The vanguard of the second wave of landing forces were the Space Marines of the Black Templars.
These fanatical devotees of the Emperor, clad in paint Black Power Armor and bearing the glorious Chapter cross emblem on their shoulder pads, were softly chanting battle prayers within their drop pods.
Despite having executed numerous missions in this Expeditionary Force previously, this Black Templars Expeditionary Force still mustered over five hundred warriors, forming the first wave of assault alongside four hundred Space Marines from the Heavenly Lion Battle Group.
As Dorns Sons, they descended like heavenly thunder in specially designed drop pods, accurately plummeting towards the positions established by the first landing forces.
The outer walls of the drop pods intensely rubbed against the atmosphere, igniting into raging flames, tracing dazzling trajectories across the night sky.
When the hatch doors exploded open, the Astartes Monks, clad in Power Armor, directly leaped into the battlefield, their combat boots making dull thuds as they landed on the scorched earth.
Although the landing zone had been initially established, the Astartes, as the second wave of reinforcements, could have chosen the relatively safer Thunderhawk Transport for deployment.
However, considering that the Necrons' air power and anti-aircraft fire had not been completely cleared, and the front-line situation was critical and urgently needed reinforcement, Sigismund, as one of the Commanders, decisively ordered the Black Templars and Heavenly Lion Battle Group to use the most impactful drop pod method to directly penetrate the core of the battlefield, providing the fastest support to the front-line troops.
Other regular forces, following standard operating procedures, would gradually descend from orbit in various transport vehicles to relatively safe landing zones before orderly engaging in combat.
After all, not all forces possessed the extreme physical prowess and Power Armor protection of the Astartes, capable of directly entering the most intense battles without sufficient preparation.
Although the accompanying Astra Militarum included elite drop combat groups, these mortal warriors ultimately could not reach the Space Marine's standard.
Neither their equipment performance nor their training intensity was sufficient to support them in orbital drop operations alongside the Space Marines.
Inside the combat command center of the warship carrying the second wave of landing forces, the oppressive atmosphere almost solidified.
The holographic projector displayed the battlefield situation map slowly rotating before everyone, clearly showing the burning war zone on the planet's surface.
Chapter Master Sentor Yorl of the Blood Knights Chapter, in his crimson Power Armor, glowed with a bloody sheen in the dim light, and his clenched fists hummed with the sound of servo motors.
"This is a desecration of our honor!" Chapter Master Yorl slammed his fist onto the tactical console, his adamantium-encased fist leaving a crack on the data pad.
His voice carried suppressed anger: "Since being allowed to return to the embrace of the Imperium, every warrior of the Blood Knights has been waiting for this moment. We will wash away our shame with the blood of our enemies!"
From the shadows, Chapter Master Gabriel Seth of the Flesh Tearers stepped forward.
His voice echoed as if from a tomb: "Brother Sigismund, you should know better than anyone that for Sanguiniuss sons, some debts can only be repaid with blood."
Loken looked up from the tactical holographic map, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.
As the Expeditionary Force Commander appointed by Alex, he understood the obsession of Sanguiniuss sons too well.
"Brother Yorl, Brother Gabriel, no one questions your loyalty." His voice was steady and firm: "But what you are asking for now is not a battle, but suicide."
Sigismund slowly rose, gazing at the two Chapter Masters before him, his eyes filled with unyielding resolve.
"Look at this, the Necrons' Rebirth Protocol makes their warriors almost inexhaustible." He pointed to the constantly flashing red areas on the holographic map: "In Donetsk, we lost a large number of warriors to understand this truth — reckless courage is meaningless in the face of these xenos."
Chapter Master Yorl's breathing became heavy, indicating that his emotions were fluctuating wildly at this moment.
"Then what do you think we should do?" His voice carried a dangerous calm: "Continue to bear the stigma of traitors and hide in the rear? Let our brothers continue to be scrutinized with suspicious eyes by other Chapters?"
The command room fell into a dead silence, with only the faint hum of the servo system operating.
The blood drop emblem on Chapter Master Seth's armor, illuminated by the flickering lights, seemed to truly be seeping blood.
"I want you alive." Sigismund suddenly said, his voice rarely carrying a hint of emotion, "Not as offerings for atonement, but as the Emperor's sword.
When the decisive battle comes, the Expeditionary Force needs every experienced warrior. Your atonement is not in death, but in victory."
Loken added at the appropriate time: "We have already formulated a new combat plan. The Necrons' energy nodes on the northern continental shelf are key targets, and you will be needed to lead the assault team then—"
Chapter Master Yorl suddenly raised his hand to interrupt him: "Enough!"
After taking a deep breath, he said in a low, dangerous voice: "We will obey orders for now."
He turned and walked towards the hatch, his crimson cloak billowing behind him: "But remember, Commander Sigismund, Sanguiniuss sons will not wait forever."
Seeing Yorl leave, Gabriel Seth gazed at the two Commanders, then followed Yorl out of the command room.
When the heavy hatch closed, Loken turned to Sigismund: "We bought some time, but not for long."
Sigismund gazed at the tactical holographic map, his eyes falling on the blue light points marking the positions of the Blood Knights and Flesh Tearers.
"Send two Black Templars squads to secretly keep an eye on them, especially their armory and drop pod areas." He ordered in a low voice: "I understand this obsession—it often drives people to make crazy decisions."
——
Although they had promised Sigismund and Loken to endure for now, the Blood Knights and Flesh Tearers were clearly not Chapters with good patience.
They were each conducting pre-battle mobilization for their Chapter members in their respective compartments.
Chapter Master Yorl was addressing the assembled Blood Knights elites, his voice echoing in the confined space: "Prepare your weapons, brothers, when the battle begins, we will show everyone what true Sanguiniuss sons are!"
At the same time, Chapter Master Seth was also conducting pre-battle mobilization for his warriors in the Flesh Tearers' assembly area: "Do not fail Sanguinius's blood! Brothers, sometimes, the deepest wounds need to be purified with the hottest flames..."
Unbeknownst to the two Chapter Masters, in the shadows of the ship, a figure clad in black Power Armor was silently recording all of this, then sending it to Sigismund via an encrypted channel.
Sigismund looked at the constantly updating information on the data pad and let out an almost inaudible sigh: "Sometimes, saving a soul is harder than destroying an army..."
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"