"..."
Nikolai's account, like a heavy, dark scroll, slowly unrolled before Leon, Mike, and Maggie.
Listening to the suffering of this Earth for twenty years, hearing how human civilization collapsed within seven hours, and how it was continuously exploited, enslaved, and even faced the threat of genocide, Leon and the others fell into a long silence.
Even though they were accustomed to various tragedies in the universe, they felt heavy-hearted for the systematic and cruel fate endured by their fellow humans on this parallel universe Earth.
The air was filled with oppression.
Leon's fingertips tapped lightly on his knee. Mike put away his usual joking expression, frowning deeply. Although Maggie remained grim-faced, a trace of imperceptible cold light flashed deep in her eyes.
They knew clearly that the reason Earth-21 had fallen to this state was inseparable from itself.
The dangerous research conducted at the "Black Mesa Base" mentioned by Nikolai was undoubtedly the key to opening Pandora's box.
If that catastrophic experiment hadn't opened the portal to Xen, those alien creatures might not have invaded. More importantly, the alien civilization on Xen might not have used Earth as a desperate refuge to escape the pursuit of the Combined Empire, thereby leading an even more terrifying predator, the Combined Empire, to this defenseless world.
A chain of tragedies originated from humanity's reckless exploration of unknown powers.
From the accounts of Nikolai and others, an even more palpitating fact emerged—the true main force of the Combined Empire seemed to have never truly descended on Earth from beginning to end.
Relying solely on various biological weapons, namely those modified Combined Army soldiers, and war vehicles integrated with biotechnology, they crushed the human armies equivalent to the early 21st-century level of the main universe Earth within seven hours.
This generational gap in technology and military strength was desperately large for humans of Earth-21.
Even more tragic was that in the eyes of the Combined Empire, Earth and human civilization were probably just an ordinary "region" among its many conquered races and planets, lacking even the value worthy of colonization.
"After they ruled Earth, they didn't immigrate like traditional colonizers..."
Nikolai's voice was bitter, "We have never seen any real resident of the Combined Empire come to settle on Earth. They just left a 'Citadel' as a control node in the center of each major city and simple armored core troops for supervision."
"They didn't even bother to rebuild infrastructure for us." Anna added from the side, her tone sarcastic, "Material transportation between cities still relies on the railway system we built before the war.
They just 'improved' the locomotives a bit to make them run faster, making it more convenient for them to continuously transport resources plundered from Earth—water, minerals, who knows what else... to their own dimension."
Mike pulled up the global resource flow chart scanned by drones, confirming this: "Data shows multiple large energy focus points and matter transmission signals globally.
Their purpose is clear at a glance: using Earth as a purely efficient resource collection point, rather than a new colony."
And when Leon heard Nikolai describe the measures implemented by the Combined Army...
Even including the "reproductive suppression field" depriving local compatriots of reproductive rights, adding memory-fading substances to drinking water to facilitate mind control over humans, forced migration destroying social structures, and tempting humans to join the National Guard with generous treatment, etc...
When hearing a series of extremely cruel measures aimed at the complete physical and cultural extermination of humanity, the chill in his eyes almost froze into ice.
"And this Eastern European city, or City 17." Nikolai finally pointed to a crude hand-drawn map, "Is the capital established by the Combined Empire on Earth.
In that tallest tower sits the traitor leader, Wallace Breen."
All fragments of information were quickly pieced together, analyzed, and evolved in the mind of Leon, this experienced agent.
Silence was broken. A clear, decisive strategic goal with distinct Imperial style had formed in his mind.
He looked up, his gaze turning to Nikolai, Mike, and the others, his voice steady and full of power: "The situation is clear. The Combined Empire views Earth as an unattended 'ATM', its main force far away, relying only on automated systems and a small number of guards for maintenance."
He stood up and began issuing instructions, speaking quickly and clearly: "Mike, immediately contact the Primarch and the Forward Base Command via the highest priority encryption channel.
First, inform the main force of the Salamanders Legion to end the hidden state immediately and launch a full-scale attack.
