"They're not taking the bait. That's interesting. I think they might've pulled Angron away from this mess and installed someone else, in his stead." Argall noticed immediately, eyes narrowing as the Imperium's vessels appeared at the edge of the system, breaking through space by means of... something.
Honestly, their FTL technology baffled Argall to no end. He understood how it worked, on principle, but he couldn't figure out why the Imperium of Mankind hadn't bothered to improve their design; doing so wouldn't even take a lot of resources and it certainly wouldn't take a genius to do so. Hell, one of the junior scientists who worked under Argall as an intern was almost immediately able to figure out how best to rework the Imperium's FTL device, ensuring it didn't have a 2% chance of failing every single time it was used. That said, its ability to open a path into the 'Weirdworld', a term Argall coined, was – if nothing else – interesting. Though, to be certain, Argall had very little interest in exploring or learning more about that... very odd parallel dimension. Every experiment he'd performed, many decades ago, all seemed to end in some form of particle outbreak that would then have to be contained and disposed.
The Necron Phaeron, Khoteph, even admitted that he knew very little of the Weirdworld, aside from the fact that the Necrons themselves also knew very little of it, save through the Dolmen Gates, which they used to co-opt the technology of a race of ancient god-like beings known only as the Old Ones. But, even then, neither Khoteph nor his Cryptek, Jzan, had the barest idea how the Dolmen Gates even worked. They knew what it did and they knew how to operate it, but that was it.
Whatever the case, Argall wasn't touching that particular bit of technology unless he had a really long, interplanetary stick to poke it with.
"This complicates things," Jadan said, the admiral standing by Argall's side as they and all the other admirals and officers surveyed the positioning of the Hyperborean fleet. The bait was dangled and the trap was ready. All that was left was for the Imperium to actually unhinge its jaw and swallow. But, of course, with every battle plan, there just had to be complications. That Angron would be replaced was not one of the possibilities Argall considered, to be perfectly honest, which was rather alarming. "We tailored our strategy against the World Eaters, specifically. We'll have to learn more about these new generals."
Argall shook his head and smiled. "Not necessarily. The truth of the matter is that changes were always going to happen, which is precisely why our general strategy was meant to be fluid and dynamic – one variable changes, we can adapt quickly. In this case, nothing changes. It'll take them longer, perhaps, to take the bait, but they have no choice, otherwise."
Of course, Argall didn't have to mention the fact that the arriving fleet was three times larger than what he'd expected, but – once again – it changed little in the long run. Their overall strategy remained the same: lure the Imperium out into open space, where their numbers would count for nothing, due to the lack of any military or naval target. And, in that region of open space, the Hyperborean Fleets would break the Imperium until they surrendered, willingly chose to retreat, or until there was nothing left of them.
He also didn't have to mention the fact that he might've been hoping for this. After all, Angron would have been little more than a dumb brute, incapable of providing him or his people with any sort of learning opportunity that'd be worthwhile. But these... these new generals had to be competent and, therefore, would offer him and his generals and the soldiers and naval men at their command the chance to learn. The instruction and knowledge provided by Jadan and her people had been invaluable, true enough, but Argall would be limiting himself a little too much if all he had to rely on were the experiences of others and not his own.
This war... it would be a chance for his people to grow, to become more than what they were.
"As you say, High Chancellor," Jadan nodded, eyes narrowing as she stared at the Imperium's fleets. Three, Argall had noted immediately. There were three fleets, divided entirely on general aesthetic and chosen symbology.
"I have no interest in watching a bunch of ships slowly drift towards each other," Argall declared for all admirals and generals to hear. "They are our enemy and we are theirs. If they're not rising to the bait, I say we start firing until they do. All in favor?"
Every single one of them were in favor. And so, Argall spoke into the microphone that was connected to the Fleet Master – at least, the one in charge of the bait. "Commence attacking. Force them to come to you. But, if they don't respond, feel free to render their fleet to dust."
As the ships of his people moved, Argall could not help but grin. The vessels of the Hyperborean Collective, in general, were all built following his designs – far smaller, compared to the lumbering leviathans of the Imperium, but faster, sleeker, and deadlier. Each of them were armed with scaled-up Hardlight Rifles, capable of shooting out bursts of exotic photons, capable of punching through just about anything that existed, and powered by micro-fusion cells, because – even after all this time – Argall still hadn't figured out Zero-Point energy. Their shields were also better as the Photonic Shields, originally meant to prevent friendly fire, were capable of reducing the velocity of anything that passed through its field down to merely 2% of what it used to be, an upgrade that Argall had labored day and night to reach as the old model of the Photonic Shield, at best, could reduce it to 10%, which was still rather dangerous. And, even then, the hulls of their ships were made of a very highly condensed form of steel that was a hundred times more durable than almost any metal.
He would've otherwise made use of Necrodermis if the Necrons were kind enough to share that wondrous metal, but they weren't and so Argall hadn't bothered them too much about it; they were, after all, rightly secretive of their technology.
In comparison, the Imperium's vessels were larger and slower, and possessed powerful, but otherwise cumbersome projectile weapons. Argall hadn't fully ascertained the effectivity of their shields as the science vessel they'd captured did not have shields and the World Eater vessel they destroyed likely did not even have its shields active, but such a warmongering Empire couldn't possibly be lacking in that department. Their hulls were thicker as well, comprised of a composite alloy that was both durable and heat resistant – more durable than Argall's compressed steel alloy, but less heat resistant and far heavier.
