NationStates Jolt Archive

Space is a vast tapestry of stars and void; a patchwork quilt of wonders and horrors. There are worlds where triplet suns shine with love upon a scorched earth of lizards and endless golden sand, where great pyramids of ancient past rise from the depths. There are worlds of eternal twilight, dark worlds where life struggles and blooms into new and terrible forms.

Yet worlds, are but the coin of the realm. For in the vast deeps between worlds and systems; something draws ever closer. The cold clawed hand of death reaches out against the outermost worlds of the Milky Way. And the devourer comes again, into the scope of mortal lives.

Umbril 4

The skies were cloudy, the seas wild as the world hovered in the void; a small world of near perpetual storm and rain. Water whipped at dams and slammed against the shores, as the downpour surged against the well constructed houses of the colonists. Ignorant, as they were, to the doom that apporached from above. Great ships blotted out the moon, clawed things that squirmed in the void, muscles spasming as the spores began to rain upon the world; alien beings tearing free from fleshy pods, to plunge into the soft warm heat of mortal flesh, or tear and scratch against wall and brick. The rain and surf did not discourage them, they knew no such thing as preference. No; they simply lived to evolve and to feed. As the world began to change; and the sleek swarming killing machines spilled across the wet earth, the atmopshere was already being saturated with spores and parasites; the earth was already ripe to be terraformed. As the first Broodlord sank his gore-stained fangs into a human torso and tore, the Hivemind felt the delightful beginnings of the end for the world.

And all contact with Umbril 4, ceased...

OOC: Ooh, a 40K reference. Excellent.

OOC: Oh, yes, HE gets noticed when he uses 40K tech. What about ME? :P So, what do you want us to do? You could contest one of my worlds, if you wish.

OOC: Right now, I think I may settle with feasting and setting up a nice little home base in this galaxy :P Still, it took the Imperium years to figure it all out. How long will it take all of you to detect an entire world going silent?

All life was offered up, consumed by the vast digestion pools that now pitted the barren world; as one by one, the hiveships began to descend, spilling their pestilant seed across the barren world; their flesh co-mingled, interchanging. They felt themselves givne up to glorious oneness, as the world pulsated and grew; their immense girth, fattened by their feast, crawling with creatures; more spawning from the immense biological factories that lay within the flesh.

Ships slipped back into the gulf; full of seething, writhing beings; the beginnings of the new hive fleet; the fleet which would consume all life before it, and add to the growing perfection of the hive. The screams of countless creatures; wrathful, hungry, pitiless as the sun; waited to strive forth and consume. But for now, they would wait; they would feed. They would grow.

As the shadow in the Warp settled over the area, they danced amongst the curling fronds of flesh that twisted about cyclopean ruins of the civilisation now consumed....Nothing remained of them, save the genetic essence now perpetuating itself through the hive...Nothing remained of them, but words and memories, half-coherant thoughts and images, dancing within its minds. And bittersweet dreams of the worlds beyond, from thousands of supplanted and stolen memories.

Bump

OOC: Oh, yes, HE gets noticed when he uses 40K tech. What about ME? :P So, what do you want us to do? You could contest one of my worlds, if you wish.

OOC: Because it's lucky for me to look at a random thread at all, any less a 40K thread. But that's cool if you do, too. Oh, and *tag*.

Bump

Bump

OOC: Right now, I think I may settle with feasting and setting up a nice little home base in this galaxy :P Still, it took the Imperium years to figure it all out. How long will it take all of you to detect an entire world going silent?

OOC: This is NS, I give it about ten minutes, or one conveniently passing Battlegroup, whichever comes first.

OOC: Then have at it; you see but one tendril of the kraken, and the head is where you must strike :)

OOC: Then have at it; you see but one tendril of the kraken, and the head is where you must strike :)

OOC: Not me, I wait for others to show up first, that way I can claim I detected all the ships in one place, it still shouldn't take long, FT intros usually get hit with replies pretty fast.

OOC: Ok, fine. So, anyone else interested? 40k nations maybe? Or anyone else; entirely open...

OOC: Ok, fine. So, anyone else interested? 40k nations maybe? Or anyone else; entirely open...


OOC: I'll see what I can scrounge up...

OOC: Tag! I'm interested and also a new FT nation. The government recently sent out a wave of exploration vessels, so I can feasibly have one of those stumble in if you'd like...They're basically looking for planets, star systems, other space-farers, etc.

OOC: Tag! I'm interested and also a new FT nation. The government recently sent out a wave of exploration vessels, so I can feasibly have one of those stumble in if you'd like...They're basically looking for planets, star systems, other space-farers, etc.

*Gets popcorn and sits back to watch the first contact on this one*

OOC: Sure, go ahead. Although I should warn you, we bite ;)

The pair of Cataclym-class battlecruisers drifted through the Warp, their Sorcerers adeptly guiding the massive ships towards their destination: the world of Umbril 4. They were on a mission of conquest, to bring Change to this misbegotten sector of the galaxy, and glory to the Changer of the Ways.

With a burst of hellish light, the two massive battle cruisers, the Babylon and the Crucifier, dropped out of the Warp. Checking the scanners, the Warmaster of the Crucifier sent a message through the Warp to his brother.

It appears someone has beaten us here...

OOC: Sure, go ahead. Although I should warn you, we bite ;)

OOC: I was counting on it...

And then their messages ceased; silenced by the implacable shadow that now hovered over Umbril 4, the warp cloudy with its very presence; its astropathic voices silenced by the chittering and alien cacophany that would send most mad with its relentless noise. A telepathic moment passed between them, alien mind, to alien mind; and the hive tasted their ambition. It feasted upon their emotion, gnawing on it; till it knew their intent; and the hive ships hovering in orbit flinched reflexively; spines and claws and chittering things moving in the darkness; maddening biological processes commencing in the void of space.

It heard them; felt them; sensed them...And it sensed prey. It lay, waiting; dormant and hungry; as the foreign vessels drew near...And the world seemed to slumber beneath cloudy spore ridden skies.

As the astropathic lines died, the vox systems came online. Chatter began again immediately.

The Warp is clouded, brother.