Operational Objective: Within a short time, capture and control all major cities marked by the Combined Army on Earth-21. The primary task is to paralyze all 'Citadel' control nodes, destroy or capture Combined Army biological weapon production facilities, and disarm the National Guard.
Code of Conduct: Efficient, precise, minimize civilian casualties.
Second, organize an elite Salamanders assault team with the highest priority. Target: Directly raid City 17, occupy the central tower, capture alive or kill if necessary the traitor leader Wallace Breen.
Must ensure the integrity of internal facilities of the tower, especially possible cross-dimensional communication or teleportation devices."
He looked at Nikolai and Anna: "Captain, we need full cooperation from your resistance organization, providing all known defense details of City 17, troop deployment, and possible infiltration routes."
Then, he explained the core intent of this strategy to Mike: "Doing so can achieve several key goals:
A quick victory, instantly disintegrating the Combined Army's superficial rule on Earth globally and liberating humanity.
Occupying City 17 and the tower is equivalent to choking the enemy's command throat on Earth.
Even if the main force of the Combined Empire reacts and wants to retake Earth, they will face a Salamanders Legion ready in full battle array and waiting at ease.
We can 'camp' to meet the enemy, occupying the geographical advantage.
Most critically..."
Leon's eyes sparkled, "Inside that tower, there very likely exist portals or related technologies connecting to the Combined Empire's homeland.
Once occupied by us, experts from the Imperial Research Division can reverse engineer and crack it. By then, we will no longer be passively defending, but able to grasp the initiative and achieve a true counterattack.
Bringing the flames of war directly to the homeland of the Combined Empire!"
This plan was radical, but built on precise intelligence analysis and confidence in the strength of the Human Empire.
This was not just to liberate an enslaved world, but to open a door to a broader battlefield and fundamentally solve the threat.
Listening to Leon's clear and imposing deployment, Nikolai, Anna, and the others seemed to see a gigantic warhammer burning with flames of revenge about to smash the dark canopy that had shrouded them for twenty years with the force of a thunderbolt.
Hope had never been so real.
Subsequently, Leon uploaded all key information, including the current status of Earth-21, Combined Army deployment, resistance intelligence, and the assault strategy he personally drafted, to the forward base via the highest encryption level data link.
Not long after, at the forward base.
In just one day and night, the Imperial Engineering Division once again demonstrated its infrastructure efficiency worthy of being called "demonic."
The base, which was just a prototype before, was now completely completed, transforming into a steel city standing on the wasteland.
Looking around, there were standardized, modular silver-gray alloy buildings everywhere.
The tall command center was like a dormant giant beast, its top communication array rotating constantly, scanning the sky and the earth.
The barracks area was uniform, easily accommodating millions of soldiers;
The hangars were full of various fighter jets, gunships, and transport ships. Ground crews, Terminators, and Hunter-Killers were busy like worker ants;
In the heavy equipment area, rows of main battle tanks, self-propelled artillery, and Titan-class mechs stood silently, emitting cold killing intent;
The massive energy center provided near-infinite power, and the force field shield generator emitted a faint glow, enveloping the entire base.
Logistics warehouses, medical centers, scientific research outposts, and other functional buildings were all available, constituting a fully self-sufficient war fortress.
Just from this huge and perfect scale, this base stationed at least hundreds of thousands, or even close to a million Imperial soldiers and related personnel.
It was not just a springboard, but a steel imprint declaring the arrival of the Empire's will in this world.
Inside the command center, top-level strategic conference room.
The atmosphere was heavy and focused.
Primarch Vulkan's burly mountain-like body sat at the head. Young Jaghatai sat by his side. Below were a group of high-ranking Salamanders Legion generals experienced in hundreds of battles.
In front of them, on the huge holographic sand table, the global map of Earth-21 was clearly displayed, marked with dense enemy strongholds, troop symbols, defense strength, and detailed intelligence provided by Leon and the resistance.
Obviously, after receiving detailed intelligence from Leon and all infiltrated agents, the Salamanders Legion had completed all tactical deductions and troop deployments.
