It is now the 11th millennium of the Holy Calendar, a calendar that had begun on the day the God-Emperor of Mankind ascended the throne after a brutal, planet-shattering war that nearly drove humanity to extinction. In the wake of that harrowing conflict, the Emperor had purified and unified Earth's fractured peoples under one indomitable rule, marking the dawn of humanity's holy era.
For ten thousand relentless years after that, humanity surged forward in endless crusades against countless vile alien empires, purged the mutants, and brought down heretical uprisings. Battle after battle, campaign after campaign, they had conquered and purged vast regions of the galaxy, until nearly every star system fell within their grasp.
Now, at the twilight of the 11th millennium, humanity stands unchallenged, supreme, and seemingly invincible. An unprecedented era of peace has finally begun as mankind has paused to consolidate its vast dominions, an empire whose borders stretched across almost the entire Milky Way. Along with this, countless worlds have been meticulously terraformed, transformed into thriving paradises and vast industrial hubs to suit humanity's needs. Great cathedral-ships patrol the starlanes, all monuments to mankind's ceaseless vigilance.
Yet this time of peace was not to last for long, for unknown to humanity, an ancient threat lurked silently beyond their sight, hidden far within another distant galaxy. This was the Verdant Swarm, an immense hive collective led by a singular entity—a Mother Empress of sorts, a creature of unimaginable scale and intellect, a being whose physical form rivaled planets in size. Under her dominion, the Swarm had already consumed its own galaxy and begun colonizing another, spreading relentlessly through the cosmic void, but it wasn't enough.
Driven by an instinctive, insatiable hunger to expand, the Mother Empress dispatched her offspring, powerful queen-creatures, across the intergalactic gulf. These queens traveled hidden within massive, hollowed asteroids hurled across the endless emptiness between galaxies. Silently, these rocky vessels entered humanity's galaxy unnoticed, slipping past vigilant Imperial patrols due to the sheer immensity of space and the deliberate caution of their stealthy approach.
Upon impact on remote worlds, these queens immediately began their sinister work, burrowing deep beneath planetary surfaces to establish subterranean nests. Like twisted colonies of ants, they expanded swiftly beneath the soil, birthing vast numbers of worker and warrior drones—nightmarish creatures, bred purely for function and ferocity, with no concept of fear or remorse. These colonies reshaped their environments into deadly, verdant ecosystems perfectly suited to the Swarm's biological needs. Flora and fauna mutated rapidly into aggressive, hostile forms, each new generation of life more deadly than the last.
Initially, humanity noticed little of this hidden invasion. After all the galaxy was vast beyond comprehension, and the Imperium's attention was focused inward, confident in their unchallenged supremacy. Yet slowly, scattered reports surfaced—remote colonies going dark, entire settlements vanishing overnight. Imperial forces dispatched minor expeditions, brushing off these events as minor incursions by lingering alien pests or isolated rebellions easily contained.
But soon, the true horror revealed itself as three advanced scouting fleets of the Verdant Swarm arrived from beyond the milky way galaxy, thus confirming to humanity that this threat was much larger than they initially had thought. When these three fleets of massive monstrous starfaring creatures of flesh arrived at the galaxy's fringes, each had a specific, ruthless purpose. Fleet One, known ominously as the Pale Tendril, executed small, probing raids against lightly defended human colonies, testing Imperial defenses, learning their tactics and measuring humanity's responses. Fleet Two, the Silent Root, silently claimed a remote, uncolonized planet at the center of Sector Aetherion as its hidden fortress, establishing vast underground hives untouched by human detection. Fleet Three, the Verdant Needle, captured a lifeless moon, transforming it into a bio-factory, a living fortress quietly birthing vessels of monstrous flesh—vast, fishlike starfaring Monsters that would later descend upon Imperial fleets, ramming and overwhelming them with sheer, unstoppable numbers.
However the Imperium finally responded with force, dispatching two crusader fleets. They saw to the destruction of these Swarm fleets, but underestimated the true threat, overlooking hidden queens safely entrenched deep beneath planetary surfaces. Orbital bombardments left shattered surfaces seemingly sterilized, yet beneath the scorched earth, life stirred anew, resilient and unrelenting.
Over the years that followed, the Swarm silently spread, establishing staging ground's for the larger Swarm fleets to come. Although no more worlds fell to the Swarm, humanity struggled to root out the swarm from the many planets they had implanted themselves upon. Many brutal underground battles were fought within the hives and slowly but surely the hives managed to study humanity and evolve to counter humanity's tactics.
Sector Aetherion became a brutal warzone, as more and more Verdant bio-ships arrived from the distant swarm infested galaxy of theirs, disgorging uncountable hordes of warrior drones onto the Imperial worlds below. Humanity fought back desperately, deploying massive fleets led by the God-Emperor's Angelic Children, godlike beings who managed to achieve tactical victories—yet each victory proved hollow, each defeated Swarm fleet was quickly replaced by another as was each defeated queen.
By year two hundred of the war against the Swarm, humanity had come to realize the stark truth: this was a war unlike any they had faced before. The Swarm's true power lay not just in its adaptability or ferocity, but in its relentless, unending numbers, and its total disregard for life or loss, but most of all it's capability to reproduce and be reinforced from it's home galaxy. The Imperial forces found themselves trapped in a grinding war of attrition, confronting a foe seemingly limitless, driven by a single, all-consuming will.
And even as humanity struggled desperately against the relentless tide of the Verdant Swarm, another sinister presence stirred silently in another distant galaxy, it's aim being on the opposite side of the milky way galaxy, sensing opportunity in the chaos.
Far from Sector Aetherion, at the very fringes of Imperial space, lay Sector Orion—a peaceful frontier, newly established and mostly untouched by war, except against some primitive minor alien civilizations. Within it rested Achios, a jewel of a planet, its surface a tapestry of emerald plains, crystal lakes, and pristine cities. A paradise world, home to two billion citizens who lived in harmony, blissfully unaware of the galaxy's brewing storms.
