Gunfire rang out continuously in the hall. The two Roaches beside Alexei blocked all incoming bullets while killing the servitors that tried to attack him.
He calmly sipped his red wine, observing the desperate struggle. Diana roared as she fired at the strange Underhive creatures spat out by the Infestors. When she pulled the trigger again, she found her bolt pistol empty.
She despairingly dropped the gun, preparing to fight with a small dagger, only to realize that the terrifying creatures were no longer attacking her.
The others, having also run out of ammunition, realized the same. They gathered back-to-back in the center of the room.
Edward shouted at Alexei. "You damn bastard! What do you want? Killing us won't help you! Once the fleet loses contact, they will bombard this planet! Prepare for death, you mongrel!"
Before he could finish, the hall doors swung open. The soldiers who had been guarding the perimeter lay unconscious.
A dozen soldiers in power armor entered the hall. They carried no weapons, yet Edward and his companions were pinned to the ground with overwhelming strength.
"What are you doing to us?!" Diana's face was full of indignation and humiliation. She had known this man was a heretic, yet the Admiral had persuaded her not to target a "hero" who suppressed a demonic invasion.
Damn it, why can't I contact the fleet? the Tech-Priest screamed internally. He had been trying to use his internal comms from the start, but there was no response.
Alexei walked toward them and kicked the Tech-Priest's communication device away. "Don't worry. I won't hurt you. You will soon understand my good intentions."
As he spoke, an Infestor extended its long, thick parasitic stinger. Under their terrified gazes, it plunged the needle into the back of their necks.
Amidst spasms, they fell unconscious. Alexei looked at the bodies strewn across the floor and felt a slight relief. At least the Tech-Priest still had enough flesh on his neck for this to work.
The immediate danger from the Imperium was resolved. Next, he would face the greatest disaster yet: the Tyranids.
When they woke up, he would have to discuss the plan. Alexei called in a crew to clean up the mangled remains of the servitors mixed with the ruined food.
When a new table was set, the captives began to stir. They opened their mouths but found no words, looking at Alexei with complex, conflicted eyes.
Diana felt the same. She desperately tried to suppress the sense of reverence she felt for the man before her, but she lost the battle against her own nerves and hormones.
She stood up at Alexei's command, unable to resist her own heart even as she turned her head away in shame.
Looking at the beautiful lady who was clenching her fists so hard her palms were bleeding, Alexei almost laughed. "Don't struggle. Just give in. You'll get used to it after a while."
He clapped his hands, and everyone stood up to face him. Alexei cleared his throat. "Alright, everyone. I told you I wouldn't hurt you. Now, let us begin the real banquet."
They sat in silence, looking at the starch bars, grox-meat cans, and recycled water on their plates. Their hearts were filled with a mess of emotions.
Alexei sat back down and smiled at their reaction. "I'm sorry. The delicious food from earlier was wasted, and it breaks my heart. We'll have to settle for a simpler meal for now."
Edward struggled for words before finally taking a deep breath. "Alexei... Sir. What have you done to us? Why..."
Alexei raised a hand. "Simple. You have joined me. It was forced, yes, but soon you will be glad for it. Also, I want you to hear something."
At his word, Zagara began playing a recorded psionic message through the network.
Amidst the background radiation of the void, a massive roar erupted, followed by countless howls echoing through space. It was the excitement of finding food. Everyone understood the meaning behind that sound: Hunger. An eternal, insatiable hunger.
As the recording ended, they were left in a daze. Diana looked at the solemn Alexei. "...Mr. Alexei, what was that?"
"Have you heard of the Battle of Macragge in the Ultima Segmentum?" Alexei asked. "The xenos about to attack the planet are Tyranids, remnants scattered by the Ultramarines during that war."
The room grew heavy. They knew of that battle, which had mobilized half the Empire's might just to barely hold Macragge.
And now they were being told that, without Space Marines, the Astra Militarum, or Imperial Navy support, they had to face such a horror alone. Despair began to cloud their faces.
Alexei quickly reassured them. "The scale this time won't be as large as Macragge. It's a small Tyranid splinter fleet. We will handle the ground war. I need you to return and report this to the Sector Command to request reinforcements. Your Astropaths can no longer reach them."
The group fell silent again. Finally, Edward spoke. "I am sorry, Lord Alexei. When we arrived here, the Navigators in our fleet fell into madness simultaneously. Diana had to execute them. In hindsight, it must have been because of these aliens."
Alexei went silent. Great. This meant they were entirely on their own. The ships in the Tithe fleet were practically negligible against Tyranids.
He sighed. Must it come down to a ground war of attrition? He had to place his hopes in the Zerg and the Terran equipment. "In that case, we are all in this together. Let us cooperate as much as possible."