Chapter 201: Wheel of Fire: Battle Moon

On the first day of the eight hundred and twentieth year of the thirtieth millennium, Ninglu sat upon the Black Throne.

Even though the Primarch did not deliberately acquire the surrounding information, his superhuman senses still took in the conversations of the officers.

The words of the Sound Array Master caught Ninglu's attention.

"Communications Operator, this is the fifth time during your shift that you have failed to report on time; the average delay is three point two seconds."

The Primarch's ears twitched slightly, and the voice from the communication headset reached him.

"My lord, apologies. Communication base station A-185 and backup communication base station B-274 experienced anomalies simultaneously."

"Confirm the cause of the anomalies and repair them immediately."

Ninglu subsequently noticed that within a single shift cycle, the communication network had experienced thirteen anomalies.

Although the interference could be cleared each time, the cause of the anomalies could not be confirmed.

The anomalies touched Ninglu's sensitive nerves, and he immediately issued an order.

"Order the receiving ships to open all Auspex and detect the shadows of the grid."

"The fleet is to activate Auspex at maximum power and start all active and passive Data Arrays."

The total energy produced by a ship over a period of time is fixed, and the Commander will allocate energy according to the actual situation.

In a situation of clashing with the Ork, energy should have been prioritized for weapons, Void Shields, and propulsion systems, but the Primarch's will was above all else.

Ninglu's order was carried out on every ship in the fleet, and the scanning data was quickly summarized for the Primarch Attendant.

Arsena Dunn examined the data; the "Inference Scholar," relying on powerful memory and deductive ability, immediately noticed the anomaly.

"My lord, there are abnormal fluctuations in the gravity within the star system, and the fluctuation amplitude has increased by approximately twenty-four point one percent."

"Communication channels have been affected to varying degrees as a result, with communication anomalies occurring intermittently."

"Navigators and Astropaths report that some kind of light point has appeared in the Warp; although it has not caused substantial interference, it is worth noting."

"..."

Ninglu compared the many subtle anomalies with the information in his memory.

【Battle Moon?】

Ninglu knew that the essence of a Battle Moon was neither a planet nor an independent void warship; it was actually the tunnel terminal and signal target for the beast's "Waaagh Gate."

Through teleportation, the Ork could continuously project armies and supplies.

He remembered that during the "War of the Beast," the Adeptus Mechanicus referred to the Battle Moon's teleportation technology as "Subspace."

The Ork armies did not rely on Warp travel, but rather performed faster-than-light movement by passing through the super-dimension between the real plane and the immaterial Veil.

Compared to most unstable Ork technologies that often exploded, the Ork's "Subspace" travel technology exhibited special stability.

Compared to the Imperium's Warp Engine, the Ork's "Subspace" travel technology was safer, but the disadvantage was that it could not teleport instantaneously and required a period of travel time.

The Battle Moon would approach a planet's "Subspace" in a way that exceeded the laws of physics.

Accompanying the jump arrival would be a Gravity Tide, which would destroy the target planet's gravitational field, leading to the outbreak of geological disasters and gravity distortion phenomena.

【The scale of the Ork in the Flame Wheel is very large, and they may have mastered the technology to build a Battle Moon.

I have no relevant memory; perhaps Leman Russ ordered the destruction of the reactor, as in the Wolf King's eyes, all Xenos technology should be destroyed.

Space warfare is unfavorable, and the Ork may be calling for the Battle Moon to return for reinforcements.】

While Ninglu was deep in thought, he confirmed the existence of the Battle Moon and immediately issued an order.

"All warships, perform evasive maneuvers immediately; do not approach any planets or moons."

After the Primarch thought for a moment, he said to the Sound Array Master.

"Send a message to Leman Russ, warning him to stay away from the planets within the Flame Wheel."

The black warships within the Flame Wheel System immediately executed the Primarch's order, re-planning their combat routes to avoid approaching any planets.

The gray warships did not slow their pace of attack; they continued to hunt.

The flagship of the Sixth Legion.

Enoch Lashwin looked at the holographic image in front of him and said with confusion.

"Has the Order Shadow been frightened by the Ork's counterattack? Their ship formation has changed, abandoning their original advantage."

The Wolf King frowned; he thought of Sanchez, who had shown no fear in his council, and shook his head, saying.

"Impossible, Ninglu's cubs do not lack courage, and their losses are not severe."

