One of the first lessons you learn in Space Marine School is not to split your army. Apparently this basic axiom is not taught at the Ork Military Academy. After destroying a massive Ork Gargant earlier in the day my taskforce was ordered to defend the town of Alpha Ceti Five.

Space Marine Land Raider -- Ork Tank Buster

Scouts reported an Ork force consisting of a dozen battlewagons, each carrying infantry, and two stompas was headed for the town. Because we weren't sure of the direction from which they would launch the assault I ordered my Space Marines and Devastators to mount their APCs and wait in the center of town with the Land Raiders.

To my amazement the Orks split their force into two detachments and attacked the town from the Northeast and NorthWest. I sent my task force to attack the first Ork detachment before the second could enter the fray. The plan worked brilliantly as the Ork battlewagons went up in flames on the first volley. The Ork commander foolishly tried to assault my devastators with predictable results. Half the Ork force had been wiped out for the price of one land raider.

I succeeded in redeploying to face the second Ork detachment, which was advancing cautiously. To my delight the commander of the second detachment decided to engage me in a long-range firefight. When the smoke cleared the entire Ork force had been destroyed. The lessons learned in Space Marine School served me well. When the attacker splits his force you must react quickly and bring your entire force to bear on one of the pincers. Let's hope the Orks never master the fundamentals of military tactics or they will be a formidable opponent.