They didn't need long preparations. Once the Empire's war machine started, it pursued maximum efficiency.
Now, they were fully prepared to execute a "one-wave" thunder strike, aiming to completely eradicate the aliens and traitors entrenched here with lightning speed.
"Gentlemen."
Vulkan's low and powerful voice echoed in the conference room. He pointed to the holographic map, "Intelligence confirmed, strategy clear. Now, assigning specific combat tasks.
4th to 10th Companies, responsible for global clearing missions.
According to intelligence markings, attack synchronously by region. Primary objective: Destroy all Combined Army 'Citadel' nodes, biological weapon factories, and disarm the National Guard."
His gaze turned to City 17, which was highlighted on the map: "3rd Company, commanded by Captain Gao Zan, responsible for the core mission. Frontal assault and occupy City 17, seize the central tower."
Immediately, he looked at Jaghatai beside him, who was eager to try: "Jaghatai, you will act with the 3rd Company.
This is an excellent learning opportunity to observe up close how the Legion conducts large-scale urban assaults. Remember, at the tactical level, you must obey Captain Gao Zan's command."
"Understood, Brother Vulkan. I will follow Captain Gao Zan's orders." Jaghatai responded without hesitation, eyes full of expectation for participating in the first large-scale actual combat.
"Very good." Vulkan finally looked around the room, placing his palm on the console, "For the Empire, for humanity! Commence operation!"
The order was like a prairie fire, instantly spreading throughout the base and even the orbital fleet...
And the "view" came to the outer space of City 17.
In the originally empty space sector, space rippled like water waves. Massive warships painted with the Salamanders insignia suddenly deactivated optical camouflage, revealing their ferocious steel bodies.
This was the fleet of the 3rd Company.
Without any warning, the missile silo covers on the ship's sides and belly slid open layer by layer, revealing the dense warheads inside.
The barrels of plasma turrets and Gauss secondary guns also emitted silent hums, precisely adjusting firing data. scorching energy gathered at the muzzles.
Obviously, this was preparing for the first round of surgical precision artillery coverage on alien strongholds, military facilities, and traitor gathering areas within City 17.
Thanks to the precise coordinates provided by Leon and Nikolai, they didn't have to worry about accidentally injuring civilian areas at all.
The next moment, countless deadly stars seemed to light up in the "night sky."
Hundreds of missiles trailing dazzling flames, like a furious swarm of bees, roared towards the designated targets.
Following closely were colorful plasma clusters, and ultra-high-speed, strong armor-piercing Gauss spike shells.
At the same time, City 17—
The silence of the late night was instantly torn apart!
Boom! Boom! Boom—!!!
Earth-shaking explosions rang out continuously from all directions of the city!
Fireballs soaring into the sky reddened the entire sky. Shockwaves wrapped in debris swept across the streets.
Specific military strongholds, National Guard barracks, Combined Army patrol stations, and those Combined Army buildings with strange styles were easily torn apart, melted, and evaporated like paper toys under precise strikes.
?!
Civilians woke up from their sleep, curled up in terror under beds or in basements, listening to the loud noises outside like doomsday, hearts full of fear, but also faintly feeling that this seemed completely different from previous Combined Army suppressions.
!!
The National Guard traitors fell into extreme chaos and panic. The strongholds they relied on to tyrannize were instantly destroyed, communications cut off. Many were swallowed by explosions or buried under ruins before they even figured out what happened.
As for those Combined Army soldiers, although they still maintained machine-like calm and tried to organize counterattacks, their resistance appeared so pale and weak in front of this orbital bombardment beyond their understanding.
Before the smoke of the first round of shocking bombardment dispersed, the dawn sky just showed a hint of white.
Shocked people looked up and vaguely saw even more strange and magnificent scenes appearing in the sky—
Countless burning "meteors," trailing crimson trajectories, like a meteor shower, were pouncing towards City 17 with a decisive posture.
And those were drop pods carrying Salamanders Astartes, Imperial Auxiliary troops, and Helljumpers.
The Empire's "Iron Fist" had descended...
______
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