Chapter 122: War on the Gothic Starry Sky (4) Chess Game, the Vision of the Imperial Fist
Without a moment's pause, the next one to appear was the Imperial Fist...
Well, it doesn't take much time to absorb the memory of the Imperial Fist. In reality, it's just an insignificant moment.
But when Calvin opened his eyes again, he became more determined than before, because a truly in-depth and professional naval career gave him a completely different perspective.
"What a chess game," Calvin read.
As he said, the core focus of the Death Guard and the Imperial Navy's battlefield in the Gothic Galaxy is the central settlement that revolves around the stars.
The attacks and defenses of the two sides around the specific planetary worlds belonging to the settlement area are like a chess game from the middle to the middle. In the complicated and intertwined attacks and defenses, murderous intentions prepared by each other for the other are brewing.
As we all know, the planetary worlds in the settlements were precisely adjusted according to their respective masses and gravitational relationships as early as the advent of the Mechanicus.
And this precisely placed planetary community dynamically revolves around the central star of the galaxy in a relatively fixed relationship.
Therefore, until the Grand Fleet officially entered the battle and was attacked, the focus of the Death Guard Legion's attack had been changing and adjusting;
But the direction of their attack was firmly focused on the hive world closest to the Goths - Pesma.
As Mortarion's clearest strategic intention on the stage, the Empire will naturally not allow him to get what he wants.
The fleet directly under the Tribunal, headed by the Silver Dawn, is a mobile force that cooperates with the relatively fixed orbital defense to form a relatively complete fixed-mobile elastic defense system.
And when the Glory Queen-class battleships from both sides appeared on this relatively narrow battlefield, the deployment of troops here had already reached the limit of marginal effect in the eyes of the commanders of both sides.
stalemate, game;
Penetrate, strangle.
The layers of defense on the periphery of Pestma allow the fleet directly under the Tribunal to maneuver confidently on the flanks of the battlefield;
Until the key central star fortress is exposed to the army's front, they will have enough tactical space to move around and will not really be involved in the decisive battle of the fleet.
This is also the task that Calvin gave Tabers. Now it seems that although the layout of this part is not perfect, there are finally no mistakes or omissions:
Their positioning is just to make up for the defensive line in the direction of Pesma, which lacks the most flexible counterattack and flank blockage. As for the real defense, it still has to be left to the local defense fortress group of Pesma.
This also resulted in the Inquisition fleet being unwilling to fight closely, forcing the Death Guard to neither focus on breaking through the frontal defense line nor to capture this assassin wandering on the battlefield.
Therefore, the Legion characteristics of the Death Guard forced them to continue to invest in Pestma's defense;
Three hours after the battle began, fallen Astartes and even the headquarters of the Death Guard Legion began to appear on many space weapon platforms in Pestma.
But an iron law of war is that the winner is king.
Any law, when it is known to everyone, itself becomes possible to be broken.
Mortarion, Death Guard Legion.
In Calvin's eyes, during the Great Crusade era, these two were not as outstanding as the Night Angels and Luna Wolves; they were also not as distinctive as the Imperial Fists, White Scars and others.
But in the final analysis, this is also a complete army that once independently supported a strategic direction and commanded trillions of troops.
Even if Calvin looked down upon Mortarion's character, he would not dare to regard common sense as truth in front of this war master.
There is no need to say more about the principle of using all your strength when a lion fights a rabbit, and it would not have been ignored by Calvin, who lived in two lifetimes.
Therefore, out of a cautious attitude, after seeing the situation here, Calvin kept his body still, and slightly slid his fingers towards the person. While turning his head, he looked at the Imperial Fist beside him.
Such familiar body language, full of details and code words unique to a high-ranking officer who has served in the Imperial Fists for more than 400 years.
There is no need to say anything else, just a look is enough.
Terentius, who was born as a guard of the Phalanx, almost instantly saw that gesture and entered the context of internal communication within the battle group. At the same time, he also returned to his days as a champion swordsman on the Phalanx.
And the brass-colored helmet inlaid with emerald green laurel leaves almost subconsciously responded with the same code word, then nodded concisely, and strode towards the communication deck without thinking.
