Infinite Stream Metaverse

Chapter 414 Steel Calamity
The warband is about to go to the Iron Girdle.

What kind of place is this?
To really understand the full picture of the Steel Girdle, you first need to know the history of the area.This region of countless stars is known for its clusters of Forge Worlds, the Adeptus Mechanicus territories scattered across many galaxies.Their huge demand for auxiliary industries such as agricultural worlds makes other planets more or less related to these forge worlds.

In this case, it is understandable to think that the steel ring is of one mind, but it is not the case.

Most of the Forge Worlds here existed long before the Age of Strife, and for the next few thousand years they were completely isolated, ignorant of anything other than their own Machine Empire.Such an environment has caused each forge world to write its own history. In the main theme of bloodshed and sacrifice, the conflict between them who are originally from the same source is getting bigger and bigger.

It wasn't until the Great Crusade launched by the Human Empire that they entered the Peaceful and Storm Starfields that these already disparate forge worlds were connected. After understanding each other's existence, the Human Empire and the Iron Girdle formed an alliance logically.

This covenant is undoubtedly mutually beneficial. On the one hand, the forging worlds of the Iron Belt can embrace the knowledge and power of the entire empire. On the other hand, the empire has also obtained multiple new Titan legions that can be used to continue to expand outward .

In the early days of the alliance, the Titan legions of each forge world marched forward with the expeditionary fleet of the space warriors. They beat and wiped out all kinds of non-human alien civilizations, and also defeated those human regimes that were unwilling to submit to the empire and Mars. In the process, All the forces in the Iron Belt have acquired a large amount of territory and wealth, and all the historical issues within the Iron Belt have been covered up by the benefits brought by the Great Expedition.

But no one will easily forget these wars that once took place in their homeland. The old enemies and feuds that once tore apart the land of their homeland are now named as allies and united under one banner. This has planted the seeds of division for the Iron Belt. seed.

Then, the Horus Heresy broke out.

The Iron Belt naturally split into two factions, oh no, three factions, the loyal faction who supported the Emperor, the rebel faction who supported the Warmaster, and the independent faction "Indomitable Iron Empire" who did not support either side and only wanted to seek independence. A great melee ensued, and eventually the region returned to the Empire once more, as rebels from all over the galaxy fled to the Eye of Terror, and the Titan Legion, loyal to the Emperor, took over the Iron Girdle.

This is the "Steel Plague" campaign.

Throughout the entire Horus Rebellion, it started at the end of the Great Crusade and ended at the end of the Great Rebellion.

but!This battle known as the "Iron Calamity" did not come to an end with great vigor, but quietly withdrew from the stage of history: the Loyalists suppressed the rebels to the Forge World of High Valia, just as they surrounded the galaxy When the final blow was about to be given to the rebels, the rebel troops disappeared inexplicably in a way that could not be explained by common sense.

In the end, only an empty and uninhabited galaxy was left, and the ten planets in the galaxy became dead worlds without any signs of life. The fortresses were empty, the foundry cities disappeared without a trace, and only industrial ruins remained.

In other words, there was no final outcome in this war. The loyalists regained their lost ground, and the rebels took away the main force—both sides achieved their respective strategic goals.

The Horus Rebellion is over though.

But the disaster of steel did not draw a real end, and this result could not comfort the lives that had been ravaged and devastated by the artillery fire of the Titan Legion and its affiliated forces.

Small-scale conflicts continue to be staged in the Iron Belt, civil wars tear apart planet after planet, and opportunists are active in it trying to get ahead.Hundreds of worlds are affected by the war, and they are weakened by the confrontation between themselves and their enemies.The blood of billions of lives stained every pair of strong hands.

The above is the status quo of the steel belt.

Inferred from the wording in Tyra's transfer order.

The dark mechanical gods who fled back then.

