The Creators: From Night City

Page 481

[Greetings, Your Majesty! Thank you, Emperor! Thank you for your response.]

[Stop with the useless flattery, Colonel. Immediately report your unit's current status, enemy deployment, and current coordinates.]

[Understood. Our unit originally had 2000 men, but now we have less than 500 combat-ready personnel. We are currently holding the Holy Thorn Empire Monastery. The enemy's main force consists of mindless hive dwellers and a large number of heretics. They have surrounded the entrance to the monastery and launched several attacks in an attempt to breach it.]

"We were supposed to hold the main artillery position, but the 33rd PDF Regiment mutinied. Within minutes of the riot starting, they massacred nearly half the soldiers of the 17th Regiment and my regiment." Colonel Dalia said this through gritted teeth.

[Your feedback has been received, Colonel. Please continue to report your current exact location coordinates.]

Upon seeing that the Emperor's angels were coming to their aid, the colonel immediately reported their precise coordinates.

[Coordinates 74-78-by-9! Our defenses are relatively stable for now, but we are severely lacking in ammunition supplies and it will be difficult to withstand the enemy's next attack. Requesting any form of support! Repeat, requesting any form of support!]

[Understood, Colonel Dalia. Your position has been confirmed. The clearing operation will begin in 15 standard minutes. We will execute a 'battering ram' offensive. Please restrain your soldiers and do not leave cover.]

"I understand, sir!" the colonel shouted with great force.

After hanging up the call, his only question was what exactly a 'siege hammer' attack was.

Of course, this question was quickly answered.

The nest is a pyramid-shaped structure, which means that the floor of the upper nest is often the ceiling of the middle nest.

The so-called "siege hammer" attack is the legendary "opening the window" tactic.

Less than fifteen minutes later, the ground in front of the monastery was ripped open by a sudden and violent explosion. Amidst the billowing dust, dozens of large, golden figures leaped up from the ground and landed on the blood and bones of the Heart Eaters.

The loyal chainsaw sword emitted a piercing roar, and the sound of cutting flesh instantly echoed in all directions.

Wake up, the Emperor is bringing warmth!

Chapter 975 Counterattack and Summoning

The 'Hongpao' is one of the Empire's most prestigious main firepower.

As you can tell from the name, this thing must be 'thick and hard'.

The barrel of a large cannon can be several kilometers long, and its shells are as big as a large cathedral.

Imagine a highly automated servo arm and thousands of slave workers slowly feeding a giant metal projectile, 300 meters long and 80 meters in diameter, into the breech of a cannon. Then, with the combined effect of powerful electromagnetic rail acceleration technology and chemical propellant, the projectile is accelerated to its maximum speed in an instant, and what would it mean to bombard the enemy camp?

Simple, brutal, and effective, it clearly articulates the empire's operating philosophy.

Because the hive's cannon array is located on the surface, it is built to be even larger, with several cannons standing tall like mountain ridges, while the lower part of the main body is hidden in the huge hive structure.

The battle here is nearing its end. Tens of thousands of PDFs are firmly suppressing the rebels and heretics in the macro artillery array, clearing out the remaining troops one cannon position at a time.

The 'Apostles' were rarely seen in the massive artillery array. Their numbers of over a hundred meant they couldn't be easily dispersed across the vast battlefield. They were only suited for the most difficult and dangerous assault missions. The main force on the battlefield was still the PDF soldiers.

In fact, no one knew that Jiang Bing was currently in dire need of manpower. All employees of [Anti-Entropy] who came to this universe had to undergo the contamination of the Ether Fire and be marked with the purity mark of [Anti-Entropy]. Only when their souls and bodies were under Jiang Bing's protection would he dare to let them pass.

Otherwise, if any one of the five evil gods were to take away an employee and extract information about [Anti-Entropy] from their soul, Jiang Bing would find it impossible to move an inch in the days to come.

He will inevitably face fierce targeting.

This is the fundamental reason why, despite his severe lack of trusted confidants, he was still unable to mobilize a large number of employees from other dimensions.

