The Tyranid Onslaught in the Rifts of Hecate: The Battle for Helos Majoris

By 03.025M42, the Tyranid Hive Fleet Poseidon continued its unstoppable advance through the Rifts of Hecate, leaving a trail of destruction and consumption in its wake. The Tau, still reeling from their defeats across the Hadron Expanse, made one last stand on Garmenes, fighting a desperate rear-guard action to delay the inevitable. Though the Tau defenders inflicted massive casualties on the oncoming Tyranid swarm, they were ultimately forced to abandon the planet, unable to halt the relentless momentum of the bio-fleet.

With Garmenes consumed, the Hive Fleet pressed onward, setting its sights on Helos Majoris, a critical Imperial stronghold and the seat of General Maximus’ command in the sector. If the Tyranids overran the world, Imperial resistance in the region would be crippled, allowing the swarm to expand unchecked.

The Knights’ Gallant Stand

The first to meet the xenos menace were the Imperial Knights, their towering war machines striding onto the field to repel the alien tide. The Knights waged a furious and bloody battle, their thermal lances and battle cannons carving massive swathes through the Tyranid ranks. Despite the carnage, the swarm proved inexhaustible, with wave after wave of bio-forms surging forward, overwhelming fallen war machines and dragging them down in a tide of chitin and claws.

As it became clear that the Knights alone could not contain the Tyranids, the situation was further complicated by the arrival of Chaos forces. Sensing an opportunity amidst the chaos of war, the Death Guard and Emperor’s Children launched their own raiding operations, hoping to exploit the battle and secure key artefacts buried beneath the ruins of Helos Majoris. While the traitor forces clashed with scattered Imperial defenders, the Tyranids remained focused on their primary target—the heart of the Imperial lines.

The Dark Angels’ Decisive Intervention

With Imperial defences on the brink of collapse, salvation came in the form of the Dark Angels. The Adeptus Astartes descended onto Helos Majoris with precision and fury, their Thunderhawks screaming overhead as Deathwing Terminators teleported into the heart of the Tyranid swarm.

The Dark Angels executed a flawless counteroffensive, their fire discipline and brutal melee prowess turning the tide of battle. As the Tyranids reeled under the sudden and unrelenting assault, the Chaos warbands found themselves caught between the rampaging xenos and the vengeful Astartes. The Death Guard and Emperor’s Children, unable to withstand the withering assault, were systematically purged from the battlefield, their raiding efforts crushed before they could achieve their objectives.

Victory on Helos Majoris—For Now

By the end of 03.025M42, the battle for Helos Majoris had concluded with an Imperial victory—but at a staggering cost. The Knights had been savaged, many of their noble war machines lying shattered on the battlefield. The Dark Angels had suffered heavy casualties, but their decisive intervention had saved the world from the Tyranid scourge.

For now, Helos Majoris remained in Imperial hands, but Hive Fleet Poseidon was far from defeated. The Tyranids had suffered grievous losses, but the Hive Mind was already adapting, calculating, and preparing for the next phase of the invasion. The Rifts of Hecate remained a battleground, and it was only a matter of time before the Imperium, Chaos, and the remnants of the Tau-Federal alliance would face the xenos tide once again.