The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Amidst the crackling static, Okkham's detached voice resonated.

"There are some things that still need further confirmation, but your guess is right. They're looking for something. The underground Genestealers are almost wiped out by them. That thing is specifically running towards places with living beings, probably trying to escape the Flayer's pursuit."

"Then, do you have enough manpower there?"

"Enough. The Rust Stalkers of Ulan Huda are numerous enough that more people would be useless."

"Alright, then notify me immediately if you find anything."

"Understood."

After ending the communication, Soros pondered for a moment before turning and returning to the temporary command post. At this moment, several massive flexible screens hung down from the command post's ceiling, concentrating the images transmitted by hundreds of servo-skulls.

The armored units preparing to launch an attack had taken up a position one kilometer away from the refinery. Although they only had 21 vehicles, they were all super-heavy armor.

Soros picked up one of the dozen communicators and then said:

"Your mission is to lure them out. The aliens can't resist the urge to attack you. You are huge, but also isolated and helpless, which means you are a worthy but also a lone enemy. This combination of strength and vulnerability will give them unrealistic fantasies. This is a trap."

"Yes, Chapter Master!"

All the vehicle crews answered in unison.

"Then move out, for the Emperor!"

"For the Emperor!"

On the screens, the massive tanks began to rumble forward, while the artillery far behind began to spit out rounds of small missiles. These missiles would be precision-guided to concentrate on the less critical parts of the enemy, and then the lethal chorus from the Butcher's Blade's main guns joined the song of destruction played by the artillery.

From a high-altitude perspective, continuous missiles and shells exploded among the aliens, wreckage and debris spraying into the air, and then the aliens began to stir.

Soon, there were Genestealers everywhere, and a large number of off-road vehicles, motorcycles, and other vehicles kept pouring out of the sturdy metal warehouses.

They gathered at an extremely fast speed and, braving the artillery fire, began to charge towards the White Templars' super-heavy armored units. Soros's estimation was correct; they could not resist the temptation to attack these massive war machines without infantry cover.

The Genestealers' tactics were also very simple: motorcycles flanked from both sides, and vehicles charged from the front to attract firepower. As long as they closed the distance, the motorcycle teams could use magnetic bombs to blow off the tank tracks, and then they might even be able to capture these valuable war machines—compared to civilian vehicles, these were what they needed and craved most.

Even to achieve this goal, they went all out from the beginning. Hundreds of motorcycles rolled up dust in the artillery fire, howling and rushing towards the steel behemoths regardless of life and death, quickly closing the distance with the heavy tanks—even though they were completely unfamiliar with these armors.

However, the super-heavy tanks' reactions were completely inconsistent with their size. While quickly reversing, the Sicaran squadrons split left and right, and then 16 twin-linked Heracles-pattern autocannons opened fire. (Twin-linked cannons)

In an instant, countless burning wrecks bounced in the dust. The alien motorcycle teams instantly seemed to have crashed into an invisible giant wall, and the leading batch was instantly torn into burning fragments.

Sicaran's excellent fire control ensured that they could aim at high-speed and tiny targets, but the Genestealers' fearless characteristics were also fully demonstrated. They were like soldiers charging against heavy machine guns, advancing wave after wave, dying without hesitation.

And the vehicles on the front were not having an easy time either. The Butcher's Blade used the tactic of alternately firing twin-linked accelerator cannons to maintain continuous firepower. Those vehicles were constantly exploding into pieces while moving, and even if they occasionally dodged with maneuverability, the shock waves from the explosion of large-caliber artillery were enough to overturn them.

Soon, the reckless attack turned into a disastrous massacre, and at this point, the Genestealers were obviously unable to stop. Their attention was completely attracted by the super-heavy armored units outside the stronghold, so they invested more power.

In the thick smoke, dozens of larger things began to appear.

It was a huge armored vehicle with four thick wheels. It was taller than a Leman Russ, and it was covered with weapons in all directions. The sides of the vehicle were painted with the crude symbols of the alien cult. The exhaust pipes at the rear of the vehicle were billowing with thick smoke. A huge laser cutter on the side of the front of the vehicle was staring at the moving super-heavy tanks. There were also two heavy machine guns on the roof of the vehicle being controlled by two gunners. There was a thick and huge armor plate on the front of the vehicle, with a shovel and crushing gears installed on it, galloping like a mad beast.

This is the Genestealers' last trump card, the Goliath Heavy Truck. It is a very common mining vehicle in the Empire, and it can be manufactured using extremely versatile STC templates. The original intention of the design was to be responsible for underground engineering and tunnel construction. Its tight and solid structure can resist all kinds of harsh underground environments, and the chemically layered and folded permanent magnet steel can resist most industrial hazards. Even without modification, the Goliath can still survive in acid storms, hurricanes, ionization failures, and volatile toxic outbreaks, and this type with baffles and gravel gears is the Goliath Rockgrinder. This model has a more dense and solid structure, and can even withstand some heavy firepower. It is also an important means for Genestealers to resist Adeptus Ministorum heavy combat servitors and combat servitors.

Now they have even pulled out such trump cards.

Behind the Goliath are more motorcycles and off-road vehicles, with the determination to never give up until they take down these armors.

Seeing this, Soros also realized that the time had come, so he picked up another communicator.

"You can act now."

Soon, the howling Thunderhawks and Stormbirds pierced through the clouds and rushed straight to the ground, and before the Genestealers could react, they dropped the deadly angels of death into their hearts.

At the same time, the Adeptus Ministorum, which had been silent, also acted with extremely high efficiency, launching an attack on the aliens from three directions.

At the same time, a large number of Stormtalons also descended from the sky, beginning to attack the Genestealers' armored convoys. When the missiles they launched pierced into the inside of those clumsy Goliaths from above like arrows, the solid shell could not save them. In a series of violent explosions, the Genestealers paid the most tragic price for their reckless behavior.

At this time, it was impossible for them to return. These armored convoys simply turned around and started running towards the Coking City. Instead, they did not receive much attack at this time, which also led to the Genestealers, after the storage area and the general control area were quickly lost, began to flee to the only survival channel regardless of everything.

Only three hours later, the refinery was completely recovered, and a large number of Genestealers will also be "baptized" by the Rough Riders and the Space Marine motorcycle teams in the unshielded wilderness. If there are lucky ones who can return to the Coking City, they will bring everything they have encountered and witnessed, and tell those bishops and patriarchs that more terrible things have come, and they must make a choice.

Whether to continue to resist on the ground, or shrink back into the dangerous underground—