Who are the enemies!!
And who are the trustworthy heroes!!
A shameful traitor??
A noble defender of the homeland??
Fate is full of drama and mockery. The hovercraft crashed directly into the steps, letting out a booming explosion. The enormous impact sent the first few protesters flying.
Splintered debris directly pierced the protesters' chests and limbs.
Bright red blood splattered from their broken bodies as they flew away. The fallen and those injured by friendly fire lay on the ground wailing and screaming repeatedly. The originally lively celebration, filled with laughter and joy, devolved into hell.
Screaming people fled in all directions.
Some who fell were trampled, their bones broken, tendons snapped, and some even lost their lives.
Children who had been brought by their parents and were happily playing cried in the crowd, searching for their parents. The terrified crowd had lost all reason.
Everyone desperately tried to flee to areas far from the crossfire.
If there were kind people, those children would be picked up and taken along to escape towards the houses.
Others were swept away by the human tide, and were trampled to death amidst their mournful cries seeking their parents' protection. The common people who had reacted chose to side with Wesker.
No matter how noble the cause, it must realistically benefit every individual.
For the future of their families, for their loved ones and friends.
No matter what malice lay behind the Imperium's sweet promises, at least for now, the terms offered by the Imperium were better than those from the Votann League. The common people who had gathered spontaneously united.
Hand in hand, they fought against the protesters who were trying to disrupt the celebration and oppose the Imperium. The residents of Velos planet were allowed to possess small energy weapons to deal with potential space pirates and aliens.
They took up their weapons and fired at the protesters. The students and opposition members, who had been shouting about fighting for the Votann League and their homeland, stared in stunned silence as the common people fired at them.
How ironic this was!!
They were defending Velos planet, defending their homeland!!
How dare these guys do this!!
"Stop them," someone shouted.
More people joined the ranks firing at the students and protesters. They were also defending their homes, preventing them from being pushed into the abyss by those with ill intentions. The common people chose the Imperium.
They couldn't shout noble slogans, but they would make their choice through their actions. The businessmen and council members of the Votann League had ignored them for too long.
Those important figures thought that by wielding some vague slogans and grand principles, they could forever suppress the angry people. They unscrupulously amended League laws, cloaking all their actions in a facade of legality and legitimacy.
They carved out their own small circle, artificially setting various barriers. They easily trampled upon and dismissed the efforts of the lower class. They believed that with such methods, they could maintain their rule indefinitely.
No one is a fool.
Resentment towards privilege, injustice, and being treated as ants would slowly accumulate.
Just like a volcano slowly gathering strength.
When the right opportunity arrived, the volcano would erupt with the power to destroy everything, igniting a large area and burning those who once considered themselves noble and viewed the lower class as ants to ashes. The Votann League has existed for ten thousand years.
Undeniably, it contributed most of the effort for humanity's survival in the Andromeda galaxy.
But it has now deteriorated. Terrible resentment was accumulating. The arrival of the Imperium was like a spark, igniting that resentment and causing the volcano to erupt. There was a reason why the common people didn't identify with the protesters, and even saw them as enemies.
The important figures of the Votann League had long since detached themselves from the lower class, forgetting the original intention of their ancestors who fled the Milky Way to colonize Andromeda. They had cut themselves off from their own people, becoming two completely opposing groups.
"Why are you doing this!! We are defending Velos planet, defending our homeland."
A student shouted angrily at those blocking them.
His tone was filled with the hatred of anger at their inaction.
How could these guys be so ignorant, so apathetic?
Wasn't being spectators enough for them?
They even wanted to become accomplices of that damned empire!!
"Get lost, no one wants you to defend our home." A man fired in that direction, his laser repeatedly hitting the cover the other side was hiding behind, sending out sparks and scorch marks.
"A bunch of bloodsucking beasts, and you think you can represent us."
"You've killed so many people, and you still think you're right?"
"Did you get your grandpa's brain chopped off??"
Those people heard the student's shouts and all retorted.
A perfectly good celebration was ruined like this by a bunch of lunatics like you!!
Look at those who were trampled to death. If you're so brave, go straight to the battlefield.
Hiding behind the scenes and doing these terrorist little tricks!!
And now you still think you were right!!
The sounds of shouting and reprimand mixed together. The sound of lasers echoed in the air. The soldiers, having gained a moment to breathe, quickly recovered from the chaos. They gathered together, displaying professional military discipline. They launched a planned attack on the protesters, compressing their area of activity. The protesters were just a disorganized rabble who had never seen battle.
