Warhammer: Hail to the Void Lords! - Chapter 531

Chapter 527 06.0526: ‘Where the Epic Goes’

“Commander, our spies have found out that this person’s name is Horatio Cochrane. He belongs to the human organization “Imperial Navy”. He comes from a distant and unknown frontier called the “Gothic Sector”. Our intelligence only knows There is a large and powerful imperial war fleet there, and our main opponent this time is this hostile fleet that has traveled thousands of miles to fight our army. “

The Tau Empire’s intelligence department displayed Horatio’s holographic portrait and relevant information about the Gothic Fleet in front of the senior Tau Empire commanders in the region.

“Unlike most imperial commanders, this person specializes in breaking diplomatic relations behind enemy lines, and his methods are extremely vicious and cruel!

Some time ago, he was the leader of many attacks on our transport fleet. During these operations, he also ordered the massacre of all crew members in our rescue cabins.

He will become a huge threat to us, and even threaten the safety of our world’s navigation. This person must not be allowed to stay. “The commander of the Fire Clan’s breakup said angrily through gritted teeth. The eye that was blinded by the fragments ached in pain.

Aether shook his head: “No matter how sinful a person is, he should be given a chance to convert before he truly realizes the higher good path.”

“Let the spy continue to pay attention and pay close attention to his next voyage. We want him to appreciate the true meaning of the Greater Good and guide him to embrace a greater and more correct consciousness. Maybe he will wake up and feel deeply about his foolish actions. “Repentance.”

Aether’s tone was undeniable: “Only after he clearly refuses to return to the higher good, can we kill him. Before that, give him a chance.”

“Yes!” The commander of the Fire Clan’s broken friendship leaned down and bowed, with reluctance written on his face.

——

The Empire’s advanced civilized world – Cathay – Orbital Shipyard.

Bang! Bang!

Amid the echoes of salutes, Horatio’s 1st Attack Squadron returned.

The hulls of each ship were covered with bruises, bullet holes were unevenly scattered all over the body, and the black burn marks were engraved on the dark green hull paint and white bow of the Gothic fleet, which made the Gothic fleet known for its pragmatism without losing its majesty. The painting becomes particularly solemn.

Although a certain price was paid, each ship was able to return to port safely, and it was considered a glorious triumph.

After the ship entered the artificial atmosphere of the orbital dock, the officers and crew members of the Epic slowly walked out of the ship and lined up neatly beside the Gothic-style spine fence.

After two months of sailing, the men’s sweatshirts were stained with engine oil and sweat, and their bodies exuded an unspeakable stench.

Many of them have large, uneven beards, looking as untidy as savages released into the mountains and forests and returning to the city.

Yet they are proud of these features, seeing their filth and scars as proof of loyal service to the Imperial Navy.

After receiving the news in advance, Horatio, who put on a navy dress and a red cape on his back, walked out of the warship with his team of officers holding the navy power saber hanging on his waist.

He just took out his left foot——

“Welcome Lieutenant Colonel Horatio Cochrane, Saint of the Ecclesiarchy and the Sisters, Crusher of the Tau Trade Fleet, Lord of the Void Sea Wolves, to Cathay!”

Amidst the warm cheers, he, who was regarded as a triumphant hero, had to marvel at the gorgeous and huge formation in front of him.

A whole five phalanxes of Cathay’s triumphant army lined up neatly, cheering for his arrival.

There are also young and beautiful singing and dancing troupe girls wearing high-slit cheongsams, waving folding fans and performing fiery dances.

The band beat gongs and drums and firecrackers crackled, making the Xingang Anchorage seem lively and noisy.

He took a deep breath, inhaling the air that smelled of firecracker smoke.

To be honest, he liked this smell very much. It allowed him to recall the vague memories of his past life, just like the hidden genes engraved deep in his soul.

“I have long admired my name, Lieutenant Colonel. You are so mysterious and invisible in the enemy’s rear lines that you have frightened the enemy’s merchant ships and made the Tau fleet miserable. The story has spread throughout the entire frontline planet. Everyone knows your record – you destroyed 24 enemy ships on your first voyage. Ship, with a total tonnage of 500 million tons!”

The president of the Cathay Chamber of Commerce Alliance, who is also the governor of this planet, personally led a delegation to greet the commander of the First Attack Squadron.

“Thank you for your welcome. Our ship will dock here for supplies.”

