Author Notes:
*Deep breath. Calm down.*
*Take a look at my Patreon notifications.*
*Proceed to keel over and die out of bliss.*
Having read the above lines, you should already know what I am about to say...
*Take one big gulp of air before firing a string of words in the most reverent way possible.*
Big, big shoutout to all the heroes (and maybe even heroines) of the Imperium and the Belkan Reich. Strap down, everyone, for we have the One-year Chads:
- General Setsuna.
- Captain Snippar.
- Corporal Jon Gfsh.
- Private Borderfox.
The above are ones who have paid the Tithe for an entire year! Needless to say, even with the special New Year 35% discount for newcomers, that's a heck of an investment!
Then we have our new monthly patrons:
- Captain Kisaraki Kult.
- Corporal MrRattikarl.
- Corporal Green.
- Corporal Astroid8 Lambert.
- Corporal asher phoenix.
- Private Tisolon.
The six names above, like the ones before them, have also donated their blood, sweat, and tears, to keep the Imperium and the Belkan Reich running like well-oiled machines!
Roleplaying aside, it's safe to say that, without all the above and all of those who have stood by us thus far, reading, commenting and supporting us... I dread to imagine that possibility, to be perfectly honest. Mom and I, we wouldn't be hear. My mom wouldn't have been able to hold out, and I would be lost, unable to find my passion flame which is writing. Granted, I am building upon shoulders of giant, and I must admit, I still have a long, long way to go.
It's fortunate, however, that I... We, will have all of you kind souls to accompanying and push us ahead. That's luck and blessing already aplenty.
Well, here's to a wonderful year, everyone. Enjoy this GSS chapter, and the new pictures that come with it!
P.S: Before I forgor, let it be know that there's a special New Year discount for all new patrons, with a 35% discount for your first subscription! The Special New Year Recruitment Drive will last from now to the 20th of January!
https://www.patreo-n.com/Heartbreak117
https://ko-fi.com/heartbreak117/goal?g=0
Ein C8th 1: https://postimg.cc/6TkqT2Y3
Ein C8th 2: https://postimg.cc/K46j4kJY
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"Witness your doom!" The passionate battle cry from Chief Librarian Vel'cona is punctuated by a truly massive conflagration firing out the tip of his master-crafted Power Blade. The rolling flames then summarily twist and writhe into a dread-inspiring malevolent visage of an ancient and powerful drake before charging toward the towering bastion that belongs to the cultists' above-ground headquarters.
Constructed out of layers of rockrete and alloys, the thick wall is already on the verge of failing after enduring rounds of intense shelling by the JTF armored convoy. Now, with the illogical, volatile mass of Vel'cona's psychic Firedrake crashing against it, the defensive structure collapses, revealing a gaping wound and entryway in the enemy HQ's last line of defense. Even before the dust and heat kicked up by the collapse of the wall can dissipate, the multiple armor vehicles of the convoy are already speeding through the hole before spreading out into a spherical formation. All the while, the weapons of our fighting vehicles never really stop firing, murdering the last of the cultists left around the breach. In what seems like a gigantic mustering yard of the hostile headquarters, our armored vehicles come to a halt. Transports start off-loading their troops and cargoes while tanks form a stalwart perimeter wall of firepower and ceramite.
Not unexpectedly, it's the Salamanders who bring the most firepower to the field. Other than Chapter Master Tu'shan and Chief Librarian Vel'cona, each a one-man army, a sizeable contingent of the Chapter's First Company, the Firedrakes, is here to escort their leaders. These Astartes emerge from the transport ramps, wielding master-crafted weapons and armor, with a surprising number of them wearing Terminator Armor. The Sternguard Veterans favor bolt rifles with meticulously crafted sights and specialized munition loads. Whereas the Assault Terminators favor a combination of power melee weaponry and Storm Shields. Supporting these specialists are other Veterans wielding weapons like Heavy Bolters, Flamers, Meltaguns, and even Combi-weapons. Not stopping there, Techmarines wielding multiple weapons thanks to their Mechadendrites, can be seen flanking a couple of the Salamanders' Dreadnoughts, and there's no doubt that there must be at least a couple of Apothecaries in the mix. The Chapter Master's force is not just powerful, it's also surprisingly balanced and plays well with the rest of the JTF's force, right here. The addition of Techmarines and Apothecaries enables the Salamanders to support both the biological and mechanical aspects of our entire convoy, alongside the likes of accompanying Tech-priests and Sisters Hospitaller.
Next in line of the totem of firepower is none other than our dear Order of Our Martyred Lady. While people may think that the Sisters of Battle are a budget-cut version of the Space Marines, they tend to miss the notion that the Sisters are more numerous and even more unyielding than Astartes in some cases. The Sisters are also capable of wielding Astartes-level firepower of their own, and what the Salamanders are wielding in terms of firepower, the Order of Our Martyred Lady matches that in spades, something that can be attributed to their deep pockets and ties with the Ecclesiarchy. If anything, Mama's Order is probably the best militant Adepta Sororitas Order due to a combination of its members' burning passion, unflagging determination, formidable fighting techniques, and flexible strategy. For this occasion, Mama Elyzabeth brings more than just Sister Tsavorae and her cohort of battle-sisters. She deploys the Order's Celestians, the most skilled fighters of the Order, and they are analogous to Veteran Astartes, as well.
