Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 266 Anvil
Gabriel, through the simulated sanctuary, gained complete knowledge of the entire Westday star system.

The 33rd Fleet achieved victory through the shadow of order, with casualties no greater than those of the "Iron Hand".

He smiled, removed the connector, and stood up from his seat.

Immediately, Gabriel saw Lord Manus stand up from his seat a dozen meters away.

His silver-coin-like eyes liquefied as he looked over inquiringly, his voice as heavy as lead.

"I didn't expect that without any enhancements in computing, you would actually keep up with the pace of the Iron Hand."

"Your data processing skills are at least at the average level of Iron Hand, which is admirable."

Gabriel knew that Lord Manus had become interested in his abilities and that he had to discourage him from exploring further in order to prevent the abilities bestowed upon him by the Father of Genetics from being exposed.

He picked up the cat from the ground and began to speak.

"It's all thanks to it. It's a brain-boosting cat that can enhance my brain and amplify my computing power."

Manus's eyes returned to their normal silver-coin state, "Relying on external forces is ultimately temporary."

"The mechanical religion's advocacy of physical weakness is the truth; you should undergo mechanical transformation."

“I see potential in you. You are capable of undergoing significant modifications and gaining computational abilities like the Iron Hand.”

“Father, I think that Gabriel can have the same computing ability as us even without mechanical modification.”

Above the flagship, there is currently only one entity that dares to speak to the Primarch in this way.

Storm General Amadeus Ducaine.

Although he accepted the Medusa culture advocated by Lord Manus, he thought the ideas of the father of genes were too radical.

Manus glanced at Dukaine and said, "You'll understand."

After the space war ended, the Eleventh Chapter of the "Shadow of Order" launched an attack on the northern planets of the system, while the Solago clan company of the "Iron Hand" launched an offensive on the southern planets.

Finus Manus, flagship of the 52nd Expeditionary Fleet, said to Ducaine:
“You are known throughout the Empire for ‘Storm and Hammer,’ and now is the time to demonstrate your abilities and prove that my decision to appoint you as commander was not wrong.”

Manus decided to observe "Storm and Hammer" from an outsider's perspective to gain a comprehensive understanding of the tactic, and then make improvements based on it.

"As you command, Father."

After receiving his orders, Dukaine began to give commands, as he had done in the past.

The warships of the 52nd Expeditionary Fleet launched an orbital strike on the planet's surface.

Unlike before, when they targeted Vostonia for plunder, this time the Flao people chose the Cidae system as their base of attack.

Both planets were transformed into fortresses, and they would use the vast resources they plundered from many worlds in the Misty Starfield to fund the construction of these fortresses.

The Flao defense system was operating at full capacity, with etheric energy shields blocking the bombardment and anti-aircraft guns roaring as they fired dense barrages into the air.

To counter the Flao people's anti-air firepower, Du Kane directly adopted a similar tactic to that he used on Rust Star, ordering several Void Ships to use their massive hulls to withstand the gunfire and forcibly land into the atmosphere.

The warships made emergency landings at five locations he designated, just in time for all the Vladians to observe their arrival.

Dukaine immediately ordered the auxiliary troops to build fortifications on the spot and begin defense.

To avoid brutal siege warfare, Dukaine decided to adopt the "Storm and Hammer" tactic.

But this time, he knew he had to make a change.

According to the intelligence Du Kaien obtained from Lord Ninglu, the Flao people are a nomadic tribe that enjoys plundering and is greedy. They throw out bait, and the aliens will take the bait.

He knew that, unlike the Greenskins who would rush out of their fortresses without a care in the world at the sight of battle, the Vladians would not be so foolish and reckless.

Ducaine gave the order to load all the glittering valuables from the warehouses of the five warships into the vehicles.

General Storm selected 100,000 of the weakest and most wounded soldiers from the auxiliary forces and addressed them.

"Ladies of the Auxiliary Army, I am Du Kaien."

Depending on the situation, Ducaine refers to the former Stormwalker as "boy" or "lady," and now as the Iron Hand.

However, he always addressed the auxiliary soldiers as "Miss".

"I need you to complete an important task. Today, as always, you will become the anvil."

"You must attack the Vlao people's fortress!"

Some auxiliary officers had already guessed that they were being sent to attack the Vladian fortress, which was tantamount to suicide. They couldn't grasp the strategic significance, but they trusted General Storm.

Their sacrifices were certainly worthwhile. General Storm always managed to achieve the greatest results with the least sacrifice, as he had proven on Rust Star.

"My demand of you is that, in the name of the Emperor, for the Gorgon of Medusa, for me, and for the glory we have achieved on Rusty Star, the offensive must continue for two hours."

"For the Emperor, for the Gorgon, for the Storm!"

Twenty thousand auxiliary soldiers shouted loudly, and at the same time, deafening shouts rang out from the other four positions.

Manus, watching Dukaine's speech, nodded slightly, thinking to himself.

Dukane enjoys a very high reputation among the support troops, and they consider even death missions an honor.

This tactic is reasonable; casualties will decrease by more than 40%.
One hundred thousand auxiliary troops, under the cover of a hundred armored vehicles, simultaneously launched an attack on the five fortresses of the Vlao people.

At Fortress Number One, General Flao watched as an overconfident enemy foolishly launched an attack on his fortress.

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips as he waved his arm and gave the order.

"Fire coverage!"

Boom boom boom!
The fortress's cannons roared, and bullets rained down on the vehicles.

A Macado heavy tank was torn apart by a shell.

The tank only has a driver and a machine gunner inside; there are no shells or ammunition, and only two basic loads.

Glittering valuables have taken over the other places.

With a loud bang, the armored vehicle was thrown into the air.

Sparkling gold coins flew everywhere, and dazzling gems tumbled around...

General Vlao's pupils narrowed as he saw the wealth scattered everywhere.

He pounded on the fortress walls and shouted angrily.

"Foolish humans, shameful waste!"

The auxiliary soldiers shouted "For the storm!" and searched for any available cover to launch an attack on the fortress.

Every moment, someone falls, but no one retreats.

An hour after the attack began, even auxiliary soldiers rushed to the city walls.

Master Ether waved his arm, and flames descended from the sky, engulfing the auxiliary soldiers and burning them into flames.

The auxiliary soldiers, witnessing their comrades' tragic cries in the flames, still did not retreat.

It wasn't until two hours after the offensive began, when the commander's timer beeped, that he snapped out of his daze and gave the order.

General Vlao on the city wall said disdainfully.

"Vulnerable and poses no threat whatsoever."

His eyelids twitched slightly when he saw the property trampled by the defeated army.

"A shameful waste!"

Human fleets are powerful, but soldiers are easily defeated; there is no need to hold the fortress.

If their armored vehicles have so much wealth, their warships must carry even more. Perhaps their military discipline is lax, and they've plundered some rich planet.

Their warships were powerful and routed our fleet. To regain void superiority, we must capture their warships.
Upon realizing this, the Flao commander issued the order to attack.

No Flaoman wanted to miss out on the plundering feast; only a small number were unwillingly left behind.

Most of the Flao people set off from Fortress One, charging towards the "vulnerable" human warships.

The generals of the other four fortresses, upon receiving the news, all shouted loudly.

"Attack! We will not allow Ferreira to keep all the spoils for himself!"

Ducaine's anvil worked, and the Vlaho garrison left their fortress.

　PS: I won't be updating three times a day today; I need to rest and recuperate.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)