At first, they had merely caught them off guard, which was why they were able to gain the initiative so smoothly.
Now, caught in a pincer attack by soldiers and the spontaneously organized people, they quickly fell into disarray.
After suffering some casualties, they fled in disarray into a building decorated with celebration streamers.
It was a main building shaped like a large drum. There were balconies between each floor and tiled eaves used for decoration. They used the balconies to defend, preventing the soldiers from approaching.
However, this was merely a desperate choice. They had no experience in war, they were just a clumsy, amateur group of protesters. The soldiers threw out a large number of smoke grenades. The building was quickly enveloped in white smoke. The smoke would scatter the laser's focus, weakening the power of the laser guns.
At the same time, it provided cover for movement. The soldiers put on their professional military equipment. The visual devices mounted on their helmets were unaffected by the smoke. The building's walls also posed no obstacle to their helmets.
When their gaze swept over the building, the protesters' thermal signatures would be highlighted. They could clearly see the protesters hiding behind the walls. The protesters paced around in panic, trying to disperse the smoke and regain visibility.
After preparing, the soldiers decisively launched their attack, entering the building under the cover of the smoke.
Shouts came from within the building. The protesters and soldiers exchanged fire inside the building.
Beams from the laser guns sliced through the air, emitting sharp, piercing sounds.
Screams and shouts mixed together. The protesters were unable to organize a coordinated defense. They were easily breached by the soldiers.
Half an hour later, the protesters, having suffered over half casualties, chose to lay down their weapons and surrender.
Most were students who hadn't shed their youthful innocence and loyalists belonging to their families. The soldiers, holding laser guns to the backs of their heads, brought them out. The fierce battle had left these people flushed.
Defeat made them extremely dejected. The leading youth was the student who had previously accused Wesker and others at the spaceport.
He looked very disheveled.
His neat clothes were wrinkled, and his face was stained.
As he walked out, he roared fiercely at the onlookers standing by.
"You are all a bunch of shameful traitors, you betrayed your hometown, betrayed your world, aiding and abetting evil. The rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every man.
You damned maggots, are you worthy of your ancestors and forefathers!!
You actually handed over this great land to the tyrannical and brutal empire!!"
No one could have imagined that a grand, long-prepared resistance movement would end in such a way. Their failure was not because the enemy was too strong.
But because those they thought would be their allies stood against them. They even actively took up arms to kill them, the protesters who dared to say no to the brutal empire.
However, no one paid them any mind.
But no one was moved by his words, some even wished they could slap him twice. The perfectly fine celebration was left in ruins. The families of the innocent victims who were trampled to death wailed loudly. The family went out happily, only to end up with this result.
Thinking about how they had lived their lives honestly and properly, only to meet such an end, how utterly tragic it was.
The captured protesters, one by one, were filled with righteous indignation, wishing they could skin and eat alive those who had stopped them from killing the few officers of the Imperial auxiliary army. These people were truly insane.
How could they help those Imperial lackeys?
Their own people not helping their own people, but helping the external enemy!!
How could there be such apathetic and utterly foolish people in this world!!
Wesker groaned, and by the time he woke up, it was already the next day.
He lay in a clean hospital room filled with the smell of medicine.
He had once thought he was dead.
When that shot hit his shoulder, he seemed to see his grandmother, who had passed away years ago.
His nose was filled with the smell of barbecue that his grandma used to make for him.
His shoulder was shattered, and one hand was ruined.
It could only be replaced with a metal prosthetic limb.
Wesker's awakening was reported by the soldier who had been watching over him.
Before long, a few officers also walked in.
"Thank goodness you survived, otherwise things would have been bad," said an officer who worked with Wesker.
"An officer dying on Velos planet would definitely draw significant attention from the Imperium."
"How are things?" Wesker carefully sat up with the help of someone nearby, leaning against the hospital bed. The rejection reaction from the mechanical prosthetic limb caused him slight pain.
It would take a long time to adapt to this part that didn't belong to his body.
"They've all been captured.
Most of the masterminds are students, and some of them are only in their teens," a dwarf officer said, handing Wesker a datapad containing all the information on the captured protesters. The controllers of the Votann League were businessmen and corporations.
Both Dwarfs and humans basically worked for those chambers of commerce and corporations, burdened by debt.
Dwarfs were even a bit more miserable.
Although they had the concept of clans, most Dwarfs were cultivated using biological machines. They were mostly used as disposable labor. The Votann League was also a heavy burden for them.
"Should we execute them all?"
Someone asked Wesker.
Wesker was silent for a moment before speaking.
