The Multiverse Project: Warhammer 40,000

"What's the situation above Jigugeum?"

Henry burst into the command deck at a sprint, sirens blared across every rooms, corridors and hallways on the Immortal Spirit, warning yellow light flashing a rapid tempo. Around the heptagonal heart of the Gloriana, hundreds of men and women dashed from consoles to consoles, relaying information to their fellows, while those with the lung capacity simply shouted the intel aloud. Unlike the previous engagement on Ghamarhon and Zyrien, where the Imperial Navy maintained total air superiority, the Immortal Spirit was heading straight into an active warzone.

"Not good, lord general," Solveig and his staffs were gathered around the 4k globe displaying the battle in real time. "We cannot proceed with the landing unless the Green Skin armada's is neutralized."

"I thought Song and Takeda said the path was clear?" Henry leaned on the edge of the projector dais.

"It appears that the orks have launched a surprise attack while we were enroute," Solveig said. "The Imperial Navy is in shamble."

"Never be complacent with the fucking orks," agreeing murmurs concurred with Henry. "And now we have to fight our way through this shit show."

"Not necessary," Solveig reached toward the globe and enlarged a section of it with a tap of his finger. "This is the most crucial engagement happening right now. Twelve hours ago the orkish fleet attacked and destroyed almost forty percent of the combined Buxiunese and Kuronese navy, managing to trap their flagship, the Guan Yu and the Amaterasu, in a killing encirclement.

"But thanks to the Jigurean Planetary Navy daring counterattack, led by admiral Yi and his flagship, the Cheol Teoteul, the Buxiunese and Kuronese navy managed to rally under his command. They are now locked in a pitched battle with the orks and are hailing us for assistance."

Henry stroked his chin thoughtfully, "What is your assessment on the Immortal Spirit's combat capability?"

"If I may speak plainly sir," Solveig drew himself up straight, "The orks doesn't stand a chance."

Henry smirked, "when you're ready then, captain."

"What is the situation with the blast doors and protective shields around the civilian blocks?" Solveig turned to one of his staff.

"Every defensive perimeter running at one hundred percent captain," the man said. "The civilians have already locked themselves inside their homes or took temporary refuge in the fortified fallout shelters."

"Go to red alert and ceased that siren," Solveig continued. "What of our manufactorums and greenhouses?"

"All activities have been decreased to the lowest capacity sir," a woman answered him. "The workers are standing by for every eventuality."

"Venerated Machine Spirit," Solveig gazed upward. "Are the weapon systems at optimal readiness?"

"Give me a sec," did Albert actually sound tired? "All systems green. Sorry Solveig, I went over everything twice before running the final code sequence on the guns."

"You have my gratitude, Machine Spirit Albert," Solveig was genuinely grateful. "Now rest up my friend, the Imperial Navy will take care of everything from here on end."

"Break a neck dude!" Albert gave his invisible thumbs up.

"Make them witness Imperial might, captain," Henry nodded at Solveig, who raised his voice to the crew.

"Forward, double speed!"

"Grab your new guns people, get them while they're hot," thumping vibration punctured Tangmo announcement, the miniature quake rumbled lowly across the deployment hangar. The gathered guardsmen glanced slowly across the hull, eyes stern with suppressed fear. The Immortal Spirit has engaged the orks then. Solveig better do a good job, all their asses depended on it.

"Alright, move it along laddies, it's just a wee shake, nothing more," Bruce spurred the line back into motion, the guardsmen clamored around the hover trucks to get the newest armament before making planet fall, the commissars and the officers assisting the quartermasters in distributing the goods.

"Forgive me lord commissar, but why are we being issued new lasguns?" Kenshin asked, turning the weapon over his hands.

"We're going up against the orks my boy, and those green buggers are a pain to put down" Alistair spoke up. "Thankfully, the weapon research department had developed a new pattern lasgun based on a blueprint provided by the Kolasi STC, with increase firepower, higher rate of fire and greater accuracy." He handed one of the new guns to a Fire Guard then turned to Tangmo. "I say lord commissar, what did you call this model?"

"Zetton pattern lasgun," Tangmo smirked. "If it's good enough to kill Ultraman, then it's good enough to kill orks!"

"I see," ironically, Kenshin didn't get the reference. "But if the fighting gets close, you can count on folded Kuronese steel to finish the job."

Lingxin snorted disparagingly, uncaring that she was standing right next to Kenshin.

"It will be Buxiunese's iron spirit that breaks the ork's advance, not your flimsy steel," Lingxin sneered.

"Too bad those spirits yield so easily under pressure," Kenshin shot back.

"I rather put my faith in a good rifle," Evangeline interrupted the banter. "The orks indulge in close combat, I rather not oblige them."

Tangmo was nodding his assent when Leilatha leaned in close and lowered her voice for only him to hear.

"What are you going to do about them?" Leilatha nudged her head at the arguing Lingxin and Kenshin.

"My job," Tangmo cringed when a powerful shockwave rocked the hangar. "I'll be leading both the Buxiunese and Kuronese into battle, gotta make sure they keep their guns pointed forward and not at each other."

"They can just as easily turn those guns on you," Leilatha continued.

"I wouldn't worry about that, Hildebrandt and his Korpsmen will be with me, along with Meko and Orhul's veteran companies to act as my command unit," Tangmo grinned at Leilatha. "Are you actually worried about me?"

