Let warriors focus their energy and skills on the extreme mastery of a single function.
"Efficiency?" Ventanus looked up, his fingers rapidly sliding across a data pad, pulling up several battlefield records, "Governor Chen Xi, I understand the advantages of specialization.
However, during the 'Tempering' operation, it was the real-time role switching within the squads that saved the defensive line when they were ambushed by the Tooth Fracture chieftain.
The mobility of Phobos Armor allowed the sergeants to quickly fill firepower gaps; if only single-function squads had been present at that time..."
"That would have been a more brutal slaughter!" Sigismund's voice, like an adamantium hammer striking down, interrupted Ventanus, "Expecting lightly armored units equipped with Phobos Armor to directly confront a Warmaster?
Ventanus, you and I have both seen how Terminator companies of the Great Crusade Era crushed such foes!
'Real-time switching'? That's only if the enemy gives you time!
On a true battlefield, things change in an instant!
When heavily armored enemies ambush an infiltration squad, what they need isn't to temporarily swap armor themselves, but for a squad of heavy brothers, specialized in destruction, to immediately drop down from above!"
Chapter Master Shi Dong's rough fingers tapped the edge of the tactical display, making a dull thud: "Commander Sigismund has a point. But what about resources?
Governor Chen Xi, we are not a Legion from the Great Crusade.
Equipping every company with specialized heavy units? Gravis-pattern Armor, Terminators—these all require resources, training grounds, and maintenance teams!
Can the Chapter's current scale support such dispersed deployment? Or would it be more practical to concentrate resources and form one or two specialized heavy assault companies?"
"Concentrate?" Alex's fingertip tapped heavily on a marked point of intense engagement in the holographic image, precisely where Mikhail's squad encountered the Warmaster, Tooth Fracture: "What about sudden encounters? There's no time, and no space for you to leisurely deploy troops!
A Phobos Armor squad on an infiltration mission, deep behind enemy lines, suddenly runs into heavily armored enemies and urgently needs heavy firepower suppression.
Are we to expect them to swap into Gravis Heavy Armor in the middle of a hail of bullets?
Orbital drop pod support usually only provides backpack module replacement—from a standard power backpack to a jump pack, and that's it.
At such times, the most effective solution is to directly drop a squad of heavy units equipped with Gravis Heavy Armor, specialized in fire suppression! And they must be in your operational sequence, ready to be called upon at any time!"
He looked around at everyone, his gaze sharp: "In the past, the Chapter, limited by its size, often had squads execute missions independently, and being isolated and unsupported was the norm.
This forced every warrior to be a jack-of-all-trades to cope with all possibilities.
However, on a Legion-level large-scale battlefield, this 'master of none' model will be pushed to its limit.
Many times, what the front line urgently needs is merely a heavy strongpoint that can hold a critical node and provide continuous destructive firepower, not a flashy all-around performance.
Special operational needs? Just deploy another special operations squad specifically formed for that purpose.
This is the fundamental difference between a Legion and a Chapter—a Chapter pursues versatility due to manpower scarcity; a Legion, with ample personnel, achieves specialized roles for specialized tasks, optimizing resource allocation."
Ahriman's low voice came from beneath his hood, carrying the resonance of a Psyker: "Governor Chen Xi's logic is clear; specialization maximizes individual effectiveness and forms a stronger collective force through efficient combination.
On a chaotic battlefield, clear role definition reduces the complexity of the command chain and information misjudgment, which aligns with the deduction of war efficiency."
"So, how will it be specifically allocated?" Commander Shi Dong pressed, as Chapter Master, he had to implement the blueprint, "Will it be assigned to each company in squad form? Or will mixed tactical squads be the basic unit? The framework of the codex astartes..."
"Mixed tactical squads?" Ventanus immediately retorted; he was always one of the defenders of the codex astartes system, "This is just going back to the old ways! Although members within a squad have different roles, the squad as a whole still lacks clear functional specialization.
This violates the original intention of'specialized personnel for specialized tasks'!
It merely shifts the problem from the individual level to the squad level; when the entire squad encounters a threat that its function cannot effectively counter, the predicament remains!"
"Agreed." Sigismund's voice was decisive, "Since warriors are assigned by function, they should be used in concentration to maximize their expertise.
Dispersed mixed formations are merely titular and waste the advantages brought by specialization.
Think of the Luna Wolves' 'Gastaphalin,' the Imperial Fists' 'Templar Brethren'—concentration is what forms destructive power!"
