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Second War for Armageddon

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|Combatant2 = [[File:Aquila1transparent.png|30px]] [[Imperium]]
|Commanders1 = [[File:Orks.png|20px]] [[Warboss|Warlord]] [[Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka]]<br>
[[File:7-deathskulls.jpg|20px]] Warboss [[Bullets]]<br> [[File:7eC-snakebites.jpg|20px]] Warboss [[Grudbolg]]<br>[[File:7eC-evil-sunz.jpg|20px]] Warboss [[Shazfrag]]<br> [[File:7eC-bad-moons.png|20px]] Warboss [[Snazdakka]]<br>[[File:7eC-blood axes.jpg|20px]] Warboss [[Straturgum]]<br> [[File:Orks.png|20px]] Mad Dok [[Grotsnik]]{{Fn|5b}} <br> [[File:UgliesSymbol.jpg|20px]] Warboss [[Ugrak]]<br> [[File:7eC-snakebites.jpg|20px]] Warboss [[Ugulhard]] (KIA) <br> [[File:7eC-goffs.jpg|20px]] Warboss [[Urk-Gug]] (POW){{Fn|7b}}
|Commanders2 = [[File:Astra Militarum Symbol.png|20px]] [[Commissar]] [[Sebastian Yarrick]]<br> [[File:Bloodangelsymbol.png|20px]] [[Chapter Master|Commander]] [[Dante]]<br> [[File:Ultramarinessymbol.png|20px]] [[Chapter Master]] [[Marneus Calgar]]<br> [[File:Salamanderssymbol.png|20px]] [[Chapter Master]] [[Tu'Shan]]<br> [[File:GovernorSymbol.png|20px]] [[Planetary Governor|Overlord]] [[Herman von Strab]]<br> [[File:Steel Legion Icon.png|20px]] [[General]] [[Andechs]] (executed){{Fn|6b}}<br> [[File:Steel Legion Icon.png|20px]] [[Colonel]] [[Artura Brenken]]{{Fn|6b}}
|Strength1 =[[File:Orks.png|20px]] [[Waaagh!]] Ghazghkull(estimated at least 100 million Orks){{Fn|5c}}
|Strength2 =[[File:Steel Legion Icon.png|20px]] [[Armageddon Steel Legion]]<br> [[File:Steel Legion Icon.png|20px]] [[Armageddon#Military|Armageddon Defence Force]] [[PDF]]<br> [[File:Steel Legion Icon.png|20px]] [[Armageddon Hive Militia]]<br> [[File:Steel Legion Icon.png|20px]] [[Armageddon Ash Waste Militia]]<br> [[File:Bloodangelsymbol.png|20px]] [[Blood Angels]]<br> [[File:Ultramarinessymbol.png|20px]] [[Ultramarines]]<br>
[[File:Salamanderssymbol.png|20px]] [[Salamanders]]<br> [[File:MetalicaSymbol.jpg|20px]][[Legio Metalica]]<br> [[File:Astra Militarum Symbol.png|20px]] [[Tempestus Scion]]s|Casualties1 =Nearly all Majority of Orks killed/fled
|Casualties2 =Most of the planet destroyed
}}
The '''Second War for Armageddon'''{{Fn|Note 1}} is the second best known of the [[Armageddon Wars|three wars of the system]]. It took place on the [[Hive World]] of [[Armageddon]] between the mighty [[Ork]] [[Warboss]] [[Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka]] and the forces of the [[Imperium]] and included [[regiment]]s of the [[Imperial Guard]] and [[Space Marines]] of the [[Blood Angels]], [[Salamanders]] and [[Ultramarines]] [[Chapter]]s, along with a large [[Squat]] army. It would see the planet being swarmed with green-skinned Orks of five different tribes. The main war lasted for two years, but the actual combat continued for the next twenty years, a colossal effort for just one planet.{{Fn|3}}
== History Prelude =====Before the LandingRise of Ghazghkull===The war may be seen to have begun on Armageddon, but it really began some nine years before. At this time, Ghazghkull was a lowly [[Ork Boy|boy]] in the Ork armies on the planet of [[Urk]] (possibly where part of his name came from). During one minor skirmish, a [[bolter]] shell ripped into Ghazghkull's skull, causing massive brain damage and blasting off a good chunk of his cranium. He was luckily (or not) found by a [[Painboy]] known as Mad Dok [[Grotsnik]] who replaced that part of his cranium with a [[bionic]] device. Somehow this device may have enabled Ghazghkull's latent [[psychic]] powers, or he may just have been suffering from delusions. But whatever happened, from then on he claimed to be in communication with the Ork gods, [[Gork and Mork]].{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|5a}} He began to unite the Orks of Urk, enlisting major warbosses into his [[Counsill of Clan-Bosses]].{{Fn|5a}}