"Conduct a public trial. The people behind these individuals are mostly vested interests. We must seize this opportunity to completely destroy the legal foundation of the Votann League on Velos. Let all Velosians know one thing: those guys' claims of defending their homeland are merely for their own benefit."
"These guys are no longer of the same mind as us. Those high-sounding slogans are nothing more than their pathetic fig leaves. Let them truly realize that we, who have turned to the Imperium, are not betraying our homeland or committing heinous crimes. We are merely seeking a better life."
The Torg system, a vital trade route system of the Votann League. This is an important mineral planet and trade world, belonging to the war-worshipping Kronos Military Group. The Kronos Military Group is one of the Votann League factions that advocates for war against the Imperium. There is some evidence suggesting the Kronos Military Group was involved in planning the assassination of Magos Kren. The Torg system is located at a crucial warp route node and has multiple colonies. The outermost colony, built on a celestial satellite orbiting Torg system's sixth planet, is prosperous.
It serves as a brief stop for numerous trade ships following the route before heading to various parts of the League.
Situated at a transportation hub, it possesses vast wealth.
Various magnificent buildings have been constructed. The military's weapons and equipment are also the most advanced. To defend this vital route, the Votann League has amassed a large force.
Over ten thousand warships are gathered in the Torg system, and a large number of fortresses, artillery, and defenses have been deployed on the surface of each planet, in an attempt to keep the Imperium out of the core regions of the Votann League. The Torg system is the last line of defense leading to the Votann League's capital - Sorian.
Once this line of defense is broken, the Imperium will advance unimpeded, reaching Sorian, which would undoubtedly be a catastrophic disaster for the Votann League.
However, from the moment war was declared, the defeat of the Votann League was already predetermined.
War erupted when the Imperial warships appeared at the outermost edge of the Torg system.
One Imperial warship after another warped out of the Immaterium.
Countless beams and torpedoes filled the void. The light of explosions continuously appeared. The brilliant flames illuminated the boundless and vast void.
Silent explosions tore apart the gigantic space stations, weapon platforms, and missile silos deployed by the Votann League in the outer Torg system.
Creations forged from steel and rock swayed precariously in the explosions, and flames consumed the warriors within.
In a very short time, the Imperium tore apart the Torg system's defense line. The light of battle gradually spread, and countless exploding lights erupted with intense brilliance, like stars heading towards death.
Firelight ripples signifying death and destruction appeared across a vast void hundreds of thousands of kilometers in diameter.
Upon engaging the enemy, the Votann League's fleet quickly tasted the despair of the armies previously destroyed by the Imperium. The warships emblazoned with the Imperial Aquila were like immortal phantoms.
Destroyed again and again.
Yet they reappeared time and time again.
Despair quickly led them to collapse.
However, the Kronos Military Group's resistance was extremely tenacious. This was their strategic stronghold.
If lost, even if the Votann League could survive the Imperium's offensive, they would lose most of their influence.
When the Imperium tore through the outer defenses, the colony on the celestial satellite of Torg system's sixth planet had already activated global defense.
Countless light points flickered, and a massive shield enveloped the entire planet.
At the same time, there was a storm of laser beams and jamming cannons. They kept the Imperial fleet out.
Seth stood on the bridge, watching the orbital defenses of the target satellite.
Any form of shield requires projection. They must have generators.
And by destroying the generators, a breach can be created.
"Destroy this place." Seth extended a hand towards a gigantic space station suspended in low orbit.
It was an incredibly large, oval-shaped space station.
Constructed from carbon steel composite materials, it orbited a Votann League colony planet.
Its gun emplacements were filled with jamming weapons and various high-powered weapons.
If nothing went wrong, over a million Votann League warriors were stationed there.
Countless void fighters swarmed around the space station, like a fearless swarm of bees defending their hive. They danced nimbly, maneuvering across the battlefield.
Flames continuously spewed from the muzzles beneath their fuselages. The emitted lasers and missiles wove into a network of firepower, preventing the Imperium's advance. The Votann League inherited most of the technology from the Human Golden Age.
And the Kronos Military Group is a vital military component of the Votann League. Their weapons and equipment are superior to other units.
"Their shield technology is very advanced. To completely disable them, it will take at least three hours of bombardment," said the Lexicanium standing next to Seth. "My suggestion is to first clear out those warships, like pulling the legs off a crab, so they can't escape and can only passively await death."
"We are the Flesh Tearers," Seth said. "We don't need that long. We just need to blast a hole in that shield, and that will be our stage. Get all the brothers ready, we're going in."
