"If possible, I would also like more troop support. One million may no longer be enough to suppress the Orks. A conservative estimate puts the number needed at around two million."
At this point, Pex stopped writing. He had no doubt how furious Cornwall would be when he saw the figure of two million, so he could only change tack.
"I also understand that this number is unrealistic, so I only ask for ammunition supplies. With enough ammunition, I can still reduce the numbers of these Ork monsters as much as possible, buying time for Euronia III to restructure its economy and recruit troops."
After sending the message, Pex looked out through the window beside his desk and saw three transports descending from orbit into Euronia IV's atmosphere.
This landing force was small, with only two thousand combat personnel. Its only advantage was its higher proportion of armored units, including fifty Leman Russ Tanks.
The greater proportion of armor would improve the landing force's combat effectiveness. Once it had drawn enough Ork monsters into attacking, the force would begin boarding its ships and withdrawing, while the fleet in space could use Orbital Bombardment to thin the monsters' ranks.
Pex named this tactic Mouse Trap. The small landing force was the bait, the bombardment from space was the trap, and the Ork monsters were the mice.
The key was for the bait to attract as many mice as possible, and for the trap to spring at just the right moment. As for the mice... the mice themselves seemed least concerned of all. As long as they got to fight, they were happy.
Pex was cautious on his first use of the Mouse Trap tactic, choosing a narrow valley as the landing site.
Sure enough, thanks to the remote location and defensible