It seems... is back again?
……

This time Qingshan Khan came out with the main force of the Iron Buddha battle group. The naval force included a battle barge, three strike cruisers and a bunch of imperial transport ships, leaving only one strike cruiser to guard Marquez. Wang Xing area.

Marsk King Star District is located on the border of the empire. Although the star district is large, it is sparsely populated. There is only one Conscription World, one Forge World, one Hive World and one Agriculture World, and they are located in different galaxies. .

A company and a strike cruiser are enough.

Forge world of Atal Median.

The stronghold of the loyalist Mechanicus in Ironbelt.

It is now a gathering place for counter-insurgency forces from all sides.

As soon as the fleet of the Iron Buddha Chapter passed through the subspace from the Mandeville point on the edge of the galaxy, it was discovered by patrol warships nearby. After confirming their identities, a Cobra-class destroyer led the Emperor-class battleship and the following The next three heavy cruisers headed to the Forge World Airport.

The 1.5-kilometer-long Cobra-class destroyer, driving in front of the 12-kilometer-long Emperor-class battleship, is like a small tadpole swimming in front of a pike, very inconspicuous.

From the various battleship paints, it can be seen that the airport in the Forge World of Atal Median is already crowded with fleets from various battle groups, all of which were dispatched by the Ministry of Military Affairs to assist in countering the rebellion. For the Titan legions from other forge worlds, it seems that the Mechanicus also attaches great importance to the steel ring belt, perhaps even more than Terra.

The arrival of the Suzheng caused some commotion in the airport. This kind of giant battleship that has been discontinued is really rare. Although they didn't know that it was an empty shell aircraft carrier without fighters, it didn't stop them from admiring it. envy.

Fleet docking completed.

Fu Qinghai led his subordinates to get off the battleship along the connecting channel, and came to the airport deck. Several imperial officials and technical priests were waiting here. They bowed and said:

"Follow me, my lord."

……

The Iron Ring Theater Command, this is a large conference room temporarily remodeled from the Forge Temple.

Fu Qinghai entered the meeting room alone, and found that there were already many space warriors among them. In addition to the space warriors, there were also officers of the Imperial Guard and sages of the Mechanicus. They whispered to each other and discussed in low voices.

"You are late, Chapter Master of the Iron Buddha."

A deep female voice sounded.

Fu Qinghai turned his head to look, and saw a woman wearing Ignatus-type power armor, with a black cloak behind her, a hood covering half of her face, and a few strands of hair hanging down.

A female judge?
Ignatus type power armor is the special power armor for judges, Fu Qinghai has seen it in Terra.

"Warp space navigation, you also know."

Fu Qinghai explained casually.

Then he asked:
"Excuse me, may I ask who you are?"

The woman raised her hood, revealing a middle-aged face. She has smooth caramel-colored skin. Objectively speaking, her facial features are delicate and pretty, but her eyes are too deep and sharp. Those eyes feel like a sharp knife piercing into the soul. .

"Sid Nora, Order of the Hammer, Grand Inquisitor."

The woman spoke concisely.

No wonder when she stared at her, I always felt uncomfortable. It turned out to be a judge of the Demon Tribunal, and almost all the judges were psykers.

"Hello, Your Excellency the Judge."

Fu Qinghai extended his hand politely.

"Hello, Qingshan Nayanhan."

The judge reached out and shook his hand.

Oh?Fu Qinghai raised his eyebrows slightly.

On the way he came, some people called him "Chief of the Qingshan Chapter", and some called him "His Excellency the Chapter Commander". Only this judge called him the right title.

Qingshan's face was sweaty.

It shows that this woman has a certain understanding of the Fifth Legion, knows some cultural traditions unique to Chogris, and the exclusive title and appellation of the White Scar.

This actually aroused Fu Qinghai's favor.

Fu Qinghai was half a body taller than this judge, but she stood in front of the ceramic steel giant without being humble or overbearing. Seeing the astonishment on the star warrior's face, the corner of the woman's mouth curled into a smile, which seemed to have been done in advance. some homework.

