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CONTENTS

CoverBacklistTitlePageWarhammer40,000IllustrationsDramatisPersonaeChapterOneChapterTwoChapterThreeChapterFourChapterFiveChapterSixChapterSevenChapterEightChapterNineChapterTenChapterElevenChapterTwelveChapterThirteenChapterFourteenChapterFifteenChapterSixteenChapterSeventeenEpilogueAbouttheAuthorAnExtractfrom‘Farsight’ABlackLibraryPublication

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WARHAMMER40,000

Itisthe41stmillennium.FormorethanahundredcenturiestheEmperorhassatimmobileontheGoldenThroneofEarth.Heisthemasterofmankindbythewillofthegods,andmasterofamillion

worldsbythemightofhisinexhaustiblearmies.HeisarottingcarcasswrithinginvisiblywithpowerfromtheDarkAgeofTechnology.HeistheCarrionLordoftheImperiumforwhomathousandsoulsare

sacrificedeveryday,sothathemaynevertrulydie.

Yeteveninhisdeathlessstate,theEmperorcontinueshiseternalvigilance.Mightybattlefleetscrossthedaemon-infestedmiasmaofthe

warp,theonlyroutebetweendistantstars,theirwaylitbytheAstronomican,thepsychicmanifestationoftheEmperor’swill.Vastarmiesgivebattleinhisnameonuncountedworlds.Greatestamongst

HissoldiersaretheAdeptusAstartes,theSpaceMarines,bio-engineeredsuper-warriors.Theircomradesinarmsarelegion:theAstraMilitarumandcountlessplanetarydefenceforces,theever-

vigilantInquisitionandthetech-priestsoftheAdeptusMechanicustonameonlyafew.Butforalltheirmultitudes,theyarebarelyenoughtoholdofftheever-presentthreatfromaliens,heretics,mutants–and

worse.

Tobeamaninsuchtimesistobeoneamongstuntoldbillions.Itistoliveinthecruellestandmostbloodyregimeimaginable.Thesearethetalesofthosetimes.Forgetthepoweroftechnologyandscience,forsomuchhasbeenforgotten,nevertobere-learned.Forgetthepromiseofprogressandunderstanding,forinthegrimdarkfuturethereisonlywar.Thereisnopeaceamongstthestars,onlyaneternityofcarnage

andslaughter,andthelaughterofthirstinggods.

DRAMATISPERSONAE

TheUltramarines

SquadNumitor,EighthCompany,‘TheCalgarians’

NUMITOR,AssaultSergeantoftheCalgariansMAGROS,Battle-brother,plasmapistolspecialistDUOLOR,Battle-brother,plasmapistolspecialistTRONDORIS,Battle-brother,evisceratorspecialistGOLOTAN,Battle-brotherAORDUS,Battle-brotherVECTAS,Battle-brotherANTEC,Battle-brotherDOMINASTOS,Battle-brotherCRASTEC,Battle-brother

SquadSicarius,EighthCompany,‘TheConquerers’

SICARIUS,AssaultSergeantoftheConquerorsGLAVIUS,CombatSquadLeaderKAETOROS,Battle-brother,flamerspecialistAUSTOS,Battle-brother,flamerspecialistVELETAN,Battle-brother,auspexspecialistIONSIAN,Battle-brotherCOLNID,Battle-brotherDENTURIS,Battle-brotherDALATON,Battle-brotherENDRION,Battle-brother

CommandStructure

ATHEUS,CaptainoftheEighthCompanyUTICOS,ChaplainReclusiarchDREKOS,ApothecaryENITOR,VeteranZAETUS,StandardBearerVELLU,Veteran(laterCompanyChampion)OMNID,TechmarineELIXUS,EpistolaryLibrarian

TheAstraMilitarum

DUGGAN,CommissarLordVYKOLA,PrimarisPsyker

122NDBaleghastCastellans

KINOSTEN,ActingSergeant,OntovaPlatoonNORDGHA,MasterofOrdnanceMALAGREA,Astropath

TheTauEmpire

FARSIGHT,SupremeCommander,a.k.a.O’Shovah,Mont’ka-ShohAUN’VA,EtherealMasterSHADOWSUN,Commander,a.k.a.O’Shaserra,Kauyon-ShasO’VESA,MasterScientist,a.k.a.theStoneDragonBRIGHTSWORD,CommanderSHA’VASTOS,CommanderofArkunashaBRAVESTORM,CommanderofDal’ythSHA’KAN’THAS,Tutor,Mont’yrBattleDomePURETIDE,SupremeMasteroftheFireCasteOB’LOTAI3-0,Shas’vreAIengram,a.k.a.theWarghostY’ELDI,Aircastepilot

CHAPTERONEINVASION/THEFALLINGSPEAR

JorusNumitorgrinnedfiercelyastheThunderhawk’smetaldoorpistonedopen.The gunship’s interior filled with blazing violet light, and a gale force windpunchedintohim,butitonlygothisbloodupallthemore.Leaningforward,thesergeantranintothehurricaneandleaped,triggeringhisjumppackandboostingawaywithhisassaultsquadclosebehind.TheSwordofCalth banked as it roared overhead, itswingtip passing inchesfromNumitor’s jumppack.He turned as he flew, now fallingbackwards, andcountedhisbrothersoffastheyhurtledthroughtheskyinhiswake.Allpresentandcorrect,ninerunesflashinggreeninhisperipherals.‘Atheus will pounce on that one day, sergeant,’ voxedAordus. ‘Supposed todebarkfromthetailgateintodeadaironadroplikethis.’‘Captain Atheus can tuck himself in an evil-smelling drop pod,’ shoutedNumitor,mirthbubblingthroughhiswordsasheturnedbackintoaleaningdive.‘Orbitalinsertion’sawasteofagoodview!’Aorduslaughed,andevenoverthecracklingvoxNumitorheardthefrustrationandboredomof their two-month transit sloughingaway.He felt it too; the icearound his soul was melting, turned to liquid anticipation by the prospect ofbattleandthebreathtakingvistabelow.Dal’yth’scloudbankswere trulymagnificent.Violetandwhite, theystretchedout like a realm of organic sky-castles, lit fromwithin by strobing flashes ofelectricity. TheUltramarines straightened into close formation and plummetedheadlongtowardthem.This iswhat theAdeptusAstartesweremade todo, thoughtNumitor.Not to

meditateinsilence,ortotrainendlesslyinthedarkbowelsofastrikecruiser,buttobringdeathfromabove–sudden,loud,andingreatmeasure.Hetookoffhishelmandmag-clampedittohiswaist,revellinginthefeelingofairblastingupintohisfaceandtuggingatthedensestripofhairthatrandownhisshavenscalplikeacrest.Nearby,Aordusshookhisheadattheflagrantbreachofdropprotocol.ContrailsscarredtheskiesaheadastheT-shapedaircraftofthetauduelledwithbox-nosedThunderhawkandStormravengunships.Plummetingdroppods cutthrough theirwindingvapour trails, forminga lateralgrid that cut the skyandgaveshapetothesquad’sotherwiseabstractfall.Here and there airbursts blossomed, fire-lit smoke spreading in the cold airwherever a missile or interceptor shot hit home. Even those distant signs ofconflictmadeNumitor’schestfeeltight.Notlongnow,thesergeanttoldhimself,asifcomfortingthebeastrousingtowakefulnessinhissoul.Notlong.

SquadNumitorburstfromthecloudbankstowitnessthebirthofaplanetarywar.Tessellating hex-zones each large enough to accommodate a hive citytrammelled the indigo wilderness. Smoothly contoured buildings jutted fromeach junction point, lights glittering in their thousands wherever the ivoryedificesreachedupfromthewidersuperstructures.Thelandscapeofthetauseptworld had been almost perverse in its order, but thatwas changing fast – theImperium’s pre-invasion firestorm had torn ragged wounds across its surface.Megatonnes of ordnance were hurled from low orbit to break open the dropzones in thedistance.Even thosewarheadsdetonatedby tau flakwere rainingfireuponthecitiesbelow.Numitordidnot replacehishelm.Thechancesofgettingdecapitatedbysky-shrapnelwereslim,andthatwasagamblehewaswillingtotake.Itwasworthitto drink in the spectacle of explosions blossoming below, to feel the blood-poundingrushofairhintingatthestormofviolencetocome.Thetempestuousforcesofthedroppulledathisskin,shookhisbonesandmadehiseyesandnosestingwithsensation.Heplungedthroughahighcloudandoutagain,needlesofcoldstinginghisskin.Itfeltlikeabaptism.TheUltramarinesdroppodassaultfollowedclosebehindthefallingordnanceintendedtoclearapathforOperationPluto.Lividfiresbillowedfromshatteredhexodomes and parallel plumes of dark smoke slanted into the skies from theblack-rimmed craters that scarred the city’s alien symmetry. In his peripheral

vision,Numitorcouldseedozensofgunshipsdivinginnear-verticalvectors,thethroaty roarsof theirenginesaudibleevenover the thunderof freefalland thebasscrumpofordnance.The Imperialcraft slammed througha thinlyspreaddroneblockade toscatterenemyfightercraftlikeraptorsslicingthroughaprey-flock.Comingoutoftheirdivesastheyreachedtheirdropcoordinates,eachgunshipopeneditsdoorsanddisgorged the Assault Marines inside. Numitor’s squad had been the first tomakethedrop, launchingagoodfewsecondsbeforeSquadSicarius,andevenwiththelongfreefalltheywouldreachtheplanetfirst.Heknewitwaswrongtofindjoyinthat,foritmatteredlittleintruth.Hesmilednonetheless.‘Beachhead established in quadrant Zeta Tert, Gel’bryn City,’ said Aordus.‘Goodplacetostart.’‘We’ll be fighting long before we get there,’ shouted Numitor. ‘Look sharp,brothers.Hunter-killersincoming.Onmymark.’A cluster of four wide, flat-bodied missiles blazed upwards from an intacthexodome.‘Scatter!’orderedNumitor.Hismenreactedasecondbeforetheseekermissilesreachedtheirposition.Theytriggeredtheir jumppackssimultaneously,blazingout in a ten-pointed star that saw the taumissiles sail harmlessly through themiddleoftheirformation.Threemore of the xenotechwarheads hurtled upwards. Numitor flipped andboostedstraightdown,swiping thefingertipsofhispowerfist into the leadingmissilemomentsbeforeitcouldstrikeBrotherDuolor.Itdetonatedwithmind-numbingforceastheothertwoshotpast,missingtheirmark.Thesergeantwasflung outward, flailing and burning, but the flames found no purchase on hisceramite.Hetuckedintoasomersaultbeforerightinghisvectorwithablastofhisjumppack.Trailing smoke, Numitor heaved in a great draught of air – not the stale,recycledairofa spaceshiphold,but thecold,pureblastof freefall.He roaredwiththesheercatharsisofit.Elationfloodedhisbody,despitetheburningpaininthesideofhisface,despitethechemicaltangofincendiariesinhismulti-lung.Hisvoxbuzzedlikeatrappedinsect,abruptlypullinghimbacktohissenses.‘Sergeant,’saidAordus,‘doweproceedtoZetaTert?’‘Holdcourse,’calledoutNumitor,craninghisheadtolookupward.‘ZetaTert,squad!Adjustvectorsaccordingly.’High above, three remaining missiles looped around, doubling back in tightparabolastocloseonthesergeant’ssquad.

‘Ha!’shoutedNumitortriumphantly.‘Ithoughtasmuch.Readypistols!’The sergeant turned in mid-fall to face the night sky and the blunt-nosedmissilesrocketingtowardsthem.Heunclampedhisboltpistolandsnappedoffthreeshots inclosesuccession,hisbackto thegroundeventhoughhisfreefallwasatterminalvelocity.Numitor’ssquadfollowedhislead.Mass-reactiveboltshurtledupwards, thelastvolleycatchingtheincomingmissilesaspear’sthrowfrom their position. A canopy of fire bloomed above them, red and yellowagainstthedarkeningpurplesky.Noddinginsatisfaction,Numitorturnedbacktohisheadlongdescent.From the hexodomes below tracer fire spat high, each stream stutteringphosphor-white. Black clouds of flak boomed as tau gunners intercepted thestormofSpaceMarineinsertioncrafthammeringtowardsthexenoslandscape.Totheireastflank,aclusterofhunter-missilesslammedintoaplummetingdroppod. Numitor felt the blast wave of the explosion as it sent cherry-red metalscythinginalldirections.Flailing SpaceMarines fell burning from the wreckage towards the planet’ssurface.Theyhadfifteenseconds,ifthat.‘Interceptthatstrickensquad!’orderedNumitor,leaningintoadiagonalvectorandwavinghissquadtofollow.Heboostedhard,drawinghisarmsinclosetostreamlinehisbodyandanglinghishandstofine-tunehispath.Hisunit,closebehindhim,didlikewise.Ninesecondsleft.AtriooffallingTacticalMarineshadrightedthemselvesasbesttheycouldandwereaimingtheirboltersdownward,determinedtotakesomekindoftollonthetau world before their deaths. The Tactical squad’s sergeant stretched out tocatchoneofhisbrothersbythearmashepinwheeledpast,yankinghiminclose.Numitor and his squad dived into their midst, each clamping an outstretchedhand onto a falling battle-brother. There was no way Numitor and his squadcouldstopthementirely,pullthemoutofharm’sway,buttheywerestillAssaultMarinesoftheEighth,themastersofthejumpdrop.Thiswastheirskytorule.‘Harddiagonal,duewest!’shoutedNumitor.Withaburstofhisjumppackenginesatfullyield,NumitoryankedtheTacticalMarine’s descent into a sharpwestward course.His squad did the same, theirpower armourpreventing their arms frombeing rippedoutof their socketsbythesuddenweight.Slowly,agonisingly,theireffortsborefruit.Threeseconds.

‘Breakfall!’shoutedNumitor.‘Ready!’Abulbouswhitetowerloomedsuddenlyupwards,itsgiantmushroomcanopystuddedwith strange antennae.Numitor heaved hard, twisting his body so hisjumppackbolstered themotionasheandhis squad flung theirbattle-brotherssidelongtowardsthetaubuilding’supperslope.TheTacticalMarinesstruckithard,buttheirarmourtookmuchoftheimpact.As they slid downward, they each drew their combat knives and drove themdeepintothebuilding’scurvingroof,turningtheirskiddingdescentintoaseriesofsharphalts.BythetimetheSpaceMarineshadmag-lockedtheirbootsontothealloyofthebuilding’s roof, Numitor had landed in their midst, and was already boostingback upwards. He caught a fifth falling battle-brother by the backpack andslowedhisdescentenoughforhimtohitthecream-colouredroofcrumpled,butalive. The rest of Squad Numitor had touched down nearby, wispy circles ofexhaustexpandingaroundeachoftheirlandingsites.Pulseroundsshotfromthebalconyofatallertaubuildingtopunchintotheirmidst.TheTacticalMarinesturned their shoulders into the incoming fire, bolters aimed to launch adevastatingcounter-attack.‘Thatwasnon-Codexdropprocedure,’saidoneoftherescuedSpaceMarines.TheTacticalMarinesergeantsnappedoffashotwithhisbolter,andadistantexplosionmingledwithxenosscreams.‘We’realive,ingrate,’hegrowledtohissquadmate,‘somakeitcount.’HeturnedtoNumitorbetweenshots.‘Mythanks,brother.AntelionoftheFifth.’‘I’mNumitor,EighthCompany.But ifyour friendreports thedropdeviation,I’mSergeantCatoSicarius.’Antelionlaughed.‘NowhimI’veheardof.’Numitornodded,butintruthhisfocuswasalreadyonthebattlebelow.‘Right,let’sgettoit,’hesaid,replacinghishelmandslammingafreshclipintohisboltpistol.‘Brothers,makereadytojointhefray.Catoislikelyankle-deepinbloodalready.’

SergeantCatoSicariusbellowedawordlesswarcry,gunninghisjumppackashe blasted shoulder-first towards a squadron of glider-like xenocraft. Energystreams spat from the tail-mounted quad turret of each tau fighter. Theydetonated explosively amongst his squad, one lucky shot sending BrotherEndrionspirallingfromtheskyinasprayofblood.Two more of the incandescent beams punched into Sicarius’ pauldron,

vaporisingchunksofceramiteandknockinghimoffkilter.Herightedhischargewithin heartbeats, lips pulled back into a grimace of contempt, but itwas toolate.Theaircraft hadalreadyhurtledpast, thewhineof their engines rising astheyturnedbackforanotherstrafingrun.AhotachebledthroughSicarius’shouldersocket.‘You’venoideawhoyouaredealingwith,’hesnarledunderhisbreath.‘You’reallgoingtodie.’‘Wellsaid,sergeant,’saidGlavius,Sicarius’defactosecondincommand.Thesergeantclickedimpatientlyoverthevoxinresponse.Thepaininhisshoulderwasdulling,butinhiseyesitwasstillasymptomoffailure.On some level, Cato Sicarius knew and appreciatedwhat was at stake uponDal’yth. Thewar theywere fighting herewas no conventional crusade, but abattle for knowledge, hard won in the crucible of war. Two advancedcivilisationswerepittedagainstoneanother,andtheskywasalreadyfillingwiththefiresofconflict.‘Vespertinewasaskirmishcomparedtothis,’saidGlavius.‘Good,’ said Sicarius. ‘A true test of ourmettle, then.’Here, each forcewasseekingnotonlytoovercomethefoe,butalsotolearntheirstrengths–andmoreimportantly,weaknesses–intheprocess.‘Thisisarace,Glavius,’saidSicarius,‘araceforunderstanding.Whoeverwinsitwillsecurevictorynotjusthere,butonadozenworldsbesides.’With thissiteas theprimarydropzone, therewaseverychance thebattle forGel’bryn City would determine the fate of the entire war. Taking the largestmetropolis on the eastern seaboard would give them a commanding position,allowingthemtodominateeverythingbetweenthedropsiteandthemountainstothenorth.Asasergeant,Sicariuswascontenttoleavethewidercampaigntothelikes of Lord Calgar and Chief Librarian Tigurius, but here he was in hiselement.Dropinvasionswerehismeatanddrink.Hewasmadetoconquer,andconquerhewould.Thetausquadronswerecomingbackfast,veeringaroundthetallantennaeofacomms building for another pass. The two rearmost craft detached disc-likedrones, machine intelligences much like those Sicarius had encountered onVespertine.Their underslung ion guns thickened the firepower already searingtheair.Sicarius kept in the foremost pilot’s blind spot until the last moment, thenlauncheduphardattopspeedtocatchitsleftwingandscrabbleatopit.Grippingthe front of thewing tight, he drew his Talassarian broadsword, thumbed theactivationrune,andcarvedawaythecockpitwithasinglebroadsweep.Blood

flewfromthebisectedheadofthepilotinside.Thefighter’sveeringarcslowlyturnedintoadive.‘Meagrecreatures,these,’saidthesergeant,lettinggoofthewingandallowinghimselftoslidefree.‘Evenweakerthanthegroundclades.’‘Sergeant,’camethevoxfromhissquadmateIonsian.‘Inboundfighters.’‘Markthemforme,’saidSicarius,drawinghispistolashefell.Energyweaponfirespatthroughtheairtowardshim,buthetwistedawayfromit.‘Now,sergeant!’saidIonsian,boostingpasttodrawthefireoftheenemypilot.Sicarius’target-runesflashedbright.Heraisedhisplasmapistolandpulledthetrigger,itsgrippainfullyhoteventhroughtheceramitebandingofhisgauntlet.Hisshotwastrue.Ittookapassingfighterunderthenosecone,burningthroughitslightweightalienalloystoconsumethetauinside.The aircraft wobbled, veered, and crashed into the vanes of the distantcommunicationsarraywith forceenough to tear theentire structuredown intothebattlebelow.Numitor would have enjoyed that wrecking ball display, thought Sicarius,checkingthechronorunesinhishelm.Itwasalmostashamehewastakingsolongtojoinin.Sicarius took in the rest of the Eighth as they invaded the city, some bygunship, others by bulk lander. They were reinforced right and left by theirwarrior kin from the battle companies. Drop pods hurtled out of the skies,smashingthroughthealienhyperplasticof thetauhexodomestoreleaseSpaceMarinesquads into thesmoothsuburbanlandscapesbeneath.Theirassaulthadcaughtthetauunprepared.Smallwonder;thebruteforceandspeedofaSpaceMarineplanetstrikewasalmostimpossibletocounter.‘Numitor,attendme,’voxedSicarius,‘Icannotseeyou,brother.’‘Attendyou?Ithinknot,’crackledthereply.‘Besides,wetookadetour.Looktotheintersectionnearestthereservoir.’‘Ahyes,’saidSicarius,signallinghissquadtoformuparoundhim.‘Gotyou.Howfarestheslaughter?’‘ItiseverythingIhadhopedfor.’Sicariusgaveashortbarkoflaughter.‘Goodhunting,then,’hereplied,‘thoughIcanseethisbeingoverfartooquickly.’‘There’sawholeplanetofthem,Cato.Youwillgetyourchancetoshine.’‘There’s a small empire, Jorus, not one paltry planet,’ replied Sicarius. ‘Andlikelynotasingledecentswordsmanamongstthem.’‘We’ll have a challenge on our hands soon enough,’ said Numitor. ‘Take an

altitude.Lookattheinterlinksofeachdistrictandtellmewhatyousee.’Sicarius signed off without a word. He triggered his jump pack, launchinghimself up to the landing platform jutting from a geometric hexodome andscanningtheinterstitialspars,browfurrowed.Withineachsparwasa long,silvermagnorail transmotive.Thevehiclesweremovingwithimpressivespeed.Sicariuscouldmakeout tauwarriors insidethenearest.Hundreds stood in each transport, strappingongrenadeharnesses andcheckingtheirlong-barrelledguns.CouchedatopeachcylindricalsectionofthetransmotivewerethexenoswarsuitstheEighthhadencounteredonVespertine.ThesoullesscreationscombinedthefirepowerofaDreadnoughtwiththeagilityofanAssaultMarine.Thousands of tau soldiers inbound, then. Sicarius counted the transmotivecarriagesanddidaquickcalculation.Tensofthousands,infact.Without exception, they were converging on the Eighth Company’s landingsite.

Shas’o Dal’yth Ko’vash Kha’drel, better known as Commander Bravestorm,blink-clicked a hostiles filter on his battlesuit’s command suite. His sensorsdetected barely a hundred enemy warriors in this hex. They were so few innumber, these proud Space Marine invaders. It was almost a shame the warwouldbeoversosoon.Thus far, fewer than two gue’ron’sha cadre-equivalents – known to theImperialsascompanies,accordingtohisautotrans–hadmadeplanetfall.BythetimethelastinterhextransmotiveshadreachedeachdropsitetheSpaceMarineinvasionwouldbecontained,cauterisedanderadicated.Bravestormhadensuredhis countercrisis cadreswere inbound as swiftly as possible. In the spaceof asinglerotaa, the earth castewouldhave completed anynecessary renovations,and Dal’yth society would return to normal. Did the humans truly expect tostrike at the heart of the tau empire with so meagre a force, and somehowprevail?Thecommandercheckedhiscadre’sreadinesssymbols.Allteamsshowedgold,whetherbuckled into the interior of the transmotives, or – ashe andhis otherbattlesuit teams were – ejector-locked into their roof cradles. His prototypeXV8-02shiftedgentlyasthetransmotiveshotthroughahexintersticetotakeamore direct course to the primary site of the invasion. The velocity barelychanged,thetransport’sprogresssilentapartforalowthrumofelectromagneticgenerators.

BravestormhadoriginallyassumedtheImperium’sbluntattackwasafeint,adistraction tokeep the firecasteoccupiedwhilst the true strike fell elsewhere.Hehadapportionedhis forcesaccordingly,distributing themevenlyacross theplanet’ssurfaceandcoordinatingwiththeothercastestoensuretheycouldreactquicklywherevertherealblowfell.Andyetnomatterhowmanytimesheranthe air caste’s data through his analyticals, the answer was the same. Everyorbital craft of the gue’la fleet had aligned with a major city, and fired itsinvasion force vertically downwards with only the most perfunctory ofbombardments to pave the way. Bulk landers were following much the sametrajectoryintheirwake.Theattackhadallthesubtletyofameteorshower.‘They strike at Dal’yth’s heart,’ Bravestorm transmitted over the command-levelcadre-net,‘justasasavagekrootmightjabhisspearatabattlesuit’schest,unawarethatthere,thearmouristhickestofall.’‘Their tactics are primitive, honoured Bravestorm,’ came the response fromCommander Farsight. The famous warrior’s stoic features glowed on a sub-screen inBravestorm’s command cocoon. ‘But some of their technologies areveryadvanced.Theirinterstellartransitspeaksoffargreatermindsbehindtheirwarriorcastes.’‘Iconcur.Ishallneutralisethoseinvadersnearestmylocationandtransmitmyfindingsonthecadre-netforfurtheranalysis.’‘Doso,withmythanks.Ihaveeveryconfidenceinyourresolve.’Bravestormeye-flicked a shorthand signof respect.Today, he andhis fellowcommanderswouldimpartalesson,alessonthedefendersofVespertine,caughtoutbythesheeralacrityofthatfirstImperialassault,hadfailedtoteach.Itwasanimmortaltruth–oneBravestormhadlearnedshortlyafterbirthandhadbeenquietlyreinforcingsincehewasoldenoughtospeak.Itwasthetaurace’sdestinytorulethestars,andtheirsalone.‘Entering effective weapons range in sixty-twomicrodecs, commander,’ saidBravestorm.‘Allteamsprimedandready.’‘Excellent. I ammaking haste to join you,’ replied Farsight. ‘Thatwhichwepresumetoconquer,wemustfirstunderstand.’‘MasterPuretidestillspeaksthroughhispupil.’‘Of course.As he speaks through us all.For theGreaterGood, CommanderBravestorm.’‘FortheTau’va.’Bravestormmade thesignof the impeccablekillandsignedoff.

Themagnorail transmotive carved around another interstice at blurring speed.Atop its ejection cradle, Bravestorm fought to keep his sensor suite workingsmoothly.Thepanoramaofwarunfoldingbeforethemwassointenseevenhishyper-advanced battlesuit was struggling to keep up with the ballistics datafloodingthroughit.The air above the invasion sitewas filledwith flakbursts, tracer fire, enginecontrails and hurtling Imperial drop craft. The crystalline shards of brokenhexodomesspearedintothetwilight.Eachhadbeenshatteredbyoneofthepod-likelandersthegue’ron’shawarshipshadhurledtowardsGel’brynCity.The headlong assault was proving an effective stratagem, brutal in itssimplicity.Maximum force delivered at a concentrated pointwas amodus thefirecastemadeextensiveuseof themselves.TheImperialssought tobreaktheshieldwall, and once inside, capitalise. ThoughBravestorm felt awkward anduncleanatthethought,thedirectnessoftheImperialmindsetappealedtopartofhissoul.Nonegotiationhere,nodanceofveiledthreatandfalseintelligence–justwar,pitilessanddirect.Still, initial success or no, this alleged ‘Imperium ofMan’would pay for itstemerityincrossingtheDamoclesGulf.Theyhadsentavanguardofscarelyafewthousandtoconqueramajorseptworld;toBravestorm’smind,thatdidnotreflectwellonthemilitarystrengthofthiswould-berivalempire.Thoughithadstruckhardatfirst,thehumanarmadawouldlikelybebrokenwithinamatterofweeks.The interhex transmotive passed a burning, shattered dome. Flickeringexplosionslittheblacksmokewithin.‘Here,’transmittedBravestorm.‘Webeginhere.’

The transport slowed hard, shuddering as a series of small explosions wasstitched along its length. Blue-armoured figures emerged from the smoke-shroudedsidings,bulkysidearmsraised.‘Allteamsdeployasbriefed,’saidBravestormtothefirewarriorteamsinside.Atop the transmotive, dozens of ejection cradles hissed open. Each battlesuitwashurledskywardinanexplosionofhydraulicvapour.Below,doorportsslidopentoallowstriketeamsoftautodisembark.The air shimmered as jet packs engaged enmasse. Forming up in a shallowwedgebehind their commander, the battlesuits soared towards the gue’ron’shatroopersonthesidings,shoulder-mountedmissilepodslayingdownsuppressivefiretocovertheiradvance.

The Imperials raised their guns, the blocky weapons booming as they sentminiature rockets roaring up. In Bravestorm’s control cocoon, incoming firealerts bipped insistently.Again these simple-minded invaders had attacked thelargest, most obvious threat – and in doing so, wasted their best chance forsurvival.Thecommander’sgundronesmovedtointerpose,butBravestormeye-flickedthemback.HisXV8-02couldhandlethis.Aheartbeatlaterhisshieldgeneratorflared as three detonations boomed across its convex disc of energy. Hedeactivated theshieldfor thefourthshot, instead turninghisshoulderunit intoitspath.Theearthcastewouldthankhimfortheballisticsdata.Theprojectiledetonatedwithaloud,punchingimpact,butdidlittlemorethanstripapatchofsynthpaintfromtheprototypesuit’siridiumalloy.Rapidbeepsof alarm sounded as an anti-tankmissile shot from the commander’s westernflank. Bravestorm braced in his cocoon as themissile thumped into his suit’swaist joint, sending him reeling with the blast of kinetic force but ultimatelydoingnomorethansuperficialdamage.Bravestorm smiled as he brought his battlesuit back upright. He liked a fairfightmorethanmost.Butthiswouldhavetodo.‘Mass-reactive projectiles incoming, standard Imperial pattern,’ saidBravestorm over the cadre-net. ‘Dangerous, but within the tolerances of ourcombatarmour.Firewarriorsadvance.TeamMal’caor,targetthemissiletrooperatappendedcoordinates.’Symbols of assent blinked on Bravestorm’s command suite. Below, theImperialwarriorsdartedleftandright,firingastheymovedinsidethesmokeofthe burning hexodome. Bravestorm levelled his plasma rifles as one, hisblacksunfiltereffortlesslypiercingthepall.Heswepthislegsforwardtotriggerafiringstanceandtooktheshots.Twogue’ron’sha troops collapsed, heads burnt down to cauterised stumps.AbarrageofplasmafromtherestofhisteamsentthreemoreSpaceMarinesdownhard.Oneof the blue-armouredwarriors hurled a grenade straight upward into thebattlesuit team’smidst. It detonated a hand’s breadth fromBravestorm’s jumpunit.Theblastfailedtosomuchasdenthissuit’sarmour,butittoregundroneOe-ven-3fromthesky.Thehelper’sdeathwasasadloss,thoughtBravestorm,butacceptable,andsoontobeavenged.Nearby,aconcentratedvolleythuddedintoShas’uiVosdao’sbattlesuit.Astring

ofexplosionstoreitapartinabloomofflame.Bravestormcriedoutindenialashesteadiedhisflight,rollingshoulder-firstinmidair.HepassedovertheSpaceMarines,hisplasmariflesspittingtheirfury.Nostraightkillshotsthistime,butadual strike that took the legs and throwingarm from thegrenade-hurler.Lethim dwell on the nature of retribution as he dies in the dirt, thought thecommander.Bravestorm’s thrust/vector suite glowedgold as he camedown into a piston-cushionedcrouch,his teamfollowing to take thegroundbehindhim.Weapon-limbsfiredburstsofplasmaandstabbingsalvosofmissileswhereverthetelltaleblue of the foe was glimpsed through the smoke. The engagement was fastbecomingaone-sidedfirefightthatnoteventheboldest intrudercouldhopetowin.The surviving Space Marines withdrew towards the heart of the ruinedhexodome,firingahailofboltsatBravestormastheywent.Everyoneofthemhithome.Themajoritydidlittlemorethanknockthecommander’sbalanceforamoment, but the last ricocheted upward from his knee, bypassing the shieldgenerator’sdiscanddetonatinginsidehiswaistjoint.Theexplosiontoreatinyfissure in the battlesuit’s side, sending a splinter of shrapnel into the controlcocoon to sizzle intoBravestorm’s own thighwith a pungent smell of cookedmeat.The commander clenched his rear teeth for a moment as stimulant injectorsprickedneedles into thebackofhisneck.His suit’s self-healmechanismshadalreadygone towork, contingency cells bursting to fill thewoundat itswaistwithbluishcaulk that swiftlyset iron-hard.Stimulant injectors tookeffect, thepainwashingawayinawaveofcoolingnumbnessasthecommanderlaiddownasidelongvolleyofplasma. Itwas intendedas suppressive fire,but it coredanearbySpaceMarine’storsononetheless.Ahead, theSpaceMarineshadall butdisappeared inside the ruins.Overhalftheirsquadlaydead,corpsesstrewnintherubble.Thewholeexchangehadbeenover before the first of the cadre’s fire warrior teams had made it into pulsecarbinerange.TenSpaceMarines, sent to conquer an entire hexodome.The arroganceof itbeggaredbelief.‘Today, my comrades,’ transmitted Bravestorm over the cadre-net, stridingforwardwithhisweaponssystemslevelledat thebreach,‘today,weshallplaytheroleofteacher.Allteams,pursueanddestroy.’

Ahigh-pitchedwhine fromabovebecame a roar, then a deafeningboom.Theground shook hard, jolting Bravestorm even with his command cocoon’sdampenerssettocombatmode.Abulkyblueinvasionpodhadcrashedintothesmokingundergrowthofthemagnorailsidingbehindthem,largeenoughtoholda Broadside battlesuit with room to spare. Ramp-like hull sections fell flatagainst theearth,cloudsofvioletdustswirlingaroundthem.Abarrageofflakburstoutward,bafflingBravestorm’ssensorsuitewithastormoflightandnoise.On reflex the commander shot upward in a graceful leap, repulsor jet packcarryinghimabove theblue-armouredcraft.The restofhis teamfollowedhisexamplewithoutneedingtobetold–allbarthehotheadedShas’uiFal’ras,whoinsteadlevelledhisfusionblasterandplasmarifleatthecraft’sinterior.Thethingthatstormedoutoftheinvasionpodwastrulymonstrous.Twicethesizeofabattlesuitandwiderthanitwastall,itwasahideouscaricatureoftheHero’sMantle.Itlookedlikeawalkingtankratherthanapilotedsuit,andithadarticulatedclawsinplaceofrangedweaponsystems.‘Some kind of heavy war drone,’ transmitted Bravestorm. ‘No living thingcouldsurvivethatimpact.Analyseatrange,thentakeitdown.’Splayed feet clanged as the machine crunched down the hull plates of itsinsertion craft. Flak blasted from frontal launchers that bracketed a slab-likemidsection. Fal’ras fell backwards, opening fire. His plasma bolts sizzledineffectuallyacrossthemachine’smonolithichull.Bravestormandtherestofhisteamaddedfirefromabove.Thevolleyscorchedthething,meltingsmalldentsintoitshide,butachievedlittlemore.Fal’raswaitedforittoclearthetransportandfiredhisfusionblaster,confidentofapoint-blankkill.Searingcolumnsofsuperheatedenergyshotout,gougingadeepgrooveintothething’shullandcookingoffitsremainingfraglaunchers.Themachinedidnotfall.Giantclawsshotforwardwithpistonquickness.Therewasatearingshriekofmetal, and Fal’ras’ battlesuit was caught, impaled upon the whirring grinderinsidethething’srightfist.Theshas’uicameapartinhideousindignity,suitandpilotmingledhorriblyinspraysofsparkingelectricityandhotblood.Lumbering forward, the Imperial machine made a clumsy grab forBravestorm’s leg.Thecommander smoothly roseoutof reachbeforedroppingsharplybehind it, kicking themachinewhilst itwasmid-step in an attempt tooverbalance it. Itwas likestrikinga loaded freightcube.Hesentplasmaboltssearing into thepistonsat itship,hoping to take its legandsend it sprawling.Thewhite-hotenergiesspatteredawaywithouteffect.

Thethingwasgatheringspeed,chargingforthestaggeredlinesoftauinfantrythat had formed up near the transmotive. The strike teams pock-marked itsfrontalarmourwithstreamsofplasma,andBravestorm’steamaddedtheirfire.Thecombinedfusilladeturnedthemachine’sarmourfromcobaltbluetoburnedandblastedblack,butitchargedforwardsnonetheless.‘Controlled retreat!’ shouted Bravestorm over the cadre-net. ‘It’s iridium-plated!’Thefirewarriorsmovedbackwardsingoodorder,someclimbingbackintothetransmotive as others hurled photon grenades to buy them time. The devicesdetonatedwithblindingflashes,buttheyhadasmucheffectasapin-torchshoneatarampagingkrootox.A pug-nosed Imperial gunship roared overhead, its chugging anti-personnelcannons cutting down the fire warriors gathered close by the transmotivecylinder. The team’s cohesion broke, but their passage was hindered by thesprawlingcorpsesoftheircomrades,andtheresultingconfusioncostthemdear.Themetalbeastboredownonthem,itsfootstepsshakingtheearth.Bravestormpunchedhisweaponsyield to full, siphoningevery iotaofpowerfromhis shieldgenerator topour shots into themachine’s flank, but the thingbarrelled through plasma fire and burst cannon volley alike.He hadmomentsleftbeforeitreachedtheinfantry.Thethoughtoftheslaughterthatwouldensuemadethecommander’sgorgerise.Bravestorm boosted over the thing’s head, spinning mid-leap to land with acrunchrightinitspath.‘Fightmethen,monster!’heshouted,hisspeakersblaringhischallenge loud.He levelledadoubleshotat thehulking thing’svisionslit.Thesalvodid littlemorethanscorchit.Thewarmachinetookthebaitnonetheless,itsentiretorsoswivellingat thewaistas itswipeditsdemolitionclawinabackhandarc.ThediscofBravestorm’sshieldtookmostoftheimpact,buttheblowconnectedhardnonetheless. His battlesuit flew backwards to crunch bodily into thetransmotive’s transit cylinder, the impact caving in the reinforcedmetal of itsside.Muddled pain flared in Bravestorm’s head, his eyesight blurring even as hiscontrolcocoon’ssystemsglitchedandshorted.Hisdamagedisplaysuitepulsedred,alertchimesringinginsistently.Thecommanderreroutedpower,strugglingtogetthesuitbackonline.He could feel the Imperial death-machine stomping towards him, deadlypurposeineveryearth-shakingstep.

