Shipping goods from the game to the World of Warhammer

Chapter 94 You're really taking it?

Judge Thane's face was now extremely sour, even more so than the atmosphere above Mordax, the world of casting, which was perpetually filled with factory fumes.

Just three days ago, several technical priests from the Mechanics Society conducted a comprehensive inspection of the armaments coming off the new production line in Mordax and concluded that they fully met the STC template standards.

This left Judge Sain feeling inexplicably frustrated. When did the Mechanical Order's censorship become so lenient?

However, the report bore the personal seal of the forging director and the joint signature of the senior technical priests, leaving Saine with no grounds for criticism. Unless he wanted to go against the entire Mechanicus, he had no right to overturn the Mechanicus's technical assessment.

So he changed his approach. Since there were no problems with the mechanical repair guild's standards, he decided to put it to a real-world testing ground.

Unlike the stubborn Mechanics, the Astrakrians have a very intuitive understanding of whether tanks are effective or not, since they are the ones who rely on these vehicles to fight on the battlefield.

Colonel Vikson, the commander of the 7th Armored Regiment of Blackwing Harbor, was a veteran armored soldier in his forties. An old scar running from his left eyebrow to his right cheek made him look ten years older than he actually was.

Upon receiving news that the Inquisitor was coming, he personally went to the base gate to greet him. However, this was not because the Inquisitor was a popular figure, but rather because those cunning old foxes who disguised themselves as various identities were much more difficult to deal with than the Inquisitors who came openly.

"Judge Sain".

Vikson extended his hand, his tone not exactly warm.

"Colonel Vikson, I've come today to borrow your testing range."

Sain had no interest in pleasantries and directly pulled a document from the servant's hand and handed it over. "A batch of siege vehicles from Mordax's new production line has been certified for compliance by the Mechanics. I need to conduct a round of comparative combat tests."

Vikson took the document, flipped through two pages, and raised his eyebrows.

"A siege tank? Dual-mode switching?" His gaze lingered on the technical specifications for a few seconds. "Which foundry world came up with this? I've never seen a design like this before."

"Moldax, the forging world near the Vandrick dynasty's territory."

Half an hour later, on the open-air test field on the east side of the base, a siege tank that had just been unloaded from a transport vehicle stopped at the starting point of the runway. Fifty meters away from it, a standard Leman Russ tank currently in service with the 7th Armored Regiment had already started its engine, and the deep roar made the ground tremble slightly.

Vikson stood on the observation platform with his staff and two veteran crew members, while Sain stood next to Vikson with his arms crossed, waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

"The first item is maneuverability."

Vikson picked up the communicator and gave the order to the two vehicle crews on the test track: "Start the timer."

Lemanrus started first, its engine, capable of consuming almost any fuel, roaring familiarly. As a veteran who had proven itself on countless battlefields, Lemanrus's start wasn't particularly rapid, but its unhurried and composed demeanor was itself a kind of pressure.

On the first bend, the Leman Russ demonstrated its signature quick turn and track differential braking, with the entire tank reversing direction almost on the spot, kicking up a cloud of dust.

When the siege tank started in tank mode, everyone noticed a difference: it started much faster than the Lemanrus.

However, the Siege Tank wasn't as composed in corners as the Leman Russ. Its steering relied more on deceleration followed by acceleration, rather than the almost ballet-like stationary spins of the Leman Russ. After two laps, the Siege Tank's advantage on the straights and the time lost in the corners offset each other, resulting in a final time difference of less than four seconds between the two tanks.

"Linear speed does indeed have an advantage."

Vikson recorded the data expressionlessly, "But its turning flexibility is not as good as Lemanus'."

Sain nodded, feeling a little more at ease.

"The second item is the firepower test."

At the end of the testing range stood a row of targets welded from decommissioned armor plates, ranging in distance from hundreds to thousands of meters. The Leman Rus's 120mm combat cannon fired first; the water-cooled jacket suppressed the heat from the barrel, and the gyro stabilizer ensured accuracy. Three shots, three hits: the 500-meter target was penetrated, the 1000-meter target was dented, and the 2000-meter target was hit at its edge. For a conventional cannon, this accuracy is excellent.

The siege tank's tank mode is equipped with twin 90mm plasma howitzers, which are smaller in caliber than the Leman Russ's 120mm, but have a higher rate of fire. The two shells leave the barrel almost simultaneously, and the instant they hit the 500-meter target, the high temperature of the plasma directly burns two semi-melted holes in the armor plate.

Vikson frowned.

The targets at 1,000 meters and 2,000 meters were hit, with better accuracy than the Lemanus. However, the damage caused by the plasma warhead was significantly different. Compared to the Lemanus, the siege tank's firepower was slightly insufficient.

"Almost there."

Vikson finally managed to squeeze out a comment.

Sain's expression finally improved.

"But there's another mode, let's test that too."

Vikson issued new instructions directly into the communicator.

The siege tank began its mode switch. Hydraulic supports extended from both sides of the hull, the tracks locked, the tank's center of gravity lowered, and the main gun system at the rear of the hull tilted upwards, revealing the 180mm stun howitzer that was enough to make anyone gasp.

