196: Chapter 196 Forming a Subspace Attack Fleet

The triumph of the Spear of Dawn was like a red-hot blade thrust into the heart of the Warp. The Labyrinth of Ecstasy in Slaanesh's domain was reduced to ruins, and the thirteen Great Daemons of the Council of Keepers of Secrets were captured one by one by the Human Federation, like specimens being collected.

The news triggered an unprecedented giant wave in the depths of the Warp. For the first time, the Chaos Gods realized they were no longer the hunters, but the prey.

However, Han Zhe knew better than anyone that a single successful raid did not mean eternal victory. Slaanesh's wounds would heal, Khorne's fury would reignite, Nurgle's plagues would regenerate, and Tzeentch's schemes would weave even more complex traps. To truly deal with the Four Chaos Gods, the Human Federation needed more than just a single campaign victory; it needed a systematic, comprehensive, and sustainably operational confrontation system.

“adjudicator, integrate the analytical data from all captured samples. I need a complete assessment report on our capability to counter the Four Chaos Gods. What we want is no longer just how to defend against Chaos invasions, but how to ensure the absolute dominance of the Human Federation's order in the face of any level, form, or intensity of Chaos threat,” Han Zhe spoke during the first Command Center meeting following the conclusion of Operation Spear of Dawn.

Task received. Generating report... Seven days later, a deep analysis report spanning thirty-four thousand pages appeared on the terminals of every member of the Human Federation's High Command Center. The core conclusion of the report, distilled into the simplest language, was as follows:

The Human Federation now possesses a systematic response capability against the Four Chaos Gods. The capability levels are divided into four tiers: Defense, Suppression, Counterattack, and Extermination.

I. Defense Tier: Comprehensive Coverage and Upgrading of the Void Barrier Network

“Defense is the foundation.” The Chief Technologist pulled up a galactic star map at the briefing. “The Second-Generation Void Barrier Generators, battle-tested by the Spear of Dawn, have begun standardized deployment at key nodes throughout all Human Federation territories.”

On the star map, dark gray light points representing Void Barrier nodes spread like a growing neural network from the core worlds toward the frontier regions. Each node, supported by the triple pillars of Necron Phase Technology, STC-Ω Spacetime Theory, and zero-point energy supply, can create an island of reality within its coverage area that is absolutely isolated from the Warp.

“By this time next year, all core industrial worlds, major colonies, and strategic resource sectors of the Human Federation will be permanently covered by Void Barriers. This means the possibility of Chaos launching an invasion in any of these areas will be reduced to a theoretical zero,” the Chief Technologist continued.

“But defense is not merely passive,” Han Zhe added. “Defense must create the conditions for a counterattack.”

Correct. The adjudicator's voice intervened. The Void Barrier network is not only a shield but also an anchor. When a Chaos invasion occurs, the barrier network can immediately lock onto the invading Warp coordinates and pin them to the material plane, providing precise navigation beacons for subsequent counterattack forces. Chaos will no longer be able to hit and run as they did in the past, vanishing into the depths of the Warp.

II. Suppression Tier: Canopy Platform Projection into Chaos Zones

“Defense is holding our territory. Suppression is projecting our order into the territory of Chaos,” Alpha-01 took over the topic.

The star map switched, displaying the remaining half of the Eye of Terror, that festering wound still oozing desecrated blood.

“Through deep analysis of the captured Great Daemon samples, we have decoded the coupling mechanism between Warp energy and the essence of Chaos. Based on this, we have developed the Canopy-Expedition Type, a mobile-deployable frontier platform capable of maintaining a stable Order Field within the Warp.”

Blueprints for twelve massive metal structures, shaped like polyhedral stars, were displayed. Each Expedition Canopy Platform is equipped with an improved Void Barrier generator, C'tan Law Stabilizers, and a zero-point energy extraction array sufficient to draw power from the Chaos of the Warp.

“When these platforms are deployed to the remaining half of the Eye of Terror, they will prop up twelve beacons of order within the wound of Chaos. Wherever the light of the beacons reaches, Chaos energy will be diluted, the cohesion of daemons will decline, and Warp storms will subside.”

“This will pave the way for the final closure of the entire Eye of Terror,” Alpha-01’s voice carried a steel-like certainty.

III. Counterattack Tier: Regularized Deployment of Warp Hunting Fleets

“Defense is passive, and suppression is gradual. Counterattack is the capability that will make the Chaos Gods truly afraid.” Lei Huan’s voice came from the Extragalactic region, his image standing on the bridge of a recently refitted eternal-class titan ship.

“Based on the experience of the Spear of Dawn, we are forming three permanent Warp Hunting Fleets. Each fleet consists of six Eternal-class ships, three hundred and twenty-five adjudicator-class ships, and supporting auxiliary vessels.”

“The mission of the hunting fleets is not to defend or wait. They are a regularized force that actively enters the Warp to hunt high-level Chaos entities.”

Our target list includes:

“Khorne’s Council of Bloodthirsters (eight in total, one killed, seven remaining)”

“Nurgle’s Council of Plaguefathers (seven in total, all alive)”

“Tzeentch’s Council of Lords of Change (numbers indefinite, as their essence can split and merge)”

“Slaanesh’s Council of Keepers of Secrets (completely wiped out) and the Council of Heralds of Pleasure (heavily damaged)”

“Over the next ten years, we will cross the targets off this list one by one.”

“When the Four Chaos Gods discover that their high-level daemons are no longer deterrents on the battlefield, but prey we hunt regularly,” a cold curve appeared at the corner of Lei Huan’s mouth, “they will redefine the Human Federation.”

IV. Extermination Tier: Systematic Elimination of Chaos Primarchs and Deconstruction of Chaos Essence

The atmosphere in the Command Center became even more solemn the moment the word 'Extermination' was mentioned.

“Defense, suppression, and counterattack are all means. Extermination is the ultimate goal.” Han Zhe spoke personally, his gaze like ten-thousand-year-old ice. “The foundation of the Four Chaos Gods lies in their coupling with the material universe, in their ability to continuously draw energy from the souls of mortals through faith, emotion, desire, and fear. As long as this coupling exists, Chaos will never truly die.”

“But we have already found the path to severing this coupling.” He pulled up the covers of two top-secret files:

File One: Fulgrim, the Phoenix Lord—Primarch of Slaanesh, captured, currently undergoing deep analysis in Containment Unit Six of the Tomb of Time.

File Two: Angron—Primarch of Khorne, confirmed killed (soul completely annihilated).

“The analysis of Fulgrim has achieved a breakthrough,” Han Zhe continued. “The adjudicator successfully decoded the binding mechanism between Chaos Primarchs and the source of the Warp. This binding is essentially a Conceptual Anchor planted by the Chaos Gods deep within the Primarch's soul. As long as the anchor exists, a Primarch can 'reborn' in the depths of the Warp after being killed in the material world.”

“But if we can locate and destroy this anchor, the Primarch will meet a true and total death. Just like Angron.”