Warhammer, I really didn't intend to form a second empire!

Chapter Thirteen: Green Skin II

The dark red beam of light silently streaked across the vacuum, crashing into the center of the dense formation of the green-skinned fleet, like a red-hot iron rod stabbing into a pile of dry firewood.

The first salvo had a hit rate of nearly 70%, and those poorly constructed ships exploded the moment the beams pierced through them.

Green-skinned ships do have shields, but their shields are sometimes quite mysterious; they can be activated, but the effectiveness depends on the extent of their power.

It's about whether this green-skinned force is strong enough. The stronger they are, the more mysterious mystical their power becomes, and the more powerful their shields will be, since these shields are just some scrap metal they somehow managed to install.

Therefore, in most cases, they relied on multi-layered welded scrap metal armor and an abnormally robust keel structure to withstand damage, but the 6,400 mm caliber of the Great Wall-class main guns clearly exceeded their tolerance limit.

The first thirty-odd green-skinned ships were pierced from bow to stern by a beam of light. The welds on the hulls cracked layer by layer under the high temperature, and the ammunition depots and fuel tanks inside exploded in a chain reaction, tearing the entire ship into several rolling pieces.

But the remaining green-skinned ships did not slow down; instead, they accelerated.

Those crudely made propulsion units burst into murky blue-red flames at the stern, abruptly increasing the speed from scattered impacts to an almost unreasonable level.

Like a herd of enraged wild boars, they charged headlong into the Qin Empire's fleet.

They pointed their bows toward the Qin Empire's fleet, and all the Gantz guns were firing wildly, the bullets scattered but extremely dense, filling the space in front of them with an irregularly moving barrage.

Li Jing stood in front of the holographic tactical console on the flagship's bridge, his hands resting on the edge of the console, his gaze quickly sweeping over the approaching red enemy ship markers.

The Green Fleet's tactical intentions are quite clear: they have no tactics at all!

They didn't care about fleet formations, the firepower exchange ratio between the two sides, or any so-called losses. The greens only had one thing on their minds: fighting!

Use enough ships to break through the barrage of intercepting bullets and crash into the Qin fleet's formation to engage in a boarding action.

This is a tactic that the Greenskins have always used.

"Fleet formation, increase the density of intercepting barrages to 100%, leave no gaps."

The escort ships deployed in front adjusted their firing parameters at the same time, switching their bow-mounted rapid-fire cannons from single shots to full-speed continuous fire, creating a near-impenetrable metal storm in the air.

The first wave of Greenskinned Fleet assault ships was torn to shreds the moment they crashed into the barrage of bullets, but there were many more behind them, layer upon layer, like moths drawn to a flame.

A green-skinned cruiser, dragging a broken half of its hull, broke through the interception line. Its bow armor had been pierced by several holes, but its propellers were still working. With its remaining speed, it rammed straight toward the flank of the Great Wall-class battleship formation.

"Left flank first squad, take cover; right flank squad, provide fire support; don't let it get close."

The cruiser was completely destroyed by a concentrated barrage of fire less than 20,000 kilometers from the flank of the formation. The wreckage continued to slide forward with inertia for a distance before scattering into a large pile of tumbling metal fragments in the vacuum.

But the Greenskin Fleet's numerical advantage began to emerge.

The number of ships emerging from the planet's shadow side was far greater than initially estimated by orbital reconnaissance, and new ships continued to rise from those rift nests.

Those crude launch silos on the planet's surface were like scarred skin, each one constantly spitting out warships.

Li Jing did not choose to continue to resist; he simultaneously sent the data he observed back to the Lishan.

“Father, the ships in the ground nests are being resupplyed faster than expected. They are using the hidden docks in the rift valley to quickly repair and set sail. If we continue to expend resources on orbit, the casualty ratio will be higher than I anticipated.”

"You decide for yourself. You are the frontline commander. I won't interfere with your choices. If anything goes wrong, I'll take the blame for you."

"Yes, Father."

Li Jing's calm voice was once again relayed to the various fleets.

"Don't fight a war of attrition with them. Have the Great Wall-class destroyers strike in three waves, each wave targeting one Rift Cluster and destroying all their launch silos. Once the ground fleet can no longer launch ships, the rest will be left to fend for themselves."

