Chapter 193: Gather! But with conditions
The Soul Redeemer had already started the "solo mode", which was a fact that the judges of Amara knew well. But as the leader of this operation, its commander did not arrive in time.
In the context of Jules not returning on time, Gavins, the head of Calvin's Honor Guard, took on the role of temporary commander of the Soul Redeemer.
Fortunately, this was not the first time he had performed a similar mission.
In the first few hundred years when he became a Templar Knight, he had taken over the operation of the warship more than once when the Grand Master of the Guard was too busy to get away.
In order to avoid more trouble, the warship did not return to the starport after recovering the Tindalos Legion from Amara.
At the suggestion of Captain Tibers, they turned on the camouflage function on the warship in advance and cruised secretly on the edge of Awei IX for three days. Finally, the Dagger that Jules was riding and preparing to return was stopped at the entrance of the channel.
After boarding the ship, Jules went straight to the empty bridge, where there was no one except Captain Tibers, who was also a Grey Knight.
Chief Engineer/Mechanic Archbishop Ms. Klein was still leading the engine room start-up ritual and had not returned yet, so when Jules saw that there was no outsider, he did not pretend his emotions:
"The Emperor bless you! You can't imagine what I've been through!"
The old captain Tibers looked calm, and calmly looked past Tibers to Gavins.
The latter also felt his doubts, and shrugged at the puzzled Tibers over Tibers' body, indicating that this guy had been a little abnormal since he got on the ship and had nothing to do with him.
"Let's talk about the matter." Tibers reminded Jules to control his emotions and improve the efficiency of the topic.
"Well, I think it starts with Calvin's disappearance..."
Facing the increasingly surprised expressions of the two, Jules told the information he knew...
"So there will be a fleet of four complete battle groups joining our war zone? And there will be follow-up support?"
Tibers was the first to react to the news brought by Jules.
Due to his profession, the first thing he thought of was that the addition of the four regiments and their warships would have a huge impact on the war situation in Orpheus.
After all, this was not a normal response to the call to send a cruiser carrying a standard company to support the Astartes regiment.
If Jules's news was true, the current difficult situation in the war zone would have a decisive change!
That's four full-strength regiments!
Even if their foundation is not comparable to those of the start-up regiments.
But with the full support of an entity in an industrial star zone that is comparable to half a large forge world, no matter how poor they are, they have a bottom line.
Apart from anything else, every three companies are equipped with a strike cruiser-level battle barge①, there must be one, right?
A full set of large vehicles for air and land combat, right?
Each company has at least 10 Terminator power armors, right?
The most important thing is that there are more than 3,500 Astartes warriors!
They even have a large interstellar fortress that can navigate in the subspace and can be used as a mobile node!
So according to this calculation, does it mean that a large fleet with a star fortress as the flagship and twelve large cruisers as the main force will soon enter the Orpheus war zone for support?
If this is true, then the situation in the entire war zone will undergo a drastic change!
Tibers can even be cautiously optimistic about the victory and end of the war!
This force came so suddenly and was so precious. Tibers couldn't help but doubt the authenticity of its news.
According to his experience, such a force alone is enough to suppress the war in a star zone without the cooperation of the navy and the Astra Militarum.
Even with the huge war situation in Orpheus now, it is enough to dominate and win the battle in one direction!
And all of these were made by their lost Primarch while wandering outside?
Emperor's blessing! Tibers, who got a shot of cardiac stimulant, rarely smiled.
This should be the best news he has received in decades.
"Don't worry, it's not as easy as you think..." Jules said to Tibers.
"Hmm? There are conditions?"
Tibers frowned. Is there really no such thing as a free lunch?
"No, no, no, you misunderstood." Noticing the veteran captain's unhappy expression, Jules hurriedly explained to the Space Marines who had not yet arrived:
"They want authorization! The foundation of this power comes from Calvin, and so does the alliance that keeps and operates it. As a member of it, their rights are limited to daily operations. No one except Calvin himself can fully mobilize this huge power."
"But aren't we going to rescue Calvin? They are not loyal!"
Gavins was the first to disagree. He even began to doubt the position of these people in his anger.
"No."
Tibers reached out to stop the leader of the guard from speaking, and turned to Jules and said:
"I understand, I can understand their difficulties."
Unlike the Paladins who have been guarding for many years, as a captain, Tibers knows that the most important thing for a system to run for a long time is the power of cleansing.
Three thousand years is enough time for everyone to change, not to mention the Astartes Warband with a very high loss rate?
The senior leaders of the battle group have long since passed away. Even if they did not die in battle, they would most likely have become the pilot of a fearless mecha.
Even if today's top leaders of the war group respect these people lying in the stasis field waiting to die, they only listen to their suggestions at critical moments.
As for whether to adopt it, it depends on the specific situation.
Moreover, they all shoulder their own tasks. At extreme times, the top leaders of the group cannot even see each other for hundreds of years.
Without an iron-hard rule, is it necessary to rely on trust and emotion to maintain this huge alliance of interests?
That's neither smart nor realistic.
"Does that mean we have to go to the rescue alone? Only when we see Calvin himself can we have the right to order them. Is that what you mean?"
Tabers stroked his gray and hard stubble, and confirmed with Yule under the worst expected conditions.
"No!" said Jules. He looked at the two of them and explained:
"The leader of the Tauren's Moloch Chapter happened to be summoned. He can accompany us directly."
"Where are the others?" Tabers asked.
Tabers had given up hope that they would arrive in time.
But whether they take positive actions will represent whether the effectiveness of this agreement exists.
From this, Tabers can clearly identify whether their loyalty to Calvin has changed!
Yule knew this very well, and his answer made the veteran feel relieved.
“Among the remaining three battle groups, the main force of the Lamenters is still fighting on the edge of the Extreme Star Territory, and the casualties have always been relatively high.
However, they promised that the headquarters could dispatch a cruiser and 5 companies, including the recruit company;
The main force of the Fiery Eagle has been returning from the Ghoul Star Territory for the past hundred years and is also in the period of cultivation.
But their situation is slightly better, and they can dispatch two cruisers and nearly 7 companies of veterans!
As for the Fire Eagle..."
He looked at the two people's expectant eyes:
"This hundred-year period coincides with the beginning of the Fire Eagle Legion's garrison rotation.
Their situation is both the best and the worst, at a time when they have the most recruits and the fewest veterans.
But they have begun to gather in full force!
The four existing strike cruisers of the Chapter and the Star Fortress Raptor King are already sailing to the subspace here!
As long as we give them Calvin's personal edict within the agreed time.
As the leading force, they will appear on the battlefield according to the standard of subspace! "
"The Emperor's blessing!"
Tabos looked so happy that he couldn't help but pray loudly. Then he saw the constipated expression of Gavins who had been hesitant to speak.
"What do you want to say?" he asked doubtfully. The latter did not disappoint him. As expected, he raised a question that the other two people unexpected but struggled with:
"What about the 383 Gray Knights?"
Note: There are inconsistent explanations in different versions of the official novel regarding the scope of application of the Space Marine "Battle Barge":
It is sometimes an exclusive name for a type of warship, and sometimes it is a general name for all ships used by Space Marines.
In many novels, a strike cruiser is also a type of battle barge.
In line with the principle of leniency to the enemy (officials), the author cautiously chose the latter statement (for fear of being stabbed in the back).
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