181: Two-front operations

The Human Federation's dark gold territory had flooded a vast portion of the Empire's eastern map like a tide. The struggle between the Silent King and the Tyranid flanks was still playing out at the distant edge of the galaxy, providing a bloody background score for this temporary strategic window.

However, Han Zhe's gaze had already moved past the conquests before him, casting toward a grander and more dangerous picture.

The Tyranids, the ultimate cosmic disaster that devoured stars, had their main swarm gathering outside the galaxy's spiral arms like a slow but unstoppable shadow. Waiting for them to slowly approach and then engaging in a war of attrition within the galaxy was definitely not the Human Federation's style.

What the Human Federation wanted was to strike proactively, nipping the threat in the bud, while simultaneously testing and tempering the power that was rapidly growing within the scythe of the end and the Time Tether.

"The vanguard scouting cluster of the Behemoth tendrils has entered the Void Wasteland region, approximately fifteen thousand light-years from the galaxy's main spiral arms," providence reported.

On the star map, at the edge of a vast and dark sector, dense and unsettling crimson dots lit up. Their scale was roughly thirty times that of a standard Galactic fleet, but they were still in the stages of scattered reconnaissance and resource sampling; the main force had not yet fully assembled.

"A distance of fifteen thousand light-years makes logistics difficult for traditional fleets and risks alerting the enemy," Han Zhe mused. "But our Extragalactic foundation provides the perfect springboard and concealment."

He pulled up the Extragalactic star map and pointed to an area of absolute void on the outskirts of the Heart of Tranquility cluster, known as the Abyssal Void.

There were almost no stars or large celestial bodies here; the spatial structure was exceptionally clean, and it was near a relatively stable Extragalactic-galactic gravitational corridor.

"Order: Establish an expeditionary strike base in the Abyssal Void. Utilize Extragalactic resources and industrial capacity to build and assemble a fleet specifically for ultra-long-range, high-intensity strikes on-site. Codename: abyssal scythe."

"abyssal scythe fleet composition: Ten Eternal-class ships (equipped with the latest hyperspace jump engine prototypes, based on a combination of Necron phase technology and STC-Ω space-time theory, capable of single directional jumps over five thousand light-years, though cooling and energy consumption are extremely high) as the core flagships; eight thousand adjudicator-class ships; one thousand Annihilator-class carriers; and three million Torrent-class fast assault ships and logistical support vessels of various types."

Fleet Commander: Governor Lei Huan. Strategic objective: Secretly assemble in the Abyssal Void, wait for the Tyranid scouting cluster to penetrate deep into the Void Wasteland, then launch an ultra-long-range jump raid to deliver a devastating blow.

Principle: Fast in, fast out. The primary goals are to maximize the destruction of Tyranid forces, collect high-level Tyranid samples, and test new weapons and jump systems. Do not seek occupation or long-term entanglement.

"At the same time," Han Zhe's gaze turned to another spot on the star map, "those Aeldari hiding in the Webway, who always think they can foresee the future and move so cryptically—their recent activities seem a bit too coincidental."

On the star map, the activity trajectories of several Aeldari Ark Worlds were highlighted.

Data showed that in the later stages of Operation scythe of the end and at key nodes of the Eastward Torrent, the movements of these Aeldari arks had undergone subtle adjustments. Their small reconnaissance fleets had even appeared precisely near some of the Human Federation's supply lines and scouting blind spots. Although they hadn't attacked directly, their intent to interfere and pry was obvious.

Even more alarming, the Diting Network had captured some extremely obscure fragments of psionic communication, seemingly related to terms like 'fate,' 'the great shadow,' and 'the calamity of human heresy.'

"The Aeldari are trying to use their mystical prophecies to influence or interfere with our progress," Han Zhe's voice was cold. "Perhaps they've seen some fragment of a future unfavorable to us and are trying to make it a reality through minor interventions, or at least delay us. It's time these long-eared ghosts understood the price of spying on and interfering with the Human Federation."

