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The darkness shrouding this side of Claderis did nothing to impending the supreme night vision of the Tyranid army on the surface. Thousands of warriors filling every role from cannon fodder to shock troops and heavy anti-armor units fanned out to finish off any semblance of organized resistance outside the Capitol. Hacking them apart with sharp blades and biological ammunition, flowing over them like waves of death. In a way, the few men that raised their guns and fought were battling against the ocean's waves. Even if they weathered the first crashing flood of water a second larger one was bound to come seconds later to sweep them away. The scouting my teams had done over most of the region surrounding the only major city made dropping these units a simple manner. The information provided by the capture communications outpost and Tech Priest filled in some of the gaps and some wild guesses helped. I had little doubt that had this not been a feudal world and the planet's defenders weren't so poorly staffed this would have been a lot harder to pull off. The few dozen casualties were better than my pessimistic projections thought.

It was only this combination of factors and the element of surprise that allowed me to scatter only a few thousand across the region and surround the place. The general ease of this all wouldn't be enough to prop up my faded optimism. I wasn't going to get much of any of the biomass from these 'nids so it best to use as few as possible. There was another reason why I kept a lot of my forces in reserve aboard the bioships that massed produced them. The one's that an hour into the invasion and during the haul to grab the Hybrids were currently slaughtering my forces at the airfield and in some outposts, I found set up by their chapter.

The Blood Raven's hulking Ceramite frames with their bolt guns, chain swords, and powered blades rapidly responded to the surprise attack with great success. As I knew they would. Space Marines weren't called demigods or the angles of death because they were foot soldiers after all.

I focused my mind on one such battle taking place on the airfield. I tried taking the hangers to keep any aircraft ground and while that was mostly successful and had everyone near them chased down and dragged into a pile. Any one of them could be a pilot and I wasn't taking any chances in killing anyone important that looked vaguely like flyers. Soon freshly birth Genestealers would arrive to start implanting them. Nothing had gotten into the air since the attack began stunting any air support for now.

"Good that should keep the battle purely a ground-based one."

The Space Marine squads stationed there weren't so happy to let their Thunderhawks be taken without a fight. Both squads were doing their best to defend their respective hanger from the onslaught of Tyranid bioforms. Not sure why they were here nor was I gonna play detective to find out. Hormagaunts had rushed them and were blown away by explosive rounds and then hacked apart by centuries-old melee specialists. Some had gotten close due to their sheet weight in numbers. However, their scythe-like blades merely scrapped the paint before point-blank bolter fire and combat knives took care of them in moments. Termagants fired both spikes and a sort of beetle-like creatures now. Both slapped harmlessly against the well-armored Marines, the living beetles either splattered or clawed pointlessly against the smooth plates before expiring. They weren't built to last long outside the guns, most of the melee troopers dead the gunfire shifted to mow down the ineffective ranged Gaunts. A Tyranid Warrior surged forwards with half a brood of Hormagaunt bodyguards that were cut down with contemptuous ease by bursts of bolter fire. They did their jobs and the Tyranid Warrior managed to close in and cross swords with one of the marines, a Sergeant by the painted parts of the armor.

His chain sword's motor roared as twin biological blades lashed out aiming to cleave the super soldier in two with a wide swing of twin blades. The Marine's enhanced reflexes and strength saved him as he parried away the strike. A flurry of blows followed with the swordsman showing off every bit of the more experienced veteran that he was. Avoiding each swing with a parry or dodge all with only one blade to the Tyranid's dual wielding. Being taller than the marine did the Warrior no favors too, as it took a bolt round to the forehead from another one of the Marines and staggered back. Skull cracked and leaked purple ichor down its face, it didn't die but that swiftly changed. The chain sword's moving blades bit onto its lower leg, sawing deep in a manner of seconds and severing through flesh and bone alike. Trying to steady itself from falling over with one of its lower arms. Waving its weapons out to ward off the foe right before it, the action proved ineffective as the marine obliged and took off the bolt pistol mag-locked to their side. The crippled skull was no match, even if the shot was a lower caliber, with a speed that normal people would have had a hard time tracking blew the synapse creature's head off.

