Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 561

Chapter 559, How to save my regiment?

A thousand Space Marines, aiming to break through the defenses of the Heyang Knights manning the starports and star forts of Heyang VIII and quickly capture key areas would be a real challenge.

However, in reality, fewer than a thousand Space Marines were actually deployed.

The Phoenixes weren’t fully deployed.

After all, there were still three hundred Phoenixes aboard Bai Qifan’s three battlecruisers; of the seven hundred Phoenixes accompanying Gu Hang, two hundred remained aboard the ships and didn’t board.

Only five hundred Phoenixes actually engaged in the battle.

However, all of these five hundred Phoenixes were elite, equivalent to the rank of Master Chief or above, with half reaching the level of Company Champions…

This couldn’t be considered the standard of a typical Chapter. This

was especially true of the one hundred and twenty Company Champions equipped with Iron Cavalry Terminator Power Armor and the nineteen Dreadnoughts. Each of these Dreadnoughts was perhaps only slightly smaller than a Ranger Knight. In terms of strength, firepower, and armor, they even surpassed them.

Furthermore, to make up for the lack of numbers, the fleet carrying out the boarding missions also included numerous other personnel. These included

the Sisters of Battle and the Alliance’s National Knights.

The Sisters of Battle, clad in standard “Ancestral” power armor, weren’t significantly different from the Alliance’s Glory Guard in terms of combat prowess. They

might be slightly stronger, but that was limited.

After all, their hardware was essentially similar.

The power armor was all Attendant armor—unless the Glory Guard adopted the “Commander” type, in which case it might be slightly weaker.

The warriors themselves, whether Sisters of Battle or Glory Guard, were not above mortal level.

While Sisters of Battle underwent rigorous training within the Order from a young age, the Alliance’s Glory Guard also trained through the “Soldier Card System,” having been selected from the Space Marine selection process. Their training was no less advanced.

The only difference was that Sisters of Battle were constantly studying the Holy Scriptures from a young age, and daily prayer was essential.

Faith possesses power.

These warrior women who call themselves “Daughters of the Emperor” truly possess certain supernatural powers.

To a top psychic like Gu Hang, they constantly emanate a mysterious force from the Warp. They cannot actively harness this power, like psykers can, to cast spells. However, this power resides firmly within the Sisters of Battle.

Beyond the direct benefits of boosting their basic attributes like strength, agility, and mental fortitude, the Divine Emperor’s blessing also has at least two other benefits:

it improves their “luck,” making them less vulnerable to attack or more likely to strike;

and it allows them to passively repel nearby psychic forces they deny, suppressing them.

Taken together, these factors make the Sisters of Battle truly superior to mortals like the Honor Guard, who possess no special abilities at all.

Taking the most common Space Marines as an example, ten Honor Guards combined might be able to defeat a single Space Marine; while six or seven Sisters of Battle might be able to defeat one.

Furthermore, Gu Hang had previously unearthed a piece of technology: the Valkyrie Terminator Power Armor.

This was a type of Terminator Power Armor used by non-Space Marines, and could theoretically be used by any mortal with specialized training.

However, the Alliance didn’t commit to mass production of this armor. Instead, they operated a single production line, maintaining minimal production, and producing finished armor directly from a black box, which was sufficient for use.

The main reason for this lack of mass production was its prohibitive cost, four times the price of Iron Cavalry Power Armor, while

offering only marginally better performance. While it could be used by any mortal, the effect on an ordinary mortal was minimal.

Only the most steadfast of the Sisters of Battle could truly unleash the Valkyrie armor’s magical properties.

Only seventy-two Sisters of the Holy Mercy Lily possessed this qualification.

However, the effect of this combination was remarkable. By fully unleashing the Valkyrie’s capabilities, coupled with the greatly enhanced Imperial Blessing, the combined combat power even surpassed that of a regular Space Marine equipped with Terminator Power Armor.

Of course, it still couldn’t match the strength of a Phoenix’s Company Champion and his Iron Terminator.

Besides the Sisters of Battle, another powerful aid came from the Knight Mechs of the Alliance’s National Knights.

