Chapter Summaries

Liu Zhipeng's Gretchin forces swept through the shattered Ork positions and freed the enslaved Gretchin, whose numbers rapidly overwhelmed the battlefield. As Qingliu celebrated their uprising, Commander Suisxing wondered what kind of monster they had unleashed.

• Skullkrak demanded to know what had happened to his flank and hundreds of thousands of Boyz, but received no answer.
• Qingliu celebrated the devastating bombardment, and Liu Zhipeng's Gretchin charged into the broken Ork lines.
• The Gretchin swarmed Ork Boyz and dismantled a Killa Kan, while Suisxing ordered an analysis of their weapons' energy signatures.
• Liu Zhipeng's Gretchin offered Nutrient Paste and freedom to enslaved Gretchin in the Ork camps.
• The enslaved Gretchin joined the uprising, rapidly swelling the Gretchin force beyond the Orks and Tau in the region.
• Qingliu called it a war of liberation, while Suisxing feared the uncontrolled force they had unleashed.

After the battle, Qingliu praised Liu Zhipeng’s Gretchin while Suisxing questioned their inexplicable weapons and artillery. Suisxing proposed using the Gretchin as the anvil in an assault on Warboss Skullkrak, leaving the T'au to strike his flagship, and Qingliu was about to persuade Liu Zhipeng to agree.

• A technician reported that the Gretchin weapons erased matter and that reconnaissance drones could not find the artillery positions.
• Liu Zhipeng joined the T'au officers by hologram and celebrated the Gretchin victory in the name of the Greater Good.
• Suisxing questioned Liu Zhipeng about the weapons and artillery, and Liu claimed the artillery was stolen Ork rockets while the rifles used parts from an ancient crashed spaceship.
• Qingliu reassured Liu Zhipeng that the weapons were acceptable, and Suisxing proposed a frontal Gretchin assault to pin Skullkrak’s forces while T'au Fire Warriors flanked toward his flagship.
• Qingliu prepared to persuade Liu Zhipeng to take on the frontal assault.

Liu Zhipeng accepted Suisxing’s plan to make the Gretchin forces the anvil against the Orks, while secretly intending to turn the battle to his advantage. He ordered his troops to fake heavy losses, protect their veterans, and hide an elite force as his real hammer.

• Liu Zhipeng convinced Suisxing that the Gretchin would loyally follow the T'au commander’s orders and take the Ork Warboss’s main force head-on.
• After the transmission ended, the Gretchin crew celebrated fooling the T'au, and Liu Zhipeng explained that playing the anvil would earn them trust, credit, and loot.
• Liu Zhipeng ordered Sharpfang to send untrained recruits into the front line to create chaos and convincing casualties.
• Liu Zhipeng instructed veterans to blend in with the recruits, hold the line, and protect special assets.
• Liu Zhipeng ordered the finest troops and Vanguard Mech Forces to hide from T'au scanners as his secret hammer.

Liu Zhipeng staged the Justice Enforcer’s suicidal charge as a spectacular sacrifice to win the T’au Empire’s trust and secure more aid. As Madeye’s mech tore into the Ork assault beneath a blaring Gretchin battle song, Qingliu ordered the scene recorded.

• Liu Zhipeng ordered Ghazghk to pack the Justice Enforcer with explosives and send Madeye on a flashy charge, while Snot prepared loudspeakers to play “The Burning Wrench.”
• Liu Zhipeng planned to use the staged sacrifice to win T’au sympathy, claim victory, and demand more resources.
• Warboss Skullkrak led the Orks in a fierce assault, and their charge began mowing down the Gretchin defenders.
• The Justice Enforcer charged into the Ork ranks as Madeye shouted for the greater good and the Gretchin broadcast their battle song.
• Madeye’s mech cut through Orks and endured their fire, moving toward Skullkrak’s flagship as Qingliu ordered the T’au to record the charge.

A lost Tyranid splinter fleet descended on Jade VII, raining spore sacs onto the battlefield and unleashing a swarm that overwhelmed the Orks, Gretchin, and T'au. The fighting collapsed into a chaotic struggle for survival as the Tyranids consumed everything around them.

• T'au observers detected massive Warp activity in orbit, and Suisxing saw a Tyranid swarm blotting out the stars above Jade VII.
• The Tyranids blanketed the battlefield with spore sacs, which burst open and released swarms of monsters.
• Hormagaunts attacked Orks and Gretchin, while the Tyranids' regeneration blunted the effects of the Gretchin's Zzap Guns.
• An Ork Warboss charged the Tyranids, turning the Ork civil war into a bloody clash between the two swarms.
• Genestealers and other Tyranids struck the T'au from all sides, scattering Suisxing's elite troops and collapsing their battle lines.
• The Orks, Gretchin, Tyranids, and T'au became trapped in a sprawling melee with no coherent tactics or front lines.

