Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 738 The Battle of Baal, Part 5

In the middle of the "Anvil" defensive line, Chief Sergeant Herman of the Blood Angels suddenly made a dull jamming sound from his explosive rifle.

He quickly stepped back, dodging a swarm of knife-like insects, while simultaneously checking his weapons.

This is not a mechanical failure.

He had just fired a burst at a new Zerg unit's chest armor, but the explosive shells that should have penetrated only left dents and flying debris on the thick, smooth armor.

"Attention! New unit detected! Bomb penetration reduced!" Herman shouted in the communication channel, while drawing his power sword and beheading the knife-like insect that had pounced on him.

He looked around and found that there were more units with thicker carapaces and slightly larger bodies than ordinary warrior bugs on the front line.

They advanced steadily despite the defenders' explosive fire; only plasma weapons and thermal guns could effectively kill them.

At the same time, several heavy weapon platforms located behind the defensive line suddenly malfunctioned.

The aiming system of one Cyclone missile launcher spun wildly, while the automatic turret of another was completely shut down.

The Tech Priest attempted to restart the system, only to find that the machine spirit had become unusually agitated, and the system log indicated that it was being interfered with by an unknown psychic force.

"Strong psionic fluctuations detected!" Mephisto's chief think tank, located in the psionic spire of Angel Keep, issued a warning. "A new type of psionic unit is appearing on the battlefield, and its jamming pattern is targeting our mechanical constructs!"

Chen Xi received these reports at the command center of the "Indomitable Truth".

He pulled up the real-time data stream from the front lines and saw that the effectiveness of Imperial weapons was declining in several areas.

The new heavy-armored units were dispersed within the swarm's charge, effectively absorbing most of the explosive firepower; while the psionic disruptor units were hidden deep within the swarm, intermittently paralyzing critical defensive structures.

"Order all frontline units to prioritize identifying and marking the new type of heavily armored targets, and hand them over to the heavy weapons team for processing," Chen Xi issued the order. "Technical Priest, activate the psionic shielding protocol for all equipment, and switch to manual operation if necessary."

However, the effectiveness of the countermeasures was limited.

Heavy weapons are already scarce and have become a priority target for the Zerg swarm.

Psionic shielding reduces device efficiency, and manual operation significantly slows down response times.
-
On the other side of Baal's main planet, in the "Broken Claw" canyon, the Empire set up an elaborate decoy position.

This place is disguised as an important communications relay station, with a considerable number of automated turrets and projection devices deployed, and a company of Astragalians stationed there, with the intention of drawing the main Zerg force here to be consumed.

At first, the plan seemed to be working.

A large number of insect units flooded into the canyon, triggering the pre-set crossfire traps and minefields, resulting in heavy losses.

But the swarm quickly changed tactics.

Instead of following the pre-set path, they began to climb the steep rock walls on both sides of the canyon, which were considered insurmountable.

At the same time, several giant tunnel worms burst out of the ground from the core area of ​​the position and appeared directly behind the defending forces.

Even more surprisingly, the Zerg swarm's main force did not commit all of its troops to this "important target" as expected. Only about one-third of the forces were engaged there, while the rest bypassed the canyon and continued to advance towards Angel Keep.

"Broken Claw Canyon decoy position requests support! They're coming from all directions, we're surrounded!" came the urgent cry for help from the Astragalus company commander over the communications channel, accompanied by the sounds of violent explosions and screams.

Chen Xi frowned as he watched the signal representing that position on the tactical map rapidly weaken.

This result differs greatly from the prediction.

The swarm not only saw through the limitations of the trap, but also found a way to break it at a much faster pace than expected, and correctly judged that this was not the real key point that required a full-scale attack.

Hours later, a similar situation occurred at another decoy position – Eagle's Nest Heights.

The position was disguised as a command center and equipped with stronger firepower and more realistic energy signals.

This time, the Zerg swarm adopted a different tactic.

They amassed an unprecedented number of heavily armored units in front of their positions, forming a solid advancing line.

At the same time, a large number of spore mines were dropped from the air, covering the entire highland surface.

While the defenders were busy dealing with the frontal pressure and clearing spore mines, several new types of units capable of brief burrowing launched a surprise attack from below the position.

"Their learning speed is beyond imagination." Chen Xi reported to Lion King and Dante in the command center, with detailed data on the failure of multiple decoy positions displayed in front of him: "They can not only quickly adapt to our weapons and equipment, but also counterattack at the tactical level."

