I summoned the Fourth Scourge in Warhammer

Chapter 149 All of Humanity Will Explode!

Inside Selke's command post, the atmosphere was as heavy as solidified metal.

On the holographic tactical map, the blue dots representing the Fire Clan warriors were extinguishing in alarming swathes of light. Meanwhile, the red icons representing the invaders [Humans] were spreading like an unstoppable plague, tearing apart their painstakingly constructed defenses.

"What happened? Why did lines seven and nine collapse so quickly!" Colonel Shasel Oreska slammed his fist on the control panel, making a dull thud. His usually calm and collected face was now filled with anger and bewilderment. "The defenders there didn't even manage to send out a complete distress signal!"

Just then, the alloy door of the command post was violently kicked open, and a dusty, travel-worn lieutenant stumbled in. His combat uniform was covered in charred marks, his helmet was missing, and his breathing was rapid and labored, like a broken bellows.

"They're insane... insane! All humans have gone mad!" it roared incoherently, its eyes filled with the terror of surviving a catastrophe. "They... they're all going to explode!"

"Stay calm, sir!" Ol'reska strode forward, grabbed the sir's shoulder armor, and shook him violently. "Think of the Path of Goodness! Think of your duty! Now, tell me, what exactly is happening at the front!"

Under the officer's booming reprimand, the lieutenant, being a well-trained soldier, managed a few heavy breaths, forcing his chaotic thoughts back into order. A few seconds later, he managed to steady himself, his voice still trembling, but now clear and articulate.

"Humans...humans have gone mad, sir. They've abandoned their steady, methodical tactics," it began to organize its thoughts, recounting the hellish scene, "they're driving those cumbersome vehicles—each one crammed with their infantry, like a moving armor of flesh and blood—at top speed, charging toward our positions."

"Once their vehicles crash into our positions, or collide with our high-value units like the Hammerhead Sharks, they will detonate immediately. This is a suicide attack, sir, every vehicle is a mobile giant bomb! Our soldiers are outnumbered and have less average firepower than theirs. Although we try our best to intercept them, we simply cannot stop their insane charge that disregards casualties. The result... the result is, of course, that we perish together with those humans in a deafening explosion."

O'Reska frowned deeply and paced back and forth in the command post.

“What are they doing…” it muttered to itself, filled with confusion, “It’s illogical, utterly devoid of honor. Victory will inevitably tilt in their favor if they simply advance steadily with their sheer numbers. It’s a sure-fire way to win, so why resort to this suicidal, insane charge? They’re just wasting their soldiers’ lives like weeds in a field!”

Just then, another lieutenant rushed in, reporting nervously, "Sir, you need to make a decision quickly! Reports from all the frontline nodes say that the humans are advancing at an extremely fast pace. They are launching wave after wave of suicide attacks to relentlessly assault our defenses! Our defenses are being rapidly breached!"

"Quickly? Yes, quickly!"

This word struck Oresca's mind like a bolt of lightning. Suddenly, something dawned on him, and the confused expression on his face was instantly replaced by a solemn look of sudden realization.

It immediately rushed to the communications station and dialed an encrypted back channel.

"Hello, is this Engineer Nerva Pies? This is Frontline Commander Shasel Or'reska! I am ordering you with the highest military authority to complete the transfer of all critical technical data and the evacuation of prototype equipment within two Tau planets!"

An aged and surprised voice came from the other end of the communicator: "What? Shasel, this is impossible! The data backup for those prototypes alone would require at least three Tau Startimes! Two Tau Startimes is simply not enough time!"

"Then pick the most important ones!" Oleska roared decisively. "Prioritize transferring the prototype and core algorithm data! Anything that can't be transferred, blow it up with bombs! Remember, you only have two Tau hours! After two Tau hours, humanity's lunatics will storm into your labs!"

From its perspective, everything made sense. The only explanation for humanity's sudden adoption of such reckless and almost insane tactics was that their goal was not to conquer the planet, but to break into Sel Kerr's research center as quickly as possible and seize the Tau Empire's cutting-edge technology!

This inference is perfectly logical and reasonable. But in fact, it is a complete and utter mistake.

The priests of the Mechanicus were indeed very interested in the technology of the Tau Empire. However, the Damocles Expedition did not include a sufficient number of high-ranking Mechanicus priests, and their influence was far from enough to sway the strategic decisions of the entire human army. This was evident from the absence of any Mechanicus representatives in the War Council.

The reason why humans use this tactic is far simpler and more absurd than Oresca imagined—simply because their commanders felt that fighting slowly was too unseemly.

O'Reska abruptly hung up the communication, turned to face all the officers in the command post who were anxiously awaiting orders, his eyes flashing with a calm yet sharp light. Confusion and passivity vanished, replaced by a hunter's focus.

Now that we have figured out the enemy's "true" intentions, everything else becomes simple.

"Pass on my order!" Its voice was loud and decisive, echoing throughout the command post: "All frontline units, abandon your current positions and immediately retreat!"

These words caused an uproar in the command post. The junior officer who had just returned from the front lines stared in shock.

"Abandon the position? Sir, that's a defensive line we held with the lives of countless compatriots!"

"An order is an order!" Oreska snapped, waving his hand dismissively. "Humans want a quick assault? Let them have it! I don't want to see another Fire Warrior sacrificed in those pointless suicide bombings!"

It paused, then continued issuing detailed instructions: "Order all squads to take as much usable weaponry and equipment as possible with them during the retreat, especially heavy weapons and drones. Any equipment that cannot be taken, such as damaged combat suits or fixed artillery emplacements, must be destroyed on the spot! Gather them together and blow them up. Do not leave humanity with a single screw!"

Its gaze swept across the holographic map, and its finger traced a clear retreat route on it.

"All troops, proceed as quickly as possible to the third reserve line of defense. There lies a permanent fortification complex that our Tu clan compatriots have built over several cycles. The terrain is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and the firepower configuration is also the most complete."

"Sir..." the lieutenant stammered, his face filled with disbelief, "You mean... we have to hand over all areas of the first and second defense lines?"

“Yes.” O'Reska turned around, walked to the huge tactical map, put its hands on the control panel, and looked down at the red arrow representing humanity that was advancing frantically.

"Humans thought their frenzied advance was invincible, and that we were being driven back step by step. The more eager they were to rush toward the research center, the longer their formation would be stretched out, the more difficult logistical support would become, and their momentum would be worn down in the constant charge."

He pointed his finger and drew a huge, deadly encirclement around the third position on the map.

"We will concentrate all the forces we have withdrawn on position number three and prepare a strong pocket for them."

"Then, we just have to wait for these lunatics to willingly walk headfirst into the pocket!"

(End of this chapter)