Chapter Summaries

Rorschach and his companions discovered that a massive Tyranid Hive Fleet was approaching Griffin IV, but the Adeptus Mechanicus refused to evacuate the world. Primarch Rorschach agreed to command its defense in exchange for control of its resources and intelligent-controlled legion, while Wolf Rorschach challenged his decision.

• Cypher Rorschach questioned a psyker and learned that psykers across Griffin IV had recently suffered drowning sensations and headaches.
• Primarch Rorschach ordered long-range augur scans and psychic detection, then warned the Tech-Priest that the symptoms meant a Tyranid Hive Fleet's main tendril had arrived.
• Griffin IV's scans confirmed severe communication interference and the approaching Tyranid fleet, but the Adeptus Mechanicus rejected Rorschach's evacuation proposal.
• The Adeptus Mechanicus offered Rorschach command of a fully staffed Astartes legion if he helped defend the world, and Primarch Rorschach accepted on the condition that he could command all resources and the intelligent-controlled legion.
• Wolf Rorschach angrily questioned Primarch Rorschach's decision, while Rorschach told him he could leave with Cypher if he was afraid.

Rorschach persuaded Wolf Rorschach that he could rally Griffin IV’s Astartes, Ecclesiarchy, and civilians to take control from the Adeptus Mechanicus and defend the world. After securing the regiment’s loyalty, he organized its forces to prepare for the Tyranid invasion.

• Rorschach explained his plan to use his Primarch identity and Ecclesiarchy support to unite Griffin IV’s population and command the war effort, and Wolf Rorschach agreed to follow him.
• Cypher Rorschach set out to negotiate with the Tech-Priests for supplies and equipment, while keeping a secret mission in reserve if they resisted.
• Rorschach arrived at the Astartes garrison, where the warriors hailed him as their Primarch, and Wolf Rorschach detained the Tech-Priests and ordered them to assist.
• Rorschach took command of the regiment and learned it had more than ninety-three thousand troops along with extensive armored forces.
• Rorschach ordered the mobile regiments to prepare for a mobile war and directed the heavy infantry and artillery to build underground passages and trenches around Griffin IV’s industrial cities.

Rorschach took command of Griffin IV and organized its defenders after learning that the Tyranid main fleet had destroyed two nearby systems. The chapter ended as the Tyranid Hive Ships appeared on the planet’s Augur Arrays.

• The tech-priests revealed that two nearby systems had vanished and agreed to cooperate with Rorschach, who ordered them to prepare an evacuation fleet while Griffin IV’s civilians remained to fight.
• Cypher Rorschach explained that the defenders could try to make Griffin IV too costly for the Tyranids to harvest, even suggesting they might ignite the planet’s atmosphere.
• Rorschach secured command of Griffin IV and the support of the Titan Legion, House Frostweave, and House Cadmus, whose Baron Roland swore allegiance to him.
• The defenders completed their deployments, and the Augur Arrays detected the approaching Tyranid Hive Ships.

Rorschach directed Griffin IV’s defenses as the Tyranid invasion pushed through orbital defenses and launched a massive ground assault. The Griffin Titan Legion engaged the Tyranid Hierophants, but fresh waves of spores began falling, ushering in a war of attrition.

• The Adeptus Mechanicus fleet and orbital platforms fought the Tyranid Hive Fleet while boarding organisms infiltrated ships and spores began descending toward Griffin IV.
• Rorschach ordered Hydra platforms to fire on the spores, then directed ground forces to bombard the emerging swarm with Hellstrike and Whirlwind Missiles and ordered factories to produce ammunition and vehicles.
• The Tyranids overwhelmed the orbital defenses and deployed more than twenty Hierophants, prompting Rorschach to send the Griffin Titan Legion against them.
• Nemesis-class, Reaver-class, and Warhound-class Titans attacked the Hierophants, while Knights from House Frostweave and House Cadmus protected the Titans.
• More Cachalot-class Hive Ships released fresh waves of spores, beginning a prolonged contest of production and endurance.

As the battle for Griffin IV continued, Wolf Rorschach led Castellan robots on a decapitation strike against the Tyranid Swarm. After killing several Tyranid Executioners, he prepared to charge the Hive Tyrant.

• The Imperium’s armored formations, Vanguard Troopers, Medusa Siege Guns, and Castellan robots advanced against the Tyranid Swarm while Titans fought across the battlefield.
• Wolf Rorschach led Tech-Priests and Castellan robots from the main force to infiltrate the battlefield’s flank and locate the Hive Tyrant.
• Wolf Rorschach charged into the Tyranid Swarm, cutting down Warriors and Hormagaunts with his Phase Sword and knocking a Tyranid Executioner to the ground with a punch.
• Wolf Rorschach and the Castellan robots fought off the Tyranid Executioners, and he killed two of them with his Phase Sword.
• Wolf Rorschach drew his Nemesis Force Sword, ignited its Psychic Flames, and rallied his forces to charge the Hive Tyrant.

