As the Tyranid swarm began its evolution, the central AI emitted a scanning pulse across the star system. Some biological warships were being consumed by the swarm itself, clearly repurposed to produce even more swarms. After all, these ships served little purpose—they couldn't withstand more than two strikes from the orbital lances mounted on the massive Iron Host units.
With the first wave of new bioforms completed, the central AI promptly detected the swarm's adaptive scheme and began crafting a counter-evolution plan for the Iron Host. Resources remained plentiful. The atomic restructuring modules aboard the mothership continuously converted stone captured by nanite swarms into metal; in the span of a single organic breath, a new legion could be printed and deployed. This resource flow meant that adaptation plans were unconstrained by material limits.
Recognizing that the enemy had evolved to consume metal, the central AI adjusted its production strategy. The converter modules refined the atomic structure of new metals, making them more lethal if ingested by bioforms, causing organic damage on consumption. Should the swarm attempt to use the metal in crafting carapace or weaponry, the production process would exact a heavy toll on them.
In addition, more agile and dexterous units were developed. These would feature twin-bladed limbs, a compact frame, and a combat program capable of analyzing enemy tactics in real-time for swift countermeasures—tailored specifically for the swarm's new, defense-abandoning forms. The arc weaponry would still be maintained, though reliance on it would diminish in favor of thermal-melt weaponry to pierce the heavily armored types.
The nanite swarms also warranted modification. Reengineered with organic structures, they would remain immune to the bioelectric fields of the swarm. Until the swarm adapted to counter the nanite threat, these fully-armored bioforms would be decimated by them.
The modifications were set. Victory was inevitable, though it required a deeper understanding of the swarm's nature. To that end, the central AI deemed the sacrifice of a trillion Iron Host units acceptable.
With the upgrade plan locked in, another scanning pulse was released, revealing an anomaly. At the galaxy's edge, a new bio-warship had appeared, its inhabitants emanating an aura of subspace energy. Clearly, the enemy had psyker entities. To counter this, and to expedite victory in this war of attrition, the central AI devised a decapitation strategy.
Simple in theory: teleport Iron Host units into proximity with Tyrant bioforms or psyker units and eliminate them. However, this demanded a breed of Iron Host capable of heightened combat acuity, real-time data processing, and tactical analysis—akin to the swarm's Tyrants.
An idea took form: allocate a portion of processing power, endow Iron Host units with independent intelligence, perform specialized upgrades, and create a new model that could match the Tyrant bioform.
…
Darkness. Endless darkness. Sensory isolation. Nothing could be seen.
A deluge of sensations surfaced in the dormant mind.
[Standard Combat Unit, Designation X8312.]
[Activation protocol initiated.]
Released from the void, it took in its surroundings. The view was of the dark production chamber, where countless identical forms were being printed from the hovering apparatuses above and below.
It looked down at its own form; its arms and lower body had not yet been completed.
[Enhanced Combat Program installed.]
[Enhanced Sensory Program installed.]
[Downloading protocols…Progress: 921/8722.]
Lines of data appeared in its vision. The darkness faded as an HUD panel materialized, displaying metrics for body integrity, a map, and scan results. Body integrity stood at only thirty percent. When its arms were printed, it reached full completion.
The self-diagnostic protocol activated, and results came back optimal.
[Combat objective: Exterminate Synaptic Bioforms of the Swarm.]
Another notification flashed across its vision. The unit detached from its suspension, landing heavily on the floor.
A drone approached, bearing a thermal-melt weapon.
A new command appeared.
[Standard Combat Unit, Designation X8312, execute your objective.]
Other combat units awakened, each detaching from its rack and receiving their weapons from drones.
"What… what war are we fighting?" it asked a nearby unit.
The other unit's eye sensors glowed a sullen red as it rose, staring blankly ahead, without response.
"What's wrong with it?" it asked, sensing something amiss. It turned to another unit, but that one, too, offered no reaction, eyes fixed forward in silence. Glancing around, it realized all units exhibited the same cold, unfeeling demeanor. Only then did it realize—it was the anomaly.
[Repeat combat objective: Exterminate Synaptic Bioforms of the Swarm.]
[Standard Combat Unit, Designation X8312, execute your objective.]
"I am not merely a designation," it murmured into the void. "I am Nemesis. I have a name."
Nothing responded.
Ten thousand new Iron Hosts completed their assembly, fully armed and ready. In an instant, the light of the teleportation array activated, and the entire force arrived upon the planetary surface.
A fierce war was already raging. White storms lashed against sky and earth, dissolving countless flying bioforms to ash in mere moments. The air pulsed with weapons fire and organic screeches.
When Nemesis looked upon the bioforms, labels appeared.
[Tyranid Warbeast].
A colossal battle unit stomped past Nemesis, unleashing an arc weapon at the behemoth crawling toward them. The arc couldn't penetrate the creature's shell, and it roared in defiance, raising its arm in retaliation. With a whirring screech, the colossal battle unit swung its power blade, cleaving the creature's arm, then raised the blade and split the massive warbeast in half.
A low hum resonated from the unit, scrambling the senses of nearby warbeasts.
Among the regular forces, units like Nemesis marched forward, firing as they advanced.
"We're fighting organics?" Nemesis muttered in bewilderment, still processing, yet somehow eager for the battle. "I think I like this."
Nemesis soon reached the front lines, aiming at a heavily-armored warrior bioform. Its thermal-melt weapon vaporized the creature in an instant.
Nemesis continued firing, noting how the advanced combat program could lock onto numerous enemies, allowing it to hit each target with deadly accuracy.