The Tyranid Wars Saga
The Siege of Iyanden
Written by Spiritblade
Part II
I recognized the warrior who stood beside me. He was a warrior of legend even to the Imperium, for he has been both a friend and a foe. As both, he is extremely formidable. This Phoenix Lord was Fuegan, the Burning Lance, Phoenix Lord of the Burning Dragons. A thunderous explosion shook me from my thoughts, and I turned to spray a hail of bolter fire into the monstrous horde of tyranids. Amidst the Tyranid monsters stood enormous creatures with oversized heads too large for their feeble and atrophied limbs and fragile body. What happened next ensured that I would never underestimate a tyranid ever again, no matter how strange they may look, ever again. The creature sent an incinerating swathe at one of the bunkers, tearing a huge swathe through dozens of the Eldar defenders and wounding several others. The bunker itself was badly damaged, but its occupants were unhurt, if not stunned. They quickly resumed firing with their shuriken catapults, yelling curses at the enormous creature.
My Devastator squad, armed to the teeth with heavy bolters, rocket launchers and lascannons, turned their weapons simultaneously upon the Tyranid and blasted it into oblivion, sending vulgar hand signs as they did so. The creature exploded in a gory spray of ichor before crashing into the ground. That did the trick. For an instant, the entire monstrous horde grounded to a halt, confused as to what to do. So, the Lamenters were right all along! Blow the bigger bastards(and hope they were the swarm's leaders) to hell, and the entire swarm starts going batty! The Eldar and my forces took advantage of the situation, and began to send an incinerating hail of gunfire and psychic power lancing into the heart of the monstrous force. Hundreds of the lesser Tyranids were reduced to ashes or piles of blood and bone as the defenders of Iyanden exacted a bloody vengeance for their dead. But, their shock lasted but for a moment, and soon, they loped forward, unleashing hails of crytallised poisons and corrosive projectiles. Like a wave of death, they raced for the defensive positions. One of my Terminators opened fire with his Heavy Flamer as they got within the weapon's lethal range, incinerating several of the monsters. One of the genestealers leapt toward my battle-brother, and I dashed forward, whipping out my power sword and intercepted it, slicing it in half. Blood splashed all over my armour, and I felt the Black Rage bubble forward, and I snarled in bloodlust, feeling the unholy thirst for the crimson life blood arise once more, threatening to overwhelm my will. Another genestealer bounded forward, and before I could pull my sword back, it was sliced to pieces by shrieking projectiles. I instinctively knew that Bennu had saved my skin once more. That woman has a habit of saving my life.
One of my Teminators said, "Brother captain, Valkaze of the Dark Angels report that the defenses of sector 4 has collapsed. He is now fighting a war from street to walkway."
I cursed and instructed ten of my brother Terminators to go down to Valkaze's embattled sector and aid in the defenses before the entire dome-city fell to the invaders. And that would be dangerous, for it would allow the hellspawn a foothold on this Craftworld. My brother terminators departed as swiftly as they could in their cumbersome armour would allow them. I prayed to the Emperor that they would get there in time, or there would be nothing left of my childhood friend that had fought and laughed with me throughout my four centuries of service to the Imperium. The thoughts of him dying before these blasphemous hellspawn finally broke down my will, and the Black Rage, finally overtook me, and the visions of my Primarch, Sanguinius, became my own, as he faced down the traitor space marines and the Great Traitor himself. All that I was aware of was my howl of infernal rage and bloodlust as I drew my golden-bladed, crackling concilliator power sword and began to hack my way through the host of monsters.