Leilatha paused for a moment then nodded, "no good will comes from you perishing. The loss of your leadership will be a severe blow to the men's morale."

"I'm sure you'll manage without me," Tangmo smirked.

"No, I won't," the heaviness in her tone told him that she was speaking on a more personal level.

"I'll be alright," Tangmo knew when to stop playing the comic relief. "I promise."

"That's the best any of us can offer, I suppose," Leilatha said firmly then glanced upward. "There hasn't been any vibration for a while."

She was right. The muffled boom of space warfare had gone silent. Soon the entire hangar took noticed, guardsmen, engineers, pilots and staffs alike waited in pregnant anticipation. Tangmo himself wanted to be optimistic, but kept his mouth shut in case he jinxed it.

"The Green Skin armada has been annihilated."

Booming ovation answered Solveig smooth announcement, guns and helmets thrust to the sky like swords and spears of old, shaking in powerful salutation. Oh yeah, now this is how you hype up an army.

"The Immortal Spirit suffered no damage in our daring pincer attack," Solveig continued to the guardsmen roaring approval. "The orkish fleet stood no chance against the combined might of the Imperial Navy."

"Yo! We wrecked their piece of shit Duplo ships!" Henry added excitedly. "Fucking blow those motherfuckers straight to hell!"

"Alright people, settle down! Shut up!" Tangmo epic baritone brought order back to the hangar. "The Navy did their part, now it's our turn! Get ready, check your guns and report to your companies and regiments, we deploy in two hours. About time we get to kill some fucking orks, let's put Yarrick to shame boys and girls!"

With the guardsmen going about their preparation with renewed gusto, Tangmo returned his attention to Leilatha, her cold professionalism unchanging despite their earlier conversation.

"Go with Krillen, keep him out of trouble," Tangmo started lamely.

"Despite his attitude, the colonel is a model guardsmen, I don't need to watch him that closely," Leilatha said.

"I guess you're right," Tangmo shrugged then smiled disarmingly. "Promises are made both ways Leilatha. Can I count on having a drink with you when this is over?"

Leilatha met his eyes, the commissariat harshness softening somewhat.

"I would love that," she said after a long moment, crisp and short like a command, "unless Tyra whisked you away again."

"Hey, you already made a reservation, I'm all yours," Tangmo laughed despite the turmoil roiling beneath his smiling façade. It was no secret amongst the good people of the Immortal Spirit that there's something of a cold war love triangle between himself, Leilatha and Tyra. Since their journey began on Kolasi, Tangmo had spent considerable amount of time with both women, on and off the battlefield. Tyra was the cheery, spunky friend who can always put a smile on his face, while Leilatha was the mature partner he spent hours with in conversation of deep nuance.

With a sinking feeling, Tangmo was slowly coming to realize that if he had to make a choice, it would be Leilatha. Sure, he liked them both, but he felt more at ease around the lady commissar. Tyra is a good person but there seem to be this invisible wall that separates them, preventing him from making any true connection with the pilot. But with Leilatha, well, they were in the trenches together, a share camaraderie laced in trust and hardship that strengthened with every deployment.

"Yo! Dude, you ready?" Damien distorted voice wrenched him back to the present. Even with his awesome helmet on, Tangmo knew the Space Marine was smiling.

"Always my dude!" Pushing his romantic conundrum to the furthest reaches of his mind, Tangmo held out his fist and bumped it with Damien. There were other things to worry about right now.

"Holy shit, this is Korea," Henry glanced around the rolling green mountain that encircled the enormous staging area of the Buxiunese and Kuronese expeditionary forces, a large churned up thoroughfare used by both armies cut the camp right down the middle, an unofficial border separating the dragon and the sun, the two allies glaring vehemently at each other.

"What gave it away?" Tangmo glanced slowly at the Buxiunese and Kuronese guardsmen that were gathering in rising number to watch the foreigners, "the hellish mountainous terrain, or the fact that this place looks exactly Taegukgi?"

"Both," Henry shrugged. "But goddamn that movie was so fucking awesome!"

"I know, right?" Tangmo beamed. "I told you it was amazing."

"I went on a Korean movie binge after that," Henry said excitedly. "Oldboy, Train to Busan, Silmido, JSA, all of them were so visually visceral and brutal that it blew my mind."

"That's what makes it so good," Tangmo added enthusiastically.

"Umm, yeah, hate to interrupt but I'm seriously not digging the crowd's vibe." Damien spoke up.

"They just never seen a Space Marine before dude, chill," Henry waved him off.

"We are not the center of attention, lord general," Gallus pointed his thump backward. "They are."

Following Gallus's finger, Tangmo found Lingxin and Kenshin, both marching side by side, shoulders almost touching, heads held low and trying to make themselves small, their countrymen showering them with mean words like 'whore', 'traitor' and 'scum', the denouncement accompanied by outraged stabbing fingers, the mere sight of cooperation offending them greatly. Christ almighty, these retards seriously got their priority all fucked up. But thankfully, besides the unfriendly attitudes their journey across the dividing line was blissfully uneventful, two Space Marines were more than enough to subdue a crowd. At the end of the dirt road stood a lavish tent of red and gold that took up the entirety of the flattop hill overlooking the valleys and mountain ranges beyond, flaunting wasteful excess. At least the damn thing was flying both the Buxiunese and Kuronese flag.

