Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 489 Landing Operation
Deep within the massive hangar of the "Gabbro," the engine roared low and continuous, the vibrations emanating faintly from the adamantite deck beneath one's feet.

The air was filled with the slightly astringent smell of burning promethium, the pungent odor of ozone, and the heavy metallic smell of engine oil.

Mikhail and his nine brothers stood motionless beside their Thunderhawk transport plane.

The brand-new MK10 power armor gleamed with a cold, hard sheen under the bright light from the hangar ceiling, with the black and white Maltese cross emblem in the center of the breastplate standing out prominently.

The sacred armor-donning ceremony had just ended; they were no longer recruits on the training ground, but Space Marines of the Ash Knights Chapter.

They weren't the only team in the hangar.

As far as the eye could see, dozens of soldiers, all dressed in brand-new terracotta armor, were making their final preparations beside their respective Thunderhawk or Storm Raven gunboats.

The hum of the power armor's servo system, the monotonous sound of maintenance crews hammering metal, and the deep, reprimanding voices of other sergeants in the distance intertwined in the vast space.

The clicking sound of the bomb gun being chambered rang out intermittently, and the buzzing of the chainsaw sword being activated briefly cut through the air before falling silent again.

A tense feeling, a mixture of smells of engine oil, sweat, and unburned propellant, enveloped the entire hangar.

An old sergeant stood in front of their ranks, his figure as steady as part of the deck beneath his feet.

Mikhail's gaze swept over the predecessor who was about to lead them into the flames of war.

The dark ceramic power armor was covered with fine scratches and several repaired dents, silently telling the story of past battles.

Several deep dents on the shoulder armor marked important kills.

The veteran sergeant wasn't wearing a helmet; he tucked it under his arm, revealing a weathered face.

With sharp, angular features, an old scar slanted across the corner of his tightly pursed lips, and deep-set eyes that held a sharp yet calm gaze, like a cold sensor scanning its target.

His equipment was unusual: a long-barreled explosive gun with a precision scope was slung across his right hip, while a worn, antique-style power sword hilt hung from his left hip.

Those eyes swept over every new recruit.

“New recruits,” the veteran sergeant’s voice rang out, deep and clear, piercing through the noise of the hangar, “I am Vasily, your sergeant, and the commander who will lead you into battle.”

Behold the chapter insignia on your chests! From this moment forward, you are no longer fledglings. You are the Emperor's Ash Knights, His angels of death.

This terracotta armor is your second skin, a mobile sanctuary, and above all, an unparalleled honor and a heavy responsibility.

He paused, his voice like tempered steel. "Remember, your every action concerns the honor of the warband! On the battlefield, you are each other's support, your brothers' sharpest blade!"
Trust your brothers as you would your own arms! Cooperation is strength; discipline is life! Do not let recklessness tarnish the glory of the cross, nor let cowardice betray the Emperor's grace!
Today, amidst the tainted blood of heretics, prove with your actions that you are worthy of this armor! For the Emperor! Turn to ashes!

"For the Emperor! Turn to ashes!" Ten recruits roared in unison, their voices resonating inside their helmets and merging with the same roars echoing throughout the hangar.

Veteran Vasily nodded slightly: "Boarding! Ready to depart."

The magnetic locking boots made a clanging sound as they stepped onto the cold, adamantite slope of the Thunderhawk transport plane.

Mikhail and his brothers entered one by one, fixing themselves in the cold seats according to the positions they had practiced countless times.

The heavy ceramic steel body trembled slightly as the magnetic lock snapped shut.

The hatch closed slowly amidst the hissing of the hydraulic system, shutting out the blinding light of the hangar, the passing vehicles, the flashing warning lights, the shrill whirring of the servo skulls, and the increasingly loud roar of the engines. Inside, only the low hum of circulating air and the soft whirring of the individual power armor servo systems remained.

Veteran Vasily was the last to step into the cabin.

He didn't sit down, but stood steadily beside the closed hatch, his right hand habitually resting on the body of the specially made explosive gun, and his left hand on the hilt of the power sword at his waist.

His mere presence filled the small troop transport compartment with a calm and composed atmosphere.

The roar of the engines suddenly intensified, and the Thunderhawk transport was pushed out of the hangar restraints by tremendous force, its tail spewing out a blinding blue-white plasma tail flame as it hurtled towards the cold void of Broken Tooth III.

The moment the ship detached from its mother ship, the "Gabbro," the impact of inertia caused the body, which was fixed in the seat, to sway.

Through the narrow observation window, the rusty planet rapidly magnified in the field of vision, expanding from a dim spot into a suffocatingly desolate world that filled the entire porthole.

The enormous machine trembled violently in the thin atmosphere.

Through the observation window, which was slightly reddened from being rubbed by the high-speed airflow, Mikhail saw the scene below: a relatively open rock platform located on the edge of the Iron Jaw Canyon had been cleared out and used to build a temporary landing site.

The figures of Astronaut soldiers were busy behind makeshift bunkers and sandbags. They wore khaki and dark brown woolen uniforms of the 17th Rostov Regiment. Heavy weapons teams operated heavy laser cannons and heavy explosive shells, pouring fire into the depths of the canyon to suppress the scattered greenskins trying to surge up.

Further away, the flashes of exploding bombs and the hum of chainsaws could be faintly seen deep within the canyon, indicating that other Ash Knight squads had already joined the battle.

The Ironjaw Canyon, resembling the gaping maw of a giant beast, is clearly visible. On both sides are towering, steep, barren, crimson rock walls, while the valley floor is dotted with crude fortresses, bunkers, and shacks built by orcs using scrap iron, rocks, and rubble, covered with chaotic markings.

The air was filled with visible smog mixed with rust-colored dust.

Even through the portholes and the roar of the engine, the deafening noise could be faintly heard.

Countless rough, off-key roars, the monotonous and violent banging of gunfire, the ear-piercing noise of metal clashing, and a primitive, savage, almost air-distorting WAAAGH! energy field crashed against the senses like an invisible giant wave.

"Prepare for landing! Briefing initiated!" Sergeant Vasily's voice crackled through the communications channel, drowning out the engine's whistle.

Almost simultaneously, tactical data streamed down like a waterfall through Mikhail's helmet visor.

Task Briefing:
Target area: Ironjaw Canyon core nest, grid coordinates Delta-7.

Main threat: Orc remnant stronghold. Confirmed presence of a heavy weapons troop, and possible activity by an Orc leader and mechanic troop members. WAAAGH! Energy field readings are extremely high, indicating severe interference.

Allied Status: The 17th Rostov Regiment of the Astronautical Army is responsible for consolidating the landing zone and outer defenses. They have withstood multiple counterattacks by the Orks and urgently need our deep strikes to relieve the pressure. A friendly squad is currently clearing out stubborn enemy forces deep within the canyon.

Squad Mission:

Team A, directly commanded by Sergeant Vasily, stormed into the heart of the canyon along the predetermined route, "The Road of the Anvil," to destroy heavy weapons outposts and eliminate key resistance nodes.

Team B, commanded by Sergeant Ivanov, captured the high ground "Eagle's Nest Rock" on the left flank, established a fire support point, and suppressed the green tide surging out from the side of the canyon.

The two teams worked together to clear the path.

Key points of execution: Maintain wedge formation. Prioritize eliminating heavy firepower threats. Beware of underground tunnel attacks. Trust your brothers, trust your weapons. For the Emperor!
(End of this chapter)