Counterattack

The full-scale counteroffensive has begun.

Since this was a counteroffensive that everyone could foresee and see coming, all units were prepared even though the start was rushed.

Under the coordination of the Master Control Intelligence, the Artillery Drones automatically moved to optimal firing positions, ready to rain shells on the rebels once the ground forces were ready.

Infantry soldiers entered the armory, donned their power armor, and quickly grabbed the neatly arranged lasguns.

Under the command of the Logistics Machines, the armored troops drove the Leman Russ Tanks out of their parking spots. They had already learned how to pilot these War Machines in the integrated training systems within the tanks.

Duncan's forces were ready faster than all friendly troops. When he heard from the communicator that other friendly troops were prepared, he immediately entered a Leman Russ Tank and ordered the entire regiment to advance.

"How should we fight?"

The voice of the 31st Regiment's acting Regimental Commander came from the tank's cockpit. He was a young man highly regarded by his comrades. After Albert's death, he took over command, but he still had much to learn from his seniors when it came to warfare.

"Advance," Duncan replied with just two words.

That was Qin Mo's order.

There was no specific war plan, no detailed orders about which unit should advance where, only "advance."

This couldn't help but make one wonder about the true purpose of this counteroffensive.

"No idle chatter on the communication channel!"

"More detailed orders have been issued."

"Our order, all units, is to advance and attract the main rebel forces as much as possible, creating better battlefield conditions for the Legion Commander and his guards."

Brian's voice came through the communicator.

Duncan paused for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "May I ask, what are the Legion Commander and his guards going to do?"

"They're going to assassinate the rebel leader. I only found out myself to prevent the plan from leaking."

Hearing this, Duncan suddenly understood. He poked half his body out of the hatch to survey his troops' situation.

The infantry, all clad in power armor, marched forward concentrated around the regiment's ten tanks.

The Artillery Drones in the rear had already opened fire. After thunderous roars, dense explosions appeared on the horizon directly ahead.

Before the light of the explosions had even faded, the second volley of artillery began.

A moment later, two Fire Support Drones flew into the sky, hovering slowly above the ground forces.

Even Logistics Machines joined the procession.

As everyone in the entire regiment drew closer and closer to the rebels, more drones flew to the front of the formation, deploying lateral gravity shields. Around the area of effect of the gravity shields, red warning projections flashed, warning others not to approach within the operational range.

White medical drones whizzed overhead, flying toward the distance. It was estimated that troops over there had already engaged the enemy and sustained casualties.

"By the Emperor's grace," Duncan exclaimed in surprise.

The scale of this counteroffensive was far more formidable than he had imagined. He had thought it was a suicidal charge by everyone against the rebels before they died...

"Counteroffensive!" Duncan shouted into the 87th Regiment's internal communication channel, raising his Chainsword. "For the Emperor! For the Legion Commander!"

The 87th Regiment drew closer and closer to the rebel forces.

These rebels, having been scoured by artillery, were few in number, but they were still fighting back. However, all their solid shot weapons were blocked by gravity shields, with only a few laser shots hitting power armor or tank armor.

The infantry activated their bio-scanners to search for any surviving enemies, then eliminated them and continued their advance.

The situation with the 87th Regiment was not an isolated case; other regiments along the entire front line were advancing even faster.

As the ground forces steadily advanced, Qin Mo, Grey, and the others were already traveling by Transport Drone toward the rebel front lines.

They had bypassed many rebel units. These units seemed to know their objective and had set up anti-air positions on the spot, opening fire on the transport.

From the transport, one couldn't even see the ground below, only the massive amount of anti-air fire being repelled by gravity shields. Occasionally, a missile would fly over, but it too would be crushed by the gravity shields.

"Friendly forces have already helped us tie down most of the rebels, but we could still face tens of thousands, or even over a hundred thousand, rebels. Our upcoming operations will be very difficult."

"But we must complete it. No matter how many of us sacrifice, if I die, you will complete the mission."

"As long as we can kill the Chieftain, the situation will be reversed."

Qin Mo spoke to the other five individuals clad in Terminator Power Armor, boosting their morale.

But these people's morale didn't need boosting at all.

"As long as you are here, there's nothing we can't accomplish," Grey said.

"Naturally," Qin Mo smiled and nodded.

The others also smiled and nodded.

After a moment, the transport shifted from flying to hovering, indicating they had reached their destination.

This was the location of the rebel Chieftain that Qin Mo had found using his locator.

Qin Mo stood up and walked to the transport's open hatch, with Grey and the others immediately rising to follow.

"We'll descend in an orderly fashion. Activate your gravity shields immediately after leaving the transport," Qin Mo said as he closed the Transport Drone's gravity shield and jumped out first.

His jetpack cushioned his less-than-perfect landing, allowing him to descend in a better posture.

The others had already fallen.

Amidst the dense anti-aircraft fire, gravity shields protected the wearers of the Terminator Power Armor as usual.

On the ground, the rebels spread across the mountainside could only see six figures descending through the barrage. They immediately dispersed, seeking or establishing cover, readying their heavy weapons.

Grey landed first, then the second, the third...

Until Qin Mo, who had buffered his descent in the air, landed at the very front.

The six men straightened, their gazes fixed on the rebels ahead.

Intense attacks immediately swept towards the six.

The attacks were so dense that they had to activate their thermal vision, otherwise, they couldn't see anything outside their gravity shields.

"Psionic reaction detected!"

A prompt sounded, and a purple marker appeared on the six men's HUDs.

Through thermal vision, they could see a massive xenos, seven meters tall, whose psionic attack might be imminent.

Qin Mo led the other five charging out, the jetpacks on their backs providing powerful thrust as they ran.

Bypassing all enemies that didn't require immediate elimination, they headed straight for the Chieftain's location.

Qin Mo ran at the forefront, prepared to resist the psionic attack, his eyes fixed on the Chieftain.

But strangely, the Chieftain was unable to unleash its psionic attack. Its massive body suddenly trembled and it fell to the ground.

Qin Mo didn't have time to ponder this bizarre situation; he immediately controlled his Shoulder Cannon and opened fire on the Chieftain.

The others did the same.

Six beams shot towards the Chieftain, vaporizing enemies in their path, followed by twelve orbs that unleashed a rain of light.

The Chieftain's massive body reacted immediately, rolling left twice on the ground to dodge the incoming beams.

It wasn't dead, but more than half of the rebels around it were, which made it furious.

The Chieftain's rage also ignited the anger of the entire rebel force.

At this very moment, whether it was Qin Mo's side or the others, all the rebels on the front line were consumed by fury, launching a counterattack at any cost.

Qin Mo advanced while continuously firing his Shoulder Cannon at the Chieftain and "cleansing" rebels. Countless rebels were crushed by the gravity shields, but they seemed to be going mad, constantly crowding into the gravity shields' effective range.

The Chieftain seemed to know the firing trajectory before the Shoulder Cannon fired, always managing to dodge.

Until, after another roll, it attempted to unleash its psionic attack again, only to collapse suddenly as before, struck by a beam that had flown before it in the blink of an eye.