Thesensorsuitefizzedbacktolife,andBravestormsethisjawashelevelledanothervolley.Still it didnothing.Themonster had tobebuilt specifically toresistplasma.Thethingwaslumberingon,firewarriorsscrabblingawayfromitonallsides.Hedidnotblamethem.Theyhad twochoices–flee,ordiewhere theystood.Thoughhefeltrevulsiontoadmitit,perhapsthescatteringinfantryhadtherightidea.WanlightglintedfromtheImperialwalkerasitstormedinclose,onlyfifteenfeet away now. Its gauntlet fist flexed wide, the drills of its demolition clawwhirring.Bravestorm crouched and triggered his jump jets, shoulder-barging the thingwithallthethrusthecouldmuster.Hereboundedhardfromitstorso,triggeringhisrepulsorjets toskidawaythroughthesparseundergrowthofthemagnorailsiding.Themachine tried to correct its charge, but its momentumwas too great. Itploughedintothetransmotivewithsuchforceitbowledanentiretransitsectionover,twistingtherestoftheconveyoralongitslengthwithahideousshriekofalloys.Bravestorm made use of the reprieve to cast about himself, searchingdesperately foraweapon thatcoulddealwithsuchheavyarmour.Abovehim,the aerial struggle for supremacy raged on, as many contrails of humanity’spollutantsdiscolouringtheskiesastherewerecleanwhitetracesoftheaircaste.Fromthewest,anImperialgunshipscreamedintowardsthemforastrafingrun,gunslevelled.ThistimeBravestormwasready.‘Formalineonthesecoordinates!’Symbolsofrequest-clarificationblippedonhiscommandsuite.‘FortheTau’va!Doitnow!’Bravestorm vaulted into the air, spinning to land atop the nearest transitcylinder’sejectioncradles.His team redeployed intoa line leadingaway fromthetransmotive.JustasBravestormhadsuspected,theImperialpilotcouldnotresist the choice enfilade in front of him. The gunship thudded fat shells intoBravestorm’s Crisis team, knocking two of them down – but in doing so, italigneditselfwiththeunstoppableImperialwalkerbeyond.Bravestorm’s jump jets flared ashe leapt from the roofof the transmotive tosoar on a collision course with the gunship. The fist-like prow passed withinarm’sreach.Atthatprecisemomentthecommanderopenedfireatpoint-blankrangeintoitscockpit.Theplasmaboltsburnedthepilottomoltensludgejustas

the gunship’s wing slammed hard into Bravestorm’s side. Tremendous forcestore at him – it felt as if his limbs were being wrenched from his body, butincrediblythesuit’siridiumheldfast.Thegunshipfaredmuchworse.Withitswingbuckledanditscockpitablaze,itsstrafingrunturnedintoaheadlongdive.Flamescoursedalongitsfuselageasthebull-nosed gunship hurtled down to earth. Just as the Imperial walker wasfreeing itself from the stricken transmotive, the ruined aircraft slammed rightintoitwithcatastrophicforce.Amangledconfusionofgunship,walkerand transit cylinder slewedover themagnorail track before detonating spectacularly. The explosion lit the sky,Bravestorm’sdisplaysauto-dimmingamomentbeforeamushroomingcloudofsmoke billowed from the carnage. The twisted bodies of the gunship’s SpaceMarinepassengersmingledwiththecorpsesofthosefirewarriorscaughtinthetransitcylinder,tumblingdownthesidinginbloodyconfusion.Bravestormlandedclumsily,hisbalance takenby the impactof thegunship’swing.Heoverlaidahostilesfilterasherightedhimself,sendingthedatapulsingoutward.ThoseofhisbattlesuitteamstillstandingaftertheImperialcraft’spasswent to work. Their plasma rifles, all but useless against the heavy walker,blastedapart thedazedSpaceMarines thatwere struggling from thegunship’swreckage.More fire warriors emerged from the transit cylinders to either side of thewreck, pulse carbine shots cutting down those gue’ron’sha emerging from thehexodome’sperimeter insupportof theirfallenkin.HereandthereawoundedImperialwarriorreturnedfire,mass-reactiveboltspunchingtauinfantryintothedirt, but in doing so they signed their own death warrants. Bravestorm eye-flicked targetdesignatorsoneafteranother,hisweaponsystemssystematicallydestroyingtheremaininginvaderswhenevertheyrevealedtheirlocations.Everytimehisthreatsensorchimed,anotherSpaceMarinewascutdown.‘Commander,’ came the transmission from his trusted saz’nami aide Et’rel,‘thereareseveralinvadersherethatarewellbeyondthreatparameters,butstilltechnicallyalive.’‘Leavethem,’saidBravestorm,hisbattlesuitpickingthroughtherubble.‘Theyfoughtwithcourageandposenofurtherdangertous.Secureaperimeter.Ihavedatatoaccrue.’The burning wreckage of the transmotive had buckled in a great loop thatdangledoverthesiding,andtheruinedgunshiphadflippedovertoexposethetornpassengerbaybeneath.Inthemiddleofthecarnagewastheheavywalker,

half-crumpledbythetremendousimpactofthecrashingaircraft.Bravestormhoveredcloser,hissensorsuiteonhighalertforanysignofthreat.Therewas information tobeharvestedhere, information theearthcastewouldvalue highly. Perhaps there were materials the Imperium made use of thatsurpassed even the hardiness of his battlesuit’s iridium alloy. Unlikely, butO’Vesawouldneverforgivehimifhedidn’tatleasttrytofindout.Milkyliquiddrizzledfromthecrippledwarmachine’schestunit,bubblingandpoppingintheelectricalfiresswathingitslegs.Lubricant,thoughtBravestorm.Hezoomedin.Thefluidwasshotthroughwithblood.Somethingwasmovinginsidethetorsounit.Somethingbrokenandsick.Bravestorm held his plasma rifle steady and extruded a hand from hisbattlesuit’s shield gauntlet. Gripping the blackened metal of the machine’smidsection, he carefully lifted the flaking hull plate up and outward, leaningforwardtopeerinside.Thecreaturethatstaredbackmadehisbreathcatch.A twisted and grotesque figure was trapped inside, all barrel chest andatrophiedstumps.Itstaredupathimfromsunkensockets,itsundisguisedhatredalmost palpable.Wires and tubes penetrated its horrifically abused body in ahundred places. It wheezed, red-black fluids spilling from a broken jaw thatworkedandgummedasifitcouldclickbackintoplacethroughwillpoweralone.Aglutofmilkyliquidpouredfromarounditssuturedwaistasitjerked,spittingagobbetofhalf-clottedbloodontoBravestorm’sochrepaintwork.Bravestorm’ssensor suiteperformeda threat analysisas the liquidburned throughhis synthlayer.Theclotwaslacedwithapotentacid.Thecommanderrecoiledasthething’sstinkwasfilteredthroughhisolfactoryrelay,andthebattlesuitjerkeduprightinresponse.Hisautotransflashed,spool-scriptrenderingthecreature’sslurredwordsinthetaulexicon.‘––DIEINPAIN––FOREIGNWORMTHING––’Standing upright, the commander placed a hoof-like foot upon the creature’storso and triggered the punch-cylinder under its sole. A thin tube of titaniumthumpedintothething’sruinedfleshbeforewithdrawingwithaneatclick.Thedevicewas intended for geological analysis, installed by the earth caste to beused whenever the tau set foot on a new world, but Bravestorm knew fromexperienceitcouldreadbiologicalinformationjustaswell.Keepingoneeyeontheplasmarifle’sdesignator,heusedtheothertoscantheassessmentscreen in theroundedcornerofhiscocoon.Thenecrotic thingwashuman,oraclosederivative.Extensivetissuedamage,rejuvenationscars,and…

Thecommanderlookedagaininhorror.Somehow,thevilethingwasoversixthousandyearsold.AmacabrerealisationcreptthroughBravestorm’smind.Thisabominationhadbeentrappedinitsarmouredwar-coffinlongbeforethetau’sancestorshadfirstemerged from their caves. What manner of enemy were they fighting uponDal’yth?‘––KILLME––VEXINGFOOL––’spooledtheautotrans.‘––KILLME––ORISHALLHUNTYOUUNTILDEATH––’Bravestormtriggeredhisplasmarifle,andthecreaturemetitsfinaloblivion.

CHAPTERTWOINTENSIFICATION/FIREANDCARNAGE

The Eighth Company was under fire, beyond punishing in its intensity.Battlesuits hunted the smoke, armed not with the rotary cannons theUltramarines had encountered on the outlying tauworlds, butwith cylindricalweapons that spatboltsof sizzlingplasma.WheneveranAssault squad leapedhighitwashitbyconvergingstreamsoffire,andfreshcasualtieswouldhurtleback down to smash into the xenos synthcrete.Despite the early gains of theImperialinvasion’sinitialattack,OperationPlutowaslosingmomentumfast.Sicarius felt impatience burning at his mind. The plexiglass of the domesofferedlittleinthewayofworkablecover,andthetauwarsuitsseemedabletopiercethefogofwarwithease.Hissuperior,CaptainAtheus,hadnotexpectedso sudden a counter-attack. None of them had, in truth. With every passingminute another magnorail transmotive disgorged a battalion of tau beforeheadingbackthewayithadcometocollectmorereinforcements.Numitorwasright.Theplanet’sdefenderswereconverginguponthemfromeverydirection,andatspeed.Therewasacracklingscreamofengines,andBrotherDalatonhurtledfromthesky to bounce, skid and slump against an abstract tau sculpture on Sicarius’flank.VaporisedbloodsteamedfromthegapingholeintheSpaceMarine’sgut.Thestinkofthewoundwasawful.Dalatonreacheduptowardshissergeantforamoment,shuddered,andfellbackdead.Theyhadtoredeploy.Now.‘Captain,’ voxed Sicarius. ‘We have to leave the landing site, by anymeansnecessary. Apothecary Drekos, we have fallen battle-brothers in Plaza Sec

Alpha.’‘Agreed,’ voxed back Atheus. ‘Numitor, Antelion, disperse immediately.Concentrationofassetshasbecomeourfoe.’Sicariuswasalready running,wavinghis squad tokeep lowas theypoundedalong behind him. He saw Numitor break from the smoke across the plaza,making for the sleek white transit cylinder that had slid to a halt within thenearestinterstitialspar.Sicariusbrokeintoafullsprint,eachstridespanningtenfeetormoreasheboundedalongsidetheacceleratingtransmotive.Hedrewhisplasma pistol and fired, the sunburst of energy burning through the intersticewalltoleaveagapingholewithglowingamberedges.Sicariusflunghimselfforward,triggeredhispack,andboostedacrosstheplazalessthananarm’slengthfromtheground.Hehammeredheadlongthroughthewoundinthetunnel’ssideandintoitscylindricalinterior,reboundingfromthemag-transport beyond to smash awkwardly into the rubble strewn across thespar’sfloor.Instinctively,Sicariusgrabbedholdofajuttingwhitebarandpulledupright.His legshadbeenahand’sbreadthfromtheelectromagnetic rails thatwould have fried his power armour’s systems and left him trapped for anypassingxenostoslay.Up ahead, Sicarius sawNumitor batter through a wall section with a strongswingofhispowerfist.Threeofthesergeant’ssquadputtheirshouldersintothebreach,and thewallcavedcompletely.Across thevoxSicariusheardNumitorlaugh in satisfaction as rubble anddust cascadeddown, scattering towards themagnorailtransmotiveinside.A low hum filled the interhex corridor, strange energies making the hair onSicarius’ forearms prickle inside his battleplate. Though empty, the xenostransporthadpoweredupandwasbeginningtomove.‘Get inside,’ voxed Sicarius, ‘all of you.’ He loosed another shot from hisplasmapistol,itsincandescentenergiesburningintothetransmotive’sflank.Thepistol’s machine-spirit was protesting against two maximum shots without apropercooldown.Itdiditsjobnonetheless.Theshotmeltedawideapertureintothetransitcylinder,andSicariusbargedhiswaythroughwithoutbreakingstride.Twoofhis squadmade it throughbehindhim,despite the transport’s smoothacceleration. The rest were nowhere to be seen. As Numitor and his battle-brotherswrenchedtheirwayinsidethetransitcylinder,Sicariusturnedbackwithhisfacetwistedinaggravationbehindhishelm.‘Glavius!Veletan!Kaetoros!’barkedthesergeant.‘What’stakingsolong?’‘Under heavy fire, sergeant,’ came the response. ‘Pinned down. Colnid and

Denturistoo.’‘Then you’ve missed your chance,’ said Sicarius, his lips twisting. Thetransportwassmoothlyglidingawayfromthedropsite, leavingthemajorityofhis squad in itswake. ‘Rendezvous later if you can.’ Sicarius shot a sidelongglance at Squad Numitor. The sergeant was looking right back at him, helmcockedinasilentquestion.SixofSquadNumitor,tohisthree.Notgoodenough.Thetransmotivewasaccelerating,pullingawayfromthewarzoneasitglidedintothesuburbsofthecity.Afteralongsilence,Numitorspoke.‘Thesteersman’sunawarehe’scarryinghostiles.’‘Ifthereisasteersman,’repliedSicarius.‘Hmm.Goodpoint,’saidNumitor,pullingflindersofmangledmetalfromthescorchedexteriorofhispowerfist. ‘If this isguidedbyafalse intelligence,somuchthebetter.It’llbeblindlyheadingbackforreinforcements,takingusrightintoatauwarnest.’Tausocietywasinfestedwithweapons-gradedroneintelligences;Sicariusandhis squad had found that out the hardway on the other side of theDamoclesGulf. Their blasphemous creation of artificial lifewaswidely seen as anothercompellingreasontoeradicatetheentirerace.AsifSicariusneededanymoreofamotive.The sergeant smiled grimly, imagining the violence he would soon unleash.With luck, the transport would likely be taking them right to a tau militarybarracks,deliveringthemintothedepthsofaprimestrongholdandgivingthemachancetoslaughterseniorcommandpersonnelbeforetheyrealisedtheywereunderattack.‘Thesplitwillbeworthit,’saidSicarius,moretohimselfthananyoneelse.‘Theyreactedfast,overall,’saidNumitor,motioningforhissquadmatestotakesentinelpositions at the transit cylinder’s edgeswhilst they reloaded theirboltpistols. ‘Far faster than we had anticipated. Maybe they were forewarned.Psykers?’‘Idoubt it,’ saidSicarius. ‘We’venotcomeupagainstanyso far,noton thissideof thegulfor theother.’His lipcurled in thinlyveileddisgust. ‘Tigurius’reporttoAtheusindicatedthatthesetauarepsychicallyinert.’‘Deadinside,then,’saidNumitorquietly.Sicarius’eyesnarrowed.

‘Doesthatdisappointyou,sergeant?’‘Notatall.It’sarelief,infact.Theirtech-masteryisimpressive,hardenoughtocounterevenwithoutpsychicstobackitup.’‘Their weaponry is powerful indeed, and not to be underestimated,’ saidSicarius, his words cold as slabs of iron. ‘But it will be torn apart by themaelstromofImperialvengeance.’‘YousoundalotlikeChaplainUticos,’saidNumitor,histoneslightlymocking.‘Equipmentcheck,brothers.’Sicariusturnedawaytoo,aknotofangertightinhischest.ThetauwouldlearnnottorousethewrathofaTalassarian.AndifJorusNumitorlearnedhisplaceinthemeantime,somuchthebetter.

TheSilentAftermathcruisedover thewaterof theDal’ythianPrimeReservoir,theOrca’sblocky silhouettedancingover the ripplingwavesbelow.Bathed inthe lambent glow of the transport’s hold was a customised XV8 Crisis suit:statuesque,lethal,andasredasarterialblood.Itsweaponssystemshummedasits pilot test-ran engagement sequences andmade the final adjustments to hiscalibrationarrays.Onthebattlesuit’ssensorsuite,atinybluelightwinkedbrightly.‘Breach alert,’ saidCommander Farsight, patching through the relevant data-package to the Aftermath’s pilot. ‘Transmotive one-two-one, out of Gel’brynCity.Setacoursetointercept,Y’eldi.’‘Asyouwish,Commander,’saidtheaircastepilot.TheOrca’sholdfilledwithagentlehissingasitsquad-blockenginestiltedobediently.‘Althoughyourealisethiswill takeus away from thedropsite, delayingour researchmission for anindeterminateperiod.’‘Iappreciatethat,Kor’uiBork’anY’eldi,’saidFarsightpatiently.‘Wemustnotbe hasty to engage these humans before we understand them. They aremorecunningthantheylook.’‘Iheardtheyweremuchlikearmouredkroot-apes,’saidthepilot.‘Strong,butstupid.’‘Not so,’ replied Farsight. ‘Amidst the sound and fury of theirmain assault,they are sending a covert strike team to counter-attack via our ownreinforcement channels. In doing so they have demonstrated a dangerousintellect.’‘Isee.Buttheywillfail.’‘Theywill.Nonetheless,itisasoundstrategy.Presumablytheyhopetolocate

our high command.By forcing us to shield our body, they hope to strike ourexposedthroat.’‘With thegreatest respect, commander, I feelyougive thesebrutes toomuchcredit. Could the transmotive not simply have taken damage upon the frontline?’‘I calibrated the breach alerts to respond to mass, not force. Besides,’ saidFarsight, ‘Imyselfhaveemployed similar infiltrations.Thus Imust rule it outbeforecontinuing.RestassuredthatCommanderShadowsunwoulddothesame,Y’eldi.’‘Ioffercontrition,ofcourse.Idonotdoubtyourwisdomforamoment.’Farsightblippedthesymbolofthecalmingtidetoputthematteratrest.‘Wearenowinmacro-sensorrange,’hesaid.‘Letuscombineourprocessors.’‘Ofcourse.Datacommunionunderway.’Farsight’s distribution array expanded to show the transmotives allocated toreinforcement duty, a web of hexagons negotiated by dozens of transportsconveying fire caste assets to the front line.One of the iconswas steely blueinsteadofgold,delicatetraceriesoftautextspoolingnexttoitasitsdronepilottransmittedanomalyreports.An eye-flick, and the symbolic representation hardened into a direct visualfeed. Smoke trailed like streamers in the transmotive’swake.Two large holeshadbeenrippedinitswestwardhull.Thevehicle’stransitcylinderswereemptyas it retraced itspathacross thePrimeReservoir–emptybut forhulkingblueshapesstandingtallinitsinterior.‘AsIthought,’saidFarsight.‘Dispatchthedronestokeepthemoccupied,thenopenthehulldoors.ItistimeIfoughtthesegue’ron’shafacetoface.’

The xenos transmotive hurtled across the tau planet at impressive speed. Thewindhowledinthedamagedtransitsectionwithhurricaneforce,butitdidnotdiscomfit Numitor. Outside the broad panels of its synthglass, the smokingpillarsandflickeringfiresofthedropsiterecededintothedistance.Theshatteredcitywas soon replaced by a vast azure reservoir, the samebody ofwater thatNumitorhadnotedonhisdrop.Itwassolargeittookupsevenofthehexagonsdividingtheplanet’scrust.Thetransmotiveshotacrossthereservoir’ssurface,heldaloftbyalongsupportstructure a little like a Macraggian viaduct. Each pillar led down to whatNumitor surmised to be a water-driven power station at its base. Despite thesuperficialsimilarities,thesmoothwhiteorderofthexenosstructuresshowedno

realgrandeuror craftsmanship.The constructionswere soulless, nothingbut agalleryofshallowsimulacrathrongedwithlabour-savingdevicesthatpromisedonlycomplacencyandsloth.Numitorshookhishead.Thesealiensweresoproudoftheiraccomplishments,soinfatuatedwiththeirowntechnology.Itwouldbringabouttheirdownfall,justlikeithadbroughtdownthelegendaryeldarbeforethem.Hecouldhardlywaitto see their empire fall. Though he would never openly admit it to Sicarius,Numitortookmorepleasureincastingtheworksofthealienintothedustthanhedidinkillingthexenosthemselves.Therewasaflickerofredinhisperipheralvision,justforamoment.Numitorsnappedhishelmroundandzoomedin.Freshcontrailshungintheairbehindadistanthexodome.‘Brothers,makeready,’hevoxed,thecautioninhisvoicebringinghissquadtofullalert.‘Ibelieveweare–’Thesynthglassatthefarendofthetransitcylindershatteredinwards.Astormof energybolts blazed through the air, several impactingon the shoulders andbackpacksofNumitor’ssquad.Drones,atleastsixofthem.Twoofthefloatingdiscswereaimingtheirunderslunggunsrightathim.Thesergeantducked, firing twoshotsblind.Oneofhisbolts found its target,detonatingtotearthediscintotwospinninghalves.Theotherboltcrackledfroma force shield projected by the second drone, a nimbus of light shimmeringsphericalaroundit.Sicariussprintedpast,hisjumppackbathingNumitorinawashofintenseheat.Thesergeantshot intothebrokensynthglass,smashingthroughitandcarryingthe shielded disc-drone into themachine behind with a loud crunch. His twosquadmates followed closely, hammering through the wide oval portal at thetransitcylinder’send,blockingallchanceofNumitor’ssquadlevellingaccurateshots.The soundsof roaringchainswords, boomingbolt pistols andcrunchingfistseruptedasSquadSicariustooktherestoftheweaponsdronesapart.On instinct, Numitor turned back to the hole he had ripped in the transitcylinder’shull.Somethingmassiveandredsweptpasttheaperture–anenemywarsuitcameintoview,biggerandwithamorecomplexsilhouettethanthosehehadencounteredbefore.Thesergeantsnappedoffashot,butitdetonatedametrefromitstargetonashimmeringshieldofenergy.Theredwarsuitextendedahand,grippedontothefrontofthetransitcylinder,and triggered the oblongweapon system on its right arm.A burning blade offusion energy shot out, so bright it caused Numitor’s autosenses to darken

instantly.Thexenosmachineswepttheenergybladethroughthelink-pistonsbetweenthetwotransportcylinders,cuttingthetransmotiveinhalfandshearingthroughthemaglev rail beneath. Numitor and his squad were showered with gobbets ofmoltenmetalevenastheysentboltroundsshootingtowardsthewarsuit.Asplitsecondlatertheentiretransmotivebuckedlikeamadstallion,throwingNumitorandhissquadviolentlyagainsttheroof.Thetransportjack-knifedfromtherail,twistingdrunkenlyandjerkingasthecylindersectionsbehindcrunchedintoconcertinaitsrearmostquarter.Numitorwasalreadymakingfortheripinthe hull, his squad charging shoulders-first through the windows to hurtle inclouds of glassy shrapnel towards the front half of the transmotive. BrotherCrastecwas takenbya trioofplasmabolts inmid-air, anda tangleofbloodylimbsflailedpastNumitorashefoughttocorrecthisflight.Dominastosrattledand slammed inside the demolished transit cylinder behind them, caught in atangleofmetalandunabletoescapeasitplummetedintothereservoirbelow.Sicariusandtheremainsofhissquadlevelledavolleyatthecrimsonwarsuitasitleaptfromatwistedmaglevrailtosoaroverthetransmotive’struncatedfronthalf.Thexenoswarrior landedwithametal-bucklingcrunchatop the roof. Itslanceoffusionenergypunchedthroughintothetransitcylinderbelow,spearingAustosasheunslunghisPhaeton-patternflamer.Burningembersflew,andthebattle-brotherwasreducedtolittlemorethanash.Sicarius answered with a plasma pistol shot that punched right through thetransmotive’sroof.Theincandescentenergieswashedacrossadomeofforceontheotherside,abriefbutintenseflashofblue-whiteagainstthegloom.Numitor’sjumppackflashedwarningrunesinhisvisor.Hisfull-burnleaphadlefthimalmostoutofpower.Hepushed thepack to theabsolute limit, arcingdownalongsidethetransmotiveasitslowed.Notgood,thoughtNumitor.Ifthefront half of the machine halted completely, they would be stranded in openterrain with no hope of reinforcement. He swung his legs around and mag-clampedtothesideofthevehicle,pullingintoagargoyle’scrouchwithhisboltpistolaimedhigh.Therewasacrimson flashas thexenoswarsuit jumped, jetpack flaring,andtwisted in mid-air. Its rifle dipped to send lozenges of plasma stabbing atNumitor. He swayed left, taking his own return shot as the killing energieszippedpasthim.Thesergeant’saimwastrue,andhisboltshellrocketedunderthewarsuit’shemispherical force shield. Itdetonatedhard, throwing thexenosoffbalanceforamoment.Thewarsuitfoughttostayatopthetransitcylinder.Its

crackling blade curved down, a wild swing that missed Numitor by a hand’sbreadthbutcarvedadiagonalfurrowthroughtheroof.Suddenly Sicariuswas there, bursting through the hole his plasma pistol hadburned in the transit cylinder roof to swing his Talassarian blade hard at thewarsuit’swaist.Thexenos raised thehummingdisc shieldon its arm,and thesergeant’sbroadswordwasdeflectedinacascadeofblindinglight.Numitortookhischance,ashortpushfromhisjumppackhurlinghimupwardsunderthetau’sguard.Hispowerfistconnectedhardwiththewarsuit’sshoulder,itsdisruptionfieldflaringonimpact.Theuppercuthadenoughforcetotearopena tank. The arm projecting the warsuit’s energy blade was ripped free in ashowerofsparksas thexenoswarriorwas flungbackwardshard,electricblueflame gouting from the ruin of its shoulder. It soared sidelong from thetransmotive, jet pack blazing intermittently, but the disruptive energies ofNumitor’sblowstilldancedacrossitstorso,anditcouldnotcorrectitsflight.Arcing down, thewarsuit hit thewater of the reservoir below like a boulderflungfromacatapult.‘Goodsolidhit,’saidSicarius.‘Yougotthescum.’‘It cost us dearly,’ saidNumitor. ‘If they’re all like that,wemaybe inmoretroublethanwethought.’‘Thatwasno line trooper,SergeantNumitor,’saidSicarius,ahalf-smileuponhislips.‘Thatwastheirwarleader.’

CommanderFarsight’sbattlesuit sank through thewater, its limbs inertand itssensor panels black. Within the control cocoon, O’Shovah’s fingers dancedamidst firefly swarms of rogue data. He salvaged what he could from thoseelectronic suites shorted out by the gue’ron’sha’s energy gauntlet, and lockeddowntherest.‘They have disruptor fields,’ Farsightmuttered darkly as he ran cauterisationprograms.‘Crudebuteffective.’Hisheart ratewaselevatedfromthefight,hisbloodsinginghotinhisveins,buthisfocusremainedabsolute.Ithadto.Watergushedinfromthetwistedholeofthebattlesuit’smissingarm,spatteringhard across Farsight’s shoulder and neck. TheXV8’s wound-sealant – a fast-actingcaulkingsystem–hadshortedoutaltogether,andhecouldfeelcoldliquidrisingtocoverhisfeet.Ifhecouldnotget thesystemsbackonlineinthenextfewsecondshewoulddrown.Itwasnomorecomplicatedthanthat.Farsight’sXV8wasnoordinaryCrisissuit.Amongstdozensofimprovements,

ithadanadvancedhazardsuite,installedduringthelatterdaysoftheArkunashaWar.Thenictatingmembranesthatsealedoffhisjetventshadbeendesignedtokeepoutrust-stormparticles,buttheyworkedjustaswellagainstwater.Withoutthem,hissuit’sengineswouldlikelyhavealreadyflooded.Still,evenwhenbonedrytheengineswerenousewithoutpower.The commander searched the corners of his mind for every fragment ofbattlesuit sciencehecould recall.Water flowedaround thebacksofhisknees,chilling in its coldness, as he went over every military demonstration andprocedural lecture from the earth caste he had ever witnessed. Each occasionwas typified by genius-level complexity, but despite the technical jargon,Farsight had followed every one with great interest. To show that he fullycomprehendedthemwouldhaveriskedthelabelvash’ya,betweenspheres,andthatstateofmindwasforbidden.Here,however,itmightsavehislife.Water crept up toFarsight’swaist, its icy chill so intensehe couldno longerfeelhisfeet. Ifhestartedtoshiver,hismanualdexteritywouldbe lost,andhewould be unable to operate the battlesuit at all. For the wearer of the Hero’sMantle,therewerefewworsefoesthanintensecold.Farsight’smind flaredwith the sudden recall of a contingency technique thatO’Vesa had once mentioned in passing. He punched in an override to hissubordinateregisterandturnedittoBaseScreen,franticallytappingcode-blipswithquiveringfingers.Hecrunchedhishandsintofists,forcinghimselftofindbalancebeforeuncurlingthemandcontinuingtheprogram.Tomakeamistakenow was to damn himself to an inglorious death. That would erode the firecaste’smoraleanddamagetheTau’vaintheprocess.Itcouldnotbeallowed.Thenear-freezingwater crept up tohis throat, andhis body started to spasminvoluntarily. He grabbed one hand with the other in an attempt to steady it,jabbinginthelastofthecodewithasinglefinger.It tookthreetriesbeforehefinallypressedexecute.The thrust/vector suite flared into life, the holographic doppelganger thatrepresented his altitude flashing. Reaching into the fires within his soul, hefannedthemwithpainfulmemories.TutorSha’kan’thasscoldinghim,Ob’lotaigentlymockinghim,Puretidepushinghimtohis limit.Hewouldnotfail.Notthistime.For a moment, he had focus. It was enough to set his directional jets at aquarter-pulse,twofingersgentlyincreasingthepressureaswatercreptuptohischin.Thebattlesuit’sdownwarddriftthroughthewaterslowed,thenreversedintoa

gentlerise.ThewaterlappedatFarsight’slipsashereroutedthepowerwastagefromhismissingfusionblasterintohispack’srepulsors.Hetriggeredapre-programmedautopilot and hugged himself hard to conservewhat littlewarmth he had left,feelingthebattlesuitlurchupwards,acceleratinghard.Thesensorsuiteshimmeredblueas thesonarvaneson itsspineecho-locatedhissurroundings.Itwasimperativethathefindthegue’ron’shawarriors.Evenshouldheescapethecolddeaththatthreatenedtoconsumehim,theywerelikelywaitingabovehimtolandthekillingblow.Yetthewaterlevelinhiscocoonwasstillrising.Hehadtoascend,ordrown.Ahazypictureresolvedupononhiscommandscreens.Therewasthemaglevrail, twisted and brokenwreckage dangling to the south, and to the north, theremainderof the transmotive.Twobroad-shoulderedsilhouettes stoodatop therearmosttransitcylinder,outlinedinshiveringblue.Farsight took a last deep breath as the water closed over his head, but theautopilotheldtrue.Heburstfromthereservoirlikeatorpedo,shimmeringintothelight.

Numitorhauledhimselfontothetransmotive’sroofasitslidslowlyawayfromthesiteof thebattle.Sicariuswasalreadyatop it,hisbladepinningadisc-likeshielddronetothecylinder’shull.Hewrencheditfreewithagutturalcurse.‘Weshouldfindawaytotakethisthingtosolidground,’saidNumitor.‘Linkupwiththerestofoursquads.’Sicariusdidnotreply,butheldupacautionaryfingerwhilstkeepinghiseyesfixedonthereservoir.Aplumeofwater burst like ageyser at the transmotive’s flank.The crimsonwarsuitshotupwards,watersluicingbehindittoformarainbowofdropletsinitswake.Itstorsowascantedtoonesidetocounteractitsmissingarm,andthelong cylinder of its plasma riflewas pointed right towards them.Theweaponsystemspatwhitedeathasthexenoswarleaderarcedtowardsthetransmotive,landinguponthenextcarriagewithasolidclang.Numitorduckedasidejustintime,avoidingthevolley.It tookBrotherVectasinstead. The battle-brother’s hoarse bark of pain became a death rattle as hislungs were blasted from his back by the deadly barrage of plasma. Numitorsnapped off a shot but the warsuit deflected it easily. With the transmotiveslowedtoacrawl,itcouldpickthemoffatitsleisurewithoutfearofreprisal.Sicariusboostedfromtheroof,hisjumppacksendinghimflyinginagreatleap

towards their assailant. The plasma rifle’s vents glowedwhite as it sentmoreshots winging out in a spiralling pattern. Sicarius was forced to take evasivemanoeuvresmid-flight,swinginghislegsforwardandblastingverticallyintotheheavenstoavoidtheincomingfire.Numitortookhischance.Hescoopedthesparkingdiscoftheforce-fielddronefrom the transit cylinder’s roof and leapt, borne upwards on twin plumes offlame. Another plasma volley stuttered in towards him, a wide spread all butimpossible to evade.Each finger-sizedboltof energywaspowerful enough tokill.The sergeant aligned the improvised xenotech shield over his pauldron,swearingunderhisbreathashegunnedhispacktomaximum.‘Guilliman’soath,Ihopethisworks.’Theplasmabolts splashedacross thedrone’sstuttering forcefield,blinding intheir intensity but unable to penetrate the protective disc. A second later,Numitor slammed into the red battlesuit as it was pivoting away. A storm ofwarring energies swathed them both as the force-field drone and the shieldtechnologyofthetauwarsuitcrackledinafeedbackloop,fillingtheairwiththeacridstinkofburningelectronics.Numitor shoved hard, trying to earn space enough to land a solid blow. Thexenoswarrior rolledwith thepush,battinghimsidewayswith thebarrelof itsplasma rifle. Then Sicarius dived down to slam feet first into the warsuit’sshoulder. It reeled, and the sergeant lashed out with his tempest blade in adiagonalsweep.Thetiptookhalfthething’sheadinashowerofbluesparks.TherewasablazeoflightsoharshthatNumitor’sautosensesblankedout.Hisvisionreturnedfast,butnotfastenough.Sicariuswascastingaboutforhisfoe,jumppackblazingintermittentlytokeephimaloftashescannedtheareaforhisprey.Numitor looked up on instinct. There it was – the red warsuit, soaringvertically, drops of water reflecting light like tiny prisms in its wake. Highabove, a blocky tau aircraft was carving through the skies to intercept thewarsuit’scourse,itsfoursquatenginesleavingcurvedtrailsacrosstheskyasitslidintoposition.The sergeant checked his gauges, but his thruster fuel reserves were so lowthere was no way he could intercept. He had to land somewhere safeimmediately,evenifitwasonlyatthebaseofoneoftheviaductpillars.Giventhat Sicariuswas not already in pursuit, his fellow sergeant evidently had thesameproblem.TheshatteredremnantsoftheirAssaultsquadsheldtheirposition

insidethetransmotive.As thecrimsonwarsuitslippedfromtheirgrasp itshookinmid-flight,sparksstill trailingfromtheremainsof itsbisectedhead.Risingupwards, itmadeforthebaydoorsyawningopenat therearof the turningcraft.Thexenoswarriormatched velocity with impressive skill, water still dripping from its legs inspraysofglitteringdroplets.Numitorwatched thewarsuit as it turned smoothly at the apogee of its highleap, folding into a backwards crouch and leaning into the hold. It was soonswallowed by the gloom of the vehicle’s interior. The aircraft made for thehorizonasoblongpistonspulled thebaydoor closedoncemore, the scatteredUltramarinespowerlesstostopit.Numitor caught one last glimpse of the blood-redwarsuit before it vanishedfromsightcompletely.Ithaditsplasmarifleraisedinagesturethatlookedstrangelylikeasalute.

FluidssluicedfromtheXV8’spurgervalves,floodingtheAftermath’sholdandcausing thewater level in the control cocoon to drop sharply. Inside, Farsighttookgreatwhoopingbreaths.Hislungswereonfireandhiswholebodyburnedwith intense cold. The battlesuit was shuddering in response, stamping andrattling. The commander managed to eye-flick its disengagement lock andpistonshissedasthesuitsaggedintostandbymode.Within the control cocoon, Farsightwas still in great pain.He sawhis poresflaring, tiny pink bubbles frothing in swathes across his exposed skin as thepressuredifferentialbetweenreservoirandaircrafttookitsdue.Hewasnot out of the infernoyet.Without decompression, the traumaof hisnear-drowningwouldprovefatalinamatterofhours.‘We’reflyingaslowaspossible,’saidKor’uiY’eldi.‘I’llclingtotheground,makeaheadingbacktotheShas’ar’tolcommandsite.’‘De…decomp…’stammeredFarsight.‘Majorcas…facility…Atha’dra…’‘Atha’dra?Affirmed.Alteringcoursenow.’As the last of thewater drizzled fromFarsight’s battlesuit, he completed hisdata-compile,submittedittoO’Vesa,andallowedhimselftoblackout.

CHAPTERTHREECONSOLIDATION/PUNISHMENT

‘WhatintheThrone’snamewereyoutwoidiotsthinking?’CaptainAtheusof theEighthCompanystoodat theheartof theUltramarinescommand hub, a bombed-out dome that had likely once housed a xenosdignitary. The captain’s embroidered cloak billowed and snapped in thedowndraftof theThunderhawk transportersbringing tanks to thedropsite, andtheredhorsehairofhiscrestrippledastheairswirledhotaroundhim.NumitorandSicariuscouldnotsee theirsuperiorofficer’sexpression,buthisstancelefttheminnodoubtastohismood.Helookedasifhewasabouttolashout, and given the rumours ofAtheus’ volatile temper, thatmightwell be thecase.‘LordExecutioner,’saidSicarius, ‘wedispersedasperyourorders,andmadeuseofanopportunitytostrikeattheheartofthexenosmilitary.’‘You left half your squad behind, Sergeant Sicarius!’ shouted Atheus. ‘Anddon’tpretendyoutwohadanyideaofwherethattransmotivewasheaded.Fourbattle-brothers died as a direct result of your actions. I had to divert aThunderhawkgunshiptouniteyoursquad!TheSwordofCalth,noless!’‘Itwasanunforgivablelapseofjudgement,’saidNumitor,hiseyescastdown,‘onbothourparts.Although…’Numitorleftthewordhangingforamoment.‘SergeantNumitor,’ growledAtheus, ‘Do not trymy patience further. If youhavesomethingtosay,sayit.’‘Althoughweactedrashly,’continuedNumitor,‘wehadachancetoassassinateakeymemberoftheirwarcouncil.Inthat,wemayhavesucceeded.’

