"Brutal and Efficient Combat Methods"

The belly armor plates of the Hyperion and the Carcharodons Cruiser slowly opened, revealing neatly arranged Drop Pod rails.

The hydraulic locks on the rails released with a series of clicks, the vibrations carrying into the Drop Pods housing Raynor's Raiders Marines, the Investigation Department's Special Operations Group, the Carcharodons, and the Helljumpers.

"Thirty seconds until drop."

The electronic voices of the shipboard adjutants and Wise AIs echoed through every Drop Pod.

With the First Company producing a series of dull booms, countless Drop Pods were launched from the ships by electromagnetic catapults.

The pods' braking thrusters ignited at once, streaking blue trails through the blackness of space.

Following close behind were the heavy Drop Pods deployed by the Carcharodons Cruiser. These massive black-and-gray constructs were designed specifically to carry armored vehicles and combat mechas.

Atmospheric friction caused the pods' hulls to glow dark red, like a meteor shower of steel.

Inside the pods, the Raiders Marines gripped their handholds tightly as the shock absorption systems of their CMC Powered Combat Suits ran at full capacity. The Helljumpers checked their jetpack fuel readings, their Hardlight weapons and Gauss Firearms already loaded.

As for the Carcharodons—

They remained utterly calm.

After all, this sort of airborne deployment was probably no more challenging to these Astartes than an ordinary person's daily meals.

Even without a Drop Pod, an Astartes wearing only Titan Armor could accomplish the feat of breaking through the atmosphere alone.

Meanwhile, various support aircraft began departing the ships.

Medivacs slid out of the hangars in triangular formations, their ion engines leaving faint blue trails. Hercules Dropships unfolded their folded wings, with Siege Tanks and the Raiders' heavy vehicles secured inside their cargo bays.

The Carcharodons Cruiser released even more transport ships and fighters, carrying the main force toward the