Warhammer: Start with a dog

Chapter 523 The Arrival of the Great Predator (5K4)

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Salva Gent took a piece of cardboard from his deputy.

This was a pale yellow card, beautifully printed, with the Imperial Eagle and the emblem of the Supreme Military Council of Cadia on it, and the appearance and identity of the holder written below. More importantly, it stated the ration quota that the holder could receive from the strategic warehouse in the regional center where the wartime rationing system had already been implemented. Normally, wounded and disabled soldiers or civilians could only get 40% or even 30% of their rations at this time, but this card clearly stated 90%.

"Well printed." He turned the card over and over against the light, and finally threw it back into an open wooden box beside him - there was a whole box of such cards in the box, and there were dozens of such large boxes next to this wooden box.

His deputy, Carl Patzen, laughed, "Of course, boss, after all, we used the 'real' template. Those idiots probably still think that the transport vehicle was hit by a stray bullet on the way to the mint."

Gent snorted coldly. "Have the bodies of those soldiers been dealt with?"

Pechen nodded, "It's wartime now, and everything is in chaos. There is a lack of security in the urban area and the factory area, so it's too easy to deal with."

"That's good." Gent took a last look at the boxes, "Karl, drive, we hide half first, and the other half can be traded as we go."

"Okay. But boss, if we hide it, what if..."

He didn't finish his words.

Because he was so bold, had a keen sense of smell, and had been leading their boss who had made a lot of money recently, for the first time, there was an emotion close to "awe" in his eyes, and at the same time he noticed that something seemed to be covering his back.

He turned around.

The look of awe and panic also appeared on the face of this notorious and ruthless thug.

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Captain Marda Helske and her superior Colonel Baratus were asked to lead their 24th Cadia Regiment to station in the Delvian Valley.

Static defense, no active attack, that's what Creed said, because this is the Clough War Zone, or the only traffic route to the west of Clough Castle - in Cardia's words, it's easy to defend but difficult to attack. If any enemy tries to attack Clough Castle from the west, they will definitely choose this route, which is good, it will give Captain Helske the heroic battle she wants - except that it's very cold here, and the 24th Regiment has not received any winter uniforms promised by the Military Affairs Department since it set out and stationed.

Despite this, they still follow their training, build fortifications in an orderly manner, set up machine guns and barbed wire, arrange patrols and lookouts, and the rest of the people brave the cold wind, carry guns, and use shovels to dig foxholes and trenches on the frozen soil.

Captain Helske was supervising the excavation work of her subordinates. She was still a little uneasy. On the one hand, it was too cold here. On the other hand, she was also very clear about the strength of her troops. The men and women of the 24th Regiment were all good, but they set out too hastily.

The 24th Regiment had always been responsible for guarding the interior of the city, so they actually did not have too many heavy weapons. They had a lot of light weapons and street fighting fortifications, and they especially lacked the mobile firepower support of various large vehicles. They were almost all light infantry, which was also reflected in their regimental flag. This was a very ordinary regimental flag without any characteristics or honor. Only the number "XXIV" on it could represent the 24th Regiment.

Captain Helske knew that Colonel Baratus had tried to protest to the Supreme Lord of Creed, but it was obvious that the latter's will and pressure were more firm and heavy.

So until just now, they were freezing in the cold wind here with runny noses, while waiting for the enemy or the logistics supplies to warm them up first.

But now there is no suspense about this matter. Colonel Baratus has just called them together and announced what they will face next: "The Voskani Heavy Armored Corps, our opponents, the murderers of the Telok Plains, the traitors and murderers who killed Governor Boerska. Lord Creedburg told me that our opponents are them."

The eyes of all the soldiers who were a little tired due to hunger and cold lit up. Participating in the battle is what every Cadian has been indoctrinated with since they were toddlers. They are not afraid of fighting, and it would be even better if the opponent is such a notorious traitor corps. Perhaps the 24th Regiment can add something to its flag after this battle.

