96: Steel Frontier

“Phase One of the ‘dark tide surge’ plan: Technical Acquisition Operation, ‘shade-Infiltrator’ squad, target: Empire ‘Grima-IV’ Forge World peripheral data relay station. Status: Infiltration successful, data download in progress... Encountered unexpected patrol! Firefight! Squad exposed!”

“Phase Two of the ‘dark tide surge’ plan: Resource Point Control, ‘worker bee-Predator’ cluster, target: ‘Rust Asteroid Belt’ rare metal mineral vein. Status: 30% of the hidden mining network deployment completed... Detected unrecorded spatial fluctuations! A small xenos pirate fleet (suspected Ork?) suddenly jumped out and launched an attack! Mining units damaged, defense platforms activated!”

“Phase Three of the ‘dark tide surge’ plan: Show of Force, ‘the arbiter’ and ‘Blade’ task force, target: The ‘Blood Skull’ Chaos warband raiding fleet venturing deep alone. Status: Ambush circle pre-set completed... Target fleet suddenly changed course and merged with another larger ‘World Eaters’ warband fleet! The power balance reversed, ambush cancelled, task force emergency evacuation!”

“Phase Four of the ‘dark tide surge’ plan: Intelligence Infiltration, ‘ghost-Vein’ information node, target: Empire ‘Katarina’ planet (‘Ice Thorn Fortress’ home planet) low-level logistics network. Status: Node implantation initially successful... Detected high-intensity anti-infiltration Psyker scan! Node marked! Suspected Inquisition Psyker intervention! Node self-destructed... Some residual traces may not have been completely cleared!”

Bad news hit the “Ark World” command center one after another like hailstones.

The plan to take the initiative encountered all-around, caught-off-guard surprises and setbacks in its early execution phase. The target systems were not as empty as the intelligence suggested; unknown forces (Ork, other pirates) appeared in unexpected places like flies smelling blood; the movements of Chaos warbands were unpredictable; and the Empire's seemingly bloated bureaucracy and defense system were far more sensitive than expected, especially regarding psychic-level monitoring.

Not only did they fail to smoothly achieve any milestone goals, but they also exposed traces of their existence in multiple directions! Although the “shade” squad successfully evacuated (with some incomplete data), the “worker bee” cluster repelled the pirates but abandoned the mining site, “the arbiter” was unharmed, and the “ghost” node's self-destruction seemed clean... but traces had been left. For the Imperial Inquisition, Chaos warbands, and even those elusive xenos pirates, the fact that a force with a unique style, strange technology, and clearly not belonging to any known major power was active in the shadows of the galaxy—this fact would likely be hard to cover up.

“‘dark tide surge’... the ripples we've stirred up seem easier to detect than expected,” Alpha-01 summarized with a grave expression. “The Empire isn't completely numb, and Chaos isn't just acting recklessly. The ‘water’ in this sector is muddier and deeper than we imagined.”

Han Zhe silently looked at the areas on the star map where outbreaks had just occurred and quickly subsided, but left behind subtle “stains.” With the plan frustrated and the risk of exposure skyrocketing, continuing with the original “covert operations, precision strikes” approach would likely lead to a vicious cycle where the more they acted, the more they were exposed, and the more they were exposed, the more passive they became.

Passive waiting is a dead end, but a blind and crude offensive could be another form of suicide.

The strategy must change.

His gaze swept across the star map again. This time, it was no longer limited to those carefully selected “soft targets” or key nodes, but turned toward those small and medium-sized star systems and sectors on the edges of the long front between the Empire and Chaos that had become fragmented by war, with blurred control but possessed certain resources or strategic value. In these places, Imperial defenders might have long been withdrawn or weakened, Chaos warbands would leave after raiding, and local forces (if any) were dying under dual oppression—typical areas of power vacuum and order collapse.

A bolder, even “savage” strategy quickly took shape in his mind.

“Since the covert infiltration of ‘dark tide surge’ hasn't been effective and the risk of exposure already exists...” Han Zhe's voice slowly rose, carrying a determination to burn his bridges. “Then, we might as well change our approach. No longer obsessed with ‘stealth’ and ‘precision,’ but... breaking through with force, using speed to overcome slowness, quickly seizing and consolidating territory, and establishing a de facto control zone before the enemy can react!”

“Occupying territory?!” the Chief Technologist exclaimed.

“Yes, occupation.” Han Zhe tapped heavily on the star map, circling several sectors relatively close to the Human Federation's current control zone that fit the “power vacuum” characteristics. “Shift in objectives: from ‘acquiring resources and technology’ to ‘expanding actual controlled territory.’ Shift in operation mode: from ‘small-scale special infiltration’ to ‘medium-scale rapid fleet raids and occupation.’ The target is no longer a specific facility or fleet, but entire star systems or small star clusters!”

