"It is indeed a very clever idea. The strength of the Evil Sunz fleet lies in speed and maneuverability."
"But inside an asteroid belt, those advantages cannot be exploited. If they ignore these bastions and strike directly at Karl-2, they'll be hit from the rear. Yet, because they lack heavy firepower, they can't clear these bastions quickly."
"This forces them to abandon their speed advantage and get dragged into a war of attrition—the type of siege warfare they are worst at."
Dominic turned his head to look at Raynor, his eyes full of appreciation. "You always manage to give me surprises. This commander named Geth is quite impressive."
Raynor smiled but said nothing. Geth indeed hadn't disappointed him. He hadn't stuck to traditional defensive tactics but had instead adapted to the local environment, using the asteroid belt surrounding Karl-2 to forge a "Steel Thorn" defense line.
This defense perfectly countered the combat style of the Evil Sunz clan. It was no wonder that although the Evil Sunz vanguard had been there for three days, Karl-2 had suffered virtually no damage.
"However, this defense also has a fatal flaw," Dominic's smile faded, replaced by a serious tone. "It can only handle small, fast fleets like the Evil Sunz. Once Ragnar's main fleet arrives, these temporary bastions will be like paper before heavy macro-cannons."
"I know," Raynor nodded. "But Geth only needs to hold for three days. After that, our reinforcements will arrive."
Dominic glanced at Raynor but didn't speak. He walked to the command console, staring at the dense clusters of Greenskin signals on the holographic star map, lost in thought.
After a moment, he looked up and spoke into the comms: "Hear my command."
"All ships, cut engines. Maintain radio silence. Hide in the shadows of the asteroids behind Karl-2. Do not let the Evil Sunz fleet detect us."
"My Lord?" The voice of the guard captain came through the comms, sounding surprised. "We aren't attacking directly? With our strength, wiping out this Evil Sunz fleet would be effortless."
"No," Dominic shook his head. "Now is not the time. Our target isn't these small fry; it's the big fish, Ragnar. If we reveal our hand now, Ragnar might play a war of attrition with me. I want to give him a surprise."
Dominic flashed a confident smile. "Caelin, you're coming with me to land on Karl-2. Let's meet this 'genius' commander of yours."
"Impossible!" the guard captain objected immediately. "It's too dangerous! The area around Karl-2 is crawling with Evil Sunz patrol boats. If you're spotted—"
"Rest easy," Dominic patted his shoulder. "No one can stop me. Besides, only by going to the front lines personally can I understand the true state of the battle."
Without waiting for the captain to say more, he turned and walked off the bridge. Ralph, still a silent shadow, followed instantly, with dozens of elite Ventrillian guards close behind.
Raynor watched their departing figures and shook his head helplessly. This noble Rear Admiral really was a man of action who followed his whims.
Half an hour later, an unremarkable small shuttle exited the hangar of the Gemstone. The shuttle had all its lights cut, gliding through the dark void on momentum alone. It skillfully evaded the Evil Sunz patrol routes, weaving through the gaps in the asteroid belt toward the surface of Karl-2.
The entire process was tense but successful. When the shuttle landed on the surface of Karl-2, Geth was already there waiting with a squad of soldiers.
"Lord Dominic, welcome!" Geth stepped forward quickly and gave a crisp military salute. He was wearing a uniform stained with oil and dust, with a fresh scar on his face, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.
"Commander Geth," Dominic returned the salute and looked him up and down. "Your asteroid bastion tactic was brilliant."
"Thank you for the praise, My Lord," Geth smiled modestly. "It's all thanks to the Governor's excellent teaching."
Dominic smiled but didn't comment. "Come, take me to your command center."
"Yes!"
Geth's command center was located in what used to be Chandler's laboratory. The lab had been converted into a crude command hub, its walls covered in various maps and display screens. Dozens of comms officers sat at consoles, working feverishly.
The air smelled of sweat; Karl-2's life support and power grids hadn't been fully restored. Compared to the luxury of the Gemstone's bridge, this place wasn't even a slum. The Expeditionary Force was holding Karl-2 under these grueling conditions.