Fu Qinghai took his seat and asked casually:

"So, what is the situation now, is there no supreme military commander in this theater?"

There was some confusion in the conference room.

There are people from all military systems of the empire.

"Yes, Marshal Huxlow of the Imperial Guard, serving as the supreme military commander of the Iron Ring War Zone."

Sid Nora found a place to sit obliquely behind Fu Qinghai, folded his hands on his chest and said lightly:

"He'll be here soon."

As soon as the words were finished, a solemn white-haired old man in military uniform walked in slowly.

Huh, Huxlow?
Fu Qinghai had heard of this name before.

The author of the "Introductory Guide to the Imperial Infantry" of later generations seems to be the Marshal of the Imperial Guard in front of him.

"Introductory Guide to Imperial Infantry" can be called the Imperial Guard's version of the "Astarte Codex", each guard soldier has a copy, but the actual guiding significance is much stronger than the "Astarte Codex", covering the Imperial Guard Every aspect of everyday combat: rules and regulations and organizational structure; instructions for issuing weapons, instruments, and other equipment; basic battlefield tactics; basic medical skills; strategies for dealing with enemies of the empire, and more.

The Marshal of the Imperial Guard who was able to write such an instruction manual was not an incompetent mediocrity.

GW has published the physical book of "Introduction to the Imperial Infantry Guide". This book supplements the details of the daily combat of the Imperial Guard in a joking but serious tone, and there are some Soviet-style Warhammer 40K political metaphor jokes, which are quite interesting.

It's a bit like "One Weekly".

So Fu Qinghai was more impressed.

"Who is that next to him?"

Fu Qinghai then asked.

"The ruler sage, Hieronymus Gant, is also one of the highest military commanders in the theater and is responsible for the actual command of the Mechanicus troops. He knows the iron belt very well."

Sid Nora answered patiently.

"The Supreme Commander is a mortal, haha."

There was a disdainful chuckle from the side.

Fu Qinghai turned his head and looked over.

A space warrior in dark red power armor.

No way no way?What age antique?The Legion has been split up for so long, what's so strange about a mortal officer commanding a space fighter?Do you think you are still living in the Legion era of the Astartes?Fu Qinghai thought to himself.

As if sensing Fu Qinghai's gaze, the space warrior turned his head, nodded and said:

"Clifford, the Bloodthirsty Chapter."

"Qing Shan, the Iron Buddha Squad."

After introducing himself, Fu Qinghai tentatively asked:

"Son of the Blood Angels?"

"I have a good eye."

The battle group leader replied lightly:

"We are indeed the children of Sanguinius."

After finishing speaking, he raised his finger and pointed to the opposite side:

"Here, the Flesh Tearers are over there."

Hey, two sub-groups of the Blood Angels came all at once.

From the second army building of 31K to the extreme army building of 42K, there have been more than 1000 battle groups in the Adeptus Astartes, some of which disappeared in a flash, and some of them lasted forever. To be honest, Fu Qinghai did not Can't remember who is who.

But he knows some basic rules.

As long as the battle group named "XX Angels" is either a sub-group of the Blood Angels or a sub-group of the Dark Angels, and because the High Lord Council does not allow the use of the gene seeds of the Dark Angels to establish sub-groups, the number of sub-groups of the latter is relatively small. At least, guessing at the Blood Angel, basically one guess is right.

Although Bloodthirsty and Fleshtearers do not conform to this rule, but one look at their dark red power armor, as well as the blood drops, wings and Holy Grail logo on their shoulder armor...

[-]% Blood Angels Sons.

Fu Qinghai thought that the brothers in the battle group should stay away from these guys later, so that the "blood thirst" and "black anger" will not attack together, and the enemy and the enemy will fight indiscriminately.

