The Emperor’s Angel of Death

"Chapter Master, the various units have essentially secured the key facilities and areas around the outskirts of Cinder Furnace City."

Standing beside the auspex, watching the data cascade like a waterfall and the city's three-dimensional image gradually filling with various colors and markings, Solzhenitsyn, arms crossed, nodded slightly upon hearing First Company Captain Dinar's words.

"Only eleven hours, meaning the aliens put up virtually no effective resistance."

"Yes, the resistance was very weak."

"Which also suggests they've decided to retreat underground."

Solzhenitsyn reached out and touched several areas on the holographic map, causing them to light up with a flash.

"According to the initial combat reports from Cinder Furnace City, these locations saw the emergence of massive sinkholes, and were also the primary positions from which the aliens launched their attacks. Although they detonated these sinkholes during their retreat, the effect was poor, and they can be breached with tunneling equipment."

At that moment, Solzhenitsyn heard a clicking sound behind him, turning to see Forge Master Przemyslaw approaching, surrounded by a throng of Tech-Priests, prompting him to smile:

"Forge Master, congratulations, Cinder Furnace City has been retaken... at least on the surface."

Przemyslaw approached Solzhenitsyn, expressing his gratitude:

"Thank you, and to the Space Marines, and the brethren of Ulan Huda, for your assistance. The people of Ekvorria will remember this debt."

Solzhenitsyn waved his hand.

"It's too early to say such things. Many areas inside Cinder Furnace City have yet to be reclaimed, and the battle has only just begun."

Przemyslaw naturally understood Solzhenitsyn's words, nodding.

"You are right. We must also eradicate the enemies lurking deeper within the planet."

"My personal plan is to slow the offensive for now, giving the Genestealers some time to withdraw more of their forces underground. Of course... they won't so easily abandon the city, and have certainly left behind many scattered skirmish squads or lurking beasts. Future combat within the city will likely be a war fought in the shadows."

"Our Infiltrator units are confident in eliminating these enemies."

"More alarming are the Necrons. The situation in the Slag Mountains remains unclear. Reports of these metallic aliens are increasing, but I believe that is not their true area of activity. These fellows' nests should still be beneath Cinder Furnace City... Forge Master, I need to deploy sufficiently powerful firepower around here, and considering the intensity of future warfare, Cinder Furnace City may suffer significant damage. Therefore, please relocate any valuable facilities in the city as soon as possible."

"Many of these giant facilities cannot be moved at all, such as the foundries..."

"I understand. I will take care of these things as much as possible, but you also know that war is merciless."

"Yes, I understand. I will arrange for engineering teams to move the facilities that can be relocated as soon as possible."

"Thank you for your efforts. Also... please expedite the transfer of all heavy combat robots from the Forge World, along with Krios battle tanks, and other related heavy weapons, to the designated positions near Cinder Furnace City."

"This work is already being accelerated."

Solzhenitsyn then looked at Nadir.

"First Company Captain, you are temporarily in charge here. I need to return to orbit to make some adjustments to the fleet deployment. You must constantly monitor information such as earthquakes or abnormal energy signals. The Forge World's energy detection systems should all be activated. If the Necrons are to awaken, they will create a great commotion."

"Understood, Chapter Master, I will keep a close eye on all information."

After hesitating for a moment, the captain cautiously asked:

"Do you think there will be a naval battle later on?"

Solzhenitsyn nodded.

"Very likely."

He couldn't say some things because they were too sensitive. In fact, two days ago, information came from Eldar, the Tears of Heaven fleet lurking around the star system detected abnormal energy signals from a world, and sent reconnaissance teams to investigate. Only then did they discover that the dead planet was actually a tomb world, and one that concealed a fleet. Therefore, the fleet commander, Giuliog, decisively took preemptive action, blasting the planet to pieces with a single shot and sending it into the warp, thus erasing a threat.

But based on the judgment of a Necron dynasty by the Royal Court, their fleets are definitely not just one, and are very likely divided into several parts hidden in different worlds. It is very difficult to find them one by one. It was just luck that the Tears of Heaven happened to encounter one.

Upon receiving the information, Solzhenitsyn immediately became vigilant. The fleet he brought this time was not very large. The White Templars currently had only 10 capital ships and 21 smaller ships (including an experimental Viper-class missile destroyer), and a Rogue-class light carrier. Ekvorria's fleet strength was also not strong. The flagship was an old Emperor-class battleship that had not moved its position for 500 years, and the others were light cruisers and frigates, totaling 42 ships. Their strength was only enough for self-defense, and it was difficult to even form a relatively strong exploration fleet. The main reason was that the Forge World started late and did not have many resources invested in docks and shipyards. It was not until the last hundred years that the Forge World built a void dock capable of building giant capital ship-level vessels, but there were currently no shipbuilding orders.

Although Ulan Huda sent troops this time, they did not have many fleets, only a dozen armed transport ships and a few light cruisers. Bangura probably felt that there was not much of a problem with Solzhenitsyn around. He also asked Solzhenitsyn at the time, and Solzhenitsyn had no objection to this.

This fleet size was actually not weak, but the Necrons' void weapons had left a deep impression on Solzhenitsyn. In the Battle of the World Engine, the Empire concentrated hundreds of warships and could do nothing against the opponent's space fortress. This fleet size was really difficult for Solzhenitsyn to feel any "sense of security."

Now that the ground operations needed to be temporarily slowed down, he planned to return to the fleet, on the one hand, to adjust the fleet's berthing position, to guard against enemies that might appear at any time, and on the other hand, to reorganize the three parties' ships to ensure that he could command any ship in time at the first moment of the outbreak of battle.

As for whether the Forge Master was willing or not...

After Solzhenitsyn promised to provide them with a series of advanced technologies and STC templates (copies), Przemyslaw immediately jumped on the bandwagon, pledging allegiance to this "Lord of the Lost Legion."

Ekvorria will also be an important chess piece for Solzhenitsyn's layout of the Tempest Sector in the future. This place is remote, close to the edge of the star system, and rarely attracts attention, but it is relatively close to the Orpheus Sector. Building and developing this Forge World will be able to radiate influence to this relatively isolated sector. When the Soul Drinkers Chapter of the Orpheus Sector is brought into the Alliance of Suffering, the entire Dark Fringe can become a part of his "overall strategy"—he never thought of occupying a territory like Huron, but as he gradually came into contact with the darkest and most core history and forces of the galaxy, he gradually felt an impending storm brewing. Although he could not imagine what its final form would be, Solzhenitsyn could judge that once it started, it would definitely be a violent turmoil that would subvert the entire galaxy. At that time, if there was a stable and remote area as a rear, he would be able to observe the situation from a relatively "safe" position.