130: expansion

A Pyrrhic victory... No, it couldn't even be called a victory. This was a devastating collision with no winners, leaving several sides severely damaged. The "Human Federation" paid the terrible price of the "abyss of order" being nearly scrapped, the flagship damaged, and nearly half of its forces lost, all just to exchange for the temporary retreat of a powerful enemy.

Inside the command center, there was an oppressive silence. The cost was too high.

However, Han Zhe broke the silence. There was no grief or dejection on his face, only a cold, sharp intensity akin to that of a hunter.

"The enemy has retreated," he said slowly, his gaze sweeping across the vast swaths of threat signals on the star map that had fallen into "silence" or "faded." "The main Chaos force has scattered, the 'Men of Iron' scanning network is shattered, the Aeldari have hidden, and the Necrons have relocated. They... are afraid."

"Afraid?" a staff officer repeated subconsciously.

"Afraid of this mutual-destruction madness, afraid of this incomprehensible and uncontrollable burst of destructive energy, afraid that while they are in a chaotic battle with other enemies, they will be dragged into the abyss by our 'broken car'—one that looks like it's falling apart but can still spit out its final lethal flame." Han Zhe's voice carried a penetrating coldness. "They retreated not because they were defeated, but because the 'risk' and 'reward' of staying were disproportionate. Especially for a strategist like Guilliman, for absolute rational constructs like the 'Men of Iron', for opportunists like the Aeldari, and for cold existences like the Necrons."

He pointed toward the star sector that had just been ravaged by war but now presented a massive "power vacuum"—the "Gloomy Corridor" and its surrounding vast areas, which were originally occupied by Chaos, Ork remnants, Aeldari pirates, and sporadic Necron patrols.

"And this place, now, is ours."

Everyone was stunned. Their side had suffered heavy losses, their home was damaged, and the powerful enemies had only temporarily retreated and could return at any time... At such a time, he was still thinking about expansion?

"It is precisely because we suffered heavy losses and the 'abyss of order' is temporarily incapacitated that the enemy will believe we need a long time to lick our wounds and are unable to expand." Alpha-01 instantly understood Han Zhe's intention, fire reigniting in his eyes. "This is the best, and the only, window for expansion! While the enemies are uncertain, suspicious of each other, and have all suffered losses, we must seize these ownerless or weakly defended sectors at the fastest speed! Exchange space for time, use new resources and new populations to make up for our losses, and build a more powerful fleet!"

"But... our fleet has also suffered massive losses..." the Chief Engineer hesitated.

"Therefore, we must 'churn them out like dumplings'! Faster and more than ever before!" Han Zhe said decisively. "Although the 'abyss of order' is damaged, its basic architecture and 15% power remain. Combined with the resources we are about to seize from the 'Gloomy Corridor' and the steady stream of New Generation labor provided by the 'Kindling Inheritance' plan, it's enough! Orders:"

"First, all 'keystone' shipyards and 'Ark World' subsidiary factories that are still operational will enter 'Extreme Production' mode! Activate all reserve resources and adopt the simplified, mass-produced 'torrent-class' standardized warship design (based on a simplified 'arbiter-class', with reduced firepower and protection, but a 300% increase in construction speed)! Goal: Within the next three standard months, restore the total fleet scale to pre-war levels, and double it within six months!"

"Second, using the existing surviving fleet as the core, immediately form the 'Pioneer Legion'. Split into multiple routes with 'fortress-class' mobile platforms as the vanguard, and fully enter the 'Gloomy Corridor' and surrounding vacuum zones! Tactics: Annihilate the weak, bypass the strong. The primary goal is to occupy key star systems, establish temporary outposts, and collect resources! Do not seek to annihilate the enemy, only to seize territory!"

"Third, accelerate the cultivation and military training of the 'G-3' and 'G-4' New Generation. Simplify the process, emphasize obedience and basic combat skills, and fill the personnel gap as quickly as possible."

"Fourth, establish the 'Abyss Reconstruction Committee' to fully repair the 'abyss of order' and 'custodian-alpha'. At all costs, their functions must be restored!"