Valkaze looked around the burning city as the remnants of his brother Dark Angels and the Eldar Dire Avenger squads forces fought a bloody battle in the streets and tunnels. Many of the beautiful pyramids and spires had toppled, burning, onto the floors of the Craftworld, and those were wet with tyranid blood. Explosions blossomed in the distance as jetbikes roared overhead, firing their lascannons before darting away. Valkaze had quickly established strongpoints throughout the city, chiefly at the main tunnels and passages connecting the dome city to the rest of the Craftworld, before the battle for Iyanden began. The ensuing battle had been violent, and many of the Eldar and his brothers had been slain protecting the craftworld. Valkaze had not the time to take in his surroundings, for upon landing and receiving the Farseer's permission, they had begun setting up defenses all around Iyanden. Now, with the defensive lines that Valkaze had helped to set up collapsed, the battle was now in the very streets, where the shadow of any building may hide a prowling genestealer. Valkaze trembled at the memory when he and his friend had fought a bloody war within the confines of a derelict space hulk crawling with the four-armed monsters. Valkaze remembered still the fear that gripped his stomach when he faced them, remembered the heavy gunfights and the alien roars that re-echoed throughout the hulk. As memories of years past returned to the Dark Angel captain, he tightened his grip upon his storm bolter. Shateiel and he had fought in over hundreds of battles against Chaos, Orks, tyranids, and even Eldar. It was among the last that his friend had a weakness for - the reasons of which Valkaze did not understand. But, Shateiel was his friend for over three hundred years. Where one went, the other would not be far behind with his brother marines. The Blood Angels were a seclusive lot, and even those loyal to the Imperium had the right to fear them. For centuries, there have been records of bloodless corpses on whatever world they were stationed for long periods of time. None were allowed on the Blood Angels' homeworld of Baal, save by invitation. The interdict was for the safety of any who wanted to land on a world full of vampires. Valkaze grinned, remembering the glare his friend had shot him when he described the Blood Angels as such.
A band of Eldar warp spiders appeared alongside Valkaze's squad, and the Dark Angel turned to look upon one who was clad rather differently than the rest of his squad. A Warp Spider Exarch. Several of his brother marines turned to watch the warp spiders as they appeared out of nowhere. The warp spider made a queer flowing gesture, an indication that the space marines should advance while they protected their rear. Valkaze said, "All right, brothers, move out." The space marines moved towards the sounds of heavy battle as quickly as possible.
It was a few moments later that Valkaze came upon squads of embattled Eldar as they strove to repulse the tyranid invaders. Howling Banshees, Dire Avengers, Dark Reapers and Striking scorpions were caught in a bloody melee fight. Genestealers, termagants and hormagaunts were swiftly overwhelming the Eldar's defensive positions. From the flank of the Eldar, a tyranid warrior smashed through one of the buildings, and a Dire Avenger Exarch dashed forward and hacked at it with its power sword. The tyranid roared with mingled pain and fury, and sent the Eldar sailing, blood trailing from the upper half of the Eldar's body it had sheared off with its boneswords. Valkaze shouted, "To battle!"
The space marines quickly charged into combat, firing their weapons as they went, cutting down dozens of the hellspawn. Those equipped with jump packs quickly leapt into the fray with a single bound, their power swords and gloves exacting a bloody retribution as they fought shoulder to shoulder with the Eldar. Fires burned everywhere throughout the Craftworld, shrouding it in the smoke of what may be the defenders funeral pyre. And in the empty void of space, the Eldar warships finally manage to destroy or cripple the Hive ships.
For now, the battle has ended. Farseer Karhedran stood beside the Ultramarines Captain Gewesen, who looked upon the field of bodies, drenched in blood of alien, Eldar and human. Indeed, Karhedran knew that the battle has just merely begun. The tyranids would keep on coming until Iyanden has been totally destroyed and consumed. He turned towards the captain, "This is only the beginning."
Gewesen cast his empty plasma gun before him and raised a fist to the stars above, "Not today, you bastards! Not today!"
Karhedran retreated to his meditation chamber, as he put aside his witch blade and sat cross-legged upon the altar adorned with the symbol of Iyanden. Captain Valkaze of the Dark Angels said that Iyanden's craftworld emblem had similar aspects to that of the old Terran japanese culture. In that, the symbol meant knowledge. Perhaps there were many things that the Eldar shared with the humans a long time ago, when it was a young race seeking direction, seeking wisdom. But, as millenias pass, and Man began to face countless enemies, war became a religion, an endless battle against the innumerable enemies who dared to threaten its people.
