In the void, many ships gathered together. The gorgeously decorated and battlemented ships moved slowly in the silent darkness, as if they were going to hold an epic gathering.
The cathedral stands among the complex superstructure of the ship, as if it were dug directly from the ground and carved directly into the warship. The majestic spire scratches clear tracks among the stars.
Later, the carefully carved bow of the Yagata ship began to turn. The formation was majestic and full of power, and they all turned in the dark direction invariably.
The torch was burning, incompatible with the surrounding vacuum environment. The plasma flames ejected from the chimney on the gunmetal-colored shell that spread thousands of meters, leaving a turbulent light orange wake in the space.
Such a signal will only be used before a conflict breaks out. The jet of flames regardless of consumption and the burning heat are the signals to be conveyed to the enemy——
"We bring the light of destruction"
The giant ship with a dark green armed bow that leads the fleet seems to be cut out from the shadow of the steel jungle of the fleet. It is like a dagger stabbed by a silent killer. Even if it is slow, it can make the enemy unable to escape and unable to resist.
.
But the way the ship is decorated is a bit disappointing.
The only decoration of this ship is its natural militaristic character. On the pear-shaped bow, a large text is etched in a person-high font: the time fought, the world reached, and the enemies destroyed.
There are two decorations that can be specifically listed - the golden double-headed eagle on the uppermost bridge and the logo made of huge nickel and iron, two crossed swords.
More ships followed, gradually forming a spear-shaped battle formation starting with her.
In order to show the unshakable determination of the Space Marines, the builders proudly carved a huge name on the hull of this battleship: Tempest
The bridge of the Tempest was a stately place, like an ancient temple lost beneath the waves, intricately carved walls and columns leading toward vaults illuminated by the glimmer of the ancient ship's energy shield, rock-like walls and
The old deck resonated as the pitch of the choir dropped sharply during the transition phase, while buzzing cherubs flew overhead waving automatic censers.
The red-robed Mechanicus priests were chanting loudly, joining the high Gothic monophonic chants with experienced calmness. Their prayers could greatly appease the increasingly irritable machine spirits.
"...Astral Knights, as Astartes we have embarked on a path of hardship and dedication. As your Chapter Master, I have asked a lot from you when we protected His Majesty the Emperor's territory in the past.
, and often make these requests...
However, this sentence has never been more true than now!
The World Engine has plowed a path of destruction through this sector, and it must be stopped! No weapons can hurt it, no teleportation can penetrate it, but we can! We can rip the heart out of this beast.
,Stop its atrocities!”
Chapter Master Amurad was making his final pre-battle speech. Chapter Chaplain Masayak stood beside him. A banner with the cross-swords emblem was gently swinging above everyone's heads. Artificial air currents were flowing in the air.
Weaving through the steel beam structure, even the low hum from the servo skulls floating around was masked by the huge noise outside.
Under the golden eyes of the Empire's double-headed eagle, 772 warriors in silver armor lined up neatly in the Hall of Glory, listening to the Chapter Master's preaching, as motionless as marble sculptures.
Although the deck under their feet, the surrounding walls, and even every welding joint and every screw were groaning in pain.
What they are standing on is the battle barge [Storm], a battleship full of legends.
It was started 4,000 years ago in the shipyard of the forging world Ruize. Throughout the entire empire, only 6 ships of the same class have been built, and now only three are still sailing in the star sea.
Although their design drawings and structural secrets have long been lost in the dust of history, each Ruize class is famous for its extremely sturdy bow structure. They are designed to shuttle through space mines and complex small complexes.
Between the planetary belts, the Ruize class can withstand impacts that other ships cannot.
Some Tech-priests even believe that in terms of strength alone, the Ruize-class is even as good as the Glory Queen-class.
It is precisely because of this characteristic that Chapter Commander Amurad proposed his own plan during the dispute with Venetilius, Commander of the 7th Company of the Ultramarines - this was also a crazy plan.
The Storm will ram directly into the World Engine, breaking through the opponent's seemingly indestructible stance of denial like a sharp nail piercing the tough hide of an animal.
Afterwards, all the Astral Knights will board the World Engine for a final push.
