The Meaning of Retreat

Retreat?

Retreat in the face of the Orks?

This was utter nonsense!

Those beasts would happily take over the land abandoned by the Imperium's forces, rebuild it in their crude, simple, yet highly efficient way, then charge at other worlds with even larger armies.

Against the Orks, the only effective strategy was to hold them back without mercy, defeat them in a war of attrition, and finally scour every inch of spore-rooted ground with searing flames.

"Commissar, we are deeply surprised and impressed by your understanding of the Orks..." said the Inquisitor standing in the shadows. Then his tone abruptly turned harsh. "But such words are the conduct of a coward. Have your peaceful retirement years muddled your mind, making you forget the teachings of the Schola Progenium?"

Yarrick's expression did not change in the face of the Inquisitor's threat, as though what he had just said was not something shameful, but an outstanding and practical tactic.

"We will not conduct a traditional retreat. We will conduct an Ork-style retreat."

This time, the veteran Astra Militarum generals could no longer contain their anger. These generals were cold, loyal, and ruthless. They could send millions charging at a position that could never be taken without the slightest psychological burden, and they could also take up weapons themselves in the darkest hour to demonstrate their Loyalty to The Emperor.

The only reason they had listened to the first half of Yarrick's words was because of his exceptional record. Now Yarrick had even proposed the heretical notion that the Imperium's armies should learn retreating from the Orks. How could they not feel insulted?

Just as the command room was about to erupt into another uproar, two highly respected Space Marines put an end to the pointless argument in their own way.

Hiss! Hum!