The Tyranid Wars Saga

The Siege of Iyanden

Written by Spiritblade

Part 3

I dreamt. But the dream that now covered me in its warm embrace was not that of my Primarch when he died, but when he lived and loved, just like every man. Each marine of any Chapter who served the Emperor, was a son of the Primarch of the chapter he chose to serve. I remembered my past, when I was but a normal boy, living and dreaming, learning and studying. I had been bored with the normal routines of life on the planet of Aiur. Located in the distant galactic east, my homeland was one of the garrison planets of the Imperium. In short, it was a military strongpoint, where thousands upon thousands of Imperial Guards and Space Marines were stationed. With its massive population, the Space Marines and the Imperial Guard found it easy to find new recruits to expand their already enormous ranks. What with hundreds of enemies, the Imperium would take in every man and woman who knew how to wield a gun and pull the trigger. Aiur, like Necromunda, was a hive world, and there were gangs who fought constantly with each other. It turned boys into men fit for service within the Imperial Guard. Those who were younger would be recruited into the Space Marines, for one needed to be young for the geneseed of a space marine chapter to take root within the host body. But, the gangs made it an unspoken law that they fought only in the hostile underhives, way beneath Aiur's planetary surface, so that the peace of the planet would not be disrupted. Taking their gunfights on the surface would doubtlessly attract the ire of the Adeptus Arbites of Aiur, who were known not to take any bullshit from the gangs. If they want to fight, fine. Just do it in the underhives, but don't bring it up to the surface.

Ahhh….yes, home. It has been so many centuries since I returned to my homeworld, and I longed to see the mountains and the lush, green meadows of Aiur once more. I knew that my parents were long gone, for they have died more than three hundred years ago, but they knew what had become of me, and were proud of what I have become. My father had sent his master-crafted autobolter and storm bolter along with a winged helmet of a Dark Angel Captain, painted red and with the teardrop and wings emblem of a Blood Angel. All of these were gifts from different space marines. My mother gave me a picture of all of us when we had been a family.

Family. A real family. One where you had a father, a mother and brothers and sisters. I remembered my father. Tall, stern and strong, with backswept, womanish, dark hair. His serpentine slitted eyes shone with the sun-gold pupils that shone with cunning and malice borne of one who has fought every creature from the mind-numbing horrors of the Tyranids to the abominations of Chaos - and won. His was a demeanor that commanded respect even from the veteran Space Marine captains. How he managed it was beyond my comprehension - but I believed he had done an unbelievable feat that earned their respect. And if the space marines respected you, believe me when I say that the members of the Imperial Guard will be awed. And my beautiful mother, a head and a shoulder shorter than my father, had been the leader of the dread Black Rangers. Scouts and snipers, the men and women of this regiment were the bane of every enemy force. Sabotage, espionage and assassination were but parts of their battle-skills. In their ranks were even Space Marines of the Space Wolves chapter that would often go with the Black Rangers on their missions. My mother was a head and a shoulder shorter of my tall father, but she was a direct contrast to his pale skin and dark hair. Her beauty and features was one that reminded many a man of an Eldar Howling Banshee Exarch - beautiful to behold, and never to be trifled with. It fitted my mother perfectly in every way one can imagine. Dark, tanned skin, fair, snow-blonde hair and almond-shaped amethyst eyes and her tall, lithe form reinforced the description of the men and women under her command. In battle, my father had said, she was a potent fighter. Nothing lived when she raised her Hellfire-class long-rifle. Even in close combat, she was a sight to behold, dancing away from enemy blades with an Eldar-like grace and delivering her forte. It was during the war on the Chimeran system against Chaos and its traitors that my father and mother grew ever closer in those bleak days. When the Chaos Lord Saurion led his unholy armies onto Chimera, the Imperial forces stationed there were outnumbered, but they met the Chaos traitors with a hatred born of more than four hundred generations. It had been a bloody war indeed, with the dead numbering in the hundreds of thousands. A call for help had been sent out by the system's Astropath to the worlds of Macragge, homeworld of the Ultramarines Chapter, Baal of the Blood Angels, and Fenris of the Space Wolves and to all nearby Imperial systems. The war dragged on for more than five months, a bloody guerilla war between the loyalist Imperial forces and the Chaos Traitors. The vile ones learnt - the hard way - that the Chimera system was not going to be easily taken. What the Imperial forces lacked in strength, it made up with cunning and strategy, and as a result, exacted a bloody toll upon the Traitors. The siege was finally broken when the Chaos forces of Saurion were caught in a well-orchestrated trap, of which only the Chaos Lord, much to my father's raging fury, escaped with his personal retinue.

