Warhammer: Hail to the Void Lords!.

Chapter 721 07.720: "Enemy at the Gate"

On the second day, the sun was scorching hot, scorching the earth without any hindrance.

The originally muddy land dried up very quickly under the scorching sun, and a network of criss-crossing cracks appeared on the ground.

However, this dry ground created good conditions for the rapid passage of trucks and tanks.

Horatio sat in a marching truck, the body of which was jolting violently along the rough road.

He gripped the edge of the seat tightly to steady himself.

The convoy, stretching for more than ten kilometers, was like a long steel dragon, marching towards the central hive group in a mighty manner.

The military vehicles were connected end to end, and the roar of their engines was intertwined and deafening.

As the convoy moved forward, it passed by rebel vehicles that had been burned into jagged iron bars.

The twisted metal wreckage, lying crookedly on the roadside, seemed to silently tell of the tragic battle that had once taken place.

It seemed as if the last desperate howl of the deceased was really absorbed by the wreckage, which made people feel a chill down their spine.

The wheels rolled mercilessly over the charred remains of the corpse, raising a cloud of dust.

The spear team of the Bayar Knights walked at the front of the convoy to escort it.

The knight mecha stepped on the ground, and the earth seemed to be struck by a war drum, and dull sounds continued to be heard.

This is the promise that Knight Bayard made to Horatio, and he will fight for the legend of the sea in the future battles.

Of course, most people didn't know about Horatio's secret contract with the Wladyslaw family last night.

"Sir, the military has reported." Staff Officer Clausewitz rode a three-wheeled military motorcycle painted in Krieg camouflage and chased after them at lightning speed. The roar of the motorcycle engine was particularly harsh amid the noise of the convoy, attracting the attention of the surrounding soldiers.

Horatio held out his hand to the staff officer, who stood nimbly on the bed of the three-wheeled motorcycle against the strong wind, and stepped steadily into the truck. After landing, he stamped his feet lightly and adjusted his standing posture.

The staff officer adjusted his military inspector's cap, the golden badge on the cap flashing in the sun, and reported: "The enemy's second line of defense collapsed under the blitzkrieg of the Death Cavalry and the Imperial Navy Air Force. They directly abandoned the second line of defense."

"That means we will march to the gates of the central hive city?!" Horatio, Louise and Farida looked at each other in disbelief.

There was surprise in the eyes of the three men, as well as caution as they were about to face a decisive battle.

“Yes, thank you for the support of your naval colleagues. I didn’t expect the attack to go so smoothly.

"The air-ground integrated battle has greatly demonstrated our military superiority. The rebels with a single combat style simply cannot withstand such a fierce attack from the sea and land." The staff officer sighed. He shook his head slightly, as if he was a little surprised by the ease of this victory.

"Colonel, now you have seen how powerful the Astra Militarum and the Imperial Navy can be if they join forces?" Horatio turned his head slightly and looked at the staff officer.

"Yes. But sir, the bureaucrats in the Ministry of Internal Affairs are not concerned with combat effectiveness, but with the stability of the empire.

They are worried about another major rebellion." The staff officer hit the nail on the head with a key fact.

"Yes, I came here to try to break through the numerous shackles and establish a new method of air-ground warfare that is legal and compliant, and will not make bureaucrats panic all day long." Horatio looked calmly at the convoy behind him, and in his mind he was conceiving of the new form of future warfare.

"This sounds like a complicated but exciting plan. I can't help but imagine what it will look like when our battlefields have so many tanks ready to go and fighter planes ready to strike in unison."

"You will see, staff officer." Horatio smiled confidently, with confidence in the future: "Our empire will shine brightly and illuminate the entire galaxy in the future. And this light is the artillery fire fired by the greatest army in human history."
-
"It's been a while since we last met, General. I heard that the current offensive situation is very optimistic." Horatio tucked his navy hat under his armpit and walked into the military command camp with the military supervisor Farida.

The man was still wearing the cold gas mask, and no emotion or attitude could be seen beneath the mask.

All Horatio knew was that Lieutenant General Malan had a meeting with the general after leaving the Knight's Castle.

But the content of the discussions is unknown.

Was it a simple discussion of the battle plan? Or was it a chat with General Blücher about the "naval landing combat force"?

All these secrets are hidden under this faceless gas mask.