Wolf Rorschach killed three Hive Tyrants, but the Tyranid Swarm adapted its attacks and inflicted heavy losses on the Titan Legion. After only forty-eight hours, a larger swarm and more bio-Titans gathered for another assault on the Forging world.

• Wolf Rorschach killed a Hive Tyrant and realized that other Hive Tyrants remained on the battlefield.
• Wolf Rorschach killed Tyrant Guards and led Tech-Priests and Castellan robots on further decapitation strikes, slaying three Hive Tyrants while two escaped.
• Primarch Rorschach pulled back the Imperial defensive lines and ordered missile strikes to slow the Tyranids from harvesting biomass.
• The Tyranids sent Gargoyles, Biovores, and Pyrovores against the Imperial forces, then concentrated their attacks on the Titan Legion and destroyed many Reaver-class Titans.
• The Imperial forces reduced most of the Tyranid artillery positions, but only nine Reaver-class Titans remained as a larger swarm and more bio-Titans approached.

With Griffin IV’s defenses collapsing, Primarch Rorschach ordered the launch of hidden nuclear Deathstrike Missiles as a final measure against the Tyranid Swarm. The missiles engulfed the Forging world in explosions, leaving the fate of its defenders and the swarm unresolved.

• Wolf Rorschach confronted Primarch Rorschach over the dwindling forces and the plan to arm civilian recruits, arguing that the Imperium should protect mortals rather than send them to die.
• Primarch Rorschach explained that untrained civilians could not operate the vehicles and weapons needed to hold the line, and said the defenders were only delaying defeat.
• Primarch Rorschach revealed that Griffin IV’s armories contained nuclear Deathstrike Missiles, and Adeptus Mechanicus personnel agreed to destroy the world rather than let the Tyranids consume it.
• Primarch Rorschach ordered all forces to prepare the missiles, while the defenders kept the Tyranids occupied and repositioned some troops for withdrawal.
• The Deathstrike Missiles launched as Astartes and mortals held back the Tyranids’ retreat, and explosions engulfed Griffin IV.

After destroying Griffin IV to deny the Tyranids, Rorschach led the survivors toward evacuation as the Hive Mind launched another attack. He remained behind to fight and then unleashed a vast energy assault against the Tyranid fleet, while the fleeing forces continued battling in orbit.

• Rorschach ordered the surviving Tech-Priests to assess casualties and prepare the ships for evacuation, while Wolf Rorschach led the Adepta Sororitas outside to search for survivors.
• Rorschach ordered the survivors to abandon Griffin IV and evacuate aboard the transport ships carrying the remaining Titans and Knights.
• Tyranid burrowing serpents attacked the evacuation forces, and Rorschach charged into the swarm while the Castellan Robots fought to hold it back.
• Wolf Rorschach joined Rorschach, reported that the reachable survivors were aboard the transports, and urged him to retreat.
• Rorschach summoned an enormous energy dragon above the battlefield and unleashed torrents of Divine Power against the nearby Tyranid Hive Ships.

After escaping the Tyranid Swarm, the Rorschachs assessed what they had saved and planned their next moves. Rorschach secured House Cadmus’s support and pointed the fleeing Adeptus Mechanicus toward the Ghoul Sector as a possible site for a new Forging world.

• Cypher Rorschach led the surviving Mechanicus fleet out of the Tyranid encirclement and into the Warp, bound for Lysa Star.
• Cypher Rorschach told Wolf Rorschach that someone was waiting for him, then gave Rorschach blueprints for several vehicles and a Volcano Cannon.
• Rorschach decided not to pursue the Griffin Titan Legion and sent Wolf Rorschach to bring House Cadmus to him.
• Rorschach gained House Cadmus’s trust: Orlando and the younger Knights chose to follow him, while Sir William and Baron Roland stayed to guard Planet Lysa and help restore ties with the Mechanicus.
• Rorschach suggested that the Mechanicus rebuild their Forging world in the Ghoul Sector, where abundant mineral worlds offered opportunity despite the dangers there.

Rorschach transported twenty-one ancient Knight Armors to the Great White Chapter and arranged for the pilots to stay temporarily. After Wolf Rorschach and Cypher Rorschach left through the Webway, Rorschach planned to take the Knight pilots back to his Homeworld.

