The Emperor’s Angel of Death

The Abyss-class battleship's main gun is a massive focused plasma cannon. In terms of attack method, it seems quite ordinary, but it is likely the largest plasma cannon, in terms of caliber and energy output, known to the Imperium. Therefore, the difficulties in its construction all lie in the energy system and high-temperature resistant materials. Another problem with this main gun is its relatively short range, almost exclusively for close-quarters combat. This clearly does not align with what Sorkash wanted from it – investing such an expensive warship in close-range combat with enemy capital ships is like throwing an excellent sniper into a gladiatorial arena to brawl with barbarians, foolish and meaningless. This is also one reason why the Abyss-class has a poor combat record; its design is simply inexplicable. Its weapon configuration prevents it from serving as a long-range artillery ship, while its hull structure prevents it from closing in on enemies like a battle barge to deliver efficient output with dense broadside macro-cannons. Its broadsides are almost entirely laser cannons, seemingly designed to charge straight at the enemy like an arrow, using the ship's massive main gun to deliver a fatal blow.

But the problem is, once the arrow is released, there's no turning back. What if the main gun misses or fails to achieve the desired effect?

At this point, the Abyss-class has undoubtedly placed itself within the enemy's firing range, and its massive hull cannot be quickly and flexibly maneuvered. Worse, the slender front of the hull is very vulnerable and can easily be destroyed by intense enemy fire, essentially breaking the "arrowhead."

This is another strange aspect of the Abyss-class design. Emphasizing frontal firepower is fine, but its frontal firepower isn't truly enhanced. Besides the main gun, the only frontal firepower supplement is torpedoes, and the belly turrets are not well-suited for attacking the front due to the firing arc limitations imposed by the hull shape.

So, to describe it specifically, it can be said that the former traitorous Mechanicus Magi created a "decisive battle capital ship" that looks like a long-range artillery ship but has all-around firepower, yet no direction of firepower is particularly strong. It must approach the enemy lines and use the ship's main gun in a near-lottery-style attack on enemy capital ships, and it has many blind spots. (The battle between the Fury Abyss-class and several escorts is like a 59 fighting a Maus in World of Tanks).

It must be said that this is very much in line with the "greed for large and comprehensive" research characteristics of some Mechanicus Magi.

Of course, this is not to say that the Abyss-class is weak. After all, the tonnage is there. Even a derelict ship of this size is unstoppable in space, but its combat power does not match its tonnage at all; it should be able to do better.

Therefore, Sorkash's positioning of it from the beginning was very clear: a capital ship used for long-range artillery warfare, with all its design focused on long-range bombardment, maximizing the concentration of firepower in one direction. This is why the Mechanicus Magi designed large dorsal spine turrets. If so, then this giant plasma cannon used for close-range bombardment must also be modified; it must be transformed from a "howitzer" into a "long gun." This posed a major challenge to the Magi. The cannon was already difficult to build, and now it was even more difficult, so it was delayed until the ship was almost finished, and the main gun was still not ready.

In this situation, Sorkash made the decision to have two Forge Worlds design it separately. This decision was both to speed up the progress and to facilitate Ulan Huda's side in doing some "tricks."

When it comes to plasma technology, the Adeptus Mechanicus of Ryza is the first choice in the Imperium, and the Eldar are the best in plasma-related materials science in the galaxy. Their plasma weapons can even remain cold after continuous firing, but it is definitely impossible to find Ryza for this kind of thing. The material technology on the Eldar side is completely incompatible with that of humans, and Sorkash does not want to install an Eldar main gun on a human-made warship, as it is not conducive to racial confidence. However, Sorkash has a third option—

→

“Idiot! Don't move that position! Can you get those half-machine people to get out of the way!”

The irritable voice echoed through the construction site. Everyone looked over and saw a stocky, short man with a gray, enclosed protective suit and a large beard, pointing his plasma welding gun at a flustered Mechanicus priest.

“By Grungni's beard! Why is it so difficult to earn money from you two! I told you to get that damn diverter to that damn G7 marker! Can't you even understand your own language!?”

Kayan chuckled.

“These dwarves have quite the temper.”

Sorkash didn't care.

“But their technology is very good. Their plasma technology is comparable to that of the Eldar. Only they can manufacture this long-range plasma destroyer cannon. It can fire a cluster-type plasma with three times the range of the original Abyss-class main gun, and the power will not decrease.”

Because there were no outsiders here, he spoke more casually.

“It's a pity that it's too expensive. Selling a planet wouldn't be enough to exchange for one. It's no exaggeration to say that the price of this cannon is probably about the same as the price of this Abyss-class ship. For it, I am now in debt.”

In order to increase the construction speed of the Abyss-class and improve its plasma main gun, Sorkash specially hired a technical team of more than a hundred Kinforged from the Greater Thurian League at a high price. Of course, this is just the personnel. The plasma destroyer cannon can be said to be the front-line main equipment of the Leagues of Votann fleet. Generally speaking, it will not be sold to the outside world. The Commercial League also has no right to sell this level of physical objects or technology on its own. A collective vote by the Hearth Council is required to reach a military sales agreement.

Obviously, normally, an Astartes Chapter would definitely not be able to obtain this core weapon. The Leagues of Votann also have corresponding military sales restrictions on the Imperium of Man, but Sorkash has another identity, an identity that the Hearth Council has to value. After a series of negotiations and discussions, they finally agreed to sell Sorkash a plasma destroyer cannon—of course, the price was also extremely expensive.

Fortunately, the Thurian League agreed to Sorkash's "offer" to exchange his interests in the human side, which prevented him from having to misappropriate the Imperial Treasury in large quantities.

However, the Hearth Council also made relevant restrictions on this military sale. For example, the core components of this plasma destroyer cannon were directly transported by the Kin, and the subsequent maintenance was also the responsibility of the Kinforged. In short, they only sell weapons, not technology.

Sorkash can understand this. After all, unlike plasma missiles, this thing is already the Votann's housekeeping skill and is generally only installed on their most powerful capital ships.

In a sense, the components of this Abyss-class ship have become more complex, and it can be said to be a combination of human, Votann, and Eldar technologies, but this is not a problem for Sorkash now.

“Master Engineer Mikazni, is the progress going smoothly?”