Warhammer 40: Starting as a Rogue Trader

Chapter 246 The Last Remaining Fortress World

In Kadia, on the world of Vigilantum.

The last two Cardia infantry regiments are stationed in the planet's last stronghold.

"Quickly! Soldiers! Bring up another box of explosives! Are there any priests still alive? The automatic gun emplacements here have stopped working! By the Emperor! If we don't repair these emplacements, we won't be able to withstand the next attack!"

"Company commander! We're out of ammunition. The two remaining priests are repairing our last two Leman Rus tanks. We only have a few laser rifle magazines left!"

On the fortress walls, soldiers were lighting bonfires and throwing the batteries from their laser rifles into the fires to charge them. This rudimentary method was inefficient, but the fortress's energy engine had long been destroyed, leaving no extra energy to charge ammunition and weapons.

The remaining two regiments were nothing but remnants; their entire organization had been decimated. Ten days ago, this company commander from Kadia, Anderson, was just a squad leader, but ten days later he had become a company commander.

The fortress they were in was once the Loyal Succession Academy on this planet.

Anderson looked up at the orbit and could see a large number of warship wrecks with the naked eye. The small shipyards on the orbit were destroyed immediately, and the small defensive fleet was no match for the Chaos's attack.

The traitors' fleet is still visible to the naked eye in orbit.

The place they were in was the last stronghold of the Empire on the entire planet.

The Loyalty Academy is also home to a large number of survivors and refugees.

Anderson knew very well why Chaos didn't just launch an orbital attack here; they needed the living people here for sacrificial rituals. Anderson, who had been retreating from other positions to this place, had witnessed many of the traitors' atrocities.

That's why they're able to survive and continue living.

With a sigh, Anderson descended from the fortress wall and headed towards the final command post.

"report!"

"Come in!"

Anderson walked straight through the gate. There wasn't a single guard outside the command post at that moment. Everyone who could move and breathe had been transferred to the front lines.

The instructors and students of the Chushi Academy who had not yet graduated were also incorporated into the infantry regiment. Some of the Chushi students were only eleven or twelve years old.

The refugees also distributed everything that could be used as a weapon.

"Commander Ferguson! The soldiers are out of ammunition! Those traitors are gathering, and the enemy also has the Astartes from the Iron Warriors. I request reinforcements of ammunition and soldiers! Otherwise, we cannot stop the enemy's next attack! The north wall will fall!"

However, in response to Anderson's request, Ferguson simply put down the map in his hand and looked at Anderson.

"Soldiers, we're out of ammunition. I'll arrange for the civilians to go to the front lines as well. It's better to die in battle than to be tortured by those traitors. This may be our last battle. If we run out of ammunition, we'll use daggers and bayonets! I'll go to the front lines with you."

Callesus, Kasperpatox, Kaspersanan, and Horn Fortress have all lost contact in the past three days. Their last communications were all shouting that Cardia stands firm. Anderson, do you know what this means? Now, in the entire galaxy, apart from the fortress world of Cardia, we may be the last planet still in the hands of the Empire.

I don't mind dying in battle; it's the fate of the Cardians. What I worry about is Cardia.”

Ferguson's face also betrayed his worry.

"Commander, the Cadia will not fall, the Empire will not abandon us. Mountain Array, the great Imperial Guard and the angels of all the Astartes Chapters, you also heard the communications from the Cadia. We are worried about the Cadia, and the Cadia is worried about us as well. He is telling us to hold on!"

However, Ferguson was not as optimistic as Anderson. The Vigilantum was not that important compared to the other worlds in the Cardia, and their ability to hold on until now was not because they were strong enough.

It's not because their planet is a resource planet, but because the most valuable thing on the planet is the Loyal Successor Academy.

It is not a primary target of attack.

However, he couldn't possibly say it and undermine morale.

A huge explosion rang out at the walls of the academy fortress.

This signifies the start of the traitors' final assault. "Abandon the walls. Without heavy firepower, there's no point in holding them. Prepare the remaining two Lemanrus; their target is those iron-willed warriors among the enemy!"

We'll stuff it full of explosives. As long as we can take away a few more Chaos Astartes, we'll make a profit!
"Have the soldiers retreat inside the fortress, making every room, every passageway, and every area a defensive position against the enemy."

Ferguson gave his final order as commander, and then picked up his laser pistol and power sword.

“Let’s go, Anderson.”

However, just as the two stepped out of the command post, the sound array in the communication system behind them suddenly started to play for no apparent reason, and the two couldn't help but turn around to look.

The Star Speakers have all died long ago, and Kadia's communications have been completely blocked by Chaos.

There are no other surviving planets in the galaxy. Who could be sending them communications at this time, or has chaos invaded their communication system?

"Vijrantum, report your status. Are there any surviving Imperial soldiers?"

The sudden sound made Ferguson immediately pick up the communicator in his hand.

“I am Ferguson, commander of the 173rd Infantry Regiment of the Kadia Army! Vigilantum is still in the hands of the Empire; we have not been completely conquered! Who are you? State your identities!”

"There are still survivors? Hold on! Support has arrived! Send us your identification signals and location, so we don't accidentally kill anyone."

Communication was interrupted after Ferguson sent the signal.

"Commander? Support? Did I really hear that right?"

"Who exactly is the other party?!"

Upon reaching the vicinity of the city walls, the Chaos traitors, disregarding casualties among themselves and the sacrificial materials they sought to capture, were attempting to seize the fortress as quickly as possible.

At this moment, the flames of the explosion were clearly visible in the planet's orbit, and the chaotic fleet was reduced to wreckage in no time.

Meanwhile, a golden, never-before-seen alien warship was already close to the orbit.

"Alien?!"

Before Ferguson could figure out what was going on, two Gorgons had already jumped onto their heads.

Begin firing to clear out the Chaos army that has not yet breached the fortress.

Meanwhile, the airdrop pods landed directly on the fortress.

He had never seen or recognized the emblem on the Gorgon.

But when the airdrop pod and the azure Thunder Eagle appeared, he knew who the visitors were.

"Ultraman?! By the Emperor! It's Astartes, the Ultramarines!"

Calga was smashing all the enemies in front of him with his powerful punches, while the two under-arm explosives on his gauntlets fired continuously, killing several Iron Warriors instantly.

He was now venting his pent-up rage. He hadn't been there when the Primarch was in danger, and now he was unleashing that fury on the Chaos traitors here.

However, Ferguson couldn't help but rub his eyes.
The soldiers in combat uniforms could understand it, but what about the Templars and the Tyranid-like creatures that followed?

When did the Ultramarines start cooperating with the Aliens?!

The Templars, once they began their charge, were far faster than Astartes, and their efficiency in clearing out enemies far surpassed that of Astartes.

The alien insects swarmed like locusts, and all resistance seemed like a joke in the face of their sheer numbers.

(End of this chapter)