Warhammer, about my years with the Wolfpack

Of course, there were teams that successfully counterattacked. However, after the counterattack, the problem could not be solved because the destroyed "Iron Wolves" and their own Dreadnoughts were blocking the passage, directly blocking the road. The Space Wolves were attacking the reactor, and even if they could clean it up, it would be too late.

So, Hill, who was in charge of rescuing the reactor, finally made up his mind and used a big guy to break through from the front.

The 300-ton Brutal Blade was quite impressive. With the sound of its tracks rubbing against the floor, the behemoth slowly moved forward. Just as it rounded the corner, it would use its powerful twin main guns to knock down the distant defenses. However, just as the front half of the vehicle crushed the steel plate at the corner, there was a loud bang, and large sections of the deck collapsed! If it weren't for the quick reaction of the Ultramarines operating the tank, the entire tank might have collapsed!

"Oh shit! What's going on?" Hill felt terrible looking at the huge pit that suddenly appeared in front of him. He remembered that the deck here could withstand the passage of super-heavy tanks.

"It was a precise micro-explosion," said a nearby technical sergeant after observing the cracks in the deck. The Space Wolves' explosions had damaged the structure, so the heavy tanks couldn't get through.

"Damn it!" Looking at the huge pit that was more than 20 meters long, Hill felt terrible. Now only the jumping soldiers and hover vehicles could pass through, but how could these fragile guys break through the opponent's defense in such a short time?

"If nothing unexpected happens, the Space Wolves have already installed a demolition device in the reactor. We have already lost this exercise." Hill sighed. Although theoretically, the Ultramarines still have Terminators that can be teleported to rescue, in reality, the effect is very limited. Because even if a small number of Terminators go over, you can't beat the opponent's Iron Wolf + Centurion Terminators. You are at a disadvantage in equipment and numbers. How can you fight?

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"Uh, is that the end?" Baldur watched the Space Wolves installing explosive devices on the reactor circuits through the monitoring equipment, his face bewildered. He hadn't expected the Ultramarines to lose so quickly. This system was actually the same one used against the Imperial Fists back then. The Imperial Fists also fought hard against the Centurions and Iron Wolves under extremely unfavorable circumstances, but the Imperial Fists fared much better. Among other things, the Fists' defenses were much more rational, with the passageways within the system being of appropriate size. Furthermore, the Imperial Fists' firepower teams were fierce and accurate! And the assault teams were truly a formidable bunch, nearly opening up a new world.

"This won't do! My giant mech isn't even up yet," Balder thought to himself. It felt like he'd prepared his ultimate move, only to have the other side collapse before he could even use it. This made Balder incredibly embarrassed! Guilliman, standing next to him, felt even worse. Balder glanced over and saw Guilliman's massive body twisting slightly in his seat, his facial muscles stiff as if he were trying desperately to control something.

"This..." Guilliman, surveying the battlefield from a bird's-eye view, was speechless. He'd expected failure, but not so soon. He hadn't even managed to get anyone aboard the opposing ship, and his own ship was about to explode? The Space Wolves' psychic prowess had made Guilliman realize something: often, even after the enemy had revealed their tactics, they could still defend themselves. The key to the entire defense's collapse was the Psionic Mist and the subsequent psychic blast. The Ultramarines deployed their think tank, but it was useless.

"The Ultramarines still have a wave of Terminators who can try to rescue us." Balder looked at Guilliman and said.

"Are you kidding me?" Guilliman looked at Baldur in disbelief. Obviously, he also knew that even if he sent in a team of Terminators now, it would be useless. On the one hand, they might not be able to defeat the opponent, and on the other hand, even if they could defeat the opponent, it would be too late to defuse the bomb.

"The battle will continue." Balder said as he sent a psychic communication to Heimdall who was commanding the battle, indicating that he should give the other side a chance.

"Hehe..." Guilliman pulled up an awkward smile.

