The defender of Hades Hive, Commissar Yarrick, was severely wounded.
The Tech-Priest remaining in Hades Hive found it somewhat incredible. He double-checked his mechanical auditory sensors to ensure he hadn't misheard: Yarrick had specifically demanded to be fitted with the Ork power claw instead of a standard Imperial prosthetic.
This was preposterous. The specifications of an Ork power claw were not meant for human use. Given Yarrick's size and physical strength, it was feared that he wouldn't be able to swing it for long after the procedure.
"Just do it. I can use it," Yarrick insisted.
The Tech-Priest sighed helplessly. "Very well. In addition to the claw, I'll install a bionic eye for you."
"Can the eye have offensive capabilities?"
"At most, I can add a laser strong enough to light a cigarette."
The surgery commenced. Meanwhile, Yarrick listened to the reports submitted by his subordinates.
The missiles that had suddenly struck were loaded with ancient Virus Bombs. Now, there was no need to guess who had fired them. On this planet, the only person authorized to possess such weapons was the Planetary Governor.
That bastard. No wonder he thought Imperial reinforcements were unnecessary; he believed he could rely on Virus Bombs as a trump card.
The Life-Eater virus released from the bombs violently broke down the living cells of any species. Infected organisms "melted" into a contaminated soup of organic matter. Entire forests and other plant life dissolved into this sludge in a short time, while individual animals died in agony as their bodies rotted rapidly around them.
The speed of organic decomposition was unbelievable, leading to a steady release of highly flammable gas, mostly composed of methane. A single spark, a lightning strike, or a deliberate ignition would cause the gas to ignite into a world-scorching firestorm.
Yarrick knew this virus could potentially destroy an entire world, yet that damned Governor would likely survive, hiding away in his fortified bunker.
"It is finished. Try to lift it."
Yarrick stood up from the operating table. He swung the massive power claw as easily as if it were his own hand.
"Good. It fits perfectly."
Yarrick then asked the question he cared about most: "What was the effectiveness of the Virus Bombs?"
"You're worrying about that? No need," the Tech-Priest replied. "The Virus Bombs in storage were manufactured thousands of years ago. Even if preserved, the virus inside has lost much of its potency over time."
The Tech-Priest offered the most convincing evidence: "Look, we're still alive. If these were true Virus Bombs, this place would have become a sea of fire long ago."
"And the Greenskins?" Yarrick asked.
"They likely suffered casualties, but not many. They've already begun their resurgence. However, thanks to your destruction of all main entrances, we aren't at the stage of urban street fighting just yet."
"We will be, sooner or later. Now, let us return to the battlefield."
...
When the Virus Bombs struck, Yuki and Yuno were observing the Ork siege of Helsreach Hive.
"It's raining on Armageddon."
"Don't be silly, Yuki. There's a port here, a storm-tossed ocean—isn't it normal for it to rain?"
"It's from a book I used to like. You have it in your data slate too, you just never read it. I haven't read it in a long time either, but I still remember many of its details." Yuki sighed. "To be honest, the environment here is quite similar to the one in the book. After all, there are rainforests, though the ones here are horribly polluted."
"What is that?"
Yuki turned to see the incoming missiles. He prepared to intercept them, but they detonated in mid-air.
Psychic shields enveloped the two of them, but the Orks were not so lucky. The Life-Eater virus infected them; their skin began to melt, muscles dissolved, and eventually, even their bones liquefied into a dark slurry.
Yuno leaned down, touched a bit of it, and tasted it with her skin.
"An organic soup. Though the nutrient density is far below that of a digestion pool."
Yuki immediately realized what it was. "It must be a Virus Bomb. I forgot they were even used on Armageddon. But since they're so old, the viral activity has dropped significantly, so the lethality isn't as high as it should be."
"A Virus Bomb? I've only seen them in stories. Now I've personally tasted one."
"Yuno, do you think we could create a virus specifically to dissolve organic matter? Would that make feeding more efficient?"
"More efficient? Much more! But this thing is complex. we can't destroy too much, nor can we make it too weak. But we can incorporate it into the plan."
As they spoke, the surrounding Orks had mostly died off. However, the human defenders didn't seize the opportunity to counterattack because they, too, were mostly dead. Only those hiding deep within the Hive survived, while the Orks outside the lethal radius of the Virus Bomb were already regrouping.
"Should we talk to Ghazghkull about letting us have this Hive?"
"Believe me," Yuno said, "as soon as you mention it, he'll definitely let us release the bugs and let us fight for it based on our own abilities."
Yuki tried it, and as Yuno predicted, Ghazghkull welcomed the Tyranids joining the fray. Of course, the Orks would fight both the humans and the bugs at once.
Consequently, Yuki deployed a powerful detachment from the Hive Fleet, which had grown significantly. When the defenders inside the city noticed the Tyranids, they looked as if they had seen ghosts.
"What's happening? Is this an Ork mutant?"
"No! I've heard of this... these are Tyranids!"
"We must get word out! We face an even greater threat now!"
"Look at the sea!"
Dozens of Harpies flew in, their targets clear: the transport vessels in the air and sea preparing for evacuation.
"Cover our people!"
It was almost too late. The Harpies' dives destroyed several small ships, and the current anti-air fire was powerless to stop them.
"Bring up the cannons!"
"The cannons are destroyed! The heat from Artilleryman Radonis melting earlier warped the barrels!"
"So that was a xenos tactic? Damn it!"
Helsreach Hive faced the most terrifying offensive on the planet, sandwiched between the Orks and the Tyranids. The defensive line they had hastily constructed with a civilian fleet could not withstand the sheer number of Tyranid aerial units.
Thirty days later, survivors who narrowly escaped the Ork slave masters brought the news to other Hive worlds: Helsreach has fallen.
A strange Hive Fleet had carried out the invasion alongside the Orks!