Achios was not merely beautiful—it was vital. Vast agricultural complexes sprawled gracefully across continents, managed by advanced technology and careful stewardship. These agri-domes and biodomes, filled with genetically perfected crops and rich, nutritious harvests, fed countless billions across the Orion sector. It was a breadbasket, a keystone of Imperial stability, and it's Capital city of Achios Prime was a rich trade hub.
Yet as remote as it was, the planet of Achios was not defenseless. Above its cloud-wreathed skies, orbiting silently in space lay a sleek space station surrounded by 10 orbital defence platforms and housing a small defence fleet of 22 ships. The space station held many sensor arrays, missile batteries, and laser turrets concealed gracefully within its ornate hull. And further out, deep space satellite's kept watch upon the stars beyond the system.
And now it was from one such satellite, "Vigilance Prime," that the first alerts whispered softly into existence.
Inside Achios space stations dimly-lit command center, sensor screens flickered urgently. Senior Operator Marcus Aurelian, a seasoned veteran whose career had until now been comfortably uneventful, leaned forward, scanning the data with a frown.
"Something wrong, sir?" asked the young technician seated beside him, voice barely above a whisper.
"Unclear," Marcus replied softly, eyes narrowing. "Sensors are detecting an extragalactic object—multiple objects, in fact. Biological signatures mixed with metallic alloy... Unusual. It's definitely not the Verdant Swarm, but let's alert the ground stations just incase. However let's keep this discreet for now. Inform Planetary Defense Command to quietly begin preparations."
His voice was calm, composed, and while Achios had never seen true war, its defenders nevertheless were far from incompetent. Protocol dictated quiet readiness in uncertain situations. Ever since childhood, Marcus just like all Imperial citizens had trained in the art of war and for moments precisely like this, even if they had never before occurred.
On the planet below, the silent order rippled outward discreetly. City defenders across Achios received subtle signals, quietly heightening readiness. Beneath the picturesque landscapes, hidden bunker entrances were silently unlocked, defensive systems ran quiet diagnostic routines, and automated turrets woke gently from their peaceful slumber. The vast planetary shield generators, buried beneath lush fields of flowers, hummed softly, slowly charging in standby mode.
And so as the Empire of Man marshaled its mighty battle fleets in desperate defense on one side of the galaxy, on the other side of the galaxy on the peaceful agricultural world of Achios it now found itself squarely in the path of a new encroaching extragalactic nightmare.
Yet, amid the looming dread, for four-year-old Lili, a fair-skinned child with platinum blonde hair and eyes like deep blue oceans, the universe seemed wonderfully small and beautifully innocent.
Her existence revolved around the shimmering white fields of flowers that encircled Mikri Poli—her home city. It was a small city of some millions, situated on flat fertile piece of vast land on the planet of Achios and one that was not far from the capital city of Achios Prime. Mikri Poli was an architectural jewel, a spherical metropolis wrapped around an immense central park, surrounded by delicate ribbons of smaller parks dotted along its perimeter. Here, amidst playgrounds shaded by lush trees, she spent her carefree days laughing, running, and playing games with her mother who always kept her strict watchful eyes on her never letting her get in harms way and always scolding her although lovingly. Her father on the other hand always was working at the city's medical centre saving lives and helping many people which everyone respected him for, although he didn't have much time for his family because of that.
Yet today Lili and her mother by using the vast underground metro had come to the park to eat ice-cream and meet father after work. And now after a long while of waiting Lili sat quietly on a polished wooden park bench, her small legs swinging idly as she inhaled the sweet fragrance of the white flowers gathered in her tiny hands. Her parents sitting beside her, speaking softly in hushed, gentle tones about complicated and mostly boring adult things.
Warm sunlight filtered gently through the crystal-clear dome above, creating dancing patterns of gold upon the paved walkways and verdant lawns. Occasionally, towering skyscrapers of shimmering glass and pristine white metal briefly interrupted the sun's embrace, casting their shadows across the landscape. The gentle hum of electric cars whispered quietly along nearby streets, mingling with the distant chatter of city folk—a comforting symphony of daily life, unnoticed by a child who knew nothing else.
Then, in one terrible heartbeat, the serenity shattered.
A sharp, insistent ping echoed simultaneously from every mobile device across Mikri Poli, ringing out with a cold urgency. The pleasant murmur of the city vanished in an instant, replaced by an eerie silence as people froze in place, eyes widening in shock, fixed upon their glowing screens. Vehicles halted abruptly, suspended mid-road, their occupants staring in mounting dread at the messages flashing across their devices.
Lili felt the sudden shift in her mother's voice—a tremor of unease that pierced through the childlike peace she'd always known. She turned anxiously, seeing her mother's eyes cloud with panic as she reached out and touched her father's arm.
"What's going on?" her mother asked softly, her voice strained.
Father didn't respond. His face drained of color, eyes fixed in disbelief upon the darkening sky.
Lili followed his gaze, and her innocent heart shuddered. What seemed like a vast, unnatural green cloud was far up in the stars slowly spreading ominously over the sun and heading downwards towards the planet, like a sickness coming to blot out the warmth and beauty of the world. It cascaded from the heavens, descending with a sinister, deliberate slowness, consuming the sunlight as it crept downward.
Then the world itself shuddered beneath their feet. A deep, bone-rattling tremor surged through the ground, shaking the very foundation of Mikri Poli. Loud air-raid sirens screamed their dreadful warnings as, in a dramatic display of Imperial ingenuity and desperation, the earth around the city split open like a wound.
Great white walls of polished metal erupted from the depths, surging upward to form a formidable double-layered fortress encircling the city. The outer walls, lower yet still immense, bristled with menacing anti-aircraft batteries and heavy cannons, awaiting crews of Imperial planetary guardsmen who emerged from concealed bunkers beneath the streets.
The soldiers appeared like faceless ghosts from hidden depths, their movements precise and synchronized, an eerie dance of military discipline. Clad in imposing green flak armor with gleaming metallic greaves encasing their legs, they moved with mechanical efficiency. Their faces hidden behind featureless gas masks with tinted visors, they appeared devoid of humanity, emotionless sentinels gripping their lasrifles with unwavering resolve. To Lili's frightened eyes, they seemed like giant, ominous dolls—silent, imposing, alien.