I've kept contact with my family for as long as I could, and got word in my twentieth year of service, right after I was dubbed a full Blood Angel space marine, that I received word that my siblings had children. And deep within my heart, I knew that I would spend nigh a millenia, lonely save for the companionship of my brother marines and the duty of eternal war. I fought for over four centuries to ensure that my family and a hundred thousand others shall never see the dark flames of war scorch away the joy that they knew, never let them see the unending night of war, and of the skies turned amber and black from flames.

But what joy shall I, a Blood Angel, ever know?

As though responding to my words, a sensation of warmth and comfort enveloped me, touching my soul, drowning the sorrow, the loneliness, and the unholy rage which makes me see a monster in a mirror and not a human. I opened my eyes to gaze upon something that shocked me to the core of my soul, and yet filling me with wonder, was an Angelqueen. Her strong, lush body glowed with starfire, as her twin enormous wings of the purest white swung around as she danced. Long tresses the colour of the sun swirled as she spun, singing joyously before me. The song she sang held me in firmer thrall more than the religious war songs that I sang within the Chapel on Baal. The chamber that I rested in soon began to blur, and melted together like a painting left in the rain. Soon, I became aware of nothing save the angelmaiden's beautiful, wordless song and the soul-deep longing it stirred in my heart. Her song caused something I thought long extinguished to rekindle and awaken once more.

And I awoke…….my eyes gazing upon unfamiliar surroundings. From the looks of it, this place was someone's personal quarters. I shook my head, clearing the dizziness therein and chuckled. It was but a dream, I thought, and I have many of those. Though never like that. I felt my face redden in embarrassment, for to have such carnal dreams was close to bordering on the blasphemous. Our Traitor brethren had no compunctions about taking their pleasures out upon a woman, but we of the Emperor's knights are celibate. The door to the chamber suddenly irised open, and Bennu Silverflame stepped in, clad in the armour she wore during the battle against the Tyranids hours ago. She smiled impishly, "So, Blood Angel, you are finally awake. And did you sleep well?"

I grumbled out an answer, and that impish smile, if possible, grew wider, "Such language. But that is to be expected

from you human barbarians. But, I have news that you may wish to hear.". Bennu's expression became serious when she spoke the last sentence and I motioned for her to continue. "When you were unconscious, the Farseer sent out scout fighter planes on a search and destroy mission. They have located the main fleet. They are at the Korvan Star cluster, which is but a warp-jump away from here. We have, perhaps, two days, four at the most. As to the matter of the reinforcements, we have some forty thousand Eldar from the other Craftworlds, and more are arriving to aid us in our battle against the Great Devourer. But we need time so that we can assemble more troops. Forty thousand will not be enough to defend this Craftworld. Also, I have received a message from a friend of yours.".

