Air Battle

What a waste...

Konrad Curze pointed it out without mercy. Though he himself was a Primarch prone to waste, if his words could make Mortarion uncomfortable, Konrad would do so without the slightest psychological burden.

Waste what?

Death asked calmly. Fluorescent light from the holographic projection shone across his face as he focused intently on the armies on the planet.

Those ships.

Konrad sprang out from the shadows, craning his head with interest to look at the areas where fighting was underway. He also tapped the spot where the Pale Lord had smashed down those ships with his sharp nails.

Oh.

Mortarion's tone remained calm, but for some reason, a bad feeling suddenly rose in Konrad's heart.

They were specifically designed for this. They can be recycled, so there is no need to worry about waste, because their chief designer was Hades.

Konrad made a retching sound, while Mortarion looked at the battlefield with satisfaction. Interesting—the T'au were considerably better at planetary warfare than naval warfare.

The T'au's combat style...

Mortarion pondered it. It seemed to align with the direction of warfare Hades had been pursuing all along.

Scarlet engines tore through the dawn.

Fly, fly, and fly again—fly as high as possible. Use your wings to give your comrades on the ground even the slightest chance at survival, for victory in war, for the Greater Good.

The Air Caste felt the hum of its engine. It was like a bolt of lightning. Beside it, its comrades piloted Barracuda fighters through the clouds alongside it. As the targeting operators on the ground confirmed the coordinates, Seeker missiles extended from beneath the fighters' wings.

Fire! Fire! Fire!

The missiles screamed toward the ground. Through its senses, the Air Caste felt the Barracuda it piloted become lighter, and it immediately pulled