The Tyranids are considered one of the greatest threats to humanity in the world of Warhammer 40,000. In the first war against them, the home planet of the toughest Space Marines, the Ultramarines, was overrun. How could they still win in the end?
Since the Behemoth swarm fleet of the Tyranids, one of the greatest threats in the universe, appeared in the galaxy, they have pushed further into the imperial worlds.
The chapter master of the Ultramarines and one of the most capable warriors of the Imperium, Calgar, planned to stop the insect species on his own home planet Macragge. This belongs to the realm of Ultramar, which is particularly important for the Imperium. If it did not happen, the next opportunity would be hundreds of light-years away.
Through Inquisitor Kryptman, the Ultramarines knew about the attack and could prepare accordingly. The chapter master united a massive fleet of various warships, battle barges, and privateers to defeat the Tyranids before their arrival on Macragge.
The planet itself was fortified, and huge defensive structures were built. If the attackers were not defeated in orbit, the forces were to take refuge in the fortresses at the North and South Pole in case of emergency and wait for reinforcements.
In Warhammer 40,000: Space Marines 2, you will fight against the hordes of dangerous insects yourself:
A single Tyranid changed the battle of Macragge
Although the warships were able to destroy countless waves of bio-ships before they arrived on the surface, the voracious bugs still spread.
As the ground battle began, the chapter master divided his forces into three troops. The 1st Company, the best warriors of the Ultramarines, was to split up and further secure and reinforce the fortresses at the poles. With the remainder of the 1st Company and other companies, Calgar fought against the hordes and could only delay their advance.
When he decided to move the defensive line further north, the Sirocco spaceport on Macragge was attacked by Genestealers of the Tyranids, and the Ultramarines’ shuttle fleet was destroyed to immobilize them. The plan was to take refuge in the industrial complex “Cold Steel Ridge,” where a defense company was stationed, additionally reinforced by the tank “Pride of Hera.”
A turning point in the battle: At this point, the swarm had recognized Calgar as the greatest threat and sent one of their overlords to destroy him. This swarm overlord was one of the deadliest servants, bringing strategic intelligence into the ranks of the Tyranids, who otherwise only launched mindless and frenzied attacks.
Through diversionary maneuvers and intelligent warfare, they were able to lure the Ultramarines away from the tank and ultimately destroy it. The swarm overlord roared across the battlefield and challenged Calgar. He charged at the chapter master and sliced him open, tearing him apart.
At the right moment, the Ultramarines were supported from orbit by Thunderhawk ships and pushed the Tyranids back far enough to evacuate the survivors and the severely wounded Calgar.
Ambush from both sides
Upon arriving in orbit, it became clear that the ships of the attackers had wiped out a large part of humanity’s fleet. After the spores of the Tyranids were dropped on Macragge, they dispersed their formation in orbit and lured the remaining Ultramarines with their warship to the ring planet Circe at the end of the system. There, an ambush of both the Tyranids and the humans was planned.
As the insect trap snapped shut and a second fleet attacked from the rings of Circe, humanity’s ambush began, with over 200 warships of the Imperium arriving at the battleground. To defeat the numerically superior swarm consciousness, the battleship “Dominus Astra” of the Emperor-class steered into the center of the Behemoth swarm fleet.
The Dominus Astra caused its warp drive to explode, creating a catastrophic vortex that tore the second fleet into nothingness.
The end of the war
After the ambush of the Tyranids was destroyed, Calgar rushed back to Macragge with reinforcements. Upon arrival, the fortresses in the north and south had already been overrun. When the 7th Company reached the southern fortress, they found some survivors of the garrison and cleared the rest of the already thinned-out insects.
However, the fortress at the North Pole was almost completely overrun, and only with the help of the mighty Dreadnoughts could they eliminate the Tyranids. All but one of the 1st Company fell.
Only 116 years later could the order officially record that the losses of the battle of Macragge had been replaced. The swarm overlord is considered destroyed, but no body or remains were ever found.
The Tyranids are among the greatest threats in the universe of Warhammer 40,000. For many fans, it is no longer a question of whether they will win the war, but when. But what would happen to the world then? We have the answer here: A species in Warhammer 40,000 lives only to eat – This is what happens when they truly win the eternal war
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