Chapter 3
"Sir multiple targets off the port side, three hundred twenty eight kilometres and closing".
Typhor stared, with gritted teeth, at the screen showing the advanced of a huge, shadowy cloud moving through the black of space. But the cloud was not a cloud, "magnify!" he called quickly and the image zoomed. The cloud was in fact millions of hive ships advancing towards the planet, a fleet full of completely organic ships capable of withstanding the cold vacuum of space armed with claws, teeth and a hazardous variety of weapons which fired either acid or voracious bugs at enemy ships. Typhor knew this, he had been there for the scouring of the Ultramar system. It had cost many lives but those that remained from those days were armed with new tyranid hunting doctrines which could change the course of some battles with the Great Devourer.
"Bring the ship to port and load up the main guns" Typhor ordered curtly, his fist clenched and muscles tensed. The ship turned to face the enemies, the hive fleet seemed almost one entity as it approached, such was the number of ships in such a fleet. The crimson prow of the "Red Cradle" faced defiantly at the innumerable hive ships. "Communications!" Typhor said quickly as he began thinking, "send this message now and I don't care if the astropath dies forward it in all directions with as much speed as we can summon. Adeptus Astartes message priority Terra. Blood Angels strike force Sanguinatus requesting aid. New Tyranid hive fleet has appeared at Omacron Primus. Requesting immediate assistance, we will hold as long as we can. End message".
"Sir hive fleet one hundred and fifty kilometre and closing".
"Fire all weapons!" bellowed Typhor loudly, as if sheer volume of his voice would give their projectiles extra power. Lance turrets reached out slashing across the black space between the two adversaries hitting several of the hive ships, huge torpedoes loaded with high calibre magma warheads glided across the abyss detonating in the middle of clusters of ships with a brief but brilliant flash of light and fire as they were fired from the bombardment cannons. Detonations and lances of energy ripped apart several hive ships the fleshy remains of former bio-ships floated through space.
Yet the hive fleet's advance was not slowed. For every ship that was destroyed by the battle barge's weapons another five swarmed around the now empty space to take its place. They adapted, swarmed out and around the "Red Cradle", others threw themselves in the line of fire so more craft could swarm through the new space. They drew closer and closer, closing the distance with a ferocity that Tyranids were infamously known for. Tusked hive ships rammed into the side of the battle barge, their sharp tusks penetrating through the hull of the crimson ship. Hundreds of genestealers scurried through the newly made airlock between the two ships, running rampant through the proud vessel slaughtering crew member. More bio-ships latched onto the "Red Cradle" and one finally struck the engine core. The ships exploded with all of the force it ordnance and overloaded fuel cores.
Shozar looked up into the as a huge flash of light filled the sky. His mind dove stretched out into a million possibilities as to what the cause was, but as he saw the huge black cloud in the sky the was wholly comprised of tyranid bio-ships he knew with a sinking feeling in his soul, that he knew the cause.
"The "Red Cradle"" Marthanus said solemnly looking up at the blackness, "she is no more".
"What about Typhor?" asked Petriarch
"I've heard nothing across the sergeant's channel to suggest the grim inevitable truth" Marthanus said, the grim tone still holding his gaze up to the sky. All the space marines on the ground could not help but feel a sense of loss. The immense battle barge had been their home for many years on their crusade to find the cure, and now their fortress of solitude, the constant in their quest while battle-brothers fell at either side of them was gone. Eradicated by a foe whose numbers were not even phased by such a valiant effort.
"Unworthy of such a fate" murmured Aramath, "it deserved better".
"We need only be ready when it's our turn" said Shozar darkly, "and let us hope that we shall be remembered by those that we save". Marthanus nodded in agreement putting a hand on Shozar's shoulder. Shozar turned his head and nodded his helmet covered head in acknowledgment of the gesture. "And here we go" he muttered.
The dark spread further and further around in the sky, millions of bio-ships in orbit around the planet. Shozar knew what came next, the spore. Red and orange streaks began to fill the skies as the bio-ships already stationed in orbit disgorged thousands, even millions of mycetic spores down to the planet.
"Sir spores falling from the skies!" one of the command squad said.
Simonem looked at the hologram of the planet, "send a message planet wide that all guardsmen on the planet are to man their posts at all manufactorum defences". The officer nodded and began typing as the company commander turned to the space marines, "my lords it seems your assistance is needed now more than ever".
"And we shall answer your call" said the Chaplain, Zekaiel, "though we do not have the numbers to maintain a full planetary defence".
Corbulo nodded. He had seen this before, in one of his many visions. Red armoured space marines on a jungle planet. He did not know the enemy, nor that it would be this world but now he was certain. He was now also certain that it would be at manufacotrum secundus that the Blood Angels would stay and fight at. He did not know the outcome of this day, but it looked grim.
Simonem looked back to the hologram and nodded, contact was being lost with several sectors already, the speed and sheer numbers of the hive fleet overpowering the defenders. "We will be the last to fall. We, and primus" he said with finality.
"Why primus?" said Corbulo studying the hologram as signals disappeared.
