Starting from the Planetary Governor

Chapter 1085: Chapter 592, The Surrender Battle Group

After ending the call with Galaraldo, Gu Hang essentially confirmed the strategy going forward.

If Iron Armor wants to continue their offensive, let them proceed.

No matter where they go, as long as they stay away from the south, Gu Hang was determined to hold out for another year and a half until the ships were ready.

Oh, even if they head south, the Alliance’s strategy remains the same: delay until the ships are finished.

Of course, there are risks here too.

As time progresses, Gu Hang will grow stronger, but isn’t it possible that Iron Armor will too?

The Alfonso Sect may have lost one of their main fleets, but they’re not dead yet. As a branch of the Sect of Mechanics, their greatest strength is never their combat ability, but their manufacturing capacity.

After a year and a half, the Alliance might acquire six new gigantic ships, but Iron Armor or Alfonso could likely grow stronger too, gaining new ships to replenish their ranks.

Nevertheless, after careful deliberation, Gu Hang decided to proceed with this plan.

He didn’t believe that the Iron Armor-Alfonso coalition could strengthen themselves faster than he could.

The Alliance’s shipbuilding industry can push shipbuilding cycles to such an intensive pace not only due to military aid from the Empire, and the various shipbuilding-related materials Gu Hang specifically requested, but also a critical factor: the black-box system.

It’s not just that the black-box system can directly produce some high-difficulty core components with lengthy construction cycles—it’s also that the Alliance’s shipyards are equipped with mother-machine black-box technology, which has led to the production of crucial facilities for assembling ship components.

Whether it’s direct output from the black-box or production lines derived from it, it ensures rapid, high-quality, and stable production.

These advantages are things neither the Alfonso Sect nor Iron Armor Battle Group-controlled worlds possess.

Under the same objective conditions, the ships built by the Iron Armor-Alfonso coalition would only be slower compared to the Alliance.

Moreover, the conditions aren’t even equal right now. While the Alliance’s territory isn’t as vast as that occupied by the Iron Armor-Alfonso coalition, the Iron Armor forces are embroiled in three-front warfare, with significant portions of their lands threatened by conflict.

Additionally, Iron Armor-Alfonso’s war potential is purely reliant on exhausting their own blood and leveraging the foundations accumulated over the years to fuel rebellion. On the other hand, the Alliance not only has its own solid base but also benefits from strong aid from the Empire.

These are factors Iron Armor-Alfonso cannot match.

When it comes to war potential, they cannot surpass the Alliance.

Or rather, their war potential has already been largely tapped, whereas the Alliance still has ample reserves to exploit.

Another factor that cannot be overlooked is that the Iron Armor War’s fronts extend beyond just the southern lines.

The North Line is tied up with insect forces, but those are reinforced by the Black Cross Army, along with new formations like Infinity and Bat, and the veteran elite collective known as Silver Watch—making it impossible for Iron Armor not to guard against them.

The West Line has collapsed, yet the Empire clearly won’t ignore it. The fleet originally sent as reinforcements for the Phoenix conflict, disrupted by Galaraldo and further affected after dealing with Ou Juren, will inevitably accelerate preparations. The fleet commander will soon be appointed—a naval marshal taking lead; resources are being pulled from the Central Territory’s various Cosmos Domains for local defense force units forming an Expeditionary Force.

It’s worth mentioning that this Expeditionary Force includes one fully-staffed battle group. Famous among them is none other than the Otaubis Battle Group.

This battle group is directly loyal to the High Lords of Holy Terra—a private force entirely obedient to the Supreme Council Lords—or to be precise, Prime Minister Qi Bodu. Even during the peak of the Sun King’s reign decades ago, the Otaubis group only answered to the Prime Minister. They were the core power that allowed Qi Bodu to make his final comeback.

This battle group’s information is entirely classified, from the genetic seeds they use for their warriors, to their recruitment origins, their supply chains for armaments, and deployment details—everything is top-secret, even unknown to the Military Affairs Department.

They are seldom mobilized; as the Prime Minister’s most treasured asset, this force is considered his lifeblood. For them to be deployed now illustrates the desperation of Holy Terra’s elders.

Beyond Otaubis, eight other battle groups have contributed troops as well, albeit in varying quantities.

Among them, subgroups of Phoenix are most prominent.

The mother group must be rescued!

Add to that a thirst for revenge.

Phoenix factions’ grudges with Iron Armor are only growing deeper.

Add the remaining forces from the collapsed West Line, and it’s not difficult to assemble roughly 2,500 Interstellar Warriors altogether.

This number is lower compared to the West Line’s peak strength. Not only Interstellar Warriors, but post-West Line collapse, another key combat force—the Heretic Tribunal—also suffered heavy losses. They sacrificed 30,000 Battle Nuns, to the point where the Blood Rose Sorority is nearly drained.

Of course, not all these troops were completely wiped out. Many survivors remain scattered across eastern Magrey and western Spiderweb Domain planets—forces that resisted on planetary surfaces after the frontline collapsed.

If subsequent operations go smoothly, these forces can potentially be regrouped.

Currently, this fleet with ships, soldiers, and elites is massing in the Skywatch Starfield. Given more time, they will be able to recover and reorganize.

Iron Armor must deal with them properly, regardless of whether they strike Skywatch Starfield or wait until the troops are assembled to launch a counteroffensive.

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