Alex slightly raised his hand, signaling a pause in the argument: "Mixed tactical squads still have their value, for example, the most elite veterans in the Chapter, who are battle-hardened and skilled in various areas.
Forming them into special task squads, specifically for missions requiring extreme skill, extreme stealth, or rapid response—assassination, infiltration, intelligence gathering—these tasks remain indispensable.
He surveyed the group, his gaze profound: "Although the Empire's future is precarious, not all battlefields require large-scale army assaults.
Elite special operations squads, retained as special formations, are a necessary supplement. But they can only be the exception, not the general rule."
"Then, what about the overall organizational structure?" Loken's voice came from behind Hathor, his helmeted head slightly turning, cold optical sensors locked on Alex, "Mixed functional squads within companies?
Or… are you planning to completely break the codex astartes's company structure and establish company-level specialized formations?"
Alex met Loken's gaze, nodding affirmatively: "My vision is to improve within the'shell' of the codex astartes.
The Chapter's 'thousand-man roster' has become an imprinted idea for the Empire, a default unspoken rule.
Although a few Chapters can be over-strength, maintaining this'shell' is currently more beneficial than detrimental, as it can reduce unnecessary suspicion and resistance."
He pulled up the Ash Knights' organizational chart, and blue light quickly projected a cluster of markers representing the Ash Knights' Astartes.
"Therefore, the Ash Knights will continue to maintain the thousand-man Chapter as the basic unit.
Each Chapter will have ten companies, but the nature of the companies will completely change—no longer the combat companies with ambiguous internal functions as stipulated by the codex astartes, but specialized companies with unified functions: Heavy Companies focus on Gravis-pattern Heavy Armor, Terminators, and heavy fire support; Tactical Companies are equipped with standard MK10 Armor, responsible for multi-purpose assaults and holding positions; Vanguard Companies use Phobos Armor, performing high-speed maneuvers, infiltration, and reconnaissance."
Alex's fingers drew clear lines on the projection, categorizing the markers representing different functions.
"Furthermore, based on the experience of strike force coordinated operations during the 'Tempering' operation," his voice carried the precision of constructing a war machine, "within each Chapter, two to three standing'strike forces' will be established."
"A strike force," Alex clenched his fist, and the markers representing strike forces on the star map suddenly lit up and rotated, "will consist of one to two Heavy Companies as the core for assault and defensive strongpoints, paired with two to three Tactical Companies as mobile and assault forces.
When necessary, Vanguard Companies can be incorporated to perform battlefield screening, deep infiltration, or high-speed flanking maneuvers.
Each strike force will be commanded by an experienced Commander, possessing independent command links and tactical decision-making authority, serving as the Chapter's primary operational power projection unit."
"In daily operations," Alex concluded, his voice carrying the authority of finalization, "the Chapter will be dispersed and deployed as strike forces to respond to regional threats.
Strike force Commanders have the authority to flexibly organize subordinate Heavy, Tactical, and Vanguard units in half-company or even smaller scales, led by subordinate officers, to perform routine combat missions and maintain tactical flexibility.
And when facing large-scale campaigns, when the Imperial territory needs a true Legion-level iron fist..."
He surveyed the bridge, his gaze sweeping over every legendary Commander and Chapter Master: "All strike forces will be assembled under unified command, and under the deployment of the Chapter Master or higher-level Commander, they will condense into an unstoppable Legion's fist.
This is the future path of the Ash Knights: within the'shell' of an codex astartes Chapter, beats a 'core' that is Legion-like."
As Alex's words fell, a brief silence descended upon the bridge, broken only by the low hum of the Cognitohazard Array.
In the cold blue light, different ideas gradually settled after a silent clash.
Commander Shi Dong's tightly furrowed brows scrutinized the feasibility of the plan; Ventanus silently noted key points, codex astartes tenets clashing fiercely with the new framework in his mind; a hint of approval for the efficient concentration of power appeared on Sigismund's adamantium-like face; the shadow beneath Ahriman's hood subtly shifted, as if conducting deeper deductions; Loken's helmeted head turned slightly again, cold optical sensors evaluating the will and power behind this reform, finally resting on Hathor's calm and majestic figure.
Hathor Lupeca stepped forward, her molten-gold eyes sweeping over the newly formed strike force markers on the holographic star map, her voice carrying the Warmaster's decisiveness and a hint of anticipation for the future: "Very good. The shackles of the codex astartes must be broken, and the structure of power needs to be reshaped. This plan is the starting point for the return of the Legion's soul in a new era. I approve."
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