Hive City Defence Battle

"It was good that you notified them. How long until the Ork horde arrives?"

"The Orks landed in the south of the planet, only three Terra hours from the hive city."

"Tell Marshal Liek to keep the Ork horde outside the hive city at all costs. And have you informed the Imperium? How long before reinforcements arrive?"

"Yes. I will notify Marshal Liek. Before coming here, I had already arranged contact with the Imperial Navy. The Imperium's reinforcements will need another half a Terra month to arrive."

The governor and the official rapidly exchanged information.

The governor slowly paced over to the official. "Can we leave this place by ship now?"

The governor finally asked the official in a low voice.

"My lord, ships cannot leave the planet now. Earlier, a noble's ship tried to leave the planet, but it was destroyed the moment it cleared the atmosphere."

The official likewise spoke quietly to the governor.

"Is it truly impossible to leave?" the governor asked unwillingly.

"My lord, it really is impossible to leave. There are still three Ork warships in space, not to mention their transport ships constantly ferrying troops to the three planets. There is simply no opening to escape through."

Seeing the governor persist with his questions, the official could only reply anxiously.

"Then go notify Marshal Liek. Tell him to ensure the hive city's security. Keep the astropaths sending messages to the Imperium—the situation is critical, and we need assistance."

The governor could only issue his orders.

"Yes, I will deliver your orders immediately." The official climbed to his feet and hurried out to relay the governor's commands.

After the official left, the governor went to the window and gazed into the deep starry sky. After looking at it intently for a moment, he too quickly left the governor's residence, disappearing with his slave guard.

"Faster! Faster! Move it! Dig those trenches properly!"

The Planetary Defence Force of Teda II Hive City established an unbroken line of positions outside the southern wall, where they would face the Ork assault. The first defensive line consisted of more than five million Planetary Defence Force soldiers, who would be the first to meet the Ork attack.

Behind them, beneath the city walls, stood the final defensive line, another position manned by several million troops. Although the Planetary Defence Force was weaker in combat capability than the Astra Militarum and the Navy,

every hive world in the Teda Galaxy offered the Imperium an elite infantry regiment each year. This proved that the Teda Galaxy's pool of recruits was of high quality; otherwise, it could not have assembled such a large defensive force so quickly after the crisis began.

The ordinary soldiers carried Lasguns and rifles. There were twin-mounted Logging Guns for suppressing enemy fire, Chimera troop carriers, even two Leman Russ tanks from the governor's private estate, and large numbers of emplacement guns.

This was all the military strength possessed by a hive world. And that was after the space dock had been caught in a surprise attack and destroyed, leaving them unable to receive orbital fire support. Otherwise, Teda Hive World's military power would have been even greater.

Just as the Planetary Defence Force continued working tirelessly to build its positions, loudspeakers on the city walls behind them began to broadcast.

"Boys, the hive world is now in its most dangerous hour. The Orks have invaded our planet. We have already requested aid from the Imperium, and Imperial reinforcements will arrive soon.

"But before those reinforcements arrive, we must defend our homeworld. We have nowhere left to retreat. Behind us are our families. If we fall back,

"the Orks will slaughter our families without restraint. So we have nowhere left to retreat. We can only hold our positions and await the Imperium's reinforcements.

"May the Emperor protect us!"

"The Emperor protects!" The Planetary Defence Force soldiers roared in unison, their voices resounding through the heavens.

At the rear command centre, Marshal Liek, who commanded the war, watched the electronic screen displaying the troops' soaring morale and felt a measure of comfort.

Marshal Liek muttered, "Their morale is usable. I hope I can withstand the Orks' attack and hold on until Imperial reinforcements arrive."

Marshal Liek watched the command centre bustle with activity. Orderlies ran in and out continuously, relaying the staff officers' commands to the frontline commanders.

An intelligence officer came to Marshal Liek's side, handed him the documents in his hand, and said,

"Reporting, Marshal. The Ork horde is only ten minutes away."

Marshal Liek took the documents, glanced over them, then set them on the table before him. Looking at the paper planetary map spread across the table, he said to the intelligence officer beside him,

"Notify the officers below to prepare for battle. Tell them that anyone who takes a single step back will be shot on the spot."

The intelligence officer gave Marshal Liek an Aquila salute and solemnly replied, "Yes."

The intelligence officer strode out of the command centre and headed for the front line to relay Marshal Liek's military orders.

"Quickly! Into the trenches! Prepare for battle!"

The frontline orderlies ran continuously through the positions, shouting at the top of their lungs.

The soldiers who had been reinforcing the bunkers heard the orderlies' commands, swiftly stopped what they were doing, and entered the trenches that had already been dug.

As the Planetary Defence Force soldiers silently waited for the enemy's arrival, tremors like the collapse of heaven and earth rolled across the distant ground.

Heavy, pounding footsteps echoed continuously from afar, making the soldiers awaiting the coming war tremble. Sweat streamed down from their foreheads, blurring their vision.

Waiting for the enemy to arrive was a long and agonizing ordeal.

For soldiers who had only ever undergone extensive training, it was even more agonizing. Soldiers who had never experienced real war could not match the mental fortitude of veterans who had.

If not for the harsh military orders, some soldiers would have deserted.

The thunderous footsteps continued to draw nearer from the distance.

"WAAAAAAHG!"

A savage roar came from afar, its sound ringing through the skies.

"Open fire! Open fire!"

The instant a frontline veteran saw the outlines of the Orks, he shouted the order.

The veteran had extensive combat experience. He knew that if he could see the target with his naked eye, then it had long since entered the weapons' effective range.

"Pfft! Pfft!"

"Bang! Bang!"

In an instant, gunfire erupted across the frontline positions. Rifles, Lasguns, and Logging Guns roared without end as an unbroken barrage poured toward the Ork horde.

Large numbers of Orks fell beneath the first wave of fire from the Planetary Defence Force soldiers.

The Orks still charging forward saw great numbers of their kind struck down by gunfire. Yet the Orks at the front felt no fear at the sight. Instead, they grew even more excited.

"WAAAAAAHG!"

"WAAAAAAHG!"

The Orks' roars became more excited. Those carrying firearms raised their rifles and opened fire on the human defensive line.

"Bang! Bang!"

Massive gunshots rang out. The Orks did not care how poor their aim was; they only roared more excitedly.