------------

Even when facing irreversible defeat, Dorn still managed to put in a last-ditch effort. The Ultramarines did the same. Although they knew the odds of success were slim, Grod still sent his Terminator corps in. They were surprised to find that the Space Wolves carrying the transmission equipment had all jumped away. The Terminators then successfully dismantled the explosive device. It was obvious that the enemy had let up, otherwise the Space Wolves would have had enough time to detonate the reactor.

So, the offensive and defensive battle between the two sides continued. Accompanied by a series of transmission signals, the Ultramarines launched a wave of attacks. A team of Terminators was teleported to the opposite Space Wolves battleship. Grod did not have much hope for this wave of assault. He thought that it was just to put some pressure on the opponent. It was impossible to win, but at least the loss would not be too ugly.

Then, Doro, known as the Jailer, who led this team of Terminators to launch the death teleportation, witnessed the Space Wolves' cybernetic army and the giant biochemical wolves!

"Damn it, it's the Castellan robot, and something else!"

"There are also drones, which are the Mechanicus's Extermination Blades and combat slaves!" Facing swarms of combat robots, the Terminator is not that powerful.

"Prepare for battle. We may fail, but at least we shouldn't lose at the very start." Dolro commanded his men to defend. In reality, the Ultramarines had made ample preparations for this assault. For example, at least a quarter of their Terminators were equipped with large storm shields to protect the assault team in the event of a lack of cover. Meanwhile, every Terminator responsible for fire support was fully armed, with an assault cannon in their left hand and a bolter slung from their power harness in their right. Some even had missile launchers mounted on their shoulders, the heavy load causing damage to their power armor and causing displeasure in their Machine Spirits... The Terminators responsible for close combat, in addition to their power axes and melta guns, also carried melta and plasma bombs, allowing them to use their bodies to open a path for their comrades if necessary.

Moreover, in their plan, this round of Terminator assault was only the first round of attacks. Because of the enemy's transmission jammer, they were unable to approach key facilities such as reactors and ammunition depots in the first place. However, they also chose a relatively open place so that the assault landing craft could successfully land here and deliver more heavy equipment.

"The enemy's resistance is fierce, Master Uriel," the commanding Space Wolves Captain remarked, observing the tense situation before them. Because both sides employed Imperial warships, the Space Wolves were familiar with the Ultramarines' warships. Similarly, the enemy also understood the general structure of the Space Wolves' warships. Consequently, the latter had chosen a strategic teleportation location, gaining an initial advantage. Simultaneously, they used the terrain to construct a defensive line. While Dorno could not break out, the Space Wolves were also unable to break in.

"When will our Iron Wolf and Giant arrive?" asked the company commander.

"Well, I'm afraid they can't come. They will participate in the next round of offensive. Captain Heimdall asked us to solve the problem here ourselves." said a servant.

"The enemy has already started launching landing craft. If they land here, we'll be in big trouble," the company commander said, looking at the automatic cannons, lasers, and plasma cannons in the distance that were constantly spewing fire snakes. As soon as the combat robots appeared, they were killed.

"It's not a big deal. We have new equipment. Frostwolf Workshop can handle them." Iron Priest Uriel was not in a hurry, but was contacting his colleagues behind him. A few minutes later, several anti-gravity weapon platforms, accompanied by several Space Wolves warriors, arrived at the battlefield.

This set was inspired by an engineered weapon platform used by the Fourth Legion. Felix's men, concerned about the lack of firepower during sieges, decided to develop a self-propelled weapon platform that could accompany the troops. Essentially, it consisted of a tracked chassis and engine underneath, with the gun and fire control equipment mounted on top. (The appearance resembled the Rapier fire platform and the Thunder Cannon.)

The Iron Priests felt that this thing was very practical, but not enough, so they replaced the tracks with anti-gravity plates, allowing the platform to levitate and follow. At the same time, to ensure the firepower platform's self-protection capabilities, it was also equipped with a shield drone...

