53 The Hive Fleet Kraken Retaliation.

In the vast, cosmic expanse of the Milky Way, the hive mind encountered an unprecedented adversary that not only defied its meticulously crafted strategies across the years but also compelled it to reassess and redistribute its formidable numbers across the celestial canvas around the Faradras system.

Responding to this unforeseen threat, a resolute command echoed through the hive mind's collective consciousness, summoning an augmentation in the number of Norn-Queens. These enigmatic entities, responsible for sculpting the multifarious bioforms within the hive fleet, were now multiplied in their cosmic presence. The Saiyan onslaught, a cataclysmic display of devastating power, functioned as an ominous prelude that the hive mind could ill afford to ignore.

The catastrophic toll of the Saiyan assault manifested in the incalculable losses of myriad bio-vessels and the annihilation of dozens of hive ships. The tendrils that formed the intricate web of the hive fleet experienced a palpable depletion in their numerical strength. Trillions of bioforms, once vibrant with purpose, now lay extinguished, their precious biomass forever beyond reclamation.

The staggering sum of eight hundred and ninety-three trillion Tyranids witnessed a precipitous decline, a decrement of nine trillion within a mere fifteen minutes from the initiation of the battle. The hive mind, burdened with the weight of such heavy losses, could not underestimate the menace posed by the Saiyan assailants.

To counter this formidable threat, a series of strategic directives were issued. The hive ships, now akin to celestial entities coursing through the cosmic void, were commanded to disperse across the vast expanse of the system. Their velocities, already considerable, underwent enhancements to propel them with even greater celerity toward the distant destination of Faradras. Simultaneously, another large amount of vessels, entrusted with stealth capabilities, embarked on clandestine trajectories, aiming to infiltrate the planetary surroundings unbeknownst to the Saiyan adversaries.

Among the hive ships, a sacrificial few were chosen to bear a psychic shield, a last line of defense against the overwhelming ki blasts unleashed by the Saiyans. Though these vessels might not endure the tempest of energy unscathed, the shielding served as a protective cloak for those in close proximity. The ingenious strategy sought to scatter the Tyranid forces, compelling the Saiyans to traverse vast expanses, their psychic might put to the test.

In this orchestrated chaos, the hive mind seized the opportune moment to release a torrent of spores upon the planet Faradras through the remaining bio-vessels. The interstellar ballet of Tyranid vessels, orchestrated to bewilder the Saiyans, unfolded against the cosmic backdrop.

Yet, the hive mind's machinations did not culminate with the strategic dispersal of its fleet. Within the bowels of the hive ships, bioforms were once again subjected to the inexorable cycle of consumption, fueling a process of augmentation. The intent was clear – to prepare the landing bioforms for the arduous and impending confrontation with the Saiyans on the planetary terrain.

With these meticulously woven actions, the Tyranids set in motion a symphony of calculated chaos, the pulse of an impending all-out assault resonating through the hive mind's collective consciousness. The hive fleet, now a dispersed and reconfigured force, prepared to unleash its formidable might upon the unsuspecting Saiyan adversaries.

The unyielding Saiyan defiance, a testament to their indomitable spirit, failed to elicit any emotional response from the hive mind. This sprawling entity, driven solely by an insatiable hunger, remained stoic in the face of the Saiyan onslaught.

As the trio of melee Saiyans advanced with relentless ferocity, they left a destructive wake in their path. Amidst the chaos, they keenly sensed the once-disarrayed drones, krakens, and prowlers seamlessly coalescing into a unified force. A formidable defense emerged, a calculated response designed to halt the Saiyan juggernauts in their tracks.

In a meticulously orchestrated display, millions of Tyranid ships unleashed a coordinated assault. Bioplasma and bioacid batteries, accompanied by the relentless barrage of biotorpedoes, were discharged in successive waves. The colossal forms of Devourers and Razorfiends followed closely, brandishing their formidable bioweapons. Together, they forged a colossal wall that eclipsed even the grandeur of Faradras itself.

