141: Uprooting Action

"Uprooting Action, initiated!"

In the Pious Tear Star System, when the dark golden Human Federation fleet tore through the void like divine retribution and appeared in orbit above this tranquil pilgrimage world, the orbital station alarms didn't even have time to fully sound. The massive church spires still reflected the stellar radiance, and the prayers of hundreds of millions of faithful still echoed in the air.

"Orbital station, destroyed. Surface cathedral and major religious facilities, coordinates marked." The fleet Commander's voice was cold and merciless.

The main guns of the titan-class didn't even need to be utilized. A volley from the arbiter-class Conceptual Disintegration-Resonance Cannons, like the comb of the Grim Reaper, scraped the orbital station and those magnificent religious structures, from orbit down to the surface, inch by inch into dust and slag. Civilian areas were not bombed, but all landmark buildings directly related to the Ecclesiarchy faith were reduced to ruins under precise fire.

The prayers of the fanatics turned into desperate cries and chaotic flight, but soon, a deeper sense of helplessness and the void of collapsing faith spread, accompanying the strange fleet hanging high in the sky and emitting cold, dark golden light. The physical anchor of their faith had been erased.

In the Tranquil Echoes Star System, the psychic barrier of the Silver-White Tower lasted less than ten minutes against the dense logical interference and the impact of the Spear of Order from the Human Federation fleet.

The high-ranking Astropaths and Navigators inside the tower attempted psychic counterattacks or calls for help to Terra, but the psychic waves they released crashed into the Human Federation fleet's Order Field, which carried strong ideological rejection, sinking without a trace, and instead drew fiercer Conceptual Disintegration attacks specifically targeting psychic structures.

The tower collapsed, and the Psychic Nexus was forcibly stabilized. Large numbers of valuable Astropath Apprentices and Navigator Prospects, along with their cultivation facilities and genetic databases, were either annihilated in the bombardment or rushed by the accompanying "Purifier" troops into the wreckage for final "cleanup" and limited data recovery. The Imperial psychic communication network developed a brief, painful blind spot in this sector.

On the Iron Cradle Forge World, the resistance was the most intense. The orbital defense platforms and the stationed naval fleet fought stubbornly, even managing to repulse the Human Federation vanguard forces at one point. But when three titan-class vessels completed their jump and joined the battle, the situation instantly reversed. The Reality Reconstruction Cannon directly erased the sturdiest defensive fortress in planetary orbit, opening a path for bomber wings and landing forces.

On the planetary surface, grand Forge Temples and production lines erupted in towering flames under the orbital bombardment. The deep bunker housing the STC Database was breached by Infiltrator Special Forces and heavy deep-penetration bombs working together. Core data was forcefully downloaded (some lost due to self-destruct protocols), and subsequently, the entire bunker was flooded with high-energy plasma, melting it completely. When the Human Federation fleet withdrew with the captured data and images of the devastated Forge World, Iron Cradle had become a smoking metal tomb with production completely paralyzed.

At the Inquisitorial Eye Outpost, the fighting was the most covert and perilous. The Inquisition's defensive forces were elite and bizarre, full of anti-psychic traps, gene-modified guards, and unknown Xenos technology. The Human Federation task force adopted a combination of electronic silence and forced entry. Fierce boarding actions erupted within the complex passages of the space station, where Purifier Marines fought desperately against Inquisition Guards, Battle Sisters, and even temporarily released Xenos experimental subjects.

Ultimately, after paying a significant price, the Human Federation forces successfully breached the core area, destroyed the main research facilities, took away some encrypted data cores and Xenos samples (or corpses), and detonated pre-set Annihilation Bombs before withdrawing, turning the entire outpost into a floating mass of radioactive metal debris. The authority of the Inquisition was brutally torn open here, leaving a bloody wound.

Four assaults, four heavy blows, struck four relatively vulnerable yet critical points in the Imperial territory almost simultaneously.

When the news spread like a plague through the surviving Astropath network and panic-stricken survivors, the entire Imperium, from the High Lord Council down to the most remote Hive Worlds, felt a bone-chilling coldness and fury.

This was not a border skirmish, nor Xenos harassment; this was a premeditated, organized, Root-Severing Strike targeting the very foundation of Imperial rule! The heretical power known as the Human Federation not only possessed a terrifying fleet but also clear and malicious strategic intent—they sought not just territory, but the destruction of the faith, psychic ability, industry, and authority upon which the Imperium depended!

Macragge, Guilliman's Command Center.

The Primarch's face was cold as stone. He stared at the four shocking loss reports that had arrived almost simultaneously, his knuckles white with strain. He could sense a deeper displeasure and a hint of imperceptible urgency emanating from the direction of Terra, piercing through its ancient silence.

"They are forcing us to choose," Guilliman murmured, his voice laced with suppressed fury and deep worry. "Do we continue to use our main strength against Chaos and The Swarm, or must we immediately turn back and devote all our efforts to crushing this 'Iron Mad Dog' that has bared its fangs and begun gnawing at our foundations?"

Meanwhile, in the Human Federation controlled zone, Keystone-1 Command Center.

"Uprooting Action: All predetermined objectives achieved. Our losses are minimal. It is estimated that the Imperial side's faith cohesion, psychic communication efficiency, specific weapon and equipment update capability, and Inquisition intelligence network have all suffered significant blows," Alpha-01 reported, its tone carrying a hint of satisfaction, as if completing an act of vengeance (for the retreat of the Northern Defense Line).

"custodian evolutionary status?" Han Zhe was more concerned about this.

[Logical Core evolution degree increased by 21%.] The "custodian" replied, [Based on the "Root Extraction" Operation's combat data and Imperial reaction patterns, the vulnerability assessment of the "sacred order" reality anchor points is more precise. New tactical deduction model added: Sustainable "Anchor Point Weakening" Strategy. Recommendation: Establish a rapid reaction fleet to continuously harass and disrupt critical nodes on the Imperial periphery, forcing them to disperse defensive forces, long-term consumption of their resources and morale, while creating opportunities for our further expansion and the penetration of the "Order" definition.]

It was no longer merely assisting defense or executing single tasks; it was beginning to plan long-term, systematic strategic weakening! The custodian's evolution was making it increasingly resemble a War Brain with independent strategic thought.

"Very good." Han Zhe looked at the nodes marked as struck and pending strike on the star map of Imperial territory, his eyes flashing with cold, sharp light.

"Issue the order: Assemble the Hound Rapid Reaction Fleet Group. The custodian will directly provide tactical guidance and target prioritization for continuous harassment and destruction missions."

"At the same time, the Deep Space Exploration and kindling Propagation Plans continue. We cannot focus solely on the Imperium. The galaxy is vast; there are many enemies, and many opportunities."

"But remember, Root Extraction is just the beginning. We must make the Imperium, and The Emperor, understand that the right to define humanity's future no longer belongs solely to the Golden Throne. From this point forward, the Human Federation will personally write the chapter of galactic order!"

The dark golden iron torrent, guided by the custodian's even more precise directives, moved across the galactic chessboard like a living destructive pulse, maneuvering with greater flexibility and lethality. And the golden territory of the Imperium, following this sudden, precise, and ruthless "Root Extraction" Operation, felt for the first time a cold and tangible existential threat coming from its flank and rear.

The form of warfare is being pushed into a new, more complex, and more brutal dimension by the Human Federation and its constantly evolving tools.