At the makeshift docks in the western Wetlands, laborers worked through the night to build Orcish warships.
Although goblin engineers guided the Orcs, the Orcs, with their pragmatism, modified many aspects, creating ships of their own design.
These massive, crude warships and transports, made of steel and wood, were clumsy but had spacious holds for thousands of Orcs.
Orgrim was impatient. The longer they delayed, the more time the northern humans had to consolidate their forces. Scouts reported that the human kingdoms were already beginning their final harvest!
Winter was approaching in the north, and time was critical!
Orgrim urgently traveled to Grim Batol Keep to inspect the Dragonmaw clan's progress, directly questioning their chieftain, Zuluhed the Wicked.
"Zuluhed, how is your progress? I need more power!" Orgrim demanded, eager to land in the north, crush the humans, and seize this world!
Draenor was collapsing, its life force draining away, and Orcish women and children awaited news of victory!
"Warchief, those creatures are strong, dangerous, and unruly. We control their Dragonqueen with an artifact. We're having her mate with her consort as fast as possible to produce dragon eggs!"
Dragonmaw Chieftain Zuluhed was a steadfast survivor of the first Horde, capable, cautious, and wise, remaining active in Outland decades later!
"How many red dragons can be deployed now?" Orgrim asked, hoping to accelerate progress.
"Six! By enslaving the Dragonqueen, we coerced eight adult dragons. Grim Batol needs the two strongest to mate with her, so only six are deployable!"
Six was the limit. Zuluhed would never have reduced the number of male green dragons to two if not for Orgrim.
He had learned that female dragons lay eggs, which required male dragons to imbue them with soul essence. Otherwise, they would hatch as mindless beasts, lacking both draconic strength and intelligence!
"Six!" Orgrim calculated. "Far from enough. We have hundreds of warships; six dragons can't form an effective aerial force!"
"Three days! Warchief, give me three more days, and I can use the Demon Soul's magic to incubate the first batch of dragon eggs. We can then provide the Horde with over two hundred dragons and knights!"
"Good! I will wait three days!" To ensure a successful northern advance, Orgrim decided to wait, using the time to consolidate the Horde and its allies.
After leaving Grim Batol, Orgrim was wary of the Demon Soul artifact. The Orcs had obtained it too easily!
A small golden disc controlled the massive Red Dragonqueen, reducing this powerful being to an egg-laying machine!
Orgrim suspected a conspiracy and heightened his vigilance.
He also valued Zul'jin's 50,000-strong army, secretly supplying them with steel weapons to replace their primitive stone ones, greatly increasing their lethality.
He deemed armor secondary, stating that even the Orcs weren't fully armored and that trolls had stronger regenerative abilities.
After a final letter to Zul'jin, agreeing on the timing of their attack, Orgrim quietly awaited the opportunity.
Since the Tarren Mill conference, all Alliance legions were at war, preparing for the coming battle.
Admiral Daelin Proudmoore, initially stationed in Southshore, personally led the navy to establish a sea defense!
Zul'Dare Isle, between Dun Morogh and Hillsbrad, was a small, abandoned supply and trade transit station.
The experienced Daelin anticipated the Orcish sea route, leading the Kul Tiran and Alliance navies to patrol the nearby sea lanes.
The Great Sea was vast, but Daelin felt at home leading the fleet.
He, Daelin Proudmoore, King of Kul Tiras, was born for the ocean!
If the heavens had not given birth to me, Daelin Proudmoore, the Great Sea would my home for all eternity.
"Report!" A soldier approached.
"The high elf destroyer ahead is signaling a Naga force approaching."
"Don't be nervous, lads, these are friendly forces sent by Duke Trollbane of Stromgarde," Daelin reassured a young sailor. His son Derek was one of Galen's close friends, and their nations had grown closer.
Galen had informed Daelin about the Naga's arrival.
"Have the signalman request their leader to come aboard for identification!"
Even Galen's forces had to follow protocols.
Daelin, in his prime, was calm and cautious, not yet the grief-stricken admiral of later years.
"Zola, of the Naga Brigade affiliated with the Tidedury Legion, reporting for duty!" One of Galen's naga twins, the sea witch Zola, boarded Daelin's flagship, presenting her special identification.
She wore a captain's hat and a tight-fitting sailor suit, her four arms pressed against her body, seemingly ready to draw her scimitars and pistols.
Daelin, setting aside her strength, admired the naga sea witch's attire.
"Welcome, Naga."