Topping it all off is us, the Cadian 8th. Arguably the weakest JTF subfaction in terms of physical prowess and individual firepower, we understandably compensate for it with sheer grit and quantity. To put it in perspective, we currently outnumber both the Salamanders and Sisters of Battle 3 to 1, meaning we have a headcount in the triple digits. However, this is a rookie number. We would have bumped it up even more had we not been limited by the amount of transport we could requisition from the JTF base. A larger force would have provided the convoy with a better sense of security, considering we need to split our forces soon, with one group staying outside to protect our armored vehicles while the other ventures into the deep. But regardless, a smaller number doesn't mean we will be dragging our heels in the coming engagements.
Each Cadian 8th Platoon comes to the fight well-equipped with the new models of Lasweapons. Each standard Squad of twelve Guards is allocated a uniform loadout of a Plasma Gun and two units of 40 mm underbarrel grenade launchers. While these underbarrel launchers won't have the same punch as the standalone 57 mm launchers that dedicated Weapon Squads use, they are more than capable of at least stunning Ogryn-level threats, if not killing them with well-placed hits. The Special Weapon Squads, like Scorpin's Squad, are more varied in equipment, however. Scorpin's Squad of twelve strong opts for a mixed loadout of a 14.5 mm Heavy Stubber, a Flamer, and, surprisingly, a Meltagun. Overall, her Squad is well-equipped and more heavily armed than usual, carrying three special weapons instead of the normal two. This is only possible because the JTF is supplied with the more sensible Accatran-pattern of special weapons by the orbiting Iron Revenant. Used by the daring Elysian Drop Troops for airborne assault, the Accatran-pattern of weapons is as reliable and powerful as that of the familiar Cadian-pattern, yet it comes more compact and lighter in weight. Scorpin's Squad is not the only unit with a starkly improved firepower and tactical repertoire, as other Special Weapon Squads can be seen carrying up to four of such Accatran-pattern special weapons. Coincidentally, Dominus Cawl is making a conscious effort to outfit the Imperial Guard subfaction of the JTF with these Accatran-pattern special weapons, and yes, I know that repeating that set of words is a damn mouthful. It will be hilarious, however, to see a Cadian Whiteshield coming into our armory and comment about our lack of standard Cadian equipment.
"Wait, it's all Accatran?"
KA-CLICK
"Always has been."
Jokes aside, our Company Captain, Captain Rogers, joins us with a contingent of Kasrkin who are armed with more than just their ubiquitous Hellguns. His presence is a necessity, given that he is the liaison and commander-in-chief for the Cadian 8th units in the convoy. And while some of us will be going inside the hostile structure, Captain Rogers will be hanging back to ensure we still have a convoy to go home with. It's a shame, really, that we can't get something like a Freya Russ Punisher inside the enemy HQ. It would have made for some wonderful light show otherwise, as we don't have to worry about any hostages whatsoever.
A not-so-brief run down of what we have dismounted aside, do you think that Chaos would really let us T-posing in peace? Of course not.
Upon stepping off, our frontline of Salamander Assault Terminators forms ranks of towering shields and mean armor. The moment they finish doing that, an indiscriminate hail of stub rounds and las shots comes hitting against the unrelenting wall, sparking against the dense ceramate platings and not even budging the stalwart Astartes. The indiscriminate shooting from behind the veil by the cultists, however ineffective it may seem at first glance, is still very capable of scoring lucky hits on the more squishy mortal troops who are behind the Terminators. Fortunately for us all, we aren't the type to be stupidly in the open after disembarking from our vehicles. In fact, a good portion of us remain aboard or around our designated transport; the protection they offer proves invaluable in preventing us from dying to a dice roll.
On my part, I am a part of a stack right behind Frogger 4-1; my shield holds up to cover nearly all of my small body and provides an additional layer of protection for the people behind me. Weiss, in particular, is next in line with Johnson after her. As a stray shot harmlessly bounces off my personal carapace shield, my enhanced sense catches the moment when the power armor troops of our convoy have had enough with the traitors' welcome committee. As if they've rehearsed before, Mama and Chapter Master Tu'shan give the signal for their brothers and sisters to engage the hidden threats at the same time. Thanks to the built-in Auspex in their helmets, the Salamanders and Sisters of Battle can easily detect the cultist harassers that are trying to keep us pinned so that they can bring their heavy weapons to bear. Upon leveling their Bolt Rifles and Heavy Bolters, power armor troops unleash accurate bursts of bolt rounds, striking true and lethal despite the poor visibility. For a brief moment, the only thing you can hear is the relentless boom of due judgment, drowning out even the sound of the armored vehicles' engines. Understandable, given that bolters aren't really known for subtlety. Yet, the precise burst firing rhythm joins together to form a very specific score of firepower, one that is elevated by a notch when Captain Rogers points a finger in the general direction of the enemy building's upper floors. Afterward, the turrets of our Chimera IFVs easily comply with the directive and unleash a searing shower of bright, red-hot lasers that even a Terminator won't dare to be on the receiving end. Whereas the Salamanders and Sisters are methodical in their ammo consumption, the Chimera IFVs just let their Multi-Lasers rip without a care. Given enough time, it won't be weird to see this side of the enemy HQ being turned into glass and molten metal. Ultimately, though, our return fire rips apart the Fog of War generated by the earlier collapse of the wall, allowing even the mortal troops to see what they will be dealing with.