Fortunately, the Emperor has plenty of people, and the little bit that slips through his fingers is enough for Jiang Bing to have his fill for now.

A standard PDF regiment at full strength has around 3000 people, while the planet Vessos has a population of tens of billions. In order to suppress the rebellions and riots caused by the slave laborers and low-skilled workers who make up the vast majority of the population, the PDF's military personnel need to be maintained at 0.01%-0.1% of the total population for many years, which is between 100 million and 1000 million.

However, the world of Vessos is not on the front lines of the Chaos invasion. Its internal rule has been relatively stable for nearly a century. The main tasks of the PDF are to maintain the security of the hive city and deal with small-scale alien infiltrations, guard key facilities such as satellite ports, hydroponic farms, and governor's palaces. It does not need to suppress the lower-level gangs and worker riots too frequently, and the total number of people has only been maintained at around 200 million.

However, these forces are distributed across various relay stations and industrial centers around the world, strategic locations, starport defense zones, and every corner of the hive city, making it impossible to quickly assemble them in a short period of time.

The PDF stationed in the hive had fewer than 100 regiments. When the demon invasion broke out, nearly half of the PDF was betrayed by the rebels and then suffered heavy losses in subsequent enemy attacks.

After several days of fierce fighting, coupled with the complex terrain of the Nest City, [Anti-Entropy] was able to gather less than 2 troops in the Upper Nest's defense zone.

Fortunately, there are ways to play when there are 20,000 people.

A 'craftsman', along with over a hundred large, golden-haired men, and survivors from the PDF's 8th, 11th, and 18th regiments, faced off against millions of Heart Eaters and a small number of demons. Undoubtedly, the situation was one-sided.

Don't assume that the mortal armies like the PDF and IG (Astral Army, Imperial Defence Force) are weak. In fact, across the vast territory of the Empire, trillions of mortals support the main line of defense for the Empire.

Even the largest Ultramarines Chapter only has 25 Astartes on the surface. This number seems huge, but when scattered across the vast galaxy, it doesn't even make a ripple.

It's fair to say that 99% of the Empire's enemies were killed by the bigwigs of IG and PDF with their own flesh and blood.

Even so, this was the result achieved by the leaders under conditions of food and clothing shortages, poor logistics, and depleted military equipment.

Therefore, once [Reverse Entropy] made up for their logistical shortcomings, PDF immediately achieved remarkable results.

The fact that the majority of the pay is not full, while the majority pay is unbeatable, is true.

Dozens of reorganized infantry companies, armed with newly acquired M36 'Kant' laser guns or 'Ingot-77' automatic rifles, their arms full of magazines and their waists loaded with various grenades, advanced madly forward.

The ferocious firepower was enough to wipe out any enemy of the Empire; when the firepower of thousands of people was concentrated in one place, even Space Marines would have to avoid its edge.

Dozens of 'Troy' troop carriers were busily moving between various positions, deploying troops or carrying out urgent supply transport. 'Saladin' armored turret vehicles and the famous Leman Rustam were demoted to the company level, and the soldiers, who had been poor for hundreds of years, were also engaging in combined arms operations.

Although most of the Leman Rustanks equipped with them were older "Victory" models, and although their heavy armor and insufficient engine power resulted in slow movement, and the lack of aiming assistance systems meant that gunners had to rely on optical sights, leading to poor accuracy in long-range artillery fire, their sheer number made up for everything.

Under normal circumstances, a PDF regiment would be fortunate to be assigned 3-5 Leman Rustams, but at this moment there are dozens of Leman Rustams roaming this battlefield.

This is only because there are only so many people in the PDF who can drive tanks; otherwise, given Jiang Bing's personality, tanks would have been deployed down to the squad level.

In addition, heavy fire support vehicles such as the Manticore self-propelled mortar and the Hellhound flamethrower tank were also in full force, bombarding the stubbornly resisting rebel positions.

If it weren't for the fact that the local PDFs hadn't been exposed to super-heavy artillery like the Petrified Lizard self-propelled howitzer, Jiang Bing would have been keen to also demote this thing to the regimental level.

However, due to the limited education level of the PDF soldiers on this planet, these things can only gather dust in the warehouse for the time being.

