The Ultramarines' slaughter efficiency was outrageously high.
Under Titus's calm and precise command, this company of a thousand modified Astartes swept through New York's ruins like the most sophisticated harvesting machine.
The Chitauri vanguard—those invaders who had been so arrogant just moments ago—was largely wiped out in no time, leaving only the portal still sending down scattered enemies.
The deep roar of boltguns on the ground and the shriek of chainswords tearing through the air gradually grew sparse.
Titus stood beneath Stark Tower, looking up at the beam of teleportation light. He raised an arm, synchronizing the scans from his helmet's built-in array with his squad members and the warships in orbit.
"Do not destroy that portal yet. We'll clear our way through it. At the same time, scan the entire ground area and conduct deep life-sign detection." Titus's voice reached every Ultramarine through the communications network. "Eliminate all remaining threats, especially those xenos hiding in corners like insects. Make sure they have no chance to rise again and cause trouble in the future."
More precise scanning waves with greater penetrating power spread outward in every direction from the Ultramarines.
The scans had barely begun when something unexpected happened.
Inside relatively intact building ruins, among panicked fleeing crowds, and even on several people still attempting to maintain order, glaring red markers suddenly lit up on the scan displays, indicating "non-human genetic traits" or "energy camouflage"!
"Disguised units detected! Non-human life signs!"
"Targets locked!"
Almost the instant the alarm sounded, the well-trained Ultramarines had already turned their guns.
"No! Wait! We're—" one person cried out in terror, raising both hands in an attempt to explain.
But the only response was the merciless roar of boltguns!
Bang!
The "agent's" body was instantly blasted into scattered fragments by the bolt round, strange green