184: Imperial retreat

Bad news arriving simultaneously from the front and the rear finally shook the morale of the Imperial Fleet. Specifically, the destruction of Holy Blood Port meant the frontline fleet had lost one of its most critical supply and retreat routes.

When Guilliman received the report, even with a Primarch's resilience, a flicker of deep pain and powerlessness flashed in his eyes. He realized he had likely fallen into a trap meticulously designed by the Human Federation—his main force was pinned down in a war of attrition at the Iron Wall Star Cluster, while his rear foundations were subjected to a fatal surprise attack.

"Lord Regent! The battleship Steel Salvation on the left wing has sent a distress signal; they are surrounded!"

"Macragge's Honour's shield energy has dropped to 45%! Multiple hits on the starboard side!"

"The Astropath reports that the signal from the Astropathic Tower at Holy Blood Port has vanished!"

Bad news came one after another.

Guilliman's knuckles turned white as he gripped his command sword. If they continued to entangle with the Human Federation at the Iron Wall Star Cluster, the fleet might suffer unbearable losses, and could even be completely surrounded and annihilated.

Yet, a retreat would mean the failure of the Holy Reckoning Campaign, meaning the Far East Star Sector would fall entirely into the hands of the Human Federation, and the Empire would lose vast territories and countless populations, dealing a devastating blow to morale.

But as an excellent commander, he knew that sometimes, preserving effective strength was more important than a tragic defeat.

"Pass the order." Guilliman's voice carried a hint of raspiness, yet remained firm. "All fleets, turn and break through. Objective: Retreat to the Indomitus Fortress System and hold for reinforcements. Order the separated Left Wing Fleet to close in on us as much as possible; if they cannot regroup, they are permitted to act at their own discretion and fulfill their duty to The Emperor."

The Imperial Fleet began a difficult and tragic breakout operation. They braved the firepower raining down from the Human Federation from all directions, like a wounded giant beast desperately trying to tear open the encirclement. The Astartes took on the most dangerous rearguard and assault missions, carving a path of blood for the main fleet with staggering courage and sacrifice.

By the time the scarred Imperial Fleet finally escaped the Iron Wall Star Cluster and retreated to the Indomitus Fortress System, its size was less than one-third of what it had been at the start of the sortie, and most ships were damaged.

As for the separated Left Wing Fleet, in the desperate battle, the vast majority of their ships were destroyed, and the few survivors were forced to surrender to the Human Federation.

The Battle of the Iron Wall Star Cluster ended in a tactical victory for the Human Federation. The Empire's full-scale counterattack was thwarted, its main force suffered heavy losses, its logistical hubs were destroyed, and its strategic intentions were completely frustrated.

"The Battle of the Iron Wall Star Cluster has concluded. The Imperial Fleet has retreated to the Indomitus Fortress System and transitioned to a defensive posture. Our losses: one Eternal-class sustained light damage, eight hundred adjudicator-class ships lost, and a total of over ten thousand other vessels lost. Imperial losses are estimated at over ten times our own, and they have lost the critical logistical base of Holy Blood Port," Alpha-01 reported, his voice carrying the exhaustion of victory and a hint of solemnity.

"Very good." Han Zhe's gaze returned to the star map. That vast region representing the Empire's Far East Star Sector was now almost entirely covered in dark gold, leaving only the Indomitus Fortress and a few surrounding systems floating like isolated islands in a golden ocean.

"Guilliman is no longer capable of launching a large-scale offensive. Order the Far East Conqueror Fleet not to rush the attack on the Indomitus Fortress, to avoid excessive losses against a cornered beast. Adopt a strategy of siege, blockade, and continuous pressure. Meanwhile, the main force shall pivot to thoroughly sweep and occupy all remaining uncontrolled systems in the Far East Star Sector."

"The Social Integration Department's Eastward Assimilation Task Force is to move into the newly occupied areas in full force and initiate the Reshaping Crucible standard protocols. We must, in the shortest time possible, thoroughly digest these territories and populations into an inseparable part of the Human Federation."