He elaborated on the new strategic concept:

“1. Blitzkrieg: Utilize the deterrent of the ‘titan-class’ and the mobility of the new fleet to launch sudden, fierce strikes against selected target systems, quickly destroying or driving out any remaining organized resistance (be it Empire remnants, Chaos stragglers, or local armed forces).

1. Rapid Defense Deployment: Following the assault fleet, ‘worker bee’ engineering clusters and ‘Reality Weaving’ units will move in immediately to quickly build simple but effective defense platforms, monitoring outposts, and resource collection outposts at key orbital positions (such as stellar Lagrange points and resource-rich areas). Use ‘Cognitive Fog’ technology for regional camouflage—not complete invisibility, but creating an illusion that ‘this area has spatial anomalies and is unsuitable for navigation,’ delaying the speed of investigation and intervention by external forces.

2. De Facto Control: After clearing major threats and establishing basic defenses, immediately announce (through limited, controlled channels) ‘protection rights’ or ‘management rights’ over the area. Do not directly claim ‘occupation’ or ‘sovereignty’ (to avoid over-stimulation), but intervene with relatively ‘neutral’ or ‘benevolent’ reasons such as ‘maintaining order, clearing Chaos contamination, and ensuring navigation safety.’ At the same time, use ‘Soul Cleansing’ pods and other technologies to help survivors in the area (if any) clear Chaos contamination to a limited extent, establish basic order, and exchange for intelligence support or labor.

3. Connecting Points into a Surface: Using these initially controlled ‘stronghold’ systems as fulcrums, utilize their resources and strategic positions to gradually expand into the surrounding areas, connecting scattered strongholds into a surface to form a de facto Human Federation control zone with a certain depth. This area will become our new resource production site, strategic buffer zone, and a springboard for further actions in the future.”

This was a more direct, more “hardcore” way of expansion. It sacrificed some secrecy for speed and presence. The risk lay in the fact that this overt “land grabbing” was like rubbing salt into the wounds of both the Empire and Chaos, likely drawing strong reactions from both sides in a short time. But the benefits were also obvious: once they gained a firm foothold, they would obtain tangible territory, resources, and strategic space, no longer completely relying on their isolated old home in the Forgotten Frontier.

“We need to choose targets that are valuable enough but won't immediately touch the core nerves of the Empire or Chaos,” Han Zhe added. “At the same time, the action must be extremely rapid, from the raid to the establishment of initial defenses, it must be completed within the ‘time window’ before the opponent's main force can react. And, we must have the psychological preparation and contingency plans to abandon some strongholds and conduct a strategic contraction at any time.”

“This seems like a gamble, betting that the Empire and Chaos are too overwhelmed on the front lines to immediately mobilize enough forces to deal with us ‘fringe disruptors’,” Alpha-01 analyzed, with a calculating glint in his eyes. “At the same time, we're also betting that our technological advantages (especially the ‘titan-class’ and rapid deployment capabilities) can form a crushing force locally, quickly achieving tactical goals.”

“Plan Codename: ‘iron frontier’.” Han Zhe set the name. “Immediately re-formulate the action plan based on the new strategy. Primary target: ‘Wasteland Corridor’ star cluster (three star systems, medium resources, key strategic position, Empire defenders have withdrawn, recent reports of small Chaos warband activity). The main force of ‘Blade’ fleet led by ‘the arbiter’ will execute the raid, and ‘Pioneer’ fleet engineering units will be responsible for subsequent defense deployment.”

“Then, the rest of ‘dark tide surge’...” the Chief Technologist asked.

“‘Technical Acquisition’ and ‘Intelligence Infiltration’ will move into a deeper, longer-term lurking mode, with reduced scale and goals adjusted to support the ‘iron frontier’ plan rather than independent operations. ‘Show of Force’... will be integrated into every raid and occupation operation of ‘iron frontier’,” Han Zhe replied. “We will use the fact of occupation and the power of destroying resistance to demonstrate our existence and determination!”

orders were as firm as mountains; the strategy shifted.

The Human Federation great ship, after its probing setbacks in ‘dark tide surge’, did not choose to retreat to the harbor. Instead, it suddenly pushed its engines to a higher gear, adjusted its course, and launched a more direct, more rapid... charge toward that sea of ‘power vacuum’ full of unknowns and risks!

The ‘iron frontier’ plan aimed to use the fastest speed and the hardest fists to leave the mark of the Human Federation on the starry ruins that both the Empire and Chaos were temporarily too busy to attend to, constructing a new, fluid frontier defense line forged of steel and will.

Discovered? Then simply stand in the light, using occupied territory and demonstrated power to fight for the space to survive and develop!

This was a risky move, but perhaps it was also the only way to break the current deadlock and carve out a path to survival.