This is our Warhammer journey

Chapter 513 Now we can indulge ourselves in hope.

The dark gray sky hung low, at the break of dawn.

The assault force was shrouded in a cloud of swirling dust, the massive machinery creating endless noise, the thick and menacing muzzles pointing straight at the distant earth, the tracks scraping across the soft, scorched ground, moving forward along the ashes left by the enemy.

"Instructions from the Primarch—"

The specialist from the Mechanical Education sect immediately started by discussing matters related to online advertising.

"The support fleet has arrived at the designated location. The Mechanics will begin deploying the network, which requires the cooperation of the space fleet."

Not only will the asteroids connected by the network be ejected into the atmosphere to provide a backup for the advancing assault force, but some will also be placed in the Green Skin gathering area to prepare for the next three-sided encirclement and one-sided attack.

These were all things that Arek should have known about and been arranging long ago.

However, there are priorities. The calculations of the Mechanicus and the coordination with the Imperial fleet are not issues that a Primarch should be constantly concerned with.

Unlike governing a country, the situation on the battlefield is constantly changing. Even in a war on a planetary scale, the slightest mistake can lead to utter destruction.

Arthur would not micromanage a world on the other side of the galaxy unless absolutely necessary. At most, he would set the tone and coordinate with both sides. More specific command arrangements would be handled by the local authorities after communication was completed.

Otherwise, what has been the purpose of so many years of military reforms, the selection of so many talents, and such an effective wartime screening mechanism?

So you're just using it as a mouthpiece?

These oddballs like Guilliman and Romulus can use their advantages to turn administrative personnel into extensions of their own will. Someone even almost turned his own control panel into an AI Guilliman during the time he was torturing Guilliman in conjunction with Karna. Those of them who are responsible for fighting can't do that.

Therefore, upon receiving the message, Arek quickly activated the contingency plan that had been prepared long ago.

The communications officer circling around Arrek immediately made contact with the Imperial Navy fleet, which was far beyond the atmosphere and locked in combat with the Greenskin Fleet.

"General Watkins."

He shouted as he asked, knowing that the pervasive vibrations were severely hindering the transmission of sound.

"Commander-in-Chief."

A muffled voice came from the other end of the communication, sounding slightly old but still respectful.

A surface commander who can defend the sovereignty of a planet before the Imperial Navy arrives earns the respect of any naval officer, especially at this juncture.

You should know that the commander of the third branch fleet of the Armageddon Sector's defense fleet was heartbroken just before breaking through the blockade at the cost of huge casualties.

"Do you have any new messages?"

"Yes, General."

The communication became somewhat surreal, and the Star Speaker on the other end immediately broke free from the restrictions of the Untouchables and began to rely on psychic energy to break through the Greenskins' signal blockade.

As time went on, not only did the military equipment, physical fitness, and tactics improve, but the Greenskins also launched a series of counterattacks against the Empire in terms of intelligence. Various types of harassment, such as electromagnetic interference, became commonplace, and there were even cases of wiretapping.

Furthermore, those green-skinned shamans could also intercept information from the Star Speakers through psionic powers, which once put the Star Speakers in a very difficult position.

Fortunately, this is not a major problem for the empire.

Arek quickly took over the data version that the sage had given him.

With improved information technology capabilities, everything is much better, and inter-service coordination is no longer as difficult as it used to be.

"This is the current deployment of the troops on the surface, the concentration points of enemy defenses, and the locations where the supplies need to be delivered. The locations are marked."

He gave a quick and brief explanation.

This admiral had only recently taken over the sector defense and was one of the few who had slipped through the net after the sector defense fleet repeatedly attempted to break through Mandeville. Although he was a veteran naval commander, he quickly gained command of the entire fleet during the selection process because he had long been in combat environments where he was outnumbered.

Moreover, the opponent's performance was also extremely good. It can only be said that it is truly an achievement to be able to lead a warship that is not familiar with the Mandeville point to fight its way to the vicinity of Amegidon.

In summary: They excel at fighting against overwhelming odds, preserving their own forces, and achieving their goals with limited resources.

"understand!"