Moments later, the city itself transformed into a fortress. Towering skyscrapers sealed themselves behind thick metal plating, their gleaming glass surfaces vanishing beneath sheets of reinforced armor. Rooftops slid open to reveal massive cannon emplacements, immediately unleashing torrents of firepower toward the heavens. The city shook violently with each thunderous volley, the roar echoing through the streets like a storm unleashed.
In an instant, her father scooped her into his strong arms, holding her close to his chest as he urgently rushed toward the distant spaceport, desperate to evacuate the city and reach safety. Her mother followed closely behind, her face twisted with fear—a fear so profound it seeped into Lili's heart, chilling her young soul with an overwhelming dread she could scarcely comprehend.
Lili didn't know what was happening—she only knew it was something terrible. Clinging tightly to her father's warmth, she pressed the delicate white flowers close to her chest, their fragrance offering a fleeting, fragile comfort against the encroaching darkness.
High above, the nightmare cloud continued to descend, carrying with it horrors she had yet to imagine.
Soon tears filled Lili's eyes, blurring her vision as she stared at the roads that had transformed into rivers of panic—a mass of terrified humanity surging desperately toward salvation.
Her father's strong hands lifted her gently onto his shoulders, and she instinctively gripped his thick hair, seeking comfort in his familiar warmth as they navigated the chaotic crowd.
Through the haze of her tears, Lili's senses sharpened remarkably, attuned to the distant tremors of fear emanating from the frantic civilians around her. Her extraordinary eyes, unnaturally perceptive, turned upward toward the heavens, and slowly she began to see clearly the source of everyone's dread.
Far above, beyond the atmosphere, an epic battle unfolded in terrifying clarity, each fiery exchange visible to her keen sight. The sky burned with violent brilliance, a tempest of distant fury painted in bursts of gold and crimson. Each flash represented a desperate fight, a ship annihilated, a life lost to the merciless void.
High above Mikri Poli's gleaming spires, Achios' planetary defense fleet valiantly clashed with the monstrous invaders. The proud Imperial vessels maneuvered in perfect harmony, their disciplined formations a stark contrast against the chaotic darkness. Their sleek, armored hulls gleamed defiantly, etched with sacred sigils of the Empire, even as enemy fire battered their resilient forms.
But facing them, stark and nightmarish, was a huge fleet of sickly looking ships of this sickness carrying enemy. These were no ordinary vessels—they pulsed grotesquely, sickly green and organic, defying every law of sanity and nature. Bone, sinew, and necrotic flesh composed their hulls, riddled with open sores weeping vile fluids into space, trailing disease in their wake. They were horrors, manifestations of corrupted life, and their hunger was endless.
Lili watched, mesmerized and horrified at the same time, as the Imperial fleet struck the enemy. Long, brilliant lances of energy pierced the blackness of space, and volleys of macro-cannon fire and torpedoes flared brightly upon impact. Explosions tore apart the plague-ships, sending gruesome showers of bone shards and viscous ichor drifting through the void.
Yet, relentlessly, the enemy pressed onward, the infected ships seemingly regenerating their wounds with unnatural ease.
Then, with terrifying speed, the largest plague-ship surged forward, its grotesque prow a gaping maw of sharpened bone. It collided brutally with an Imperial cruiser, piercing its heavy armor as if it were paper. Thick, sickly tendrils erupted from the plague-vessel, burrowing into the cruiser, releasing floods of squirming parasites and decay within its corridors.
Lili's enhanced hearing and senses picked up faintly the desperate cries from within the wounded ship. She felt their fear and bravery, heard the muffled bursts of emergency gunfire and detonations, and then sensed a final, heroic resolve. A brilliant explosion followed—a last act of defiance to deny the enemy its prize. Golden embers scattered into the abyss, fragments of sacrifice burning out in the void.
The monstrous vessel was turned to dust in that brilliant flash but more ship's were coming. The enemy ships long, massive, foul tendrils reached greedily toward more Imperial ships. Brave frigates weaved through enemy tendrils and fire, as their precise lance strikes broke enemy ships apart revealing twisted interiors of corrupted vessels and their twisted alien crews that were hurled out into space laughing madly as they did so, yet the enemy advanced without hesitation.
More plague-ships rammed into Imperial frigates, their corrupted forms bleeding diseased aliens and some sort of spore like fluids into the proud vessels of the Imperium as they impacted, spreading corruption and horror within.
And then Lili's heart froze as she perceived the brave Imperiel men's bodies—hundreds of them seemingly deformed and infected by something, drifting lifelessly or twitching grotesquely out of the ships and into the vacuum of space, with their faces twisted into ghastly grins. They laughed soundlessly, mouths locked in permanent smiles seemingly singing happily. It was as if they found joy in there deaths as the gravity of the planet pulled them down causing bodies to burn into ash.
Overwhelmed, Lili clamped her small hands over her eyes, desperately trying to block out the unspeakable horrors, yet even through her fingers, her heightened senses betrayed her. Still, she could feel the distant pain and suffering, the silent screams and pleading eyes.
Yet hope was not entirely lost. From deep within Achios itself, a sudden, thunderous roar surged forth as planetary defenses activated. Immense cannons embedded in the now fortified skyscrapers unleashed torrents of plasma and explosive shells skyward, their impacts momentarily burning away the enemy's sickly green glow. The city trembled, sending waves of energy surging through Lili's small body.
Then from the city's sprawling spaceport and others across the planet of Achios, Imperial fighters soared into the sky like shining blades of defiance. Squadrons of sleek craft surged upward in disciplined formations, engines screaming with resolve. Lili's breath caught at their courage, her heart swelling with pride even amidst terror.
She watched closely as the first squadrons made it quickly into the outer atmosphere and engaged the enemy, weaving between enormous warships and releasing precise volleys into swollen cysts and bloated hulls. Explosions erupted, spraying decay into space and toward the planet below. Still, the enemy persisted, absorbing or deflecting many strikes and retaliating mercilessly.
Bright streaks of green energy sliced through fighter squadrons, vaporizing them instantly. Lili felt each loss deeply, her heart echoing with their bravery. She winced as pilots ejected, only to be seized by monstrous tendrils, twisted by corrupting disease.