As the Tyranids overwhelmed Jade VII, Liu Zhipeng pretended to sacrifice his forces to help Suisxing's T'au break out while secretly preparing a devastating trap. Madeye detonated the Justice Enforcer, raising a small golden sun from the planet's surface.

• Suisxing ordered a retreat as Tyranids and Orks tore through the T'au forces, while Madeye rampaged indiscriminately in the Justice Enforcer.
• Liu Zhipeng weighed escape against fighting the Hive Fleet and ordered his core troops to protect recruits and artillery while the fleet targeted falling spore sacs.
• Liu Zhipeng told Suisxing that the Justice Enforcer would carve a path for the T'au, persuading him to order a breakout toward the mech.
• After ending the transmission, Liu Zhipeng told Madeye to give the Tyranids a grand welcome, and Madeye detonated the Justice Enforcer.
• A small golden sun rose from the surface of Jade VII.

A Gretchin warrior’s golden explosion destroyed the surrounding Tyranids and T’au, leaving Qingliu and Suisxing shaken by the sacrifice. Suisxing rallied the surviving T’au to fight toward the crater as Skullkrak renewed the Orks’ assault, while the Hive Mind redirected its swarms toward both Orks and retreating Gretchin.

• The Justice Enforcer’s explosion erased the mech, nearby enemies, and hundreds of T’au, leaving a vast crater and cutting off the Dawn Messenger’s battlefield feeds.
• Qingliu wept for the Gretchin sacrifice, while Suisxing recognized the allies’ courage and ordered the surviving T’au to advance toward the crater.
• Suisxing rallied the Fire Caste, and surviving T’au charged through the Tyranid swarm, sacrificing themselves to clear a path.
• Skullkrak emerged from his wrecked flagship, praised the Gretchin warrior, and sent the Orks back into battle against the Tyranids.
• The Hive Mind redirected its swarms toward the Orks and the retreating Gretchin after the explosion disrupted its control of the battlefield.

The Gretchin appeared to rout before the Tyranid swarm, but Sharpfang secretly led the veteran forces in an orderly withdrawal while sacrificing millions of recruits to cover the T'au retreat. At the fortress, Qingliu and Suisxing believed the Gretchin had nearly perished for them and vowed repayment, while Liu Zhipeng appeared overcome by grief and fury.

• Millions of Gretchin recruits fled from the swarm, and Qingliu watched their apparent defeat with sorrow while Suisxing recognized that their chaos was buying the T'au time to withdraw.
• Sharpfang directed disguised veterans through a staged rout, using the fleeing recruits as cover while the veterans fell back with few casualties.
• Gretchin pilots guarded the artillery positions as the remaining T'au forces reached the fortress on a plateau.
• After the swarm devoured the recruits, fewer than two million battered Gretchin veterans arrived at the fortress, where T'au medics and engineers received them.
• Qingliu and Suisxing believed the Gretchin had nearly been wiped out for the T'au and resolved to repay their sacrifice.
• Qingliu offered Liu Zhipeng condolences and respect, and Liu struck the metal wall in grief and fury.

After the Gretchin reported catastrophic losses against the Tyranids, Suisxing and Qingliu pledged T'au support and supplied them with weapons, supplies, and XV15 Stealth battlesuit blueprints. Liu Zhipeng privately revealed that the losses were part of a successful deception, while the Tyranid invasion of Jade VII continued to worsen.

• Liu Zhipeng told Suisxing and Qingliu that eighty million Gretchin, including Madeye, had died, and begged the T'au to equip the survivors for revenge.
• Suisxing promised to fight beside the Gretchin and ordered the T'au to send thirty percent of their stockpiled supplies, including Pulse Rifles, drone combat systems, and XV15 Stealth battlesuit blueprints.
• Qingliu insisted that the Gretchin were allies and urged the T'au to provide immediate aid, which Suisxing approved despite an officer's objection to sharing core technology.
• After the meeting, Sharpfang told Liu Zhipeng that the T'au had given them extensive aid, and Liu ordered his crew to study the new technology while keeping up the act.
• Liu Zhipeng watched the Tyranid swarm continue to cover Jade VII as Orks and Tyranids clashed across the planet.

As the Tyranids closed in on Shield Bastion, Liu Zhipeng persuaded Suisxing to let the Gretchin sacrifice themselves to distract the swarm while the T'au launched a decapitation strike. Suisxing accepted, and Liu urged him to evacuate without looking back when the charge began.