‘Goon,’saidAtheus.‘Yes,’ interruptedSicariusbeforeNumitor could answer. ‘Thisone.’Hedrewhiscombatknifeandthrewitendoverendacrosstheruinedplaza.Itstruckoneofthexenospropagandahololiths,tipembeddedinthewallbehind–animageofatalltauwarriorstandingproudbeforeagiantredbattlesuit.‘Acommanderherooftheirwarriorcaste,’continuedSicarius.‘Wehoundedhimtothepointofdeath.’‘I know of that one all too well,’ said Atheus. ‘Pict-capture footage of histriumphsisprojectedonthecloudseverynight.Thesexenosarefondoftellingthemselvestheyarestrong.’WhilstAtheus’attentionwasonthehololith,NumitorscowledatSicarius,butdidnotcontradicthisclaim.‘But you do not have his corpse as proof,’ saidAtheus, his tone as thin andsharpasrazorwireasheturnedbacktothesergeants.‘Nordoyouhaveanydatatoverifyyourwords.’NeitherNumitororSicariuswasfoolishenoughtoreply.‘Youareover-fondofdramaticgestures,SergeantSicarius, andoneday theywillgetyoukilled.Rightthismoment,Iwouldconsiderthatafittingjustice.’Thesergeantskepttheirpeace.‘Retrieveyourcombatknife,sergeant.Thenyouwillreunitewithyoursquads,bothofyou.’‘Ofcourse,’saidNumitor.‘Wewillmakeallhaste.’‘Bringmethecorpseofthisxenoswarhero,andIshallconsideryourchosencourseexonerated.Otherwise,youwillactashonourandpenitencedictateatalltimes.Isthatclear?’Bothsergeantsmadethesignoftheaquila.‘Aye,LordAtheus.’A Space Marine with weathered brown skin and six service studs in hisforeheadcrunchedthroughtherubbletowardstheLordExecutioner.‘Enitor,wellmet,’saidAtheus,turningawayfromthesergeants.‘Report.’‘My lord, we have had word from the Iron Hands. Tau heavy elements areinboundonthisposition.’‘Understood,’ said Atheus. ‘Disperse and engage. And sergeants,’ said thecaptain, looking back to Numitor and Sicarius, ‘do not lead your men astrayfromtheCodex’steachingsinyournextengagement,orIshallensureit is thelasttimeyoudoso.’

CommanderFarsightwascurledinafoetalballwithinanearthcastehealsphere

nobiggerthanacontrolcocoon.Monitornodesblinkedaroundhim,andgentlyhissingmedivacdronespumpedgels andanalgesics into the sphere’s amnioticfluids.Assuagetubesjuttedfrombetweenthecommander’seyes.Eyescompletelyfilledwithblood.Farsightcouldsee thereflectionof thosepairedredslits,distorted in thedimreflectionofthehealsphere’scurve.Thesymbolismwasnotlostonhim.Togiveintoangerentirelyistoembracefailure.Useit,channelit,butdonotbecomeitsthrall.Asever,thewordsofMasterPuretidewereanchoredfastinhismemory,arockintheragingseaofhisemotions.Overthelonghoursofthenighthehadforcedhistempertoaflat,simmeringline,awarethattolosehiscoolwouldbetodelaythehealingprocess.Butthefirewasstillthere,andtheImperialinvaderswouldfeelitsoonenough.Footage of the invasion thus far flickered on the curved interior of thehealsphere.Autotransrelaysspooled,stripsofinterceptedtransmissionrenderedin tau. Drab olive bulk-ships of tremendous size were descending behind theImperial beachheads onGel’bryn City’s borders, their foul gaseous emissionstainting the sky. Artillery columns were fanning out into mobile gun lines,trundlingbehindbipedalwarenginessolargetheirtreadshookrubblefromthehexodomesruinedintheirwake.Here and there Farsight caught glimpses of gue’ron’sha commanders on thefrontline.Theywereeasytospotintheirimpracticallybrightwar-colours,eachan embodiment of over-confidence, barking out orders as they plunged intobattle.The Imperials had a grating, atavistic war-tongue. Farsight had paid closeattention to it,watching the footage ofVespertine over and over again. Therewere patterns there, correlations in their war doctrine that spoke of a sharedvocabulary.Hedidnothave thewatercaste’s innatefacilityfor languages,buttherewerefewwhounderstoodmilitarycantbetterthanthepupilsofPuretide.Slowly, the pieces of the Imperials’ crude and grunting languagewere fallingintoplace.Farsightblink-pushedtherecallfunction.Eventhattiniestofactionsstunghiseyes as if powderedglasshadbeen rubbed into them.Tearsof bloodmingledwiththehealsphere’sfluids,buthekepthiseyesopennonetheless.Therewerethewarriorshehadfought,shimmeringamongsttheholographs:twored-helmedgue’ron’sha officers, one with the field gauntlet, the other with the energisedsword.

Farsighteye-stabbedanoverridecommandintothehealsphere’sdatabankandmadehismindreadyforwar.Hehadrestedenough.Thesegue’ron’shawouldpayforwhathadhappened.Payitmanytimesover.

Thinrainfellthroughthebrokendomeoftheobservationtower,patteringfromSergeantNumitor’sbattleplateashestaredthroughawidecrackinitswall.Thehex-city ofGel’bryn sprawled out before him, thick columns of smoke risingfrom the sites of a dozen Imperial beachheads.Water pooled around his feet,alreadydiscolouredwithparticlesofsoot.Humanity was taking this world for its own, making its mark upon it, evendown to the molecular level. The war they had brought was just the mostobvioussignofitsclaimuponDal’yth.Andyet,thoughtNumitor,theplanetwasfarfromuncontested.Inthecurvingcitystreetsbelowthem,thesmokingwreckageleftinthewakeof each drop had alreadybeen scoured of Imperial presence.The tau counter-attackhadbeenaggressiveandsudden,thexenosmilitaryfarnimblerandmorepotent than anyone had anticipated. The Space Marines had found worthyadversarieshere.Across theChaptersassigned to the invasion,overahundredbattle-brothershadlosttheirlivesinthefirstfewhoursoffighting.TheremnantsofSquadsNumitorandSicariushadcomeunderheavyfireevenastheyattemptedtorendezvouswiththerestofEighthCompany,andhadbeenforcedtoseekshelterintheshattereddometheynowoccupied.Itwasasgoodaplace as any to regroup, despite being miles behind enemy lines. Plexiglass-analogue panels had been crazed opaque by the explosion that had gutted thedome,andthesootthatstaineditsinteriorhadturneditspanesblack,givingtheUltramarinesameasureofobfuscationfromtheaircraftscouringthecity.Betteryet, the cracks in its superstructure gave them an unparalleled view over thetransmotivenetworkandthereservoirwheretheyhadfoughtthecrimson-suitedxenosleader.Their plan had been to follow that same vector north as swiftly as possible.AerialtransportwasoutofthequestionsinceAtheushadbeenforcedtodiverttheSwordofCalthtoretrievethem–Numitorwasstillsmartingalittlefromthedebriefing–buthehadpositedfollowingaparallelpathbyhijackingadifferenttransmotive,thencuttingacross.Itwasaplanthatworkedwellintheory.EvenSicariushadembraceditwithoutcomment.Inpractice, ithadbeenuseless.Numitorhad lookedeagerly fromthedome’svantagepointtofindthateveryoneofthesparsthatheadedinthatdirectionhad

beenbombedflatforatleasthalfamile,andhadtoppledintothevastreservoirbelow. Even now several squadrons of T-winged bombers patrolled the skiesaboveit,thetinydotsofinterceptordronesforminggeometricsearchpatternsintheirwake.Thetauevidentlyconsideredtheirowninfrastructuredisposableifitfurtheredtheirwidercause.NumitorheardSergeantSicariusmutteringsomething tohis squad,butchosenot to listen too closely. More talk about dwindling fuel reserves, no doubt;payingitheedwouldonlyaggravatetheirstrainedrelationshipallthemore.AtleastintakingthemeasureofthecityNumitorwasaccomplishingsomething.The soulless efficiency of the place gnawed at him. It galled him not to betakinghispowerfisttoasmanyoftheblastedxenosstructuresashecould.Eachwasamonumenttoaracethatconsideredthemselvestheinheritorsofthestars.Onebyone the fires in thedistancewerewinkingout, andnotbecauseof thedrizzlingrain.Thoseinfernosstartedbythepreliminarybombardmenthadbeendeliberately located, contained, and extinguished by the machines of theirbuildercaste.Numitor had fought the tau before, andmadehis findingswell known.Theyoperated on a caste system, each assigned a particular role. Thewarrior castethey had come to know all toowell onVespertine, and all themore so uponDal’yth.Thebuildercaste,theengineersandmakersofthesociety,werealreadythronged around each neutralised beachhead. He could see them teeming likeinsects as they began to rebuild areas purged of invaders. Curve-hulledconstructionmachineswerealreadyliftingnewsuperstructuresintoplace.The tau’s pilot caste patrolled the skies, their sleek craft glinting in thedarkeningfirmamentastheyspiedonmorehonestcombatantsbelow.Thehumof their engines put Numitor’s teeth on edge. No wonder the warrior caste’sresponse times were so swift. Wherever those aircraft detected the signs ofconflict, they would patch through to their armies, and before long entireplatoonswouldconvergeuponthesiteofconflict.Even the efforts of the diplomat caste were in evidence. Sky-holos lit theclouds,showingvid-capturesofthoseclasheswherethetauemergedastheclearvictors. In an urban war, population control was almost as important as theconflictitself,afactwellknowntothewarriorsofUltramar.EvenstarkImperialpropagandamadeNumitorfeelvaguelyuneasy.Warwasneverclean,norwasitneat,butinsteadaboilingcauldronofanarchy,bloodanddirt.Themore the sergeant thought about it, themore the tau’s lack of humanitygalledhim.Aplanetaryinvasionwasaterrifyingevent,buttherewasnopanicin

thecitybelow,nosenseofurgencyandnoscreamingrushforself-preservation.Thecitywasalmostsmuginitssurety,thecontrolledandmeasuredresponseaninsulttotherawpowerofanAdeptusAstartesplanetstrike.DidtheythinktheirfalseutopiasostrongtheycouldjustshrugoffanImperialinvasion?‘Fret not, Jorus,’ said Sicarius, walking up to stand by his fellow sergeant’sside.‘Theyshalllearntofearussoonenough.’Numitor raised an eyebrow, impressed that Sicarius had read his thoughts sowell.‘It’sunnatural,’hereplied.‘Thewholeempireisdeceitwritlarge.Itshouldbewipedfromthestarsbeforeitspreadsanyfurther.’‘Justso.Andourmastersarebeginningtorecognisetheneedforitsexecution.’Numitor heard the smile in Sicarius’ voice even over his vox. ‘Take heart,brothermine.TheEighthCompanyhasbeengiven thehonourofwielding theaxe.’‘We would wield it a lot more capably if we weren’t scattered to the fourwinds,’saidNumitor,turningfromthecityscapetotheAssaultMarinesgatheredunderthedome.Eighth Company stood divided. Not even Sicarius could gainsay that. Therewerebarely threedozengathered in thedomewhere thereshouldhavebeenahundred. Every one of them had already seen fierce fighting, their numberreduced to an assortment of combat squads, under-strength units and even acoupleoflastmenstandingwhosebrothershadallbeenlost.Numitorheardadistantexplosion,andquicklyturnedbacktothecrackinthedome’s wall. Less than three miles distant he saw the telltale flare of boltdetonations. Sharpening his visor’s display, he zoomed in to focus on an IronHandsRazorbackrockingcrazilyinalong,arcingstreet.Itwascarvedapartashewatched, thickhullmeltedthroughbya trioofochrewarsuits leapingfromtheroofabove.‘These ones are a far cry from the warriors we fought on Vespertine,’ saidNumitor.‘Not so,’ replied Sicarius. ‘They are the samewarsuit patterns, just outfittedwithdifferentweapons.Thosewefoughtbeforehadthetoolstoengagemassedinfantry,notelitestrikeforcessuchasours.Theirrapid-firingcannonshadlittleinthewayofpowertopunchthroughbattleplate.TheseDal’ythversions,ontheotherhand…’‘Small-boreplasmaweapons,orsomethinglikeit.’‘Andmeltaanaloguestoboot,’agreedSicarius.

‘Perhapstheyaredeployingheavierelementsbecausewethreatenacoreworldoftheirempire,’saidAordus,walkingovertojointhem.‘Orperhapsbecausetheyhavelearnedofus,’addedNumitor.‘So we strike from above,’ said Aordus. ‘We’ll have time to make the killbeforetheirreinforcementsshowup.’‘We cannot rely on vertical envelopment in every engagement,Aordus,’ saidSicarius. ‘Especially with our fuel reserves low.We will have to improvise.’Numitor heard ahard edge enter his fellow sergeant’s tone. ‘Butnot byusingxenostechasourown.’‘Itwasasingleinstance,’saidNumitor.‘Adecisionintheheatofthemoment.Anditworked,didn’tit?Withoutthatshieldgeneratordisc,wetoowouldlikelybelanguishingatthebottomofthatreservoir.’‘Avictorywonwiththeweaponsofthefoeisanotherkindofdefeat.’‘SonowhequotesGuilliman?’askedNumitorincredulously.‘Afterwelefthalfourbrothersbehind?IfwehadjuststucktotheCodexinthefirstplacewecouldhavedestroyedthatthingwithoutresortingtodesperatemeasures.’‘Itwasadecisionintheheatof themoment,’mockedSicarius.‘Besides,youhave no right to lecture me about adhering to the Codex Astartes, Numitor.CaptainAtheusmadeitplainhedidnotapproveofmyrecentdeparture,andhasadmonished me accordingly. But I wonder how he would look upon yourappropriationofxenotech?’Thesoundofjumppackenginesechoedaroundtheruineddome.‘Justleaveit,Cato,’saidNumitor.‘Wehavecompany.Thegoodsort.’

AssaultMarinesroareddownthroughtheshattereddomeintwogroupsoffour,blue trails of fire guttering as they landed with an ear-pounding series ofimpacts. They straightened, mag-locking their smoking bolt pistols and gore-spatteredchainswordsastheygreetedtheirbrethrenallaround.‘SergeantSicarius,’saidthetallestoftheirnumber,hisflamertrailingwispsofsmoke as he propped it against his shoulder.His power armourwas scorchedalmostblack,paint-layersflakinginthewindasifitwasslowlydisintegrating.‘BrotherKaetoros,’saidSicarius.‘Youfoundus.Wellmet.’‘Notwellenough,’saidKaetoros.Thetimbreofhisvoiceandtheaggressioninhisbodylanguagewasobvious,butjustshyofanactualchallenge.SicariusfeltNumitorstepforwardslightlytotakepositionathisside.Hewasgladofthesupport,intruth.Kaetoros’attitudewasclosetoinsubordination,andSicariushadnowishtodisciplinehiminfrontofanothersquadfromtheEighth.

‘Youleftusbehind,’saidKaetoros.‘Because youwere too slow,’ replied Sicarius.He set his shoulders, drawinghimself up to his full height. ‘The others thought on their feet and gained thevehicle.Whycouldn’tyou?’‘WewerecoveringColnidandDenturis,’hesaidcoldly.‘Actingasateam.’‘It’s commonenough to formcombat squads in theheatofbattle,Kaetoros,’saidGlavius,movingovertostandatSicarius’othershoulder.‘A combat squad is formedwhen a full ten-strong squad is divided into twoconstituent five-mansquads,’quotedBrotherVeletan, fromKaetoros’side.Histonewasaspolishedashispowerarmour.‘Eachcomponentisgivenaseparatetaskordutythatthegreatersquadcouldnotachieveinitsownright.However,sergeant,oursquadwassplitintoonegroupofsixandoneoffour.Ergo…’‘Yes,Igetit,Veletan,’hissedSicarius.‘Sergeantsareentrustedwithadegreeofautonomy.Ishouldnothavetodefendmydecision.’Hisnerveswerealwaysputon edge a little by Veletan’s habit of checking every act against the CodexAstartes.Thethoughtofhisbattle-brotherinadebriefwithCaptainAtheusdidnotsitwell.‘IdonotseeAustoshere,’saidKaetoros.‘Didhefall?’‘Hedid,’confirmedSicarius.‘Hewastakenbyapoint-blankplasmablast.’‘Andwashisbodyretrieved?’‘No,’ admittedSicarius. ‘His remainswerenot recoverable.Hedied fighting,maytheEmperorguidehissoul.’TherewasamomentofsilenceandreflectionastheAssaultMarinesdweltonthelossoftheirbrother.DuringthefightoverthereservoirhehadlostEndrion,AustosandDalaton.Therecoveryoftheirgene-seedlookedunlikely.‘Has the captain spoken to you?’ asked Kaetoros, his anger replaced by flatpragmatismatthenewsofAustos’death.‘Wecannotreachhim.’‘Atheusheldcourt less thananhourago,’ saidSicarius, ‘thoughwe toohavelostcontact.Wemustpresumetheworst.Lasttimewespoke,heorderedustocleavetotheCodexatalltimes.’‘Thecaptain,wiseasever,’saidBrotherDuolor,checkingthereadoutsonhisplasma pistol. His strange backwards syntax was typical of the Ultramariangardenworld Iax, but Sicarius had never quite got used to it.On the oceanicplanetofTalassar,anythingotherthanclassicalMacraggianwasfrownedontothepointofpracticallybeingillegal.‘The foe’s measure has yet to be taken, at least in full, Sergeant Sicarius,’Duolorcontinued.‘Perhapsthisisnotatimetoimprovise.’

‘Alright!’protestedSicarius.‘WelostAustos,yes,andsomeofyoursquadtoo.But I have had censure enough today.Warriors die. SpaceMarines die. Andwhen pitted against the might of empires, there are times when their bodiescannotberecovered.Wearenostrangertothattruth.’‘SquadVengrusmaintains thatyouandNumitor facedonlyasinglewarsuit,’saidKaetoros.‘And that singlewarsuitwas the lord of the entire xenoswarrior caste,’ saidNumitor.‘Anexceptionallyskilledfoe,armedwiththefinestwargearthetaucanforge.Weovercamehimnonetheless.’‘Atheushasorderedustofinishwhatwestarted,andbringbackthetauleader’scorpse,’ said Sicarius. ‘He would not have done so unless he considered thexenoswarlordaprioritytarget.’Therewassilenceasthesergeant’swordssankin.‘Wecannotstanddivided,’hecontinued.‘Slaytheenemy’scommand,andtherestwillbecastintodisarray.’‘Thisweknow,’saidDuolor.‘ThistheCodexteachesus.’‘When the foe is guidedby a great leader, strike himdown, even should thecost be high,’ quotedBrotherVeletan. ‘Sever the head of the serpent, and thebodywilldie.’‘Justso,’saidSicarius.‘Butrestassured,ourbladeswillfindmorethanjustthecommanderwefoughtoverthereservoir.’‘Speakon,’saidKaetoros.‘Ifwe trackhimdownat the rightmoment,’ saidNumitor, ‘hewill likelybesurrounded by advisors, lieutenants, and high-level operatives from the othercastes.’‘Andwewillbringdeathtothemall,’saidSicarius,relishingeveryword.Wordsofgrudgingagreementweremurmuredaroundtheinteriorofthedome.‘Itcouldpotentiallydo theentirecastesystemirrevocabledamage, tocut thehighcommandfromeachofthem,’saidDuolor.‘Asaplan,itissoundenough.’‘So how do we find this xenos warlord?’ asked Kaetoros. ‘Do you have alocation?’‘Wehaveaprecisebearing,’saidSicarius.‘Thevectorofhisshipashemadehis retreat in extremis, and the geostation points to take it from. He waswounded, and badly. His pilot would have made directly for a facility largeenoughtosavehislife.’‘It is also likely his officers and advisors will still attend him there,’ saidNumitor. ‘We can extrapolate his journey, andwhen our path crosses amajor

xenostructure,wehititwitheverythingwehave.’‘A plan has been devised for this pursuit, I presume?’ said Kaetoros.‘Somethingthatwillkeepxenospilotsfromsimplypickingusoffenroute?’‘Underground,’saidNumitor.‘Wegounderground.Thatshouldgetusmuchoftheway there.They’vebombed the translocatornetworkflat– the tau,not theNavy.That tellsus theywantus tostayoutof thatregion.Andif thisplace isanything likeVespertine, therewillbeahoneycombpatternofdwellingplacesthat run underneath the surface, even under the reservoirs. Builder-castefacilities,perhapsevenanextensivesubterraneanarterial.’‘Itcouldgetusoutofthecity,atleast,’agreedBrotherMagros,movingbesideNumitortolookoutattheurbansprawl.‘Itisasoundcourse,sergeant.Inallmytwenty-eightyearsfightingthealienIhavenotseenaxenosmetropoliswithasmuchundergroundsubstructureasthis.’‘And you think the enemy commander you fought will still be there?’ saidKaetoros,incredulityinhistone.‘Itisunlikelyhewillbegoodenoughtowaitforus.’‘Even if he has left,’ saidNumitor, ‘if the place is a large enough facility torepairhiscommandwarsuit,withupperechelonpresenceandmedicaestaffthatcanswiftlygethimbackintothefray…’‘…thenwhenwe start killing his friends,’ finished Sicarius, slamming a fistintohisopenpalm,‘he’llcomerunningsoonenough.’‘Exactly,’saidNumitor.‘Even if we are that lucky,’ said Kaetoros, ‘we’ll have to breach a heavilydefendedxenosfortresstogettohim.We’lllikelybeoutnumberedhundredstoone.’‘We’llfindawaytodealwiththatenroute.AndsincewhenhavetheEightheverletthenumbersoftheenemystandintheirway?’Kaetoroshadnoanswertothat.Therewas a longmoment of silence as the squadsdigested theplan and rantheirownmentaltheoreticals.‘AnyotherobjectionstoNumitor’scourse?’askedSicarius.‘This time,’ said Kaetoros, his eyes boring into Sicarius’ own, ‘we staytogether.’‘Yes,brother,’saidSicarius.‘Youhavemadeyourpoint,loudandclear.’‘Wearemustered,then,andwehaveaplan,’saidNumitor.‘Let’smoveout.’‘Keep your eyes open for entrance points that can get us underground,’ saidSicarius. ‘Oh, andKaetoros,’ he added, lookingover his shoulder as his jump

packroaredintoreadiness,‘dotrytokeepup.’

Sicariusshot likeabulletout into thecity, therestofhissquadengagingtheirjump packs and leaping from the shattered dome into the hexagonal plazasbelow.Numitor ran two steps and threw himself after the sergeant with armsoutstretched,bodycantedtocounterbalancetheweightofhispowerfist.Asharpblastfromhisjumppackandhewasclear,sailingoverthecurvingshouldersofthebuildingintheleeoftheshattereddome,thenfreefallingtowardsthedebris-strewnplazabelow.SpeedwasoneoftheEighthCompany’smostpotentweapons.Thevigourandfocusofeachnewassaultwasacombinationthatusuallybroketheirenemiesinthefirstfewminutesofcombat.CatoSicariusrevelledinbeingthefastestinhissquad,butincombatNumitorcouldmatchhisfellowsergeantbladetoblade,fora time at least. He had tested that theory in the practice cages many times.Withouthiscumbersomepoweredgauntletslowinghimdown,theywereclosetoevenlymatched.AburstfromhisturbinesandNumitorwasalongsidehisfellowsergeant.Theybroughttheirlegsforwardasone,anotherblastoffuelslowingtheirdescentatthe very last second so their landing did not shiver their bones. The suddenimpactofceramitebootsshatteredthetauplaza’srockcrete-likesurfaceinstead.HairlinecracksspreadoutwiththeforceofeachSpaceMarine’slanding.Inscantmoments theAssault squadswereairborneagain,eachbattle-brotherengaginghispack to roar ina low leap to theother sideof theplaza.Sicariuswasatthefore,wansunlightglintingfromthebloodredofhishelm.Numitorrejoicedin thesightof theEighthCompanyracingacross thecityatfull speed. It was a glorious sight, even with half their number scattered andslain.The warrior lords of the Adeptus Astartes did not believe in adapting theircolourstofit theirenvironment.UltramarineswereUltramarines,nomatterthewarzone.TheywereforeverresplendentinthesamelustrousbluewornbytheprimarchRobouteGuilliman, theChapter’s forefatherandauthorof thesacredCodexAstartes.Theywouldsoonerpeel theskin from their flesh thanchangetheirproudheraldry.AmongstthemutedochresandwhitesoftheTauseptworldtheUltramarinesstoodout,boldandstark,eachflashofrichbluethesignofaninvaderintentonconquest.Toasoullessracesuchasthetauitwouldperhapsseemillogical,even

foolhardy, topresentsuchobvious targets.But theUltramarinescared little forthereasoningofcowards.LettheenemyknowtheSpaceMarineswerecomingandtremble,fortheybroughtwiththemdeath.Bycontrast,thetauwarriorcastehadalreadydisplayedtheabilitytoadapttheircolourationdependingonenvironment.Someoftheirwarsuitswereprotectedbystealth fields that rendered them all but invisible to sensors, shimmering likemirageseventothenakedeye.Itwasadisturbingthought.Tothexenosmindset,togotowarinsoobviousafashionastheSpaceMarineswas to invite disaster. For one outside the Emperor’s grace, it would beimpossibletocomprehendthegloryoftheAngelsofDeath–theprideandtheconvictionthatcamewiththerighttobeartheheraldryoftheprimarchsandthemartialexcellenceitrepresented.Upon Dal’yth, the strident colours of the Space Marines would cost themdearly.

Commander Farsight led a sky full of Orca transports, each packed to thegunwhales with his battlesuit cadres, across the outskirts of Gel’bryn Citytowards the lastof the Imperial insertionpoints.Hehad themerest fractionofhis attention devoted to the course, and itwould remain thatway until a pre-programmed proximity sensor blipped him. The rest was delving deep intoanalysis of the invasionunfolding acrossDal’yth.Already therewere a dozentheatres of war, but an Imperial command centre had been located by the aircaste,andtherewasmuchtoassessbeforethestrikewaslaunched.Every jolt of the Silent Aftermath’s passage through the turbulent skies sentagony crackling through Farsight’s aching joints, awildfire of pain across hisstill-healing skin that challengedhismeditative state to the limit.Eager to getback into the fray, he had pulled rank on the earth caste scientists to bedischargedfromthehealsphereprematurely.Nowthatdecisionseemedchurlishatbest.Still,hecouldnotallowhimselftobeabsentwhilstaskinghisbrightestandbesttodiveheadlongintotheconflagrationofwar.Barring this last beachheadof ahundredor so intruders, thegue’ron’shahadbeen repelled fromGel’brynCity.The interlocking counterassaultwas a greatvictory, already touted by thewater caste as indicative of the tau’s supremacyovertheImperium.TosaythatFarsighthadbeeninstrumentalinitsachievementwasanunderstatement.Foronce,hecouldlookatthosemoralepostersdepictingastylisedversionofhisprofilewithoutfeelinganaggingsenseofdisquiet.The commander called up relevant footage for the vertical attack he had

planned,searchingforwaystooptimiseatop-downstrike.Hisdispersionarrayshowedtheiconsofhisgrid-likenetofOrcatransportssurroundingapairoffarlargerMantamissiledestroyersastheycameinlow.HereandthereanImperialwarhead would arc in towards them, but flechette arrays and electroniccountermeasurestorethemfromtheskieswellbeforeimpact.Vivid red lights flashed, an urgent beep sounding as one of the blunt-nosedwarheadsfounditswaythroughthedefencenet.‘Openbaydoors,’saidFarsight,disengagingthelocksofhistransportcradle.‘Iseeanopportunity.’‘Asyouwish,commander,’transmittedKor’uiY’eldi.Farsightwasalreadymoving, thehangarfillingwithnoiseandpressureashethrewhimselfoutofthepassengerbayinablastofrepulsorjets.Hetuckedhiscustomised XV8 battlesuit into a somersault and hit full boost to reversedirection, carving under the Orca to overtake it with his honour pennantsfluttering.ThedotoftheImperialseeker-missilewasbecominglargerandlarger.When it passed into the shadowof theOrca, Farsight slashed a fusion blasterbeam right through its midsection, sending the intact nosecone tumbling endoverendtodetonateuponanImperial-heldpositionfarbelow.Farsightsmiledattheirony.Thedronefootageofhisnewflightvanesandthrusterarrayinactionwouldbeagiftforthewatercaste;nodoubttheirinformationoptimiserswouldmakeuseofit.The commander zoomed in on the ruins below. The vivid yellow squares ofImperialdropcraftmarredthecityscape,smallerblueshapesdottedaroundthemlike the buds of Kan’jian peak-blossom. Not for these proud gue’ron’sha thenotionofcamouflage.Theywouldratherannouncetheirpresenceloudandclearinthehopetheirsheerbelligerencewouldintimidatetheirfoes.Forthis,theywouldbemadetopay.‘Let thebladefall,’ transmittedFarsightover thecadre-net.Theresponsewasinstant.Threeby three thebattlesuit la’ruasbailedout from theOrcasas theypassedoverthegue’ron’shabeachhead.TheMantasdispatchedlarger teamsoffive,shielddronescirclingaroundtheminwidecircleslikeelectronsorbitinganucleus.Downtheycameenmasse,theirdispersalsoneatthesightmadeFarsightfeelgenuineprideinhischest.Theirnumberswereimpressive,remindinghimofaVior’lanseedstormfloatingtoearth.Oneithersideofhimwerethebodyguardteams of his fellows, the gifted young Commander Brightsword and thedauntlessBravestorm,eachwithreadinesssymbolsglowinggold.

‘Wherethefoestrikes,strikebackharder,’saidFarsight.‘Wheretheswordblowislevelled,parryswiftly,thebettertoripostewithakillingthrust.’‘ThewisdomofMasterPuretideisperhapsmorerelevantherethanever,’saidBravestorm. ‘I can scarcely believe the temerity of these humans, invading insuchpitifulnumbers.’‘Thesearenothumans,Bravestorm,’saidFarsightastheyburstfromthecloudcover tobegreetedwithavistaofexplosionsandshattereddomes. ‘Thesearegue’ron’sha,andtheyfightlikearmouredsnowtigers.’As ifoncue the Imperialwarriorsbelowopened fire,muzzle flashespickingoutnotonlythecobaltblueoftheSpaceMarinevanguardbutalsoorangeandblack armour emblazoned with sigils of the hammer and gauntlet. Farsight’sthreatsensorsblippedinsistentlyasthetinyarmour-piercingrocketsfavouredbythe enemy warriors shot up towards them. He turned his shield generatordownwards and set it to maximum, noting with satisfaction that O’Vesa’soptimisationprogramwasstillfunctioningsmoothly.Therewasatripleburstasthemass-reactiveboltsdetonatedoneafteranother,theirheat-yieldswathingtheinvisiblediscofprotectiveforceinstrangelybeautifulripplesoffire.Farsightcheckedtheiconsofhisbattlesuitcadrewithaquickscanofhis lefteyeevenashisrightcircle-noosedaprioritymarkeroverheavyweapontroopersarrayedintheleeofadome.Almostallofhiscadre’siconswerestillgold.Asper his instructions, those whose icons had downgraded to bluesteel or evencopper had peeled back with their team to be swiftly replaced by directequivalentsfromthesecondwavebehind.‘Now,’saidFarsight.Amicrodeclater,asleetingstormofplasmahurtledfromthe skies, throwing the figures below into stark monochrome. Most of thestabbingboltsstruckaSpaceMarinegunnerfromabove,someimpactingatanangle,somenearvertical.Eachdirecthitburnedthrougharmour,fleshandbonebeforeemergingsizzlingfromtheotherside.Channelsofmoltenfleshandmetalcut through the gue’ron’sha warriors, wide enough for a kroot broadspear toplunge through and not touch the sides. Some of the stricken SpaceMarinesstaggered and fell, somewere caught by their comrades,while others toppledintothedetritusoftheshatteredtaudomestheywereusingforcover.Incredibly,manyofthefallenreturnedfirewithoutasecond’shesitation.This time the mass-reactive volley was far thicker and took a greater toll.Battlesuits came apart in bursts of purple flame, shattered limbs and scythingshardsofjumpjetflyingineverydirection.Farsight’seyeswidenedashesawaSpaceMarine, halved at thewaist, clawhimself upright against the bodyof a

deadcomrade,raisinghissidearmtosendapairofexplosiveboltsrightathim.Sosurprisedwas the taucommander thatoneof theboltsgotunderhis shieldgeneratorandstruckhomewithaloudbang.Therewasasharpkickofimpact,spinninghimaroundinmid-airandcausinghisdamagecontroldisplaytoflashbright.Herightedhimself,sweepinghisfusionblasterlowtotakethewarrior’sheadinapuffofvapourisedblood.Amoment later Farsight’s force shield blazed bright as a lancing beam shotfromtheruins to thewest.Theshield’sdataarrayregistereditas lasercannondischarge. If thesegue’ron’shaweapon teamswere anything like those the tauencounteredonVespertine,solidshotprojectileswouldbeclosebehind.Almost as soon as the thought had crossed Farsight’smind he saw amissileshootingtowardshimonaplumeofwhitesmoke.Hearcedoutofitspathandflicked a pulse from his shield as it went past. The kinetic discharge sent itveeringintothecentralbulkofanopen-sideddropcraftthathadfiredmomentsago,andthedetonationthatfollowedtoppledthecontraptionintothedirt.Aimingcarefullyashespedbackintoposition,Farsighttookastabbingshotata wounded Space Marine hammering bolts up into the airborne ranks of thebattlesuitcadre.Thestreamofplasmacaughthiminthechest,endinghislifeina spitting cascade of blinding energy. As Farsight pulled away he saw ague’ron’shainwhitearmourracefromtheshadowstohisfallencomrade,onlytoplungeaforearm-mounteddrillintohisthroat.Intrigued,Farsightboostedupwards,scanningforsimilarsights.Hesoonfoundanotherwhite-cladwarriorwithinsensorrange,engagedinmuchthesameritual.HehadlongagorealisedthemedicsoftheImperiumworewhite,butifanythingthesestrangespecialists seemed tobedeliveringsomethingmore like the finalmont’ka.Therewasasecrethere.Hecouldfeelit.Somenigglinginstincttoldhimitwaskeytounderstandingthegue’ron’shamindset,andperhaps,therefore,towinningthewar.Swinginghis legsbackinhiscocoontomovehisbattlesuit intoasharpdive,Farsight swooped down towards the nearest white-armoured gue’ron’sha andpreparedtoland.

ApothecaryAntalochfoughttherisingurgetojointhebattleragingaroundhim.TheHammersofDornhadalwaysbeensticklersfortheCodexAstartes,butinthiscase theirarmouredassault tacticshadbeenoutmanoeuvredwithdauntingease.The xenoswere all over them, and theirweapons… theirweaponswere

devastating.Eyesscanningthefield,Antalochcrouchedlowandranovertoafallenbattle-brother.TheSpaceMarinehadasmokingholeinhischestthattheApothecarycouldhavefittedhisfistthrough.Releasingtheravagedarmour’scuirasswithapractised movement, Antaloch plunged his reductor deep into his comrade’sneck. A thick churning sound grumbled under the roar of battle as Antalochextractedthewarrior’sprogenoidglandsandstowedthemwithdozensofothershe had flasked thus far.Hememorised his fallen brother’s name and honoursbeforemoving a few feet to the next of the fallen, a sprawling corpsewith astumpinplaceofahead.Therewasacrackofimpactasacrimsonxenoswarsuitthumpeddowninfrontof Antaloch. It pressed the muzzle of its energy rifle to his helmet. TheApothecary froze. The alien assassin filled his vision, huge and lethal. Thinpennantsflutteredfromitsarmourlikeelongatedpurityseals.ThefigurewouldhavedwarfedaTerminator,perhapsevenaCenturion.‘Itisunclear,’statedthegiantinstiltedLowGothic,itshiddenspeakersgivingitsomethinguncannilylikearealvoice.‘Youmustknowthisonedoesnotlive,ministrator-medic-equivalent.’‘Aye,’growledAntaloch,‘andyethisduemustbegiven.’‘Despite the high percentile chance of sustaining lethal damage during yourministrations.’‘Justso,’saidtheApothecary.Hefoughtastrongurgetoputhishandoverthepreciousgene-seedflasksathiswaist.Evenasthedinofbattlethunderedaroundthem,amomentofstillnesspassedbetweenthetwowarriors.‘Yourstanceisdefence-oriented,yetnotindicativeofself-preservation,’statedthexenoswarsuit.BeforeAntalochcouldreply,apairofboltershellsdetonatedbehindthegiantfigure,staggeringitforamoment.Itwhippedasquare-barrelledblasteraroundtoobliteratetheSpaceMarinerunninginbehinditinastormofsearinglight.Despitethedistraction,itsenergyrifledidnotmoveoneinchfromAntaloch’shelm.‘Atheory.Duringthedeathritual,yourecoverasubstanceand-orinformationcodethatyourwarriorcasteconsidersvital.’Antalochstaredupatthetoweringfigure,butsaidnothing.‘Interesting,’saidthexenosgiant.‘Proceedthen,byallmeans.’Raisingitsrifleinbriefsalute,thebattlesuitshotupintotheskiesontwintonguesofflame.The Apothecary watched the alien’s departure for a second, blinking indisbeliefbeforepatchingintohiscommandsquad’sprivatevox-net.

‘CaptainSevelliac?Whenthisisover,weneedtotalk.’

