Chapter 1029: We Came Exactly For This

Geleike patted the stubber gunner beside him and said.

"Buck up! The Angel has gone to help other brothers, so we must not drop the ball here! Let these vermin know that Cadian steel can crush them!"

The stubber gunner grinned.

"Don't worry, boss! My 'old girl' has been starving for a long time!"

As he spoke, movement was detected again in front of the defensive line.

A group of extremely fast Hormagaunts used the craters and smoke produced by the explosions as cover to launch a new round of charges.

"They're coming! Get ready!"

Sergeant Geleike growled and raised his laser gun.

"Cadian stands!"

The soldiers roared in unison, and their muzzles spat fire once again.

Laser beams sniped at the charging Hormagaunts, while the stubber blocked the Zerg's charge route.

Hormagaunts were constantly being knocked down, but their numbers remained high.

Suddenly, a smaller Lictor covered its body in a layer of energy, stealthily crawled beneath the firing port of the machine gun bunker, and thrust its forelimbs directly at the gunner's throat!

"Look out!"

Sergeant Geleike was quick-witted and agile; he shoved the gunner away while simultaneously swinging his combat knife with his other hand to parry the lethal strike! Sparks flew everywhere!

"Damn it!"

Sergeant Geleike roared, put strength into his wrist, and thrust the combat knife forward, stabbing it into the Lictor's lower jaw!

Dark green fluid sprayed out, and after the bug twitched a few times, it fell to the ground.

The stubber gunner panted heavily.

"Thanks, boss!"

"Don't get distracted! The battle isn't over yet!"

Sergeant Geleike wiped the bug blood splashed onto his face, his eyes even more fierce.

"Remember, boys, we are able to stand here because of the sacrifice and protection of countless others. Don't disgrace Cadian, and don't let down the Angel's trust!"

"Yes!"

The battle continued.

Lasers flashed, bolters roared, and bug corpses piled up like mountains in front of the defensive line.

In the low orbit of Ximao Star, on the bridge of the Ninth Company Dreadnought-class Light Cruiser of the White Scars.

The atmosphere on the bridge was heavy.

Outside the observation window, the planet that should have appeared gray-brown was covered by a layer of writhing purple and green patches.

Countless tiny Zerg airdrop spores or bio-ships detached from the Insect Hive mother ship in the planet's orbit and were cast into the atmosphere of Ximao Star.

"The Emperor protects..."

Standing in the center of the bridge, Company Commander of the Ninth Company, Kurgan Baizhua, said in a low voice.

"Target confirmed, Company Commander.

Alien Insect Hive mother ship cluster, its volume is equivalent to... a small star system fortress. Energy signals indicate it is still continuously hatching and deploying spore cysts and bio-ships."

Company Commander Kurgan's fists clenched subconsciously.

"What is the status of communications with the surface?"

Kurgan asked.

"Extremely difficult, Company Commander."

The Communications Officer looked up with a helpless expression.

"Intense bio-electric interference covers the entire planet; we can only receive intermittent fragments of encrypted signals, all of which are requests for emergency support.

Company Commander Kashiusiluo of the Shengxue Angel Dishilian is organizing the defense, but the situation is not optimistic."

Kurgan nodded and looked at the massive shadow of the Insect Hive mother ship.

"This is exactly why we came!"

"Tactical Officer, evaluate the effectiveness of our fleet directly attacking the Insect Hive mother ship."

The Tactical Officer pulled up the data model.

"Company Commander, our fleet's firepower is sufficient to cause considerable damage to the mother ship itself. However..."

The Tactical Officer paused and continued.

"The mother ship's volume is too massive; our attacks are like using harpoons to attack a behemoth—it might cause great pain, but it is difficult to be instantly fatal.

Moreover, thousands of bio-ships and even more small units are gathered around the mother ship.

Most importantly, the mother ship is still continuously deploying drop pods. With the firepower of our three ships, we cannot completely block a deployment of this scale, especially while needing to deal with the siege of enemy bio-ships."

Kurgan fell silent.

Their fleet was configured for speed and assault, not for head-on attacks against massive targets.

Just then, another communication channel lit up.

"Company Commander Kurgan, Colonel Drakus of the Krieg 118th Death Korps is awaiting your further instructions."

Kurgan connected the communication with the transport fleet.

"Colonel Drakus."

"Please instruct, Company Commander Kurgan."

Colonel Drakus's voice had no fluctuations.

"The combat situation on the surface of Ximao Star is extremely dire, and the Zerg airdrops are still continuing. I judge that a direct attack on the orbital mother ship is inefficient and cannot effectively alleviate the pressure on the surface."

Kurgan spoke quickly.

"Therefore, I order: the Krieg 118th Death Korps, execute a forced landing operation immediately!"

"Your task is to land on the surface of Ximao Star at all costs and reinforce the local garrison, especially in the 'Red Rock City' sector, which is under the greatest pressure!"

"The landing process will be extremely dangerous; the Zerg will do their utmost to intercept. I need you to draw the Mother Ship's attention to create an opportunity for us."

Colonel Drakus gave his response quickly.

"Understood. Krieg soldiers are born to die. The 118th Legion will complete its mission. For the Emperor."

The communication was cut.

Kurgan turned to his Bridge team.

"Alright, brothers! The warriors of Krieg will go to the ground to fight the bugs in close quarters, while we..."

Kurgan pointed at the Insect Hive Mother Ship outside the observation window.

"Are going to give that biggest piece of trash a few hard stabs! Make it shift its attention away from the landing forces and the surface!"

"Tactical Officer, plot an assault course! All weapon systems, maximum power!"

"Yes! Company Commander!"

Meanwhile, at the core of the Transport Ship fleet.

Countless Krieg soldiers sat in their respective secured seats.

Only the officers and the Commissar patrolled the aisles in silence.

Colonel Drakus stood before the main screen on the Bridge, looking at Ximao Star outside, and issued the order.

"Attention, entire Legion. Landing coordinates confirmed. Target: Ximao Star, the outskirts of 'Red Rock City' and the 'Oasis' area. Task: Reinforce the local garrison and clear the Alien threat."

"The landing process is expected to encounter enemy orbital fire and biological ship Intercept, survival rate... below fifteen percent. After landing, we expect to be immediately thrown into high-intensity war of attrition, final survival rate... below three percent."

Inside the Transport Ship, there was only the sound of breathing beneath gas masks.

"But this is of no importance. What matters is that our lives, our deaths, will all add an insignificant cornerstone to the great cause of the divine Emperor. For Krieg! For the Emperor!"