Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 665 Going deep into the sea
The Astronautical Army's steel torrent steadily advanced along the coastline, the aftershocks of the orbital bombardment still rippling across the sea, turning the once azure waters into a murky purplish-black.

The charred remains of creatures and the broken shells rose and fell with the waves, as if the entire ocean was boiling under the empire's merciless wrath.

The air was filled with ozone, gunpowder smoke, and a kind of sweet and putrid stench—the blasphemous smell left behind by the high-temperature evaporation of the Tyran organisms.

Inside the makeshift frontline command center, a holographic projector emitted a steady, low hum, projecting an anatomical diagram of the underwater nest onto the slightly murky air.

Fiber optic cables meander across the ground, connecting buzzing data terminals and communication arrays, while data streams from various sensors on the track and ground cascade down a secondary screen like a waterfall.

Oregana's mechanical finger precisely pointed to a pulsating scarlet dot in the projection, and her optical lens slightly adjusted its focus, refracting a cold blue light.

"The thermal signals and bioenergy readings remain abnormal. The primary energy source has not dissipated due to the orbital impact; instead, it is shifting towards hydrothermal vents deeper in the Earth's crust. The main structure of the nest remains highly active, and its bioenergy fluctuations have reached critical levels for observability." Her synthesized voice was flat, yet it made the air in the command tent even heavier. "It is inferred that a high-value target or core biological sample is attempting to evacuate to a safer depth."

Company Commander Cassirer crossed his arms over his chest, the subtle damage marks on his dark green armor barely visible under the light, a testament to the battle that had taken place not long ago.

He was like a statue forged from steel and will, his voice coming through the filter of his helmet, deep and resonant like the friction of gravel, with an undeniable firmness: "If we let it go any deeper, the consequences will be dire. We must go deep into the lair, cut off the source, and ensure a thorough purification."

His gaze swept over the hologram and finally landed on Chen Xi.

Chen Xi stared at the twisted, pulsating biological structure in the projection, which seemed to possess some kind of evil life. After a few seconds of silence, he slowly nodded and made his decision.

“Sergeant Titus, this mission is assigned to Deathwatch. The Ash Knights will provide heavy firepower support and flank cover.” He turned to the Ash Knights Chapter Commander beside him, who was clad in Terminator armor. “Chapter Commander Stone, you select a team of Terminators to assist them. I need you to bring back all possible intelligence carriers—biological samples, data storage devices, and even star maps etched into bones.”

Then, using molten metal bombs and Triumph explosives, wipe that blasphemous land completely from the Emperor's universe.

"For the Emperor! The Inquisitor's will shall be fulfilled!" The deep voice of the battle captain Shi Dong echoed in the command tent. He slammed his right fist heavily on his breastplate, making a resounding vow as if to imprint his determination into the air.

Half an hour later, two specially modified Abyss Raider-class heavy assault boats, adapted for extreme environments, silently slid into the still bubbling waves like lurking sea monsters.

The wave-absorbing and corrosion-resistant composite coating covering the hull allows them to blend almost into the dark seawater, with only the silent propellers at the stern creating a fine, dense stream of bubbles.

Titus stood in front of the curved, reinforced observation window of the lead ship, his gaze beneath his helmet sharp as a highly calibrated sight, scanning the bizarre and perilous scene outside.

Behind him, five Ash Knight Terminators stood like steel giants from ancient legends. Their armor gleamed with a cold, heavy metallic luster under the eerie blue emergency lights inside the submarine, and the Ash Knight insignia on their shoulder armor seemed to burn silently.

The other four Deathwatch members were scattered throughout the cabin, making a final check on their explosive guns, chainsaw swords, and heavy weapons specially designed for the underwater environment, their movements practiced and silent.

"Depth 300, traversing a hydrothermal vent. Outside temperature is rising rapidly, and turbulence is intensifying." The pilot's voice came through the internal communicator, mixed with the hissing of water slamming against the hull and static interference. The scene outside the window gradually became like a nightmare. The once dark and silent deep sea was now illuminated by eerie bioluminescence and the embers of gunfire.

The seawater was murky, with large amounts of organic debris, torn tentacles, broken shells, and fragments of strange, still twitching tissue floating on the surface.

Occasionally, deep-sea creatures mutated by the contamination of Tyran biomass would flit frantically through the darkness outside the submarine—their bodies were unsettlingly twisted, some had grown extra, constantly swaying limbs, some had bulging eyes that flashed with an unnatural green light, and some were covered with glowing cysts that oozed pus, resembling living, blasphemous creations.

“The Emperor has shown mercy…” A relatively young Ash Knight couldn’t help but let out a suppressed whisper in the communication channel.

Ahead, atop the massive trench walls, a colossal, breathtaking structure made of living biomass came into view.

Like a malignant tumor that is proliferating wildly, it clings firmly to the rock wall, its surface covered with constantly pulsating, thick blood vessels and translucent membranous tissue. A ghostly green fluorescent liquid flows slowly within it, and countless twisted black shadows can be vaguely seen wriggling and crawling in its internal channels.

The surface of the nest was covered with new artillery wounds, which were being repaired by newly formed granulation tissue at a visible speed, demonstrating a terrifying regenerative ability.

Like microorganisms crawling on the surface of a giant beast, the assault boats carefully and precisely avoided the patrolling Tyrannosaurus creatures that resembled giant sea scorpions. Finally, they found a huge gap that had been torn open by the previous bombing and had not yet fully healed, and slowly drove into the nest.

As the hull completely submerged into the blasphemous entrance, a powerful sense of mental oppression instantly swept over us. Even through the advanced psionic shielding system and powered armor, we could feel the cold and pure malice that filled every inch of space.

The inner walls of the passage were entirely composed of living, constantly writhing biological tissue, which continuously secreted a viscous, fluorescent liquid. Embedded in the fleshy walls were countless vesicles of varying sizes, each containing a Tyranid embryo undergoing different stages of development, from tiny larvae to nearly fully formed ferocious beasts, all clearly visible.

The air was filled with the strong smell of pheromones and biological enzymes. Even through layers of filtration systems, one could still smell the cloying, rotten odor that made one dizzy and nauseous.

"Maintain the highest level of alert. Remember our mission; we are not here for sightseeing." Titus's voice came through the helmet communicator, steady as a mountain, instantly calming the discomfort in some of the new recruits.

The assault boat traveled for a long time through the winding, living tunnels that resembled the intestines of some giant creature. The surrounding scenery was monotonous and terrifying, consisting only of endless, pulsating flesh walls and fluorescent vesicles.

Finally, the view ahead opened up to reveal an enormous chamber, like the heart of a nest.

At the center is a bottomless vertical shaft that exudes high temperature and the smell of sulfur, with rough, uneven platforms made of chitin and bone attached to its edges.

Countless thick, pulsating biological tubes extended from the surrounding fleshy walls and flowed into the depths of the shaft.

(End of this chapter)