Chapter 1190 Behind Us is Terra
The green barrier constructed by the black stone force field burned silently in the void, like a wound across the star field.
Fulgrim stood on the bridge of the Emperor's Pride, his slender fingers running across the holographic star map. Each flashing red dot represented an impact of the Chaos Wave.
"They can't get through," he said quietly, his voice carrying the resonance of a Primarch. "But they are trying to press the entire Warp toward us."
The Death Guard's flagship slowly sailed into its planned orbit, and Mortarion's figure appeared on the communication screen.
A muffled voice came from beneath his breathing mask: "The rings of Saturn will be their grave. My children are ready."
Dorn's projection suddenly cut into the channel, and his golden eyes swept over the two brothers: "The third line of defense requires mobile support. Fulgrim, your warriors..."
"In position." The Emperor's Children Primarch turned gracefully, his voice suddenly becoming sharp, "Fabius! The Seventh Company turns to the Oort Cloud blocking point!"
On the outskirts of the solar system, hundreds of strike cruisers of the Emperor's Children Legion adjusted their courses at the same time.
These warships inlaid with purple patterns were like a group of elegant predators, spread out in perfect formation.
Company Commander Gabriel Santos stood in the landing capsule, watching the battlefield information constantly updated on the hologram.
"It's the fire brigade again." He said to the soldier beside him with a wry smile, his fingers unconsciously stroking the hilt of the power sword, "Last time it was Jupiter orbit, this time it's the Kuiper belt. Our armor can hardly remember what the mothership looks like."
The scene on the Death Guard's position was quite different.
Among the ice crystals of Saturn's rings, countless Space Marines carved out fortifications on the surface of meteorites.
"Let them come." A Death Guard Corps officer screamed into the communicator, his voice like sandpaper rubbing, "Let those bastards in the warp taste the gift of the Death Guard!"
At the same time, in the "Eternal Wall" fortress in Terra's orbit, Dorn was facing a tactical hologram covering the entire wall.
His brows were furrowed, and his golden pupils kept scanning the distribution of troops on various defense lines.
"We need accurate numbers." His deep voice echoed in the command room. "Everyone who can hold a gun is now a soldier."
Officials from the Military Affairs Department were frantically compiling data, the blue light of the databoards illuminating their pale faces.
Finally, Chief Statistician Kellers came forward tremblingly.
"Your Excellency... the number of Astra Militarum..." He swallowed, "We have received reinforcements from five hundred star systems, and the number currently registered is... countless. But more transport ships are constantly arriving."
Dorn's fingers drummed on the table, and every tap made the officers' hearts beat faster. "Space Marine?"
"One million and two hundred thousand, sir." Kellers quickly flipped through the data pad, "including the remnants of other legions that just arrived and thirty squads of the Salamander Legion."
The control room suddenly fell silent, with only the hum of running machines echoing in the air.
Dorn's eyes passed through the virtual star map, as if he saw the upcoming bloody battle.
An almost imperceptible waver flashed across his iron face - this was the largest army in human history, but it might still not be enough.
"Mars." He suddenly spoke, his voice like steel tempered in a forge. "What's the news from Carbo?"
The mechanical voice of the Tech-Priest sounded: "The Mechanicus has activated all forbidden protocols, my lord. They are awakening certain creatures... that are sleeping underground on Mars."
Dorn nodded imperceptibly. He turned to the holographic communication console, and the images of the commanders of all the defense lines lit up one by one.
When his eyes swept over every soldier, the heavy sense of responsibility almost became a physical force weighing on everyone's shoulders.
“Remember.” His voice suddenly softened, but more powerful than any roar. “Behind us is Terra. It is the heart of humanity.”
In the corner of the command room, the young communications officer Lisa von Krauss secretly wiped away the tears from her eyes.
Her father served in the Jupiter Defense Line, and her brother was assigned to the Mars Defense Force.
The casualty figures ticking on the datapad made her stomach ache, but Dawn's words were like a shot in the arm.
"For the Emperor!" Someone shouted first, but soon the entire command room was filled with the cry.
Dorn did not join in, he just stood there quietly, like a golden giant that would never fall.
When the meeting was over and the officers hurried back to their respective posts, Dorn walked alone to the observation window.
Terra was spinning slowly below, and spots of war could already be seen on that beautiful blue-white sphere.
He pressed his broad palm against the reinforced glass, feeling the faint vibrations from the distant artillery fire.
"Father..." he whispered, "Am I worthy of your trust?"
The alarm suddenly sounded throughout the fortress. On the hologram, the first crack appeared in the black stone force field outside the solar system.
Like sharks smelling blood, the Chaos fleet began to gather towards the gap.
Dorn's expression instantly regained its determination. He turned and walked towards the command platform, his cloak fluttering behind him.
"All fleets enter combat positions!" His order was transmitted to the entire solar system through encrypted channels. "Today, we will let Chaos know that humans will never surrender!"
In orbit around Mars, the Mechanicum's massive space station began to disintegrate, revealing the behemoth sleeping within.
On the rings of Saturn, Death Guard Space Marines load virus bombs into launchers.
On the mobile defense line, the Emperor's Children warriors checked their weapons, their gorgeous armor already covered with scars of battle.
Every part of the solar system became a battlefield, and every planet became a fortress.
And in the center of this iron defense, Terra quietly waited for her fate to come.
The first battle in the Segmentum Solar was led by the Emperor's Children, when a shock force led by Eidolon raided a Chaos fleet around Pluto.
"Forward! In the name of the Primarch!"
The Emperor's Children Lord Commander Eidolon shouted, and as their ships approached an enemy battleship, he gave the order to board without hesitation.
Hundreds of the Emperor's Children launched the attack in the boarding bays, and the warship was destroyed by the Emperor's Children almost in the blink of an eye.
"go ahead!"
Eidolon shouted, and the Emperor's Children followed closely behind.
The narrow cabin became a slaughterhouse for Chaos believers, and the roar of explosive bombs became the best melody of this massacre.
"Boom boom boom boom!!!"
Explosions rang out one after another around him. Eidolon rushed into the main control room effortlessly and then turned dozens of Chaos crew members into a bloody mist.
With the start of this battle, the defense of Terra officially began.