Karhedran knew of the Tyranid invasion, knew of the alliance between his people and the space marines, knew of a great fire that would be forged from a human champion and an eldar war-maiden. That fire would be the salvation of the Blood Angels and the Eldar, and would herald the approach of Armageddon. That day, would symbolise the final war between Chaos and the material world, with the destruction of both. Eldar, human, Ork and squat would join forces, ignoring hatred of centuries past, to face a common enemy who seeks their destruction. Even the human Imperium waited stoically, awaiting the Angel Of Destruction to blow the trumpet that would herald the final war between Good and Evil, and where the Emperor and his loyalist Primarchs would finally end the Long War between themselves and the Chaos Traitors.
Armageddon. Ragnarok. The Hour of Judgment. In one word, the final war, the final nightfall of the universe.
But, that would been eons away, but it was inevitable.
Karhedran closed his eyes once more, and began to pick the threads of that future.
Bennu paced outside her chambers nervously, looking every so often at her chambers where the Blood Angel Space Marine captain laid. She had ordered her Guardians to place him therein, and dragged one of the Dark Angels apothecary from the medical facilities where he had been tending to the wounded Imperial Guards and marines. She had watched the Blood Angel cleave through ranks of genestealers, hormagaunts and tear down tyranid warriors. The space marine terminators of his chapter followed their captain into the fray, the Striking Scorpions and Howling Banshees charging behind them. Space Wolves Blood Claws with jump packs leapt into the fray with maniacal frenzy, their close combat weapons cutting through the snapping hosts of monsters. The ensuing battle had been bloody, and there have been many who were wounded. More Eldar destroyers had gated in, and transports bearing warriors from the Alaitoc and Saim-Hann Craftworlds have arrived to aid their Eldar brethern in this hour of peril.
Though, initially, they were surprised by the sight of the soldiers of the human Imperium, none would question their worth in battle that laid ahead. The sight of the battle grounds of Iyanden have made clear the dire threat that faced the dying Eldar race. Bennu remembered the words of the Ultramarines Captain Gewesen Strongsword. He had indicated that the first wave of tyranids was to test how heavy the defences of the Craftworld was. The next battle would undoubtedly put tyranid bio-titans such as hierodules and hierophants into the battleground. Imperial forces had faced these titans before, and Gewesen gave the Exarchs full knowledge about the tyranids. The door to her chambers hissed open, breaking her concentration, and the Dark Angels apothecary stepped out, looking tired, but satisfied. "How is he, apothecary?" asked Bennu.
"He shall recover in time for the next battle. But he must rest, for he is delirious from his wounds. The Black Thirst is still upon him, so I suggest that you leave him alone, or he may drain your blood. I do not understand the Blood Angels, but I do not question their loyalty to our Emperor and the Imperium."
"Can you tell me more of the Blood Angels, apothecary?"
"I do not know much, lady, for the Blood Angels are as reclusive as we are. It is best you speak to brother captain Shateiel . He may tell you, and just as well, may not."
"I see."
The apothecary turned to leave, the jackboots of his power armour clanking on the plasteel floor. Then, he stopped and turned, "Oh, there is one more thing. In his delirium, he kept talking about you."
"And how do you know that?"
"He kept saying that there was an angelqueen in the midst of the battle, fighting the hellspawn with a wrath born of heaven. Most notably was his description of silver hair and sun-gold eyes that burned as the sun, and I surmised it may be you, for you are the only Eldar I have seen so far with silver hair and golden eyes," the Dark Angel apothecary said, and then he smiled and added, "I thing he also likes you."
"And how do you come to that conclusion?" Bennu asked mildly, half-amused by the human's impertinence.
The Dark Angel apothecary then removed his helmet, to reveal, to Bennu's surprise, the Captain of the Dark Angels himself. Valkaze Stormguard had taken off his Terminator armour and put on that of an apothecary to aid in the healing of the Eldar and his fellow Imperial warriors. He smiled, "Because, Lady Bennu, I know. I have never seen Shateiel like this before, never once in our near five hundred years of service to our Emperor. Even before he became a marine, he was uninterested in women, unlike me. When we both became what we are, I still retain some of the gentlemanly attributes that I have."
Bennu raised one snowy eyebrow in amusement, a half-smile curved on her full lips. Now, this was rare. Space Marines of the Imperium have a grim nature to match their colossal, superhuman strength - humour was rare among these elite warrior breed. The Dark Angel captain obviously held a realistic view of his charms.