• T'au reports revealed that Tyranid forces were surrounding Shield Bastion and preparing a final assault.
• Liu Zhipeng reported that the hive was preparing to overwhelm the fortress in one attack.
• Suisxing proposed leading the remaining elite T'au units on a suicide strike against the Hive Mind's node to open a path for the fleet to escape.
• Liu offered the surviving Gretchin and their obsolete rockets as a diversion, asking Suisxing to let them die buying the T'au a chance.
• Suisxing accepted Liu's request and promised to return for the Gretchin or their Battle Banner after the strike.
• Liu told Suisxing to evacuate when the Gretchin charged and not to look back.

Suisxing led the T'au strike team through the opening created by the Gretchin’s final charge and destroyed the Broodlord, throwing the Tyranids into chaos. The surviving T'au withdrew by transport, while Sharpfang’s battle banner fell on the battlefield.

• Sharpfang led nearly two million battered Gretchin in a final charge that drew the Broodlord’s guards away from Suisxing’s attack.
• Suisxing led the T'au decapitation force through the swarm while the T'au transports descended toward Shield Bastion.
• The Riptides blasted a gap in the Tyrant Guard’s defenses, and Suisxing’s Ghost Squad reached the Broodlord.
• Suisxing’s Psychic Dampener resisted the Broodlord’s psychic assault, and his Twin Fusion Blaster destroyed its core.
• The Tyranids lost their unified will, and Suisxing ordered the Stormtroopers to retreat to the transports.
• Suisxing boarded last and saw Sharpfang’s tattered Battle Banner fall amid the smoke.

After the T'au fleet fled Jade VII, Liu Zhipeng revealed that the Gretchin had faked their defeat and assembled a vast hidden army. He ordered them to attack the disorganized Tyranids, beginning the real battle for the planet.

• Qingliu watched the T'au commander return safely, and the T'au fleet left Jade VII with gratitude and respect for the Gretchin.
• After the Broodlord died, the Tyranid forces lost their unified command and fell into confusion.
• Sharpfang rose from the battlefield, blew his horn, and signaled the hidden Gretchin to reveal themselves and retrieve their weapons and armor.
• Shelters opened to release millions of mechs, four Gundams, and vast artillery forces, while hundreds of millions of Gretchin assembled.
• Liu Zhipeng descended from the Lighthouse, revealed himself as the Ember Lord, and ordered the Gretchin to eat.
• The Gretchin charged the disorganized Tyranid Swarm with mechs and coordinated Gauss rifle formations.

Liu Zhipeng’s Gretchin forces swept across the Tyranid battlefield as he approached Ork Warboss Skullkrak. Their first clash ended with Liu stopping Skullkrak’s Power Claw with one fist, while Golden Judgment’s Reality Correction began increasing his strength without limit.

• Liu Zhipeng’s red and white war machines slaughtered the Tyranids, while he disintegrated a charging Carnifex with one finger.
• Skullkrak and his Orks fought the Tyranids until he noticed a blue curtain of light erasing the swarm and the Gretchin forces advancing.
• Liu Zhipeng confronted Skullkrak and declared that his WAAAGH! would end there.
• Skullkrak charged and struck at Liu, but Liu stopped his Power Claw with a single punch.
• Liu’s Golden Judgment effect began stacking without limit, causing his strength to surge exponentially.

Liu Zhipeng defeated Skullkrak and ordered the Gretchin fleet to destroy the Tyranid and Ork forces in orbit. With both enemies beaten on Jade VII, his troops began collecting Tyranid biomass and salvaging Ork machinery.

• Liu Zhipeng shattered Skullkrak's Power Claw with a punch and sent the Ork Warboss crashing into the ground.
• Liu Zhipeng ordered Ghazghk to initiate the Scouring protocol, and ten thousand Gauss Cannons destroyed the ships and creatures in orbit.
• Liu Zhipeng killed Skullkrak by crushing his head, breaking the WAAAGH! field and ending the surviving Orks' battle frenzy.
• Gretchin forces harvested the disorganized Tyranid remnants and overwhelmed the Orks on Jade VII.
• Liu Zhipeng received reports that his troops had secured Carnifex genetic samples and hauled away Ork battlewagons for salvage.

Liu Zhipeng claimed Jade VII and contacted the T'au, presenting the Gretchin survivors as heroes who had helped destroy the Orks and Tyranids. He told Suisxing that fewer than five hundred thousand remained and that they were stranded, leaving the T'au officers distressed by their allies’ plight.