"How do we proceed?" Damien asked as they reached the entrance flap.

"Like a boss," Tangmo adjusted his awesome commissar coat, traded nodded with his bros and, as one, threw the silken canvas open and swaggered inside. Tangmo had to hold back a satisfied smirk at the sudden silence that followed their arrival. And really? After all the craps Lingxin and Kenshin went through, the Buxiunese and Kuronese high command were sitting together at a table, sipping Oolong and Matcha and being chummy with each other? Even their staffs and accompanying nobilities were mingling, what a bunch of hypocrite.

"Lord commissar, lord general, Brother Astartes, we have been expecting you," an old Kuronese general clad in an ornate o-yoroi armor, his short cropped hair greying at the temples, stood slowly from his seat and bowed. The man's calm, almost kindly demeanor seemed at odd with the many medals hanging from his chest. And goddamn, he sounded just like George Takei. "I am general Minoru, please to make your acquaintance."

Before the trio could response his Buxiunese counterpart, also in the winter of his years, snow white ponytail drooping down his back, rose and gave them a Chinese bow, his golden lamellar armor shiny and immaculate, unmarred by scars of battle.

"Greeting honorable allies," he said, and from some angle he looked kinda like Donnie Yen. "I am general Hong Feng, it is a pleasure to have you with us."

"You do realize there's a war going on the next hill over, right?" Tangmo cut in before Henry can begin his polite presidential introduction.

"Diplomacy! For the love of God, diplomacy!" Henry pleaded with him in a squeaky whisper.

"I'll show you diplomacy," Tangmo strode toward the splendidly carved oaken table occupied by the two generals and slammed his palms firmly on the gleaming brown tabletop to the resounding gasp of the occupants, "I suggest the two of you cut this tea party short before the orks decide to crash it."

"I can assure you that we have the situation under control," Minoru said tersely, dropping his polite façade.

"Yeah, because that little ork attack went according to plan, right?" Tangmo pointed up at the sky.

"The orks were defeated," Feng stated matter of factually.

"Thanks to us and the Jigurean," that brought a dark scowl to Minoru and Feng's faces but Tangmo pressed on. "And now that air superiority has been restored, how come your troops are not marching off to face the orks? All they're doing right now is glare at each other like a bunch of mopey teenagers."

"We are in the process of consolidating our resources and manpower," Feng's tone was that of a highbrow teacher lecturing a slow student. It took Tangmo every ounce of control not to shoot the shit eating grin off his face. "Only after those tasks are accomplished can we move on to the redistribution and redeployment of guardsmen across the peninsular."

"The four hundred thousand strong expeditionary forces have been sitting on their asses for the last two months, don't lie to me, I read the briefing," Tangmo pressed on. "What the hell have you people been doing?"

"There are more to the waging of war than the crudeness of taking lives, grace and finesse must also be observed," Fend said sagely.

"Like what, being lazy?" Tangmo was about to complain some more when a young aide strode up to Minoru and said.

"Begging your interruption lord general, but we have an urgent call coming in from colonel Yon Jae Sun inside the city of Goguryeo."

"Very well, let's see what the colonel wants, our conversation with the commissar is proving to be quite wasteful anyway. Put him up on the vox caster please." Fucking prick, Tangmo wanted to leap over the table and strangle the haughty little bastard but the sound of battle interrupted him, the boom and scream of baleful succor horrific in timbre.

"Hello?! Is anybody there?!" A voice yelled.

"Colonel Sun, how good to hear from you again," Minoru politeness was unbelievably conceited. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"

"We can't hold out for much longer! The orks are breaking through all of our defenses!" A jarring explosion interrupted colonel Sun, Tangmo thought the man was dead until he spoke up again. "We require reinforcement or the city will fall!"

"I see," a cruel grin curved up Minoru's lips. "It is most unfortunate then that our forces are not yet ready to depart. The Green Skin armada has disrupted our supply line, as you might have already heard, and many of our equipment have yet to be accounted for."

"You Kuronese devil!" Sun exclaimed, his hatred palpable. "We have women and children trapped inside the city and all of our escape routes have been cut off, we need reinforcement right now!"

"So sorry colonel Sun, but it will take us days to mobilize a relief effort," Minoru didn't sound one bit apologetic.

"What the fuck do you expects us to do then?!" Song spat.

"You will hold, until relieved," Feng added serenely. "Or die, as per your duty as a soldier."

"You black hearted bastards, may daemons feast upon your souls!" With that last parting curse colonel Sun terminated the transmission, Minoru and Feng giggling at the outburst.

"A most shameful display," Henry sneered, dropping all veneer of propriety now that he saw the true color of these douchebags. "And you are correct lord general this is a waste of time."

"Most disappointing," Feng flaunt distress.

"Oh yeah, we're heart broken," Damien shook his head then turned to Tangmo. "We're bailing them out, right dude?"

"Of course my dude," Tangmo started toward the exit, "let's get out of here, we got work to do."

"Before you do, lord commissar, let us give you a parting gift," Minoru said smoothly. "Syrathel, would you please do the honor?"

Syrathel? What the fuck, that didn't sound like an Asian name. Neither was the lithe woman walking demurely toward Tangmo, the pattering of her slipper feet nervous and frightful. Why in the hell was there a pale skin, blue eyes, sapphire haired European woman clad in a loose Greeco robe, the flimsy thing did a very poor job of hiding her ample womanly assets by the way, working for the Chinese and Japanese?