The general, who had already received the detailed strategy, quickly replied that Arek's direct connection merely indicated that the mission was about to begin.

The rest was not something the commander-in-chief, who had been working tirelessly on the planet's surface for so long, needed to worry about.

"The Primarch has arrived?"

The general asked again.

Logically speaking, as a naval admiral, he should have this much judgment.

But let’s be honest.

Sitting on the command throne, feeling the oppressive and angry atmosphere emanating from the starship, even the seasoned admiral couldn't help but frown slightly.

Compared to Arrek, who was leading the army to victory after victory on the ground, the proud navy needed some morale-boosting news even more.

Even though the Imperial Navy responded to the Primarch's call and prioritized the modernization of its existing ships, relying on a large number of mechanical mechanisms to replace human facilities, there are no longer long-term inhabitants like the "ammunition supply clan" or the "transportation clan" that were limited by the past.

Conversely, this also places great demands on the mental capacity of the operators in each block. Long-term fatigue and setbacks require these warriors to boost their morale.

In the admiral's view, these Primarch-era warriors were good in every way.

Their strong professional skills, unwavering faith, and comprehensive logistical support system have kept them, especially the lower-level officials, largely free from the harsh occupational diseases that plague them, enabling them to serve a warship for an extended period.

It is precisely because the victories brought by the Primarchs are often too grand that these warriors find it difficult to accept defeat.

The current situation of the Armageddon naval forces is not optimistic, even in the present context of a stable war situation.

The Imperial forces, led by an Apocalypse-class battleship and consisting of four battleships, one large cruiser, sixteen cruisers of various types, and several escort fleets, are defending against the Greenskin fleet, which is mainly composed of six space wrecks, using three Ramirez-class star fortresses and an industrial starport built to resemble the commercial port of the Vigilant Star.

Its firepower projection capability is severely limited by the Greenskin fleet, which is several times larger than its own, to the point that it has had to make strategic concessions on the space defense of the planet Amegidodton, shrinking its forces and awaiting orders.

"of course."

Arek replied without hesitation.

"They're almost here."

"That would be great."

Watkins replied with a calm expression.

It must be said that the current situation is already quite good for a general who has experienced so much.

Judging from his long service experience, the Greenskin Navy is not very strong in combat. In fact, apart from a very few factions, there is no alien race in this universe that can match the full Imperial Navy sector fleet.

However, given the Empire's precarious situation where it is besieged on all sides whenever disaster strikes, and the need to control various subspace shipping lane nodes, as well as the conflicts of interest among naval nobles, the deployment of sector fleets is often known for being loose.

If the outcome is complete, victory is highly probable; however, completeness is also unlikely.

Why is it that, apart from the 12th Black Crusade, Abaddon's invasions in various parts of the galaxy also resulted in encountering the Gothic Fleet, an Imperial Navy fleet that had long served in the Gothic Sector in the northernmost part of the galaxy?

One major reason is that although the high lords are corrupt, they are certainly aware of the current state of the empire. After all, the collusion within Terra itself is enough, and the War of the Beasts back then was an even bigger disaster, bringing the War Moon of the Orcs directly to Terra's face. One second they were enjoying peace and prosperity, and the next second the capital was about to fall.

Then the Imperial Navy couldn't find him; they were all on the border, and not a single one came to the capital to rescue the emperor. The infighting among various parties was a complete mess. In the end, the son of Dorn was forced to form a final high wall with his sons and the Imperial Guard to board the War Moon, and even gave away a big one.

Then, after capturing the War Moon, the High Lords were not grateful at all. Instead, they condemned the Sons of Dorne for their overstepping of authority and said that they should have waited for the main fleet to return to their aid instead of the Astartes forming their own group.

Given its dismal state, it's no wonder that Mars wanted to move the planet and run away back then.

Therefore, after the war, the High Lords learned their lesson and realized that they could not trust even those on their own doorstep. When facing tough battles, they would often directly deploy fleets from other star sectors to support the campaign, in order to concentrate their extremely loose power in the eyes of the Dawn Wings to the greatest extent possible.

However, this has caused a series of problems.

Expeditionary mobilization is inherently troublesome, and coupled with the Empire's information lag and irregular warp travel, it often leads to confusion and uncertainty.

