The Blood Fang Legion's Black Flag Jia Yala launched a third offensive against Dome Mountain.
Ventanus, Yanoviches, and Ruben held the line together, defending the main peak and the circular defensive perimeter. However, most of Dome Mountain had been mangled beyond recognition by artillery fire, the entire mountain shaved down by several meters.
Had they not built numerous shellproof bunkers and underground shelters in advance, they might have collapsed long ago. Yanoviches had moved his command post underground as well.
The second offensive had nearly broken through the last line of defense and driven them back down the mountain, but the Civic Temple hunting squads' ferocious return fire ultimately turned the tide.
Yanoviches knew the third offensive would be decisive.
He could already see one group of Stormboyz diving toward the summit both sides had fought over for so long, while another swung southward, bypassing the frontal defenses to attack. Their intention had to be a surprise strike on the artillery positions.
Yanoviches resolved to fight to the end, but he understood that the defensive line would eventually collapse. It was foreseeable and unavoidable.
It was merely a matter of numbers, a very real possibility in actual combat.
Yet he still clung to a sliver of hope—to the message from his division headquarters. Let it not be another lie or trick.
If it was not a lie, then let them hurry. Let their steps be swift. Let them arrive before it was too late.
Other than commanding, Yanoviches could only pray.
He knew the offensive was about to come.
The Orks surged toward the positions once more, their roars becoming so loud that Yanoviches felt the vibrations, together with the shared panting of countless Beasts, could disperse the thick fog.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!
The enemy unleashed an even fiercer bombardment on Dome