"It is larger and is guarded by the only other warhound titan on the planet" explained Simonem in a matter of fact tone, "however its size is also one of its weaknesses as it only has the same manpower as we do". His brow furrowed as he looked at the incoming data, "we had best be ready, several thousand spores inbound to our position, defences already retaliating".
The spores fell from the sky streaking the air with fire as they entered the atmosphere. Bright lines of blue energy filled the air as the lascannons atop the bastions opened fire attempting to destroy any pods that were bound for the inside of manufactorum secundus' walls. The huge wall of the turbolaser lit up the sky hitting and destroying several pods at once yet more and more appeared. The inexorable numbers of the pods proving difficult for even the skilled gunners of Omacron Primus to take out all threats.
Several pods slammed into the ground just outside of the command bunker, releasing their deadly payload. Tyranid warriors burst from the pods, orange bursts of lasfire darting their sides and one went down by sheer volume of fire. "Commander the time for talk is over" said Corbulo firmly drawing his chainsword, Zekaiel wielding his crozius arcaneum and a bolt pistol. "Now is the time for war". The High Sanguinary Priest charged out of the command bunker, the snarling chainsword revved hungrily as Corbulo drew closer to the warriors, the Chaplain following in his wake. The warriors roared and lunged at the red power armour space marine. Corbulo brought his chainsword round in a swift arc, the gnashing chainsword teeth find purchase in the chest of one of the warriors. It shrieked with agony and purple ichor spurted viscously from its chest onto Corbulo's armour. Behind him the Chaplain smashed aside a warrior with the glowing head of the crozius arcaneum reciting the litanies of fury, the powerful weapon's hit making sure that the warrior never got back up.
"Do not let them breach the gate brothers!" shouted Marthanus as more pods slammed down around the space marines. The ancient sarcophagus of brother Daveth turned, his frag cannon firing with deafening booms, each strike reducing a newly dropped tyranid creature to a cloud of smoke and blood. Another pod dropped down near the Dreadnought but the ancient warrior grasped the newly dropped Ravener in its hand and slammed the writhing serpent down into the ground with his blood gauntlet, crushing the creature with the blow.
A gaunt charged at Shozar, it's high pitched snarled filling the air along with the others, scything talons poised to strike. He fired his bolt pistol at it, the explosive round flew true and blew a fist sized hole in the gaunt's head. He grimaced and whirled round in time to bring the growling teeth of his chainsword down into the neck of another gaunt, the purple blood spattered onto the ground and his crimson armour. The teeth of the chainsword screeched as it went through bone and the gaunt's head fell to the ground. He felt and heard talons rake the side of his armour but the ceramite held true and the talons merely scratched the proud armour. He slammed a gauntleted fist into the creature's head, with a sickening crunch he knew he'd caved it's skull in.
Marthanus cleaved several gaunts aside with his gently humming power sword in a matter of seconds. Blue energy swirled around the weapon's edges allowing it to cut through most enemy's armour. Atop the walls the roar of bolter fire drowned out the screeches of the enemy. The devastator squad unleashing a ferocious of heavy bolter fire cutting down huge swathes of enemies. The segeant Dermetus charged his plasma cannon before unleashing the deadly volley, the blue ball of energy flew out blasting aside several enemies at once. Bright streaks of lascannons took down more powerful enemies that approached. Overhead Gargoyles shrieked and dove firing voracious beetles down onto the defenders. The tactical marines fired their bolters up at the sky. Fire erupted from the end of the flamer and the gargoyles dropped, burnt to cinders by the heat. Quad cannons on the wall fired almost continuously into the tide of enemies and the guardsmen on the wall contributed their fire. Inside the walls, Leman Russ and Chimera transports rolled around, lending fire support where needed or transporting reinforcements around the manufactorum. With a roaring of engines and jets of fire the aircraft took off, the two stormravens and the ten valkyrie transports took to the sky, weaving through clouds of gaunts, heavy bolters, multi-melta guns and lascannons firing into the sky bound swarm.
The battle raged on for a solid hour, neither side showing quarter. Hundreds of guardsmen fell on the walls, consumed by the black beetles fired from the tyranid's bio-weapons or screaming as toxic venom melted through their skin and bone. Gargoyles fell from the sky in droves, gaunt bodies piled almost the height of the wall. Yet no larger creatures showed themselves. Only smaller lesser creatures in there thousands. In total two battle brothers fell. One was a veteran carried by the gargoyles high into the sky then dropped into the massive swarm outside the wall. Another one an assault marine just fell under the sheer amount of enemies he was engaged in close combat with. Two valkyries were brought down when gargoyles threw themselves into the flyer's engines. The Blood Angels fought with a ruthless ferocity matching their adversaries as the Red Thirst began to claw at each space marine's soul, that lust for battle driving them harder than some space marines could ever go.
Then it merely stopped The swarm ceased, the remaining enemies pulled back. Corbulo summoned all of the sergeants to the command bunker as his war council. Brother Daveth was unable to attend due to the bulk of his sarcophagus frame.
"The Tyranids appear to have withdrawn" said the Chaplain Zekaiel in a clear voice, breaking the silence once the members of the meeting had assembled.
