Chapter 1161: This Planet Has No Primarchs

"It has begun."

Sitelake said.

123-1 nodded, then connected to the all-channel of the Krieg Legion, speaking what was likely his longest sentence of the day.

"Soldiers. The enemy is coming. Hold your positions until the last man. For the Emperor."

In the communication channel, hundreds of thousands of Kriegers listened in silence.

There were no cheers, no oaths, only the faint sound of tens of thousands of gas masks adjusting their fit simultaneously.

The same order was also conveyed to the Modian troops.

"Warriors, calculate precisely, fire calmly.

Let every Rune Bullet find its target, let every observation guide death.

For the Emperor."

And in orbit, those decoy devices disguised as old defense platforms began to activate, emitting faint energy signals.

Two hours and forty-seven minutes later, low orbit of Fengkaodunxing.

Fleet Commander Kalivento of the Fengqi Seventh Star Sector detachment stood on the bridge of the Battleship "Enterprise," his three eyes fixed on the target planet on the tactical screen.

Scanning data showed: four old Orbital Defense Platforms, two Destroyer-class ships, ground defense... medium-to-weak, mainly concentrated in a large rift valley area.

"Too perfect. A secondary node, with defenses just strong enough to be worth attacking, yet weak enough for us to take easily. Like a gift laid out before us."

"It could be a trap, General."

The Deputy Commander reminded him cautiously.

"The Star Alliance's defensive line shouldn't have such obvious weaknesses."

"In the original plan, this was always a weak link."

Kalivento countered.

"The main forces of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance are all on the offensive; relying on the strength of a single Guilliman is clearly insufficient for defense, so they must make trade-offs.

He chose to reinforce the main defensive nodes and sacrificed these secondary locations. This is our opportunity."

Kalivento pulled up the galaxy scan data.

"Besides, look, there is no sign of any Primarchs stationed here.

No energy signatures, no psychic fluctuations, not even that... oppressive feeling of a Primarch's presence. There are only ordinary Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance troops here."

"But the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance might have deployed heavy forces in this sector..."

Kalivento interrupted the Deputy Commander's concerns.

"Vulkan's Salamanders are at the 'Grey Ring,' Ferrus's Iron Hands are at Nankang Star, and Guilliman's main force is directly in front of us.

The fleets of the other Primarchs are also far away from us; where would the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance have any spare Primarchs to defend such a secondary planet? Such a secondary planet has no defensive value."

The logic seemed sound.

But the unease in the Deputy Commander's heart did not vanish.

Progress that is too smooth often implies hidden danger.

Kalivento immediately gave the order.

"Order the fleet: enter attack formation. First round of orbital bombardment, target the fortifications in the rift valley area.

After the bombardment ends, deploy the Airborne Troops immediately to occupy the entrance of the rift valley.

We will control this node within six hours, then use it as a springboard to attack the flank of the Star Alliance's defensive line."

"Do we need to request support from the main fleet?"

The Communications Officer asked.

Kalivento said confidently.

"Not for now. Forty warships are more than enough for this level of defense. Once we take this node, we will report the good news to the Commander-in-Chief."

The order was issued.

The Fengqi Fleet began to deploy, with Battleships and Cruisers moving to the front, and Destroyers and Frigates forming a screening formation.

The main guns began to charge, and energy readings soared on the sensor screens.

And in the Command Center at the bottom of the rift valley, Sitelake watched the orbital monitoring data, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"The fish has taken the bait. Forty ships, just about what was expected."

123-1 pulled up the real-time status of the ground troops.

"All units have entered the bomb shelters. The survival rate of the first Krieg trench line is expected to be... no more than 30% after the bombardment."

Sitelake added.

"The Modian artillery has entered a hidden state, and the observation points are maintaining silence. Once their Airborne Troops land... we will pin them down here."

Low orbit of Fengkaodunxing

Fleet Commander Kalivento of the Fengqi Seventh Star Sector detachment stood on the bridge of the Battleship "Enterprise," his three eyes fixed on the tactical screen.

Fengkaodunxing rotated slowly below, and the only significant feature on its gray-blue surface was the massive rift valley that ran through the northern hemisphere.

Scanning data showed that defensive forces were concentrated in the rift valley area, but the intensity was confusingly low.

"Ground defenses?"

Kalivento asked.

"A large number of life signals detected in the rift valley area, estimated troop strength between five hundred thousand and eight hundred thousand. But the equipment level... is uneven.

Some energy signatures show standard Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance military equipment, but there are also a large number of low-tech weapons, solid-projectile firearms, and old-fashioned artillery."

Deputy Commander Craig frowned.

"This isn't right. If this were an important defensive node, there should at least be decent equipment."

"Perhaps it isn't important."

Kalivento analyzed.

"Guilliman's forces are stretched thin; he must prioritize the defense of key locations. Secondary nodes like the Fengkao Shield can only be assigned second-line troops and obsolete equipment."

He pulled up the fleet status report: forty-two warships, including eight Capital Ships, sixteen Cruisers, and eighteen Destroyers and Frigates.

It was more than enough to deal with the defensive forces displayed on the screen.

"Order the fleet: enter attack formation. Capital Ships move to the front, prepare for orbital bombardment. Targets: the fortifications in the rift area and the suspected Command Node."

Kalivento gave the order.

"After the bombardment ends, deploy the first wave of Airborne Troops immediately. I want the rift entrance under control within five hours."

"General, according to the original plan, we should wait for the Third and Fifth Sub-fleets to rendezvous before launching the attack."

Craig reminded him.

"They are still three light-hours away."

"Waiting will lose us the element of surprise."

Kalivento shook his head.

"Besides, look at these defenses—weak, chaotic, and vulnerable.

Why wait? We can absolutely take this node ourselves, then use it as a base to threaten the flank of the Star Alliance defensive line.

By then, the credit will belong solely to our Seventh Sub-fleet."

Credit.

This word stirred ripples in the hearts of the officers on the Bridge.

In the Fengqi Military, combat merit was directly tied to promotion, honor, and family status.

If they could independently capture a strategic node, even if it was only a secondary one...

"But the risk..."

Craig wanted to say something more.

"War is risk."

Kalivento turned to all the officers.

"Vote now. Those who support an immediate attack, light up your Third Eye."

In the end, more than two-thirds of the officers expressed their support.

"Then, attack."

Kalivento's Third Eye flickered with an excited glow.

"Let the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance see if they can still win a victory without their Space Marines."

The order spread throughout the fleet via encrypted channels.

Engine nozzles adjusted their angles, weapon systems began to charge, and the indicator lights on the drop pods lit up one after another.