Li Jing adjusted the tactical deployment, and the formation of the Great Wall-class battleships began to slowly change.

The first echelon of capital ships advanced 450,000 kilometers, their bow guns re-aiming at the densest cluster of missile silos on the planet's surface; the second echelon slowed down and retreated, reloading shells at the core of the formation; the third echelon remained in place, responsible for protecting the flanks and suppressing the remaining green-skinned ships still darting about in space.

The first round of ground attacks began less than three minutes after the adjustments were completed.

One hundred dark red beams of light poured out from the bow main gun of the Great Wall-class battleship, traversing hundreds of thousands of kilometers, and precisely nailed to the edges of several rift valleys on the planet's surface.

The moment the beam of light came into contact with the ground, the rock strata were instantly vaporized by the high temperature. The shock wave spread along the rift valley to the mountain walls on both sides, shattering rows of launch silo entrances embedded in the rock walls.

Rock fragments and metal debris were hurled thousands of meters into the air, forming a curtain of dust and flames that obscured everything below.

The second wave of attacks followed immediately, targeting another set of rift valleys, and the third wave followed closely by the remaining targets after the first wave.

After the twelve rounds of orbital bombardment ended, the sunlit side of the planet was almost completely covered by a thick layer of smoke and dust. Remote sensing sensors showed that the average destruction rate of the launch silos in those rift areas was over 90%.

But remnants of ships and green-skinned creatures still roamed the depths of those rift valleys. Like a swarm of bees whose nest had been destroyed, they began to emerge from deeper caves and underground passages, converging on the exits at the edge of the rift valleys on the surface.

Greenskins are one of the few Xenomorphs that could rival humans in sheer numbers during the Great Crusade. Most importantly, they reproduce very quickly.

But none of these are problems, at least not for the Qin Empire at present.

"Ground assault troops, prepare."

Li Jing drew a landing path on the holographic tactical platform, marked in blue, cutting into the atmosphere from the planet's shadow side and entering the target area along the side of the rift valley.

"Xiang Ji, your vanguard's landing point is in the northern section of the rift valley. That area has already been cleared by orbital bombardment, so there are fewer surface obstacles."

"Li Cunxiao's Second Company will cut in from the south and flank them. Don't give them a chance to hide underground. Meng Tian, ​​your Red Guard Battalion and the Marauder Formation will form a line of fire in the middle."

"Chi You, your frontline assault team will advance straight into the Greenskin stronghold. Bring plenty of flamethrower soldiers, Sky Cover soldiers, and Golia mechs. Tell the other mechs to bring plenty of flamethrower devices and make sure to wipe them out without leaving a single one alive."

"clear."

"No one should underestimate them. Remember what Father told us: they will become fiercer and smarter the more you fight them."

A series of confirmation sounds came from the communication channel.

The transport fleet began its descent from the synchronous orbit, with the Stormbird and Thunderhawk gunships at the forefront cutting into the atmosphere first, their wingtips leaving bright trails in the night sky as they rubbed against the thin atmosphere.

The ground assault troops completed their landing within fifteen minutes.

Xiang Ji's first company was the first to set foot on the surface of that barren planet. The rock layers under their feet were covered with a thick layer of dust, which made a soft rustling sound as they were crushed by their boots.

He stood at the edge of the rift and looked down. The fissure, which was more than three kilometers wide, looked like a hideous wound in the night. The rock walls on both sides had been ripped away by the rail bombardment, revealing the crisscrossing entrances to the passages below. Some were half-collapsed metal welded doors, while others were still completely open and deep cave entrances.

It's hard to imagine that these greens could develop such a force under such circumstances.

The air was filled with the smells of sulfur and metallic corrosion, along with a strong, pungent odor of green fur, all mixed together to create an atmosphere that instinctively made humans uncomfortable.

"First Company, advance in formation, do not scatter, prioritize blocking the tunnel entrance, and prevent them from flanking from both sides."

Xiang Ji jumped down into the rift valley, and the ground where he landed trembled slightly. The joints of the White Tiger-type armor made a dull hydraulic decompression sound when he landed, and the soles of his boots embedded themselves in the cracks in the rock surface. As he steadied himself, he raised his heavy explosive gun.