The sheer speed and overwhelming numbers of the Tyranid assault compelled the Saiyans to reassess their strategy, forcing them to assume a defensive posture. The subsequent onslaught, intricately devised after discerning a pattern in the Saiyan attack, proved successful in compelling the trio of juggernauts to momentarily retreat. Seeking refuge alongside Bann and Seleri, they regrouped to face the evolving threat.

Cursing beneath his breath, Rucule exhibited palpable agitation as he witnessed the relentless attacks clashing against his protective ki sphere. "THESE INSECTS DARE TO PUSH US BACK!" His voice resonated like a primal growl, reflecting his unwillingness to accept a position of vulnerability after their initial display of supremacy over the hive fleet.

However, it wasn't solely Rucule; each member muttered curses under their breath at the Tyranids. Their ki senses discerned the hive fleet surging past them towards the space station and Faradras, a realization of the futility of contending with them in space. Evading their dead zone like an inexorable plague with their heightened speed, the Saiyans sensed the emergence of newly created bio-vessels resilient enough to withstand their devastating attacks, possessing the power to stall time for the remaining fleet to traverse the Saiyan dead zone.

Not willing to stand idly and merely defend themselves, the Saiyans harnessed their heightened senses, unleashing ki attacks that created intricate tunnels within the orchestrated barrage from the hive fleet. The surge of their ki surged, weaving through the onslaught in a display of precision amidst the cosmic chaos. Observing this, Seleri and Bann furrowed their brows, a shared concern etched on their faces as they sensed an unsettling shift in the battlefield dynamics.

The devastation wrought by their ki blasts proved notably inferior in terms of ship casualties. Frustration seeped through Bann's exclamation, a forceful "Fuck!" escaping his lips. He cast an ominous glance toward Seleri, who shared the disconcerting realization. The Tyranid ships now boasted a capability previously unseen – the creation of psychic shields, effectively neutralizing the effectiveness of ranged attacks.

In the maelstrom of battle, Bann's mind grappled with the sudden adaptability displayed by the Tyranids, 'Shit! Shit! Shit! How come they evolvef so fast!?' The unnerving speed at which they adjusted their defences threw his strategic expectations into disarray, an unforeseen challenge in the midst of the clash.

Realizing the limitations of escalating their ki attacks further, Bann confronted a pressing dilemma 'If we increased our power levels we would make them react and adapt to our full strength at the same speed!' Despite recognizing the need for swift action, he chose to follow the lead of Ramela, Aprit, and Rucule. Opting to rely on his physical prowess and speed, he aimed to engage the enemy vessels in a direct confrontation.

"Seleri, our current approach won't suffice," Bann communicated urgently. However, the lavender-haired Saiyan shook her head in defiance, her voice echoing with a mixture of urgency and nervous determination, "Have you witnessed the losses we inflicted upon them? We must act now, or things back on land would be more difficult for you all."

Their strength, unrestrained by the limitations of planetary conditions, flourished in the vastness of space. This freedom allowed them to unleash the full extent of their abilities without the constraints imposed by terrestrial environments. An advantage they were well aware they wouldn't enjoy once they descended to Faradras.

As each fleeting second witnessed more Tyranid ships converging towards Faradras, Bann deliberated firmly, "No! We can't squander more of our strength this fast. If their rapid adaptation can keep up with us, then we mustn't give away our only advantage so easily. C'mon, let's move!" Recognizing the validity in Seleri's perspective, Bann, nonetheless, opted to heed his instincts. The cosmic threat embodied by the hive mind was not to be underestimated or vanquished with ease.

In a decisive telepathic directive, Bann urged his fellow Saiyans to utilize ki pulses to create a large tunnel around them, repelling the oncoming attacks as they propelled away like comets, engaging the newly enhanced bioforms head-on.

Amidst the cosmic clash, the enhanced bio-vessels emerged, boasting resilient armor capable of absorbing and deflecting kinetic force. This transformation elevated the difficulty for the Saiyans, who now witnessed their efforts met with heightened resistance. The berserker trio, undeterred by the escalating challenge, wore maniacal grins as they confronted foes capable of enduring more than a single punch.

Observing the Saiyans deftly evading the coordinated barrage, the hive mind adhered to its stratagem. Commanding the bioships to halt, they redirected their onslaught towards the space station, concurrently increasing the distance between each vessel. This tactical shift curtailed the Saiyans' maneuverability while ensuring a greater survival rate for the accompanying bioforms.

