Humans Are Orks, I Reckon

"Honored human primarch, I am Grud, the Ork debate representative. You may call me Grud."

"It is an honor to represent the great Ork race in dialogue and debate with the human race you represent."

"If nothing unexpected occurs, this should be the first peaceful dialogue between our two great races. History will record this moment."

"Whatever the outcome, this is a beginning—a precious beginning."

As Guilliman watched the short Ork before him launch into an eloquent speech and even deliver a polished opening statement, the primarch's feelings were rather complicated.

The other party spoke exceptionally standard human High Gothic, even carrying the pronunciation habits of a Terran noble accent.

If he only listened to the voice, Guilliman might even have felt that he was speaking with the heir of some Terran noble family passed down since the Dark Age of Technology.

"Even Curze's High Gothic wasn't as good as his," Guilliman muttered so quietly it was almost imperceptible.

"What exactly do you want to debate with me, Ork boy?"

Guilliman's tone carried a faint trace of mockery. The wager he had made with that Ork warlord had never specified its exact contents.

This was entirely an improvised speech, a debate born from an arbitrary premise, and Guilliman absolutely would not lose to a Greenskin Ork.

"What do you want to debate, human primarch? Could it be that you have no curiosity about our Ork race?"

"Since there is no particular topic, why not simply go with the flow? We can debate whatever comes up."

Grud did not fall behind in presence at all. Instead, he calmly returned the question.

"You call yourselves the Ork race. Why do you not call yourselves Greenskin Orks?" Guilliman asked.

"Because the latter is a symbol of barbarism. Only uncivilized barbaric species would crudely