The roar of thousands of tank engines filled the plains. They deployed into Siege Mode on a ridge, their commanders shouting over the comms as shells hammered the Tyranids.
To destroy these tanks, the Hive Mind spawned more Tyrannofexes and Exocrines. Bio-plasma and high-explosive shells crossed paths. Flesh melted in the smoke; steel was corroded by spores. One side fought for hunger; the other fought for survival.
In the air, Scourge—the Zerg's "suicide bombers"—suddenly decloaked and slammed into the Tyranid flyers. Corrosive acid exploded, melting through even heavy flyers.
The same happened on the ground. The Tyranid flanks, which the Hive Mind thought were lightly defended, were suddenly hit by a green tide of Banelings that had tunneled into position.
The green ocean swallowed everything it touched. It corroded life without prejudice. Half of the Tyranid forces on the Ember Plains were wiped out in a series of chain explosions. The true counterattack began.
The Zerg surged forward under Zagara's command. Roaches tunneled, Zerglings reclaimed biomass at high speed, and the Swarm pushed to seize the open ground. Behind them, the human mechanized force advanced. Siege Tanks switched to Tank Mode, and Goliaths cleared the remaining air threats.
Nearly 30 PDF regiments pushed with the Zerg. The Ember Plains became a sea of flesh and steel.
Kaidel leveled his heavy Gauss rifle and fired into the surging Tyranids. After the demon war, he had left the Adeptus Arbites to join the PDF under Alexei. Now, in CMC-600 power armor, he led a strike team across the plains.
Suddenly, bio-plasma shells targeted his squad. "Watch out! Evasive maneuvers!" He roared over the comms. Two recruits were hit, their armor and bodies half-melted by the solution. There was no time to mourn; those wounds were fatal even for a medic.
"Don't stop! Or their sacrifice means nothing!" Kaidel shouted, forcing his team to continue the charge.
As the silhouette of the second fortress line appeared on the horizon, the Tyranid resistance began to crumble. The enemy's fire was thinning. Had they... won?
"Marshal, the Tyranid swarm has abandoned the assault. They have retreated to the first line. We have successfully retaken the second fortress line."
"Casualties?" Colton asked, lighting a solid stimulant.
"We're still counting, but it's grim. We lost half of our tanks and Goliaths. 30 regiments are at nearly 50% strength..."
"I understand. Tell them to hold that line until they die. Reinforcements and SCVs are on the way!"
Colton leaned back, exhausted. At nearly 70, he hadn't slept more than three hours a day. But he had delivered. He hadn't failed the Master's messenger. He reported the victory to Alexei.
"Good. You've worked hard. The war isn't over—don't push yourself too hard," Alexei replied.
This was his first real victory since the invasion. He looked at the biomass data on his panel; the victory had brought in a massive haul. However, he knew the Hive Mind would adapt to the Baneling tactics. He needed new tricks.
Alexei stood in the Underhive. After thinking, he chose to unlock the Ravager—the evolved form of the Roach.
He walked up to Abathur.
"Abathur, see how we can further upgrade the Swarm. We have plenty of biomass now. Go wild."
"As you command, Master," Abathur replied respectfully, without looking up from his work.