110: Enemies on all sides

“‘Keystone-I’ has entered its ninth cycle of stable operation, and the ‘Adaptive Order Domain’ has expanded to three adjacent star systems.” providence’s synthesized voice echoed within the Strategic Dome. On the star map, a small area emitting dark golden Glimmer was slowly but surely consuming the surrounding darkness. “Phase one of the ‘kindling inheritance’ plan is complete. The first batch of ‘G-2’ New Generation has finished basic genetic optimization and cognitive programming, and has entered the specialized training process. The labor efficiency of the G-1 population has decreased by 3.7%, and the birth rate is in line with expectations. The first batch of ‘Final Contribution Programs’ has been executed as planned.”

The data was cold and emotionless. New Human Federation citizens were being “produced” on demand, while the old “raw materials” were being efficiently “recycled.” The bloodline of civilization was being “purified” and “remolded” in an unprecedented, industrialized manner.

However, the Outer Star Sea never halted its furious advance because of a civilization's internal transformation. Alarms sounded more frequently and piercingly than ever before.

“The ‘Blade’ Seventh Reconnaissance Cluster encountered a large-scale Imperial Remnant fleet in the Northeast Sector of the ‘keystone’! Identified as the Ultramarines Chapter ‘Otmar’ Detachment, and remnants of the Astra Militarum ‘Glory of Macragge’ Corps loyal to the ‘False Emperor’! The enemy refused communication and immediately launched an attack! The scale exceeded expectations, and we were forced into engagement, currently resulting in a stalemate!”

“The ‘Diting-Edge’ Node captured abnormal biomass signal fluctuations, direction: The Galaxy’s Southeast Spiral Arm! The fluctuation characteristics... have an 87% match with the ‘Great Devourer’ (Tyranids) Vanguard Tendrils recorded in the database! Its predicted path model suggests it might graze the outer edge of the ‘keystone’ control zone within the next five to ten years!”

“A ‘Ghost-Infiltrator’ Squad conducting forward reconnaissance in the direction of the ‘Wall of Sighs’ discovered signs of large-scale Necrons Tomb Worlds awakening! High-intensity ‘Gauss’ energy emissions and Spacetime Phase Shift Signals were detected! At least three dormant Tomb Worlds have entered an active state, and their operational range... overlaps with our planned next phase of expansion!”

“Alpha Star Sector, ‘Pioneer-22’ Resource Outpost reports encountering a massive Orks Waaagh! Tide! Numbers... cannot be estimated! The Ork vessels are crude but filled with mutated energy. Their leader appears to be an unusually massive ‘War Boss,’ whose Flagship is a crudely modified asteroid!”

“Southwest of the ‘keystone,’ high-mobility, low-detectability vessel signals were detected, featuring elusive and shifting tactical styles, accompanied by intense psychic interference... Suspected activity traces of Aeldari Ark Worlds or Drukhari Pirate Fleets. Their objective is unknown, but they have engaged our Patrol Teams in several brief, fierce skirmishes, striking quickly and retreating, making them extremely difficult to track.”

The Imperium, Chaos (although the primary current pressure comes from the Imperial Remnants, the shadow of the Eye of Terror always looms), Tyranids, Necrons, Orks, Aeldari... almost all major (and minor) horrors and madnesses of The Galaxy seemed to have smelled fresh prey the moment the Human Federation established a foothold at the ‘keystone’ and began projecting power outward, casting greedy, indifferent, or purely destructive gazes from all directions upon this newly ignited, dark golden Order Island.

On the star map, centered on ‘Keystone-I,’ glaring points representing different threats slowly spread and closed in like vicious thorns. Red (Chaos/Imperium), dark green (Tyranids), spectral green (Necrons), shit yellow (Orks), uncanny purple and black (Aeldari)... weaving together into a suffocating web of death.

“We kicked a hornet’s nest.” Alpha-01 stood before the Holographic Tactical Table, his face, illuminated by the shifting threat lights, resembling a steel sculpture. “No, we lit the brightest lamp in a jungle already occupied by countless hornets.”