Yet despite the horror, she clenched her tiny fists, a spark of defiance flaring within the warm, healing core deep inside her chest. With eyes shimmering with determination and tears, she whispered softly, her voice strong despite its quietness, "For the Imperium."
Her father, sensing her courage, squeezed her legs gently and reassuringly, even as he pushed desperately forward through the chaos, holding his brave little girl close against the tide of darkness descending upon their world.
But then, Lili's sharp eyes shifted upward, locked onto the grotesque, swirling cloud descending relentlessly from the heavens. This wasn't mere mist or vapor—she could sense its malicious intent, feel the malevolent life pulsing within it.
It moved slowly, methodically, devouring the sky with unnatural grace, blotting out stars and leaving only darkness beneath. From the cloud, fiery remnants of shattered warships cascaded like burning meteors, illuminating its sickly green hue with haunting bursts of crimson and gold.
Her delicate hand reached out instinctively as flakes of this sickly green mist fell gently from above, floating gracefully like tainted snowflakes. When they touched her skin, they melted instantly, sinking beneath the surface with painful urgency. An intense, feverish heat surged through her hand, rapidly spreading into her arm, accompanied by an unbearable itch that clawed viciously at her nerves.
She writhed in discomfort, rubbing furiously at her palm. But then, from deep within her chest, a calming pulse radiated outward—a warmth she had always known yet never understood. It was gentle, a core of light and strength that flowed soothingly through her veins, washing away the infection before it could take hold. The corruption recoiled, sizzling away into nothingness, repelled by the mysterious power nestled within her heart.
Yet, as Lili gazed around with growing horror, it became clear that those around her did not share this miraculous protection. Her father rounded the corner towards the vast, towering spaceport, and Lili immediately sensed the heavy weight of dread hanging over the massed crowd.
Tens of thousands shuffled forward, fear thickening the air, turning desperate escape into an agonizing crawl toward hope. Everyone seemed set on evacuating off the planet, instead of taking cover on one of the shelters within the many larger metro stations scattered around the city.
And now the gleaming skyscrapers and buildings that once symbolized Imperial pride and strength, instead now seemed like oppressive walls of a cage funneling all the people in. Ahead lay salvation—the enormous metal ramp of the spaceport—but it seemed impossibly distant. From below, countless others emerged from the Metro tunnels, pouring into already crowded streets, intensifying the confusion and despair.
Her heightened senses identified only a few pockets of potential safety—isolated buildings to the side, and the sprawling food market that now seemed totally abandoned, its neon signs flickering dimly in the chaos. To Lili it was a place of safety and a place full of happy memories, yet father nor mother seemed interested to head its way at all.
Desperately, she clung tighter to her father's shoulders, tiny fingers gripping his coat with fierce determination. The oppressive noise of the crowd pressed upon her ears—the shuffling feet, the anxious murmurs, the distant, continuous thunder of planetary defenses still firing defiantly overhead through the ever thickening sickly green fog.
Then, Lili's keen eyes noticed a terrible change—the strange green snow intensified, drifting gently yet inexorably amongst the masses of people who's bodies seemed to be absorbing it's sickness. Each flake was alive, insidious, and soon it found its mark.
On the back of her father's neck, skin turned blotchy and inflamed. A swelling pustule appeared rapidly, pulsing grotesquely as though something sinister lurked beneath.
"Father, no!" Lili gasped, horrified, as his hand reached absently to scratch at it. With a sickening pop, the pustule ruptured, splattering vile green ichor onto her small hand and white summer dress.
"No, Father, stop it!" she cried again, but her father's eyes were already vacant, lost to an unseen force.
Then she heard it—a chorus of wet, grotesque popping erupted from the surrounding crowd. All around the sea of people groans of discomfort and agony could be heard, they were all desperately clawing at their flesh as if taken by a massive itch. Skin tore, pustules burst, and the contagion spread rapidly. Lili watched in helpless terror as the crowd fell into confusion and panic, scratching, writhing, and then losing themselves completely.
"Who… who are you?" Her mother murmured, staring blankly at father. Her voice carried a note of fearful bewilderment.
"I… I don't know," Father replied, eyes wide and frantic. "Who am I?"
And all around them, similar cries of confusion erupted. People questioned their identities, their purpose, their very existence slipping away like grains of sand.
A nobleman, his fine robes damp with sweat and corruption, staggered forward towards one of the Imperial guardsmen standing at the side of the ramp overseeing the masses of people. With desperate arrogance he pushed the confused women and children all aside and pointed towards the soldier.
"You there—you have to let me through! I—I'm important, I'm—I am…" He froze mid-sentence. "I am…" he said again, softer.
Then he asked, "Wait who… who are you?"
Seemingly alarmed by this the soldier raised his rifle but didn't fire. The nobleman blinked. "I… I think I forgot something…"
And then the nobleman along with a dozen others fell, not dead, but just fell like dominos.
In an instant, tens of thousands fell simultaneously as if strings had been cut—collapsing to the ground, convulsing silently.
Lili herself toppled from her father's shoulders as he fell, landing with a little surprised squeak embarrassingly against an elderly woman's chest, her hands touching clammy fabric soaked in green ichor.
But the elderly woman didn't complain or scold her, instead she just lay there with Lili on top of her and her father's large body on her old legs. Lili wanted to apologise for falling on her, but Lili froze, eyes wide in shock as she saw foam bubbling from the elderly woman's lips as the woman's eyes were also creepily rolled back. Around her, a low, guttural groan rose from the fallen mass, a horrifying prelude to a new nightmare.
Then the transformations began.
Her father's body twisted unnaturally, darkening further, veins bulging grotesquely beneath his skin. Bones shifted visibly beneath his flesh, pushing outward into brutal spikes, and his hands elongated into monstrous, clawed talons.
Her mother, once gentle and beautiful, transformed horrifically—her fingers fused into spear-like appendages, her lips dissolving away to reveal a permanent, skeletal grin of madness. Everywhere Lili looked, humanity was lost to monstrosity, bodies shifting and breaking, reforming into twisted parodies of life.