To completely disable the shield of the Votann League's giant space station would require several hours of bombardment.
But to merely tear a gap, it wouldn't take that much effort.
Just one world-ending beam from a colossus-class warship. The power carried by the beam was nullified and transferred by the shield. Their generators were also overloaded in the process.
From this point alone, the advancement of the Votann League's shield technology can be seen.
An energy beam capable of tearing apart an entire planet could not completely disable their shield, only tear a gap. The Votann League's shield recovered very quickly, and after a few minutes, the damaged shield lit up again.
However, this time was already sufficient for the Flesh Tearers to launch a boarding action.
Seth, who had sworn to atone and offer a thousand worlds to the Holy Emperor, led the Flesh Tearer warriors into the giant space station.
Destroying the space station would create a breach in the dense global defense shield.
As the foul light of the Empyrean faded from Seth's body, they appeared on a wide platform. The flickering caused by lasers and the flashes from exploding shells illuminated them from behind.
He reacted faster than the Votann warriors.
Pulling the trigger caused his bolter to fire high-powered bolter rounds capable of pulverizing steel creations.
A dwarf warrior wearing heavy armor exploded into a mist of blood and armor fragments. The impact also blew away two Votann League warriors standing nearby.
With the help of the Heart of the Imperium, Seth erupted in righteous fury and charged at the enemy, tearing them apart like a rampaging beast.
When a Votann League warrior, braver than the others, swung a laser blade at him.
Seth merely delivered an elbow strike, sending the soldier flying. The chest area of his armor was dented, and the sound of cracking bones could be heard.
In just two or three breaths, the gunfire on the platform ceased.
Blood flowed on the floor, and severed limbs lay everywhere.
Nothing could stop these Flesh Tearer warriors, who were driven by religious fervor. The resisting Votann League warriors were slaughtered. The soldiers who lacked the courage to continue fighting threw down their weapons and surrendered. They were terrified by the brutal killing of the Flesh Tearers. The destruction of the space station was complete. The Torg system would soon be offered to the Holy Emperor by them.
When the news of the space station's fall reached the ears of the Votann League commanders. They began planning their withdrawal. The Imperium was as unstoppable as ever. The ground forces could not possibly withstand the Imperium's attack.
No matter how strict the defenses were, those damned Imperial invaders would pry them open and sow destruction and despair.
If they could not activate the sealed technology, then failure was a foregone conclusion. The surviving Votann League battleships disengaged from the battle, moving and rotating in the cold, boundless void with elegant maneuvers.
The Imperial Aquila on the warships was illuminated by the flashes of explosions. They continued to fire forward while maintaining formation and steadily advancing, relentlessly pursuing the retreating Votann League warships.
The defeated Votann League forces fled towards the light of the star. They narrowly avoided the debris of space stations and weapon platforms that were successively sent flying.
After leaving the dangerous area, they accelerated directly and fled in the direction of the star. They planned to escape using the remaining defense nodes there.
Behind them, the Imperial warships were destroying all the outer weapon platforms and giant orbital fortresses, tearing open the fences protecting the flock like a pack of wolves. The fall of the Torg system was already predetermined. The outer defenses were breached, and the shield protecting the entire planet was also pried open by the Imperium.
No matter how tenacious the ground forces were, it was futile. The warriors created by the Imperium were too terrifying. Complete collapse was only a matter of time.
Like a wolf pack hunting, the Imperium pursued relentlessly.
Continuously unleashing terrifying firepower.
Some warships were torn apart during their escape, the leaking atmosphere pulling the crew outside with it. Those crew members would die quickly, drifting in the void like statues.
However, a portion of the warships still managed to escape, returning to the Sorian system via warp jump. The next war would erupt there. That would also be the war of annihilation for the Votann League.
The news of the defeat in the Torg system defense battle was transmitted back to the Votann League's capital planet with the retreating warships. This made the already fearful people even more terrified.
Panic spread.
Many people began planning to flee the capital planet. The strength of the Imperium was undeniable.
Since the war began, the Votann League had not achieved a single victory. The Imperium's technology and their technology were not on the same level at all. The enemy was so powerful it made the Votann League despair.
In the Parliament building, an emergency bill was being voted on.
"We have no other choice," the representative of the Kronos Military Group shouted to the large number of parliament members. "We must activate the sealed armory. Only then can we achieve victory."
"Doing that will ultimately kill all of us," shouted Senator Parding. "We have already angered them by killing an envoy. Do you still want to provoke them with the most extreme means?"