"Bang!!!"
Ninutal's enormous Power Klaws sank deep into the corridor's thick partition wall. With a teeth-grating screech, the cast-metal Talon Blades tore a jagged breach through several metres of composite armour plating as though ripping paper.
Sparks and twisted metal debris flew everywhere, revealing a deep, unknown passage beyond.
"Move!" Saolis's command was short and clear.
A hundred Word Bearers Warriors formed overlapping fields of fire on either side of the breach with the speed of a grey tide.
Precise bursts from Bolters and searing beams from Plasma Guns wove a curtain of death, pinning the Rebel Forces pouring in from both ends of the corridor behind cover.
Though few in number, their superb tactical discipline shone through. Their alternating fire left no gaps in coverage. Move, cover, fire, move again—their movements flowed seamlessly.
A hundred men fought with the force and efficiency of several hundred, briefly holding back the Rebel Forces' assault despite their advantages in numbers and terrain.
Yet that fragile balance did not last long.
Heavy footsteps like siege rams striking the ground came from one end of the corridor, drowning out the shriek of Bolts.
Those steps were several times heavier than those of ordinary Power Armour, accompanied by the low roar of powered systems running at full capacity.
Twenty massive, dark figures appeared around the bend, like mobile fortresses.
Cataphractii Terminators! The Second Legion's elite heavy-armoured units.
Their thick armour all but ignored the Word Bearers' small-arms fire. Bolts left only shallow, pale dents.
Their shoulder-mounted heavy weapons began to warm up. Autocannon barrels started spinning, and Missile Launcher hatches opened.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The Autocannons spat thick tongues of flame first. High-explosive rounds burst near the Word Bearers' cover, and shrapnel and shock waves hurled two warriors who had not pulled fully back into