The Thunderhawk gunship is one of the Imperium's most advanced large aerial vehicles, specifically designed for Astartes combat squads, capable of launching rapid, fierce deep strikes from strike cruisers in orbit.
It combines orbital deployment, gunship, and neutral bomber functions, making it highly favored.
If one were to use a fitting adjective to describe the Thunderhawk gunship, it could be said that... this thing is essentially a giant tank with its tracks removed and two wings attached.
It can carry, fight, maneuver, support, ambush, transport, and even break through the atmosphere. Its absurdity is such that even Tony from next door, upon seeing a Thunderhawk gunship, would mumble a few words about how such a massive brick could possibly fly.
Of course, regardless of how such a massive brick... no, a Thunderhawk gunship... manages to fly, it is considered a standard orbital deployment vehicle for the Astartes!
That's right, even if the Astartes are tough, they don't always descend in drop pods; they also have aerial vehicles.
And to ensure that this assault mission, the task of searching for and rescuing the target, would not encounter any mishaps, Captain Raymond dispatched three tactical squads in one go!
In terms of troop deployment alone, Raymond was absolutely generous; this already accounted for half of the Second Company's forces.
It should be known that ever since the Primarch issued the Codex Astartes and re-divided the Astartes Legions, each Chapter now comprises a maximum of ten Companies, each Company has ten tactical squads, and each squad contains five to ten Astartes, including NCOs.
Of course, Raymond had heard rumors that some Legions did not obey the Primarch's command to split, but those were mostly rumors, and he had not witnessed them firsthand, so he would not comment.
A portion of the tactical squads remaining on the strike cruiser were a fallback Raymond, as Commander, habitually reserved, in case of unexpected situations that would prevent rescue on the battlefield.
Watching the Thunderhawk gunship enter the atmosphere, Raymond turned his gaze to Roselle's planetary map. He was still not entirely at ease and instructed the Tech-Priest beside him: "I need more detailed information on this world, including the hive cities, cults, and so on..."
"Yes, lord."
The Tech-Priest bowed his head to show his respect, then quickly exited the room.
The friction between the atmosphere and the steel surface of the Thunderhawk gunship generated intense fire, tearing a several-hundred-meter-long gash through the smoke-shrouded skies above Roselle's hive city!
Daylight streamed down from that 'fissure'!
The hive city, enveloped in smoke and dark clouds, finally caught a glimpse of sunlight. The dazzling light seemed to want to dispel the gloom, bringing hope to the last remaining resistance in the hive city.
"This is great!"
"It's the Imperium's reinforcements!"
"The Emperor has not abandoned us!"
"Long live the Emperor!"
At once, the people crowded in the narrow gathering place, enveloped in despair, their eyes full of gloom, all showed expressions of joyful surprise and erupted in cheers.
"Is that... a Thunderhawk gunship?"
Emrys' eyesight was excellent, aided by his biological armor, and he immediately recognized the shape of the flying craft, which resembled a giant steel Aquila with outstretched wings. He couldn't help but exclaim in surprise: "Holy crap, are the Astartes coming?!"
"You know quite a bit..." Galahad was somewhat surprised and glanced at Emrys. Logically, an under-hive dweller couldn't possibly know or have seen such a thing!
Emrys, realizing he had let something slip, rubbed his nose and awkwardly changed the subject: "That's not important... By the way, they wouldn't be coming for me, would they?"
Fortunately, Galahad wasn't genuinely pursuing the matter. He couldn't care less how Emrys knew; right now, this kid was a hot potato, and he was eager to hand him over!
"Most likely, they are coming for you." He then added, "Unfortunately, the communication array is completely disrupted by the Warp rift, otherwise I could tell them your location directly, and it wouldn't be this troublesome."
Could you be any more obvious?
Looking at Galahad's regretful expression, Emrys' eye twitched slightly, utterly speechless. Even if he knew he was trouble, did he have to be so disdainful?
"Captain Raymond, just now, it has been confirmed that the planetary orbital defense artillery has been destroyed, likely by the remaining resistance forces within the hive city. Should we modify the original landing point?"
Communication came from inside the Thunderhawk gunship.
Raymond thought for half a second, frowned slightly, then nodded slightly and said: "Permit modification of the landing point. Land directly near the former planetary orbital defense artillery. Advance steadily from the inside out, unite with mortal resistance forces, and gather target intelligence along the way."
"Understood."
The next moment, the Thunderhawk gunship turned, tracing a graceful arc in the sky, carrying a howling storm, and plunged directly towards the upper hive. The roar of its engines attracted countless daemons!
The Battle-Brothers stationed on the Thunderhawk gunship's flight deck, aided by the Machine Spirit, immediately operated eight heavy bolters, unleashing the roar of the Emperor!
Boom boom boom boom... A scorching torrent of bullets streaked across the sky, like a fiery red galaxy, pouring forth the Emperor's own wrath, crushing the Warp's heretical daemons into a bloody pulp!
The overwhelming flying daemons were instantly swept away, clearing a path in front of the Thunderhawk gunship's powerful firepower.
"Prepare for landing!"
"3, 2, 1..."
Boom!
Accompanied by a violent tremor, the Thunderhawk gunship, with an extremely brutal posture, directly entered the wide alleyways of the upper hive.
Daemons gathered, preparing for a feast.
However, the moment the ramp opened, what awaited them was not a feast, but a roar from hell!
Boom!
A bolter round shattered a daemon's head.
Immediately following, a massive hand grabbed a daemon, violently slamming it to the ground, then lifted a foot encased in thick armor and brought it down forcefully.
Bang!
Half of the daemon's body was crushed into a bloody mess.
Then, warriors clad in pure White power armor, wearing helmets, strong and tall, precisely eliminated the surging daemons around them with extremely precise movements!
Their movements had not a single wasted motion.
The leading Astartes, in the interval of his left-hand bolter firing to suppress, wielded a chainsword in his right hand, easily cutting down several daemons attempting to ambush him!
"Frag grenades!"
Leon, as the squad's NCO, did not want to waste time here, so he spoke: "Assault squad forward, Tactical 3, rapid advance!"
Several frag grenades were thrown, directly blowing the daemons to pieces.
At the same time, all four squads formed up, with the assault squad at the forefront, creating a sharp arrow formation that plunged fiercely into the tide of daemons!
The entire process involved no one speaking.
Nor did anyone show fear; there was only that pure, ultimate combat skill, etched into their very bones.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The squad forming the assault spearhead advanced steadily with their bolter rifles, while the Astartes covering the flanks calmly and efficiently cleared away all suspected dangerous creatures.
Soon, Leon saw the mortal forces valiantly holding their ground near the planetary orbital defense artillery.
"Crush them!!!"
Jackal, who had been desperately holding on, suddenly heard a roar.
He turned to look, only to see a group of the Emperor's Angels, clad in pure White power armor and wearing helmets, striding towards them. Any daemon daring to block their path was crushed by their powerful firepower, as they advanced with an unstoppable momentum!
What is an Astartes?
At this moment, all mortals except Jackal profoundly realized the value contained in the term 'the Emperor's Angel,' a height far beyond what mortals could achieve!