Warhammer, about my years with the Wolfpack

"Sometimes the truth doesn't matter." said the mask.

"After this war, the Etheric Hierarchy will be severely damaged, and the authority accumulated over thousands of years will be severely weakened. If nothing unexpected happens, some people will choose to secede alone," said Ahriman.

"For example, the Vision that you have always been paying attention to?" asked the Mask.

"Yes. Actually, the conflict between Farsight and the Ether has been accumulating for a long time. They have different views on many issues, such as demons and war. Farsight's ideas are more direct, and he likes to discuss issues from a military perspective. The Ethers, on the other hand, are more complicated. Although I also believe that the secrets of demons should not be spread, Farsight does not understand this idea."

"And by now, Farsight may have sensed that the Aether is using some unknown method to control the entire Tau race. He has already begun to think that he and his subordinates can live well even without the Aether. He didn't say it, but I can feel it." Ahriman said.

"A divided Fire Clan? This is in our best interest. If possible, I hope that other clans can gradually break away from the influence of the Aether." said the Lord of Hydra.

"Let's do what we need to do now. Who knows what will happen next? If the Tau disperse, the barrier of the Milky Way in the southeast will be scattered and discontinuous." Ahriman said.

"Okay, I just hope that the Tau people won't let us down this time, and at least show their value." Alpharius said and logged off.

"Is the operation going smoothly over there?" Ahriman asked.

"Fortunately, the mental chip is still very useful. We have implanted this special control chip in different classes of Titanium people. As long as we want, we can easily control them. And their eyes will become our eyes, and we can have an in-depth understanding of the entire Titanium society." said the mask.

This so-called mental chip is not a physical chip that is implanted into the target's brain. Simply put, it is more like a fusion of psychic information and programs. They can parasitize in the biological chips of the Titanians. Most of the time they are dormant, but they will control the host when needed.

"So what are you going to do after the fight starts?" Ahriman asked.

"The Tau are actually prepared to perish together with the other side. Their geothermal plasma generators have been set up. If necessary, they will turn some core areas into a sea of ​​fire. My people will control this place. In addition, the Tau are also transferring their personnel. Non-combatants have been moved to some safe home worlds. It is estimated that there may be targets of the evil gods there. I have set up beacons in those places. The Dark Raven Guard fleet will arrive at some worlds in advance and then prepare for any accidents." said the masked man.

"I remember the Dark Angels and the Raven Guard acting together," Ahriman said with a frown.

"Jonson is looking for the home planet of Khorne and Tzeentch's followers. He is preparing for a big attack. The Wolf King is also involved in the operation and may act with Magnus." said the Masked Man.

"This is such a fierce competition," Ahriman said with emotion.

"Well, the Primarchs' affairs have nothing to do with us. We just need to do our own thing. The descendants of Guilliman and Perturabo will be responsible for cleaning up the remnants of the Zerg that have gathered again." said the Masked Man.

"The Zerg Swarm is coming, and the Tau are ready for battle. See this space station above the Delta Homeworld? The Tau, realizing they can't stop the enemy's attack with just their fleet, have basically dragged every space station they can find around here, and then connected them to create a larger platform." Ahriman said.

"But I'm not optimistic about their defense. Even if the Tau mobilize almost all the forces they can, I still think that when the Zerg begin to land on the planet, it will be difficult for them to hold out for more than two months." said the Masked Man.

"We'll see. War is about to begin. Let's see the potential of this civilization," Ahriman concluded. And true to his words, the tendrils of the Zerg fleet had begun converging on Delta, their home world. Here, a fleet the Tau could hardly imagine was gathering.

Although the Zerg fleet has not yet arrived, their powerful distortion shadow has begun to affect the world. Astropathic communication has been basically cut off. If you want to transmit information, you must fly warships outside the area covered by the dimensional shadow. And this is just the beginning!

Chapter 529 Close combat

"The defense of the Delta home world is comprehensive, with sufficient fleets, ground forces, a large number of space stations and defense facilities, and sufficient depth. In this galaxy, we have a total of three worlds, and these worlds are connected by a sufficient number of space stations and fortifications. On these space stations, we are equipped with a large number of railguns and plasma cannons that are larger than the guns on battleships. These space stations store a large amount of supplies, which can replenish the losses while fighting." Vision introduced the situation here to everyone present.

