When Vonlence climbed one of the Fortress's firing towers, the entire battlefield came clearly into view.
An inexplicable light flickered in his somewhat clouded eyes.
"Guards, notify the civilians sheltering in the Fortress. Muster everyone who can fight, men and women alike! Tell the Ministorum Priest to offer our final prayer, right here on the battlefield!"
With that, Vonlence took a communicator from a nearby guard. His aged yet commanding voice echoed throughout the fortress.
"This is Vonlence, marshal of the Planetary Defence Force. Reinforcements will arrive shortly. Hope lies just ahead! Everyone, take up your weapons and fight to the very last moment! For the Emperor!"
Boom!
A muffled explosion came from deep within the Fortress.
The Void Shield enveloping its exterior flickered and vanished completely.
The two enormous bio-cannons on the Bio-Titan's claws, together with the bombardment from numerous Hive Guard and Biovores, had finally overloaded the Void Shield Generator.
A green beam punched through the shield and struck the Fortress's outer defensive wall unimpeded.
An enormous explosion rose into the sky.
The Earthshaker Cannons stationed nearby were instantly swallowed by flames.
The Gargoyles circling overhead began diving frantically.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
A dense hail of fire suddenly swept out from the Fortress's flank, knocking the diving Gargoyles and the Harpy leading them out of the sky.
Their shattered bodies slammed into the ground, taking a few unlucky souls with them.
Fengluns narrowed his eyes slightly.
The Fortress's small anti-aircraft batteries had long since been destroyed. This firepower clearly did not come from the PDF's laser weapons.
Bang! Bang!
Heavy gunfire suddenly erupted across the defensive positions. A group of Astartes in black Power Armour, wreathed in flames, had appeared on the battlefield without warning.
Fengluns snatched up the binoculars beside him and hurriedly looked toward the front