Perhaps because the dark angels are very disobedient, the high lord council doesn't like them, so it is forbidden to use the dark angel gene seeds to make subgroups, but the dark angel gene seeds are actually very useful, and several subgroups that were forcibly split in spite of Terra's protest , the genes are all stable without any variation.

On the contrary, there are a large number of blood angel sub-groups, but almost every sub-group has inherited "blood thirst" and "black anger", which has huge hidden dangers, but the high lord council doesn't care about these.

"I am a child of the White Scars."

Fu Qinghai also briefly introduced himself.

The Chapter Master of the Bloodthirsty nodded in understanding.

In the middle of the auditorium, Generalissimo Huxlow was talking about his strategic plan, narrating in a strict manner:
"In this battle, I will use the Titan Legion as the main force on the ground, and the Imperial Guard Corps as the auxiliary ground force. The Astartes battle group will fully cooperate with the Imperial Navy fleet to participate in the peripheral battle and seize orbital air supremacy..."

First of all, it is clear:
Titan Legion as the main force.

Regarding this arrangement, even the most rebellious Astartes Chapter Master did not make any comments.

A war on titans is a war on titans.

Even the smallest knight-class Titan in the Titan Legion is far more powerful than any space warrior or dreadnought mecha. Except for orbital bombardment, the only thing that can deal with a Titan Legion is another Titan Legion.

Space warriors want to wrestle with the Titan Legion, unless they are equipped with a large number of heavy armored vehicles or heavy land aviation fighters in the Legion era, then don't even think about it.

After that, the marshal continued to assign combat tasks.

The more Fu Qinghai listened, the more he frowned.

According to the information currently known, the overall military strength of the Empire is greater than that of the Dark Mechanicus.However, Huxlow's tactical arrangement is regular, step by step, steady and steady, dividing and encircling bit by bit, eating away the living space of the traitors. If everything is carried out smoothly, the greatest results can be achieved at the lowest cost. At first glance, there are almost no problems in the past. .

The only downside is that it takes a long time.

Many officers at the scene, no matter the space fighters, the Imperial Guard, or the Imperial Navy, including the sages of various forge worlds, faced such a plan, and they couldn't find any faults. Everyone listened silently, and no one raised their opinions.

What Fu Qinghai thinks is wrong is:

Now is not the early stage of the Great Rebellion. Most of the traitors have already hid in the Eye of Terror. Doesn’t the Dark Mechanicus know that its overall military strength is inferior to the Human Empire and the Mechanicus?If they knew, why did they dare to attack the steel belt?
Grand Marshal Huxlow's plan.

more or less...

Too slow and too reserved.

Fu Qinghai thought of the ending of the "Steel Disaster".

Perhaps the Dark Mechanicus had no intention of claiming the forge worlds of the Iron Girdle at all?

This is just a conjecture. You must know what the enemy's specific strategic goals are before you can make targeted arrangements. If you know what the enemy wants to do, then tell him not to do anything. What if the enemy doesn't care about the gains and losses of a city or a place?
So what does the enemy care about?
What exactly does the Dark Mechanicus want?
Fu Qinghai didn't know either.

At this point in time, Abaddon's first Black Crusade has not yet started, and no one from the Empire has ever been to the Eye of Terror. I understand, based on this situation, Fu Qinghai has a conjecture:
Assuming, assuming that the strategic goal of the Dark Mechanicus is to run away after grabbing a wave of resources, and has no other plans, then this steady and steady territory recovery plan arranged according to the usual experience is right in the arms of the enemy.

Finally, the ending of "Steel Calamity" reappears.

Traitors got what they wanted.

The empire also regained lost territories.

After a war is over, both sides are happy?

No, it can't be like this, and it shouldn't be like this.

Fu Qinghai frowned and shook his head slowly.

War, shouldn't be fought like this.

In the 31 years from 42K to 1K, Abaddon launched a total of thirteen black expeditions, which are the so-called "Eternal Wars" on the side of Chaos. Abaddon was driven back to the Eye of Terror each time, but Chaos War Shuai has a tough mouth and insists that he has not lost, so he won the title of "Victorious in a hundred battles".

