"Hoo-rah!"
The communications channel was filled with the collective response of the troops, their voices surging like a torrent, brimming with determination.
"Now that's the spirit," Leon said with satisfaction, nodding in approval.
He glanced around, noticing that every soldier was prepared and ready, filling him with a sense of reassurance.
When they first participated in the New Hope Campaign, these mobile infantry soldiers had been nothing more than green recruits. At the slightest setback, they would lose their nerve. But now, after countless experiences, they had become a force capable of holding their own. While they might not be skilled enough to fight against the Human Empire's military, they were more than sufficient to combat the bugs.
Leon then continued his motivational speech over the comms.
"Everyone, stay prepared. Hold your positions and protect the civilians."
With that, Leon, along with his elite squad and over a dozen heavily armed assault troops equipped with mechanical exoskeletons and Gauss rifles, left the apartment lobby.
They quickly ascended to the fifth floor using the brightly lit staircase, arriving at the recreational area equipped with a swimming pool and gym facilities.
Here, the air was filled with a palpable tension and anticipation.
On the tactical map displayed on Leon's helmet visor, the deployment on the fifth floor included another dozen assault soldiers and a full platoon of mobile infantry. Engineers had fortified the area, setting up four heavy machine guns in strategic positions to create a firepower barrier. This setup not only strengthened their firepower but also allowed them to provide suppressive support for allied forces in other streets and zones.
Leon took a brief look around.
Aside from the heavily armed assault troops with sealed helmets, the mobile infantry stationed by the windows were tense but resolute, their expressions showing they were ready to leap into action at a moment's notice.
As someone with years of experience as an investigator, Leon could immediately tell that while the soldiers were nervous, they were fully prepared for the inevitable showdown with the bugs.
"Major Kennedy!"
"Major Kennedy!"
The soldiers noticed Leon's arrival, and many instinctively attempted to salute him, their faces showing both respect and anticipation.
However, Leon raised his hand, signaling for them to stop. His tone was friendly as he said,
"We're all on the same side here. No need to be so formal. Just stay ready."
His words carried a tone of camaraderie, emphasizing unity among the troops.
Leon genuinely wished to fight alongside these soldiers. However, he had no desire to serve as the commander of a force numbering in the tens of thousands. The constant need to monitor his words, actions, and the reactions of his subordinates was mentally exhausting.
If it weren't for Ada's arrangements and the need to minimize civilian casualties, he would have preferred to stick to his expertise in infiltration and covert operations—his true domain of combat.
"Yes, Major!"
The soldiers, both assault troops and mobile infantry, had no way of knowing Leon's inner thoughts. Instead, they stiffened their resolve, focusing their attention back on the outside world.
For them, Leon had long become a central pillar of their morale. They firmly believed that as long as Leon was present, even if they couldn't achieve victory, he would still lead them to safety.
At this moment, Leon moved with his elite squad to the south-facing floor-to-ceiling windows.
Using sandbags stacked by engineers as cover, Leon and his second-in-command peered out into the darkened night sky.
The once starry sky had dimmed, as if even the stars themselves were uneasy about the impending conflict. The faint scent of summer grass and flowers lingered in the air, blending with an undertone of tension.
Through the windows, the city's silhouette was faintly visible. The quiet streets below carried an eerie sense of foreboding, as if awaiting the coming storm.
Leon took a deep breath beneath his helmet.
After concluding the meeting with Johnson and the other Campbell leadership, Leon had quickly used the local comms network and AI systems to establish contact with the Investigation Bureau stationed in New Hope.
The intel provided by the Bureau finally gave Leon clarity: the Arachi Swarm's attack on Campbell wasn't orchestrated by the Bureau or the Blood Angels. Instead, the bugs had long intended to consume Campbell and transform this habitable planet into a hub for their operations, enabling further invasions into more of the Federation's frontier colonies.
In other words, Leon and the remnants of the Federal Expeditionary Fleet had "coincidentally" collided with the Arachi Swarm's biofleet. It seemed as though fate itself had arranged this encounter.
Knowing that the biofleet's arrival wasn't the result of the Bureau's schemes, Leon could only marvel at his seemingly "remarkable" luck.
