Arbitrators of the planetary Adeptus Arbites patrolled the Hive City's streets, leading small squads of the Planetary Defence Force.
All civilians had been ordered to remain in their homes.
The swarm had already reached the outskirts of the Hive City. Even inside, the fierce thunder of artillery at the outer walls several kilometres away could be heard.
Entire rows of Earthshaker Cannons had been positioned well behind the walls in advance.
Vast numbers of Astra Militarum troops worked without pause.
At the artillery positions, almost everyone from ordinary soldiers to regimental commanders had bandages wrapped around their hands. Even with two shifts taking turns, the long hours of mechanical loading and firing had gradually left them numb.
Outside the walls, the swarm piled up in layer upon layer. The Earthshaker Cannons scarcely needed any aiming.
They only had to fire. Everywhere within range was crawling with bugs.
Ever since the Imperial Navy stationed here had been annihilated in planetary orbit, countless drop spores had rained down across the planet, blotting out the sky.
As a civilised world, the planet known as Oris possessed vast continents and oceans, along with a pleasant climate.
All of this suited the swarm just as well.
The native ocean life provided vast quantities of biomass, while the expansive landmasses held large populations of various wild animals that humanity had once preserved.
The planet's three Hive Cities housed an extraordinarily dense population of more than five billion.
With the swarm's attack, however, the nightmare had erupted in full.
To the swarm, that ocean of biomass was nothing less than an irresistible feast of staggering proportions.
One Terran hour earlier, all contact with the Hive City on the northern continent had been lost.
Nearly a billion Imperial citizens, at least ten million Planetary Defence Force troops, and