After all, a domestic PDF is not the Cadian Legion, the Mordian Iron Army, or the Armageddon Steel Legion.

Amid the incessant roar of artillery fire, Colonel Dalia withdrew from the battlefield and arrived at the Crown of the Martyrs Cathedral.

The somber sunlight of Vessos falls on this magnificent Gothic cathedral, and the light shines through the stained glass windows depicting the descent of emperors, illuminating the interior of the cathedral fairly brightly.

Colonel Dalia followed an 'apostle' through the heavily fortified lines and approached the cathedral.

He had undoubtedly been here before, when the Crown of the Martyrs Cathedral was bustling with people and dazzling with light. Unlike now, however, the cannon fire had gnawed away several corners of the magnificent cathedral, the iconic rose window above the main entrance had been shattered by the shockwave, and the ground, walls, and stone pillars painted with beautiful reliefs were covered with bullet holes and dried blood.

Before the shattered bricks could even be cleared, the statue of Saint Celestine, the living saint of the empire, was also desecrated by chaos.

Her iconic outstretched wings were mercilessly broken, and her body was covered in evil chaotic eight-pointed stars and other patterns smeared with blood.

'By the Emperor, what blasphemy!' Colonel Dalia couldn't help but exclaim as he passed the sculpture in the square.

But anger could not overshadow his agitated state of mind.

After all, not every mortal has the honor of being summoned by the leader of an Astartes Chapter.

What an honor and something to be proud of!

Chapter 976 Your Major Must Be Relevant

Two teams of tall and imposing 'Apostles' stood on either side of the passage, their golden power armor gleaming with a sacred luster.

The stern scrutiny emanating from behind the golden visors caused Dalia to unconsciously begin adjusting her appearance. Only after confirming that she had done her best did she step into the main hall of the cathedral, led by an 'Apostle' guard.

The dense array of brass candlesticks had gone out, making the four corners of the hall somewhat dim.

At the far end of the main hall, in the most prominent position, stands a colossal statue of an emperor. He is clad in golden power armor, wields a flaming longsword, wears a laurel crown, and gazes down upon the masses with a compassionate expression.

A man, a man Colonel Dalia would never forget after just one glance, stood at the Emperor's feet, looking up as if meeting the Emperor's gaze.

"Welcome, Colonel Dalia. Please relax."

He turned around, and his height, which was no different from that of an ordinary person, did not appear small when surrounded by many 'Apostle' guards. On the contrary, he stood there like a powerful force filling the entire space.

The air seemed to thicken because of his presence, and Colonel Dalia swore that his gaze was more imposing than that of an imperial statue overhead.

The PDF commander almost instinctively brought his heels together and gave a textbook-perfect Imperial salute.

"Good day, my lord!"

"You seem surprised?" Jiang Bing started their conversation with a soothing question, as if they were having a casual chat.

"I never imagined that a leader of the Imperial Angels would be like you..." The colonel stammered as he spoke.

“So unremarkable and insignificant, right?” Jiang Bing picked up the conversation.

A hint of embarrassment appeared on the colonel's face.

"Greatness is never determined by physical size, Colonel."

“Insignificance is not measured by external things.”

Jiang Bing's eyes met those of the soldier who hadn't had a proper rest for two or three nights. An unparalleled depth and majesty enveloped the colonel, as if he could see right through his flesh and soul.

Fortunately, Jiang Bing's gaze was fleeting.

"I have reviewed all the battle reports submitted by the units in this 'Cataclysmic Disaster,' and your battle at the 'Holy Thorn Monastery' was exemplary. With two depleted companies, you held back the enemy who wanted to attack the Upper Nest residential area and held them there for dozens of hours, buying valuable time for the neighboring 18th Regiment to reorganize their defenses."

Looking at the colonel's uniform, soaked with gunpowder and blood, Jiang Bingyu asked gently, "Tell me, Colonel, when all hope seemed to have been extinguished, what sustained you and your soldiers to continue fighting?"

"Loyalty to the Empire, sir!" the colonel shouted.

