Lorgar gazed up at the towering Wave Cannon, its intricate construction dizzyingly complex, and remained speechless for a long time.
He had yet to fully absorb the impact of its description—that ultimate destructive power capable of igniting a star within twenty-four hours—when a doubt rooted in their present circumstances quietly surfaced in his mind.
His brow furrowed slightly. His thoughts shifted between the mountain-sized cannon before him and the planet-sized "guard robot" he remembered, until he finally could not help muttering under his breath.
"Uh... it certainly sounds devastating. But between the enormous energy consumption and the aftereffects of firing..." He glanced at Anna, who stood beside him with her arms folded, and continued.
"Why does it feel... less practical than the 'gatekeeper' outside, which can swallow stars and wander around on patrol by itself?"
The instant he said it, the smug expression on Anna's face froze, replaced by a look of exasperated disappointment.
"Lorgar, clear some of that 'big is good, bigger is better' nonsense out of your head! Could you fit in just a little basic strategic thinking and... and industrial logic?!"
She extended a slender finger, nearly jabbing it into Lorgar's breastplate.
"Here, let me ask you something. Don't use your damned psychic energy—use your brain as a Legion commander! How many ships did you bring on this expedition, all told? How many warships that can fire their guns, jump into the Warp, and conquer territory for you?"
Lorgar leaned back slightly under the force of her tirade and answered instinctively, "Including the capital ships and escort formations, a little over two hundred..."
"Two hundred!" Anna swept her arm emphatically, as though she had seized on the crucial point.
"That big iron clunker outside, that 'gatekeeper,' costs enough to build you at least three Gloriana-class Battleships! The