Warhammer: Empire Reboot

Page 374

"The second document is a statistic on the star system's military strength, food supplies, population, and the location of insurgent zones."

"The third document is a list of all nobles who have been associated with Chaos, pirates, and the black market trade over the past three years."

The nobleman's expression changed.

"My lord, this will cause internal turmoil."

Harron said, "If Lawson comes, the first thing he'll do is investigate these things. If we investigate first, at least we can decide who gets handed over."

This is the surrender of a wise person.

Before the new order arrives, cleanse yourself into someone usable.

Another galaxy, the Albitel Nest City Galaxy.

The situation here is more complicated.

Three years ago, after communications in the sector were cut off, Governor Albitel declared “provisional autonomy.” He still hangs the double-headed eagle in public and still has the state priest preside over worship services, but tithes have been stopped, the Astragalus Army’s conscription roster has been sealed, and his private guard has been expanded to five times its previous size.

Inside the governor's palace conference room, Governor Melchior's face darkened after listening to the broadcast from Losen.

His chief aide asked, "Sir, shall we issue a declaration of loyalty?"

Melchior retorted, "If he releases it, will he let us go?"

No one answered.

He was certainly aware of his situation.

He did not throw himself into chaos.

He also did not openly oppose the empire.

But he took advantage of the chaos caused by the Great Rift to turn Albitel into his private kingdom.

If it's just ordinary navy personnel coming, he can stall them with food, fuel, port taxes, and political marriages.

If it were a courtroom, he could offer up hundreds of scapegoats.

But Lawson is different.

This person just told the entire galaxy that support would arrive immediately.

He came with war machines.

He needs people, aircraft carriers, mines, food, and shipping routes.

Melchior looked at the military advisor.

How long can our defenses hold?

The military advisor hesitated for a moment.

"If the enemy is a conventional Imperial fleet, relying on orbital turrets and the hive city's void shield, we can hold out for three months. If the enemy uses Agrippina's ultra-low-error jump and boarding torpedoes..."

He stopped.

Melchior understood.

"explain."

The military advisor whispered, "Hold on until the enemy decides to fight seriously."

The meeting room was deathly silent.

After a long pause, Melchior said, "Summon all the nobles. Hand over the families that have gone the furthest in recent years. Announce the restoration of the tithe, open the starport, and invite the Sealholder to send communication nodes to the area."

A nobleman's advisor asked urgently, "My lord, what about your autonomy?"

Melchior glanced at him.

"Only the living have the right to self-governance."

At the same time, the real diehards were also taking action.

Barissa Punishment Mining Galaxy.

This area was originally a prisoner mining area. After the sector lost contact, the prison warden, Kahnbach, turned the entire system into his own prison kingdom.

He claimed to the Empire that he was still producing ore, but in reality he was selling large numbers of prisoners, vagrants, and political enemies to black market slave ships in exchange for weapons and forbidden drugs.

"Burn the slave trade ledgers. Execute all the scribes who know the trade routes. Drive all the mutants from the lower levels of the mines into the collapse zone."

His adjutant asked, "What if the Sealholder's fleet arrives?"

Kahnbach's face showed no panic, only ruthlessness.

"Offer him ore, machine servants, and 100,000 prisoners. Tell him that Barissa has always been loyal to the Empire, and that all the crimes were committed by the former warden in collusion with Chaos."

The adjutant whispered, "The former warden has been dead for twenty years."

Kahnbach looked at him.

“Then dig it out of the grave and dress the corpse in a heretical robe.”

These kinds of people are not stupid.

They were familiar with the imperial bureaucracy, with scapegoats, and with how to survive censorship.

What they really underestimated was how quickly Lawson could handle problems.

A warlord who is accustomed to using assassins to scan brains, cross-examination with swarm intelligence, and processing criminals with mechanized servants is unlikely to be fooled by a few robed corpses.

The planetary council of the Fenrir Orchard system convened a meeting overnight.

This galaxy is rich in fruit wine, sugar, nutrient concentrates, and some medicinal plants. In the past, it relied on supplying food and alcoholic fuel to Agrippina for protection. After the Great Rift, it was forced to trade with several pirate fleets and pay protection money to certain "independent merchant groups."

The parliamentary president was very clear-headed.

"We are not suited to resist, nor should we immediately reveal all our cards."

One member of parliament asked, "Then how do we do it?"

The chairman said, “Send three missions. The first, openly go to Agrippina, offer food and star maps, and acknowledge the Sealholder’s right to provide aid. The second, go to Dante’s fleet to confirm the boundaries of Lawson’s power. The third, secretly investigate the merchant guilds that have traded with pirates in the past, and bring us the dirtiest ledgers.”

The senator frowned: "You want to hedge your bets?"

The chairman shook his head.

“I want to live until the day the imperial order is truly restored. Lawson is strong, but he expanded too quickly. The strong need food, legitimacy, and someone to manage the territory for them. We need to make ourselves appear useful.”

Lawson hasn't yet seen what these people are planning.

But he could probably guess.

It doesn't matter.

He has achieved his goal.

This speech was not just a declaration of victory.

It was also a strategic deception.

He loudly told Abaddon that he was going to find him.

He mocked the World Eater and provoked the remnants of Khwarazm.

He led the Red Pirates and the Rebel Legion to believe that Agrippina's army would soon deliver a powerful blow.

The forces of Chaos will begin to adjust their forces, fearing his sudden appearance on some battlefield.

Lawson's real next target is the Agrippina Sector.

Thirteen major galaxies.

Five hundred human worlds.

Those who have lost contact, those who have betrayed, those who have fallen, those who have gone independent, and those who are still holding on—all of them must be brought back.

Lawson turned around.

"Send the order to the fleet."

"The Avenger, White Tiger, Crimson Dragon, and Angel's Wrath are divided into reconnaissance groups according to star sector. Each fleet is equipped with starship suicide soldiers, T-series technical teams, White Tiger heavy armor squads, Crimson Dragon firepower squads, and non-combat suicide soldier communication nodes."

"The first phase is to gather intelligence."

"How many planets have fallen?"

"How many planets have they betrayed?"

"How many planets are still holding on?"

"The population, food, minerals, fleets, orbital gun emplacements, and levels of chaos pollution in each star system are all compiled into a table."

"When encountering Imperial positions that are still resisting, prioritize supplying them with ammunition, food, and medical supplies."

"If you encounter a governor who is cannibalizing people under the guise of the empire, record the evidence, but don't rush to kill him. I need to know how many people are behind them."

Er Gou asked, "Boss, what if we encounter a Chaos Altar where a sacrifice is being made?"

Lawson glanced at him.

"Is there even a need to ask?"

Er Gou laughed.

"Got it, just chop it up."

Lawson looked at the star map and lowered his voice.

"In the dark side of the empire today, the number of battles won is not important."

"What's important is to reclaim those fallen imperial worlds."

"What matters is to bring back to life those imperial civilians who have been reduced to the dregs of chaos."

"He who cannot plan for the whole cannot plan for a part."

T-001 distributed the orders.

The fleet began adjustments.