"Yuno, look!"
Yuki adjusted his physical form, adapting his proportions to fit into Ultramarines power armor. Beyond mere external resemblance, Yuki had gained an intimate understanding of Space Marine physiology through dissection. He was well-versed in the twenty-one stages of organ implantation, but seeing it firsthand was necessary for true mastery.
Using marvelous Tyranid biotechnology, he could even replicate the Black Carapace. However, it was ultimately a crude imitation; without a power source, Yuki had to drive the armor using his own immense strength.
"Fine, fine. Just keep indulging in your cosplay," Yuno remarked. She understood his fascination, but after all these years, she wondered why he was still so obsessed with such things. "Focus on the reality of the situation. We've taken these planets, but the Ultramarines have purged the surrounding remnant fleets. They'll be closing the encirclement soon. If we want to run, now is the time to retreat."
Yuki pondered seriously before giving his answer. "I don't think we need to run. After all, there's a way to force those warships to withdraw."
"What are you planning?"
"What if we just go straight to Macragge and cause some trouble?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'll take a small fleet to Macragge for a suicide mission. I won't die anyway. If Macragge is under attack, even if the fleets surrounding us don't fully withdraw, the pressure we face here will be significantly reduced."
Despite his tactical explanation, Yuno accurately caught Yuki's true intention. "I say... you just want to go see Guilliman, don't you?"
Yuno knew his temperament well. Why would the usually cautious Yuki suddenly want to risk himself? Beyond their frequent intimate activities, this man had a unique obsession with meeting famous figures from the Warhammer universe.
If I could kill Guilliman here, could I completely rewrite the destiny of the Warhammer universe?
Yuki's mind often wandered into such strange territories. On the way here, he had even considered visiting the Farsight Enclaves on a whim, only stopping when Yuno reminded him there wouldn't be enough time. Yuno often felt her man was becoming more immature as time went on.
"Fine. I can't stop you anyway. Take a team and go have your fun."
"Aren't you coming?"
"If I go, who's going to manage these fleets for you? If you die, I'll just fish you back through the Hive Mind."
"But if I'm suddenly so far away, won't you—"
"I don't know. Why don't we find out? They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Perhaps when you return, we can stay together for an entire year straight."
Yuno flashed an expectant smile that made Yuki feel a slight shiver. Since she had mastered methods of projecting the Hive Mind's presence into the Warp, she often had "friendly exchanges" with Slaanesh. Yuki didn't know the details of those exchanges and didn't dare ask; he only knew that their current physical structures allowed for many bizarre operations. Last time, Yuki had even turned his internal organs into external ones.
He suspected that while he was away, Yuno might just hop on a video call with Slaanesh to discuss more "interesting" ways to play. Still, he really wanted to see Guilliman.
"Alright. Whatever you do, I'm fine with it."
Yuki took a small fleet, detached from the main Hive Fleet, and made a Warp jump before the Ultramarines' encirclement could snap shut.
Months later.
Yuki and his elite small fleet moved like ghosts, silently bypassing the Ultramarines' defensive lines from above. Due to the nonsensical cosmic structure of this Nottingham-based "rural enterprise," a Tyranid assault from above or below the galactic plane almost always succeeded.
As the light of the Astronomican grew dim in the eyes of navigators and the whispers of the Warp ceased to echo through space, Yuki stood before the observation port, gazing at the beautiful planet below.
The moment the Shadow in the Warp covered Macragge, other Imperial forces would notice the anomaly. As the heart of the Five Hundred Worlds, every movement on Macragge affected the entire Ultramarines Chapter.
"Fun."
Yuki traced the Ultramarines symbol on his breastplate. "I'm wearing their uniform to attack their home. I wonder if they'll find it familiar."
The thought of surprising the Ultramarines made him hum a little tune. He hadn't just copied their appearance; he had pulled every memory regarding the Ultramarines from the Hive Mind to ensure his gait and combat movements were indistinguishable from the real thing.
Yuno's voice occasionally echoed in his mind through the Hive Mind, carrying a hint of concern: "Don't forget, Marneus Calgar is no pushover. If you get hammered into meat paste, I won't fish you back immediately."
"Don't worry," Yuki replied with a light laugh. "I'm fully prepared."
He looked down at the flickering star map of Macragge on his tactical panel, marking several key nodes: the Fortress-Monastery, the orbital defense platforms, the polar fortresses... every single one a target that would drive the Ultramarines into a frenzy.
The beautiful sphere of Macragge loomed large at the edge of his vision. Even from this distance, he could see the dense network of defense platforms and patrolling ships buzzing like a swarm of bees.
"More magnificent than imagined," Yuki whispered.
He turned and walked toward the drop pod, each step carrying the heavy, rhythmic thud characteristic of a Space Marine. The accompanying Tyranids were ready, their forms modified by Yuki's biotechnology to pass as Ultramarine scouts in worn power armor. However, when the time came, their compressed bodies would expand fully.
"Remember the plan." Yuki scanned them. "We create enough chaos, but there's no need to throw your lives away needlessly." He paused, his lips curling into a subtle angle. "I will personally go to see our greatest enemy..."
The drop pods shot toward Macragge's atmosphere like arrows from a bow. Simultaneously, the Hive Battleships launched an assault on the warships that had just detected the anomaly. Many fleets had headed out to encircle the Aether Fleet under Agemman's request and Calgar's mobilization; almost no one expected the Tyranids to suddenly appear at Macragge.
Yuki felt the violent vibrations of entry, but his thoughts drifted far away. He wanted to see if Guilliman was truly as wise as the records claimed, to witness the last hope of the Imperium of Man with his own eyes.
"Are you ready, Macragge?" Yuki murmured to himself as the drop pod's hatch began to screech with friction. "Guilliman, hee hee hee, here I come!"