But he was no stranger to his uncanny fortune. He had stumbled into countless incidents before, and this was no different. It no longer surprised him.
Fortunately, Saint Giles was on his way, leading a company of Blood Angels with the flagship Tears of Red to aid Campbell. This knowledge brought Leon a small sense of relief, allowing him to regain some composure.
According to the AI's projections of their warp travel progress, Saint Giles' fleet was still roughly an hour away.
This meant Leon and his forces would need to hold out for at least forty minutes against the onslaught of billions of Arachi Swarm units.
Forty minutes.
Tens of thousands against billions.
The sheer disparity in numbers weighed heavily on Leon.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm the overwhelming pressure that burdened his mind.
Leon understood that this wasn't just a battle; it was a pivotal moment determining the survival of countless lives.
With this in mind, he decided to make more decisive choices.
He activated a private communication channel to Maggie, who was stationed at the eastern front, and gave her a direct order: "No need to hold back."
At this stage, there was no room for reservation. They had to fight with everything they had.
As one of the few remaining superhumans under the Empire's jurisdiction with full autonomy, Leon firmly believed that Maggie Shaw, when unleashing her true abilities, could save countless lives.
In the face of the Swarm's invasion and the critical urgency of the moment, the risk of exposing their identities paled in comparison. Without hesitation, Leon chose to prioritize saving lives.
To persist in hiding their identities, if it meant greater losses for Campbell, would be putting the cart before the horse.
Though Maggie Shaw wasn't as powerful as her Primarch counterpart, she was still a tactical—if not strategic—asset at their disposal in this battle.
Before long, the remnants of the Federal Fleet that had retreated from near-orbit positions appeared within Leon's line of sight.
The fleet formed a triangular formation and hovered approximately four kilometers above the city, ready to provide much-needed heavy firepower to support the defense of the capital.
At this moment—
"Major."
Leon's second-in-command, who had been silent until now, turned to him with a concerned expression and asked,
"How much longer do you think it'll take for reinforcements from the Human Empire to arrive? With just our numbers, we're barely a snack for the bugs."
Hearing this, Leon pulled himself out of his thoughts and replied with a hint of impatience,
"With comments like that, I could have you executed under Federal military law for undermining morale."
"Relax, Major, it's just us. No one else can hear!" The second-in-command grinned sheepishly, attempting to lighten the mood.
"Forget it." Leon looked back up at the night sky, his tone softening slightly.
"Could be an hour, could be three. I don't know. But I believe the Human Empire will come."
"Good to know."
The second-in-command lightly tapped his chest armor with his left hand, feigning a relaxed demeanor to find some comfort amidst the oppressive atmosphere. He then added,
"Man, wouldn't it be nice if that big angel turned out to be a woman? Female angels suit our tastes better."
"That 'our' doesn't include me." Leon shook his head wearily, his eyes betraying his fatigue.
At this moment, he simply didn't have the energy to entertain such trivial conversations. His mind was preoccupied with the Swarm's impending attack and formulating battle strategies. He couldn't afford the distraction.
But the second-in-command, thinking he had succeeded in easing the tension, didn't stop there.
Lowering his voice and with a face full of curiosity, he asked again,
"By the way, Major, are you…a spy from the Human Empire?"
…?
Leon's expression beneath his helmet froze as he turned to look at his second-in-command, stunned.
It wasn't that he was surprised at his identity being questioned—it was that the person asking was him.
This guy, though quick-witted, had always lacked a sense of the bigger picture. He rarely seemed to care about the broader situation around him.
Sensing Leon's hesitation, the second-in-command quickly explained,
"It's what Rico heard from Carmen. Uh, I mean, through Carmen. The Navy's got rumors saying that you—and many of the officers—are spies for the Human Empire."
Leon listened to the explanation and finally understood how the rumor had spread.
Indeed, after his recent confrontation with Admiral Dean and his subsequent actions alongside Maggie to consolidate military control, it wasn't surprising that Admiral Delatier and other Navy officials suspected his loyalties.
But at this point, Leon had no patience to craft a convincing lie for his second-in-command. Instead, he directly asked him in return,
"Whether I am or not, does it make any difference to you?"
