The Orks were unaware of the steady retreat they were being forced into until there was a mass of explosions coming from the rear of their ranks. They had not realized until looking back towards their first enemy, the sheer number of Ork bodies littering the plains. Thousands as far as they could see. Most were alive but without a limb. The front line of Drones took care of the current enemy while the rear ones would be sure to dismember any Ork not dead but walked over by the assault line.
The thickest of their lines were only about a few hundred meters now and the Valkyrian forces in the center charged their trapped prey, forgoing weapon fire due to the likely possibility of friendly fire since the main assault line was within sight over the horde of Orks. With about 80,000 Orks left, a charge with only 30,000 would have been suicidal had the species not been Space Marines or Necrons but the galaxy had never seen these species and it would learn soon how deadly they were.
The 30,000 Valkyrian troops activated their melee weapons, everything from axes and swords to saws and plasma scythes, all of mainly blue or purple colors. Some had more archaic, physical weapons such as great swords and halberds, not that any begrudged them when seen in action. The roar of vicious delight emitted by both machine and flesh soldiers routed the desire of fight from the Orks. With their warboss dead and none strong enough to take charge fast enough, they fought as if separate from each other in psyche and spirit while the Valkyrians were of one sound, one body, one mind, one soul fighting for one cause. The Orks had lost before the wave of Valkyrians even slipped into their ranks. Yes, "slipped" and not "slammed" because that was the difference here.
The Valkyrians of flesh were not Space Marines or Orks or Krogans. They didn't slam into the ranks of the Orks like a battering ram. Instead, they were more like the Harlequins of the Eldar species. They slipped, they weaved, they danced through the nonexistent ranks of the greenskins, each moving like an assassin even when some held large weapons. Their blades decapitated heads and severed entire limbs with nothing but fluid motions. Perhaps the most scary of these scenes would be the underlying bloodlust within the movements. It wasn't roaring in your face when you saw it, but like a silent, creeping poison in your body and heart. You didn't see it most times but if you could, what could you do?
Ten minutes after the charge, the last of the Orks within the settlement that once held half a million had fallen from a bisection with a scythe. All other battles across the planet were already over. The losses on the Valkyrian side in this battle alone composed of none of the flesh soldiers, a couple thousands of Drones, five Wheelers, and around three thousand Sky Lances. A complete victory by Valkyrian standards.
A dozen warships would continue patrolling the planet from the air, bombarding any Ork remnants they missed in their invasion. There was no point in wasting time sending groups of soldiers to hunt them down.
With the planet conquered with no doubt, the fleets brought in atmosphere hundreds of cruisers. These were outfitted to act as vacuums after battles whether in space, land, or sea. Their gravity wells would be powered down to not atomize the future food supplies, and the storage of melted metals used in the battle models' main cannon were fitted to mulch and store what the gravity well brought up. Dirt and rocks and scrap metal didn't matter since the Valkyrian digestion system was almost second to none. At the end of the process, each participant in this campaign would receive a portion based on uploaded data from their suits or minds, determining the role they played and whether or not they would earn standard amounts or above-standard. Every Valkyrian would be guaranteed a portion though to ensure each and every person would acquire the Growth gene from the Orks. Many were definitely looking forward to more battles and wars.
Valkyrians who displayed above average skill would earn commissions in addition to their standard or above standard amount. One such Valkyrian was the pilot and primal of MDEA flight, Angel Harlaown for her skill and leadership in crippling a dreadnought. The commissions she earned would be enough to evolve her into a Major when she finishes the last of it in several months.
Another Valkyrian would be the injured Sky Razer Benet who, upon having her food, was personally praised by Esdeath for her tenacity and on-the-field adaptation. She felt she was very close to becoming a Major now after eventually finishing off her commissioned food.
There were hundreds who evolved into Majors, a boom that hasn't happened in a very long time. It was a pleasant fortune for the future of their species.
Several days after the battle and with the planet scrapped clean of Ork flesh, the Valkyrians were moving out. Two fleets were scheduled to arrive for the colony that had originally been attacked, increasing the ship numbers by a few thousand. Plans to rapidly develop the colony were already in motion and would serve as a staging area for further ventures into this galaxy.
