Author's Note:
First of all sorry this took so long, but I've been writing two short stories for the 2015 Black Library Open Submissions, which given the time limit had priority.
This chapter was supposed to be final installment in the battle, but as it grew too large I split it. Do not worry, the next chapter is already finished and will be published next week. The last chapter/epilogue hopefully within a month or so.
Chapter XIII
Dim light flooded the unground hanger when Lord Cyrus, Pericles and Taylor finally managed to open the gates. Plants and the lack of power had left them with no choice but to open them manually, something that would have been impossible without the Astartes' strength, even though the only recently relocated arm still had to pain him. Then again Jane knew little about a Space Marines physiology and their perception of pain. They had already brought Apothecary Seneca, Nadim and Quintus' body into the glider, one of the few vehicles that were still working and large enough to carry them all.
Taylor, Pericles and Jane had removed everything redundant, while the battle against the Trygon had raged upstairs, among others most of the furniture, including a large table in order to provide the necessary space. The vehicle was more built for comfort than speed, oblong, narrowing at the front, with short wings at its sides like broad fins. Both the cockpit and the armatures were outfitted with expensive wood and other than the speeders, the vehicle was covered by a roof to protect the occupants from the wind and allow conversation; after all it had been a recreational vehicle. At least a dozen people could have made themselves comfortable in the passenger area with its red velvet lounges, so even the four armored Astartes could fit in it. Only the ceiling proved not to be quite high enough, but fortunately they didn't need to stand.
When Lord Cyrus, Pericles and Taylor returned, Jane was already warming up the engines, though she had only taken the co-pilot seat, never having flown a glider like this before. While the Blood Raven joined his brothers, Pericles sat down in the pilot seat next to her and put on a pair of headphones, before checking the displays as he buckled up.
"How fast can this thing fly?" The medicae asked him, when he made the last preparations.
"Not half as fast as the Aquila Lander and we've moved even further from the citadel to reach this mansion. I suppose it will take us at least an hour before we reach the stronghold." Pericles looked at her, seeing the concern in her eyes. "Are you worried we won't make it, or that your Inquisitor may no longer be alive?"
Jane looked at him, surprised that he'd paid attention to her like that, especially considering that half her face was still covered by the breathing mask. In here it was probably no longer necessary. "Both I suppose." She answered him. "Though I'm confident that Taylor's aura will keep protecting us, I wonder if something else like that Trygon is going to attack and yes." She sighed. "I wonder if Nicomedo is still alive. Who knows what he had to face in the citadel. Even if the canyon kept countless Tyranids at bay, what about the spores that have made it through?"
"Well, there is nothing we can do about any of that now."
Jane nodded, still deeply worried. "I know. Let us go back and find out."
Pericles pressed a few more buttons and fired up the engines. They were quieter than those of the Aquila Lander, but as she felt the glider lifting from the ground, a slight vibration went through the vessel. One of the displays turned green and Pericles moved the control stick forth, the glider mirroring his movement. Slowly they picked up speed and left the hanger.
The forest was surprisingly far below them as they flew out the rock face, but Pericles had mentioned that the mansion had been built at the edge of a cliff. Jane had an idea why; not only provided the location quite the view over the forest, which after all had covered this part of the planet even before the invasion, if not as densely, but this time of day the sun had sunken lower and was now beneath the dispersing cloud-ceiling. The Victoria system's sun threw warm light upon them, in such a stark contrast to the earlier grey and sickly greens and yellows. The light that now shone upon them reached from a soft yellow, over orange to red and pink, depending whether it reached trees, stone or clouds.
And yet it was strange how lifeless the sky itself was; no Gargoyles or spores, nothing. Had they all gone to Seraphim Citadel? Jane tried to look up as much as she could, trying to catch a glimpse at whatever was beyond the clouds. For a while there was nothing, before several small and soundless explosions caught her eyes; the battle in space was still ongoing.
No one was speaking as the sun kept setting, the ominous darkness behind them catching up, until the sun was only a semi-circle at the horizon. Slowly Jane allowed herself to relax and she leaned back in her soft, leather seat. Only now did she feel how exhausted she actually was. The Hive Tyrant, the walk through the forest and at last the mansion. If only she could return to the Adrastos, take a long shower and slip into her bed. Nothing came into her mind that she wanted more and her eyelids were so heavy.