"Please, lord commissar," she held a wooden bowl up to Tangmo's face, little pieces of bone clattering within. "Choose the weave of your future…gah!"

Cries of shock went up across the tent when Tangmo, being the gentlemen that he is, backhanded the bowl away, sending it and the bones scattering across the carpeted floor.

"What in the fuck is this shit?!" Tangmo pointed at the whimpering woman on the floor…and was she actually fucking crying?! He hardly touched her!

"You dare strike down our seer?!" Feng rushed around the table and was kneeling beside the sobbing Syrathel in a heartbeat, that dude was quicker that he appears, Minoru joining them a moment later.

"Seer?!" Tangmo's mouth hung open in disbelief. "You people have been taking advice from a fucking soothsayer?!"

"Her foresight has been invaluable to our campaign," an edge of anger seeped into Minoru's voice.

"I'm sorry lord commissar. I-I didn't mean to offended you, I'm sorry, it's my fault, I'm so sorry," Syrathel sobbed pitifully, making Tangmo look like an even bigger dick.

"Oh, get fucked!" Tangmo bellowed and waved the main character to follow. "Let's go, we're blowing this joint."

"Then know that you will face the Green Skin horde without the aid of my soldiers," Minoru was helping Syrathel up to her feet, the woman clinging to him like a damsel princess.

"Or mine," Feng added, looking very pleased with himself.

"See if we give a fuck," Damien flipped the entire room off before stomping after the main characters while Tangmo lingered behind, staring at the two geriatric generals.

"Hide in your shells like turtles then," Tangmo said mirthlessly, "and leave the deed of bravery to those with the soul of bushido."

Minoru's eyes widened in shock, "you know of our tenets?"

"Then you will know the virtue of gi, jin, rei, meiyo and chugi?" Tangmo was very satisfied with the dark look that crosses Minoru's face as he tipped his awesome commissar cap. "Good day to you general, may you live forever."

Stepping back outside where Henry, Damien and the main characters were waiting pensively, Tangmo adjusted his awesome commissar coat and strode over to Lingxin and Kenshin, grabbed their shoulders and drew them close.

"Show me what the two of you can do."

"Two kilometers brothers, make ready!"

"Thank you Sidonius!" Damien made a final check on his bolter then turned to the gun hatch. "Galerius, what do you see?"

"Fire and smoke, brother sergeant," the tactical marine said. "We are nearing the fight."

"Prepare to disembark!" Gallus, Manaus, Aurius and Helvius nodded their affirmative, calm and resolute within the purring confines of the Rhino transport. They were the tip of the spear in this assault. Knowing how tough the orks were, the opening punch must either rock them or, Emperor willing, knocks them out. Rumbling behind the Astartes APC were columns of Chimera transport carrying Tangmo, Meko and Orhul's Cadian veteran companies, five thousand Death Korps personally led by Hildebrandt, and the entirety of the Buxiunese and Kuronese regiment. Supporting them were the Tallarn's armored units, fifty support Chimeras with ammunitions and supplies, along with three hundred Vanquishers and two hundred Exterminators. Wanting to show his spunk, Al-Rahman was leading from the front on one of his tank.

"Contact! Green Skin dead ahead!" Galerius bellowed.

"Hold your fire!" Damien told him. "Are they aware of our approach?"

"Negative Brother Sergeant," Galerius said. "The orks are locked in a pitched battle with the Jigurean PDF. The Green Skins are getting the upper hand."

"Not if I can help it," Damien tapped his awesome Space Marine helmet, switching frequency. "Al-Rahman, spread your Exterminators to both our flanks and make me a kill zone, then roll your Vanquishers forward." The young Tallarn colonel gave an enthusiastic yes sir before Damien changed frequency. "Tangmo, with me dude, have the Chimeras form up into an attack column and follow us in, get ready to disembark, we're going on foot."

"Roger that," Tangmo responded.

"Slow us down to a crawl Sidonius," when the Rhino dropped to an optimal speed, Damien slammed a button next to the entrance and leapt out of the transport. When the five Marines were outside, the Chimeras rolled in beside and behind them, guardsmen in colorful variety poured out in disciplined ranks and file, forming a column at the back of the moving vehicles.

"Jesus Christ almighty," Damien said breathlessly when he saw the orkish mosh pit churning violently a couple of hundred meters in front of him, rattling flashes of gunfire danced across the vulgar mass of monstrosity, comically broken English obscenity mingling with the symphony of war.

"Hold your fire, I repeat, do not open fire until we're as close as possible," Damien spoke into a wide frequency.

"Rocket launchers, front and center," Tangmo said.

Around them guardsmen carrying heavy ordnance sprinted up the files, while Manaus changed the loadout of his heavy bolter to Kraken rounds. Good thing too, because beside the mob of Slugga and Shoota Boyz, a dozen Deff Dred were lumbering amongst them, spewing bullets and fires and swinging their massive saw downward, painting the air in scarlet mist.