Standing around at the edges of the masses of people and guarding the spaceport the Imperial soldiers, protected by their masks, watched frozen at the edges of the nightmare, horror palpable in their rigid stances. Slowly, deliberately, the clicking sound of a rifle safety disengaging echoed ominously. Weapons quickly raised as the soldiers prepared to face whatever unspeakable horror this was.
Lili saw one soldier hesitate, his lasrifle aimed shakily at the twisting, grotesque bodies before him. His hands trembled visibly, and his muffled voice quivered behind the emotionless mask.
"Sir… what do we do? Is this some form of mutation or and infection? Do we shoot?"
His commander, a towering figure in a peaked cap, stood frozen for a heartbeat that felt endless.
Then came the grim, resolute reply: "Yes. Fire now, shoot them, shoot them all and cleanse our world of this mutation! For the Emperor!"
Then in that instance a flash of lasrifle fire pierced the oppressive silence, ripping through corrupted flesh. The first shot struck a transformed man squarely in the chest, burning through the unnatural growth—but the creature barely reacted, its twisted limbs still spasming as though untouched.
Then, as if awakened by an unseen command, the infected closest to the soldiers surged forward, their movements chaotic, spasmodic, and utterly unnatural. They didn't walk—they lurched forward violently, limbs snapping grotesquely, bodies convulsing with horrifying speed and unpredictability. Their eyes were filled with tears, it was as if they were tortured yet horribly aware of what they were about to do, as they stared out from beneath rotting flesh, gleaming with a twisted understanding.
And as they moved, they laughed.
It was a ghastly cacophony of shrieks and wails, laughter that mocked sanity itself. Lili had never heard anything so chilling, so fundamentally wrong.
The soldiers unleashed a torrent of fire, their disciplined shots tearing through the abominations. But the infected pressed relentlessly onward, their bodies reforming and uncaring of the grievous injuries.
Lili sat on her knees just watching, as close by a soldier screamed as a clawed hand shattered his visor, dragging him into the seething mass of corruption. His rifle along with his body all vanished into the swarm.
Seeing this something snapped within Lili, now driven by instinct deeper and more primal than thought, she just turned away from her parents and she ran over the spasming elderly woman and away from the spaceport.
Her small feet moved swiftly, carrying her lightly across the writhing, convulsing bodies littering the streets. She wove past a soldier who was being torn to shreds by the infected, past towering buildings that still fired their thundering guns into the sky, her breath was sharp and quick, her heart hammering within her chest.
She wasn't sure what she was doing or where she was going, but she knew that she had to get away, away from her parents, now twisted beyond recognition, away from the screaming laughter and nightmarish grins, away from the madness that had swallowed her world whole.
She ran without pause, without thought, her small frame propelled by sheer instinctive terror. Behind her, the sounds of gunfire and desperate shouts filled the air, a futile effort to contain the spreading horror. The city echoed with chaos, the towering white spires now mere shadows looming over scenes of unspeakable devastation.
Yet the soldiers defiance and weapon's weren't enough to stop the infected. The infection was spreading fast and unchecked. Lili's enhanced senses picked up the anguished cries of people even within the underground metro turning and fighting against the soldiers.
And then she saw her, a well dressed woman's desperate eyes past the crowd of madness clearly locking onto her, seemingly pleading for Lili to run. Even as the woman's skin erupted into blistering pustules and her expression twisted into that same horrible permanent smile the eyes still seemed focused and intact. But then she suddenly began to laugh along with the other infected, sharp and haunting, as her gaze followed Lili's desperate sprint past the crowd.
Looking away from the woman Lili quickly and nimbly pushed past countless infected. She tried to look away from the crying children forgetting how to speak mid-plea to their convulsing parents, others were clawing at their faces with bloodied fingers, eyes wide with terrified confusion beneath grins frozen by the infections madness.
But then finally for Lili the enormous glass doors of the food market loomed ahead, a beacon of fragile sanctuary amid the chaos. With all her strength she pulled open the sliding door just enough to hurl herself inside. Then thinking back to the day she once saw the repairmen fixing the doors and her mother explaining everything to her back then, her small hands quickly found the panel to the door, as her little fingers began fumbling desperately at the manual locks.
The heavy doors groaned in protest, but to her relief the doors mercifully closed and locked fast. For a moment she sat down with her back against the doors as she caught her breath and looked upon the desolate sight of the large interior of the building devoid of any people now.
However the sounds of battle on the street behind her quickly made her spun around, gasping for breath—and nearly scream in renewed terror as she saw the sight before her.
Beyond the glass, the infected continued to rise, their bodies cracking audibly as twisted bones snapped into new deformed positions and grew. Limbs hung grotesquely before jerking upright, heads rolling back before snapping forward, always grinning horribly and unendingly. Their eyes glistened with pitiful tears, revealing the tormented souls trapped within their own deformed flesh—begging silently for release.
Even the well dress woman in her silk-clad dress was there, and she was approaching the glass doors slowly. Lili just watched in terror as the woman's form came to a halt before the glass doors, and then her clawed fingers trembled as they scraped gently against the glass. The woman's eyes met Lili's again, and they were filled with a tragic, pleading humanity. But then the horror returned as the woman's sickening smiling lips opened as she began to laugh madly, harsh and discordant.
Then other infected joined her, their monstrous voices merging into an unbearable chorus. Lili's heart skipped a beat, her breath hitching painfully in her throat. And next all she could think of was to run. The command resonated powerfully through her mind, shattering the paralyzing dread.
Propelled by sheer instinct, she turned sharply, sprinting deeper into the cavernous darkness of the food market, leaving the haunting laughter far behind.
Soon rows of shelves stretched endlessly ahead of her, towering aisles lined with countless products, the ceiling arching high above like the skeletal ribs of an immense creature. Overhead lights flickered erratically as explosions boomed outside, the light's casting shifting, jagged shadows that danced across the polished floors like phantom shapes.
But Lili didn't pause, and she didn't dare look back. With swift, silent movements, she darted into the all green produce section, her small body slipping easily between towering shelves stacked high with fresh fruits and vegetables. The scent of ripe produce filled her nostrils—a cruelly sharp contrast to the nightmare that pursued her from outside.
