Bombardment Nexus
As the planets of Malus Sector continued to resist and eventually fall to Hive Fleet Tenebrus, defensive forces scrambled to mount a coordinated defense. In the early days of the invasion, this often meant that defensive forces were cobbled together from disparate factions. Allies of opportunity against the overwhelming horde.
Ceswick XVI saw one such engagement, with the aligned forces of Adeptus Custodes, and Dark Angels taking on a two-pronged assault from Tyranid pathfinder squadrons, while simultaneously fending off a grotesque force of neverborn spilling from a warp rift on the planet’s surface.
On Ceswick XVI the invasion forces were initially held at bay thanks to powerful orbital artillery protected by a planetary defense shield. The enemy eventually started to triangulate on the shield generators and deployed a massive force of Tyranid monsters to help align their bombardment.
Hive Fleet Tenebrus assault force moves towards the shield generators
Initially, the ad hoc defensive alliance lacked coordination and their fire was largely ineffective. This was exacerbated by the arrival of a large force of monstrous neverborn on the battlefield, striding towards the right defensive flank. These were almost indescribable grotesques. Veiled in a cloud of shadows, the 30 foot bat winged horror in the lead seemed to project darkness around its abyss-black form. This meant long-range fire against them was impossible.
Aeldari Aspect Warriors crash into the nightmare horrors
Undeterred, the infiltrating Ulthwé Striking Scorpions streamed forward, firing shuriken pistols before landing a flurry of blows against the neverborn behemoths. Hopelessly outmatched, they still inflicted deep cuts against the shadowy monster before being swept aside.
With the left flank assault by the Hive Fleet momentarily stymied, it became clear that the decisive battle would take place against the warp horrors. Despite their immense size, they shimmered out of reality before reappearing even closer to the defensive lines. Still draped in a veil of shadows, the four greater daemons were now accompanied by a sickly swarm of rotting diseased, bloatflies.
The enormous neverborn warp-jump into the heart of the defensive lines
Despite this the defenders held firm - inspired by the gold-clad bodyguard of the Mon Keigh emperor. Among the humans no finer warriors could be found anywhere, and even the very dangerous Dark Angels seemed ordinary by comparison.
As the right flank threatened to fall to the daemon assault, a unit of Deathwing terminators teleported onto the battlefield. With jet engines screaming an Ulthwé Falcon Grav tank landed nearby, disgorging a unit of Fire Aspect warriors. The combined fire of the Dark Angels and Aeldari felled one of the gargantuan monsters, and at the same time the golden Custodes destroyed another, helped by inexorable Aeldari Wraithguard.
Shalaxi Hellbane is dispatched by the Custodes Shield Captain
Sensing victory slipping away, the host of chaos pushed forward with abandon, their midnight black leader cutting down retreating Ulthwé Storm Guardians. Close behind, the obscene rancid bulk of the biggest neverborn threatened to overwhelm the defense. Wrapped in a dense fog of biting, stinging flies, it seemed invincible.
The Great Unclean One is cut down resulting in a huge explosion
Fortune smiled however. The wounded shadowlord was slain by the Dark Angels, and the putrid pile of filth took huge volleys of fire from Aeldari Wraithguard, Dark Reapers, and Black Guardians. Finally, the Custodes Dreadnaught and Shield Captain barreled into the densest part of the insect swarm to deliver the decisive blow. A decisive blow followed by an enormous explosion of disease and blight, killing a number of nearby defenders.
As the remaining forces of the Hive Fleet melted away, victory had been won, but at what cost?
++++ Ulthwé|Adeptus Custodes|Dark Angels 90 Tyranids|Daemons 0 ++++