Fame Cimex Chapter 19

On the battlebarge Thunderlord, the Masters of the Storm Heralds were meeting once more, the Captains and leaders of the Chapter gathered to discuss their next course of action. With them sat Shade-Seer Imix whose appearance had been a most welcome surprise, as were the six squads of Smoke Jaguars that he had brought with him. Sixty Space Marines, whole worlds had fallen to less, yet what no one was saying was that against the Tyranids it was hard to see what difference they could make.

Sitting in the chair of Third Company Captain Toran was watching proceedings and considering the significance of their new guests. The Smoke Jaguars were a strange and exotic breed of Astartes, descended from the XIXth Legion and bearing a feral, primitive mien. Yet in complete contrast to the Storm Heralds their reputation was shining, a litany of deeds testifying to their ardent need to prove their worth and none could doubt their commitment. No one, not even the most fervent Emperor-Worshippers wanted to offend the Chief Librarian of so honoured a Chapter; even Apothecary Lessall was silent as their visitor spoke.

Imix was telling the elaborate tale of his journey, speaking poetically about the horrors of the Warp his ship (Silent Hunter) had endured and the long slog through real space to reach this system. Finally he came to a close and Chapter Master Gorgall nodded his head respectfully as he said, "We thank you for that Shade-Seer, it was most informative. I take it then that we are truly in the Shadow of the Hive Mind now?"

Imix confirmed this by saying, "Of that there can be no doubt, even now I can hear their chittering claws and gnashing fangs. A million, billion hungry voices screaming as one, they scratch at my mental walls even as we sit here."

Toran was slightly unnerved by the psychic pronouncement, Imix was the strongest telepath he had ever heard of and if one such as he was troubled by the Tyranid's might then there was much cause for concern. Gorgall however was talking again and said, "What does this mean for our strategic situation?"

Chief Librarian Echeb lowered his head respectfully at his counterpart before activating a Hololithic display of the stellar system, one with an ugly scar carved into it in bright red: the course of the Tyranids. Echeb stated, "The splinter of the Hive Fleet advances deeper into the system as we speak, seeking Bio-Mass to feast upon. They are taking no risks but staying together, guarding the two Hive Ships in shoals of flesh. As they advance the Shadow in the Warp grows worse, we cannot send or receive messages at all."

"Reinforcements?" asked Gorgall more out of rote than any genuine expectation of a positive answer.

Echeb shook his head and said, "Impossible, all Navigation is cut off and we cannot even see the Astronomicon. As of this moment the Saint Karyl Trail no longer exists, all the Warp Routes between Segmentum Solar and Tempestus are now severed. Unless we can defeat this splinter fleet soon then the whole galactic south will fall to Hive Fleet Leviathan."

Captain Hakulo spoke up to say, "I say we carve our way through the fleet, take out the Hive Ships. Cut off the head and let the body die."

Captain Phalros rebuked him saying, "We have already discussed this, you know we cannot break through their numbers."

Hakulo had a glint in his eye as he said, "Which is why we should seize all civilian vessels in the system, pack them with explosives and convert them into Fire Ships. We could blast a path through their hordes and follow on a road paved with dead chitin."

It was Captain Maxitio who spoke up to say, "You would not get more than two or three bombs off before the Tyranids reacted, they have shown a disturbing ability to adapt and evolve to meet attacks. Let us discuss serious options, what proper spheres of defence do we have out there?"

Echeb said, "This stellar system is somewhat bare, save for the cloud scoops and geo-thermal mines on the fifth and third planets respectively, there are only monitoring outposts and light patrols. The only real bastion is the orbital defence network over Angle's Redoubt itself, which is formidable."

Captain Toran interjected, "The Imperial Navy has to head that way regardless, their fleet has been mauled, without urgent refit they will be in no shape to fight."

There was a snort of derision from the far side of the table and Chief Apothecary Lessall leaned forwards to snarl, "Pathetic mortals, they would all be dead without us!"

Gorgall looked at his chief rival and said frankly, "The battle was fierce, but thankfully we were able to turn the tide."

Lessall spat, "It should never have been necessary, those mortals should have recognised that they were out of their depth and respected our commands. If only you had possessed the steel to break that Inquisitor Zerban…"

He was cut off as Imix rapped the table sharply with an armoured knuckle and barked, "You waste words! What is done is done, let not the past distract you, focus on the path you have yet to walk."