The Alliance wasn’t particularly focused on Knight Mech production, and hadn’t significantly expanded its production lines. However, after all, they had accumulated a considerable wealth over the years.

Space Marines, the Valkyries of the Sisters of Battle, and Knight Mechs formed the main force of the Alliance’s assault on the starports and star forts.

A large number of Honor Guards served as reinforcements.

Even before their attack began, Heyang VIII’s starports and star forts had already suffered a round of attacks.

A swarm of “ghosts” suddenly descended upon key locations, severely disrupting the Heyang Knights’ defenses.

Then, the main force of the Alliance’s landing force emerged amidst the radiance of teleportation.

They had indeed overwhelmed the defenders in orbit around Heyang VIII in a remarkably short time.

Of course, they couldn’t wipe out every defender on the star fort and starport in just a few hours.

But capturing key locations like the control center and the void shield would be enough.

Later, the firepower of the ships would be sufficient to destroy the starport and star fort.

Of course, the Alliance wouldn’t let the elite landing forces die with them.

Before the attack began, they had all been evacuated via teleportation.

Along with them, a contingent of Storm Mage Regiments had teleported to the starport. These psykers, also equipped with power armor, not only provided some assistance during the battle but also served as the key to the team’s evacuation.

Activating long-distance teleportation to transport so many personnel back to their own starships would have been challenging. However, activating short-distance teleportation to get them to the approaching small boats or even transport planes was much easier.

That is, after most personnel have been evacuated, the bombs placed inside the starport, combined with the fleet’s ready firepower, will destroy the starport, which has lost its protection and interception capabilities.

…

After losing its orbital defenses, Heyang VIII felt as if the end of the world had arrived. Both the Heyang Knights and the higher-ups of the Alfonzo Cult were in a state of utter panic.

They diligently prepared for a final stand, their fortress artillery at full strength, and their legions at every turn braced for battle, awaiting the Alliance’s arrival.

However, the Alliance ignored them and simply turned away.

A planet without its orbital defenses was significantly diminished in its significance in an interstellar naval battle. While they still had ground artillery, and their own ships could still provide some cover, without a starport, their ships could not receive supplies, maintenance, or repairs, and any minimal cover was of little use.

This was assuming they had their own ships.

Without them, Heyang VIII was effectively doomed. No matter how powerful the Heyang Knights on the surface were, they couldn’t escape.

In fact, the surface defenders feared the Alliance would launch an Extermination Order weapon at this moment. In

that case, there was no need to fight; a single, incinerating torpedo would be enough to end the conflict.

This risk existed, and for the defenders of Heyang VIII, it was unavoidable. If the Alliance truly intended to do so, they would be helpless, their lives and deaths in the Alliance’s hands.

But precisely because of this, they didn’t care whether the Alliance would actually do so.

What was the point of caring?

They couldn’t stop it.

With the orbital system completely destroyed, if the Alliance wanted to launch the Extermination Order, they would simply need to find a planet with the worst air defenses, eliminate the surrounding anti-aircraft firepower, and then launch the Burning Sky torpedo. Detonating two or three thousand meters from the surface would destroy the world.

There was no need to dwell on it if there was nothing they could do.

Besides, they didn’t believe the Alliance would be so ruthless. The

Alliance had indeed released extermination weapons in its past, more than once.

But those were extermination orders issued against planets completely occupied by aliens.

Unleashing a world-destroying extermination order in the middle of a human civil war, one that would wipe out billions of civilians on Heyang VIII?

That was too ruthless.

They also didn’t believe the Alliance would do such a thing.

And in truth, Gu Hang had no such intentions.

The war hadn’t reached that point yet.

Gu Hang wouldn’t do such a cruel thing, not to mention that such a move would bring unprecedented political and public pressure.

Just leave Heyang VIII here. Meanwhile,

on the planet’s surface, Paulson, through his modified mechanical eyes, observed the direction the Alliance fleet departed.

After sparing Heyang VIII, where did the Alliance fleet go?