However, Dominic showed no disdain. Instead, a hint of respect rose within him. He walked to the holographic star map, noting the movements of the Greenskin fleet, and listened intently to Geth's report.
"The Evil Sunz vanguard consists of 237 warships, led by a big one called 'Fast-Runner' Mauko. Their main objective is scouting and harassment; they aren't equipped with heavy weapons. We have 172 temporary bastions, 23 of which have been destroyed. Our casualties are minimal, with a kill-loss ratio of 1:128."
Hearing this ratio, Dominic looked at Geth with even more respect.
"Based on our reconnaissance, Ragnar's main fleet is expected to arrive tomorrow morning." Geth pointed to a red dot on the star map. "Their flight path is clear—they are heading straight for Karl-2 with no signs of maneuvering."
Dominic nodded. That was very much the Greenskin style. Especially with such overwhelming numbers, they didn't deign to use schemes.
"Very well," Dominic said. "You have done excellently. Leave the rest to us. Continue holding the line and do not launch any proactive strikes. Soon, these Greenskins will pay for their arrogance."
"Yes, My Lord!" Geth nodded.
One day after Dominic arrived at Karl-2, in the void of space three hours' voyage away from the planet.
A bizarrely shaped giant warship was leading a massive Greenskin fleet, surging grandly toward Karl-2. This warship was Ragnar's flagship—the Anna.
Its shape resembled a giant squid with its mouth wide open, or perhaps a massive iron pot with countless tentacles growing from its bottom. The hull was covered in rust and patches, adorned everywhere with crooked graffiti and slogans like "Waaagh!", "Tastes Great!", and "Slurp Slurp~"
The most eye-catching feature was the massive, steaming chimney in the center of the hull. Unlike other Greenskin ships, the Anna's power source wasn't a reactor but "Braised Stew." A voyage of several million kilometers required only ten thousand tons of stew. This was the vessel Ragnar was most proud of—a powerful creation that materialized his personal philosophy. He often said there was no problem that a pot of Braised Stew couldn't solve. If there was, then use two pots.
Inside the bridge of the Anna, the atmosphere was one of utter chaos. Countless Ork Boyz and Gretchins ran to and fro, shouting and clamoring. The air was thick with the rich aroma of braised stew and fungal scents.
Ragnar sat upon his iconic Great Pot Throne, gulping down stew. Several Gretchins stood by his side, continuously using giant ladles to scoop stew from the pot into his mouth. Grease ran down his chin, dripping onto his round belly, only to be casually wiped away by his hand.
"Boss! Boss!"
A massive Speed Freak covered in red tattoos came rolling and crawling before Ragnar, shouting excitedly: "We've reached Karl-2! Dem humies are hidin' in da planet an' don't dare come out!"
"Dey's only usin' dem scrap rock bastions to sneak attack us. Too scared! Too weak!"
"Dat's right, Boss!" another Speed Freak chimed in. "Dem humies are pathetic. Just gimme da word an' we'll charge in right now an' make Karl-2 ours again!"
Other Ork Nobz joined the clamor, shouting "Waaagh!"—itching to charge in and start the slaughter.
Ragnar swallowed a huge ladle of stew and let out an ear-splitting burp. He looked up, sweeping his small eyes over the bosses below, but didn't speak. Although he looked endearingly clumsy, like a fat man who only knew how to eat, one does not become the most powerful Greenskin Warlord in the Calixis sector by being a fool.
Ragnar was certain that things weren't as simple as they looked. If the humans were really that pathetic, the Speed Freak gits would have taken Karl-2 long ago. Why would they wait until now? Those rock bastions looked unremarkable, but they countered the Speed Freak fleet's style perfectly. This meant the humans had a commander who knew how to wage war.
However...
Ragnar looked down at his round belly, then out at the surging Greenskin fleet outside the window. What did it matter? He had over a hundred warships, thirty of which were cruiser-class. His Anna was no inferior to a human battleship. And Karl-2, after Chandler's depredations, was already in ruins. It was impossible for the humans to repair all their defenses in such a short time.