The medicae took a deep breath and closed her eyes, fully trusting in Pericles' abilities to fly. Too blissful was the darkness that beckoned now; how could she refuse? Mere moments later did she feel herself slipping into a light sleep. Her rest however didn't last long, or at least it felt far too brief, when Pericles spoke. "Jane, wake up. You need to see this."
Tired she opened her eyes again, something which proved to be quite the struggle and she noticed that it had become even darker. The sun wasn't gone and still ahead of them, but night already surrounded them. Confused and not fully awake yet, Jane looked to Pericles, who said nothing, only gave her a nod, indicating something to their left.
She frowned and turned her head. What she saw was both terrifying and beautiful.
To their left, the darkness of night had already completely taken hold of Victoria Primus, the sky black or at the very least dark blue, yet thin streaks of white light dashed across the sky, as if hundreds of stars were showering down upon the planet. Jane watched them hit the ground, she saw the bright explosions that followed and the fires they ignited. Victoria Primus was burning.
The fires soon stretched across the horizon, but only more streaks of light came, adding to the flames. That was not the doing of Tyranids, no; those were weapons of Human origin and could only mean one thing. The Liberation Fleet had arrived.
The medicae watched with some disbelieve, before she once more look skywards and saw dozens of flashes, briefly illuminating outlines of ships in orbit. Were they actually saved? Was it truly already over?
The door behind them opened and Taylor joined them, Jane trying to ignore his freezing cold presence which suddenly was a lot stronger with him being so close. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" He seemed almost joyfully excited.
"If you are talking about our salvation, then yes." The captain replied calmly.
"Sounds about right." Taylor noted and when Jane looked at him again, she saw a broad smile on his lips. As if he had felt it he looked back at her, keeping the warm smile, but then he placed what was supposed to be a comforting hand on her shoulder. As much as she didn't want to, Jane involuntarily shivered slightly, which he noticed. Quickly the Untouchable removed his hand again, his smile disappearing. "Sorry."
"No, you don't need to be." She assured him, suddenly feeling guilty about her reaction.
He nodded and sat down behind them on the floor, his back resting against the wall, allowing him to look out the window same as her, even though from his position he could no longer see the forest. For a while none of them spoke. The fleet would likely burn the entire planet to make sure that no Tyranid survived. Would this world ever be settled again after this? Jane knew she wouldn't be here to see it, no matter what would happen to Victoria Primus, but at least this meant that some of her people were save. The Imperium was victorious.
"I can't believe they are already here." She finally whispered after a while, still staring at the fires outside.
"Don't complain now." Taylor scolded her, but with a warm and friendly sounding voice. "Just for once, simply be happy and enjoy the moment."
She merely nodded; he couldn't see that there was a tear running down from her left eye.
Nicomedo could feel a light tremor going through his legs. It was not from the motion of the elevator or his wounds, no, it was caused by his still weakened state. Using his psychic abilities had proved greatly exhausting, especially with the disturbance the Tyranids were causing. He tried not to show it as he looked to his companions. The three survivors of the Governor's Guard were standing behind him, still covered with alien blood and to his left stood Mandrake, his Interrogator who was looking somewhat disheveled after the close encounter with the Hormagaunts, his carapace armour covered with deep cuts and scratches.
The round elevator that was bringing them to the lower levels of the citadel was large enough to transport at least twenty people and thus seemed rather empty at the time. To preserve power there was only the dim, green emergency light, which caused the steel walls to look as if they were covered with lichen. Most elevators were not even working any longer, destroyed at some point in the battle, or simply without electricity to power them.
The sounds of gunfire and explosions were muffled, the elevator trembling every now and then, but otherwise nothing happened on their way down. No one talked either, though the way to the lower levels took several minutes. How much havoc could the Carnifex wreak, while they travelled? Of course there was the possibility that the defenders could hold it off and kill it themselves, they had the heavy weapons necessary for such a feat, but before today they had never faced Tyranids before. How would they reacted when a giant monster, with armour as tough as any tank if not harder, charged at them, screaming, tearing everything in its way apart? They could have the finest weapons and armour of the Imperium, but they were still normal men.
