Chapter 372: Huron: My Lord, What Brings You Here?
Maelstrom Zone, Badab System, Homeworld of the Astral Claws, Now the Jewel of the Galactic Core
The participation of Astartes in governance greatly improved the operational efficiency of government departments. This efficiency, reflected in practice, was the Badab System's exaggeratedly rapid material allocation capability, greatly promoting commercial prosperity.
The stationing of various Imperial military forces also greatly enhanced the military strength of the sector, maintaining the blockade of the Maelstrom, a stable warp rift second only to the Eye of Terror. Relying on powerful military nodes, it attracted Rogue Traders to explore the star regions around the Maelstrom that were previously difficult to develop due to frequent Chaos and pirate activities, leaving more buffer zones between Chaos, xenos threats, and Imperial territory.
In terms of internal construction within the system, industrial chains and division of labor were established in all aspects, such as the production of individual standard equipment, the construction of battleships from basic models to frigates, and technical cooperation with the nearby First Founding Chapter, the Salamanders, completing the laying of a large number of Astartes equipment production lines.
These productive forces would eventually be publicized as supply nodes, further attracting various forces from surrounding sectors to operate in the Maelstrom Zone, further consolidating the prosperity of the sector.
After more than thirty years of transformation, the Maelstrom Zone, formed by the merger of multiple sectors, has become prosperous and powerful.
And Huron, who facilitated all this, was formally given the honorary title of Guardian of the Maelstrom amidst the reluctance of the Imperium.
Does this look familiar?
Huron is a good student.
Compared to the vast majority of honor-obsessed Astartes who only care about fighting, after putting down their prejudices against mortals, Huron and his subordinates appeared more pragmatic and understood flexibility and cooperation better.
In the early stages of the establishment of the special zone, during the anti-piracy war surrounding the various Forge Clans in the galactic core, Huron keenly discovered the resilience possessed by this branch of humanity and their preserved advanced technology level. In the early stages of gaining a huge advantage in the war, he used this to complete peace talks with the Forge Clans, quickly ending the last war that might affect the stability of the Maelstrom Zone, and fully committed to the construction of the sector.
His patrol fleets, centered on Badab, sortied throughout the Maelstrom Zone. When stabilizing the material input into the Solar Segmentum, the endless transport fleets finally brought some comfort to the High Lords who were still suffering from the Battle Royale on Terra.
As of 782.M41, the Maelstrom Special Administrative Region had been formally established for only thirty years.
Being able to coordinate the complex military forces within the Maelstrom Zone and facilitate the prosperity of the Maelstrom demonstrated Huron's own ability and charisma.
But recently, this Guardian of the Maelstrom, who was preparing to report his work and meet his teacher openly, was very nervous.
The Nicor, a Battle Barge full of history, belonging to the Carcharodons, had a broken keel and would take a lot of effort to repair.
The Daughter of Tempests, the mothership of their glorious battle-brothers, the Lamenters, was nearly scrapped in the aft section due to a chain explosion of the warp engine, and the exterior of the warship was almost unrecognizable.
The Claw of Malice, an Inferno-class battleship, was also almost rotten. Belonging to a Chapter called the Ashen Claws, never heard of...
Inferno-class?
A relic of the Great Crusade era.
Huron didn't even pay much attention to the merchant ships that came with the fleet. With a horrified look, he halted some production tasks at the starport and began to clear space for this remnant army.
Now, such a suffering and heavily damaged fleet was docked around the large military port on the outskirts of the Badab System for emergency repairs.
In the Maelstrom Zone, massive fleets began to contract under the summons of the Guardian of the Maelstrom, ending patrol missions, enforcing martial law around various military node planets. The warp travel of naval fleets was strictly restricted, passively waiting for possible threats to appear.
The entire Maelstrom Zone entered an extremely exaggerated state of martial law due to the arrival of the Lamenters.
Badab Central Starport, Military Control Zone
Clatter~
A squad of fully armed Astra Militarum hurried through the corridor.