"A little closer now…" Damien found himself dropping his voice to a whisper as they snuck up on the orks. The hastily concocted plan was simple, him and Tangmo were to enter the city of Goguryeo via the main southern highway, which effectively put them on a collision course with the encircling ork army, while Henry lead the rest of the Immortal Spirit's battlegroup up and through the mountain pass, where Vakon will set up his artilleries on the high peaks, covering the King Ghidorah and the tanks for an all-out charge against the Green Skin besieging vanguard. The attack from the south was meant to draw the ork's attention away from the mountain ranges while also lifting the spirit of the Jigurean defenders.

"Hold…" Damien peeked passed the Rhino, so close now that they could discern the individual details of each orks. Then one of the ugly bastards spun around, gaping at the approaching wall of Imperial Guards, its tiny brain processing what was going on. The ork was leveling its knock off bolt pistol when Damien turned its skull inside out with a well-placed shot to the head.

"Open fire, fuck them up! Courage and honor!" Damien roared and fired his bolter from the hip.

Rockets flew across the fifty yard gap, hitting the towering Deff Dreds squarely in the fuel tanks on its back. Beautiful blooming fire swallowed the orkish mecha and everything around it. Volleys of lasfire erupted from around the Chimeras as guardsmen bounded out of the transport's armored cover and laid a merciless barrage on the orks. Green hulking shapes flopped and twirled to the ground, their scorched bodies piling high, the new Zetton lasgun proving to be ultra effective in punching through the ork's thick hide. Unlike normal army however, the sight of death and blood only seems to excite the orks. So naturally, they stomped over their dead and charged the Imperial line, screaming and flailing their weapons in a maddened frenzy.

That was when the Tallarn's Exterminators opened fire, streams of red tracer rounds ripped through the air, the two massive hails meeting each other in a fiery X, tearing the orks into red mushes and gibs. The Vanquishers then trained their barrels on the supporting Looted Tanks, Gunwagons and Trukks, the hodge-podge vehicles proving too slow to respond and were destroyed by the tank killer shells.

"Cease fire! All Vanquishers cease fire!" Damien yelled as he ran to the front of the Rhino with his Marines, firing as they went, felling any orks that survived the initial barrage. "We have allies on the other side, watch your fire!"

The Vanquishers fell silent, their firepower no longer needed. So sure of victory, the ork had thrown their entire weight at the defenders, leaving them with no reserve. The surprise attack has effectively wiped out this portion of the horde. And now that the ork's battle line has thinned to a few hundreds, the Jigurean guardsmen were sallying forth to meet the Green Skin with bayonets and ssangsoodo swords. All of them were clad in thick knee length overcoat of deep blue, grey shirts and pants, and stark white flak armor now stained black and red. The ensemble reminded Damien of the Korean flag.

"Keep them pin, don't let up!" Damien strode forward with his squad and laid down quick, accurate burst of fire on where the orks seem to be getting the upper hand. "Yo Tangmo, give me a hand please?"

"All Buxiunese and Kuronese infantry hold fire and keep pace with the Chimeras. Meko, Orhul, Hildebrandt, with me."

With Tangmo at the head, the Cadian and Krieg guardsmen jogged forward and added their salvo to the assault, tightening the noose on the remaining orks. Five minutes later, the last ork was bayoneted to death by the furious Jigurean, the beleaguered defenders roaring in exaltation.

"Amazing job my dude," Damien approached a Jigurean captain, his uniform drenched in red.

"We only did our job sir," the man took a deep breath and saluted. "We protected our home."

"That you did, captain," Tangmo held out his hand and clasped it with the Jigurean. "What's your name?"

"Min Jae, lord commissar," the captain's smile faded when he saw Lingxin and Kenshin approaching, the two colonels giving the Jigurean PDF scornful, condescending looks. Min Jae returned the mutual feeling by spitting bloody phlegm at their feet.

"About fucking time," Min Jae sneered. "Did you enjoy watching how real soldiers work?"

"You insolent scum!" Kenshin's katana was half way out of its sheath when Tangmo trained his new laspistol, designed to look like a Desert Eagle but without the weight or recoil, at the Kuronese's head.

"Be nice colonel, they are our allies," Tangmo said slowly then shifted his hard attention to Min Jae. "And I would really appreciate it if you keep the insult to the minimum, captain. Emotions are already running high, how about we direct it at the ork instead?"

"Right, of course sir," Min Jae spluttered hurriedly. "Is it safe to assume that Feng and Minoru are en route to relieve us?"

"Nope," Tangmo holstered his laspistols. "We're the Immortal Spirit battlegroup, the rest of the Buxiunese and Kuronese expeditionary forces are chilling up on that mountain over there and enjoying the show. These guys and gals," Tangmo waved at Lingxin and Kenshin, "are under our command, that's why they're here."

"I see," Min Jae looked disheartened by the news.

"Cheer up captain, we're pretty good in a fight," Damien walked toward the city proper. "Now, give us a quick rundown on what is going on here."

"Until a moment ago, the entire city was surrounded by the orks," Min Jae trotted after him, behind them came Tangmo, the colonels, and the rest of the reinforcement. "The eastern district has since been overrun while the north will fold at any moment. What remained of our supplies, along with the wounded and the civilians, are hunkered down in the western district."

"Redeploy your heavy guns to the west then captain, keep those people safe," Henry told him. "But spare us some of your guardsmen. We need a guide around the city."

"It would be my honor sir," Min Jae and his men saluted crisply.

"Alright, let's bring the tanks around then," Damien waved at the Rhino trudging up the destroyed roadway pocked with craters and debris.