A Space Marine force, (chapter unknown) raided the planet in the hopes Within six years Ghazghkull had risen to control of disrupting the Ork forces there. During the battleentire Urk system, a controlling all of its Orks as supreme [[bolterWarboss]] shell ripped into Ghazghkull's skull. Yet there were two issues: The Orks now lacked an enemy to fight, causing massive brain damage and blasting off a good chunk the star of his craniumthe Urk system was dying. He was luckily (or not) found by a [[Painboy]] known as [[Mad Dok Grotsnik]] who replaced that part There were severe solar flares causing many deaths from radiation, while the temperature of his cranium with a [[bionic]] device. Somehow this device may have enabled Ghazghkullthe system's latent [[psychic]] powers, or he may just have been suffering from delusionsplanets cooled to the point that even Orks began to freeze to death. But whatever happened{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|5a}} Driven by his prophetic gift, from then Ghazghkull ordered all Orks in the sytem to gather on he claimed Urk and its moons to be in communication with the Ork godsbuild a special armada of rocket ships and giant grappling hooks, [[claiming that Gork and Mork]]would deliver the means for their journey out of the system to a new warzone.{{Fn|35a}}
Within six years he Indeed, just after the Orks had risen to control of his tribe as [[Warboss]], and one year later he got his opportunity. The star around which his planet was orbiting was dying. There were severe solar flares causing many deaths from radiationfinished their work, but fortunately a massive [[Space Hulk]] appeared in orbit around the planet. {{Fn|5a}} Whether this was dumb luck or a higher power believed him worthy of survival, he managed to convince the other four tribes on the planet Ghazghkull led all of Urk's Orks to follow him on his great [[Waaagh!]] and unite under his rule. While en-route The Space Hulk was dubbed "[[Wurld Killa]]" and allowed the power systems Orks of Urk to escape certain doom, as they embarked on a great campaign under Ghazghkull's leadership.{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|5a}} "Wurld Killa" left the hulk failed several times and system just in time to avoid the Orks had to fight off hundreds supernova of Urk's sun. Amid the excitement, however, Grotsnik murdered Ghazghkull's fated Grot advisor [[DaemonMakari]]s.{{Fn|5b}} The Mad Dok wanted to become the only real influence on the warboss, providing them with battle experiencebelieving that Ghazghkull was his "creation" and should follow his designs.{{Fn|35b}}{{Fn|5c}}
One month before landing, the arrived Space Hulk blew away the defences of the === Journey to Armageddon system, including obsolete orbital satellites and small attack craft. Desperate messages were sent in ===Why "Wurld Killa" subsequently steered toward the hope of acquiring aid. Three [[Space Marine ChapterArmageddon System]]s began to organise themselves but would not be able to get there before is unknown. Ghazghkull had prophetic dreams of it on Urk and deemed it a "holy place", though neither he nor other Orks really knew the Orks landedreason. A month later the Orks disembarkedEither way, beginning they mainly cared about it being the major section place of a upcoming, great battle.{{Fn|5c}} While en-route the war for Armageddon power systems on the day hulk failed several times and the Orks had to fight off hundreds of the [[Feast of the Emperor's AscensionDaemon]]s, 941.[[M41]]providing them with battle experience.{{Fn|3}} In At the initial landingsame time, Grotsnik began to exert ever more influence on Ghazghkull, continually tinkering with his brain under the falling Ork [[rok]]s and space hulks caused great damage; the entire [[Hive]] [[Uffern]] was destroyed by the landing guise of strengthing the Space Hulk ''[[Claw of Desolation]]''prophet.{{Fn|6a5b}}{{Fn|5c}}
===The War Begins===After the Orks landed, a massive [[warp storm]] formed around When "Wurld Killa" arrived in the Armageddon systemSystem, preventing it was quickly detected by Imperial reinforcements from aiding the beleaguered forces on the planet. The Ork forces split off into their five separate tribes, and two of them were sent north to take hold of [[Armageddon Prime]]. [[Herman von Strab]], the [[Imperial Commander|Overlord]] of Armageddon, promptly declared it "uninhabited" and announced his intention to salvage it for ancient [[archeotech]].{{Fn|7a}} He did not attempt to properly investigate the object or sent reports to other Imperial institutions.{{Fn|8}} Even as it became clear that the Space Hulk was ignorant of actually infested by Orks, von Strab did not take the threat posed by the Orksseriously. {{Fn|7a}} There were several warnings of the upcoming danger, including the [[Emperor's Tarot]] cards and freighter captains' warnings of disturbances in the [[warp]], but von Strab ignored them all. Only after the Orks landed did any real distress signal leave the planet, and only due to the foresight of [[Sebastian Yarrick]]. Von Strab banished Yarrick to [[Hades Hive]] for countermanding his orders, located in [[Armageddon Secundus]].{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|7a}}
