Tyranids assault the flimsy corrugated-metal walls of a small, isolated town on Canopus. After the battle, there were no human survivors–anywhere on the planet.

“As I look to the future, I see a darkness spreading across the tendrils of time. A new species threatens the galaxy and, in some futures, our beloved craftworld is endangered. What exactly is this threat? How alarmed should we be? We have little time to prepare.“—Farseer Kelmon of Craftworld Iyanden

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Continued from Part 3 . . . 

Looming threat: Tyranids

A new threat looms over the Corvus Cluster, although Imperial officials as yet have only a hint that something is amiss.

The first sign of something amiss was provided by Rogue Trader Adeon Drake, who personally visited the Imperial Navy’s headquarters above Belliose III to report that the Astronomican could not be seen by his ship’s navigator as it crossed a large region of space to the east of the Corvus Cluster.

He told a harrowing story of a difficult, six-month journey across the Darkspire Sector, where his panic-stricken navigator was forced to make risky, short-distance jumps through the Warp.

In his worlds, “it is a miracle we escaped this region given the dangers of traversing the Warp without the Astronomican. I fear that the Navy may eventually discover that hundreds, if not thousands of ships, have been lost. and we simply don’t know it yet.” (Rumors of the Underhive (3 429 745.M41))

Around the same time, an Imperial cruiser patrolling the Dryillian Quarantine Zone reported an unusual encounter with an Eldar vessel that later disappeared from Imperial sensors.

The xeno voidcraft appeared at extreme weapons range of the cruiser, Thor’s Wrath, and broadcast a warning in High Gothic that a massive xeno fleet of unknown origin was laying waste to the orks’ fractured Maxilla Empire, which is on the eastern edge of the Cluster. This mysterious fleet, the warning added, was advancing directly toward Imperial worlds.  (Rumors of the Underhive (3 429 745.M41))

A strange shadow obscures the blessed Astronomican to the east of the Corvus Cluster.

As of yet, the Imperium has not made a connection between these reports and a seemingly unrelated problem for Imperial officials: the discovery of Genestealer Cult activity on dozens of planets, including Belliose III, where hundreds of government officials were found to be tainted by xeno DNA. (Rumors of the Underhive (3 429 745.M41))

Nor has Inquisitor Georgene Serillian, a member of the Ordo Xenos, fully come to terms with news that a breakaway colony known as Canopus is gone. A stealth ship sent to explore what is happening in the eastern edge of the Cluster reported disturbing news of a backwater world where a heretical branch of the Imperial Creed was known to have settled.

The colony, the ship reported, was gone—and, more disturbing, the planet was unrecognizable. It had been stripped of all life, as well as all organic soil, water, and even atmosphere. Such a phenomena is unknown to the Ordo, and Serillian is alarmed at the technological and logistical resources required to have left an entire planet a dead world.

Of course, It is impossible for Imperial authorities to ever know the real horror of what happened on Canopus, particularly to the small agricultural community of Patona.

There, the small, isolated town and its population were attacked and overrun by a splinter force of Hive Fleet Behemoth, which later this year will shake the foundation of the Imperium with its attack on Ultramar.  (Horror comes to a backwater planet)

The orbital station above Kravertus II uses its weapons batteries to pummel the Chaos grand cruiser that attacked the system. As powerful as these weapons were, they failed to inflict any damage of the large voidcraft.

Minor points of interest

Little has been reported about a number of famous war zones: the ork infestation of Iconia, the Tau invasion of the Al’gel System, or the frequent traitor Astartes’ raids on Volana, the Twilight World.

Indeed, the only other notable military action reported by Imperial authorities was news that  a Chaos grand cruiser launched at attack against an orbital station over Kravertus II.

Intercepted by the Imperial cruiser Arbitrum, the traitor grand cruiser proceeded to easily overwhelm the Arbitrum , as well as silence the guns of the orbital base.

But, instead of launching boarding actions against the helpless Imperial cruiser or the orbital base, the traitor warship swung around the planet and left the system.

Perplexed Imperial authorities theorize the traitor warship was discouraged from exploiting its victory by the approach of the rest of the system’s Planetary Defense Fleet, which had rushed to the scene from distant patrols across the system. (Incident on Kravertus II)

Two very minor items of note:

Lady Adriana targets Rogue Trader . . . for fun

In the opulent grand library of the merchant prince, Count Johann Feracci, the devious Lady Adriana, using her persuasive powers, convinced her “master” to travel to the planet Manolia.

Why? Bored of her luxurious and decadent life in Feracci’s palace, she had learned of some secret project of Rogue Trader Adeon Drake , and wanted to confound his plans for her amusement.  There has been no word yet of what happened, or whether the rivals actually encountered one another. (Count Feracci: A time for mischief)

Serial Killer attacks Enforcers on Myrna

Watching from the top of a building, death awaits the brave Enforcers who seek the serial killer of Dark Harbor.

During a routine patrol, a number of Arbites Enforcers were killed in the seaport shanty town of Dark Harbor on the ocean world of Myrna.

The town has been tormented for years by a serial killer that has put more than 100 victims to a grisly death, Arbites officials say. One night, two night patrols were attacked but, after a desperate battle and chase, the killer escaped into the darkness.

Little do Imperial officials realize the serial killer actually is a Genestealer seeking to establish a new cult on the planet. (Serial killer clashes with Enforcers)

+ + END UPDATE + +

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The Corvus Cluster is a Warhammer 40K blog documenting our gaming adventures in the fantastical sci-fi universe of Games Workshop.