"We've already contacted the humans and reached an agreement. Some human forces have expressed their willingness to help us eliminate some of the Zerg fleets. We've allowed them into some star systems, which will reduce our pressure," Ether Andu said. Farsight, knowing the details, snorted inwardly at his words.

"It's nothing more than the art of lying. It tells part of the truth, but conceals another part of the truth." Farsight thought to himself. Ether Andu was right. The human fleet had indeed entered the territory of the Tau and would indeed attack the Tyranid fleet, but this had nothing to do with the agreement, and even had nothing to do with helping the Tau.

Because this time, it was the Night Lords Fleet that arrived, a less-than-reputable legion within the human empire whose primary mission was "fishing," not saving the Tau planet. While objectively this could relieve pressure, in Farsight's opinion, considering them "allies" was still a bit lacking.

"Can they support our main battlefield?" asked an Air caste commander.

"I'm afraid not. There's not enough time." Ether Andu said tactfully.

"That's such a pity." The Qi clan commander said with some regret.

"But it doesn't matter. Our allies, the Kroots, the Wasps, and the newly joined Horned and Octopus People, will also send large fleets to support us. The entire Delta Homeworld will become an impenetrable fortress. This is the gateway to the depths of the empire. We can and must defend it."

"As long as we hold on here for a month, the fleets from various home worlds will arrive here one after another. Commander Farsight will be responsible for commanding the overall situation, and Commander Shadowsun will be responsible for the defense of each space station." Ether Anwa said.

Just as the T'au leaders were planning the overall galaxy defense, the first wave of Tyranid attacks had already begun. The swarm fleet that emerged from the edge of the galaxy rushed towards the T'au's outermost fortress, a fortress group composed of space stations, artillery batteries, and minefields.

"Is the Zerg stupid? Don't they know they are seeking death?" Looking at the Zerg cruisers being destroyed by long-range railguns in the distance, a Air caste commander who was facing the Zerg for the first time said in disbelief.

Warships should never engage shore artillery fire, and this ironclad rule applies even in space warfare. Fixed emplacements have more heavy guns and better defenses, while the Tau's dense array of railguns reduced any Tyranid fleet that attempted to attack to smithereens. However, those who had previously battled the Tyranids had already seen the signs.

"The spore cloud left by the destroyed Zerg warships is spreading, forming a continuous barrier that will reduce our detection and firepower accuracy," said Commander Longsword, who was assisting Shadowsun on the front lines. "Next, they will gradually advance towards our fortress, gradually spreading the spore cloud in front of us."

"Can't we clean it up?" Shadowsun asked.

"It's basically impossible." Changjian said.

"Alright, but we already have a plan. Release the reconnaissance drones. Since they're trying to obscure our defenses with smoke, we'll send more reconnaissance units and get closer," Shadowsun ordered. Facing the Tyranid swarm, the Tau were also refining their tactics. With the deployment of a large number of reconnaissance drones, the Tau finally regained their sights.

At the same time, a powerful T'au fleet arrived at the station called Deepsea. Relying on the station's defenses, the fleet also filled gaps in its defenses. Before the Zerg unleashed an overwhelming force, the T'au defenses remained relatively stable. Just as Shadowsun thought the station had stabilized and was preparing to move on to other stations, a strange Hive Mothership crashed into a corner of the station during a surprise attack. With a breach in the station's thick protective walls, swarms of Zerg swarms swarmed from the "stranded" Hive Mothership, and a battle for the station began.

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"This is the Kinu Hunter Core. We have entered the contaminated area with the auxiliary forces." Shasonur was commanding his Hunter Core to advance quickly. The pathfinders and reconnaissance drones had already entered the battlefield in advance. They would use marking beams to lock onto the most dangerous targets and guide subsequent attacks.

"Very good, the Aura Hunter Core and the Catan Hunter Core will cover your flanks. Destroy all Zerg creatures you see, for the greater good." The detachment commander responded.