‘Stay out of reach,’ transmitted Farsight across the cadre-net. ‘Engage atmaximum plasma rifle range. No closer.’ With their heavy weapons trooperstaken out in the first volley, the SpaceMarine counter-attack was fierce, butcontainable. Those battlesuits compromised by the foe’s boltguns withdrew,keepingbehindtheircomradesuntilshielddronescoulddartintoshoreuptheirdefences. The ebb and flow of his warriors was a thing of beauty, like thelappingofthetide.Farsighthadenvisionedabattlefoughtalmostentirelyonthevertical, a fitting counterstrike to the dramatic planetfall launched by theImperialsinthefirsthoursofthewar.Anditwasworking.Ahead, Commander Brightsword and his saz’nami bodyguards weremovingforwardtoengageaknotofImperials–officers,bytheirbaroquearmourandtheelaboratestandardonewascarryingintheirmidst.‘Feelthefirecaste’sfury,unworthyones!’Asheflew,Brightswordpivotedinmid-airtoavoidtwogoutsofplasmasentboilinginhisdirection.Thesalvonarrowlymissedoneofhisbodyguards’gundronestosplashacrosstheruineddomebehind.Farsightknewhisstudentwellenough to realisewhatwould likely come next – a spectacular killworthy ofPuretidehimself,andthenanoverextensionthatwouldlandBrightswordintheteethoftheenemyguns.Thecommanderrecalibratedhisthrust/vectorsuiteandsetoffinclosepursuit.Pullinghisbattlesuit’sarmsinclose,Brightswordlethissaz’namitaketherestof the SpaceMarines’ interceptor fire and hurtled off wide, veering around adomeshatteredlikeaneggshellbyanImperialdropcraft.Ashecameintowardstheenemycommandgrouphefiredhisfusionblasterssimultaneouslyandswepthis armsoutwards, drawing abroadXof superheated force. It not only slicedoneofthegue’ron’shainhalfatthewaistbutalsobisectedthestandard,sendingit toppling towards the debris strewn below. A killing blow tactic, perfectlyexecuted–andyethehadslainonlyachampion,notthewarlordheprotected.Farsight soared in close. The standard bearer dropped his gun and lunged,deftly catching the upper section of the banner’s shortened pole to hoist ituprightoncemore–onlyforFarsight’sownfusionblaster tocarveadiagonalacross his centremass.The scythingbeam tookhis right armandmost of hisshoulder.TheSpaceMarinelethisgunfallawayandgrabbedthestandardwithhis left hand instead, ensuring it did not touch the ground. It was a feat ofstaminaand stubbornness that typified thegue’ron’shamindset.Yet itwas the

crestedofficerwith the turbineunit–acaptain, judgingby themetalliccrownsignifyinghisrank–thathadO’Shovah’sattention.JustasBrightswordroaredoverheadtheSpaceMarineleapedbackwardsandfiredhisjetpack,rocketingupatanobliqueanglewithhistwo-handedgreataxecarvingaroundinacracklingarc.‘Below you!’ shouted Farsight. His protege turned mid-leap, cutting one jetengineandboosting theothersoheflipped inaspiral–but theSpaceMarinewasstillclosebehind.ThegreataxethunkedintoBrightsword’sengineunitjustasheplantedhisfeetuponadisabledgunrigplatformandsprangskywardoncemore. Farsight’s reaction shot went wide. The gue’ron’sha rode the suddenchangeofdirectionwithablastfromhisownjetpack,rippinghisgreataxefreewithatwistofhisbody.Brightsword tucked intoasomersaultandbroughthis fusionblastersslashingunder andup.TheSpaceMarine tried to twist away,butoneof the swipesofsuperheatedenergyburnedrightthroughhiswrist,cauterisingthewoundintheprocess.Thegreataxeflewwide,thedisembodiedhandstillgrippingtightneartheendofitshaft.Theenemywarlorddidnotcryout,butinsteadpulledapistolfromhis belt and smacked a shot intoBrightsword’s sensor array, sending hisbattlesuit reeling. The young commander fought to regain control as thegue’ron’sharetrievedhisaxe,severedhandandall.Farsighttoucheddownonaruineddropcraftandsprangaway,ablastofforcebringing him on an intercept course. Brightsword tended to break left underpressure. If the gue’ron’sha went after him Farsight would be waiting tocapitalise,firingsolutionready.ArubyredbeamoflightstabbedoutinBrightsword’swake,missinghimbyafractionofaninch.Morelasercannonfire.Theyoungcommanderhadescapeddeathbyaheartbeat.Farsight heard the Imperial warlord shout something, his staccato barksunintelligibleoverthedinofbattle.‘– – NO – – DO NOT SHOOT – – HE IS MINE – –’ spooled Farsight’sautotransasthebattlesuitmadesenseofthealienwords.O’Shovahwatchedas theSpaceMarineandBrightswordveered left, cominginto his battlesuit’s gunsights. Charging, the enemy warrior shoulder-bargedBrightsword away to leave himself in open sky. A ninety-four percentile killprobabilityflashedgoldonFarsight’stargetlock.Amomentbeforeeye-flickingtheshot,O’Shovahdissolvedhisfiringsolution.The autotranswas neverwrong. If the SpaceMarine considered it an honour

duel,sobeit.Brightswordspaninatightspiral,theairburningaroundhimasheslashedandstabbedwithhisfusionblasters.Somehowthegue’ron’shacaptainevadedthem,twisting andboostingout of harm’swaywhere the fusionbeamscut in close.Brightsword slashed his signature X, the tail of the latter beam catching theSpaceMarineonlytodissolveinablazingflareoflight.AnImperialforcefield,inefficientbuteffective.The SpaceMarine was hurled back by the energy discharge, but pivoted tobracefeet-firstonthesheerwallofatransmissiontower.Hepushedawayhardto boost over the curving transmotive sweeprail ahead. Focused on attack asever,Brightsword’scareeningtrajectoryforcedhimtogounder thearchratherthanoverit.Farsightsawthegambitamomenttoolate.InnudgingBrightswordtowardsthesweeprail arch, the gue’ron’sha captain had ensured where the youngcommanderwouldemerge.Therewasablurofblueasthecaptaindroppedfromthe other side of the curving arch and disappeared from sight, axe flaringlightninginanoverarmswipe.Farsight’sbreathcaughtinhisthroat,thealertsignalsofhisbio-monitorstationspikinginresponse.Runningthreestepsupthesparofafallentransitspire,heboundedoverthetransmotivesweeprail.Numbersandtrajectoriesracedthroughhis mind, the destiny of his young prodigy sliding along a knife edge ofprobability.Brightsword’s battlesuit had crashed headlong into the scree of a half-demolished youth training facility. The Space Marine warlord’s cracklinggreataxewas embedded deep in theXV8’s plexus hatch, its broad blade sunkover a foot into the armour. Though his disembodied handwas still uselesslygripping the weapon’s haft, the Space Marine had proven lethal even whencrippled.OnFarsight’sdistributionarray,Brightsword’siconturnedthecharcoalgreyofdeath.Farsightcrunchedintotherubble,hisvisioncloudedwithgrief.Hehadaclearshotonthecaptain’sbackforthesecondtimethatday,andthistimethekill-shotprobabilitywasintheninety-ninthpercentile.Stillhedidnottakeit.Thegue’ron’shacaptainplantedafootonhiskill,toreone-handedattheaxe,and it came free in an arc of crimson, unbalancing him for amoment. BloodfountainedfromBrightsword’stornbattlesuit,pulsed,andthenstopped.

The captain turned, tau gore spattered across his regal blue armour, to staredownthebarrelsofFarsight’sguns.Thelifelessredvisionslitsofhishelmwerewritlargeuponthecommander’stargetlock.Now,thekillingblowwouldfall.‘––YOU’RENEXTALIENWRETCH––’ spooled theautotrans.Then theSpaceMarineleapedintoashouldercharge.Hewasnotquickenough.Farsightfiredbothweaponssystemsatonce,andthegue’ron’shacaptain’schestexplodedinacloudofsuperheatedblood.

CHAPTERFOURELEVATION/SHELTERINTHESTORM

‘Listen,brothers,’saidNumitor,crouchingatthesideofarubble-strewnstreet.‘Alowhum.Isolateitandtellmewhatyoufind.’‘Engines,’repliedDuolor.‘Perhapsfour,fiveseparate.’‘Ithoughtasmuch,’saidNumitor.‘Looktotheskies.Wehaveincoming.’Assoonasthewordshadleftthesergeant’smouththepurrofdistantenginesgrewtoaloud,insistentroar.Asquadronofochrexenocraftarcedfrombehindthe largest of the bio-domes fringing the plaza. They flew towards EighthCompanyevenastheAssaultMarinessprintedtowardsthecoordinatessentbytheirsergeants.Underslungbeneath each of the aircraftwas a crackling sphere of energy, sobrightitforcedthephotolensesofthoseviewingittodimittobearablelevels.‘Bombers,’saidNumitor,histoneurgent.‘Seekcover!’No soonerhad thewords leftNumitor’s lips thana squadronof aircraft spedoverthenearesthexodome.Theypassedoverhead,flickeringredbeamspanningacrosstheSpaceMarinesintheopen.Amoment later, threeminiature suns fell from the skies, burning bright arcsthatleftwhitetrailsintheair.‘Scatter!’shoutedNumitor.Thepayloadsdropped into themidstof theAssaultMarinesas theycareenedheadlongforcover.Theinitialexplosionsentgoutsofplasmathatcarpetedgreatswathes of the plaza with burning, fizzling energy. Those caught in the blastfoundceramite,fleshandbonemeltingawayintobubblingruin.Brother Antec gave a bellow of pain, raising the stumps that were all that

remained of his arms. The molten length of his chainsword draped over thewreckage of his left leg. Golotan covered his face with his forearm as hestaggered,litwithwhitefire,toslamhardintothewreckageofanunrecovereddrop pod. He rolled in the indigo foliage until the flames were extinguished,ceramiteflakingashestruggledtogetup.‘Theoperationalparametersofour jumppacksareexceeded,’voxedVeletan.‘Theyaresimplytoohightointercept.Withoutsupport,ourbesthopeisescape.’‘No,’growledSicarius.‘Glavius,uncoupleyourpack.Ihaveneedofit.’Stunned,GlaviusslowedhispaceandlookedtoNumitor.Sicariusclangedthehiltofhistempestbladefromhissquad-mate’spauldron.‘Isaiduncoupleyourpack,brother!’The tau aircraft were already coming about for another pass, the spinninggenerators beneath each craft already spinning incandescent energies intospheresofkillingplasma.Dronespeeledofffromtheirwings,firingafterburnerstohurtlebackaroundforastrafingrun.Glaviusmag-locked his pistol and chainsword to his belt, releasing the chestclipofhisjumppack’sbandolierstrapsandswingingtheentireapparatusovertohis sergeant. Sicarius took it without a word, holding it under his arm andblasting straight upwards on stuttering columns of flame to land on a twistedsparofmetaljuttingfromacommstowerabove.Numitorgrimaced.Veletanwasright;withoutdedicatedanti-airfirepowertheywereatthemercyoftheTaubombersuntiltheycouldfindawayunderground.YetSicariuswasintentonmoreheroics,likelyriskingmoreSpaceMarinelivesintheprocess.Hisintentwasobviousenough;hewasalreadyswappinghisownpack, finallydrainedof fuel,with thepackhehad requisitioned fromGlavius.Clearlyheintendedtoengagethetauaircraftnomatterthecost.Tempting as itwas to leaveSicarius behind, they could not split their forcesagain,notsosoonaftertheirtenuousregroupintheshatteredtower.ByleavingGlaviusearthbound,Numitor’sfellowsergeanthadforcedtheirhand.Theyhadno option but to fight – fight against an enemy far out of their reach, anadversary capable of killing them from low orbit if necessarywithout fear ofretaliation.Tohismountinghorror,Numitorrealisedhehadnoideahow.Theominouspurrofincomingxenocraftgrewlouder.Lookingupattheskies,Numitorsawtheflickerofwingtipsbetweentwosmallerhexodomes.HetriedtorecallthewisdomoftheCodexAstartesthatdealtwithanti-airdoctrine,butwithmore aircraft closing in, nothing short of a battle demi-company would be

enoughtoextricatethemfromtheirplight.‘Veletan!’hevoxed.‘What’syourtheoretical?’‘Whenshornofground-to-aircapability,takecoverwhilstbringingalliedassetstobear,’recitedVeletan.‘Ifnonearenearby,makehastetoarendezvouspoint.’‘Alliedassets,’mutteredNumitor.AftertheevacuationfromGel’brynCity,thenearestUltramarinepresencewasatleastanhouraway.Therewasnowaytheycouldmakeittherealivewiththetaubombershoundingthem.Another trio of crackling plasma spheres fell from the skies. Several ofNumitor’s squad leapedhighon tonguesof flame, taking shotswith their boltpistolsattheapogeeoftheirascent,buttheywerewayoutofrange.Aordusleftit amoment too long to veer away from the return fire andwas sent hurtlingawayby an explosion of plasma energy.He cracked awkwardly into a curvedwalkway, the front of his power armourmelted away to expose the steamingblackcarapacebeneath.‘Getunder thegantry,’ shoutedNumitor,diving for cover as thebombers cutaround a shallow hexodome for another attack run. The rest of his squadfollowed,catchingontothesergeant’splantodartfromcovertocoveruntiltheyreachedthelargerhexodomeahead.Theyweregamblingthattheywouldreachitintime,butitwasthebestchancetheyhad.NotallofSicarius’squadwerewithhim.‘BrotherKaetoros!’Kaetoros,unmistakeableinhisbadlyscorchedarmour,waspoundingalongthefarsideoftheplaza.Hisflamerdrizzledbluedropletsofexcesspromethium,theflickering spots of heat thatmarked his progress lingering onNumitor’s auto-senses.Theywerepresumablyjustasvisibletothetauaircrafthighabove.‘Trustme!’voxedKaetoros.‘Wewon’tcleartheplazaotherwise!’NumitorcursedasSicarius’flamer-wieldingsquadmateskiddedtoahaltalmosthalfamileaway.Flakesofburntpainteddiedinhiswake.Kaetorosraisedtheweapon to his chest and poured a long gout of burning promethium into themissing side portal of a fallen tau grav-tank; byNumitor’s reckoning itwas acasualtyoftheopeninginvasion,laidlowbyawell-aimedmissile.Theflamingpromethium splashed around inside the tank, burning electricals and plasticsalikeuntilathickcolumnofblacksmokepouredfromthestrickenvehicle’ssidehatch.The interiorof the tankcaught fireandsoon itwasbillowingcloudsofchokingpollutantintotheair.Kaetoros boosted away a split second before a crackling sphere of plasmasplashed downwhere he had been standing. Turning in mid-flight, he landed

feet-first under the spar of a fallen balcony, sticking close to the wall. Hisscorched-black power armour blended with the shadows, making him appearmorelikeastealth-consciousRavenGuardthanaproudUltramarine.Overhead, thexenocraft squadroncircledabove thesoot-belching tank, intenton finishing off the prey they had seen nearby. Plasma bombs rained down,chewing great chunks from the building next to the grav-tank and causing alandslideofrubbletocrashintothestreet.Kaetoroshadalreadyslidaway;ifitwere not for the rune on Numitor’s visor, he would have lost the flameroperative’spositionaltogether.Thedistractionhadboughtthemtime–notmuch,butperhapsenough.‘With me,’ said Numitor to his brothers, breaking left and heading for anupright,lozenge-shapedstructure.Atopitwasthemushroomdomesocommonin tau architecture. His squad followed close behind, running as fast as theycouldacrosstheplazatowardsthecover.Out of nowhere came a pair of tau strike fighters, the quad-barrelled turretsundertheirtailsspittingwhitefury.Thefirstfighter’sstrafingruncutacrosstheleading squad, pitching Trondoris from his feet. The bladesman’s evisceratorclattered fromhishands.Thesecondaircraft’splasmavolleystruckNumitor’slegs ashehurledhimself forward into the shadowof the taubuilding, searingpain burning the backs of his knees. He put it out of hismind, his enhancednervoussystemalreadyquashingtheagonywitharushofhyperdrenaline.Trondoris scrabbled to retrieve his outsized chainblade, but the quad turretunderslungbeneaththerearmostxenocraftswivelledaroundandspatbrightionfire,forcinghimtoyankhisarmsbackorlosehishandsentirely.Magrosranincloseinstead,scoopingtheevisceratorupinbothhandsandhurlingitsidelongtowardsitsownerevenashehurtledawayoncemore.WithKaetoros’ distraction spent, the tau bomberswere already heading backfor a fresh pass. Their manoeuvrability was daunting, the closeness of theirformationimpressiveeventoanUltramarine.ThestragglersofsquadsNumitorandSicariusgottoshelter,dartingundertheeavesofabuildingwitharaisedtransmotiverailarounditsperimeterjustasthexenocraft reached them.A cluster of plasma spheres came raining down.Onelandedhalfadozenfeet fromNumitor, theblastwaveof itsexplosionhurlinghimsidelongacrosstheplaza.Theothertwosmashedintothemaglevrailabovethem,burningstraightthroughthegracefularcsofitssupports.Withanominoussquealofprotestingalloys,anentiresectionofthetransitarccamecrashingdown.TheAssaultMarinesleapedawayatthelastinstantbefore

theslewofrubblecouldburythemalive.Colnid,oneofSicarius’squad,wasaheartbeat too slow, and was sent sprawling as a boulder-sized lump of rocksmacked into his shoulder. His jump pack malfunctioned, its stabbing firessendinghimcareeningacrosstheplazaandsmashinghimintoasmooth,abstractsculpture.Above, Sicariuswas leaping frombalcony-spur to domed roof, his borrowedjumppackburningfuelingreatgoutsofflameashesoughttoclimbintorangefor a killing strike. Numitor shook his head in bewilderment. Already thesergeantwasoutofclosevoxrange,leavinghissquadtofacethepunitiveattackruns of the tau without orders. The pilots were paying him little mind, andrightly so; even the highest building spire was still nowhere near their attackruns.SomewhereinsideNumitor’smind,hecouldhearhisbrotheraskingifhehadanybetterideas.Intruth,hedidnot.Veering through the skies towards Sicarius’ position came a far larger tauaircraft,notelegantlikethefightersandbombersthatharriedthem,butlumpenandsolid.Itlookedlikeitsboxyholdcouldhaveheldanentiredemi-company.Thruster engines on each corner swivelled to landing positions. Numitorrecognisedthetypefromthebattleatthereservoir–axenosbulker,presumablyfilled with enough of their warrior caste to finish what the pilots above hadstarted.With a wordless cry, Sergeant Sicarius leaped from his position behind thecurvingsparofanearbybuilding.ThealiensunofDal’ythglintedonhissword.Landingwith a loud clang on the roof of the tau lander, he brought his bladecurvingdowntwo-handed,slashingthroughthegimbaloftherearrightengineto send the entire thruster tumbling away. The lander, struggling to avoidcrashingintothecity’sdomes,adjusteditscourseupwardsinabroad,smokingspiral.Aspiralthatwouldsoonbringitclosetothetaubombersquadron.Numitorshookhishead,thistimeinawe.Sicarius,havingboughtthelastsurgeof altitudeheneededby thedamaged craft’s evasivemanoeuvre, blasted fromthe top of the transport with Glavius’ jump pack. His plasma pistol sentincandescent bursts of energy behind him to bullseye the lander’s other rearengineevenashesurgedhigher.Thelander,fatallywounded,draggeditsheavyhindquarters through the sky. Its struggling glide accelerated into a downwarddiveasSicarius shotupwardsandaway,expending fuelatamassive rate.Hisleapcrestedjustasthetaubombersquadronveeredaroundhiminanattemptto

evade.Sicariuspivoted,lashingouttocarvethetipfromonebomber’swingevenasitdeployeditsattendantdrones.Heboostedbackwardsasthedisc-machinesspatdeadlyionenergyfromtheirrifles.Pistolaimedbetweenhisfeet,Sicariusmadehis shot even as his sidelong flight tookhim towards thenext bomber.A fist-sizedballofplasmacaughtthenearestdronefullon,turningitintoahoveringpillarofflame.Mag-clamping his pistol to his waist, Sicarius was already upon the nextaircraft,reachingouttograbtheelegantlateralbarthatlinkeditswingtiptoitstail. The jolt of the xenocraft’s passagewould have torn a normalman’s armfromitssocket,butSicariuswasoftheAdeptusAstartes,builtforpoweraswellasspeed.Cuttinghispackturbines,Sicariuslethisdeadweightdragthebomberaway from the last of its squadron. Its pilot struggled to compensate, jerkingbackagainstthedownwardspull.Aweaponsdronehoveredinclose–tooclose.Thesergeantlashedoutwithafoot and caught it under its broad rim, sending it spinning awaywith its riflespittingcurlsofhaywireenergy.The tau pilot was on the verge of losing control, veering back towards hissquadron-matetocompensateforthemassiveweighthangingfromhiswing.Indoingsoheunwittinglysealedhissquadron’sfate.Sicariusputhisshoulder tothe lateral bar of the fighter’s fuselage and blasted his borrowed pack at fullburn,turninghisdeadweightintoasuddensharppush.Thenthesergeantletgo,droppingfeet-firsttolandinaclatterofceramiteonanearbyroof.Theaircraft,alreadyleaninghard,founditselfpeelingoffatasteepanglewiththe sudden reversal of force upon its wing. Careening, it crashed into itssquadmate and sent themboth tumbling away into the city below.The flamesfromthedoubleexplosionlittheskies.A flash of shock and pain slammed across Numitor’s mind as three viciousimpactsstruckhimsideon,sendinghimsprawling.Hiseyesburnedashetriedto make sense of what had happened, pushing himself upright and launchingback on instinct as another strafing run scorched the plaza amatter of inchesaway.Staticfilledhisvision.Hisarmour’smachine-spirithadbeendrivenintoarecuperative coma, so he wrenched his dented helm free, trusting to his ownsensesdespitetheringingblowthathadshakenhim.Numitor squintedup, thewordsof theCodex reverberating throughhishead.Rankhathitsprivileges,butwiththemcomedangerstoonumeroustocount.Nowonderhewasattractingsomuchfire.Heworearedhelmwheretherank

andfileworeblue.Sure enough, twoof the tau strike fighterswerebearingdownonhim.Theirunderslung tail guns spat as they stitched a deadly crossfire towards him. Hetriggeredhisjumppack.Itwasunresponsive,adeadweightonhisback.Abillowingwhitecontrailshotupfromalowdomedrooftotheright.Numitorcaughtsightofaflashingblackmissileatitstip.Itslammedintothecockpitofthefirststrikefighter.Athunderousexplosionsawthetophalfofthexenocrafttorn away, a spray of blood amongst themangledwreckage. The fighter craftflew apart under the force of its own torque, causing the second fighter todisengage,itsattackrunabortedasitshotoverheadintotheheartofthecity.‘Tacticalsquad,FifthCompany!’shoutedTrondorisacross theplaza,pointingatthedomeabove.A red-helmed figure stood theedgeof the sloping roof.Behindhim,aheavyweapons specialist held his missile launcher vertical as the servo arm on hisbackpack slid another flakkmissile inside. SeeingNumitor no longerwearinghishelm,thesergeanttookoffhisownandcalleddownintotheplaza.‘SquadAntelionpaysitsdebts!’Numitor laughed in disbelief. SquadAntelion, the same unit he and hismenhad saved from an ignominious death during the freefall of their initialplanetstrike.‘Andquickly, itseems,’holleredbackNumitor. ‘Beware theseones,sergeant.They’llpickyououtasanofficeriftheyseethatredhelm!’‘The bombers just pass over us,’ Antelion shouted back. ‘There’s anothersquadroninthissector.Seenustwoorthreetimesnow.Theysentdrones,butwedealtwith themeasilyenough.Theywon’tbombus, forsomereason. It’syouthey’reafter!’Something about Antelion’s claim did not ring true with Numitor. An eliteinfantry squad, unsupported and exposed on a featureless dome; they were aprime target if ever therewas one. The tau had shown no compunction abouttearingdownthearchitectureoftheirowncity–nodoubtthepilotsweregivenclearancetobombwhatevertargettheydeemednecessary.Littlesurprise,giventhespeedwithwhich thebuildercastewere throwingupmorestrucures in thewakeoftheinitialstrikes.Sowhyweren’t they bombing SquadAntelion, exposed as theywere on theroofabove?The words of the Codex filtered through Numitor’s mind once more, evenwithoutVeletantoremindhimofthem.

Whenciviliancasualtiescanbeavoided,doso.Whentheycannot,actwithouthesitation.Perhapsthetauhadasimilarcode.Perhapstheirswaslesspragmatic,andtheyhadbeenorderedtoavoidciviliancasualtiesnomatterthecost.Suddenly it struck him. The shallow-domed buildings were hab-blocks,population areas that were likely still inhabited, and might lead to thehoneycomboftunnelsandcorridorshousingthemajorityofthetaucitizenry.‘Trondoris,voxall squads!’ shoutedNumitor, ‘weneed toget into thatdomeunderAntelion,andfast.’

The battle-brothers of the Eighth Company shot across the plaza, a freshsquadronofxenocraftbomberscominginatspeedbehindthem.Numitorgrittedhisteeth,expectingadeadlyimpactanymoment.Theraggedmusterinthelowdome’sshadowhadcostthempreciousseconds.‘Verticalvector,’Veletanwasmuttering.‘Thrust…assumevelocityconstant…maximumcharge…paraboliccrest…trajectory’scloseenough…’‘Veletan,shutupandconcentrate,’saidDuolor.‘Iamconcentrating,’ saidVeletan.Turningsuddenly, thewarriorbraced foramomentandleapedbackthewaytheyhadcome.AplasmaspheredetonatedtenfeetbeneathhimjustastheAssaultMarinefiredhisjumppacktomaximum,thebowwaveoftheexplosionlaunchinghimhighintotheair.Hispistolwhinedtofulloutput,itspowercellsglowingbrightblue.Atthecrestofhisbolsteredleap,Veletanpunched theplasmapistolupwardand tookasingleshotat the lastofthetaubomberstohurtleoverhead.Histimingwasimpeccable.Justwhenthebombgeneratorunderneaththecraftclickedopentoreleaseitsownballofplasma,thesearingenergiesofVeletan’sshotstruckthepulsebombitself,overloadingitinaspectacularblazeofforce.Themalfunction consumed the entire rearwards section of the bomberwith athunderclapboomthatreverberatedacrossthecitysector.Veletanfellbacktothestreet,legsstilltrailingflame,asthefrontsectionofthecrafthurtleddownwards.ItcareenedovertherestofSquadNumitorandstruckthesideofAntelion’sbuildingwithforceenoughtosmashstraightthroughthewall. Cracks shuddered out from the impact as the wreckage ploughed to ajumbledhaltinthedarknessbeyond.Numitor couldhardlybelieve theopportunityunfoldingbefore them,buthadno desire to see Veletan’s consummate display of skill wasted. He chargedforwards,hismenfollowing.FromtherightcameSicarius,poundingacrossthe

plazaonfoot.Havingmadeitbackdownfromhisaerialattack,hewasleadingagatheringofbattle-brothers–includingGlavius,KaetorosandtheremainderofSquadAntelion–inaheadlongruntowardstheshatteredwall.TheothersquadsofEighthCompanywereclosebehind.Numitorsprintedfortheopeningthatledintothecivilianbuilding,Sicariusandhismencloseonhisheels.Numitorpushedintotheleeofthebuildingandfoughtthroughtherubbleandsmoketothesafetyoftheinterior.Perhapstherewashopefortheirplanafterall,hethought.Theywouldfindthetaucommanderstheysought,andbringdeathtoanywhostoodintheirway.

CHAPTERFIVEINSERTION/WHATLIESBENEATH

Por’elAman’telookedattheceilingwithwideeyesasanotherexplosionshookthewalls of her underground home. A tracery of cracks had spread across it,dauntingintheirsymbolism.Bombswerefalling,highabove.Gel’brynCitywastakinggreatpunishment.Aman’tehadtoldDal’yth’speopletheir planet would survive, and would tell them a thousand times over ifnecessary.ButduringarecentdatabriefshehadseenthefootageoftheImperialinvasionofVespertine,witnessingthehorrificviolencemetedoutbyhumanity’sshocktroops.Atinypartofherwasunworthyenoughtothinkthatherwordsofreassurancemightjustbeoutrightlies.Not many of Dal’yth’s thriving water caste lived under the planet’s surface.Mostofherkindpreferredthehubbubofthecityplazas,andtookresidencesinthemostpopulousofregions.ButAman’tewasnotlikemostofherkind.Shecastaglancetowardsherliquidsculptures,arrangedwithgreatcareuponthe table. They were both her secret shame and her greatest joy, a constantsymbolof thedichotomyat thecentreofher soul.Ripples flowedacross theirsurfaces, their shimmering light reflected upon the ceiling as the deep bass ofexplosionsboomedabove.Itwasunheardofforoneofthewatercastetopursuetheartofsculpture.Actsof material creation were the exclusive province of the earth caste. Aman’te,drivenbysomethinginsideher,hadcreatedthemnonetheless.Somethinginhermind’seyehadcalledthemintobeing,andshehadbeeninspiredtogivethemform, much like tau lifedonors were sometimes inspired to seek out thegenerationfarmsinthelabyrinthineearthcastecomplexesbeyond.

Thestrangemultiplicityofherskillsetwaswhyshehadneverexperiencedtheblessedunionoftheta’lisserawithhervoice-team,andwhysheneverwould.Itwas a connection so deep that her bond-mates would uncover her secret in amatterofafewrotaa.Forataueventoshowaptitudeintheartsofanothercastewasforbidden,letalonetohonethattalentuntilitrivalledtheirbirth-givenskills.Tostraybetweencastes was to risk being named vash’ya, amark of disgrace and censure thatcould not be erased. It was a far graver sentence than the empty lonelinessAman’tehadembracedasaprecaution.Evenawatercasteambassadorhadnochanceoftalkingtheirwayoutofthat.If the ethereals confirmed the accusation, the matter was settled, and thepunishment inevitable. Those so named were taken away, ostensibly forattunement to the sacred tenets of the Tau’va. In Aman’te’s experience suchindividuals rarelycameback,and those thatdidweresobereftofnuance theymadetheintelligencesoftheirdroneminderslooksophisticatedbycomparison.Shehadsecretedapulsepistolinherquarters,alongtimeago,justincasetheycameforherinthenight.Something massive struck the complex walls above, shaking dust from theceilingandmakingAman’testart.Thecracksintheceilinggrewwiderstill.AthoughtbubbleduptothesurfaceofAman’te’sconsciousness.Perhapsitwouldbebetter for the ceiling to comedownonher.Toburyher andher sculpturesforeversothatnonecouldknowofhercaste-treason.The far wall of her chambers collapsed in an explosion of rubble, and shescreamednonetheless.A giant burst through, horrific in proportion. At first she mistook it for ademolitionsmachine,foritwasfullytwicehersize,andithadabulbousconvexhead emblazonedwith a strange icon. Then the thing turned, and she realisedthatwhatshehadmistakenforaheadwasactuallyshoulderarmour,apauldronthathadhiddenagrotesqueface.Eyes full of hatred stared down from a knottedmass ofmuscle and fury, asintense as the worst of nightmares. Rivets had been punched into the thing’screstedhead,andathingruelofbloodandspitranfromitswound-likemouth.Itgrowledlikeananimal,raisingaboxypistolsocrudeandheavyitcouldbreakherwithoutfiringashot.Aman’tescreamedagain,scrabblingbackonallfoursandkickingoveranovaltable so it stood between her and the creature. Her precious water sculpturessplashed and spilled, sent flying as she huddledbehindher improvised shield.

Therewasa loudbang,a rushofair, andanexplosionsopowerful it sent thetablerocketingbackwards.Aman’tewastakenwithit,hersensesstolenbythestunningpowerofthatsingleshot.On instinct Aman’te thrust both feet outward, uncurling hard. She tumbledthroughtheiris-likeaperturethatledtohercorridor,theovaltablecrashingbackintotheroomshehadleft.Amuffled,animalroarcamefrombehinditasshegottoher feet,bloodyanddazed.Herhearingwasswirlingbackfromthe ringingimpactthathadtakenit,clearingenoughforher tomakeoutgutturalsyllablesonthecuspofunderstanding.To a firewarrior, the grunting dialectwould have been unintelligible, but allwatercastetaupridedthemselvesonbeingabletodeciphereventhemostalienoflanguages.Sincenewshadreachedherofthecominginvasion,Aman’tehadstudiedtheImperialtonguewell.‘This way!’ the creature was shouting. ‘More vermin, and more tunnelsbehind!’Aman’te creased her brow hard, bringing ameasure of clarity to her senses.Darting left, she half staggered and half ran down the corridor towards thecommunalquarterswherethesubsystem’searthcasteworkteamsdwelt.Soundsof crashing destruction came from behind her, stark light sending shadowsdancingmadly ahead.Halfway down the tunnelwas her auralworkroom, thegatewaytotheaudiencechambers,andbeyondthat,theprototypelaboratoriesoftheearthcaste.Therewasstillachanceshecouldgetoutalive,patchamessagethrough to the fire caste,maybe even alert the earth caste in time for them tobring theirdefencesonline.Shecould still contribute to theGreaterGoodonelasttime.Butthemonstrousthingswereclosebehindher,andgettingcloser.First, she would have to reach the pulse pistol she had secreted in hermeditationchamber.

SergeantNumitor stormed through thegloomof the tauhab-complex,delicateporcelaincrunchingundertheheavyceramitetreadofhisboots.Therehadbeenasmalltaulifeformupahead,anunarmedcivilianmakingfear-soundsasittriedto escape. Numitor had followed it at speed. Likely it would lead him to itsfellows,orattempttoraisethealarm.The sergeant sawa circulardoor ahead, irising closed at his approach.Therewasaflickerofmotionbeyondit.Hewrenchedaboxysculpture-thingfromanearbyshelfandhurleditsoitcaughtintheclosingpetalsofthedoor,jamming

itopen.Loweringhisshoulder,hecharged,pushingahalf-secondburstofthrustthroughhispacktobolsterhismomentum.Numitor struck the jammed door apparatus with such force the entire thingcame loose in a crash of splintering xenoplastics. He scrambled throughwithhalfthedoorframecaughtuponhisbackpack.Growlinginirritation,thesergeantreachedbackwithhispowerfisttotearitfreeinajudderingmessofsplinters.‘You shall not escape, xenos,’ he shouted, storming forwardwith anger writlargeuponhisfeatures.The tau civilian was lying close at hand, fallen on the far side of the roomamidstaconfusionofshatteredplastics.Itsdarkalmondeyeswereopenwideinsomealienapproximationof terror.Numitor’s lipscurledback involuntarilyatthesightofit.ThetauwaslittlelargerthanaCalthanyouth,withamalnourishedlooktoit.Itslong,frailfingersreachedtowardshimimploringly.Itsmelledofmeadow flowers over the antiseptic tang of bleach, and the beat of its heartstutteredonthecuspofhishearing.‘Wait,sirewarrior!’itsaidinperfectHighGothic.‘Iamnothreattoyou.Iamregardedpoorlyevenamongstmyownkind!’Numitor’s brow furrowed. The creature’s voice was… strangely human.Somehow, it was speaking with the tones of a young woman, and with aMacraggianaccentatthat.‘Youhavethebearingofaknight,sire,’itsaid,itsaccentbecomingevenmorerefined.‘Anhonouredandnoblewarriortradition.Iseeitintheheraldicdevicesyouwear.Theyarethemarksofyourforefathers,aretheynot?’Numitor raisedhispistol, debatingwhetherornot towaste anotherbolt.Thecreatureknewtoomuchaboutthemalready,thatwasplain.‘Would your forefathers be proud to see you cut down a helpless, unarmedfemale?’askedtheyoungtau,herhoneyedvoiceallinnocencebutforthebaresthint of reproach. ‘Would the king amongst kings you must venerate beimpressed?Hewhosecodeyoufollow?’Numitor thought of Roboute Guilliman in that instant, of how the primarchwouldhaveactedinthissituation.Intruth,hewasunsure.

Aman’tehadthecreature’seyesfixedonhers,itsrepulsivefacetwistedincrudecaricatureaswarringemotionspassedacrossit.Shecoulddothis.Shehaditpartiallyentangledinherfu’llassoalready.Herhandcreptslowly,painfully,tosubtlypress-clickthecabinetwhereshehad

hiddenherpulsepistol.At this range itwould takeasinglepullof the trigger,especiallyifshewasluckyenoughtomakeaheadshot.The human warrior was mighty indeed, but slow of wit. It wore its psycheplainlyonitsfeatures.Eventhoughitwasbestialinappearance,itwasdressedinarmour thatborehonourmarkingsandmedallions,givinghintsofawarriorbrotherhood that valued glory and accomplishment. It was a simple, unsubtleangleshehadtaken,toplaytothemonster’stwistedsenseofjustice,butitwasproving effective. Already the creature was hesitating, bound by thecontradictionsofitsownvaluesystem.ItwasastheGoldenAmbassadorhadoncesaid.Notionsandcodescanstayakiller’shandaseffectivelyasanynet.Perhapsitwouldbeenough.‘Iamnothingtoalordsuchasyou,’shecontinued,herdeftfingersfindingthehandleofthepulsepistolandcurlingtobringitinchbyinchintohergrip.‘Ourownwarriorcastedoesnotmatchitselfagainstharmlesscivilians.Instead,theyseektoengagethestrongestfoestheycanfind,thebettertowintrueglory.’The brute was listening. If she could hold its attention for a few moremoments…

Numitor stared down at the tau civilian. The creaturewas aweakling, almostdespicable,butpartofhimhadtoconcedeithadapoint.IftheSpaceMarinesweretokilltheplanet’sciviliansaswellasitsmilitary,thecampaignonDal’ythwouldsoongrindtohalt.Perhapshisenergieswerebetterspentelsewhere.‘Manyofourwarriorcastedwelljustbeyondthischamber,’theyoungfemalecontinued, ‘worthieropponents fora trueknight,whovalueshonourandskill.Would you instead choose to sully your hands with the blood of unarmedcivilians?’Shebroughtablockypistoloutfromnowhere,whippingittowardsNumitor’shead.‘Yes,’ said Cato Sicarius, barrelling past his fellow sergeant to stamp thecreaturehardintothefloor.Numitorhearditsribsbreakintoflinderswithinitschest.Sicariusspatonitscorpse,pushingonwardsintothegloom.Shaking himself free of the creature’s mental manipulation, Numitor set offafter his brother, the clatter and stamp of charging Ultramarines close behindhim.

