A handful of Astartes remained aboard the warships to defend against boarding attacks.
When the Hormagaunts burst aboard, the naval personnel defending the weapons array nodes immediately rallied. Every surrounding compartment was sealed off, trapping the Hormagaunts in a metal chamber after they killed a few mortals caught off guard.
A few attendant organisms, commonly known as Lictors, hid among the Hormagaunts. Their work was much like that of the Genestealers, primarily reconnaissance, but these Tyranids possessed chameleon-like abilities. They could blend optically into their surroundings, ambush enemy commanders, and feast on their brains to discover the enemy's deployments.
These creatures were generally used when enemies crossed paths at close quarters. As the Great Devourer's Bio-fleets traveled toward the dining locations marked by Genestealers, any "snack stalls" along the way would be scouted by Lictor vanguards.
The Hormagaunts battered the metal door, trying to fight their way deeper into the fleet's ships. Unfortunately, Hormagaunts were the most basic troop type, commonly known as cannon fodder. Without sufficient numbers, they could achieve very little.
Several dents appeared in the metal door, and the entire metal wall thundered under their blows. All power in the surrounding area was cut off, plunging it into darkness.
After a brief stalemate, the door suddenly opened. The buckled metal jammed it, leaving the four-meter-high doorway only halfway open.
The Hormagaunts did not care. They charged toward the narrow opening, only to face an intensely dazzling light. Its pure white glare left them unable to open their eyes.
As darkness gave way to light, a volley of heavy Lasgun fire met them head-on. The creatures at the front were instantly vaporized, leaving only charred bones trailing wisps of black smoke.
Beneath the enormous searchlight stood neatly ordered ranks of naval personnel. A silver-haired Sister of Battle wore