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Despite the best efforts of the Imperials, the Gydisk and Semythis Systems were declared lost while many others were still under attack. At [[Kernak III]], Orks under the world's old enemy Nabrot Stubfingers struck in search of loot. He utilized his captured [[Mechanicum]] cruisers and frigates crewed by [[Blood Axes]] and captured Humans to get close to the orbital defenses, which proved more hesitant to fire upon their former blessed machinery. The Blood Axes bought time by having their Human slaves request security codes and request permission to board. By the time the Mechanicum realized what was happening it was too late, and though the orbital defenses were able to destroy some enemy vessels they were destroyed by the furious impacts of the captured Imperial ships, whose Blood Axes evacuated at the last minute. At the same time, Stubfingers dispatched forces to attack [[Kernak IV]] and destroy its [[House Xiphos]] fortress known as the Xiphon. Ork ships stormed into Kernak IV's orbit, the Greenskins dropping in herds of [[Squiggoth]]s, airborne [[Megafortress]]es, and [[Gorkanaut]]s to crush the House. The Knights fought valiantly but were eventually overwhelmed and the walls of the Xiphon were breached.{{Fn|10b}}
The Orks who attacked [[Kernak V]] met stiff resistance thanks to the efforts of [[Planetary Governor|Governor ]] [[Abrahoma Bentaal]], who had spent years amassing an arsenal of weapons and large garrison from the [[Cordon Impenetra]]. The Greenskins met division after division of Imperial Navy fighters and air defensesdefences, while Imperial Guard artillery bombarded the Orks' positions before armored armoured regiments rushed them. It was at this point that the armada of [[Stugbrog da Facegrinda]] ploughed into orbit, seeing a good fight to be had. Deploying tens of thousands of vehicles, the new arrivals swept across the planet and slaughtered Human and Ork alike. In a matter of months the Imperial garrison had been reduced to a fraction of its former strength while the Orks of Stubfinger's forces were absorbed into Stubrog. The bored Warboss moved on quickly in search of another fight, granting reprieve to the surviving Imperials. Governor Bentaal took the time to evacuate troops to [[Kernak II ]] and the [[Suvardosha System ]] with the aim of one day returning.{{Fn|10b}}
Stubrog meanwhile turned his eyes to Kernak III, using an armada of space hulks and crude vessels just as reinforcements from Ryza were arriving. Catching the Imperials off-guard, destroying the Ryza transports in orbit and wiping out swathes of [[Skitarii]]. Had it not been for the efforts of the [[Legio Crucius]] and anti-air [[Cadian]] regiments the principle landing zone used by the Ryzan forces would have bene completely overrun with [[Skarboyz]]. The fighting then raged for many months, with the Legio Crucius and [[Legio Kopides]] dueling [[Mega-Gargant]]s over the ruins of Fane-Shrine 21DF730. It was a testament to the skill of [[Fabricator-General]] [[Ezmeralda Brynlokh]]'s skill that she maintained an ordered defense against two simultaneous Ork attacks, manipulating the Greenskins to often fight each other. However it was not enough, and billions of Orks were present on the planet and they looted large amounts of captured Imperial vehicles. The Orks looters were churning out vehicles at a race that outpaced Kernak III's own supply abilities. With the Greenskin rampage continuing, Brynlokh realized defeat was inevitable and made arrangement for withdrawal. She committed hundreds of Skitarii Macroclades to conduct a rear-guard action during the evacuation, with most going to the [[Kusolst System]] with the intent of regrouping and securing allies for a future counterattack.{{Fn|10b}}