I noticed, a voice drily responded. You think you could be any more obvious? On to more pressing matters. The planet is not as we were told. It has been Changed, I can sense it.

Another one of our brothers?

No. This is different. The spark of life has gone from this world, the souls that could have been harvested in the name of our Lord are gone. We must investigate. Your vessel, the Crucifier, is closer. Teleport down a squad of Tzaangard. Have them find the solution where our Minds' Eyes cannot.

As you command, my brother. Teleport arrays are charging.

With a ripple of time-space and a flash the Stonefish dropped out of it's artificial wormhole. The 250-meter long ship was a sleek, elongated oval shape, rounded and smooth. Round, oval bumps dotted the surface. The Senior Commdaner turned to the Senior Navigator, speaking in his hissing tounge, "Where are we navigator?"

The navigator replied as he pored over the information dashing over his console, "We appear to be in a standard star system...We're detecting a massive number of life forms coming from this planet..."

The planet in question appeared on the Commander's screen as the navigator continued, "There are also two masssive ships heading for that planet. Alien design. Nothing we've come up with."

The Commander snorted and stroked his snout reflectively. Finally he spoke, "begin recording all relevant sensor data and prepare a mesage probe for launch. We're going to send everything we can back...In the meantime go to Alert Level Two and wait to see what they do when they spot us."

"Yes, Senior One. Going to Alert Level Two. Deploying armor. Electronic Counter-Measures and weapons on standby."

All across the hull of the ship matte-black armor deployed from several of the pods, leaving the ship covered in the plates. The ship waited, silent.

OOC: I guess I'll try to join in...just want it to be known that my knowledge fleet-wise is extremely limited.

IC:

The forces of Grandfather Nurgle were always in strife with the forces of Tzeentch. By their very definition, the two Dark Gods were always at odds: one favored evolution, rebirth, creation, change, even if it wasn't in any sort of "good" sense; the other wanted only destruction, death, and decay.

As such, it was that the Mycoplague Battalion of the Death Guard Legion had been hunting signs of Tzeentch's pawns at work across the universe. Led by Lord Phyton, a distant "relative" of the infamous Typhus, the Mycoplague Battalion had laid waste to countless rim-worlds where the agents of Change had forged their presence. Now the agents of Change were detected once more.

Leading his rather modest fleet in a Styx Class Heavy BC, accompanied only by a variety of transports and one Slaughter Class Cruiser. Lord Phyton stared out of a large viewport into the insanity that is the Warp. Roiling, burning clouds of all colors with small daemons swimming among it gave little idea to any untrained mind where they were. Phyton, however, had enough skill to be able to read the Warp, and he knew where they were.

His voice was something like a combination of nightmares and the groans of the dying in sickbays. It struck fear into the heart of any mortal, and even most of his servants had trouble dealing with it.

"Pull out here. Let's see what these fools are up to."

The Warp was... different. The Tzaangard had never seen it shimmer like this as they traversed it, never seen it so vilely alive. Regardless, they continued to their destination, moving faster than light itself. Moving past the cajoling forms of their daemonic allies, the Tzaangard reached the surface of the planet, and emerged from the Warp.

Around them, the surface was dead. Orangish particles floated through the air, the land was shrouded with a crimson fog. The effect was eerily like swimming through the guts of some great beast. The Gard could see massive bony spires reaching into the sky, and what looked like giant balloons hovering almost out of sight, tentacles reaching down to touch the pillars.

The Sorcerer-sergeant was reminded of a daemonworld, but he could sense no Warp-blessing here. Stranger and stranger. Turning, he addressed his men.

"Squad, move out."

From the folds of flesh they came; relentless hordes of creatures; scythes of bone gleaming in the half-light of the pulsing world; insect like projectiles hurtled forth to feast on flesh from biological weapons melded to the beings themselves. From behind the Marines, snake like beings rose and surged forward; as writhing, fleshy things, teeth sheened with saliva and lust, rushed up from their feet. Larger things came; warriors; great Hive Tyrants; Broodlords surged forward with their Genestealer retinues; and all hell seemed to descended, screaming and hissing against their foes; as the world was wracked with spasms, and on the horizon, a new ship forced itself forth from alien womb.

The creatures poured forth, till it seemed the slick skin of the world was rife with ticks and pests; white blood cells of a great being. They had sensed infection; and now they would cleanse it.

"Men! Open fire!"

With that one command, the twelve men let loose with their entire arsenal. Bolter shells cascaded across the approaching horde with their distinctive *bam-thump-crump*, ripping holes in the hideous creatures. Flamer blasts burned them alive, while the heavy weapon Tzaangard let loose with his heavy bolter. The abominations fell in tens, hundreds, but still more came.

*bam-thump-crump*

The sorcerer let loose with warp-spawned fire, his Lord Tzeentch feuling his mortal mind to far beyond his limits. In his warp-induced frenzy, he saw his men fighting, and dying, devoured by the bullet-beetles of the monstrosities. He could see that they would not escape this alive, and prayed for more power to resist this tide.

He recieved it.

Enormous flashes of hell-fire blossomed across the terrain, obliterating packs of the creatures at once. But still they came. The sorcerer-sergeant could see the futility of it now, Tzeentch has granted him that knowledge. All he could do now was warn the fleet and sell his life as dearly as possible. Pulling his bolter, he sent hell-fire rounds blasting into the horde, each shell incinerating half a dozen of the smaller beasts.

*bam-thump-crump*

With a mighty push, he broke through the barrier in the Warp, sending his message to his masters. He sent what he had seen, the very sensations, and continued to relay the message, all the while burning monsters left and right. He and his remaining three Gard were now fighting back to back, doing their best to keep the deadly creatures at bay.

*bam-thump-crump*

Spotting movement, the sorcerer turned, firing his bolter. With a metallic clang, the shell ricocheted, bouching off his target. In horror, the sorcerer saw a larger beast, its tendrils buried in the skull of one of his barely living men. He could sense the thought flowing out of the Gard, flowing into the hellspawn devouring him. Tearing his gaze away, he could see his three remaining men go down, torn to shreds by a giant plant-thing, vines ripping them in half. Seeing what he must do to prevent knowledge of the Khurganate from being disseminated into this swarm, the sorcerer flipped up his visor, tasting the toxic air, and turned his bolter on himself.