• Liu Zhipeng ordered Snot to connect with the T'au and prepared to act like a wounded survivor.
• Qingliu reported the Gretchin’s supposed sacrifices to the Ethereal Council aboard the Dawnbringer.
• The T'au officers received a signal from the surviving Freedom Fighters and Suisxing eagerly answered it.
• Liu Zhipeng claimed the Orks and Tyranids had destroyed each other after Skullkrak detonated his flagship’s WAAAGH! energy core.
• Liu Zhipeng told Suisxing that fewer than five hundred thousand Gretchin remained, most were wounded, and their fleet could no longer travel between stars.

Liu Zhipeng secured the T'au Empire's support by presenting the Gretchin as devastated war survivors, then used its aid to rebuild Jade VII into the City of Hope. As the Gretchin grew stronger, Sharpfang asked when they would liberate more of their people.

• Suisxing and Qingliu urged the Ethereal Council to help the Freedom Fighters, and Ethereal Anva recognized them as a top-priority ally and promised extensive aid.
• Liu Zhipeng thanked the T'au Empire while privately celebrating that he had won Jade VII and secured long-term supplies and technical support.
• Several months later, Jade VII had become the industrial City of Hope, trading ore to T'au transports while its Gretchin modified the T'au-built starport and equipment.
• Liu Zhipeng learned that new Vanguard-model mechs had reduced costs and increased firepower, and that the population had reached one billion.
• Sharpfang asked Liu Zhipeng when they would liberate more Gretchin.

Ghazghk built the Boing-class Dimensional Engine, allowing Liu Zhipeng to launch a galaxy-wide campaign to arm Gretchin slaves and inspire rebellion against the Ork Empire. The first fleet reached a workshop on Armageddon, where Liu Zhipeng urged the Gretchin to take up weapons and fight.

• Ghazghk announced that he had built the Boing-class Dimensional Engine, which let ships travel through folds in Realspace without entering the Warp.
• Liu Zhipeng ordered every Ember-class cruiser refitted with the engine and divided the fleet into small guerrilla forces to distribute Gauss Weapons, energy shields, and holographic messages.
• A rust-red cruiser emerged above a workshop on Armageddon and dropped crates beside the Gretchin slaves.
• Liu Zhipeng's hologram told the Gretchin that they deserved dignity and called on them to take up weapons against their oppressors.

Gretchin slaves across the galaxy revolted with advanced weapons, crippling the Ork Empire and drawing the attention of the Imperium and T'au Empire. The Imperium ordered the God of Hope assassinated, while the T'au chose to keep aiding and monitoring the uprising.

• A Gretchin slave killed Overseer Ironwhip with a Gauss Rifle, and Gretchin revolts erupted across the galaxy.
• Gretchin attacks disrupted Ork supply chains, industrial production, and military campaigns.
• An Ordo Xenos Lord Inquisitor judged the Gretchin Civilization an extreme threat and called for its destruction and the death of its leader, the God of Hope.
• The Officio Assassinorum dispatched Wendigo sniper assassins and Callidus Shapeshifter Assassins to kill the Heretic.
• The T'au Ethereal Council decided to continue aiding the Freedom Fighters, increase surveillance, and send Water Caste diplomats to guide them.

Bonecrusher Mag Uruk Saraka rallied the Orks to destroy the Gretchin rebellion, sending an overwhelming Waaagh! toward the City of Hope. After the T'au Empire abandoned its alliance and imposed a blockade, Liu Zhipeng activated the Great Wall Defense Plan and headed to the First Wall to meet Saraka's vanguard.

• Gork and Mork commanded Saraka to erase the Gretchin's independence, and he summoned Orks across the galaxy to attack the City of Hope.
• Gretchin crews launched desperate suicide attacks against the approaching Ork fleet, forming the first line of defense.
• The T'au Empire declared the alliance terminated, withdrew its fleets, and blockaded the City of Hope.
• Liu Zhipeng rejected Sharpfang's call to attack the T'au and ordered the defenders to activate the Great Wall Defense Plan.
• Liu Zhipeng sent Sharpfang, Ghazghk, and Snot to their defensive duties, then flew toward the First Wall as Saraka's vanguard approached.

Liu Zhipeng arrived at the First Wall as an immense Ork fleet invaded, and the Gretchin fought back with their planetary defenses and weapons. As the Orks pushed toward their lines, Sharpfang deployed four Gundams to join the battle.

• Nug prepared his Katyusha Squig launcher while the Gretchin awaited the invasion at the First Wall.
• Liu Zhipeng landed on the command platform and reassured the Gretchin before ordering them to open fire.
• The First Wall’s mines and Gauss Cannon turrets destroyed many Ork ships, but others crashed onto the planet and sent Ork Boyz charging toward the defenses.
• Sharpfang ordered the Gretchin to launch rockets and fire Gauss Rifles, wiping out waves of Orks as the battle line slowly gave ground.
• Sharpfang deployed four Gundams, which charged onto the battlefield.