They wore full carapace armor and were equipped with high-power lasguns produced by the Badab System.
This was weaponry supplied to the Inquisition Storm Troopers. since Badab had the production capacity, the mortal troops used it too.
"According to the investigation report of the Machine Acolytes, the heretical cult in the S204 Noble District has publicly opposed Imperial rule. They desecrated the local cathedral and held evil rituals. According to the initial investigation report, it is beyond salvation..."
The vox-caster announced the mission and designation of this unit, and then the port staff directed the unit called to board the ship.
Departing with them was a full company of Astral Claws.
This company was equipped with Indomitus-pattern Terminator armor. Compared to the Cataphractii pattern, which performed better on the frontal battlefield but had stricter requirements for operators, Huron decided to equip the more cost-effective Indomitus pattern after a brief hesitation.
After all, the Maelstrom is located in the galactic center, mainly dealing with harassment by small groups of enemies. At the same time, the production of the Indomitus pattern is simpler. Huron, who needs to consider the development of the sector, doesn't need to compete with the more mature and advanced Dawnstar Sector for orders of Cataphractii and Tartaros patterns.
"I am sorry, brother."
Watching this squad of soldiers board the Stormbird formation with a large number of vehicles including Chimeras and Land Raiders, Malakim Phoros, Chapter Master of the Lamenters, who was in the Astral Claws' Fortress-Monastery with Huron, looked ashamed.
The Lamenters wanted to assist in the anti-terrorist operations currently unfolding everywhere in the sector but were politely refused by Huron on the grounds of rest and reorganization.
"What are you saying?"
Huron patted the other's shoulder generously.
"I should welcome your arrival."
After speaking, he pointed to the comms slate in front of him. It was an image sent back from the Mantis Warriors' jurisdiction hundreds of light-years away. The blurred image showed Chaos Space Marines wearing red power armor and bearing the mark of the Dark Gods.
This was a group of Word Bearers invading a feral world through caravan activities. Although it was unknown why they were exposed shortly after the Lamenters arrived.
Local supplies and minerals turned into a series of combat weapons under the operation of those Chaos traitors. Years of caravan operations allowed them to accumulate many workers, and massive blood sacrifices to local barbarians summoned various daemons. It was hard to believe this was the operational capability of a group of Chaos Astartes.
The only problem was that they underestimated the reaction speed of the Imperium.
When the Lamenters rushed out of the Maelstrom with a bunch of tattered fleets, Huron knew he would have plenty to do next.
"If it weren't for your arrival, I wouldn't have known there were so many hidden dangers in the Maelstrom Zone. The smooth sailing before made me too lax."
He looked at Phoros sincerely, and was also somewhat glad that this series of events didn't explode in his face when the Dawnbreakers came for inspection.
Of course, Huron didn't dare let the Lamenters move freely either.
"..."
Looking at a series of reports summarized by Librarians and the Astropathic Choir, as well as image data physically transported from various places, and thinking about the three Chapter flagships still lying in the starport for emergency repairs, and the application for nearly a thousand personnel and supporting equipment submitted by Carcharodons Chapter Master Tyberos not long ago...
Even Huron, with his big heart, couldn't help but gasp.
It wasn't that he couldn't fill the gap.
Brother Huron was rich now. Providing Indomitus pattern Terminator armor for every Astral Claw wasn't a problem, and arranging it for other Chapters was even simpler. He also organized duel tournaments from time to time to exchange feelings with various Chapters, just to give away this excess capacity as favors.
Cooperation with the Schola Progenium also provided Astartes Chapters with high-quality recruits. Those fleet-based Chapters far from the Dawnstar Sector and patrolling various places also liked to come to the Maelstrom to replenish personnel, and Huron was very skilled in arranging it.
He was afraid he couldn't catch the bomb that was about to explode next.
When they guarded the Maelstrom together before, why didn't he realize these guys were so unlucky?
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