In the face of absolute strength, any scheme was futile. The faster the speed, the more the opportunities. This was the most precious lesson he had summarized from hundreds of battles.
"Shut yer trap!"
Ragnar slammed the Great Pot Throne with a sudden "Clang!" The entire bridge went silent instantly. Every Ork shut their mouth, staring at him expectantly.
Ragnar picked up a massive joint of meat, took a fierce bite, and spoke with his mouth full: "Pass me orders! All fleets, full speed ahead!"
"Once we reach Karl-2, launch da general assault immediately!"
"Goff clan, stay in da front an' crush dem scrap rock bastions for me!"
"Evil Sunz an' Blood Axes, circle to da sides an' hit da humie flanks!"
"Deathskulls an' Bad Moons, stay wiv me in da middle. Blast 'em hard! Blow Karl-2's defense line into mush!"
"Waaaaagh!!!"
All the Ork bosses roared excitedly, their eyes filled with bloodlust. Fanatical Waaagh! energy surged through the bridge like physical substance. Ragnar nodded with satisfaction, scooped another giant ladle of stew, and stuffed it into his mouth.
He looked at Karl-2 growing larger through the porthole and revealed a savage smile.
Karl-2. I'm back. Dis time, I'm gonna make ya mine completely!
Three hours later.
As the first rays of starlight hit the cold metal surface of Karl-2, Ragnar's main fleet finally arrived in the system. It was a true iron beast. Over a hundred varied Greenskin warships were packed together, blotting out the stars. There were Kill Cruisers as large as mountains, lumbering Iron-Dreads, and countless destroyers and fighters. Their hulls were multicolored and ragged, yet they radiated the desperate, wild aura of the Greenskins.
Compared to this massive fleet, Karl-2 was like a dying elephant, and the Greenskin fleet was a pack of hungry lions. No matter how one looked at it, there was no chance of victory.
"Attack!!!"
With Ragnar's order, the Greenskin fleet didn't pause for a second, charging straight toward Karl-2.
The black warships of the Goff clan lived up to their reputation. Although they carried almost no weapons, their hulls were the thickest and their armor the hardest. Like massive iron slugs, they took the lead. Their philosophy was simple: use their sturdy bodies to ram directly into the enemy's face, then board them.
They absorbed the vast majority of the fire, creating space for the Deathskull and Bad Moon fleets behind them to output damage. Countless lasers and missiles shot out from the rear fleet; the dense fire had no need to distinguish between asteroids and bastions.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Ear-splitting explosions rang out continuously in the void. Those temporary bastions that had effectively countered the Evil Sunz fleet were utterly defenseless against the firepower of the Greenskin main fleet. Hundreds of asteroids were blown into fragments. The soldiers inside didn't even have time to scream before they turned into space dust along with their bastions.
There was no need for specific targeting; wherever the iron tide passed, everything was crushed. In just ten minutes, over fifty temporary bastions were destroyed. A massive gap appeared in the "Steel Thorn" defense line of the asteroid belt.
The Evil Sunz and Blood Axe fleets seized the opportunity immediately, charging through the gap toward Karl-2. The Deathskull and Bad Moon fleets followed behind the Goffs, continuing to pound Karl-2's orbital defenses with their main guns. Those already paralyzed defense platforms disintegrated in the fire, turning into floating space junk.
The main defense line of Karl-2 offered almost no effective resistance. Everything was proceeding as smoothly as Ragnar had anticipated. He sat on the Great Pot Throne, eating stew while watching the continuous reports of victory on the screen, a smug smile on his face.
He knew the humies were pathetic. It wouldn't be long before Karl-2 fell into his hands again. After that, it would be Brevis. He was going to turn the entire Calixis sector into his stew pot!
Just as he was envisioning a bright future, behind Karl-2, points of light suddenly flared up like a sea of stars.
"Wot?!"