116: herbicide

"After the Broken Spear operation, the Aeldari threat temporarily receded, but our keystone Network detected new, unusual Warp fluctuations." providence's voice echoed through the updated strategic situation map. On the star chart, large, previously dim golden areas belonging to the Imperium were being 'ignited' from within by a more concentrated, active deep blue light. "Fluctuation source: Ultima Segmentum, Macragge. Fluctuation characteristics: Highly organized, psychic resonance filled with the will of 'revival' and 'remolding.' Related event: Primarch Guilliman has been confirmed to have awakened and officially launched the Indomitable Crusade."

"Indomitable Crusade..." Alpha-01 chewed on the phrase. The holographic projection began to display rough but powerful images in the style of Imperial propaganda posters: massive new Imperial fleets (such as the 'Indomitable-class' cruisers), Space Marines in brand-new Mark X Power Armor (including the nascent 'Primaris Space Marines'), and Guilliman's iconic face, etched with cold determination. "The Imperium, this giant we once thought would collapse amidst Chaos and the swarm, is struggling to rise from its death throes, wielding an even heavier, more organized iron fist."

"This is both good news and bad news for us," Han Zhe analyzed. "The good news is that the primary targets of the Indomitable Crusade will inevitably be Chaos and the Tyranids. This will greatly tie up the forces of these two major threats, especially potentially reducing the pressure on us from the Chaos direction (Eye of Terror). The bad news is that a re-cohesive, clear-headed Imperium under the command of a Primarch will never tolerate a 'heretical' force like ours growing powerful on its borders (or within its territory) once it has cleared its main threats. Furthermore, Guilliman's rationality and efficiency may be more difficult to deal with than the corrupt Imperial bureaucrats or fanatical Inquisitors we've faced before."

"providence, based on existing intelligence, deduce the possible impact pathways and time window of the Indomitable Crusade on us."

[Deducing...] Data streamed rapidly. [Main impact pathways: 1. The main force of the Crusade will follow the preset 'Aegis' route, directly striking at the Eye of Terror and the main Tyranid attack vectors. The probability of direct conflict with us in the short term is less than 15%. 2. The Crusade's flank fleets and subsequent consolidation forces may clear 'unstable regions' on the Imperial frontier, including some of our newly occupied but loosely controlled keystones. Estimated contact time window: six to eighteen standard months. 3. Guilliman may attempt to integrate all available 'human' forces within Imperial territory. It is not ruled out that after learning of our existence through some means (such as capturing our personnel or technological wreckage), he may initiate diplomatic inquiries or probing attacks to assess our nature and threat level.]

"Six to eighteen months... not much time, but not too little either." Han Zhe tapped his fingers on the table. "We cannot passively wait for the Imperium to turn its attention to us. We must actively weaken its potential and divert its attention while its main forces are preoccupied."

His gaze swept across the star chart, finally resting on the chaotic and violent region ravaged by Orks. "Orks... the remnants of the Waaagh! that we severely crippled in the early stages of the iron torrent project, as well as the chaotic areas infected by spores across the galaxy. For the Imperium to rebuild order, Orks are 'weeds' that must be cleared. If we can, before then, deliver a 'surgical' extermination strike against the Orks in a more efficient, more deadly manner, we will not only gain a 'buffer zone' and resources on the Imperial frontier but also demonstrate a completely different, terrifyingly efficient 'pacification' capability to any potential observing Imperial forces (or Guilliman himself). This will make them more cautious before deciding to deal with us."

"Strike the Orks, acquire resources, demonstrate military might, divert Imperial attention..." Alpha-01 nodded. "Where do we choose as the target?"

"Here." Han Zhe pointed to a large star system on the star chart labeled "Vorglen Ship Graveyard." It was the stronghold of the bone crusher Ork clan, forming a terrifying 'space fortress' from countless plundered derelict ships and modified asteroids, and a convergence point for Ork Waaagh! energy in several nearby sectors. "Intelligence indicates that the bone crusher's Big Mek has just completed a prototype 'Gravity Well Generator' of super-scale, attempting to 'twist' the entire scrapyard into an impregnable war-planet. If we can destroy this core, we will not only eliminate a large Ork threat but also acquire their crude but 'inspired' technological fragments, especially that Gravity Well Generator—though rough, the underlying physics might inspire our Reality Weaving and anchoring technologies."

"Ork technology... full of randomness and destructiveness, but sometimes it accidentally hits upon 'shortcuts' overlooked by conventional science." The Chief Technologist mused, "Analyzing its 'it just works' underlying logic might supplement our technology tree, which overly pursues 'absolute order,' adding some... 'adaptive chaos' redundancy?"

"Operation codename: 'Herbicide'." Han Zhe named it. "The Blade fleet must allocate at least one-third of its main force, supplemented by a large number of specialized engineering ships carrying 'Biomass Purification Bombs' and 'Structural Disintegration Fields.' The tactical core: utilize custodian intelligence (Ork Waaagh! energy nodes and Mek workshop locations) and our precise firepower for 'decapitation' and 'disassembly,' rather than a war of attrition against endless Ork tides. Final objective: completely flatten 'Vorglen Ship Graveyard,' recover valuable technological wreckage and resources."

"'Herbicide' operation approved. Simultaneously," Han Zhe turned to the technical team, "the Men of Iron technology analysis must accelerate. Risks associated with the abyss of order and custodian evolution require new technical means to counterbalance them. The Men of Iron's 'Conceptual Deconstruction' and 'deep reality crevice' technology, based on absolute logic, though dangerous, its methods of manipulating 'information' and 'reality structure' may be key to understanding the custodian's current state and even developing countermeasures."

