After the Newbies finished dealing with the alien-smelling corpse, they returned to the trenches in high spirits. Sure enough, the squad leader already had a military-green metal can in his hand, waiting for them while sitting on an ammo box.
Everyone gathered around curiously, craning their necks to watch. Even the Adeptus Mechanicus Player from Ryza, Magos Vex, picked up his bionic arms with interest, intending to see how the other person would eat.
The squad leader took off his heavy helmet. He casually drew the combat knife from his waist and skillfully pried at the edge of the can a few times. With a 'pop', the can was opened. An indescribably rich meaty aroma, mixed with a unique spice smell, instantly filled the air.
He used the knife to cut a piece of dark red meat from inside, then, still impaled on the knife, brought it directly to his mouth. Under everyone's astonished gaze, the squad leader closed his eyes, a look of intoxicated bliss appearing on his face.
Everyone else was stunned. One of the players finally couldn't help but ask, "squad leader… the forum said that ant-cow canned meat is especially dangerous. If the ant-cow eggs inside aren't properly inactivated, they'll hatch in your stomach. If you don't know how to prepare it, shouldn't you char it before eating?"
"That's how you eat if you want to live. We veteran Helldivers all eat it this way," the squad leader mumbled between bites, "You'll understand if you play a bit longer. On this hellish battlefield, to live peacefully for twenty-four hours and then be eaten from the inside by an ant-cow, that's practically a blessing from the Emperor. So why go to all that trouble preparing it? Just eat it!"
The squad leader finished the meat in no time, even tilting his head back to gulp down the thick juice from the can with a "gurgle," finally licking his lips with lingering satisfaction: "I have to say, ant-cow is really damn fresh."
He turned to look at the Tech-Priest, asking somewhat strangely, "These Newbies with less than a hundred hours of playtime are one thing, but you're a Tech-Priest, so you must have played for at least a few years. Why do you also look surprised?"
"Do I have an expression?" The Adeptus Mechanicus Player subconsciously touched his impassive metal faceplate. "Hmm… I don't deny I was surprised. Most of my time is spent on academic research. Strictly speaking, this is my first time on a battlefield."
Hearing this, the squad leader looked at him: "Sometimes I really think you Adeptus Mechanicus Players are crazy, coming into a game to do serious studying. Isn't a game supposed to be for fun?"
A synthesized laugh emanated from the Ryza Magos' vox-caster: "Is feeling the growth of one's knowledge not also a supreme pleasure?"
While the players on the surface of Planditium were still casually chatting, war arrived without warning.
The Tyranid Swarm had come.
Relying on the "Shadow in the warp," a dark veil capable of blocking all psychic perception, they silently navigated the star sea like ghosts. When the Hive Mind's greedy tendrils sensed the massive biomass represented by millions of humans on Planditium, it launched a surprise attack without hesitation.
The Imperial Navy in orbit only realized their presence with a jolt when these hideous monsters appeared en masse on the ships' sensors. At this distance, for the vastness of space, it was already no different from being face-to-face.
The urgent distress signal from Planditium, intentionally allowed by the Hive Mind, tore through the starscape and was quickly sent to other planets, then aggregated layer by layer, finally reaching the Ultramarines' homeworld—Macragge.
Under such urgent circumstances, a top-level military meeting was quickly convened once again at the polar fortress.
This time, the last to arrive was not Governor Robert, but rather Admiral Dylan. However, considering he was commanding the orbital fleet, his late arrival was understandable.
As he entered the conference room, his gaze immediately locked onto Robert. Under everyone's scrutiny, the proud Admiral finally took a deep breath and forced out a sentence: "Governor Robert, I apologize to you."
Robert, who was deep in thought, was suddenly called out and didn't react for a moment: "What?"
Dylan thought Robert found his voice too low, so he straightened his back and, with a volume loud enough to issue commands on a ship's bridge, declared: "Governor Robert, I apologize to you! I was wrong; you were right!"
Robert finally reacted and nodded calmly: "I accept your apology, Admiral Dylan."
Dylan seemed to have shed a heavy burden, sighing in relief as he walked to his seat. Calgar merely smiled at this, then turned his gaze to Robert, saying solemnly: "Governor Robert, your prophecy has come true. What are your thoughts on the current situation?"
Everyone's eyes turned to Robert, but this time, there was no trace of doubt in their gazes. Robert had already proven himself correct through reality, demonstrating that in terms of strategic mind regarding the Tyranid Swarm, he was a formidable individual unmatched by others.
Regardless of how Robert achieved this result, in this world where strength is revered, everyone present would be convinced by him, unless his subsequent judgment proved to be flawed.
Robert pondered for a moment, then asked: "Where is the fleet closest to Planditium right now?"
Dylan immediately replied: "It's the fleet from the Whitney system. They have already responded to the signal and are currently en route to provide support."
"Order them to retreat immediately," Robert stated decisively, "Including the fleet currently engaging in orbit above Planditium. They are all to disengage from the Tyranid Swarm immediately and withdraw to Macragge!"
Upon hearing this, everyone showed expressions of confusion, but no one voiced their doubts. Dylan was even more astonished and uncertain; he had expected Robert to anxiously urge them to rescue the Helldivers from his home planet: "But, why?"
Robert did not answer directly, but instead turned his gaze to Inquisitor Kryptman: "Inquisitor, do you remember how you initially transmitted the signal about the tyranid to Macragge?"
Kryptman recalled for a moment and replied: "After I met with Magos Wick and learned about the Tyranid Swarm from him, I immediately ordered the Astropath aboard the ship to send a signal to Macragge, but it was blocked by the omnipresent Shadow in the warp. Magos Wick pointed out that this was a tyranid tactic, which he vividly called the 'Blackout.' There was a psychic amplification tower on a nearby planet, and only with the amplification of that tower could the Astropath break through the tyranid blackout… "
At this point, Kryptman's words abruptly stopped. A look of horror flashed across his weathered face; he had clearly realized: "Are you saying…"
"Yes," Robert's voice echoed in the silent conference room, "Since the Tyranid Swarm is already at our doorstep, how could we possibly receive such a clear signal from Planditium? There is no psychic amplification tower on Planditium; under the shroud of the blackout, it should have become an information black hole. Unless… the Tyranid Swarm deliberately lifted the blackout to allow the distress signal to pass, luring our relief fleet into their trap. They want to encircle a point and strike at reinforcements!"
Calgar's expression became incredibly grim; clearly, he hadn't considered this layer of strategy at first: "These damned bugs… are so cunning!"
"Yes, so even if we are to rescue Planditium, it must wait until we have concentrated all our forces," Robert declared, "Order all ships to immediately rendezvous at Macragge. After all preparations are complete, we will fight a decisive battle with the Tyranid Swarm!"
Dylan was still hesitant: "But in that case, the Ultramarines and the Helldivers on Planditium…"
"I trust the Helldivers; they will fight the Tyranid Swarm to their last drop of blood," Robert's tone was incredibly firm, and he silently added in his mind: They came here to fight an earth-shattering battle with the tyranids. If a swift rescue succeeded, it would spoil their good fortune.
Finally, as the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines, Calgar made the final decision: "Since Governor Robert, you trust your warriors, then I have no reason not to trust my battle-guys. Transmit my order: all fleets are to gather at Macragge! And tell Planditium—hold the line and await reinforcement!"