The fleet that acted as bait was comprised of only twenty ships, with nineteen being entirely unmanned, controlled by AI, while a Fleet Master commanded the entirety of the fleet from safety of the capital ship, which was subsequently also the largest vessel within the ship, hardier and more powerful than the rest. The Imperium outnumbered them 20:1.
"Orders acknowledged, High Chancellor." The Fleet Master replied. "Weapons primed and ready to fire in 3... 2... 1... beginning salvo."
Beside him, Jadan took a deep breath, her eyes narrowed and her features grim. "And so it begins."
Argall's grin did not falter as the golden beams of the Hardlight Cannons tore through the first of the Imperial ships in only a few shots, blasting holes through its hull and out the other side, even damaging other vessels. Perfect. "And so it does."
Fleet Master Kulvareth watched the opening salvo with a cool, calculating gaze. Golden beams from the Hyperborean fleet's Hardlight Cannons punched through the Imperial ships like a knife through paper, sending debris and jagged shards of metal spinning into the vacuum. Beautiful. Every weapon designed by High Chancellor Argall was absolutely beautiful.
Yet, despite the initial success, Kulvareth knew better than to grow complacent.
The Imperium's vessels, though slower and bulkier, had not returned fire immediately. Instead, they regrouped, their larger ships moving to shield the damaged ones. Kulvareth's eyes narrowed. According to their calculations and simulations, an average World Eater response would have been a counterattack—brutal, overwhelming, and direct. But this... restraint... suggested a new kind of enemy. Someone far more cautious and tactical than Angron and his ilk, more willing to wait and bait his opponents.
A ripple of unease spread through Kulvareth's command deck. He could sense his crew's restlessness, eager for more destruction, but holding back under his steady leadership. This was, technically, their very first true engagement, despite having undergone over thousands and thousands of simulations.
"High Chancellor Argall was right," Kulvareth thought. "They've replaced their commander with another."
He turned his attention to the tactical display, studying the movements of both fleets. The Imperium's ships were larger by an overwhelming margin, but Kulvareth had no intention of allowing them to exploit that advantage. The Hyperborean ships were spread out, circling the enemy in a crescent formation, moving too quickly for the Imperium's larger vessels to pin down effectively.
"Initiate skirmishing tactics," Kulvareth ordered, his voice calm but firm. "Probe their defenses. I want to see how they react under pressure."
From the fleet's capital ship, orders rippled through the ranks. Groups of Hyperborean vessels broke away from the main formation, darting in and out of range like wolves testing a herd. Hardlight Cannons flashed, lighting up the dark expanse of space. Several more golden beams struck the enemy vessels, blasting holes through their thick hulls, but this time, the Imperium was prepared.
The first wave of return fire came from their massive projectile weapons. The heavy rounds tore through space, shattering asteroids and disrupting Kulvareth's careful formations. The Hyperborean Photonic Shields caught some of the fire, but a few rounds slipped through, slowed yet still dangerous. One of his smaller ships took a direct hit, its shield failing as the projectile punched into its hull. The vessel twisted, its engines sputtering, and then it went silent – heavily damaged but otherwise still repairable.
The greatest weakness of the Photonic Shield, he mused, was the fact that it generally failed when faced with a projectile that was much larger than the Photonic Field as no two parts of the same projectile could have differing speeds – the faster one would win out and cancel out the Photonic Field's kinetic dampening effect.
Kulvareth grimaced. He had anticipated losses, but the Imperium's accuracy surprised him. They were compensating for their slower speed by focusing on raw firepower and precision. And the fleet they faced was massive—three times what High Chancellor Argall had predicted.
"Shields to full capacity," Kulvareth ordered. "We'll need every advantage if we're to survive the next volley."
His fleet shifted, responding to the changing tide of the battle. The skirmish was turning into a brutal stalemate. Every time the Hyperborean ships moved in to strike, the Imperium vessels retaliated with punishing force. Yet the Imperium's heavy reliance on projectile weapons was also slowing them down, forcing them into defensive formations that kept them from advancing. The Hardlight Cannons also outranged the Imperium's vessels, though not by a very advantageous margin.
"Their strategy is clear," Kulvareth mused. "They're trying to draw us in, make us overextend. They want to trap us in a slugging match, where their numbers and size will overwhelm us."
Not clever at all. It was a simple strategy. More than likely, the enemy was probing them just as they were probing it. After all, neither side knew the full extent of their capabilities.
"Pull back the forward lines," he commanded. "Let them think we're retreating."
His fleet responded with disciplined precision, retreating just enough to give the Imperium the illusion of an opening. He could already see the enemy fleet repositioning, preparing to advance.
"Now, we test them," Kulvareth murmured, eyes gleaming. "Activate the Photonic Shield grids. Prepare for evasive maneuvers. When they advance, we strike where they're most vulnerable."
A Photonic Shield grid was the one way to supplement the Photonic Shield's main weakness, which was by sharing the Photonic Field between ships, thereby increasing its overall size.
The Hyperborean ships began a slow, calculated withdrawal, drawing the Imperium vessels deeper into the battlefield. The Imperium ships surged forward, lumbering but determined, ready to press their supposed advantage. Or, not quite. It would do him no favors to assume stupidity on the side of his enemy. After all, this battle had turned from a game of force into a game of wits. Whoever was smarter would win.
This war would be their proving ground.
AN: Chapter 46 is out on (Pat)reon!