Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 663 The Blade of Repentance
The curtain of subspace was suddenly torn apart, and three enormous, menacing, and angular black shadows, like vengeful warships sailing out of ancient mythology, slowly slid into the real universe of the "Azure Dawn" star system.

The ship's hull gleamed with a cold, hard sheen under the starlight, and its massive turrets and missile silos were already operational, radiating a chilling killing intent.

They are the Unyielding Faith, the Sword of Redemption, and the Forgotten Scars, strike cruisers belonging to the Dark Angels sub-group "Blades of Repentance".

Almost simultaneously, near the Mandeville point in the galaxy, the structure of reality was disturbed again, and an even larger Imperial fleet completed its jump.

The Imperial Navy escort fleet, led by the old Gothic-class cruiser HMS Steadfast Will, appeared first, followed by a large transport fleet of ships that looked as if they were made of countless steel plates riveted together.

The cargo holds of these ships were filled with the fastest response force that the Ministry of Military Affairs could mobilize—Astral Legions from all over the Empire.

Although they were not a full-strength unit, they carried an unwavering will that had crossed the stars.

The bridge of the "Gabbro" immediately picked up those familiar Imperial engine signals, and Allegana's voice rang out in Chen Xi's private communication channel: "Inquisitor, reinforcements have arrived. Three strike cruisers of the Blade of Repentance Chapter, as well as an Imperial Navy escort fleet and troop transport convoy have been identified."

Chen Xi was standing on a position in the southern part of the island, where an attack had just been repelled, his power sword stained with thick, purple blood. He looked up at the sky, obscured by smoke but still able to sense the presence of the fleet, and silently exhaled a breath of pent-up air.

That is not a slackening of efforts, but rather a shift of the heavy burden of responsibility to a larger war machine.

"Establish the highest priority communication link and receive notifications from the fleet commander of the Blade of Repentance and the highest-ranking commander of the Astral Army," Chen Xi commanded. His voice, transmitted through the helmet filter, was calm and cold, without the slightest fluctuation.

The holographic image rapidly coalesced within the temporary command center.

A commander of the Astartes appears, clad in dark green power armor with the insignia of the Blade of Repentance engraved on his shoulder armor.

He tucked his helmet under his arm, revealing a battle-hardened face with sharp eyes that carried the profoundness and prudence characteristic of a descendant of the First Legion.

“Judge,” the other voice murmured like a low engine, “I am Cassirer, commander of the Fifth Company of the Blades of Repentance. We respond to your call for help. For the Lion King and the Emperor, we report on the current situation.”

Almost simultaneously, another communication window flashed, and an elderly man in an Astral Army general's uniform, looking weary but with an iron gaze, spoke: "Your Excellency, Otto Glenn, commander of the Astral Army's temporary mixed force, is reporting for duty. My unit is on standby in orbit. Please provide instructions on the landing area and priority targets. The soldiers are ready to cleanse this land."

Chen Xi quickly shared global scanning data, enemy troop distribution, loyalist strongholds, and island defense status. On the holographic star map, a shocking crimson almost covered the entire ocean.

“Company Commander Cassirer, General Glenn,” Chen Xi said succinctly, “Welcome to Hell. The planet’s ruling class has fallen into the hands of the Xenomorphs; the oceans are their domain, and the surface is littered with lairs and madmen. Your arrival is the Emperor’s response to his loyalists.”

He pointed to several key coordinates: "Priority mission: cover the Astral Army forces as they establish secure landing sites and command nodes on designated coastlines of the main continents. The island defenses are still hold, but the Loyalist outposts on the mainland are falling rapidly, and they desperately need your steel and fire."

“Secondly,” Chen Xi turned to Cassirer’s image, “orbital bombardment must prioritize clearing these marked biological turret arrays and large sea monster gathering points to clear obstacles for the landing.”

