Chapter 6 - Hungry Gods
Time/Place 405 010.M42 / Battle-Barge Courage of Carolus, fleeing the New Lochos System
Lances, Macro Cannons, Warp-Craft, and Exterminatus; The Devouring World had withstood all that the Imperium and the Forces of Chaos could throw at it. It had been blasted, burned, and even reduced to rubble but it still carried on in horrific un-life. The Task Force Fleet could only watch in horror as The Corpse Orb pulled itself back together. They continued to fire upon it, but the effects were negligible. The Monster was not only regenerating but regenerating faster and faster.
As the Devouring World pulled itself back together the fleet retreated into the Immaterium countless prayers were said to the Emperor as the fleet massed and prepared to jump into the Warp. They fled the Monster and set a course of an unknown system in the Halo Stars Kryptman had told them about, a place he referred to as "the beginning of the abomination."
Time/Place 449 010.M42 / Despoiled Citadel: Black Legion Star Fort
Things should be going well for the Black Legion, Cadia had Fallen, the Galaxy was sundered and the forces of Chaos rampaged through the Imperiums husk. Yet the Servants of the Dark Powers were not experiencing the fruits of their grim labors but hurriedly preparing to survive the gathering storm. None, not even Moriana: Damned Seer of the Despoiler had predicted what occurred. Just when Victory seemed inevitable and the Warmaster was mustering his forces to attack Terra itself, Roboute Guilliman rose from the Dead.
A Primarch had returned to the Imperium and at the head of a new Crusade unlike any since the Great Scouring. The Chaos Legions were being slowly but surely driven back by the Lord of Ultramar and his Legions of Primaris Astartes. The Thirteenth Black Crusade may have succeeded in breaking Cadia but it was slowly being routed by New Warriors and Weapons that reaped a grim toll on the Traitors. Even with the news that Guilliman's damned kin Magnus, Fulgrim, and Mortarion were marching to war things still looked grim for the Forces of Chaos. They were not facing the old crumbling Imperium but a reborn one lead by a legendary Demi-God. To make matters worse entire Worlds in service to the Dark Powers were disappearing, One by One, as if they were lights being winked out, entire Planets and systems were being destroyed. The Culprit seemed impossible to even Veterans of the Eye of Terror, a Cannibal Planet.
If not for the fact entire Fleets that had been lost to it this Devouring World would have just been considered a legend told to scare whelps. Countless attack against it had been crushed and only one Champion of the Dark Gods had shown any skill at dealing with it. Limax Champion of Nurgle and Dark-Admiral of the 66th Fleet was the first to survive an encounter with the Devouring World and since then had gained a reputation for being able to minimize the damage it inflicted upon the forces of Chaos. Due to this, his Fleet had been summoned to the Despoiled Citadel in order to receive new commands from the Warmaster of Chaos himself, Abaddon the Despoiler.
Limax entered into the temporary throne room of The Despoiler. Monsters, minions, and other hanger-on's filled the chamber, all engaged in the court intrigue of Chaos. At the end of the room stood Him, Abaddon the Despoiler, Lord of the Black Legion and Warmaster of Chaos Undivided. Limax, a master of traveling the Warp had felt nothing in his millennia of experience akin to The Despoiler. Most souls gave off a spark of energy in the Warp and made tiny ripples in the fabric of the Immaterium. Abaddons soul was a twisted exaggeration of the typical. To Limax's Warp-sight it appeared like a black hole, a mass of such darkness and power that it threatened the sanity of all near him. Being in the same room as the Warmaster was often enough to break even other champions through sheer Chaos imbued force of will.
Champion Limax kneeled before Abaddon, who was facing away from him leisurely torturing an Imperial Officer. Speaking with a deep brutal voice the Despoiler addressed his subordinate. "I hear that our guest Kryptman has fallen into Imperial hands, that is disappointing news. Limax you have done an adequate job harassing the Devouring World, many a planet under my rule would have been consumed if not for your service. Yet even after being elevated to Champion of Nurgle and being granted anything and everything to deal with this threat you have not gotten results. The Cannibal Planet still hunts and that must change." he stopped his speech to carve profane runes into the screaming imperials flesh with his Talons.
