According to the formulated tactics, all Astartes Chapters mobilized to save the explorer fortresses that had been besieged for a long time. The operation was codenamed "Blood Eagle".
According to the latest reconnaissance results, there are 4 fortresses in the northern part of the main continent of Pai Shang that have not yet fallen, and they are marked as fortresses 1-4, while there are 3 fortresses in the southern coastal area of the mainland that have survived, and they are marked as 5-7. , and on the subcontinent and a larger island, there are three fortresses that survived, labeled No. 8-10. Because these three fortresses were relatively remote, they only suffered sporadic attacks.
After a simple allocation, the Dark Angels are responsible for four fortresses in the north, the Astral Knights are responsible for three fortresses along the southern coast, the White Templars are responsible for three overseas fortresses, and the Gray Knights are on standby to deal with emergencies at any time.
According to the plan, they will give priority to saving the residents in the fortress. However, due to the violent activity in the atmosphere of the Exhaust Star, large transport ships cannot pass through. They can only use small transport vehicles and local floating barges, which will undoubtedly reduce the efficiency a lot.
But if you want to draw out the Black Legion, you have to do this.
Hao Mo quickly ran to the ordnance deck in the middle of the ship. He fastened his helmet and relaxed his body. As a new round of orbital bombing began, he could already feel the sound of the ship's cannons rumbled rhythmically from the deck beneath his feet. .
With the assault module sealed in the launch tube like a large torpedo, the thick steel hatch closed in the huge landing bay. Only one drop bay remained on the loading rack, remaining above the last launch tube on the left balance.
Only one hatch was still open, and red light poured down from the cocoon-like drop pod inside.
There was an artillery officer waiting for Hauma in the open bilge, and they followed him up the ramp, making sure he was strapped into the descent harness, and installed a series of data cables to make sure the plugs connected to his helmet and generator Safety.
They completed their mission in just a few seconds and left the assault bay without a word.
Readouts flashed coldly on the helmet's lenses, red and blue icons glowing with life against the curves of the planet.
At first, he struggled to make sense of the torrent of information, but after a few seconds, he grew tired of it.
As soon as the ramp was sealed, the entire drop cabin made a harsh bump and landed into its launch tube.
Suddenly, Oscar's rough voice echoed on the team's channel.
"Boys, this is your first airborne mission, so don't wet your pants."
In this operation, except for the batch that was still undergoing transformation, all the new recruits of the Astral Knights participated, a total of forty-five people.
Hao Mo, Oscar and the returning Robin each led a team of 15 people. Zod was acting as Oscar's deputy due to personal reasons, so he chose a team of 15 people instead of the regular 10 people. This was also because the recruits were not as cooperative as they could be. Veterans, lots more fire support on the frontal battlefield.
"Come on, Oscar, you threw up the first time you were in the drop pod."
With a loud bang, the drop cabin jolted to a stop, followed by a bang of the sealed hatch overhead.
"All you little bastards out there better get a barf bag."
A burst of laughter spread through the channel, and Hao Mo glanced at the status meter while laughing.
All 15 recruits showed green, as he expected.
Oscar prepared to roar a retort, but was interrupted by the priority signal from the command channel.
"Tenth Company Airborne Troops, I am Fleet Commander Lothar."
The voice of the Fleet Lord accessed the channel.
"You still have 30 seconds before entering orbit—"
A hollow rumble echoed across the battle barge's hull, the signal turning to piercing static for a second.
"-Contact with forces on the ground is now in progress, now loading new drop coordinates and tactical data onto your data pad. Prepare for action."
After a few seconds, the team's status map disappeared, replaced by a detailed map of a small, scarred fortress city and a vast outlying area.
The fortress, labeled number 6 in the picture, sits on the shores of a restless gray sea, with mountains stretching for dozens of kilometers north and south along the coast.
20 kilometers east of the fortress, there is a desolate plain composed of black rocks and red oxides. On the edge of the great plain, the dirty swamps and jungles are like another ocean. This plain combines cruel savagery and human beings. Civilized and orderly life is separated.
But now, Fortress No. 6 is under attack by the enemy. The main force should be cultists mixed with a small number of Chaos Space Marines.
Hao Mo wrote it all down, using his sharp mind to write down every detail.
The icons flash with the light of life: blue represents the defending troops, red represents the enemy.
It only took a moment for Haoma to realize that the situation on the ground was indeed critical.
Although the Chaos forces have been subjected to long-term orbital bombardment in the past few hours, there is no doubt that the traitors' main method of maneuver is through underground passages. Therefore, it is difficult for orbital bombardment to accurately locate their general direction and can only briefly contain their attacks. offensive, but as the distance between the enemy's front and the fortress gradually narrowed, orbital bombing was no longer effective - because the distance was already difficult to avoid accidental damage.
The enemy has successfully breached a stronghold at the southern entrance to the fortress. There is currently no data on the enemy strength inside the stronghold. The blue markers are traveling south and east along the railway tracks in an attempt to flank the rebels and drive them away. Leave the stronghold.
It was a valiant attempt, but the enemy had already blocked a counterattack on a rugged front.
"Ten seconds until orbit."
Glowing blue circles appear on the tactical map, showing the landing zone for the drop.
The three squads would land in a foothill at the southern end of the fortress, about two kilometers from the rebel-held stronghold. From there the strategy would be obvious: the Astartes would push north and attack the rebels from the other side, cutting them off. The passage leading to the fortress completely cuts off the enemy's attack route.
And the high ground in the southern stronghold of the fortress will provide excellent firepower and sufficient cover, allowing them to attack the enemy at will.
"Five seconds. Four...three...two...one, start descending sequence."
The assault module's onboard generators activated after launch, a flash on the data board indicated recovery, and the attitude thrusters activated, correcting the capsule's tumble in the atmosphere.
It quivered like a toy in a giant's rough hands.
Twisted air roared past the drop pod's stabilizers, but the dizzying spiral eventually stopped.
A yellow circle danced on the tactical map. Hao Mo frowned. The airborne trajectory still deviated. Now they may be very close to the enemy - probably less than one kilometer.
This complicates things.