• Rorschach opened a Warp Portal and brought twenty-one ancient Knight Armors to the Battle Barge Water Monster.
• Tyberus welcomed the Knight pilots and told Rorschach that the nearest Forging world was Triple Fahl, while the Griffin IV Forging world remained an uncertain entry in the Simulator.
• Wolf Rorschach and Cypher Rorschach stopped helping Rorschach earn Throne Gelt after he accumulated thirteen, and they prepared to return to the Warp.
• Cypher Rorschach explained how to use the Black Bracelet's colored signals to call for support.
• Rorschach bid farewell to Wolf Rorschach and Cypher Rorschach as they entered the Webway, then decided to return to his Homeworld with the Knight pilots.

Rorschach returned to Eldest Son Island Base after a year away and reunited with Iron Man David, who briefed him on the base’s growth and expanded forces. The chapter ended as David projected a map showing the Terra Astartes Legion spread across nearly every landmass on Earth.

• Rorschach returned through a spatial rift with twenty-one Knight Armors, and Librarian Ukari collapsed after keeping the rift stable.
• Rorschach reunited with Iron Man David, learned that a year had passed, and saw David’s new floating chair, a gift from Raditus.
• David told Rorschach that the Knight pilots had been settled in and described the floating chair’s unusual equipment, including Necron devices that produced decorative green lights.
• Rorschach asked David to brief him on the homeland forces, and David projected a map marked with Terra Astartes Legion positions across nearly every stretch of land.

Iron Man David reported how the Imperium had expanded its control over Oceania and most of Europe through infiltration, bribery, and assassinations, while Rorschach cautioned that ruling new territories would require more than military power. David then described Pietro’s growing role as a religious leader among subcontinent survivors.

• Iron Man David told Rorschach that Imperial Heavy Industries had brought Oceania under its control by winning over local elites and using capital, brainwashing, and assimilation.
• Iron Man David explained that Natasha and Hawkeye’s intelligence agents, Black Widows, and Winter Soldiers had helped turn most European leaders into loyal forces and place Zola forward as the sole candidate for European Union parliamentary chair.
• Iron Man David reported that Weepers Third Company and Stormtrooper First Company were stationed in Europe, where they fought Xenomorphic Races and policed gangs and superpowered criminals.
• Rorschach told Iron Man David to treat expansion as a lesson in governance, keep the status quo if needed, and test production lines in poorer Eastern European countries such as Sokovia.
• Iron Man David reported that Pietro was leading displaced survivors in a guerrilla war against subcontinent Official Departments and had become known as the Emperor’s Storm Angel after overturning police vehicles with a tornado.

Rorschach learned how his companions had advanced their work and heard that Doom had become dangerously fixated on recovering the Tesseract. After discovering Doom was in New York City and had ignored orders to return, Rorschach prepared to confront him.

• Raditus completed a miniature Knight Titan prototype, while the oil-slick girl Sage finished the first Sky Carrier and planned to build a Castellan Robot production line.
• Bucky regained his fighting spirit, acknowledged Yukio as his girlfriend, and traveled to Hydra Island to study for a role as the Sky Carrier’s acting captain.
• Iron Man David told Rorschach that Dr. Banner and Teacher Connors were researching Gene-seed together, and Rorschach allowed their work but forbade live experiments involving Astartes without authorization.
• Iron Man David reported that Doom had repeatedly failed to recover the Tesseract despite locating Nick Fury, and had refused requests to return to Twin Islands Base.
• Rorschach said he disliked Doom’s disobedience, asked where he was, and learned that Doom and Nick Fury were likely in New York City.

Jessica arrived at Imperial Heavy Industries to confront Doom for defying orders from Twin Islands Base. After forcing her way past the Astartes guarding him, she entered the room Doom had emerged from and demanded an explanation for what was inside.

• Jessica landed at Imperial Heavy Industries with five Stormtroopers and ordered the employees out of her way.
• A Weeper refused to let Jessica reach Doom, so she punched him across the corridor and faced down the Astartes as both sides aimed their Bolters.
• Doom emerged from the room and said he had followed Lord Rorschach’s higher-priority order to investigate a target linked to an unknown Xenomorphic Race.
• Jessica entered the room spilling Scarlet Energy and warned Doom that her teacher would come for him if he could not explain what was inside.

Doom explained that he used Wanda and unconscious criminals in a divination ritual because Nick Fury might use the Tesseract to open a portal to a dangerous dimension. Wanda located Fury’s hiding place beneath Manhattan Island, where Jessica recognized the site as the team’s old base.

