A beautiful day begins with a boarding action!
The warriors of the Ultramarines Fifth Company gathered their gear, arming themselves to the teeth and confirming the mission parameters one last time before deployment. Naturally, the most important ritual was the repeated study of the Codex Astartes. Regardless of the fact that the Tyranids were a new enemy emerged after the Codex's compilation, the Ultramarines remained steadfast in following its tenets.
Entering the boarding shuttles, they gripped their weapons tightly, bracing for the inevitable impact. Today's objective was to destroy the bizarre Tyranid craft covering nearly a fifth of the planet's surface. Thunderhawk Gunships and other armored support were en route; there was no cause for concern.
Boom!
The shuttles breached the outer hull of the Tyranid vessel. In its expanded state, the bio-ship had not activated its biological void shields, granting the Fifth Company their opening. Over fifty Ultramarines stormed into the biological craft. Their mission: locate the ship's core and plant melta charges to pave the way for the Imperial Navy to regain orbital dominance.
The Fifth Company was the closest unit available; other Chapters capable of assistance were occupied dealing with Tyranid incursions in other sectors. However, those scattered remnants were not considered particularly difficult to handle.
The Fifth Company pushed deep into the hive ship. Unlike the structural layouts of human vessels, there were no clear corridors here, only a labyrinth of structures resembling narrow blood vessels.
"This way."
Some among them had fought in the First Tyrannic War, and a significant number had accumulated experience during long-term purge operations. They moved with practiced efficiency. With a powerful blow, they smashed through a wall, revealing an opening in the fleshy tissue that resembled a biological valve, large enough for a Dreadnought to pass through.
Currently, most of the hive ship's primary forces were engaged on the planetary surface. The Space Marines placed a charge and set the detonator.
"Three hours. It will detonate in three hours. We must plant all charges within this timeframe to ensure maximum impact for the assault."
As the Ultramarines moved on, Yuki emerged from another wall of flesh.
"These guys really have some nerve, daring to enter a Hive Hive Ship directly. Do they think their Chapter Master is Tyberos the Red Wake?"
He picked up the explosive planted by the Ultramarines. He could have easily neutralized it with a bit of corrosive acid—
Why did it activate?
Yuki tossed the explosive into the vacuum of space, where it triggered a small detonation. Fortunately, he hadn't followed the ground forces; there weren't many troops left on the hive ship, and a half-strength Astartes company wasn't something ordinary units could handle.
Judging by the equipment he had just observed, these men carried heavy bolters, heavy meltas, heavy plasmas, and various other light and heavy armaments. Furthermore, they certainly carried enough explosives to scuttle the entire hive ship. In the usual fashion of the Warhammer world, such a gamble might actually succeed.
However, Yuki would not let them have their way. He began to tail them, directing the remaining onboard forces to set up an ambush ahead.
Yuno had been fighting humans for centuries. Sometimes she found it strange: if humans didn't want to be eaten, why did they ignite such a glaring beacon ten thousand years ago to summon her? Of course, she now understood that humanity had only overloaded that lighthouse for a specific purpose at the time, rather than intentionally attracting the swarm.
Tyranids are a species that excels at learning. Within a few short centuries, Yuno had developed numerous evolutionary adaptations specifically targeting humans. Now, however, she had to think more strategically about how to kill humans efficiently, rather than leaving everything to the self-evolution of biological instinct. As long as the Tyranids' rate of evolution outpaced the speed of human awakening, she would be the final victor.
Ultramarine warships were closing in, and the other scattered hive remnants wouldn't be able to stall them for long. Moreover, their marching routes were clearly designed to encircle her. They might name this conflict the Second Tyrannic War, but that didn't matter. She wanted to see if these Ultramarines had truly learned the lessons of the past.
Commanding the Tyranid ships that weren't involved in the encirclement, Yuno closed in on the Fifth Company's transport vessels. They were as arrogant as ever. They stepped easily into her attack range, falling into Tyranid traps time and time again.
The Tyranid bio-ships launched an assault on the transports. These weren't the capital ships of the company and lacked sufficient firepower. With minimal effort, Yuno devoured the transports.
She had successfully cut off the retreat for the Ultramarines aboard the hive ship.
"Yuki, how is your side?"
"Everything is going smoothly. It seems I won't even need to step in personally."
The flattened Tyranid hive ship had compressed its thickness to less than two meters to gain an unnatural surface area. By fusing several bio-ships, it had become a colossal construct that almost filled the sky. It provided ample synaptic nodes for the Tyranids on the ground, while also offering fire support and biomass replenishment. As the swarm advanced, this hive ship could constantly adjust its position and move forward.
Such a specialized ship also had a fatal flaw: its defensive and counterattack capabilities were extremely weak. The Ultramarines Fifth Company had detected this weakness and launched the boarding action to destroy it.
When they reached a strangely open area, the adjutant sensed something was wrong. This place was far too wide, as if it had been specifically designed as a combat arena.
"Good morning, gentlemen! Or is it morning? Regardless, I've just woken up, so for me, it is morning."
The response to Yuki was a hail of bolter shells. Yuki dodged the attacks with fluid grace, landing lightly on the ground in a manner that bore a striking resemblance to an Aeldari.
"Easy, gentlemen. Do not be in such a hurry. I am not your opponent—at least, not yet."
As soon as he finished speaking, a massive beast stepped out with a thunderous roar.
"Look, this is a Hive Tyrant I left behind. Its thoughts couldn't escape me; it's quite angry that I didn't let it participate in the ground combat. Could you gentlemen help me soothe its temper?"
Without a moment's hesitation, the warriors of the Fifth Company made their decision.
"For Ultramar!"
The Hive Tyrant shrieked, charging at them with multiple limbs tipped with bone blades. Yuki watched the brutal slaughter with great interest. The combat resolve of the Ultramarines was commendable, but the outcome of this battle was never in doubt.