Introducing Tyranid Hive Fleet Nemesis

Player: Bill

Hive Master: The Ancient Hungerer

Hive Patrol: Warrior Brood Yer’thik

Hive Colors: Primary-Black; Secondary-Purple

Fluff:

The huge, iron monstrosity of a mining crawler crept slowly along the rocky terrain as the heavy tracks crushed stone and what little plant life existed on the moon known as LVJ4427798. Inside, the survey crew made ready their equipment and suited up in the light atmospheric suits necessary to breathe the moon’s thin air. Complex computerized equipment and simple tools, such as picks, hammers, and spikes were packed in bags and satchels for the trip outside the crawler.

The team leader, Gorda, a burly older man with a craggy face, looked at the other 3 members of his team, "Alright boys, let’s get out there and get this done. HQ says that they picked up some unusual reading from the cave outside and want us to see if there is anything the Emperor can put to use buried in there."

With a "swoosh" of escaping air the team exited the airlock and made their way down the steps and onto the surface of LVJ4427798. The moon was dark and cold, but tolerable for the short time the workers would be there. To the east about 50 meters was a drop off that led into a pitch black hole. The hole they would be entering.

Gorda and the rest of the team flicked on the head lamps they wore and began making their way down the slope. Their lights did little to illuminate the gloom and the team members began to talk nervously amongst themselves.

"Keep it quiet!" Gorda barked. "Pritcher, get in there and lead the way."

Pritcher, a slight man with chronic acne and a nasal laugh, looked sharply toward Gorda. After a moment’s pause he nodded and headed into the hole. Taking second spot, Gorda followed with Nigh and Kelk bringing up the rear. After several hundred feet the solid stone of the moon gave way to a spongy, volcanic rock that crunched under foot.

"Gorda, I ain't see'n nuthin that'd cause us to be down here", Pritcher remarked.

"Set up the gear. Let's take some readings."

After a few minutes the equipment was assembled and pinging with a soft tone. "Nothing", said Kelk in his usual monotone voice.

"Give it a few more minutes."

"Wait. What's that?" Nigh asked. The readings were showing a large mass straight ahead approximately 300 meters and composed of an unknown material.

"Don't know. What we're here for maybe. Stow the gear and let's move."

The Imperial survey team packed up their equipment and made their way further down the cave into the gloom. The volcanic rock crunching under foot competed with the clunking of the heavy gear as it shifted about, banging into the walls.

Suddenly and without warning the ground gave way. Pritcher, still in the lead, screamed and vanished down into the ground as the rock crumbled beneath his feet. The others ran to the hole, but stayed back from the edge to avoid following Pritcher down.

“Pritcher!” yelled Gorda. “Can you hear me?”

“Yeah, yeah….I hear you”, Pritcher’s echoing voice answered. “I don’t know what this frek is, but it broke my fall. Some type of slime or something. I’m okay.”

Gorda peered into the darkness. His head lamp did not offer any aid in spotting Pritcher. Even Pritcher’s own lamp was not visible.

“Get a rope in that hole,” he said to the others up top before yelling down to Pritcher. “Hold tight Pritcher, We’re sending a rope down to you.”

Kelk and Nigh began feeding a length of rope into the hole. “Hurry up! There’s something moving around down here.” Pritcher’s voice took on a high, fearful pitch.

“Aaaaaaaggghhhhhhhh!” Pritcher screamed.

“Pritcher! Pritcher!” The wet, viscous sounds of ripping flesh echoed up from the hole.

“Oh frek! Let’s get outta here!”

Clicks and taps, taps as of something hard as metal scuttling across rock could be heard from the hole. Gorda still peered into the darkness seeking any sign that Pritcher was alive.

“Pritcher! Dammit, answer me!” The scuttling sounds grew closer still. “Let’s go. Let’s get outta here now!”

Gorda turned to follow as Kelk and Nigh headed back up the tunnel. He did not see the dog-sized monstrosity of claws, fangs, and armor which came over the lip of the hole that had consumed Pritcher. The creature leapt impossibly quick, landing on Gorda’s back and driving a pair of steel hard, bladed claws into his back. It began to rip and tear at Gorda, shredding the man before he even gave cry to warn the fleeing Kelk and Nigh. Behind the creature more of its brood poured from the hole and flooded the tunnel as they gave chase to the remaining humans.

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In the cold darkness of space, the Ancient Hungerer drifted. Old when the stars where young, the Hungerer felt a tingle at the back of its hive mind. Somewhere, light years away, more of its children had awakened. The massive bio-ships of Hive Fleet Nemesis turned simultaneously, drifting now towards the call of the long, lost brood. Again the horde would feed.