"Okay, everyone, the big guys are here! Get ready to fire." At a range beyond the range of the individual weapons of the Extreme Marines, these heavy weapon platforms called Wolf Claws lowered their magnetic anchors and aimed their thick incendiary cannons and gravity cannons at distant targets.

"Minimize the power and fire a couple of rounds at the nearby, unoccupied areas," Uriel ordered. A moment later, the roar of heavy weaponry echoed across the battlefield. After his hastily constructed bunker was overturned by the severely weakened gravity weapons, Dorno realized his defeat was inevitable. With barely any room to maneuver and being blocked by the enemy's heavy weapons, his chances of victory were slim. The rest of the battle essentially devolved into garbage time.

The beachhead had been lost, and even if the subsequent assault craft had rushed in, it would have been useless. The passage, hastily opened, was immediately overwhelmed by the superior defenders. In fact, the Ultramarines Legion didn't send many subsequent boarding parties, as the Space Wolves' giants were already preparing to leap onto the opposing warships!

"Prepare for psychic link." Wardmaker sat in the cockpit of the psychic giant mecha. As the prompt sounded, Wardmaker activated his psychic power and tried to connect with the psychic crystal core of the psychic giant mecha.

"Psionic links are different from neural links." Despite having already performed psionic links numerous times, Rune Priest Wardmaker still relished the process. Though a psyker, Wardmaker was also a skilled mech warrior, having mastered Centurion Terminators and Iron Wolfs, and even, due to his exceptional mental prowess, a link with a Bear Gunship.

The realism of the neural link is really good. After the connection, it feels like one's body has been replaced by a machine. For example, after completing the connection with Iron Wolf, Wardmaker feels like he has turned into a tall giant. Every time his brain issues a command, the mecha will make corresponding actions, but at the same time, the machine soul will also tell Wardmaker through the neural link that those actions cannot be performed.

However, the psychic link established through the psychic crystal was different from a neural link. The moment it was completed, Wardmaker felt his spirit elevated. His perception, mental strength, and mastery of psychic energy were enhanced. As his mind and the external psychic crystal merged into one, Wardmaker even developed a sense of omnipotence. His vision was no longer limited to his eyes and mechanical senses, but rather a 360-degree psychic perception. He could peer into the distance, even spotting enemies behind him through obstacles. He could scan his comrades nearby and discern their emotions. The completion of the link was not only a spiritual elevation, but also a physical upgrade.

Eldar technology is truly formidable. Compared to the clunky Imperial mechs, Eldar mechs are agile and swift. When Wardmaker merges with a Psionic Titan mech, the wraithbone framework within the mech acts like a nerve network radiating from the pilot, allowing Wardmaker to manipulate the mech in countless maneuvers unimaginable for human mechs. It's agile, swift, and deadly. If the pilot of a Knight mech controls the mech in combat, then Wardmaker, once familiar with the Psionic Titan mech, can dance on the edge of a blade.

"How does it feel?" asked an Iron Priest.

"I feel great. I'm filled with strength," said Wardmaker as he adjusted to the initial mental shock of the connection. A few minutes later, he began to control the mech's movements, wielding a heavy psionic-powered halberd in each hand. This wasn't just a powerful power weapon; it was also an oversized staff. To ensure the power supply for this heavy weapon, the Iron Priest and Rune Priest had specially installed additional psionic crystal slots when forging it.

"Be careful not to cause any loss of life," a colleague reminded.

"I understand. No problem." Wardmaker nodded.

"Let's begin. For the first round of teleportation, two ordinary giant mechas will be accompanying you. The teleportation coordinates are in a hangar. The space is very large, and the Ultramarine Legion has already deployed a large number of armored units and knight mechas. This will be a test for you."

"It's just a limited test, there will be no problem. I'm even worried that we won't be able to test the limit of the Psychic Giant Mecha. After all, there are only a small number of Scimitar and Knight Mechas on the opposite side." Wardmaker said with a smile.

"Okay, you can do it yourself. Let's get started." A moment later, the three giant mechas that stepped into the teleporter disappeared in the flash, and the last wave of attack began.