(The basic combat organization of the Tau in the background is as follows: the most basic is the squad, or hunter team, which is generally composed of about 10 Fire Warriors and some soldiers. The next level is the hunter core, which is considered the most basic composite combat unit of the Tau. It has stealth combat suits and pathfinders for reconnaissance, combat suits and hover vehicles as the combat core, and some special machine blades for support.

Generally speaking, a Hunter Core is roughly equivalent to a company, with over 100 units of various types. While small in number, its firepower is considerable. For example, a Hunter Core from the Battle of Talos, with only 121 units, including the Machine-Front, comprised six Stealth Battlesuits, 6 XV18 Battlesuits, and three XV8 Artillery Battlesuits. Counting the Commander and Bodyguards, there were another three Battlesuits, for a total of 3 Battlesuits! During the Battle of Talos, in one instance, during an attack on Space Marines occupying the Governor's Palace, four Battlesuits were used to replace three Terminators. The Battlesuits are quite capable for their weight class, with shields, a variety of weaponry, and good mobility.

On this plane, the Tau faced increasingly complex situations due to the successive iterations of various versions, leading to a gradual expansion of their combat formations. For example, the Hunter Core commanded by Noor incorporated a large number of Hammerhead Sharks and XV104-class combat suits to combat the Zerg's behemoths. To combat heavy infantry like the Samurai, the Fire Warrior squad also upgraded its weaponry, equipping them with railguns, plasma guns, and heavy gun swarms.

The area ahead was a loss of control. All the Tau surveillance equipment installed in the previous chambers had been destroyed, forcing the entire Hunter Core to advance cautiously. In the front were the Soldier Peaks and Pathfinders, followed by a large number of Combat Suits equipped with flamethrowers and plasma rifles. Hammerheads and XV88s provided support. Piranha light vehicles and stealth Combat Suits provided security on both flanks. The troops carefully searched the area ahead. All lights were out, and the air was filled with spores and poisonous gas. Although the fully enclosed Combat Suits protected the personnel from the gas, the environment undoubtedly greatly weakened the Tau's battlefield perception.

With a snap, a Fire Warrior touched something soft on the ground. He instinctively looked down. A spore mine had been triggered. This immovable, deceptively shaped object, at first glance resembling a piece of minced meat, was incredibly powerful. The spore mine exploded, releasing a torrent of acid that swept half the Fire Warriors. The horrific acid melted the Fire Warriors' armor and the flesh beneath. Even worse, the explosion provided a target for the Zerg hidden within!

A swarm of flesh-eating insects and acid overwhelmed the remaining members of the squad. From the moment they struck the mine to the entire squad's demise, less than two minutes passed! The swarm's attack also exposed their position. Using night vision goggles and radar, the combat suits in the middle of the formation quickly locked onto their target. Plasma guns, pulse guns, and smart missiles formed a dense web of fire, unleashing a barrage of fire on the distant warrior insects.

"Prepare for cover, Pathfinders, find your opponents, and mark them!" The battle was imminent. The combat suits deployed their shields, forming a defensive circle. The first wave of incoming cannon fodder Zerg was easily cut down, followed by the elite Warrior Zerg. However, facing the plasma blast, the plasma still showed these Zerg that their armor wasn't thick enough! The Soldier Wind shields also blocked a large number of attacks. Everything seemed to be going very smoothly, and even the Hammerhead Sharks and XV104s behind them didn't have to think about taking action.

However, this situation did not last long. A dazzling beam of light hit an XV8 from a range far beyond the combat suit's range. The shield of this combat suit had been shattered before, and the XV8, which could only rely on armor for defense, was unable to block the attack of this laser cannon. The blazing light spear easily penetrated the armor outside the cockpit and turned the operator inside into ashes.

"Damn, how could the Zerg use laser weapons?" Nur looked at the blurry figure hidden in the distance. Judging from its appearance, it should be a humanoid creature (a cunning one using a laser cannon), but it was huge in size and was probably covered with some kind of camouflage net, making this target always a blurry shadow in the infrared detection equipment of the Tau people.

The fall of the first XV8 was just the beginning. Soon, this long-range sniping destroyed 3 XV4 battle suits with exhausted shields within 8 minutes.