In a moment of desperate instinct, she ran where her favourite food of all was, which were the planets large and juicy strawberries. With all her might she climbed into the large mound of strawberries, burying herself deeply beneath their soft and cool surfaces. The fruit pressed gently against her trembling skin, providing a small, fleeting comfort against the horror beyond.
Then, she waited.
Her breath came in shallow, quiet gasps, her heart hammering painfully in her chest. Her tiny fingers clung desperately to the delicate white flowers she'd carried all this way, petals now trembling along with her small, frightened frame.
Outside—beyond the aisles, beyond the thin barrier of glass—the infected laughter rose again and again, merging into a sinister, nightmarish chorus. Just as the terrible singing reached its peak, explosions shattered the air, and the sharp crackle of lasrifle fire echoed harshly, signaling the desperate counterattack of Imperial soldiers.
Even buried deep beneath the strawberries, Lili's heightened senses caught every sound of the brutal fight outside. The heavy thunder of artillery shook the building's foundations, mingling with frantic bursts of gunfire and urgent shouts from soldiers desperately calling for reinforcements.
But then the constant, unrelenting laughter twisted into a haunting lullaby. "Join our song, sing along. Celebrate our sickness…"
Their voices contorted unnaturally, some high-pitched shrieks, others deep guttural growls, still others wet, choking gurgles as they sang through blood-clogged throats.
"Through our bile, we will smile. One and all bear witness—"
Then came a loud—BOOM.
An immense shockwave rattled the market, making the shelves tremble violently. Lili flinched, pressing deeper into the soft fruit, as something enormous began to move just outside. The mechanical roar of a massive engine filled the air, accompanied by the heavy grinding of metal treads crushing everything beneath.
It wasn't just rolling along the street—it was crushing the infected beneath its unstoppable advance. Sickening sounds of bodies breaking, flesh tearing, and bones snapping echoed grotesquely into the market. But the infected, twisted in their madness, only laughed harder, their screams of pain mixed chillingly with glee.
"More, more! Crush us!" one cried gleefully.
"Yes! Yes! We'll smile for you—"
Another explosion blasted through the air, shaking the building violently. Glass shattered, raining down from the market's broken skylights, cold wind rushing inward along with sounds of distant evacuations and frantic combat.
The spaceport was still fighting, soldiers still holding bravely.
But for how long?
Lili bit down hard on her trembling lip, her hands gripping the white flowers tightly against her chest, desperately trying to block out the horrifying sounds. Gunfire, laughter, screams—everything blurred together into an unbearable storm of terror.
Then, suddenly came a deafening roar—the tank outside fired its cannon, blasting open the market's facade. Glass, metal, and stone exploded inward as the massive war machine surged through, its powerful engine now a desperate cry against the overwhelming horde of infected. They swarmed over its hull instantly, tearing the metal apart with unnatural strength, their claws peeling back armor like paper.
Lili shut her eyes tightly as screams echoed from within the vehicle, swiftly silenced by gruesome, wet sounds. She felt their final defiance—the muted clicks of grenade pins pulled in a last heroic act. Then an immense explosion erupted as the ammunition of the large war machine ignited, engulfing the market in fiery devastation.
The force of the blast threw shelves crashing down, shattered windows, and triggered a chorus of wailing alarms. And then, abruptly, the chaos gave way to a terrifying silence.
But the silence was fleeting.
Footsteps echoed softly through the devastated market—slow, deliberate, unnaturally synchronized. The infected had breached the store.
Lili's breath caught painfully in her chest. She curled tighter, pressing her face deeper into the crushed strawberries, the sweet scent mixing sickeningly with the distant, unmistakable odor of decay and corruption.
Then the infected began their song again. "Join our song, sing along. Celebrate our sickness. Through our bile, we will smile. One and all bear witness, to our unifying sickness."
Their words slid into her mind, wrapping like dark tendrils around her thoughts. Strangely comforting, almost gentle—like the lullabies her mother used to softly hum when stroking her hair at bedtime.
But this was twisted, dangerous, wrong. This wasn't her mother's voice. This was poison.
Inside Lili, deep within her chest, something stirred defiantly. A tiny, resilient spark, a core of pure warmth and light resisted the dark allure of the cursed melody. Yet the song tugged persistently, coaxing, soothing, demanding.
Her lips parted involuntarily, almost forming the first whispered note—
No!
With a surge of determination, she clenched her small fists tighter around the delicate white flowers, crushing petals in desperate resolve. She would not surrender; she would not sing.
Still it didn't matter as the infected drew closer. Their steps were punctuated by harsh, rasping chuckles and wheezing breaths, echoing ominously through the market aisles. They approached with inevitable certainty, closer, ever closer.
Lili squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself, every muscle in her small body rigid with dread. At any moment, those grotesque hands would reach through the strawberries, dragging her out to become one of them.
However then from the center of the building where the buildings own underground entrance to the metro was located at, Lili heard many footsteps coming. And then suddenly, a deafening explosion ripped through the store, violently shaking the ground beneath her.
And like so the cacophony of battle surged once more as harsh shouts and relentless gunfire filled the air. "For the Imperium! Die, mutant scum!" echoed a defiant voice from the center of the market.
A fierce battle cry rose amid the roar of flamethrowers and the hissing crackle of lasguns. The infected shrieked in rage, their twisted lullaby shattered by the sudden assault.
Flashes of fiery light sliced through the darkness as Imperial soldiers surged forward from the metro entrance, swift and merciless, their gas-masked faces devoid of emotion but filled with grim purpose. "Purge them! Hold the line!" a commanding voice shouted, distorted by the mask, chilling Lili to the bone.
The infected charged recklessly, tearing through the aisles in frenzied waves. A brutal, savage battle erupted—gunshots cracked, flames roared, and anguished screams mingled in a dreadful symphony. Lili stayed perfectly still, barely daring to breathe as explosions erupted around the building, throwing around debris and charred remains.
Yet the infected kept coming, drawn like insects to the light and sound of violence. Soldiers fought valiantly, their weapons overheating as the enemy pressed in relentlessly.