Switching from tank mode to siege mode takes less than five seconds.

The new target was pushed to a distance of 4,000 meters, which was beyond the effective range of the Leman Russ standard main gun.

The 180mm cannon barrel was slightly adjusted, and then the entire test range was enveloped by a muffled cannon shot that sent shivers down one's spine.

Four kilometers away, a mushroom-shaped cloud of smoke, mixed with debris and dust, rose from the area where the target was located. After the smoke cleared, everyone fell silent as they looked at the scene on the holographic screen. The target was gone, and a deep crater had been blasted into the ground within a few meters of it.

"—What about the range? What is the maximum effective range?"

Vikson's voice sounded much tighter than before.

The officer standing nearby flipped through the technical documents: "The effective range is marked as six thousand meters, Your Honor."

Vikson slowly turned his head and looked at Sain.

"Judge Sain, 97"

His tone became extremely serious, "If the production capacity of this thing is sufficient, I can write a formal application report for its deployment to the higher-ups right now."

Sain did not answer.

He admitted that the siege tank's firepower had exceeded his expectations. Especially the 180mm main gun in siege mode; in the Astragalus Army's existing armored fleet, you'd have to replace the Lemanustank with a super-heavy tank like the Imperial Blade or Doomhammer to find a barely comparable level of firepower. And this siege tank, when switched back to tank mode, could still be used as a proper mobile main battle tank.

In other words, this is a vehicle that can do two jobs at the same time.

But when Sain looked at the tank's cannon, he noticed another problem.

"In siege mode, you are completely immobile and have a minimum firing radius."

He finally spoke, "On the battlefield, once a tank is outflanked by the enemy, in siege mode it becomes a sixty-ton stationary target. It needs the coordinated protection of infantry and other vehicles, which is the same problem as the Leman Russ's weak flanks and rear, or even more serious."

Vikson thought for a moment and nodded: "You're right, survivability in siege mode is indeed a concern. But you also have to see the other side, Inquisitor Sain. In defensive and siege battles, the value of this long-range artillery capability is irreplaceable by Lemanrus's cannons."

He paused, then added, "Moreover, given its firepower coverage, it can switch back to tank mode before ordinary units enter a blind spot, unlike those heavy artillery platforms, which take a long time to move."

Sain remained silent for a few seconds.

He had to admit that Vikson was right. If evaluated purely from a tactical perspective, this siege tank did fill a gap in the Astragalus's capabilities between medium- and long-range direct-fire firepower and rapid deployment. You either had to choose the mobility of the Lemanrus but sacrifice range, or choose the range of heavy artillery but sacrifice mobility. This siege tank, through mode switching, offered both advantages.

But before Sain could swallow his anger, Colonel Vikson's communicator rang again.

"Reporting, Colonel, the second batch of test samples has been unloaded from the transport vehicle, but—this thing doesn't seem to be a conventional vehicle."

"What do you mean?"

"You'd better come and see for yourself, sir."

The group on the observation platform moved to the helipad area on the west side of the test site.

From afar, Sain spotted the second test prototype: a heavy-looking fighter jet parked in the center, its missile pods mounted under the short wings on either side gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

"What's the name of this sample unit?"

Vikson turned to the next page of the technical document and read aloud the name, "Viking Fighter?"

"A transformable air combat vehicle," Sain added, having reviewed the reports on the two samples several times himself, but only to identify potential problems. He ultimately found nothing. "The fighter jet mode is used for air superiority, and it can switch to a ground-based walking mech mode for land combat. That's what the documents say."

""

Vikson slowly raised his head, his expression complex.

As a veteran who had spent most of his life dealing with armored vehicles, he had seen countless strange and wonderful vehicles, but he had never seen anything that could freely switch between a fighter jet and a walking mech.

The Imperial Navy's Lightning fighters do have some multi-role capabilities, but that is based on air superiority fighters, occasionally taking on ground attack roles; they are essentially fighter jets.

According to the documents, the Viking in front of us has two complete combat modes in both forms; it's not just a guest appearance, but its main role.

"Test its in-flight performance first."

Vikson said into the communicator, "Have the Navy send a Lightning over for comparison."

It took quite a while to get one Lightning over. After all, the 407th Armored Regiment is an army unit, and there were no naval aircraft readily available at the base, so they had to borrow one from the Imperial Navy next door.

The Lightning fighter was parked next to the Viking, and the difference in size between the two was immediately apparent. The Lightning was slimmer and more streamlined, and its swept-wing design gave it a razor-sharp look. Its dry-ton weight made it look like a falcon ready to launch at any moment.

The Viking, on the other hand, is much more robust, with its wide fuselage, sturdy engine bay, and movable structural components that transform into legs in walking mode, making it look more like a heavily armored infantryman equipped with a flight engine.

"take off."

The F100-XB afterburning turbofan engine of the Lightning fighter jet ignited first, and with the help of the rocket booster, it only took a few seconds to go from a standstill to take off. The sound of the swept wings cutting through the air exploded in the sky above the test site. The Lightning rose at a near vertical angle and in the blink of an eye became a small silver dot in the sky.