Sometimes Nicomedo had found himself envying them their simple lives, not knowing what horrors were out there, or the terrible things the Imperium often needed to do in order to ensure humanities survival. But not today. Today he pitied them, for he knew what he would have to face and he knew how to deal with it.
Knowledge was such a mixed blessing.
The elevator stopped. For a few moments they waited, but the door wouldn't open. Growling annoyed Mandrake stepped past the Inquisitor, placed both his hands on the metal surface and focused a bit of his energy. He was still in better shape than Nicomedo after all. Suddenly the door was pushed away with great force, torn from the elevator. It flew into a great hall, metal hitting stone with a loud crash, before it slithered across the floor, sparks flying.
They had been brought to the central hub. Next to their elevator were several more and further down the hall were standing almost a dozen trains, all having once brought passengers to almost every level and location in the citadel. Now however they were dormant and the lights in the great hall were all off, while banners covered with prayers as well as political and religious slogans hung between the several meters high pillars. There were a handful of rows that supported the ceiling, all made from grey stone, smoothed until it shimmered like marble.
The group left the elevator and walked through the station, each and every step echoing loudly. Already this place felt abandoned, but Nicomedo knew that several hundred refugees had been brought here and now waited in the first storey of the hub, just above this hall for the end of this battle. From outside they could already hear tanks roaring, artillery hammering and lasguns hissing. The Tyranids were certainly not yet defeated. Nicomedo wondered what would have happened if the entire swarm had been able to attack and his stomach twisted a little, when he thought of the millions of beast at the other side of the canyon, which they had burned into the planet.
As it was evening, dark, yellowish light welcomed them as they stepped out through the several meters high and broad portal and the Inquisitor looked upon a row of various tanks, their cannons steadily firing, Guardsmen moving between them, some carrying wounded away from the frontline. With a glance over his shoulder Nicomedo saw that already a fair number of soldiers had been brought to the outer wall of the hub, resting there with their backs against it, others lying, medicaes trying their best to ease pain and mend wounds. Some soldiers were already missing limbs, while others were dead with holes in their bodies, or acid having eaten away their armour and flesh. Once more he found himself pitying them.
He tore his gaze from the men and looked about. "Let us find ourselves an officer." It was the first time Nicomedo had spoken since they'd left plaza. "I need a better overview of the situation down here."
Almost right away Mandrake pointed at something to their right. "Sir, the fortified position over there; slightly elevated, between that tank and the Griffon."
"Well spotted, Nathan."
They moved behind the tanks, the soldiers they passed either ignoring them or looking curiously, no doubt wondering who this man was that he was accompanied by the Governor's Guard. Sandbags and ceramite barricades surrounded a heavy gunner position, a dark -skinned man in Imperial Guard uniform, the markings on his shoulder pad revealing him to be a lieutenant, having made it his provisional command post. He was speaking into a microphone, provide to him by a tired looking and sitting radio operator, whose hands were covered with dried blood. It was the latter, who spotted the Inquisitor first, his one eyebrow rising, before he lifted his head and said something to the officer.
The lieutenant lowered the microphone and turned his head, now frowning too. There was a deep cut along the right side of his face, a Hormagaunt having likely gotten too close. Nicomedo climbed over the sandbags, as the two men regarded him enquiringly. "Am I assuming correctly that you're in charge here, lieutenant?"
"I am currently, sir." The Guardsman answered, still looking skeptical. "Pardon me, but may I ask, who you are?"
"Lord Basil Nicomedo. Not a local." He added with a hint of a smile.
"Ah yes, the speech. Don't get that from that from our local lordships here; especially now that almost all are gone."
Nicomedo didn't say anything about the man's remark; Guardsmen dissatisfied with their leaders or nobility was something he'd encountered on numerous occasions, but as long as duties were fulfilled, the Inquisitor had learned to turn a blind eye once in a while. Besides, there were other, more urgent things he needed to attend to. "Lieutenant, I'm looking for a giant Tyranid lifeform that has been sighted in this area, a hulking creature with scything talons and giant pincers that can pierce a tank's armour." Mandrake, who had seen the beast through the eyes of a soldier shortly before the man's death, had given him a description of the beast on their way to the elevator. Hopefully the Guardsman had heard of the Carnifex as well.