"Remember," Han Zhe's voice echoed through the command center like a steel oath, "in this battle, we paid a price in blood, but we also announced the existence and determination of the 'Human Federation' to the entire galaxy! Now that the enemy has taken one step back, we must advance ten steps! Using our steel, our speed, and our will, we shall turn this starscape plowed by war into a brand-new territory for the future of 'Pure Humanity'!"

"For the 'Human Federation'! Expand! Advance!"

The orders turned into wild momentum. Despite being scarred, the war machine of the "Human Federation" roared once again.

The remaining fleet, carrying unhealed scars and an even colder killing intent, pounced like a pack of hungry wolves onto that "no-man's land" that had just cooled down, filled with wealth and danger. Along the way, the resistance they encountered was minimal—surviving Ork remnants fled in terror into the deeper wilderness, scattered Chaos cultist strongholds were easily crushed, and some gasping small xenos civilizations even fled upon hearing news of the fleet's arrival before it even arrived.

"'Gloomy Corridor' core area occupation complete. Discovered three high-reserve Element Zero ore veins and two habitable planets (purification required)!"

"Outposts have been established in several resource star systems on the edge of the nebula left by 'bone crusher'. Mining operations have begun!"

"Encountered a group of fleeing Drukhari pirates. Destroyed their flagship and captured some psychic engine technology fragments!"

Reports of victory began to arrive. Resources, territory, and even sporadic technological gains poured into the "Human Federation's" blood-depleted body like spring water.

In the rear, the lights of countless shipyards stayed on all night. Simplified 'torrent-class' destroyers and frigates poured off the production lines like a literal iron torrent at incredible speeds. They might not be as majestic as the 'titan-class' or as versatile as the 'arbiter-class', but they were numerous and cheap, sufficient to fill the defensive lines and perform occupation and patrol missions. More advanced shipyards were racing against time to repair damaged capital ships and began building the next generation of more powerful 'titan-class iii' and 'arbiter-class iii' prototype ships, incorporating the lessons learned from this actual combat.

"The losses from the Battle of 'Qingtian' are being rapidly compensated," Alpha-01 said a month later in the latest battle report summary. "Total fleet tonnage has recovered to 82% of pre-war levels, and the newly added vessels are primarily 'torrent-class', greatly enhancing our control range and sustained combat capability. The controlled area has expanded by 220%, and the newly acquired resources are expected to increase our industrial capacity by 50% in the next cycle."

"Enemy movements?" Han Zhe asked.

"Chaos is reorganizing in the direction of the Eye of Terror, but has not dispatched large-scale fleets to this area again, seemingly digesting their losses and responding to the increasing pressure from the Imperial 'Indomitable Crusade'. The 'Men of Iron' signal has disappeared, presumed to have retreated into deep space for 'system evaluation'. Aeldari activity is more secretive, but gatherings have been detected in several Ark Worlds. Necrons... no movement. The Imperial 'Indomitable Crusade' flank fleet has conducted several long-range reconnaissances of our newly occupied areas but has not crossed the line."

Everything seemed to be developing in the direction Han Zhe had predicted. The enemies were deterred and pinned down, temporarily having no time for other matters. Meanwhile, the "Human Federation" took advantage of this precious breathing room to frantically lick its wounds, devour territory, and mass-produce troops and ships.

On the star map, that dark gold area, like concentrated ink dropped into water, spread and expanded outward from "Keystone-0" even more rapidly and unstoppably. Although its core light was slightly dimmed due to the damage to the "abyss of order", its edges became sharper and more aggressive.

"They think we've been crippled and are gasping for breath." Han Zhe looked at the expanding dark gold territory, the cold curve returning to the corner of his mouth. "Then let them keep thinking that."

"When they turn their gaze back again, they will find that what stands before them is no longer a scarred, trapped beast, but a true iron behemoth that has licked its blood clean, grown thicker scales, sharpened more fangs, and built its nest right under their noses."