"Target: Select one or two relatively isolated Aeldari Ark Worlds that have recently conducted the most frequent reconnaissance and interference against the Eastward Torrent. Operation Codename: Ghost Hunt."

"Objective: Not conquest, but a surgical strike with absolute force to destroy the ark's core areas, exterminate its population, plunder its psionic technology and prophecy-related relics, and send a clear message to all Aeldari: any spying or obstruction against the Human Federation will invite total destruction."

"Order: Detach one-third of the Far East Conqueror Fleet's elite to form the Soul Hunter Task Force, commanded by Alpha-01's deputy, Admiral Xu Ke. Equip them with the latest anti-psionic interference equipment and Webway tracking detectors. The operation must be kept absolutely secret; the moment it begins, it must be the decisive battle. Strive for a one-hit kill without leaving any future troubles."

"Prepare abyssal scythe and Ghost Hunt simultaneously, and launch them when the opportunity arises."

The orders were as firm as mountains. The Human Federation's war machine efficiently split and reorganized once again, pointing toward two distinct but equally deadly targets.

Extragalactic, Abyssal Void.

The absolute darkness and silence were shattered. A massive expeditionary strike base, like a giant metallic tree growing out of nothing, expanded into the void.

Resources and components from various colonies in the Extragalactic system arrived continuously through ultra-long-range transmission channels, rapidly assembled into ships in automated shipyards.

Ten Eternal-class Titans, like sleeping Behemoths, had their newly equipped hyperspace jump engines flickering with eerie blue light, undergoing final adjustments. Governor Lei Huan personally oversaw the construction; the cold space was filled with the chilling aura and anticipation of a great battle.

Galaxy, edge of the Far East Star Sector.

The Soul Hunter fleet assembled quietly. The fleet employed the latest stealth technology, suppressing psionic fluctuations to the minimum, like a pack of deadly sharks cruising in the shadows.

Their target was locked onto a suspected primary material-realm exit area of the Saim-Hann Ark World. Admiral Xu Ke's research team repeatedly simulated every detail of entering the Webway, locking onto the ark, and launching a thunderous strike.

This was a gamble—a gamble that the Human Federation's technology, intelligence, and execution could overwhelm the Aeldari's mysterious precognition and the Webway's trickery.

"Approximately forty percent of the Behemoth vanguard cluster units have entered the designated ambush zone in the Void Wasteland. They are relatively scattered, and their main force behind them is temporarily blocked by a dense asteroid belt. Estimated reaction time is seventy-two standard hours," providence reported.

"The psionic activity cycle of the Saim-Hann ark has entered a trough. Most of its external reconnaissance fleets have retracted, and the energy barriers at the Webway exit area show regular decay. The time window is approximately forty-eight standard hours," the Diting Network reported simultaneously.

"Now is the time." Han Zhe's voice reached both the Extragalactic and Far East regions simultaneously. "abyssal scythe, strike! Ghost Hunt, execute!"

Extragalactic, Abyssal Void. The engines of the ten Eternal-class Titans roared simultaneously like the low growls of great beasts. Eerie blue light enveloped the fleet, and space began to distort violently. In the next second, the massive fleet vanished from its spot, leaving only faint ripples in the void.

Galactic edge, Void Wasteland. In a sector of space stained dark red by the spores of Tyranid bio-ships, space tore open without warning! A massive eerie blue rift bloomed, and the Human Federation's abyssal scythe fleet, like death leaping from the abyss, appeared precisely in the airspace where the Tyranid scouting cluster was most dense and caught most off guard!

No warning, no pre-battle shouting. The moment the fleet appeared, all firepower opened up!

"Hyperspace jump engines cooling. Main weapon systems, fire at will! Annihilator-class, release all attack wings and sow Exterminator-VII Bio-Decomposition Clouds!"

Dark gold Concept Disintegration Cannons, violet-blue disintegration rays, and high-frequency pulses specifically targeting Tyranid carapaces and bio-energy poured like a downpour onto those Tyranid bio-ships. The Swarm instantly shifted from a feeding state to a frenzied combat mode, hissing as they lunged at the invaders, with acid spores and bio-plasma striking back like a storm.

