Chapter 1148: Rapid Fall

Twenty Fengqi soldiers opened fire from behind cover; energy beams struck the Salamanders' Power Armor, sparking but failing to penetrate.

Without even seeking cover, he raised his weapon and aimed; a three-round burst, and three Fengqi soldiers fell.

"Advance! Secure the main control room!"

The Salamanders Space Marines began to push forward.

Their speed was not fast, the Fengqi soldiers' energy weapons were almost ineffective against them, while every bolt from their Bolters could claim several lives.

Thirty seconds, resistance on the first floor of the factory was cleared.

Two minutes, they arrived at the Zhongyang Kongzhishi.

Five Fengqi technicians huddled behind the Control Console, holding cutting tools as weapons.

"Surrender, or die."

Galtoklin's voice came through his helmet speakers.

The technicians looked at each other, then slowly, one by one, put down the tools in their hands.

"A wise choice."

Galtoklin nodded.

"Now, shut down all production lines and delete the core manufacturing data. If you cooperate, the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance will not threaten you."

On the other side, the Fifth Company's operation was more direct.

Five squads raided the five main Energy Nodes of Cinder Prime, installed Melta Bombs, and detonated them before retreating.

When the fifth Energy Node turned into a fireball in a massive explosion, 70% of the entire northern hemisphere plunged into darkness.

The machinery in the industrial zone stopped running, the energy supply for the defense systems was cut off, and the city fell into a panicked darkness.

Vulkan watched all of this through the tactical network.

The Salamanders Legion was eliminating the war potential of this planet without engaging in indiscriminate slaughter.

"Third Company reporting: have arrived at the perimeter of the Planetary Governor's Zongdufu. Encountering heavy resistance, requesting orbital bombardment support."

Company Commander Shantan's voice came through.

Vulkan pulled up the real-time feed of the Zongdufu area.

A large number of Fengqi soldiers and Guardian Super Soldiers were gathered there, relying on sturdy fortifications to put up a stubborn resistance.

The Third Company was pinned down three blocks away, unable to break through.

"Limited orbital strike authorized."

Vulkan ordered.

"Target: Zongdufu east wing fortifications."

The batteries of the *Dragon's Breath* adjusted their angles, charged briefly, and fired.

A beam of light streaked across the sky, precisely hitting the defensive Fortress on the east wing of the Zongdufu.

A blinding light flashed, and then that Fortress began to shatter and melt like glass.

A gap appeared in the defensive line.

"Third Company, charge."

Vulkan ordered.

The Third Company's Salamanders Space Marines charged out from behind cover, the Servo System of their Power Armor roaring.

They traversed burning streets and crossed collapsed buildings, charging into the Zongdufu like a green torrent of Steel.

Resistance still continued.

The Guardian Super Soldiers fought back with Heavy Energy Weapons, and finally, a few shots hit the Salamanders Space Marines, burning through their armor.

Three Salamanders Space Marines adjusted their positions and were dragged to the rear of the squad to continue advancing, while the others continued forward under Shantan's lead.

"Into the fires of battle, unto the anvil of war!"

Shantan roared, his Power Sword severing the head of a Guardian warrior.

Fifteen minutes later, the main hall of the Zongdufu was captured.

Planetary Governor Haroon and his staff huddled in the Wangzuo Ting, pointed at by twenty Salamanders Space Marines with Bolters.

"Surrender, or die."

Shantan repeated the standard line.

Haroon looked around.

His honor guard had all been killed, outside the window was a burning city, and reports of various defensive lines collapsing came through the comms.

Continuing to resist meant his own death and the death of all his staff.

But Haroon also remembered Olaf's speech, and the Oath to never surrender.

"Governor, sir..."

A young advisor said in a low voice.

"If we surrender, we can at least survive... at least we can protect the civilians..."

Haroon closed his eyes.

He thought of his wife and two children; they should be in the underground bunker now.

If he died, what would happen to them? If all the leadership died, what would happen to this planet?

Thinking of this, Haroon spoke with difficulty.

"We... we surrender."

Weapons were put down, and hands were raised.

The Salamanders warriors stepped forward and used restraint devices to limit their movements, but did not harm them.

"A wise choice."

Shantan nodded.

"Now, in the name of the Planetary Governor, I order all troops to cease resistance."

Haroon trembled as he connected to the all-frequency broadcast.

"This is Planetary Governor Haroon... all Fengqi Military forces... lay down your weapons, cease resistance... repeat, lay down your weapons, cease resistance..."

Haroon's voice spread across the entire planet.

In some regions, they began to obey Haroon's order and abandoned resistance.

But the resistance did not stop completely; many Fengqi Military units continued to fight, but the tide had turned.

Vulkan watched on the tactical screen as the red areas representing resistance rapidly decreased, and the green areas representing control continuously expanded.

Three hours into the war, the main resistance forces on Cinder Prime collapsed.

At the same time, the other four planets.

When the battle on Cinder Prime entered its final stages, the battles on the other four planets also reached their climax.

On the planet Jintuoshi, the Fourth Company encountered the most stubborn resistance.

The garrison Commander there refused to surrender and even deployed tactical nuclear weapons, which, although intercepted by the Salamanders' defense systems, caused two Salamanders Space Marine casualties.

Company Commander Rex's response was to order an orbital bombardment to destroy three major military bases, then personally lead a Tactical Squad to raid the Command Center. After slaying the Commander, the remaining garrison finally surrendered.

On the planet Scorching Heart, the situation was completely different.

The Planetary Governor there proactively requested negotiations two hours after the battle began.

The Salamanders company accepted the surrender, and almost no large-scale combat occurred.

Within eight hours of the start of the war, three had surrendered completely, one surrendered after resistance, and only the planet Jintuoshi experienced intense firefights.

Vulkan tallied the results: 42 Fengqi warships destroyed, 37 Orbital Defense Platforms destroyed, approximately 65% of industrial capacity paralyzed, about 800 million enemy troops killed, and over 2 billion captured.

Salamanders Legion's own losses: 17 Salamanders warriors killed in action, 91 wounded.

More importantly, the strategic objective had been achieved: the Fengqi Command was forced to withdraw 50 warships from the Capital Ship fleet to urgently return to defend the Grey Ring.