Three broods worth of Gargoyles joined the fray and combined their fire with the quickly thinning Termagants on the ground. The Sergeant held up his sword arm to cover his face as hundreds of shots rained down. It was no use and also I knew that the towering presence of two Centaurs with dozens more Gaunts of both breeds came into range. One leveled its cannon and fired, and the living round soared through the air adjusting slightly to impact against the left side of the Marine Sergeant. The man has his upper body torn off and thrown with it several yards. As everyone had been too busy directing fire at the foes in front of them they'd neglected the flanks. Raveners too were racing to join from the opposite side while the death toll was beginning to pile up wherever Blood Ravens were at. Drop pods with Carnifex and other heavier Tyranids were being deployed to either tip things in my favor or mostly just pin them in place so they couldn't move around and cause any more trouble.

Such as impeding the exodus of the Hybrids from Caldaris.

"Speaking of which, we made it." I drew my attention away from the invasion and to the Hybrids riding atop Hormagaunts and whatever Tyranid would carry them. Reuniting with them and knowing most were safe from the Eldar that scattered once the drop pods began to land. The Chimera I was on stopped and everyone stayed where they were as I alone got out to check in with everyone.

Sure I could feel how they were from inside the transport but I wanted to see them in person. Many weren't here anymore after all and I wanted to see firsthand the wounds some carried. It wasn't as bad as it could be but it definitely should have been better. Those alive consisted of those that weren't shot or were grazed by shuriken fire. The worst was a man that lost his ear and needed some clothing wrapped over his head to stop the bleeding.

"These could get infected if they aren't cleaned and properly dressed..." We had medics, which kept my concern from growing too large, and quickly said medics rushed forwards. Hybrids that had taken wounds came forwards and since the thought had finally occurred to me I had anyone else on the transports or being carried come forwards as well.

I sighed as the bags they carried held more than enough connectivity to help everyone out. So I allowed my attention to divert to the fleet far above our heads. The Imperial Fleet was not letting up on their ranged attacks. Their torpedos and lance shots were still being avoided by the outer perimeter of frigates or shot down before they could reach anything larger. I had hoped they'd just keep wasting ammo on probing the fleet but instead began to adopt a sort of hit-and-run attack style now. On various sides of the fleet, they flew in small packs as if they were charging only to swing wide and let off a volley of macro rounds and other munitions. This was a lot less easy for my ships to dodge.

"They're dedicated to this position, their fleet commander won't leave the Blood Ravens without trying to help. More ships are going to be inbound and I'll have to wrap this up before they flood the sky with gunships and bombers."

Air support for their ground forces would make my numbers lose much of their power and require a lot more biomass to commit to this invasion. I decided it was time to send something to engage the current fleet just to keep them from picking off any of my ships. Frigates and a few Cruisers flew out to finally meet the imperial warships, I didn't commit too many of fear I might open up serious gaps in the screen we had. One thing I always found weird is how the Imperium's warships fought as if this was the seventeenth century.

It wasn't, we weren't in the ocean and committed to coming at our enemy in one direction. So some vessels flew above and below the skyscraper and larger-sized ships of the space defense forces. Said fleet was in the middle of one of their charges and now committed to it as they crashed into the Tyranid force twice its size. Torpedos were of no use as either I made sure no ship was directly in front of them and soon the distance closed to prevent their use.

Tentacles from the frigates lashed out to price the hulls of the smaller escort vessels. Said ships were small enough to be flooded with Tyranid bioforms and have an immediate effect on the crew. Acid sacks and bioplasma flew out to slap against the void shields of the larger cruisers. More tentacles flew out to try and puncture the hulls wherever they looked weakest, drawing back whenever failed to keep trying. Getting units aboard and causing chaos by tearing their way through the crew, any wiring and pipelines. It wasn't a cake walk though, maco rounds and energy-based shots flew out to blast holes into the sides of any bioship they could strike. The previous wave circled around and would soon support their engaged allies with torpedoes and the like.