Von Strab decided he could take on One month before arriving in the Orks with orbit of Armageddon, "Wurld Killa" blew away the available forces defences of the planetary [[PDF]]sArmageddon System, including obsolete orbital satellites and small attack craft. The populations A few desperate messages were sent in the hope of acquiring aid. Three [[Armageddon PrimeSpace Marine Chapter]] formed into defensive units and fortified around their [[Hive]] homes s began to organise themselves but were pushed further and further back by would not be able to get there before the unstoppable Orkslanded. Piecemeal attacks {{Fn|3}} Yet no official requests for outside support were ordered made by von Strabhimself. Only after the Orks landed did any real, official distress signal leave the planet, which and only led due to the deaths foresight of more [[humanSebastian Yarrick]]s. Von Strab banished Yarrick ordered shuttle runs to help arm the north, the pilots skipping out of the atmosphere and back in again before the Orks could intercept them. Many pilots died as their ships were destroyed[[Hades Hive]] for countermanding his orders, the remains falling back to the planet located in flaming chunks[[Armageddon Secundus]].{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|7a}}
Von Strab hastily relocated his command centre to ==War=====Planetfall and conquest of Armageddon Prime===On the day of the [[Feast of the Emperor's Ascension]], 941.[[Hive TartarusM41]] in Armageddon Secundus, knowing that the north would fall Orks began to make planetfall on Armageddon.{{Fn|3}} "Wurld Killa" and other, smaller Space Hulks largely smashed into the Orks no matter what he didnorthwestern continent of [[Armageddon Prime]]. Three of {{Fn|8}} In the initial landing, the falling Ork tribes were unaccounted for but von Strab believed they were being held in reserve. [[Princeps Primerok]]s and space hulks caused great damage; the entire [[Hive]] [[Kurtiz MannheimUffern]], leader was destroyed by the landing of the Space Hulk ''[[Claw of Desolation]]''.{{Fn|6a}} After the Orks landed, a massive [[Iron Skulls Titan Legionwarp storm]] temporarily stationed on formed around the Armageddonsystem, advised von Strab to prepare for an attack preventing Imperial reinforcements from these three tribes. Von Strab ignored him, confident that they would never cross aiding the equatorial jungle region at the centre of beleaguered forces on the peninsulaplanet. He would then launch a mighty counter-attackThe Ork forces split off into their five separate tribes, leading from the foreand two of them were sent north to take hold of Armageddon Prime.{{Fn|3}}
===Ork Offensive===Two days later, Von Strab decided he could take on the Orks invaded Armageddon Secundus. It was with the available forces of the planetary [[Season of ShadowsPDF]] and the many volcanoes s. The populations of Armageddon erupted, sending black clouds high Prime formed into the sky. Massive armoured columns of Orks charged through the thin Imperial lines, defensive units and two tribes moved east of the fortified around their [[Palidus Mountains]] toward [[Hades Hive]] homes but were pushed further and one further back by the unstoppable Orks. Piecemeal attacks were ordered by von Strab, which only led to the west deaths of the mountains to more [[Port Helsreachhuman]]s. Von Strab ordered his titans, under Mannheim, to attack and wipe out {{Fn|3}}{{Fn|7b}} One of the Orks. Princeps Kurtiz Mannheim, realising his allies would soon be overrun, led few successful attacks of this time resulted in the [[Legio Metalica]] and its [[Skitarii]] escort against a wave capture of one Ork Titan-class threats and six million Ork infantry. After slaying an Ork commander, Warboss [[GargantUrk-Gug]] in a grueling duel, Mannheim .{{Fn|7b}} Yarrick ordered his badly wounded Titan Steel Hammer shuttle runs to self-destructhelp arm the north, his sacrifice killing another two Gargants and burning out the heart pilots skipping out of the Ork offensive atmosphere and back in again before the Orks could intercept them. Many pilots died as their ships were destroyed, the remains falling back to the processplanet in flaming chunks.{{Fn|3}} Most hives of Armageddon Prime were swiftly overrun.{{Fn|27b}}
