Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 484 Rebuilding the Legion (Part 1)

Cold blue light flowed down from the suspended holographic star map, outlining the vast and treacherous contours of the Mariupol star sector.

The flashing lights marked the fleet, resource points, and several threatening areas emanating an ominous crimson and a purplish-black light that seemed to devour the sun.

The air was filled with the astringent smell of burning promethium, the ozone odor of precision instruments, and the low hum of countless data boards—the cold heartbeat of the empire's massive war machine.

Chen Xi stood before the star map, his gaze intently scrutinizing the crimson patch of light representing the "Broken Tooth" galaxy.

He wore a well-tailored governor's uniform, with a short cape with a scarlet lining draped over his left shoulder, and a judge's rose made of fine gold pinned to his chest, reflecting a slightly cold luster in the dim blue light.

His presence was like the gravitational center of a star chart, naturally drawing all eyes to him from the command center.

Half a step away from him, Hathor Lupecal's presence was like a drawn blade.

She stood tall and straight, her dark gray administrative uniform unable to conceal the majesty that came from the depths of her blood, her amber-gold eyes sharply scanning the star map.

"The Ash Knights' strength is growing. We currently have approximately 4000 Astartes, including about 2700 full-fledged Astartes and about 1200 new recruits. This is a very powerful force." Hathor's voice was calm and clear, instantly drawing everyone's attention in the command room.

Her fingertip precisely touched the scarlet "broken tooth" area on the holographic star map.

"But the framework of the Astartes provides us with the skeleton of organization and logistics, but it also invisibly restricts the flexibility of tactics and adaptability on the battlefield."

Her gaze swept over the Ash Knights high-ranking members who were gathered around her.

At this military conference, Chen Xi summoned all three commanders from the Legion era, including the battle group leader Shi Dong and Chen Xi himself. Even Aliman attended the meeting.

Although these individuals were all shocked by Hathor's existence, they were not as extreme as Loken because Loken and Chen Xi had informed them.

“The shadow of the Great Rift is closing in,” she said, her voice carrying an undeniable urgency. “Merely qualified guards are not enough to deal with the cataclysmic storm that is about to sweep across the galaxy.”

What we need are legion-level blades capable of cleaving through the darkness and dominating the battlefield—the very backbone that once supported the Great Crusade.

She leaned forward slightly and drew a circle on the "Broken Tooth" galaxy with her finger: "'Tempering' Project has a clear core objective: to use actual combat as a furnace and collaboration as an anvil."

New recruits need to lay a solid foundation and understand the pulse and rhythm of large-scale operations; veterans must rediscover the resilience, adaptability, and independent decision-making ability to fight together in dangerous situations.

Time waits for no one; the key to our race against time lies in significantly improving the overall effectiveness of our battle group.

Her fingertips steadily tapped the crimson expanse: "'Broken Tooth' star system is the first phase of 'Forge,' targeting a remnant of the orcs that has fallen into 'WAAAGH! Lost' due to infighting among their leaders. They are still ferocious, but leaderless, and their threat is moderate and controllable."

She looked at Sigismund and Ventanus, who were attending the meeting: "This is an excellent training ground for your recruit company. The training focuses on cross-company coordination, the flow of battlefield information, maintaining the front line amidst the chaos created by the Greenskins, and strictly adhering to operational procedures under the guidance of veterans."

What we need to cultivate is the 'cornerstone' of coordinated operations, not simply the pursuit of kill counts.

Chen Xi's gaze swept across the crimson spots on the star map, and he calmly took over the conversation: "Ms. Hathor's plan hits the nail on the head. The orcs of the Broken Tooth Galaxy are more chaotic than organized, making them the 'ideal whetstone' for honing the teamwork of new recruits."

He turned to Sigismund, his eyes filled with approval and expectation: "Company Commander Sigismund, the essence of legion-level defense lies in the unity of will and the precision of action. This Battle of the Anvil is the key opportunity to infuse this essence into new blood. What are your plans for this battle?"

Sigismund immediately stepped forward, his gaze fixed intently on the most concentrated points of light among the orcs, his voice ringing out like clashing adamantine: "Your Excellency is wise! The essence lies precisely in 'seamless integration under a unified will'!"

He loosely clenched his hands, mimicking the meshing of gears: "Firepower and assault must be as seamlessly integrated as siege equipment! Veterans are not only the spearhead, but also the guides—allowing new recruits to feel the pulse of their comrades amidst the howls of the green-skinned soldiers, and to understand the true meaning of orders!"
Individual bravery can only tear through steel when integrated into the collective torrent! The sacred texts provided the framework; this battle must infuse it with the soul of the legion—the ability to execute complex coordination with precision amidst chaos!

Chen Xi nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to Ventanus: "Company Commander Ventanus, your expertise lies in translating objectives into actionable plans and ensuring risks are manageable. How do you guide new recruits using a 'ladder' approach, training them in coordination while simultaneously building a solid foundation?"

Ventanus nodded steadily, his finger quickly tracing the cursor on the control panel to bring up a preset tactical simulation map: "Your Excellency, Company Commander Sigismund is absolutely right. The orcs are now scattered, which suits my purposes perfectly."

He pointed to several points of light on the outer edge of the star map.

"The first step is to precisely cover the outer nodes with firepower and establish a safe control zone—driving the green-skinned soldiers into a pre-set 'pocket' to minimize the initial chaotic contact and losses of the new recruits." Then, he circled several pre-set training areas. "The second step is to organize the new recruits to conduct multi-wave coordinated assault and firepower coverage drills within the control zone, repeatedly honing their coordination."

Each wave has a clear objective, emphasizing immediate coordination between assault and fire support teams, with veteran units embedded at key nodes providing real-time guidance and correction.

Finally, he pointed to the pre-designated decisive battle zone: "When the green-skinned soldiers are driven into a corner, organize an annihilation battle led by new recruits and supported by veterans to complete the combat loop. The risks are controllable, and the experience of coordination is maximized."

Chen Xi's gaze fell on Ahriman, carrying an undeniable air of seriousness: "Curator Ahriman, the orc psionic boy is the most unstable crack in the chain of cooperation. How can the recruit's will and cooperation remain stable in the face of a potential psionic storm?"

Ahriman's gaze swept across the orcish encampment, the shadow beneath his hood swaying slightly, his voice carrying the deep resonance characteristic of a psionicist: "Your Excellency's insight is keen. Company Commander Ventanus's strategy is sound, but if the hidden psionic kid were to unleash his power, it would be a disaster for the recruits' coordination."

He turned to Chen Xi and Hathor: "The think tank will deploy a psionic monitoring network in the main combat zone and embed psionic support teams into recruit units to provide early warning and countermeasure barriers."

This battle is also a compulsory course for new recruits—to hone their communication, discipline, and execution skills under the whispers of the warp and the impact of psionic energy!
An iron will is the cornerstone of resisting chaos and the lifeblood of maintaining collaboration. I will ensure that interference is suppressed within a controllable range and that the tempering process is undisturbed.

Chen Xi's gaze finally settled on Shi Dong, with a clear entrustment: "Team Leader Shi Dong, you have an unshirkable responsibility for the integration and execution of Operation 'Anvil'."

He paused, his voice carrying power: "The growth of the new recruits, the cohesion of the spirit of cooperation—these are the core of this battle. Ventanus's 'Staircase' is the framework, Sigismund's 'Soul' is the essence, and Ahriman's 'Barrier' is the guarantee. Forge them into a single, sharp sword, and wield it."

(End of this chapter)