But if you think about it from another angle, the empire also claimed to have won the previous victories against chaos, but the Black Legion is getting stronger and stronger... What's going on?

Don't you win every time?
Why is the opponent getting stronger and stronger?
After it's over, my side is getting weaker and weaker?
As a native of China, Fu Qinghai knew very well how many grassland regimes outside the customs rose in history.

The Empire of Man...maybe need to reflect.

At the end of the battle meeting, the commanders of the various Astartes battle groups and Imperial Guard regiments walked out of the meeting place one by one, preparing to go into battle according to the strategic deployment.

"how?"

Sid Nora suddenly leaned over:

"Do you think there is something wrong with Huxlow's strategy?"

Fu Qinghai shook his head and said nothing.

He is not familiar with this demon judge, so there is no need to tell her what he thinks for the time being.

Besides, although they don't agree with the current strategy, there is one thing that everyone can agree on - the Titan Legion is the absolute main force in this war. Without Titan units, they are not qualified to participate in the battle on the frontal battlefield.

But no one knows.

The Iron Buddha battle group actually has Titans...

Fu Qinghai also couldn't explain to others why his Astartes battle group had a Titan?A Titan with an unusually strange shape? Does the Codex Astartes agree?Did the Mechanicus Titans agree?

Too complicated to bother explaining.

Fu Qinghai did not answer the judge's question.

Instead, he changed the subject and asked her:
"This battle was supposed to be a battle between the Titan Legions, and even the Astartes were not the main force, but the Demon Tribunal came, so it means that there will be and psychic powers on the side of the Dark Mechanicus." Related filth?"

"You are sharp, Khan."

Sid Nora nodded and said.

She gave Fu Qinghai a meaningful look:
"In fact, I asked the Ministry of Military Affairs to issue the order to send the Iron Buddha battle group to the steel belt."

"Oh?"

Fu Qinghai didn't expect this.

No wonder this woman started talking to herself when she came up.

It turned out that she had applied to send herself to the war.

Fu Qinghai thought to himself:
The problem is that I didn't mess with the Demon Inquisition either.

"why?"

Fu Qinghai humbly asked for advice.

"There is no reason, just because you are a sub-group of the White Scars, one of the most powerful legions with spiritual power after the Thousand Sons, I want to use the power of the Storm Prophet. I know what you want to ask, why not Go directly to Chogris to find the White Scars? Because Jaghatai Khan led his battle group to hunt down and kill the Dark Eldar fleet in the Yashan star area, and there is no time to deal with it. At the same time, the Imperial Regent led the Ultramarines and All its sub-chapters, hunting the Fallen Primarch Fulgrim, have no time to pay attention to the war on the Iron Girdle."

Sid Nora said slowly:

"I read from the records of the Ministry of Military Affairs that the Iron Buddha battle group is a sub-group of the White Scars with a good record, so I applied to Terra to send you across the star field to the steel ring belt."

Very far indeed.

Fu Qinghai didn't understand at first.

Why did you send your own battle group from the Obscure Starfield to the war between the Taiping Starfield and the Storm Starfield.

"I'm afraid I'll disappoint you."

Fu Qinghai said rather embarrassedly.

The Iron Buddha battle group, ashamed to be called the White Scars group, has neither a storm prophet nor an organized think tank force.

The only candidate for a high-quality think tank, the future think tank director of the battle group, the battle brother who used Amon's gene seed, is still learning magic in the Quanzhou monastery.

We are good at something else.

Fu Qinghai explained sincerely: Our warband does not have a think tank. No. 56, Salfaran, and Kalamanda's three-legged cat kung fu and magic tricks are not worthy of being called think tanks.

"But, I don't understand..."

Fu Qinghai turned to ask again:

"Even if you need to deal with issues related to psychics and demons, you shouldn't come to us. What, the legendary 660th battle group, isn't it already..."

