Piszczek, Strategic Chamber.
Amber and red console lights shone across Nimrod's gleaming black armor, while the tactical holo-display spanning the entire wall emitted bright plasma light.
He looked toward the holographic projection of the Vostonia System and questioned Rosicky.
"I need intelligence from the Adeptus Mechanicus."
"King Nimrod, I have received the latest battle report. The xenos fleet raiding the Vostonia System consists of two battlecruiser-class warships and twelve destroyer-class raider ships. Seven of those raiders have already been destroyed."
As Rosicky spoke, he operated the Cogitator and linked communications with the other friendly vessels, marking the xenos warships in red on the holographic projection.
Nimrod stared at the xenos' two large warships. Their hulls had a harpoon-like structure, with pointed prows jutting forward and jagged wings spreading from either side, matching the Flao Battlecruisers in his memories exactly.
Their numbers also matched Flao tactics. When protecting planets from orbital strikes, their warships appeared alone. Yet when launching attacks, they appeared in pairs. This was one of the main reasons they were called space nomads.
"The enemy's large warships possess strange cannons. A hit on a ship immediately causes its shields to overload. Those smaller vessels are not equipped with such powerful cannons."
"Furthermore, the xenos have landed on many islands of the Cradle of the Sea and are plundering them on a massive scale. Vostonia's food supply has been completely cut off."
"Our fleet consists of fifty-one ships: one Mechanicus Ark, the Glory of Fire; three cruisers; fifteen Frigates; and thirty-two Destroyers."
As Rosicky spoke, he marked the friendly ships in green on the holographic projection.
"Though we hold a numerical advantage, most of the Frigates and Destroyers come from Vostonia's major families and will be difficult to coordinate."
Rosicky did not elaborate, but Nimrod understood his meaning. Clearly, the captains dispatched by the Adeptus Mechanicus were not skilled at commanding space battles. War was not merely calculation; coordination and communication were also arts of command.
Naturally, calculations were indispensable in space combat. His eyes swept across the parameters of every vessel flashing across the surrounding screens.
"Enemy vessel A-I, distance two hundred seventy-one thousand five hundred and three kilometers, phase four-nine-two, inclination six..."
"Enemy vessel A-II, distance one hundred ninety-six thousand and twenty-four kilometers, phase seven-five-eight, inclination three..."
Although this was Nimrod's first time setting foot aboard a ship, he rapidly drew knowledge from his Genetic Memory and grasped everything at an astonishing speed.
In orbital dynamics, phase referred to the relative position of two spacecraft on the same orbit or within the same orbital plane. This relative position was generally represented by the angle formed between lines connecting the two spacecraft to the center of a planet or the focus of an elliptical orbit.
Nimrod knew the Piszczek could not withstand a single volley from an Aether Cannon. If he wanted to seize the Flao battlecruiser, he could not act recklessly.
His eyes swept over the holographic projection, incorporating the speeds, phases, and other parameters of both fleets into his calculations. He saw through the tactics of both sides.
The Magos commanding the friendly fleet wanted to use their numerical advantage to encircle and annihilate the enemy ships.
The Flao were making tactical evasions to avoid being surrounded and destroyed while using their Aether Cannons to inflict damage.
Nimrod's mind raced through countless simulations. Five minutes later, a confident smile appeared on his face as he issued an order.
"Change course. Proceed on heading six-nine-four, inclination eight."
Szczesny immediately relayed the order. He stared intently at the holographic projection, doing his utmost to understand Nimrod's command.
Rosicky pondered as he traced a blue route across the holographic projection.
"You intend to launch an assault on the enemy ships in the Vistula Asteroid Belt."
"Correct."
Rosicky held a Data Slate and searched through its records.
"The Vistula Asteroid Belt lies between Vostonia and the Cradle of the Sea. It consists of three hundred and sixty-two asteroids."
He then checked the operational plan bulletin sent by the Mechanicus Ark and found the relevant information within it.
"According to Magos Kivior-9's calculations, enemy vessel A-I is expected to pass through the Vistula Asteroid Belt in fifty-six stellar hours, with a probability of 65.13%."
"Enemy vessel A-II is expected to enter the Vistula Asteroid Belt in twenty-seven stellar hours, with a probability of 79.26%."
"No. A-II will definitely enter the Vistula Asteroid Belt in twenty-six stellar hours."
Nimrod spoke with certainty, and Rosicky frowned at his words.
"Why are you so certain?"
"Calculation and simulation."
"Magos Kivior-9 is Vostonia's Logis. Back when he was an information executioner, he was renowned for calculation and logic. Yet even he cannot be so certain."
Anger appeared on Szczesny's face, and Wojciech was likewise displeased by Rosicky's tone. Yet he also did not believe Nimrod's calculations could be more accurate than a Logis's.
"You will know soon enough. Rosicky, your task now is to adjust the boarding torpedoes to suit my size."
"Szczesny, lead the 4th Regiment in using the Assault Boats to teach the Cogitators to learn."
"Wojciech, continue improving the waterproof weapons."
Rosicky said nothing. He wanted to wait for the results before offering advice to the forceful Nimrod.
As the three ships headed toward the Vistula Asteroid Belt, at the Ninth Altar of Nowy Sacz Hive City.
Tech-Priest Zielinski, clad in a red robe, walked out of the altar and arrived at the I-9 factory under his management.
After dismissing the overly attentive fat overseer, Zielinski entered his laboratory.
He removed his robe, revealing dense blue feathers around the roots of his thighs.
After changing into a blue hooded robe, Zielinski approached a complex blue mechanical turntable.
The mechanical turntable was divided into nine sections. The eight outer sections were shaped like birds, beginning at the top with a parrot, a vulture...
At the center of the disc stood a sea eagle crafted from silver. It was lifelike, its head raised high, while the two diamonds in its eyes gleamed brilliantly beneath the Lumen Lamps.
This mechanical turntable had not been made by artisans or Servitors, but by Zielinski himself.
A Mechadendrite extended from Zielinski's right shoulder and inserted itself into the center of the turntable—into Raven's beak.
The mechanical turntable began to rotate. The nine "birds" seemed to come alive, rising and descending erratically amid mechanical clattering.
After the turntable completed nine rotations, it stopped. Amid the sound of twisting gears, the great door before him opened.
After Zielinski entered through the door, he raised his Mechadendrite and inserted it into the silver sea eagle's mouth on the wall. The door then closed.
Zielinski walked downward. His unaugmented flesh-and-blood eyes gradually turned yellow, like the sea eagle's eyes.
After descending nine thousand and ninety-nine steps, he saw a circular, irregular platform. Every nine seconds, it changed into a different shape: a circle, an oval, a rectangle...
Seven others, like him, emerged from different passages. All wore blue robes and walked toward the platform's center, where a withered old man held a crystal staff in his talons.
The old man looked even less human than the Mutants in the shantytowns. His body was hunched, making him resemble an ostrich.
His hooked beak was sharp, his neck covered in colorful feathers. He wore no shoes, and his feet, like his hands, ended in talons resembling those of a sea eagle.
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