The Imperium was harsh on its enemies. It was even harsher on its own.
Orbital bombardment of their own Hive world—even with the Hive largely overrun by the Swarm—was undeniably ruthless.
But the Imperium's defeat was already sealed. Orbital bombardment required time. Time they wouldn't get. As the Hive's anti-air defenses fell silent, the third Leviathan re-ascended to join the space battle.
The remaining three Lunar-class cruisers had been combat-ineffective for over three minutes. They now drifted in the battle zone. The fate of their crews was unknown.
The three Leviathans' organic plasma cannons spat incessantly. Imperial escorts, numerous though they were, were picked off one by one—void shields overloaded, then finished by combined Baneling and Brood Lord strikes. Escorts couldn't withstand it.
The Leviathans also suffered Imperial Navy fire. Torpedoes and lances inflicted the most damage. But Leviathans, as bioships, possessed no shields yet boasted rapid regeneration. As long as they weren't focused down instantly, current Leviathans wouldn't die.
†I thought the Death Guard's arrival was ill-timed. Now I think it was perfectly timed.†
The Death Guard grand cruiser absorbed tremendous firepower. Heart-Eater was livid.
"I am NOT finished with these insects!!!"
"Captain. Ground forces have completely lost contact."
"When was their last transmission?"
"Five minutes ago. Content: 'They are everywhere. We are finished.'"
Even if any Death Guard survived, their dreams would be of Zerg. Warp rifts were Zerg-blockaded. The moment a Plaguebearer emerged, dozens of Hydralisks volleyed fire. The Plaguebearer became a pincushion.
Who could withstand such tactics?!
"Captain. Our fleet has also suffered severe losses. I do not believe remaining here is advisable."
"We should never have come. Feed those intelligence-providing heretics to the daemon engines! I don't want to see them!"
Heart-Eater had to decide.
Souls were unobtainable. The Hive was Swarm-occupied. Those insects killed faster than he did.
"Withdraw!!!"
Heart-Eater, seething, issued the order.
The Death Guard fleet began disengaging. Heart-Eater's gaze remained fixed on the three Leviathans.
"Just wait. Next time, it won't be so easy for you!"
He would return to the Nurgle's Garden, summon reinforcements. Next time, he wouldn't come alone. Great Unclean Ones would join the battle.
This time—this time was merely a "strategic withdrawal."
The warp rift reopened. The Death Guard fleet re-entered the warp. Their retreat was swifter than the Overmind had imagined.
†Fled? Cowardly bunch.†
The Overmind sneered at Nurgle daemon cowardice. With the Death Guard fleet gone, the Imperial Navy had free hands.
But what could they do with free hands?
The Hive was comprehensively Zerg-occupied. Creep, spread by Overlords, now coated the Upper Hive. Over half the Hive was creep-covered.
†Reactivate the anti-air defenses!!!†
At the Overmind's will, infected shambled back to AA batteries. Silent batteries, one by one, resumed firing skyward. Now they targeted the Imperial Navy.
This spectacle genuinely stunned the naval commander speechless.
"Those insects—they can operate our batteries?!"
"No. They can't. But I've seen them infect crewmen. Those crewmen can still operate shipboard systems."
Frank had reported this to the Governor. Either the Governor dismissed it, or the naval commander did.
Arrogance. The Imperium's inherent arrogance, impossible to conceal.
"The Hive has fallen. Those infected now control the AA network. That city is no longer ours. The xenos hold it."
Planetary AA batteries on one side. Three formidable bioships on the other.
Frank no longer knew whom he fought for. Even if they won this space battle, the Navy had no home to return to.
Frank hesitated. The admiral's voice cut through fleet comms.
"Moonshadow and Minotaur. Initiate orbital bombardment. All other vessels, support the flagship against the bioships!"
"Orbital bombardment?! By whose order?!" Frank was shocked.
"The Governor's order. And even without gubernatorial authority, I possess the discretion to order orbital bombardment. As you yourself said, Frank—that is no longer our city!"
Shock gave way to rapid composure. Frank issued his order: "All hands, prepare to interdict enemy forces. Cover the bombardment group!"
Bomb. It MUST be blasted!!!
The Imperium does not permit xenos-occupied worlds to endure. Even if they didn't bomb, other Imperial forces would. And they would bomb harder.
The Imperial fleet split. Two Lunar-class cruisers began orbital bombardment. Dazzling energy beams lanced from their underbellies, slamming into the Hive.
The bombardment was unexpected. Vast swathes of Hive city were pulverized. Zerg Swarm casualties were catastrophic. Two precious Ultralisks were reduced to ash.
The first energy strike concluded. A bottomless crater now scarred the Hive.
The second beam followed. It struck near the spaceport. Nobles witnessing the orbital bombardment redoubled their frantic scramble for transports.
Governor Monche, watching from his window, saw the light of judgment. He smiled, at peace.
†SON OF A—!†
The Overmind swore aloud.
That single bombardment salvo had inflicted millions of Zerg casualties!
Agony!!!
Worst of all—Cerebrate Zasz was still on that planet!
†Zasz! Evacuate that planet! NOW!!!†
Zasz reacted swiftly. He was already near the Webway Gate. Under Swarm escort, he entered the gate and withdrew.
Cerebrates could resurrect. But it was better they didn't die.
Other Swarm units flooded toward the Webway Gate. But a single gate couldn't accommodate every Zerg's escape.
Zerg were scattered throughout the Hive. Only those near the gate could evacuate. The rest had no retreat.
†AAARRRGH! Banelings! BOMB! I don't care about capturing ships anymore! BOMB THEM ALL!!!†
Two orbital strikes. Swarm losses exceeded ten million.
The Overmind's heart ached.
Leviathans short-warped directly before the fleet. Close-range boarding action commenced. The Overmind's Leviathan warped behind the fleet—less than a hundred meters from the two bombardment cruisers. Hull nearly touching hull.
This prevented further orbital bombardment. It also exposed the Leviathan to point-blank fire. Torpedoes, missiles, lances punched enormous bloody craters into its hide.
The Swarm fleet, disrupted by the Leviathan's warp, lagged behind. Several minutes before they could reach the engagement.