The area around the impact breach was a wreck, with twisted metal and shattered pipes surrounding the White Egg-Shaped Craft wedged fast in the split bulkhead.
Nine warriors of the Adeptus Astartes, including members of Hercules's squad and the Techmarines who had rushed over after hearing the news, were already in position. Their heavy Power Armour boots braced firmly against the deck, they pressed thick metal arms against the Aircraft's smooth Shell, searching for any purchase.
More than a dozen mortal artisans operated several heavy Engineering Mechs, securing massive hydraulic clamps and tow cables to the Aircraft's tail structure.
"One! Two! Three! Pull!" a Techmarine roared.
Creeeeak!
The Engineering Mechs' hydraulic systems gave a piercing whine, and the tow cables instantly snapped taut as bowstrings!
The Astartes' servo-muscle bundles strained throughout their bodies. Tremendous force bore down on the Aircraft, making the surrounding metal bulkhead groan under the load, but the Aircraft itself merely shuddered slightly. It remained firmly wedged in place, refusing to budge!
"No good! We can't pull it out!" a mortal operator shouted, poking his sweat-drenched head out of an Engineering Mech's cockpit.
"The pulling force is already near its limit! If we increase the power any further, the bulkhead will collapse first!"
"Damn it! Is this thing welded into the Warp?"
"All units, stop pulling! Release the cables!" the Techmarine ordered helplessly.
The hiss of the Engineering Mechs depressurizing mingled with the warriors' muffled grunts as they relaxed their efforts. The first attempt had failed.
Everyone stared at the immovable "giant egg," momentarily at an impasse.
It was too smooth to grip, unimaginably heavy, and wedged in at an exceptionally awkward angle.
Then, as one, everyone turned toward Hercules, who stood silently to one side like a mountain.
"Hercules," the Techmarine said, approaching him with a