Chapter 40 39:
He almost achieved it, but he did not take into consideration the fact that the existing factions within the sector itself would unite their forces to overwhelm the empire from every direction, like flies sucking your blood until only the empty shell remained.
The general tried, Varnak-Sul committed himself in order to bring glory.
Varnak-Sul, a class 12 genetic general, had participated in six pacification campaigns in the Drakonis Quadrant, accumulating a solid though not exceptional reputation, but enough to manage to seize this position through his contacts in the high council.
His command profile was characterized by outstanding competence in logistics and static defense, with lesser skill in mobile offensive warfare.
This combination, paradoxically, also made him the ideal candidate for a sector that, due to the circumstances, had become predominantly defensive.
However, by the time the empire completed eighteen orbits involved in the sector, during that period, he had witnessed the union of what he had considered, had been the most dangerous enemy force ever witnessed by the empire.
But of course, in the emperor's presence, he would never dare speak his own thoughts born from his own incompetence.
His force, constituted by a solid chain of command composed of around 3000 viltrumite officers for a sector the size of Luminus, seemed to give him the advantage during the first two orbits since his arrival. However, up to this moment, Varnak-Sul counted with barely 457 viltrumite personnel, that is to say, less than 25% of the theoretically necessary force.
The rest had fallen in battle.
As for the rest of the current survivors, it implied that in practice, at the moment of distributing the spatial quadrants of responsibility, each viltrumite was responsible for an area equivalent to thirteen solar systems, an unsustainable ratio even for his previous personnel.
On the other hand, to compensate for his shortage of viltrumite personnel, Varnak-Sul depended greatly on subjugated species, among which were the Venatici, with a number of 450 million personnel, each one valuable enough to counter the Lanther Force.
These, surprisingly, seemed to be his best decision so far, thanks to their physiological capabilities of energy absorption.
He also possessed a quantity of 245,000 lithari personnel, excellent technicians for maintaining the empire's war armament, used by the millions of lesser races of the empire under his command.
In addition to the personnel, the sector possessed 24 orbital defense stations each equivalent in firepower to a class 30 viltrumite, 8 space minefields designed to disrupt light constructions, 120 particle cannons and 12 planetary shields capable of resisting incursions for 3 to 5 segments.
But even with all this it still ceased to be enough. And all because of the Lanther Force legionnaires and their improvised last-minute coalition.
The Lanther Force, originating from the neighboring sector that bears its name, had expanded into Luminus, distinguishing themselves through a unique capability in the known universe.
The generation of light constructions.
These soldiers could solidify luminous energy into tangible forms that functioned as weapons, defenses, self-sufficiency and means of transport.
This ability did not seem to have a biological origin, but rather a technological one.
The Lanther Force obtained these abilities through the use of high-technology belts of thus far unknown origin, which by means of an unknown exotic energy, in combination with the empowerment of their altered psychological activities translated into emotions, allowed them to access and manipulate specific luminous frequencies from which it is speculated, originated from dimensional origins.
The most destabilizing factor of the Lanther was their demography. Unlike the Aizir who until now had remained confined to their nebula, or the Cosmos Empire, limited by its defensive posture and low offensive capability, the Lanther reproduced at a rhythm that imperial analysts classified as "alarmingly efficient."
Their losses, although numerous, were replaced within timeframes that the Empire could not match. This capability to absorb casualties, combined with their powerful offensive technology, converted them into the existential threat to the imperial presence in the sector.
For that reason, the conflict with the Lanther Force had gone on for 20 orbits without either side achieving a decisive advantage. The Lanther, although inferior in individual capability, compensated for this disadvantage with two factors: a significantly larger population and the capability to replenish their ranks at a rhythm the Empire could not match. According to available estimates, Lanther casualties in the last orbit surpassed 200,000 personnel, but their recruitment capability and production of their construct super technology allowed them to absorb these losses without collapsing.
Compared to the Lanther Force, the Viltrumite Empire, as a consequence of its own policy of genetic purity and the mass slaughters during the Great Purge following the death of Emperor Argal, had drastically reduced its population.
The viltrumites were few, and every casualty was practically irreplaceable.
In the specific case of the Luminus Sector, the situation was even more severe because Varnak-Sul not only lacked the theoretically necessary warriors, but those he had had gone 8 orbits without rotation.
And things were going from bad to worse with the appearance of the enemy's new weapon.
Thragg remained silent for several seconds, observing the general's reaction. He had not responded to his insult.
Sighing, he decided to look at the hologram that showed the latest known positions of the Lanther Force and their coalition of races.
"So then, tell me about these weapons, the Piercing Spears." He said, changing the subject. The fact that that general had barely survived with these results only disappointed him. Thragg believed that his race and a few imperial personnel would be more than enough to get rid of these small inconveniences, but he did not expect his subjects to become more incompetent as time passed. "You say they have brought down our warriors. Exactly how many have there been?"-
Varnak-Sul swallowed saliva, but did not hesitate to answer.
"There have been registered... one hundred and seven confirmed appearances, Great Regent. In each one, at least one viltrumite fell. We believe there are between twelve and fifteen operative units of these weapons that..."
"just, just leave it. Say no more." The great regent interrupted him. In fact, while waving his hands with disdain, he could not help but sketch a smile that froze the blood of all those present.
Thragg let out a sound that could have been laughter, but which froze the blood of all those present.
"one hundred seven men," he whispered in a soft voice. "and on top of that you have lost twenty-two percent of the territory of this sector. So many of us dead, billions of our workforce killed in vain, wasting resources. And you have not even managed to capture that technology so that it could be analyzed by our scientists. This deserves punishment."
The Great Regent slowly turned toward the direction of the general, his eyes narrowing.
"fortunately for you, despite your incompetence, I understand that you have managed to maintain the territory within reason. Nor did you surrender to our enemies, so I will not kill you. But I am going to degrade your rank until you can redeem yourself from this disgrace in which you have left the face of the empire before those inferior beings."
"I'm still alive," the general thought. In the end he had managed to save himself by the barest margin, but that was what mattered for now.
In his opinion, he would already find another opportunity to wash away his shame and reclaim his rank once more.
"this incompetent soldier thanks your mercy, Great Regent," Varnak-Sul fell to his knees, thanking in advance the opportunity that the regent had bestowed upon him.