Chapter 59 The End of the Era: Preparation for Attack

The deck was busy, the ground crew ran back and forth on the wide deck, their shouts filled and echoed under the metal dome, and red and green beams flashed from time to time outside the blue field air wall on one side. Even if there were no explosions and vibrations, the dark clouds of war had already descended here.

The mechanical servants executed orders in groups, and the soulless laborers came over from the side carrying thick energy hoses. Under the instructions or curses of the ground crew, these brainless servants inserted the energy pipes into the interface at the tail of the blue thunder eagle, and the pump elements began to be injected into the fuel tank of the thunder eagle.

Omega walked around the thunder eagle, his mechanical eyes flashing with green scanning beams, and the incense burner hung on the mechanical arm behind him, burning and floating along with the hymns to appease the machine soul.

A faint wisp of incense smoke rushed through the sides of the Thunderhawk's fuselage, and the fog was cut off by the blue steel. The thick double-mounted heavy bolter was swinging up and down, and the sound of loading came from the inside of the muzzle. This Star Warhawk was ready to attack.

And its deadly passengers were also making preparations. Lancelot sat on the container on the side of the Thunderhawk, and a censer hung on his finger. Do you think this censer is small? The reason why it looks like a small thing like a ring is just because the Astartes is huge.

"Ten minutes to fire! Repeat, ten minutes to fire!" The warning echoed in the ship's communication public screen, and the pre-war alarm sounded one after another, and the red light jumped on the walls and hatches.

Around Lancelot, transport vehicles and flatbed trucks were driving at high speed, shuttling on the deck, and the ground crew were busy preparing for the takeoff of lightning fighters and Valkyrie transport planes.

Puffs of smoke and dust poured down from the bottom of the shaking incense burner, and the smoke landed on the power sword across Lancelot's knees. The cold sword body flashed a cold light in the incense mist, and the green wings of the dark angel also spread out at the hilt of the sword, like a ferocious bird of prey about to pounce on its prey.

The mechanical priest walked past Lancelot, and the servo skulls followed and coiled around him. His strange binary language did not attract Lancelot's attention.

Lancelot's eyes were fixed on a line of inscriptions on the sword body. It was an inscription written in the ancient proverb of the Caliban Knights. Its language and meaning had long been forgotten by humans. Only the last sons of Caliban on the Caliban Rock knew this unknown ancient language.

"The Blade of the Lion King, the Sword of the Emperor, the Primarch blesses me with a divine weapon." Lancelot recited the hymn of the regiment in a low voice, his face was heavy, serious and serious.

Every Astartes would do the same during the final inspection before the battle. Even Ragnar was now carefully inspecting his chainsaw axe, with a roaring wolf's head carved on the gray-blue axe blade.

The Son of Fenris carefully inspected his equipment. He did not chant or recite certain hymns. He seemed to have complete faith in the machine spirit in his hand. There was no need to comfort or console it. It had already become one with him and turned into the Emperor's immortal weapon.

His brother in the chapter, the old Olaf, held the priest's two-handed warhammer and chanted in a low voice, "All-Knowing Father, protect your people and lead your wolf pack."

"I am the son of Leman Russ, the Wolf of Fenris. I dedicate my life and oath to you, leading the way of ice and snow, All-Knowing Father."

Lancelot looked up at Olaf, and nodded approvingly. He admired Olaf's calmness very much. The old wolf has gone through countless years of fighting. He is the oldest and most tenacious warrior present. The five golden nails on his forehead are a silent declaration of honor.

Five hundred years of veterans, this is respected in any chapter. Their long lives belong to the Emperor and the great mission of Astartes.

Lancelot stood up, he inserted the knight's sword into the bridge, handed the incense burner to the waiting servitor, and then put on the winged helmet. Knight Caliban walked to the door of the Thunder Eagle's cabin and looked at the Inquisitor who came.

Vito walked from the far side of the deck, his belt with a bolter and chainsword swaying with his steps, and his waist was also wearing a lot of weapons and ammunition clips. He had taken off his scarlet cape and put on a fitted and straight black jacket.

Hmm? You ask why not wear a breastplate? My friend, for the decomposition rays and Gauss weapons of the undead, what is the difference between wearing a breastplate and running naked?

Vito walked to the front of the cabin deck, he nodded to several Astartes, Lancelot and Olaf both nodded to the Inquisitor steadily, only Ragnar, who was as lively and active as ever, showed his goodwill with a playful smile.

"Lancelot, it looks like you're ready for battle." Vito said with a smile. The Caliban Knight nodded slightly and tapped his breastplate with his hand. "In the name of Llane, in the name of the Emperor."

"What about you? Old Wolf, can you still move?" He said with a smile. Of course, Olaf was not angry. He knew Vito was joking, so he smiled and nodded slightly. "I can continue to fight for the All-Father for a few more years until he summons me to the throne." "Then your retirement plan may have to be delayed for a long time. It seems that the Emperor is not in a hurry to ask you to accompany him."

