Tyranid Escalation in the Rifts of Hecate

As 024M42 drew to a close, the Imperium and other factions faced an escalating crisis in the Rifts of Hecate, driven by the relentless advance of Hive Fleet Poseidon. The Tyranids, evolving in both strategy and aggression, began probing deeper into Imperial and xenos-held territories. By 2011.024M42, their activity reached a critical threshold, threatening to upend the fragile balance of power in the region.

The Heloris Majoris Infiltration

Heloris Majoris, the Imperium's primary military hub in the Rifts, became a focal point of Tyranid infiltration. The xenos, using bio-adaptations designed for stealth and subterfuge, evaded the orbital picket fleets and embedded themselves within the planet's defenses. Despite early reports of missing patrols and strange biological anomalies, General Maximus dismissed the warnings as exaggerated, attributing them to heightened tensions in the theatre.

In response to emerging reports of Tyranid presence, Maximus deployed only a modest force of Astra Militarum patrols, believing the infestation to be minor. This miscalculation proved disastrous. The Tyranids struck with ferocity, ambushing the Guard units and exploiting the dense terrain of Heloris Majoris to devastating effect. The patrols were annihilated piecemeal, and reports of missing personnel and expanding bio-organic growths near key outposts indicated the xenos were solidifying their presence.

The loss of experienced regiments and vital supply caches left Heloris Majoris exposed. Though the xenos had not yet overrun the world, the failure to contain the infesation cast doubt on the Imperium’s ability to hold its strategic base.

The Invasion of Garmenes

While the Imperium struggled on Heloris Majoris, the Tau Empire faced its own crisis on the world of Garmenes, a vital colony within the Rifts of Hecate. Hive Fleet Poseidon launched a full-scale assault on the planet, overwhelming the Tau defenders with sheer numbers and adaptive ferocity.

Despite deploying significant assets, including two KV128 Stormsurge ballistic suits, the Tau forces found themselves outmanoeuvred and outmatched. The Stormsurges unleashed devastating volleys of firepower, obliterating swathes of the Tyranid swarm. However, Poseidon’s endless waves of organisms, including specialised burrowing units, circumvented the Tau's firepower by outflanking their lines.

By the end of the battle, the Tau defenders had sustained crippling losses, including the destruction of one Stormsurge and the retreat of the other. The remnants of the Tau army were forced to withdraw to fortified positions near their planetary bases, ceding vast swathes of Garmenes to the xenos. By 3011.024M42, the Tyranids had entrenched themselves firmly on the planet, turning Garmenes into yet another hive-world in the making.