"...He expressed great regards and firm confidence to each of us. He believed that our 24th Regiment could hold the key pass on the highway... The strength of the Voskani people is about 20,000, or possibly 30,000, with fast-attack cavalry and light armored vehicles."

The excited discussion below subsided. The 24th Regiment, including officers, only had 3,000 people, which meant it was about ten to one. Although the Cadians were not afraid of fighting or the enemy, this ratio was a bit too high.

"They once received military training in Cadia, so they know our tactics very well, which will also make it very difficult for them." Baratus coughed here, and Captain Helske's brain was also buzzing, she She felt that the colonel was also asking the soldiers listening below to digest it, because she also felt that they needed to digest it, "...If Creed's judgment is correct, our air support will not be available. In other words, we have to defend this place on our own. , down to the last laser, the last grenade, the last man, and if necessary, the last foxhole, which was critical to holding the west side of the wall, which he believed we could hold."

Colonel Baratus smiled, and the old man's gray hair was slightly exposed under his military cap.

He coughed and took out a roll of crumpled paper from the brim of his military cap. "As everyone knows, I am sometimes sentimental and will poison everyone's ears with poetry."

There was sparse laughter from below, but Captain Hailske saw the tears in the corners of the old man's eyes.

“But I hope that this poem will serve as a comfort and peace of mind to you, and that your souls will not be disturbed by the orders we have received.”

Then he began to chant into a hymn loudspeaker that his adjutant had brought for him:

"This is not a foxhole;

This is fertile ground for my home world.

I sprinkled handfuls of this fertile soil on the coffins of the soldiers in front of me.

Those soldiers standing on the defensive embankment, holding laser guns,

And tell the eye that it cannot own our future.

This is not a foxhole, this is Minecraft.

This is not a foxhole, this is my home.

A place where I live and laugh together with my comrades-in-arms,

It is a hole, but it will never feel empty in it, for we fill it with light and courage,

It is here that I watch as we, you, and them return to the glory of the Emperor.

This is not a foxhole, this is my home.

This is not a foxhole, this is my fortress.

It is home, it is the world, it is the fortress dug by my own hands,

It's a legacy passed down to me that brings me face to face with the sharp edge of my enemy,

As we always have, I will not turn my back on it, I will not abandon it,

There will be no retreat, for I have dug my fortress and I will hold it.

Because this isn't a foxhole—this is my grave. "

Colonel Baratus finished reading, and there was silence. Captain Helske felt the adrenaline pouring into her veins and making her boil, while the chill of death gripped her stomach, making her scalp tingle and her eyes widen.

It was a really good poem, and at this time, indeed, the soldiers were shaken.

Captain Helske realized it was time for her to seize the opportunity.

She strode forward and shouted, "Twenty-fourth regiment! Fight!" Thousands of eyes stared at her. She repeated it again, and this time there was a response, "Twenty-fourth regiment!"

"Speak louder! Let those Voskani! Let the enemies in orbit hear it! Twenty-Fourth Regiment! We are the Twenty-Fourth Cadian Regiment! Fight!"

The voice became excited, "Twenty-fourth regiment! Fight!"

But this passionate note failed to bring a perfect ending. The soldiers closed their mouths and stared at the sky on the horizon.

Captain Helske turned around quickly——

At first, she thought she saw a good omen. The Eye of Terror, the ominous light that the Cadians could see day and night, began to disappear in her memory for the first time, changing like a day. The sun during total eclipse...

Perhaps the Emperor—the Holy Emperor took action—? He heard their prayers, He exerted His divine power, He turned off the Eye of Fear... They might no longer have to--

But then, above their heads, the orbital platform began to burn from the edge with red flames representing destruction and carnage, and behind it was an increasingly obvious and huge thing that covered the entire southern sky with its ominous silhouette. ——

Eight-pointed star shape.

Blackstone Fortress.

The big predator is coming.