Casually lacerating the former Vice-Admirals skin he continued: "This servant of the Corpse Emperor not only sold out his subordinates and superiors to us but then had the gall to demand greater rewards than he earned. I gave him what he desired, I gave him immortality and a place in my court. His soul is bound to his flesh and can not leave until I will it. He could have served me and my Legion and earned those rewards but he was foolish and petulant." With surprising delicacy, the Warmaster ripped the mans still beating heart out of his chest and let it sit in the palm of his colossal Talon.
Turning to Limax he spoke again "My servants in the shadows inform me that a curious Imperial Fleet has been spotted in the Halo Stars, this fleet matches descriptions of the one that stole Kryptman and battled our foe, it appears Guilliman has sent some of his forces to deal with the Devouring World also. Find them, Kill Them and use whatever knowledge you can acquire from Kryptman to destroy this threat to my Legion. This is your last opportunity Limax, do not disappoint me like so many other wretches and fools have." With that, the power-field of The Talon of Horus flared to life atomizing the Officer's heart. The man let out one final painful wail and slumped over dead, his soul fed to the Dark Gods.
Time/Place 453 010.M42 / Battle Barge Courage of Carolus in the Spawnhole system.
The Task Force fleet had a surprisingly easy Warp-Jump to the system Kryptman had told them about. Usually travel this close to the Eye was exceptionally arduous, especially after the opening of the Great Rift. When asked about it the Navigator commented on how the Warp seemed almost calm, lacking most of the background noise universal in the Immaterium. They arrived in a seemingly innocuous System with a Type G Main Sequence Star populated by a few gas giants and barren planets. Aside from the atypically large Asteroid belt, it was like countless star systems that were not even worth given proper names.
"What now Heretic?" Inquisitor Heimdall was agitated and paranoid, as natural for an Inquisitor in an unknown situation. Kryptman looked out the main viewport and began to speak. "You wanted answers and I shall deliver, This system is where the Devouring World as you call Hive-Fleet Ghoul was born. Emerging into the Galaxy near the Halo Stars, Hive Fleet Ghoul was originally a standard tendril of the Great Devourer seeking organic matter to absorb. Ghoul had the misfortune of finding a System near the Eye of Terror known simply to the only being who visited it as Spawnhole, which is our current location. Spawnhole gained its name because for as long as even the ancients of the Traitor legions could remember none useful Chaos Spawn have been discarded here."
" Hive-Fleet Ghoul arrived and went about its business, reawakening from hibernation and begin feeding on the world of Exile. The entire surface of that world was covered in billions upon billions of constantly mutating Chaos Spawn. The Hivefleet began to devour this world, and the hoards of abominations that made Exile their home, in turn, began to feed on the fleets Biomorphs. After centuries of this constant orgy of consumption, carnage, and chaos, there was no difference between Spawn and Tyranid. The entire world was one massive organism born of obscene mutagenic gluttony. A Continent sized mass of twisted broken flesh that constantly consumed itself was all that remained of the twin abominations unleashed on Exile. Separated from the hivemind and the Dark Powers of the Warp this new being burrowed into its world and fused with it."
"A mass of twisted flesh and corrupted stone unified by the overpowering insane hunger of Chaos and the Tyranids was born. The Devouring World as it would become known came into being with a single overpowering urge, Eat. Its warp-attuned spawn-blood is why it can make short warp Jumps as you have seen. Thankfully lacking the Shadow in the Warp of its Tyranid ancestors this mass of corruption lurches through the warp mistaken for a particularly large Space Hulk by those who can sense such things. Eventually, it screamed into existence near the edge of the Eye of Terror."