"It is troubling" Corbulo murmured in a dark thoughtful tone, his brows knitted together.
Brother Pycar, the sergeant in charge of the strike force's veterans nodded, "the tyranids do not simply retreat. They are driven by an insatiable hunger that compels them to feed. They can lie dormant within planets crusts for decades and even adopt guerrilla style tactics if it prolongs the existence of the hive. But they never, ever run in fear" he said with a hard voice.
Pycar had been one of the battle brothers sent to Macragge by the Blood Angels chapter master Dante to aid in scouring the planet's surface of any remaining Tyranids in Behemoth's wake. The Ultramarines had suffered grievous losses and Calgar had gladly accepted Dante's assistance but it cost the Blood Angels many space marines. But those that returned where gifted with the knowledge of Tyranid hunting doctrines and a greater knowledge of how the Xenos actually worked than most battle brothers would.
Simonem however shook his head, surrounded by his advisors, command squad and several sergeants of his own, "nonsense" he said, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, "can you not see that we have driven the beasts back, they fled like cowards".
"You would do well to heed Pycar's words" said Marthanus said in a warning tone, his helmet held under his arm "the Tyranids know nothing of even the concept of fear".
"If that is Sergeant" said Simonem with a cool edge to his voice, as he leaned over the table between them looking the assault marine in the eye "then where are they? They had ceased their attacks and here we remain, unscathed for the most part".
"These are no mindless xenos we are fighting" Corbulo said finally with a grim tone to his voice, his arms folded over his chest, "they are no mindless rabble in disarray like the orks whose leaders we need merely slay to quell a threat. Nor are they the cunning eldar who use stealth to secure their goals. Yet neither are they as technological as the Tau. No, the Tyranids are an altogether more deadly adversary. They are like many races, they may use an overwhelming swarm like the one we have just weathered. Yet they are adaptable, next they may send a tide of gargantuan creatures to breach the wall, we may find lesser creatures better equipped to kill us or there may be something altogether more sinister at work behind the malevolent hive mind".
Simonem's cool composure seemed to falter for a moment as he heard the high Sanguinary Priest speak of the Tyranids. Thoughts raced through his head but he recovered his facade and looked at the space marine. "We have survived their last assault and we shall weather any fur..".
Static blared through the vox channel connected to the battle room. The whole room went silent as they listened until, after a few moments a voice sound faintly through the static, marred by the poor quality of the transmission, "this is Valkyries three two and three three does anyone copy?"
Simonem leaned onto the table and pressed a vividly glowing green button which opened their vox channel, he spoke in a clear authoritative tone "this is Company Commander Simonem of the Omacron forty third stationed at manufactorum seccundus, to whom do I speak?"
"Sir, this is Lieutenant Amacar. I was stationed with a stormtrooper squad at manufactorum primus" the man spoke in a hurried and clearly anxious tone seeming a little breathless, "as soon as we lost the titan "Blazing Fury" was lost the Commissar ordered a full retreat to manufactorum seccundus. All the valkyries lifted off but only our two actually got out before they fired something at us. We crashed here".
As Amacar spoke Simonem gestured to the communications officer curtly to trace the transmission. Sure enough, as soon as the Lieutenant had stopped speaking a red beacon flashed onto the holo-display indicating the position of the two crashed valkyries, "yes Lieutenant we have your position now, we shall dispatch a rescue team, hold your position until they arrive".
There was a short pause, during which only static sounded before the voice came back, "roger that sir, we'll be here".
Simonem turned the COM channel off and it was Corbulo's turn to speak, "Commander I feel that this course of action is unwise" he said in a matter of fact tone. He had not spoken during the transmission because to do so would undermine a high ranking officer and perhaps damage the men's faith in their commander.
"So it's a trap" said Dermetus with a thoughtful tone as he looked at the strike force's commander.
"The only reason they have been left alive is to create a bait to draw us from behind these walls" explained Pycar, the veteran's helm also turned to look at his commander, "and in doing so weaken the force that is behind these walls". Corbulo nodded in agreement with this.
"I will not leave these men to die at the hands of those monstrosities that we just fought off" said Simonem heatedly, "those are my men, the Emperor's men".
"Your compassion for your men is admirable" said Zekaiel, the blue light of the hologram reflecting off of his skull mask as it turned to the Company Commander, "but as many thousands do every day, the Emperor's men die in due time".
The Commander did well to hold his gaze with the Chaplain's death mask, a feat that even a space marine may struggle to perform, "I will not abandon them to such a fate" he said through gritted teeth.
"Then you would see it become ours as well" said Nialus from the back of the room and several heads turned. The tactical Sergeant spoke very rarely when in briefings. He carried a remarkably calm demeanour for a Blood Angel even within the heat of battle.
"I will hear no more of this" said Sinomen stepping back up off of the table. The consensus of the adeptus astartes was unnerving him far more than he would care to show but he kept his fearful emotions in check, "I will be assembling a rescue team immediately" he strode to the door with quick strides, his command squad followed him.
"Then the Blood Angels shall be at your side" came Corbulo's voice.