[[File:7eC-blood axes.jpg|20px]] Warboss [[Straturgum]]<br> [[File:UgliesSymbol.jpg|20px]] Warboss [[Ugrak]]<br>[[File:7eC-snakebites.jpg|20px]] Warboss [[Ugulhard]] (KIA)<br>[[File:Orks.png|20px]] Warboss [[Urk-Gug]] (POW){{Fn|7b}}

[[File:Salamanderssymbol.png|20px]] [[Salamanders]]<br> [[File:MetalicaSymbol.jpg|20px]][[Legio Metalica]]<br> [[File:Astra Militarum Symbol.png|20px]] [[Tempestus Scion]]s

Within six years he 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 radiation, but fortunately a massive [[Space Hulk]] appeared in orbit around the planet. 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 to follow him on his great [[Waaagh!]] and unite under his rule. The Space Hulk was dubbed "[[Wurld Killa]]" and allowed the Orks of Urk to escape certain doom, as they embarked on a great campaign under Ghazghkull's leaderahip. While en-route the power systems on the hulk failed several times and the Orks had to fight off hundreds of [[Daemon]]s, providing them with battle experience.{{Fn|3}}

When "Wurld Killa" arrived in the [[Armageddon System]], it was quickly detected by Imperial forces. [[Herman von Strab]], the [[Imperial Commander|Overlord]] of Armageddon, promptly declared it "uninhabited" and announced his intention to salvage it for ancient [[archeotech]]. Even as it became clear that the Space Hulk was actually infested by Orks, von Strab did not take the threat seriously.{{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.{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|7a}} One month before landingarriving in the orbit of Armageddon, the arrived Space Hulk "Wurld Killa" blew away the defences of the Armageddon systemSystem, including obsolete orbital satellites and small attack craft. Desperate A few desperate messages were sent in the hope of acquiring aid. Three [[Space Marine Chapter]]s began to organise themselves but would not be able to get there before the Orks landed. A month later the Orks disembarked, beginning the major section of the war for Armageddon on the day of the [[Feast of the Emperor's Ascension]], 941.[[M41]].{{Fn|3}} In Yet no official requests for outside support were made by von Strab himself. Only after the initial landingOrks landed did any real, official distress signal leave the falling Ork [[rok]]s planet, and space hulks caused great damage; only due to the entire foresight of [[HiveSebastian Yarrick]] . Von Strab banished Yarrick to [[UffernHades Hive]] was destroyed by the landing of the Space Hulk ''for countermanding his orders, located in [[Claw of DesolationArmageddon Secundus]]''.{{Fn|6a3}}{{Fn|7a}}

On the day of the [[Feast of the Emperor's Ascension]], 941.[[M41]], the Orks began to make planetfall on Armageddon.{{Fn|3}} In the initial landing, the falling Ork [[rok]]s and space hulks caused great damage; the entire [[Hive]] [[Uffern]] was destroyed by the landing of the Space Hulk ''[[Claw of Desolation]]''.{{Fn|6a}} After the Orks landed, a massive [[warp storm]] formed around the Armageddon system, preventing 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, was ignorant of the threat posed by the Orks. 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}}

Von Strab decided he could take on the Orks with the available forces of the planetary [[PDF]]s. The populations of [[Armageddon Prime]] formed into defensive units and fortified around their [[Hive]] homes but were pushed further and further back by the unstoppable Orks. Piecemeal attacks were ordered by von Strab, which only led to the deaths of more [[human]]s. {{Fn|3}}{{Fn|7b}} One of the few successful attacks of this time resulted in the capture of one Ork commander, Warboss [[Urk-Gug]].{{Fn|7b}} 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, the remains falling back to the planet in flaming chunks.{{Fn|3}} Most hives of Armageddon Prime were swiftly overrun.{{Fn|7b}} 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 to the invaders. Imperial survivors from Armageddon Prime retreated through the [[Equatorial Jungle]], harried by Orks.{{Fn|7d}}{{Fn|7e}}

Von 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 [[Iron Skulls 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 they the Orks would never be unable to cross the equatorial jungle region Equatorial Jungle at the centre of the peninsula. He The overlord imagined that he would then launch a mighty counter-attack, leading from the fore.{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|7f}}

Two days later, the Orks invaded Armageddon Secundus. It was the [[Season of Shadows]] and the many volcanoes of Armageddon erupted, sending black clouds high into the sky. Massive armoured columns of Orks 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, and 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}}