The first mission

While Ar'Mat and Cloten ensure the work on the Tyrannid structure under the watchful eyes of Petrix, Kenshen and Elyas, Stein explores the rest of the cave.

He finds some lesser tunnels with faint traces of xenos further. You quickly notice that the larva-type xenos are appearing faster and faster in the cave. First it was a trickle, somes falling from the ceilling or wiggling their way toward the center from the walls, but now they are massing home. You start shooting and slashing at them. The disgusting abominations are numerous, however they are far to slow and spread out to be a threat in this situation. After about an hour, they stop coming altogether and the tower as been burned down completely.

Silence falls again in the smoky cave.

How do you proceed?

"These creatures rely on certain species to act as leaders, yes?" Petrix glanced towards Ar'Mat. "Can you sense their leaders? Or will they disperse?"

Petrix watched one of the incoming corridors sternly as his bretheren tore down the traces of the xenos hive behind them. The battle had him somewhat rattled, as it could have easily turned at several junctures. He was eager to leave this place behind, or to direct the Guard to flood it with Prometheum.

The Librarian stood in the smoke and cloud of burning ashes, pensively watching the structure wilt away. He turned to Petrix.
"The guiding presence of the tyranids has waned. I believe this structure was indeed it. But do not think of it as a leader in that sense, more a louder voice among many. These Xenos are a vile breed in form and their endless hunger, but their truly terrifying aspect is that they combine into one mind. The larger creatures merely form a nexus for that mind to focus on. It is how they cast the shadow in the warp with their hive fleets. Billions of hungry, chittering minds overwhelming everything, blanketing out everything else."

He looked around at the ruin of their foe. "We must ensure their destruction. If another guiding creature survived, it may direct the lesser forms into making a new spawning pool for another larger construct. But I have another concern.."

The Librarian's attention returned to the burning construct, but his words were for the entire squad. "That thing. I do not know its purpose and that worries me. It is unwise to dwell on the motivations of Xenos, but I believe the Tyranids must have had a reason to build this thing over one of their larger warrior forms. The larger warrior could guide them to consume more and help their brood grow, but this... I think this served a different role. A role not directly involved in consuming this planet." Ar'Mat shook his head. He took off his battered helmet, his red eyes standing out from his ebony skin. Clotted blood coated one side of his face. "I worry brothers. I speculate this structure may have been a beacon. It may have tried to attract one of the Tyranid splinter fleets. We should warn the others of such a possibility."

Then how about we go back to base, warn everyboy so they can start evacuation protocols just in case, we restock and come back to finish the job... Or we at least go back and warn the pilot, he goes back to warn them and sends someone else to pick us up. We use that time to finish the job.

"There will be no evacuation until the relief ship comes at our scheduled three-month pick-up. Should a Tyranid hive fleet arrive before that, our lives will be forfeit. No, we simply must send an astropathic message to Watch Fortress Erioch of the possibility of the scenario. Should we fall silent afterwards, the Deathwatch shall know our fate and be warned of the incursion."
Their doom would be absolute, but their duty would be fulfilled. To Ar'Mat, nothing mattered more.

Whatever happens is the will of the Emperor. But let's make our Brothers proud and take as many as we can !! The longer we live, the more ennemies of humanity we can kill !! Remembering is earlier offer, Brother Elyas, think you can do something about my wounds before we go on ?

Elyas proceed to treat Stein's injuries then check on the rest of the team. While doing so, he ponder on Ar'Mat comment. "It appears to me like this structure was a variant in the Capillary Towers they use to bring the biomass to their fleet after an invasion, but modified how, I do not know."

Thank you brother Elyas.

The kill-team finished exploring the rest of the tunnels, finding small numbers of Hormagaunt and Gargoyles that had returned to there instinctive behaviour. While that wasn't a problem for the Hormagaunt who charge of sight, the Gargoyles talents at hiding and fleeing made it more difficult to thoroughly exterminate.

By the time the window for the return flight was closing, neither the auspex, Ar'Mat's psyniscience, nor Stein's nose could detect anymore Tyranids.

The way back to the surface was speedy and the Aquila bLander was waiting for you all. You got in and began the long flight back.

You are welcome back at Research Station Epsilon with a wide berth and watchful eyes.

Nothing much as changed in your absence, except for a colorful caravan of locals just outside the base and an certain additional nervousness in the soldiers when they look down in your direction. You are offered refreshment in your quarters and the service of the armoury's techpriests to remove, bless and clean your armours if you wish it, as well as free access to the base's hospital for your injuries. Brother Elyas take sample of each of you as the Codex recommend after exposure to the vile xenos.

You are informed that representative of the local religious government request an audience with you and another message from Deathwatch Brother Neledis Gierus, one of the Deathwatch researcher in the station, would wish to discuss with you at your convenience.

Your schedule and plans are left totally at your discretion.

I think we should go see Brother Neledis first...

Upon his return, the Salamander went to the armory to shed his armor. Each piece was laid out with extreme care by the artificers and under Ar'Mat's personal attention, the task of repair and reconsecration began. The Astartes focused on the damaged helmet himself but ensured that every component received the dedication and care it deserved. Acid-scorched paint was removed, the ceramite reconsecrated and meticulously repainted and blessed. Every mechanism was checked to work correctly and purity seals were checked three times.

The helmet was a mess. The cracks required larger parts of the ceramite be removed and replaced entirely. Ar'Mat forged these pieces himself, and the reassembly of the hundreds of pieces that made up the helmet was a herculean task that he personally committed to for days without rest even as artificers around him rotated through their duty shifts. For their dedication they were treated properly by the Salamander; Praised for proper work, corrected where they waned, replaced for severe faults.

As the days passed, the requests came in. The Librarian had many duties. He would meet with Brother Neledis in time. The religious authorities he had little patience for. As a member of the Promethean Cult he rarely saw eye to eye with the mortal attendants of the Emperor's faith who were so often convinced of their own truth. Worse, they were often demagogues who could fill a room with pious drivel for hours on end. He returned the message stating he would need a more concise reason for the meeting before he could spare the time for such trivialities. He knew the Ecclesiarchy didn't like to be snubbed. But he was an astartes, and that meant his time was more precious then theirs..