The northern half of the Tau city of Gel’bryn lies in ruins. Imperial forces of the Damocles Gulf Crusade fought for weeks to seize the city, only to withdraw from the sept world of Dal’yth on orders from the Inquisition. Many members of the Crusade were more than happy to end the under-resourced campaign.

To Inquisitor Georgene Serillian
Ordo Xenos
Master of the Conclave of Vigilia

Respected Colleague:

It is my hope this message will arrive before you hear the news: the Damocles Gulf Crusade has ended on the order of Inquisitor Fidus Kryptman.

Your first reaction may be astonishment at Kyptman’s seemingly outrageous and presumptuous decision. But, in this case, I believe he has acted in the best interest of the Imperium.

Last year, the Adeptus Mechanicus lost contact with a small research station on the Eastern Fringe—at a remote planet known as Tyran Prime. Over the next few months, Kryptman learned that other remote worlds also had ceased communications with the Imperium.

A new xeno threat has arisen and left a swath of destruction across the Eastern Fringe. It now is advancing on Ultramar, and the Inquisition insists it must be confronted immediately.

Concerned, Kryptman traveled to the region and discovered a vast strip of worlds devoid of life. Thoroughly. Not a single microorganism was left. In fact, even the oceans and atmospheres of these planets were gone.

Thankfully, the research station on Tyran Prime had recorded the planet’s fate: A new and horrifying xenos species, somewhat insectoid in appearance, had arrived in-system with no warning and attacked.

Corrupted yet still readable vid-logs and tactical reports indicate a large fleet of huge bioships—consisting of organic interstellar transports and warships—took orbit over Tyran Prime and landed millions of insectoid warriors that quickly overcame the Skitarri that defended the world.

Kryptman has designated this species as “Tyranids,” in remembrance of the first known Imperial planet to fall victim to this threat.

I should warn you that the more Kryptman has learned, the worse this situation has proven. By tracing the Tyranids’ path of destruction, he realized a massive xeno fleet is heading directly toward the realm of Ultramar.

The Tyranid advance on Ultramar is confirmed. The advance through the former ork Empire of Maxilla Empire (top right) is speculative, although regional reports of planets suddenly barren and invasions of ork worlds strongly suggests a threat exists.

Attempts at sending an astropathic warning proved impossible. A psychic phenomenon appears to surround the Tyrant fleet, a turmoil in the Warp that makes it impossible to send any communications.

Kryptman ordered his ship to make directly for Macragge, thankfully arriving before the Tyranids. Although Utramarine Chapter Master Marneus Calgar is not present (currently deployed with the Damocles Gulf Crusade on Dal’yth Prime), his subordinates and the governors of surrounding worlds already are busy fortifying for the titanic battle that appears to loom over this region.

On his own initiative, Kryptman also managed to successfully send an astropathic order for the Crusade to withdraw from Tau space and make all haste to the defense of Ultramar. I have no idea how our colleagues in the other Ordos will react to Kyrptman exercising such authority, but I heartily concur with his aggressive response.

All of this is the most recent information I have at my disposal, and I send it to you as warning. I am aware of your reports of mysteriously destroyed worlds, a xeno threat invading the former ork empire of Maxilla , and a rise in Genestealer cult activity in the Corvus Cluster.

While there is no verifiable evidence that a Tyranid fleet is in your vicinity, I would advice further investigation of your reports with utmost haste and concern. There is a new threat arising out of the Eastern Fringes.

Don’t be caught unprepared.

Respectfully,

Lord Inquisitor Roboute le Bougre
Ordo Xenos

ID Security Code: 037-Z43-8d7c-492
Communication Nexus: Oxi-Ledrum-027b
Broadcast Date: 03 101 746.M41

Thought for the Day: Fear The Alien. Hate The Alien. Kill The Alien.
— The Imperial Infantryman’s Uplifting Primer (Damocles Gulf Edition)

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