The space marines moved through the pass with surprising efficiency for a heavily armored squad. Each of the marines knew where he needed to be, and they executed many maneuvers, most of which had to do with scouting for information and making firing retreats. If every man in the imperium has a space marine, we'd have no problem killing off the Tyranids.

After slogging through a mile of mud and semi-lake the pass opened up its sides. Rather than the jagged "v" shape of before, the hill now resembled a "u". the mist hovered higher and higher until it disappeared altogether, leaving a clear view of the land in front of them.

The ground was mostly grey gravel and rock with some small green fronds jutting out of the earth. The sides of the pass were lined with trees, and the sky in front of the group was a normal bluish grey. I can see now that the fog is gone, but I don't hear any birds or any other animals. Are birds even native to this planet? In any case they have all flown away from the approaching Tyranid menace. What I really want to know is: what was in the crevice with the crashed transport. What would justify the appropriation of an entire squad of marines to deal with? Wait… No…2 squads, I'm forgetting the scouts.

Don took the moment to glance around at the group. He guessed that the standard operating size of squads was ten because both the scouts and the regular marines were ten to a squad. The commander was keeping a tight eye on him. The commander obviously did not trust him, and was walking towards him now.

"I want you to scout ahead with the scouts, much like you did before, GO" he commanded. Don did as he was told and formed ranks with the marines. The group walked quietly ahead. One scout pointed out the obvious at once, there was no sounds. There was not wind, there were no animals, there was no running of water or any other movement other then their own.

They reached the end of the pass and were confronted with a view quite like the one from the other side. This side of the mountains overlooked fertile grass and rolling hills. In the distance Don could make out a body of water. One of the marines commented "The lake you see is where we need to get to. Because of the prevailing wind patterns of the area our transport was forced to land there. Another squad is waiting for us with the craft". Don nodded in acknowledgement. Don felt that something was wrong.

"Guys, I think we may be in trouble soon". Don said. The scout with the vox apparently had some sort of navigational instrument with him also. The scout consulted his helmet. "We've got multiple signatures on thermal readout. Double check on radiation…" There was a brief pause. Another scout replied "Emperor protects! I have confirmation, they're all around us" "go to ground!"

The ambush was almost unnoticeable. Several creatures appeared seemingly out of the rocks themselves. The group opened fire. The beasts closed in as bullets whizzed by them and rebounded off reinforced chitin.

One scout had a plasma weapon of some sort; a conflagration of blue light arced over Don's head and eviscerated one o the creatures. The body convulsed as its fluids steamed and the super heated ball of 4th state matter burned the husk into an unrecognizable pile of charred remains. The unearthly screams of the creatures worsened as the screams turned from rage to pain. Heads exploded as supersonic rounds flew from the scouts' weapons with deadly accuracy. Bodies piled up as the scouts fired at the advancing adversaries.

Don, armed with his lasgun (the commander had taken back the bolt gun) fired charges into the oncoming mass. Holes appeared in the chests of the beasts as concentrated light seared through their numbers. Even with this one sided fight it was clear to the group that they would soon be over run. One of the scouts had been conversing with the commander. He received orders. "fall back to the main group, I repeat, fall back!"

The scouts rose from the ground and sprinted away from their unsightly foes. Don ran like hell with the rest of them pausing to take shots and he ran. They soon found the main group. The rest of the marines had taken position and were ready for the Tyranids. Standing in a line, the marines open fire with their bolters. Thousands of rounds sped past Don and the scouts and annihilated their pursuers.

Even with the extra firepower the assault got closer and closer. The creatures bounded over their fallen comrades with ease, and soon the marines were forced to switch to full automatic. The scouts and Don repositioned and fired with the marines. Stains splattered on the rocks around them as more and more of the Tyranids met their deaths; still they came.

It soon became apparent that a sizable group of Tyranids had found some other way through the mountains and had attempted to stop the marines in the pass. The commander saw that the battle would soon turn into close combat. He turn and talked quietly to another marine who seemed to be carrying some kind of pack. The marine nodded and shouldered the pack.