"'Men of Iron Technology Analysis Project' (codename: 'Cold Logic') current progress." The Chief Technologist brought up the data. "Our analysis of the wreckage recovered from the Pioneer-14 engagement indicates that its energy core is not traditional fusion or Warp-driven, but a 'Reality Anchoring Engine' based on 'higher-dimensional mathematical projection.' Simply put, they directly 'define' an energy source on the reality structure that conforms to their logic, almost 'creating something from nothing,' horrifyingly efficient, but also extremely unstable, requiring absolutely pure control logic to maintain."

"Its weapon system, the Conceptual Deconstruction Field, is essentially a highly precise 'information overload attack.' It injects massive, contradictory 'existential definition' information into the target area, causing the matter or energy structure in that area to self-collapse due to logical conflict. This explains why our Concept Stabilization technology can partially resist it—our 'order definition' provides a layer of logical buffering."

"And 'deep reality crevice' navigation involves a deeper application of the universe's 'brane theory.' They do not navigate in the Warp, but briefly dive into a 'crevice' between the real universe and some 'mathematical substratum,' where physical laws are more 'primitive' and malleable, thereby achieving extraordinary maneuverability and surprise attacks."

"These are groundbreaking technological pathways," Han Zhe's eyes gleamed. "Although their core philosophy (absolute logic, rejection of sensibility) is not entirely compatible with us, and even fundamentally conflicts, their technical means—the extreme precision control over 'information,' 'definition,' and 'reality structure'—are precisely key to our fight against Chaos (sensory pollution), understanding the conceptual entity, and even gaining the initiative in future potential Order Network gambits."

"We need to reverse engineer, not copy, but absorb their principles to develop our own Human Federation- distinctive technology. For example, based on the 'information overload' principle, develop 'Logic Bomb' against Chaos psychic entities or daemons; based on the 'reality anchoring' principle, strengthen the stability of our anchoring systems, and even develop portable 'Order Anchor Points'; based on the 'deep reality crevice' theory, research our own, safer FTL travel methods or stealth techniques."

"Weapon and equipment upgrade plan." Alpha-01 took over. "Combining the Men of Iron analysis results, 'inspired absorption' of Ork technology, and energy provided by the abyss of order, I suggest launching the 'vanguard' project, in three steps:"

"Step one: Capital ship upgrades. Integrate 'Logic Interference Array' (for psychic, Chaos, and potential future information warfare), 'Reality Stabilization Anchor Projectors' (to enhance field generation speed and stability), and 'High-Energy Focusing Crystals' optimized based on Men of Iron energy principles (to increase main gun range and penetration) into existing and new titan-class vessels. arbiter-class vessels will enhance anti-small craft and anti-infiltration capabilities, equipped with 'Hive-type Micro-Missile Platforms' and 'Wide-Area Sensory Interception Nets.'"

"Step two: Develop new ship classes. Design 'Infiltrator-class' stealth assault ships, combining Cognitive Fog and preliminary 'reality crevice' stealth technology, specialized for reconnaissance, sabotage, and decapitation strikes. Design 'fortress-class' mobile defense platforms, essentially miniaturized, mobile anchoring nodes, used to quickly consolidate newly occupied areas or enhance frontline defenses."

"Step three: Individual and tactical unit upgrades. Develop 'Concept Stabilization' power armor for 'G-2' generation elites, enhancing protection against psychic and conceptual attacks. Develop 'Information Disruption Grenades' and 'Logic Locks' and other special equipment for combating daemons or Aeldari units. For unmanned units, upgrade 'Avenger' fighters, equipped with 'Micro-Reality Reconstructors' (for localized conceptual erasure of small targets), and develop highly disciplined 'consumable remote-controlled drone swarms' inspired by Ork Gretchin hordes, for saturation attacks or environmental clearing."

A comprehensive and ambitious upgrade blueprint. It integrated the Human Federation's own order technology, the weaponization of the Men of Iron's Cold Logic, the accidental inspiration from Ork technology, and the forbidden energy from the abyss of order.

"'vanguard' project approved, to proceed concurrently with the 'Herbicide' operation." Han Zhe finally decided. "Resources will be allocated to these two major projects. We must complete a leapfrog upgrade in technology and military strength before the Imperium's Indomitable Crusade fully turns its attention to us, and before the main Tyranid consumption line approaches. We will also transform the unstable factor of the Orks into a 'whetstone' and 'fuel depot' for us to demonstrate strength and acquire resources."

"'Herbicide' operation will launch in twenty standard hours." Alpha-01 stood at attention, accepting the order.

"'Cold Logic' and 'vanguard' project teams will immediately enter sprint phase." The Chief Technologist's eyes gleamed.

"providence, continuously monitor the movements of the Indomitable Crusade, the trajectory of the main Tyranid swarm, and... any subtle logical anomalies of the custodian under the continuous operation of the abyss of order."

Commands transformed into surging power. Under the dark golden glow of the keystone Network, the Human Federation's war machine began to evolve at full speed towards a more powerful form, more deadly weapons, and colder strategic objectives. They would lay foundations with Ork remnants, forge swords with analyzed forbidden technology, and under the shadow of the awakening Imperial giant, before the threat of the consuming swarm, continue their thorny and bloody path of survival, unique to the Human Federation.