Chapter 1021: Preparations on Xiuluo Holy Star (2)

A few minutes later, a small camp consisting of several prefabricated cabins and scattered tents appeared in the shadow of a rock pillar.

When the Blood Angels' combat motorcycles charged into the camp, it caused a wave of panic.

The survey team members were already anxious from receiving the highest alert, arguing over whether to hold their ground and wait for reinforcements or risk trekking across the desert on foot.

When the shadows of two 2.5-meter-tall giants appeared, quite a few people were so frightened they fell to the ground, while the men subconsciously raised the geological hammers or laser drills in their hands.

"Do not attack! It's the Emperor's Angels from the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance!"

An old surveyor shouted in a trembling voice.

Sergeant Lion stopped his motorcycle without turning off the roaring engine.

"'Suihao' survey point, confirm your identity."

Lion's voice came through his helmet's speaker.

"I am Sergeant Lion of the Blood Angels Eighth Company. Ordered to escort you to the 'Oasis' agricultural station for refuge. The Zerg Alien swarm is about to arrive; you have no time to hesitate."

"Zerg... swarm?" a young female surveyor's voice trembled.

"It is an Alien threat from the depths of the star sea, here to devour all biomass."

Aotasituo added from the side.

"This place cannot be defended; to stay is to die."

The old surveyor replied.

"We... we understand, my lords. We will come with you right away! But... we have some equipment and samples..."

Lion interrupted the old surveyor.

"Abandon all non-essential items. Carry only personal water and high-energy rations. Life is the priority. You have two minutes to assemble; those who can move must help those who cannot. We are returning via transport pod."

Lion pointed to an open metal transport trailer being towed behind the combat motorcycle.

The survey team members dropped most of their luggage, taking only the most basic items, and climbed into the metal trailer under the gaze of the two Blood Angels Space Marines.

The trailer space was limited, and twenty-some people squeezed together, appearing very crowded.

"Hold onto the fixtures."

Lion gave a simple reminder before he and Aotasituo remounted their motorcycles.

Dragging the heavy load, the combat motorcycles turned and sped off in the direction of the "Oasis".

The survey team members in the trailer gripped the railings tightly, enduring the pain of the strong wind and sand hitting their faces, but no one spoke.

"Deep Eye" seismic monitoring station.

By comparison, the situation at the "Deep Eye" monitoring station was more complicated.

This station was built above a dried-up riverbed and required passing through a narrow, winding canyon to reach.

Saerjiwusi drove the combat motorcycle, while Lamier was responsible for navigation and vigilance.

"There are abnormal biological signal residues at the canyon entrance; weak, but not a local species."

Lamier reported, his helmet display marking some viscous purple moss-like substances scattered at the canyon entrance, as well as scratch marks left by some giant arthropod.

"Stay alert. It could be a reconnaissance unit released early by a Spore Cyst."

The two traveled through the canyon, the roar of the turbine engines echoing between the rock walls.

Suddenly, a sharp screeching sound came from ahead!

"Accelerate!"

Saerjiwusi gave a brief order and pushed the throttle to the limit.

The combat motorcycle rushed out of the end of the canyon; outside the low-domed building of the "Deep Eye" monitoring station, seven or eight ugly-looking creatures were attacking the station's tightly closed metal gate.

These creatures had hard shells, sickle-shaped forelimbs, and maws filled with sharp teeth!

The station's guards, two security personnel, were using the supply crates piled at the entrance as cover, firing with their service laser guns.

The laser beams hit the shells of the sickle-bugs, burning holes in them, but did not kill the sickle-bugs.

One sickle-bug had already rushed to the cover, its forelimbs swinging down, tearing apart a supply crate along with the security personnel behind it!

Blood and viscera splashed onto the sandy ground.

"For Sanguinius! For the Emperor!"

Lamier leaped off before the motorcycle had fully stopped, the Bolter in his hand already roaring!

"Bang! Bang!"

One bolter round blew the upper body of the sickle-bug that was tearing at the corpse into pieces, while another blew another sickle-bug climbing the building into smithereens.

Saerjiwusi controlled the twin-linked bolter on the combat motorcycle, sweeping it toward the remaining sickle-bugs.

The shockwave of the bolter explosions caused a mess in front of the monitoring station gate, with severed limbs and shell fragments flying everywhere.

The battle ended in just over ten seconds.

Only the twitching corpses of a few sickle-bugs remained at the scene.

The monitoring station's door was pulled open a crack, and a terrified technician poked their head out; seeing the deep red giants standing outside and the remains of the Zerg at their feet, they collapsed in exhaustion.

"Clearing complete. Confirm survivors."

Saerjiwusi said as he walked to the monitoring station entrance to identify himself.

"We are warriors of the Blood Angels Eighth Company, here to evacuate you."

There were about ten people left in the monitoring station, including technicians and their families.

"Thank... thank the Emperor... thank you..."

The station chief said incoherently.

"No time for sentiment."

Lamier checked the corpses of the sickle-bugs and spoke.

"This is only the Alien vanguard. The main swarm could arrive at any time. Everyone, prepare to evacuate immediately."

Urged on by the Blood Angels Space Marines, the monitoring station personnel quickly assembled and entered the transport trailer.

"Return trip."

Frontier Outpost "Lone Peak"

"Lone Peak" Outpost was located on the edge of a desert rich in metallic dust on Ximao Star, housing only one Cadian Infantry squad and a small Sensor Array, responsible for monitoring an area considered to be of low threat.

The outpost itself was merely a reinforced bunker and a few perimeter guard towers, with almost no strategic depth.

Upon receiving an emergency directive from "Jianbao," the squad leader, Cadian Sergeant Jakesi, realized the gravity of the situation.

They were too far from any support, and their defenses were weak.

"Attention, squad! Maximum alert! Biological threat approaching the planet!"

Sergeant Jakesi's voice echoed within the cramped bunker.

"Check all weapons, get the reserve ammunition on the racks! Hansen, activate all Automatic Turrets and minefields! Jenkins, keep trying to contact 'Jianbao', report our situation and request instructions!"

The ten Cadian soldiers immediately entered combat status.

Young Private Jenkins kept adjusting the Communication Device, but there was nothing in the headset except for increasingly strong static interference.

"Sergeant! Communications are under heavy interference! Unable to establish a stable connection with 'Jianbao'! Can only receive the repeated broadcast of the maximum alert intermittently!"

Sergeant Jakesi spat.

"Damn it, it's the bio-electric interference from those bugs!"

Jakesi walked to the observation port, his mood somewhat complex.

They were very likely to become the first wave of victims of the swarm's assault.

Jakesi turned around, looked at the nine young faces in the bunker, and forced a smile onto his face.

"Lads, looks like we hit the jackpot. We might be the lucky ones who get to see the ugly faces of those Aliens first. What is our Task?"

Jakesi asked.

"Monitor and warn, Sergeant!"

"That's right! Monitor and warn! Even if communications are jammed, we must find a way to send the signal out! Even if we are destined to die here today, we must drag a few Alien scumbags down with us before we go! Let the rear know which direction these bugs are coming from and what they are capable of!"

Jakesi took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

"Cadians stand firm! For the Emperor! For the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance!"

"For the Emperor! For the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance!"

These Cadian soldiers began to deploy the reserve Anti-vehicle Explosives and Hand Grenades at key positions, preparing to perish together with the enemy at the final moment.

Although the hope of their own survival was slim, the honor of the Cadians could not be tarnished.