The bridge of the Gabbro was bathed in the eerie, cool, blue light of the Cognitohazard Array.
The air was thick with the slightly acrid smell of burning promethium, the metallic tang of coolant, and the sacred scent of incense.
Outside the massive viewport, the star of the Broken Tooth Star System emitted a dim yellow glow, illuminating the holographic star map suspended in the center of the bridge.
On that war-torn planet, the crimson light representing intense combat was gradually fading, leaving only the outline of scorched earth.
Loken's tall figure stood before the tactical holotable, the servo joints of his Power Armor emitting a low hum as he retrieved data.
His helmet was tucked under his arm, and his voice was low and precise.
"Operation Anvil has concluded, and the specific battle statistics have been compiled," he said, his fingertip tracing the holographic interface as cold data and casualty reports cascaded down: "Ash Knights Third and Fourth Neophyte Companies, a total of two hundred battle-brothers committed, thirteen killed in action. May their souls return to the Golden Throne.
Additionally, forty were gravely wounded, all of whom have received effective treatment; however, three of them suffered wounds too severe and have been transferred to Dreadnought sarcophagi to continue serving the Emperor.
The assisting Astra Militarum Rostov Seventeenth, Eighteenth, and Nineteenth Regiments sustained a twenty-five percent casualty rate, successfully consolidating the landing zone and completing the outer suppression. Their sacrifice will be remembered."
He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the remaining conflict markers on the star map, then continued: "There are three primary tactical deficiencies exposed in this operation.
Firstly, the Neophyte Companies lacked effective immediate countermeasures against elite units such as Ork Warbosses and Heavy Armor Bosses, and their heavy firepower configuration was insufficient.
Secondly, when encountering sudden high-intensity threats, the battlefield coordination chain reacted sluggishly, and the speed of information transmission and decision-making at the command level was inadequate.
Thirdly, Neophytes still lack the ability to identify and respond to sudden threats in complex situations."
Loken's voice fell, precisely pinpointing the core deficiency of Mikhail's squad—the Neophyte Company's lack of heavy firepower, making them unable to withstand the furious charge of the Warboss, Tooth Fracture.
Hathor Lupeca stood with her hands clasped behind her back, her dark grey administrative uniform accentuating her tall figure.
Her gaze pierced through appearances, sharp as a knife, as she stood by the star map, scrutinizing the planetary projection before her, appearing to Loken just as the Warmaster had ten thousand years ago.
"The firepower deficiency you pointed out is crucial, Loken," Hathor's voice was steady and authoritative.
That single word, "Loken," caused Loken's pupils to contract instantly—the approval of the Ullanor Triumph collided violently with the shadows of the Terra city walls, then was suppressed by cold vigilance.
Hathor operated the holotable, bringing up a segment of battlefield recording, the scene focusing on the moment the Warboss charged furiously through the defensive line, shrugging off Bolter fire.
"Loken, the core issue is precisely as you emphasized: the standard firepower of Neophyte Companies cannot suppress heavily armored elites," Hathor's fingertip tapped the Warboss's thick armor. "Bolters and Chainsword lack stopping power and armor penetration depth.
When a Warboss charges, the defensive line lacks a heavy firepower anchor point capable of directly confronting its spearhead."
The scene switched to another battlefield recording from Eagles Nest Rock: a Gravis-pattern Eradicator squad's heavy bolter timely concentrated fire, and the Heavy Armor Boss's charge abruptly stalled.
"Eagles Nest Rock proves," Hathor's tone was cold, "that countering heavily armored elites requires immediate, concentrated heavy firepower with armor-piercing capability, and even more so, heavily armored units capable of withstanding counterattacks and stabilizing the defensive line to support such firepower output."
Loken remained silent as a statue, his voice steady, yet always maintaining his suspicion and vigilance towards Hathor: "You believe tactical content needs to be adjusted?"
"No," Hathor stated unequivocally.
Her gaze lingered briefly on Loken's faceplate, a flicker of an unreadable light passing through, then returning to its cold intensity.
"Basic training is the skeleton; the skeleton needs flesh and soul," her fingertip traced the Ague VII and Tooth Fracture markers on the star map. "The soul is forged in the crucible of real combat, and now we need to fill the skeleton with flesh.
The solution is a structural adjustment: assign dedicated Sword Brethren Veteran Squads as the core to each Neophyte Company, integrating Gravis-pattern heavy units, allowing the company to both attack and defend."
She emphasized: "Gravis-pattern heavy armor provides Terminator-grade defense, and powerful power packs support sustained heavy firepower output. They are the new pillars of company operations, using heavy armor to withstand fierce assaults and heavy firepower for precise kills."
Her gaze was as sharp as a sword, piercing through the star map: "Let new blood fight in true elite confrontations, alongside Sword Brethren Veterans and Gravis heavy armor units.
Learn firsthand: how to establish stable firing points relying on heavy armored units, how to coordinate heavy firepower for precise strikes under high pressure, and how to proactively maintain the lifeline against elites in the gaps between commands.
This is the crucible to compensate for firepower deficiencies and temper the Chapter's resilience."
Loken's breathing was somewhat heavy, and he finally said in a deep voice: "This will significantly deviate from the codex astartes's standard organization."
Although Loken didn't particularly care about the Codex either, he still understood that some things shouldn't be done too out of line.
Hathor's lips curved into a cold arc, her molten-gold pupils showing complete disdain for dogma: "The Codex is a tool to serve living warriors, not a shroud to shackle the Imperium's power."
The bridge fell silent for a brief moment, with only the eternal low-frequency hum of the Cognitohazard Array, like the heartbeat of the warship.
Alex's voice came from the side, steady and carrying the weight of final judgment, breaking the stagnation: "Proceed with Ms. Hathor's plan. Even the Lord of the Thirteenth Legion would not object to this point. Also, what is the final readiness status for Operation Crucible?"
Loken turned to the Governor, data streams scrolling in his ocular implants: "Fifth Company and First Company Terminator Assault Squads have completed final equipment checks and blessings; Librarian psychic suppression array is warmed up, ritual matrix is ready. But…"
He paused, his voice growing colder and harder: "The Inquisition sent a top-priority encrypted communication three standard hours ago, requesting a secondary tactical confirmation of the purification target on Aigē VII Planet."
The molten-gold light in Hathor's eyes dangerously fluctuated, like a volcano about to erupt, instantly suppressed by her cold will: "Inform them that the target has been confirmed without error: the Plague Fortress where the Nurgle cultist Warband, the Rotted Claw, is entrenched.
Evidence of blasphemy and contamination level reports were submitted to the Inquisition archives seventy-two standard hours ago.
If they insist on personal confirmation, any Inquisitor is welcome to personally land on that planet, covered in plague miasma and festering sores, for an on-site inspection."
Alex let out a soft, unidentifiable chuckle, raising a hand to halt any further argument: "I will handle the Inquisition's inquiry. Loken, transmit the order: Librarian Ahriman is to immediately begin the psychic suppression ritual; the fleet is to maintain silent running.
Upon reaching high orbit of Aigē VII, no secondary confirmation is needed; proceed directly with orbital insertion. Time is the Emperor's will."
"Understood, Governor," Loken bowed his head in acknowledgment, then turned and walked towards the comms array, his heavy footsteps echoing on the adamantium deck.
Hathor's gaze locked once more on Aigē VII, which glowed with an ominous purplish-black light on the star map.
The simulated image of the planetary surface showed rolling yellow-green toxic clouds and festering land, like a suppurating scar on the cosmos' trunk.
The true crucible was about to be ignited.
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