Bennu held out a data-crystal and placed it in the hologram projector. The face of Mephiston, Lord of Death, and Librarian Master of the Blood Angels appeared. Craggy, noble, and yet sinister, the Lord Librarian of the Blood Angels was a man both respected and feared throughout the Imperium. Of any marine I have ever known, only Mephiston could take on a Bloodthirster single-handedly - and win. A grim smile formed on the hologram's image and Mephiston spoke, "I bid you greetings in the name of Sanguinius and our Emperor, Brother captain Iceblade. I have received news from Farseer Karhedran that you have taken up arms in defense of the Eldar against the tyranids. He also told me that the battleship Black Storm had been heavily damaged during the battle with one of the tyranid's hive fleets. Your actions are rather foolish, but commendable, and I say that you have learnt something from the past two hundred years. Not like the stripling fool I took you to be when you started out.". Mephiston chuckled darkly, before continuing, "I have spoken with Lord Commander Dante, Azrael of the Dark Angels, Ragnar of the Space Wolves and Marneus of the Ultramarines. We will join you as soon as we can. I have dispatched orders to the nearest Imperial fleet to aid you in your defense of Iyanden. Hold thy ground, brother captain. For the Emperor, and for the Imperium. Oh, and one more thing, brother captain - don't you die before I get there, or I swear you shall never hear the end of this!"

The image faded as the message ended. Bennu looked at me in mingled amusement and consternation, "Are all your Blood Angels like this?"

"Fortunately, no. Or I would have gone blood-mad a long time ago." I replied with a straight face, "Mephiston is dead serious most of the time, and it is only with me he jokes with. Not with Dante, nor any of the others. He treats me as though I am his younger brother, forever getting into all sorts of trouble, and that it is his duty to pull my sorry neck out of the noose I put myself in.". Bennu raised one silvery eyebrow in amusement, "Oh? You mean this is not trouble enough?". I glared at her, "I like it not when you start to quote my own words back at me. So tell me, how goes the defences?"

Bennu gave her report as I pulled and strapped on the leather armour all space marines wore beneath their power armour. I listened carefully, making a mental sketch of which portion of the Craftworld was totally secured, and which needed additional bolstering. What with the reinforcements coming from the other Craftworlds, our chances of survival are higher. Three sectors have been devastated by the heavy fighting, and the Eldar have set heavy patrols on every street in Iyanden. Those Eldar too young or too old to fight have been evacuated, with Valkaze overseeing the evacuation. I knew my childhood friend well enough to know that he and I had the same mindset. He and I both disliked massacres, and our hatred for the tyranids and the forces of Chaos bordered on the virulent. Bennu also said that half of the fighters that went out were destroyed, but they had crippled some five of the bio-ships with anti-ship missiles. As to the space marine reinforcements, they were five jumps away, but they were heading with several Eldar convoys at full speed. This war, to attract so many, would be an epic battle. I just hope it would not be an epic defeat, for the destruction of Iyanden would teeter the dying Eldar race on the brink of destruction.

I finally came to my weapons, which were sorted neatly on the table. Storm bolter, Hellfire autobolter, concilliator power sword and my nove storm plasma pistol. I ran my hands along the autobolter's finely crafted handgrip, my memories going back to the time my very-human father had once wielded this in battle against the enemies of the Imperium. My mouth pulled into a smile, and I turned to Bennu, "It is time. Gather the others. This shall be our finest hour."

"Aye, Blood Angel. It shall be our finest hour indeed," she smiled, "But tell me one thing, Sheik. Will you ever regret this choice in the future?"

I stared at her, and weighed the question she had just levelled at me. I knew that the relation between my race and that of the Eldar have come to blows many, many times. But we have been allies against common threats such as the piratical Orks, the evil armies of Chaos, or the forces of the Great Devourer. I looked down at the Concilliator power sword, touching the double-headed eagle emblem of the Imperium upon its iron scabbard. Upon it, was an Eldar rune that my mother called Saroir.

Bennu looked at the emblem and said, "You mother must have been a knowledgeable woman to know of such a rune. Few in your race could ever understand its meaning."

"What does it mean?"

"Eternity or infinity. The most common use is the flame that burns all that it touches."

I smiled, "Indeed. Just like mother to carve this for father."

