This is a phrase that Space Marine said after announcing the convening of the survivors, a sentence that the residents of the Nest do not know much about.
At first the commander and the soldiers thought it was a greeting, then they guessed it was a curse, and then they realized that neither of them was.
The phrase is spoken by the citizens of various shelters and strongholds. Men and women whisper the word to each other when they meet. Parents will say this to their children as if it is a cure for fear, and old friends will shake hands before parting and say it.
No soldier asked the survivors what it meant, and those who asked were shook their heads and looked at them with a melancholy look, as if they were just asking why people were breathing.
Afterwards, just as the soldiers' curiosity gradually faded, the volunteers stood up.
At first there were only a few people, ragged brave men, and then more came - old men, young men, women, and clustered together.
When officers appeared, the ragged citizens would say that they volunteered to fill the void left by the sacrificed soldiers, and they were willing to drive any war machine and obey any orders.
At first, the guard officers scattered everywhere refused, but with each attack by Oak, the losses were rising.
They were able to replace machines, and unused military supplies were scattered in forgotten corners and bunkers in bunkers, most of the equipment was old and damaged, or brand new but incomplete, but damage could be repaired or replaced with found parts.
What cannot be replaced are those who manipulate machines, control guns and press triggers.
So, in the end, the terrible arithmetic of the war gave the surviving residents of Hades's fallen area what they wanted - they would launch attacks on the land they lost, killing the things that took all of this from them.
The elderly, weak, women and children were sent to safer places, while the rest were taught how to manipulate armored vehicles, how to load cannons, how to aim, fire, and how to use a telegraph.
As training, this is too short and too insufficient, the soldiers know, and the citizens know.
Most people know that cruel reality either teaches them or kills them, but no one talks about it.
What's the point of saying this truth out loud?
After less than twenty-four hours of training, the volunteers were assigned to the units that suffered losses.
A small number of them, those who are talented and have mastered skills, are granted vehicles for control.
Afterwards, only after realizing that they would live and die together, the soldiers asked the mysterious Asat monks what "Ahel" means.
Astart's explanation is very simple. It comes from the distant planet Nesson 4 and has many meanings, but now and now, it only has one meaning.
"revenge."
They say this.
“It means revenge.”
After the meeting, Masin returned to the bustling camp. Ten thousand soldiers in gray uniforms gathered near this original arsenal. Hundreds of workers climbed up and down the shells of Chimera and Hellhounds, scattered with traces of war, checked the armor plate, repaired the tracks, tested the turret slewing performance, lifted the cannon tube, and recited combat prayers to soothe the angry souls of the great war machine.
This armory has a semi-buried structure, so it was not discovered by Green Skin. A team of retreating guards defended it, and eventually these armed forces became the key to the new unit.
The roar of the engine, the buzz of the servo system, and the chanting of mechanical chants filled the air.
The exhaust gas emitted by vehicles is comparable to the pungent atmosphere of the planet. The air is shaken by the roar of the vehicle's engine. Unless you see it with your own eyes, no one can truly realize how complicated and noisy it is to let an army drive.
Even Masin did not expect that there were so many survivors in the occupied area.
They took only one week to assemble more than 200,000 young men and women.
Before the battle begins, everyone can feel the stalemate atmosphere of dark excitement and suppressed fear.
But when a person is surrounded by fear and isolation for several months, he will no longer be so afraid of death. After all, there are so many more people around him.
"Have you contacted the 19th Regiment?"
"Sir, you have contacted me. The other party is moving towards the scheduled assembly point. They are closer to the green-skinned gathering area and may take some time."
They passed by a row of Chimera, and the team lies on the headrest and luggage on the military blanket to check their light guns. Masin occasionally nodded with people he knew along the way. From the siege to the present, there are very few familiar faces that can be recognized.
Walking through a long line of trucks with idle engines, the drivers' heads stretched out the window and looked around. Several of them shouted at the personnel carriers in front of them and asked what was going on.
“What’s the situation?”
Masin soon discovered the reason for the convoy's stagnation.
A truck broke down due to mechanical failure, blocking the entire fleet. A team of workers and their tractor were lowering a metal crane to the front of the truck, hoping that the crane rails could successfully pull the truck.
Another team hangs the chain on the front of the truck to pull the trapped vehicle away.
Masin speeded up and walked away from the chaotic place.
In front is a large area covered with bubble tents. This place was originally a sports field, but now it has become the main assembly site of the Hamigidon counterattack corps.
In the open area between the camping areas, companies are rushing to train and repair equipment.
Officers always like to keep soldiers busy.
"Look at these people."
Ma Xin said, pointing at a group of new recruits with a wave of his right arm.
"They should go back to the church to recite scriptures."
Ma Xin's deputy glanced at him but said nothing, probably because he thought so from the bottom of his heart.
A large part of the crowd was new faces. Many of these teenagers, who were just fifteen or sixteen, were still shaved with small dome hairstyles from the choir. Their childish look was too familiar to the veterans.
Judging from the time span of this war, they were not too long ago.
At this time, a veteran made a low whistle that often used to express happiness.
"Why don't you go up and teach life experience?"
"Don't delay things."
These newly added soldiers are still clearly angular and energetic, and obviously have not been beaten on the battlefield.
Ma Xin knew that a large majority of them would not live to have the chance to mature. This was not a prediction of the uncertainty, but a lot of experiences of this kind of battle.
They quickly moved to the core area of the camp, and after two inspections by the guards, there were already very few people here, only officers and technicians wearing standard uniforms would occasionally rush by.
This is not only the command center of the counterattack group, but also the real pillar of this counterattack - the Knights of the Astral Realm.