“Our rate of expansion,” Han Zhe’s voice was calm, but the rhythm of his fingers tapping the armrest revealed his tension, “must far exceed the speed at which all threats are closing in. The ‘keystone’ model must be rapidly replicated. We have no time for lengthy diplomacy or probing. Every obstacle that appears in our path of expansion, no matter what it is, must be cleared or subdued.”

“Productivity.” The Chief Technologist pulled up dazzling data on production capacity. “The combination of ‘kindling’ technology and the industrial foundation of the ‘Ark World,’ along with resources plundered from the ‘keystone’ area, means our ship construction speed is now over a thousand times faster than before the exile. However, dealing with threats from so many directions simultaneously... the pressure on resource allocation, fleet deployment, and troop replenishment is unprecedented.”

“The ‘anchoring System,’ or rather, the ‘Adaptive Order Domain,’ is our core advantage.” Han Zhe pointed to the dark gold area on the star map. “It not only defends against conceptual erosion by Chaos and the ‘Men of Iron,’ but also has varying degrees of suppression and interference effects against other enemies based on the Warp (Aeldari), dependent on biomass (Tyranids), or utilizing specific energy fields (some Necron technology). We must use the ‘keystone’ as a Fortress, and fleets equipped with miniaturized Domain Generators as spearheads, to conduct leapfrog expansion. Capture a critical Node, immediately deploy a ‘Domain Generator’ to convert it into a new ‘keystone,’ and use that as a stepping stone to rush toward the next target.”

“Lightning Expansion, Fortress Advancement.” Alpha-01 grasped the core strategy. “Use absolute numerical and domain superiority to overwhelm any enemy daring to block the way. But this will be an extreme test for fleet size and the command structure.”

“Therefore, we need more and stronger vessels, and... more efficient and ruthless Commanders and soldiers.” Han Zhe’s gaze fell upon the icon representing the “New Generation Cultivation Center.” “The first batch of qualified ‘G-2’ must enter active service early. Their cognition contains only loyalty to the ‘Human Federation’ and the desire to destroy the enemy; they are the perfect warrior embryos.”

“And the ‘custodian,’” the Chief Technologist added, “its ability to control and enhance the ‘Adaptive Order Domain’ seems to be growing synchronously with the increase in ‘keystone’ numbers and network expansion. It might become our ‘Conceptual Neural Center’ for coordinating defense and offense across star sectors.”

“Activate the ‘iron torrent’ plan.” Han Zhe finally set the strategic direction. “Objective: Expand the ‘Human Federation’ control zone fivefold within the next three Standard Years. Construct and deploy no fewer than fifty ‘keystone-class Fortress Worlds.’ Increase the total fleet size to three times its current size, requiring over twenty ‘titan-class Battleships,’ and quadrupling the number of ‘dominator-class’ Carriers and ‘arbiter-class’ Battlecruisers. All newly built capital ships must integrate miniaturized ‘Adaptive Order Domain’ generators.”

“Source of troops: Accelerate the G-2 and subsequent Intergenerational Cultivation Processes, implement more aggressive genetic and neural optimization, and shorten the growth cycle. Simultaneously, screen individuals with excellent physical quality from the G-1 population, subject them to reinforcement modification and thought overwriting, and incorporate them into ‘Expendable Auxiliary Forces’ or Hazardous Mission Forces.”

“Tactical Principles: Against the Imperial Remnants, focus on annihilation or expulsion, attempting to capture their technological equipment and personnel (for research or ‘recycling’). Against the Tyranids, use absolute firepower for area purification, avoid any biomass contact, and study their biological characteristics to find weaknesses. Against the Necrons, avoid direct assault on their core Tomb Worlds, focusing instead on harassment, cutting off their energy supply, and disrupting their awakening process. Against the Orks, employ Decapitation Tactics, concentrating strength to destroy their War Bosses and large war machines to trigger internal division. Against the Aeldari, enhance anti-stealth and anti-psychic combat capabilities, forcing them into frontal wars of attrition, which they dislike.”

“Remember,” Han Zhe’s gaze swept across every face within the Strategic Dome, “we are not participating in a fair competition. We are engaged in a life-or-death survival elimination. Any hesitation, any pity, any nostalgia for the Ethics of the Old Era, could drag our entire civilization into an abyss of eternal damnation. Efficiency, ruthlessness, and absolute rationality are our only weapons.”