The Viking's takeoff was far less graceful. Its engine power was more focused on thrust than acceleration, resulting in a more stable and heavier takeoff, like an anvil being tossed into the air—an anvil with an engine, of course. But once it reached cruising altitude, the Viking's flight attitude stabilized, even becoming quite smooth.

Both aircraft conducted 15 minutes of basic flight maneuvers in the test airspace of the atmosphere. The conclusion was clear: the Lightning was slightly superior to the Viking in speed, rate of climb, and maneuverability.

The high-G maneuvers performed by Lightning were difficult for even the Vikings to imitate. Of course, this may be related to the pilot's proficiency; the pilot operating the Scarf was not yet familiar with the aircraft's flight operation.

Sain finally showed his first smile of the day, though it was faint, it was a smile nonetheless.

"Its air combat maneuverability is inferior to the Lightning."

He turned to look at Vikson, his tone carrying a hint of satisfaction mixed with a touch of regret, "If this thing were to fight lightning within the atmosphere, it probably wouldn't be able to catch up."

Vikson did not refute or rush to conclusions, but instead raised his binoculars to continue observing.

"Next, we will test the maximum operational altitude."

Judge Sain didn't want to say anything more; he had seen the report himself.

The Lightning fighter climbed all the way to an altitude of 36000 meters, which is the limit of its combat capability. Although it could continue to climb higher, the Lightning fighter would lose its combat capability.

Then the fighter jets climbing out of the atmosphere showed no signs of being affected.

After all, the Zerg air force can migrate and fight between space platforms and planets, and the Viking fighters can do the same. The only limitation for them is their energy reserves.

This is equivalent to the Blitzkrieg fighter jet transforming into a furious interceptor in space warfare.

"Next, we'll test the firepower."

Vikson lowered his head and added another sentence into the communicator.

Three unmanned target drones were released into the test airspace to simulate aerial targets of different sizes and speeds. Lightning fired first, its wing-mounted laser cannons and belly-mounted long-barreled automatic cannons firing alternately, reducing two smaller target drones to fragments within a few rounds. Clean and efficient, it truly deserved the title of "air superiority fighter."

However, the third target drone was a large, slow-moving target, simulating an enemy heavy fleet. While Lightning's laser cannons and automatic cannons had a high hit rate against the armor of the large target drone, their damage efficiency was significantly reduced. Lightning's weapons were designed for air combat, and their mouth-fire capability was insufficient against heavily armored targets.

It's the Vikings' turn.

The MT50 Lanzer missiles were launched sequentially from their short-range missile pods, their antimatter warheads trailing white contrails as they hurtled towards the large target drone. The first missile hit, instantly destroying the drone's left side. The second missile struck, causing the drone's main structure to disintegrate in the explosion, with fragments scattered over an area of ​​several hundred meters.

The observation platform fell silent again.

Vikson lowered his binoculars. "Is this thing armed to the anti-ship level?"

Zain's mouth twitched again; he seemed to have given up struggling and said something expressionlessly.

"Don't rush, there's more."

Vikson and the others then remembered and picked up the communicator: "Viking fighter, switch to ground mode."

All the light from everyone focused on the Viking who was slowing down and hovering in the air.

Engine thrust increased, and the fuselage began to descend. At a height of approximately twenty meters above the ground, the Viking's shape began to change. The fuselage folded and retracted, extending longitudinally, and the movable structural components below unfolded and locked, forming two robust mechanical legs. The missile pods on the fuselage retracted into the fuselage, replaced by twin Gatling guns that unfolded from the sides.

After transforming, the fighter jet turned into a walking mech over five meters tall and landed steadily on the ground of the test site.

Ground targets were launched. The twin Gatling guns began to spin, unleashing a barrage of bullets onto the target array, scattering metal fragments and sparks. Within seconds, the three rows of targets were reduced to scrap metal.

"Capable of flying, walking, and fighting; capable of anti-ship operations in the air and sweeping attacks on the ground."

Vikson's summary was succinct: "Zion Inquisitor. This is a completely new tactical position. It allows you to both guard against heavy air units and provide valuable ground support."

Vikson continued reading the data in his hand: "Armor thickness? This thing weighs over thirty tons. If it were to be hit by an anti-aircraft shell, this Viking would still have a chance to switch to mech mode and make an emergency landing."

He looked up, staring at the Viking machine slowly moving in mech mode in the distance, and after a long while, a few words popped out from the light: "Can this kind of fighter be mass-produced? What about the maintenance and repair costs?"

But he immediately shook his head: "No matter what, at least in terms of firepower coverage and positioning, the tactical value of this batch of military equipment is hard to cover up with the cost of maintenance and repair, and the production efficiency is too low."

Sain didn't reply. He turned back and walked the way he came, quickening his pace.

He needed some time alone to reaffirm his beliefs and think about how that wandering merchant from the Vandrick dynasty, just like the Emperor's Blessing, managed to find this STc thing from a planet teeming with aliens.