"I don't know how long it stalked that hellish void, devouring Chaos and Imperial forces alike. Although It seems to hold a special hatred for the forces of Chaos and has more actively attacked Worlds and fleets of Chaos. Worse yet with every planet, it consumes it grows in size and intellect. Its mind has the combined psychic might of trillions of beings and I shudder to think what Warp-Born powers it may learn as it ages. This thing must be killed as quickly as possible before it grows even stronger"
Looking aghast the leaders of the Task force pondered this information, it filled in so many holes in their investigation and explained the creature and its abilities. Stigler's Inquisitorial intuition nagged at him so he asked a simple question "How did you acquire this information?" Kryptmans lips parted in a thin smile "Three sources. First, Chaos Forces that observed it and touched its mind. Second, my own studies and samples acquired from it and experiments on my mimicry of it. Third and most importantly my new patron." With those sinister words, the fleet's sensors blared to live as what had thought to be an Asteroid field began to stir to life.
A Bolter, a Hellgun and a Power Sword were all leveled at Kryptman in unison. Claxons wailed and thousands of Serfs and Acolytes prepared the ships for battle, the Asteroid field erupted into motion, revealing their true nature, Tyranids. Great chunks of ice sloughing of the awakening armada of Hive-Ships. "Explain Kryptman, or I swear by the Emperor I will kill you as painfully as possible!" Heimdall's' eyes burned with righteous fury as the colossal fleet of Xenos closed in. Bio-Cannons and Feeder Tendrils unfurled from the Tyranids, and the Task Forces moved to battle stations.
They were outnumbered at least 1000:1 by the Xeno's, the battle could not be won and the fleet would die today with a prayer on their lips and hatred in their heart. Before the Imperials or Tyranids could open fire Kryptman nonchalantly snapped his fingers and the Tyranid Fleet seemed to shut off like a Machine that's energy flow was disrupted. Kryptman walked slowly towards the weapons aimed at him and began to speak "The Tyranids are under my command, kill me and they will consume you all and then head towards Imperial Space to wreak havoc. There is nearly a Hivefleet worth of them in and around this System. It would be the final blow to the already struggling Imperium. Do not waste your lives or the lives of trillions" Motioning to the soldiers on the Bridge to hold fire The triumvirate of hunters glared at their prisoner turned capturer as they relented.
"Kill us or don't Kryptman, we will not be used as pawns in whatever mad schemes you have concocted" spat Gustavus. Kryptman just chuckled and began to speak "Kill you? Oh no, not at all what my patron wants. You are going to help us, for our goals are same." "Your patron? Who or what are you serving Kryptman? How the Warp are you controlling those Tyranids?" said Stigler, his ever curious mind hungry for knowledge and weapons to use against the Great Devourer. Kryptman gave a sad little smile before speaking "I thought it was obvious, The Tyranids are my patrons"
Stunned shock rippled through the Bridge as the Ex-Inquisitor continued "For centuries I fought them, using every resource and power at my disposal to hurt the Devourer. I failed bitterly, I was but an Ant attacking a Titan. In my desperation to save this Galaxy and countless others, I attempted a truly insane scheme. Using knowledge I stole, artifacts I found and methods best left unsaid I managed to reach out and touch the Tyranid Hive Mind, in turn, it touched me." Kryptmans eyes seemed to glaze over as the intense memories of joining the Synaptic Web came to focus. "There are no words for it, it's the most beautiful and yet horrible thing to feel the mind of something… so ancient, so powerful, so utterly perfect. It recognized me like how leukocytes recognize a virus. It could have easily destroyed my mind, body, and soul, with just a flicker of psychic might."