To him, this heavy weapon was no different from an ordinary bomb gun.

The bottom of the rift valley is more complex than it appears from above. The entrances to the passages are not just holes embedded in the rock walls, but also interconnected by lateral passages, forming a vast three-dimensional network.

The first company advanced about two kilometers along the bottom of the rift valley, where the first wave of green-skinned ground resistance appeared.

They were a group of heavily armored green-skinned men carrying crudely made metal cleavers and pistols. Each of them was nearly 2.2 meters tall, and their green, hard skin was covered with metal plates and chains. Some even had copper rings piercing their ears and noses.

They swarmed out of the side passage, numbering about 100,000, emitting those low, indistinct roars.

waaaaaagh!

Xiang Ji didn't even give an order; the formation of the first company automatically switched the moment the green-skinned soldiers appeared.

The brothers in the front row raised their large shields and mounted their bomb guns on them. The soldiers in the back row stood and fired. The soldiers on the left and right flanks moved several steps forward and to the sides, forming a three-sided crossfire formation. Xiang Ji stood in the middle and also raised his heavy bomb gun.

The volley of bomb gun fire shattered the first wave of greensmen the moment they rushed into the open area.

The crude metal plates dented and shattered under the impact of the bomb, tearing the green-skinned body in two, with green blood and bits of flesh splattering onto the rock walls on both sides in the explosion.

But the green-skinned creatures behind them continued to charge forward, stepping over the remains of their own kind. Their cleavers and power claws gleamed with a rough, dark light in the firelight.

“waaaaaagh!”

The roars came from all directions at the same time, and new green saplings kept emerging from the passages on both sides of the rift valley. They climbed and jumped on the rock walls, crawled out of the cracks, and even rolled over the collapsed pile of rubble overhead.

The green-skinned creatures' roars coalesced into a substantial sonic wave, causing the rock walls to tremble slightly.

However, they did not realize that they lacked their usual momentum on the battlefield today, and even their usually invincible waaaagh force field was ineffective.

Red no longer accelerates, blue no longer brings luck, yellow no longer explodes, and purple no longer becomes invisible. If their arms are severed, they will bleed to death...

However, the green-skinned people who were already caught up in the moment clearly did not notice this problem.

Facing the charging orcs, Xiang Ji did not retreat. Two launch ports popped open on the shoulder armor of his White Tiger-type armor, and two micro-missiles, trailing smoke, shot into the densest area of ​​the orc horde, exploding and knocking over dozens of charging orcs.

The heavy bombs in his hands continued to spew flames, each one carving a bloody furrow in the ranks of the green-skinned soldiers.

"Hold the line and don't let them break in!"

The Astartes of the first company slammed their shields into the ground, and hydraulic latches secured them firmly to the rock, forming a temporary steel barrier.

The bomb guns fired continuously from the firing ports between the shields, knocking down rows of greenskins who were trying to overwhelm the defenses with sheer numbers.

Chi You's main assault force cut into the battlefield from the middle of the rift valley.

Fifty Goliath mechs advanced forward in a horizontal line at the bottom of the rift. Their shoulder-mounted rapid-fire machine guns and flamethrowers fired simultaneously, igniting the surging Greenskin tide into a moving sea of ​​fire. As the mechs' feet stepped over the burning debris, the acrid smell mixed with the Greenskin's distinctive stench permeated the air.

Golia, along with SCVs, Marauders, and Flamethrowers, forcefully pushed through the Greenskins' lair, and even the dense spores could not survive under such high temperatures.

Li Cunxiao's second company completed a flanking maneuver from the south.

Instead of rushing into the heart of the Greenskins, they established crossfire positions on the high ground at the edge of the rift, using precise bursts and intermittent explosions to block the Greenskins' reinforcements from the south.

The ground began to tremble violently.

A massive Skull emerged from the deepest passage at the northern end of the rift valley. It was larger than all the greens around it, standing over ten meters tall and nearly four meters wide at the shoulders, its entire body covered in thick metal armor plates.

Its gaze passed over the layers of green-skinned soldiers and locked onto Xiang Ji, who was firing in the center of the line.