"Cover those guys in the distance with firepower!" Following the commander's furious order, the heavy ion accelerator in the XV104 combat suit began to roar, and the nova reactor began to overload. Huge amounts of energy were injected into the main weapon. After a brief period of energy gathering, accompanied by the roar of artillery, a huge ball of plasma covered the attackers in the distance, turning everything around into a sea of ​​fire.

Afterwards, the following Hammerhead Sharks and Rainbow gunships also used railguns and missiles to target those guys that posed a certain threat one by one, and another wave of Zerg attacks was repelled.

"Is that it? Prepare to move on." Feeling he had the situation under control, the commander prepared to continue his campaign when a terrifying whistling sound echoed from the distant sky. The experienced Noor immediately determined it was a shell fired from some indirect fire weapon. The enemy was hiding behind cover, making it difficult for the Tau, who primarily used direct fire, to hit those targets. After two consecutive failed attacks, the Zerg's artillery worms finally took action!

Crawling on the ground, their massive biological cannons on their backs, the Cannon Bugs arrayed themselves out of reach of most Tau weapons. With volley after volley of plasma, spore, and acid shells, they rained down upon the Tau formation. The Fire Warriors and Soldier Drones were the first to suffer, as these fragile units were practically killed on contact. Then came the XV8 Battlesuits. Their shields and armor could withstand the aftermath of the explosions, but a direct hit would still doom them.

"Prepare to retreat, we're abandoning this place. Have the stealth teams launch assassinations and knock out the enemy artillery." The sudden and intense bombardment took heavy toll on Nur's core hunters, first the infantry, then the Manta transports and Rainbow gunboats. Surrounded by the Zerg swarm, he couldn't simply flee; a breakdown in his formation would instantly crumble the front. Therefore, a team of stealth combat suits would infiltrate first, destroying the artillery bugs with melta. Then, the combat suits would exploit the gaps in the fire and evacuate using their jump packs.

Unfortunately, after being ambushed countless times, the Zerg had put in place various preventive measures. Shortly after a team of eight XV8 stealth combat suits killed the first cannon worm with melta, they were discovered by the Zerg's brain worm. The latter's psychic power directly sensed the presence of the XV25, and a burst of psychic power directly killed two stealth combat suits. Then a group of warriors swarmed in and eliminated the target with blades and guns.

What's even more insidious about the Zerg is that they seem to have guessed what the Tau are thinking. The Zerg's firepower deliberately paused for a moment, and the moment Nur, who thought he had succeeded, launched his combat suit into the air, it was the clarion call for the final hunt to begin.

A swarm of gargoyles rushed down first, their dense array of plasma rifles desperately trying to stop these numerous and agile creatures, but eventually one of the suits would become entangled, its claws tearing at the armor. The swarm sought vulnerable spots like joints and jetpacks, attacking the suits with claws and tearing rifles, tearing open the compartments and killing the pilots. XV8 struggled to dodge, but XV104 fared better. His massive frame gave him immense strength and resilience, and his shoulder-mounted plasma rifles and accompanying missile swarms drove back his opponents with a barrage of fire.

Seeing that the gargoyle could not take down this big guy, a Sky Demon roared and rushed towards the target. The AI ​​of XV104 immediately sounded the alarm and overloaded the nova reactor again before the operator could react. The energy was input into the shield, and the shield color changed from light blue to dark blue. The Sky Demon's artillery fire was blocked by the heavy shield, and the behemoth finally crashed into the XV104. The sharp bone blade cut the huge plasma cannon into two parts, and the 104 driver also smashed the Sky Demon's head with his other hand. Then, the Sky Demon's body fell to the ground with the XV104. Just as the XV104 was about to stand up, a huge figure holding four sharp blades appeared in the driver's eyepiece. Then, the bone blade fell, and the XV4 was beheaded with one knife!

20 minutes later, with Noor's last communication, the entire battle group was annihilated by the Zerg. And this was just a corner of the battle in the space station.

There was a team that suppressed the other side's boarding boats at the first moment. As the gap was opened, more and more Tyranid boarding boats rushed here!