"Beg pardon sir, but I would advise that you leave the vehicles," Min Jae said, "the fighting inside the city was brutal, much has been destroyed and what remains would only obstruct the tanks, while the lanes that are still navigable now belongs to the orks."

"Okay, we're going on foot then," Damien held up his hand for the Rhino to stop. "Sidonius, Galerius, grabbed your bolters, we're leaving the truck."

"Brother Sergeant," Al-Rahman strode up with Salahdin and Khaleela at his side. "Permission to redirect the Tallarn armored column to support the Jigurean defenders in the western district sir."

"Granted, and don't get skimpy on those supplies now colonel," Damien grinned beneath his awesome Space Marine helmet. "Make sure those people get all the help they need."

"Yes sir!" Al-Rahman beamed and sprinted back to a supply Chimera to relay his order before returning with five companies worth of Tallarn infantry, all of them armed to the teeth.

"Alright people, listen up!" Damien raised his awesome helmet's volume. "Jin Mae, I want you and your company to take Tangmo, the Cadian, the Buxiunese and the Kuronese northward to reinforce the defenders there. Then I want your best men to lead me, the Krieg and the Tallarn east to where the orks are running wild, we're going to break their backs."

"Yes sir," Jin Mae waved over another man. "Sergeant Han Suk will be your guide, he knows his way around the city better than anyone."

"Good to have you with us sergeant," Damien shook hand with Han Suk then raised his fox head corna at Tangmo, "too sweet me, good brother."

"Kick some ass good brother," Tangmo grinned and touched corna with Damien before nodding at Min Jae, "if you would do the honor captain."

"Homeland Rifle, advance!"

Damien watched the column of guardsmen thundered off before tapping Han Suk lightly on the shoulder, "you ready sergeant?"

"Always sir," Han Suk slammed a new magazine into his lasgun.

"Forward then, for the Emperor!"

The Marines and guardsmen echoed the Imperial battle cry and marched eastward to where the orkish howling was the loudest.

The situation inside Goguryeo reminded Tangmo of his first battle back on Kolasi, but unlike Kidemonas, the shit storm was still ongoing. The report of lasfire, bolter fire and whistling artillery shells echoed around them in a constant pounding reverberation. It sounded both far and near, a trick of the noise that was seriously fucking with his senses.

"Stay frosty, watch the ruins," Tangmo said, although he doubted the orks were that crafty. So far, they found nothing but flaming desolation and dead bodies of Jigurean civilians and guardsmen who weren't quick enough to escape the bombardment. Buildings, both of the skyscraper variant and the stout, but short, Korean architecture, were reduced to rubbles, water poured from broken pipes and sparking severed electrical lines hung down like gallows. Glancing at Min Jae, Tangmo found the Jigurean's face hardened with both grief and anger at seeing his home, his planet, defiled by such wanton barbarity. Around him, the Homeland Rifles shared the same furious expression.

"Hey, you okay man?" Tangmo asked Min Jae when they stopped at a large roundabout to catch their breath.

"Yes lord commissar, it's just…" Min Jae sighed. "This was our home."

"And it will be again dude," Tangmo said firmly. "Right after we take out the green trash, that is."

That got a small chuckle out of Min Jae and the Jigurean, while the Buxiunese and Kuronese remained cold and apathetic, Lingxin and Kenshin eyeing their exchange with unhidden annoyance.

"If you say so sir," Min Jae nodded.

"You got any sniper in your crew?" Tangmo changed the subject.

"We only have Son Ju," Min Jae waved over a plum cheek woman, a bloody las-sniper cradled in her arms. "She a spotter, her partner Tae Ku perished a week ago."

"Orhul, is Sik and Kolo here?" The captain nodded then called the two lads over.

"Yes commissar?" Sik, a narrow faced ginger, saluted.

"Get up that bell tower with Son Ju," Tangmo pointed at the damaged, but still standing tower at the northern end of the roundabout. "See if you can catch the ork's movement around the city, vox us if you see anything but don't open fire, remained concealed until I say otherwise."

The three snipers saluted and darted off while Tangmo raised his voice, "move out!"

In less than a minute they were striding through what appeared to be the remains of a commercial district, tall modern looking buildings flanked both side of the spacious road, the bangs and pops of gunfire growing louder with every step they took. Suddenly Min Jae held up his fist and signaled them to take cover, the guardsmen column splitting in two as they dashed for the shadow of the destroyed apartments and shops while a fireteam of Jigurean sprinted ahead.

"What's happening?" Tangmo knelt down beside Min Jae who had taken up position behind a gutted car in the middle of the street.

"Something violent is happening just beyond those buildings over there," Min Jae said as the main characters came to join them.

"Something violent is happening everywhere," Orhul deadpanned.

"Sik, Kula, got any visual north of us?" Meko tapped his earbud.

"Firefight, and an intense one at that, about a kilometer north of your position," Kula's gruff voice answered him the same moment the fireteam sprinted back.

"A large contingent of Green Skin has converged on the chapel of His Divine Mercy, just down Bukun Street," the corporal said. "I think He Yun's unit is held up there, along with a bunch of civilian militias, but they're running out of time. The orks got every gun trained on them."

"Well shit, let's go bail them out then," Tangmo drew both his laspistols then turned to Orhul and Meko. "Just like on Kolasi, stick to the buildings and sneak up on them, don't fire until I say so."