A thousand admiring eyes were fixed on Commander Farsight as he walkedstifflytothedisc-likehoverdroneattheheartoftheholotheatre.Amillionmore

watchedhimoverthecaste-net.Shadowsun,toFarsight’simmenserelief,wasnotamongstthosepresent.Ovoid transmitter drones triangulated the footage of the commander’s everymovement.Theramrod-straightbacksofhisofficersstraightenedalittlefurtherashepassed.Itwasamarkofgreatrespectthattheyattendedinpersoninsteadofbyholographicrepresentation.Hecouldseethewatercaste’sclaimsalready–thepupil ofPuretidedescendsoncemore todispensehiswisdom, theheroofArkunashagathershischosenwarriorstorepelthevicioushumaninvadersfromtheseptworldofDal’yth.Thetruthofhisrecentneardeath,however,theykepthidden.The hollow glory of the moment was bitter in Farsight’s mouth, but it wasnothing to the agonies coursing across his body. Tight fists of pain filled hislungs, clenching with each step. Even his pores hurt. He kept his expressionstudiouslyneutral.Toshowweaknessnowwastodishonourthefirecaste,andtododirectharmtothemoraleoftheentirewareffort.Thechamber’scentralhoverdronedippedasheapproached,asmallmercythatallowedhimtostepontoitwithrelativeease.Hewasgladoftherigidcurvingsparholdingthedatasuitearray,andheldontoitforsupport,stiflingapainfulcoughashestraightenedhisback.Hescannedtheeyesofthefirecasteofficersinthefrontrow.Nonehadcreasesofconcernontheirfeatures;hehadnotshownweakness yet. Tutor Sha’kanthas was amongst them, his face as sour andunlikeableasever,buttherestofthempracticallyglowedwithpride,thrilledbythehonourofbeingsoclosetoapupilofMasterPuretide.Sofar,sogood.‘GreetingsinthenameoftheTau’va,comrades,’saidFarsightsoftly.Hiswordscarried across the theatre, and themassed ranksofofficers responded inkind,eachmakingthesignoftheGreaterGood.On the balcony high above them all, the ethereal Aun’Dreca nodded once.Flanking him were the images of the absent ethereals Aun’Tefan andAun’Tipiya, attending by holopresence, the unwavering attention of the twofemales almost as daunting as that of the delegate attending in person.Aun’DrecagesturedwiththinfingersforFarsighttocontinue.‘Warhascometousoncemore,myfriends.’Therewasasusurrationofexcitementintheaudience.Farsightsawtheglowofbloodlustonthefacesofmanyofficersinthefrontrow;itwasheldincheck,butpresentnonetheless.‘Here we fight a race possessed of great resource. Do not be fooled by the

paucity of troops they have committed thus far. By my estimations we haveencounteredbutafractionoftheirstrength.Worsestill,theirstarshipsareusingunknownmethodstopunchthroughouroutlyingfleetsanddeploytheir troopsoncoreseptsoil.’Behind Farsight, a complex holographic array glowed into bright life. Por’oKaisofthewatercastehadadoptedthecommander’ssuggestionsastohowthefirecastebestassimilatedinformation,andthemulti-partdisplaywasfashionedandcompartmentalisedlikethecontrolscreensofabattlesuit.ThecentralsectionshowedfootageofornateImperialcraftbargingthroughthevoid. Each boasted cannons large and numerous enough to shatter a krootwarsphere.Distribution arrays showed the fleet’s entry point into tau space, aglowingwoundinthefabricofspace.Wedge-frontedImperialcraftpushedoutfromtheroilingriftlikeswordsburstingthroughasplitgut.‘WedonotknowwhatstrangetechnologytheyusedtopenetratestraightintotheFirstSphere,’saidFarsight.‘Theearthcastehavenotseenitslike.Yetthatisa riddle for anotherday.Thehumansareherenow,uponDal’yth, and in evergreaternumbers.Thatiswhatmatters.’Thefirecasteofficersnodded,manythinningtheirlipsinsignsofaggression.Farsight felt the heat of their keenness; in their hearts, theywanted to be outtherewiththecadresonthefrontline.Buttheirmindssoughtwisdomandunityfirst, and theypaid rapt attention to everywordof their commander’sbrief. Itwasasighttomakeevenanetherealproud.‘So farwe have held the invaders at bay,’ continued Farsight. ‘The air castehavemaintained overall control of low orbit, and our own SkyRay gunshipshaveaddedtheirmighttothestruggleforDal’yth’sairspace.Overasingerotaa,hundredsoftherudimentaryaircraftthatserveasthegue’laskyforcehavebeenshotdown.’Thehologramsbehindthecommandershowedatextbookaircastedeployment,staggeredpicket linesofcraft linkedbyaperfectdistributionofaerialdrones.FootageofanImperialsquadronslidintofocus,veeringawayfromthetrawlingnetof air castehuntersonly tobe takenoutwithgrimefficiencyby streakingseekermissilesfrombelow.The scenes cut expertly to the wallowing, fat-bellied shape of an Imperialbomber, itscargobayspregnantwithdeath.AsquadronofRazorsharkfightersemergedfrombehindasensortower,quadionriflescuttingthewingsfromthegiant aircraft even as it disgorged a clumsy tumble of cylindrical bombs.Interceptor drones detached from theSunSharks in the fighters’wake, diving

low after the falling bombs and detonating them in a string of harmlessexplosionsacrossthesky.A spasm of pain passed through Farsight’s body and he felt his spine twitchhard.Heturnedtheinvoluntarymovementintoahalf-twist,makingitlooklikehewastakingamomenttowatchthefootageplayingbehindhim.TwoRazorsharksharriedadartingImperialflyerthathadbeenseparatedfromits squadron, a blunt-winged craft with a class designation that translated as‘Thunderbolt’. The tau strike fighters neatly bisected the fleeing aircraft, theirunderslungguns turning itswreckage into littlemore than scatteringdebris astheytracedaspiralpatharounditsplummetingdescent.Thefootagedidnotshowthemightygue’ron’shacraftthathaddivedheadlongtowardsDal’yth’s surface,pugnaciousattack ships that smashedholes throughtheaircaste’sdefenceswiththeeaseofakrootoxpunchingthroughthinice.Inplaces it seemed the Imperialgunshipswereactivelyseekingcollision, forcingthematrixof taufighters toevade indisarray.Therewasplentymorematerialhighlighting the sheer strength of the gue’ron’sha attack, but little of it needreachFarsight’sfellowofficers.Notyet,atanyrate.Moralecouldbeadelicatething.‘The earth caste’s transmotive network is working at near peak efficiency,’continued Farsight. The holograms showed sleek silver carriages disgorgingpristine fire warrior strike teams, the scorched skies of Gel’bryn City behindthem.‘ByconveyingcadresupporttoeachassailedhexodomeasandwhentheImperialsstrike,wearequicklyneutralisingthepodsthatformthegue’ron’sha’sfavouredinvasionvectors.’Aveteranofficermade the signofwill-to-speak from the front row.Farsightunfurledapalminreturn.‘It is a fine thing to see the invasion in hand,’ said a tall, distinguished tauveteraninfullparadedress.CommanderSha’vastos,anoldfriendofFarsight’s.Despitehisagehemadethedeferentialgestureoftheenquiringstudent,fingercurledandheadcockedtooneside.‘MightIaskastothewatercaste’sefforts?’‘Ofcourse,CommanderSha’vastos,’saidFarsight,gratefulfortheinterjection.Itwasimportant theotherofficersfelt theycouldaskquestionsoftheir leader,especiallyinatimeofopenwar,andhisoldArkunashanallyhadthrownopenthe floor. ‘The water caste maintains the flow of critical intelligence acrossDal’yth and beyond. Many of these holograms will be broadcast to thepopulationatlarge,inordertolessenthepsychologicalimpactoftheinvasion.Iamgiventounderstandsomeofthemincludeahandsomeyoungcommanderin

aratherstrikingredbattlesuit.’Quietmirth trickled through theholotheatre; theyhadallheardof thehumanflawofvanity,andfounditendlesslyentertaining.EventheetherealAun’Drecasmiled, recognising that humour was sometimes a necessary tool. ThoughFarsight grinned ruefully, he felt nothing but aches and exhaustion behind hismaskoflevity.Foramoment,heletafractionofhispainshow.Theroomfellsilent.‘Thecastesfightinunison,fortheetherealsguideandwatchoverusall,’saidFarsight,hiswordscarryingtheringofconvictionashemadetheopenedhandsofunboundrespect.‘Asitisnow,andasitevershallbe.Withtheunbreakableshieldoftrueunitywewillrepeltheseinvaders.Togetherweprevail,nomatterthelegionstheythrowatus.Andthoselegionsaremanifold.’The holograms behind Farsight became the view outside Gel’bryn’s serrieddomes,flickeringandfadingtomonochromeasiftakenfromanancientsource– a deft touch from the water caste, intended to highlight the anachronistic,hidebound nature of the foes marching from the cavernous holds of Imperialbulklanders.Rankuponrankofgue’lasoldiersstrodeforward,armouredinthegrey-greenof dead vegetation. Their faceswerewaxymasks of ignorance and contempt.Heldagainsteachhuman’sshoulderwasaprimitiverifle,aweakandinefficientlaser weaponmuch like those the tau had encountered on the far side of theDamoclesGulf.Avicious-lookingbladejuttedfromeachrifle’sbarrel,asifthebearers thought of their firearms as spears rather than as precision tools ofrangedwarfare. The fire caste too carried blades – known as bonding knives,they represented unity and hope, symbolising the sacred team-bond of theta’lissera.Theywererarely,ifever,drawnfromtheirscabbards.‘Byawarrior’s toolsyoushallknowhim,’quotedFarsightsolemnly. ‘Justasthe fire caste are defined by the Hero’s Mantle we all aspire to master, theImperial soldiery is represented by the crude weapons you see here. In theirhearts, they do not intend to engage at range, but to scrabble around inmurderousclose-quarterscombat, stabbingandslashing.Themostperfunctoryof uniforms is the only thing separating them from their primitive, ape-likeancestors.’Arippleofdisquietfilledtheholotheatre.‘Suchabarbaricracehasnoplaceuponacoreseptworld,’continuedFarsight.‘Theyhavenorolein theuniverseother thantobebrought toheel,culledandconsignedtoslowoblivion.’

Thereweremurmursofassent.Manyturnedintocriesofaweandconfusionasthe drone-camera hologram panned back. Behind the serried ranks of gue’latroopersstrodeimmense,broad-shoulderedwarengineswithgiganticcannonsinplaceofarms.Theywerecrudeeffigiesbuiltinmockeryofthenoblebattlesuit,colossibornofaracethatrespectedonlybrutestrength.‘Thesebipedalwarenginesareclassifiedbytheirownersas“god-machines”,’saidFarsight.‘Theymayappearindomitableatfirstglance,butalreadyonehasbeen neutralised by precision strike from theManta missile destroyers of theillustriousAdmiralLi’mauTeng.’In the holograms behind Farsight, a burning goliath toppled onto the indigowasteland outside Via’mesh’la. The bright fires of its demise threw thecommanderintosilhouette.‘A warrior who wears his strength openly is easily countered,’ quotedCommanderStarflamefromthemidstoftheaudience.‘Justso,’saidFarsight.‘Andthoughsixofthesebehemothsareinbounduponourcities,theyarepredictable.Itisnottheseenginesofwarthefirecastemustseek to counter, but the gue’ron’sha, those warriors the humans call SpaceMarines,whosestrikesaresuddenandpowerful.Theirinsertioncraftaresimpleenough, but mercilessly effective. Though it pains me to say it, these SpaceMarinesareexpertsintheapplicationofpureforceatasinglepoint.’At this, theholograms showed the angular teardropof an Imperial drop craftslammingthroughtheglasscurveofahexodome.Uponimpactitshullsplitintofivesections,twoblue-armouredgue’ron’shaemergingfromeachopeningwithsidearmsblazing.Firewarriorspositionedamongsttherubblewerecutdownina series ofmessy explosions, though thewater castedata teamshad taken thelibertyofeditingouttheblood.‘Thegue’ron’shaweararmour thatcannotbepiercedby theshotof thepulserifle, nor shatteredby the salvosof theburst cannon.Yet theirweakness is asclear as a mountain stream. They are too few in number to effect more thanshockassaults.Oncedeployed,thesestrikeforcesarecommittedtoasinglewarzone,unlesstheiraircoverpullsthemout.’Farsightsawmanysolemnnodsintheholotheatre,andnofewexpressionsofdisdain.‘By forcing the SpaceMarines to launch the spear of their assault and thenensuringourcadreswithdrawbeforetheirblowcanfall,werobthegue’ron’shaof themilitary targets they are so keen to destroy. The air caste and our ownfighter squadrons will work in tandem, stranding each gue’ron’sha attack

withouthopeofrecovery.’‘A wise plan, Commander Farsight,’ said Commander Bravestorm from thefrontrow.‘ItistypicaloftheImperialmindsettotrustinstrengthalone.ImyselffoughtaflightlessbattlesuitequivalentcladinarmourthickerthananOrca’shull–itwaspowerfulindeed,butslowtomanoeuvre.’Seizing theopportunity,Farsighteye-flicked theholo to showdrone-capturedfootageofBravestorm’striumphovertheImperialwalker.Hecomplementeditby appending scenes of battlesuits blasting holes right through the torsos ofImperialshocktroops.‘They are resilient, these SpaceMarines, but they can be killed. Equip yoursuitswith plasma rifles and fusion blasterswherever possible.As a guideline,any timeyou face gue’ron’sha, treat themnot as infantry, but as squadrons ofenemytanks.’Hepausedamomenttolettheconceptsinkin.‘Wehavetherightweaponstoovercomethesewarmongeringtrespassers.Wearegatheringknowledgeoftheirweaknesses.Thereisnoreasonwhywecannotrepelthehumanswithinafewrotaaoffocusedeffort.’A chorus of approval filled the auditorium, many of the fire caste officersmakingthesignofunalloyedassent.‘The efforts ofCommandersBrightsword andBravestorm thus far havebeenexemplary,’ continued Farsight. ‘As a result, recent air caste sweeps haveconfirmedthatthegue’ron’shahavebeenrepelledfromGel’brynCity…’At this, cheers filled theholotheatre.On thebalcony,Aun’Dreca inclinedhisheadinasubtlegestureofdisapproval.Farsightmadethelaterallineofsilence,andhisfellowofficersfellstill.‘Theyhavebeenrepelled,fornow,’saidFarsight,angersimmeringinhisvoice,‘but a new attack gathers outsideGel’bryn in force.We have slowed it downwith missile strikes from the hills, hunted and put down their outriders withoverlappingsweepsofourstealthteams.Butthemainbodyremainsintact,andstillnumbersinthetensofmillions.’A pulse of pain twitched in his lungs at the thought,making his eyeswideninvoluntarily.He saw a shadowof concern cross the faces ofBravestorm andSha’vastos;theyhadlearnedtobeperceptiveovertheyears.‘Wemuststudythem,stallthem,breakthemapart,andthen,’Farsight’sbreathcaughtforamoment,‘andthenbringdownthesword.Theyhavegreatnumbersstill tocommit, inorbit aswell asplanetside.Yetwehaveanentireempire todrawupon,abletofocusitseffortsfullyontheconflictathand.’

ThehologramsbehindFarsightshowedthewiderTauEmpire, itsspace laneshighlightedgold.Assetswereinboundfromadozenworlds.‘WewillobservetheImperialarmy’sstrengths,exploit itsblindness,optimiseourcountermeasures,anddefeat itbeyondquestion.Thekillingblowwill fall,againandagain,untilthisnewchapterintheascendanceoftheTau’vaislitwithglory.’The footagebehindFarsight showed a hundredbattlesuits descending fromacrystalbluesky,sunlightglintingfromeveryburnishedplane.Theyopenedfirein blistering unison. The atmosphere in the roomwas tense with the thrill ofanticipation,drytinderwaitingforafinalspark.Avoicecutthroughthejubilantatmospherelikeanice-coldknife.‘No.’An athletic female warrior emerged from the iris door at the far end of theholotheatre,tallandproud.Hersleekheadwascrestedwitharedscalplockthattrailed behind her like a whip, the bands upon it symbols denoting a majormilitaryvictory.Thereweremany,manybandscrowninghersmoothpate.CommanderShadowsunhadarrived.

Farsightfelthisnervesjoltashisformerteam-mateShadowsunemergedintothelight.DespitethebulkofhersignatureXV22stealthbattlesuit,shelopeddownthecentreoftheholotheatrewiththegraceofahuntingcat.Herscalplockhadeven more honorific bands than he had seen in the latest water caste stills.Behind her came an entourage – three specialist drones and two shas’ui, theirown stealth battlesuits compact but imposing. Farsight noticedwisps of steamemanatingfromherfusionblasters,stillcoolingfromsomerecentengagement.EvenO’Shaserrawas not unscrupulous enough to have fired them before hergrandentrancejustforeffect.Atleast,nottheKauyon-ShasherememberedfromMountKan’ji.Everyoneoftheofficersintheholotheatrehadturnedtolookatthevisitorintheirmidst,whispersofsurpriserustlingthroughthemlikewindthroughafieldof crops. The breach of etiquette was quickly forgotten, washed away byShadowsun’s aura of sheer confidence and self-belief. She strode up to thecommand dais and interposed herself between Farsight and the audience,standingheadandshoulderstallerthanhiminherbattlesuitandlargelyblockinghimfromsight.FarsightlookedupatAun’Dreca,hisblooduncomfortablyhotinhisveins,but

theetherealmerelymadeagentlebeckoninggesturetoproceed.‘CommanderShadowsun,’saidFarsighttohisfellowofficer’sback.‘Thisisanunexpectedpleasure.Please,takeaseat;myaddressisalmostcomplete.’O’Shaserra ignoredhim. ‘The time for talk isover,’ shesaidwithout turning,hersterntonescuttingthelastoftheaudience’ssusurrusintosilence.‘OptimisedkauyonplanshavelongbeeninplaceuponDal’yth.Weshouldenactthem,notstall inorder todevisemore.Ourpeoplearedying.Sonowweact.Asof thismoment,thefirecastereservecadresjointhoseinthefield.’Farsight heard not a single voice raised in contradiction. He looked to theholographdisplaybehindhim,butitwasblank.AllfocuswasonShadowsun.‘ThefirecasteisthecurrenttargetoftheseImperialshocktroops,’O’Shaserracontinued, ‘sowe shall relocate into lesspopulous areas.Lure them into trapsthatminimisecollateraldamage.Wewageamobilewar,followingtheplanet’srotationsothatweremainuponitsdarksideatalltimes.’Afewmuttersofassentcamefromtheaudience,dottedwithlouderoutburstsofapproval.‘Weengineerconfusion.Wedrawtheenemyout.Piecebypiece,wecrushhimin our grip. Starflame, you will form the polar point of the pincer to myequatorial.O’Sarakan,youwillperformbreakerstrikesuntilrelieved.O’Soara,putsomecohesionintothePra’yenrefugeesandrejoinBravestorm’sretaliationcadresatDal’ryu.’Farsight frowned, his outward expression the merest shadow of the stormraginginside.Whatdidshethinkshewasdoing?Howcouldshebetrayhimlikethis?Their friendly rivalryhad turned sourmanyyears ago, and shehadbeendistantandcoldeversince.Butthispublicdivisionwasanewlow.ThefeelingscatchinginhisthroatweresointenseFarsighthadtoforcedowntheurgetocough.Unbidden,hishandstrayedtothehiltofhisceremonialswordasO’Shaserraoutlinedherorders.Gonewastheintrospectivestrategisthehadgrowntoadmire,theever-patientwarrioresswhohadsatinthesnowsofMountKan’jiforlongdaysuntilherpreypassedwithinstrikingdistance.ThiswasnottheShadowsunfamousacrosstheempireforhercoldanddeadlydeliberations.HereinsteadwasaparagonoftheCodeofFire,alivewiththethrillofdeliveringa long-plannedkauyon– the certain and lethal denouement of a carefully laidtrap.Farsight told himself it was compassion, of a sort, that had driven her tohumiliatehiminsuchafashion.Tauliveswerebeinglost.Ifshecouldminimisethose tragedies with decisiveness and efficiency, she would do so without

hesitation.Howtheirroleshadchanged.‘Toomuchtimehasbeenspenthere,’continuedO’Shaserra.‘Ifanyrefinementstotheseplansarenecessary,wecaneffectthemoverthecadre-netaswedeploy.Moveout.’Shadowsun strode back down the centre aisle of the holotheatre towards theexit,herentourageinherwake.Farsightfoundhisfistsclenchingasafullhalfof his emergency conclave stood and followed her out, already talking intoheadpiece beads to coordinate their forces.His skin burned, and this time notbecausehehadexitedthehealspheretoosoon.‘That will be all,’ he said to the uncertain officers that remained. ‘I haveappended details of your individual briefings via data transmission. We shallcombine our efforts with Commander Shadowsun as best we can. For theGreaterGood.’‘FortheGreaterGood,’echoedFarsight’scommanders.Butthefirehehadlitinsidethemwasnolongerthere.

TutorSha’kan’thaswasamongthelasttoleavetheholotheatre.HehadlingeredlongtosavourthetasteofFarsight’sembarrassment,andfoughthardtokeepasmile fromspreadingacrosshis features ashewalkedpast apairof fire casteofficersearnestlydiscussingwhichoftheirtwoleadershadthebetterapproachtovictory.Dal’yth’sdefendersmightstanddivided,theymightevensufferforitat thehandsof the Imperial invaders,but if itmeant thatFarsight lost enoughstatustoberemovedfromcommandthenTutorSha’kan’thasconsidereditmorethanworthit.Eversincementoring thevauntedprodigy in theMont’yrBattleDome,TutorSha’kan’thas had seen the peril O’Shovah posed to the Tau’va. Since theinceptionoftheCodeofFire,everycadethadfollowedthesamepath–andtobreak it, to show preference to one individual over the whole, was to invitedisaster.For the fire caste to entertain the concept that a singleyoungwarriorknewbetterthanhistutors,andbyextensiontheethereals,wasdeeplywrong.In the corridor ahead, Tutor Sha’kan’thas saw O’Vesa of the earth castestumping along on his thick legs, struggling to match the confident stride ofCommander Bravestorm. The genius-level scientist was well known toSha’kan’thas from the rust deserts of Arkunasha. His prototypes had helpedFarsight turn a disaster of a campaign into a hard-fought but glorious victory.The ten-year campaign had seen El’Vesa promoted to O’Vesa, given the

honorific name StoneDragon, and elevated to the upper tiers of his caste. Intermsofintellect,hewasageniuswithoutdoubt.Yetintermsofpolitics,hewasanobliviousbuffoon.‘It is of course possible to achieve greater energy yield, but risky in theextreme,’O’Vesawassaying toBravestorm. ‘Yousayevenadirecthit fromafusionblasterfailedtoneutralisethiswarmachine?’Tutor Sha’kan’thas accelerated his stride as the two continued theirconversation. He transmitted a greeting-blip to O’Vesa’s data wand,simultaneouslyactivatingtherecorder-discushiddenintheflatofhispalm.‘Ah,TutorSha’kan’thas,’saidO’Vesa,hisflatslabofafacebrokenbyagentlesmile as he turned in the corridor. ‘I see you survived the Argap Plateauwithdrawal.’Bravestormhelduptheopenpalmsofwelcome.‘Anhonourtoseeyou,tutor,’he said, his veil of politeness not quite covering his irritation at beinginterrupted. ‘And congratulations on having fought alongside CommanderFarsight.’‘Yes,’saidTutorSha’kan’thas.‘Arkunasha.Agreatvictory.Perhapstentau’cyrtoolate,butnotablenonetheless.Amomentofyourtime,StoneDragon?’‘Certainly,’saidO’Vesawithadistantlookinhiseye.CommanderBravestormmadethesignoffuturepathscrossing,andstrodeoffdownthecorridor.‘WereyoupresentatFarsight’sbriefing?’askedthetutor.‘Iwas.Itwasarareprivilegetobepresentatafirecastegathering.’‘Arousingcalltoarms,wasitnot?’‘It was informative on a surface level,’ said O’Vesa, ‘though I prefer to digdeeper.Imperialtechnologyisofgreatinteresttotheearthcaste.Thiswaroffersanunparalleledchancetostudyit.’‘Ofcourse.AndFarsight’sskillasanoratorisimpressive,youmustagree.Oneneed only havewitnessed today’s inspiring address to see that, or his famousspeechtotheaircasteatZephyrpeak.’‘IfearIamnotqualifiedtojudge,butyes,theytellmeCommanderFarsight’sskillsatdiplomacyarehighlyadvanced.’‘Wouldyousaytheyaretheequalofthewatercaste?’‘Itispossible.Thecommander’sskillsetsare…admirable.’‘Skillsets,yousay?Doyoumeanthoseoutsidetheremitofthefirecaste?’Amoment of awkward silence passed between them.As Tutor Sha’kan’thashadhoped,theStoneDragoncouldnothelpbutfillit.‘CommanderFarsightisasingularindividual,andIrespecthimgreatly.Only

yesterday he restarted a malfunctioning battlesuit’s systems whilst it waswaterlogged in theGel’brynReservoir.That isa featwhichmostworker-levelweaponsscientistswouldfinddifficulttoachieve.’‘Howilluminating,’saidTutorSha’kan’thas,hiseyesnarrowing.Thereitwas,thechinkintheprodigy’sarmour,laidwideopenbyatrustedfriend.‘Withsuchtalentsintheartsoftheothercastes,wouldyousaythatCommanderFarsight’struenatureisvash’ya?’O’Vesa startedbackas ifhehadbeen slapped. ‘Iwould say…Iwould say Ihave little expertise on such matters,’ stammered the scientist. ‘Would youexcuseme,tutor.Ihaveweaponsteststooversee,andCommanderBravestorm’sprototyperequesttoinvestigate.’TutorSha’kan’thaswatchedO’Vesabow,turnandhurryaway.Hislipspressedinto a tight smile.TheStoneDragon clearly thoughtO’Shovah to bebetweenspheres,evenifhelackedthecouragetosayitoutright.Howfitting thatFarsight’s threat to theTau’va shouldbeundonebyhisowngenius.

CHAPTERSIXINTRUSION/TRIALBYEARTH

ThesmelloftheundergroundcorridorsstungatthebackofNumitor’ssinuses,alien counterseptic mingling with the ice-cold tang of liquid nitrogen. Everyfootstepechoedloudly.TheadvanceofSquadNumitor’sbattle-brotherssoundedliketherumbleofanoncomingstorm,caughtandamplifiedasitrolleddownthecurvingwhite corridors that led from the civilianhousing areadeeper into thelabyrinth.No matter, thought Numitor. The Eighth Company cared little for stealth.Neither did their brothers in the Fifth, come to that; Antelion’s squad weremaking just as much noise as his own. The Ultramarines existed to bringglorious destruction, not to skulk like assassins – and once the leaders of theenemymilitaryhadfallen,theywouldfulfilthatdutyingreatmeasure.Inthemiddledistanceawidecirculardoorgaveasoftchime.Thelightarrayabove it winked red, and curved metal panels slid to bar the passage of theoncomingSpaceMarines.Alreadystriding forward,Sicarius raisedhisplasmapistol.Thebarrelwasdangerouslyclose toNumitor’shead;heclosedhiseyesonreflex,notamomenttoosoon.Therewasacracklingroar,awashofintenseheat,andthesmellofburninghair–thestubbleonNumitor’sscalp,judgingbythestingingpainacrossthesideofhis head. His vision was a white blur for a moment, then a tracery of bloodvesselsfadedawaytoleavehissightunmarred.Hegroundhisteeth,stiflinghisreprimand.Dutycamefirst,andtheEighthcouldillaffordmoredivision.Ahead,aglowing,yellow-whitecirclehadbeenburnedrightthroughthedoor.Sicariuswasalreadywalkingtowards it,checkingforhostilesbeforeelbowing

throughtheopeninginaspatteringofmoltengobbets.Numitorclimbedthroughafterhim,therestofthestrikeforceclosebehind.Awell-litcorridorstretchedoutbeforethem,glowinglumensrangedalongitscurving ceiling. Interspersed along its length were tall, lozenge-shaped doorswithportholesoftransparentmaterialdowntheircentrelines.With Sicarius so keen to take the vanguard, Numitor took stock of hissurroundings,thebettertowatchforpotentialambush.Hepausedatoneoftheportholewindowsashewalkedpastandpeeredinside.Thesightbeyondfilledhimwithanunnameableloathing.Aquartetofwidepillarsroseuptoacloudofivory-huedvapour.Girdlingthematsixevenly-spacedheightswerewide,splayingwheelswithspokesthat leantgently downwards, each turning slowly in contra-rotation to the one below.Uponeach spokewasa curving,glass-frontedpod. Insideeachwas thebarestflicker of movement. Something tiny was twitching inside each of thecontainers.Incubatorcarousels,eachwithaninfanttaulifeforminside.Four pillars, four castes. Presumably the geometric markings adorning eachpillar corresponded to the elements thatmade up the tau race. Their newbornwereengineered,then,ratherthanraisedfromchildbirthbynaturalparents.Justlike these tau topervert themiracleof life intoanautomatedprocess, thoughtNumitor,nodoubtasfarremovedfromtheirownnaturallifecycleastheycouldpossiblymake it. To a warrior from the traditionalist arcologies of Calth, thenotionwasdisgustingintheextreme.OneofthenearestpodsrevolvedsoitsatdirectlyinNumitor’slineofvision.Thetauinsideitwasnobiggerthanabolterclip,itsthinlimbscrossedacrossitschest like the relief sculpture upon a Blood Angels’ sarcophagus. Unlike ahumaninfant,itsheadandlimbswereinperfectproportiontothoseofadulttaulife forms. Humanoid, but so very far from a true human that it made thesergeantfeelsicktolookuponit.Therewasothermovementtoo,inthebackofthechamber,aflashofwhiteinthe far reaches of the room. Numitor itched with the urge to act, his bloodsinging as his augmented nervous system dumped a fresh batch of stimulantsintohisveins.Outoftheivorymistcameadisc-likedrone,largerthanthosehehad encountered at the reservoir. It had underslungmanipulator limbs, scopesandsyringes,somehowremindingNumitorofanApothecary’snartheciumandreductor.Oneoftheappendagescontainedamilkyfluidthatdrippedfromalongvalve-tippedpipette.

Numitorhalf-sawandhalf-feltabluelineoflightflickeracrosshisfeaturesasthedrone’ssensorarrayscannedhimforanidentitymatch.Hishandwasalreadyreachingforagrenadewhenthemachine’salarmrangloud, its limb-apparatusjerkinginautomatedpanic.Theinfant tauin thepodsstartedsquallingasone,theirmeditative repose replacedbyclawing, thrashing frenzy.Theyhammeredtinyfistson theglassfrontsof their incubators, thesoundrolling together intothefar-distantrumbleofwarstocome.Twomoredronesemergedfromthegloom.Pulseweapons,stockyandlethal,projected from under the lip of their disc-like bodies. They came towards thedooratpace.Numitor drew back his power fist and put all his weight behind the punch,slamming it through theplexiglasswitha jolting impact that sprayedshatteredfragmentsacrosstheincubatorroom.Aplasmashottooklayersofceramitefromhis knuckles as one of the drones stitched the door with burning white light.Wrenching his fist back out, Numitor stuck his bolt pistol through with hisforearmbracedontheedgeoftheporthole.Thedroneswereeasytargets–twoplacedshots,twodetonations,andtheywereblowntopieces.Thelargermonitordronewascaughtinthesecondexplosionandflewinawidespiralthroughtheair,trailingsmokeasitscarer-limbstwitchedsenselesslybeneath.‘Sergeant,’ said Duolor, ‘the true fight does not lie here. We must continueonward,ifwearenottobeleftbehind.’‘Of course,’ replied Numitor, shutting his eyes tight for a moment beforeheading down the corridor after SquadSicarius. ‘Of course. Therewill be farstrangersightstocome.’

Sicarius,somedistanceahead,patchedthroughonthevox.‘Numitor, get up here.We’re keeping true to your heading. It’s led us into awarrenallright.There’senoughinthewayofxenoscogitatorsheretomakeatech-priestchoke.’Ignoringthestabofannoyancehefeltathisbrother’stone,Numitormotionedfor his squad to follow him, breaking into a loping run along the wideningcorridors. He passed through themangled remains of another vault-like door,emergingintoasterile,white-walledchamberso largeitcouldhaveactedasahangarforadozenThunderhawks.At the chamber’s heart were a number of console stations hovering at waistheight.Sicariusandhissquadweregatheredlooselyaroundthem.Eachconsoletook theformofawide torusclusteredwithhololiths.The imagescoruscating

acrossthemweremanyandvaried,buttheyallhadonethingincommon–theywerewithoutexceptiondevotedtotheartefactsofwar.Alongthewallsofthelongchamberwerewide,window-likeviewscreens,eachlongenoughforascoreofobserverstopeerinsideatonce.Anovaldoor-portalstoodtothesideofeachone.Numitorpacedalongthechamber’slength,hazard-scanningashewent.Thedroneattackintheinterstitialcorridorhadfloodedhissystemwiththesharpbuzzofhyperdrenaline,andevenwiththeareasecuredbySicarius’ Conquerors, he was still more than ready to fight. Any tau thatappearedwouldmeetasuddenandgrislydeath.Throughoneof thewindowscreensNumitor sawan Imperial city, all ruinedarchwaysandshatteredbuttresses.Brokenstreet-lumensadornedeverycorner;fromnofewofthem,scarecrowbodieshungbytheneck,turninglimplyinaninvisible breeze. A crude representation of the two-headed eagle was stencil-sprayed onto every flat surface. Numitor noticed the aquila’s head thatrepresentedvigilanceandjusticeworeastylisedhoodlikethatofahuntingbird;nodoubtsomexenostechnician’sideaofwrycommentary.In themiddle distancewere the burnt-out shells of vehicles fashioned in thelikeness of Astra Militarum battle tanks. The entire environment had beenconstructedtobereminiscentofanImperialmanufactorumdistrict,evendowntothescatteringsofbulletcasingsstrewnthroughthestreets.‘Trainingenvironment,’saidNumitor.Nearby,Trondorisgruntedinagreement,heftinghisevisceratorandlookingthroughthewindowforsignsof lifebeforereluctantlymovingaway.The next room’s window screen was dark, but Numitor’s sharpened visionpenetrated the gloom easily enough.Hewas looking across the pale, crateredsurfaceofamoon.Throughsomeartificeoflight,itextendedimpossiblyfarinall directions; there was even a gentle curve to the horizon. Broken Imperiallanders dotted the lunar sprawl. Amongst them were blackened corpsesstretchingtheirclawstowardstheuncaringvoid.‘Stopgawpingandgetuphere,’saidSicarius,motioningtowardsthewindowatthefarendof thegallery-likechamber. ‘We’reoutofoptions.This is theonlywaytocontinueifwewanttosticktoyouroriginalpath.’Numitorapproached thewindowaroundwhichSquadSicariuswasclustered.Beyonditwasathickgreenjungle,wreathedindiaphanouscloudsofmist.Thesergeantpeeredbetweenthevine-chokedtrunksthatledtothesprawlingcanopyhighabove,buthecouldseenoendtotheswathesofvegetationstretchingintothedistance.

The idea of plunging into an underground jungle grown specifically as aweaponstestinggrounddidnotsitwellwithNumitor,butSicariushadapoint–if theywere to continue their heading along the projected course, theywouldhave to venture into that artificialworldscape and find awayout of the otherside.‘Right,’ said Numitor, flexing his power fist and smashing the plexiglassviewscreenintojaggedshards.‘Let’sgetstarted.’

SquadsSicarius,NumitorandAnteliontrudgedthroughthesludgymorassofthejungle floor. As well as its tangled mat of thorny vegetation, the artificialenvironmentwasthickwithpeatyblackmuckthatclungtotheirbattleplateuptotheankle.Everyoneof theUltramarines lookedaroundat theslightestsignofmovement.Therewasplentyofitforthemtotakein,fartoomuchtoallowforanyclearthreat-scan.Theplacewasfilledwiththehooting,callingandbuzzingofahundreddifferentspecies.Numitor noticed something strange about the jungle’s fauna – every creaturelarger than his fist had four triple-jointed claws and a powerful, jutting beak.Mostof the trulyavian speciesboastedaprofusionofbrightly colouredquillsfromthebackoftheirheads,creststhatshookwithapercussiverattleeverytimethe SpaceMarines passed close by.Here and there a long-limbed gibbon-likecreature brachiated through the canopy. These too had a vicious avian cast tothem,theirheadsmorelikethoseofhawksthansimians.Threehadcomeathim,shrieking, but his backhand slap had broken the largest one’s neck and sent itcrashingintoatree.ThecreatureshadlefttheEighthalonesincethen.Theape-likeanimalsremindedthesergeantofsomething,somethinghe’dreadaboutinconnectionwiththetau,buthecouldnotplaceit.Notwiththegrumblesofhisbattle-brothersvyingforhisattention.‘Aworld of sterility andorder,’ saidKaetoros, lookingpointedly atNumitor,‘and the Eighth still manages to find a sea of foul-smelling muck to traipsethrough.’‘We’vecomethisfar,’hereplied.‘Doyouwishtoturnback?’Byway of answer,Kaetorosmerely shouldered his flamer and increased hispace.‘Thereisundoubtedlyaquickerwaytoproceedthanthis,’saidVeletan,‘butnotnecessarilyamoreexpedientone.Wearenotnativetotheplanet,andhencewecannotfactorinitskillzones.’‘Quite,’addedNumitor.‘WhentheAdeptusAstartesfindtheirwaybarred,they

forgeanewpath.’‘Idonotrecallthatproverb,’saidVeletan,anedgeofuncertaintytohisvoice.Thewarriorwasstoicenoughtowalkacrossamagmafieldwithoutcomplaint,but the idea of Imperial doctrine he had not committed tomemory filled himwithdeepunease.‘ItwasfirstsaidbyoneSergeantNumitor,Ibelieve,’Numitorrepliedairily.Veletanlookedathimaskancebeforecontinuingon.In the middle distance, Sicarius was crouching over a flak-armoured corpsesprawledfacedowninaclearing.Evenfromthisfaraway,Numitorcouldseeithadhalfofitstorsoblastedaway,theruddyhueofcookedmeatfesteringunderitsshatteredchestplate.Heangledhiscoursetowardsit.AtNumitor’sapproach,Sicariusgrabbed thecadaver roughlyby theshoulderandturneditover.Ahideousdoll’smaskstaredback.Ithadachild’ssketchofaface,butwroughtinfleshandskin.‘Vatgrown,bythelookofit,’saidSicarius,proddingatthething’spallidneck.‘Someartificialfacsimileofahuman.’‘SupposedtobeanImperialGuardsman,I’dwager,’saidNumitor.‘Thesciencedivisionof theirbuildercastewas testingweapons suitesagainstusbeforeweevenarrived.Nowonderthenativeplatoonsalwayshavetherightweaponsforthekill.’SomethinguglyoccurredtoNumitor.HeturnedtoSicarius,histonegrave.‘Likeasnot,we’llfindsomearmouredmeat-puppetssupposedtorepresenttheAdeptusAstartes.’SicariusmetNumitor’sgaze.‘Likeasnot,brother,’hereplied,‘wewillbeplayingthatroleourselves.’

