There are six planets in the system. At the Mandeville point on the outer edge, psionic waves rippled through the void as countless massive Tyranid Bio-ships emerged.
The massive entities immediately set course for the only inhabited planet in the system.
The Tithe fleet above the planet detected their arrival almost instantly. Amidst Edward's roars, everyone entered battle stations. Non-combatants had been evacuated days ago. Those remaining on the ships were ready to die. Even though drop pods were ready, not everyone would have the chance to reach the ground.
Edward stood before the star map. Each red dot represented a Tyranid Hive Ship. "This number is just a splinter? You've got to be kidding me."
His face was grim, but he would not give up. On the gun decks, thousands of operators were ready. Tech-Priests performed the final rites for the machinery. Void shields were charged, and torpedoes were ready. They would deal as much damage as possible before their destruction.
In the heavy air, Edward watched the distance close. As the Tyranids entered range, he gave the order. The first volley began.
In the void, the ships fired their torpedoes at the fleet 10,000 kilometers away. However, the Tyranid fleet barely reacted. The torpedoes exploded against the Bio-ships in spectacular flares, but as the smoke cleared, the ships hadn't slowed a bit. Their chitinous shells, hundreds of feet thick, had shrugged off the attack.
The Swarm was unstoppable. Edward breathed heavily. When the enemy drew closer, he ordered the broadsides. On the gun decks, operators hauled massive macro-cannon shells.
The ships turned their flanks toward the Tyranids. At 3,000 kilometers, every macro-cannon and lance battery fired.
Brilliant light flashed in the void. This time, the fire dealt noticeable damage. But they were too few. To the Tyranid fleet, this fire was insignificant.
The Bio-ships retaliated. Countless bio-plasma and acid-spore cannons fired back.
The two Sword-class Frigates were destroyed almost instantly. Their void shields were overloaded by bio-plasma, and their armor was dissolved by acid. Two brilliant explosions lit up the void.
On the Lunar-class Cruiser, Edward watched with a pale face. He hadn't expected his fleet to fall in the first exchange. They didn't even have time to reach the drop pods.
The Tech-Priest reported the failing void shields. Edward knew the Cruiser wouldn't last much longer.
He sighed, and a withdrawal signal from Alexei echoed in his mind. He looked at the flashing red dots on the map, feeling lost. He knew he was controlled by Alexei, and his instinct was to survive.
But... his body trembled as if resisting. Finally, Edward closed his eyes and responded in his mind: "Forgive me, Lord Alexei. I am destined to live and die with my ship. I cannot flee before the enemies of mankind."
He snapped his eyes open and roared, "Notify everyone! We are ramming the enemy formation!"
The battered Cruiser turned its prow, aiming at the largest Tyranid Hive Ship. The Warp engines began to roar. The massive vessel charged into the swarm. Bio-plasma fire hammered the shields.
The void shields flickered at their limit. Macro-cannons and laser arrays fired continuously at the surrounding Bio-ships.
2000 km... 1000 km... 500 km. The Cruiser neared the Hive Ship as thousands of escorts swarmed the vessel.
Edward stood on the observation deck, watching the spore shells exploding before him and the Tyranid Hive Ship filling his vision. His officers were shouting orders, but he felt a strange peace. He knew this was just another necessary sacrifice.
With a final roar from the Tech-Priest, the void shields failed. At the moment their armor was pierced, the armored prow slammed into the Tyranid Hive Ship.
In the next instant, Edward ordered the Warp engine to be detonated. A massive Warp rift tore through the veil of reality. The Hive Ship was dragged into the Warp amidst silent screams, leaving a massive hole in the center of the Tyranid fleet.
The Imperial fleet above was gone. They had traded their lives for the fall of a Hive Ship.
"May your souls return to the Golden Throne." Alexei stood on the Hive Spire, watching the tragic battle in the sky.
No one had fled. Alexei thought of Edward's final resolve and his last words: "The enemies of mankind are in your hands now."
The Imperial Navy had proven its loyalty.
Alexei hadn't expected the first person to break free from his psionic control would be someone determined to stand at their post until the very end. Human courage had overcome the fear of death and broken the control of the parasites.
Alexei gave a silent salute to the sky and turned away. The Tyranid spore pods were coming. It was time for his battle.
On the plains around the Hives, on the Spire platforms, and in the air, the Zerg and human legions were ready. Their eyes were fixed on the sky obscured by the Tyranid fleet. Their fate, and the fate of this planet, rested on the weapons in their hands.
In the barren plains, PDF soldiers in various power armors stood in alloy fortresses. Silence reigned. They had seen the explosions in the void. They knew the fleet was gone.
"For the Emperor! For Mankind!" someone shouted. Then, everyone began to roar.
"FOR THE EMPEROR! FOR MANKIND!"
Amidst the roars, the first Tyranid spore pod punched through the atmosphere.