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When Abaddon's so-called war meeting, which was more like a so-called war meeting in which various warlords boasted about their victory, force, and the depth of their depravity (what they called the degree of favor from the gods), finally came to an end, Robert Guilliman, or rather , "Mercurius" admitted that he was relieved and hurriedly followed Honso out of the conference room door.

——Although from the bottom of his heart, he wanted it more——he wanted it very much——he felt that at this distance of just one conference hall, even if he did not have his own armor of reason and dagger of glory, Guilliman felt that He could also rush to the Great Reaver before any traitor heretic could stop him, and smash his blasphemous head, engraved with the eight-pointed star of Chaos, with a single blow of his fist.

The Potion Master obviously guessed part of the original body's thoughts. He glanced back, pretending to be his own champion and adjusting the drug delivery pipe of the power armor. Guilliman felt a slight coolness, like spring water in summer, flowing from his wrist. As the injection port poured into his veins, he calmed down and patted the Iron Warrior Apothecary's gauntlet to signal that he understood.

Honso is right. Killing Abaddon will only make the situation more complicated and confusing. It is better to fish in troubled waters in the current relatively clear and general situation and see what you can do - others may The name Shiron is often ignored, but Guilliman has a very good memory. He always remembers that there is a ninth lord under Abaddon - Shiron, and he judges that Shiron is most likely a spy master, or Alpha. Members of the Legion.

And it would be worse to not have a member of the Alpha Legion in the chamber at this moment than to be in it.

They were heading to the hangar, preparing to board the Thunderhawk back to the Indomitable Star Fortress. The reason they gave others for leaving was that they "need to go back first to prepare the airborne and offensive forces."

This is also natural, because the resolutions of the just-concluded meeting except for Urkanthos who couldn't wait to airborne as a vanguard to kill, but was stopped by Abaddon's voice with the power of the four gods (this gave Guilliman Also left a deep impression), other things can basically be summarized as:

1. The Daughter of the Black Stone or the Shadow Witch - the fortress interaction controller girl who implanted a large number of black stones, proposed that she can fully charge the Eternal Will and fire a subspace beam main cannon at the main defensive area of ​​Cadia. Orbital shooting - it was the main gun that vaporized most of the fleet when they came. According to her assurance to the Warmaster, she said that the power of the cannon was only half at that time. As long as one shot was fired at the command headquarters and the main defense of Clough Castle, the void shield would not be able to withstand such a terrifying and pure subspace torrent. , after destroying the headquarters, they can get twice the result with half the effort and land on Cadia to do whatever they want.

2. Abaddon seemed to have finally agreed to this proposal, but he also explained the original plan as a backup plan in case the Eternal Will's main gun failed. This plan is very simple, not difficult at all, and is the most brainless beast among the lords. People can also understand: Attacks were carried out from all directions around the Clough Castle area, and each team was assigned one or two opponents to defend in corresponding directions on the Cadian ground.

3. The Warmaster did not mention the next movements of his own team of elite terminators, but he did allow Urkanthos to be the first to lead the Abaddon Hounds warband to attack Cadia's orbital defenses. platform to give the Eternal Will and subsequent airdrop pods the best shooting view; then everyone else received their own The location of his landing and the name of his opponent, and as a Red Corsair reinforcement rather than a member of the Black Legion, unlike Honso who had never fought alongside or against the Sons of Horus, Robert Mercurius Guilliman The first instant reaction to hearing the name Abaddon had assigned to their opponent turned out to be, "Sure enough."

4. The landing point and targets of Colom Gate, also a war blacksmith, were announced very vaguely, except that they would carry out their mission. This made Guilliman keenly feel that something was not right, but Honso said that he was not familiar with this Iron Warrior - the Iron Warriors had too many great companies at that time, more than a hundred, maybe even two hundred. , he was born after the rebellion. It would be strange if he rashly tried to establish relations here, so Guilliman gave up.

