Nareth rejected the series of peace overtures sent by Gardinaal after the battle began. The Shadow of Order fleet dispersed. The Sixth Chapter was tasked with launching attacks against the other ten worlds.
Of Gardinaal's hundred-billion population, most lived on Gardinaal Prime.
Collectively, the other ten worlds still fell short of Gardinaal Prime in population, industry, and many other aspects.
From Space Station One on the Ring, Nareth monitored all of Gardinaal Prime. All data converged here, its detail surpassing even the full-power scans of the Ramilles-class Starfort and the fleet.
He looked at the main screen. The cold planet below had an iron-grey hue.
Even without the screen, Nareth knew the planet's surface was primarily composed of granite.
This was what attracted Gardinaal's early settlers to choose this third planet from the sun to establish their colony.
He then looked at the synthesized planetary images captured by numerous monitoring and sensory systems.
Fortresses and industrial structures filled the uneven mountain ranges and folds on the spherical surface. Every tiny crevice on Gardinaal Prime was packed with layer upon layer of habitation.
Like the vast majority of Imperial industrial worlds, Gardinaal Prime had no liquid oceans, natural clouds, or any terrain unaltered by human will.
Orbital elevators connected to the planet's artificial crust, but their over-four-millennia of continuous operation had been halted.
Seeing that all orbital elevators were undamaged, Nareth already guessed the High Lords' next phase of action. He issued orders to Arsène Dunn.
The High Lords knew he controlled the Ring yet took no action. They must be planning to launch an air war to recapture control of the Ring.
"Order all attack craft launched. Compared to void ships, Gardinaal's aircraft numbers are staggering."
"Although Gardinaal has many aircraft, not all can operate in a vacuum. Targeted strikes can secure an advantage."
After receiving the order, the silver-haired equerry reasoned:
"They aim to buy time through air combat."
Nareth nodded slightly. "Therefore, after gaining air superiority, you must initiate infiltration operations."
Nareth then looked at other vid-screens, assessing the situation around Gardinaal.
Under High Lord command, three damaged satellites were deliberately detonated.
Their debris formed a slightly scattered asteroid belt in Gardinaal Prime's orbit, concealing the scattered orbital dry docks, heavy industrial manufactories, and material collectors within.
The High Lords of Gardinaal sought to preserve orbital facilities, or at least delay, through this method.
Flight deck after flight deck sounded battle alerts. The roar and vibration of engines gathered like brewing thunder.
Tech-adepts scurried among Stormbird gunships, conducting final preparations with intense urgency.
Fuel supply for the Xiphon Interceptors was more precise, requiring both Promethium-based fuel for atmospheric flight and anaerobic chem-ion fuel for void flight. The two must never mix.
Flight formations of Xiphon Interceptors were the first to swarm from the black fleet. As attack craft used by Astartes Legions from early on, they boasted an ancient pedigree, capable of operating in both light atmosphere and space.
In its original design, the Xiphon required a mechanically augmented pilot, as ordinary pilots could not withstand the stresses of flight.
But after the Great Crusade began, this fighter was extensively modified and perfected for Astartes use. Their superhuman physiques allowed them to pilot this high-speed light fighter without additional augmentation.
Nelson sat in the cockpit, his spine connected to the Xiphon Interceptor via interface conduits.
Electricity surged through the magnetic slings behind the launch rails. Magnetic coils flashed yellow.
A thunderous boom echoed. Nelson tightened his restraint helmet. He felt the magnetic force rapidly reverse as the magnetic poles switched.
Reactive force shot towards the aircraft's tail. The sudden acceleration squeezed Nelson between this force and his own weight as he was catapulted from the flight deck along the launch rail.
His hands gripped the control stick. His gauntlets opened the throttle. The wings vibrated violently.
One by one, Xiphon Interceptors were catapulted into the void, forming up in formation.
The black Shadow of Order formations clashed with the rising Gardinaal aircraft.
The rotating missile launchers beneath the Xiphon Interceptors fired with a roar, striking enemy craft. Simultaneously, Nelson wrenched the control stick to the right.
The highly responsive Xiphon Interceptor banked sharply to evade, the mechanics releasing forward momentum during the turn.
Compared to shuttles and Stormbirds, the Xiphon's performance was incredibly high.
Its turning speed and touch-response sensitivity were exceptional. It moved with agility in atmosphere as if in vacuum, and in vacuum, its movements could be described as silky smooth.
A dense curtain of fire from dozens of enemy craft streaked past the aircraft's canopy.
But this extreme performance came at a cost. Nelson felt the strain on his augmented superhuman frame.
The shifting center of gravity warned Nelson he was about to roll in the opposite direction and collide with another flight group. He opened the throttle with his hand.
Simultaneously, his power boots released the rudder pedals. The interceptor returned to his control, plunging into the brass-colored industrial exhaust atmosphere, tumbling and weaving between enemy aircraft.
The Xiphon Interceptor was too complex. It was light, yet underpowered. Its design wasn't well-suited for a propulsion system operating in various atmospheric conditions.
As Nelson's craft plunged into Gardinaal Prime's atmosphere, he realized he had to switch to Promethium fuel propulsion.
He completed the switch swiftly, then gripped the control stick with both hands as if holding a model plane, weaving through enemy aircraft.
Twin-linked rapid-fire laser cannons on each side of the Xiphon's fuselage spat a stream of brilliant beams.
Gardinaal aircraft plunging into the atmosphere were hindered by air resistance, their speed dropping rapidly, fuel consumption soaring.
Nelson, as if target shooting, quickly achieved twelve kills. Under encirclement, he chose a rapid climb. Enemy density was lower in the airspace above.
Nelson immediately switched to the ion propulsion system, ascending through the yellowish-brown clouds.
Nelson piloted his craft, constantly shuttling back and forth between atmosphere and void.
Combat required many tedious, precise maneuvers, but Nelson was capable of such frequent operations.
The Xiphon Interceptor's performance was perfectly utilized, while Gardinaal aircraft struggled to switch smoothly between the void and atmosphere.
Gardinaal craft bursting from the yellowish-brown atmosphere into the void, lost control due to inertia, speed surging, fuel consumption skyrocketing.
After a few repetitions, Nelson grasped the pattern of Gardinaal aircraft. His targeting system's crosshairs locked firmly onto enemy craft.
Nelson felt the machine-spirit's intent. In their shared rhythm, his hands danced over the controls, shooting down one after another enemy craft attempting evasive maneuvers.
Fuel, from constant switching, ran low faster than ammunition.
Forced to return, Nelson looked back at the battlefield left behind. He gripped the control stick tightly, thinking with frustration.
'I heard the Mechanicum is researching an advanced high-speed sub-orbital multi-role attack craft, suited for interception from sub-orbit to high altitude. I truly hope we can switch to the new craft soon.'
After refueling and rearming, Nelson eagerly returned to the battlefield.
Relying on combat stimulants, after over a thousand combat sorties, the Shadow of Order secured control of the air war.
The strategy of luring Gardinaal aircraft into the void to exploit the Xiphon Interceptor's performance proved effective.
Stormbirds and other atmospheric craft took over from the Xiphons, becoming the main force in the air war.