Lessall subsided, respecting the emissary of a fellow Chapter as Gorgall said, "Sage words indeed, recriminations are useless at this point. We need to follow the example of the Primarch, give me rational Theoreticals and hard Practicals."

Phalros was the first to speak saying, "The only realistic option is to meet them over Angle's Redoubt, stand alongside the defences and the Navy and break the Xenos as they come."

Toran agreed saying, "The Minefields, defence platforms and starforts there present a true obstacle to the Tyranid foe, if we combine our guns with theirs we can hold the line."

Maxitio looked more solemn but said, "It will be bloody and costly, the Chapter will pay dearly for this, but it is the only possible option available to us."

Suddenly Captain Jossat leaned forward and said, "Not necessarily, we don't have to be there when the splinter fleet arrives."

Phalros said wearily, "Not this again, we will not abandon this world without fighting for it."

Jossat however wasn't going to be silenced and growled, "Just listen to me, I am not advocating abandoning this world, merely concentrating our might where it is best placed."

Gorgall looked at him suspiciously and said, "Explain."

Jossat pressed a rune and pulled up a representation of previous Tyranid invasions saying, "Look at what happened at Veltri, the Tyranids broke the defences then moved to consume the planet. To do this they spread out all around the orbital lanes, covering the planet evenly. Look at their dispositions; even the Tyranids don't have enough numbers to fill space itself. They must disperse widely, leaving themselves exposed and vulnerable. At this point the Hive Ships had no more than a hundred escorts around them, small enough numbers for us to take on if we attack in their moment of weakness."

Silence fell as everybody considered this, long moments passing as each Transhuman ran the calculations in their heads. Slowly Gorgall said, "Leaving the defence stations to hold the line sits ill with me, but you do have a valid point."

Toran spoke up to say, "But my Lord that will mean allowing the Tyranids to land significant swarms of troops on the surface, the Hive Cities will feel the Xeno's wrath if we allow this."

Gorgall sighed and said, "It may well be our only option at this juncture, a counterattack from the rear presents our best chance of victory. History proves that if we can destroy the Hive Ships then the Hive Mind loses control of its lesser creatures, we can pick off each swarm one by one once orbital supremacy is secured."

Toran glowered but Phalros quickly said, "We would have a far better chance at success if the Navy were to join us, do you think we can convince the Rear-Admiral that this is a viable strategy?"

Gorgall replied, "Dousmanis the Younger is committed to the fight, we can count on him. The real problems here are Zerban and Giovanni, they will scream betrayal at this plan, they will do everything they can to manipulate the Lord's Militant into opposing it."

Lessall sneered at that and said, "They should learn to respect their betters, we are the ones who will ultimately have to swing the axe to cut off the head of this beast."

Suddenly there was a snort of derision and Gorgall looked over at Imix to say, "Shade-Seer, you have something to add?"

Imix sighed loudly and sounded disappointed as he said, "Your minds are made of nothing but metal and hard geometries, all you can think of is holding lines on maps and counter-charges."

Jossat sounded annoyed as he said, "You find that to be a problem?"

Imix shook his head and said, "You think that defence is all about guns on walls and clever manoeuvres, that war is a matter of exchanging punches until one fighter falls over. That sort of thinking would send a million men to die for the sake of a mile of mud, to die for the most pointless of reasons."

That caused a stir, for the Imperium was built upon blood and sacrifice, stunning casualties were a hallmark of even the smallest of its wars. Phalros hurriedly stepped in to say, "Then what would you advise?"

Imix drew in a breath and said, "It is a poor hunter who goes charging off after his quarry, blundering about like a Mastiff after a hare. The cunning hunter does not pursue the prey at all; he positions himself near to the waterhole and waits for the game to come to him."

Everybody paused as they tried to understand what he was driving at and then Toran blurted out, "The third planet of the system, the Tyranids will pause there."

Imix looked as pleased as a teacher whose dim-witted student had just made a relevant comment and said, "Yes indeed, the last place they will stop before attacking the primary world."

Captain Maxitio though didn't seem convinced and said, "Can we be certain of this?"

Echeb replied, "The planet is barely habitable but it does support scraps of life, the Tyranids will pause there to replenish their Bio-Mass. If nothing else we can be certain of this."

Hakulo spoke up to say, "So we know where they will be, but how does that help us?"

Jossat agreed and said, "There is still a massive fleet in our way and we will have no more success breaking through it than before. What are you proposing that we do?"

Everybody paused to stare at Imix and in response, he slowly smiled.