In order to withstand the endless waves of fighter attacks, the Red Pirate Fleet had to change its shape and become a tighter circular array with stronger air defense capabilities. Although this allowed them to focus on each other's point defense firepower, it also weakened them. In addition to the bombardment power of their capital ships, under the command of Soshyan, the imperial fleet turned to focus on the less sturdy light cruisers and heavy cruisers.
The war situation began to develop unfavorably for the Red Pirates, but the Red Pirates' fleet commander obviously did not intend to give up just like that. Soshyan, who was commanding the bridge, soon received a message that the only remaining ship in the Angstrom system Two large warning stations scanned a new set of intrusion signals.
The reinforcements of the Red Pirates arrived, and Soshyan immediately ordered the Astropath to send a message to Kosaro Khan in the third theater. The other party should be on standby near the system.
Soon, the Red Pirates' support fleet appeared on the edge of the battlefield. They consisted of three murder-class cruisers and a dozen plunderers, but the real threat was not them, but a huge space hulk they towed. .
Due to the previous exchange of fire, the battleship Alloy Truth deviated from its scheduled position and came to the edge of the fleet formation in order to avoid direct fire from the enemy's capital ship. The Red Pirates' support fleet immediately targeted it after arriving.
Soshiyang naturally knew that the Alloy Truth had deviated from its position. Originally, this did not matter, but the emergence of new enemies made its position a bit dangerous, so the Black Templar's Obsidian Seat received Soshiyang's instructions and led the strike cruiser Thunder. The USS and two frigate detachments turned to protect the Alloy Truth.
The newly arrived red pirate fleet obviously did not estimate the distance well. They wanted to attack the Alloy Truth, but they entered the limit attack range of the planetary orbital defense system.
With a flash of light like a nova, the huge light spear array in Angstrom's circular orbit swept the beam towards the Red Pirates' reinforcements, instantly obliterating a Murder-class cruiser and knocking out three of the space hulk. One part was cut off.
The frightened Red Pirate Squadron immediately adjusted its course and released the restraints on the hulk.
The Obsidian Seat, which had gained time, was already cutting across the enemy's navigation route. Helbrecht stared at the locked Murder-class ship, intending to straf it with all its starboard weapons.
He saw the corollary of the dance, that the heretics had already lost, that when their damage became visible, they had already lost.
The traitors could not prevent what was about to happen.
Moreover, their captains were too hasty. As soon as the Obsidian Seat entered their range, they started shooting and launching torpedoes.
This long-range attack would be ineffective against a massive battle barge.
"Shield power reduced."
As enemy fire comes into contact, the Obsidian Seat is surrounded by a blinding glare.
"All energy output to starboard shield."
"All weapons have been calibrated!"
"Fire."
The Obsidian Seat's entire side eye erupted with flash, and it hit one of the enemy cruisers with more than twice the firepower that a single enemy cruiser could use.
Under the bombardment of huge cannonballs, the cruiser's void shield shone like the sun, then plunged into darkness.
Then the huge shells of the bombardment cannons ripped through the hull, and there was a new light - it started as a pulsating crimson, a storm of fire raging through the ship's corridors, and quickly grew brighter.
Under Helbrecht's grim gaze, the enemy cruiser split apart, its front and rear halves beginning to move apart as it was engulfed in the growing fireball, even the distant star dwarfed by the explosion.
In the silent and slow expansion, cascading shock waves spread in the void.
But the ruined ship suddenly accelerated. Its engine had been silent before. After one third of the hull was cut off by the orbital defense light spear, Helbricht thought it would turn into a pile of garbage.
But it still moved, even though the twisted shell was lit by various gunfire, like a mad bull.
Soon, Helbricht knew the enemy's purpose.
A large number of landing craft and jump torpedoes were launched from the hive-like shell of the hulk. The Red Pirates obviously used this thing as a springboard.
"Multiple signals approaching."
The fact that the Red Pirates are only now engaging in large-scale gang-hopping operations makes Helbricht a little strange. After all, this is their specialty. However, using the scrap ship as a cover is indeed a good idea. At least they have closed the distance. Gotta be close enough.
Then, a mechanical hissing sound came from the bridge and groaned:
"Alert, alert, a large number of aircraft are approaching!"
"Remote transmission beam detected, origin unknown."
A series of actions of the enemy were expected by Helbrecht, which is why Soshyan arranged the battle barge at the front of the queue. If the enemy wanted to join the gang, these big guys would definitely be their first choice.
Then they will discover that all battle barges are death traps.
Before the Red Pirates' massive gang-hopping troops could approach, a large number of Fury interceptors had already flown out of the flight deck of the Alloy Truth, and they had been waiting near the Obsidian Seat for a long time.
Then, it was a cruel turkey hunting game. The landing craft and jumping torpedoes were helpless under the muzzle of the interceptor aircraft. Although the Red Pirates also sent fighter planes and gunboats to escort them, their too few numbers made them unable to resist. In front of the empire's huge fleet, there was not even resistance. Hundreds of the most terrifying subspace killers and champions were buried in the void before they even saw the enemy.
There are also a few lucky ones who break through the interception of fighter planes and the hail of bullets from close-range artillery, and go through all kinds of hardships to reach the target and penetrate the shell of the battle barge.
boom!
The Chaos Space Marine in crimson armor kicked open the cut shell. Holding two axes, he let out an angry roar, followed by twenty traitors of different shapes.
"Coward of the Black Templar! Come and die!"
However, what greeted him was——
Grimaldus raised his sword high, behind him were ten battle brothers, and on both sides stood four huge battle robots.
"O Emperor! Hear the ecstasy of battle we offer!"
Then, the dark passage was lit up by the blue light of the plasma cannon in the hands of the combat robot. The red pirate who had just stepped out was instantly blasted to the point where he had only two legs left. When the other red pirates rolled and crawled out of the landing craft, , Grimaldus' sword was already hanging high above their heads.
"The blood of heretics is our dedication!"
Not only are a large number of Space Marines deployed on each battle barge, but there are also a large number of battle robots. As soon as the Red Pirate gang jumpers enter the hull, they will be immediately surrounded by fierce firepower, and their number is far from being overwhelmed. The level of the defender can quickly become meaningless fuel.
However, the Red Pirates' methods were not limited to this. Deep in the hulk, as a large number of slaves were harvested, hundreds of thousands of souls were gradually transformed into a subspace gate under the control of the Chaos Wizards.
