Preparing
"Your use of the orbital bombardment cannons on this planet is totally unacceptable!" barked Inquisitor Cyrus. "You were supposed to save the forges not destroy them remember. Fall out from a few of the shells permanently damaged one forge and another shell, used in this battle in fact, completely obliterated another one."
"Sir we needed to save the city," Colonel-Commissar Federov said somewhat calmly. "If it fell we would have lost the planet completely."
"Sir you also said that saving the forges was a secondary priority," Captain McClau added. "It couldn't be helped that those forges were destroyed, but we are in process of locating the Hive Tyrant, and soon it will fall and the planet will be saved."
"Don't get me started about that captain," the Inquisitor barked. "You and Federov gallivanting around the planet killing and destroying everything in sight isn't what I call a search. Now get out of my sight."
Federov and McClau left the room and walked down the hall.
"That went well," McClau said.
"Why is that," Federov replied.
"Because you are alive and I still have my job."
Banks and Wolfe sat on a bunk with the rest of their squad playing a hand of poker, and like usual Banks is winning.
"What is the point of this game again?" asked Wolfe.
"To win the money in the pot Jared, it ain't that difficult," Banks said.
"So what are we waiting for, the Tyranids to attack again or something," Wolfe said, "We should be out there killing things. Not cramped up in this barracks."
"I know what you mean. Something is going down in command, with that Inquisitor here and all. Life is gonna be hell."
Near a forest 400 kilometers south of Decapolis, scout sergeant Hartman was leading his squad when he saw a large mass of swirling crimson. In that mass the sergeant saw the largest Tyranid he had ever seen.
"Hartman to McClau," the sergeant said into the vox unit built into his helmet.
"McClau here go ahead," McClau responded.
"Sir, my team and I have found the Hive Tyrant."
"Roger that, return to base."
"Yes sir."
"Now we can get something done around here," Inquisitor Cyrus said to the Lord General. "Now that the Hive Tyrant has been found, we can get around to killing it."
"Then we can mop up and get off this planet," Lord General Cathers replied.
"Lord General, get your best commander and charge him with the task of killing the Tyrant. The Space Marines will assist you."
"Thank you sir."
Federov and McClau were standing side by side in a conference room, where all the colonels, captains, space marine sergeants, and commissars were seated.
"We have been charged a task of great importance," Federov began. "We are about to fight the battle of all battles. A full scale assault on the Tyranid Hive Tyrant."
Gasps filled the quiet room as Federov continued.
"The cursed beast is currently near a forest 400 km south of Decapolis. There is a mountain range north and west of their position. The armored regiments will lead the attack after a fierce bombardment from the Hydras and Basilisks. Then the infantry will move in. At this time we will have trapped the Tyranids along the mountains. As this happens, the Space Marines will make their attack against the Hive Tyrant itself. Captain McClau will explain."
McClau stepped foreword and said, "The attack by your forces, several gunships will be softening up the Tyranids by doing multiple bombing and strafing runs. Then my marines and I will attack via drop pods and kill the Tyrant."
"Prepare your men and equipment, we attack at dawn."