Based on the information currently available, all Imperial-controlled zones have fallen into turmoil.
Not only the outer Hive Cities, but even Hyberia has seen widespread civilian riots.
Lord Calgar has urgently returned from the fleet. Not only have the Astra Militarum and Planetary Defense Force been fully mobilized, but even the Astartes have had many units reassigned to suppress the unrest.
Also, the nobles. In some Hive Cities that were barely under control, the nobles have gathered all supplies and holed up in the fortresses they built for themselves.
Ana held the Adeptus Mechanicus internal communicator, speaking continuously while keeping her steps close behind Sith, afraid of falling behind.
If the nobles have hidden away, what about the civilians outside?
Bruno frowned and asked from the side. Sith, walking ahead, did not answer, while Ana raised her data-slate:
Based on current information projections, the number of civilians defecting to the Genestealers is increasing by hundreds of millions.
Bruno's brow instantly froze, his eyes looking at Ana in disbelief.
His lips twitched several times, on the verge of an angry curse he could barely suppress even with Sith right in front of him!
We're here.
Only when Sith suddenly stopped and spoke did Bruno slightly lower his head, his mouth opening and closing rapidly in silence.
Lord Davi Luo, is this enough explosives?
Sith did not join the conversation between Bruno and Ana behind him. He simply threw a large backpack from his back onto the ground in front of Davi Luo.
Because beneath Sith's feet were swarms of Genestealers, and this was the last human outpost outside the safe zone, Davi Luo had been temporarily stationed here to bolster defenses and prepare to venture back into the Hive City to gather more intelligence when needed.
However, during a lull in the mission, what Davi Luo received first was a request from Sith.
Looking at the pile of melta bombs before him, Davi Luo nodded casually. After all, he acknowledged Sith, but he did not acknowledge the civilians.
If the nobles hadn't even taken Sith's water, Davi Luo wouldn't have bothered at all.
Get ready. The breach will be quick.
Davi Luo gave a reminder, then picked up a large number of melta bombs and turned toward the noble fortress gate at the top of the tower.
Hearing this, Sith immediately drew his Bolter pistol from behind, but after a moment's thought, he holstered it again. Instead, he turned and hefted an autocannon that had been part of a heavy weapon emplacement.
Seeing Sith actually shoulder an autocannon, Bruno, who had also flushed red and hoisted a heavy bolter behind him, was momentarily stunned.
Huh?
I knew you could handle heavy gear, old-timer, but isn't this thing a bit... too big?
Bruno was speechless. Even Davi Luo, busy planting melta bombs ahead, glanced back at the scene and was startled.
After all, he was standing right in front of the gate, and Sith's autocannon was aimed almost point-blank at him.
And remembering how Sith had cut people down along the way, Davi Luo felt a twinge of apprehension toward that autocannon.
After all, the difference between an autocannon in the hands of an ordinary Mortal and one in Sith's hands was somewhat excessively vast.
He hurriedly focused even more on planting the melta bombs. Only after using up five full packs did Davi Luo quickly step aside and pick up the detonator.
Turning to look at the group, Davi Luo ignored all the other Mortals, his gaze fixed solely on Sith.
With a hint of inquiry, Sith did not nod. He merely shouldered the autocannon and with a loud 'clang,' racked the charging handle!
This made Davi Luo narrow his eyes slightly. Then he turned to look at the gate, a flicker of sympathy suddenly appearing in his eyes.
Of course, this sympathy wasn't for the gate, but for the nobles behind it who were about to face Sith directly.
He pressed the button. The melta bombs detonated violently at the gate's critical structural points.
With explosions from bottom to top, as the final bomb erupted in pale blue melta flames, the fortress gate the nobles believed impregnable once again neatly toppled backward.
In the last instant before it completely fell, panicked shouts suddenly came from behind the door.
But as the gate flattened all the noble guardsmen behind it without any resistance, the dense crowd of survivors saw Sith standing before the doorway, aiming the autocannon at them.
Tell the starch factory workers to be ready. We'll have a batch of premium raw materials today.
The autocannon roared. Behind the door, noble guardsmen turned into bloody pulp before they could react.
Though not all guardsmen were behind the door, when the other survivors saw the carnage, a group of them dropped their weapons and fled in all directions.
Only a group of nobles on the second floor, their faces tinged with blue from oversight, stared at the doorway in utter terror.
And when Sith walked in shouldering the autocannon, facing a muzzle large enough to fit their heads, the nobles' faces, after extreme panic, slowly calmed:
I think...
That's not really necessary...
When Sith walked out of the noble fortress again, behind him, Bruno led men in finding the remaining guardsmen and executing them on the spot.
Ana led heavily guarded water trucks, which began continuously transporting water to Sith's heavily fortified command post.
Davi Luo stood at the entrance, and beside him was a messenger from Hyberia.
Seeing the messenger, Sith composed himself slightly. Under the messenger's wide-eyed disbelief, he tossed the autocannon aside. It landed on the ground with a heavy, dull thud.
What is it?
Sith approached. Only then did the messenger snap out of it, hurriedly standing at attention and saluting Sith.
Presenting a list, the messenger spoke:
These are supplies delivered by Lord Calgar's personal order.
Calgar? Personally?
Sith was taken aback. In such a chaotic and overwhelming situation, how could Calgar possibly have the spare time to think of him? And even personally order a batch of supplies delivered?
Suspicious, Sith glanced at the messenger. Confirming nothing seemed amiss, he picked up the list with some doubt and skimmed it casually.
But the moment his eyes landed on it, Sith's previously hesitant gaze instantly locked onto the page.
Because the list wasn't for ordinary ammunition or food, but for a full two thousand jump packs.
Why send me so many jump packs?
Although this was also a significant allocation, Sith remained on high alert in his heart.
The messenger didn't beat around the bush either, immediately pulling out another report.
Respectfully handing it to Sith, the messenger said:
Lord Calgar has devised a plan. Headquarters will launch a large-scale proactive assault to draw the attention of the Orks and Genestealers.
And you, my lord, are to organize forces and retake the water purification station!
Sith stood rooted to the spot. He looked at the list in front of him, then at the space elevator towering thousands of kilometers into orbit in the distance. After a long moment, he couldn't help but take a deep breath.
The messenger seemed to understand the difficulty of this task. Not daring to delay before Sith, who could physically shoulder an autocannon, he immediately turned and pointed to a transport on a nearby landing pad.
Suppressing his inner exasperation, Sith followed his gaze. The transport's hatch opened, and four elite noble guardsmen carried out an ornate cabinet as tall as a person.
And all the Mortals around, even Davi Luo, cast envious looks at the cabinet.
After all, though Davi Luo also had power armor, compared to Artificer-grade power armor, his set was somewhat outclassed.
Almost immediately after delivering what seemed like a suicide mission to Sith, the messenger had someone open the cabinet without delay.
As sunlight streamed in, the full-body suit of Artificer power armor inside the cabinet door, gleaming with a dull silver sheen, silently awaited Sith.
Finally, his mood, which had sunk upon hearing Calgar's order, lifted a little.
After all, even setting aside how handsome this armor was, just the thought of it providing a hundredfold enhancement made Sith feel that even in such a damned situation, the sunlight seemed a bit brighter!