But the Human Federation was too well-prepared. The armor of the new Eternal-class was highly resistant to Tyranid acid, and the decomposition clouds sown by the Annihilator-class spread rapidly through The Swarm. Large swaths of small Tyranid units dissolved and withered instantly upon contact.

For a time, The Swarm's massive numerical advantage was suppressed by the abyssal scythe's precise jump raid and efficient area-of-effect damage.

At the core of the fleet, aboard the Eternal-class flagship Void Adjudicator, Lei Huan calmly commanded the fleet, cutting and separating The Swarm like a surgeon, concentrating fire to eliminate large bio-ships suspected of being command nodes or energy supply cores.

Engineering ships at the edge of the battlefield quickly salvaged relatively intact Tyranid biological samples, especially several remains suspected of being Hive Tyrants or Swarm Lords.

The battle was intense and efficient. Seventy-two hours later, when the main Tyranid force from the rear finally bypassed the asteroid belt and arrived, the abyssal scythe fleet had already completed its designated strike mission. After delivering a devastating blow to this vanguard scouting cluster and obtaining a large number of precious samples, they activated their hyperspace jump engines once more and vanished into the eerie blue light, leaving behind only a mess of a dead sector floating with countless Tyranid remains and decomposition slime.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the galaxy, the Soul Hunter fleet, like a precision scalpel, followed the detected energy residue of the Webway and forced its way into a distorted, surreal region between the Warp and reality.

The bizarre physical laws of the Webway put immense pressure on the fleet, and navigation systems alarmed frequently. However, relying on powerful reality stabilization fields and preset psionic beacons, they doggedly maintained their course.

Finally, they broke through the last layer of the psionic veil, and the view before them suddenly opened up. It was an artificially shaped, beautiful yet decay-filled alien space. In the center floated an Aeldari ark as massive as a mountain range yet as exquisite as a work of art. A portion of the main structure of Saim-Hann was clearly visible!

The ark's defense systems were activated the moment the fleet appeared. Wraithbone turrets fired brilliant and deadly energy beams, and Aeldari fighters swarmed out like bees. But the Soul Hunter fleet's raid was too sudden, and their weaponry was specifically tailored against the Aeldari.

Anti-psionic interference fields were fully activated, greatly weakening the psionic guidance of Aeldari Farseers and the ark's psionic shields. Assault ships equipped with armor-piercing explosive shells and anti-psionic fields forced a landing on the ark's surface, engaging in brutal boarding actions with the reacting Aeldari militia and elite Aspect Warriors.

In orbit, the Human Federation fleet used dense firepower to suppress the ark's defenses, focusing their bombardment on its core energy areas and buildings suspected of being prophecy spires.

The Aeldari's resistance was heroic and desperate. Their proud speed and agility were greatly diminished in the face of the Human Federation's absolute firepower advantage and targeted technology. The enclosed environment of the Webway also restricted their maneuvering space.

The forty-eight-hour window was fully utilized. When the Saim-Hann ark's psionic barrier was finally shredded by continuous fire, core areas began to suffer chain explosions, and the main structure started to disintegrate, Admiral Xu Ke issued the order to withdraw. The Soul Hunter fleet, carrying plundered Aeldari technological relics, psionic core fragments, and a few prisoners, forcibly exited the Webway along their original path before the ark completely turned into a burning Wraithbone tomb.

"Operation abyssal scythe complete. The Tyranid Behemoth vanguard cluster has been heavily damaged, and key samples have been obtained. Fleet losses are minor. We have returned to the Abyssal Void base for replenishment," Lei Huan reported.

"Ghost Hunt complete. The core area of the Saim-Hann ark is confirmed destroyed, the Aeldari population is exterminated, and some psionic technology and prophecy documents have been obtained. The fleet sustained moderate damage and has returned to the safe zone," Xu Ke reported.

Victory reports from both fronts reached Keystone-1 almost simultaneously.