The Battle of Baal IV

On the northern hemisphere of Baal, at the forward line of the canyon defense codenamed "Anvil," the roar of boltguns and chainswords had replaced the silence before battle.

The air was thick with gunpowder smoke, dust, and the acrid, putrid stench unique to Tyranid organisms.

Cassius, a Blood Angels novice, gripped his boltgun tightly. Beneath his crimson Power Armor helmet, his breathing was slightly rapid with tension.

This was his first time facing a Tyranid Swarm on such a scale, rather than targets on a training ground or data on a display.

His Tactical Squad was led by Sergeant Herman and, together with three other squads, held this vital passage leading to the rear energy core hub.

"Hold the line. Maintain layered fire!" Sergeant Herman's steady voice sounded through the squad channel. Every controlled burst from his heavy boltgun precisely blew apart the upper body of a Scythed Warrior attempting a rapid advance. "Watch the flanks and maintain crossfire! Don't let those bastards slip through!"

The novices did their best to carry out the orders. Bolts streamed from the prepared firing ports, exploding amid the surging Swarm Tide in bursts of viscous green ichor.

The searing beams of Lasguns came from the Astra Militarum positions, leaving scorched marks across alien carapaces.

Yet the swarm seemed endless. When the front ranks fell, those behind immediately climbed over their comrades' corpses. Ignoring losses, they screeched as they advanced, assaulting the Imperial line with razor-sharp bone blades and acid spore rounds capable of corroding Tau Steel.

"Left flank! They're climbing up!" a novice shouted. Several Scythed Warriors that had approached under the cover of rocky shadows and their comrades' corpses suddenly leaped toward the lascannon crew on the flank.

Cassius instinctively swung his weapon around and fired, blowing one of them apart in