Standard Terran Calendar, 41
Extreme star field, Demeter star field, Pandora star system, Pain star
Facing Abaddon's long-term sit-down war, Soshyan also felt the restlessness of the Dark Angels and other Astra Militarum forces, and knew that if they continued to sit back and wait, the friendly forces would be impatient.
So he decided to launch a knockout operation, with the goal of weakening the besieged Black Legion and forcing Abaddon to make a decision.
The surrounded Erquisos troops knew nothing about this. In fact, the Chaos Lord still had a sweet dream of the center blooming.
His idea is very simple. The big plunderer will not abandon them and will definitely launch an attack. When they cooperate inside and outside, they will definitely be able to inflict heavy damage on the imperial troops!
The main force did give him some signals. Although the empire surrounded the entire fortress airtightly and blocked all electromagnetic and psychic signals, Abaddon still passed on some instructions.
The most important one is——
Hold on firmly!
Of course, there is a prerequisite here, that is, they can persist.
Therefore, it was very rare that he issued an order to prohibit all unordered attacks, and even small groups of armed reconnaissance were not allowed. He wanted to conserve every bit of strength to prepare for the hoped-for "counterattack."
But it's hard to say whether the enemy will give him this time.
"Sir, we have lost contact with the team sent to contact the rear. We moved the communicator to the external terrace, but there is still no news. The psychic miasma fog is getting thicker, and Vargas's subspace eye is almost blind. , he reported a fluorescent apparition passing through the fog, but he could not pinpoint it."
Hearing this series of bad news, Erquessos had a very bad premonition.
"I'm going to go to the situation room and have the officers wait for me there."
His lieutenant stepped back, bowed, and left.
"There is something in the air of this world that makes warriors as weak as water, Thane. They all whimper to me 'be careful' and 'defend'. You are a good warrior and I need your ferocity."
Thane, captain of the Berserker Commandos, bowed.
"I am honored, my lord, and the Bloodsworn Squad is happy to fight alongside you."
Erquessos nodded after waiting for a moment, letting the berserker's stride away soothe his tense nerves.
When he got to the situation room, almost all the officers were standing quietly in the situation room.
Vargas the Word Bearer lowered his head, his Eye of the Warp clouded.
The adjutant and the leader of the Havoc motorcycle team were pacing, almost circling each other, obviously disagreeing.
Vargas then ordered them to report.
"The slaves are restless and even rioted. Something is going to happen! We must prepare to attack!"
The captain of the Havoc motorcycle team made a hoarse voice.
"We are the World Eaters, not the Iron Warriors! We should not hide behind the wall. The blessings given to us by the Blood God, the blessings he brings with hatred, fire, blood and pain!"
His armored fingers curled and clenched, as if grasping the tension of the air.
Erquessos listened and hesitated for a moment.
For the first time he felt a strong emotion, a purpose behind the thought that he couldn't identify.
He could not see as clearly as a wizard, nor could he predict the future like the Word Bearers, but his eons in the Eye of Terror had allowed him to face all the ebbs and flows of the Warp.
Something is nearby, brewing.
Then he raised his battle ax in silence - its top now like the head of a snarling hound.
"Say, Vargas! Look through these walls: tell me what you see!"
"Sir, I'm... not sure yet. I saw a pattern, something moving... I can't tell... a thought... an image... the rushing air..."
The Word Bearers' voice grew harsh, and Vargas interrupted.
"It's obvious enough that the Empire is planning a surprise attack to catch us off guard, isn't it? A quick beheading, how do you say?"
He actually smiled now, feeling the tension drain from his back.
"Prepare defense, gather veteran team -"
At that moment, the first plasma jet hit the side of the fortress church, the sound like the sky being torn apart.
The dull roar disappeared into the billowing dust clouds, into the groans of the masonry buildings, and into the frantic shouts coming from up and down the hall.
Erquessos stared straight ahead and was silent for a long time, then jumped onto the terrace, with the others following behind him.
They can only stand and watch.
The world was overrun by enemies, and the gliding Stormraven gunships slid down from the sky and passed over the walls of the church. They could even clearly see the mark of the Dark Angel above.
Erquessos could hear the sonic boom when the aircraft launched missiles. Those missiles struck at a staggering speed. Each speeding afterimage silently entered the fortress in an arc formation, and then Sparks exploded on their respective fortifications and buildings, and they rose up and left again when ground fire began to fire.
As if only a few heartbeats later, the fortress was surrounded by swarming Imperial troops. The main part of the team was local militia and Astra Militarum. Among them were galloping Chimeras and roaring heavy tanks, and the sky above was crowded with swarms of Thunderhawk and Stormraven.
"Counterattack! Counterattack quickly!"
Soon, the Empire's offensive began to receive a response.
Thumping and popping sounds came from the walls as the slaves and cultists moved their heavy weapons, and the tracer fire lines began to contact the figures in green bulletproof armor.
Erquessos stepped towards the edge of the terrace, ignoring the bullets coming from above, only wanting to see fireballs and smoke trails, but he only had time to catch a glimpse before the adjutant pulled him away from the edge.
"Sir! It's dangerous here! We can't stay!"
"Am I so afraid of death?!"
Cursing under his breath, Urquessos came close to raising his ax at his lieutenant, but a beam of lasers swept across the terrace, carving into the rock and causing molten rubble to tumble from the wall behind them.
The next second, he nodded solemnly and coldly, and led the team of officers to the bottom of the fortress.
There was noise and chaos in the ruined palace. The slave masters roared and waved their spiked whips, but their charge was not ordered.
Only then did Erquessus realize that someone had activated the madness potion prematurely.
Slaves ran back and forth, screaming and swinging clubs, and the hall became a frenzied hell with flames and shrapnel from pistols.
Urqusos moved through a group of naked and bleeding berserkers, bullets ricocheting off his armor.
"Come with me! If the enemy presses, we will cut through them! Come with me!"
With a command, the World Eaters around him all turned to follow him, their red and black helmets approaching him on the sea of shaking heads of believers.
Roars and roars mingled with the shouts of mortals; the beastmen followed, Urqusos grinning toothily behind his visor.
In the name of the Blood God, he will fight for the war.