Without deep-seated interests among the nobles of various planets, one's understanding of the local area is vague, making it difficult to know oneself and one's enemy.

Coupled with the longing for home and the eagerness to achieve quick results during expeditions to distant lands, they can often deliver a huge blow.

In response, Lord Romulus, the 'Ruler' of the Dawn Wings and Lord of the Dawn, issued an important instruction.

It is imperative to strengthen the defense fleets of each planet. The governments of each star sector within the Empire should actively respond to the modernization industrial construction sequence led by the Wings of Dawn, provide a foundation for the long-term stationing and maintenance of the large fleet, expand the structure of the planetary defense fleet, optimize the naval allocation of the star sectors, and ensure that the stars are protected and the fleets can be concentrated.

Taking the planet Amegiddon as an example, apart from the leading Apocalypse-class battleships and some cruisers, the rest are all planetary defense fleets. The only difference between them and the regular Imperial Navy fleet is that they lack a subspace engine.

This was even after the Greenskins had tricked them in the early stages of the war.

As for the issue of local forces becoming too powerful and disobeying central administration, potentially forming independent kingdoms?

Say something again while you look at the four lords who are blocking the entrance to the Eye of Fear and taking down the Primarch Peturabo head-on.
In comparison, the situation seems to be completely under control?

Even though other planets in the Amegidorton system had fallen, and control of the airspace above the subcontinent had been lost, the vast airspace above the main continent was now heavily surrounded by the Orks' counterattack fleet. The garrison at the airport had all retreated behind the Void Shield Barrier. Only in this way, coupled with the intense firepower of the defense system, could the swarming Orks temporarily halt their advance.

The enemy's offensive was like a tidal wave. These green-skinned men were like a bunch of barbarians. They used their brute force to swing huge cylindrical battering rams, hammering heavily against the city gate. At the same time, they searched for weak points with each tremor, constantly infiltrating and becoming more and more cunning and treacherous.

Watkins thought the boys had done a great job.

Admiral Watkins, with his sash draped over his shoulder, commanded the throne's cables dangling from his shoulders.

He looked at the rather young officials and the warship that had just left the shipyard. The chandelier above his head trembled and jingled, and they all looked at him expectantly.

It seems that the Primarch's information is much more reliable than his small amount of support.

"Where's the ammunition?"

Watkins smiled slightly and confirmed it again.

"Sixty hours."

The adjutant replied, "At our current launch rate."

He deliberately emphasized the mechanized ammunition feeding system.

Because of the reduced number of troops stationed on warships, many areas no longer have access roads and living quarters, but are completely filled with metal and pipelines.

Strangely, this not only enhanced the structural resilience of ships and reduced population consumption, but also provided more spacious personal activity areas than before, making the overall system many times more efficient than the bloated small societies of the past.
"And what more do we need to ask?"

"Hades Fortress provides ammunition supplies."

The adjutant replied, "It's been sent twice in the past hour alone, and the fortress is still packed."

The general looked to his side.

Not far from the command throne, the long teak table in the foyer was covered with maps and bundles of documents, as if it were a lavish feast prepared for him in this industrial world, just like it was for those businessmen.

All of these are documents that have already been signed.

"Sixty hours."

"Walkins said, his tone slightly somber.

"It was just live ammunition."

The adjutant then emphasized, "If we extract energy from the reactor, the energy weapons and laser platforms can last even longer, maintaining considerable combat capability after the live ammunition is depleted."

"We need spare heavy-duty cables to ensure the circuit is safe."

The admiral, who had carefully studied the ship's layout and was aware of its weaknesses during the warship's construction, reiterated this point.

"The logistics department anticipated this demand and has already dispatched personnel to stand by in various areas."

"That's what the adjutant said."

The general was slightly taken aback.

As the commander who had recently integrated the fleet after being brought in from Mandeville, he seemed to know exactly where the problem lay.

Perhaps the marshal should really take responsibility for how the battle turned out this way.

The general shook his head slightly; he now understood why the soldiers were so heartbroken.

"General?"

Noticing the general's expression, the adjutant whispered, "May I say a few words?"