The man's expression turned even grimmer, the cut breaking open along his right eyebrow. "Aye, I've heard reports of it, milord." He admitted. "We've been lucky so far. Usually only warrior creatures or swarms of those smaller things have attacked us, but that beast, whatever it is, is currently rampaging not far from here. At least as far as I know."
A start. "Where is the beast now?"
"It was last sighted three blocks away. We've lost communication to the PDF holding that street, though we've heard survivors reached the defences at the hub's south entrance."
"Then the Carnifex will likely have followed them there." He turned to Mandrake behind him. "Let's not keep it waiting."
His Interrogator nodded and both climbed over the sandbags again, when the lieutenant spoke again, obviously confused. "Sir, are you certain you want to face that thing? The defences down there have a few Leman Russ and Basilisks at their disposal, surely they will be enough…"
"Your concerns are noted, but I'd rather make sure myself that our defences are not breached. Hold your position here, lieutenant. That would be all."
The lieutenant did not try to stop them again and Nicomedo led his team south, keeping the hub to their right. The line of tanks and other vehicles continued on and it took them a few minutes to reach the skirt of the defences, a handful of heavy gunner teams having taken position there along with lasgun-equipped Guardsmen and a Hellhound. Several rows of sandbags and other barricades separated them from the streets, the bodies of Gants and Gaunts, even some Tyranid Warriors draped over them. A few dead Guardsmen had been dragged to the hub's walls, while other still lay at the barricades where they had fallen.
In their faces of those alive Nicomedo could see how disheartened they were, how weary of the fighting they had become. Perhaps it would have been different had their enemy not been alien beasts that fired acid or beetles and worms that ate their comrades alive from the inside. Those who would survive this war, would not forget the horrors they had witnessed this day. The soldiers here looked at them with the same mixture of curiosity and confusion the others at the portal had displayed, but none of the spoke as the Inquisitor crossed the barricades, though they spoke among each other with hushed voices.
The street they now wandered was littered with dead Tyranids, a few humans among them, both civilians and soldiers. As they walked Nicomedo briefly regarded the buildings around the hub, the other spires looming in the background. The citadel had once been built as a refuge for the nobles of this sector and traces of this origin had survived to this day. They all were only about five storeys high, yet their facades of grey stone were embellished with pillars, half-embedded into the fronts, along with statues, which stood on top of the roofs, looking down upon the streets with empty eyes.
As they walked, the sounds of battle grew quieter and Nicomedo thanked the Emperor that no Tyranid crossed their path. Perhaps the xenos were attracted by the bloodshed; after all Hormagaunts needed to feed themselves almost constantly and where it was quiet like here, there was likely no prey.
The small group needed a quarter of an hour in order to reach the southern defences, which were taking in the space of a crossing where three streets merged and lead into the hub. From a distance they looked to have been built same as the other up north from where the group had come from, if a little smaller. "We seem to have made it in time." Mandrake noted hopefully, seeing the defences still intact. Besides, if the Carnifex was around here he certainly didn't wish to encounter the Tyranids outside the defensive ring and the Inquisitor shared the sentiment.
"Aye, but we haven't quite made it yet." About a kilometre still separated them from the first barricades and Nicomedo felt the presence of the Hive Mind stronger again, this uncomfortable, unnerving sensations of claws scratching upon his own mind. The Tyrant was defeated but there were still other synapse creature, which could uphold order in smaller packs. It appeared that at least one of those was close by.
Nicomedo fears were proven to be true mere moments later. Sadly the Tyranid Warriors seemed to remember that they were supposed to attack the Humans. About six of them together had managed to bring some resemblance of order to the Gaunts and Gants near them, maybe about a hundred, a small number, tiny when compared to what the Tyranids commonly ordered into battle. But they were not alone.
A feral roar announced its coming, the ground trembling at each step it took. The tanks' guns were firing at the smaller beasts, but even their thunder could not drown out the call. As Gaunts and Gants fell, the part of the building closest to the hub and the defences exploded from the inside, stone getting tossed into the air, many crushing the close by barricades, rolling further to crush the Guardsmen and soldiers of the PDF, who had not managed to evade in time. A large, dark shade emerged from the grey dust, truly monstrous in appearance and faster than a thing of such size should be.
