Saul realized in an instant that the T'au Empire's main reinforcements were racing toward them at full speed!
If he did not bring the fighting on Sa'cea to a swift end, the Imperial Expeditionary Force would become mired in a quagmire. Once Shadowsun's fleet joined the Stealth Fleet and coordinated with the heavy Battlesuits on the ground to strike from within and without, even the reinforced expeditionary fleet would struggle to make any headway under the crushing attrition, until it was finally worn down.
Saul turned to the enormous holographic display on the bridge.
This campaign was turning into a pure war of attrition, a meat grinder. And that was precisely what Aun'Ve wanted.
"Saint."
Admiral Yanis's voice came from behind him. The veteran of the Imperial Navy looked exhausted, but his eyes remained sharp. A string of troubling figures flickered across the Dataslate in his hand.
"The T'au Stealth Fleet has sunk seven of our transports and two frigates over the past twelve standard hours. Our Battle Barges have superior firepower, but those damned blue-skinned bastards' warships are too agile. They hit and run, never giving us a chance to concentrate our fire."
Yanis paused, lowering his voice. "The supply lines are an even bigger problem. Our logistics convoys have been harassed by T'au long-range patrol fleets near the warp translation point. Losses have been light, but transport efficiency has dropped by almost thirty percent. If this continues, the ground forces' ammunition and fuel reserves will last no more than forty standard days."
Saul did not answer immediately. His gaze lingered on the holographic star map, where the blue points representing the T'au fleet prowled around the perimeter of the Imperial Fleet like a school of cunning sharks.
"What about the ground war?"
"Chapter Master Pug has secured three