• Doom told Jessica that he had performed the ritual to find Nick Fury, who was trying to activate the Tesseract after colluding with the Xenomorphic Race.
• Doom warned that the Tesseract’s Space Stone could open portals to unknown dimensions, and Jessica grew alarmed at the danger.
• Wanda completed the divination ritual and said Fury was hiding in a vast underground space beneath Manhattan Island, filled with rubble and collapsed metal structures.
• Jessica realized the hiding place was beneath the first base David had built and concluded that Nick Fury had hidden in their old home.

Nick Fury and Talos prepared to use the Tesseract to escape Earth while discussing Fury’s fall and the Skrulls’ role in humanity’s future. Their conversation ended when explosions revealed that their pursuers had found them.

• Nick Fury sat with Talos in the damaged underground base as Skrulls assembled a device to activate the Tesseract.
• Talos told Fury that the energy transmission device would be ready soon and that they could leave Earth within twelve hours.
• Fury reflected on losing his position at S.H.I.E.L.D. and regretted that Skrulls had died because of him.
• Fury and Talos discussed the Skrulls teaching humanity how to navigate relations with alien races and Fury’s abandoned plans for superweapons and the Avengers Initiative.
• Explosions sounded nearby, and Fury realized that their pursuers had caught up with them.

Doom, Jessica, Wanda, and their forces infiltrated the old base to recover the Tesseract and encountered shapeshifting Xenomorphs posing as Nick Fury. After Jessica killed the first disguised attacker, the teams fought off a wave of enemies and charged a larger ambush.

• Jessica opened a way into the collapsed base and warned the others to follow her route, but Doom sent the Weepers ahead to lead the infiltration.
• Wanda asked what to do if they encountered Nick Fury, and Doom said he was a secondary target and warned her not to show compassion toward Xenomorphs.
• The group reached three rubble-filled corridors, where metal spikes ambushed Wanda and Jessica charged the attackers.
• Jessica killed a Xenomorph disguised as Nick Fury and exposed its green-skinned, sharp-eared form.
• Doom warned everyone about the Xenomorphs' energy attacks and armor-piercing ammunition as the squads shot down more than twenty disguised enemies.
• A larger group of Xenomorphs charged from a corridor, and the Astartes and Stormtroopers countercharged with swords drawn.

Rorschach flew toward New York to confront Doom over the Tesseract while Doom, Jessica, and the Weepers fought through Xenomorphs in Nick Fury’s underground hideout. They found Fury surrounded by Skrulls, who threatened to use the Tesseract to unleash a deadly energy shockwave.

• Rorschach gave Raditus a module of weapon and vehicle blueprints, then boarded a Thunderhawk with Iron Man David and headed for New York.
• Doom, Jessica, and the Weepers’ Astartes slaughtered the Xenomorphs in the underground passages.
• Doom ordered the Astartes to advance deeper into the hideout while Jessica followed.
• The group found Nick Fury surrounded by Skrulls beside a towering Skrull machine connected to the Tesseract.
• Nick Fury warned the Astartes to stop, threatening to activate the Tesseract and kill everyone with its energy shockwave.

Doom confronted Nick Fury over his alliance with the Skrulls and his attempt to reactivate the Tesseract, while Fury argued that humanity needed alien allies to survive. Doom revealed that he had been stalling as hidden Stormtroopers moved into position and Scarlet Energy spread around the alien construct.

• Astartes squads aimed their Bolters at Nick Fury and the surrounding Skrulls while Jessica searched the alien machine for weaknesses.
• Doom arrived with Wanda and accused Nick Fury of betraying humanity by colluding with the Skrulls and attempting to reactivate the Tesseract.
• Nick Fury defended his alliance, warning that humanity faced powerful alien civilizations and needed the Skrulls' help to enter the space age.
• Doom rejected Fury's claims, called him a traitor, and led the Astartes in proclaiming Rorschach humanity's true savior.
• Doom demanded the Tesseract and advanced on Fury, then revealed that he had been stalling as five hidden Stormtroopers emerged and Scarlet Energy spread around the alien machine.

Doom and his forces defeated Nick Fury and the remaining Skrulls, but the damaged Tesseract began releasing dangerous energy. Doom suspected something was trying to enter through the Space Stone and prepared for its arrival.

• Talos urged Nick Fury to activate the Tesseract as the Skrulls launched a desperate counterattack against Doom's forces.
• Wanda's Scarlet Energy destroyed the transmission device, preventing Fury from using it, and Doom crushed the Skrulls' Energy Shield with telekinetic force.
• Doom seized Nick Fury, killed the last resisting Skrull, and burned Fury to death after Fury declared he would await Doom in hell.
• The Tesseract began spilling blue energy from the ruined machinery, and Doom ordered his troops to retreat while Wanda tried to suppress it.
• Doom rejected Jessica's suggestion to let the Tesseract discharge and warned that something might be trying to open the Space Stone from beyond.