"Order the abyssal scythe fleet to return to the Extragalactic base for rest and refitting after completing further purification of the Holy Blood Port region. Order the Firmament Defense Fleet and the Segmentum Obscurus Order-Keepers Fleet to maintain a high-pressure posture to prevent any remnants of the Empire's western front or Chaos forces from taking advantage of the situation."

As the series of orders was issued, the Human Federation's war machine once again began to operate with high efficiency, though this time the focus shifted from intense frontal confrontations to a more systematic and cold process of occupation, digestion, and integration.

The remaining worlds of the Far East Star Sector, having lost the protection of the main fleet, were almost entirely defenseless against the vanguard of the Human Federation's armies.

A few worlds attempted to resist stubbornly, but they were soon reduced to scorched earth by orbital bombardment and ground purification. Many more worlds chose to submit. The dark gold flag of the Human Federation, like a rising tide, submerged the last uncolored regions of the Far East Star Sector.

Guilliman and his remnants were trapped in the Indomitus Fortress System, like an island in the eye of a storm, forced to watch as the Empire's eastern territories completely fell, hearing news of one world after another falling or surrendering, and enduring unspeakable frustration and humiliation. On the bridge of the macragges honour, the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive.

Several months later.

"The full occupation and preliminary control of the Far East Star Sector (excluding isolated strongpoints like the Indomitus Fortress) is complete," the Director General of Social Integration reported. On the holographic star map, the region representing the Far East Star Sector had turned a deep, stable dark gold, merging with the Segmentum Obscurus, the former Necron territories, and the Pure Land on the edge of the Eye of Terror into a vast, unified core territory of the Human Federation.

"The first phase of the Reshaping Crucible is being deployed simultaneously across all newly annexed worlds, with preliminary Human Federation integration expected to be completed within a year."

"Guilliman's forces remain holed up in the Indomitus Fortress System, but their supplies are dwindling, their morale is low, and they cannot pose a threat in the short term. Our forces are maintaining a strict blockade and surveillance."

"The strategic objectives of the Eastward Torrent have been largely achieved."

Inside the Keystone-1 Command Center, after a brief silence, there was a suppressed, victorious restlessness. They had not only repelled the Empire's full-scale counterattack but had also swallowed almost the entire Far East Star Sector whole! The territory and strength of the Human Federation had once again achieved a qualitative leap.

However, Han Zhe's face still showed no sign of ease. He looked at the star map; the Human Federation's massive dark gold territory now formed a giant pincer movement against the Empire's core territories from the southeast and east of the galaxy. The shadow of the Tyranids' main swarm was still slowly approaching.

The Silent King's struggle with The Swarm had not yet ended. The whispers of Chaos never ceased, the Extragalactic Void Siphon continued, and those unknown echoes seemed to grow a bit clearer. The blood of the Aeldari had not yet dried, and their vengeance might be brewing.

"We have won a campaign and swallowed a territory," Han Zhe spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet it silenced everyone. "But this is far from the end; it is not even the beginning of the end."

"Though the Empire has been heavily damaged, its foundations remain, and The Emperor's will is unfathomable. The Tyranid catastrophe will eventually descend. The Necrons, Chaos, the Aeldari—all our enemies are watching us from the darkness."

"And we," his gaze swept over the people present, finally landing on the markers symbolizing the Extragalactic and STC-Omega research areas, "we have touched time and extracted the cosmic essence of the Extragalactic. Our path itself is a perilous road filled with taboos and the unknown."

"Order: Enter the comprehensive upgrade phase. Integrate all newly acquired territories, resources, and technologies. Accelerate the analysis of the Necron Celestial Orrery, Aeldari prophecy technology, Tyranid biological mysteries, and the deeper secrets of STC-Omega. The Void Siphon project will continue under enhanced monitoring. The Firmament Network must be further optimized and expanded, with the goal of covering the deeper reaches of the Eye of Terror."

"We must use this period of relative calm to elevate the Human Federation's war potential, technological level, and social control to unprecedented heights."

"Because the next storm will no longer be a war over a single star sector."

Han Zhe's gaze seemed to penetrate the walls of the Command Center, looking toward Holy Terra and into the infinite darkness beyond the galaxy.

"That will be the ultimate battle that decides the final order of the galaxy, and even the broader universe."