Chapter 137: Battlefield Charge
The Emperor's voice rang across the battlefield with commanding authority. "Do not let the sacrifices of countless warriors be in vain! Everyone, With me, CHARGE!"
"CHARGE!!"
The entire army let out a thunderous battle cry, and countless soldiers charged toward the Ork horde.
Horus, who harbored some guesses about Omega's origin but had not delved deep, now shared the same purpose as Omega, fighting for the Emperor.
Horus and Omega charged on either side of the Emperor, followed by ranks of Legio Custodian.
Omega ordered Skor to hold his position, then fully immersed himself in the arduous battle before him. Horus was accompanied by Abaddon and the others of the Mournival, followed by masses of Luna Wolves warriors.
Behind Omega marched a thousand Adeptus Custodes assigned to him for protection by Custodian-Commander Valdor.
Horus's fighting style was overbearing, every strike devastating in its ferocity. The Emperor's blade-work moved like an incomparably sharp edge, sundering all before Him. Omega's technique embodied extreme speed: a ghostly blade shadow, its flowing, ever-changing swordlight weaving through the countless surrounding greenskins.
With such fluid and adaptive combat, he quickly plunged into the center of the Ork mass. The Adeptus Custodes behind him surged forward with all their might just as thousands of Orks surrounded Omega.
Omega's advance did not falter. He charged at full speed into the greenskin tide. His left fist, amplified by the power of his gravity hammer, sent thousands of Ork troops hurtling backward with a single blow.
Boom!
Thousands of greenskins were blasted into the air, screaming. The space around Omega cleared. A shoulder-mounted laser cannon flashed and roared, sending thousands of charging Ork Boyz on his left flying skyward.
Omega charged with his blade like countless sword shadows, reaping greenskins on his right. After sustained killing, the Adeptus Custodes caught up.
Leading the Custodians, he charged again, engaging in another round of lightning-fast slaughter. The two forces quickly adapted to working in concert. Omega, leading a thousand Adeptus Custodes, drove through the Ork army like a drill bit.
Horus observed Omega's devastating assault with satisfaction, beginning to understand his brother's combat doctrine.
Even though Warboss Ug-Grug Urk was dead, the Orks were too numerous and too warlike by nature. Although they gradually splintered into more than a dozen factions during the war, they showed no thought of retreat.
Waves of Ork Dreadnoughts, Ork Stompas, and super-heavy Ork Gargants ranging from ten to thirty meters tall continuously crashed into the Imperial lines.
In the chaotic battlefield, Omega, having slain uncounted greenskins, saw a ten-meter-tall Ork walker charging toward him. He flickered forward in a blur of motion and assassinated the Ork pilot inside.
Gradually, more and more Ork walkers surrounded him. Omega dispatched those under ten meters with ease. For thirty-meter-tall behemoths, Omega shattered their mechanical legs with singular punches, then exploited the opening to finish the Ork Boss or pilot within.
Across the battlefield, countless Titans advanced and engaged in titanic clashes among the greenskin horde.
From hundred-meter-tall Emperor-class Titans to thirty-meter Warlord-class Titans, down to twenty-meter Reaver-class and the smallest fifteen-meter Warhound-class scouts—all varieties of god-machines were present. Various pattern variants greatly broadened Omega's understanding of the Mechanicum's arsenal.
Beyond the Titan Legions marched countless humanoid automata. These battle-automata, equipped with gravity hammers and ion cannons, swarmed in such numbers that they moved like mechanical harvesters, constantly reaping greenskins.
The legions commanded by the Emperor and Horus numbered among the Imperium's premier forces, with countless heavy siege weapons at their disposal.
Armored vehicles alone ranged from standard six- to seven-meter heavy tanks to fifty-meter siege tanks, and even superheavy tanks measuring five hundred meters in length.
Among the Astra Militarum forces, the elite Solar Auxilia fleet bore soldiers whose armor and equipment far outstripped those of Omega's own Militarum subordinates. Beyond numerous heavy siege weapons, they deployed mobile command fortresses that rose dozens of meters into the air.
The war on Tianlong matched Omega's predictions exactly; the ratio of Imperial forces to greenskins approached one-to-one.
The army, personally led by the Emperor, pierced through tens of millions of Ork troops in less than half a month. Omega had fought without respite during this time and only learned from Skor's vox-communication that the Alpha Legion's circular defensive fortifications lay nearby.
With the Ork army shattered and scattered, Skor led his forces to rendezvous with Omega and clear the remaining greenskins from the field.
When Rogal Dorn, secure within his fortress, learned of such a grand engagement, he personally led the Imperial Fists forth to join the fray. Even Bright of the Data Repository in orbit was moved and requested to join the war.
Hearing such a request, Omega replied with a slight smile, "Come if you wish. Drop zone coordinates are precise."
"Thank you, Primarch!" Bright was overjoyed at the Primarch's agreement. After notifying the Data Repository, the entire company grew excited and immediately deployed from orbit via drop pods to join the battle.
In the thick of combat, the Imperial forces registered some surprise as thousands of drop pods streaked down into the Alpha Legion's combat zone from the heavens above.
The moment Company Commander Bright's forces emerged from their drop pods, they came under assault from countless Ork Boyz. As a Data Repository commander, Bright was already versed in all standard tactical doctrines, and his warriors opened fire with their bolters in coordinated volleys.
The Alpha Legion observed Company Commander Bright's forces for a time after they joined the battle and found their performance satisfactory.
Skor understood that the Data Repository's primary role was battlefield analysis rather than direct combat. He moved to assist but glanced at Omega first.
Omega observed for several moments but did not advance, saying with a faint smile, "Let them prove themselves."
Omega continued leading his Legion in battle, and the Alpha Legion's combat zone gradually encompassed the Data Repository's position.
