Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 689

Chapter 687, The Eldest Son Legion

“Reinforcements?”

Lin Xiaodong, filled with hope, even stepped out of the command vehicle and peered into the distance through his binoculars.

He spotted a bright red flag planted on the high ground peak in the direction of the tank company’s charge.

That direction was the source of the Zerg’s ferocious artillery fire. The Hive’s biological artillery must be there.

Lin Xiaodong could also recognize the origin of that bright red flag: the Firstborn Legion from Frost Plain.

Their uniforms were always bright red, and they wore their signature long-haired leather ear-flaps, with the Imperial Sky Eagle emblem emblazoned at the center. This Astra Militarum Legion’s personnel primarily hail from Frost Plain, a hive world in the northern reaches of the Empire. According to Frost Plain tradition, the eldest son of every family on this planet is expected to serve in the legion.

Coupled with the planet’s abundant geothermal energy and mineral resources, as well as its long-standing partnership with the Mechanicum, its productivity is highly developed, allowing them to produce their own equipment.

The planet’s relatively harsh natural environment has also fostered the Frost Plain’s inhabitants’ exceptional resilience.

The combined strength of these forces has given the Firstborn Legion exceptional combat effectiveness.

Despite its modest natural environment, the planet maintains considerable stability through its powerful military. This immense military might also allows them to form an Astra Militarum and respond to calls from all corners of the Empire.

The Firstborn Legion has long been active throughout the Empire, participating in numerous wars over millennia. They have not only achieved considerable military exploits and brought significant benefits to their home planet, but have also become a renowned Astra Militarum Legion throughout the Empire. They

joined the Northern Front when it was first established, and have subsequently contributed numerous troops. At its peak, the Firstborn Legion comprised approximately 50,000 men within the Northern Front.

However, these numbers should no longer exist.

They were likely lost in the Northern Front’s naval battle.

Honestly, the Firstborn Legion’s defeat was quite unfair.

It had nothing to do with them. It’s impossible to let these Astra Militarum soldiers shoulder the blame for the naval defeat.

On the contrary, they were the greatest victims. They had done nothing wrong, yet tens of millions of people disappeared.

The remnants of the Northern Front Army rescued by the Alliance contained no members of the Firstborn Legion. It was even less likely they were involved in this tactical ground landing operation, which was taking such heavy losses.

So where did these Firstborn Legion soldiers on the other side of the mountain come from, assaulting the Zerg’s living artillery positions?

Could they be the troops left behind on the ground in Rheaduches when the Northern Front Army was defeated a year and a half ago?

They held out for a year and a half without any external supplies, with their orbits completely out of control and under constant Zerg pressure?

It was incredible.

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.

“Comrades, move faster! Don’t waste this opportunity!”

“Try to contact the suspected Eldest Son unit ahead, confirm the situation, and discuss the next steps.”

…

“Have them quickly establish artillery positions and cooperate with us to eliminate this Zerg force. Then, follow us and set off together. Our target is an air defense nest forty kilometers away.”

The speaker was Qin Zhiping, Senior Inquisitor of the Anti-Xenophobia Tribunal. He was wearing a suit of reactive power armor, flanked by ten Argent Watch warriors, fighting alongside the Eldest Son.

He had already eliminated many of the living artillery and was completing the final cleanup. Meanwhile, several Eldest Son vanguard companies had already established firepower positions on the hilltops, blocking the Zerg’s retreat.

Once the high-altitude firepower positions were complete and the Alliance Army’s artillery positions were established, providing ample firepower cover, Qin Zhiping led his ten Argent Watch Space Marines, backed by numerous Firstborn Legionnaires, and launched a surprise assault on the Zerg swarm, decapitating them.

It was an “executioner.”

This was a high-level unit within the Zerg swarm, its combat power easily surpassing even that of ordinary Space Marines. It was also the highest-ranking organism in the current Zerg force. When its head was severed, all the lower-level Zergs nearby instantly fell into a state of dementia.

Although the ensuing battle raged on for a while, it was brief, and the cost was far lower than a normal engagement with this Zerg force.

After the two armies reunited, the Alliance Army’s Division Commander, Lin Xiaodong, inquired in astonishment about their situation.

Qin Zhiping didn’t refuse, but instead requested that the two armies unite under unified command and join him in attacking an anti-aircraft burrow.

Conquering it would at least provide greater safety for the troops landing near the surface of the area.

After a moment’s consideration, Lin Xiaodong agreed.

Firstly, their mission was to reunite with nearby allies upon landing, establish a stable ground position, and receive incoming troops. A direct attack and destruction of an enemy anti-aircraft burrow would clearly be a superior option.

Secondly, having Qin Zhiping command them was no problem. This Inquisitor of the Anti-Foreign Order held a high position, even able to speak with their Governor Gu. Commanding their division, reduced to only one-tenth its strength, was no problem.

Colonel Lin, on the other hand, was even more surprised by Qin Zhiping’s presence.

Although he didn’t know him and his status was far inferior, Lin Xiaodong knew from his time in space that Qin Zhiping was a key figure among the remnants of the northern front who had been rescued.

It seemed odd to see such a key figure from the northern front rescued by the Alliance mixed up with the Eldest Son Legion, which had completely disappeared a year and a half ago.

On the way, Qin Zhiping explained the reason to Colonel Lin.

By now, there was nothing to keep secret.

He was actually one of the first to land on the ground during this battle, much earlier than Lin Xiaodong and his group.

However, they didn’t arrive by ship. Otherwise, with such a high casualty rate, deploying a key figure like Qin Zhiping and precious Space Marines to the surface would be a sheer waste.

They were brought to the surface using Gu Hang’s psychic teleportation.

During the military meeting before the battle, he specifically mentioned that a year and a half prior, the Northern Front Legion had deployed a significant number of ground forces to the surface of Rheaduches.

Later, when the fleet collapsed, these men were effectively abandoned.

However, Qin Zhiping believed that a significant number of them were still alive.

Perhaps not many, but they should not be ignored.

If they could be utilized, it would be far more valuable than risking the loss of troops deployed with a single-digit probability of success. If they truly existed and could be organized, they could be of immense help.

One hundred men could be equivalent to three thousand airborne troops—after all, the initial success rate of transport ships landing was only 3%. Lin Xiaodong’s division was lucky to land two of its twelve regiments. Some divisions, even fully staffed at launch, had no survivors.

His proposal was seconded by Gu Hang. He wasn’t one to simply offer ideas; he volunteered to be the first group to teleport to the surface to contact any remaining Northern Front troops who might be alive.

And he actually managed to make contact.

———

Although a little late, the second chapter is up!

Sleep!

(End of this chapter)