James was once a slave on the Planet Vortex Primus. After gaining his freedom, like many former slaves who had once been soldiers, he chose to join the Aeterna 5th "Flame of Freedom" Regiment. These men were no ordinary troops. They were once elite soldiers of the Human Federation—or those who bore an undying hatred toward the alien menace.
Amid the chaos of the battlefield, a thunderous voice rang out:
"Prepare yourselves! The Emperor is with you! Do nothing that would shame His holy name!"
It was the Political Commissar, standing tall as the ground shook beneath him. In one hand, he held the standard of unity high; in the other, a bolt pistol gripped with unwavering conviction.
"In this dark universe, there is nothing but endless war and meaningless death! The law of the dark jungle reigns here. Yet still, we fight! We fight for the survival of mankind! For the glory of the Imperium Caelestis! For the Holy Emperor! For the Lord of Humanity!"
His rallying cry pierced the air, igniting the spirits of the soldiers around him, even as the monstrous roar of the Orcs drew nearer.
"Fire!"
The first thing to greet the charging Orcs were laser volleys and heavy explosive rounds from the soldiers of the Aeterna 5th Regiment. Hot on their heels came the thunderous roar of Basilisk artillery from the rear lines.
Boom... Boom... Boom...
Explosion after explosion lit up the battlefield. Under the overwhelming firepower, countless Orcs and Grots fell like wheat before the scythe. But behind them came more—an endless swarm, like a plague of locusts storming toward the human defenses.
At the very front, their leader, Grun, a brutish and savage Orc, was the first to fall—his body melted away under the hail of light weapons.
But Grun's death did not stop the Orc horde.
They charged forward in a blind frenzy, driven by bloodlust and the thrill of battle. The Grots—those cowardly, sniveling creatures—who attempted to retreat were mercilessly trampled underfoot by their own kind.
"Increase artillery intensity!"
The artillery crews immediately responded, accelerating their reload cycles and unleashing another devastating volley toward the advancing horde.
Under the relentless combined firepower of the Aeterna 5th "Flame of Freedom" Regiment and the thundering support of heavy artillery, a kill zone formed before the defensive line. Orc after Orc fell in droves—hundreds, even thousands, crushed by the fury of Imperial might. And still, wave after wave surged forward from the darkness.
Yet the human soldiers stood firm.
Their armor stained with dust, blood, and the ash of battle, they held their ground amidst the inferno. With unwavering faith in the Emperor and burning resolve in their hearts, they fought—not just for survival, but for the continued existence and glory of mankind.
For the Emperor. For Humanity.
The gap in technology cannot be bridged by mere courage.
Even though the Orcs fought with reckless bravery, they were nothing more than dust before the firepower of the Astra Militarum.
Most of them still wielded crude melee weapons—massive axes, rusted swords, and jagged metal blades—but that didn't mean they lacked heavy weapons. The real question was: could they even use them properly?
"Incoming artillery fire! Take cover!"
James quickly crouched down, seeking a corner to shield himself from the incoming Orc barrage.
Their accuracy was terrible. Aside from a few unlucky casualties, the Orc artillery did little damage. Still, the explosions shook the ground and thundered across the battlefield.
Then—the skies roared.
Engines screamed overhead as Imperium Caelestis air support arrived in force.
A Vulture Gunship dove low, its Punisher Cannons shredding the enemy lines in a storm of blood and fire.
It was followed by a Banshee, gliding fast and low, firing precision rounds into the clustered horde.
Viking assault fighters descended, switching to assault mode and mowing down Orcs with their automatic cannons.
Meanwhile, a Liberator locked onto the battlefield and unleashed powerful area-of-effect bombardments, engulfing enemy positions in flame and chaos.
Then came the groundbreakers—Zaku II Mobile Suits landed with thunderous force, their heavy machine guns roaring to life as they added their devastating firepower to the fray.
Above, LAAT/i (Low Altitude Assault Transport/infantry) dropships deployed elite Stormtroopers into the thick of the battle. Landing with precise coordination, they swiftly merged with the Astra Militarum ground forces.
The remaining Orcs finally surged toward the human lines—only to be met, not by fear, but by rows of fixed bayonets and revving chainswords.
Countless Orcs who had just stormed the human position were skewered one after another by bayonets, while chainswords roared to life, slicing through them from shoulder to gut beneath the steel will of the Astra Militarum.
War is their home. Death is their friend.
Amidst the flames and rain of blood, the soldiers of the Astra Militarum stand tall. For the Emperor. For the survival of mankind.