Lili's enhanced senses captured every terrifying moment—the desperate shouts, the wrenching sounds of infected flesh tearing, the crackling flames consuming all.
And then, inevitably, came the final desperate roar of a soldier. "For the Emperor!" Explosions echoed, the store trembling violently as grenades detonated, toppling shelves and scattering infected bodies. Soldiers began falling back toward the metro entrance, fighting in a desperate retreat.
Gradually, the sounds of conflict grew distant, fading into eerie quiet. Lili lay frozen, her small face pressed into the strawberries, choking back sobs of helpless frustration. She was just a child unable to find the courage to help the soldiers, totally powerless, forced to endure silently as the echoes of battle retreated further away.
Finally, the chaos subsided, leaving behind an oppressive, uneasy silence. The distant thunder of planetary defense guns still echoed faintly, a distant reminder that somewhere, resistance continued. But now the infected moved on, drawn away by other prey, leaving Lili alone, buried and trembling, hidden deep beneath her fragile sanctuary of strawberries.
So time passed slowly, unbearably, though Lili had no sense of how long she had lain hidden. The heavy silence settled around her, thickening as day slipped quietly into night. Finally, feeling stiff and aching from lying motionless for so long, she cautiously raised her head from the bed of crushed strawberries. Her muscles protested, her limbs heavy, yet something within her urged her onward.
Blinking rapidly, she strained her eyes to adjust to the oppressive gloom that filled the store. A few emergency lights flickered weakly, casting pale, erratic shadows along the aisles. The eerie, sickly green glow of the unnatural mist outside seeped through shattered windows, bathing the scene in an unsettling hue.
Slowly, she rubbed her face, smearing away dried tears and strawberry juice, her keen eyes beginning to pierce through the darkness more effectively than before. A subtle warmth stirred within her chest, radiating gently, sharpening her senses further. She could now distinguish faint outlines—the scattered shelves, toppled goods, and the silent chaos left in the wake of the violence.
Gathering her courage, Lili emerged carefully from her hiding place, her tiny hands trembling slightly. She paused briefly, automatically thinking of the right and wrong of her laying in the strawberries after closing hours, and if her mother or the store owner might be mad at her. But after looking around for a moment Lili noticed that the store's owner was nowhere in sight just like her parents weren't either.
Everything around her was in disarray, evidence of the violent struggle having unmistakably taken place within the store. Feeling an instinctive need to survive, she delicately took a single shopping bag off the floor and no more, and then feeling hungry she began gathering a handful of berries and greens, carefully placing them in her bag. She took only what she felt she needed, mindful of her mother's teachings to remain good and honest, even in the face of overwhelming despair.
Her footsteps whispered softly against the cold, polished floor as she carefully navigated through the ruins of the market.
As she carried her shopping bag in both her hands with all her might, she moved toward the metro entrance, her sharp eyes reluctantly catching sight of the bodies scattered around her—twisted forms of the infected, each even in death holding their grotesque unnatural smiles. Even torn apart, destroyed beyond recognition, their maddened grins remained intact, forever haunting and never disappearing.
Lili's heart lurched painfully, forcing her gaze quickly away, her breath trembling as her eyes sought out the entrance to the metro and the possible safety she hoped it held. There, lying at the foot of the stairs, was the gruesome sight of a fallen soldier, blood splattered violently across the walls and the floor, the remains barely recognizable after the grenade blast. More infected lay twisted nearby, evidence of the devastating violence of their final confrontation.
Swallowing hard, Lili hesitated only briefly before beginning her descent into the shadowed depths of the metro tunnels. Each step down the long and now mostly dark escalators felt heavier than the last, the darkness below seemingly infinite.
At the bottom where the small metro station was, the bodies of three soldiers lay in a final, desperate embrace on the tracks, their sacrifice tragically evident. They had tried valiantly to collapse the tunnel, a desperate effort to prevent the infection from spreading further, but the blast had overtaken them as well.
The tunnels stretched ahead in multiple directions, but all were but a chaotic ruin of collapsed concrete, twisted metal, and scattered debris. Blood streaked the walls, the pungent scent of death hanging thickly in the stagnant air.
Lili was unsure of where to go as she just stood there on the metro platform feeling the crushing weight of despair pressing down upon her, threatening to overwhelm her. Her chest tightened painfully, a sob catching in her throat as she yearned desperately for her parents, for comfort, for safety—anything but this consuming darkness.
Yet, even as hopelessness threatened to consume her entirely, a spark ignited deep within her. She remembered her father's voice, firm and reassuring, reminding her to always be strong. Her mother's gentle eyes filled her memory, urging her forward. Clenching her tiny fists with renewed determination, she refused to succumb. She had promised to be a good brave girl of the Imperium, to endure and not to cry. She would survive. She had to.
Clenching her small shopping bag and pulling it close she looked upon the white flowers within for courage, and then she began to move again. Carefully walking to the edge of the station's platform Lili got down onto her butt, and then carefully hopped down onto the tracks. Her fall was light but clumsy due to the heavy shopping bag causing her to fall to her knees.
But as her hands touched the stones between the tracks, as if responding to her resolve—a stone in response to her seemed to pulse gently with a hidden warmth. Curiously, she picked it up, watching in awe at the rough gray surface of the stone.
Then she felt a pull from within her, and by instinct she let her energy from within her core around her heart flow within the stone. And before Lili's eyes faint white energy came out her hands and slowly began to envelop the small stone. And as if accepting the light the stone drew it within itself and began to change.
It's surface turned into a glassy white, slowly transforming into a radiant white crystal of pure, comforting white light as bright as a small candle light. And within it's core was a small ball like heart of light that pulsed like a heart sending warm healing light around her. It glowed softly in her palm, like a tiny beacon of hope amid overwhelming darkness giving her light and hope to move onward into the darkness.
Empowered by the gentle glow, Lili grabbed her shopping bag and stone of light in her hands and moved forward with growing confidence. She randomly chose a direction in which she remembered her home to be within and with effort she climbed over piles of rubble and entered one of the metro tunnels, following it's tracks into the darkness. Her steps were slowly becoming steadier as the tunnel gradually widened before her with two lains of tracks on both her sides.