-----------

"Something's coming!" As the teleportation flash illuminated the hangar bay of the Ultramarine, Icos Lamiad, stationed there, immediately recognized the enemy's arrival. "Send the Iron Spear and Light Sword units over to investigate. Also, order the Crushing Fist Superheavy Tank unit and the Darlon Knights to prepare for battle. They're definitely coming in force this time!" Lamiad commanded.

The commander of the Extreme Legion made a very accurate analysis. The hangar area was very spacious and very suitable for the deployment of large-scale troops. Therefore, in this exercise, many heavy equipment of the Extreme Legion were deployed here. Now, the opponent was directly transported in the hangar, so they must be quite confident that they could fight with their own heavy-armored troops. Therefore, the Siskarian tanks and various dreadnoughts sent over at the beginning were just an appetizer. Lamiad had already prepared enough equivalent firepower for the guests!

"This is Rapier Squad. We've found our target! Three Knight Titan-sized mechs, reportedly the Space Wolves' new giant-sized mechs. Reporting in." The Rapier Squad, deployed in fast vehicles, arrived at the battlefield immediately. Upon seeing their target, almost everyone breathed a sigh of relief. After all, it was only three Knight-sized mechs. While the Ultramarines were still in awe of the Space Wolves' superb teleportation technology, only three Knight mechs at once? Who were they looking down on?

"Open fire! Kill them!" A team of Siskaran tanks that arrived first fired a dense rain of bullets with various weapons. At the same time, the giant mecha that had just completed the transmission also entered combat status. With the activation of the shield generator, a blue light curtain covered the huge mecha.

"Shields are reacting normally. Conventional armored units have very limited impact on them." A mechanical notification chimed in Wardmaker's ears. Countless lasers and artillery shells struck Chaos, creating only the slightest ripple. The fierce attack was isolated. Wardmaker controlled the mech's left arm, aiming its volcanic spear cannon at a distant target. Simultaneously, the mech began to rapidly move.

"Damn it, they're too fast. And they seem to have some kind of light-distorting device." An Ultramarines cursed, watching the shadow on the aiming device. He clearly saw the laser he fired hit the target in the distance, but who could have imagined that, in the end, his eyes deceived him, and the shell passed through the blurry figure in the distance and hit the ceiling behind. The three mechas moved quickly, enveloped by halos of light, making it difficult to see clearly, while the enemy's deadly and accurate firepower destroyed the Ultramarines' chariots one by one. The enemy used the Volcano Lance, which only the most powerful Knight Titans could equip.

Although the power of the weapons has been strictly limited and will not cause serious damage, this crushing level of firepower is still like a broom clearing away dust, wiping out groups of ordinary tanks and dreadnoughts from the battlefield.

"Delegate authority and let the weapons fire freely." Wardmaker had little interest in these non-challenging targets. He did not use his psychic power and even handed over the authority to fire his weapons to the machine spirit. The missile launcher on his shoulder, the volcanic spear in his left hand, and the laser cannon hanging under the psychic-powered halberd, under the distribution of the machine spirit, flexibly aimed the weapons at multiple targets. With each automatic aiming and shooting, a tank or dreadnought would be destroyed not far away.

The Extreme Legion's anti-gravity attack boats tried to get close to attack, but they could not escape the giant mecha's multiple detection systems. After discovering the high-speed target, the missile launchers on the shoulders immediately turned their guns and shared the target information through the data link between the mechas. The close cooperation between the three giant mechas caused the Land Speeder, which was famous for its rapid assault, to fail.

With the failure of the quick assault, there was not much suspense in the first round of encounter.

"The Light Sword Squad has suffered heavy losses. We can't penetrate their armor. The opposite side seems to have multiple defense systems, including shields and light and shadow interference equipment. We have lost more than 7% of our vehicles and personnel. Requesting support!" After a brief battle, the Iron Spearhead and Light Sword squads responsible for interception suffered heavy losses, but the Extreme Legion did not give up, because along with the rumbling sound of tracks and the footsteps of heavy mechas in action, the Brutal Blades and Imperial Knights appeared!