Hours later, I gaze upon the city that was soon fated to become a bloody battleground. I looked around me, awed still by the beauty of the Eldar city. None have ever come here and lived to tell the tale, and only Inquisitors have ever come here and lived to tell the tale. Why did it ever have to come here? I wondered. I clutched my triple- barrelled autobolter, as shouts and orders were flung in a crossfire of words. Defences were set all around Iyanden, from every cross-road and alleyway, and from rooftops to windows. Imperial Guards and space marines hefted heavy bolters into position from rooftops, and those bearing rocket-launchers readied themselves from the rooftops and windows and balconies of Eldar homesteads. Men and women ran everywhere, rushing to their designated defensive positions. The tunnels interlinking to the other dome-cities have been heavily fortified, but even that I laid in question, for the tyranids could well overwhelm the defenders through sheer

weight of numbers. It had happened before at Maccrage, when the Tyranid Hive Fleet Behemoth attacked. Even titans were torn down. By the Emperor! If they set a number like that against Iyanden…… I swiftly pushed the thought out of my mind.

I felt the touch of adrenaline in my system, feeling excitement, anticipation, for the forthcoming battle. I felt the daemonic wrath of my Black Rage waiting to be unleashed, just like before. Before I had left to supervise the preparation of the defences, Bennu gave me the sharp edge of her tongue in front of my brother marines. I could see the looks of amusement as she shouted curses about my intelligence and heaped degrading terms on my Chapter. My brothers ignored the latter jibes if it were to see me take a tongue-lashing from a woman. I took it, and I swallowed it. Surprising. Obviously, the feared reputation of my chapter doesn't frighten this woman. That is what makes her so damn attractive! If this gets out to Mephiston….I grinned. The results would probably not be to my liking.

I looked around, smelling the acrid smoke from the heavy fighting hours before. Much of the dome-cities were burning, and many, many Eldar have been slain or wounded. Half of my Imperial Guards were dead, and nigh forty marines slain or rendered incapable of fighting; problem is, they still want to come out and thump the tyranids. In the ruins of a building, an Imperial Guard squad set up heavy bolter and missile launcher emplacements. Directly adjacent to that unit was a band of Eldar warriors, readying their own heavy weapons. Dark Angel Devastators took to the rooftops, preparing their heavy weapons for an all-out fight. Long Fang Space Wolves were hefting lascannons as though it weighed nothing, and the toothy grins they gave everyone in particular was an outright message that they were ready. I could hardly contain a grin that bared my fangs in a feral smile. "Come on, you hellspawned bastards. Iyanden has readied the dance floor. Are you going to disappoint us?" I said, looking at the twinkling stars that shone gloriously in the vast, empty darkness of space. Eldar battleships floated near the Craftworld, and more arrived with each passing hour. Some I even recognised. Eldar pirates and outcasts, Exodite warships and even the colours of the Eldar pirate Galina the Crimson. Oh Emperor, not her!

Galina the Crimson was perhaps one of the most feared pirates in the Ultima Segmentum sector. Her name bespoke of hundreds of plundered worlds and convoys. Finally, exasperated and infuriated, I was assigned to rid the galaxy of this menace. I took a battleship and fought a running war through twelve systems. It was sheer luck that we rammed her ship, the Storm Wave, and boarded her. Galina had personally challenged me, and I, for one, could not resist her challenge. Galina, I remembered, was proud, strong and cunning. And like her race, she bore the deep, delicate beauty that struck most men with astonishment. The astonishment that an Elder Power could give such beauty to a mortal façade. But, her skill with the sword was one that sent many a foolish space marine captain to his grave. My hand went unconsciously to my left side, where her power sword had punched through my power armour. I had won that duel, and Galina the Crimson swore an oath of loyalty to me. Whenever I needed help, all I needed to do was just call for her. But the memories of our first meeting lingered still. I still remembered her voice, swearing, "We shall meet again, you and I, Blood Angel. And the next time, you shall not be so lucky."

"Lucky?" I said to myself, "I wonder if this was one of Dante's pranks."

A voice, not Bennu's, said, "If it was a prank, then I say it was a good one."

I knew that voice! Galina the Crimson! I whirled to face the outcast Eldar woman whom I had conquered in single combat. I turned to face her, and said, "So, you finally arrived, sister Galina?"