[Let it be. As long as you perform as expected, there is no need for the Kriegs to hold you back. This is not their character.]
"Colonel, you and Commissioner Farida have performed your duties in a way that impressed us. You have done an excellent job in breaking through Ypres and kept the casualties of the three regiments at a low level." The general's voice came from behind the gas mask. It was a little dull, but one could hear the praise in it.

"Thank you for your recognition, General. The 1313th and 1314th Infantry Regiments are now in good condition and can be deployed to the next combat mission at any time." Horatio straightened his back and said in a firm tone.

Staff Officer Clausewitz brought Horatio to the war sand table. This huge sand table had already been set up with a model of the central hive cluster. The gray-black Death Army was constantly shrinking the encirclement, and the nearest salient was less than 60 kilometers away from the towering walls of the central hive cluster. The macro cannons on the walls of the hive cluster were already able to bombard the Krieg's vanguard troops.

But the Kriegers solved this problem by adjusting the distance between their marches, because at a distance of 60 kilometers, artillery fire was not as accurate or as fast.

However, everyone knew that as the distance got closer and they approached the enemy's preset artillery bombardment point, the next 40 kilometers meant that the soldiers would have to rely on leather shoes and leggings and rolling tracks, and withstand the enemy's final line of defense in a hail of bullets, to reach the -meter-high city wall.

Then find a way to push down the high walls, or break through the thick adamantine gate, kill your way into the city, crush the morale of the traitors, cut off their heads and hang them high under the Sky Eagle emblem.

The road to great victory will be paved with the blood and bodies of Krieg's soldiers.

The offensive plan was quickly formulated with the military's meticulous war machine in place, and sent from the military headquarters to the regiment headquarters, and from the regiment headquarters to each company.

The 1313th Infantry Regiment is located on the southwest wing of the central hive group. The 1314th Infantry Regiment is still adjacent to the 1313th Infantry Regiment, but compared to the Ypres theater, the two are farther apart, with reserves from other regiments serving as reinforcements in between.

This also means that Farida has to consider the attack plan on her own, and the 1314th Infantry Regiment will designate and execute the subsequent attack plan on its own.

Farida finally reached the point where she had to rely on nothing but her and Louise's collaboration, organize her own staff to develop a complete set of offensive opportunities, and be responsible for the plan herself, without Horatio's review or guidance.

"Are you nervous? Prisoner Hood, you can only rely on yourself from now on."

Louise asked Farida while standing in front of the staff desk with a sand table depicting the decisive battle.

She tilted her head slightly, with a hint of concern in her eyes.

The blonde girl frowned, her eyes fixed on the key points that had been discovered in front of her infantry regiment.

She took a long breath and exhaled slowly: "Finally, this day has come." Her voice was very soft, as if she was talking to herself.

"We all must learn to stand on our own two feet, or we won't survive in this cruel galaxy.

You know, Commissioner Hood, we won't be on the same battlefield with Horatio every time in the future.

The galaxy is huge, and we will definitely independently defend a certain front under his command and arrangement to buy opportunities and time for his military operations.

We will be solely responsible for these fronts, and we must not fail, otherwise we cannot imagine what kind of consequences will be caused." Louise said in a serious tone.

Farida leaned on the sand table with her arms spread out, biting her lower lip with her upper teeth.

She knew very well that this was a test that she had to go through in order to grow. If she could not pass these tests, she would feel that she was not qualified to be his wings and good wife. If she could not grow up, she would become a burden to him in the increasingly fierce galactic war and hold Horatio back.

And this is absolutely unacceptable.

[No! I won't! Among his wings, I must be the most powerful one!] She exhaled heavily, with fierce determination in her eyes.

"Time is short and the task is heavy. Let's get started, Captain Louise. His wings will be formed by me." Her voice was firm and powerful, as if announcing her determination to the whole world.

Farida pulled up the flag of the 1314th Infantry Regiment from the position on the sand table and planted it on top of the south gate of the central hive group.

"Our 1314th Infantry Regiment will be the first to break through the South Gate. We must impress Horatio and make him feel confident in our abilities." She held the regimental flag in her hand and pointed it towards the top of the city gate.

Louise looked at Farida's determined face, straightened her back, and solemnly extended her hand to her.

"One wing cannot make a flight, Inspector Hood. We must work together to hold up half the sky for him."

Farida looked at Louise's unique purple eyes, raised the corners of her mouth, and extended her hand to Louise to shake hands.

"That's right, one pillar can't stand. Please give me some advice, Captain Louise."

(End of this chapter)