Chapter 15: From Fortress to Factory: The Dawning of Grotkind's Ambition
The victory against the Imperial Guard was a massive boon for the WAAAGH!. Loot poured in, squig stocks replenished (thanks to a hasty quarantine of the surviving, non-infected ones), and morale soared. But for Tony, it was more than just a victory; it was a blank canvas. He had the ear of the Boss, the respect (grudging though it may be) of the Nobz, and a workforce eager to follow his lead. It was time to put his grand vision into action. It was time to turn a war camp into something more. Something… industrial.
He began by focusing on the captured Imperial fortress. It was more than just a defensible position; it was a resource-rich environment, packed with raw materials, tools, and even some functional (though heavily damaged) machinery. He envisioned transforming it into a centralized manufacturing hub, a place where Grots could produce weapons, armor, and vehicles on a scale never before seen in the WAAAGH!.
Tony knew he couldn't just order the Orks to start building factories. They lacked the patience, the attention to detail, and frankly, the desire to do anything that didn't involve smashing things. But the Grots… the Grots were different. They were eager to learn, eager to work, and eager to prove their worth.
He began by establishing a training program, teaching the Grots the basics of engineering, manufacturing, and quality control. He simplified complex concepts into easily digestible lessons, using diagrams, demonstrations, and plenty of hands-on experience.
He repurposed the Imperial Guard's barracks into workshops, equipping them with salvaged tools and machinery. He divided the Grots into specialized teams, each focusing on a specific task: forging metal, assembling weapons, or repairing vehicles.
He implemented a strict system of rewards and punishments, rewarding Grots who met their quotas with extra rations and better living conditions, and punishing those who failed to perform with… well, let's just say the squig pit saw a few more visitors than usual.
The transformation was slow and often chaotic, but gradually, the fortress began to resemble a functional factory. The clang of hammers, the whir of gears, and the hiss of welding torches filled the air. The Grots, driven by Tony's leadership and their own desire for improvement, worked tirelessly, transforming raw materials into weapons of war.
He started with simple projects: producing basic shootas, chainswords, and armor plating. But as the Grots' skills improved, he began to introduce more complex projects: building vehicles, developing new types of ammunition, and even experimenting with crude forms of energy weapons.
He established a research and development department, tasking the most intelligent and innovative Grots with finding new ways to improve their technology. They experimented with different materials, different designs, and different manufacturing processes, constantly pushing the boundaries of what was possible.
The Orks, initially skeptical of Tony's "Grot factory," began to take notice as the quality and quantity of weapons and equipment improved. The supply of dakka was flowing faster than ever before, and the WAAAGH! was becoming more powerful and more dangerous with each passing day.
Even Krusha, the most traditional of the Nobz, was impressed. "Dese Grot-made weapons are actually pretty good," he admitted grudgingly. "Maybe you're onto something, Stikk."
The Boss, of course, was thrilled. He had more dakka than he knew what to do with, and his WAAAGH! was stronger than ever. He showered Tony with praise and gifts, granting him even more power and influence.
But Tony knew that this was just the beginning. He had transformed the fortress into a factory, but he had much bigger plans in mind. He envisioned a network of factories, spanning across the entire WAAAGH!'s territory, producing weapons, armor, vehicles, and all sorts of other useful gadgets.
He wanted to create a self-sustaining economy, one that would make the WAAAGH! less reliant on looting and more capable of producing its own resources. He wanted to empower the Grots, to give them the skills and the knowledge they needed to build a better future for themselves.
He knew that his ambitions were audacious, bordering on insane. He was, after all, just a Grot, trying to impose his will on a society that was fundamentally opposed to his ideals. But he was also Tony Stark, a genius, a visionary, and a man who never backed down from a challenge.
He looked out over the bustling factory, his heart filled with a sense of purpose. He had come a long way from being a billionaire playboy philanthropist. He had been reborn as a Grot, stripped of his wealth, his power, and his identity. But he had also been given a new opportunity, a chance to build something truly meaningful, to create a better world for the Grots of the WAAAGH!.
And he wasn't about to waste it. The age of the Ork was at its end, and Grotkind was coming into the light.