"That's the kind of blow that's powerful enough!" When the shells from the Brutal Blade's twin main guns collided with the shield, the entire shield trembled from the immense force of the explosion. Fortunately, the pre-activated optical jammers reduced the enemy's chances of success. Only two shells landed in the first round, but Wardmaker still felt the pressure. However, the enemy wouldn't give him time to breathe; they unleashed a wave of even more ferocious attacks.

"Damn it, No. 2 and No. 3, you better keep up the good work!" Meanwhile, the other two giant mechs were moving through the wreckage, attempting to attack from the sides, while Wardmaker was the only one left to engage the enemy head-on. The attacks from these super-heavy units of the same level put immense pressure on Wardmaker. However, he still had a fighting chance.

When the next round of salvos began and dense heavy shells flew over again, Wardmaker manipulated the power halberd in his hand and slashed it fiercely in the air. With the infusion of psychic energy, a dark trace appeared in front of him. In a very short time, the curtain between the subspace and reality was opened, and dense ammunition passed through the curtain into the subspace. However, the crack formed quickly and disappeared quickly. It was annihilated by the laws of the real world in just a few seconds.

After desperately blocking a round of attacks, Wardmaker didn't hesitate, once again drawing on the psychic energy from the psychic crystal matrix. With a flash of teleportation, the massive mecha appeared several hundred meters away. Two consecutive spells allowed him to successfully dodge the barrage of super-heavy tanks and knights. The counterattack also began as it reappeared!

The Volcanic Spear on his left arm aimed at the distant Brutal Blades. These super-heavy tanks, with their long range and powerful attack, posed a greater threat to Wardmaker than the Knight mechs. Fortunately, these vehicles lacked shields, and after completing a teleportation, Wardmaker reached the side of his target. With the roar of the Volcanic Spear, two beams of light quickly descended upon two Brutal Blades. In another direction, two other giant mechs also opened fire. The intense crossfire quickly destroyed the unshielded Brutal Blades. The super-heavy tanks' thick armor proved ineffective against the Volcanic Spear's attack.

"Knights of Darron, prepare your swords," Marquis Duke commanded. With the Brutal Blade destroyed, the only remaining weapons capable of resisting the giants were the few knight mechs on the battlefield. He now regretted not bringing along the castle-lord knights specialized in ranged attacks. In the previous engagement, he had already discovered that the enemy's mobility and weaponry far outweighed his own. If they didn't want to engage in close combat, he would be unable to catch up. And in terms of ranged fire, his Swift knight mech, armed with both a ranged weapon and a melee weapon, was no match. However, the honor of a knight wouldn't allow him to give up.

"Give them full respect and prepare for close combat." Feeling the teleport signal reappear in the hangar, Wardmaker breathed a sigh of relief. In reality, the second round of teleports could have begun before the enemy's heavy units arrived, but the Legion, clearly eager to test the combat effectiveness of the giant mechs, had delayed the second round. Now, with the arrival of reinforcements, the outcome was decided. And precisely because the outcome was already decided, Wardmaker decided to give the opposing knight mechs a glorious close combat opportunity. At this moment, the wolf cub's spirit of close combat ignited.

"Come on, opposing knights, let us engage in an honorable battle!" Wardmaker declared in High Gothic. A megaphone carried his voice throughout the hangar. Simultaneously, he unlocked the locks on both arms, temporarily placing the Volcano Lance laser cannon in his left hand and the plasma cannon in his right on the ground. This was partly to ensure ample flexibility for combat, and partly because melee combat between mechs was a matter of physical force, and if such valuable weapons were damaged, they would require extensive repairs. Of course, Wardmaker also seized this opportunity to declare his desire for a close combat encounter with the opposing knight. After all, it was just an exercise; the other side should understand; he had already made his stance clear.

