Chapter 1020 - 1019: The Shadows of Order Did Not Deploy, They Only Sent Auxiliaries

Aboard the Elysian Guardian, Mocinno Bandak stared at the holographic image of Gate Forty-Two.

Though his hair was entirely white, he still stood straight as a ramrod, his chest decorated with dozens of gleaming medals. The brightest among them was a medal emblazoned with a green star-sphere.

That medal had been awarded after he followed Toby in a drop assault to seize the largest asteroid fortress during the resistance against the Grail Abyss Ork invasion.

Toby had fallen in that war, and his personal battle-standard was now enshrined by Lord Howard Fender.

Mocinno had matured rapidly after that conflict, succeeding old Toby as commander of the Elysian Drop Troops.

Opening the vox-channel, Mocinno spoke in a clear, resonant voice.

"The Arbiter Lord has entrusted us with the assault on Gate Forty-Two. We are to attack a fortress that once cost the great Shadows of Order, and the Raven Guard, their blood."

"Brothers and sisters, this is precisely the domain of our expertise. For thousands of years, we have fought in the void, contesting void fortresses against Orks and Aeldari raiders."

"Elysians will never betray the trust placed in us. We will complete this grueling task and secure it for Lord Nareth and Lord Howard!"

He raised his arm high and issued the command: "In Toby's name, execute Star Protocol XV!"

"Death from Above!"

The Elysian ships formed into ranks; the starboard gun-decks fired in unison.

A series of silent explosions painted patterns across the gate, overwhelming the orbital defense platforms' firepower.

Valkyrie transports flew out from the battleships, swarming toward Gate Forty-Two, raining down grav-chutes like a storm.

The Elysian troops shouted "Death from Above!" and loosed their first volleys before landing.

Blazing beams streaked toward the bunkers, and immediately drew retaliation from the defenders.

Torrents of molten fire poured forth; seas of flame swept over hundreds of Elysian troops, reducing them to ash.

Black smoke billowed, hundreds of elite warriors vanished into concealment.

The Elysian Drop Troops had proven their worth in past operations, earning them equipment once reserved for Terra's stealth warriors, secured by the Arbiter Lord on their behalf.

The Elysian troops did not falter at ineffective attacks. They formed into halberd-shaped assault teams, advancing step by step.

They had long been accustomed to seizing enemy fortresses through tactics alone, without heavy fire support.

Their core doctrine revolved around dispersion and the redirection of enemy fire.

Assault Team C-17 was the first to sound the charge.

The warriors at the center of the halberd formation advanced foolishly toward the bunkers, unleashing volley after volley.

Their precise beams scored black marks on the steel walls, failing to harm the defenders inside, and instantly drew devastating retaliation.

Dozens of front-rank assault troops fell, their remains scattered across the ground.

The teams on both flanks surged past the central spearhead.

Their advance immediately drew the defenders' attention, the concentrated fire split like a two-headed dragon.

Streams of blue flame erupted, Elysian troops rose like birds in unison.

Their grav-chutes were pushed to their limits, propelling them through the fire-net and closing the distance to the fortress at speed.

The bunkers' reserve batteries opened fire, energy beams swept across the sky.

Elysian warriors were cut in half, limbs scattering.

Amid the billowing black smoke and the rippling ionization of stray energy, elite warriors hidden in stealth fields quietly bypassed the firefight and approached the bunkers.

The air shimmered in unison, silver-armored figures flickered in and out of visibility.

Their projected energy fields crackled with sharp bursts, searing sparks tore a breach in the bunker.

The stealth warriors shifted their energy output; their forms grew indistinct, wreathed in heat-haze, rapidly closing on the gap.

Inside, defenders scrambled to redirect their guns, sporadic fire sprayed out.

The air rippled and warped, stealth energy crashed into the bunker.

Shrieking beams shredded every body they touched; the spreading shockwave flattened nearby defenders.

The brutal energy pulse knocked out over a hundred, they collapsed unconscious.

A dozen more were hurled into steel walls, their spines snapping, bodies twisted like pretzels.

A Tauros assault vehicle slammed onto the grey ground. Mocinno stood atop it, raising his aim to sight a bunker.

Acting on intelligence, the Elysian troops had replaced their twin-linked lascannons and twin-linked multi-lasers with missiles specifically for this operation.

Missiles trailed flame as they smashed into the bunker.

Boom!

Black smoke erupted, the steel bunker burst apart; defenders wreathed in flames clawed their way out of the inferno.

A searing torrent of fire swept toward him, Mocinno ducked, the blast passing just over his head.

He rose, aimed at another bunker, and pulled the trigger.

In the blinding flames, his second kill immediately drew the defenders' retaliation.

Two artillery platforms crossed their beams and swept toward him.

"Jump!" Mocinno shouted, leaping from the vehicle's roof.

The driver had barely released the controls and started to jump when the beams shrieked through the Tauros assault vehicle.

The scorching beams tore through his body, leaving an ominous black silhouette burned into the ground.

Mocinno hit the ground, then sprang up immediately, drawing the archaeotech pistol Lord Howard had given him.

He raised his arm, aiming at the weapons platform.

A beam of energy, drawn from the planet's radiation layer, shot forth, striking the platform's energy emitter with deadly precision.

A point of light flared on the crackling emitter, then exploded into a blinding halo.

Boom!

The artillery platform was hurled skyward.

Mocinno rose, alertly scanning his surroundings. In the towering flames, streamers of blue fire dove into the surrounding bunkers.

The Elysian troops had successfully established a beachhead at the 42nd Gate.

....

At the very moment the Elysian Drop Troops were systematically dismantling the defenders' fortifications,

In the Governor's palace on Merseyside.

Gonzalo, the Planetary Governor appointed by Horus, asked in stunned disbelief: "What?"

"You're telling me that after orbital bombardment, the First Chapter of the Shadows of Order handed the assault over to auxiliary forces?"

"The identity of the dropped enemy has been confirmed: the Elysian Drop Troops. They earned distinction during the Great Crusade, particularly skilled in drop operations, void combat, and coordination with orbital and aerial support."

Hearing the commander's report, Gonzalo suddenly realized something.

He shot up from his throne. "Where is Howard? Where is the Judgements Glory?"

"They are closing in on the orbital defense platforms, they have already launched their assault."

Gonzalo's expression changed. He knew the planetary defense platforms could not hold against the First Chapter's offensive, only Gate Forty-Two's defensive network had been slowing them down.

He had not expected the Shadows of Order to waste no time there, only sending auxiliaries.

After a moment's thought, he said: "You will return to command headquarters at once and continue organizing the defense."

"So long as we hold for twenty-five hours, the Sons of Horus will arrive."

The commander's grey face lit up. "Rest assured, Your Excellency, I will hold until reinforcements arrive."

After the commander departed, Gonzalo carefully retrieved an encrypted communicator.

He entered a series of passwords, then spoke in Cthonian: "My lord, the Shadows of Order have broken through Gate Forty-Two. Please arrange for my safe departure."

"I will continue to serve the Warmaster and contribute to retaking the Akum-Sothos Cluster."

Time dragged on like a long trial.

"Your battlefield is on Merseyside."

....

If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.

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