A brief silence fell over the bridge as all the officers lowered their heads in deep thought, weighing the pros and cons repeatedly.
Dominic lowered his head and remained silent, his fingers unconsciously covering his mouth as he mentally simulated the possible outcomes of the two tactics.
Just then, the Tech-Priest serving beside him slowly stepped forward.
He wore a red robe with gold trim, his face was covered with a metal prosthetic, and the holy emblem on his chest shone faintly.
He held a data panel in his hands, bowed, and handed it to Dominic, saying in a voice with a mechanical grating:
"Sir, this data is based on battle losses, ammunition inventory, fleet status, and the Orks forces on Dorito Planet."
"The simulation results of the two tactics—forced pursuit and rest in place—are a gift from Omnissiah. Please take a look."
Dominic took the Dataslate and began to examine it carefully.
A series of complex data and dynamic simulated battle scenarios are displayed, clearly listing the proportion of warship damage, remaining ammunition reserves, and the combat capability threshold of ground forces, etc.
And the evolution of the battle situation and the prediction of the final victory rate for the two tactics at different stages.
The simulation results were striking: although a forced pursuit could annihilate the remaining Orks warships within three days, it would Dorito.
The fleet's firepower sustains a shortfall on the third day, and the ground forces are divided and surrounded by the Orks horde on the fifteenth day.
On the thirtieth day, they encountered a newly formed fleet built on the spot by the Orks, which then launched a counter-encirclement. The final victory rate for the entire battle was "8.6%".
Resting in place and waiting for supplies to arrive before launching a final assault would give the Orks four days to catch their breath.
However, with their overwhelming fleet firepower, they can destroy the Orks ' industrial facilities and breeding grounds immediately upon landing.
By gradually compressing the Orks's living space, the final win rate was 89.2%.
Dominic stared at the projected data, remaining silent for a long time.
The Tech-Priest's cold, mechanical voice rang out again. "Simulation results show that the biggest variable in a forced pursuit lies in Ragnar's immortality."
"If Ragnar reappears in ground combat and condenses the Waaagh Field, our chances of winning will drop below 1%."
These words were like the last straw, completely crushing Dominic's last shred of hope.
He handed the Dataslate back, his tense face suddenly relaxing, and he burst into laughter at Lynn.
The laughter was hearty and sincere, sweeping away the previous gloom and anger.
" Kerry von, no, Governor Kerry, you have truly impressed me."
Dominic patted Lynn on the shoulder, his tone full of admiration.
"Though holding the position of governor in a corner of the galaxy, he possesses the strategic vision to see the entire galaxy and can see through the advantages and disadvantages of the war at a glance."
"Compared to those aristocratic generals who only engage in theoretical discussions in command posts, you are the true soldier."
"You're right, haste makes waste. I was blinded by victory and almost made a terrible mistake."
"I have decided to abandon the idea of a hasty pursuit and immediately order the entire army to rest and reorganize at Carl II!"
"Establish intergalactic ammunition transport routes, and once logistics, warship repairs, and troop reorganization are all complete, then gather all forces and launch a final assault on Dorito!"
Seeing this, Lynn smiled with relief and extended his right hand.
At their first meeting, Dominic, as a major general of the Imperium and tax collector, held a superior position.
He had previously ignored his overtures, considering him nothing more than a local tyrant from a remote planet.
Having gone through the trials of battle and developed tactical understanding, Dominic now genuinely recognized his vision and abilities, regarding him as a comrade-in-arms who could fight alongside him.
Dominic looked at the outstretched right hand, smiled knowingly, and took the initiative to raise his hand to shake it tightly.
In the instant their hands clasped, there was no aristocratic pretense of politeness, only the mutual recognition and sincerity between a soldier and a ruler.
The light fell on the two of them, casting long shadows.
At that very moment, a system notification quietly appeared in Lynn's mind:
[Detected that the affinity of the bound target Dominic Ventria, has exceeded a negative value, officially unlocking a positive bond. Current affinity: 1]
[Unlock Achievement: Ventria Ally ]
[Rewards: Imperium Reputation +50, Morale +10% when leading human armies in battle]
The Carl II Space Station then entered a state of complete rest and repair.
The lights of the rail-connected airport flow day and night.
Several damaged Imperium warships were docked at their berths, with Tech-Priest and maintenance engineers in Power Armour busily climbing and working on the ship's surface.
The sparks from welding twinkled like stars in space.
The massive transport planes hoisted thick, high-strength Adamantium armor plates onto the bow of the Gemstone, replacing the damaged sections.
On the ground, high-level officials held an emergency meeting overnight to plan flight routes and establish a safe transport route from Brevis Starport to Carl II.
Huge transport ships, laden with ammunition, spare parts, food, and new recruits, continuously entered the temporary airport of the Carl II.
Ground forces were reorganized and repaired the space station's defenses destroyed by the war, rotated their posts, and conducted targeted anti- Orks tactics training.
Dominic was completely immersed in the complex military affairs. As the fleet's supreme commander, he needed to coordinate the construction of shipping routes, the allocation of supplies, the deployment of the fleet, and the formulation of the overall offensive tactics.
Countless official duties piled up, almost taking up all his free time.
These past few days, he has often sat on the command platform of the bridge for more than ten hours at a time, even eating and sleeping there.
Lynn took the initiative to join the logistics and strategic planning team.
With the political experience he had gained from governing Brevis and with Rena's help, he was able to achieve his goal.
He helped to streamline the chaotic resource allocation system, coordinate supply rotations between fleets, improve the defensive layout of supply nodes, and relieve Dominic of most of the complicated tasks.
Dominic's life was filled with busy military affairs, but even though he buried himself in official documents and star charts all day, there was always a strange emptiness in his heart.
When he was alone in his spare time, he would always take out that black mask from the inner storage compartment of his desk.
That was an item left behind by the silver-haired Inquisitor during the chaotic battle on the bridge that day.
His fingertips gently caressed the delicate material of the mask, and he could almost smell the faint, cool fragrance lingering on it.
That figure always involuntarily appears in my mind.
Her face was cold and exquisitely beautiful, her eyes were like rubies, and her long, silvery-white hair flew wildly amidst the flames of war.
There was also the resolute figure of someone stepping forward to shield him in times of crisis.
He often stood alone by the porthole on the bridge, gazing at the dark space, lost in thought.
Why did that mysterious Inquisitor intervene to save them?
Was it his sense of responsibility as a major general of the Imperium, dedicated to defending the borders and protecting the civilians of the star system?
Or do you agree with his refusal to retreat, his unwillingness to abandon the noble spirit of his subordinates?
Or perhaps she was simply carrying out a secret mission for the Inquisition and happened to save him as a side effect?
The more I thought about it, the more a subtle, indescribable feeling arose in my heart, and a faint smile unconsciously appeared on my lips.
For the first time, he, who was once only concerned with military strategy and family honor, felt a sense of attachment to a complete stranger.
He began subconsciously asking those around him about the Ordo Hereticus, hoping to find a clue about the silver-haired Inquisitor.
However, the Inquisition always operated in secrecy, and no one knew her origins or where she went.
A faint hope arose in his heart, wishing he could meet the silver-haired Inquisitor again, thank him in person, or even just say a word.