"Marines! This is going to turn bloody in a second. Let us illuminate our enemies!" He drew a large power sword. "Blood Ravens… Charge!" Don thought that assaulting a enemy such as Tyranids amounted to suicide but soon found the battle growing too close for his lasgun to work well. I don't have a close combat weapon… What the hell am I going to do? I can't ask of them for weapons. Only one thing to do…shit this is stupid. Don ran into the brawl.

The two lines, marines and Tyranids collided in a bloody maelstrom of chain swords and scything appendages. Don saw the commander decapitate one enemy and slice into another without hesitation. As another Tyranid approached the commander he spun and unloaded his bolt pistol into the creature sending it flying.

This must be the craziest thing I've ever done, I'm about to attack Tyranids…with my bare hands. Not really I guess, I've still got my lasgun even though its not made for this kind of thing… A leaping creature attacked him. He was ready; he kicked the beast in mid jump. The thing scrambled to its feet (claws) and circled Don. The two charged at each other. Don dodged a deadly scythe and hit the Tyranids with his lasgun. He continued hitting it. The beasts struggles soon got less and less powerful. When Don thought it was dead he unloaded a las charge into its skull, ending the duel.

The battle was favoring the marines, however one marine and two scouts had already fallen to the hive creatures. The commander looked furious. He was immolating Tyranids left and right. With one swing of his mighty power sword multiple enemies fell and did not get up again. The other marines were faring worse, one of them was unconscious and the rest were fighting for their lives. However, Don did not have much time to take in the spectacle because he was attacked again by another Tyranid.

The creature shot out a claw with lightning fast speed and tore the lasgun out of Don's hand. Ok now I'm screwed, my lasgun is in a thousand pieces and this guy doesn't look like he's going to leave me alone any time soon. Don dodged another deadly attack and attempted to kick the creature. The Tyranid was expecting this. It shot one razor sharp claw and ripped at Don's flack vest. Horrified, Don saw that the claw went through the reinforced material like a knife through butter. Don felt a searing pain and saw blood oozing out of the wound.

While this was going on, the endless wave of Tyranids ceased; only a small group was left. Another marine and scout had fallen. A marine shot his chainsword through a Tyranid and turned it on halfway in causing the body to send bits of flesh and blood flying in every direction. Don was once again attacked by his foe and had to focus of the battle at hand.

The marines took care of the rest of the Tyranids with the help of the commander. They stood around Don watching. The hell? Help me you fools! I'm [expletive deleted]ing dying! What are you doing? Don was just able to whip his head away from the swiping claws of the beast. The commander watched Don also. They're testing me…Those [expletive deleted]s! Emperor save me, what am I thinking, there is no emperor… I need to kill this piece of shit fast before it eviscerates me.

The marines formed a circle around Don and the fighting Tyranid. However, they said nothing. Don's mind raced furiously. What weapons do I have? A familiar poking from his backpack reminded him of his former encounter with the Tyranids. That just might work…

He allowed the Tyranid to draw closer and close until it was all Don could do to dodge its blows. Quickly Don shot his hand into his backpack and drew the Tyranid scythe arm. The weapon was still as sharp as ever. He swung the improvised weapon at the Tyranid…

It countered it. What the? I was not expecting that… The Tyranid creature attacked again, but Don was ready. He sliced the creature's arm off in mid attack; the severed arm twitched on the ground before one marine shot it. Fluid spurted from the Tyranid's wounds but it seemed unaffected. It shot out another deadly claw. Don ducked downwards and allowed the Tyranid to over shoot its attack. He responded by sweeping the scythe up in a vertical stoke and cleaved the Tyranid in half. The body exploded in a rush of gore and organs. The body fell to the ground.

The marines broke their circle and the commander approached Don. "Although that was almost inexcusable, using that Tyranid arm, you have proven yourself. You shall know what I know. You are worthy" The rest of the marines looked shocked (as shocked as a space marine can look) but were subdued with one look from their commander. "Space marines, we have won a great victory, let it not be in vain. We must make our way to the transport. This guard will be accompanying us."