A moment later, two knight mechas walked out from the battle line of the Extreme Legion. Sir Duke's Swift and another Lion came out. Just as Wardmaker was about to salute, the two knights on the opposite side opened fire...

"Shit!" Dense rain of bullets fell directly on the shield. The plasma cannon, solid ammunition and shells fired from the two top missile launchers consumed the shield's energy very quickly. Wardmaker finally wanted to have a "fair and glorious" close combat with the opponent, but the opponent actually opened fire directly. At this time, the laughter of his teammates was also heard in his communication band.

"In Fenris, no five-year-old would think you're so naive."

"I'm concerned about your IQ."

"Despicable coward!" The angry Wardmaker once again activated his psychic power before the shield collapsed. An almost identical projection appeared in front of the other party, but the real body gradually disappeared in the gradually spreading psychic mist.

"I just wanted to test my limits. Yeah, that's right," Wardmaker swore in the chat room, manipulating the mech. The clone attracted the enemy's attack, then burst like a bubble, but this also gave him the opportunity to strike back. A few seconds later, a giant mech flew out of the mist, brandishing a power halberd in both hands and slashed directly at the Lion Knight mech. Driven by its jetpack, the entire mech spun like a stream of light, its power halberd surging with terrifying energy.

"This movement is too fast." Compared to the agile giant mecha, the knight mecha's movements were too slow, or in other words, the driver on it could not keep up with the rune priest whose psychic power enhanced his perception and reaction. The former only realized the opponent's attack and just wanted to turn around to resist, but before he raised the chainsaw sword in his hand, the power halberd had already cut through the shield and left a shallow scar on the mecha.

"There's another one!" Wardmaker maneuvered the mech, leveraging its immense inertia to swiftly turn, his weapon aimed at the nearby Marquis Duke's Knight mech. With another burst of jetpack fire from behind him, the giant mech accelerated forward. Two seconds later, the power halberd and the Marquis's chainsword collided with a fierce crash. The psychic-infused weapon easily cleaved the Knight's chainsword in two. Then, Wardmaker freed one hand and smashed the giant mech's power fist into the Knight's shoulder.

"This might be the last time I attempt to resolve a fight with pure close combat," Wardmaker roared. Clearly, the opponent's "flexible moral compass" had made Wardmaker give up on some of his plans this time... From then on, close combat, shooting first, became his go-to move.

"That's enough, let's leave it at that." Guilliman sighed and said half an hour later.

"Okay, that's it." Balder nodded.

Chapter 197: Guilliman, meet Randan!

"I expected failure, but I never imagined I would be defeated so completely, without even a single chance." Guilliman spoke, his words filled with unconcealed disappointment. This exercise was merely a rehearsal for a formal fleet battle, but even so, such a complete failure still left Guilliman with a deep regret.

"You'll get used to it. The longer you spend in the galaxy, the more you'll feel its darkness and terror. Hidden within that boundless starry sky are unknown, even incomprehensible, beings who can destroy fleets and tear apart planets with a wave of their hands. Humanity's expedition isn't about restoring former glory, but about survival. As for me, I can be said to be both more fortunate and less fortunate. Russ and I saw certain things prematurely. Therefore, I never feel the force I possess is sufficient," Balder said with a smile. "Do you understand what I mean?"

"Are you saying that my mindset is wrong?" Guilliman asked.

"You may be thinking too far ahead. In fact, in our last conversation, you didn't say everything that was on your mind. You seemed to be balancing the relationship between the old and new forces in the fiefdom, but in fact, you were limiting your military talents. You underestimated the intensity of the war, and you thought you could solve the problem without using 100% of your strength. But the reality is, you will fail even if you don't use 120% of your strength. You saw that the galaxies around Ultramar surrendered to your attack. However, you failed to see the darkness hidden in the galaxy and the risks it faced." Balder said.

"I do not agree with your idea. I know the cruelty of war, and I know what I will face. And I am prepared." Guilliman retorted.

"Haha." Balder smiled, picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. He then fell silent, carefully analyzing Guilliman and why he couldn't fight...