The comm-link on Valkaze's apothecary power armour chirped, and Valkaze spoke into it, "Yes?"
"Brother captain, we need some more medical helpers here. Could you hurry up with brother captain Shateiel , and get down here?" came a voice from the comm-link. "I'm already done with him. Give me ten minutes. Well, Lady Bennu, duty calls. Take good care of him for me, won't you?" the last thrown at the Eldar war-maiden. Bennu nodded, and watched the Dark Angel captain leave, before she entered her chambers and looked at the recumbent form of the Blood Angel space marine. Even in repose, his expression was tormented. Even without his power armour, the human marine captain was large. She gazed down at him, and ran a slender finger across his face, hoping to smooth out the lines of pain and anguish. And to her surprise, the Blood Angel captain sighed peacefully, and his expression became peaceful. She strode to the door of her chambers and secured it.
And outside, on Iyanden, the Eldar and the survivors of the human Imperial forces made ready for the second invasion as Eldar warships and scout ships returned from their patrols and confirmed the sightings of more Hive Ships heading towards Iyanden. And this time, it would be bloodier than the last. As Captain Gewesen of the Ultramarines aided the Eldar in strengthening the defences of Iyanden for a second assault, Captain Jacobus of the Space Wolves sent out a distress signal, calling for any nearby Imperial fleet to come to the aid of Iyanden. Yes, they have been enemies before, but they have also been allies. And against the tyranids, there can exist, between the races of this galaxy and the Great Devourer, a war onto death.
As a matter of safety, one of the Eldar flagships came to take away the Eldar who were too young or too old to aid in the defense of the Craftworld away. They could not risk losing so many, and all knew that, victory against the Hive Fleet Kraken, would be very, very high. The Phoenix Lords gazed down from the spires of the craftworld's citadels at the Space Marines as they rushed about, preparing heavy weapons for the next onslaught. They had been surprised at the presence of Space Marines upon Iyanden, but yet, were not so.
"I am truly surprised, Eldrad, that Karhedran would allow humans upon the Craftworld. Already, the Avatar has been awakened, and no doubt that Khaine would send those marines to their deaths as he would send the Tyranids."
"That is one dilemma we have to quickly solve. The Avatar must lead the defences of one of the dome-cities, while the Space Marines and their Imperial Guards aid in the defense of another. And, yes, Karandras, we have been the human Imperium's enemy as well as their ally. Though we do not fully trust the human Imperium, there are still dreamers among its ranks. And we have, my friends, in our midst, one of them."
"A dreamer? Most likely he'll be a risk to his own men. Who is he? The commander of the Imperial Guard?"
Laughter came from everyone, even the grim Maugan Ra.
"Nay. He is the captain of the Blood Angels, and the leader of the Imperial contingent on Iyanden."
The laugher was soon cut short as the Phoenix Lords fell silent and exchanged glances with one another. A Blood Angel captain? The Blood Angels have earned their bloody reputation even amongst their Dark Eldar kindred, and no fool, Eldar or otherwise, in his right mind, goes around trying to anger a Blood Angel. Unlike their brethern, theirs was a berserker fury that outstripped even the animal wrath of the Space Wolves. They all knew that, and those savage warriors have proven to be worthy adversaries for more than once. None have lived to tell the tale of crossing swords with these grim, cursed warriors. The other Space Marines were just as formidable, and the Eldar have known through experience that the Imperium has never given ground nor surrendered.
"And is that captain well, Eldrad?"
"He is recovering," said the Farseer, and a mysterious smile curved his lips, gentle yet sorrowful, "And he will fight alongside us. We face an enemy that is worse than Chaos, my friends, and the Imperium has spent centuries, millenias, fighting their Traitors. They know fully well that. Now go, aid in the setting up of the defences. We do not have much time."
The other Phoenix Lords bowed before Eldrad Ulthuan and left, leaving the Farseer to gaze into the empty, star-filled void of space. So beautiful, and yet, so many dangers. The universe was filled with wonder as it was with danger. He watched a squadron of Alaitoc destroyers jump out of warp space, and take positions near Iyanden's orbit. Soon now….