...
Due to the arrival of the Crying Ones, fully equipped in Terminator Armor, and the gracious offer from the Lord of Talon, the original defense strategy had to be revised.
When drafting the new plan, Dante had requested that each sub-group send a representative to the council to participate in the formulation of the strategy. This was, in truth, unnecessary, as the sub-groups had complete trust in Dante and were willing to follow his guidance. However, Dante's decision to include them was an expression of respect towards the sub-groups. The representatives would not challenge Dante's decisions during the meeting, and once it concluded, they would return to their respective units and announce how Dante had valued everyone's input during the planning process.
The revised defense plan was soon established. The Crying Ones were evenly distributed across the core regions of the fortress, where they assisted each battle group and the blood-slave units in defense. In the micro-level battles, a single Terminator squad was enough to significantly ease the pressure on the defenders.
During the meeting, Forros had explained that his ship carried teleportation devices and numerous protective teleportation equipment. Consequently, Dante selected elite warriors, each with strength comparable to a company commander, from each battle group to form teleportation strike teams. Over the course of the next month, the core area fended off the relentless tide of the Tyranids.
The technical soldiers of the Crying Ones utilized a telescope linked to the flagship for orbital strikes, clearing a zone in the insect swarm before the teleportation strike teams would appear, swiftly decapitating the tyrants who had survived the orbital bombardment, and then teleporting them back to the fortress.
Everything seemed to be progressing well, yet no one among the defenders knew when this cycle of war would finally end.
...
"Something's not right," Kararn muttered during another battle with the swarm.
He, Forros, and the Crying Ones' guard had taken refuge at the end of the tunnels beneath the fortress, clearing out gene-thieves and Licator assassins attempting to infiltrate.
Kararn crushed a Licator before repeating his earlier observation. "Something's not right."
"Are you referring to these Licators?" Forros asked as he thrust his spear, impaling two Licators in quick succession. "They seem to be regenerating constantly and growing more intelligent, adapting."
Forros found himself struggling more and more with these creatures. At first, a single thrust of his spear would easily take them down. But now, he had to engage in close combat before finding an opening for a fatal strike.
Kararn had noticed the same but wasn't referring to the Licators.
"I'm talking about this war," he replied, as he fought off another wave of attackers.
"This war... it's not right." Kararn continued, "Based on my experience, the insectoid attacks should be growing more ferocious and cunning. But here we are, a month into the war, and their assaults are nearly identical to those from the beginning. Even those titan-sized bugs are scarcely seen anymore."
"It's clearly something is off," he added.
Kararn's thoughts were in tune with Forros, and the two of them reached the same conclusion without further debate. Something was restraining the Tyranids, preventing them from committing more forces to the defense of Baal, but they still held a deep animosity towards the planet and would not abandon their assault.
"I understand what you're implying," Forros said, pausing. "But if this continues, we will lose. The swarm is endless, but our brothers and the mortals are not."
Kararn silently nodded, agreeing with Forros's grim conclusion.
As they continued their battle, Forros's mind wandered back to the time when he had hoped that Belona, the Judge, would join him on Baal. They had left Cadia together, but she had said she had business to attend to, leaving him midway. Forros recalled asking her if she was coming to Baal, to which she had assured him she would, albeit a little later. Now, however, with the subspace engines used by the ships, it seemed even they would struggle to pass through the insect fleet before reaching Baal.
"Hold on," Kararn suddenly said, stopping in his tracks. He placed a hand on Forros's shoulder, indicating he should look up. "Is that your flagship?"
Forros looked up and saw a ship in orbit. It was not the *Storm's Daughter*, but it was a warship nonetheless.
"No, my flagship isn't that small," Forros replied, just as the ship vanished from view.
Before disappearing, the blue rift it had opened was enough for Forros to recognize it as a ship powered by a dimensional engine.
"It might be the Talon Navy," Forros said excitedly.
He had long hoped for the Talon Navy to arrive and relieve Baal, but he had only wished, as the Talon Navy had just finished its battle at Cadia, and with many crew members having suddenly experienced strange whispers, it seemed unlikely they would cut their leave short to rush to Baal's aid.
As Forros gazed at the empty orbital path, a communication popped up in his helmet.
"Battle Group Commander, come to the council chamber immediately!"
"What's going on?"
"Just come quickly... trust me, you'll be pleased."
...
Forros arrived at the central council chamber of the fortress.
The first person he saw was Dante, who was conversing with a white-haired female Judge—none other than Belona.
Belona glanced at Forros but continued speaking with Dante.
Standing beside Belona were the captains of the Crying Ones' battle groups.
Before Forros could ask why he had been summoned, a loud thudding sound echoed through the hall, interrupting his inquiry. He turned to see a towering Imperial Knight painted yellow and emblazoned with the Crying Ones' insignia.
"You, young one!" the Knight's cold voice echoed, followed by a sob-like sound, "I... I..."
Forros froze for a moment, then immediately knelt on one knee, equally overwhelmed. "Lord Kaeron, you...!"
The Knight, named Kaeron, was the last remaining Imperial Knight of the Crying Ones, a relic that had vanished after the destruction of the original *Storm's Daughter* flagship at the hands of the Minotaur's fleet.
Forros had long believed Kaeron was dead, and seeing him here on Baal was nothing short of a miracle.
Before and after becoming the battle group commander, Forros had received guidance and wisdom from Kaeron, who would often recount the history of their battle group upon awakening. He even knew exactly what had transpired during the separation of the Legion into battle groups.