Chapter 191: Guanzhe

Upon arriving at the Shadow of Sovereignty and stepping into the palace, Weiershier felt a slight sense of discomfort.

Obsidian slabs tilted in a disorderly fashion, defying the laws of physics, to support the Dome.

Twelve metal rods extended downward from the Dome, with the banners of various Chapters hanging from their bases; they were arranged asymmetrically in a pattern of three on the left, four on the right, and five in the center.

Inside the magnificent palace, the black jade floor tiles spread out asymmetrically in a Fibonacci Sequence of point spacing.

【The flagship has already been branded by the Primarch.】

Weiershier had learned from Bradshaw, who was both his mentor and friend, that the Primarch favored black, asymmetrical architectural structures.

The Legion Monastery currently under construction on his home world of Vostonia, which he had yet to set foot on, utilized this very design.

Weiershier followed the path of the Fibonacci Sequence and arrived at the Sovereign Council Chamber.

The chamber was divided into two areas, where the Astartes Commanders and the fleet officers were seated respectively.

The Astartes walked to the left area and took a seat in the last row.

Bradshaw had reminded him that as a newcomer to the Honor Guard, he should listen to everyone speak, but not speak himself.

After sitting down, Weiershier looked toward the front of his area, where James, Lord of the Second Chapter, Sanchez, Lord of the Seventh Chapter, and Chief Apothecary Mikel were seated closest to the Primarch.

On the other side, Fleet Captain Diana Polin sat closest to the Primarch's throne.

Fifteen minutes later, the war council began on time.

Arsena Dunn raised the Control Staff, projecting a holographic image of the Flame Wheel System into the center of the chamber.

At the same time, the surrounding screens lit up, each displaying images of different aspects of the situation.

"Gentlemen, after the Imperium reconnaissance ships infiltrated the Flame Wheel System, they conducted a comprehensive scan of the entire system."

"The number of Orc fleets exceeds a thousand, most of which are ships cobbled together from scrap metal; the Tech-Priests have absolutely no idea what they rely on to fly through the void."

"It is worth noting that there is an unknown number of Capital Ships within the Ork fleet."

"..."

After the Primarch Attendant introduced the general situation of the Flame Wheel System, Ninglu spoke.

"The number of Orcs in the Flame Wheel is vast, representing the greatest challenge the Eleventh Legion has faced to date."

"I wish to hear your strategic thoughts."

Diana leaned back into her leather seat, entering the state of a "Guanzhe," and like a bystander, she scrutinized the Astartes on the other side with her blue-green eyes.

She saw James stand up first.

"From the Primarch Attendant's introduction, we know that the situation in the Flame Wheel is unclear."

"Therefore, we should adopt a steady advance tactic, with the Shadow of Sovereignty as the center."

The "Guanzhe," possessing keen observation, caught the Lord of the Second Chapter pause for a moment; a flash of jealousy crossed his eyes before James continued.

"Use the range advantage of the Void Hunter to strike the Orc warships; the manic Orcs will launch an attack if they do not wish to be whittled down by us."

"My Capital Ship will become a nightmare for the Orcs, dealing a cruel blow to the Xenos."

Hearing this, Weiershier frowned; he looked at the Lord's back and thought to himself.

【Lord James is too conservative. Following this strategy against dozens of times our number of Orc warships would result in too heavy a loss.】

The "Guanzhe" glimpsed his jealousy from James's imperceptible movements, and combined with her knowledge of the Legion's situation, she thought to herself.

【Sanchez and the other Lords have achieved shining battle records, while James seems much dimmer by comparison.

He wants to win the favor of the Sovereign, but he lacks creative strategic thinking; the plan he proposed is intended to prove himself and the Second Chapter to the Primarch through a frontal battle.】

The "Guanzhe" thought of this and looked up at the Primarch.

The female captain was the person who saw the Primarch most often, aside from the Primarch Attendant and members of the Honor Guard, and was more "accustomed" to looking directly at Ninglu than others.

A moment later, the "Guanzhe" gave up helplessly and withdrew her gaze; the Primarch's expression remained as usual, and she could not infer Ninglu's thoughts from any expression or movement.

Diana began to recall past battles commanded by the Primarch, and relying on the powerful memory of a "Guanzhe," she recalled everything she had seen.

【Although I cannot discern the Primarch's thoughts, James's plan should not align with Lord Ninglu's strategic thinking.】

As the female captain pondered, James sat down, and Sanchez stood up afterward.

