Cadia, Eastern Front.
"Imperium of Man, Imperial Guard, 68th Heavy Combined Brigade"
On the plains of Cadia's Eastern Front, the mechanized forces of the 68th Heavy Combined Brigade had assembled, having relieved the Cadian Forces previously stationed there.
A torrent of steel gleamed with a cold metallic luster amidst the smoke-filled battlefield.
Li Feng's Imperial Guard forces included the 68th Brigade, an experimental mixed unit composed of multiple Imperial Legions. They were equipped with the finest gear the Imperium had to offer, and their arrival undoubtedly injected new strength into the battlefield.
"Commander, Commissar Cain's orders have been issued," a staff officer reported. "Our objective is to stabilize the Eastern Front and suppress the large-scale assault by Chaos Daemons."
Colonel Som Cano, the Commander of the brigade, stood inside the command vehicle, his gaze firm. He was a battle-hardened Commander, fearless in the face of the roaring black tide of the enemy.
He looked up at the sky, where crimson flashes still pierced through the depths of the corrupted dark clouds, a sign of the Warp's erosion of the real world.
"Firepower team, immediately establish long-range artillery positions. Armored battalion prepare for assault. Mechanized battalion stand by, ensuring mobile units remain undisturbed."
Som's orders were clear and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
Not far away, leopard 2 tanks emitted a low engine roar, and rows of PCL-181 155mm vehicle-mounted howitzer-mortars were ready, angles adjusted, preparing to fire towards the industrial zone ahead.
Meanwhile, in the sky, a squadron of Imperial F-16 attack aircraft was sweeping across the battlefield, rapidly striking the industrial zone.
"Reconnaissance team reports that the main force of Chaos Daemons is approaching, in vast numbers, including multiple giant Daemons and a large number of blood cultist infantry," new intelligence came over the radio.
Som listened, his expression still calm. In the sky, a squadron of Imperial F-16 fighter jets launched a low-altitude assault. Their airframes, within the atmosphere, produced supersonic "sonic booms" as they swept across the smoke-filled battlefield, like falcons locking onto the massive Chaos Daemon war machines advancing on the Imperial positions below.
"Target locked!" the lead pilot calmly reported over the communication channel.
Each F-16 fighter jet was equipped with the latest GBU-24 "Paveway" guided bombs on its hardpoints. These bombs, guided by laser guidance systems, possessed extreme precision, capable of unleashing destructive energy precisely on their targets.
As the leader's command was given, the bombs under the wings screamed out like meteors.
At the Core of the Daemon war machine host was a unit of colossal Chaos Daemon Engines. These steel beasts, forged from twisted technology and Warp energy, possessed self-repairing capabilities and emitted corrosive miasma.
They were slowly advancing through the ruins of the industrial zone, like a disaster consuming the battlefield.
The first GBU-24 accurately struck the Core of a Chaos Daemon Engine. The shockwave of the instant explosion tore through its heavy armor, and the rift from which Warp energy surged was engulfed in flames.
The colossal steel Daemon let out a painful roar, then crashed to the ground, completely paralyzed. Other missiles fell precisely like rain.
The second bomb penetrated and destroyed a Chaos tank, the explosion instantly pulverizing nearby Warp Daemons along with the machinery.
"Target destroyed! Target destroyed!" came the joyful shouts of the pilots over the communication channel.
In the air, the Imperial F-16 fighter jet squadron, after completing its initial round of precise strikes, quickly adjusted its formation, preparing to meet new threats. Chaos corrupted aircraft and Daemon Princes, propelled by Warp-driven speed, attempted to pursue, but the F-16s' agile maneuverability and advanced weapon systems demonstrated overwhelming superiority.
"Radar lock complete, launch AIM-120X!"
The pilots operated calmly, active radar-guided missiles precisely tracking enemy airborne targets, shooting down corrupted aircraft one after another. Each explosion bloomed with a crimson glow in the sky, like an unusual fireworks display.
And Khorne's Daemons were blown to smithereens by the ultra-long-range and aerial firepower, turning into a mass of broken Warp energy scattered in the air.
At the same time, on the ground, the 68th Brigade's artillery forces had launched their second round of long-range bombardment.
The 155mm PCL-181 self-propelled howitzers fired continuously, precisely covering the advance route of the Chaos Host. The Chaos Host's offensive was completely destroyed by the artillery fire; they were utterly unable to cope with the incessant, destructive barrages.
At this moment, the Daemon Prince on the front line immediately wanted to use the Chaos Host's artillery for a counterattack... but the PCL-181 self-propelled howitzer's range was 2-3 times that of all other forces' long-range strike units in the The Galaxy / Milky Way, making it impossible for Chaos Forces to conduct counter-battery fire.
Additionally, the high mobility of the truck-mounted artillery meant that after one round, they immediately shifted their artillery positions, making it extremely difficult for Chaos Forces to penetrate behind the front lines to destroy their artillery strike capability.
Nevertheless, the power of Chaos was far from subdued. A colossal Khorne Daemon slowly emerged from the ruins of the industrial zone, bearing rolling Warp flames, and launched a deadly charge towards the Imperial defensive line.
Behind it were vast numbers of twisted Warp creatures, roaring loudly, rushing towards the Imperial Soldiers with reckless ferocity.
"This is the front line! Daemons are approaching, anti-armor support needed!" The ground forces' communication request quickly reached the command vehicle.
Som Cano responded calmly, he quickly ordered: "Notify the nearest armored company to immediately move into the front line! Firepower team, lock onto the furnace, use armor-piercing rounds for a lethal strike!"
Upon hearing the order, the armored company moved swiftly. Four leopard 2 main battle tanks and two "Cadianms" rapidly drove into the front line, striking the Chaos Daemons precisely with their 120mm electromagnetic cannons.
Exterminating Daemons: "Cadianms! Eleven o'clock direction! Distance! 700 meters!"
At the same time, the BMD-4 infantry fighting vehicle's 100mm howitzer and 30mm autocannon rapidly struck the Chaos Host attempting to storm the position. The 30mm autocannon fired 3UOF8 high-explosive incendiary rounds, directly tearing apart the attacking forces.
In the fierce exchange of fire, the Daemon Engines emitted piercing metallic shrieks, finally being blasted into wreckage by multiple precise strikes.
The tide of blood cultists was swept away one by one by the unmanned bolter round turrets on the tanks and the firepower of the infantry fighting vehicles, and the brutal assault was repelled once again.
Commissar Cain had been observing the battle from afar. Through the real-time tactical data from the front-line units, he realized that the Chaos attack was not merely aimed at seizing the industrial zone. This might be a prelude to a larger Warp invasion.
He contacted Som via the command network: "Colonel, our defensive line is currently stable, but the intensity of the enemy's attack continues to increase. This indicates they have more up their sleeve. I want you to immediately coordinate with the Adeptus Mechanicus's Tech-Priests to set up mine arrays and reinforce the fortifications around the industrial zone."
Som immediately replied: "Understood, Political Commissar! I will deploy all remaining engineer units to prioritize defensive preparations. At the same time, I request aerial units to continue providing covering strikes to ensure our advance is undisturbed."
"Very good," Cain's tone was firm and calm, "Remember, the victory of this battle not only concerns the fate of Cadia but also the survival of the Imperium. We must not fail."
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