Back on the Outer Heaven, in Yggdra's bedchambers, said queen and Esdeath were having a meeting as Yggdra prepared Naru for bed again. She lay upon her crimson bed, sheets covering her legs as she was sat up and nursing a drowsy baby. Esdeath was at a knee in front of the bed, watching the happening with some wonder as she laid eyes upon the Royal Princess for the first time. Her hair had changed more to white with streaks prevalent instead of the spots a few days ago. Her skin was as pale as her mother's and her small stubby feelers would vibrate, a similarity with a cat purring.
She stared down at her lovingly before looking forward to meeting Esdeath's eyes. Esdeath met them and Yggdra liked the never-shy rebel in her subordinate.
"So, with your reports out of the way and my punishment to you almost served, I have one final stipulation that is non-negotiable. Upon completion, I will make certain you become a full Valkyrian-Royal, not the blood-adopted half-class you are now."
Esdeath certainly wasn't expecting something like that. She had known that she'd never advanced further than she was now on the physiological level due to how she became a Royal. She wasn't aware of any way to become one save Neblade a Royal, but even that just might give her a boost in abilities. Her current body held more raw power potential than half the current Royals, but didn't share the same anywhere else. She still had the healing capabilities and innate energy manipulation skills of a Major. The difference between a Royal and Major in those departments were just too wide to measure.
"My Queen, I thought this was a punishment?" That was another thing that confused her. Why would she be rewarded for completing a punishment?
Yggdra quite honestly adored the honest confusion on the woman's face before her. Enough that she had to wet her lips with her tongue at the thought of conquering such an expression.
"It's quite simple once you hear it all. Your strength and intelligence are without a doubt, in the top five of the Valkyrian Empire. Building TATSUMI without the aid of using computers and advancing already existing technology on our AT Field Generators that we thought was already the apex of what we could achieve, and doing it while out-sourcing behind our backs… it really puts you steps above any of your peers, Esdeath.
While Frija may be upset, I see your potential, as I have since I first watched your reincarnation. I will not squander such a mind or body. The reason the reward for completion of this final punishment is as grand as it is is because failure will be me killing you permanently and tossing your body into a blue hypergiant sun when I've had my fun."
Esdeath stiffened at that. As much as she loved war and death, there were things worse than death that she feared, even if those things could be counted on two fingers, and Yggdra Yuril Artwaltz was the top of that list. Plus, being killed permanently would waste all that she has accomplished these past two million years. She looked back up at the bed and almost flinched when Yggdra's sitting figure seemed to suddenly tower over her.
No, it was more like her aura of domination. While Esdeath was powerful with about a billion Neblades to her name, she was still a candle light compared to the sun Yggdra was. One would think, by the numbers, that Yggdra was merely around nine times more powerful, but numbers weren't everything. Majority of the Neblades Yggdra made were of beings who were so technologically advanced that they were close to transcending flesh and machine.
"And… what is this final punishment, my Queen?" she asked steadily. She really didn't want to accept the reality of the look Yggdra was giving her at the thought of failing. It was the same look she herself gave her torture victims who were especially vocal in their misery.
"I made a promise that I intend to keep, as well as made investments I see will benefit us greatly. Naru will need to be educated in academics, all the ways of war and fighting that you know, and the more subtle intricacies of subterfuge, information networking, and torture until you deem her enough to dominate that pitiful 'ninja' world we found her on."
Esdeath was quite sure she was gaping, given that her do-or-die punishment was ironically, something she was jokingly hoping for a few days ago.
"When I feel my instincts will allow me to step out of the nursing chambers on the Cradle of Life, you will be personally training her, Esdeath. I want you to spend the time you have until then finding and testing the most proficient masters of those arts and skills to serve your needs in mentoring her. I will do my part as a nursing mother and when she is in your care, I want you to break her of every possible doubt and weakness she might face. Push her to her limits every day. Her death will mean your death, Esdeath.
Now leave us. Little Naru has to get her sleep."
Yggdra relaxed into her bed with Naru resting between her breasts while Esdeath numbly walked out of the portal door, Yggdra psychically locking the entrance and dimming the view ports over her head to not have a repeat of their first morning together.
Esdeath, mind filled with replays of the conversation she just had, absently walked down the corridors of despair within Cocytus that she usually took time walking to relish. When she eventually made it to her own bedchambers, she made it clear that she was not to be disturbed. Sleep slowly came to her that hour and her dreams were filled with that hungry gaze of Yggdra's.