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"The Cadia defenders...the defensive arrangement on the ground is very poor. Their commander-in-chief obviously cannot command the 'various parts'. If this situation of independent fighting continues, they will definitely lose."

After obtaining some battle data from Abaddon and some additional memory information obtained by Honso in a less honorable way as quickly as possible when he returned, Guilliman combined the array scanning data at the scene and the information they secretly secretly This conclusion was reached based on the communication data intercepted by the Indomitable's still-defunct Imperial code.

"Their current Supreme Lord is more like a commander who could only command a small-scale operation with a smaller number of people. Although I can see that he has talent, indeed, he has no experience to command such a large-scale operation. , and the opponent is Abaddon...I don't know which side is worse..."

"Shouldn't you be more confident in both our 'enemies' and 'allies' and not be so pessimistic?"

The War Blacksmith is issuing orders to his Iron Warriors and Sword Dancers. The Pirate Queen has also followed them this time. Her fleet now serves as the escort of the Indomitable, like small fish next to the giant whale shark. The same surrounds the Star Castle.

Guilliman glared at Honso in annoyance and amusement, and the latter bowed politely to the primarch.

"For example, here." The original body with the appearance of the devil's apostle adjusted the display light of the holographic sand table to vertical, and then enlarged certain areas, pointing with his fingertips to show it to the war blacksmith.

"Only infantry is arranged here but not a heavy firepower team of the Adeptus Astartes... It is very unreasonable. It shows that the commander is inexperienced or has other problems."

"Perhaps he was rushed into office and the interpersonal relationships and relationships haven't had time to come into place."

"But this is the army! This is war! I'm just...and here...it's just crazy. What's the point of swarming so many fighter groups over this plain? Horrible scheduling design, I bet they don't There is no general dispatcher to stipulate a basic route occupancy map, and the poor officers who make decisions have no understanding of the actual operational efficiency of the airport ground handling front line!”

"Oh. Poor little Imperial birds, what model is this? Valkyrie? Predator? And some Avenger attack aircraft, this is it."

Hong Suo also came over. As a commander who actually has the talent to command sector-level battles, even though he himself does not know it, he only needs Guilliman to point it out and he immediately sees the problem. "Their approach will cause these fighters to release their weapons and ammunition. They will not be able to enter the field in time to replace pilots and replenish ammunition. They can only hover in the sky and waste their weapons. At the same time, they cannot fight back against the enemy's air force, and because they have no ammunition to replenish, they will not be able to fight back. medicine, and unable to support the surrounding areas that need support. This large-scale air battle looks beautiful, but it is actually all wishful thinking. "

"Yes." Guilliman said gloomily, "and what Abaddon prepared for them is..."

Honso grumbled, "It's the raptors, the fierce, bloodthirsty and extremely flexible mutant birds of the Night Lords. ——I haven't had time to get one or two, they are too flexible, but I saw it."

The Primarch of the Ultramarines snorted from his nose with the most rude voice a Primarch could be allowed. Obviously, there was some ancient grudge between him and the Eighth Legion that was unknown to Honso.

"The pathetic and corrupt descendants of Curze, like their father..."

The Master of Pharmacy interrupted the Primarch's roar in time, "We were assigned to the landing point in the attack zone south of the city wall. Do you have any ideas?"

The Primarch of the Ultramarines glanced at him quickly, and a bad premonition surged into the heart of the war blacksmith.

"What are you going to do?!"

"I can't stand it. Soldiers should die from bullets fired from the front of the battlefield, not from hidden guns from behind. - I want to save what I can save."

"Oh, no, the supreme roar of the Lord of Steel." Hong Suo murmured. He slammed his hand with the medical gauntlet hard.

And one of the most incredible and greatest strategic calculation minds in the galaxy has been impatiently leaning down, asking the cherubim Hestiaan beside him to reopen multiple holographic sandboxes and begin to carefully find any unobtrusive victory possibilities for their "enemies" despite their defeat.

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