"According to our intelligence, this is the 'new toy' Ugrul built for himself over several years, pouring his entire tribe's resources into it. He intends to pilot this behemoth to conquer the neighboring star systems. It is his pride, his dream, and the ultimate expression of his authority as Warboss."
Horus gazed at the Gargant, a wickedly mischievous smile curling his lips.
"Orks are very simple creatures. Their anger is every bit as straightforward as their joy."
"We don't need to charge into that trap-riddled Throne Room and play hide-and-seek with hundreds of thousands of Orks. All we need to do..." He lightly tapped the Gargant with a finger.
"...is destroy his toy."
The entire command room fell deathly silent.
Everyone stared blankly at Horus, their expressions saying, You can do that?
This... this tactic was just too...
Too underhanded!
This was hardly a sacred decapitation strike for the Emperor's glory. It was more like... a bunch of street thugs smashing a rival boss's brand-new sports car just to provoke him.
"Will... will that really work?" Commissar Oli stammered. The honest man's thinking was still firmly rooted in the Imperial Infantry Tactics Manual.
"Would an Ork Warboss abandon his command post and come charging out to fight us to the death over a... toy?"
"He would."
It was not Horus who answered, but the Space Wolf who had remained silent all this time. The giant from Fenris grinned, baring his teeth in a feral smile.
"Back on Fenris, we used to handle those dim-witted Ice Trolls the same way. Kill one's young, and it might hide in its cave and refuse to come out. But smash the shiny stones it collected... and it'll hunt you to the ends of the earth."
"Orks care even more about their 'pride' than Ice