How could one describe Guilliman? Balder felt that he simply lived in a very comfortable environment, and so sometimes underestimated the challenges he faced. Or perhaps he'd fought too many battles when the tide was in his favor. The Osiris psychic race was considered somewhat powerful, but compared to the Hrud, who could trigger temporal storms, the Krafo, who required the intervention of the Ordo Malorum, and certain powerful Arks, it was a bit lacking. So, Guilliman felt that everything was sufficient.

While Guilliman seemed adept at learning from his fellow Legions, he only scratched the surface. For example, after observing Ferrus's Iron Assault, he equipped his Legion with a large number of armored units to achieve greater frontal combat effectiveness. He also observed the covert attacks of Klax, so he established his own special operations unit. However, he only scratched the surface.

What made Ferrus's Legion so powerful? Was it simply the sheer number of tanks? Clearly not. The Xth Legion's strength lay in Ferrus's unparalleled technological and engineering prowess, as well as the ethos of scientific research and the pursuit of ultimate combat power that permeated the Primarch's leadership. Clearly, the Ultramarines lacked this atmosphere...

Improvement is about accumulating small improvements into something big. Everyone works together, brainstorming small improvements, accumulating little by little, and finally building something big. The Iron Hands and Space Wolves were both created this way, and the Iron Warriors also have various groups dedicated to researching how to destroy their opponents. Within a certain range, everyone can engage in independent research and development, innovate, and do whatever it takes to more efficiently kill the enemy.

But the Ultramarines were different. They lacked an independent scientific research system, relying almost entirely on the Adeptus Mechanicus, and much of their research and development was straitjacketed by dogma. Guilliman lacked a talent for research and development, and what could one say of his subordinate Legion commanders? They were fine warriors, but only warriors. They simply wielded the weapons issued by the Adeptus Mechanicus, figuring out how to fight them, passively adapting to the battlefield and the equipment provided by the Adeptus Mechanicus. The Iron Hands and Space Wolves, on the other hand, proactively adapted, constantly modifying their equipment and conducting their own research and development based on battlefield needs. This was the fundamental reason for the difference in combat effectiveness and technology between the two sides.

As for the Primarchs? Well, Guilliman spent most of his time worrying about governing Ultramar. In fact, during the Great Crusade, Guilliman rarely personally engaged in combat. They were all Primarchs. Jonson and the Iron Hands were preoccupied with how to quickly and effectively eliminate the xenos, while Guilliman was preoccupied with farming. Those who farmed couldn't possibly defeat those who spent their days fighting. Guilliman's primary occupation was farming, his secondary occupation was combat.

It was for these reasons that Baldur judged Guilliman and his Legion as possessing the superficial qualities of other superior Legions, but lacking the spiritual depth. Of course, the Ultramarines' immense size qualified them as a frontline powerhouse. While the Ultramarines were indeed powerful, Baldur saw them as relying on brute force, lacking in inner strength.

Now, Balder was considering putting some pressure on Guilliman, adding to his burden. How could 25 mana cans be enough? He needed more! And it wasn't just brute force; he needed inner strength as well.

Guilliman's Qi cultivation skills were quite good. While Balder drank tea, Guilliman remained quiet. He also drank a cup of tea, then looked out the porthole at the Space Wolves fleet. His eyes fell on the most conspicuous of them all, the Splendor-class battleship. Balder had been waiting for this opportunity. Balder couldn't believe that Guilliman wouldn't be tempted by such a dazzling giant. After all, humans have some commonalities. They all like big things.

"Actually, I came here to do business with the Ultramarine Legion." Balder said.

"Doing business? Tell me." Guilliman said with a smile.

"I designed the Splendid-class battleship, which is a very good class of battleship, and I also want it to become a shining star in the Imperial Navy fleet. But the design and construction of this class of battleship is somewhat complicated, and we need a huge industry to complete this task. The Iron Hands Legion has joined in, and some Forge Worlds are willing to help, but we still need to unite more people." said Balder.

