The daylight wall of the Imperial Palace had been breached. The Lucifer Blacks and Palatine Sentinels were responsible for defending these outer halls, and they were not particularly difficult for the Ultramarines to deal with.
Calgar could clearly feel how abruptly this battle had begun. The Palace Guard had plainly not expected the Ultramarines' surprise attack; even their gun batteries had been destroyed before they could fire.
But none of that mattered anymore. Ever since the Titan Legion opened fire on the Imperial Fists, war had erupted between the Astartes and the Astra Militarum Forces stationed on Terra.
"Have you reached Sicarius yet?!" Calgar asked anxiously.
"We're establishing contact... the signal jamming here is severe..." several Techmarines replied hurriedly.
"Hurry!"
Calgar was frantic.
Sicarius had entered the Imperial Palace alongside their Gene-Father as part of his Bodyguard.
Although the Palace Guard had clearly been unprepared, allowing the Ultramarines to break through the outer halls' defenses so quickly, the inner walls guarded by the Adeptus Custodes still stood between them and the Throne Room.
According to reports from the front, the Ultramarines' offensive had clearly stalled. The first wave alone had wiped out two companies.
Now Calgar could only hope that reinforcements from Macragge would arrive as soon as possible. Without enough heavy equipment, they might not break through even if every last one of them died trying.
Just as Calgar fretted, several communications suddenly came through. He checked them: they were from the Chapter Masters of the Blood Angels and Imperial Fists.
Mars, the Webway gate-
The Tech-Priest reached out a trembling hand, hoping to pull the lever, only to have his mechanical arm mercilessly crushed underfoot.
An Astartes wearing Ultramarines armor raised his Bolter and fired several more rounds into the Tech-Priest, who was still breathing.
Nearby, the