Chapter 65: For the Four-Armed God-Emperor! |
As both sides verified the codes, almost instantly, the anti-air firepower locking onto them from the top hive sector fell silent.
"They have pretty solid control over the top hive."
Staring out the observation window at the void shield no longer rippling, the Black Templars priest commented.
It was good news—proof they’d have a relatively stable foothold.
Once they seized the ground-based AA array, the fleet could strike the surface at will.
"Indeed."
Aglaea responded, equally surprised by the efficiency of the Imperial noble.
Though one couldn’t entirely deny the loyalty of Imperial nobles, expecting them to handle anything properly during a Chaos invasion still required a lot of faith.
The Transmigrators, however, grew increasingly grim.
But for another species, it would be easy.
"Great Sage."
Romulus spoke up.
"Has the ground detection system been deployed?"
They desperately needed eyes that could deliver a clear image of the surface.
Pierde's industrial smog was so dense that only the top hive reached into the stratosphere. Everything else was blanketed in thick atmosphere—long-range optical systems couldn't capture any surface detail.
"The readings on this planet are a mess. The signals still need tuning."
Kaul replied.
Right now, Pierde's surface looked like layers of jagged mountains. The valleys in between were calm, but the peaks were soaked in Warp influence, which made long-distance signal transmission a real problem.
It was the first time he’d encountered something this complex.
As the Stormbird formation sped toward the Mechanicus temple, Kaul skillfully brought them down into an angle that avoided most of the ground-based fire.
Romulus quickly activated the Imperial Sight.
From the daemons’ perspective, the Mechanicus temple was quickly drowned in overwhelming shadow.
"Maintain void shields. Switch augur to bio-electric detection mode."
Romulus issued the alert.
The augur, originally tuned to Warp frequency to monitor Chaos, swiftly shifted modes—
And the image flickered with a sea of red lights.
Each red dot marked a humanoid lifeform.
All eyes turned to Kaul.
Kaul pulled up the interior footage of the supposedly empty hall.
"No forge-temple should treat a Dominus like this."
Unless it was enthralled.
"Alert!"
Romulus quickly gave orders.
"Use the vehicles to establish a defensive perimeter. Watch for attacks from above."
One by one, holy vehicles that left the Joint Fleet’s officers visibly shocked rolled out from the Stormbird’s hold. Fully armed troops in Solar-pattern void combat armor quickly set up defenses around the Stormbird.
Almost simultaneously, a piercing screech erupted from the Mechanicus temple.
In an instant, a swarm of six-limbed creatures with violet carapace burst into view.
Genestealers.
Bang!
A bolter round zipped through the air, shattering a xeno’s head with precision, and sending limbs flying through their formation.
Next came a tight web of flamer and lasfire suppressing the exits, forcing the xenos back before they could even lift their heads.
"Suppressive fire. Maintain distance. Keep your ears on the comms. Astartes fire teams—prioritize ranged units and elite targets."
Romulus barked out orders.
"Remember: no survivors. Do not engage multiple xenos in close quarters. And absolutely no attempts to consume xeno neural tissue for intel."
The Devouring Sharks and Black Templars, who had been ready to charge in, froze mid-step.
"Understood!"
Warriors who’d planned to rush in and show off before their elders instead obediently raised their heavy shields, becoming the first defensive wall against the incoming swarm.
What could they do? With all those Terminators and power weapons they were packing, plus flamers...
You take red packets from your elders, you follow orders.
The dense fire net echoed across the upper levels of the Mechanicus temple.
Romulus coordinated every angle with precision, making sure every round had maximum effect.
"Great Sage, we need to open up new firing lanes."
Noticing the over-concentration of fire and wasted ammo, Romulus pointed out.
"By all means. The sacred temple of the Omnissiah should not be a haven for xenos."
Kaul replied, "I’ll have the fire avoid structural pillars."
"Stormblade, target the marked zone and fire."
With the Great Sage’s blessing, the Stormblade on the line followed the precise guidance and fired directly into the temple.
Plasma projectors from Ryza spat concentrated energy, melting through layered walls and vaporizing the xenos inside, while exposing even more of them to lighter firepower.
Among them weren’t just agile, insect-like creepers, but also hulking violet giants covered in bulging muscle.
Boom!
Emperor’s Venomblade fired its main cannon. The shockwave hurled away an entire wave of charging xenos. When the ringing in everyone’s ears stopped, the blast crater had already become a steaming, fleshy swamp.
But the xenos didn’t pause for a second.
Before the troops could even cheer for the holy war machines, more shadows surged forward, stepping over the corpses of their kin.
Bang!
A Rending Claw came flying in. The Inquisitorial guard captain didn’t react—
But beside him, a fully armed Cadian auxiliary grabbed him and pulled him back.
Splat—
Blood sprayed as the captain went down.
"What the hell was that?"
He quickly activated his blood-filtration unit to purge the toxin and staggered back up, noticing the gash across his chest void armor and the Rending Claw lodged deep in his Venomblade armor plating.
"Thank you. You saved my life."
He said sincerely.
The Cadian soldier quietly squeezed the trigger.
They’d seen these things before—
On a Strike Cruiser.
Just as fast. Just as terrifying.
Ssssnap—
A lasbeam drilled into its skull, destroying its brainstem.
The blazing light ignited the air. What it illuminated were nothing but those xenos’ fanatical eyes, reflecting into the Cadian’s visor.
Just as fearless of death.
——————————
"Unity. Compassion. The nectar that nourishes all. The claws we defend with in the eyes of heretics and xenos alike—
All granted by the God-Emperor with Four Arms."
In the upper hive’s Administratum, the bald woman spoke loudly.
"Praise you, God-Emperor!"
"May your arms, which embrace the stars, stretch even farther."
"May your vision for humanity reach across the galaxy."
"May your people stand beside you when the great day of ascension arrives."
"Praise you!"
Everyone working was swept up in her fervor, as though all exhaustion had vanished.
They raised their arms, revealing varying numbers of limbs—
And skin coated in dark carapace that shimmered with a purple glow.
Then, the devout bowed.
"O Four-Armed God-Emperor!"