Leman Russ had to admit that Ninglu had lost far fewer warships than himself, yet had achieved greater results.

"Send a message to Ninglu asking for the reason."

Before the Sound Array Master could convey the Primarch's order, he received a communication message from the Eleventh Legion reported by the receiving ship.

He dared not delay and immediately reported to the Wolf King and the Wolf Lord.

After hearing the report, Enoch Lashwin roared loudly.

"What? Stay away from the planets of the Flame Wheel?"

"Our mission is to wipe out the Ork; if we don't dare to approach the planets, then we should just turn around and run away."

Leman Russ bared his fangs, his ice-blue eyes full of disdain.

"Witchcraft nonsense."

He habitually wanted to ask the Sons of the Storm, but before he could speak, he suddenly realized they were still undergoing Gaizao Shouhu.

Although the Wolf King looked down on witchcraft, he knew that Ninglu must have a reason for what he said and did, so he said.

"Order..."

Beside the fourth planet of the Flame Wheel, a new moon suddenly rose.

Accompanying the appearance of the moon were thousands of Ork warships.

A Gravity Bubble appeared suddenly without any warning, and the entire moon was trembling.

Everything on this world—rock, air, and water—underwent changes.

The entire Planet exploded like a bomb, with tons of rock and soil thrown into the air like a blizzard.

The ground cracked open, and water turned into steam.

The volume of seawater surged spontaneously, forming three-meter-high giant waves that rushed over the adjacent hills with enough force to shatter rock.

Splashing rocks and debris, along with mud and water, slammed into the panic-stricken, fleeing Orcs.

Two Ork fell, their heads crushed by giant boulders.

The Orcs fled in a panic, shouting loudly.

"The Moon is back..."

As the scene of the Moon rising from this world not long ago surfaced in their minds, another Gravity Bubble tore the world apart.

Hundreds of Ork turned into blood clouds, vanishing amidst the explosion of rocks and violent tremors.

Monstrous waves surged in the sea of stars of the Wheel of Fire, shaking within the Gravity Tide.

The four Capital Ships and twenty-six Frigates of the Sixth Legion, having just received the Wolf King's order to retreat, were sucked in as if by a terrifying gaping maw, flying toward the newborn Moon.

The Space Wolves warships attacked the rising Moon in fury; Lances, Torpedoes, and Lasers rained down upon the Moon.

On the Shadow of Sovereignty, Ninglu watched the newborn Moon.

【The Battle Moon is much smaller than I imagined, only about one-fifth the size of Luna.

Hmm, it seems it hasn't been built for long and hasn't swallowed any "food" yet.】

Ninglu knew that it takes time for a Battle Moon to devour a Planet.

After the Orcs occupy a Planet, they must build a Gravity Link Facility on it, then calibrate it to match the equipment of the same model on the Battle Moon.

Once calibration is complete, the activated Gravity Link Facility will begin to slowly tear the Planet apart, pushing massive mountain ranges and fractured mantle plates into the gaping maw of the Battle Moon above, eventually becoming part of the parent body.

The Primarch knew it had not yet completed a planetary "devouring" by the scale of the Battle Moon and the size of the debris orbiting it.

The Primarch's eyes were deep as he looked at the huge, distorted, and bizarre Orc totem on the surface of the Battle Moon, constructed from countless metal parts.

The Orc totem was circular in its entirety, with ripples along its edges and a distorted crescent moon inside.

【Evil Moon Clan.

It was the Evil Moon Clan that built the Battle Moon; what a coincidence.

The "Corrupted Baron" is exactly what needs the teeth of the Evil Moon Clan.】

As Ninglu pondered, he saw the mountain ranges on the surface of the Battle Moon churn, and chains lashed out like giant pythons striking, shooting toward the gray warships.

The chains whipped against the ships, and the armor at the points of contact collapsed inward like thin paper.

The collapse points radiated gravity waves outward, the ship keels snapped in rings, and the metal at the fractures shimmered with the light of high-temperature vitrification.

In an instant, the gravity turbulence smashed the gray warships in half.

Ninglu watched as the thirty Space Wolves warships were torn to shreds, silently saying in his heart.

【The Battle Moon's primary method of attack—Gravity Whip.

The opportunity has arrived.】

The Primarch immediately issued an order: "Launch a boarding action against the Moon!"

(End of chapter)