Several meters high, the hulking beast towered over the tanks, large hooves leaving small craters as it stormed the defences like a six-limbed and armour platted battering-ram of claws, thorns and teeth. What was left of the barricades was trampled as if it was made of paper, the large crab-like pincers hacking into the Leman Russ, which was unfortunate enough to be the first thing in the Carnifex's path.
They cut through the tanks hull and crushed the metal. The impact pushed the Leman Russ sideways like a toy, the Carnifex roaring once more. It rammed its scything talons into its prey and with all four limbs it tore at the tank, widening the holes created by the pincers. The metal whined pitifully, like a dying animal and even from a distance, Nicomedo could hear men scream. The Carnifex opened its mouth, but instead of another roar, it spat something like a blinding ball of incandescent fire, accompanied by a high-pitched scream, the Inquisitor covering an ear with his hand. Bio-plasma. The men inside would be completely dissolved within minutes. Fortunately they would be dead sooner; certainly they were already.
Nicomedo had started to run, his men behind him. The other tanks opened fire on the Carnifex, but it was already too close for the Basilisks and the Hellhounds were busy with disposing of the smaller Tyranids, as even more were coming to join the fray. Panic spread among the soldiers, many simply running away from the juggernaut, which rammed a Basilisk, toppled it, tossing it against another Leman Russ. The men who had still been between the two vehicles were simply crushed. The Carnifex was now within the defences themselves, creating havoc, ignoring the soldiers for the most part, though several were trampled, others killed by the talons or the long tail that ended in a bony club.
At least some were still fighting, those furthest away from the monster. Gaunts and Gants died in the fire of the two remaining Hellhounds and the lasguns alike. The Warriors fired deathspitters and barbed stranglers, but without much cover, other than a bit of rubble, they were soon taken out as well, just as the Inquisitor reached the now destroyed border of the barricades.
With the Carnifex so close, most of the men ran to the hub, seeking refuge behind its walls as the tanks tried to circle the beast. Only the Basilisks retreated, rendered useless due to the close proximity. The Carnifex snarled and growled when the two Hellhounds unleashed fired upon it, now that most of the smaller aliens were dealt with, but this only seemed to further enrage the beast, while the rounds of the hull-mounted heavy bolter from the Leman Russ simply bounced off the thick plates that covered its body. Merely the less protect arms and legs seemed to get wounded, dark blood running from them.
Enraged the Carnifex spat it Bio-plasma at one of the Hellhounds, which melted the metal, ate both the barrel and hull. Some dropped onto the promethium tanks and seconds later it exploded, tearing the Hound apart, disabling the Leman Russ closest to it. The Inquisitor stopped, trying to think of a way to kill that beast; one Hellhound and three Leman Russ remained functional, but the Carnifex was already charging at the next of the latter.
Damn the Genestealers; without their sabotage, there would have been more men and war machines defending the citadel. Other than the tanks, there seemed to be no weapon around to hurt this beast. A shame the Sentinels and most other walkers were still on the upper levels to deal with the airborne Tyranids. Well, perhaps there was one more option. Nicomedo looked about searching the ground. "Mandrake." He addressed his Interrogator. "See if you can reactivate one of these heavy guns. Take the most suitable weapon you can find to harm this beast. Guards; you'll stay with him."
All three nodded, while one replied, his voice monotone thanks to his helmet. "As you command, milord."
"What will you do?"
He turned to his protégé. "Something foolish." Nicomedo replied, smiling joylessly behind his breathing mask. "But our options are limited I'm afraid."
The younger man nodded slowly, doubtlessly suspecting something. "Emperor be with you, sir."
"And with you, Mandrake." Immediately he rushed down the rubble they had been standing on and ran across the barricades' remains.
The Carnifex was still occupied with the tanks, while the drivers tried desperately to stay away from its claws. A Leman Russ managed to make it in time, the beast ramming merely a wall, stones tumbling upon it. The tank fired, the round hitting the softer part of a limb just beneath large plates on its back. It howled as its flesh exploded and one of the pincers was torn off.