"Contact! 3 o'clock! Third-floor window!"
"Let me suppress them!"
"No! Save your ammo! Leave that to Frogger 4! Get yourself ready and mobile! 3-1, take point! 2-1, stick to 3-1, and be ready to lay some heat down range!"
What just happened was me calling out contact of the deadly kind, a hostile Multi-Laser emplacement up on the third-floor window. Scorping gave the suggestion that she could try to suppress the emplacement with Heavy Stubber, but it was quickly shot down by Johnson because the hostile position was reinforced with gunshield and whatever else they could bolt on the window. Using Scorpin's Heavy Stubber might only piss off the enemy Multi-laser crew and risk Scorpin being vaporized by return fire, something ain't nobody wanted to see. As such, Johnson delegated the task to our Chimeras, which summarily pointed their own Multi-lasers to start turning the emplaced position into slag.
Our Chimeras, Frogger 4-1 and 4-2, in their process of providing covering fire, have apparently attracted the attention of a nearby Salamander Deimos Predator Destructor. Seeing the targets that their mortal allies are occupied with, the crew of the Deimos Predator cranks their main turret and unleashes a three-shell burst from their 90 mm Autocannon against the unfortunate heretic Multi-laser position. After three booming blasts, the position is no more as what seems to be a large chunk of that building segment actually crumbles down to the lower levels with little fanfare.
The above scenes can be seen playing on repeat in different sections of the yard as the JTF convoy musters all of our firepower to pacify the immediate threats around our foothold. And thanks to the multiple sets of Auspex and sensory abilities, the task is done in a matter of a scant few minutes. It's an efficiency that makes even the nearby Tech-priests chant in Binharic out of praise. Unfortunately, if we start going by kill count, then the Cadian 8th has long since been left behind by the Astartes and Sisters of Battle. What can we say, our normal reflex and detection capability aren't up to par, and we are a bit more wasteful with our shots, more often than not.
When it's confirmed that the local region is secured, though, it's also the moment when the attack order is given, with little to no delay in between. This is, after all, a decapitation strike where speed and violence of action are the most essential. The commands of the three JTF authority figures unleash a charge from the combined force of the convoy's heavy hitters: the Dreadnoughts, the Terminators, the Celestians, and Kasrkin. Rather than storming through, let's say a door or a gateway where the enemy would have no doubt established a fatal funnel, the Salamander Dreadnoughts straight up smash apart a section of the enemy HQ's structural wall with their Power Fists, tearing open a huge chunk in the structure that soon reveals to us all the terrified visages of the traitors of man.
Those cultists are then promptly met with the withering hail of Assault Cannon firing and the clenching grasp of Dreadnought Power Fists. Some cultists find themselves exploding and torn apart by the equivalent of the M61 Vulcan Gatling Gun. Others see their whole world spinning as they themselves are crushed in the Dreadnoughts' twirling fists before being sent off into the nether by the underslung Flamers that are the Salamanders' trademark. As gore and charred body parts fly everywhere, the rest of the spearhead venture through the gap created by the Salamander Dreadnoughts. Tu'shan, Vel'cona, and Mama don't even need to do anything before all the threats on this side of the ground floor are cleared by the fierce elite fighting force of the Imperium. Following right behind them are the supposedly weaker and mortal troops, men and women who are no slouches, too. Yet, having seen how swiftly the Dreadnoughts have cleared the breach, I, posing as a normal Guardswoman, can't help but wonder.
[Ein: Do the 8th is even needed here?]
It's a legit question, now that the sheer quality of our force is made apparent for this little excursion of the JTF. We are literally fielding a prototype of the Great Crusade-era Legion in response to heretical activities, with the Cadian 8th being the equivalent of a budget-cut Solar Auxilia.
[Emperor of Man: Eh, you will have your chance to shine in a more restrictive terrain. Thus far, the battlefield conditions are perfected for the likes of the Astartes and Sororitas, which is good as they limit the casualties you could have suffered.]
[Nuwa: Hey! Hey~! Ain't nobody gonna comment on how ridiculous those Dreadnoughts were to spin their enemies with their fists while burning them alive with flamethrowers as if playing barbecue? What sort of attack move was that, even!?]
[Ein: Believe it or not, Sister Nuwa, that was actually more tame than what could be expected from them.]
And believe me, Dreadnoughts can do some crazy shits, judging from all the stories I've heard from the Astartes. I legit pity the fools who stand against not one, but two Dreadnoughts and their band of brothers.