Witnessing the hive mind exploit their vulnerability, the five Saiyans reluctantly relinquished their hard-earned ground. Their focus pivoted towards obliterating the encroaching ships targeting the space station and Faradras, simultaneously deflecting the attacks to prevent overloading the void shields of the station.

'Bann! We need to target their synaptic nodes!' In the cosmic symphony of battle, Seleri's urgent telepathic entreaty reverberated within Bann's consciousness, an imperative that demanded strategic focus. Fixing his gaze upon the distant echelons of the hive fleet, Bann acknowledged the necessity of targeting additional synapse nodes to cripple the Tyranid collective.

Harnessing the cosmic energies that coursed through his being, Bann, alongside Seleri, embarked on a momentary pause. The brief respite served as a prelude to a surge of ki, as their yellowish charged attacks hurtled through the vast expanse at the swiftness of light. The luminous trails of their efforts painted a celestial tapestry, an ephemeral spectacle within the galactic battleground.

Contrary to their expectations, the outcome deviated from their anticipated success. The sphere of influence wrought by their attacks was confined to the Tyranids in close proximity to the targeted ships. The unsettling realization gripped Bann and Seleri – their attempts to disrupt the hive mind's synapse network faced an unforeseen impediment.

In a disconcerting turn of events, the Tyranids in the immediate vicinity of the ships exhibited momentary distress before seamlessly resuming their predetermined trajectories. Undeterred, Bann grappled with mounting horror, 'No, no, no! This cannot be!' his mind in turmoil. Channeling his growing unease into concentrated ki attacks, he unleashed them against successive waves of hive ships, each attempt yielding mixed and disheartening results.

A nightmarish metamorphosis unfolded before their eyes. Swarms of agile drones enveloped the targeted hive ships, forming an impervious physical barrier that extended across the dozen kilometers long ship. Concurrently, an ethereal layer of psychic shielding cocooned the vessels, rendering them impervious to the destructive energies unleashed by the Saiyans. The aftermath painted a tableau of devastation, with vaporized ships giving birth to an eerie phenomena.

As the Tyranids around these disintegrated vessels ceased displaying any signs of vulnerability, they resumed their inexorable dispersal across the cosmic canvas surrounding Faradras. A veil of disconcerting emptiness enveloped Bann's psyche, his thoughts rendered momentarily blank in the face of an adversary capable of adapting with unnerving efficiency.

"It has to be the Norn-Queen then..." In the bitter solitude of cosmic conflict, Bann's voice, though muttered, echoed with bitter determination. Clenching his teeth, he acknowledged the daunting reality that confronting and vanquishing the Norn Queen stood as their only viable recourse. The monumental nature of this task, however, cast a shadow of insurmountability in the immediate term. Their energies were inexorably diverted to the defense of Faradras, a planet imperiled by the encroaching Tyranid horde.

As the stellar void widened between each bio-vessel, the temporal demands of annihilating these colossal entities became increasingly prohibitive. The Saiyans found themselves inexorably eclipsed by the sheer bulk of the hive fleet, its sprawling tendrils extending towards the very moons of Faradras. One by one, these leviathan vessels breached the planet's orbit, heralding an onslaught that seemed relentless and inexorable.

The valiant efforts of the Blazing Feather and its protective entourage, coupled with the resolute batteries of the beleaguered space station, proved insufficient to stave off the inexorable advance of the Tyranids. The space station, tasked with safeguarding itself, became a focal point of the Tyranid assault, their adaptive hive mind recognizing the Saiyan intent to shield this celestial bastion.

In a stark shift of fortunes, not dictated by sheer power but by the strategic machinations of the hive mind, the Saiyans found themselves ensnared in a race against overwhelming odds. With each fleeting second, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, more Tyranids descended upon Faradras, progressively eroding the temporal advantage once enjoyed by the Saiyans. Time, slipping away like grains of astronomical sand, heralded a dire reckoning for the defenders of Faradras.

The siege of Faradras was about to begin.

===========

15 chapters on advance on my patreon. /Sr_Devoxero