Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 530

Chapter 528, Political Pressure

The Void Zerg that appeared on the northern front of the Spider Web Universe were definitely related to the Iron Armor Chapter.

Otherwise, how could they have such perfect timing?

The Zerg appeared on the northern front, and in a split second, the Iron Armor Chapter was able to deploy a massive offensive on the western front?

Considering that the Iron Armor Chapter made their fortune by resisting the Void Zerg in the Imperial Star Region, they had been demanding money from the Empire for the past century, using this very reason. Furthermore, if they were paid, the Void Zerg could be suppressed; without it, the situation in the Imperial Star Region and its surrounding areas would quickly deteriorate. Once the money was paid, the Iron Armor Chapter would immediately rise up and push back the Void Zerg,

as if they had raised the Void Zerg.

Of course, this was impossible.

At least, that was what people used to believe.

These were the Void Zerg! They were powerful aliens that had destroyed countless worlds and cost countless lives since humanity discovered them! They devoured everything, leaving no room for negotiation. They were tireless and had no regard for life or death.

Individual Void Zerg beasts lack self-awareness, yet possess instincts resembling intelligence. Under the command of the so-called Hive Mother and coordinated by the various nodal creatures, they completely disregard the life and death of individuals, or even large groups, and their combat effectiveness is unmatched, with no issues of collapse or inadequate execution. Morale, discipline, and organization—issues that human armies must consider and grapple with—are completely absent.

They can fight to the death in one place, or they can retreat decisively, without hesitation, and move on with lightning speed.

These characteristics make them a nightmare for any adversary in war.

In the past, people simply believed that Humphrey Paul was exploiting these Zerg, deliberately releasing them when the Empire didn’t meet his demands and conditions, and then fighting back when those conditions were met.

But now, it seems there may be more to the story.

Speculations previously dismissed as absurd have been brought to the fore:

Could Iron Armor truly be colluding with the Void Zerg?

But how could that be possible?

Those Zerg can’t communicate!

But if that weren’t the case, why was the Ironclad’s campaign design so synchronized and coordinated so well with the Void Zerg?

No explanation made sense.

It was precisely for this reason that the second of the three great Inquisitions was drawn to this strange and deeply intriguing phenomenon.

That was the Ordo Xenophilia.

Unlike the Ordo Hereticus, the Ordo Xenophilia generally disregarded internal affairs within the Imperium, focusing instead on combating all forms of xenos, particularly their infiltration into human society.

The Ironclad Chapter might have some degree of communication, perhaps even collusion, with the Void Zerg, which piqued their interest.

They were a perfect match for the Inquisition.

Not only did they arrive with a large number of elite Inquisitors, a fleet, and a number of troops, but they also brought with them their closest allies, the Argent Watch.

While the Argent Watch might be called a Chapter, their structure was fundamentally different from that of a typical Space Marine Chapter. This is a group specifically focused on combating various xenomorph enemies. Its members aren’t self-trained, but rather veterans drawn from various Chapters with specialized expertise and proven success against specific xenomorphs.

They temporarily shed their former Chapter identities and serve the Ordo Xenomorph Inquisition under the name of the Argent Watch for a period of time. After a few years of missions, they might leave the Argent Watch, bringing the experience and techniques they’ve learned back to their own Chapters; or they might remain with the Argent Watch forever. Of course, a significant number will inevitably die in the most dangerous battles against the xenomorphs.

Regardless, the Argent Watch are both elite troops drawn from various Chapters and experts in combating various xenomorphs within the Imperium.

Upon their arrival, the Argent Watch and the Ordo Xenomorph Inquisitors launched several highly targeted operations, striking and eliminating node creatures on several planets, fundamentally altering the war situation there.

This eased the situation on the northern front somewhat,

but only slightly.

Several worlds completely invaded by the Void Zerg have seen vast areas blanketed with digestion tanks, incubation towers, and flesh-breeding blankets. The entire population of a hive city, along with nearly every conceivable substance for the Void Zerg, has been poured into these, hatching into swarms of Zerg warbeasts.

Completely eradicating the Zerg infestation from these worlds is no easy task.

Furthermore, the Hive Fleet in space continues to surge, and their numbers are quickly reaching a point where the Human fleet cannot suppress them.

Breaking through the Void Zerg blockade on the northern front is no easy task.

The situation on the western front is even worse.

Tens of thousands of Ironclad Space Marines are pushing the Phoenix Chapter back in battle. The ground gained during the previous offensive phase has been gradually recaptured by the Ironclad Chapter, even capturing two key hub worlds.

The Phoenix Legion had already urgently mobilized additional troops from other battlefields, appearing to be fully assembled. Furthermore, several Phoenix Sub-Legios had responded to the call from their parent group and were on their way. Meanwhile, Su Lie had requested additional reinforcements from the Empire.

However, even with the presence of Phoenix Lord Su Lie himself, the situation on the battlefield was inevitably heading for a downward spiral.

This period also marked the height of political pressure on the Alliance.

Imperial calls for an offensive by the Alliance intensified, to the point where Gallardo was beginning to feel overwhelmed. According to him, a deputy minister had already proposed an impeachment motion against him.

Although he suppressed the motion and dismissed the deputy minister who had spoken out, this was a sign of the prevailing trend, perhaps even a warning from certain political factions within the central government, forcing him to stop “shielding” the Alliance.

Besides the pressure from the Imperial Center and the Cosmic Domain Government to send troops, there was also an additional pressure from the Legion itself.

The Phoenix Chapter issued a call to action to the numerous Phoenix Chapters, one of which naturally also reached the Phoenix Chapter currently in the alliance.

It was a call, not a command.

However, within the message, Phoenix Lord Su Lie was quite puzzled.

The Phoenix Chapter was a party to the Bauhinia Rebellion. Of the three chapters found guilty, only one survived.

