Chapter 5: A Grot's Gotta Grot (But Smarter)
With the Boss singing his praises (as much as an Ork can "sing"), Tony, or rather, Stikk, found himself in a unique position. He was still "just" a Grot, but he was the Grot. The one who could fix things. The one the Boss actually listened to (occasionally). And Tony realized he could leverage this newfound influence to make things better for everyone… including himself.
His first target: the squig pens. The squigs were the primary food source for the Orks, and the Grots were responsible for feeding and caring for them. The pens were overcrowded, filthy, and disease-ridden. The squigs were constantly sick, and the Grots who tended them were even worse off.
This is an environmental disaster waiting to happen, Tony thought, as he surveyed the squalid conditions. And an inefficient one, at that. Sick squigs don't make good eating.
He approached the Grot foreman, a particularly nasty individual named Grunt, with a proposal. "Grunt," Tony said, "I have an idea to improve the squig pens."
Grunt sneered. "Improve 'em? What do you know about squigs, Stikk? You're just a tinkerer."
"I know that sick squigs don't make good eating," Tony replied. "And I know that a cleaner, more efficient pen will produce more squigs. Healthier squigs. Bigger squigs."
Grunt considered this for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Bigger squigs, eh? Da Boss would like dat."
"Exactly," Tony said. "So, what do you say? Can I give it a try?"
Grunt shrugged. "Fine. But if you mess things up, I'm feedin' you to da squigs."
Tony spent the next few days transforming the squig pens. He designed a new ventilation system using repurposed scrap metal and salvaged fans. He implemented a waste management system that involved digging trenches and burying the squig droppings (much to the dismay of the Grots who had to do the digging). He even introduced a rudimentary form of pest control, using traps baited with scraps of meat.
The other Grots were skeptical at first. They'd always done things a certain way, and they didn't see the point in changing. But as the squig pens became cleaner, the squigs became healthier, and the number of squigs began to increase, they started to come around.
Even Grunt had to admit that Tony's changes were working. "Alright, Stikk," he said grudgingly. "You did good. Da Boss is real happy about da squigs. Says dey taste better now."
"Glad to hear it," Tony said, grinning. "But I'm not done yet. I have other ideas."
He then proposed a new system for distributing the squig meat. Instead of simply doling it out randomly, he suggested a system based on work performance. Grots who worked harder and contributed more would receive a larger share of the squig meat.
This idea was met with mixed reactions. Some Grots were enthusiastic. Others were resentful. But Tony argued that it was only fair. He also knew that this system would incentivize the Grots to work harder and be more productive.
Grunt was hesitant at first. He liked the old system, where he got to keep the best cuts of squig meat for himself. But Tony pointed out that a more productive workforce would ultimately benefit everyone, including Grunt.
After some persuasion, Grunt agreed to give it a try. And to Tony's surprise, the system worked. The Grots worked harder, the squig production increased, and even Grunt found himself with a larger share of the squig meat.
With these small but significant changes, Tony had begun to transform the Grot society. He had improved their living conditions, increased their productivity, and even instilled a sense of fairness.
Of course, he wasn't doing it out of the goodness of his heart. He knew that a more organized, efficient Grot workforce would be a valuable asset. And he had plans for that workforce. Plans that could potentially change the entire balance of power within the WAAAGH!