Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 494 Air-Ground Integration

"All units of the Third Company! Highest level alert! Large-scale underground tunnel counterattack! Heavy weapons cluster confirmed! Report pressure coordinates!" The company adjutant's voice pierced through all the noise, cold, authoritative, and carrying an unquestionable sense of urgency.

"Hold on! Change formation! Circular defense! Concentrate fire to eliminate heavy weapon units first! Chainsaw ready to engage!" Vasily immediately gave the order, his voice as steady as a mountain, instantly dispelling the chill that had just risen in Mikhail's heart.

The ten Astartes warriors, like sophisticated war machines, instantly condensed their formation, back to back, shoulder armor touching, forming an indestructible steel death ring!

All the bomb guns were turned around, and a deadly rain of bullets accurately pelted the green-skinned heavy weapons kids carrying crude rocket launchers, multi-barreled bang cannons, and flamethrowers!

But the scale and ferocity of this counterattack far exceeded expectations!
The tunnel exits are like a snake's lair, interconnected in all directions, with numerous and scattered heavy firing points!

The explosive storm tore apart several groups of targets, but more barrages of gunfire and erratic, smoke-streaked rockets rained down on Astartes' ring of defenses like deadly hail!

Sparks flew wildly across the ceramic steel armor, accompanied by a constant stream of screeching and dull thuds.

Mikhail's armor servo system emitted a low, constant hum as it adjusted, resisting the impact.

A rocket exploded less than five meters to his side, the violent blast carrying scorching rocks and sharp metal fragments, slamming into his breastplate and shoulder armor like a hammer blow. The dull impact caused his balance assist system to hum and adjust instantly, pushing him back half a step.

The goggles were completely covered by the thick smoke and dust kicked up by the explosion and the splashes of green blood, leaving only the frantically flashing red threat markers on the tactical interface in my field of vision.

He could hear the Thunderhawk gunships in the sky shifting their fire, bombarding the most threatening orc stronghold with even fiercer firepower in an attempt to suppress the enemy's stronghold.

Stormclaw took an even greater risk by descending to a lower altitude, flying almost close to the rock face, using precise bombs and rockets to pick off scattered heavy weapon targets that survived the chaos, thus relieving pressure on the ground ring line.

The engines of the storm assault boats on the flanks roared louder, clearly accelerating their maneuvers to find the best firing angle to block the new tunnel entrance.

"Rostov 17th Regiment Fire Command Center! This is Ash Knights Team A! Requesting heavy artillery fire coverage! Coordinates Delta-7-Alpha to Gamma area! Saturation attack! Immediately! Repeat, immediately!" Vasily roared in the general tactical channel, and precise coordinate data streams were uploaded instantly.

Between bursts of intense fire, Mikhail glanced at the coordinates—the very area from which the orc heavy weapons and fresh troops were pouring out.

"Third Company command node confirmed coordinates Alpha to Gamma! Rostov artillery, execute highest priority fire coverage! Thoroughly clear this area! Orbital strike platforms, prepare 'Punishment' class light spear strike, target Delta-7 core structure, execute after ground units confirm evacuation from the safe zone!" The company adjutant's voice was resolute, mobilizing the entire battlefield's forces.

"For the Emperor! For Rostov! Heavy artillery! Full charge high-explosive shells! Cover the coordinate area! Rapid fire! Open fire!" The roar of the mortal artillery officer, filled with a broken, resolute tone, clearly reached Mikhail's ears through the communication channel.

The next moment, a roar that tore through the heavens and earth exploded! It drowned out all the noise in the canyon! The sound did not come from above or in front, but from behind, from the direction of the landing site, accompanied by the tremors of the earth itself!
"Boom—! Whoosh—Boom!!!"

The Astragalus heavy artillery group deployed on the high ground behind the landing zone roared with deafening fury! The sound waves of dozens of large-caliber heavy cannons firing simultaneously were like tangible giant hammers, slamming into the entire canyon! Deadly shells, accompanied by deathly shrieks, tore through the dust-filled sky and precisely struck the designated fan-shaped area!

The devastating sea of ​​fire surged and roared into the sky in an instant!

The earth trembled violently as if trampled by a giant god!
A gigantic mushroom cloud, a mixture of mud, gravel, metal fragments, and flesh and blood, rose into the sky!

Several exposed orc heavy weapon groups, along with their bunkers and even the tunnel exits themselves, were instantly obliterated under this devastating barrage! The violent shockwave, like an invisible tsunami, caused the ground beneath the Astartes, who formed a ring of defense, to shake violently!

Mikhail was almost unable to stand, and only managed to regain his balance thanks to the powerful stabilization system of his power armor.

A scorching wave of air, carrying gravel and a stench, rushed towards us! The thick smoke and blinding flames completely obscured our vision.

Mikhail felt the rock strata beneath his feet groaning, as if they were about to collapse at any moment.

Almost simultaneously, the Astragalus heavy bomb squads and laser cannon squads on the flanks also opened fire with full force, with laser beams and denser barrages sweeping through the survivors at the edge of the shelling.

The storm assault boats patrolled the perimeter like keen hunting dogs, filling the gaps in the artillery fire with mobile firepower to ensure no enemy escaped.

This fierce, precise, and timely mortal artillery support, like an anvil descended by the emperor, crashed down and became the final straw that broke the orcs' deadly counterattack.

The orc's WAAAGH! roar was instantly drowned out by the roar of artillery fire and the wails of death.

"Fire support confirmed! Report damage and ammunition status! Reorganize assault formation! Target Delta-7 core! Full speed ahead! Maintain orbital readiness!" The company adjutant's voice remained calm and efficient, as if the devastating attack just now was merely part of the plan.

Mikhail quickly scanned his status readings: his armor was slightly damaged, and he had used more than half of his ammunition but could still hold on.

Brief replies came through the comms: "Ready for battle!" "Sufficient ammunition!" "Keep going!"

"Circular line! Charge! Crush the remnants! Target the core! For the Emperor! Turn to ashes!" Vasily seized this fleeting opportunity, his power sword blazing with blue light, its blade aimed directly at the orcs who were caught in chaos and fear amidst the embers of the artillery fire.

The steel death ring suddenly expanded outward, transforming once again into an indestructible assault wedge, like a phoenix rising from the ashes!
Mikhail took a deep breath of the still scorching but no longer suffocating air, propelling his powerful armor forward as he charged out alongside the steel vanguard.

The bomb gun roared once again, emitting that familiar, exhilarating roar.

His movements were perfectly coordinated with the entire wedge formation; every shot, every step, every swing of the chainsaw contributed precisely to maintaining the sharpness and momentum of this destructive spear.

He could sense the crossfire provided by his flank brothers, like an invisible shield.

The helmet microphones captured the roar of the artillerymen shifting their firepower from their positions; the sound was like the drums of victory.

Above them, a Thunderhawk gunship roared down to its lowest altitude, its hatch wide open, and another fully armed Ash Knight Primal Forged Tactical Squad descended like divine soldiers, gliding precisely into the core area where the battle was most intense, instantly joining the wedge-shaped assault.

Several assault armored vehicles seized the opportunity, their engines roaring, and under the crossfire of the storm assault boats, they accelerated toward the breach. The heavy weapons on board spewed fire, providing continuous flank fire support for the assault team.

The air-ground coordination reached its climax at this moment, with the firepower of rail, air, armor, and infantry perfectly intertwined, weaving a destructive net against the orc core position.

(End of this chapter)