*Bam-Thump-CRUMP*

Death would not save them; the very ground tasted their blood, feeding upon their maimed corpses; the bodies of kin and enemy alike drawn back into the nourishment starved mother mass. One world was not enough; no...They deserved the right to consume more....To attain perfection amongst the stars, feeding at whim. As the great hive ships slipped forth against the metallic invader vessels; the Hivemind was already tasting the knowledge in the flesh...And what he saw, was a worthy foe to consume.

Fleshy pods hurtled forth from the great Hiveships; hissing with tendrils snaking like the maw of some hideous squid. The pods slammed against metal; tasting it with acidic jaws and alien guile; chewing and scratching; as their cargo thrummed and hissed against the hull. The things took to the vaccuum, claws skittering over metal as the pods sank against the hulls; chewing; consuming. As soon their crews would be consumed. Great spines of solid bone hurtled through the void towards the ships; strengthened by evolution and desire. The gleaming bone crackling with kinetic energy; and an almost palpable psychic force.

Click, clank...THUD. Crack; Hiss...

They were coming...

Even before they had fully exited the warp, Phyton knew something was amiss. He couldn't quite place his finger on it, but there was something odd about this region. Exiting into space, Phyton commanded his crews to begin searching for signs of their prey. They were closer to the agents of Change they had been tracking than ever before; Phyton could feel it. This might be their best and only opportunity to render Tzeentch's warriors to festering piles of decay.

The signs centered on the planet they were near. Phyton knew there was something at the back of his mind, something telling him that there was more than evidently visible here. Many presences. Chaos for sure, but...others.

Breaking through the atmosphere, he suddenly realized what one of those things was. The evidence was everywhere. The psychic chatter, the noxious clouds, the living towers stretching from the surface of the atmosphere to the surface of the planet. He had seen them once before, and he would never forget them: Tyranids.

Now he had two enemies to fight, and maybe more to come, for there were other presences that he felt. Tyranids, while they caused death, brought even more life. This was unacceptable to Nurgle, and Nurgle wanted them to follow the same fate of mankind: disease, decay, and oblivion.

A ship spun screeching in war cry as it unleashed a volley of great bone missles, laden with acids and toxic chemicals, while vomitting forth a wave of spore mines; searing through the void, to impact against the corruption ridden hulks of the Plague God. The hive ship contracted as fight like drone organisms slid forth, roaring in terrible hunger as they plunged against these new invaders; bone and flesh sharpened against the enemy; and poured forth in noxious, cleansing defiance...

The living vessels plunged whole heartedly into the battle; eager to repel these invaders of the realm; these parasites upon perfection. Soon their distinct genetics would be added to the Hive; and they would adapt; to better consume the galaxy...

Across the great ships, crewman took up autoguns, bolters and flamers. Tens of thousands of men prepared for the onslaught that they knew would come. All the while, the hundreds of lance batteries opened fire on the Hive Ships. Torpedoes were launched, catapulting hundreds of MIRV warheads towards the organic ships.

We must retreat my brother, report this to Warmaster Helion. We cannot die here!

You think me a fool, brother? Charge your Warp Drives, we shall escape as soon as possible. Helion shall not be happy, but it is better to be castigated by him than to be devoured alive by these monstrosities of Umbril.

The mighty drives began to spin, gathering power for the jump. All around them, Legionnaires stood watch, protecting their only way home.

Senses reeling like those of a shark; the Hiveships poured forth; unleashing death towards the areas of the enemy ships that crackled with electric static; their superior vision almost blinded by the supernovas of power that coruscated within the metal vessels. Ships burst into black ichor and destroyed bone and chitin; torn apart by the alien weapons; even as more surged forward; pods and missles, mines and spores bombarding their prey, even as they sensed them prepare to flee. The Hivemind screeched; roaring in primal fury through every single being; hungry for the flesh of these invaders.

As the Hiveships continued to focus their fire upon snuffing out the great lights of the roaring power drives; the invading creatures continued to pour across hull, and into the corridors as a living wave. Tentacle mawed doom lunged forward for some; while creeping scythe lipped horrors lurked in the shadows; awaiting their foes folly. Airducts rent, creatures seeking to permeat every crevice of the monolithic vessel with their limitless presence; eager to feed...For the devourer stirred in each of them...

And their baser instincts, their primal need; could not; would not, be dissuaded; no matter how many of them fell to mortal weapons. Though dozens had fallen, the countless smaller creatures lunged forth; cannon fodder before the enemy; whose weapons had no limitless ammunition to spare them the wrath of the greater beings...

"Senior One the ships are being attacked by...by..living ships! It's impossible!"

The commander's head whipped around and he strode to the console and looked down at the sensor data. "Impossible," he muttered, then started shouting orders, "Full battle alert! Sensor Officer launch a sensor probe and start pumping the information into our databanks! Helm, being powering engines. I want to be able to get out of here at a moment's notice!"

A chorus of assents sounded from around him as klaxons began to blare.

The Tyranid onslaught struck like a wave of lightning. Even with the daemonic protection that all ships bore, many small escorts and transports when down in unnatural flames, a combination of the volatile chemicals in the Tyranid weaponry and the bursting forth of now-uncontrolled Chaos energies from the wrecked Chaos systems.

While the larger vessels could hold their own and protect the rest of the fleet for some time, Phyton knew that sticking around would be suicide.

"We must pull back now! Retreat back to the Warp, you idiots!"

Then he sensed a shudder from the Warp; someone or something had just exited this realm, and Phyton had a bad feeling that it was the agents of Change retreating before them. Now he was torn; should he pursue, or should he find a way to eliminate these Tyranid beasts?

While his ships began to return to the Warp, Phyton retreated to his personal quarters to pray to Nurgle. His next course of action was a difficult one to decide.

"Senior One the ships are being attacked by...by..living ships! It's impossible!"