The Imperial forces now Some substantial resistance took place at [[Hive Death Mire]],{{Fn|7c}} where Yarrick had previously prepared some defenses,{{Fn|7a}} but even this location eventually fell backto the invaders.{{Fn|7c}}{{Fn|7d}} Within one week, establishing defensive lines along Armageddon Prime was largely under the many rivers control of Ghazghkull's hordes.{{Fn|8}} Imperial survivors from Armageddon, including Prime retreated through the [[Stygies RiverEquatorial Jungle]] in toward Armageddon Secundus, harried by Orks.{{Fn|7d}}{{Fn|7e}} Even as the west and [[Diabolus River]] in Orks crushed the east. When remaining resistance across the storms abated the Orks drove southArmageddon Prime, however, crushing the defences and sweeping into Ghazghkull struggled to impart his strategic vision to his Counsill of Clan-Bosses (with only [[Hive InfernusStraturgum]]actually understanding it). Demoralized, the officer in charge of Infernus surrendered without a fight. The refugee columnsFurthermore, hundreds of kilometers long, trekked across the deserts he suffered under Grotsnik's influence and were harried no longer received visions by Ork biker unitsGork and Mork, herding them back to Infernus to work as slavestroubling him greatly.{{Fn|35c}}
Before Ghazghkull's leadership fell apart, however, Makari was reincarnated in a local Grot and managed to break through Grotsnik's influence. Regaining confidence, Ghazghkull devised a new plan to launch a massive surprise attack through the Equatorial Jungle at the onset of Armageddon's [[Season of Shadows]]. Grotsnik would stay behind at [[Hive Volcanus]] on Armageddon Prime, effectively banished from the prophet's presence.{{Fn|5c}} Meanwhile, von Strab had hastily relocated his command centre to [[Hive Tartarus]] in Armageddon Secundus, knowing that the north would fall to the Orks no matter what he did. Three of the Ork tribes were unaccounted for but von Strab believed they were being held in reserve. [[Princeps Prime]] [[Kurtiz Mannheim]], leader of the [[Legio Metalica]] [[Titan Legion]] temporarily stationed on Armageddon, advised von Strab to prepare for an attack from these three tribes. Von Strab ignored him, confident that the Orks would be unable to cross the Equatorial Jungle at the centre of the peninsula. The overlord imagined that he would launch a mighty counter-attack, leading from the fore.{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|7f}} ===Ork Offensive into Armageddon Secundus===Two days later, the Orks invaded Armageddon Secundus,{{Fn|3}} as [[Grudbolg]]'s [[Snakebites]] cleared a path by slaughtering their way through the Equatorial Jungle's extremely deadly fauna.{{Fn|5c}} The Season of Shadows had begun and the many volcanoes of Armageddon erupted, sending black clouds high into the sky. Massive armoured columns of Orks broke out of the jungle and charged through the thin Imperial lines.{{Fn|3}} Though Imperial defenses [[Battle of Minos Crossing|held at Minos Crossing]], the rest of the Imperial frontline swiftly collapsed.{{Fn|7e}}{{Fn|7f}} After the breakthrough, two Orks tribes moved east of the [[Palidus Mountains]] toward [[Hades Hive]] and one to the west of the mountains to [[Port Helsreach]]. Von Strab ordered his titans, under Mannheim, to attack and wipe out the Orks. Princeps Kurtiz Mannheim, realising his allies would soon be overrun, led the [[Legio Metalica]] and its [[Skitarii]] escort against a wave of Ork Titan-class threats and six million Ork infantry. After slaying an Ork [[Gargant]] in a grueling duel, Mannheim ordered his badly wounded Titan Steel Hammer to self-destruct, his sacrifice killing another two Gargants and burning out the heart out of the Ork offensive in the process.{{Fn|2}} The Imperial forces now fell back, establishing defensive lines along the many rivers of Armageddon, including the [[Stygies River]] in the west and [[Diabolus River]] in the east. When the storms abated the Orks drove south, crushing the defences and sweeping into [[Hive Infernus]]. Demoralized, the officer in charge of Infernus surrendered without a fight. The refugee columns, hundreds of kilometers long, trekked across the deserts and were harried by Ork biker units, herding them back to Infernus to work as slaves.