Stepping out of the elevator, they were confronted by a towering mound of Tyranid corpses, piled so high and thick that it blocked most of the once-wide passage. The stench of blood hung heavy in the air. Among the xenos remains lay the broken bodies of Astra Militarum soldiers, who had clearly fought until their last breath.
"The Lictor hasn't come to reclaim these corpses for biomass," Titus said in a deep voice, eyes scanning the carnage. "That means Astra Militarum resistance still holds in the facility. This base hasn't completely fallen."
The four stepped over the grim barricade and advanced deeper into the base. Along the way, small clusters of Tyranids attacked, but were quickly dispatched. Marcus's mastery of Mind Power grew steadily as they progressed.
After bypassing several sealed isolation doors with proper authorization, they entered a spacious hall. A distorted voice suddenly crackled over their communicators.
"Repeat, awaiting attack orders! Major, can you hear me?"
"This is Sergeant Titus. Identify yourself," Titus replied firmly.
A pause, then a surprised response: "I am Lieutenant Aiden, sir. Our long-range comms were destroyed in the fighting..."
Before he could finish, the transmission was cut short, replaced by static.
Marcus surveyed the hall. "They should be nearby."
"Find them," Titus ordered.
They located a control panel, fought off another Tyranid assault, and opened a steel door at the side of the hall. Behind it, about thirty Astra Militarum soldiers stood with lasguns raised. Upon seeing Ultramarines, they lowered their weapons in relief.
One man stepped forward, kneeling. "By the Emperor! Sir, I am Lieutenant Aiden. We lost contact with headquarters and are awaiting Major Sarkaana's orders."
Once Aiden was connected to the comms, Major Sarkaana's voice came through. "Lieutenant Aiden, I thought you were dead."
"Not yet, sir," Aiden replied with a wry smile.
"Tougher than a Grox hide."
"I'll take that as a compliment, sir," Aiden chuckled.
"Listen Aiden, we need those orbital cannons reclaimed. Assist Sergeant Titus in crushing the xenos," Sarkaana commanded.
"We are ready, sir!" Aiden barked. Turning to his troops, he shouted, "Warriors of Cadia! Let these xenos taste our fury—crush them!"
"Sir yes, sir!" the soldiers roared.
The Astra Militarum advanced, a pristine Leman Russ tank leading the charge. "Bring glory to the Emperor!" Gadriel called alongside them.
Aiden saluted Titus. "It's an honor, sir."
Outside, massive plasma orbital cannons loomed over the battlefield, with Night Lords swarming overhead. From the cannon facility ahead, thousands of Tyranids poured forth, only to be cut down by the Leman Russ and concentrated lasgun fire.
When the immediate threat was cleared, Aiden leaned from the tank. "Sir, the base gate ahead is blocking our path!"
Marcus pointed to a tower beside it. "The control panel should be in that tower."
Titus nodded. "Open it."
A crude staircase of Tyranid corpses led to a gap in the wall. They slipped inside, cutting through waves of smaller Tyranids, and reached the tower to unlock the gate.
With the gate open, the Astra Militarum regrouped inside. Tyranid organic structures had spread through the base, and a grotesque mass of flesh blocked the inner passage.
"They're turning this into a nest!" Chairon spat.
At Aiden's command, the Leman Russ fired a 120mm shell, obliterating the obstruction. As the smoke cleared, Tyranids poured through, led by a bloated, floating Lictor radiating psychic energy. Green tendrils linked it to the ground forces, amplifying their ferocity.
"Kill that Lictor!" Titus roared, charging into the swarm. If the psychic beast remained, they would be overwhelmed.
The Leman Russ couldn't angle its cannon high enough to target it, and the Astra Militarum were pinned by the advancing xenos. The task of slaying the Lictor fell to the Ultramarines—and Marcus.