There were actually two directions:

Wuqi Star or the Fury Flame Fleet.

The former, along with Wenqi Star, formed the two ends of the Proud Claw Sector and the Alfonzo Sector. Vinchi was on Alfonzo’s side, while Wuchi was in the Proud Claw section.

The Alliance launched such an aggressive attack on Heyang VIII, completely ignoring their delaying tactics. Paulson was almost certain that the Alliance must have received clear intelligence that Alfonzo’s main fleet was en route.

Even if the intelligence wasn’t clear, it was at least a relatively strong guess.

Therefore, swiftly seizing Wuchi, or even capturing the opposing Vinchi, would have immense strategic value.

After all, there was only one passage from the Proud Claw star field to the Alfonzo star field.

After capturing it, the Alfonzo Cult would have to turn around and confront Vinchi and Wuchi head-on.

The other option, of course, was to block the Fury Flame Fleet. It’s better

to cut off one finger than to injure five.

Seeing that a subsequent clash with the Alfonzo Cult was likely, it became imperative to eliminate the Fury Flame Fleet that was roaming behind.

Otherwise, not to mention the potential disruptions the Raging Flame Fleet might cause, just to keep an eye on them would require three battlecruisers and the Blood Shark Fleet—a considerable force. Once they were eliminated, all of these troops could be deployed.

Paulson closely observed the Alliance fleet’s departure.

Quickly, judging by the chosen jump point, he could determine they were heading for the Raging Flame.

Of course, this wasn’t a deception by the Alliance. Regardless, the relevant intelligence had to be passed on.

Paulson headed to the base of his mechanical tower.

There, a massive life-support pod-like device lay.

He lay inside, his consciousness instantly leaving his original body.

The next moment, atop the Triumphal Flame battle barge, a mechanical body opened its eyes.

He entered the room, where several members of the Alfonzo Cult, dressed in red and black robes, stood guard.

Upon seeing him, they saluted.

He waved his hand and said, “I’m going to see Paulitos.”

“Sage Paulson, please follow me. Captain Paulitos has instructed that if you’re looking for him, there’s no need to notify him; just go right away.”

“Let’s go.”

Not long after, Paulson met Paulitos.

The Chapter Master of the Fury Chapter wore the stoic, cold expression that was the hallmark of the Space Marines.

However, Paulson could clearly see the weariness on his face.

Clearly, the blood sharks were stalking Paulitos, putting immense pressure on him.

But Paulson had no time to dwell on Paulitos’s mood.

He quickly shared his observations with Paulitos.

Gu Hang was coming for him.

Paulitos, however, wasn’t concerned about whether the main Alliance fleet was acting as a decoy; in reality, they were blocking the crucial passage between Wenqi and Wuqi.

For him, that was fine. If they were to block him, with the Blood Shark Fleet behind and the Alliance Fleet in front, his Chapter and the New World Torch Chapter would likely be destroyed.

The New World Torch had left fifty men on their homeworld, while the Fury Flame had left a hundred men behind.

While not all of the members of either Chapter were fighting in the Proud Claw Sector, they still represented the vast majority. If they were annihilated here, the Chapter wouldn’t be completely destroyed, but it would take years for them to regain their former glory.

Furthermore, if they lost this war, the Chapter would likely have no chance, being expelled from the fold and their bloodline extinguished.

But how could he respond?

Paulitus could barely think of any other options.

In the past, he had been able to play hide-and-seek with the Alliance because of his vast strategic depth.

Now, several core regions of the Proud Claw Sector had been captured by the Alliance, and their operational area had been reduced. The consequences of his previous abandonment of strategic locations were becoming increasingly apparent.

More importantly, the blood sharks were still following him, making him lose the chance to switch from open to covert.

So what should he do?

Paulitos could think of only one way to save his regiment.

Paulitos stared at Paulson and asked, “How long will it take for Alfonzo’s mechanical fleet to arrive?”

“Two months.”

“No, it has to be faster.”

————

Make up for yesterday.

There’s still time tonight, but it will probably be late.

(End of this chapter)