However... "Wait! There seems to be something wrong!"
Terentius, who was standing at the door of the command hall, was confused for a moment. He looked at the whining ventilation fan in the wide corridor, and then he reacted belatedly:
"Damn it, how does this man know so much about the Imperial Fists!
Even the details of the body language of senior officers before giving orders are the same?
Have the Chapter's secrets been revealed? Or does the Phalanx have a new cooperation agreement with the Custodes?"
The suspicious Terentius could hardly keep his expression straight, but the bloodline of the Son of Dorne forcefully reminded him of his mission.
Go back and ask first!
No! Report to the company first!
No! Execute the order first!
Two...no, three different thoughts almost drove this late-stage obsessive-compulsive disorder patient to death.
And the sense of responsibility that was consistent with the origin of his blood finally gained the upper hand, so he could only use the slightly abrupt long breath on his mask to temporarily alleviate the doubts in his heart under the strange eyes of the people around him...
At this time, Calvin was still adapting to his new perspective.
The battle taking place in front of the naval fleet has already occupied most of his attention.
Pesma's anxiety is like a corner of a chessboard filled with chess pieces to the entire battle;
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! After confirming that there has been no change for the time being, both parties naturally began to make arrangements in other directions.
Therefore, on the empire's side, there was the departure of the large fleet, and the most critical maneuvering and redeployment of the Blackstone Fortress;
The purpose of both is to enhance the flexibility and thickness of the entire defense line and to optimize the overall deployment of troops to cope with more changes in the future.
The purpose of the Grand Fleet is to continue to squeeze the Death Guard on the edge of Gothic, forcing them to choose between the safety of the fleet and the forces already invested in the frontal attack.
The Blackstone Fortress will break away from the gravitational equilibrium point (Lagrange point) that was previously stagnant to protect against alien invasion and save energy, and officially move towards the central area of the galaxy defense system.
This is a clear move, and it can also be called a conspiracy.
Because once the Blackstone Fortress, as the defender, is successfully deployed to the center of the orbital defense fortress group, it will limitlessly reduce the firepower of the invading fleet.
It is already difficult to attack a frontal attack with the support of the Forge World and a complete defense system. Coupled with the powerful firepower deployment of Blackstone Fortress, this is a heavy price that Mortarion is not willing to pay even with the troops in his hands.
And Mortarion would not sit idly by. His way to deal with Gothic's actions was to send out another fleet that had been hidden out of the galaxy's sight when the Blackstone Fortress had just left the rear of the large fleet.
This is also a clear move, but it points to the seemingly stable Black Stone Fortress.
After escaping from the blockade of the large fleet, the Blackstone Fortress, traveling alone, put itself under a direct attack from the Death Guard.
And if Mortarion's determination is firm, then this is a precursor to an extremely cruel landing battle.
Did he have this determination? Of course he did! Calvin had no doubt.
Unfortunately, the Grand Fleet is also in crisis.
As soon as the Planet Killer appeared on the scene, it used the fall of two battleships to demonstrate its firepower, which was beyond the awareness of the Imperial soldiers.
If it continues to be allowed to shoot wantonly, it will cause incalculable losses to the entire fleet.
It should be noted that as the attacker who holds the initiative on the battlefield, the main force of the Death Guard has still not shown its whereabouts.
Any decision made at this moment may affect the direction of the next war, and may even directly cause a disparity in military strength on local battlefields, which may in turn lead to a chain rout under asymmetrical forces!
This is undoubtedly a test of Calvin's strategic determination, and it is also tormenting the strategic determination of every imperial general.
This is the second level of game on the battlefield.
But is that all?
Thinking of this, Calvin slightly shook his head in denial.
This is just a regular battle. As a former commander of the Imperial Legion, Mortarion is a test for a latecomer.
Although the current situation is difficult, in the final analysis it is still limited to understandable military categories.
And Calvin knew clearly that only if he had dealt with all these apparent methods could he be qualified to face the true power of Mortarion, a fallen and ascended demon primarch.