The commander's head whipped around and he strode to the console and looked down at the sensor data. "Impossible," he muttered, then started shouting orders, "Full battle alert! Sensor Officer launch a sensor probe and start pumping the information into our databanks! Helm, being powering engines. I want to be able to get out of here at a moment's notice!"

A chorus of assents sounded from around him as klaxons began to blare.

The Hive Fleets; occupied as they were with the chaos Invaders, turned their insidious alien attentions to the Kalden vessel; the great skewers of acid soaked bone hurtling forth; the biological spore mines hurtling towards the enemy, as a great many parasitic weapons and vessels slammed towards their hulls. The Tyranid advanced continued; creatures skittering, hissing across hulls; acids directed against metal vessels with an insidious and insatiable appetite. The void was filled with ships; a few hundred at most; their alien intent plunging against their foes in a wave of slaughter and death. Crewmen would see their comrades torn apart and devoured before the battle was done; and countless would know the cold fear of the consuming horde; spread within their hearts.

The Hive Fleets; occupied as they were with the chaos Invaders, turned their insidious alien attentions to the Kalden vessels; the great skewers of acid soaked bone hurtling forth; the biological spore mines hurtling towards the enemy, as a great many parasitic weapons and vessels slammed towards their hulls. The Tyranid advanced continued; creatures skittering, hissing across hulls; acids directed against metal vessels with an insidious and insatiable appetite. The void was filled with ships; a few hundred at most; their alien intent plunging against their foes in a wave of slaughter and death. Crewmen would see their comrades torn apart and devoured before the battle was done; and countless would know the cold fear of the consuming horde; spread within their hearts.

OOC: There is only a single Kalden vessel and it's very small.

IC: "They're coming for us! Navigator, intiate Jump Engines!"

The navigator frantically slapped his controls. A persistent hum began to build up throughout the ship.Then, with a flash and another ripple the ship shot into it's artifical wormhole, dissepearing into the depths of space. The brdige crew slumped visibly with relief. First contact had been terrifying, but at least they were safely away.

In on of the corridors running through the ship one of the crew frowned. Had he heard a scrabbling sound just now? He looked around and saw nothing. He turned to continue on his way. And screamed.

OOC: Ok then, vessel.

With a horrific wrench, the Khurganate vessels translated to the Warp. The Legionairres smiled. Here, they were fighting on their own ground, on their own terms. Their prayers began to fill the halls, even as they killed and were killed. Their souls were a sacrifice to their God, and through their devotion, Tzeentch saw fit to aid them.

With flashes of brilliant hellfire, daemons materialized, coming into being inside the mighty ships, horrors running towards the monstrosities, eager to snap their necks. The unearthly moans of Screamers motivated the Tzaani forces to new heights, fighting back with renewed vigor. Firewyrms lashed out, casting about with their flaming breath, incinerating their foes.

Reinforcements had arrived.

The great hordes of the devourer slammed against the Daemonic host; hissing and tearing even as warp energy sundered chitin and screeching flesh. They fought, tooth and nail, crawling across walls and floors; hissing and whirling like dervishes as they fought. Around one, the corridor bent and buckled as the Hive Mind acted through it; overdeveloped brain and frail body crackling with psychic force as the Zoanthrope let loose against the hull and hallway; flanked by countless subordinate creatures.

Genestealers lurked in the shadows, waiting to bite and impregnante unsuspecting hosts; while vile Hive Tyrants stalked to corrdiors, hurling themselves into combat; venom laiden crystals seeking flesh; beetle-bullets hungry, and other bizarre weapons of the flesh acting through the singular will of the terrible Hivemind.

OOC: I may start up a new thread called "It Followed Me Home" describing the Stonefish as it arrrives back in it's home system only to find a tyranid infestation on board.

OOC: Sure, however, I could also have it as a Genestealer infection. Genestealers infect humans, who then produce Hybrids when they breed with other humans, infecting others as it forms a cult to worship the Patriarch Genestealer. Eventually they lead a rebellion on the world, to soften you up for a HiveFleet Invasion :)

OOC: Sure, however, I could also have it as a Genestealer infection. Genestealers infect humans, who then produce Hybrids when they breed with other humans, infecting others as it forms a cult to worship the Patriarch Genestealer. Eventually they lead a rebellion on the world, to soften you up for a HiveFleet Invasion :)

The problem being we're not human. :cool:

OOC: Works with any species, I used human as a basic example :)

OCL Yeah, I knew that...Just giving you a hard time. :D

TAG...cause...TAG....

OOC: :)
TAG for later post. Great intro.

OOC: Thanks alot. Hope to see you soon :)

OOC: Horned Rat, how goes the Skaven? I almost thought you'd died on us...

IC:

"Stand fast, men! We cannot be defeated here! FOR CHANGE!"

The Tzaan-lord's cry was echoed by ten thousand mortal mouths, and uncountable daemonic voices cried out their agreement. Crashing into the creatures, the daemons went to war. Hundreds upon hundreds were reduced to mere puffs of ethereal mist, but they simply drifted back into the Warp to reform. Great Lords of Change took to combat with their Umbran counterparts, wrenching the flesh of their enemies into more fitting forms, those of Firewyrms and Horrors. They landed blow upon blow upon their six-limbed foes with their mighty staves, attempting to crush the life out of their opponents.

All the while, the mortals continued the fight. Autoguns barked, Dreadnoughts slammed their sextapod enemies into the decks, and Tzaangard let loose with hellish blasts of warpfire. These were their ships, they would not fall.

And so, in the depths of the warp; far from the re-embrace of the Hive, the Swarm fell. Writhing masses of flesh lay amongst the decks and debris; yet countless of their enemy too, had fallen. They had won victories, they had fed and grew fat; and many had returned to the hive, bloated with the feasting of the dead.

They melted back into the flesh, consumed into the vast digestion pools; that more evolution; more change, could occur. They had taken their first bite of this Galaxies geno-pool, and it had fuelled them; even as they now strengthened their position; and another tendril of the Hive dwelt somewhere in the void...

Nurgle responded. Phyton had his command, and now he would follow through. Returning to the command room, he rapped out orders to his slave cultists.

