The Ultramar Auxilia's troop carriers rolled over the broad roads, while the few residents who had not yet been evacuated into the underground shelters waved flags on either side, forcing every last breath from their lungs as they wished them victory.
The sky was gradually covered by some vast shadow, a colossal thing casting darkness from orbit. The atmosphere was pierced, and enormous Black Towers descended from the heavens, crashing straight down onto the plains outside the city. The ground trembled, and a barrier field built by magic was constructed in an instant.
Watching all this, Insel jumped down from the Thunderhawk Gunship.
Not far away, a number of Ultramar Auxilia troops building fortifications along the city walls came into view. They were utterly fearless, moving quickly and skillfully, as if they had drilled it a thousand times before.
Konor was the heart of the northern sector, a precious Forge World. Its name came from Roboute Guilliman's adoptive father, Konor Guilliman. It was one of Ultramar's shipyards, prosperous and flourishing, capable of steadily providing the Empire with vast quantities of weapons and equipment every year. More crucially, Konor possessed a stable Warp route.
That meant it could not be allowed to suffer any loss.
"I can smell war coming."
Bardan Dovaro said. He was the Chapter Master of the Nova Warriors.
Judging by appearance alone, this Chapter Master looked truly fierce. High cheekbones, an aquiline nose, and thin lips made him seem very hard to get along with, but in truth, he was usually a very gentle man, fond of jokes.
Insel nodded. His faceplate opened, and he took a deep breath of Konor's air.
It felt much as he had imagined. Thanks to Ultramar's traditions, Konor's environment was not terrible, but one should not expect it to be particularly