Admiral Watkins rose from his command throne, still connected by cables, and walked onto the balcony facing the bridge and down to the petty officers, with his adjutant following behind, wherever the supreme general went.

This adjutant, dispatched by the Wings of Dawn to coordinate with various emerging departments of the Empire to facilitate the work of Imperial naval officers, was always by their side.

The general saw the expressions on the young soldiers' faces, and a hint of shame appeared on his own.

At this moment, he couldn't help but feel ashamed of his past attitude of being someone who had been there all along.

"again."

He looked at the soldiers around him and said, the cables of the command throne pushing everything he was doing to the other ships.

"I want to thank you for your heroic act of holding on, because of you many lives have been saved. The destruction of the currency minted for the Emperor is a heavy loss. The throne of Terra is above them all. We will win here, just so that we can mourn them when it is all over."

"I am reminded of a creed cherished by the Salamander Chapter that I heard and witnessed when I spoke with the Salamander angels: to fight for the dead."

He clapped his hands quickly.

"Let's all take our positions."

He said, "I expect the troops to be assembled and ready, kept in sight, and to act according to plan."

"If the enemy's offensive is too strong and we are breached, we must divide, blockade, and encircle them, taking it step by step. This needs to be emphasized."

"Once we enter the area covered by the alien force field, communication will become unstable, so we need to use strobe codes between combat positions—it's simple and reliable."

The garrison officers and the ship leaders nodded quickly, showing little sign of being swayed.

The general's words were simple and somewhat formulaic, but the other side's subsequent professional details on combat made up for this.

After all, everyone knows their own combat objectives.

They not only had to break through the Green Fleet's blockade, but also had to launch the asteroid.

Moreover, it wasn't a devastating launch like in the past, but a precise and elegant landing, preventing the asteroid from annihilating the large force that was still approaching the area where the Bonebreakers were located the moment it hit the ground.

In this respect, although limited by time, the admiral has not yet fully adapted to the current multi-party integrated combat mode, nor has he grasped the desire for victory of the modern Imperial Navy. However, the admiral's experience in preserving himself as a branch fleet in a series of recorded disadvantageous battles has made up for this.

"It seems I'm not very good at public speaking."

Only after everyone's eyes hardened, their expressions thoughtful, and they disconnected the link and returned to their posts did the general turn to face his adjutant.

“You have done an excellent job in logistics since the first day I arrived here, and perhaps it was already before I came. I have already received advice from you, but it is not enough.”

“Every choice we made was made in good faith, General.”

The adjutant said, "I believe you feel the same way. I don't know you well, but it's an honor that you're willing to trust me."

“I appreciate you saying that.”

Watkins replied.

"Given the current situation, adjutant, this battle—"

After a moment's thought, the general spoke with some deliberation.

“I wouldn’t have thought this way before, but now I’m a little worried that my strategy is too formulaic.”

"for example?"

the adjutant asked.

"For example, maintaining a relatively active offensive posture, keeping the collisions going, and gradually widening the Mandeville point waterway in hopes of subsequent supplies and reinforcements."

Watkins, reflecting on this, said, "This is foolish, a mistake caused by the unrealistic hopes of a mortal general, who is too concerned with self-preservation, conserving resources, and harboring illusions."

"It is not a mistake to have hope, General."

The adjutant said in a low voice, somewhat puzzled as to why the other party would have such a mindset.

"It would be a mistake to know from the outset that all hope was lost."

Watkins said he had used this trick to fool countless Imperial Navy personnel who managed to hold out.

In the end, I had to fight my way out myself.

"certainly--"

His gaze fell upon the asteroid's coordinates, which were gradually being locked onto by the Mechanicus, and a smile appeared on his face.

"Now we can indulge ourselves in hope."

　P.S.: I feel like I'm dying right now, like my body has been hollowed out.

　　Synopsis: The changes in the composition of the Imperial Navy, the structure of its ships, the organizational structure, and the operational structure of the Imperial armed forces; the evolving perception of the current situation by an old Imperial captain; and Arek's formal commencement of the initial phase of the "Greenskin Network Project."

　　
　
(End of this chapter)