An unexpected turn

"We've finished planting the Melta Bombs. Once we return to the ship, activate its propulsion systems and pull back. The bombs will detonate in exactly three minutes. Use the force of the explosion to see if you can wrench the ship free."

As soon as Calando finished speaking with the Captain, he urged the Techmarine to fly the Thunderhawk back.

Violent tremors began as the Thunderhawk docked in the ship's hangar.

Amid the shrill sounds of twisting, straining metal inside the hull, another explosion erupted at the keel above the ship.

The sound of the blast and its tremors traveled inside from the point where the Hulk met the top of the Cruiser.

Boom!

Almost instantly, the tremors from the explosion hurled the Daemons still swarming over the lower hull off its outer shell and into the void.

Some of those that had already charged into the compartments were thrown back out as well.

The Astartes' magnetic boots kept them firmly anchored to the metal deck.

The Navy soldiers behind them simply tumbled into a heap.

A piercing screech of tearing metal rang out.

The alarms blared throughout the ship once again.

"Upper armor damaged. Hull breach."

The ship, which had previously lost only its bow, suffered a fresh breach in its upper forward hull as a protruding piece of outer armor tore through it.

Over a hundred elite Navy soldiers were suddenly flung through the breach, screaming.

Fortunately, everyone had worn void combat suits out of concern that the armor might be breached. They did not die outright.

Unfortunately, the instant these soldiers came face-to-face with the warp, they descended into madness.

Some had their minds corrupted and became half-Daemons. Others clutched their weapons, trapped in hallucinations, and fired wildly in every direction through the void.

The few soldiers