CHAPTER 104 — BULWARK Against The Xenos
The hangar's deep hum was punctuated by distant crashes and the occasional groan of stressed metal. Gaius moved forward, his boots echoing across the polished steel floor. Behind him, Titus, Metaurus, and the Bladeguard formed a tight formation, covering the retreat of the remaining Skitarii squads. The automated bolters above whirred and hissed, tracking the movements outside, ready to fire at the first Tyranid to break through.
"Fall back carefully," Gaius ordered, his voice steady through the vox. "Give space to the automated units and the Skitarii. Let them thin the enemy first."
It wasn't strictly necessary, but it didn't matter. The Tyranids' numbers were still countless, and Gaius and his team needed to push deeper to guard the Titan. The Skitarii would handle the front, regardless of the cost, but that was of little concern.
The team obeyed, stepping backward in synchronized precision. The corridor ahead narrowed, forming a natural chokepoint, which would limit how many Tyranids could attack at once. It was not the ideal place for a Gaius to fully use a warhammer and his Jetpack, but it would allow them to control the flow of enemies.
From the Back, a Tech-Priest approached. His robes brushed the floor as he walked, cogitators whirring and mechadendrites twitching. He carried a small, reinforced box, clutched carefully in his mechanical arms. He stopped in front of Gaius and placed it on the floor with a soft metallic clang.
"Captain Gaius," the Tech-Priest said, voice modulated but firm. "I am leaving this to you."
Gaius knelt and inspected the box. Its seal bore no insignia other than the markings of its creator. He opened it carefully, revealing five sleek devices, compact but glowing faintly with internal energy. Identification confirmed their purpose.
Plasma Charges: Portable plasma-based demolition devices. Each charge contained a stabilized plasma core, capable of unleashing an explosion similar to a compact plasma cannon. Perfect for breaching heavy structures or clearing areas of enemies. Extremely powerful for its size, carefully constructed, and not mass-produced.
Gaius looked up as the Tech-Priest adjusted his lenses and spoke again. "These were made personally. Their output is high. Use wisely."
"I understand," Gaius said, nodding. He distributed the plasma charges: one each to Titus and the three Bladeguard, keeping one for himself. He didn't expect he would need it, but always prepared.
Tony studied the Info that the identification showed, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Gaius, keep one for me. I want to research it."
Gaius gave a subtle nod.
The Tech-Priest straightened and said, "I am Tech-Priest Ferrum Alect," then continued down the hallway, deeper into the hangar, leaving the Marines with their new tools.
The sound of impact on the reinforced gate shook the floor beneath them. Tyranids had finally broken through. A massive Carnifex barreled forward, its chitinous armor gleaming under the dim red light. Skitarii opened fire, bolter rounds tearing into its limbs, while the automated turrets above spat out streams of lead. The Carnifex faltered, stumbling as its momentum slowed, before collapsing into the mass of Gaunts behind it.
The Tyranid wave poured in after, unending and relentless. The Skitarii fired as long as they could, but the numbers were overwhelming.
"Brace yourselves!" Gaius barked. He advanced into the narrow corridor, warhammer raised.
The first Carnifex he encountered swung its massive claw toward him. Gaius pivoted, letting the strike glance off his Auramite armor, and smashed the warhammer into its jaw. The monster's teeth shattered, and it crashed into a cluster of Gaunts, sending them flying in every direction like rag dolls.
Titus and the Bladeguard formed a solid wall behind him, their bolters cutting down Tyranids that tried to squeeze past. Each swing of Gaius's hammer sent multiple Gaunts flying into the ceiling or into walls. The hallway quickly filled with the corpses of fallen Xenos.
Despite the narrow space, Gaius adapted, swinging his hammer like a bat to hit multiple enemies at once, while using his left hand to push or grab those that came too close. Metaurus leapt to the side, taking advantage of the small openings to fire his bolter into the swarm, each shot precise, each shot lethal.
From the shadows above, a smaller figure moved silently. Its green eyes glowed faintly, observing the Marines. A Genestealer, agile and stealthy, climbed along the walls, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Naruto, floating above the fight, shouted, "Gaius! Look up!"
Gaius barely paused in his assault, instinctively pivoting as he saw the Genestealer leap toward him. There was no time for a swing of the hammer. He jabbed it forward like a spear, shoving the Carnifex back. The monster rolled like a ragdoll, clearing a small space. With his free hand, Gaius caught the Genestealer mid-air, his grip firm around its throat, snapping it cleanly.
"Genestealer… prepare!" he said calmly, a warning to his squad. They all stiffened, now aware of the stealth threat. Genestealers were dangerous, fast, and could tear through armor, but they were not invincible.
Titus, fighting a Tyranid wielding twin blades, hearing Gaius's warning. He adjusted his stance, using his chainsword to push the enemy back before firing point-blank with his bolter. The Bladeguard followed suit, wary of sudden attacks from hidden enemies.
Hours passed in the narrow corridor. The Marines were covered in Xenos blood, their armor scratched and scorched from corrosive fluids. Titus's gauntlets bore acid marks, and the Bladeguard's pauldrons had small dents from close-range attacks. But none of them were seriously wounded. Gaius's Auramite remained pristine, though streaked with the red stains of Tyranid blood.
The Tyranids kept coming, yet they could not break the bulwark formed by the five Space Marines. Every enemy that tried to pass was smashed, shot, or pushed back into the growing pile of corpses. Gaunts, larger creatures, and even smaller Carnifexes were funneled into this narrow hallway, where the veteran skill of Gaius and his team turned the swarm into a steady, manageable flow of destruction.
A crackling voice came through the wall, it was Tech-Priest Ferrum Alect. The Tyranid onslaught made it difficult to hear.
"Captain Gaius, we have detected cruisers and ships entering the system. Estimated arrival, one hour. Communication is blocked by the Tyranids, we cannot transmit or receive further messages. Reinforcements will arrive soon. Hold until then."
Tony, observing from above, smiled and said, "Finally… the reinforcements are arriving."
Mindy nodded, watching the Marines hold their line, impressed.
Saeko whispered, "They've been fighting for hours. The enemy never ends."
Naruto's voice cracked with excitement and concern: "Just hold on, Gaius!!"
Diana, observing silently, thought to herself, "I've seen many battles, but to endure like this… to fight enemies that seem endless… their courage and will… it truly inspires."
Gaius turned to Titus and the Bladeguard, his voice strong and commanding. "We defend this hallway. We hold until reinforcements arrive. Defend the Titan. Defend this until victory!"
Titus and the Bladeguard shouted in unison, "UNTIL VICTORY!"
The hallway became a river of Tyranid corpses. Each swing of Gaius's hammer sent enemies flying into walls, each bolter round from Titus and the Bladeguard found its mark. They were the immovable wall in the middle of chaos.
Above them, the automated bolters continued to rain fire into the advancing Tyranids, assisting them.
Despite the hours of fighting, their movements were fluid, disciplined, and precise. There was no panic, no hesitation, just controlled, deadly efficiency. The Tyranids might have been endless, but the Marines were unbreakable.
Gaius adjusted his grip on his hammer, glancing down the corridor. A new wave of Tyranids surged forward, but the narrow space ensured that none could bypass the bulwark. For each enemy that fell, another took its place, but it made no difference. Gaius, Titus, Metaurus, and the Bladeguard were the shield of the hangar.
And above all, they were the shield of the Titan.
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