"Nurgle says that our enemies of Change are weak...ravaged by our other foes, the alien scum of evolution. Hunt them down. They must be destroyed."

OOC: Gotta go now. I'll see you guys tomorrow.

OOC: This is NS, I give it about ten minutes, or one conveniently passing Battlegroup, whichever comes first.

OOC: The Randomly Passing Battlegrou, for no apparent reason, headed towards this star, with weapons specifically designed to pwninate the.... slimy thingies. Magically, they did so, and then set off to ruin another perfectly good FT intro RP.(elaborate #tag#)

OOC: lol. Interesting...I wonder if HT's taste good...

Probe 111354689

The probe, deployed to the region of space of Umbril 4 dur to the sudden spike in energy, reached its destination, and opened up, its small, yet vast array coming online. Instantly, all manner of communication and medium flooded its sensors. Intercepted and decrypted transmissions, pictures, infared and deep scans determined massive hive activity in the region -- also known in the Empire as the second beast, able to construct living ships, just as the beast had been able to subvert human flesh into a ship, thus making it living. It was considered the most inhuman and disgusting art in the galaxy by the Hiigaran Empire, and the hive was far up on the Empire's hit list for it. Upon recieving communications reporting hive activity, an extermination fleet was readied in hours and sent to the planet in order to purify it, and save any locales still remaining, although they doubted any were spared at this stage.

Defense Station Sjet, Hiigaran Controlled Space

"Alright, battlegroup Sajuuk's Light, you are cleared for jump. Good luck and Godspeed," said the air-traffic controller as he cleared the battlegroup for jumping.

"Roger that tower, initiating jump. See you on the flip side."

The massive Battlegroup, composed of a trio of Battlecruisers (http://well-of-souls.com/homeworld/hws/hw2/images/battlecruiser_weaponry.jpg) -- including the "Kill-'em-All" Silvana, two Carriers (http://well-of-souls.com/homeworld/hws/hw2/images/display.htm?homeworld211.jpg) , ten Destroyers (http://well-of-souls.com/homeworld/hws/hw2/images/display.htm?e3gs_homeworld2_screen023.jpg) , thirty Flak Frigates (http://well-of-souls.com/homeworld/hws/hw2/images/display.htm?homeworld2_021903_02.jpg), fifteen Ion Cannon Frigates (http://well-of-souls.com/homeworld/hws/hw2/images/display.htm?HW2_Comps_01_DC_HGN_IonCannonFrigate.jpg), and one Agamemnon class Assault Carrier (http://well-of-souls.com/homeworld/hws/hw2/images/display.htm?concept_flagship07.jpg), jumped to meet the enemy in battle.

They soon arrived, and assesed the situation. Two warships were in the area, and so they attempted hails:

This is the Agamemnon-Class Carrier Sajuuk's Light of the Hiigaran empire, and protected by the mighty Battlecruiser Silvana. We have come here under orders of the Diamid to exterminate the infestation of this planet known as the hive. Please respond, and give us a sit-rep of your current situation.

OOC: Don't worry. This is a large number of ships, but only Marine Pods from the Agamemnon Carrier can be launched to kill the hive on the gound. They've sent this many ships in order to keep the agamemnon carrier from being taken over by any hive ships in the area. Also, my people are scared to shit of the hive, and most of our weapons are ineffective against them, thus we substitute effciency with numbers, not something I usually do.

FYI: The Silvana is sort of a legend in my empire. It was the first BC I made, and has never known defeat. Just to let you know why it's revered so much in my empire to avoid confusion.

what the hell are you lot going on about?http://forums.jolt.co.uk/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=9635465#
sniper

OOC: A pretty damn impressive intro I must say. Not sure how I can get involved in this (In plain english, HT, give me a plothook like getting attacked and calling for help or sumfink ;) ) but I'll see if I can.

Tag, btw.

OOC: Indeed. I'm definately interested in this, considering that I'm playing a Space Marine Chapter. (I know, I spelled vengeance wrong). But I need plot hook! It's not like Space Marines just wander around looking for aliens and heretics to kill.

Tag!

OOC: I'm pretty interested in this, since I started using WH40K tech not too long ago. More specifically, Chaos Space Marine tech, with some slight modifications. Any ideas on how I should start out? I was thinking a passing Prison Ship laden with POWs could detect all them Tyranids on Umbril 4. Just as a side question, an alliance probably wouldn't be possible,right? I'll assume it isn't unless you say differently.
FYI: I've switched around the positions and ranks a bit, so don't be surprised if a Bloodthirster is the captain of a ship.
IC: The Prison Ship slid slowly out of Warp, gliding past the shimmering red ball that Umbril 4 had become. On board, the Shipmaster, a Bloodthirster, stalked over to his second-in-command, a seasoned veteran named Raynus.
"Mortal, why is the planet Umbril 4 red? I've passed it many times, but it has always been blue. I want to know what happened."
Raynus turned and looked into the viewscreen. He, too, noticed immediatley that Umbril 4 had turned red.
"Shipmaster, I do not know. Shall we send out a probe?"
"Of course, mortal. I want to know about everything that is happening in my sector." Raynus saluted and stalked off without a word.

-

Several minutes later, a canister shaped hunk of metal was pushed out of the Prison Ship. The thrusters powered up after a few moments, and the craft hurtled towards Umbril 4...

-

Back on the bridge, a new viewscreen opened up, broadcasting from the camera set on the probe's outer shell. For several long minutes, the probe hurtled on, until fuzzy shapes were discernable on the planet. Raynus frowned.
It looks like the whole planet is alive! What has happened to it?
But the keener eyes of the Shipmaster recognised what the pulsating ground belonged to long before the craft landed and was promptly ripped apart by the abominations.
"Tyranids," the Bloodthirster growled, narrowing his eyes to slits. The computer had also classified the creatures, and now the intercom was blaring:
Tyranids. Danger rating: Highest. Suggested course of action: Extermination by nuclear warhead.
For once I agree with you, robot, the Bloodthirster growled.

