Chapter 102: Bombing Shadowtooth Star
This scene surprised everyone, and they glanced at Omega.
Omega thought speechlessly, "You don't seem to be the Primarch of the Iron Warriors. Is this even allowed? Do they expect Perturabo to command the war while attending a banquet?"
With the help of a Company Commander, Perturabo snorted and turned to sit down.
Omega chatted with him for a few moments, clinked glasses, and began to eat and drink.
The main purpose of this gathering was for the high-ranking officers of each Legion to get acquainted and learn each other's names, avoiding awkwardness during future operations. Through the discussions, they also gained a general understanding of each other's personalities.
While observing his surroundings, Omega conversed with Perturabo about mechanical technology and found, to his surprise, that they got along very well.
Omega thought to himself, "No wonder Perturabo had that expression when I spoke with Ferrus Manus at the Imperial Palace banquet. It turns out he is also extremely proficient in mechanical technology and a master designer of heavy weaponry!"
Perturabo discovered that Omega could engage in any mechanical topic he brought up, but was less knowledgeable about mechanical details and modifications. This made him feel victorious in the conversation.
The war was still ongoing. After the banquet, Omega directly led his people away.
Forrix, who had been commanding the operation while eating, saw the good atmosphere and was pleased.
Perturabo made no remarks and quickly took over from Forrix.
Company Commander Harkor sat down beside Forrix and smiled when he saw him settle in.
"Forrix, I didn't expect this newly returned Primarch Omega to have such good character. He really loves hosting banquets and enjoying good food!"
Perturabo, who had been standing with his back to them, suddenly remarked calmly, "He's a bit like Horus."
Horus's warm, sun-like personality was well known to the Iron Warriors and Luna Wolves, who had collaborated multiple times before. They exchanged glances and somewhat agreed with Omega's approachable style.
The Company Commanders returned directly to their warships in space, while Omega returned to the Legion flagship.
Over the next month, Alpharius and Perturabo reduced the Hrud fleet to a mere few hundred vessels, and both sides began large-scale landing operations.
The Alpha Legion skillfully dispatched high-speed Thunderhawk Gunships to enter Shadowtooth Star's atmosphere to scan the terrain and the enemy's city locations. As vast amounts of information were uploaded, Omega watched the gradually clearer terrain and city locations of Shadowtooth Star. He noted the thick atmosphere, growing in surprise.
Shadowtooth Star's thick atmosphere blocked much sunlight and heat, making the entire planet's environment dimly lit, with some areas in complete darkness. The dense atmosphere caused lightning flashes and created humid, rainy weather.
The planet's oceans covered seventy percent of its surface, with three large continents where land and sea boundaries intertwined. The terrain was mostly hills and high mountains, with undulating, wrinkle-like mountain ranges.
Omega found it strange that the marked Hrud cities were built in mountain valleys. Cities are typically built for convenient transportation, and building them in mountains is not conducive to travel and trade. The numerous undulating mountain ranges and dim sky made Omega feel somewhat uncomfortable.
When Alpharius heard his thoughts, he laughed.
"The geographical environments of planets in space are inherently different. Konrad Curze's homeworld, Nostramo, is much darker than Shadowtooth Star. Many people there have never seen sunlight in their lives!"
He continued, "The bombardment tactic is your invention, so you'll command the follow-up. Shadowtooth Star's environment is perfectly suited for the Alpha Legion's behind-enemy-lines infiltration tactics!"
Omega nodded. He was also proficient in Alpharius's behind-enemy-lines infiltration tactics, though he generally did not use it as a regular tactic. His tactical style was never fixed but changed with time and place.
After the intelligence gathering on Shadowtooth Star was complete, Omega quickly communicated with Perturabo, sending him the information and explaining that a global orbital bombardment would commence.
On the bridge, Perturabo glanced at the data. He looked at the dozens of marked Hrud cities to be bombarded by both sides and nodded. "Understood!"
Having won the space battle, the Human Fleet possessed the advantage of orbital bombardment.