This is an almost suicidal plan, but it is not just a matter of pure heroism, but this weapon has threatened everyone...
One standard Terran month ago, the appearance of the World Engine in the Vader subsystem was completely unexpected by the Empire.
Until now, it is still unclear whether the World Engine is an undead tomb world driven by alien technology, or whether it is just a planet-class battleship built in the darkness among the stars.
After the World Engine's gauss projectile cannon reduced two agricultural worlds in the Vader subsystem to scorched earth, speculation about its origins was abandoned, and its destruction was the only consideration.
Under Terra's rare and efficient instructions, the Vader system gathered a huge fleet and no less than fifteen Space Marine Chapters, including the Ultramarines, Astral Knights, Invaders and Aurora Chapter and other historic interstellar warbands.
Warrior Chapter.
They concentrated their attacks on the World Engine, which was carrying out bloody harvests among the planets. However, even the most powerful weapons of mankind could not break through the energy shield of the World Engine. Even though they launched more than ten assaults and carried out more than twenty attacks,
Courage and firepower overwhelm the enemy's attempts, but only in exchange for countless sunk and damaged battleships and millions of casualties.
What's worse is that a gang-hopping attack seems impossible. Neither the landing pod nor the assault craft can penetrate the shield of the world engine. Even the teleportation beam is disrupted in frequency when it is projected on its surface. Invader Chapter
After losing two entire teams of Terminators for this reason, any similar attempts were prohibited.
Under such circumstances, Captain Venetius of the 7th Company of the Ultramarines asked all troops to retreat, and such a result would expose the hive world of Wawencost to the scythes of the Necron - a planet inhabited by 2.1 billion people.
Creatures.
Amurad, the leader of the Astral Knights Chapter, had a heated debate with the other party and finally decided to adopt this extreme plan, which would most likely cost the entire Chapter.
All the Astral Knights knew what this plan meant, and no one showed any objection. This was their fate, from the moment they accepted the transformation, from the moment they put on this power armor that symbolized supreme honor.
, sacrifice has become the final destination of all space warriors.
They are extensions of the Immortal Will, the Emperor's Angels of Death, the Walking Final Punishment, and the last strong shield between humanity and the galaxy of eternal darkness.
The emperor's will is like a candle, and the cave will destroy the monsters.
"...candle the emperor's will, destroy the monsters in the cave."
Sergeant Soshyan Alexey, who belonged to the fourth combat team of the sixth company of the Chapter, repeatedly recited the most profound prayer in his memory. Other combat brothers in the communication channel were also doing similar things.
He is considered a new recruit, having just left the scout company thirty years ago.
Thirty years, for a mortal, may be half of a life, but for a Space Marine, it is just the moment when the hourglass turns over.
Strong tremors penetrated the magnetic locks on the soles of the boots. The battleship that was originally sailing extremely smoothly now looked like a small sampan struggling in the turbulent tide.
Soshyan didn't need to see it with his own eyes to know that the Storm had begun to engage in fire contact with the enemy.
He could detect the unique impact. For example, the sound of the laser cannon hitting the deck was different from that of the laser array. The roar of the macro cannon was like a volcanic eruption, each time accompanied by painful vibrations.
Later, there was another sound like a grinder.
This is the sound made when a large amount of firepower hits the armor that is not protected by the shield. At this moment, the posture of the Storm is like getting close to its prey while hunting, and stabbing it hard towards the ribs.
If it weren't for the extremely strong and unusually strong bow structure of the Storm, it would probably have disintegrated under the intensive firepower of the enemy, but this was actually only a matter of time.
Through his helmet, Soshyan could smell everything around him exuding the smell of death, including the cold machinery, which was also mixed with the unique chemical smell of burning pipes and molten metal.
The servants are running around below the deck screaming. They may not have such lofty thoughts, but as the saying goes-
Sacrifice is the cornerstone of empire.
Regardless of their wishes, this was bound to happen, and the Emperor would use his currency at the right time and in the right place.
World Engine seems to be a good place.
But before that, before everything was about to end, the mortal thoughts in Soshiyang's mind that had been silent for a long time became active again.
As with most dying people, there is always something like a ghost trying to make these great warriors feel the true pain of death again.