{{Fn|3}} Von Strab publicly declared that the Orks' southeastern offensive had been halted at [[Infernus River]], even though the Xenos had already crossed the river. To make his declaration a reality, von Strab ordered a scrambled Imperial counter-offensive which temporarily retook Infernus River's bridges under heavy losses.{{Fn|7g}} ===The Crux of the War==={{see also|Siege of Hades Hive}}Soon, Hades Hive was [[Siege of Hades Hive|under siege]], and the hardest fighting began. Commissar Yarrick was organising the defences of Hades Hive and he seemed to be everywhere at this time. He would be at the welding shut of the great blast portals and negotiating treaties with the many [[gang]]s of Hades Hive. Amazingly he put together a rag-tag army to defend Hades. Thousands of Orks waited for the call to attack while the Gargants pounded the hive with their biggest guns. The people survived on rats and roaches and on reduced power. Few speak of this time other than to praise Yarrick.{{Fn|3}}
It was then that von Strab released his secret battery of ancient [[virus bomb]]s. His family had had them stocked since the first colonization of Armageddon. They were mounted on antiquated missile systems and hastily pressed into service. Unfortunately, many malfunctioned due to their age: rockets would not fire, detonators would not arm and the virus had decreased in potency over time. The missile wreaked havoc among the Orks, but did not come even close to what was needed to stop their advance. His last scheme failed, Von Strab retired to his bunker to sulk.{{Fn|3}}
A relief force was sent north to Hades Hive, including forces of all three of the Space Marine chapters. Unfortunately, just before they got there the Hive was conquered. Only a few of the humans within Hades survived, including the battered Commissar Yarrick, surrounded by dozens of Ork corpses.{{Fn|3}}
In the west, a wave of Ork reinforcements arrived, hoping to push back to Tartarus and break the back of Imperial resistance. The forces defending the western regions had been stripped for the attack on Hades and were easily overrun. Ghazghkull, evidently not dead, led the last ditch attempt to conquer the planet. They pushed through the [[Skeletus River]]. For a while it looked like they might succeed, but were eventually pushed back to Armageddon Primus and after another dozen years they were forced to retreat back to their ships and escape the system.{{Fn|3}} Ghazghkull at this point decided to abandon the war effort, using his own [[Space Hulk]] as a distraction to slip away.{{Fn|55d}}
===Wars in the North===
==Aftermath==
{{Main|Third War for Armageddon}}
As devastating as the Second War for Armageddon had been, Ghazhgkull survived, and regarded it as little more than a practice run. According to Ghazghkull's [[Grot]] [[Makari]], in truth the Warboss had fallen into a malaise due to constant headaches and the meddling of Yarrick, and decided to abandon the world.{{Fn|55d}} However decades later, he would return, at the head of an even larger, better armed and better organised [[Waaagh!]].{{Fn|3}}
==Notes==
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Epic Armageddon]] Rulebook, pgs. 63-67
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Imperator: Wrath of the Omnissiah (Novel)]], Chapter 7
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Ghazghkull Thraka: Prophet of the Waaagh! (Novel)]] - **{{Endn|5a}}: Chapters 4-56**{{Endn|5b}}: Chapter 6-7**{{Endn|5c}}: Interrogation VIII**{{Endn|5d}}: Chapter 8
*6: [[Yarrick: The Omnibus]] — [[The Pyres of Armageddon (Novel)]]
**{{Endn|6a}}: Chapter 3, Section 5
**{{Endn|6b}}: Chapter 15, Section 2
*17: [[Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon]]:
**{{Endn|7a}}: ''Tutorial''
**{{Endn|7b}}: ''Act 1: Invasion'': "Opening Faults"
**{{Endn|7c}}: ''Act 1: Invasion'': "Pre-emptive Strike" and "Shuttle Search"
**{{Endn|7d}}: ''Act 1: Invasion'': "Equatorial Escape"
**{{Endn|7e}}: ''Act 1: Invasion'': "Defending Minos Crossing"
**{{Endn|7f}}: ''Act 1: Invasion'': "Obedience to Orders"
**{{Endn|7g}}: ''Act 1: Invasion'': "Arrival at Infernus"
*{{Endn|8}}: [[Codex: Orks (4th Edition)]], pgs. 21-23
==Uncited==
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