Each Prison Ship was armed 3 nuclear warheads, and the newer ones with a thermonuclear one, capable of leaving nothing but scorched earth on half of the planet. Unfortunatley, this Prison Ship was an older model.
And so only 3 nuclear warheads were armed and deployed. The Bloodthirster did not even wait until the flashes appeared on the planet's surface before he started issuing orders.
"Engage Warp Drive. The Emperor must know of this. If these abominations spread, there will be no stopping them and everyone shall succumb. Well? GO!"

And with this the Prison Ship slid slowly into Warp, going back to the closest Battlestation.

OOC: The nukes are pretty weak. Think x5 stronger than Hiroshima. And anyway, if Tyranids breed as fast as I understood they can, you'll probably have your population back up in no time. Unless, of course, Tyranids are weak against radiation?

OOC: And now the Fleets of Protoss arrive...

Wait, this is 40k, that calls for terran ACS and an Asgerd class planetoid

IC:

The Asgerd class Battleglobe, Dahak, had been attractyed to this place by the massive amount of warp activity in recent time, now he arrived, just a few hours after setting out under Enchanach drive he was at the edge ofthe system gravity limit, and engaging his Hyper drive for a short burn in-system, it was his duty, and the duty of the ACS division he carried, to investigate any possible Chaos activity in this locale. They were not prepared for what they were about to face...

OOC Tyranids could care less about radiation. If I remember correctly, some of their toxins are radioactive.

IC: The battle was over. The ships had been purged, each and every deck and ventilation shaft had been cleansed of any Umbran taint. Still, Tzaangard vigilantly patrolled the entirity of the vessel, keeping an eye out for any remaining Umbran monstrosities.

On the bridges, the two Tzaanlords were busy guiding their ships through the Warp.

Brother.

Hrmm? I'm navigating, now is not a good time.

We are being followed.

I noticed. The stench of decay is too great to ignore.

What shall we do about them?

Let them follow. The defenses of Hecuba are strong, they will not fall to such beings. Go back to your navigation, we shall worry about the Decayers when we arrive.

OOC: I see. So the only thing that can affect them is the blast. But about thermonuclear warheads gets me thinking...Could a thermonuclear warhead do the job? Think Homeworld, or Homeworld:Cataclysm, whichever one has the scene with the homeworld being bombed by a thermonuke and just totally burning up...

OOC: That's gotta be a damn big thermo-nuke... But still, no, it won't get 'em all. Both rippers and Carnifexes have been observed exiting a pupae-like form during the aftermath of Virus-bombing which both infects all life with a horrid disease that kills within seconds, and causes a huge firestorm when all the methane released ignites, burning everything on the planet. And tyranids survive that. WMD's don't work. Nid's are nearly unstoppable in the final stages.

OOC: The HFN has made a good choice. ;) :D

"Where are these fools going?"

"We...we don't know, Lord."

In a flash, Phyton swung his scythe, beheading the cultist that responded.

"Let that be a warning. I want to know where they're going. Make sure to keep following them."

OOC: I see. So the only thing that can affect them is the blast. But about thermonuclear warheads gets me thinking...Could a thermonuclear warhead do the job? Think Homeworld, or Homeworld:Cataclysm, whichever one has the scene with the homeworld being bombed by a thermonuke and just totally burning up...
That wasn't a Thermo-nuke. It was what's known as an "Atmosphereic Depravation Weapon, which is a Frigate/Corvette Ship which goes on a suicide ram into the planet, seomthing happens, and part of a planet is pretty much obliterated of all atmosphere, environment, and life. However, since Kharak was already almost dead, one was enough.

OOC: That's gotta be a damn big thermo-nuke... But still, no, it won't get 'em all. Both rippers and Carnifexes have been observed exiting a pupae-like form during the aftermath of Virus-bombing which both infects all life with a horrid disease that kills within seconds, and causes a huge firestorm when all the methane released ignites, burning everything on the planet. And tyranids survive that. WMD's don't work. Nid's are nearly unstoppable in the final stages.

OOC: It should be noted that Codex: Tyranids 4th Editions cites Tyranid organisms as able to withstand Exterminatus techniques such as Cyclonic Torpedoes.

IC:

The Hivefleet roared in collective pain as the homeworld was sundered; blazing under the atomic heat of minature suns. Those closest were seared clean; flesh torn asunder by the immense heat of the deadly weapons. But one blow does not kill a being; nor does a single wound brign death. The hivefleets whirled as the Hilgaran vessels appeared; and roared in primal fury; weapons discharging with biological fury. Missles split in mid flight; acid dripping toxin wreathed bone shards hurtling forward with deadly force; larger bone spears hurled in impaling volleys against the enemy foe.

The monstrous conciousness beckoned as it unleashed hell against its foes; each vessel gleaming with ichors; flesh saturated and ready. Pods and spores hurtled towards the enemy, along with volleys of living mines; as each living, needle fanged abomination let loose a roar of incoming death...

And so, the relentless swarm attacked once more...

OOC: Ah, it is good to find a tyranid nation...So, I’m here to help!
BTW, kinda my introduction too(unofficaly)

The shadows stirred with yet more hidden life. A warp hulk vomited out from space. The hulk was a smaller size than most, but still considerable size on its own. No life signs were detected aboard. The ships dated back to the imperium’s founding, most notable was an emperor class battle ship, The Fury, formed the hulk. It plodded through space slowly, most likely going to come into orbit near the planet.

But soon, life began to stir, invisible life, but there. As motion sensitive lights flickered on, quiet clacking was heard, and an audible hiss of something other than air...

They knew of the others, but this probing unit wasn’t here for biomass, contact must be made with the others, unity through strength, strength through genetic superiority...

So this hive fleet now knows where to find populated space, and the feeding shall be great...

In the warp:
The host was swarming. A great buzzing going about as the massive creatures clustered around the Leviathan beasts. They could feel the others pain, but the hive mind did not see that now is the right time to enter. And fangs gnashed, acid spilled, and lesser beasts scuttled about...