A similar situation was happening on the opposite side of the fleet. It was an admirable attempt by the space forces of the sub-sector. But ultimately a pointless one as they lacked the numbers to really do much other than harass the Tyranid fleet. All the while the ground forces said fleet shielded continued to swarm over defenders and then surround the Capitol with impunity from the air and orbit.

"The best case scenario I could have asked for. I'll be off this dust ball with everyone in a couple of hours, certainly enough time to get out before backup arrived."

I beckon one of the pure strains forwards and had the three Eldar we managed to take alive and with no life-threatening injuries dragged over. I had procrastinated for long enough and it was time to implant them.

Their masks had long since been torn off, especially the Banshees. The male Guardians I was less concerned about their helmets because they didn't have an amplified scream that could shatter eardrums. They all dug their heels in and tried to halt the Termagants dragging them towards the Genestealer. It was useless as the two of us just walked towards them and met 'em halfway. The Banshee in particular needed all limbs to be held as she lashed out like my cat used to when agitated. She kicked and thrashed about with far more fury and anger and I wondered for a moment if she was already losing herself on the path of the warrior.

"Do I really need all three of them?" I wondered silently as the Genestealers seized hold of one of the Guardians and carefully dug its tongue into their throat. "Surely one of them could provide the intel I wanted right?"

I brushed away the thought, only one wouldn't be enough for my needs. I doubted they'd have all the information I needed to be contained within a single common Guardian. If I wanted the most accurate picture possible I should have them all implanted cause it's not as if they were going to tell me anything.

"I will look into them later until then, we have a city to reach." I thought about the distance that would take and considered the communications outpost was already a fairly clear zone. Shove some more stuff out of the way and perhaps I could just use that.

"Yes, I have pilots, I can feel them implanted already and could keep the defenders of the planet busy with my forces. That should prevent anyone in space from launching their fighters to intercept us while we're fleeing!"

I sighed audibly with relief, for the first time since this invasion started I felt myself relax at how many lives could be saved by this. No to mention I would need far less biomass to carve a bloody path throughout the city to get everyone out safely. Sure the airfield was still a highly contested zone but a few dozen more drop pods and whatever looked like an air defense or any pockets of resistance would be overwhelmed.

"It also meant I would have time to peer into the minds of these Eldar and find out what they knew." As soon as everyone was patched up they'd mount back up and we'd head back.

Taking the three hybridized Eldar into the back of a Chimera I let my mind wander out to the invasion. With a thought, my forces around the city began to probe its defenses. In the time I gave for the civilians to get somewhere safe the local garrison also had the time to run over to every 'gatehouse' they could and set up heavy bolters, machine guns, and fanout squads and vehicles to hold them. Although I use the term gatehouse rather loosely as there was only one place with a metal grate lowered to lock it down. I bet anything the Imperial Guard had could punch a hole in it, so it wouldn't be an issue for the Carnifex or even Centaurs to smash right through it.

Not that I needed to do that anyway. Gaunts and Gargoyles were mowed down as they swarmed over these positions. Lasguns and ballistic fire answered them and even a loud whistle then exposition signaled some ranged artillery. Possible motor fire as the blasts were fairly small. The gatehouse was well guarded but so was every archway leading into the city. With much the same defenses, elsewhere a Lemon Russ tank came forth to hold back the tide. Blocking the archways with their mass and heavy guns. The main cannon blasted away whole clumps of Gaunts into the air, raining the rest with body parts and purple ichor.

Breaking those positions would take a while if the walls of this place weren't made of sandstone and were wide enough to be manned. Instead, a Carnifex rammed its entire body into the well-carved stone and with the momentum it build-up tearing right through it. The rubble of the street did nothing to impede the hulking creature nor the Raveners, Centaurs, and Lictors that poured in after it. The ladder of the creatures fanned out into the city to find any more lines of defense to ambush. Even if taking the city was out it was best to get everyone to think that's what the Tyranids were doing. The chaos of the fighting made the perfect diversion.

