Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 675

Chapter 673, Danger

Western Front’s advance into the Princess Star Region was a landmark event.

This meant that Gu Hang no longer needed to remain confined to the southeastern flank of the Princess Star Region.

He could now freely launch an offensive,

either supporting the Western Front’s offensive or relying on the Western Front to provide support while he led the charge.

According to the intelligence provided by Qin Zhiping, the most important target of this war, the Queen, was located in Rhaeduches.

Although over half a year had passed since this information was discovered, the Queen likely hadn’t fled.

Given its location, Rhaeduches was ideally suited as a central location for collecting biomass from across the Princess Star Region. Furthermore, the “Void Black Hole” that initially threatened the Princess Star Region, and ultimately the entire Spider Web Star Region, was located in Rhaeduches.

The so-called “Void Black Hole” wasn’t a literal black hole; it referred to a location where Void Zerg swarms often emerged.

Hive Fleets possessed the ability to travel through astral tunnels, a method of interstellar travel they favored. Speed is one thing, but more importantly, they utilize the astral tunnels humans routinely use. Once they reach the other side, they can easily find densely populated worlds nearby and feast on them.

However, using astral tunnels for space travel is not the most common method used by the Void Zerg.

Their more protracted journeys, using conventionally powered vehicles, can take decades, even centuries, until they find their next target.

So, why is attacking the Human Empire such a delight for the Zerg? Once inside, not only are they offered a delicious meal, but they can also utilize the human astral tunnels for high-speed travel, significantly reducing the time required to reach their next meal. They don’t have to endure the agonizing, starving journey of years after devouring an isolated planet, as is customary.

However, the Zerg’s main force isn’t located in the galaxy where the Human Empire resides. Their true strength may be far, far away, perhaps even so far away that they will never reach the Human Empire’s borders.

However, even a single invading Hive Fleet could overwhelm a system, or even an entire sector. If a whole ‘tentacle’ arrived, upon completing its long, conventional voyage and reaching the borders of the Human Empire, it could unleash a terrifying war that would affect the entire star system, even the entire universe.

This is a common occurrence throughout Imperial history.

The location where the Zerg swarm has arrived, and continues to arrive, is called a ‘Void Black Hole.’ This is the vanguard or main force of a Void Swarm, arriving continuously through normal navigation.

Overall, this ‘Void Black Hole’ on Rhaeadoches isn’t particularly formidable. While there might be an entire ‘tentacle’ behind it, it’s still very far away, far beyond detection by technical means. Furthermore, the Hive Fleets that arrive periodically are generally small in size. Once Iron Armor establishes a base on the otherwise ordinary world of Rhaeadoches and builds a fortress world, this poses even less of a threat.

At least, until the main force of the Zerg swarm arrives.

As for their consumption, the Empire’s indulgence in their expansion was the solution.

Unfortunately, Humphrey Paul’s greed destroyed all of this. He intended to control the Queen of the Zerg, solving the problem once and for all, while simultaneously saving himself enormous military expenditures and exploiting this opportunity to further demand privileges from the Imperial center, thereby developing the entire Ironclad Legion into a behemoth.

However, this also planted a devastating threat.

According to Gu Hang’s current analysis of the available intelligence, the Zerg Queen has been consistently connected to the Zerg’s “network” since its birth, maintaining contact with higher-ups. Furthermore, as the Zerg Queen, she possesses exceptionally high authority. While connected, she possesses exceptional intelligence, enabling her to conceal herself during her initial larval stage, cooperating with Iron Armor and the Alfonzo Cult’s experiments and thereby spreading the infection and controlling the Zerg. By the time everything progressed, it was irreversible, culminating in the current outbreak.

From this perspective, the Zerg Queen is likely still firmly entrenched in Readuches, which has become her base. She won’t flee. Nowhere is as secure as Readuches, allowing her to gather forces and build her own army.

This, however, also provides the human army with a target for attack.

From this perspective, Marshal Luye of the Northern Front’s army’s initial assessment was not entirely wrong. If they could capture Readuches, capture the planet, and eliminate the Zerg Queen entrenched within, the Zerg swarm, spawned by a Space Marine rebellion, would be over.

While the cost would be significant, it was still within the Empire’s means.

The offensive against Readuches, at this stage, appeared to be proceeding smoothly.

Salilius and Martins, fresh from their decisive victories, had a relatively long period of rest and recuperation. A large influx of war supplies, new warships, and even reinforcements from several Chapter companies arrived from the rear. Some were sent from Holy Terra, while others were summoned from other galaxies and star systems by the Imperial government.

These supplies and reinforcements significantly increased the strength of the Western Front, enabling them to enter the Princess Star System with even greater force.

Their progress was truly rapid. In just a month, they had penetrated two lines of defense, their fleets at one point approaching Readuches.

This, however, angered the Zerg Queen.

A large army stood in front of the Western Front Legion, and a fierce battle broke out between the two sides. The offensive momentum of Salisius was finally stopped.

However, if the Western Front could be stopped, what about the Eastern Front?

Under the command of Gu Hang, the Alliance’s army launched a comprehensive and resolute counterattack in the Nocras galaxy.

Before this, the Zerg that had been suppressing the Alliance was instantly pushed back.

The Alliance fleet set sail and advanced rapidly in the direction of Rheaduches.

After moving forward three star regions, the Alliance’s army even accidentally discovered and rescued the remnants of a Northern Front Legion, in which Marshal Xi Rui was accompanied by a battle barge, and there were more than 300 Space Marines of the Black Crusade.

Another supplement.

For a moment, Rheaduches was in danger.

(End of this chapter)