Then in the distance round a corner she noticed a faint light appear, accompanied by soft, distant whispers and the flickering glow of what seemed like dying flashlights.
Her heart quickened in her chest, a tentative hope blossoming within her. Could there be others? Had she found survivors?
Drawing strength from the warmth of the glowing crystal, Lili moved forward into the unknown, guided by the fragile yet determined hope that stirred once more within her young heart.
Lili walked carefully along the railway tracks, her tiny feet crunching softly over the scattered stones. The white glow from the crystal in her hands cast gentle shadows that flickered against the walls of the dark tunnel. Her small shopping bag, heavy with the weight of food, dragged down her arm, but she held tightly, refusing to let go of the comforting familiarity it represented.
The faint whispering ahead grew clearer. Soft murmurs and occasional metallic clinks echoed through the darkness, unmistakably human but cautious, disciplined. Lili's heart quickened, a mixture of fear and hope swelling in her chest. Could it really be someone safe? Someone not infected?
She rounded a winding corner, and the faint light from the distant glow became clearer—a weak flicker of flashlights dancing erratically upon the tunnel walls.
Then she heard them—distinct, heavy footsteps. Boots on gravel, measured, deliberate.
Lili froze instinctively, her breath catching painfully in her throat. These footsteps were different—not the twitching shuffle of the infected, nor their unsettling laughter. These were precise, synchronized.
A sharp voice barked through the darkness. "Movement! Sector front. Weapons ready."
Immediately came the ominous clicks and hums of weapons powering up. Flashlights swung sharply, scanning the gloom. The light passed quickly over her trembling form, but then snapped back immediately, freezing her in its harsh glare.
A soldier's voice, tense and muffled behind his gas mask, rang out: "Hold fire—child ahead!"
"Impossible," a deeper voice growled skeptically. "She can't be clean without gear."
The lights approached cautiously, revealing shadowy figures in heavy combat suits and respirators. Their armor was scarred and battered, splashed with dried blood and viscous fluids, evidence of the horrors they'd narrowly survived.
Lili clutched her glowing crystal tighter, its white light pulsing comfortingly. The figures slowed, visibly cautious. Rifles aimed squarely at her tiny chest, the soldiers halted just a few meters away.
The lead figure, taller and more commanding than the others, stepped forward slightly. His suit bore numerous battle scars, and his visor reflected the soft glow of Lili's crystal.
"Who are you?" his voice crackled coldly through his respirator. "How are you alive without protection?"
Lili's voice trembled, tears forming at the edges of her wide, blue eyes. "I-I'm Lili. I'm not sick, I promise... The green fog touched me, but... but it didn't hurt me."
She slowly raised the glowing stone toward him. "Also I... have this now."
The sergeant remained silent, staring intently at the crystal in her tiny hands. After a tense moment, he turned to one of his men. "Check her carefully. No sudden moves."
A soldier cautiously approached, lowering his rifle slightly, his gloved hand reaching out. He scanned Lili quickly with a handheld device, its screen flickering green.
"She's clean, sir. Not a trace of any mutations or an infection, and apparently a pure blood as well."
The sergeant considered this silently, before finally giving a nod. He knelt slowly, bringing himself eye-level with the small, trembling child.
"Seems you're very lucky," he said, his voice softening slightly behind his mask, though still distorted. "That stone of yours... what is it?"
"I... I don't know," Lili admitted, her voice barely audible. "It came from inside me... I think, or I mean when I touched the stone it changed to this white crystal. I think I somehow gave it a portion of my own power from within me."
The soldiers exchanged silent, wary glances. The sergeant remained silent for a long moment, then straightened abruptly.
"Well whatever it is, it doesn't matter for now," he said firmly. "If it's not dangerous and it helps keep you alive, then that's all that counts. But still you can't stay like this forever or you'll catch a cold if not the infection."
He turned to his men. "Give her a spare mask, gloves, and a hooded cloak. We can't risk exposure, even if she might be immune somehow."
Standing close by, the largest of the men with a huge backpack on his back full of ammo, and a heavy rotatory Lasgun in both his hands that was attached to his body by a harness hesitated.
"But sir, she's just—"
The sergeant's voice hardened instantly, cutting through the protest. "She's clean, she's alive, and she's coming with us. A child or not she's a soldier now, and there will be no arguments."
Wordlessly, the soldiers obeyed. One handed Lili a smaller gas mask, gently placing it over her frightened face and tightening the straps carefully, and then he placed an overly large helmet upon her head. Another draped a dark cloak over her small shoulders, fastening it securely, although due to her small size it dragged along the ground and was overly large. She looked up at them, eyes wide with a mixture of fear and gratitude, clutching her glowing crystal and shopping bag to her chest against the cloak.
Then the largest of the men, the heavy gunner took Lili's shopping bag and placed it within his large backpack. While another man with a red cross that was the medic used duck tape to tie the light stone to Lili's helmet so it acted as a flashlight of sorts.
Finally the sergeant drew out a combat knife from his belt, its blade catching the crystal's faint glow. Checking it's condition the Sargent then placed it back into its holster, and detached it from his belt. Kneeling down again, he pressed it into Lili's tiny hands. It felt heavy and cold, nearly as large as her forearm, but she accepted it instinctively.
"From now on your a soldier Lili, and this is your weapon," he said solemnly. "Keep it close, It's your responsibility. Survive—that's your first mission."
Lili nodded slowly, her tiny face set in determination beneath the mask. "Yes, I'll be good. I'll survive, I, I promise." she whispered bravely.
"Good girl," he responded quietly, almost gently. Standing again, he motioned sharply to his men. "Form up. We move to the capital, to Achios Prime. Stay alert, the tunnels are crawling with infected."
The soldiers fell silently into formation around her, protective yet wary. As they began their cautious advance through the dark metro tunnels, Lili felt an odd sense of safety among these grim warriors.
Despite their intimidating masked faces and presence, she knew instinctively she had found reliable adults and her new protectors—in this shattered world. Holding her precious new weapon tightly, she walked forward bravely, her small self and the crystal attached to her helmet acting as a tiny beacon of hope within their grim, silent ranks.