Battle Fleet Results:

The Tyranid ships began to enter the space near Gallant 5 as the Imperium ships rose up to meet them. Rather than advance however, the Cruisers maintained minimum thrust as they aligned there long range guns at the Hive Fleet. Nova Cannon fire from two different ships fired at one of the smaller hive ships but failed to connect

Fighters were launched by the Dictator Cruiser to harras the incoming assault boats and the escorts advanced to the flank to setup their torpedo runs.

As expected the Tyranids began disgorging spores into space as part of their defence mechanism, the spores going out to engage the fighters that were just of their range. This led to the smaller Hive ship with no spore clouds near it.

Taking advantage of the situation both ships with nova cannons fired at the behemoth hitting it dead center, greatly wounding the beast. Subsequent fire from lance batteries finally gave the death blow to the creature and a great cheer arouse from the Imperials.

Cobra squadron then fired their torpedoes at the flanks of the incoming tyranid ships scoring hits on several of their escorts before hitting a spore cloud.

The remaining tyranid ships were undaunted and proceeded to continue towards the planet as fast as they can. Several of the smaller Tyranid ships grazed one of the lead Imperial Cruisers and began boarding the ship. Heavy damage resulted before the ship's crew could contain the tyranid monsters. It was ordered to limp back to the inner regions.

The imperial ships began to veer away from the planet and proceeded to go towards the right flank of the tyranids, raking the nid ships with long range weapon batteries and lances. Fighters were kept in escorting positions near the cruisers to prevent any assault craft or torpedoes from reaching them.

The remaining nid cruisers began to shield the hive ship from the imperial fire. One by one they succumbed to intense bombardment but they gave the hive ship time to reach the planet. As the last nid cruiser was destroyed the hive ship entered the planets atmosphere. As the various Firestorms and a Dauntless Cruiser gave chase, the hive ship suddenly launched its spores into the atmosphere, blocking attack from imperial ships and at the same time seeding the planet below. At the same time the wrecked ships of the tyranid ships that were about to burn in re-entry began to disgorge mycetic spores.

The planet was doomed regardless of what the imperial fleet had done here today. With sensors detecting another splinter hive fleet coming, the imperials departed.