Company Commander Cassirer nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the tactical star map like a scanner, before quickly making a decision: "'Sword of Redemption' and 'Forgotten Scars' will perform orbital purification. 'Unyielding Faith' will provide near-ground fire support. The aerial formation of Blade of Repentance will strike first, clearing all high-value targets on the beachhead." His words were unwavering, revealing only a highly efficient and ruthless determination.

General Glenn immediately ordered: "All transport ships, proceed to the designated landing coordinates! Drop pods and landing craft, prepare! For the first wave, I want the vanguard of the Astraklan Army to set foot on the beachhead and establish a defensive line! For the Emperor!"

The war machine was in full swing.

The warship of the Blade of Repentance was the first to unleash the Emperor's wrath. The scorching jets of light spears and macro cannons, like the lash of the gods, descended once more upon the Azure Dawn Star, their scale and intensity far surpassing that of the "Gabbro".

The massive array of biological turrets was reduced to burning organic slag under precise strikes; Leviathan-class monsters swimming in the ocean were targeted by multiple beams of light, their shells melted and evaporated, emitting deafening howls, and finally sank into the abyss dyed deep purple.

At the same time, the hatches of Imperial Navy transport ships burst open, and countless airdrop pods poured out like scorching meteors, streaking with flames as they crashed toward the designated coastline. Even more landing craft swarmed towards the land like bees.

What truly showcases the tactical characteristics of the Blade of Repentance is their massive air power.

The Thunderhawk and Stormraven gunboat squadrons roared out of the strike cruiser's hangar, swooping down like falcons on their prey, forming a moving armored barrier above the Astragalus landing craft.

They used precise firepower to target and disrupt the landing flying organisms and heavy ground targets, creating a relatively safe airspace for the airdrop operation.

The ground battle situation was reversed in an instant.

Along the coastlines of the major continents, Astronaut soldiers, chanting the Emperor's name, bravely charged onto the beaches, braving fire from the jungles and ruins.

The roar of heavy grenades and mortars echoed along the coast, multi-barreled laser cannons swept the landing zone, and infantry fighting vehicles advanced in coordination, quickly establishing a ring-shaped defensive line.

Every inch of land taken was accompanied by sacrifice; the sand was soaked with blood, but the empire's flag was finally planted firmly once again on this fallen territory.

Subsequent waves of soldiers built formidable defensive lines and forward bases with astonishing efficiency.

Heavy machinery roared as minefields were laid and air defense arrays were erected simultaneously, rapidly transforming the beachhead into a springboard for offensive operations.

On the island side, the "Unyielding Faith" fired precisely behind the alien horde besieging the defensive line, turning thousands of gene-stealer hybrids and mutants to ashes.

With the pressure suddenly reduced, the defending troops even launched a brief counterattack, advancing their lines several hundred meters forward.

Chen Xi stood in the command center, gazing at the blue area on the hologram that represented the empire's controlled territory, which was expanding steadily, bit by bit.

The war machine of the human empire may be slow, but once fully activated, its destructive power is enough to shake the stars.

The skies are no longer the absolute domain of the Tyranids. Imperial Navy's Lightning Fighters and Avenger Attack Squadrons weave through the clouds, engaging in fierce aerial battles with swarms of Gargoyles and Spore Sacs.

Lasers streaked across the sky, missiles left trails of smoke, and the debris of the alien creatures fell like raindrops.

The Astartes of the Blade of Repentance did not directly deploy to the island's defenses. Instead, as Cassirer had said, they were sent directly to the most fiercely resisted and densely populated areas on the mainland as the Emperor's spearhead.

Their deep green silhouettes were like the embodiment of death on the battlefield, relentlessly hunting down any high-value targets that hindered the advance of the Astronautical Army with precise and ferocious aerial maneuvers and strikes.

A glimmer of hope finally pierced through the thick smoke and despair, illuminating this ravaged world. And this glimmer of hope was forged from steel, fire, and endless sacrifice.

(End of this chapter)