"What is the model of cooperation?" asked Guilliman.

"Ultramar can act as a first-tier partner and undertake the construction of part of the hull and internal facilities of the Splendid-class battleship. After the corresponding accessories are completed, special transport ships will transport the accessories to the Space Wolves' forge world for final assembly. We can provide a variety of compensation methods, whether it is weapons, resources or military support. If the Ultramarines are willing to equip this level of battleships, they can also obtain a certain share of the battleships based on the amount of work completed, and we will provide a full set of care and maintenance services." said Bader.

"And what of the Iron Hands?" Guilliman continued.

"The Iron Hands mainly provide weapon systems. We provide the core Cogitator arrays and the control and power systems of the spacecraft. Overall, the Iron Hands enjoy almost the same rights as the Ultramarine Legion," said Balder.

"This is a fair cooperation plan," Guilliman said after a moment's thought. "But if all warships have to be assembled on the Space Wolves' forge worlds, wouldn't that be too inefficient? Can we set up a few more assembly stations?"

"The Space Wolves Legion also has only one Forge World on which to complete the final assembly. At least for now."

"So, in addition to the three legions involved in the construction, will this level of battleships be equipped with other legions?" Guilliman asked after thinking for a while.

"This level of battleships will first meet the needs of three legions, and then spread to other legions. Of course, if a legion is willing to transfer its battleships to other legions, that is also possible." Bader said.

"Will other legions join this system in the future? Who will decide whether other legions join?" asked Guilliman.

"There will be. As for the decision-making power? Naturally it belongs to the Space Wolves." Baldur said and looked at Guilliman.

"I am generally satisfied with this plan. But in some aspects, I feel it is a little unreasonable." Guilliman said.

"That's because you're looking at it from a political perspective, and I'm looking at it from a technical and demand perspective," Bader said.

"From the technical perspective and the demand perspective? Tell me about it." Guilliman said with a smile.

"First of all, as a person who is also proficient in technology, Ferrus would not ask me the question you just asked. The reason is very simple. He knows very well that only we can make the core of the Splendid-class battleship, while other parts can be replaced. Our status is inherently unequal." Bader's words were merciless.

"That's not a good reason," Guilliman said, clearly disagreeing. "Ultramar has enormous production capacity, and we can draw upon far more resources than the Forge World. Since you need these resources, our role is equally significant."

"Well, I'll give you another reason," Balder said with a smile. He didn't dwell on this issue for too long, and this move surprised Guilliman.

"The Empire will soon face a huge challenge. We will face a terrifying enemy, and the Space Wolves and the Iron Hands will undoubtedly stand on the front line. In order to fight this formidable enemy, we are willing to share our technology and knowledge with the legions fighting side by side. Facing such an enemy, are you interested in giving it a try?" Balder said with a smile.

"If we face such an enemy, I hope my legion can contribute its strength." Guilliman said without hesitation.

"Do you really think so?" Balder said with a smile.

"Well, since you're willing, there will be such an opportunity soon," Balder said, pointing to the fleet outside the window. "This is one of the most elite fleets in the Space Wolves Legion. Ultramar will be our last stop before joining the war."

Ultimately, Baldur decided to involve the Ultramarines in the first wave of engagements with the Randan, and if possible, Guilliman as well. He would see the darkness of the galaxy. Baldur hoped this provocation would dissuade Guilliman from resorting to political thinking to solve military problems. Furthermore, Baldur believed that even a glimpse of the Randan aliens would be enough to convince Guilliman of his own views.

"My legion will not miss this battle that will be remembered in human history, and as long as my father agrees, I will go to the front line in person." Guilliman said firmly.

"Hmm, your courage is commendable, even greater than Horus's." Balder was quite satisfied. While both Horus and Guilliman could be considered politicians to some extent, it was clear that the latter's integrity was far superior to the former's. After all, many of Horus' actions were far from aboveboard. Whether it was his scheme against Klax during the Battle of Gate 42 or the unworthy Warmaster, this was true.