Editing Volemar Gamma Campaign (section)

==Background==

The presence of Orks in the Solar System was one of the most unsavoury relics of the Age of Strife.  Although it is unclear exactly when Volemar Gamma became infested by greenskins, fragmentary records on Terra and the much more substantial archives of [[Mars (Hektor Heresy)|Mars]] indicate that Orkish incursions were an uncommon but hardly unheard-of addition to the misery of Old Night.  Following the [[Unification Wars (Hektor Heresy)|Unity]], the Emperor of Mankind set his Space Marines to purging the foul Orks from humanity's birth system while [[Rogue Traders (Hektor Heresy)|Rogue Traders]] began scouting nearby stars.  Due to the lack of information on Volemar Gamma, [[Hektor Cincinnatus]] was given overall command of the operation and granted considerable latitude in selecting his forces.

Unsurprisingly, this meant that the core of the Imperial force was drawn from the First Legion.  Hektor had initially considered taking a contingent of the Third Legion, but due to the well-known problems with that gene-line he settled on the fresh Second Legion.  Second was, at any rate, eager to prove themselves after their long hiatus from the battlefield after the [[Dalvan Atrocity]].  In addition, their heroic leader Orend Ymoro had a reputation as an expert at tunnel fighting thanks to his success in [[the Cleansing of Calverna]].  As the planned operation would require much of the nascent Imperium's voidships, Lord Commander [[Gufarnus Altmakar]] of the [[Imperial Army (Hektor Heresy)|Imperial Army]] himself would command the naval squadron.  While personality clashes between Hektor and Altmakar would later become legendary, at this early stage in the Great Crusade their relationship still resembled that of pupil and mentor.  After discussion with Altmakar, Hektor settled on a simple but flexible plan.  Leonidas Manisicus would lead an echelon of First Legion, supported by the army's voidships, to seize the redoubts and entrances to the interior of the asteroid.  Ymoro's Second Legion would then scour the tunnels and push any greenskins lurking below to the surface.  A second detachment of Hektor's gene-sons, under the command of Erasmos Sergius, would serve as the main reserve, though the Primarch's bodyguard would also be on hand to help turn the tide of battle.  This straightforward approach was intended to allow for alterations depending on the deployment and tactics adopted by the enemy.

Volemar Gamma's ruler, Warboss Uggut Shakgrod, was not expecting an attack.  His experience with the 'umies of the Solar System over the last fifty years was limited to raids on the Jovian satellites.  Although the Jovians were hardly lacking for courage, their lack of sophisticated weaponry and discipline made them easy prey for the Orks.  So easy, in fact, that Uggut's boyz treated such excursions as a matter of mild amusement rather than a really fun scrap.  Complacent and, frankly, rather bored the Orks of Volemar Gamma had no idea of the fury that the Emperor's Angels of Death were about to unleash.  If they'd known, they would have looked forward to it!