"Indeed. When I heard you were out on one of your childish escapades, and started yelling for help when it got out of hand, I rushed here with my entire fleet. You are more troublesome than even the Dark Angels."

"Don't let Valkaze hear that. He'll drag you to the Interrogator - Chaplains, just for the amusement of seeing you scream in fury."

Galina the Crimson smiled, and her hand rested upon her power sword. The meaning was clear. Valkaze may be an experienced space marine captain, but against the likes of Galina, not a chance in the Eye. Another voice shouted out, "Sheik, we have some new reports from our ……." . It was Bennu. Her sun-gold eyes met Galina's, and whatever went between the two of them was obviously personal. Four hundred years of life did not teach me to poke my nose in another's affairs - provided they did not threaten the safety of the Imperium. Her eyes not leaving Galina, she said, "Brother captain, Valkaze wishes to speak with you, as do the other captains."

"Aye." I said, "Don't cause trouble - both of you. The Tyranids will provide enough of that. If you disobey, you'd both wish your blood was in my chalice.". I strode away, feeling the twin gazes of the pirate-queen Galina and the war-maiden Bennu on my armoured back. By the Emperor, I thought, my life just got worse.

Bennu turned and glared at Galina, "So, sister Galina, you have finally returned home. You, who left the Path, and who turned the back that protects our souls against Chaos."

"Aye, Bennu. I came back because my home was threatened, and I shall not see whomever threatens it, be victorious. Yes, I may be an Outcast, but I love the place I was born in. I played in these streets when I came of age; I found my first love here, before he was slain on Khanduras by the forces of Chaos. I am here because I am honouring an oath I've made with the Blood Angel Captain."

"That is so unlike you to honour oaths, Galina. You left the Path that safeguards our souls against the dark forces of Chaos. Our souls are beacons to the daemons who seek to devour us to increase their power."

"You believe that, Bennu? Our souls may be bright, and even in death, we are aware, but the souls of the humans are also aware. Unlike our history, mankind is forever damned to war against itself, and even we have fought against our Dark Kin. They are not so unlike us. To them, there is no such thing as too great a sacrifice. And the man that just walked away from us is not fighting for the honour of his Emperor; he is fighting for us."

Bennu found that her anger had vanished, for she had found truth in Galina's words.

"And I know you love him."

Bennu choked back emotions she had never felt before. The way he had smiled, the way he stood proud against the tyranid forces, and the way she felt terror in her heart when she had seen him charge, blood-enraged, into the Tyranid hordes. Fear of death had become nothing compared to fear of a race's destruction. Galina flung her long, red tresses back, and said, "As do I. Never have I met a human so understanding of our ways, yet bound to duty stronger than tempered steel. Had I never met him, I would never truly understand the nobler side of the human race. There is more in the humans than even our Farseers would care to admit."

"I cannot. He is human, and I am Eldar. I…..I….."

"Did it ever matter, Bennu Silverflame? Few human men are ever worthy of an Eldar war-maiden. If it had not been for the threat to Iyanden, I would have dueled you for his affections."

Bennu cast a scorching glare at Galina, clearly jealous, and realised too late that Galina had drawn her into her well-orchestrated verbal trap. She flushed deeply, and lowered her head, allowing long silver hair to cover her flush. Galina's ensuing smile was mischievous, "In so short a time, sister Bennu, never have I seen you so besotted with a man - and a human one - to compound matters!"

"Watch what you say," the silver-haired war-maiden scowled.

As I watched from one of the spires of the Craftworld, I saw many transports arriving from the other Eldar homeworlds. Their Eldar brethern have chosen not to abandon their brothers and sisters in their direst time of need. The tall, plumed helmets of the Eldar flooded the enormous Craftworld, and the air crackled in anticipation for a coming war. I could sense many a curious eye upon me, for the Eldar had no anticipated a Space Marine force on one of their Craftworlds. Also, I caught glimpse of many a look of dread. As they have a right to be. My Chapter was not one renowned for its self-control once a battle went underway. The Black Rage was both a blessing and a curse, but more of the latter. After each battle, we were called upon the pray and meditate, to force the unholy rage back into the recesses of our minds. To fail to do so, our Chaplains would recite the Mass Of Doom, and those who were taken were inducted into the ranks of the Death Company. Better to die with honour than to live out the rest of one's life an animal, lusting nothing for flesh and blood. Few ever manage to overcome the Black Rage, and those that did became the stronger because of it.

