Chapter 1305: Entering the Shattered Star Belt (1)

Flavius made a quick calculation.

"My Lord, the asteroids in the Shattered Star Belt are countless. Even if we only blast open one shipping lane, it will require a massive expenditure of energy and time. Moreover, those Alien pirates will not sit idly by. They will ambush us while we are blasting the rocks."

He paused.

"More importantly, is it worth consuming so much energy just to deal with a group of Alien pirates?"

Aketesi looked at him without answering.

Flavius continued.

"My Lord, those Alien pirates are not worth us ramming them with a Capital Ship. They have thousands of small ships and are familiar with every shipping lane. We have two Capital Ships, yet we cannot even get through the door. If we go head-to-head, our attrition will increase."

Aketesi walked back to the window and looked at that dark red star sector.

"Then tell me, what should we do?"

Flavius thought for a moment.

"Send in the Thunderhawk Gunships."

Aketesi's brows furrowed slightly.

"Thunderhawk Gunships?"

Flavius nodded.

"Thunderhawk Gunships are much smaller and far more agile than Capital Ships. They can slip through any gap in the Shattered Star Belt; there is no need to blast rocks or clear a path. Furthermore, they are fast and possess heavy firepower, more than enough to deal with the pirates' small ships."

Aketesi was in Silence for a few seconds.

"How many men can a Thunderhawk Gunship carry?"

Flavius said.

"Each Thunderhawk can carry one Tactical Squad, about ten Space Marines. We have fifty Thunderhawks and can deploy five hundred men at once. Including the Thunderhawks from the escort ships, the total is eighty, eight hundred Space Marines.

The Thunderhawk Gunships will slip through the gaps in the Shattered Star Belt, find the pirates' ships, seize them, and then turn them against them. Those pirate small ships are no match for the Thunderhawks at all. Besides, our warriors are not to be trifled with."

Aketesi thought for a moment.

"Seize ships? Thunderhawks have no boarding equipment."

Flavius said.

"No boarding equipment is needed. Thunderhawks can force a docking or use Magnetic Locks to fix themselves to the enemy ship's hull. Then, the Space Marines enter the enemy ship from the Thunderhawk and clear the interior. No matter how arrogant those pirates are in space, once they are inside the ship's cabin, they are like turtles in a jar."

Aketesi was in Silence for a long time.

Then he asked.

"What about energy consumption?"

Flavius said.

"Negligible. The Thunderhawk's engines are much smaller than those of a Capital Ship, and the energy consumed is negligible. Moreover, we can obtain supplies from the pirates' ships. They have been raiding for hundreds of years; there should be plenty of good things on their ships."

The corners of Aketesi's mouth lifted slightly.

"You certainly have thought this through."

Flavius lowered his head.

"I just don't want the brothers to sacrifice themselves in vain."

Aketesi patted his shoulder.

"Good. Then we shall do as you say. Summon all Company Commanders; we meet in ten minutes."

Flavius stood at attention and saluted.

"Yes, my Lord!"

In the combat Meeting Room, twelve Company Commanders sat around a round table.

Aketesi stood at the head of the table, with the Holographic Star Map in front of him.

"Everyone is here. There is only one topic for today. How to strike into the Shattered Star Belt."

He pointed to three red dots on the star map.

"'Iron Gate', 'Narrow Throat', 'Ash Corridor'. We cannot enter through any of the three entrances. The Capital Ships are too large, the shipping lanes are too narrow, and there are too many asteroids. Blasting open a lane requires too much time and energy; it is not worth it."

He looked around at the Company Commanders present.

"Therefore, we are changing our tactics."

He zoomed in on the star map, revealing a dense asteroid belt.

"Thunderhawk Gunships. They are much smaller and far more agile than Capital Ships; they can slip through any gap in the Shattered Star Belt. Find the pirates' ships, seize them, and then turn them against them."

The First Company Commander—a burly veteran with a cold, hard face—raised his hand.

"My Lord, the Thunderhawk Gunships have no boarding equipment. How do we seize the ships?"

Aketesi looked at him.

"Forced docking. The Thunderhawk can use the docking ring on its nose to fix itself to the enemy ship's hatch, or use Magnetic Locks to attach to the enemy ship's hull. Then, the brothers enter the enemy ship from the Thunderhawk and clear the interior.

Furthermore, we are not going for a frontal assault. We are going to launch a surprise attack. Catch them off guard, seize their ships, and strike their base. By the time they react, it will be too late."

Aketesi looked around at everyone present.

"Are there any other questions?"

No one spoke.

Aketesi nodded.

"Then it is decided. All Thunderhawk Gunships will depart at midnight today. Enter the Shattered Star Belt in batches, slipping through different gaps; do not concentrate. Find the pirate ships and act in unison."

He paused.

"Remember, our goal is to seize the ships, not to destroy them. The ships we seize will be our ships. Use their own ships to strike them and let them die by their own guns."

The Company Commanders stood up, stood at attention, and saluted.

"Yes, my Lord!"

In the hangar, fifty Thunderhawk Gunships were lined up neatly.

Around every Thunderhawk, Techmarines were busy checking equipment, replenishing ammunition, and testing engines.

The Master of the Forge said to the Techmarines below.

"The fuel valve on the number three engine is a bit tight. Replace it with a new one."

The Techmarine nodded and turned to have a servitor fetch the part.

Chapter Master Ake walked into the hangar, followed by Adjutant Flavius.

The Master of the Forge jumped down from the wing, stood at attention, and saluted.

"My lord."

Ake nodded.

"How is the preparation going?"

The Master of the Forge said.

"Fifty Thunderhawks, all inspections complete. Fuel is sufficient, ammunition is fully loaded, and engines are normal. Ready to depart at any time."

Ake looked at those Thunderhawks and remained in Silence for a few seconds.

"What about the Magnetic Locks? Are they all installed?"

The Master of the Forge nodded.

"Installed. Every Thunderhawk is equipped with four Magnetic Locks, sufficient to attach to any metal surface. The Plasma Cutters are also ready and can cut through half-a-meter-thick hull plating within ten seconds."

Ake asked.

"What about the Electromagnetic Pulse Weapons?"

The Master of the Forge said.

"Each Thunderhawk is equipped with two Electromagnetic Pulse Missiles. After launch, they can form an Electromagnetic Pulse field around the enemy ship, paralyzing all electronic systems. The duration is about thirty seconds, enough for the brothers to cut through the hull and enter the interior."

Ake nodded.

"Good. Continue preparations. Depart at midnight."

The Master of the Forge saluted.

"Yes, my lord."

Ake turned and said to Flavius.

"Notify them: eighty Thunderhawks are to enter the Shattered Star Belt in batches. Do not concentrate, and do not attract attention."

Flavius nodded.

"Understood."