Chapter 1227: Kasadelan's Steel Folly

Kasadelan, a fortress planet of the Fengqi Star Alliance.

Seventy percent of this planet's surface is covered in Steel; the entire planet is one massive military Fortress.

Thirty Orbital Defense Platforms float in orbit, thirty-four thousand Anti-Air Cannon emplacements densely cover the surface, and ninety armories and one hundred and two ammunition depots are hidden underground, with a garrison exceeding forty million.

When the news of the surrender arrived, the Commander of Kasadelan, Valerio Cast, was holding a military meeting in the underground Command Center.

"Surrender?"

Cast repeated the word, his three eyes filled with disbelief.

"Those cowards on the Capital Star, they surrendered?"

The Intelligence Officer nodded.

"Yes, General. The Supreme Council passed the resolution by an absolute majority to surrender to the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance. All military forces must cease resistance."

An uproar broke out in the Command Center.

Cast stood up and walked to the Holographic Star Map.

His three eyes swept over the icons representing Kasadelan's defensive forces in turn, and he said in a deep voice.

"We have these. We prepared for three hundred years, built for three hundred years, just for this day.

Now, those cowards on the Capital Star, they want us to lay down our weapons and kneel before the Xiuluo Saint?"

He turned around to face everyone.

"I refuse."

A cheer erupted in the Command Center.

"General! We are with you!"

The officers shouted in unison.

Cast raised his hand to signal for silence.

"From this moment on, Kasadelan is independent. We do not recognize the Capital Star's surrender, and we do not accept the rule of the Xiuluo Saint. We will let those scumbags of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance know that the Fengqi spirit still remains, and the Fengqi backbone still stands!"

The cheers were deafening.

The news reached the surface cities, and all of Kasadelan was in a frenzy.

The public poured into the streets, holding up banners that read "Kasadelan Never Yields."

Soldiers drank wildly in the barracks, singing military songs.

In the factories, workers worked overtime to produce weapons and ammunition.

"Let them come!"

A veteran roared in a tavern.

"Even if they bring a hundred legions, they won't even dream of stepping one foot into Kasadelan!"

"Right! Let them come!"

The crowd echoed in unison.

The tavern owner was a retired veteran, and a proud light flickered in his three eyes.

"I've participated in three border wars and fought countless hard battles. Those Alien Race, they just rely on their strong ships and powerful guns; if it really comes to ground combat, one of us can take on three of them!"

"That's right! We are the kings of ground combat!"

Cast stood on the observation deck of the Command Center, looking down at the city below through the thick armored glass.

His Adjutant stood beside him, saying worriedly.

"General, the Intelligence Department says that those attacking us are likely the Guilliman Legion. That Primarch of the Ultramarines is said to have never lost a battle."

Cast laughed.

"Never lost a battle? That's because he hasn't met me."

He turned to look at the Adjutant.

"Do you know, I have studied this Guilliman. His tactics are indeed exquisite, but the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance has a fatal weakness."

"What weakness?"

"They care too much about casualties."

Cast pointed to the city on the Holographic Star Map.

"Look, our capital has a population of eight million, most of whom are civilians.

If Guilliman wants to launch a forced assault, it will inevitably cause heavy civilian casualties.

And given his personality, he will never do that. He will lay siege, he will negotiate, and he will try to find ways to reduce casualties.

And that is our opportunity."

The Adjutant's eyes lit up.

"The General is wise!"

"Just wait."

Cast looked at the starry sky outside the window.

"Soon, that Guilliman will send an envoy to negotiate. When that time comes, I will receive them personally and let him know that Kasadelan is not to be trifled with."

Three days later.

Guilliman's fleet arrived in Kasadelan orbit.

There was no envoy.

There was no negotiation.

There was no siege.

The Ultramarines fleet charged directly at the Orbital Defense Platforms, their cannons firing in unison.

Thirty defense platforms were completely destroyed within forty minutes, their wreckage falling into the atmosphere.

Kaste stood inside the Command Center, his three eyes widened to the limit.

"They... how dare they? Do they not care about civilian casualties?"

No one answered him.

Because in the sky, countless drop pods were piercing through the atmosphere.

Guilliman personally led ten thousand Ultramarines to execute an orbital drop, with the landing point being the central area of the capital of Kasadelan.

When the first drop pod landed in the Central Plaza, the civilians there were still celebrating the "imminent victory."

They held flags high and shouted slogans, completely unaware of the death approaching above their heads.

The drop pod hit the ground.

The shockwave spread.

Buildings within five hundred meters around the plaza collapsed instantly.

Glass shattered, walls crumbled, and metal twisted.

At least thirty thousand revelers died on the spot, and the remaining tens of thousands fled in all directions, their screams echoing through the sky.

After the smoke and dust cleared, Guilliman stood on the ruins in the center of the plaza.

"Kasadelan."

Guilliman's voice spread throughout the entire city via loudspeakers.

"You chose resistance. You chose independence. You chose death. Now, I have arrived."

The Ultramarines poured out of the drop pods, the roar of Bolters echoing throughout the city.

Inside the Command Center, Kaste slumped into his chair, his three eyes staring blankly at the surveillance screen.

On the screen, a squad of Ultramarines was advancing along the street.

They were arranged in a standard combat formation; in front, a group of Kasadelan soldiers were hiding behind cover and firing, with Energy Beams and live ammunition pouring out, but those Ultramarines Space Marines simply raised their shields and fired back.

A volley of Bolters.

Those bunkers, along with the soldiers behind them, were reduced to fragments.

In another battlefield, a group of Kasadelan soldiers attempted to attack the flank of the Ultramarines with rockets.

But ten Ultramarines Space Marines suddenly turned, fired a volley in unison, and the Rocket Launcher gunner and his loader were turned into fragments simultaneously.

In yet another battlefield, a heavy tank was shelling the Ultramarines' line.

Three Ultramarines rushed forward, one of them leaped onto the roof of the vehicle, the Chainsword pierced through the armor, and then a Fragmentation Grenade was thrown inside.

A few terrified screams came from inside the tank, and with a loud bang, everything fell silent.

Kaste's hands were trembling.

"This... this is impossible... our army..."

The Adjutant rushed in, his face deathly pale.

"General! The first line of defense has been breached! The second line of defense is collapsing! The third line of defense... the third line of defense has already fallen! They are advancing toward the Command Center!"

Kaste stood up abruptly.

"All reserves, deploy them all! Concentrate all forces around the Command Center! I will fight them to the death here!"

The Adjutant opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he simply saluted and left.

Twenty minutes later.

The last door of the Command Center was blown open.