Back on Ork V, the long war entered a brief respite.
When Sneaky Boss climbed down from Mighty Big Boss II, he sensed that the machine did not want him to leave. Its surging Machine Spirit, now alive, wanted to spend a little longer with its creator.
During the earlier battle against the three Facehugger World Devourers, Sneaky Boss had used his Mechanical Authority to greatly animate Mighty Big Boss II, giving such a colossal machine the speed it needed to be as agile as he was.
Newly empowered, Mighty Big Boss II had not disappointed Sneaky Boss. It had unleashed even greater speed and strength, quickly killing all the World Devourers.
At the same time, Mighty Big Boss II's Machine Spirit had been nourished, becoming something akin to a living being.
"I gotta get to work. Stay here and get yourself checked over. We'll go on another killing spree together later."
Only after Sneaky Boss promised to pilot Mighty Big Boss II again did the machine reluctantly release the connection attached to his back, allowing him to teleport away.
On Ork V, Bad Gambler was leading a large force of Grot Scavengers in surveying the planet's terrain and minerals.
Bad Gambler had lost at gambling again. To earn Teef, he had no choice but to give up his chance to join the Waaagh! and work in the rear. Who knew what expression he would make if he learned that Slick had designed the game specifically to find a sucker to stay behind and develop Ork V?
"Bad Gambler, how's the planet looking? Found anything good?" Sneaky Boss asked after teleporting over, finding Bad Gambler directing his Boys.
"It's awful, Boss. These Tyranids are like Bitey Squigs that ain't eaten for six months. They've practically eaten the planet clean, gnawed