Nimrod's Certain Judgment

Piszczek, Strategy Room.

Amber and red console lights illuminated the polished black armor of Nimrod, while the tactical holographic projector spanning the entire wall emitted a brilliant plasma glow.

He gazed at the holographic projection of the Vostonia system and questioned Rosicky.

"I require intelligence from the Adeptus Mechanicus."

"King Nimrod, I have received the latest combat report. The xenos fleet raiding the Vostonia system consists of two battlecruiser-class warships and twelve raider-class destroyers; seven of the raiders have already been destroyed."

Rosicky spoke as he operated the cogitator, establishing a communication link with other friendly vessels and marking the xenos warships in red on the holographic projection.

Nimrod stared at the two large xenos warships. Their hulls featured harpoon-like structures with protruding, pointed prows and serrated wings that splayed outward, matching the Flao battlecruisers from his memories perfectly.

The number of warships also aligned with Flao tactics; they appeared individually when protecting planets from orbital bombardment, yet operated in pairs when launching raids—a key reason they were known as space nomads.

"The enemy's large warships possess strange cannons. A single hit causes immediate shield overload on our ships. Those smaller vessels are not equipped with such powerful weaponry."

"Furthermore, the xenos have landed on numerous islands of the Cradle of the Sea, looting extensively and completely severing the food supply to Vostonia."

"Our fleet totals fifty-one ships, including one Adeptus Mechanicus ark, the Glory of Fire, three cruisers, fifteen frigates, and thirty-two destroyers."

Rosicky said, marking the friendly vessels in green on the holographic projection.

"Despite our numerical advantage, most of the frigates and destroyers belong to the various noble houses of Vostonia, making coordination difficult."

Rosicky did not elaborate, but Nimrod understood his meaning. Clearly, the captains dispatched by the Adeptus Mechanicus were not adept at commanding space warfare, and war was not merely calculation; coordination and communication were equally vital arts of command.

Of course, calculation was indispensable in space warfare. His eyes swept over the parameters of every ship flickering on the surrounding screens.

"Enemy ship A-I, distance 271,503 kilometers, phase 4-9-2, inclination 6..."

"Enemy ship A-II, distance 196,024 kilometers, phase 7-5-8, inclination 3..."

Though this was his first time aboard a ship, Nimrod drew knowledge rapidly from his genetic memory, grasping everything with astonishing speed.

In orbital mechanics, phase refers to the relative position of two spacecraft in the same orbit or orbital plane, usually expressed as the angle formed by the lines connecting the two spacecraft to the center of the planet or the focus of the elliptical orbit.

Nimrod knew the Piszczek could not withstand a single volley from an Aether Cannon. To seize the Flao battlecruisers, he could not rely on brute force.

He scanned the holographic projection with his eyes, incorporating the speed, phase, and other parameters of both sides into his calculations, gaining insight into their respective tactics.

The Magos commanding the friendly fleet intended to use their numerical advantage to surround and annihilate the enemy ships.

The Flao were performing tactical evasions to avoid encirclement while using their Aether Cannons to inflict damage.

Nimrod's brain whirred as he ran simulations. Five minutes later, a confident smile appeared on his face, and he issued his orders.

"Change course. Advance to 6-9-4, inclination 8."

Szczesny, standing nearby, immediately relayed the order, his eyes fixed on the holographic projection as he struggled to comprehend Nimrod's command.

Rosicky pondered for a moment before sketching a blue flight path on the holographic projection.

"You intend to launch a surprise attack on the enemy ships within the Vistula Asteroid Belt."

"Correct."

Rosicky held a data-slate, retrieving information from it.

"The Vistula Asteroid Belt is located between Vostonia and the Cradle of the Sea, consisting of three hundred and sixty-two asteroids."

He checked the operational plan notification sent by the Adeptus Mechanicus ark and found the relevant content.

"According to the calculations of Magos Kivior-9, the enemy ship marked A-I is expected to pass through the Vistula Asteroid Belt in fifty-six stellar hours, with a probability of 65.13%."

"The enemy ship marked 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 stated with certainty, causing Rosicky to frown.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Calculation and deduction."

"Magos Kivior-9 is a Logis of Vostonia. He was renowned for his calculation and logic even when he was an Information Executioner, yet even he cannot be so certain."

Szczesny looked angry at these words, and Wojciech was also dissatisfied with Rosicky's tone, though he did not believe Nimrod's calculations could be more accurate than those of a Logis.

"We shall see soon enough. Rosicky, your current task is to adjust the boarding torpedoes to accommodate my physique."

"Szczesny, lead the 4th Regiment and use the assault boats to teach the cogitators to learn."

"Wojciech, continue improving the waterproof weaponry."

Rosicky remained silent; he wanted to wait for the results to manifest before offering suggestions to the overbearing Nimrod.

As the three ships sailed toward the Vistula Asteroid Belt, at Altar No. 9 of the Hive City Nowy Sacz.

Tech-Priest Zielinski, dressed in red robes, walked out of the altar and arrived at the I-9 factory under his management.

After dismissing the fawning fat foreman, Zielinski entered his laboratory.

He shed his robes, revealing dense patches of blue feathers at the base of both his thighs.

Zielinski donned a blue hooded robe before approaching a complex blue mechanical dial.

The mechanical dial was divided into nine sections, with the eight surrounding areas arranged in a bird-like structure; starting from the top and moving clockwise, there were a parrot, a vulture...

At the center of the disc sat a sea eagle crafted from silver, so lifelike that its head was held high, the two diamonds in its eyes glittering brilliantly under the glow of the lumen lamps.

This mechanical dial had not been built by a technician or a servitor, but by his own hands.

A mechanical tentacle extended from Zielinski's right shoulder and inserted itself into the center of the dial—the beak of the bird.

The mechanical dial began to rotate, and the nine "birds" seemed to come alive, rising and falling in a chaotic rhythm amidst the clatter of machinery.

After the dial spun nine times, it came to a halt, and with the sound of grinding gears, the door before him swung open.

Once Zielinski stepped through the door, he raised his mechanical tentacle and inserted it into the mouth of the silver sea eagle on the wall, causing the door to seal shut behind him.

Zielinski began his descent, his organic eyes—which had not undergone mechanical augmentation—gradually shifting their irises to a yellow hue, much like the eyes of a sea eagle.

After descending nine thousand and ninety-nine steps, an irregular circular platform appeared in his field of vision, shifting its shape every nine seconds: circle, ellipse, rectangle...

Like him, seven others emerged from different passages, all clad in blue robes as they walked toward the withered old man standing at the center of the platform, who clutched a crystal staff in his talons.

The old man looked even less human than the mutants in the slums; his body was hunched, resembling an ostrich.

His sharp beak was hooked, his neck was covered in colorful feathers, and he wore no shoes, his feet ending in talons identical to the hands of a sea eagle.