We’ve seen what’s inside the awesome Warhammer 40,000: Leviathan boxed set, and how it’s bursting at the seams with new Space Marines and Tyranids. But what’s going on in the Segmentum Pacificus? Here’s Warhammer 40,000 lead writer Wade to tell us about the narrative of the boxed set.
We’re used to two things from previous Tyranid invasions – they happen in the galactic east, and the Imperium is on the defensive. This time it’s different: Hive Fleet Leviathan is attacking from the west, potentially opening a route to Holy Terra itself! And with this fearsome threat approaching the Throneworld, it’s time for the Imperium to launch a desperate counter-attack.*
The solution, according to the High Lords of Terra? The Solblade Fleets. If sending out fleets is good enough for Roboute Guilliman when he’s trying to reclaim the galaxy, then that should surely also be good enough to stop the latest Tyranid invasion. The Solblade fleets are small, elite strikeforces, who aim to disrupt the Tyranid advance - attacking worlds already in Leviathan’s shadow and seeking to destroy key synaptic control organisms.
Leading one of these Solblades is Severus Agemman, Captain of the Ultramarines’ 1st Company.**
Accompanying First Captain Agemman on his assaults are his veteran warriors – Terminators, Librarians,*** and Sternguard to name but a few. One weapon at his disposal, however, is the Apothecary Biologis, taking samples of the new Tyranid bio-forms so that more can be learned about them, and new ways to kill them can be found. In this war, information is crucial.
Will this more aggressive approach by the Space Marines work or will the Tyranids overwhelm the Imperium’s finest as we saw in the jaw-dropping cinematic trailer? Only time will tell.
We’ll have loads more to show off about the Warhammer 40,000: Leviathan boxed set as we approach release. In the meantime, check out the rest of the reveals from Warhammer Fest 2023.
* For the Tyranids, this is just like having a take-away delivered straight to them.
** And we all know the 1st Company has serious beef with the Tyranids.
*** The Librarians will need to be careful of the new Psychophage as it has developed a liking for psykers – they taste like chicken apparently.