Some of the Guardsmen at this entrance saw the Carnifex charging them from down the road. Cried went out and lasguns turned to desperately fire at the massive Tyranid. It was no use, the Leman Russ turret tried cranking around to fire but the distance was closed too fast. The scythe bladed arms rammed into the spot where the turret was connected to the tank digging in and anchoring to the side of it. With some effort, the Carnifex tore it off and shoved it over. The commander and gunner fell out and back into the vehicle as it hit the rocky road they barely had the time to look dazed before the jaws of the massive Tyranid came down. Munching down the unfortunate Guardsmen and sponson gunners as if their tank was a sardine can.

Lasfire kept scorching it but ceased when the wave of death flowed over and hacked apart everyone. I let those that ran go as a couple of Guardsmen wouldn't be a big problem and if they succeeded in spreading panic who was I to complain?

A similar scenario was playing out pretty much everywhere. Breaking through the weak walls to flood around and flank any entrenched defense line. I wondered for a moment why the Orks didn't just do this but remembered these were Ork. Sure the oddball Kommandos would do something like this but the majority of Orks tended to just run at the strongest concentration of enemies. They wanted a good fight first and foremost so most wouldn't think to do this.

Going back to the Chimera, which was thankfully moving now. The three Eldar still looked dazed as the taint was still flowing through their veins. I could access their minds down and places my hands on two of their forehead. I don't know why but making physical contact with a Hybrid helped me focus on their thoughts. Peering through their minds is like wading through an ocean, the resistance I felt was just the sheer volume of stuff in my way. Doing my best to ignore the images of families and as well as the strong feeling of loss for their comrades and... the children the woman would be leaving behind as the pointed tongue pierced her flesh.-

Taking my time to peer through them I eventually found the name of my adversary.

Farseer Tuirin is the leader of this minor Warhost and was originally called via a treaty to the Maiden world L'enias. A good portion of his forces had left back to Iyanden after that but many more stayed upon hearing his call against the scion of the Devourer. There was a great emphasis on the horrors of what the Tyranids did to their Craftworld and a lot of it felt genuine. It rallied the ones that chose to stay including the shrines of these guys, of course. I wondered for a moment why his army wasn't bigger or why many of them had left when their duty to the Exodites had ended. Expanding this to the other Eldar told me why.

It's because he never asked Iyanden to go on this warpath against me. Time was of great importance he stressed, the longer we waited the stronger this foe would become.

"Well considering my fleet has more than quadrupled in size since he's last seen me. I suppose Tuirin has had this notion validated."

If he didn't want to take the time to argue for my destruction before the Iyanden's council but he had to now that his force just got torn apart. That too presented an issue as it meant it would be a while before I'd have the chance to kill him. Plus he will have a lot more troopers and resources by then...

I felt the pilots taking off with every atmospheric craft they could get in the air. I was happy to sense enough space to hold everyone, coordinated through our synaptic link. So I brushed all that to the side for now and had an order implemented into every Tyranid on the planet. They'd all charge the nearest gun nest and just stand there to get blasted once we made it to the ships. The Sergeants would ensure that the order was carried out as much as possible. So that no one needed to suffer once we left Calderis. Everyone would be far safer once we gunned it towards the edge of the system and jumped outta here. This fight with the Imperium was over but the battle with Farseer Tuirin would be decided elsewhere.

He really wanted me dead if the man was willing to take his Warhost out like this. Likely some prophecy of me doing something horrible. That's how it usually goes with Farseers and I had to kill him before the seer had the chance to get back to Iyanden and gather support. As much as I didn't want to go on the warpath there was no better option. To leave Tuirin to his devices would only create a bigger problem down the line. So for everyone's sake, he had to die and the fleet that could shadow me gone too.

"I would never find him if I tried searching space. So I need to attack something he couldn't help but rush to defend it."

As much as I didn't want to go back that Maiden world is the best target to do just that...