Alpha Squad disembarks from the safety of their Chimera APC and descends into the bowels of the shipwrecked cruiser that has slammed into Hive Solace. They begin their search for the engine room where the main reactors are located, moving into a large cargo hold closer to the aft section. They quickly realize that they are not alone in the ancient vessel, however, and a swarm of termagants floods through the spaces between the cargo containers toward the squad. The rushing xenos are led by a large Tyranid Warrior which cries a horrible screech that sends Sergeant Arion running for the exit.
The termagants' fleshborer weapons wound several troopers, and Darrien's right arm is badly shredded. While Yekaterina is able to hit the Warrior with psychic fire, it doesn't stop the oncoming tide of enemies. The soldiers of the Imperium realize that they cannot hold their ground and flee back through the corridors of the Ardent Crown in an attempt to escape the Tyranids. Sergeant Arion recovers his senses in time to help lead Alpha away from the cargo hold and further aft through the darkened passageways.
The squad is able to lose their pursuers and find a relatively safe room to hide in and bind their wounds. Corporals Adel and Casuat return to the Chimera parked outside, and Adel unmounts the storm bolter attached to the turret before heading back inside to aid his fellows. He also reports that he spoke to their commanders on vox and learned they can't expect any reinforcement - they are on their own.
Sergeant Arion finds a heavy flamer in an old locker and the Lady Commissar is able to locate a sump which could lead to the engine room and possibly avoid the menacing xeno threat. Now bandaged and rearmed, the brave troopers enter the slimy tunnel and begin crawling through the ship with their Sergeant in the lead. As they crawl, they can hear and see hideous four armed Genestealers searching for them overhead, but luckily they are not noticed.
They finally reach the reactor room and see the bright white light of the main engines glowing in the massive chamber. Corporal Adel goes to the main control console to try and stop the self-immolation sequence, counting on the others to protect him while he works. As the operator tries to puzzle out the ancient tech, the dials rise dangerously closer to the red end of the display. The others can hear sounds of Tyranids starting to draw nearer as well as the precious minutes slip by.
Suddenly, a Tyranid Warrior comes clambering down from an opened air vent, heading right for the cluster of humans. Yekaterina, Lady Commissar Cedercreuz, Sergeant Arion and their comrades let the giant xeno have it with their psychic powers and weapons. The psyker's powers slow the wounded thing down long enough for Arion's heavy flamer to finish it off in a hail of prometheum. With the time the others have bought him, Adel finally figures out the shutdown procedure, turning off the reactors and saving not only the squad but untold thousands on Solace.
Aware that the Tyranids are still chasing them, Alpha Squad heads for some thrust tubes leading out of the aft section of the ship where its massive (and now dormant) engines are located. They can see and hear the xenos rushing up after them as they get to the upturned engine vents overlooking the burning ruin of Hive Solace. Calling for aid over their vox, they are picked up and rescued by a patrolling Valkyrie.
For their heroic deeds several of the soldiers receive promotions and special honours, including some rare heirloom weapons gifted to them by Colonel Arkat. Solace has been ravaged by the crash of the "falling star", but for the moment at least it has not fallen.