Warhammer 40: Starting as a Rogue Trader

Chapter 45: Word Bearer

Gao Yi took the captain's seat again.

"Raise the void shield to maximum power! Provide cover for the commandos!"

This time, the Tyrant sailed at the front of the team. Its sturdy armor plates could withstand more attacks, and the Golden Horn followed closely behind to attract extra firepower for it.

When the warships approached Agathos' orbit again, the ground defense firepower also immediately detected their signals.

Plasma and laser cannons began to recharge again.

These ground firepower opened fire simultaneously as soon as the Tyrant entered orbit.

In the blink of an eye, the light spear hit the Tyrant's void shield, followed by several plasma shots.

The void shield was broken, and the Tyrant could only use the platinum armor on its sides to withstand the attack. The platinum armor plate on one side melted instantly, and the Golden Ram also withstood two plasma attacks. When the void shield was overloaded, the battleship was close enough.

"Now! Harlan!"

As the hatch of the Golden Ram in orbit opened, all thirty Banshees turned on stealth mode and penetrated into the atmosphere.

Taking advantage of the time when the ground artillery was charging, the two cruisers adjusted their engine power to maximum and quickly left the orbit.

Their mission has been completed and now it’s up to the banshees to perform.

"Everyone! The Banshee's energy only allows us to operate in stealth for two hours. We have no chance to return to the fleet. After completing our respective mission objectives, head to the Royal Court area of ​​the Hive City to support the captain's soldiers!"

"understand!"

As the Banshee fighter jet broke into the atmosphere, Harlan in the cockpit also felt the Banshee shaking violently. After all, the Banshee is a vehicle that fights within the atmosphere, and staying in orbit for a short time is already its limit. Harlan was also nervously observing all the data of the Banshee.

Harlan was worried that this fighter plane, which he didn't fully understand, would disintegrate in the atmosphere.

Fortunately, nothing unexpected happened and thirty Banshees successfully entered the atmosphere of Agathos.

"The Golden Throne is above, we will meet in the Royal Court!"

Then the 30 Banshees formed two teams and headed towards their respective predetermined targets.

Harlan and his teammates' mission was not to destroy those huge ground defense artillery. His mission was to destroy the various anti-aircraft firepower scattered throughout the connection between the middle and upper nests, and open up a safe landing route for Gao Yi's subsequent landing troops.

The closer the banshee got to the hive, the more nervous Harlan became. Although the banshee could become invisible, he had no idea whether he would be discovered.

But when the target turret entered the range of his Banshee and still did not respond, Harlan knew that he was in trouble.

With a huge explosion in the distance, Harlan knew that his teammates had begun to take action.

He also aimed at the turret in front of him, and several plastic-steel bombs were fired from the nose of the machine, accurately hitting the ammunition chain of the turret, causing a secondary explosion and successfully destroying it. Without stopping, he immediately went to the next target.

Harlan's attack seemed to have triggered a chain reaction, and explosions echoed throughout the hive.

"What happened?! Who destroyed the artillery?!"

The blasphemous priest in charge of these artillery pieces looked at the auspicious instrument and the thinker in front of him in disbelief.

Even when he turned the power of the auspicious instrument to the maximum, no hostile signals appeared. He also learned about the scene at that time from the personnel in charge of operating the artillery.

The unknown artillery fire seemed to come from the void, appearing without warning and destroying the target.

The blasphemous priest certainly knew that this could not be artillery fire coming from the void. The only person who could destroy the artillery position had a means of invisibility that he did not know about.

But even if he knew the Banshee could turn invisible, what could he do? He had no countermeasures, and could only watch helplessly as the crucial support holding the Orbital Fleet back was destroyed. It felt like knowing the enemy had a Stealth Blade but not having a counter-stealth, and then having to watch helplessly as the Stealth Blade chopped down his own peasants.

The news of the destruction of the fort also reached Valentine's ears at the first time.

"What! How is this possible?! Dynasty simply doesn't have this ability! Could it be... Could it be that they discovered some lost technology during this exploration? We can't wait any longer! Launch a full-scale attack! Let our people blend in with those guys in the upper nest! I don't believe he's willing to destroy the entire hive!

"Let the army attack immediately! Have the Dark Priests send out all those transformed creatures and their demon engines! And begin the sacrificial ritual immediately!"

Valentine knew that he could not wait any longer. If these artillery batteries were destroyed, the dynasty fleet in orbit would be able to support the loyalists without any scruples. He had to consider the worst outcome, which was whether Gao Yi, the newly appointed wandering merchant, would be so angry that he would launch an orbital attack on the hive city regardless of the losses.

Although he felt that this possibility was very small, after all, the entire nest was built when the dynasty was established. Once it was destroyed, the dynasty's strength would at least regress by hundreds of years, but he couldn't afford to take the risk.

Quickly came to the secret place of sacrifice.

The entire sacrificial chamber was stinking at this time. The incontinence and vomiting caused by people's fear made the smell here enough to drive a normal person crazy.

Valentine ignored the smell and watched everything enthusiastically.

A dozen Chaos Psykers were in various corners of this secret room, psychic energy surging through them.

They chanted prayers to the dark gods.

As the sound gradually resounded throughout the sacrificial site.

The magic circle drawn with blood around it also began to flicker.

"The end of all things. Dawn is coming soon. This corrupt dynasty will be rebuilt in my hands, and then I will sacrifice this world to the highest heaven!"

Valentine opened his arms and watched the ceremony enthusiastically.

As these Chaos Psykers used their psychic powers, all the humans in the cages began to wail in pain.

Their vitality and souls were being stripped away. When these souls were devoured by the warp, a warp portal suddenly appeared in the hall.

Looking at the gate, Valentine's face was full of longing. In his eyes, behind the gate was the world of truth.

Ten tall figures strode slowly out of the portal.

The blood-red power armor on their bodies represented their identity. The Astartes who walked out of the warp were actually those shameful traitors.

Their dark red paint jobs, demon-horn-like growths on their heads, their power armor inscribed with prayers to the dark gods, and their shoulder armor and waists covered with "parchment" made of human skin—these representative symbols explained their identities.

The Word Bearers, a full ten of the Word Bearers' renegade Astartes walked out of the portal.

Among the entire combat team of 10 people, three of them seemed particularly special. Their bodies had begun to undergo serious mutations due to the possession of demons. The claw-like flesh weapons on their arms even broke through the power armor they wore.

They are the enchanted warriors among the Word Bearers.

They came to Valentine, who was kneeling on the ground.

Valentine raised his head excitedly and saw the deformed bodies of these Word Bearers.

"Dawn has arrived~"

"Because of your prayers, we have come to this world. We will reveal to you the path from darkness to the original truth. It has opened its doors to those of you who seek to break free from lies and slavery. Valentine, you are a follower of the dark gods. Now we will assist you in killing those servants of the false emperor. When you lead us to the treasury of the Monget Dynasty, you will also have the opportunity to enter the High Heaven, where you will obtain everything you desire."

(End of this chapter)