Now that it stood still, the other two opened fire as well, those Leman Russ however only hit the tougher back instead. Chitin cracked but was not broken and once more it opened its mouth; something within it glowed green. Having learned quickly, the vehicles brought some distance between them and the Tyranid. Still the Bio-plasma was fired, missing the tank that had wounded it by mere centimeters. It left a smoking crater, though the track of the Leman Russ was hit, bringing it to a stop.
With all speed Nicomedo made for it, passing slaughtered Guardsmen and rubble, his sword drawn once again. Thankfully the Guardsmen, who still lived, were keeping the last of the smaller Tyranids occupied. Another weapon began firing at the Carnifex, rounds exploding upon the plates. Briefly the Inquisitor looked over his shoulder, seeing that Mandrake and one of the Guards had reactivated an autocannon.
The other vehicles fired as well, all this firepower managing to slow the Carnifex down, if just a little. The next two rounds hit just as the charging Tyranid rammed the Leman Russ, pushing it against a large piece of a wall that the beast had torn down upon its appearance. The metal bent and cracked, the hooves and the alien's heavy weight deforming the vehicle almost beyond recognition, as the Carnifex began to hack at it like a berserker with its three remaining claws.
No one inside could have survived. The next two rounds hit the beast's flank, pushing it from the wreck. Once more the Carnifex howled and staggered. There was thick blood leaking from between the large back plates and flesh had obviously been shredded. In this small window of time before the Leman Russ could fire again Nicomedo made his move.
He had kept hidden between the wrecks of the already destroyed vehicles as he approached, following the Carnifex's swath of destruction. Just as the beast lifted its head to roar into the sky, a deafening sound, full of animalistic rage and defiance, the Inquisitor rushed out of cover threw himself to the ground, sliding the last few meters over the even wall behind the tank. He now found himself directly below the hulking monstrosity, starring at the ribcage-like exoskeleton covering the torso.
But he had not gone unnoticed. He heard the Carnifex snarl and suddenly one of the scything talons came down and buried itself right next to Nicomedo into the ground. He needed to be quick. It moved backwards, trying to tilt its head in order to catch a glimpse of the Inquisitor, but its own exoskeleton was in its way. Still the other scything talon came at him, but Nicomedo had taken hold of a 'rib' with both hands, one additionally holding the sword, pulling himself closer to the body. As the beast moved he was carried along and thus not exposed, but the long talon returned and he felt it cutting into his right flank.
Nicomedo hissed, as a burning pain spread through his body, but he held on regardless, already feeling his fingers slipping from the smooth rib. Still he gathered his powers.
The Carnifex was hit again and the body shook. Nicomedo's blade began to glow with a bright blue light, the first flashes dancing across the blade. He had his eyes closed, focusing on his task. The Carnifex's roar sounded distant, as he felt energy surge through him, from him into his blade. Dizziness began to take him.
The hand that had been holding on to both the sword and the rib let go of the latter and gripped the weapon tighter. His body dangled about a meter above the ground, as the Carnifex planted itself in front of the tanks threateningly, apparently trying to intimidate the last of them. For a moment Nicomedo was glad that the Hellhound was currently holding back.
Then, with all strength he had left, Nicomedo rammed his sword into the Carnifex, just between two ribs. The blade went deep, almost to the hilt and Nicomedo unleashed his powers.
All of the sudden parts of the Carnifex began to glow from the inside, lightning running through every fiber, burning flesh, making muscles cramp uncontrollably. The howl it emitted was that of a wounded animal, no more rage, only pain. Nicomedo gritted his teeth, as the lightning began to break through the flesh and out, running across its body now as well, touching upon the Inquisitor occasionally.
The giant body buckled and went to its knees. It tried to keep itself up, using its three remaining arms for support, especially the scything talons digging deeper and deeper into the ground. Finally the howling stopped.
Inquisitor Nicomedo held on as long as he could, but his strength left him. His other hand slipped from the rib and he fell, his weight sufficient to pull out his sword. A final bolt leaped from its tip to the Carnifex and Nicomedo hit the ground, the air getting pressed out of his lungs when he landed hard on his back. Instinctively he coughed though too little effect, the pain in his flank flaring up more sharply at the same time. As his eyes opened, his head spinning, he saw the smoking ribcage of the Tyranids coming towards him.