“Mr. Captain, maybe the Epic will not dock here.” Chief Technical Priest Ratty walked slowly with a business smile, stopped next to Horatio, and saluted the representatives of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. Her unique style of ‘Lady Gear Ceremony’.

“Why do you say that, Father Ratty?”

“It is reported that you don’t seem to want to leave the Epic?” Lati raised an eyebrow.

“Her combat application environment is more suitable for me. I prefer the mission she is performing now to the long and lonely escort and patrol missions.”

Horatio organized the words in his mind, pursed his lips and said: “But she is not a graded ship. According to the regulations of the Imperial Navy, a naval lieutenant colonel should command a small graded ship.”

Horatio’s mind quickly scanned the Imperial Navy’s military regulations.

Interestingly, although the organizational structure of the Imperial Navy looks the same as that of the British Royal Navy in the age of sail, one thing can be seen that its core is actually more like the British Navy in the Victorian era.

In the age of sail, any sailing ship with three masts had a rating.

A three-masted sailing ship must be commanded by a naval captain.

In English, the word “Captain” originates from the commander of the smallest unit that can be divided. For the army, it is the company commander (captain), and for the navy, it is the captain of an entire ship. According to regulations, basically every ship should be commanded by a naval colonel.

This is why the word “Captain” corresponds to two ranks of three levels (OF-2/O-3 and OF-5/O-6) in English.

In the sailing age, under this big basket regulation, from the sixth-level light frigate with only 20-28 guns to the super-level battleship with 110 guns+, the largest maritime overlords were all commanded by naval colonels as captains.

So what did the lieutenant colonel command in the sailing age?

That’s right, it was a two-masted schooner with no classification, with two masts.

The word lieutenant colonel directly means “commander”. In the British Royal Navy in the sailing age, officers were allowed to independently command a non-classified warship starting from this rank.

At this time, the Lieutenant Commander was not a clear rank, but was regarded as the deputy of the Lieutenant Colonel, a temporary rank.

But in the Victorian era, these traditions changed greatly.

First, after the ironclad ships developed into coal steam turbines, the masts were replaced by chimneys, and the naval ranks of the sail era divided by masts were no longer applicable to the new naval system.

Under the great historical torrent of the Industrial Revolution, the old-fashioned and conservative navy finally made changes.

The Admiralty ordered that in order to cope with the unprecedented changes in a century, the naval colonel would serve as the captain of the main battleship.

All non-main class ships, such as destroyers and frigates, were commanded by the Lieutenant Colonel. Yes, it was only from the Victorian era that the Lieutenant Colonel began to officially command the class ships.

The Lieutenant Commander commanded the combat detachment composed of non-class warships such as torpedo boats and diesel submarines, and the lieutenant to the major could serve as the captain of the ship type.

From then on, even if Gu Terra entered the missile era, the destroyer became the main force of surface ships at sea.

However, naval countries led by Britain and the United States still implement the Victorian tradition – the captain of a missile destroyer is a lieutenant colonel, even if the size of the missile destroyer itself may be longer than that of a missile cruiser.

For example, the Belknap-class missile cruiser, as a missile cruiser, is only 167 meters long, not as long as the 172-meter Spruance-class destroyer of the same period.

But the captain of the former is a naval colonel, while the captain of the latter is a naval lieutenant colonel.

At this time, the classification system and principles have completely become a “self-justification” to satisfy this old-fashioned system inherited from the Victorian era, and do not represent its actual combat power and hull specifications.

After all, in terms of the length of the Belknap-class hull, its armament is really not as good as the subsequent “Kidd-class” air defense destroyer developed from the Spruance-class.

In the 41st millennium, this unchanging naval tradition was continued by the Imperial Navy, but this time, they finally found the afterglow of the Victorian era and perfectly adapted to the current situation of the Imperial Navy.

-A star zone fleet is allowed to have a maximum of 75 capital ships, including light cruisers, while the other 500 to 600 escort ships and destroyers are commanded by a lieutenant colonel.

“Fufufu~” Lati laughed: “Then you don’t have to worry, because the E-type attack ship has a version of a classified ship since its design. It’s just that she has not yet completed the necessary procedures for obtaining a formal classification.”

(The upgraded version of the Spruance-class destroyer, the ‘Kidd-class’, is still a destroyer at this time, commanded by a lieutenant colonel. Then…)

(The Ticonderoga-class missile cruiser upgraded from the Spruance-class destroyer, yes, the Aegis cruiser with a destroyer hull modification, the captain changed from a lieutenant colonel to a colonel, this is the British and American naval officers and classification division!)