The Hivefleet roared in collective pain as the homeworld was sundered; blazing under the atomic heat of minature suns. Those closest were seared clean; flesh torn asunder by the immense heat of the deadly weapons. But one blow does not kill a being; nor does a single wound brign death. The hivefleets whirled as the Hilgaran vessels appeared; and roared in primal fury; weapons discharging with biological fury. Missles split in mid flight; acid dripping toxin wreathed bone shards hurtling forward with deadly force; larger bone spears hurled in impaling volleys against the enemy foe.

The monstrous conciousness beckoned as it unleashed hell against its foes; each vessel gleaming with ichors; flesh saturated and ready. Pods and spores hurtled towards the enemy, along with volleys of living mines; as each living, needle fanged abomination let loose a roar of incoming death...

And so, the relentless swarm attacked once more...

OOC: It should be noted that I'm still in space, a few kilometers away from from even High Orbit...Only teh space ships could attack mes!

IC: The Battlegroup dropped out of Hyperspace, and immediately began hailing all ships around it:

This is the Hiigaran Battlegroup Sajuuk's Light. We have come to help exterminate the infestation here. Please tell us your current situation, and we will help where we are most useful.
Repeat...

Pulling free from the tendrils of the Warp, the two battlecruisers were again in the comforting busom of Hecuba. Warpfire crackled in the space around the fourth planet, a huge spire of it rising from the massive edifice that was the palace of Tzaanlord Helion, Warmaster of the Khurgan, Chosen of Tzeentch. Massive orbital fortresses wreathed the planets in system, testaments to the power of the Khurganate. And in the the void, flitting between the planets, were the massive behemoths of the Khurgante armada.

Tzaanlords, this is the Crucifier. We have returned from Umbra, and request an immediate council of the Warmasters. We have important news we must share.

Confirmed, Crucifier. You are cleared for docking at Balestar station.

Thank you, Tzaanlords. Also, we have been followed. We request an immediate mobilization of all local forces. The servants of the Plague Lord will soon be upon us.

Thank you for your timely warning, Crucifier. Attention all forces. Mobilize immediately. Decayer forces presumed inbound. We repeat, mobilize immediately.

The Hivefleet roared in collective pain as the homeworld was sundered; blazing under the atomic heat of minature suns. Those closest were seared clean; flesh torn asunder by the immense heat of the deadly weapons. But one blow does not kill a being; nor does a single wound brign death. The hivefleets whirled as the Hilgaran vessels appeared; and roared in primal fury; weapons discharging with biological fury. Missles split in mid flight; acid dripping toxin wreathed bone shards hurtling forward with deadly force; larger bone spears hurled in impaling volleys against the enemy foe.

The monstrous conciousness beckoned as it unleashed hell against its foes; each vessel gleaming with ichors; flesh saturated and ready. Pods and spores hurtled towards the enemy, along with volleys of living mines; as each living, needle fanged abomination let loose a roar of incoming death...

And so, the relentless swarm attacked once more...

OOC: It should be noted that I'm still in space, a few kilometers away from from even High Orbit...Only teh space ships could attack mes!

IC: The Battlegroup dropped out of Hyperspace, and immediately began hailing all ships around it:

This is the Hiigaran Battlegroup Sajuuk's Light. We have come to help exterminate the infestation here. Please tell us your current situation, and we will help where we are most useful.
Repeat...

OOC: All ships are biological and so fire biological weapons, boarding pods, etc, etc. That entire post was the ships attacking you.

"Drop out of the Warp, now!"

At Phyton's command, his fleet departed from the hellish dimension, returning to space. It was immediately evident that this was a mistake as a Tzeentch force much larger than the ones they were pursuing opened fire upon the Mycoplague Battalion. Phyton knew that to fight would be suicide. Already, massive damage was being suffered. His crews returned fire with as much ferocity as possible, but with only mediocre blessings of Nurgle, Phyton's fleet was doomed to return to the Warp as only damned souls, not a glorious army of Chaos.

Phyton was not one to let his ego overtake his rationality. Again, they would have to retreat. A different plan was needed, or a different enemy had to be fought. Unless Nurgle had reinforcements in mind for his loyal servants, they didn't have much to work with.

"Damn them! They've led us right into a trap! You! Why didn't you know this was coming?"

"Wha--Lord, I..."

The scared voice was silenced as the cultist's head joined the other festering corpse on the command bridge's floor. Phyton's voice was filled with rage.

"Return to the Warp!"

Turning his thoughts inward while the destruction of war continued, Phyton prayed.

"Great Nurgle, Lord of Decay...We cannot pursue both the agents of Change and the Tyranids by ourselves. Mighty as we are, we are vastly outnumbered by your enemies. I beg you to give me guidance."

The response was less of a voice and more simply of sudden knowledge, taken in with a burst from a psychic noise that would have caused any mortal's head to disintegrate, so powerful and evil it was. It was overshadowed by the Dark God's disgust with Phyton, however, and Phyton knew that if results didn't turn up soon, then he would suffer torment unlike any other for a millenium or more before Nurgle would even consider letting him go back to battle.

Victory was imperative. Nurgle had a tool for Phyton's use relatively nearby. If he traveled through the Warp properly, he would come upon a planet suffering a massive plague. There Phyton could get the power he needed if he acted quickly enough.

Phyton would not fail.

OOC: You're using the hive in a different manner than I've previously seen. Could you please explain it to me briefly (the weapons) or linky so I can know how much damage and the side-effects of this are? Sorry, I just would really not like to post blind here. Most other hive ships I've encountered lack weapons and shields, have TEH UBER ARMOR and just ram enemy ships, board them with a bagillion enemies, and overwhealm them, one by one. You're doing something different. Please explanify, as W would say.

OOC:I'm basically improvising biological weapons. For examples, bone spines that fire forth at high speeds, covered in biological acids and toxins, basically to pierce armor and cause aggravated damage. Spore mines are fleshy, bone spiked spore-like constructs, that detonate against objects once vomitted forth; their intent is to again use biological components, to weaken enemy armor. Boarding pods are similar, but contain Tyranid creatures; and impact against Hulls; allowing the creatures to either crawl over the hull or pour through acidic holes as the pod eats at the metal.

My ships have bone and chitinesque armor; which is hardened to withstand void, etc, but its hardly uber. Its a strong carapace.