The ways in which 'Broken Claw' Canyon and 'Eagle's Nest' Highlands were destroyed are completely different, indicating that the Hive's will does not follow a fixed pattern, but rather adopts the most efficient solution after analyzing the characteristics of each position.

He pulled up a comparison chart of the swarm unit behavior patterns.

"Within eighteen hours of the start of the battle, the swarm had evolved effective defenses against our explosive weapons, developed jamming capabilities against our electronic equipment, and successfully identified and dismantled our two main decoy positions."

This rate of learning and evolution is faster than any Tyranid invasion recorded in the Inquisition archives.

The command center fell into a brief silence.

The swarms not only possess numerical superiority but also an astonishing capacity for adaptation and learning, meaning any tactical advantage is likely temporary. The Imperial army faces an enemy that is constantly becoming smarter.

"Adjust the deployment," Lion King Leon finally ordered. "All pre-set tactics must incorporate swarm adaptability variables. Inquisitor Chen Xi, I need you to establish a dedicated analysis team to track the swarm's tactical changes in real time."

“It’s already in progress,” Chen Xi replied, but his expression remained serious. “But I’m worried that our analysis speed may not be able to keep up with their learning speed.”
-
Inside the command center of the "Indomitable Truth," a huge tactical star map clearly shows the deteriorating state of the current battle.

The blue area representing the empire's controlled territory is being eroded and fragmented by ever-spreading, dirty green patches.

Several key peripheral defense nodes have fallen, while many others are struggling to hold on, with their signals flickering intermittently.

Chen Xi stood in front of the star map and handed a data panel to Lion King Leon, which included reports of losses on various fronts, ammunition consumption, swarm advance speed, and unit mutations.

"Primarch, Commander Dante, based on the current data model and analysis, maintaining the current defensive posture across the entire front will lead to our collapse within forty-eight standard hours due to excessive troop dispersion and attrition. The loss of the outer positions is only a matter of time."

Dante's golden mask turned toward the star map, his gaze sweeping over the battle lines marked by the impending swarm of insects, some of which had been held up only by the heavy sacrifice of the Blood Angels and the mortal auxiliary forces.

"Contracting the defenses means abandoning more than 60 percent of the existing defensive area, including 'Anvil' Canyon and 'Eagle's Nest' Highlands. There are still tens of thousands of soldiers fighting there."

Lion King Leon's gaze was as deep as the Caliban Forest. He silently examined the star map, and finally, his finger pointed to Angel Castle and several core areas around it.

"Preserve our strength and concentrate our defenses on key nodes. Losing the outer positions means losing land. Losing the main force of the legion means losing Baal and the future of the entire galaxy." His voice was deep and firm, carrying an undeniable resolve. "Execute the contraction order. All units, retreat to the core defense perimeter according to the predetermined evacuation sequence. Angel Keep will be the final fortress." The order was swiftly issued via encrypted channel. The entire Baal defense system, like a massive organism, began a painful but necessary surgery—a painful but necessary limb-cutting procedure to survive.
-
The order to retreat from the "Anvil" defense line has arrived. Sergeant Major Herman looked at the evacuation route and time window displayed on the tactical data panel and took a deep breath.

His squad and other units stationed there were assigned to the last evacuation sequence. Their mission was to hold out until the very last moment, ensure the safe withdrawal of the main force, and then break out on their own.

"Everyone check your ammunition and gather the remaining explosives," Herman ordered calmly in the squad channel. "We'll buy time for our brothers to evacuate."

There were no objections, no complaints.

The surviving Holy Blood Angels silently carried out orders, concentrating their remaining explosive bombs, plasma grenades, and molten metal bombs in key passageways.

They clung to the dilapidated fortifications, facing the swarms of insects that surged forth again from afar like a tide.

The evacuation was carried out amidst gunfire and chaos.

The transport ships braved the spore fire of the insect swarms to take off and land at the temporary landing point, picking up batches of soldiers.

The rearguard was under immense pressure; the Zerg swarm seemed to sense the Imperial army's intentions, and their attack became even more frenzied and fierce.

At the remaining positions in the Broken Claw Canyon on the flank of a main retreat route, the rearguard, consisting of remnants of the 118th Regiment of the Cadian Army and a Blood Angels tactical squad, was in dire straits.

Their mission was to hold the intersection for six standard hours, buying time for the main force to pass.

Four standard hours later, the hoarse voice of the commander of the Cadian Regiment came through the communication channel: "...Escape route secured...We are no longer able to disengage...May the Emperor protect Baal..."

The signal was then cut off amid a violent explosion.