"Uh…"
Caught off guard by the question, the second-in-command paused for a few seconds before
replying with newfound determination,
"No difference! No matter what, you're still the best boss I've ever had! Without you, I'd have been bug food a long time ago!"
"Don't say something so disgusting. Keep quiet—the bugs are coming!"
Leon knocked on the second-in-command's helmet with his left hand, signaling for him to behave.
"Yes, Major!"
His subordinate responded energetically, his tone full of fighting spirit.
In fact, their conversation—marked by the second-in-command's exaggerated antics and increasing volume—had already drawn the attention of the other soldiers. Though the troops kept their eyes and focus on the windows, the sound of their voices made many perk up their ears in curiosity.
However, the soldiers' thoughts weren't far off from the second-in-command's conclusion.
To them, it didn't matter whether Leon was truly a spy sent by the Human Empire. He had already become an indispensable leader in their eyes.
They knew that without Leon's leadership and decisions, they might already have been torn apart and consumed by the bugs, left as lifeless waste.
Moreover, joining the Human Empire wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
In their minds, the disastrous defeat of the Federal Expeditionary Fleet had exposed the Federation's corruption and incompetence.
As they delved deeper into the realities of the Federation, they became increasingly disillusioned, realizing that the ideals they once believed in had long since faded away.
By contrast, the Human Empire's principles—especially its "human-centric" philosophy—resonated with the ideals they had once aspired to when they joined the Federation.
This shift in perspective offered many a glimmer of hope.
Most importantly, the Human Empire had actual "gods."
Fighting alongside divine beings to save humanity, battling against the bugs and alien threats, and ultimately dying a heroic death—this was the dream of many of the newer recruits.
For them, such a noble and meaningful end was the pinnacle of aspiration.
Amidst the chaos of the current situation, many young soldiers fantasized about becoming warriors, heroes, protectors—upholding human dignity and ensuring the survival of their race.
So when the Human Empire's fleet eventually arrived at Campbell and obliterated the Arachi biofleet with overwhelming firepower, they would have no hesitation in following Leon to pledge allegiance to the Empire. They might even cheerfully embrace such a fate.
In reality, many of the assault troops and mobile infantry didn't realize that this transformation in their thinking was, in a sense, the "practical application" of belief. They had unknowingly embarked on a journey toward pursuing higher ideals.
The Human Empire and the United Citizens' Federation both employed propaganda and ideological influence—or, as some might say, "brainwashing"—but their methods were fundamentally different.
Under Samuel Young's leadership, the Human Empire consistently upheld its principles and promises, fostering a robust belief system that gave its people a sense of belonging and purpose.
In contrast, the United Citizens' Federation's ideals and values had been diluted by power struggles among its leadership. The constant changes in policy eroded public trust, leading to inevitable decay and corruption.
Twenty minutes passed in the blink of an eye.
Through his helmet's visor, Leon noticed the night sky suddenly "light up." Countless glowing objects appeared, each one resembling a tiny star bursting into view.
Shortly after, a stern voice came over the comms. Admiral Delatier's tone was heavy as he reported,
"Major Kennedy, the Arachi biofleet has completely occupied the far side of the planet's near-orbit.
Our radar operators have detected what appears to be their atmospheric deployment process. The first wave of bugs is expected to reach the capital city in approximately two minutes."
"Understood."
Hearing that the bugs were "right at their doorstep," Leon gave a brief acknowledgment before issuing orders over the comms.
"Attention, all units! The bugs will arrive in two minutes. Prepare yourselves and keep an eye on your ammo!"
As his words echoed through the comms, the troops on the fifth floor of the apartment complex conducted one final check of their weapons and ammunition.
Meanwhile, the countless glowing objects in the night sky became more distinct.
These objects weren't stars—they were meteors, each carrying Arachi warriors, tiger-like bugs, and other bioengineered combat units.
As the meteors broke through the atmosphere, the fiery envelopes surrounding them rapidly dissipated. With a deafening roar, they plunged straight toward Campbell, where the defenders awaited with bated breath.
Boom. Boom. Boom!
The meteors struck the streets and buildings with tremendous force, shaking the city to its core.
And so, the defense of Campbell had officially begun.
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