The hideous, terrifying face bared its fangs, and disgusting saliva dripped from its mouth. The green-skinned man above suddenly pulled the iron chain in his hand, and the huge Sgug charged fiercely towards Xiang Ji's direction.

Each step caused the ground to shake violently, and the green-skinned creatures that blocked its way were directly smashed away. Some had their skulls crushed, while others were swept to the edge of the rock wall and rolled into the cracks.

Xiang Ji tossed the heavy bomb gun to his brother behind him, and the grip of the power rifle popped out from the outside of his right arm. The gun body extended segment by segment in the hydraulic mechanism, and a dark blue arc of electricity lit up along the pattern of the gun blade.

He strode forward to face the charging behemoth, his speed increasing rapidly. The armor's servo system boosted with each step, and the soles of his boots ploughed two deep grooves into the scorched rock.

boom!

The moment the two collided at the bottom of the rift valley, the shockwave shattered the surrounding rock layers. The shockwave spread to both sides, sending the surrounding green-skinned creatures flying backward.

Xiang Ji's spear tip pierced the giant beast's skull, but the thick metal plate forcefully blocked the spear's advance.

Xiang Ji pressed his arms into the gun barrel with all his might, the hydraulic servo system was running at full power, and electric arcs jumped wildly at the interface between the gun blade and the giant beast's skull armor.

He forcefully stopped Sguger's charge, his four thick feet carving deep grooves into the rock face.

He let out a low growl, twisted his right arm sharply to the side, and the spear blade tore a gap in the armor of the giant beast's skull. His left fist then slammed into the gap from below.

The knuckles, encased in gauntlets, smashed through the exposed skull and into the churning green brain matter below.

Sgug's movements suddenly froze, his massive body swayed, and like a tower whose foundation had been removed, it collapsed with a crash, smashing into the horde of greenskins surging behind him, crushing dozens of orcs who had no time to dodge into mincemeat.

Xiang Ji flipped over and shot the green-skinned man controlling Skull.

"Continue the advance!"

Chapter Fourteen: Green Skin III

When Xiang Ji pulled the powered spear from the shattered green skull, the electric arcs on the blade were still dancing, evaporating the attached green brain matter and dark red blood into a cloud of acrid, foul-smelling mist.

He flicked the barrel of his gun, the remaining viscous liquid splashing a small dark stain on the rock surface. His boots rolled over the edge of the collapsed remains of the giant beast as he straightened up again.

The surrounding greens paused for a moment the instant Sgug fell, their savage and disorderly charging rhythm was broken, and their roars were mixed with a hint of instinctive confusion and panic.

waaaaaaagh!

Without hesitation, the greenskins continued their charge.

Xiang Ji didn't think he could defeat these orcs in just a few moves. He raised the heavy bomb gun on his left arm again, and a series of precise bombs blew the heads off dozens of orcs in the front row. Then he used the gun barrel to sweep away two orcs that tried to rush forward.

"First Company, advance forward and block all the passages in the northern section of the rift valley. Don't let a single green-skinned soldier escape from here."

Meanwhile, Chi You's main assault force continued to advance deeper into the rift valley from the middle section.

Four hundred Golia mechs deployed in alternating firing formation at the bottom of the narrow rift, advancing steadily in four horizontal rows.

The twin-barreled rapid-fire machine guns on its shoulders continuously spewed flames, knocking down the green-skinned tide layer by layer. The corpses ignited by the flamethrowers piled up in front of the tunnel entrance, forming a burning barrier that prevented the subsequent green-skinned from surging out from underground.

Chi You stood to the side of the Golia mech in the front row. His 3.6-meter-tall figure was not particularly conspicuous next to the mech, but the recoil generated when the heavy bomb gun in his hand was fired was completely absorbed by his modified body.

His target-locking system was rapidly switching targets, each shot precisely shattering the head or upper body of an orc attempting to flank from the side.

SCV mechs followed behind the assault team, working rapidly during the gaps when the green-skinned mechs were suppressed by firepower. They used hydraulic shears and welding guns to seal the blasted side passage entrances, while also providing firepower. Compared to the Dreadnought mechs, their firepower was much stronger, and they were equally fierce in this aspect.