skin tried to slash the machine with his Choppa, but the construct kept him away.
"PUT ME DOWN YER PILE UV RUST!"
The Wraith turned two of its front legs into whips and slashed the Ork, using its Dimensional Destabilization Matrix to cut the inside without damaging the outside. Blood oozed from all the Ork orifices as his inside was sliced into small pieces.
Then, the Wraith threw the dead Ork away with a swing of its tail, hitting another Ork in the face harmlessly.
He stared confused at the dead Ork on the ground, recoiling as the corpse lay flat, its muscle, flesh, bones, and organs sliced into tiny pieces, leaving only skin.
Sadly, he didn't notice the Wraith's Particle Caster firing and blowing him to pieces with small antimatter shards.
"TIN MAN!" A rumbling voice echoed through the chamber, and the Nob leading the attack appeared.
"Do you refer to me, creature?" Haratek glared at the Ork.
"'ARE YOU DA TIN MAN 'OO RUN DIS PLACE?!" He pointed his Killsaw at the Cryptek.
"I'm afraid not, that would be my Lord, Akatosahk Ulthagakh. He is currently occupied, hence he has entrusted me with the task of eliminating you."
"HAHA!'E IZ A KOWARD FOR NOT KOM'N ERE 'N PERSON!"
"Pardon me, I believe I misheard you, my auditory receptors must be malfunctioning. Did you say my lord is a coward?"
"Yez! A weak, a koward, a git too afraid ta fight!"
"I see… Kill them all, but leave Nob to me." Haratek commanded as he crossed the battlefield with a scarab wave following him.
The Despoteks nodded and led the Warriors; meanwhile, the Cryptothralls rushed past their master and cut down the Orks in the way.
An Ork Boy tried to cut Haratek with his Choppa, but the Cryptek ordered the scarabs to wrap around the Xeno's hand, who screamed in pain as the machines' legs slashed his flesh and covered his body.
Another Ork tried to shoot at the approaching Necron, but the scarabs formed a wall on Haratek's right side, protecting him from the bullets as a Wraith ripped the Ork's head off with its tail.
One last Ork ran towards the Necron, unloading his weapon, but the scarabs formed another wall, protecting the Cryptek.
The green skin didn't go further, as a Cryptothrall jumped on his back, digging its claws into his flesh, and opening a hole in the back of his head with a beam from its eye.
Finally, Haratek and the Nob stood face to face, separated by ten meters.
"Say it to my face; say that my Lord is a coward."
"Yer boss iz…"
The Ork only had time to blink before the Necron suddenly appeared in front of him as if he had teleported, standing a few inches away from his face, staring into his eyes, but the footprints where he stood previously indicated that this was not the case.
"I told you to say it to my face."
The Xeno gritted his teef in anger, glaring back at his enemy before answering.
"Yer boss iz… ARG!"
He screamed in pain as Haratek punched his chin absurdly fast, knocking out some teef and generating a small shock wave. Recovering from the blow, he aimed his gun at the Cryptek and unleashed a bullet hail, only for the Necron to disappear.
"It seems you are incapable of performing one of the living creature's most basic functions." Haratek said from behind Nob, who spun around with his Killsaw slicing through the air, aiming for Haratek's neck, only for him to disappear again.
"I believe I have wasted enough time with you."
Suddenly, the Cryptek kicked the back of the Nob's knee, forcing him to the ground, and commanded several scarabs to destroy his legs, so he wouldn't stand.
"ARG!"
The Ork tried to raise his weapon, but a Cryptothrall thrust its blades into his left arm, pinning it to the ground.
"That wouldn't have happened if you hadn't insulted my lord." Haratek crouched beside Nob.
"You piece uv rust! When I get outta ere, I will… AAARRRGGG!" He never finished as the Cryptek punched his mouth again.
"I didn't command you to talk. Returning to the subject, that wouldn't have happened if you hadn't insulted my Lord. Necrons are honorable warriors, if our opponents show themselves worthy of respect, then we will respect them, but you have not shown yourself deserving of it." Haratek placed his hand on the Ork's Killsaw, covering it in green lines as it spun to life.
Normally, Ork technology would not work in other specie's hands due to the Ork's Waaagh! Field, but the weapon in question was still connected to its owner.
"I don't think I've mentioned this before, but I'm a Cryptek, specifically a Technomancer, specialized in manipulating technology. Would you like a demonstration?" He forced the Killsaw towards the Ork's left arm.
"ARG!" The Nob screamed in agony as the saw severed his arm.
"This is what happens when you insult my Lord's name." The Cryptek grabbed the Nob by the back of his head and repeatedly slammed him against the ground, breaking bones and knocking out teef. "But, I believe I've wasted enough time with you." He commanded and something big crossed the floor similar to Wraiths.
It was a Tomb Sentinel, a great centipede war engine whose melee ability was replaced by a large Exile Cannon on the front of its body. The construct fired in an arc; blasting the Orks to another dimension beyond the material universe.
"I would like to say that it was an honor to face you on the battlefield, unfortunately, that would be a lie." Haratek forced the Killsaw towards the Ork's face, slicing his head in two.
He saw that the troops cleared out the last invading Orks, so he contacted his Overlord.
"My Lord, I have already dealt with the invaders, I will close the holes in the tomb with your orders."
"Not yet, Haratek, I want you to do something for me first."
"Yes, my Lord." He listened to the request while his cloak flowed in the wind, similar to stories of great military leaders. This was known as the Canoptek Cloak, which allows its wearer to move and fly quickly across the battlefield.
-Outside the Tomb-
The battle continued at the sea bottom, neither side advancing, that is until screams came from behind the Orks lines that surrounded the tomb, now facing Warriors and Immortals.
'Ere did dey kome from? The Orks asked themselves.
Currently, the tunnels dug by the Orks were being used against them, as Haratek led the Necron forces, accompanied by Wraiths and the Tomb Sentinel.
"Eliminate them all in the name of our Lord!" The Cryptek commanded and his troops complied.
However, the battle was not over yet, for Ork reinforcements had arrived in the sky.
END OF CHAPTER