During the post-battle military meeting, the atmosphere was so heavy it could almost be wrung out.
Alex's face was ashen, and the Inquisitor's eyes, overflowing with psychic energy, swept over every high-ranking member of the Expeditionary Force present, causing them to involuntarily straighten their backs.
"Damn it! You actually let it escape!" Alex cursed, slamming his fist on the table, leaving a deep imprint on the thick, solid wood conference table: "You are blaspheming the God-Emperor! Because of your foolish mistake, immeasurable consequences will befall the entire expedition!"
His voice boomed like thunder in the conference room, and he pointed an accusing finger at the noses of the Imperial Navy Commander and the Adeptus Mechanicus representative.
Those generals, normally so high and mighty, now hung their heads like new recruits who had made a mistake, not daring to breathe loudly.
After all, allowing a nearly destroyed enemy vessel to escape right under their noses was a grave responsibility that could not be shirked.
According to Imperial military law, Alex could execute the Navy Lord General and all senior generals responsible for the command on the spot, and it would be entirely reasonable and justified.
In fact, for such a severe error, shooting them would be considered a lenient punishment.
According to the Inquisition's usual style, for such a serious error, the main responsible party and his family would be excommunicated.
Because this was not merely a tactical failure, but a humiliating defeat significant enough to be recorded in the Imperial military history.
If it weren't for the fact that the Imperium had no direct jurisdiction over the Adeptus Mechanicus, Alex could have even dismantled those Adeptus Mechanicus Sages into parts.
Even if Alex were to dispute with Mars over this matter, Mars would still have to concede three points.
However, surprisingly, although Alex was radiating powerful psychic energy, indicating his extreme anger and loss of control, he still did not do anything to these generals.
Aside from pointing at their noses and scolding them in the conference room for over an entire Terra hour, he did not execute them as the Inquisition typically would.
Alex's words echoed through the conference hall, each word striking the hearts of everyone present like a heavy hammer.
The psychic energy surging around him gradually subsided, but his eyes still burned with cold fury.
"Although your foolish mistake has caused a huge loophole in this campaign, and may even lay the groundwork for the failure of the entire expedition," his voice was low and dangerous, "I do not wish to assign blame now."
This statement allowed several Navy generals, who had already placed their hands on their sidearms, preparing to commit suicide in atonement to the Imperium, to slightly relax their tense nerves.
Alex forced himself to take a deep breath, and the air in the conference room seemed to solidify with it.
"The immediate priority now is to deal with the mess you've made!" His knuckles rapped on the table with a dull thud, each syllable like a whip lashing at the dignity of everyone present.
At this point, the suppressed anger surged again, and Alex's psychic fluctuations caused the data pads on the conference table to flicker erratically. He suppressed his emotions, his voice becoming even colder: "This escaped warship is very likely to awaken the entire Necron Dynasty! Because of your mistake, this war is about to escalate!"
"My original plan," Alex's voice was squeezed through gritted teeth, his fist slamming heavily on the conference table, causing the holographic projection of the star system to even wobble from the impact: "was to systematically eradicate their Necron Tomb Worlds one by one while the Necron Dynasty was still asleep! But because of your mistake, we now have to consider facing a fully awakened Necron Dynasty!"
These words exploded like a bomb in the conference room.
The Navy generals' faces instantly turned pale, and several older Commanders even stumbled backward.
Someone was already trembling as he unholstered his pistol, but a cold glance from Alex froze these impulsive officers in place.
"Navy fleet," Alex commanded in an unquestionable voice: "From this moment on, commence reconnaissance of all planets within the Sub-Sector marked with traces of Necron Tomb World existence.
I want to ensure all Necron Tomb Worlds are under surveillance! I need to know if they have awakened, and if they are preparing to launch an attack on the Imperium!"
This order meant that countless reconnaissance vessels would delve into dangerous star systems, very likely never to return.
But at this moment, no one dared to raise an objection, only silently recording this directive that could send countless Navy soldiers to their deaths.
"Furthermore," Alex continued, his voice like ice, "you must gather the fleet, even if it means requesting aid from the Segmentum Solar fleet, you must bring me enough reinforcements! We must be prepared to face a large-scale Necrons fleet."
The Navy generals nodded mechanically; they knew what this order meant—the entire Star District's defensive strength would be depleted, leaving countless Imperial Worlds undefended.
But under Alex's oppressive presence, no one dared to utter a single word of dissent.
Turning to the Adeptus Mechanicus representative, Alex's gaze sharpened even more. "This matter is very serious," he stared at Cawl's flickering red mechanical eye, "Although the Adeptus Mechanicus does not bear primary responsibility, it is an undeniable fact that you contributed to the escape of that ship."
Cawl's mechanical vocalizer emitted a slight hum, but he did not retort.
And Kristen and Donia, seeing that Cawl, the senior Archmagos, did not speak, also offered no opinions.
"Therefore, I require the Adeptus Mechanicus to increase its investment in this expedition," Alex said, enunciating each word, "More warships, more Skitarii and Titan Legions." His gaze swept over Kristen and Donia, "Additionally, you must conduct a comprehensive sweep of all Imperial-controlled planets within this Sub-Sector. I do not want those damned xenos to still have warp gates on Imperial planets!"
His voice suddenly rose: "The situation where xenos warp to Imperial Worlds to launch sneak attacks on our rear halfway through the war will absolutely not be allowed to happen in this expedition!"
Cawl's bionic eye flickered with thought, and after a moment of silence, his mechanical vocalizer emitted a low voice: "If that is your command… then the Adeptus Mechanicus will obey your command, sir."
The millennia-old Archmagos uncharacteristically lowered his head; although his status meant he didn't have to obey Alex, he indeed showed obedience in Alex's presence.
The conference room was silent; everyone understood that a war far more brutal than anticipated was about to begin.
And facing the silent crowd, Alex merely sighed and then prayed: "May the Emperor protect us, that this war does not escalate into a disaster that engulfs the entire Star District!"
Hearing Alex's prayer, everyone also silently prayed to the Emperor, praying that the Emperor on the Throne could truly protect them, protect the Imperium and humanity, and help them overcome this crisis.
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