"Every second we hold out gives the other troops on the hive one more second to prepare, and gives the innocent one more chance to survive. Every heretic we kill is a sacrifice for the final victory of the Empire."

“We fight only to show our loyalty to the Emperor, my lord… we… we are just doing our duty.”

"Colonel, I must say you've impressed me." Under Jiang Bing's gaze, all lies were exposed, so the other party's words genuinely surprised Jiang Bing.

"Greed, corruption, cruelty, depravity, death, ignorance..."

The words of this 'battle commander' were incredibly persuasive, captivating the colonel's attention.

"Since I came into this world, from the very beginning of this nest, what I have seen is mostly devastation, with darkness and malice breeding everywhere. The empire is like a bag full of holes, exuding decay and stench. But now it seems that there are still people trying to mend it."

"This empire still has aspects worth saving."

Jiang Bing's 'treasonous' remarks made Colonel Dalia swallow hard.

"As a reward, Colonel, your regiment will be given priority in replenishing manpower and receiving brand-new, superior equipment, and your soldiers will receive better material rewards as a reward for their loyalty to humanity."

"Thank you, sir!" The colonel absolutely adored this superior.

"This is what you deserve. In addition, there is a difficult task that requires your assistance."

Under the colonel's questioning gaze, Jiang Bing waved his finger, and countless nano-waves combined to project a topographical map of the Upper Nest.

The centrally located and highest-lying government district is highlighted in red.

"Colonel Dalia, I know from your resume that you were in charge of the defense of the Arbitration Court Fortress and the Governor's Palace six months ago. So, how much do you know about the defense system of the Governor's Palace?"

The colonel frowned, pondering the meaning behind the official's question.

"The defense of the administrative district is divided into three layers: the outer defense zone and the inner defense zone, which surround the governor's palace in a ring. Both of these defense lines are equipped with fortresses and checkpoints, as well as a large number of automatic turrets, heavy explosive shell gun positions and laser emitters."

"The Governor's Palace is located in the core area and has a Void Shield Generator that is powered independently of the Nest City's power grid, which is sufficient to withstand high-intensity orbital bombardment in a short period of time."

"At the same time, the most advanced void missile array in the hive is also in the governor's palace, my lord. When activated, it is sufficient to intercept the vast majority of aircraft or boarding devices."

Unaware of Jiang Bing's intentions, the colonel could only cautiously answer with what he knew.

“Very good, Colonel Dalia. Since you are so familiar with the administrative district, this difficult task is perfect for you and your soldiers.”

Without the slightest hesitation, the colonel, his eyes brimming with loyalty, stood at attention and saluted, saying, "For the Emperor and humanity! For Vessos! We will never betray your trust, sir!"

"You need to lead your soldiers to assist Astartes in approaching the Governor's Palace, Colonel. Time is of the essence and the mission is urgent. You only have ten hours to rest."

Without the slightest hesitation, the loyal colonel accepted the mission, saluted, and took his leave. Not wanting to waste a moment, he began to prepare the troops for the upcoming battle.

“This place is full of war, death, and despair. Sabur reminds me of our distant homeland.” After the colonel left, Klara came out from the side room.

Following behind her were her inseparable companions, Kragg and Clara.

The three demigod sisters were considered high-level combatants of [Anti-Entropy], and they were thoroughly influenced by Jiang Bing's 'Ether Flame', so they were conscripted by Jiang Bing.

Jiang Bing shrugged and did not answer.

He found it hard to tell whether a Rodland stepping into the apocalypse or a galactic cesspool was more disturbing.

One is a twisted world where one can't die even if they want to, where their soul is worn down into an empty shell, their memories are completely wiped out, and their physical body still cruelly exists.

One is a messed-up world where ordinary people are destined to meet a bad end, whether before or after death, and their souls will most likely suffer endless torment from warp demons.

Both have their own merits.

"Have you seen the 'bomb'? What did you think of it?" Jiang Bing finally had no choice but to change the subject.

"It sends shivers down my spine; your talent in fire has surpassed the reach of any sorcerer," Klara truthfully told her about her choice of an outstanding apprentice.