Imperial preparations- Zaragozan War

 

The Watch Knights chapter was to oversee the building and defense of Saronic's Gambit on Zaragoza.  The entire 3rd company would be dispatched to see the task done.  The ships of the 3rd company underwent a quick repair and refit for the momentous task before them.

Messages were then sent to Arch Magos Saronic.  Saronic would bring his own forces to his project but would additionally provide further construction materials along with additional engineering support to be placed at the Watch Knights disposal.

In addition the astra telepathica who placed great hopes upon the Saronic Gambit, dispatched a small force of null maidens alongside other key personnel to Zaragoza.  The small force of silent sisters were from the newly established Spectre Vigil.  This would be the first time the Vigil would operate alongside the mechanicus, astra militarum, and the astartes in a joint operation.

Finally the Watch Knights requested 20 Anglican pdf and astra militarum regiments to be placed under Watch Knight authority.  Anglia was a world under the protection of the Watch Knights and were eager to honor the request.  Four Anglican regiments serving off world were transferred over from the astra militarum after being withdrawn from combat.  The remaining regiments were drawn from the Anglican pdf and sent to Zaragoza.

The Watch Knights planned on fortifying Zaragoza.  If the Saronic Gambit was successful Zaragoza would be a strategic asset and target.  The Anglican regiments were primarily seige regiments used to erecting and manning defenses.  This would greatly aid the Watch knights in the fortification of the world.  The Watch Knights planned on having five regiments dispersed in battalion strength setting up rings of frontier operating bases.  A further 5 regiments would aid in the construction and fortification of the Saronic array base.  The remaining 10 regiments were multitasked to act both as a planetary and theatre reserve, and to act as cadre with the creation and standing up of new Zaragozan pdf regiments.