"How do you know about Chapter 666!?"

Sid Nora was startled.

During the second founding of the army, in addition to the well-known battle groups such as the Black Templar, Crimson Fist, Nova Warrior, and Scarlet Angel, there was also an ulterior secret battle group code-named "660 No. [-]", which was quietly established. .

It is famous in later generations...

Gray Knights.

This is the expert in dealing with demon problems, the armed forces directly under the Order of the Holy Hammer, and the first choice of demon judges.

Uh……

To see Sid Nora react so violently.

Fu Qinghai was also a little stunned.

Haven't the Gray Knights been formed yet?

But his reaction was quick, and he immediately said:
"Ms. Sid Nora, what I want to remind you is... I am in Terra, and I have something to do with it."

My news channels are very well-informed!
does it matter?That relationship is so powerful.

Sid Nora was a little confused.

The Court of Inquisition, the Court of Assassins, and the Gray Knights are all organizations established by the Prime Minister of the Empire during his lifetime. He knew the existence of the Gray Knights, and he said that he was related... Could it be related to Malcador, the Hand of the Seal?This relationship is too hard!
The former Regent of the Empire.

It turns out that the Iron Buddha Squad is actually a hidden relation?

Seeing Sid Nora's expression was a little messy.

Fu Qinghai hastily said again:

"You haven't answered my question yet. What kind of demonic problems need to be dealt with by the think tank?"

"There is no concrete evidence, it's just my conjecture, come with me, I'll show you some photos."

Sid Nora whispered.

Fu Qinghai followed the judge to the airport.

An Imperial clipper anchored below.

Walking into the interior of the Empire Clipper, and came to an ordinary cabin on the upper deck, Sid Nora closed the cabin door, checked carefully, took out a stack of photos from the drawer, and handed them to Fu Qinghai , said:
"Do you know the final outcome of the 'Steel Calamity' campaign? The fleets of the Empire and Mars have surrounded all the Mandeville points on the outskirts of the galaxy where the High Valian foundry world is located, but the rebel troops of the Dark Mechanicus, Instead of rushing out of the galaxy, it disappeared right under their noses."

"is it?"

Fu Qinghai was a little surprised when he heard this.

Due to the influence of the gravity of the planets inside the galaxy, subspace jumps cannot be performed directly. You must first arrive at the Mandeville point on the outer edge of the galaxy before you can jump into the subspace.

This is basic common sense.

However, contrary to common sense:
The Dark Mechanic Cult ran away directly.

Fu Qinghai flipped through the photos in his hand.

"The first troops to land on the surface claim to have detected no signs of life, only to see empty shells of the Dawnbreakers Titans destroyed in previous battles. The poses of these shells appear to be distorted in agony, braced Their racks formed even weirder patterns, and many witnesses almost lost their minds. No one knows what happened to Supreme Valia and how it left the galaxy."

Sid Nora said in a deep voice.

The Dawn Stars Titan Legion was the first loyal Titan Legion to invade the Forge World of High Valia, but failed to wait for follow-up support, so they all fell in the rebel territory. Fu Qinghai looked at the photo in his hand. In the photo, these loyal Titans The titans were all twisted into a strange posture.

Fu Qinghai is not a demonologist. He doesn't know what these gestures represent. He only knows some basic common sense, such as what the holy numbers of the four evil gods are.

"So, do you think they used some kind of sacrificial method to forcefully break through the limit and jump into subspace?"

Fu Qinghai narrowed his eyes and asked.

"That's right, I think that if the Dark Mechanicus dares to invade the Iron Belt again, it is very likely that they will repeat the trick and use the same method to leave the galaxy again!"

Sid Nora said firmly.

…………

　I'm sorry, wow, the new campaign needs some ideas and foreshadowing, and it will be delayed if I don't pay attention.

　
(End of this chapter)