Chapter 38: "Attack the Enemy Ship!"
"For the Emperor—board the enemy ship!"
Hundreds of Shark-class assault ships launched from the fleet, all heading toward a single target: the massive warship Black Urg'nok.
With a metallic screech, magnetic clamps on the assault ships locked onto the enemy's hull. In seconds, laser cutters and melt bombs were deployed to blast entry points through the thick armor plating.
The Black Urg'nok stretched nearly three kilometers in length. It served as both a battleship and command vessel for the Bloodmaw Empire. Beyond its military role, it also housed a slave market and various entertainment facilities for the crew.
"What's the situation?!"
A Black Urg'nok soldier, cradling a beautiful human woman in his arms, turned in shock as a massive assault craft loomed in front of him.
"Damn it! We're under attack! All units to battle stations!"
The roar of the Urg'nok commander echoed over the comms, broadcast throughout the entire ship.
Realizing the intruders were enemies, the Urg'nok troops immediately dropped the women they had captured and rushed to grab their weapons.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
As the assault ship's door opened, a hail of bullets tore into the front line of Urg'nok soldiers.
"For the Emperor!"
Shield-bearing naval guards, armed with jump shields and assault rifles, led the charge into the enemy vessel. Hundreds of marines followed behind them, quickly fanning out into small fireteams to clear out the ship cabin by cabin.
"Team One!"
"Evacuate all rescued humans back to the ship first! The rest of you—go! Eliminate every non-human on this Warship!"
"Quick! Breach that door!"
A member of the Jump Gang, wielding a long axe, ran over to Hank to report.
"Make way, Breakers! Let the Void Hunters unleash the skulls—they'll sniff out any enemies hiding!"
Hank barked commands while firing his rifle without hesitation.
Boom!
The heavy iron gate was blasted apart by a plasma spray gun. With that, the assault officially began.
"For the Emperor!"
With Hank's battle cry, the gang surged forward. They clashed directly with Black Urg'nok soldiers in the ship's corridors, and chaos broke out—gunfire erupted from both sides in a frenzied exchange.
The Black Urg'nok troops quickly set up defensive lines in the narrow halls, trying to hold back the swarm of human attackers. But the humans brought heavy weapons to tear through their defenses.
"For the Emperor! Grant me the firepower to destroy them!"
Sergeant Robert was pinned behind a crumbling wall, but a Black Urg'nok heavy machine gun had locked on to his position, forcing him to stay down.
"Reinforcements are here!"
Two navy gunners charged into the hallway with melta weapons. With a loud hiss, the superheated blasts melted through the enemy lines, reducing Black Urg'nok soldiers to puddles of slag.
Dozens of human soldiers from various assault gangs charged forward, shouting and wielding rifles as they broke through the enemy's defensive lines and engaged in brutal close combat with the Black Urg'nok warriors.
Every passing minute, soldiers from both sides fell onto the cold metal floor. While the humans were slightly outnumbered and smaller in size, they were superior in combat skills and coordination.
The battle inside the narrow corridors was bloody and savage. Screams of pain and the roar of gunfire echoed through the ship. Fortunately, after dozens of casualties, the Black Urg'nok defense line finally collapsed.
Boom!
Hank had just fired his rifle at a massive Black Urg'nok warrior. Blood splattered across his face. Wiping it off without flinching, he continued deeper into the battlefield.
"Damn it! The defense is down! Everyone, retreat!" shouted one of the Black Urg'nok soldiers.
In the blink of an eye, many of the Black Urg'nok turned their weapons on each other. If they wanted to reach the escape cabins, they would have to fight their own comrades.
"Get out of my way! I outrank you!" a high-ranking officer barked.
"Rank means nothing now! Move aside!"
"You dare challenge authority?! I'm still in command!"
"I won't let you pass! Only the strongest gets to lead now!"
Chaos erupted as the Black Urg'nok forces began fighting among themselves.
"Damn it! We can't let those humans and iron crabs reach this section!" the commander growled.
The Black Urg'nok commander stood in despair, watching his troops descend into civil infighting. Their true elite forces had been wiped out decades ago in battles against the Human Federation. Now, all that remained were scattered remnants...
"It's over... everything's over..." he muttered.
He slowly raised his pistol to his own head.
Bang!