Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 224 Landing Operation
As Chen Xi's order was issued, the fleet of the first strike group assembled into a tight formation in the void, like a burning arrow, pointing directly at the Zaporizhia IX.

The engines of the Imperial Navy's battleships spewed out dazzling tail flames, illuminating the cold void.

In the fleet, several cruisers and frigates occupied the core position. Their weapon arrays had been fully charged, and the plasma bombs, macrocannon shells and macrocannons on board were ready to launch a devastating orbital bombardment on the surface of Zaporizhia IX.

As the fleet entered Zaporizhia IX's orbital range, the Necrons' defenses quickly activated.

The energy nodes on the surface flickered with a faint green light, and countless Gaussian beams and particle cannons rose from the ground, piercing the sky like deadly thorns.

These beams were precise and deadly, attempting to intercept the Imperial warships.

However, the Imperial Navy's escort fleet was already prepared, and dense macrocannons and torpedoes poured down like a rainstorm, destroying the Necrons' ground defense facilities one by one.

The escort ships' void shields flashed brightly under the bombardment of energy beams and were under tremendous pressure, but the captains of the Imperial Navy did not flinch and resolutely carried out the bombing mission.

With ground defenses weakened, orbital bombardment began in earnest.

The cruiser's weapon array emitted a low roar, and huge plasma bombs and macrocannon shells poured down from the launch bay, smashing into the surface of Zaporizhia IX like a punishment from heaven.

The flames and shock waves of the explosion swept across the entire planet, the surface was torn apart, and huge cracks spread like an abyss.

The targets of orbital bombardment are not only surface facilities, but also the destruction of the Necrons' underground complexes.

As the bombing deepened, the earth's crust was peeled off layer by layer, and the Necron buildings hidden underground were gradually exposed to the sunlight.

These buildings are made of living metal, and their surfaces glow with a cold green light. Even if part of the structure is destroyed in the bombing, their self-repair mechanism begins to work rapidly, and the broken metal structures reconnect as if they are alive, showing the horror of Space Necron technology.

However, the Necrons did not sit idly by.

As the underground buildings were exposed, their counterattack quickly launched.

In the cracks on the surface, several giant artillery batteries hidden underground rose from the ruins. Their Gauss beams directly penetrated the atmosphere and aimed at the weak parts of the Imperial warships.

An Imperial frigate was hit by a beam, its void shield instantly overloaded, the hull was torn apart, and the flames of the explosion bloomed in the void like short-lived stars.

The Imperial fleet quickly adjusted its tactics, concentrating the cruisers' firepower on attacking these giant artillery batteries, while the frigates continued to suppress the Undead forces on the ground.

The Astartes Brothers' Thunderhawk gunships also began to take off from the warships, preparing to provide ground support.

The flames of orbital bombardment intertwined with the counterattack beams of the Necrons, and the entire sky of Zaporizhia IX was dyed into a red and green battlefield.

As the battle continued, the Necrons' counterattacks became more and more fierce.

Meanwhile, after the orbital bombardment ended, the landing forces of the First Strike Group moved quickly.

Hundreds of Thunderhawk gunboats and transports took off from the battleship's hangar, carrying Astartes Brothers, Battle Sisters and Astra Militarum soldiers, and dived towards the surface of Zaporizhia IX.

The fleet quickly dispersed while flying at low altitude, avoiding the sporadic Gaussian beams shot from the ground. The gunboat's machine guns continued to fire, suppressing the sporadic resistance on the ground.

The primary task of the landing force is to establish a solid foothold on the surface to facilitate the deployment and supply of subsequent troops.

The Astra Militarum Lord General personally commanded the landing, choosing a plateau on Zaporizhia IX as the landing point.

As the Imperial Army landed, the Necrons quickly launched a counterattack, with countless Necrons warriors and destroyers emerging from the ground, attempting to destroy the Imperial landing force on the beach.

The Necromancers' Gauss Flame Guns and Disintegrator Rays drew deadly green trails in the air, while the Destroyers hovered in the air, using Gauss Cannons and Particle Projectors to carry out precise strikes on the landing troops.

The first group of Astartes monks and battle sisters who landed in airdrop pods and Valkyries quickly joined the battle, their grenade launchers and flamethrowers tore gaps among the Necron Warriors.

The roar of bombs and the roar of flamethrowers intertwined, and the battlefield was filled with the smell of burnt metal and the shrill screams of Necron Warriors being destroyed.

Imperial Knights also joined the fray, their melta weapons and chainswords tearing the living metal bodies of the Necron Warriors into pieces.

The knights' armor gleamed brightly in the sunlight, and every swing of their swords was accompanied by the sound of metal rubbing as the bodies of the undead warriors were torn apart.

The fiery beams of melta weapons ignite the living metal of the Necromancer into molten iron, while the roar of the chainsword is like the whisper of death, announcing the end of the enemy.

After several hours of fierce fighting, the landing force successfully landed on the surface of Zaporizhia IX and began to build fortifications.

Astra Militarum engineers quickly built temporary artillery positions and communication facilities to ensure the stability of the stronghold.

The battery's anti-aircraft guns and heavy machine guns were quickly deployed on the facility's commanding heights, ready to respond to possible air and ground attacks.

Antennas of communication facilities were erected amidst the ruins, ensuring contact with the fleet in orbit while coordinating the landing and resupply of follow-up troops.

At the same time, the Jihadist forces began to spread out in all directions, trying to expand their control area.

Armed with flamethrowers and heavy bolters, the soldiers of the Crusades, their faith transformed into fearless courage on the battlefield, shouting "For the Emperor" as they rushed towards every possible threat.

Although the fighting remained fierce, the landing force's initial objectives had been achieved.

However, the Necrons' counterattack did not stop, and more Necron troops emerged from the ground, trying to retake the lost land.

More Necron ground forces emerged from the ground, including Necron Scarabs, Necron Destroyers, and Necron Reapers.

Necromancer Scarabs traverse the surface at astonishing speeds, their living metal bodies capable of rapid repair, making them nearly impossible to destroy.

The Necron Destroyer hovers in mid-air, its gauss cannons and particle projectors capable of easily piercing Imperial armor.

The Reapers of the Dead wielded enormous scythes, each swing capable of severing several Imperial soldiers in half.

Faced with the Necrons' large units and diverse ground forces, Imperial forces quickly adjusted their tactics.

Astartes Brothers and Imperial Knights formed assault teams, concentrating their firepower on attacking the weak points of the Pumice Tower and the Underworld Doomsday Hunter.

The Sisters of Battle used their flamethrowers and melta weapons to try to slow the advance of these massive units.

The Astartes Brothers shouted "For the Emperor" on the battlefield, their grenade launchers and chainswords tore holes in the Necron Warriors.

The Imperial Knights engaged in close combat with the pumice tower, and the roar of melta weapons and chainswords echoed throughout the battlefield.

(End of this chapter)