Deepening into his trance Kryptmans eyes and very soul shifted, the taint of the Great Devourer was deep within him and for a brief minute they were not speaking to Kryptman but something else... "We decided to use the thing in this Galaxy that had hurt us most to help us finish our meal. We gave him the choice between being consumed and being one with us. The flesh you know as Kryptman is now as much part of me as me as the forms you call Gaunt or Hive Tyrant. This Galaxy shall become one with us much as the thousand before it have, We are hungry and we are coming." Kryptman's eyes cleared up and he seemed almost unsteady for a second, for a split second they saw shock and confusion on his face before the oily confidence of the Ex-Inquisitor Returned.
The Triumvirate all had different reactions to this seemingly impossible revelation. Gustavus was filled with pure and utter Contempt, their foe was not simply a heretic and a madman but a Xeno-tainted Traitor. Stigler was in a mix of shock and horror, if Kryptman was not lying then this Devouring World was the least of their worries and the Tyranids were a far more insidious threat. Heimdall was a mass or rage and hate, and the first to speak "HOW DARE YOU! YOU WERE A SERVANT OF THE EMPEROR, A SERVANT OF HUMANITY! YOU WOULD BETRAY US JUST FOR THE LUXURY OF BEING EATEN LAST BY A XENO-MONSTER THAT IS NOTHING BUT HUNGER!?" At this Kryptman laughed. "Oh Myla, all the Gods are Hungry. Chaos for Emotions, The God-Emperor for souls, and the Yngir ate the Stars. Gods by nature are hungry greedy beings, but my God… Well my God is at least honest about it and allows us to live on as part of it."
Stepping towards the Viewport, looking at the masses of Tyranids Kryptman quietly spoke "We all die, from age, diseases, or conflict we die for there is no peace amongst the stars, only an eternity of carnage and slaughter, and the laughter of thirsting gods. My God is the answer, we shall all join with it, our flesh will be its flesh, our souls will be its soul, our minds shall be one. The Great Devourer is beyond anything we can even begin to imagine, and even it fears the Devouring World. It is the nature of things for Fathers to Kill Sons and Sons to Kill Fathers, the Imperium knows that better than most. The Cannibal Planet must die before it threatens its sire."
Without a Word, Heimdall walked up to Kryptman and looked him in his ancient eyes. In a half whisper, she spoke: "I have a message for the Hive-Mind, something to tell this False God." Kryptman's eyes glazed over as he joined with his Patron. Heimdall marshaled the full cold fury of humanity and spoke to the Great Devouring itself. "We will kill the Devouring World, then we will Kill you, and any other Emperor-Damned abomination that stands in our way" Without another word she suddenly shot Kryptman in the kneecap. The Tainted-Madman crumpled to the floor, shouting in pain. The Ordo Malleus Inquisitor kicked Kryptman onto his back and shot his other Knee out. Kryptman roared in pain as Heimdall leveled the Stubber at his face and spat on him. Kryptman shrieked "You fools, you have doomed billions through your ignorance. The Tyranids will awaken and... and...what?" Kryptman felt a sudden absence, the whispers of the Hive were silent.
Stigler joined his comrade towering over the crippled Traitor and spoke: "It seems Lord Cawl's invention works, Lord Guilliman seemed skeptical but these new Synapse Breaker Shells work." Heimdall smiled, a smile devoid of kindness and mirth, a smile of a shark seeing its prey. "Kryptman, you betrayed not just humanity but the Galaxy to the Xeno. As long as those rounds are in your flesh you are separated from the Hivemind, Apparently, these are Experimental Deathwatch weapons but the Lord Commander figured they might be useful" Upon learning that Kryptman stopped squirming in pain and just looked at them with pleading aged eyes. In a desperate croaking whisper he spoke: "Kill me, please kill me while it can not touch my mind or influence me now, for the love the Emperor KILL ME BEFORE THE BOARD IS SET!" Was he faking? He was separated from the Hive Mind, had he really been corrupted by it. Before they could ask anything The Klaxons began to wail, the Tyranids were stirring and reality was trembling. A War was coming to Spawnhole, a War between Hungry Gods.