Plasma beams and streams of bright yellow bolter fire wove a deadly net of flames over the ruined streets. Commander Farsight, piloting his XV-8 Crisis Battlesuit, moved like a nimble dancer, weaving through the barrage of death.
Every one of his movements was filled with precisely calculated elegance. At times, he used his jetpack for short bursts, evading a series of deadly attacks; at other times, he landed steadily, his plasma rifle instantly locking onto targets for precise counter-fire.
Under his command, his Fire Warriors maximized the advanced capabilities of the XV-8 Crisis Battlesuits and their own superb combat skills. They formed a flexible and deadly hunting pack, using the debris of buildings as cover, constantly changing formations, and suppressing the heavily armored warriors in blue with crossfire.
Whenever a battlesuit was on the verge of collapse under the enemy's assault, or if potentially fatal damage appeared on its armor, Farsight's calm orders would immediately be transmitted via data link, allowing it to retreat to a safe area for emergency repairs under the cover of teammates.
His engagement with the Ultramarines' Eighth Company had been ongoing for a considerable time. The enemy had repeatedly attempted to forcefully break through his defensive line according to some fixed tactical paradigm, but each time he had anticipated and thwarted them.
These human warriors' almost fanatical adherence to certain doctrines had, paradoxically, become their greatest weakness. Farsight had more than once seized upon their moments of inflexibility, concentrating fire and inflicting no small losses on the enemy.
Although he had achieved tactical success, Farsight felt no contempt for these enemies. On the contrary, each engagement deepened his awe for these genetically engineered warriors.
Farsight believed that perhaps their technology was full of contradictions, with advanced and backward elements coexisting—for example, their powerful power armor incredibly lacked an AI assistance system; without iridum alloy, the heavy armor even to some extent violated ergonomics—but the physical and mental strength of these warriors was, without a doubt, comprehensively powerful. Their shooting was precise and steady, and their will was indomitable.
However, precisely because of this, Farsight was even more puzzled. Why would these warriors, whose wills were as firm as steel, fail to understand the importance of flexible adaptation on the battlefield and stubbornly adhere to doctrines that clearly hindered their combat?
Farsight's thoughts drifted to a battle report he had received not long ago from Commander Yonglan. In that report, Yonglan detailed the process by which he had destroyed a massive human 'monster' on the battlefield.
The thing was almost twice the size of these power-armored warriors, entirely cast from thick iridum alloy armor, like a walking fortress. Yonglan initially thought it was an extremely rare human war machine equipped with a true AI.
However, after killing it and forcibly opening its outer armor, the sight revealed inside sent shivers down the spines of all the T'au present—it was a dismembered human warrior, with amputated limbs, connected to the machine's interior by countless cables and life support systems. After a simple genetic analysis, the report reached an incredible conclusion: he had lived for at least six thousand years.
Six thousand years!
Farsight thought of this number, and the circulation system in his cockpit seemed unable to calm the shock in his heart. What a terrifying number this was! Six thousand years ago, the ancestors of the T'au were still picking fruit from trees on T'au, un-civilized!
That vast empire, spanning the galaxy, could endure for so long instead of being swept into the dustbin of history, there must be a profound reason, which Farsight simply did not yet know. Perhaps this reason could be glimpsed, in part, from their fanatical adherence to doctrines?
However, such an analysis would definitely have to wait until after the battle. At least for now, the enemy's stubborn adherence to doctrine placed Farsight and his forces in a complete tactical advantage. As an excellent commander, Farsight could fully grasp every move of the enemy in this situation. Since that was the case, why not let this situation continue?
Just as Farsight decided to continue fighting steadily, gradually eroding the enemy's living forces, a top-priority emergency communication request, accompanied by a piercing alarm, directly hit his helmet display. Before he could connect, the Water Caste liaison officer's voice, distorted by extreme anxiety, came through: "Farsight! Return to Central Command immediately! Immediately!"
"What?!" Farsight's heart sank, and he immediately felt that something was seriously wrong. He subconsciously asked, but quickly reacted. The gunfire in the background of the communication was too close; it wasn't the distant rumble, but crisp and dense explosions right nearby. "Central Command is under attack?"
"Yes!" The other party's voice was tearful. "The humans directly used their lives to force their way through the minefield and charged over! They didn't even dodge the large-scale bombardments from our Air Caste comrades! Our comrades are fighting with their lives, but they can't stop them at all! Human corpses have piled up into mountains, can you imagine the entire urban area covered in severed limbs, literally raising the ground by a full meter?!"
Farsight's heart sank to the bottom, but he still held a glimmer of hope, asking in a trembling voice: "Then... then what about the Ethereal? Has the Ethereal escaped?"
"The humans are too fast... The Ethereal is still in Central Command! So never mind those blue humans, hurry back to reinforce!"
Farsight felt as if his head had been violently struck by a power hammer, and the intense dizziness made his battlesuit momentarily unsteady. He forced himself to remain calm, his brain rapidly analyzing the desperate situation: "No! If I retreat now, these blue-armored warriors will immediately follow! Once they link up with those reckless humans, not just Central Command, but all of Guelbryn... no, all of Dalis will be finished!"
"The Ethereal's safety is the top priority!" the liaison officer shrieked.
"We still have a way!" Farsight's voice suddenly rose. "Immediately order the Earth Caste scientists to initiate a large-scale EMP electromagnetic pulse! The physical strength of these blue-armored warriors themselves is absolutely insufficient to support their heavy power armor in combat! EMP will paralyze their armor, and we can easily defeat them! Most of the terrifying human war machines will also be rendered ineffective!"
"Farsight, you're insane!" the other party shrieked in disbelief. "Our battlesuits and pulse rifles will also be shut down by the EMP! Those humans outside will immediately rush in and kill everyone in Central Command, including the Ethereal!"
"But we will successfully capture a company of genetically engineered enemy warriors! This is the greatest achievement ever! Even if we have to negotiate in the future, this is the only bargaining chip we will have!" Farsight retorted loudly. "Are we to sacrifice so many brave warriors, only for the final result to be nothing, to sneak away from Dalis empty-handed?!"
"Mind your attitude, Shas'o! Your thinking has serious problems!" the other party angrily accused. "No matter what, the Ethereal is the one who absolutely cannot be lost! As long as the Ethereal is still here, whether we continue to fight or negotiate later..."
"Negotiate what, you loser!" Farsight interrupted the other party with a roar. "You think you can get something at the negotiating table that you couldn't get on the battlefield?!"
With that, Farsight unilaterally cut off the communication. Without any hesitation, he immediately connected the communication channel to the Earth Caste, and in an unquestionable commanding tone, said: "By my highest command authority, I order the immediate activation of the EMP electromagnetic pulse."
"But, Commander..." The other party was clearly hesitant; this order was too terrifying.
"All responsibility," Farsight said, enunciating each word, "will be borne by me alone!"