General Grigory's strategy was sound. If all ten Defense Force regiments on Rostov II were Astra Militarum, his plan to use eight regiments to wipe out the Necrons attacking Rostov City could truly be realized.
But they were only the Defense Force. Even if they had indeed improved greatly from fighting the Flayers, and Alex had also upgraded their equipment, this did not mean they could be compared to the Astra Militarum.
However, after some consideration, Alex did not reject General Grigory's plan.
He merely glanced at everyone in the command center and issued an order: "Count Manner, I trouble you to lead the Lin Guang Family knights and the First Regiment to act together, cooperating with them to launch an attack from behind enemy lines."
"The Lin Guang Family will not disappoint your expectations. I will have the other four knights from the family territory also rush to rendezvous." Since this planet was invaded, Manner did not mind going all-in with all of his family's current strength to eliminate the invading xenos.
"Very good! I believe the valor of the Lin Guang Family will not disappoint the Emperor." Alex praised, then looked at General Grigory and said to him: "Strengthen the armored vehicles of the two remaining regiments to the First Regiment, and leave the First Regiment's artillery and other heavy firepower to the two remaining regiments."
The main task of the remaining regiments was to clear out the Necron forces involved in the Necron Tomb, while the returning First Regiment needed to launch a surprise attack from behind enemy lines. Strengthening the armored vehicles for the First Regiment could effectively enhance their assault capabilities.
"Governor, we request to join the fight!" At this moment, the Great Sister of the Order of the Ebon Chalice suddenly spoke, requesting to join the battle.
When exploring the Necron Tomb earlier, Alex had left them outside, only taking the Sisters of the Sacred Rose Convent into the tomb. Now, seeing the battle resume, these Sisters of Battle were clearly unable to hold back.
Especially the burning flames on the battle standard brought back by the Sacred Rose Convent earlier made them realize that the Emperor's gaze had just fallen upon this place.
If there wasn't still a battle to prove themselves, the Order of the Ebon Chalice would probably have a large number of Penitent Sisters by now.
Alex naturally noticed this issue, so he nodded to the Great Sister of the Order of the Ebon Chalice: "Very well, you will cooperate with the First Regiment. Unleash the Emperor's wrath upon these hateful xenos!"
—
Dmitri huddled in his seat, clutching his Lasgun, his expression cold and serious as he felt the chimera transport vehicle lurch beneath him.
In his hand, he held several dog tags, belonging to the soldiers of his squad who had fallen in previous battles.
Michel, Mitch, Nikolai… He could name every single one of them.
Every one of them was a good lad, performing exceptionally well in both training and combat.
Every one of them was also led by Dmitri into the city's sewers to fight those xenos called Flayers, successfully passing the test and becoming a respected member of the xeno hunters in the Defense Force.
This was also a special rule formed on Rostov II since it began hunting xenos in the sewers: sufficiently elite veterans could recruit their own squad members by leading teams into the city's sewers to hunt xenos, forming elite tactical squads.
Every member of Dmitri's squad was personally chosen, trained, and led through trials by him; they were brothers as close as his own limbs.
But now, several of these good lads had fallen in the cold xeno tomb, without even a complete body to be found.
Although sacrificing oneself in battle against xenos was a fitting death for a Defense Force soldier, and offering one's humble life for the Emperor was an even greater glory, even the Sisters of Battle praised fallen warriors for their souls returning to the Golden Throne…
But this could not hide the burning rage that filled Dmitri's heart.
Those were his brothers! They shouldn't and couldn't have been killed by xenos like this!
He wanted revenge! He wanted to blast those xenos' heads with his Lasgun! To offer their iron skulls as a tribute to his fallen brothers!
"Soldier, you need to remain calm. Don't let rage cloud your mind." Jeanne, also sitting in the vehicle, spoke, advising Dmitri.
Because this squad had suffered many casualties, there were a few empty seats in their vehicle, so several Battle Sisters squeezed in to join them.
As a member of the Order of the Ebon Chalice, Jeanne felt extremely annoyed and even hated herself for missing the opportunity to enter the xeno tomb and fight the xenos earlier.
Especially when she learned that the Emperor had manifested, igniting holy flames on the Sacred Rose Convent's battle standard, she had an immediate urge to shed her Power Armor and become a Penitent Sister.
But she controlled her rage and emotions very well, burying them deep in her heart, preparing to unleash them fully upon the enemy in the coming battle.
So when she noticed Dmitri's angry demeanor, although hatred for xenos was a good thing, Jeanne still remembered her instructor's teachings from when she was an Apprentice Sister: not to let rage cloud her mind, to remain calm while also remaining angry.
"Yes, Sister!" Dmitri heard Jeanne's words, took a deep breath to force himself to calm down, and politely thanked Jeanne: "Thank you for the reminder. I will control my rage! It will incinerate the enemies of humanity!"
Watching Dmitri gradually calm down, Jeanne nodded slightly, then noticed the dog tags in his hand and spoke: "Are these your comrades? If you wish, I can pray for them, that their souls may return to the Golden Throne."
Upon hearing Jeanne offer to pray for his comrades, Dmitri was immediately overjoyed and presented the dog tags in his hand to Jeanne.
Jeanne took these dog tags, still stained with blood and some Gauss ray erosion, her expression solemn and serious. She chanted a short hymn, then raised her portable small shrine to pray for these bravely fallen warriors.
Although there was a lack of various ritual implements, and this was not a formal prayer, no one would be critical in such a situation.
Dmitri watched Jeanne and the small shrine in her hand with focused attention, as if it were the embodiment of the Emperor, and by gazing at it, he could feel the Emperor's presence with them.
And the others in the chimera transport vehicle, seeing this, also began to pray silently.
Whether they were Battle Sisters like Jeanne or the other members of Dmitri's squad, all were praying with piety and earnestness at this moment.
They prayed for the Emperor to watch over and bless them, so that their fallen brothers could return to the Golden Throne, and they also yearned for the Emperor to grant them courage and strength, so that they could defeat those xenos!
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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If you guys wanna check it out.