Surroundedbythecushionedupholsteryofhisanalysiscradle,O’Vesawatchedthegue’ron’shaintrudersfromadozenanglesatonce.Belowhim,thebattlesuithangarbustledwithlife.Hehaddevisedtwonewweaponprototypesinanswerto Commander Bravestorm’s request, overseen the latest iterations of theneuroscienceengramdivision,andhadensuredhisexperimentalbattlesuitswerereadyfordeploymentintheunlikelyeventhegotclearanceforhisfieldtest.But when the intrusion alarms had sounded, he had not obeyed standardevacuationprotocolsliketheothers.Insteadhehadretiredtohissanctumforamoment of meditation, tapping in a hidden override to ensure nobody camelooking for him. The gue’ron’sha held no fear for him. In truth, he fearedignorancefarmore.

Within amatter of seconds he had foundhimself clicking through the cadre-net’s images, assessing the tapestry of war unfolding across the planet andworkingouthow the Imperial strike teamshad locatedhisbaseofoperations.Understanding,asever,waskeytovictory.Thefirstoftheclashingempirestotruly comprehend the mindset and capabilities of the other would secure acriticaladvantageineverytheatreofwar.Itwasathrillingsituation,despitetheimmediate peril that facedDal’yth. If therewas one area of expertiseO’Vesaenjoyed exploringmore than any other, it was the science ofwarfare, and anopportunitytoputsomanyofhisprojectsintopracticeatoncewasrare.NotsinceArkunashahadhefeltsoalive.In parsing the various spectacles of war that the fire caste’s cadre-net hadaccumulated, O’Vesa had spotted the telltale blue of several Ultramarineswarriorsmaking theirway through thealphanumericcityhexes.Eachof themhad a large, bulky backpack – a simple and relatively compact jet propulsionsystem,by the lookof it,capableofholdingevenaSpaceMarine’sgreatbulkaloft.Theywerepresumablyvanguardtroopers,theirwargearsuitesintendedtofunctionasprimitiveversionsoftheHero’sMantle.Theirevolvingdistributionpatternhadunspooledbeforehim,andhehadrunaquicktrajectorycalculationinhishead.Thetrailofcorpsestheyhadleftintheirwake,tauandImperialalike,hadbegunatacrashsite–therestingplaceofanaircastefighterthathaddemolishedthesideofacivilianhexcomplex.That complex joined arterial passageways that led to the hangar inwhich hecurrentlyworked.O’Vesa unconsciouslymade the twin fists of fortunate acquisition, his broadteethshowinginabroadsmile.TheImperialshocktroopershadmadestraightfor the earth caste testing labs. In doing so they had triggered a series ofintrusionalarmsandawide-scalewithdrawalofpersonnel.Perhapstheirintentwastostrikeattheworkersthatkeptthecityalive,orthescientiststhatsuppliedwarmaterieltothefirecaste.Hecouldseewhy.Withoutthelaboursoftheearthcaste,tausocietywouldsoongrindtoahalt.O’Vesapursedhislips,fingerssteeplingunderhischin.Thenagain,toweakenthe firmament of the Tau’va would take months to achieve – months theImperiumcould ill affordwith the castes united against them.Theyhad to beafteramorespecificgoal.The scientist extrapolated the invader-group’s trajectory, extending it all theway toMountKan’ji.Hedrew ina sharpbreathashe realised itwouldcrossAtha’dra,asetoffivecommandtowersusedasabaseofoperationsbyallofthe

taucastesaswellasseveralprominentethereals.Theycouldnotbeallowedtoreachit.Theycouldnotevengetclose.Thegue’ron’shastrikeforce,bolsteredbyaunitofground-borneelitestheyhadjoinedforceswithinthePlazaofBoundlessPotential,hadcarvedadirectpaththroughGel’bryn’s underground sprawl.They had barged theirway through awatercasteguestsuite,aseriesofmeditationchambersandagenetics farmtoreach the earth caste laboratories beyond. The genetics farm had beencompromised beyond recovery; O’Vesa mentally wrote it off without theslightesttwingeofregret.Like raging krootoxen the Space Marines had crashed through every sealeddoor and bulkhead in their path, reaching the weapons testing facilities withdisturbingeasebeforesmashingtheirwayintoO’Vesa’sfavouritewarzone,thePechdenseterrainsimulator.‘A prime opportunity,’ said O’Vesa, punching up a ground-level view of hislatest creations. ‘Prototypes are made to be tested, after all.’ Giant battlesuitsloomed in the darkness, menacing guardian statues waiting for their master’ssummons.O’Vesa picked up a data wand and sketched a series of symbols upon thesmallestofthescreens.Therewasapurrofhiddenmotors,ahissofstaleair,andasleekblackdroneslidoutfromtheconsoletohisright.Redlightswinkeduponthemachine’sperimeter,anauraofthreatemanatingfromitseveryhiddenpanel.‘Ah, Ob’lotai,’ said O’Vesa. ‘I have a job for you, faithful helper. Anengagement your battle parameters should encompass without too muchimpediment.Whatdoyousaytoaswiftkauyon?’

Sicarius rippedanotherserpent’snestofvines fromthecanopyabove.Aroundhim,hissquadslashedtheirchainswordsthroughclumpsofvegetationtoforceapath through the jungle. His scabbard was fouled withmuck, the same blackslimethatwasbakedontotheouterlayersofhisarmour.Thesergeantwasalreadysickoftheswelteringjungle.Numitorhadledtheminto a humid hellhole, more reminiscent of Catachan than the orderedtessellationsofDal’yth’ssurface.Intheory,theideaoffightingrightintothetaucommandzonewassoundenough,andatfirstSicariushadseenNumitor’splanas themost direct and brutal way tomake an impact on the war at large. Inpractice,hewasn’tsureifhewouldprefergoingovergroundafterall,evenifitmeantplasmaspheresrainingoutofthesky.Somethingwinked in the distance, just for amoment, a light on the edge of

vision. Sicarius felt his senses sharpen and his blood thunder withhyperdrenaline.Heheldupanopenhand,stayingtheadvanceofhissquad.‘Veletan,’hehissed,‘awakenyourauspex.There’ssomethingupahead.’The familiar swooping click of Veletan’s handheld scanner-engine pannedacross the jungle, its machine-spirit hungrily searching the undergrowth formajorlifesigns.‘Unknownident,’saidVeletan,‘onthecuspofeffectiverange.It’sasinglesetofreadings,sergeant.Ibelieveittobetheemissionbetrayalsofaxenoswarsuit,andalargeone.Itisstationary,however.Icanonlytheoriseitis–’The jungle suddenly came alive, hundreds of birds and insects bursting fromnowhereassomethingshotthroughthetreestowardsthem.Sicariuscaughtsightof a cluster ofwhitemissiles haring around the dense vegetation to slam intotheirmidst,detonatinghardagainstGlavius justasheturnedhisshoulder.Theexplosionsenthimflyingbacktoslamintoavine-cladtreetrunk.Just as Sicarius drew his sword, another missile shot through the foliage tostrikehimfull in thechest,pitchinghimbackwards ina ringingblastofnoiseandlight.Hefeltamomentofweightlessnessbeforeheslammedhardintothesludge.Herolledtoonesideoninstinct,anotherbluntmissilethuddingintothemulchbeforedetonatingwithawetthumpthatwouldhavetakenhislegshadhenotmovedaside.A thousandhotneedlesdancedalongSicarius’ spineas thepainof the initialstrikefilteredthrough.Itjustmadehisbadmoodworsen.Heshotupwitharoar,pistolheldhigh,andblastedtheblackgunkfromhisjumppackwithablazeofflame.Anothervolleyofmissileswasveeringthroughthejungletowardsthem,jinking and curving to avoid every liana and frond as they hurtled closer.Sicarius leanedhard toone side as apair ofwarheads shot towardshim; theymissedhisthroatbyafinger’sbreadth.‘Get in close, damn it!’ shouted the sergeant. His squadwere swift to obey.Kaetoros,mid-leap,clearedawayaswatheofvegetationwithagoutofblazingpromethiumbeforelandinginashowerofembers.Ionsianboostedforward,boltpistolblastingabrittlecurtainofvinestotattersashisbattle-brothersfollowedbehind.Numitorrocketedpastwithblurringspeed,drivinghiscracklingpowerfistrightthroughthetrunkofatreetosendittopplingover.Sicariussawatinysliverofochreinthedistance,thetelltalecolourofthetauwarriorcaste.‘Gotyou,’hesnarled,leaningforwardtobarrelthroughthedensefoliageon twin tonguesof flame.A trioofmissiles arced in towardshim, toofastforhimtododge.

Numitor’s fallen tree came crashing down on top of them, the quicksilverprojectiles unable to avoid the profusion of branches and thorny tendrilssuddenly in their flight path. The triple thud of the missiles’ demise blastedsplinters and vines in all directions. Sicarius spared a glance in his fellowsergeant’sdirection,gladofhisforesight.Numitorhadrippedavastslabofthefallentree’shollowtrunkaway,usingitasa primitive mantlet as he advanced. Squad Antelion were close behind him,splashingthroughthemireandslashingvineswiththeircombatknivesastheyfought to keep up. Missiles detonated upon the hard bark of Numitor’simprovisedbarrier,tearingittoflinders.Toolittletoolate,thoughtSicarius.Thesergeantandhisallieswerewellwithinengagementrangenow.Thumbinghisplasmapistol’sactivationrune,Sicariusleaptontoanoutcropofrockandboostedforwardagain.Ahead,thepatchofochrehehadseenresolvedintooneof thegunnerwarsuits thatVespertine’sAstraMilitarumplatoonshadcalledBroadsides.Moremissilesshotfromthewarmachine’sshoulder-mountedlaunchers,fromthedroneshoveringatitsshoulders,andfromtheboxygauntletsithadinplaceofhands.ItwaslayingdownabarrageoffirepowerthatanentireDevastatorsquadwouldstruggletomatch.Worse still, every missile seemed to have a mind of its own. Two of thempeeledoff to interceptSicarius,but this timehewasreadyfor them.Heraisedhispistol,andaburningsphereofplasmablitzedthroughthevegetationtowardsthem. It didn’t hit themdirectly, but atmaximumdischarge, it didn’t need to.Thesheerblastwaveofheatthatcamefromhisshotwassointensethatbothofthedeadlycylinderscookedoffwellbeforeimpact.Suddenly the sergeantwas clear.TheBroadside suitwas standingmotionlessamongstthetreeswithablackdronebrushingupagainstitsantenna.Triggeringmaximumburst,Sicariusshotbetweentwothicktrunkstohitthebattlesuitwiththe force of an azure thunderbolt. His tempest blade, held out like a spear,plungeddeepintothetorsounittoimpalewhateverfoulexcuseforawarriorhidwithin.Sicariuswas rewardedwitha fountainofsparks.Thehaywireenergiesplayed across the giant machine’s front, the drone hovering nearby zippingstraightupoutofharm’sway.The roar of a powerful chainsword came from below as Trondoris shot intowards them. With a cry of righteous hatred, he swung his two-handedeviscerator into the waist of the malfunctioning Broadside. The giant toothedblade juddered and jerked asTrondoris ground it through alloy and cable, hiseverymusclestrainingforthekill.

With a sharp crack, the machine’s torso fell back, salvos firing upwards atrandomfromitsmissilegauntletsasitstophalftoppledbackwardsintothemire.Sicariusgaveacryoftriumph,grinningfiercelybehindhishelmashesavouredthe tasteofvictory.Trondoris rammedhisevisceratorpoint-first into the suit’sdisembodied torso, hoping to churn the pilot within into ragged meat. Theswordsmanscowled,lookingupatSicariusinpuzzlementashisbladefoundnopurchase.‘There’snothinginthere,’hesaid.There was a shimmer from Sicarius’ flank, and Trondoris evaporated in asizzlingcloudofblood.

Thexenoswarsuit thatcame loomingoutof the junglewashuge,easily twicethesizeoftheBroadsidewalker.Gun-shapesflickeredonitshulkingshoulders,and fingers of plasma burned through the vegetation to stab into the SpaceMarines advancing around Numitor. The warsuit’s surface constantly rippledwith green, brown and black striations that echoed the foliage behind it to anuncannydegreeandmadeitalmostimpossibletodelineate.The technological dervish emitted a lowhum that setSicarius’ teethon edgeevenwithinhishelm.Glitchesdancedacrosshisreadouts,fuzzinghistargetingrunesandturninghislong-rangevoxtogibberish.Amorassofblurringsymbolsdancedacrosshisvision,disturbinglyreminiscentofthescrapcodefearedbytheMachineGod’sfaithful.Sicariuswrenchedhis faultyhelm fromhisheadwith agrowlof impatience,slammingitontohisbeltwithaclang.EveryoneofhissquadwascastingaboutfortheassailantthathadvaporisedTrondoris,muzzleswhippingrightandleftastheydesperatelysoughtforthesourceoftheplasmafirethathadpulsedfromthetrees.IncredulityjoltedthroughSicarius’mind.Thethingwasrightthere!Howcouldhisbrothersnotseeit?Revealedfromitsambushsite,themachinewasgigantic,a shiftingmiasma of colour taller than a gun bunker. Then it struck him.Thewarsuit was somehow baffling its electronic presence, projecting camouflagesignalssopotenttheywereinvisibleeventoauspexscans.Itmovedwithalmostsilentgracethroughthedensevegetation;allthatSicariuscouldmakeoutwasasusurrusofwhitenoiseasitslidfromtrunktotrunk.‘Helmsoff!’shoutedSicarius,raisinghispistoltosendaballofplasmasearingtowardsthestrangeapparition.‘Itisinvisibletomachine-spirits!’The monstrosity was already boosting up and over the shot, levelling the

massivecannon-shapedsilhouetteofitsrightarmbeforefiringashotofitsown.Sicariushurledhimselfsidewaysasplitsecondbeforeacolumnofintensebluefirestabbeddown.Theblastincineratedthevegetationbeneathhimandsentupacloudofscaldinggreysteam.‘Quickly!’Sicariusyelledashevaultedbehindafallentree.‘Takeyourhelmsoff,allsquads!Huntwiththenakedeye!’Glaviuswasthefirsttoobey.Mag-clampinghishelmtohiswaist,herecoiledinshockatthesheersizeofthexenoswarsuitsuddenlyvisiblebeforehim.Hetookabolt pistol shoton reflex,but the roundwentwide,winging somethingelseentirely–theblackdisc-dronehoveringbetweenthetrees.Itgaveablurtofxenostech-gibberishasitstruggledtoremainairborne.SquadAntelion,adaptingtothenewthreatwithfluidcompetence,openedfire.Those near enough to hear Sicarius’ order took off their helms and formed alooseskirmish line, loosinga fusilladeofmass-reactivebolts frombehind treebolesandmoss-coveredrocks.Theghostsuitturnedtowardsthemwithalarmingswiftness, raising the blunt stub of an arm to send out a swarm of tinyprojectiles.Impossibly, the miniature seekers collided head-on with every one of thetacticalsquad’sbolts,detonatingtheminastringofmid-airpyrotechnics.Notasingleshothithome.Thenthegiantwarsuitreturnedfire,weaponarmprojectinga column of white fire that incinerated two Ultramarines as it leaped backbetweenthetrees.RightintothepathofJorusNumitor.Withadefiantyell,Numitorslammedhispowerfisthomeintothebattlesuit’skneejoint.Theblowtoreawayitslowerleginagoutofclearfluidandcracklingsparks.With its shroud-tech disrupted, the giant’s disembodied limb flickeredochreandwhiteasittoppledintothemuck.ReelingfromNumitor’sattack, thewarsuitengagedthe jetenginearrayat itsback and shot vertically upwards, bursting through the jungle canopy in ashowerofloosevegetation.‘Afterit!’shoutedSicarius,soaringupwardsonacolumnofbluefire.AllofhissquadbarGlavius,stilllumberedwithhissergeant’semptyjumppack,launchedthemselvesafterhim.Therewasamomentofthrashinggreen-blackmotion,andSicariusblastedintothewarmhazeof artificial sunshine atop the canopy.Acloudof jademantidsbillowedaroundhimashecastaboutforhisprey.Everytimeoneofhissquadburst from the foliage to joinhimabove thecanopy the sergeant spanaround,

pistollevelled,butthetauwarsuitwasnowheretobeseen.Sicariusshutdownhis jump pack engines, coming to rest on a thick and twisted bough as hescrutinisedthehorizonforanysignsthatwouldbetrayhisquarry.Numitorjoinedtheminanexplosionofleafyfronds.Hisexpressionwasthatofthehunterwhosespearhadalreadypiercedtheprey,eagertofinishthekill.‘It’sgone,brother,’saidSicarius.‘Nosignofit.’Heshapedquiteanothermessagewithhisfingers,however,usingthesea-cantof theTalassarian oceangangs – a languagehe had taughtNumitor years agoduringthedoldrumsofaninterstellarhaul.Watch.The.Insects.Numitorgaveaslightnod.Suddenlyhiseyeswidened.Sicariuswasalreadyturningasacloudofscintillatingmantidsflockedupwardsonhisflank.Heleapttotheside,pistolroaringashesentablazingwhitefireballrightpast thecolumnoffusionenergysearing theair inhiswake.Theplasmabolt connected with the shimmering ghost image behind the mantid swarm.Burning liquid splashed across the warsuit’s hull. Its camouflage systemsshorted,flickeredthroughadozencolours,anddiedaltogethertorevealanochremonstrositymissingalowerlimb.ThethunderofboltpistolsechoedloudasSquadsNumitorandSicariusopenedfire.Onemass-reactiveshotafteranothercrateredtheghostsuit’scarapace,eachexplosionsofierceitwouldhaverippedanunarmouredtauinhalf.Thewarsuitwaspunchedoffbalance,flailingaclub-likearmagainstKaetoros’jettinggoutofpromethium.Numitor came in fast from its blind side and struck it with a thunderousuppercut. The thingwas hurled backwards, smashing through the canopy in acacophony of snapping timber to crash down into the black mire beneath.Looking down, Sicarius could just make out a drone darting in to press itsantennaeagainst thoseof the fallengiant.Hemade to takeakill shot,buthisplasmapistolhadyettorecharge.‘Isitdead?’askedNumitor.‘Aye,’repliedSicarius,‘it’sdead.’‘Good.Wemustbeontherighttrackifthesearethecreaturestheysendtostopus.’‘Perhaps,’agreedMagros.‘Perhapsthesetauaremerelytestingus.Seekingtotakeourmeasure,justasweseektotaketheirs.’‘Then they shall findusmoredeadly than theyever imagined,’ saidSicarius,turninganddroppingbackdownthroughthecanopywithoutabackwardglance.

The Stone Dragon watched the intruders upon a bank of curving screens, ahemisphere of images that curved around the front of his analysis cradle.Hiseyes,dartingandflickeringrapidly,controlledtheflowofinformationcascadingacrossthedisplays.Aslightsmilecreasedthewrinkled,noselessslabbelow.On the upper left was displayed the double waveform of the trespassers’heartbeats and the breathing patterns of theirmultiple lungs. They had inbuiltredundancies for their vital organs, noted O’Vesa approvingly. Whoever haddesigned thiswarrior species knew his craft.On the upper right screensweredisplayedtheflatliningsignalsoftheprototypetheyhadjustshattered.Theup-scaled Stealth suit had been tentatively named theXV98, later nicknamed theGhostkeelbyhisaides.Thenamehadstuck–thebattlesuithadbeeninspiredbyO’Shaserra’sanalogiesconcerningKan’jian spirits, after all, and itwasallbutinvisible to sensors. Its electronic countermeasures had worked well, up to apoint, as had its mirage generators. The Mantle was still a long way fromperfect,andtheimpromptukauyonambushhadbeenonlyapartialsuccess.Still,ithadbeenmorethanworthitforthedataharvest.The floodof logistics informationharnessedbyO’Vesa’s analysis cradlewasnottheoreticaldata,northeconclusionsofapuppetwarwagedagainsttheearthcaste’sbestestimates.Thiswastherealthing.Empiricalevidence,intoxicatinginitspurity.One of the trespassing gue’ron’sha was speaking to its fellows in shortsentences,curtandefficient.Thespoolingautotransunderneatheachintruder’simagemade a decent job of converting it to the tau language, thoughO’Vesawould have to bring a member of the water caste into his confidence if hewished to understand the finer points of their speech. Nomatter, he thought.Theiractionsspokeloudlyenoughbythemselves.Ashewatched, thewarriorswith thebulkyflightpacksremovedtheirhelms.Even the Ghostkeel prototype was a formidable terror weapon against suchsuperstitious foes. The idiocy of the invaders leaving theirmost vital locationvulnerable would have surprised O’Vesa, had he not already witnessed thesestrange,impulsivecreaturesactingwithlittlemoreintellectthananork.Strayingintoanetworkoftheenemy’sweaponstestingarenasshowedafatallackofwisdomin itself.O’Vesawasmore thanwilling tomakeuseof it, andwouldbroadcasthisfindingsacrossDal’ythandbeyond.A tiny screed of data played across the mantle-screen of the suite. It wasOb’lotai,blippingthesignalofhisapproach.O’Vesasatupright,gotoutofthearch-backedviewingstation,andboweddeeplytotheshinyblackdischovering

towardshim.‘Ah,HelperOb’lotai,’saidtheStoneDragon,‘afineperformanceoutthere.’‘I think not,’ replied the drone in a disappointed monotone. ‘Only a singlecasualty,andacutting-edgebattlesuit lost.Clearlydeathhasnot improvedmymartialskillset.’‘Oneconfirmedkill,yes,’saidO’Vesa,‘butthinkofthedata,myfriend!’Theearth caste scientist’s eyeswere alightwith the glowof enthusiasm. ‘Inmanyways,I’mgladwegavethesegue’ron’shaachancetodosomuch.Actualbattledata from a wide variety of weapons over more than six microdecs ofengagement–andnotasingletaulife lost in theprocess!That is trulyagreatsuccess.’Ob’lotai wobbled the disc of his fuselage from side to side in grudgingagreement.‘Every parameter has been recorded and properly marshalled,’ continuedO’Vesa.‘ItisonlyawaitingcompilationbeforeIsignitovertothefirecasteforthebettermentofthewareffort.Thisisabreakthrough,Warghost,nothingless.’‘Ifyousayso,’saidOb’lotai.‘ThoughnexttimeIshalltakeafargreatertoll.’‘Ofcourseyouwill,’saidO’Vesaindulgently,passingthetipofhisdatawandover the drone’s forward lip. A series of green-blue lights winked along itslengthasOb’lotai’sowndataharvestcascadedintotheearthcastedatabanks.‘Ibelievethereisyetmoreopportunitytobeexploited,ifyouarewilling,’saidO’Vesa.‘Ofcourse.Informationisthekeytovictory.Shouldmysentiencebedamagedbeyondrecovery,IshalldieoncemoreinthenameoftheGreaterGood.’‘Andwhocouldaskmore?Butthistime,myfaithfulhelper,youshallnotgoalone.ItistimeourfalsePechfoughtback.’‘I see,’ saidOb’lotai doubtfully. ‘Did Commander Farsight not condemn theactiveelementsofthePechprojectasadangerousprecedent?‘He did indeed.Technically, however, he holds no influence over earth casteprotocols.Andwhilstwehavesuchanunparalleledchancetoputourgueststothetest,itwouldbecounter-intuitivenottouseit.’‘In this instance, perhaps it is forgivable. To test the capabilities of the foe,ratherthantheweapon.’‘Quiteso.Infact,thereisanotherearly-modelprototypewemightwishtotryoutwhilst thedataflowssofreely.IamsurehonouredFio’oBork’anIshu’ronwillforgiveusoncehehasseenthefielddataweaccrue.’ThedroneOb’lotaibobbedafoothigherintheair.

‘TheKV120?’‘Theverysame,’repliedO’Vesa.

CHAPTERSEVENEXTRACTION/TOBLINDAGOLIATH

Sicarius fought through the junglewith a face like thunder. The thin creeperstugging at his armoured legs snapped with each stride. Progress was slow –painfullysoforamemberoftheEighth,moreusedtoground-eatingleapsthanthegrimtrudgeoftheTacticalMarines.Worse,theyhadyettofindanyevidencetheircoursewasstilltrue.Manyofhissquadhadalreadyreplacedtheirhelms,thinkingthedangerofthechameleonicwarsuithadpassed,butSicariuswasnotsosure.Nearby, Numitor shouldered through a curtain of brittle lianas, power fistswinging idly at his side.A crudeweapon,massively powerful, but blunt andslownexttoablade.Itsverydesigninvitedanenemyswordsmantostrikefirstbeforethewearercouldlevelablow.SicariushadalwaysseenitasanoutwardsignofNumitor’sattitude: letone’sadversariesprovethemselvesguiltybeforemeting out the punishment. One day that philosophy would get the sergeantkilled, leaving Sicarius in an unrivalled position for captaincy after Atheushimself.ThethoughtmadeSicariusfeelanumberofconflictingemotions.‘Nosignofanymorexenos,’saidNumitor,threat-checkingthecanopyjusttobesure.‘Hmm,’ said Sicarius. ‘You have a strategy inmind for exiting this place? Itfeelslikewe’rewastingtimehere.’‘Keeponthisheadinguntilwegettoanexit,orawall–eitherway,wesmashourwayout.’Sicariusshookhisheadandspatathinstreamofsalivabywayofanswer.Ithit

abroadtangleofroots,andburnedpartwaythroughwithahissofpotentacid.Sicariusrippedittherestofthewaywithacuttingmotionofhishand;hewouldnotstooptousinghisancestraltempestbladetohackdownvegetation.Eventoriskfoulingachainswordwasbeneathsuchaweapon,andthetempestbladewasa relicofTalassar, so finelymade that the restof the squad’sweapons lookedthuggishandbluntbycomparison.Anothermetaphor,perhaps.Thereweretimeswhenhefoughtbetteralone.Sicarius’ brow knotted in aggravation. Unhelmed, he could feel the gaze ofSergeant Antelion on the back of his head. No doubt the Ultramarine wassilentlyjudgingtheEighth’sdeparturefromthemainbattleplan,andhedidnotlikeitatall.Upahead,anoverhangofrockjuttedfrombetweentwominorwaterfalls.Therewas a deeper darkness beneath it, a cave shroudedbyovergrowth.Behind thetwisted vines covering its entrance it was easily as large as a gunship’s voidhangar.‘Colnid,Veletan,scoutthatcave,’saidSicarius.‘Thendebriefinside.Allofus.Wehavemuchtodiscuss.’Numitor met Sicarius’ gaze before relaying the message to his own squad.Antelion gave a curt nod, gesturing for his squad to form up around him andfollowhimuptheinclinetothecave’smouth.‘SergeantSicariusisright,’saidAntelionasthethreesquadsassembledinthegloomof thecave. ‘Wemustassessandamendourapproach.CaptainAtheus’plandidnotanticipatesuchhighlevelsoftech.Wecannotaffordtostumbleintothetau’sgunsights.’Theassembledsquadsbegantochecktheirwargear, theirmovementssmoothand economical. Sicarius barely paid attention as his hands went through hisownweaponsdrill, practiseda thousand timesandmore.Thecave,dankwithmildewandslime,echoedwithclicksandhissesasboltcartridgeswerelockedintoplace,dwindlingfuelreservesoptimised,andhelmsreplaced.‘Keepyourhelmsoffuntilwe’reinopenground,squad,’saidSicarius,thesteelinhisvoicebrookingnoargument.‘Thatthingcompromisedussomehow,usedsomehaywirepulsethathasscrambledourcommsandauspexalike.Therewilllikelybemorehiddenassetsinherewithus,probablyinterferencebased.’‘Camouflage,’saidKaetoros,‘isthecolourofcowardice.’‘Dorn’swordsratherthanGuilliman’s,butstilltrueenough,’saidSicarius.Hisflat,once-handsomefeatureswereseriousandcold.‘Theambushwarsuitsofthetauare invisible toaugurcogitators.Thenakedeyeisourbestweaponagainst

them.’‘You’rede-helmingyourentiresquad?’askedAntelion.‘You heard my reasoning, sergeant. Besides, the larger ones have firepowerenough to burn through six inches of ceramite. That’s a killshot, whether theheadisprotectedornot.’‘Soacuityisourbestdefence,’saidGlavius.‘Aye,’ said Sicarius. ‘So we must rely on the senses the Emperor gave us.Furthermore,with our promethium reserves depleted, our ammunition runninglowandnosignofresupply,itlooksasifwewillbeworkingcloselywithSquadAntelion.De-helmandintroduceyourselves.’Hisunitmadetoobey.Glavius,hishelmalreadymag-lockedathisbeltandhisfacesetinanexpressionofpo-facedobedience,stoodallthestraighter.‘IgnacioGlaviusoftheEighth,’hesaid,salutingsharply.Sicariusshiftedstancetotaketheweightoffhisbadkneeandtobetterlookatthoseofhissquadstilljoiningthem,meetingtheirgazeonebyoneastheyliftedtheirhelms.Glaviusmovedintoasimilarstancebehindhim.Kaetoros was next, his helmet shedding flakes of scorched paintwork as hepulleditfreetorevealtheseverelyburnedskinbeneath.Tautandunwholesome,his complexionwas like amapof some alien continent rendered in off-white,pinkandred.Itwashealingquicklyenough,butstillstickywithfluidaftertheengagement with the tau bombers in the plaza. ‘Locon Kaetoros, flamerspecialist,’saidthewarrior,hisironichalf-smilequicklyturningintoawinceofpain.‘Feelsgoodtogetsomecoolairontheselittlegiftsfromthetau,I’llnotlietoyou.’Sicariusfoughttokeephisexpressionneutral.Kaetoroswasneverhandsomeinthe first place, but the blackening of his armour and the facial disfigurementshim look more like a filthy traitor than a proud Ultramarine. There wassomethingwild inhiseyes,somethingbitteranddangerousbehindafacadeofcontrolledpain.‘VorticoIonsian,’saidthesternfigurebehindKaetoros.Hisstancewasstatue-straight,hisskinpale to thepointofalbinism–more likeoneofCorax’ssonsthanGuilliman’s.Athirdeyewastattooedinpurpleinkonhisforehead,theiconstarkandclean.SicariushadlongbelievedithintedatahistoryasaNavigatorHouse juve, but had never cared enough to ask. ‘This air is foul tome,’ saidIonsiandolefully,nostrilsflaring,‘butbreathable.Iwillforsakemyhelm.’‘IamDaeliosVeletan.’Thespeaker’seyesscannedthejungleoutsidethecave,meeting Sicarius’ gaze only for the most fleeting of moments. Veletan was

obsessed with protocol, one of the reasons Sicarius valued him. He wasobviouslyuncomfortablewithouthishelm.Cometothinkofit,Sicariuscouldn’trememberthelasttimehehadseteyesonVeletan’sclean,angularfeatures.‘Tode-helm in ahostile environment contradicts the teachingsof theCodex,’ saidtheSpaceMarinequietly.‘YetIrespecttheauthorityofmysergeant,andthusIcomply.However, oncewe leave the confines of this jungle, I recommend animmediatereappraisal.’‘Just deal with it, Daelios.’ Colnid grinned up at his squadmate from hiskneeling stance, his jump pack detached in front of him as he tightened itsharnessandcutawaydamagedmaterialwithhiscombatknife.HemetSicarius’unwavering gaze, and stood quickly. He sketched a small salute to theassembling Ultramarines before returning to his work, using the tip of hiscombat knife as an improvised driver-head to detach a damaged overplate.‘AlucidanColnid,’hesaid.‘Earthboundandnotenjoyingit,notonebit.’SicariuscastanexpectantglanceatDenturis.HewashelpingColnid turn thefaultyjumppackonitsendsohecouldcleartheturbines.Denturis’bladeswereproppedagainstthecavewall;havinglosthisboltpistolinaction,hehadtakentowielding not only his own chainsword, but also that of his fallen comradeEndrion.‘DeccusDenturis.’TheUltramarinerestedColnid’s jumppackagainsthishipforamomenttomakethesignoftheaquila.‘OnedayIhopetojoinaTacticalsquadmyself,’ he said, looking at Antelion and inclining his head in respect.‘Fornow,though,it’swhateverworksbest.Ifthatmeanssloggingthroughsomexenosworldscaper’sideaofCatachan,sobeit.’‘Getthroughthis,’saidSergeantAntelion,‘andyou’reinwithagoodchance.IhaveAtheus’ ear.’He came forward, hismen taking asmany steps in perfectformationbehindhim,tworanksoffive.Theyheldtheirbolterswithreadyease,muzzlescantedsharplydownwards.‘I am Doricus Thaeos Antelion,’ said the sergeant. ‘Ultramarines FifthCompany.Andwith respect,SergeantSicarius,’ he said, ‘I intend to leavemyhelm in place as per theCodex.My armour is ancient, and itsmachine-spiriteasily angered. Besides, there are no doubt adversaries out here of a moreconventional nature, enemies that may be marked and countered by moreconventionaldoctrine.’‘Cleavetotheteachings,then,’saidSicarius,‘eveniftheydonotapplyhere.’‘Donotapply?’ saidAntelion,drawingup tohis fullheight. ‘Doyoudare toinferthatGuilliman’swisdomisunfit?’

Sicarius’nostrilsflared,openinghismouthtoretortbeforeNumitorinterrupted.‘Pleasedtomeetyouall,I’mJorusNumitor.’Hesteppedforwardwithahugeand insinceresmileuntilhewasshoulder toshoulderwithSicarius.Ashaftofsunlightglintedfromthecresteddomeofhishead.‘SergeantoftheEighth,andleaderoftheCalgarians.Ishallbeenjoyingthesensationofthewindinmyhair.Mysquad,however,willremainCodexcompliant.Ipreferthemwiththeirheadsintact.Purelyforaestheticreasons,youunderstand.’‘Illuminating.’ Antelion did not break eye contact with Sicarius for a longmoment, but as Numitor extended a hand, he finally broke away, turning hisshoulder to Sicarius and clapping his gauntlet over Numitor’s forearm in atraditionalwarriorhandshake.‘Numitor,yes,’hesaid.‘Wemetinbattleatthelandingsite.’‘Thatwedid,brother,’saidNumitor,‘whenthe4thCompanysteppedintosaveyourunitfromalongandinvariablyfataldrop.NotCodexmethods,ofcourse,buteffective.Youandyourmenarelivingproofofthat.’‘I realise what you are saying,’ intoned Antelion, ‘though I have alreadythankedyouforyouraid.Donotthinktoholditasdebtoverme,nortouseitasatooltocastdoubtuponthePrimarch’steachings.Wewillworktogetheronlyforaslongasnecessary.Thetaupilotcasteislethal,trueenough,andIapproveoffindingavectorofapproachthatavoidsenemyairspace.Butstrayingintoaweaponstestingzone…’Hepaused,headcocked.‘Ifearwehavegonefromthehearthintothefurnace.’‘Thankyouforyourconfidence,’saidNumitor,castingabalefulglareoverathis fellow sergeantof theEighth.Sicariusnoticedhimmakea tinybeckoningmotionwithhisfingertowardsoneofhissquad.‘ElioMagros,’saidthenearestAssaultMarine,takingthehint.‘BeenwiththeEighthfortwenty-eightyearsnow.’‘Sostillastripling,’saidSicarius.‘Long enough for TechmarineOmnid to trustmewith a plasma pistol,’ saidMagroswithawrychuckle.Hisbluntfeaturestwistedasheheftedthemassivechain-toothedbladehehadrecoveredfromtheforestmulch.‘Iprefertohithard.Speakingofwhich,Trondorishasnomoreuse forhiseviscerator. I’ve trainedwithgreatswordsbefore,andthisisn’tthatdifferent.’‘Takeit,then,Magros,’saidNumitorsoftly.‘DoBrotherTrondorisproud.’‘Aye,’saidMagros.‘ThatIshall,sergeant.Hewillbeavengedtenfold.’Duolorwasplacatinghisownplasmapistol’smachine-spiritwithatinysyringeofblessedoilswhenSicarius’gazefelluponhim.‘Duolor?’

‘Atyourservice,sergeants,IamEnvictusDuolorofIax.’Hestraightened.‘Bymy count at least, there is no fault in your methods, Sergeants Numitor andSicarius. An enemy we can actually fight is well chosen, for there will beconflict,nomatterthepath.’‘Quite,’saidNumitor.‘Iaxan word-mangling,’ said Sicarius quietly to Antelion. ‘He never sayssomethingsimplyifhecansayitbackwardsinstead.’‘Aordus,’saidthehulkingAssaultMarinebehindDuolor,thechestplateofhisarmouramoltenmess.IthadbeenseverelycompromisedsincethepulsebombsdroppedonSquadNumitorinthebattleattheplaza.Hesnappedoffablackenedspurofceramitewithagrowlofdispleasure,batteringthesharpedgeflushwitha bunched fist. ‘Thellacos Dontae Aordus. Oevrian Greatspire. Jump dropspecialist.’Hemotionedabsently to thefigureonhisright. ‘Andthis isKaericGolotan.’Golotan merely nodded, a typical enough gesture for the near-silentUltramarine.Hishelmwasathiswaist,revealingacleftpalettethattwistedhisfeatures into a perpetual sneer. The scar was a relic of a lictor hunt uponTalassar,anditgaveadrool-thickslurtohiswords–theUltramarineonlyspokewhen absolutely necessary, a laudable aspect of his character. It had beenSicarius’ownblade that finallydispatchedthehunter-killerorganism;heknewGolotanwanted nothingmore than to repay the debt one day, for allwarriorsfromTalassarsharedacommonviewofhonour.Yetthefateshadnotordainedit.AtheushadassignedGolotantoNumitor’sunitinstead.Probablyagoodthing, thoughtSicarius.At least therewasoneright-thinkingwarriorinthatsquad.‘Isaidforoursquadtoleavehelmson,Golotan,’saidNumitor.Golotanturned,eyescold,andslowlyreplacedhishelmwithoutaword.‘Our enemies are no doubt busy preparing another surprise for us,’ saidAntelion, ‘so I’llmake our part quick.Left to right,we haveDaen,Throcius,Hereclor, Anaclystos, Clavius, Aurius, Thantus, Gaelocor with the missilelauncher,andNatoroswiththemeltagun.Isuggestyoucommitthosenamestomemory,SquadSicarius,asyouwon’thaveyourhelmdisplaystoremindyou.’There was an awkward silence for a moment, broken only by hissing andcawingfromthejungleoutsidethecave.Therewasadistantcrackofsnappingwood.Asone,theAssaultandTacticalMarinesmovedtotheedgesofthecave,scanningthedensefoliagebelowforassailants.Therewasnothingthere,notevenarustleofartificialwind.

