The Vengeful Spirit's ruin was like a massive scar branded into Vigilus's orbit, silently telling of the terrifying aftermath Pandora had brought.
The Imperium fleet had already shot forward like arrows loosed from the bow. The overloaded hum of its engines tore through the Warp's veil as it raced at full speed toward the blazing beacon of the Imperium Nihilus—the Baal System.
A heavy atmosphere hung over the bridge of Macragge's Honour.
On the star map, the filthy points of light representing the vanguard of Leviathan's hive fleet overlapped densely atop the final defensive node of the Hades System, only one step away from Baal itself.
The emergency signals from the battlefield came and went. Every connection brought even more desperate background noise—the roar of bolters, the shrieks of the swarm, collapsing buildings, and... the ragged breaths of dying warriors.
"Dante." Guilliman's voice came through a communications channel disrupted by Warp storms, calm with unquestionable authority. "Report."
In the holographic projection, Dante's weathered face seemed to have gained several more deep furrows. His power armor was covered in corrosion marks from viscous Tyranid acid and dried blood.
Behind him lay burning ruins and the flickering glare of endless explosions.
"Regent... the Hades System... has fallen." Dante's voice was hoarse, yet still resolute. "We delayed them for more than a month. Every inch of ground was soaked in the blood of the faithful. The outer regions, the middle regions... we carried out eleven Exterminatus operations as planned and burned four planets... but the swarm... is endless."
He drew a deep breath, defiance burning in his eyes. "Now we have withdrawn to the final stronghold of the inner region—the planet Shield of Hades. The orbital defense arrays and surface fortress complexes are still functioning. Our allies are still fighting. They are the