"Although there are many Orc warships, most pose little threat; we should adopt a swift strike strategy and launch a decapitation strike against the large Orc warships."

"There is an advantage to this strategy: once they lose the large warships as their backbone, the threat of those scrap ships will drop significantly."

"If we fight a war of attrition, they will use their large warships to launch attacks; as far as I know, Orc warships often use brutal ramming tactics."

Hearing this, Weiershier's brow relaxed slightly.

He believed the plan proposed by the Lord of the Seventh Chapter was superior to his own Lord's, but it was too risky, and the Legion would still suffer significant losses.

As Weiershier fell into deep thought, trying to come up with a better plan, Diana was also observing Sanchez.

The "Guanzhe" saw dancing flames in Sanchez's eyes, and she captured the soaring battle intent and fighting spirit within them.

【Sanchez made a wager with the Wolf Lord of the Space Wolves, Enoch Lashwin, betting on who could purify a planet of Orcs first; the Reaper Lord is eager to launch an attack as soon as possible.】

The "Guanzhe" recalled Sanchez's past battle reports, and the plan he proposed also aligned with his past tactical thinking.

Diana looked up at the Primarch again; having become a "Guanzhe," she had gained an outstanding spirit and was better able to withstand pressure than before.

When Sanchez sat down, Weiershier had not thought of a better plan, and the "Guanzhe" still could not see any answer on Ninglu's face.

Just as the "Guanzhe" was about to withdraw her gaze, she saw the Primarch's deep eyes look over, and she was forced to break away from her transcendent state.

"Diana, what is your plan?"

The female captain stood up, "My Lord, I believe both Lords' plans have their own advantages, and I think they can be combined."

"Oh," Ninglu tapped his fingers on the back of his chair and said with interest, "Speak."

"The Shadow of Sovereignty will draw the Orc fleet's fire, the Void Hunter will take the opportunity to launch a swift strike, and the Capital Ships will intercept the ramming enemy ships."

"After the Fifth and Eleventh Chapter warships arrive, we will launch the final annihilation battle."

Weiershier's eyes brightened as he looked at the female captain; the plan she proposed was more complete and would result in fewer losses.

It was more militarily feasible and politically accommodated the ideas of both Lords.

The Gene-Father truly knows how to put people to good use, appointing her as the captain of the flagship.

As Order Shadow pondered, she indeed heard the Primarch speak.

"Diana's suggestion is feasible; the strategies of James and Sanchez are both effectively combined."

"I command the fleet to divide into three branches..."

"Four light-years from the Wheel of Fire, Arenis, located on the two routes, shall serve as the supply transfer point..."

Ninglu issued orders at high speed, and the massive fleet set sail under the Primarch's coordination.

After the war council ended, Weiershier followed the members of the Honor Guard, who were also from the Second Chapter, as they left.

"Weiershier, I'll take you to the mess hall; you haven't eaten Fenris Kraken steak yet, have you?"

"Kraken, what is that?"

"A sea monster; the large ones are several kilometers long, and some are even longer than a Gloriana-class Battleship."

As a member of the new batch of the Honor Guard, he had never been to Fenris, but the story of the Gene-Father defeating another Primarch still fascinated him.

"Father and the Wolf King of Fenris held a hunting competition."

"The Kraken was the trophy, and its meat was sent to each fleet."

"Five Relic-class Warships also sent portions of the meat to each Chapter; it's a pity our Chapter hasn't received the Primarch's reward yet."

Weiershier kept up with his colleague's leap in logic, "I know the Wolf King lost to the Gene-Father."

At the same moment, Arenis.

Eldar Exarch Slauda, holding the sword forged by the God of Smiths Vaul, said to the Eldar Warriors before him.

"I have received a revelation: Chaos will perish along with humanity."

"The threads of fate have recently shown another change; Ninglu will obtain the Spear of Dionysus and become the weapon of the Monkey Lord; he will be the variable in the threads of fate."

"We must kill Ninglu on Arenis before the war of the Wheel of Fire breaks out, and let the wolf of Fenris take it."

"To ensure the annihilation of the variable, I have spent ten years weaving the threads and formulating a complete series of plans."

"Ninglu must die; he cannot be allowed to obtain the Spear of Dionysus!"

In the ninth week of the fleet's voyage, the Shadow of Sovereignty received a distress signal from Arenis.

(End of this chapter)