After several days of warp travel and sub-light navigation, the Mechanicus heavy transport finally arrived at the designated rendezvous point: a shadowed region of an asteroid belt on the outer fringes of the Verdan III system.
Through the observation windows, the planet Verdan III appeared as a mottled yellow-green sphere in the distance. Ahead of the transport, a sizable fleet hung suspended in the void like crouching iron beasts.
This was the detachment fleet of the Iron Hounds Legion. Several sinister, heavily armored frigates guarded the core Titan transport—a behemoth comparable to a small space station. Its massive ventral bay doors hinted at the terrifying war machines housed within. Auxiliary fuel tankers and escorts rounded out the formation. The entire fleet radiated a cold, lethal aura, sharing the same aesthetic lineage as the Mechanicus transport but focused entirely on destruction.
"We are receiving docking guidance signals from the Iron Hounds' flagship, the Iron Howl," reported the navigation officer.
"Follow the guidance. Close in and enter the designated berth," Osiris ordered.
The transport slowly approached the gargantuan Titan carrier, moving like a small fish toward a whale. The docking process was smooth and precise; with a slight tremor and the hiss of pressure equalization, the transport successfully locked onto the Iron Howl.
Once the docking hatch opened, Princeps Olaf personally led a team of Tech-Priests and honor guards to welcome them. He wore his commander's uniform adorned with the Iron Hounds' insignia, his face a mix of anticipation and gravity.
"Welcome, my Lord Astartes!" Olaf's voice boomed, echoing through the metallic corridor. "The Iron Hounds Legion extends its sincerest welcome to you and the EVA tactical squad! Your arrival ensures this clearance operation will be conducted with maximum efficiency!"
His eyes drifted eagerly behind Osiris, as if trying to peer through the bulkheads to see the three EVA Titans.
"Princeps Olaf," Osiris replied calmly. "Let us skip the formalities. We need to understand the current battlefield situation and finalize the deployment plan immediately."
"Of course. Please follow me; Command has prepared a detailed briefing." Olaf immediately stepped aside to lead the way.
Osiris signaled the three pilots to follow. Shinji, Asuka, and Rei walked behind, curiously observing the interior of the Imperial warship. The corridors were wide enough for small vehicles, lined with thick conduits and sacred mechanical seals. The air smelled of machine oil, ozone, and metal, punctuated by low-frequency vibrations that felt like the beating heart of the ship itself. Compared to the NERV headquarters or the Dead World base, this place felt more immense, more austere, and saturated with a purely militarized atmosphere.
They entered a spacious tactical briefing room. A large star map hovered in the center, displaying the real-time status of Verdan III. The red zones representing Ork forces occupied nearly forty percent of the planetary surface and were slowly expanding. The blue zones of the Imperial defenders were compressed near the equators of several major continents, holding out in cities and fortified positions.
A tactical officer from the Iron Hounds began the briefing.
"The primary Ork landing zones are located on the northern continent of Kelber. They have established several massive encampments and are radiating outward. Their main force consists of vast numbers of Boyz and Grots, supported by an unknown number of armored units—mostly modified trucks and tracked vehicles—and at least one confirmed Ork Gargant."
Blurry images captured by reconnaissance units appeared on the virtual screens: green figures swarming over hills waving crude weapons, bizarre vehicles belching black smoke, and a terrifying colossus made of scrap metal and cannons at the center of an Ork camp—the Gargant.
"The Planetary Defense Forces and the remnants of the Cadian 114th Regiment are currently holding the primary hive city of Hawen on the southern continent, along with several key agricultural hubs and starports. Their lines are under extreme pressure. They desperately need a powerful strike force to break the Orks' offensive momentum and create conditions for a counter-attack."
The tactical officer pointed to several flickering arrows on the star map.
"Our Legion's mission is to act as the spearhead, deploying directly to the Kelber continent to conduct deep strikes against the Ork main concentrations. The primary objective is to destroy that Gargant, eliminate as much of the Ork manpower as possible, and disrupt their command structure. The preliminary concept for the EVA tactical squad is to coordinate with our main force, utilizing your high mobility for frontline scouting, flank harassment, and, at critical moments, performing precision strikes against the Gargant or high-ranking Warbosses."
The pilots listened intently. Shinji grew paler as the briefing progressed, while Asuka's eyes turned sharp, seemingly simulating combat scenarios in her mind. Rei remained calm, her red eyes scanning every data point on the screen.
Osiris evaluated the feasibility and risks. Fighting Orks was defined by chaos, unpredictability, and sheer numbers. While the EVA Titans held a clear performance advantage, becoming surrounded remained a danger.
"The preliminary plan is acceptable," Osiris spoke after the briefing. "However, the specific tactical execution will be adjusted flexibly by me based on real-time battlefield conditions. Princeps Olaf, ensure the communication links remain clear and share all battlefield sensor data."
"Of course!" Olaf promised instantly. "We have established a high-priority datalink channel specifically for the EVA squad. May the Omnissiah watch over us. Let us achieve a glorious victory together!"
The initial strategy meeting concluded. There were only a few standard hours left before they would enter the atmosphere and join the fray. The three pilots returned to their temporarily assigned quarters for final adjustments.
Shinji repeatedly checked the system status of Unit-02, Asuka wiped non-existent dust from the controls of Unit-01, and Rei sat quietly by the entry plug of Unit-03, entering a meditative state. Osiris and his support team performed a final check on the spare parts, repair equipment, and medical supplies.
Inside the Iron Howl, the tension of an impending battle was palpable. The roar of the engines seemed to grow deeper and more powerful, as if gathering strength for the coming slaughter. The Imperial torrent of steel, joined by three blades from another world, was about to descend upon Verdan III to purge the green plague with fire and iron.