The old wolf chuckled a few times with a deep laugh. "One day he will summon me, and I hope that will be the most glorious battle, the greatest battle." "I'm sure it will be."

Vito turned to look at Ragnar. The energetic wolf cub smiled with a row of teeth on his face, or to be precise, wolf teeth.

"What about you? Ragnar, I hope you haven't spent too much time drinking."

"Praise the All-Father! We can fight another battle in such a short time!" Ragnar laughed and said loudly, raising the chain ax in his hand and spitting out mist from his fangs.

Vito smiled and looked at Ragnar with his hands on his hips, "Are you ready to use the weapons to deal with the undead? I don't think you need to read the briefing to know, right?"

"Of course! If it's not green light or red light outside, it's definitely undead!" Ragnar smiled and pulled out the melt gun on his waist, then hung the chain ax on his belt and pulled out a plasma pistol. , this guy holds two guns elegantly on both sides of his head.

He gave the answer silently with a smile on his face. Vito smiled and looked at Lancelot, who patted the bolt gun on his waist and nodded affirmatively, "We are ready, Inquisitor, waiting for you. Order."

Vito walked between them and walked onto the deck. Ragnar turned to look at the inquisitor in surprise, and pointed at the fixed cabin next to the hatch. The fixed position was much smaller than the surrounding fixed racks. It was obviously For mortals.

"Your place is over here, what are you going to do?"

"Sail the ship," Vito responded cheerfully, and then Ragnar gave him what he could almost call a horrified expression, "No!"

And howls of despair.

In the Thunderhawk's cockpit, Bell was adjusting the instruments. He was sitting on a large Astartes chair, and there was a short mortal seat next to him. It was obvious that this Thunderhawk had been modified for general use, which made Both Astartes and mortals alike can swoop onto planets in raptors, bringing the Emperor's wrath upon their enemies.

"The soul of the machine is calm. It has reached its best condition." Omega's voice came from the communication platform. Bell saw the priest from outside the driving glass. He was tirelessly inspecting and comforting every part of this war raptor.

Bell shook the control stick, and the propulsion nozzle at the tail of the fighter plane swung in the direction with the movement of his wrist. A slight preheating flame flickered in the vortex nozzle.

Bell checked the data display terminals one by one. Ammunition, fuel and preparations for takeoff were all ready.

But just when Bell was about to call his brothers to come up, he turned around and saw the Inquisitor walking into the cockpit. Vito walked to the edge of the driver's seat and kicked Bell on the leg armor, "Get started." , I'll drive."

Before Bell could respond, Ragnar had already strode to the cockpit door and looked at Vito with a bitter look on his face, "No, Vito, I vomited all over the last time you drove the Thunderhawk!"

"Who told you to drink so much malt liquor before setting off? Go back and stay." Vito said and sat in the mortal operating position. He waved his hand to signal Bell to get off, and the pharmacist did obey the order. , he got up from the driving seat, stepped on the deck with his power armor and walked out of the cockpit with a heavy echo.

Vito took one last look at Ragnar, who looked like he was constipated. He turned on the engine with a slight smile, and the roar of the propeller sounded instantly.

"Ah! My father!" Ragnar complained and turned to leave. At this moment, Lancelot and Olaf were just boarding the plane. Lancelot quickly got into his seat and immediately locked the locking bolt. Genna showed a surprised expression.

He felt the gravity of the Thunder Eagle as it lifted off the ground, and saw Bell entering his position as well. "It's Vito, the Emperor is on top, we can bear it."

Lancelot immediately entered his position. He pulled down the fixed bolt and locked himself firmly. Olaf also completed preparations to set off. The Astartes were already in their positions, as well as Raghu. Na's chattering and complaining shouts were mixed with the roar of the gunship's engine.

Vito pulled up the operating lever, and the Thunderhawk slowly rose from the ground and slid forward out of the hangar. The blue shield penetrated from around the fighter plane, and the Thunderhawk entered space from the lower edge of the Mars-class battle cruiser's belly. .

Vito looked at the chaotic battlefield ahead from the cockpit. Artillery, blue beams and green arcs flashed throughout the universe, and the flames of explosions dotted the orbit of the planet.

"Sit tight!" Vito yelled, pushing the thruster power to the maximum. In an instant, the four Astartes in the cabin were thrown to one side. If they hadn't been fixed already, they would definitely have crashed. On to the bulkhead.

The power of the thruster engine reached its maximum, and the flames of the sun lit up the jet nozzle, almost instantly allowing the Thunder Eagle to accelerate to the speed of sound and sprint out.

On the battlefield in front of them, the Mechanicum and the Necrons were engaged in a brutal cosmic hand-to-hand battle.