The Prison Ship had barely entered into the otherworldly Warp when the Shipmaster noticed thousands of red bips fastly approaching them. Since the Gate to the Warp hadn't closed yet, the Bloodthirster roared, "All men to battle stations! Power up all rail guns and lasercannons!"
Chaos broke out in the ship. Everyone was running to their respective posts, and after a few seconds the railguns and lasercannons powered up, oriented themselves, and started blasting away at the Tyranids. Now for the wait. They had no nukes, just 250 1,000 kilogram explosive warheads, and those wouldn't be useful against these masses. They could only hope to get back to the Battlestation in time...

Breaking out of the Warp, Phyton's fleet found itself at the doorstep of a small, meaningless planet. They didn't know the name, nor did they care. All that mattered was what Nurgle had suggested: the planet was rich for the taking, and it would give Phyton the power boost he needed.

Breaking into the atmosphere, Phyton's ships met little-to-no resistance. Obviously, the planet's defenders were subdued as much as the civilians were by the plague that was wreaking havoc across the planet's surface. The bit of anti-spacecraft weapon fire that tried to fend off Phyton's forces was woefully insignificant and rapidly dealt with.

Within hours, the tiny planet had been broken. Everyone was either killed, left for dead by the ravages of the plague, or had given in to the offers that Phyton presented in the service of Nurgle: join or die a slow, agonizing, diseased death. Now, with hundreds of fresh Traitor Guardsmen and a few new transport and escort ships to boot, Phyton was ready to return to the Warp and fight the enemies converging on the Tyranid planet.

However, first Phyton had a plan: he needed to cut a deal with the agents of Change.

The Tyranid hivefleets reeled as ships burst into bio-organic debris and ichor; their collective roars echoing through the tormented void as their attacks hurtled forth once more; the great missles of bone and debilitating acid; the mines hurtling through the void towards their alien foes. The Hiveworld hissed and seethed; its wounds leaking and simmering; its link to the hivemind alive with pain and determination; as they once again opened fire against their insidious and terrible foes. Defilers in their realm; invaders and despoilers...Yet all the same, attractive meals to bolster the genetics of the hive in this alien galaxy...

Bump

Seconds seemed like minutes as the Prison Ship slid slowly through Warp, trying to stave off the oncoming fleet of Tyranids. The railguns made whump,whump! noises as they fired their slugs at the oncoming pods, and the lasers whizzed zeeew zeeew as the red streaks of red flew through the air and made clean holes in the pods. But still more kept coming.

And worse, since the Hivemind was on the planet, there was no command shiip to go for, no ship, that, if destroyed, would lower morale. Hell, the Tyranids didn't even have morale. They were only about 100 km when the order was given to deploy the Scuttle-Droids.

Scuttle-Droids are small robots with a piercing chain gun mounted on them that scuttle over the outer layer of the ship, looking for any intruding landing craft and then ripping them apart with the chain guns.

Barely 10 minutes later, the first of the landing pods latched on, and was promptly ripped apart by 3 Scuttle-Droids. And so was the next. And the one after. But they kept coming, and soon the several hundred Scuttle-Droids had too much to handle. They were destroying what pods they could, but there were already many holes in the armor, and hundreds of Tyranids had gotten in.

Meanwhile, the Shipmaster was giving a speech to the several thousand prisoners who were staring at him blandly.
"Some of you may have heard of Tyranids!" he roared, not waiting for an answer. "Well, we've just been breached by hundreds of those things, if not thousands. As I speak, they are trying to get here and Space Marines are dying to fend them off. Now, what I want to know is, would you rather die without a fight and have your memory sucked up by those things, or would you fight and have even the slightest chance of surviving?" He glared at them. "All in favor, say 'Khorne!'"
The sound was deafening.
"KHORNE! KHORNE! KHORNE!"
The War God had heard their plight and sprinkled in some rage and fury.
The Shipmaster smiled to himself. Maybe, just maybe, they would live through this.



Wepaons and armor were passed out, and everyone got ready for the incoming tide of evil...

The pods came; relentless; unforgiving; countless biological sacks and burnign blasts of bio-plasma searing at the enemy hulls; great spears of bone vomitted forth in alien fury.

The things forced forward, countless; relentless; into the belly of the ship; forcing forward, roaring and hissing, snarling in furious hunger. Hormagaunts and Termagaunts; rippers seething at their feet; hive Tyrants, complete with Tyranid Guard; maurauding hordes of Genestealers and their BroodLord Masters; all intent on destroying the countless opponents that stood against them.

They wer the Hive. They were perfection; and they were unstoppable...

A Prison Ship was just that, and had been outfitted with a large array of weaponry to keep prisoners from escaping. Weaponry which was now being used to fend off the swarm of Tyranids.
All along the ship machine guns popped down from the ceiling, up from the floor, and unleashed fire upon the Tyranids. Many were trampled or destroyed by the Tyranids, but many, along with the Space Marines and the now armed prisoners, managed to keep the Tyranids at bay, at least for a while. There was also a contingent of Flamers on the Ship, hitching a ride from Form V to the Prison Planet. With about 300 of them on board, the sound of rushing flames was everywhere, which was accompanied by the reek of burnt flesh.
But not human flesh - Tyranid flesh.
In the southern part of the ship, the Bloodthirster fought with a savage fury, eyes red from rage and blood. He knew that if he fought well, Khorne would help him. He knew that if he fought well, Khorne would send Daemons to his aid.
But, even as he fought, the Shipmaster was formulating a plan. A sneaky, devious plan...

A large chamber can be found on Prison Ship 9010, like on many others. But this one has been outfitted with a large assortment of weaponry and 3 foot thick blast doors. This was a Punishment Room - designed to kill prisoners who tried to escape. No torture, just a quick execution.That is what pleases the War God.

"Fall back!" The Bloodthirster yelled, already tramping towards the Punishment Room. "Fall back to the Punishment Room!"
The Space Marines followed without question, but the prisoners hung back, not sure waht to do. In the end, though, a swarm of Tyranids convinced them to follow.

OOC: What I'm going to do you'll see in the next post. :)

Bumpeth