The Cadian nodded, the Buxiunese, Kuronese and Jigurean giving their affirmative a second later.

"Double time, let's go." With that, they bounded into the cavernous remains of collapsed and tilted buildings, the roars of bolters and stubber weaponries growing so loud that the regiments didn't need to worry about being stealthy, nobody can hear shit. Soon, they came upon a section of collapsed wall about four hundred meters long, muzzle flashes were so intense here that the darkness behind them was banished completely. Signaling for the guardsmen to lay low, Tangmo and the main characters snuck toward what remained of a waist high wall and peered over the rim.

That's a lot of ork.

Maybe it was the boxed in square or the fact that the chapel was smack right in the middle of a six way junction, rising above the lanes of tarmac like an island in the middle of an ocean, but Jesus Christ, orks choked every available space that they could see. Tangmo hoped it was just an illusion of enclosed space but fuck, it looked as if the entire orkish forward element was here. Thankfully, like before, the ork were too busy killing shit to notice that their rear was exposed.

"What's the plan sir?" Meko asked.

"We attack, duh," Tangmo scanned the area, sighing in relief when he saw that the orks had no armor support. That barely leveled the playing field, however.

"Yeah, but how?" Orhul piped up.

"Same as Kolasi," Tangmo continued. "Get into firing position and bring every heavy gun up here. Wait for my signal before unleashing hell."

Nodding, Meko ordered the weapon teams forward while Orhul set up his new weapon. Beside the Zetton lasgun, the trio had added a large variety of weapons for the guardsmen to field in combat. One of those was what they dubbed rapid-las, essentially a general-purpose laser machinegun. The one Orhul was setting up looked like an M60, with long barrel and large energy magazine the size of a car battery. It spews out las at a breathtaking speed but with reduced power output, meaning that every singular shot was a bit weaker than the Zetton lasgun, however it compensates with the rate of fire.

"Fix bayonet!" At Kenshin's command, the Kuronese slid the wakizashi looking bayonets down the muzzles of their lasguns, miniature black sun flags fluttering from some of the hilts.

"Yo, are you fucking serious?!" Tangmo couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Prepare for close quarter combat!" Lingxin raised her voice and the Buxiunese responded in kind, their bayonets looked like little jian.

"Holy fuck, what is wrong with you people?!" Tangmo's head darted between Lingxin and Kenshin, both giving him perplex, uncomprehending looks.

"We shall meet the enemy of the God Emperor with courage and zeal," Kenshin unsheathed his katana.

"None can stand before the wrath of righteous bravery," Lingxin hefted up her dao.

"You are not banzai charging the motherfucking orks! What the fuck?!" Tangmo usage of the Japanese term drew a surprised look from Kenshin.

"Of course they will," Min Jae scoffed. "They're Buxiunese and Kuronese, that's what they do."

"Stay here and watch your people get butchered then, coward," Lingxin spat at him.

"Excuse me for not having a high opinion on suicide," Min Jae braced his lasgun. "I plan to live and save my family."

"You fight with no honor," Kenshin added his insult to the fray.

"Famous last word of every Buxiunese and Kuronese dogs that ever dared to invade us," Min Jae grinned at the heated look Lingxin and Kenshin shot him.

"Cut that shit out, all three of you," Tangmo hissed then pointed down the destroyed corridor. "You want to get up close and personal? There's an opening over there, stay low and wait for me to draw the orks to this position. When their flank is exposed, go crazy."

Lingxin and Kenshin saluted before leading their regiments off to the right while Tangmo waved the Cadian and Jigurean forward, "set the guns up, quickly, mortars behind me."

"Sik, are there any other ork contingent within the vicinity?" Meko spoke into his earbuds.

"None that we can see captain," Son Ju answered. "But there seems to be heavy fighting to the east."

"Damien's keeping them busy then," Tangmo holstered his sidearm as the last of the autocannons and heavy bolters got into position. "Orhul, give me your grenade launcher."

Orhul tossed Tangmo his MGL eight-shot revolver grenade launcher, all chambers loaded with high explosive rounds.

"Grenadiers, make ready," Tangmo guessed the optimal angle, flipped the safety off, and aimed upward, around him the guardsmen got into the same firing position, "fire!"

The heavy pop of discharging munition resonated across the line, followed by flaming eruption across the orkish's ranks, thick, burnt pieces of meat twirling across the air.

"Mortar teams, pin them down!" Tangmo placed the grenade launcher down and drew his laspistols. "Open fire!"

Hails of lasfire, bolts and shells tore into the disoriented orks, the Green Skin bayed and cursed as they went down in convulsing heaps, scorched and shredded. Things went well for about five minutes until the orks snapped out of their stupor and charged the Imperial line, riled up to a berserker fury by the promise of violence. Without the Vanquishers and Exterminators Leman Russ to support them, the orks quickly closed the distance, choppas and sluggas wailing high above their heads, and shootas spewing chaotic return fire. See, the orks can't aim worth a shit, but with that many barrels pointed in the same direction they were bound to hit something. Many Cadian and Jigurean were sent barreling to the ground, bloodied and sizzling, while the rest ducked behind cover, the insane volley peppering their position at every imaginable angle. Fuck, they're getting close, shits about go down now…

"Totsugeki! Tennoheika banzai!"

"Wu huang wansui! Wansui, wanwansui!"

