In Heliosa's orbit, on the bridge of the Ninth Chapter's flagship, the Relic-class warship The Surge.
Chapter Master Szczesny stood before the holographic strategy table. "The Sixth Legion crushed the main force of the Aivene air force in eighteen days. It's time for us to take the stage."
He gazed at the holographic image of Heliosa, examining the target planet alongside the report submitted by the Auger Matrix Master.
Heliosa's landmasses had been torn by tectonic movement into three giant continents, covered in rugged mountains and surrounded by vast oceans.
"The Black Emperor has ordered us to establish landing zones on the two continents apart from Continent One, where The Phoenician's Royal Court is located," First Company Captain Jorginho analyzed.
He tapped a finger, and the image of the southern continent faded.
"We should make full use of our advantages and land in the cliffside region to break the situation open."
Szczesny nodded in approval. "I agree."
"I'll take Two. You take Three."
More than a thousand Stormbirds and Thunderhawks forged on Firestorm Star flew out from black ships painted with waves, then plunged downward.
The "Shadow of Order" did not favor Thunderhawks like the "Ultramarines," or Stormbirds like the "Luna Wolves." They used them in combination solely according to the difficulty of transport and aerial deployment.
Jorginho looked out through the narrow viewport and saw metallic debris filling the air.
Black fighters hunted elegant white fighters, dropping missiles onto the peaks and bombing anti-aircraft fire and the silver towers on the mountainsides.
Circling winged ravens and wheeling scavenging vultures drifted in like a dark, oppressive bank of clouds.
"Open the hatch!" Jorginho ordered in a low voice.
The warning light turned from red to green, and the hatch slid open.
A bolt of lightning rose in the eyes of