In the planet's orbit, numerous warships moved, revealing massive ion cannon muzzles, their surging ion energy light outshining the sun. Shadowtooth Star's thick atmosphere was illuminated by such bright light for the first time, as massive spears of light shot straight down to the planet's surface.
Hundreds of meters wide, the colossal ion energy beams pierced through the thick cloud layers. Within moments, the light columns descending from the sky directly struck the massive Hrud cities beneath the dim clouds.
Countless Hrud, clad in light armor and wielding various weapons, witnessed such dazzling ion light for the first time in their lives.
Boom!
A Hrud city was directly hit, its solid energy shield in mid-air resisting the orbital bombardment strike. The powerful energy shockwave swept through the churning clouds, and the Hrud in the city cheered at the energy shield's strength.
One orbital bombardment was not enough, and another followed. After seventeen consecutive strikes, the thick energy shield enveloping the city was directly destroyed.
Rumble!
The entire city exploded, and the white light of the ion bombardment, covering hundreds of kilometers, turned everything to dust. Whether Hrud or metal buildings, the city was reduced to ashes. The violent explosion's powerful shockwave covered an area of several thousand kilometers, collapsing surrounding hills and sending forests and Hrud flying high into the sky.
On the space bridge, Company Commander Skor witnessed the scene and exclaimed, "Such a thick force field energy shield is truly rare. I didn't expect the Hrud warships to be so poor, yet their city energy shields are astonishingly defensive!"
He turned to Omega. "Sir, the strength level of the Hrud on the surface might exceed our estimates!"
Omega smiled confidently. "It's fine. I'll bombard the entire planet, and I don't believe they have the strength to turn the tide. Even if they can withstand the bombardment for a time, they will still die. Continue the orbital bombardment!"
Company Commanders Skor and Norton smiled slightly upon hearing this. First Company Commander Ingo Pech and others nearby had calm expressions. While Omega's bombardment tactic was effective, it wasted too much ammunition.
The Hrud city energy shields were astonishingly defensive, but Perturabo and Omega in space were confident they could blast them one by one. Some Hrud cities could defend against over a dozen orbital bombardment energy strikes; some reached dozens, and even three core super-cities withstood over a hundred orbital bombardments and surprisingly held out without breaking.
For a full month, the remaining few hundred Hrud warships were dealt with, and most of the cities on Shadowtooth Star's surface were destroyed.
Over two months, Thunderhawk Gunships and numerous high-speed reconnaissance aircraft thoroughly investigated buildings and strongholds outside the Hrud cities, marking them all on the planetary model.
Omega then issued the order for landing operations.
Numerous space warships hovered in orbit, and combat units flowed densely from space to the planet's surface like rivers. The Iron Warriors Legion also began large-scale landings.
First Company Commander Forrix looked at the densely marked planetary data model with surprise and wondered, "Millions of marked locations without orbital bombardment? How will the Alpha Legion bomb them all?"
Primarch Perturabo, who was nearby, said, "They'll use bombers to deploy long-range missiles. For the Alpha Legion to bomb everything, it would probably waste tens of millions of rounds of ammunition. They came prepared!"
Dantioch and others were amused. There had been rumors that the Alpha Legion possessed strong assault capabilities, which they hadn't believed before, but now, hearing someone eager to do the Iron Warriors' work was unusual.
Over the next few months, the Iron Warriors Legion truly witnessed what large-scale bombardment meant, as if countless missiles rained down from the sky.
The Alpha Legion's transport units, following instructions, landed on Shadowtooth Star's three continents, and war bases expanded continuously like rapidly growing steel organisms. Millions of bombers and Thunderhawk Gunships, loaded with vast amounts of missiles, took off, while countless missiles were automatically loaded at the bases.
[End of Chapter]
Want to read more than 50+ chapters right now!
patreon.com/cw/Mr_UmU
https://www.patreon.com/Mr_UmU
____
Want bonus chapters? You got it.
Goal: 300 – Achieved: 297 = 2 Bonus Chapters
📌 1 Power Stone on the Book Page = 100 on Chapter Pages!
!! VISIT the BOOK PAGE to donate.