The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Faced with his colleagues' unanimous stance, Bakhram became uncharacteristically resolute.

“Telsak brothers, we used so much strength to rescue them before, and we've come this far. Why can't we be more tolerant?”

“It is precisely because we shed blood for them that we cannot tolerate such betrayal!”

Saul Tarvitz raised his hand, interrupting their argument. Without questioning or explaining, he made a decision directly.

“Since they are bewitched by aliens, they are beyond saving. Moreover, we must prevent the spread of Genestealer contamination. Therefore... only evacuate the legal and compliant residents. Those who hide underground and resist stubbornly cannot be allowed to become Tyranid fodder. Release viruses into the tunnels, inject flammables, and give them final mercy.”

“Chapter Master!”

Bakhram was about to say something, but Saul Tarvitz stopped him with a look, then said only a few words.

“Bakhram, you will execute this personally.”

“Chapter Master——”

“Thirty-six hours, end everything. I will personally take care of the other evacuation matters.”

Realizing that he could not change the outcome, Bakhram could only nod in tacit agreement and turned to leave.

The surrounding company commanders exchanged glances briefly, clearly believing that Bakhram's 'poor performance' in a series of battles had already aroused Saul Tarvitz's dissatisfaction. After all, although they were fierce in their words, they also knew that this kind of task was very disgraceful and easily earned one the reputation of a butcher. Although Space Marines didn't mind becoming butchers, those were, after all, just mortals, and it wouldn't sound good to be labeled a mortal butcher.

So, many company commanders simply regarded this arrangement as a punishment.

But Oscar frowned slightly, because his mind worked quickly, and he immediately realized that Saul Tarvitz's arrangement actually had a hidden meaning.

Bakhram's attitude just now showed that he was relatively sympathetic and tolerant towards the coerced civilians. So, letting Bakhram personally carry out the execution was undoubtedly a disguised way of giving them a chance. Moreover, Saul Tarvitz specifically emphasized the time, which was equivalent to telling Bakhram to save as many as he could within this time frame, depending on his own ability.

After thinking for a while, Oscar still walked to Saul Tarvitz and said in a low voice:

“Chapter Master, the planet is currently very chaotic. It may be difficult to guarantee that there are absolutely no alien worshippers mixed among the evacuating law-abiding citizens. We still need to... reduce possible threats.”

Saul Tarvitz glanced at him and said softly:

“If even we are afraid of this and that, wouldn't it be easier and cleaner to learn from the Inquisition and issue an exterminatus order? Oscar, the most difficult thing in this galaxy is sometimes not death or destruction... Do you understand?”

Oscar immediately retreated to the side with a look of shame.

Saul Tarvitz walked to the edge of the bridge, gazing through the observation window at the plasma flickering in the darkness as it sped towards a rapidly gliding Tyranid Harpy. Soon, this huge monster was ripped open and died convulsing.

But there were more behind it, more and more, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, even millions. Even the lasers and shells filling the void could not destroy them.

“Notify all fleets to evacuate the star system in forty-eight hours and launch atmospheric incineration torpedoes at the planet.”

“Chapter Master.”

At this moment, Forge Master Rogris walked to Saul Tarvitz and said in a low voice:

“Zhao-Akad has a sudden request, please take a look.”

Taking the data slate, Saul Tarvitz looked at the information on it, and after a dozen seconds, his eyebrows rose.

“They actually came up with this thing. I thought this had already disappeared... I only heard rumors of this thing from the old veterans. A ten-hour combat test is required? It seems that they haven't tested this thing in actual combat after they made it. Rogris, tell them they can. Choose a remote location, and I will have Bakhram clear that area in advance.”

After handing the data slate to the other party, Saul Tarvitz thought for a while and smiled:

“Now that you mention it, I'm also a little curious. Go down and take a look with me later.”

“Understood.”

Whoosh——

Accompanied by a short, ear-piercing thunderous sound, the searchlights lit up the night sky.

The attack came from all directions, appearing like a writhing chitinous wave under the red light. They surged towards the position responsible for by Hayes's regiment. This position seemed like a thorn stuck in the path of the Tyranid invasion, needing to be cut off and pulled out.

Hayes's division was stationed at a station northeast of the Stone Reef City suburbs. It was one of the city's three rail transit hubs and a relatively critical node. Five divisions were assisting in the defense near the hub, two of which were Pushtiban divisions, showing the importance the commander attached to the area. Hayes's 13th Kerman Shah Division was mainly deployed in an area south of the station, with a large shopping mall, several commercial facilities, and a residential area.

Hayes's regiment was responsible for a three-story restaurant, hundreds of surrounding buildings, and two intersecting streets.

As for why they were resisting the Tyranids in the suburbs instead of on the defensive walls, it was of course because the evacuation had already begun. Many troops had already boarded the transports, and what they had to do now was delay, creating more time for the evacuation until they were ordered to retreat from above.

“Fire!”

Countless Ripper swarmed in. As they approached the firing positions ahead, their oval heads viciously snapping.

As Hayes raised his pistol, these creatures died in droves amidst the dense gunfire, torn apart by well-aimed mortar shells and grenades, and evaporated in the screams of laser cannons and plasma machines.

Nevertheless, they surged towards the positions, constantly leaping over piles of dead comrades, their instincts driving them to charge. Behind them were Warrior, larger beasts with developed muscles, each approaching a Space Marine in size and very agile—mortals were basically unable to resist when they wielded their clawed forelimbs to kill, so the best way was to keep them away.

“Lin Yi Regiment, current status?”

While observing the density of the frontline firepower in a second-floor room, Hayes roared into the communicator. A Carnifex died wailing, its carapace unable to withstand the barrage of a dozen armor-piercing rockets, its guts blasted out in one go, looking unusually cathartic.

“Officer Hayes, ammunition, we need more ammunition support.”

An urgent voice came from the communicator.

“Everyone, even the cooks have been thrown into battle. Casualties are heavy, but the line still holds.”

After the evacuation from Tristar City, some of the original militias disbanded, while others maintained their original organization and received weapons supplemented by the disbanded militias, as well as some basic equipment provided by the Faith Watch. They had lost their homeland and almost permanently. Now, they either waited for the Empire to redistribute their homes, or they went all the way to the dark, joining the army to eat and receive payment, so that they had the opportunity to support their families—although the militia's subsidy standard was very low, at least it existed, barely enough to support a family of three or four.