Even though the Alpha warriors had received no orders to support the Repository forces, some still discreetly provided covering fire from time to time. Omega and his Company Commanders pretended not to notice these small gestures.
After the Imperial Fists Legion joined the engagement, the battlefield was divided into four distinct sectors. The Alpha Legion dealt with the greenskins in the area surrounding the circular defensive fortifications.
Half a month later, tens of millions of Orks lay annihilated across the battlefield. For thousands of kilometers, smoke billowed skyward, and countless dead greenskins and fallen Imperial soldiers lay scattered. Even Titans, battle-automata, and Skitarii lay among the corpses carpeting the ground.
Various damaged armored vehicles sat half-buried beneath thick mounds of bodies, yet the previously established circular defensive fortifications remained considerably cleaner.
The circular defensive works covered a fifty-kilometer radius, divided into three concentric rings. Each ring stood fifty meters high and five meters thick, incorporating natural valleys and mountains into its design, protected by energy shields.
After the fortifications were secured and organized, the undulating defensive terrain proved surprisingly well integrated into the landscape.
The Emperor, Horus, Rogal Dorn, and Omega gathered within these circular fortifications, using them as a command post and staging ground for the assembled Legions to rest and resupply. A continuous flow of materiel descended from orbit.
The Emperor and Horus occupied a fortified command chamber within the fortress, planning the operation's next phase.
Rogal Dorn and the four members of the Mournival walked through the defensive fortifications, observing the works with keen interest.
The assembled Legions had long known that the Alpha Legion had established a war fortress in the northern wastes and held for half a year against overwhelming odds.
Now that they had the opportunity to observe the Alpha Legion's defensive architecture firsthand, they would not waste it. Sigismund followed Dorn's lead, thoroughly inspecting the circular fortifications from foundation to rampart.
Officers and enlisted men moved constantly within the works, efficiently distributing supplies. Squadrons of gunships and bombers could be seen traversing the sky above.
Sigismund observed the Primarch deep in thought and offered his analysis. "My Lord, although this circular fortification demonstrates clever design in utilizing the terrain, it does not possess the structural integrity of our Imperial Fists' fortresses. Applied to our previous defensive operations, it would likely not withstand three months of sustained siege."
"Do you comprehend why?" Rogal Dorn placed his gauntleted hand upon the reinforced steel wall and nodded approvingly. He possessed an instinctive affinity for all manner of fortresses and strongholds.
Sigismund considered deeply before responding. "Because the Alpha Legion maintains extensive missile batteries and bomber squadrons for fire support, they can hold such defensive works through combined arms coordination."
Rogal Dorn turned, his expression grave, and surveyed their surroundings with tactical assessment. "Partially correct. Alpharius predicted this war would conclude within three months; he did not design these fortifications for an extended siege from the outset."
"Though their operational doctrine called for striking the Ork rear to support the Emperor and Horus, Alpharius elected to construct fortifications and conduct defensive operations at the center of the greenskin horde. The audacity of this stratagem is remarkable. My brother's operational thinking proves genuinely fascinating."
Sigismund started at this revelation. "He predicted the war's progression and transformed offense into defense. Lord Alpharius's command abilities are truly unfathomable...perhaps unmatched even among the Legiones Astartes."
Rogal Dorn nodded in concurrence. "Among the Primarchs, Horus, Guilliman, and Ferrus Manus all demonstrate exceptional battlefield control. Alpharius can now be counted among their number."
"I did not expect you to evaluate Lord Alpharius so highly. It is truly noteworthy."
"I speak only truth as I perceive it. Correct is correct, incorrect is incorrect." Dorn's tone brooked no ambiguity. In his mind, he had benefited substantially from contemplating how effectively defensive operations could be executed.
On the opposite side of the fortifications, at the Alpha Legion's supply plaza, Company Commander Bright's forces from the Data Repository, exhilarated after their first engagement, approached Omega with a request to continue fighting alongside the Primarch and the Emperor.
Omega, who had intended to order these warriors back to orbit, found the words difficult to voice. His expression grew hesitant as he stated he would consider the matter.
Skor and Norton, observing this exchange, concealed their amusement. This grand campaign was indeed exceedingly rare, and Bright's desire to continue fighting was entirely understandable.
The Company Commanders exchanged knowing glances, and Bright's eyes silently pleaded with Skor.
Skor cleared his throat and addressed the Primarch. "From the perspective of Tianlong's overall campaign stages, we have nearly reached the final phase. Imperial forces maintain absolute numerical superiority. Each Legion would be hard-pressed to engage more than a handful of greenskins per warrior. The Data Repository joining subsequent operations presents no tactical complications."
Bright nodded and added, "Logic-Engine Kof and his subordinates continue processing data from orbit and will not impact Legion operations."
"Your company's casualties must not exceed ten percent. Once you reach that threshold, you will obediently return to orbit. Understood?" Omega's tone carried both humor and gravity as he regarded his Company Commanders.
Bright agreed immediately, exclaiming with evident excitement, "Yes, thank you, Primarch!"
Skor and the other Company Commanders broke into laughter. Everyone present could discern that the Primarch was reluctant to see Data Repository personnel perish in combat. The value of Bright and his warriors had been proven across countless previous engagements.
At that moment, Rogal Dorn approached with Sigismund. The Lord of the Imperial Fists studied the assembled officers and stated plainly, "You maintain excellent rapport with your brothers and subordinates. I conducted a thorough inspection of this circular defensive fortification and found it exceptionally well-constructed."
Omega understood that Dorn's forthright nature meant his defensive combat doctrine on the planet had genuinely sparked his brother's interest.
He did not hesitate to discuss defensive operations with the master of siege warfare.
[End of Chapter]