I summoned the Fourth Scourge in Warhammer

Chapter 146 Preparing to Log In
Commander-in-Chief Wendell Gage's order was like pouring water into boiling oil, instantly igniting the long-suppressed anger and killing intent of the entire fleet.

The euphoria of discovering the enemy's fatal weakness quickly transformed into a bloodthirsty craving. If the previous long-range firefights still carried a hint of "civilized" chess-like strategy, then at this moment, the human empire completely tore off its disguise, revealing its most primitive predatory fangs hidden beneath steel and etiquette.

The fleet's engines roared, pushing power to its limit. The massive warships, disregarding formation, charged towards the panicked Tau Empire warships like a pack of deep-sea sharks drawn by the scent of blood.

Leading the charge were three of the most agile and swift Sword-class corvettes. Like three sharp scalpels, they sliced ​​into the already scattered formation of the Tau Empire fleet at a tricky angle, bringing the deadly vortex of close combat directly to the heart of the enemy.

"For the Emperor! Purify these aliens!"

Once within the absolute firing range of the broadside cannons, the Imperial warship's sides, covered by countless armor plates, opened their muzzles. These weapon arrays, designed for close-range destruction, simultaneously spewed forth flames. The deafening roar of the macro cannons and the howling of the light spears intertwined into a symphony of steel and destruction, transforming all the anger and contempt towards the aliens into a steel storm that poured down upon the smooth and vulnerable sides of the Tau Empire warship.

Before a starship could even react, its side armor was instantly vaporized in the rain of fire. A torrent of energy pierced the hull, detonating the internal reactor. A silent, magnificent plasma fireball erupted in the cosmos.

Even more extreme, the captain of a Sword-class frigate, after running out of ammunition, chose the most primitive and barbaric method of combat. He steered his warship, pointing the massive ramming spear at the bow—used for breaching obstacles and landing—at another Tau warship attempting to escape, overloading the engines and ramming it violently!

The sturdy, adamantite ram easily tore through the opponent's fragile hull, like a hot knife through butter. The two warships "embraced" each other tightly in the violent impact, and with a piercing metallic creak and a series of explosions, they were finally reduced to a burning wreckage.

This utterly irrational and brutal fighting style completely shattered the psychological defenses of the Tau Empire fleet. Their tactical manuals contained no contingency plan for dealing with such "madmen."

"Retreat! All units, retreat immediately!"

The commander of the Tau Empire finally gave the order to flee. However, in the brief exchange just now, this commander, who still retained the last shred of sanity, had desperately realized a fact—in terms of normal sailing speed, the ships of the Human Empire were actually faster than them!

In order to create an opportunity for the capital ships to escape, he made a cold and cruel decision.

"All escort ships, turn around immediately! Stop the enemy at all costs!"

Upon receiving the order, the two remaining small frigates did not hesitate for a moment, resolutely turning their bows to meet the unstoppable torrent of steel. They were like two brave mantises, trying to stop a speeding chariot with their fragile arms.

The ending was predictable.

Their sacrifice bought the flagship and another cruiser a precious few dozen seconds.

The human empire was certainly not satisfied with such a meager victory.

On the bridge of the ship where the dead were going, the players had completely fallen into a frenzy.

"Quack! That's a great shot! That's how you play!"

"Fight! It's fun!"

Without stopping for a moment, they relentlessly pursued the two fleeing ship tracks, and the entire fleet immediately entered a pursuit state without any rest.

As the fleet entered an unfamiliar star system, a breathtaking sight unfolded before them. A massive, vibrant planet floated silently within the system. It boasted azure oceans, verdant continents, and pristine white clouds—a perfectly habitable planet from every angle.

"Large-scale life signals detected... Preliminary estimates suggest that the planet contains tens of millions of aliens!"

Tens of millions of aliens!
This was a chilling number, but the subsequent report on the defense capabilities made everyone's breathing quicken.

This large inhabited planet of the Tau Empire has only one orbital defense capability:

A solitary rail defense station;

Several small frigates are conducting routine patrols in planetary orbit;
And... those two ships that they just beat to a pulp and are now fleeing back to their home port in a panic, covered in wounds.

Opportunity hangs before you like a ripe fruit; there is no need for hesitation.

The strike cruiser, which had just distinguished itself in close combat, broke away from the main fleet once again. Its battle-blackened bow was aimed at the lone defense station in planetary orbit, and the lights of its engines shone again, like a steel behemoth locking onto its prey, launching its charge.

The Titans' resistance, as fragile as paper, didn't even cause a ripple.

The laser turrets on the orbital defense station fired in vain, the thin blue beams striking the enemy's void shields with ripples even weaker than during the previous fleet battle. The smaller frigates that attempted to intercept met an even more gruesome end. The strike cruiser didn't even use its main guns; a single roar from its broadside close-in weapon systems shattered them into burning metal fragments in mid-air, like glass artifacts smashed by a hammer.

After completely silencing the orbital defense station's external firepower, the launch hatches on both sides of the strike cruiser's hull opened one after another. Dozens of boarding torpedoes, trailing long plumes of flame, accurately struck the defense station's weak points, creating a breach that paved the way for subsequent troops.

Immediately afterwards, several Thunderhawk gunboats roared out, ignoring the sporadic resistance fire inside the defense station, and forcibly landed in various key compartments and passageways.

The hatch opened, and the Space Marines, clad in heavy power armor, stepped heavily onto the alien territory.

"Weak flesh and blood!"

In a narrow, futuristic white corridor, a medieval-style carnage unfolds. Power axes cleave through alloy gates, chainsaws tear apart struggling aliens along with their combat suits. Blue blood stains this space that should be pristine.

The Space Marines of the Steel Hand, like the most efficient harvesting machines, systematically cleaned every compartment and every corner in tactical squads.

Just one hour later, the fleet received a report from the landing forces.

"The orbital station has been cleared. The alien resistance has been purged. We will take control of this place and establish the first bridgehead for the Emperor's servants to enter this world."

The cold, steel fortress, stained with the blood of aliens, is being rapidly transformed into the first foothold for the Empire's divine punishment. Technicians and slave laborers begin to take over and modify the station's systems, massive transport ships slowly approach, and more soldiers and war machines are making final preparations to set foot on this planet.

Next, it's the ground troops' turn.

(End of this chapter)