Among the many Imperial Worlds invaded by Orks, Gilacross was an Industrial World whose construction had only recently been completed.
Pungent, mildly toxic smoke spread across the surface, and more than thirty percent of the Hive City's outer walls had collapsed.
The Astra Militarum and Planetary Defence Force were packed like sardines into newly built positions near the Hive City.
The Basilisks in the rear had barely stopped roaring.
The frenzied Orks even rammed their own junk ships straight into the planet's surface just to deliver more troops.
Their experience fighting the bugs had taught the Orks that catching an enemy off guard required a sudden strike—and enough WAAAGH! behind it.
At Warboss Steeltoof's signal, the Orks began using an even cruder, more outrageous method of landing.
Besides dropping all kinds of landing pods from large ships, hurling smaller ships directly onto the ground was a more efficient approach.
A frigate that crashed onto the surface also made an excellent mobile supply depot, ready to provide the Orks with materials whenever they needed them.
Compared with the Ork forces the Imperium had encountered before.
This force from Octarius was terrifying.
As ships that looked cobbled together from rubbish crashed onto the surface.
Countless Ork Boyz charged out aboard all kinds of shiny big wagons, great bouncing contraptions, and crude walkers that swayed as they belched black smoke.
At the very tip of the Ork spearhead was a mass of bizarrely shaped, enormous vehicles trailing black smoke. The Orks called these things Battlewagons.
In reality, however, Battlewagon was a catch-all vehicle category encompassing any assault tank or heavy armored transport. Most of the time, though, it specifically referred to a "shiny" truck that could cram in an entire gang of rampaging Orks, along with their Gretchin, Snotlings, and Squigs.
These heavy