Ship after ship of black vessels appeared in the Gardinaal system.
The Battlecruiser, Gardinaal's Shield.
The Void-Caste were released from their compartments. Their bodies were muscular, yet their stature was smaller than that of a normal child.
Their eyes were vestigial evolutionary remnants, covered by a black membrane.
Their mouths were small, oval-shaped, sufficient for sucking nourishment.
Their skin was black, coated with a secreted bioplastic serving as a barrier against cosmic radiation.
The most unique design was their limbs. Each ended in hands with extremely long fingers, facilitating the operation of void-ship equipment and combat.
On the bridge, the Fifth Adjutant, of the Servant Caste, reported to the Commander.
"All personnel have been mobilized, including those already designated as expired."
The high-caste Commander's gaze swept over the vid-screens with disgust, lingering for a moment on the low-caste who were aged or suffering from common inflammations like intestinal issues.
Normally, upon returning to the spaceport for routine maintenance, the Human Resources Directorate ensured all low-caste marked "expired" were recycled. Their stripped muscle and crushed bones would be their final contribution to Gardinaal.
Now, facing a powerful enemy, he was forced to activate these scrapped units to counter the threat.
The expired ones moved numbly and obediently from their compartments, returning to stations they thought they would never see again.
The high-caste Commander quickly averted his gaze. "I do not wish to see this trash again."
"As you wish, honored Sir," the Servant Caste Adjutant promptly executed his master's command.
Within the Gardinaal fleet, over a million expired individuals were swiftly and completely erased from the information network. Though they still existed, they would no longer be included in resource collection or appear in any subsequent data tallies.
Such waste was intolerable in most Gardinaal castes, but for a high-caste individual, it was a negligible resource expenditure, equivalent to a week's tribute from subordinate castes.
The young high-caste Commander, having dispelled negative emotions at the cost of insignificant assets, quickly reviewed the number of enemy vessels on the vid-screen. The staggering figure pierced his eyes.
As a military aristocrat, born at the apex, he also bore inherent responsibilities.
Compared to other castes, he was fortunate, having some degree of choice.
Forsaking the intensely competitive, vast ground systems of Gardinaal, he chose the smaller but autocratic void fleet. He endured over sixteen hours of elite education daily, enabling him to grasp the system's situation before the chrono's hand completed a single circuit.
The main strength of Gardinaal's fleet centered around cruisers. His flagship was a battlecruiser.
The suddenly appearing force calling itself the Shadow of Order not only possessed a satellite-sized behemoth but also had over four hundred ships of equivalent class to Gardinaal's capital ships in its fleet, and the number was still increasing.
At its peak in all Gardinaal's history, it had never possessed more than forty such vessels.
What made him feel utterly powerless was that among the black fleet, there were over fifty ships of a higher class, and... that number was also growing.
"Submit a report to the High Lords," he said after several seconds of deliberation, then continued, "Under the most optimistic scenario, space defenses can hold for three days."
"After that, aside from the Ring of Gardinaal Prime, we will lose all space-based power."
Finally, to demonstrate his capability and seize maximum benefit during post-war reconstruction of space forces, he proposed a plan.
"We should dispatch Consular Caste to make contact and negotiate with the Shadow of Order, to buy time."
"Utilize this time to maximize industrial output, turning our worlds into impregnable fortresses, using our resources to exhaust the enemy and secure victory."
Upon receiving the high-caste Commander's report, the High Lords of Gardinaal quickly made a decision, providing a reply before the two-hour deadline demanded by the Shadow of Order.
Shadow's Sovereignty. Hearing Arsena's report, a mocking smile touched Nareth's lips.
"What do you think they are planning?"
Clad in her black Dominum Armor accented with forest green, Marlena caught the enemy fleet and gave a ridiculing smile.
"During the earlier war council, you informed us that Gardinaal possesses powerful ground forces and will not surrender."
"They also did not accept conditions like granting passage to Gardinaal Prime. Their proposed negotiation seems more like a delaying tactic."
Arsena, in his black Dominum Armor with white accents, nodded in agreement.
"Our void power holds overwhelming superiority, yet they still haven't accepted any of our proposed terms."
"They merely wish to prepare for war."
"Correct." Nareth knew the High Lords of Gardinaal would never surrender easily. In his memories, they first delayed for a long time with the Thousand Sons' envoy, only to be discovered later.
Even when Ferrus Manus led the Tenth Legion, displaying formidable might, and Gardinaal suffered heavy losses, the High Lords who proposed negotiations were not honest.
One High Lord personally led assassins in an attempt to kill Manus.
"I will grant them a chance to negotiate, but only after crushing Gardinaal's void power."
"After that, it will be your moment to shine. You must locate and pinpoint all the High Lords."
Gardinaal's caste system centralized all power in the hands of the High Lords.
The 413th Expeditionary Fleet, led by Cicerus, employed classic Ultramarine tactics: identify key enemy targets, then swiftly decapitate them to destroy enemy command structure and rapidly seize control of the local power system. This tactic failed because it was unsuitable for Gardinaal.
Not only did Cicerus underestimate Gardinaal's ground forces, but even if his plan succeeded, Gardinaal would not collapse and surrender like other worlds.
The people of Gardinaal believed the High Lords had existed since the world's founding.
Nareth knew not all High Lords had survived until now, but they all lived for millennia, controlling every aspect of Gardinaal.
As long as the High Lords remained, even if Sicarius decapitated all of Gardinaal's military officers, Gardinaal's armies and entire society would continue to function.
Nareth's plan targeted these High Lords.
"We have only one chance. We must pinpoint all High Lord locations and execute the operation simultaneously."
"The number of High Lords likely does not exceed ten, but precisely how many is difficult to determine at present."
.....
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