To the sound of bugle and hearty roar, the Buxiunese and Kuronese emerged from the ruins and fucking banzai charged the orks, bayonets gleaming and lowered as the hurled themselves at the dumbstruck Green Skin. The wall of screaming human collided into the orks with an earsplitting thunderclap, thick surfs of crimson surging skyward. And holy shit, they plowed deep into the ork's battle line, slashing and stabbing, three or four guardsmen ganging up on a Boyz each.

"Give them covering fire!" Tangmo popped out of cover and shot every moving green shape he could see, the Cadian and Jigurean joining in a second later with a vengeance. Caught between the Jigurean defenders and the relieving forces, the orks were destroyed to the last Boyz. Leaping into the open, Tangmo waved at the Jigurean defenders on the roof, who responded by gesturing quickly at the two streets flanking the chapel. Acknowledging them with a thumps up, Tangmo tapped his earbud and jogged toward the road on the left.

"Meko, Orhul, Min Jae, with me. Lingxin, Kenshin, take the right lane."

Now that the southern side of the chapel was secured, the Jigurean defenders quickly disassembled their heavy guns and redeployed it to the east and west.

"In the name of the Emperor, murder those orks sons of bitches!" Tangmo fired down the wide boulevard, brilliant lasfire cutting down the orks from the front and above, so fierce was the counterattack that the Green Skin's advance stalled, halted completely, before finally being pushed back down the street. By the time they reached the northern square, what remained of the orks were getting butchered by the pursuing Buxiunese and Kuronese. Striding calmly through the maelstrom of death was Kenshin, his bloody katana killing with sharp, stoic strokes, while Lingxin leapt above the Green Skin, using their large shoulders and heads as stepping stones, her dao arching downward, decapitating and mutilating.

"Cease fire! Cease fire!" Tangmo walked on to the killing field and held up his laspistol. "Save your ammo, the battle isn't over. Hey! Don't go running after the orks you morons! Get back here!"

The too eager Buxiunese and Kuronese ran back sheepishly to join their fellows, behind them the Jigurean defenders let out a triumphant cheer.

"Well, well, well, you magnificent bastards," Tangmo holstered his laspistols and strolled over to Lingxin and Kenshin, both covered in blood and breathing heavily. "Fantastic job, seriously, the orks got fucking destroyed."

"Thank you sir," Lingxin saluted a millisecond before Kenshin. "It was my pleasure to show you the indomitable mettle of Buxiunese infantry."

"Which was quickly eclipsed by the heroic courage of the Kuronese infantry," Kenshin added smugly.

"Oh my God Emperor, can you two give it a rest already?!" Tangmo groaned when Min Jae and another Jigurean approached him.

"Thank you for the timely rescue sir," the lean man bowed deeply, "lieutenant He Yun, reporting for duty."

"Commissar Tangmo, nice to meet you," Tangmo nodded. "Can't really take the credit here lieutenant, your people did a great job holding out despite being outnumbered and outgunned. That's fine soldiering."

"Still, thank you for the assistance sir," He Yun offered him a tired smile.

"I didn't do it alone," Tangmo nudged his head at Lingxin and Kenshin, their snobbish uncaring glance was reciprocated by He Yun and Min Jae.

"Thank you," He Yun managed stiffly.

"You're welcome," Kenshin bowed curtly while Lingxin spared the Jigurean a disparaging look before walking off to join her men. Tangmo, Kenshin and Min Jae traded looks before shrugging.

"Baby steps gentlemen, baby steps," Tangmo attempt to lighten the mood was interrupted by the rumble of distant thunder, heralding the sweet music of shrieking shells cutting across the sky. Far away to the north, orange and red pulsed across the smoky sky to the battering rhythm of unleashed artillery barrage. The Cadian bellowed and cheered while the Buxiunese, Kuronese and Jigurean glanced around nervously.

"Did someone called for one massive order of 'fuck you' for the orks?!" Henry laughed like a lunatic into his earbuds.

"Give me some good news bro!" Tangmo watched the fiery sky with a smile.

"Vakon's fucking them up!" The sound of rushing wind distorted Henry's voice. "And I'm on my way to relieve the Homeland Rifle units in the north. The Iron Guard and Grey Watch are hunkering down around the refugee quarter in the west, while the Praetorian and Fire Guard are mopping up the orks still loose in the city. How did you do?"

"Broke their advance with the help of Roof Koreans," Tangmo said.

"Nice one," Henry was obviously nodding, "and Damien?"

"Nice of you to remember me!" Damien pissed off shouting was accompanied by the bangs of heavy gunfire.

"Oh hey man, how's it going?" Tangmo asked nonchalantly.

"We underestimated their numbers," Damien said. "Can I please get some back up?"

"Min Jae, do you have a fix on their location?" The Jigurean captain tapped his earbuds a few times before giving Tangmo a nod. "We're on our way."

"Much oblige," Damien's transmission ended and Tangmo waved the guardsmen back into marching columns.

"Look alive ladies and gents, we're moving out!"

A hearty roar answered Tangmo in one single voice, a touching scene that shows how mankind can overcome any grievances of the past and unite for the betterment of all. All you need was an enemy to make them forget, just for a moment, how much they all despised each other. Easy!

"Alrighty then!" Tangmo grinned and jogged eastward, laspistol held high. "Let's go hunt some orks!"