Chapter 29: Persuading the Astartes Captain, Equipping Pedan Weaponry

At these words, the Captain of the Polar Warriors, the Canoness nearby, and even the Imperial Commissar all stood with their mouths agape, staring at Rhode in utter disbelief.

"That is unrealistic. We lack the capacity to save this planet; the Hive Fleet has already secured total control," the Imperial Commissar said, shaking his head.

"The Tyranid swarm currently numbers in the hundreds of thousands, and that figure is climbing steadily," the Canoness added.

Saving this planet? What a joke. If it were salvageable, they would not have been crushed in the first place.

"There are four Hive Ships in orbit. Each one has a limited daily output of biomass and troops. The Titan that fought here previously wiped out a massive portion of the swarm, denying them any biomass, and after fighting for days and nights, they have lost at least several hundred thousand units. The swarm is currently at its weakest point—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Rhode declared.

To surround and destroy King Red, the Tyranids had deployed almost their entire force. Since these fallen organisms could not be recycled for biomass, and because the Hive Ships required both time and biological material to incubate new broods, the Hive Fleet had been avoiding further engagement.

Upon hearing this, the Polar Warrior Captain was visibly moved. It was true, as Rhode claimed, that the number of Tyranids on the planet had plummeted; the killing efficiency of that massive beast had been extraordinary. The Tyranid swarm was indeed incredibly weak—perhaps at its most vulnerable since the invasion began. Yet, even in this weakened state, it hardly seemed like a force they could overcome with their meager numbers.

"But what can my few men possibly do, Lord Rhode?" the Captain asked, looking at him.

"There are four Hive Ships, meaning they can only project four cluster-tendrils to extract the planet's biomass at once. If we sever all those tendrils, we can cut off their biomass supply in the short term. Once the tendrils are severed, we will use this giant Titan’s space-combat capabilities to destroy the Hive Ships directly. Once the ships are gone, the swarm will lose the psychic link provided by the Hive Queens and their supply of reinforcements. These feral creatures will lose their minds and begin to slaughter one another. Then, all that will be left for us is to clean up the trash," Rhode explained.

During the first Tyranid invasion of Behemoth, the reason for their defeat was the death of the synaptic creatures. Ordinary Tyranids lacked souls; they were merely beasts driven by the instinct to kill. Without the command of synaptic organisms, they would descend into endless, mindless infighting.

"The Hive Ships are over twenty kilometers long, and the four in orbit are all in the double-digit kilometer class. Are you certain this Titan has the firepower to destroy them?" the Captain asked. Destroying the Hive Ships was the critical objective; if this giant Titan truly possessed such firepower, the plan might actually be feasible.

"I guarantee it," Rhode replied.

The upgraded Pedan spacecraft and King Joe could coordinate their attacks. With both Pedanium main cannons firing in tandem, they could absolutely destroy a Hive Ship.

"In that case, for the Imperium, and for the Emperor! I am willing to gamble alongside you!" The Captain took a deep breath. In the end, he decided to commit to this utterly insane plan. This planet was vital to the Polar Warriors Chapter—it was practically a second home—and if there was any chance, he wanted to save it.

"All Sisters of Battle and Space Marines, we shall form a squad to execute a decapitation strike. I will issue you new weaponry that will significantly enhance your combat effectiveness. We will carry a large supply of melta-bombs. You will join me in attacking the Tyranid tendrils to destroy them first." Rhode opened the pack in front of him and pulled out the Pedan-exclusive rifles.

The power of these Pedanium rifles far exceeded that of bolters, and they were lighter and easier to handle. There were fewer than ten Space Marines present and only about thirty Sisters of Battle; equipping everyone with a Pedanium rifle was no problem at all.

"Are these weapons also relics from the Dark Age of Technology?" the Captain asked, picking up a rifle to examine it. The design was clearly human, not xenos in origin.

"Correct! This weapon fires a beam known as a Pedanium ray. Its power is far greater than a bolter’s; you may test it yourselves," Rhode nodded.

For this battle, Rhode also intended to use his Teleportation Bracelets. By syncing two of them, he could teleport a squad within a certain range. He planned to lead the Space Marines and Sisters of Battle himself for the decapitation strike. The existence of these bracelets would be exposed the moment he used them, but it was better to use them now. With the Monster System, his strength and gear would evolve rapidly. He estimated these bracelets would soon be obsolete, and when they were, he could sell them to the Adeptus Mechanicus for a fortune.

The Space Marines and Sisters of Battle stepped forward and test-fired the rifles at some boulder targets. The beams effortlessly obliterated them.

"There is almost no recoil, and the power is far superior to a bolter. This is a fine weapon indeed. A single shot should be enough to take down a Tyranid Warrior, perhaps even kill those Tyrants," a Space Marine noted with a nod.

With such immense power and negligible recoil, if these could be mass-produced, they could entirely replace lasguns and bolters.

"Lord Rhode! How are we to get there? And how will we attach the melta-bombs to those Hive tendrils?"

"I will use a teleportation device from the Golden Age to lead you in a boarding assault," Rhode said.

"Teleportation technology? Lord Rhode, is it similar to the long-range translocation used by psykers?" the Captain asked. The Librarians of their Chapter, powerful psykers, could sometimes use such abilities to teleport a force from a starship to a planet's surface for a raid. With such an ability, their odds of success would indeed increase significantly.

Rhode nodded.

"I suspect you are leading us to our deaths! But for the Imperium! For the God-Emperor! May our souls return to the Golden Throne upon our passing," the Canoness said, raising her chainsword high.

"Lord Rhode, what is the mission for the Astra Militarum?" the Imperial Commissar asked, stepping forward with a look of resolve. He had already prepared himself to die as cannon fodder; at the very least, his thousand-plus men could serve as a distraction for some of the swarm.

"You are to remain here and rest."

"..." the Imperial Commissar.