The captain of the Blood Angels tactical squad, seeing the signals from the swarm closing in from all directions on the sensors, led the last five members in a final counter-attack. They charged into the densest part of the swarm and detonated all the heavy weapons and explosives on their bodies.

Similar scenarios unfolded along multiple evacuation routes.

To cover the main force and ensure the smooth passage of the retreat, the rearguard units, knowing that there was no hope of survival, still fought to the death.

They often fight to the last man, only to be completely overwhelmed by the swarm of insects.

The communication channels were constantly filled with farewell messages and confirmation reports of the unit's signal disappearance; each message represented the sacrifice of hundreds or thousands of loyal soldiers.
-
Leona appeared at the nexus of a major evacuation route—a massive bridge spanning a vast rift valley.

A large number of retreating Astral Army units and some Blood Angels logistics troops were gathered here, while the Zerg swarm's advance pursuit force was already approaching.

"All units, accelerate across the bridge!" Leona's voice boomed through the loudspeaker, as she stood alone at the bridgehead, facing the surging swarm of insects.

The Lion King's Sword transformed into a whirlwind of death in her hands, turning any alien that tried to approach the bridgehead into fragments under its light.

Her presence acted as an invisible barrier, forcefully halting the swarm's pursuit and buying precious time for the retreating troops.

As the last batch of transport vehicles loaded with soldiers drove onto the bridge, Leona decisively retreated the instant several new heavily armored units broke through the sword net.

As she retreated, she used the weapons on her power armor gauntlets to fire single shots at fast-moving units that tried to pursue her, until she was safely on the other side of the bridge.

"Detonate," she commanded succinctly.

The molten bombs placed on the bridge piers were remotely activated. With a huge explosion, the magnificent bridge broke in two, carrying countless Zerg units that were trying to cross into the bottomless rift.

The pursuit was temporarily halted.

But Leona looked at the swarm of insects that continued to gather on the opposite bank, searching for new paths forward, and there was no ease on her face.

Such delays are costly and have limited effect.
-
On orbit, the Dark Angels fleet was also struggling to cover and retreat.

The firepower of the "Unyielding Truth" and "Stone" fortresses was concentrated on suppressing the swarm bio-ships attempting to disrupt the ground evacuation and providing orbital fire support for key evacuation areas.

Ravenwing's fast ships continued to launch attacks, intercepting spore sacs that attempted to be airdropped over the retreating troops.

Each instance of fire support and interception resulted in Imperial ships enduring more attacks, their Void Shield energy continuously decreasing, and their hulls becoming riddled with damage.

In order to cover the escape of several transport ships full of evacuees, a Dark Angel frigate resolutely rammed into a swarm mothership that was attempting to launch biological torpedoes, perishing together with the enemy.

The process of shrinking the defensive line was paved with blood and steel.

Every inch of land abandoned was soaked in the blood of the empire's soldiers.

Behind every unit that successfully withdrew to the core defense line, there were one or even more units that were left permanently on the outer perimeter.

When the signal from the last outer position disappeared from the tactical star map, and when all surviving units finally withdrew into the final defensive perimeter centered on Fort Angels, including several key satellite fortresses and orbital defense platforms, the Allied forces' loss statistics were also preliminarily completed.

More than 40% of the Astragalus Army and planetary defense forces remained permanently stationed on the outer perimeter.

The Holy Blood Angels and their subordinate units lost nearly one-tenth of their fighting comrades, many of whom were experienced veterans.

The Dark Angels also paid a considerable price in their orbital and ground support operations.

The atmosphere was heavy within the core defense perimeter.

The soldiers silently cleaned their weapons and replenished their ammunition, while the medical area was filled with wounded soldiers.

Officers and technicians were busy integrating the remaining troops and redistributing defensive tasks.

Chen Xi stood in front of the observation window of the "Indomitable Truth" and looked down at the smaller but denser blue defense markings on the surface of the main star of Baal, as well as the endless green shadows in the surrounding starry sky that were still approaching.

Shrinking the defensive line concentrates forces, but it also means losing strategic depth and buffer zones.

The battles to come will be fought with no way out, and the struggle for every inch of land will be even more brutal.

Leon the Lion, Leona, and Dante meet at the command center in Castle Angels.

No one spoke, but everyone understood that the horrific sacrifices on the periphery were just the beginning.

The most brutal battle is about to unfold beneath the walls of Angel Keep, in this last home of the Saviors of Sanguis. The main force of the Zerg has not yet been fully committed, while the Imperial army has nowhere to retreat.

(End of this chapter)