‘Onwards,then,’saidSicarius.‘Samecourse.’Weaponsheldattheready,theUltramarinesmovedout.Inthedepthsofthecave,atinychameleondronewhirredupwards, itssensorarrayrefocusingasitfloatedsilentlyoutaftertheintruders.

AdozensetsofeyestrackedtheSpaceMarinesastheytrampedoutofthecaveandon through thehumidvegetationof the false jungle.The trespassersweremassively built, optimised for strength instead of stealth. Many of them hadforsaken caution entirely. Their cobalt battle armour was garish against thegreensandyellowsof thecarefullycultivatedvegetation.Richstreamsofdatapouredfromthemintothenight,andthehuntingpackanalysedeachscreedfortheattacktocome.Quillstwitchedinthefoliage,shiftingcoloursubtly.Everynuancewasasignto the restof thepack thatcouldnotbemisinterpreted.These intruderswouldfighthard.Akauyonwasthebestoption,usingtheGiant’sMantleasthefinalcomponent.Soundlessly, the host of long-limbed hunters climbed up the vine-wreathedtrunks into theforestcanopy,everymovementsofluidanddextrous thatnotasingleleafshiveredintheirwake.Soonitwouldbetimetofeed.

‘Thereitisagain,’saidNumitor.‘It’swhateverpasses for faunaaroundhere,nothingmore,’ saidSicarius. ‘Orelseitwouldhavestruckbynow.’‘Don’tbesosure.Something’sstalkingus, Icanfeel it.Smell it,even.Can’tyoupickitup?Somethingoilyandfoulonthewind?’‘Idomybesttofilteroutyourunpleasantodour,Numitor.’‘Emperor’s sake, Cato,’ said Numitor. ‘Focus. We’re low on bolt clips andpromethium,andwe’velosttoomanybrothersalready.Thelastthingweneedistowalkblindlyintoacombatwedon’tneedtofight.’‘The sergeant is right,’ saidAntelion. ‘Weapons ready. Intermittent idents onthe auspex. Thirty-eight signals, by my count, ambush pattern. Look to thetrees.’‘Emperor’s teeth,’ sworeSicarius softly.Numitormethisgaze foramoment,buttherewasnowaySicariuswouldadmithismistakeandreplacehishelm–justas therewasnowayNumitorwouldundercuthisoldfriend’sdecisionbydonninghisown.Sicariusliftedhisancestralswordandtookoffatarun,leavingNumitorbehind.Ittookagreatphysicaleffortnottosprintoffafterhim.

‘Showyourselves,cowards,’shoutedSicarius,hissquadpoundingthroughthejungleinhiswake.‘Yourdeathcomesforyou!’‘There,’ calledAnaclystos, his bolter barking as he sent two shells rocketingintotheundergrowth.‘Upintheclearing!’Therewas amuffled thump in thedistance, and a flashof yellow light.TwomoreofAntelion’ssquadtookfiringstancesandsnappedoffshots,aclusterofexplosionsflaringbehindiron-hardtrunksanddrapingtendrils.The air filled with clicks and shrieks as a score of gangle-limbed bipedsdropped from the trees, many leaping down to smash feet-first into theUltramarines.Severalwerecaughtunawaresandbowledintothepeatyfoliage.Theirattackersthrashedatopthem,gougingwithclawsandstabbingwithlong,curvedknives.Colnidwasknockedfromhisfeet,butfiredhispistolunderarmashefell,blastinghisassailantbackwards.Thenthebarreloftheboltpistolgaveapairofdryclicks.‘I’mout!’AsColnidcastaroundforsupportNumitorsawabladethumpintothebackofhisneck,gougingawayaflapofbloodyskinandsendinghimstaggeringaway.Ionsiancharged in,butanotherof thecreaturesdroppedfromthe trees to landcrouchedonthebigwarrior’sjumppack.Itthrewbackitsheadandshriekedintriumph,itsawl-liketonguewiggling,beforesinkingitsbeakintoIonsian’spalescalp. The Space Marine roared in pain and leant back hard, triggering astutteringburstofpowerfromhisjumppacktoslambackwardagainstanearbythornoak.Numitorsaw thickbarkspinespunch throughIonsian’sattacker inadozen places. Each javelin-thick barb bit so deep that when Ionsian droppedbackdowntohisfeet,thexenosambusherremainedhanginginplacelikesomecursedpaganeffigy.Kroot.Acannibalthrall-raceoftheTauEmpire,accordingtothepre-warbrief.Barbaricmercenarieswithaninsatiablehungerforwarmflesh.Numitorwasalreadymoving,bullingforward towardsa thicketofvegetationthatshiveredandwaved.Sureenough,twoofthelong-quilledcreaturescouldbeseenwithin.ThemuzzlesoftheirlongrifleswerepointedatNumitor’shead.Heduckedfast,andacracklingboltofenergyburntpasthisear.Thesecondstruckhome, slamming into the cables of his breastplate. The stink of burningpermaplasticfilledthesergeant’snostrils,buthewastooelatedtocare.Thiswasafoeheunderstood,andknewhowtokill.Hewouldchargedownahundredofthemandnotbreakstride.Numitorhitthethicketoffoliagelikeanindustrialram,aclawingsweepofhis

power fist tearing away a massive swathe of vegetation. A xenos mercenaryseekingshelterinthethicket’smidsttookNumitor’soutstretchedfingersfullintheribcage.Itwentdowninasprayofblackfluids.Numitorwasalreadyonthesecondcreature,batting its long-barrelledrifleasidewithhisboltpistolbeforefiringpointblank.Therewasaboomandabackwashofheatastheboltburstitscranium,sendingwetfibrousmatterandfizzingsparksinalldirections.Bionics,thought Numitor as he span for another target. Not unusual for a mercenarycaste,andirrelevantwhenanexplosivebolthithome.The clearing around Numitor seethed with violence. Every one of theUltramarineswas either engaged in a close-quarter firefight orwas battling infranticmeleecombatwithatall,beakedwarrior.Thekroottheyhadencounteredon Vespertine had been rapacious carnivores, strung with trophy-cords andpouchescontainingtheremainsofthosetheyhadovercomeinbattle.Theseoneshootedandcackledastheyfiredblazingbulletsofenergyfromtheirlongrifles.Otherswhippedthebladedshaftsofthegunsaround,usingthespikesthatjuttedfromstockandmuzzleascombinationsofaxeandbayonet.Numitorlaughedincontemptasapotentcocktailofchemostimulants invigoratedhissystem.SuchprimitiveweaponshadlittlehopeoffellingaSpaceMarine.Sicariuswentontheattackagain,histempestbladedescribingaperfectfigure-of-eightashedrovehisattackhomeintoaknotofxenosgunmen.WithhimwasDenturis,twinchainswordsslashingarmsfromshouldersandheadsfromnecks.Thewarriorgracethatmarkedhissergeant’sattackswasabsent,buttheresultsweremuchthesame.Veletanwasstandingboltuprightnearbywithhischainswordatguardstance,firinghisboltpistolwithimpressiveprecisionintothekroottryingtochargehimdown.Eachshotsentabody tumblingbackas ifyankedawaybyan invisiblehandbeforetheboltdetonated,splatteringeachtarget’scentralmassinaflashoflightandsprayingblackliquids.TherewasametallicclangtoNumitor’srightasasprykrootwarriorsmackeditsgun-staveintoGlavius’battleplate.Theblow,aimedforthethroat,reboundedfrom the Ultramarine’s slim gorget. Glavius quickly slashed through the longriflewith a backhand sweep of his roaring chainsword, splinters of hardwoodflying even as the tip of his blade caught the creature’s beak. The kroot waspulledsuddenly forward, thechewing teeth ripping its skull intosplinters.Thescentofburningelectricsfilledtheair,andaconfusionofmulticolouredsparkshissedfromthealien’sruinedhead.Nearby,thicksmokewispedfromthecorpsesleftinDuolor’swake.TheIaxian

punchedamercenaryfromitsfeetwiththehiltofhisrechargingplasmapistolbeforemag-lockingittohisbeltandsmoothlydrawingacombatknifeinstead.Colnid, low on ammo, was fighting with chainsword and fist. He smashed akroot’sthroatwithasharpjabbingpunchbeforetakingitsheadwithasweepofhischainsword.Gorejettedfromthegristlystumpofitsneckasittoppledaway.Numitorwaschargingtoaidhisbrotherswhensleekquadrupedalformsdartedthrough the jungle, shivering thegreenery.The sergeant sawoneof the thingsclearlyforamoment,along-beakedxenohoundnearthesizeofahorse.Anotherfollowedit,thenathird,allmovinguncannilyfast.Numitorloosedasnapshotattheclosest,butthecreaturehadalreadyslippedpast.TherewasapricklingatthebackofNumitor’sneck.Suddenlyhewasslammedfrombehind, pitching forward and curling his shoulder on instinct.He hit thegroundatagoodangle, rollingwith theblow.Anotherheavy impact senthimsprawling.Thecreaturethathadbowledhimoverwasahideousfusionofraptorandhuntinghound,leanandevilofaspect.Jaggedjawsyawnedtowardshim.Numitorclubbedthehound-creature’sheavyheadwithasidelongswipefromhis bolt pistol. The thing’s bite missed him by a hand’s breadth. That splitsecond’srespitewasallthesergeantneeded.Hereachedupwithhispowergloveand grabbed the thing around themidriff beforemaking a fist. Itwas crushedintohalves,bisected inanuncoilingheapofspoolingwiresandcracklingorbsthat squished between Numitor’s fingers. Dark fluids sluiced from its torninnardstofoultheSpaceMarine’sarmour.Anotherkroothoundleapedfromhisblindspot,butthebattleinstinctsoftheAdeptus Astartes were ingrained in every cell and synapse, and Numitorbackhanded the creature sohard it burst.Unclean liquids spatteredhis armouronce again. One side was completely black with the stuff, his Ultramarianheraldry hidden by a strange oily slick. It smelled not only of gore, but oflubricant,long-chainsyntheticsandmicrohydraulicoils.Thesekrootseemedtobemuscleandbone,but inhabiting themwerehereticalmachine intelligences,more like the drones they had encountered in the cradle chamber than living,sentientcreatures.Itmadelittledifference.Theywoulddie,artificialornot.Therewasabellowfromtheothersideof theclearing, inhumanand loud.Asnatch of shoutedTalassarian battle cant followed, then another roar.Numitorsprangintoacrouch,boltpistol trackingmovementnearby.Heblastedakrootmercenary off-balance just as the creature swung its rifle-blade at the back ofKaetoros’skull.Thexenossprawledforward,thenphysicallyburstapartasthe

bolt in its torso exploded. Kaetoros’ flaking pauldron was spattered with vilefluids. The flamer specialist raised his weapon and a spear of ignitedpromethiumstabbedout.Itsentanearbyknotofkrootstaggeringaway,aflame.Kaetoros dipped his shoulder into the roaring fire of his killshot, burning theunclean alien filth from his scorched armour before turning back towardsNumitor.‘Onlyhalfa flask left,’saidKaetoros. ‘We’llbekicking themtodeathat thisrate.’Numitorhustledpastakrootcorpse,itsskulllaidopenbyachainswordslashtorevealthecircuitrybeneath.HehadseenasimilarsightonsacredMacragge;theaftermathofa training regime involving theblade-servitorsofancientpracticecages.Like the servitors, thesekroot creatureswerenot truewarriors, but testsubjects–puppettroopsdevisedonlyfortheoreticalconflicts.Numitor’smind raced.Did the tau have plans tomakewar upon their long-standing allies, the kroot? Did they seek to master every eventuality, everypossibleclashbeforeitevenstarted?Perhaps, said a nagging voice inNumitor’smind, this nascent xenos empirewasatruedangerafterall.ThechokingblacksmokeofKaetoros’flamershotclearedforamoment,andNumitorwasyankedbacktothepresent.Ahead,Sicariuswasfightingoffthreestave-armed mercenaries, two of whom were pressing home a berserk attackfrom opposing flanks. The third hooked a four-clawed hand around Sicarius’wrist, pullinghis tempest blade fromhis grip.The sergeant shot it in the facewithhisplasmapistol,theroaringcolumnofenergytakingitsheadandboringahole in the tree trunk beyond.Without missing a beat he pressed the red-hotbarrelintothethroatofthesecondkrootwarrior.Therewasastrangledsquawkasthexenoscreaturefellbackwards.ThekrootonSicarius’flankcameinhard.Thesergeantducked,drivinganelbowinto itssolarplexusbeforestabbingupwith the edge of his hand to crush its windpipe. The creature spasmed andclawedasitleanedin,itsbeaksnappingindesperationatSicarius’temple.Numitor aimed, about to take an intervention shot. Sicarius suddenly swungaway, letting thecreature topple forwardbeforecomingback in tograb it inaheadlock.Withatwist,hetoreitsquilledskullfromitsneck.SomethingflashedinthefoliagetoNumitor’sright,aseriesofdarksilhouettesrunningalongathingully.Hesnappedoffaround,buttheboltfoundnothing.Itsdetonationsentupasprayofmudwithadull thump.Therewasacacklingcaw from the right. Three of Antelion’smen levelled their bolters and sent a

deafeningvolleyofexplosionsintothefoliage,rippingapartawideareabutnotspillingsomuchasadropofblood.Numitorsawanotherflashofmovementinthecanopyabove.Heraisedhisboltpistol, but theweapon’sweight betrayed the fact hewas running dangerouslylowonammunition.‘Killshotsandbladeworkonly!’heshouted.‘They’redeliberatelydrainingourammo!’Therewasanotherroarfromupahead,muchcloserthistime.Chargingoutofthe jungle came somethingmuscular and hideous, a bellowing krootoid giantthat bore down upon Sicarius with shocking speed. Its boulder-like head wascappedwithabluntbeak,jaggedandgreywithtwovividyellowstripesdownitslength.Porcineeyesglimmeredwithmalice. Itsshoulderswere thickbulwarksofmuscle;Numitorcouldfeelaswellashearthethump-thump,thump-thumpofitsgallopinglopeacrossthejunglefloor.AsNumitorwatched, twoofSquadAntelion tracked the thingsmoothlywiththe barrels of their bolters. The creature’s flanks were already bleeding fromcrateredboltwoundswhenanothershothithome,allbuttearingthekrootoid’srighthindlegfromitship.The beast roared in pain and rage, the sound strangely metallic, but still itsrampagewouldnotbehalted.Careeningforward,itsmashedGolotanasideintoatree.TheUltramarinedroppedandrolledintoanestofbriarswithoutasound.Still bellowing, thegiant leapedover him, crashing through a curtain of long-deadvines,amonsterontherampage.Thebeast’strunk-thickarmsswungasitbroughthugefiststobear.TwomorekrootwarriorsvaultedfromthetreestoattackSicarius.Recoveringhistempestbladefromtheforestfloorwithadeftflickofhisfoot,thesergeantthrust the tip through the ribcage of one of his assailants. Two-handed, hebrought the shuddering kroot-corpse around into the path of the oncomingmonstrosity,simultaneouslykickingthesecondxenosmercenaryinthestomachsohardthatNumitorhearditsspinebreak.Sicariusdroppedtoonekneeandleanedblade-firstintothechargeofthegiantkrootoid. The beastwas fast enough to veer aside, itsmassive block of a fistslammingintowardsthesergeant’spauldron,butSicariuswasalreadymoving.Thecreature’sroundhouseblowclippedhim,rockinghimback,butherodetheforce of the impact. The point of his tempest blade came up to impale thecharging monstrosity through the mouth, the creature’s own colossal weightdrivingthebladefurtherintoitsbrainuntilthetipburstbloodilyfromtheback

ofitshead.Numitor blinked in stunned admiration, then forced himself to focus.‘Inbound!’Antelionwasshouting.‘Warsuit,macroclass!’Therewas a sudden bass crack, so loud it felt likeNumitor’s skull had splitdownthemiddle.Thentheworldwaslightandnoise.Thesergeant’severysensewas consumed in a maelstrom of sensation. Blinking hard with his ears stillringing,Numitorclearedhisvisiontoseeadozentreetrunksfalling.Theairwasthickwithsplintersandevaporatedmulch.Acraterhadappearedatthebattle’sedge,high-sidedandeven.Itwasalmostaswideastheclearingitself,andnothingwasleftwithinitsgeometricallyperfectconfinesotherthanafewwispsofvaporisedmatter.Somethingloomedinthedistance,partiallyhiddenbythetrees.Somekindofwar engine glinted amongst the foliage, far larger than themachines they hadfought inGel’brynCity.Thismonstrositydidnothoverabove theground,nordiditmoveadroitlytoavoidretaliation.Itwasfartoomassiveforthat.‘Get in close!’ shouted Antelion, his bolter shots chewing layers of ablativearmourfromtheenormousmachine.‘Don’tletitdrawabeadonyou!’The Eighth Company were quick to obey. Power-armoured figures poundedthrough the jungle, some barrelling through cordons of kroot warriors withchainswords slashingwhilst others fired from thehip as they sprinted towardsthenewthreat.Thewarsuitlaunchedasalvoofarm-lengthmissilesthatsoaredthrough the trees, winding like desert snakes as they sought a kill. Numitorhurdledafallentreetrunk,divingoutofthepathofonemissileonlytocrosstwokroot hounds that burst from the undergrowth to leap at his heels. A secondmissile clipped his pauldron, jarring him hard and forcing him into a suddendive. Deflected by the curvature of Numitor’s shoulder armour, the warheaddetonatedinthefoliagebehind,blastingoneofthekroothoundstostringyruinandsendingtheothertumblingaway.Therewas the telltalewhoosh ofmoremissiles inbound.Numitor tucked hisshoulder into a combat roll, came up, and burst through a cluster of hanginglianas.Vaulting a swampymorass, he splasheddown to skidunsteadily in theblack mire, clapping his gauntlet around a thick sapling and using hismomentum to pivot hard into a new direction.A heartbeat later a third sleek-bodied missile blasted the sapling to pieces, throwing him forward withconcussiveforce.Hepinballedfromapairofthornoakstospinaroundhard.Helookedup,andupagain.

BeforeNumitorwasasilver-skinnedtauwalkerthatwasclosertoatitaninsizethan the warsuits he had seen on Vespertine. The giant machine was squat-bodiedbutenormous,apairof tinysensorheadscrestinga torso the sizeofacommandbunker.Itslegsweresplayedwidelikethoseofawrestleranticipatingan opponent’s charge, piston-driven dewclaws giving more stability tocompensate for a devastating recoil. Its barrel chestwas flanked by two boxymissilearrays, juttingwarheadsarrangedgrid-likeineachfascia.Theweaponssystemsweresohugethatevenwitharmsspreadwide,Numitorcouldnothavespannedthedistanceofasinglelauncher’sfrontage.Auxiliarygunswerefusedtotheflanksandundersideofeachmissilearray,whilststillmorebristledatopthem.But it was theweapon on thewarsuit’s shoulder that robbedNumitor of hisbattle-calm. Rectangular in cross-section, the primary cannon was a good tenmetres in length, amassively up-scaled version of the pulse rifle used by thetau’slineinfantry.Theairshimmeredaroundthegun’sgeneratorcores.Leavesblackened in the canopyonly a fewmetres above it as the cannon’sgeneratorsystemsheditsexcessheat.Numitorfelthis throat tighten.Aweaponlikethatbelongedonaspacecraft,notonthefrontline.Asingledirecthitcouldsignthedeathwarrantfortheentirestrikeforce.The low thrum of the warsuit’s primary weapon system rose slowly to acrescendo,bringingacoldclaritytoNumitor’sadrenalin-fuelledstate.Thegunwaspivoting,themachinewaddlingbackwardswithground-shakingfootstepsinan attempt to get a clear shot. He had tomove, and fast.With a flare of hisstutteringjumppack,Numitorhurledhimselfbetweenthetrees.Ablastoflightandsound,suddenandterrible.Thesergeantwassentsprawlingthrough the air as if swattedby somewrathful god.He smashedbodily into athornoak, tumbling down and turning groggily as he scrambled on hands andkneesintotheundergrowth.Anothercraterhadsuddenlyappearedbehindhim,identicalinsizeandaspecttothesteamingholethathadbeentornontheothersideoftheclearing.Now,whilstthemainweaponwasrecharging.Nowwasthetimetostrike.Numitorcoaxedthelastburstofspeedfromhisjumppack,feelingthelightnessof its empty fuel cells as faltering turbines turned his charge into a headlongleap.Apairofmissilesshotfromthegiantwarsuit’sarm-arrays,contrailsofheatdistortionripplingbehindthemastheyveeredin.Numitorgrinnedlikeadeath’sheadashetwistedinmid-flight.Thetwinmissilescamewithinafractionofaninchon either sideofhim, crashing into the foliagebehind todetonatewith a

spectacularboom.Thegiantmachinewasapreposterousassettodeployinsuchdenseterrain,itsslowandclumsyprogress through theforest instarkcontrast to thecybernetickrootwarriorsthathadslippedthroughwithouthindrance.Allaroundthegoliathweretreesthathadbeenshoulderedaside,somelyingdiagonalwithrootshalf-torn from the ground, others flattened completely. The destruction was atestamenttotherawpowerthexenosscientistshadattheirdisposal,anditdidnotbodewell.Numitorranalongathinculvert,SquadAntelionhustlingforwardinhiswake.Thetauwarsuitwasinsightupahead,bringingitsgunstobearoncemore.Thesergeant launched up to spring from an outcrop of rock with his power fistraised.Boltsofplasmaflashedpasthimfromthewarsuit’sauxiliarysystems.Itstorsoloomedbeforehim,acliffofdullsilveralloy.Numitorputeverythinghehadintoawidehaymaker,thepowerfistconnectingwithsuchforceitblastedacraterinthething’schestandsentaspider’swebofcracksracingacrossitsalloyshielding.Theartillerymachinedidnotsomuchasflinch.Therewas a high-pitchedwhine from the grotesquely large cannon upon thewarsuit’sshoulder,andaflashof lightso intenseNumitor’sautosensescutoutaltogether. When they recovered, the stink of burnt foliage and cooked fleshfilled theair.Thestatus runesofbrothersHereclor,Clavius,Daen,andAuriushadwinkedout,replacedbytinyskulls.Numitor staggeredback into themulch, choking steamboiling from themudunderhis jumppack’sexhaustedturbines.Fourbattle-brothersslaininasingleshot. Coverwas no use against such staggering power; to advance cautiouslywastodie.‘Close!’shoutedNumitor.‘Getwithinitsreachbeforeitrecharges!’AbluishblurflickeredinNumitor’speripheralvision;Sicariuswasleapingandboundingtowardsthewarsuitwithhisbladedrawn.Apairofmissileshissedin,detonatingharduponthesergeant’schestandhip.Sicariussprawledinaheapoflimbs,anexpressionofpurerageonhisface.Therewasaclankinghissasthegiantwarsuitdisengageditsstabiliserpistonsand raised a clawed foot directly above Sicarius. The spears of light lancingdownontothedappledfloorofthejunglewereblockedoutbythetitan’ssheermass.Withacry,Sicariusrolledsidelongintotheleeofamoss-cladboulderatthe lastmoment.Thegiantfootcrunchedtheupperportionof theboulder intorubble,butfailedtocrushtheSpaceMarinebeneath.

Numitor took his chance, scrambling from his hiding place to race into thecreature’s blind spot.He saw a chance of victory, slimbut definite – an elderthornoak leaned drunkenly, one side chewed away by the blinding energybackwashofthewarsuit’smaincannon.Numitorbunchedhisfistandswung,hisupperbody’sentireweightbehindtheblow.Therewasaloudcrackasthetreeshattered at its weakest point. The smell of burning wood filled Numitor’snostrils.Astheupperportionofthetreetoppled,Numitordisengagedhispowerfist’sdisruptionfield,grabbedastoutbranchandpulledthetrunkoverwithallofhisweight.Thetree’sdownwardcoursechanged,bringingitcrashingontothegiantwarsuit’sshoulder.Themachine,havingdisengageditsstabilisers inanattempt tocrushSicariusunderfoot,staggeredbackwardsundertheimpact.Andstrucknotatree,norarock,butawallofnothingatall.A flicker of light ran coursing into the distance, the false jungle’s reachesfizzing and glitching to reveal smooth beigewalls that curved around a wideperiphery.Numitor’s eyeswidened inhope.Theyhad reached the edgeof thetesting zone, its endless depths nothingbut a hologram intended to simulate awiderenvironment.Herewasthekey.Herewasescape.PerhapshadtheEighthbeenabletomustera combined assault on the goliath, with supporting fire from SquadAntelion,theycouldhavebroughtitdown.Thekroottheycouldcertainlyovercome,evenwiththeirmuscularbeastsofburdenandhuntinghounds.Butwiththegiantononesideandthexenosmercenariesonanother,escapewasfastbecomingtheironlychanceofsurvival.‘Here!’shoutedNumitor.‘SquadNumitor,SquadAntelion,chargeit!’Within moments his brothers had come crashing through the jungle, dartingforwardswhilst the goliath suit struggled to bring its guns to bear oncemore.Numitor leaped, power fist hammering into the warsuit’s stabiliser arraywithsuchforcethattheentirehydraulicanchorwastornfree.HeglancedbacktoseeGaelocorkneelingbyafallenlog,theblunttubeofhismissilelauncherglintingintheemeraldgloom.Therewasahollowthumpandawhooshasakrakmissilerocketedout,detonatinghardonthegiantmachine’ssensor-headandtearingitfreeinaconfusionoffizzlingwires.Natoroswas already sprinting under thewarmachine’s blind spot,meltaguntight against his body. Numitor aimed his bolt pistol wide and sent a mass-reactive shell into the junglewhere thewarsuit had crashed into the invisiblewall.Thebolt’sdetonationcausedconcentriccirclesofenergytoflashacrossthe

wall’shololithiccamouflage.Natorosneedednomoreprompting.Heshotnotatthewarsuit,butatthebarrierbeyond–thedistinctivehissofhismeltashotgrewtoascreamingcrescendoasthethermalweaponturnedawideareaoftheholo-plated wall into a mess of bubbling black plastic. Through the smoking holeshone a wan light, and an amber horizon that reminded Numitor of theVespertinewastes.Kaetoros, Glavius and Veletan were already rushing forward, jump packstrailing greasy black smoke.The rest of theEighthweren’t far behind, takingtheir chance to sprint forwardwhilst thegoliathwarsuitwas still reeling fromGaelocor’skrakmissile.Totheright,Sicariuscamecrashingthroughathicketofcarnivorousplantsinasprayofthickplantsap.Atrioofkroothoundssnappedon his heels. The sergeant span in a low crouch, the tip of his tempest bladetakingonebeastinthejawandanotherinthethroat.Thelastonepounced,butmetSicarius’fistcomingtheotherway,thexenohound’sbeakcomingapartastheceramitegauntletsmashedhome.Thesergeantspatonthething’sremains.‘Cato!’shoutedNumitor.‘FortheloveoftheEmperor,getoverhere!’Therearwallwasswathedinbillowingsmoke.Natoros’meltahadtornawideovalportal,itsedgesstillglowingamber,throughtotheroombeyond.Numitorcried out in elation as he leapt over a fallen tree, ducked another, and swungaroundathicketofgrasper-vinestoreachthehololithwall.Hewasthefirst toplungestraightthroughthebubblingapertureandintotheenvironmentbeyond.Thesergeantcamefacetofacewithacrest-helmedUltramarine,bolterraised.Thegun’smuzzlewasafewfeetfromhisunprotectedface.‘Wait,brother,’saidNumitorinconfusion.‘WeareoftheEighth!’ThentheUltramarinefired,andthesergeant’sworldcameapart.

CHAPTEREIGHTREFLECTION/TRIALBYDOPPELGANGER

‘Resourceful,theseones,’saidO’Vesatohimself,hisdatawandskimmingoverthe sea of information that poured across the myriad screens of his analysiscradle. ‘Resourceful, and lucky.’Hementally chided himself at the very idea.‘Althoughthatisabarbaricnotionunbecomingoftheearthcaste,’hemuttered.Thetestsubjectshadshownanincredibledegreeofaptitude.Nodoubtitwasthe legacy of their maker’s stringent genetics program, complemented by acomprehensivetrainingregime–luckhadnothingtodowithit.‘Remaincalm,’O’Vesawhispered.‘Remainrational.SuperstitionistheenemyoftheTau’va.’In truth, an unfamiliar emotion was coursing through his mind, hot anduncomfortable. The feeling was frightening and strangely empowering at thesame time. The intruders had overcome not one but two of his most prizedprototypes, and badly damaged the holographic suite of the Pech hostileenvironment program in the process.Nothing that could not be fixed, and therich harvest of data he had gleaned wouldmore thanmake up for their loss.Also, he remindedhimself, no tau liveshadbeen lost.EvenHelperOb’lotai’sprogramcouldberecoveredfromthecompromisedKV120prototype.Allinall,his initiative had proven a worthy sacrifice and a noble furtherance of theGreaterGood.Sowhydidhefeellikesmashinghisfistintothescreen?‘Theyseektoescape,’O’Vesamutteredtohimself.‘Rightintothearmsoftheirbrethren.Escape,ohyes.’Hislipsturnedupwardsinathinsmileasasuiteoftwentyidenticaldatasigns

spikedunderhiswand.‘Butperhapsnotthekindtheywouldhopefor.’

Sicarius shoulder-charged Numitor hard, smashing him aside and taking thekillingboltonhispauldroninstead.Itwasnotthefirst timehehadtakenahitfromaboltshell,butitsdetonationstillhurtlikehell.Heturnedwiththeimpactandpivotedinasweepingcircle,histempestbladelashingouttotakethebarrelfromtheSpaceMarine’sbolterbeforehecouldfireanothershot.‘We’reonthesameside,damnyou!’shoutedNumitorashescrabbledupwardfromthesand.Shockandprotestmingledinhisvoice.NinemoreunidentifiedUltramarineswereconvergingontheirpositions,boltersraisedtotheshoulder.Sicariusreadiedhisblade.Thatwasthegun-stanceoftaulineinfantry,notthatoftheAdeptusAstartes.Thesewere not allies, thiswas not a case ofmistaken identity: thiswas thetwistedscienceofthetauwritlarge.Sicariusreadthebattlefieldataglance.Inthemiddledistance,thesilhouettesof incomingAssaultMarineswere getting closer, gaining on themuch closerTacticalMarines. They were hurtling over a wasteland of crushed amber andverdigrisedbrass,vaultingbombed-out ruins that juttedatoddangles.Sicariusremembered the crunch of that shattered amber underfoot, the memory freshfromwhenhehadcrossedswordswiththetauforthefirsttime.ThewarzonewasaperfectreplicaofVespertine’ssuburbandesolation.Now,however,itwashisownbrethrenhewouldfight.Sicarius noted with satisfaction that Numitor was still hesitant. So be it; hewouldleadinstead.Leadashewasborntodo.ThesergeantsteppedinclosetotheSpaceMarinehehadjustdisarmedevenasthewarriorreachedforboltpistolandgrenade.Hecouldhearthepinslidefromthe grenade’s collarwith a tiny chink. The air filledwith the din of thuddinggunfireastheSpaceMarinesaheadopenedfire,butSicariuswasalreadyunderthedisarmedwarrior’sguard.Bydropping lowandputtinghis shoulderunderhis foe’s breastplate, he lifted him bodily from his feet, cutting the hand thatclutchedthegrenadefromhiswristwithaquicklateralslashofhissword.Hefelt his improvised shield shudder hard as a bolt volley took its toll, gouginggreatholesintheSpaceMarine’spowerpackanddensefleshalike.Asthedisembodiedhandclutchingthelivegrenadedroppedtowardsthedust,Sicariuspuntedithardwiththetoeofhisarmouredboot.Ithurtledintothetightranksof thebolter-armedSpaceMarinesaheadbeforedetonatingrightoncue,

punchingfiveofthemfromtheirfeetinastormoffrag-shrapnel.ItwasallthechancetheUltramarinesneeded.DivingthroughtheaperturethatNatoroshadmadeinthewall,SquadSicariusfannedoutandmountedamassedcharge.CoveringfirecamefromthosemembersofSquadAntelionstillbeyondtheimpromptuportal,boltermuzzlesflashinginthegloom.Theiraimwastrue.Threemore of the oncomingSpaceMarine gun line took bolter rounds to theheadandneck,pitchingthemintothedust.Thosestillstandingopenedfire.AboltwingedSicariusinthethigh,sendingaburstofvividpainthroughtheoldwarwoundinhisknee.Hechannelledthepainintoaroarofanger,heftingthedyingSpaceMarinehewasusingasashieldashecharged.Theenemyassaultsquad was bounding in close now, their movements uncannily synchronised.Sicarius felt raw hatred at the sight. It was a parody of Ultramarine battledoctrine,paper-thinanddevoidofanytruetacticalawareness.‘Robots,sergeant?’shoutedGlavius,anoteofconfusioninhisvoice.‘Simulacra!’bellowedSicarius.‘Lethalforce,nomercy!’The false Assault squad opened fire with bolt pistols as they flew in,chainswordsrevving.Fourof theSpaceMarinesSicariushadtakendownwiththe frag grenade had assumed gun crouches now, their bolters still held inriflemanpositions.‘Jump!’ shoutedKaetoros justbefore the enemysquadopened fire inunison.GlaviusandVeletanvaultedhighoverthelowvolley,theservosintheirpowerarmourboostingtheirformidablestrength.Theyclearedfivefeetevenwiththeirjump packs holding nothing but fumes, landing with a crunch to charge onwithout breaking stride. Swiftly, Kaetoros closed in from the flank, flamergoutingalongtongueofpromethiumthatcaughtthefourclosestSpaceMarinesin its fieryembrace.Thevolatile,stickyfuelclung to theirpowerarmouras itburnedwiththeferocityofanindustrialfurnace.Threewentdown,swathedinripplingwavesofvioletflame.Kaetorosgruntedinsatisfactionbeforepullingakrak grenade and hurling it backhand toward the fourth. The Space Marineturned, bolter outstretched, only for the krak grenade to detonate upon him,rippinghalfhis torsoawayandsendinghimtopplingbackward.Goutingblackfluidandgreenish-yellowlubricantpouredfromthecracklingcavityofhischest.ThentherestofSquadSicariusjoinedthefight.Veletankickedasidethebolterthatwas swinging towardshim,knocking itwide and stepping in toplace themuzzleofhisboltpistolunderthehelmofhisadversary.Hefiredaboltstraightup,blastingaparthisfoe’sheadfromtheinsideinastormofceramiteandbone.ToSicarius’rightDenturiscleavedlowwithhispairedchainswords,takingthe

legsfromtwoofthefalseUltramarines.Steppingforward,hereversedhisgripsand knelt to drive the gnawing, blunt points of his blades downwards, onethrougheachof the fallenwarriors’gorget seals.Throatsand spineswere tornapart in a double spray of black blood. Nearby, Colnid barged another to thegroundbeforeputtingoneboltpistolshellintothegutandonethroughtheeyesocket.‘Aninsulttotheprimarchs,’hesaid.‘Lookup,’orderedSicarius.‘Youhaveincoming!’Aroarfromabove,andapairofthefakeSpaceMarinessmashedColnidfromhisfeet,theirownchainbladesscreamingahigh-pitchedwhinethatputSicarius’teethonedge.Another twolandedclosebywithacrunching thud,boltpistolsbooming.Colnidwassentskiddingthroughthedustastheexplosionstoreintohim.Sicariussawasprayofcrimsonjetoutasthesecondexplosiveboltfounditsmark,tearinghissquadmate’slegfromhishipinwelterofblood.Colniddidnotcryout,butinsteadtookashotwithhisownboltpistolthatslammedintothesideoftheclosestSpaceMarineandsenthimspinningaway.FromSicarius’leftcameMagros,hisbattlecryminglingwiththethroatyroarof his inherited eviscerator. The great blade came round hard, chewing rightthrough one of the fakeAssaultMarines to send the gory halves of his bodytumblingtothesand.Magroskeptswinging,thebladejudderingintothespineofthenextSpaceMarine.Therewasametallicscreechastheevisceratorcaughthardintheceramitearmourofthewarrior’sflank.Magroswasyankedforward,butkepthisgrip,shoulder-barginghisadversarywithsuchforceheknockedhimoverbeforefreeing theprotestingblade.Numitorhearda loudsnapasMagrosstampedonhisfoe’shelm,sparkscracklingfromagorgetbentatanunnaturalangle.TwomorefalseUltramarinesslammeddown, intenton thekill.Hurlingasidehis bolt-chewed corpse shield, Sicarius span around to bat the barrel of hisplasmapistol into the flatof thenearest foe’schainsword, forcing itoutwide.TheSpaceMarinepushedbackhardon reflex,his strength impressive,butheonly succeeded in putting the plasma pistol’s barrel in line with his helm.Sicarius laughedharshlyashepulled the triggerof theancientweapon, takinghisfoe’sheadfromhisneck.Spattersofmoltenfleshandmetalsizzledacrossthesergeant’sarmourwithapleasinghiss.SergeantSicariusfeltacrushingimpactasared-helmedsergeantveeredfromthe sky to slam into his flank. Together they barrelled into the confusion ofcorpses littering the sands. The flash of a bolt nearby blinded Sicarius for a

second,andtheenemysergeantbroughthisbootdownontothetempestblade,pinning it flat.Sicariusbroughthisplasmapistol round insteadandpulled thetrigger. It was still recharging from its last shot, and yielded nothing but anannoyed buzz. His adversary’s chainblade revved loud as it came down hardtowardshisunprotectedface.To die sprawling upon the blade of an impostor puppet would be a graveignominy.Therewasaflashofazure,andNumitor’spowerfistslammedintotheenemysergeant with such force it all but ripped him in two. The blow sent himsidewayswithamauledflankandabrokenspine.Sicarius’visionfilledwithredlightasKaetorosknocked the lastof theenemyAssaultMarines from theskywithaspearof ignitedpromethium.Thestinkof thevolatilechemical seemedalmost pleasant. Numitor stepped past Sicarius to shoot the enemy sergeant’schainswordfromhishandinapuffofdarkfluids,kicking theboltpistol fromhisadversary’sgrip.Rising,Sicariusseveredthewarrior’sarmswithartfulflicksofhistempestblade.AllaroundthetwosergeantswasthehighwhineofSquadSicarius’ chainswords chewing through ceramite, and the grizzling growl ofthosethathadmadeitthroughtothefleshandbonebeneath.Inseconds,thebattlewasover.‘He’s all yours, if you want him,’ said Numitor, backhanding the enemysergeantintothesandandsendinghishelmspinningfree.‘Justkilltheblastedthing,’saidSicarius.‘Andit’snota‘he’.It’safacsimile,atest-servitor.It’snotworthyofmyblade.’Numitor grinned. ‘Theblade thatwas under its boot amoment ago?Still, asyouwish,’hesaid.Achoppingmotionendedwhateverpoorexcuseforalifethesimulacrumhadcalleditsown.Sicarius got to his feet, taking care not to put toomuchweight on his knee.GlancingdownatthemockeryofaSpaceMarineinthedirtbelowhim,Sicariusfeltasicknessinhissoul.Thefacethatstaredback,glassy-eyedanddense,wasalaceratedslaboffleshasdullanddevoidofwitasadeadogryn.Somethinginitsjaw,initsbroadforehead,wasfartooclosetothefacehesawinthemirrorafterhismeditations.HeshotNumitoradarklook.‘Thesetaumustdie,’hesaidcoldly.‘Allofthem.’

