Huron exploited his familiarity with the Maelstrom's "Warp terrain" to muster his forces at astonishing speed.
Pirates followed profit. Hearing that the Pirate King was planning something big, they figured he could feast on the meat while they helped themselves to the broth.
What truly tempted the pirates was Huron's deployment of a Ramilies-class Star Fortress.
This fortress could travel through the Warp. Normally, it served as a temporary ship-repair yard and ground-suppression stronghold during a campaign. You might even see one sail into planetary orbit to serve as a semipermanent orbital bombardment platform.
Using hidden Warp routes, Huron positioned the Ramilies-class Star Fortress behind the Imperial assault fleet. It would neatly divide the Imperial Expeditionary Force, severing contact between the troops at the Blade Feast and the assault force.
The Crimson Tide was completely untroubled. We've got Annos. What's there to fear?
The Imperial Fists' assault force was equally unconcerned. As long as Huron lived, they would advance toward him. Once he died, the intercepting forces would collapse on their own.
Neither side paid the slightest attention to the slow-moving fortress behind them. Both pressed forward at full speed.
The sight of the fortress boosted the Red Corsairs' morale, and they flocked toward it. At last, clearer battle lines emerged from the chaotic melee.
Although Huron issued several consecutive orders for the Red Corsairs to encircle the enemy and attack with everything they had, he still could not stop the surrounding fleets from converging on the fortress.
Instead of the fortress separating the two Imperial forces, the two forces would now attack it from front and rear.
At Huron's insistence, Librarian Garon personally led a force in an attack from the right flank. These were among Huron's own troops, known to the Red Corsairs as the Tiger Claw Warband.