Panic seized him and his pain momentarily forgotten he rolled to the side, over and over again, until he met the tank, the vehicle blocking his way. He pressed his body against it and heard the heavy corpse collapse to the ground. Nicomedo, now lying on his side, turned his head just enough to the Carnifex's husk, smoke crawling from its blackened wounds, the patches promethium from the Hellhounds still burning on its back. It no longer moved.
He found himself right between it and the metal that had stopped him, his sword kept close and pressed to his chest, its glow gone. Nicomedo breathed out in relief and closed his eyes once more. The sounds around him grew dull and darkness closed in, as he lost the sensation for his now heavy feeling body and the pain of the wounds he'd suffered lessened. In fact the pain was very far away now. Undeniably there was something very blissful about the world he drifted into and without resistance he let unconsciousness take him. Inquisitor Nicomedo didn't even feel how his head hit the ground.
Night and fire followed them on their flight back. The citadel itself stood out like a lonely mountain of metal in the forest, the artificial canyon as its moat. The airspace had cleared and only a comparatively small number of Gargoyles was still circling above the citadel. But they were no longer a swarm, only as single individuals and small groups they fought for their survival. The stronghold's guns were still firing and from the lower parts of the citadel, flashes of light could be seen, black smoke rising from the outer circle and quite a few spires. It seemed the defenders were still occupied.
Even in the forest surrounding the citadel, one could see activity, though the darkness hid much, perhaps more than the treetops they looked upon. No doubt millions of Tyranids were still fighting there for their survival, even against each other. If the Hive Fleet was near obliteration, even the remaining synapse creatures would not be able to restore order. Not that it mattered much, not if the Imperium's guns would soon rain fire upon this part of the planet as well. And the Liberation Fleet moved fast.
"I'm getting a signal again." Pericles suddenly told them, a finger against one of his headphones.
Quickly Jane put on a pair herself, positioning the microphone in front of her lips. "Inquisitor Nicomedo, come in." She spoke; she had put in the correct frequency into the onboard cogitator shortly before they'd left the hangar, though until now there had only been static. "This is medicae Pravin."
It was a familiar, but female voice that answered her, just slightly distorted by the still weak connection. "Miss Pravin, it is good to hear from you again."
Jane smiled and activated the speakers on the vessel, so Taylor and the Astartes could listen in as well. "Ship Mistress, the pleasure is mutual. We're currently on route and will arrive shortly at the Adrastos."
"We have taken notice of your success, well done." Ship Mistress Sammael complimented them.
"What of the Inquisitor?" Pericles interjected with a worried frown.
"The upper levels of the citadel have mostly been cleared of the xenos and are under control, but many Tyranids have gotten into the lower parts, causing havoc even without the Tyrant's commands. Nicomedo has gone down there, but I have not heard from him since."
"Such is ill new." The Captain noted darkly, Jane and Taylor looking at each other worriedly.
"Those are not the only ill news we received." Even despite the distortion they could hear the grim tone of Sammael's voice. "The Lord General Militant of the Imperial Guard and the Captain Militant of the PDF have been contacted by the Liberation Fleet. As you have no doubt noticed, they are putting this world to the torch in order to kill the swarm; Seraphim Citadel was to be spared. However now that we are losing the lower levels, the uppers ones are to be evacuated and the citadel as a whole to be destroyed."
Jane's tension returned. "And those still trapped down there?" She already knew the answer, but a small part of her wished that she was wrong.
There was a brief pause before the Ship Mistress answered. "Soldiers and civilians; all will perish, several thousands of them. Unless of course, we do something or even manage to get the situation under control within the next hour."
Jane looked at both Pericles and Taylor. In their faces she could see that they shared her distress and frustration. Not just at the fate of the people, but Nicomedo and Mandrake would likely die with them, if they didn't make it out in time. They probably didn't even know of the Fleet's intentions. It was then that they heard the heavy steps of a Space Marine behind them, all turning around to see Lord Cyrus in the door, his breathing mask now hanging from his neck. His expression was grim as was usual for him while he spoke, but there was something in his eyes that made the medicae shiver. "Captain Pericles, take us to the General Militant. There is still work to be done."
Aegroto dum vita est, spes est
As long as there is life there is hope