Human strength, in the end, is still too weak.
From the local war on Aelos alone, the Tyranid vanguard fleet dispatched numbered hundreds of vessels, while the defending humans had only a pitiful few dozen, and a significant portion of those were the Blood Angels escorting Emrys.
After boarding the family flagship, Emrys immediately went to the bridge command room without delay.
He needed to understand what had happened in the two days he was gone so he could better plan the next course of action.
"You're finally back—"
In just two days, Carol looked extremely haggard, as if she had aged several decades.
"Thank you for your hard work, Lady Carol." Emrys resumed his position as Captain, first observing the overall battle situation on the star chart.
Their scattered dozens of warships formed a crescent shape around Aelos, constructing a circular defensive line, while the first wave of the Hive Fleet, like giant pincers, was closing in from the outer perimeter, pressing down on them.
The situation was already dire; once their fleet was surrounded by the Tyranid swarm, isolated, and with communications cut off, the Defense Force remaining here would undoubtedly be doomed!
"Colonel Jenst, please report to me immediately on the current battle situation on Aelos." Emrys, having officially taken command, immediately contacted the frontline air wing via short-range communication.
"Colonel Jenst of the Cadian 1433rd Air Wing reports to you, Commander; 75 mining platforms have been lost, with only 48 still operational. The Air Wing and Defense Force have suffered heavy losses, and less than 30% of combatants are still able to fight!" Jenst's tone was urgent, and loud explosions frequently echoed through the communication channel, indicating the intensity of the battle there.
"How much Promethium has been transferred?"
This was Emrys' most pressing concern.
They were holding Aelos not in a futile attempt to defeat the massive Tyranid fleet here, nor to halt the swarm's advance, but to collect as much Promethium as possible to stockpile for future wars!
"Only 35% of the plan—I apologize, Commander, we have tried our best, but these damned bugs are like madmen, attacking our mining platforms and slaughtering our workers." Jenst hung his head in shame, several veins bulging on his forehead.
"Their habits are completely different from what is recorded in Imperial data; it's as if they have specific targets."
The Promethium reserves are less than half.—
Aelos, an industrial world, has an extremely vast Promethium reserve, enough to supply two star systems. However, due to the harsh environment, extraction is extremely difficult. Even with hundreds of mining platforms operating day and night and hundreds of specialized Transformers assisting, it is still a drop in the bucket compared to the enormous reserves.
Not to mention, in just two days, they had to cope with Tyranid biological fleet air raids and harassment on one hand, and brave the harsh environment to mine on the other.
The "Promethium" currently extracted and transferred is at least nearly half short of Emrys' planned target.
Yet, the Tyranid biological fleet is already pressing towards Aelos, and this is just the vanguard; there are more Tyranid biological hive ships constantly arriving!
They have tried their best to transfer it, but the mining environment is too harsh, and the progress of transferring the stored Promethium is at least half short of the required amount!
Emrys lowered his head; this was a much larger disparity than he had imagined. He had expected to reserve at least 60-70% of the planned amount before the Tyranid fleet arrived, but it turned out to be only 35%!
Reason told him they should retreat here!
There was no need to waste limited resources on this place anymore. If they dragged it out, once the Tyranid hive ships arrived, their small force wouldn't even be enough to fill the Tyranid's teeth!
Since they couldn't hold it, there was no need to waste manpower and resources to contend with the Tyranid; this was the correct choice.
But... he was unwilling!
Through the bridge's viewport, Emrys looked at the enemy of humanity—no... the enemy of life, the gigantic and disgusting biological warships in the dark universe!
Any further retreat, and it would be the Baal system!
Without sufficient Promethium reserves, even with the main force of the Blood Angels led by Dante, it would be difficult to contend with the massive Tyranid fleet. The brutal battle in the Hades system would soon be replayed, and Baal would also become a purgatory!
Must the Baal system replay the tragedy of the Hades system once more?!
Hundreds of Imperial Worlds were tragically devoured by the swarm!
Countless human compatriots, under the Tyranid's endless greed and plunder, became their biomass, which then produced even more bugs!
"Retreat, my ass!"
Suddenly, Emrys made up his mind; he was going to deliver a fierce blow to the Tyranid fleet!
Run, my ass. He was going to wait here for the Tyranid hive ships to arrive. If he didn't give these things a good shot, he wouldn't feel right!
"Colonel Jenst, I don't care how many men you've lost. Until I say retreat, you are not allowed to fall back one step. Hold the remaining mining platforms, understood?" Emrys said with firm words.
Not one step back!
This order was almost explicitly telling the 1433rd Air Wing that they must fight to the death here.
For an ordinary legion, this order, tantamount to suicide, would undoubtedly incite a mutiny.
But... they were the Cadian Shock Troops, the elite of the Astra Militarum, and the Emperor's coin!
"Yes, Commander!"
Jenst didn't show even a trace or a hint of hesitation, nor did he question the rationality of the order. He stood at attention and saluted, looking deeply at Emrys.
"Cadian Shock Troops, 1433rd Air Wing, in the name of the God-Emperor, swear to hold out until the last moment, never to retreat!"
They were the Astra Militarum, and they were elite!
Having endured the brutal battle for Cadia, they were Avengers who had struggled out of purgatory. They never lacked the will to fight, nor did they fear the enemy!
Even if the enemy numbered hundreds or thousands of times more!
Cadia, never falls.
This has never been an empty phrase; the Cadian Shock Troops would only prove their loyalty to the Imperium and to humanity through action!
"Carol, tell all crew members to hold their posts and cooperate with the Navy in striking the swarm." Emrys then issued his second order.
However, upon hearing his order, Carol was aghast with shock.
"You—what exactly are you planning to do? The main Tyranid fleet is almost here!"
"I'm waiting for the Tyranid hive ships!"
Emrys sneered, saying, "I refuse to believe that a mere Tyranid tendril can turn the world upside down!"
He was going to prepare a carefully crafted "Surprise gift package" for the distant Tyranid!
They can eat, can they?
He wanted to see just how much the rumored Tyranids could eat. He was just afraid that by then... the Tyranids' teeth wouldn't be so hard, and they wouldn't be able to chew through this hard bone he had carefully prepared for them!
Let the Tyranids also witness the insane rate of troop production of the Transformers, now with abundant resources!