"They are arriving from all over the galaxy, human," spoke a gentle, but strong voice. I turned to see the legendary Eldar warrior-woman, Jain Zar, Warmistress of the Howling Banshee Aspects. A feared warrior and a respected adversary, few men - or women, for that matter - could be her equal. Tall, standing a good seven feet, and beautiful, her body armoured beneath the well-forged aspect armour, Jain Zar was an imposing sight. "I can see that, Jain Zar," I said, "But is it enough to throw back the Great Devourer? Even the might of my Emperor's armies, we cannot overwhelm this devourer of worlds. My kind faces many enemies, Jain Zar. I cannot be there all the time to deal with it, but I can deal with this one."

"You are avoiding the question I am trying to ask, Blood Angel? Why? Why do you help us? My fellow Phoenix Lords are trying to pry answers from Karhedran - who isn't giving any - and Eldrad, who's more silent than a stone when we start asking questions."

I chuckled, and pulled back my lips in a feral snarl, revealing long fangs that had drunk the blood of many. Memories came back, a sworn oath made to a young girl whom I had once played prince to when I had been but a stripling lad.

"Will you protect the galaxy for me, Sheik?"

"I swear, Cassyandra. You need not fear. Not from the dark forces of Chaos, nor the orks, nor the hordes of the Great Devourer. I promise you."

"I will come with you to see the stars, and guard your back! We'll see the realms of the Emperor, Sheik, and fight for his honour! Think about it! Maybe we'll even get a chance to see the Eldar Craftworlds!"

Even long after I found out that Cassyandra had died, the oath I took was still in effect. Made during a life that was that of a normal human being. I lowered my head, allowing my long, dark hair, to cover my features.

"I made a promise to someone a long time ago."

"Even if that promise is at the cost of your own life?"

I choked back remembered memories of lost love, lost youth, lost friends, with deep sorrow that spanned over three hundred years.

"Yes. Even if it costs me my soul."

Jain Zar looked at me for a moment, before striding away. But, somewhat, I caught the smile of approval on her full crimson lips. And that smile brought other features into being. A woman with a silver mane of hair, almond-shaped eyes of sunlit gold, a pert nose…… "Damnation! Not again! Not now! For the love of the Emperor, I'm completely besotted!" I cursed myself softly, "As though I need it!". I turned and watched the newly arrived Eldar rush to the defensive positions throughout the Craftworld. I looked up to the stars and whispered, "Mephiston, where are you, brother?"

And several thousand light-years away, a massive Imperial Battlefleet assembled. The heavily-armoured forms of the battle-barges of the Imperium, gathered from the outlying fleets from the Imperial systems, stood ready to sail to the aid of Iyanden, one of the Craftworlds of the Eldar. Mephiston and Commander Dante exchanged looks, and the former grinned, "He's a troublesome one, I know, but he's got good intentions in helping those pointed-eared twerps."

"Troublesome, brother Mephiston? Hardly. He always brings in the best excitement. Lieutenant, are the ships all readied?"

A robed Ravenwing Dark Angel Space Marine turned and faced Dante and nodded, "Yes, brother captain. We're ready."

"Excellent. Give the order. Activate warp drives for Ultima Segmentum. It is time to give the hordes of the Great Devourer bloody hell," said Mephiston. The Dark Angel nodded, and the Librarian Master could almost see his grin through his helmet. And I'll give my overrated captain a good thrashing, if he and I live through this, he added in an afterthought.

The gaping maw of the warp opened wide like the gates of Hell……..