All three were Phoenix Chapters, and because of this, relations between the Phoenix and Iron Armor remained strained after the Bauhinia Rebellion. However, the verdict of the Imperial Central Committee had already been issued, and even though Su Lie had forcefully objected, the final outcome could not be altered.

And… honestly, the Phoenix Chapter and its successor Chapters don’t really have much influence. They

‘re certainly large, given that they’re a fledgling Chapter with a history spanning ten thousand years. However, the Phoenix Chapter’s fertility… isn’t very good.

Space Marines are born with two gene-seeds, and every Chapter is like this, so there’s little difference in that regard. However, the compatibility and characteristics of each Chapter’s gene-seed vary greatly.

For example, the gene-seed of the Infinite Chapter is a prime example of exceptional compatibility. Ten thousand years ago, during the Legion Era, the Infinite Legion was the most numerous Space Marine Legion at the time. Later, when the Legion split into Chapters, the Chapters that emerged from the Infinite Legion naturally became the largest. Over the following ten thousand years, thanks to their large numbers, excellent compatibility, and the high success rate of gene-seed implantation, the number of Infinite Marines continued to grow, resulting in even more gene-seed… thus, a virtuous cycle.

Today, the number of Chapters descended from the Infinite lineage is the largest in the entire universe.

Next in line are the descendants of the Punishers and the Golden Knights, who are also highly adaptable.

Strength in numbers is an eternal truth.

The gene-seed of the Phoenix Chapter, on the other hand, isn’t the worst in adaptability, but it’s only average at best.

Phoenix descendants strive for perfection, are polite, and possess highly skilled swordsmanship. Their combat techniques and tactical strategies are often flamboyant, even garish.

This is both a strength and a weakness. Sometimes, they achieve jaw-dropping victories, but often, their overly complex strategies and techniques hinder their effectiveness.

In short, the Phoenix’s descendants are few and far between, and their influence is naturally limited.

Had it been a larger Chapter, the turmoil of that year might have been even greater.

The failure to resolve the situation back then is a source of resentment for the Phoenix and its successor Chapters.

If not for this, Su Lie wouldn’t have responded so quickly to the opportunity to attack the Iron Armor, even going so far as to personally lead the charge.

And as the victims and those involved, shouldn’t the Phoenix be even more indignant and outspoken?

Su Lie was genuinely curious and disappointed as to why the Phoenix remained silent.

Faced with the inquiries from the parent chapter, Chapter Master Martins was also quite agitated.

Even the Phoenix Chapter was so bitter about the Bauhinia Incident, how could the Phoenix, having nearly been wiped out, not resent it?

A hatred so intense that it gnashes its teeth!

If Martins had the final say, he would have immediately joined the Iron Armor War.

However, he had to consider Gu Hang’s opinion.

He remembered that the Phoenix Chapter was now part of the Alliance. Their actions had to be carried out within the framework of the entire Alliance.

However, pressure from the parent chapter, as well as the Chapter Masters and Head Chaplains of several Phoenix Chapters, had also sent him messages inquiring about the matter. We, the Phoenix family, have stood shoulder to shoulder to avenge the injustice you suffered a century ago. Why have you, the person involved, been hiding in the background?

Martins felt truly guilty.

When the war situation on the western and northern fronts was devastating, Su Lie once again contacted Martins, hoping that Phoenix could quickly join the fight.

He even spoke with Gu Hang, assuming his role as Commander-in-Chief of the Western Front.

Gu Hang also held the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Front.

Although no fighting had even begun on the southern front,

Gu Hang had managed to fool Su Lie, but it was harder to fool his own people.

Martins, while adhering to the Alliance’s overall strategy, repeatedly requested action from Gu Hang.

Pressure from multiple levels, multiple aspects, both internal and external, forced Gu Hang to act despite maintaining strategic focus.

The Alliance’s advance force was strengthened.

Simultaneously, Gu Hang announced that the Southern Front would launch an offensive against the Ironclad Legion.

General Perbov, commander-in-chief of the advance corps, led the entire force and launched the offensive.

However, this pressured offensive was not particularly intense.

While fighting was underway, and the Alliance increased its manpower, it still fell short of the scale of a single theater of operations.

The Ironclad Chapter was deployed on the southern front, defending against the Alliance’s limited forces. While they were focused on combating the northern and southern fronts, it was difficult for them to deploy a significant force on the southern front.

As a result, the Alliance’s weak offensive did achieve some success.

The war lasted for two years, primarily confined to the Menghe Sector.

While the battlefields were relatively insignificant, the Alliance’s propaganda efforts were impressive.

The battles on each planet might not have been particularly large-scale, but in Alliance reports, they were often touted as apocalyptic, ferocious wars.

The Phoenix Chapter and the Sisters of the Holy Lily, who were aligned with the Alliance, were also deployed on the front lines—at least that was the Alliance’s external narrative.

Of course, this is actually true.

However, Phoenix only sent out two companies; Sisters of Holy Mercy Lily also only sent out 500 to 600 people.

This tepid but fiercely hyped battle situation did scare some people at the beginning and reduced the political pressure on the alliance a lot.

But soon, this kind of thing was exposed.

Various parties began to say that the alliance did not use all their strength at all.

There is no need for any special whole game. Just look at the most important weapon in the hands of the alliance, the alliance’s flagship “Burning Star”, which has never been sent to the front line, and you will know whether the alliance has really used all its strength. What’s more

, no matter how fiercely you hype, the battle line will not lie.

The speed at which the alliance advances on the southern front is like a snail.

If you say that Iron Fury Stone has deployed heavy troops in the south, you can’t push it away, but it doesn’t.

The political pressure was relieved a little, but it was soon gradually pushed back.

(End of this chapter)