‘IfthisiswhatthetaubelievetheEmperor’sfinesttobe,’saidGlavius,‘it’snowonderwe’remakinggainsacrosstheplanet.’

‘Makinggains?’saidNumitor,‘howdoyouknowthat?’‘We’re SpaceMarines,’ he said, his expression one of mild affrontery. ‘TheAngels of Death. You should take pride in that, Numitor. Let it inform yourphilosophy.’Numitorcastawaryglancebackat theraggedholeofburnedplastic that ledbacktothemockjungle.Ionsianstoodonguard,thebigmanasunflinchingasaservitor,buthestillhalf-expectedthesoundoftaumissilestofilltheairatanymoment.HeturnedbacktoGlavius,shouldersstraight.‘ThefactIdon’tletcomplacencyinterferewithmyawarenessisalargepartofwhyIamsergeant,BrotherGlavius,andyouarenot.’‘Andyetyoursquadnownumbersonlyfour,toourseven.’‘Haveacarewithyour tone,Glavius,’saidNumitor. ‘It’smore likesixandahalf,anyway.’Nearby,Colnidwas cauterising the ragged stump that had once been his legwiththehissingbarrelofDuolor’splasmapistol.‘Iheardthat,sergeant,’hesaidthrough gritted teeth. ‘Where’s Apothecary Drekos when you need him? I’mmakingarealmessofthis.’‘It’llheal,’saidSicarius.‘Justgetonwithit.’DenturishadlaidasidehisweaponstosawalowerlegfromoneofthefallenSpaceMarineswithhiscombatknife.Chainswordswereincrediblydestructiveweapons,designedtochewthroughfleshandboneintheblinkofaneye.Theyweredevisedtomutilateandbutcher,andmadepoorsurgeon’stoolseveninthehandsofaskilledbladesman.‘Colnid,’saidDenturis,wipingtheworstoftheblackgunkfromthesalvagedleg’skneejointandofferingit tohissquadmate.‘It’s therightshape,at least.Maybebinditon?Itmighttakesomeoftheweight.’Colnid smiled up at his battle-brother’s optimism. ‘Thank you, Denturis. I’llsplintiton.AndusethisasawalkingstickifIhaveto,’hesaid,motioningtohischainsword.‘Betterthecanethanthecrutch,remember?Ifit’sgoodenoughforoldUncleRytricus…’‘…then it’sa rare thing indeed,’ finishedDenturiswithachuckle.HeofferedColnidahandup,pullinghisbrotherupright.‘Airborne,thelegwon’tmattersomuch,’hecontinued,‘thoughthelandingisgoingtohurt.’‘Butwecan’tget airborne,’ said Ionsian, sternand statue-likeashe stoodonguard,eyesfixedonthehorizon.‘Wecouldn’tfillanaltarchalicewithourfuelreserves,evenifwepooledeverythingwehaveleft.’‘Don’tbesosure,’saidKaetoros.Hewasprisingarmourplatesfromthejump

packs of the facsimileAssaultMarines, laying them around himself in a neatcircle.Veletanwasexaminingeachinturn,hurlingsomeaway,butleavingtherest in place. Kaetoros dipped a blackened finger into a jump pack’s fuelreservoir and took it back out, sniffing the droplet of liquid that clung to hisfingerandevenputtingatinyamountonhistongue.Hisface,alreadytautanddisfigured,twistedfurther.‘Promethium.Orcloseenough.Tastes…alittlecleaner,infact.’‘Wecannotusethewargearoftheenemy!’protestedMagros.‘It’sheresy.Outofthequestion.Inallmytwenty-eightyearsasanUltramarineI’venever…’‘Yes,yes,’saidSicarius.‘Laudablexenophobia,Magros.Andquitecorrect.WewillnotbeusingtaintedalientechnologyasasubstituteforthewargearblessedbyourownTechmarines.’There was an awkward silence. Many of the Ultramarines were running onfumes, their battleplate severely compromised and their ammunition stores allbutdryafter the intensityof the invasion thus far.GolotanandKaetoroswereespecially in dire need of re-supply. The former had taken a pulse bombexplosiontothechest,hisplateshotthroughwithatraceryofcracksthatwouldbetrayhimatthefirsttrueimpact,whilstthelatterwasscorchedtothepointthatmostofhisarmour’souterlayerhadcharredaway.‘Actually,’ saidVeletan, ‘I’m running some tests, and…well, it appears thatthis is Imperial wargear. Specifically, the battleplate of the Third and Sixthcompanies. It’s been tampered with, but it’s still functional. Better thanfunctional.Muchofitisinprimecondition.’‘ThirdandSixth,’saidNumitor.‘WefoughtalongsidethemonVespertine,ontheothersideof theDamoclesGulf.Could the tauhavestripped thoseweleftbehindinordertomaketheirsimulationsasrealisticaspossible?’‘Theoretically,’ said Veletan. ‘Likely, in fact. In an active war zone ourApothecarieswouldhaverecoveredthefallen’sprogenoidglandsandlittleelse.There’severy reasonwhy the tauwouldseek tounderstandandeven replicateImperialwarmateriel.’‘Disgusting,’ saidMagros. ‘To defile our sacred wargear, using it to armoursomevat-grownapproximationofanAdeptusAstartes, that’sbadenough.Butthentosetthemagainstus?Itbeggarsbelief.’‘Fromacertainscientificpointofview,’saidVeletan,‘itmakesalotofsense.Knowthineenemy.’MagrosstrodeuptoVeletanandgrabbedhimbythegorget,yankinghimtohisfeet. ‘I cannot believe you said that, Veletan,’ he said. ‘You who claim to

understandtheCodexinsideandout.Explaintomehowdefilingthedeadmakesalotofsense.’VeletanbrokeMagros’gripwithaquickshrugofhisforearms.‘Youareaslaveto sentiment as ever,’ he said, his tone flat. ‘TheCodex isbasedon logic, notemotion.MaybeyoucantrainwiththeScoutsforanothertwenty-eightyears,ifthey’llletyoubackin.’Magrosbaredhis teeth inagrimaceatVeletan’s self-righteous tone.Numitorstepped forward and interceded, placinghis poweredgauntlet on thewarrior’spauldronwithaloudclang.‘Comeon,brothers,’hesaid.‘Youarebothright.Weresupplyhere,weclaimthatwhich is theChapter’s property.Betterwe use thiswargear than carry it,furtherharmingourcause,orleaveithereforxenosdronestopickover.’‘Weneedthefuel,Magros,’addedDenturis.‘Thosewiththewittoadaptsoontakewing,’continuedVeletan.‘AstheCodexteachesus.’Numitordetachedhisowndamagedpauldronandsalvagedanintactequivalent,mag-clamps thunking as he broke it free from the rest of its battleplate.‘Kaetoros, spare Magros the last of your flamer fuel if you think you canrepurpose thepromethiumanalogue. I coulduse a full tank and a field repair,andI’mnottheonlyone.Golotanisabouttofallapartentirely.’Golotancockedhisheadbutsaidnothing,wiseenoughtoknowthatNumitor’schangeofsubjectwasintendedtodiffuseadangeroussituation.‘Once we have completed our kill strike and returned to the heart of theoperation,’ continued Numitor, ‘we’ll ensure the battleplate we take, thepromethiumwesiphon,andeventheboltroundsleftinourmagazinesarefullyblessed and reconsecrated. Until then, Brother Magros, we do what we wereborntodo.Survive,andwagewar.InthenameofMacraggeandtheEmperor.’MagrosstoodsilentforamomentbeforelookingawayandwalkingovertojoinIonsianonwatch.The restof theEighthbegan toquicklyandefficiently stripaway battleplate and siphon fuel from the jump packs of their simulacrumassailants.Withinafewminutesbothsquadswererefuelled,theirarmourmismatchedbutwholeoncemoreandtheirammunitionsuppliesfulltwiceover.Numitornoticed thatKaetoroshadnotreplacedasingleplateofhisscorchedblackceramite.Theflamerspecialistwasstandingwitharmscrossed,scowlingat his battle-brothers as theywent about theirwork.Numitor caught Sicarius’eye,making thequestionmarkgestureofTalassariansea-cant.Sicariusgavea

curtnodandstrodeovertoKaetoros.‘Well?’askedSicariusastheotherscompletedtheirresupplyonebyone.‘I’llnotjointhecorpse-harvest,ifit’sallthesame,’camethereply.‘Iprefertowearmyscarswithpride.’Swiftly,theUltramarineturnedtomeetSicarius’gaze.TherewasafireinhiseyesthattookevenNumitorabackforamoment.‘Theyhelpmeremember,’saidKaetorosdarkly.

Sicarius, Numitor and Antelion jogged at pace across the dunes of the fakeVespertine,theirsquadsincloseformationbehindthem.Theymovedwithfluidgrace despite their size, for the machine-spirits of their wargear had beenappeased–shatteredbattleplatehadbeenstrippedawayandreplaced,fuelcellsreplenished andweapons reloaded. Even Sicarius had found a spoiled plasmacartridge that he hadmanaged to coax back into life as a replacement for hisnear-spentoriginal.Galvanisedbytheirsuccess,theUltramarinesweremakinggoodspeed.Gunstwitchedupwardsateverynewshadowonthehorizon.Sicarius was too stubborn to replace his helm, but Numitor, now constantlylisteningforthewhooshofincomingmissiles,haddonnedhis,thebettertokeepavigil.Hewatchedhisvisor’s readouts for theslightestghostofanelectronicsignature.After the close encounterwith the doppelganger SpaceMarines, hewasnotfeelingquiteasinvulnerableasusual.Aquick exchangebetween the sergeants haddetermined their best chanceofmakingprogresswas tokeepmoving.Withenemyweapons scientists sendingeverlargeranddeadlierwarsuitstheirway,theyhadnorealchoice.TheyweretrustinginVeletan’sauspextokeepthemoncourseastheyhustledfromruintoruin.Before the hour was out Numitor’s visor started portraying anomalies at theedgeofitsscryingrange.Thereadingsupaheadfuzzed,cracklingandshortingoutwheneverhelookeddirectlyintothedistance.‘Veletan,areyougettingthis?’‘Yes,SergeantNumitor,’repliedthelogistician.‘Auspexanomalies,verymuchlikethoseIdetectedinthejungle.Itcouldbetheperimeterofthistestingzone,or simply interference from the electronic countermeasures of the stealthwarsuit.’‘It’stheperimeter,’saidSicarius.HeshotNumitorablacklookbeforeraisinghisplasmapistol and letting flya shot, a sphereof incandescent lighthurtlinginto the distance before detonating with a crack against nothing at all. The

impact left a scorchmark hanging in the air, holographic projections shortingarounditsperipherywheretheelectromagneticchargeoftheplasmahadburnedout circuitry. ‘See? Antelion, get Natoros up here and take out the perimeterwall.Thesoonerwe’re freeof thisplace, thebetter.Weshouldbeback in thewar effort proper by now, not skulking around like rats in some xenoslaboratory.’Antelionmotionedhismeltagunnerforward,andNatorosaimedhisweaponatthe weakness in the wall that Sicarius had made with his plasma pistol. Themeltagunhissedasitsentacolumnofsuperheatedairtoburnaholethroughthehyperdense plastic of the periphery wall. The stink of burning polymers andbubblingcircuitryfillingtheaironcemore.A thick shaft of light streamed through. Numitor stepped forwards into theunknown,photolensesdimmingtodarkcrimson.

AvastswatheofwastelandstretchedoutaroundGel’brynCity.Itwasmajestic,thoughtNumitor–foranalienworld,atleast.The edge of the earth caste complex was a sloping lip running around thecircumference of the testing facility. Beyond it was a sharp cliff of ivoryplummetingdowntoaseaofindigowilderness.Themiddledistancewasdottedwith sparkling lakes and the swells of smallmountains.On thehorizonwas avast, snow-capped peak with a series of sheer faces that looked all butimpossible toclimb,evenforaSpaceMarine.Perhaps theirquarrywouldfleethere,thoughtthesergeant,andgivehimachancetofindout.Numitorshookhishead.Nodoubttheywouldfindthexenoscommandertheysought languishing in a med-bay rather than ready for war in his crimsonwarsuit,andthegloriousduelhehopedforwouldbedisappointinglybrief.Rightnow,however,hewouldsettleforavictoryofanykind.Thestingoffailure,ofthelossofhisbrethren,stilllingered.ThiswasnottheUltramarines’wayofwar.The Eighth were far from the teachings of the Codex Astartes, and gettingfurtherawaywitheverypassinghour.Atmaximumzoom,hecouldseethetargettheywereheadingfor–aclusteroftall hexagonal buildings, the vague heat-haze shimmer of energy dischargeblurring around them. The out-city command headquarters, with any luck. Itcorrelatedwiththeirheadings,despitelookingmuchlikeadozensmallerxenosstructuresdottedaroundGel’bryn’soutskirts.The magnitude of the journey ahead through enemy territory was daunting,even to one of the Eighth Company. They had lost too many battle-brothers

already. But Captain Atheus had made his feelings more than clear. Only bykillingthered-suitedxenoswarlordandbringingbackhisheadcouldtheymakeamendsfortheirearliermistakes.‘I note we’re still more than a hundred miles from our destination,’ saidKaetorosdully.‘We’verefuelled,haven’twe?’repliedNumitor,ashadetoofast.‘Why,areyoutiring?’‘Tiring of unnecessary risks, perhaps. We’re out on a limb here, with noarmoured support or air cover to back us up.We’ve lostAustos,Dalaton andEndrion,goodmenall.WarriorsIfoughtwith,trainedwith…’hepaused,headbowed,‘…consideredfriendsforovertwelveyears.Asforyoursquad?Halvedinthespaceofaday.’KaetorossweptanarmbackattheUltramarinesemergingfromthecomplexbehind.‘Antelion’s?Shatteredbythatcursedartillerymachinein the jungle. Until we can get our machine-spirits exorcised and our voxrestored,thechancesoftheirgene-seedbeingrecoveredareslimtonone.Faceit,Numitor.Theyarelosttous,andlikelylosttotheChapter.’Numitorsaidnothing,silencedbythebrutalhonestyofKaetoros’summation.‘Suchisthenatureofwar,’saidSicarius,histonesepulchral.‘Suchisthefateofusall,soonerorlater.’Distantexplosionsthumped,waybackintheheartofthecity.Therewasafaintscream of tortured metal on the edge of hearing, the last protestation of acollapsing building. Gel’bryn was taking a hammering from Imperial and taualike.Numitor’s great pauldron-clad shoulders slumped.Kaetoros had a point. Theideaoffightinginapurelyreactivefashionstillmadehimcringe,butitgalledhimtothinkoftheliveshehadlostinsoshortaspaceoftime.Othercompanies,otherChapters,werestillbackthere,fightingtothedeathwhilstSquadsNumitorandSicariusgotfurtherandfurtherawayfromthefront.‘Andwhat havewe gained in exchange for these grievous losses, sergeant?’continuedKaetoros.‘Afewdozenmilesmadetowardsanuncertainobjective?Afewgallonsofxenos-taintedpromethium?’‘Wehaveknowledge,’saidVeletan.‘Priceless,ifputtogooduse,’saidDuolor.‘But they have knowledge of us in turn,’ countered Kaetoros. ‘Far moredetailed and comprehensive than ours, if that was truly a wartech facility –technicaldatalikelytobebroadcastacrosstheentiretauempire.’‘A distinct possibility,’ muttered Magros, ‘And with the Hammers of Dorn

employingthesamemanoeuvrestheyalwaysuse,they’llbelearningourtacticsfast.’‘Those warsuits we fought, in the jungle,’ said Aordus, ‘the big ones. Theyweren’tdetailed in thevox-brief,butwe took themdownnonetheless.There’severy chancewe’ve figured out how to beat their cutting edgewarmachines,theirsecretweapons,beforetheywereevensanctionedfordeployment.’‘What if they aren’t deployed at all? If they were just prototypes?’ saidKaetoros.‘Thetauarecunning.They’renoHammers,theywon’tplaythesametricktwice.Iftheypracticepuppetwarsevenagainsttheirallies,Emperoronlyknowshowmuchveritastheyholdontheirfoes.’‘Agood idea tohead for their commandposts, then,’ saidGlavius. ‘We’dbewastedinablock-by-blockwarofattritionanyway.Leavethatsortofwarfaretothe AstraMilitarum.We take out their high command, and all their preciousknowledgeisn’tnearlysouseful.’‘Mythanks,Glavius,’saidNumitor.‘Thatwasmyreasoning.’‘Letusmakeastart,then,’saidColnid,tighteningthebolterstrapsthatheldhisprosthetic leg inplace. ‘Thexenoswar leaderswon’t remainwrong-footed forlong.’Denturisgaveasnort,glancingathissquad-mate’sprosthesis.Colnidbaredhisteethinasmilethatwasasmuchthreatasitwascamaraderie.‘Aye,’saidNumitor.‘Youareright,Colnid.’Heturnedtoseetherestof theircompositegroupgatheredaroundhim,severalofSicarius’squadstandingwiththe tips of their boots over the ledge.The sheer drop belowwould have beendizzying to lesser warriors. With their jump packs replenished, the AssaultMarines couldmake a controlled descent just fine, but therewas noway thatAntelion’ssquadcouldmakeit.‘SergeantAntelion…’‘Iknow.Wemustparthere.Thankstothatxenosghost-machine,wewillhavetosendaflakkmissileupasasignalthenexttimeanImperialgunshipsquadronpassescloseby.Withlucktheywillretrieveus.’Antelionslunghisbolter,motioningtohisheavyweaponstroopertocovertheskies.‘Yoursisaworthycause,SergeantNumitor.IshallputinagoodwordforyoutoCaptainAtheus.Assumingourrequestfortransport isgranted,weshallrejoinyouassoonaspossible.’Hecametostandonthecliff’sedge,standingboltuprightinfrontofNumitorandmakingthesignoftheaquila.‘Untilthen.Emperorbewithyou,JorusNumitor.’

‘Andwithyou,sergeant.Farewell.’Nearby,Sicariusblasted fromtheedgeof thedropwithoutaword,hissquadclose behind. Diplomatic as ever, thought Numitor. The backwash of heatbuffetedNumitorandAntelion,butthesergeantsheldtheirground,watchingtheassault squaddescend. Itspassagewasmarkedbya twin trailof foul-smellingsmokefromMagros’flamer-fuelledjumppack.Easyenoughtofollow.‘NevermindSicarius,’saidNumitor.‘Hemorethanmakesupfor itwithrawtalent.’‘Thatisonewayoflookingatit,’saidAntelion.‘Ha. Onward, then,’ said Numitor, turning to his squad. ‘Same heading.Wehaveworktodo,andI’mdamnedifIwillletSicariusgettherefirst.’

TheDal’ythangascloudbathedtheruinsofGel’brynCityinwanbluelight.Itswirledandsparkledinthenightsky–beautyincarnatetoapoet,andasourceof boundless energy to a pioneer. To the hunters of the Ultramarines TenthCompany,itwasanuisancethatcouldgetthemallkilled.Five strong-limbed Scouts swung from hand-hold to hand-hold under theelegant arch of a transmotive sweep, huffs of exertion the only noise as theyslowlymadetheirwayovertheshatteredwarscapebelow.Sixandahalfmilestheyhadcomefromthedropsite,allwithouttouchingtheground.Tomaketheirwayacrossopenterrainwouldmeanbeingspottedbyapatroldrone,orworse,apilotcastesquadronontheprowl.Deathwouldfollowsoonafter,mercilessandsudden.Threenightstheyhadsearched.Wheneverthelowpurrofenginesortheflickerofamulti-spectralscanneralertedthemtoanairbornetaupatrol,theyhadhungstill,muscles burning to the point of numbness, andwaited for the danger topass.Chameleolinefatiguesblurredtheiroutlines,bafflingthevisualspectrum,and the machine-spirits of their wargear were rendered dormant so as not tobetray their presence to enemy auspexes. The Scouts in turn had scanned therubble for the blue armour of their fallen brothers. They had found no fewcorpses, and they had marked every one for later recovery by the Chapter’sApothecaries.Thusfar,noneofthemhadbeenthecadavertheysearchedfor,thefind that would allow them to turn back for the dropsite, exhausted butsuccessful.Untilnow.With a curled fist and a jabbing finger, Scout Sergeant Thridius ordered hisbrotherstomovehandoverhandtotheshadowedwedgewherethetransmotive

sweepmet theground.Hemovedout,dropping the last fivemetres to landonthewreckageofadropshipwithamuffledcrunch.There,slumpedagainstthecurvingcliffofaxenosbuilding,weretheremainsofCaptainAtheus.Hehadbeenslainbyaweaponofsuchgallingpowerithadbored right through his chest, down through his guts, and out the base of hisspine to chew a deep hole into the wall beyond. Thridius nodded as hissuspicionswere confirmed;whatever had killed the captain of the Eighth hadbeentallerbyfar,andarmedwithcuttingedgexenosweaponry.Atheus’facewaswaxenandpaleunderthelightofthegascloud.Twintrailsofdriedbloodlinedhischin,itsdeepredappearingblack.Thecaptain’sfaceborealookofconsternationandpride,hisjawsetandhisbrowfurrowedevenindeath.AndtherewastheaxeoftheLordExecutioner,lyingdiscardedasifitwerenomorethanacommonblade.Checkingtheskiesfortaupatrols,theleadscoutpulledhischameleolinecloakfromhiswaistandtuckeditaroundhisshoulders.Hescoopedahandfulofrockdustfromtheleeofashatteredslab,paddeditontohisface,andrubbeditintohishair.Behindhim,hissquadfollowedsuit.AsSpaceMarines,itwasalwaysgallingtocovertheirheraldiccolours,butthetaupatrolswouldnodoubthavecalibratedtheirsensorstospotthem.ThereweretimeswhentheTenthCompanywas called upon to fulfil missions the rest of the Chapter would struggle toachieve.Thridiusmotioned for hismen to stay and cover him, beckoningOverius toaccompanyhimwithapointandacurledfinger.ThetwoScoutspaddedforwardinacrouch,movingfromthetoppledwallofabuildingtotheburnt-outhulkofa tau transport. A quick shuffling run, and they were over to Atheus’ body.Thridius picked up the cadaver by the arm, crouched, and – andwith a greatheave–turneditoverhisbacksotheimmensedeadweightwasborneuponhisspine. Overius retrieved the greataxe, and together they padded back thewaytheycame.Along thewayThridius saw that thedisembodiedhandofCaptainAtheusstillgraspedtheancientweapon’shaft,lockedtightbydeath’sowngrip.Stubborn,evenindeath.JustasthetwoScoutswerehalfwayacrossopengroundtheyheardthesoundofa taudrone,softbutgetting louder.ThridiusdartedaglareatOverius,eyeswide,andtheybothfroze.Thedronecamecloser.Thehumof itsengineswasnotthatoftheusualblasphemousgun-machine,butthebassthrumofafarlargerreconnaissancetype.Thridiussawitroundthecorner,aheavydiscwithawidecolumn of scanners, ammunition slots and gun workings hanging from its

midsection. The devicewould scry them in seconds, and before aminute hadpassedtheywouldbetakingheavyfire.TherewasadullpopasBrotherLeovitustookhisshot,thetinyflickerofhissniper rifle’smuzzle justvisible inThridius’peripheralvision.Theshotstruckhome where the underside of the drone’s disc met its midsection, and themachine was suddenly swathed with purple electricity. It emitted a strangescreech,veering toonesidebefore its scryer-lightsandbeamsshortedoutandturnedblack.Itsanti-gravengineswentnext.Thedronecrashedintotherubble,thinstreamsofsmokehissingfromitsfuselage.Thridius turned to Leovitus and nodded curtly before hauling Atheus’ bodyback into the shelterof the transmotive sweep.Crouching,hisbrothershelpedtaketheweight.‘Niceshot,Leovitus,’whispered thesergeant, ‘my thanks.But theywill soonnotice it’s gone.Wemustmake haste. Donturos, inform Lord Calgar that thecaptain’s body has been retrieved, and the axe with it. Then observe silenceprotocolsuntilwearesafelyback.’Anodof confirmation, a rustle of chameleoline, and theScouts of theTenthCompanymeltedawayintotheshadowsoncemore.

CHAPTERNINEEXTRAPOLATION/THEMAILEDFISTSTRIKES

Sergeant Kinosten swore blue murder as another volley of pulse rifle firestreakedoverhead.Forasplitsecondtheneatwhitebeamsofenergyilluminatedthefilthy,half-starvedplatoonofAstraMilitarumunderKinosten’scommand.His had been a field promotion, of a sort. Commander Anatol and SergeantDvorjedthadbothbeenkindenoughtogettheirspinesshotoutduringthelastsally upGunRidge, and themen didn’t trust thewizened astropathMalagreaenough to turn theirbackonher.Kinostenwas theonly remainingmemberofOntovaPlatoon’scommandechelonwhowasanythinglikealeader.Sonowhewasholedupinthecrateredmessofaburiedxenoshabwithforty-eightofthe122ndBaleghastCastellanslookingtohimforawayout.The promotion he had always hankered after now seemed the worst of allpossiblecurses.Despitethedrillsergeantpersonaheputforwardandthetorrentsoffoulinvectivethatfrequentlyspilledfromhisstubble-framedlips,partofhimstillfeltscaredenoughtofillabucket.‘Acting Sergeant Kinosten,’ said the regiment’s master of ordnance, DeleteiNordgha.Kinostenjustignoredhim,staringbacktowardtheImperiallineswiththehauntedlookofashellshockvictim.Insidehewasfightingtheurgetocurlafist.‘Kinosten!Iamspeakingtoyou!’How he hated Nordgha. Always criticising, always more than eager to calldownabombardmenton the front line–nevermind thepoorbloody infantrythatmightbefightingthere–andhalfthetimemoreinterestedinhishairstyleandthesheenofhisheirloombreastplatethanthelivesatstakearoundhim.

‘Acting Sergeant Kinosten,’ said Nordgha again, his tone insistent, ‘I mustspeakwithyou.’‘What?’roaredKinosten,hisfearboiledawaybytheheatofhisrage.‘Wearestillpinneddown.Whatisyourplan?AdvanceintheEmperor’sname,Ipresume?’‘Advance?’saidKinosten,hisvoicepracticallyascreech.‘IfIgivetheordertoadvance,fiftymendieinthespaceofafewseconds!Haveyounotbeenpayingattention,youoil-hairedfool?Haveyouseenwhatthosexenosfreaksareusing?Their line infantry, their line infantry, are carrying plasmaweapons thatmakethis,’Kinostengrabbedtheflakarmouroverhischestandshookitwithavigourclosetofrenzy,‘looklikeoneofyourwife’smoth-eatencamisoles!’Nordghabristled,hisjowlswobblingashetriedtorecoilfromKinosten’swrathandpuffhimselfupatthesametime.‘Wehaveplentyofammunition,surely,’saidNordghalamely,‘I’veseenitbackthere.’Kinostenfelthisvisionflarewhite.Hesmackedtheheelsofhishandsintohisfaceoverandoverastheintensityofhisrageoverwhelmedhim.‘It’sthewrongbloodykind!Thedevil-suckingMunitorumsentusTriplexPhallpattern.Wemightaswell shoverationpacks inoursockets forall thegood itwill do! We’ve recharged every damn cell we have ten times over! There’snothingleft!’‘Sir,’saidPrivateFeindhast,‘perhapsifwe…’‘Perhaps if we what, Feindhast?’ shouted Kinosten, his eyes bulging as hethrusthis facewithinan inchofhisweak-chinnedsubordinate. ‘Perhaps ifweretreatedtoThetaTert,soDuggancanputaboltpistolshellinthebackofmyheadforcowardice?Perhapsifwethrewourselves into theteethof theenemyfire, sowe can die together in eachother’s arms?’Thin strings of spittle flewfromthesergeant’smouth,lacingtheprivate’scheek.‘Perhapsifyouhadmorebrainsthanaflophouseruntyou’drealisewe’realreadydead!’‘Sir,’ whispered Feindhast, his eyes screwed up and his face the colour of acorpse.‘Pleasedon’tshootme.Please.’‘For the loveof spite,Feindhast, I’mnot going to shoot you,’ saidKinosten,some of his incandescent anger ebbing away as he saw genuine fear in theprivate’sfeatures.‘Justsayyourdamnedpiece.’‘It’s just… if we haven’t got ammo, and we haven’t got a chance in afirefight…maybewecouldtrythese?’Heheldupalongpieceofsteel,afaintglintonitsedge.

IttookKinostenamomenttorealiseitwasabayonet.‘Right,’ said Kinosten. ‘Bayonet charge. Against the most technologicallyadvancedfoewe’veeverseen.’Anotherhissingstormofpulseriflefirecrackledoverhead.Theyheardtheloudcrumpofanenginegoingupinthemiddledistance.‘Wemight as well go out strong, sarge,’ said Doriev, Feindhast’s bunkmate,cominguptoplaceameatyhandonNordgha’swell-polishedepaulettes.‘MaybegetButtonsheretocalldownabarrageaswego.’A long moment of silence stretched out, the expressions of the assembledGuardsmen grey and serious. Nordgha gave an almost imperceptible nod, hisfacepaleinthegloom.‘TheEmperorprotects,’mutteredKinosten for the first time inweeks. ‘I justhopetheoldbastard’sgotasoftspotforlunatics.’

CommanderFarsightsurveyedthedata-compilesofthepreviousnight’sfightingwith a growing sense of unease. The Imperial warmachine, portrayed by thewatercasteaslumberingandpredictable,hadprovedtobeanythingbut.The Imperial invasion force was throwing tidal waves of military force intoDamocles with every new day. Gue’ron’sha spearheads had been launchedagainst several major cities across the northern hemisphere of Dal’yth, theirattackssosuddenthatthefirecastehadstruggledtoreplyintime.Everyoneoftheassaultshadmadesignificantgains.In the areas outside the cities, Shadowsun was working hard to keep theImperials from establishing supply lines by striking at the hundreds-strongcolumns of tanks that prowled through the indigo wilderness. Keeping to thedark sideof theplanet, her stealth cadreswere rarely seen, butFarsight couldextrapolate theirpositions easily enough from thedestruction they left in theirwake. He had watched the drone captures six times already. WatchingO’Shaserrawork–evenatonestepremoved–neverlostitslustre.Confusionreignedinadozenhex-sectorsasthegue’latriedtofightback,theirarmoured columns brought to a choking standstill. The wreckage of theirvanguard blasted a new path through nearbymagnorail tunnels so they couldgivepursuit.Farsightsmiledwryly.TheyhadaboutasmuchchanceofcatchingShadowsun’sstealthcadresashehadofgettinganapologyforherbehaviourintheaudiencechamber.OverthelastfewnightsFarsighthaddoneeverythinginhispowertohelpher.Hehadevenpersonally ledmont’kabattlesuitspearheads todeliver thekilling

blow when the gue’ron’sha had taken the bait by attempting to relieve thebeleaguered tanker columns. The complementary strategies of kauyon andmont’ka had been extremely effective, but the two commanders had yet tocommunicatefacetoface.Theykneweachothersowellthatinpracticetheydidnotneedto.Farsight spooled through the latest footage from Via’mesh’la. The tau’sstranglehold on thewar zone had been broken by an infantry charge. Not bySpaceMarines,butbysimplegue’lainfantry.Someofthemhadmadeittoclosequarters,despitetheoverlappingfirelanesofthecadredefendingtheridge.Stony-faced, Farsight watched drone footage of human troopers chargingthroughakillingfieldofpulseriflefireandorbitalbombardments.Theirrough,barkingorderswerebecomingfamiliarsoundstohim,thesimplewarcriesthoseof a backwards tribe grown impossibly numerous. Perhaps one in six of thehumanattackerssurvivedtogaintheridge.Thosewhomadeitthroughsetaboutthemselveswiththeirprimitivespear-likeriflesasifgrippedbyarabidfrenzy,stabbing and slashing to wreak absolute ruin on the fire warriors behind thetidewall.What awaste, thoughtFarsight.After theharrowing ten-year crusade againsttheorksofArkunasha,hispersonalcadretrainedinclose-quartersdoctrineeverydawn,buttherestofthetaumilitarystillconsidereditadistractionfromthetrueartofwar.AtVia’mesh’latheyhadpaidtheprice.Itwasfarfromtheonlydisasteremergingfromtheshadowsasthedayscreptby.Disturbing reportsofunarmedImperialsmakinguncategorisablekillswereflooding the datanets, as confusing as they were illogical. Farsight wasbeginningtofeelhisgripontheDal’ythoperationweakening,andheknewfrombitterexperiencetheetherealswouldbequicktoreachthesameconclusion.AsthethoughtofcensurecrossedO’Shovah’smind,ascreenonhisdatasuiteglowed. The personal icon-script of the Stone Dragon was overlaid on thesymboldenotingtheearthcaste–adisccrestingahalvedoblongthatsignifiedorder,unityandstrength.Heeye-flickedtheassentcodeandturnedtofacethescreen’smicrocamera.‘Commander Farsight, greetings!’ said O’Vesa, broad teeth bared in anapproximationofasmile.‘Ihavenewsforyou.’Farsight’s eyes narrowed.Something about the scientist’s body languagewasstrange:hewas leaning forward rather thanback, andhis smile seemed fixed.Theearthcastewerenevermuchgoodatconcealingtheiremotions;O’Shovahhadlongheldthetheoryitwasbecausetheyweresoveryunusedtothem.They

famously had very little in the way of empathy. On Arkunasha, O’Vesa hadprovedsothoughtlesshehadantagonisedFarsighttothepointofviolence.‘Don’t tell me,’ said Farsight. ‘This is the kind of news better imparted inperson.’‘Indeeditis!’saidO’Vesa,hisfacelightingupforamomentbeforebecomingdeadlyseriousoncemore.‘Amatterofsomedelicacy.’‘Verywell.Ineedyouradviceonsomethinganyway.Ishallmakehastetoyourlocation.Icanbethereinamatterofdecsifyoustayput.’‘Excellent,’saidO’Vesa.‘IthinkweareapproachingacruxpointinthehistoryofDal’yth.’‘Iconcur,’saidFarsight.‘TheImperialsaremoreresourcefulthanwethought.Wewillneedtoreplyinkind.’‘Resources,commander,’saidO’Vesa,‘aresomethingIamwellplacedtohelpwith.’

Having turned down the offer of a saz’nami escort for the hundredth time,Farsightmarched down the corridors of theGel’brynPrototypeComplex.Hisheelsclackedwithaprecisemetronomictempoonthesteel-hardthermoplastic.Towalkalone,tostridewithpurposeataprecisepace,alwayshelpedhimthink–andtosteadyhisheartbeat.Justaswell,hethought.DealingwithO’Vesawasusuallytoinviteanastysurprise,evenifthegeniusscientisthadalottooffertheTau’va.Thecorridorsofthecomplexwerescrupulouslyclean,andthecrispscentsofantiseptic and ozone hung in the air. Every route and information point wasorderedandclear.ItwasthesameacrossDal’yth;everyotherfacilitygivenovertothescientistsandworkersoftheearthcastewasahavenoflogicandorder.Farsightnearlychoked inshockwhenhepassed through the irisdoors to theweaponstestingenvironmentstobegreetedbyfizzingsparksandaveilofthinsmoke.‘CommanderFarsight,’saidanearthcasteworker,hisbroad,wrinkledfeaturescreasing in an expression somewhere between awe and terror. ‘My sincereapologiesforthestatusofthisinterstitialpassageway.I…IshallfetchO’Vesatohonouryouimmediately.’‘No need, Por’elMayatan,’ said a voice from the far end of the chamber. ‘Ihavefetchedmyself.’Outwardlyserious,Farsightsmiledwithhiseyesatthegawpingworkerbeforeapproachinghisoldcolleague.

Ashemovedintothecomplex,hecouldnothelpbutlookthroughthelozenge-shapedwindowsat itssmoke-shroudedtestingchambers.Beyondwasa jungleanalogue,wispsofcorditefloatingthroughitsshatteredobservationpane.Afewhundred metres away the lunar deathscape, which Farsight knew to be afavouritetestingenvironmentofO’Vesa’sforitsstarksimplicity,haditsairlockopen.Twoworker-scientistsescortedahover-slabbearingaruinedfacsimileofague’ron’shathroughitsdoors.‘TheStoneDragonbreathesfire,Isee,’saidFarsight.‘No,’saidO’Vesaawkwardly, ‘this isnotmydoing,Commander.Technicallyspeaking.Wehadsomeuninvitedguests.IadmitImayhave…capitalisedupontheopportunity.Followme.IwillensurethatIprovideoptimumsummationoftherelevantincidents.’‘Therawinformationitselfwouldbemoreuseful,’saidFarsight.‘Ofcourse,ofcourse.Youshallhaveitallinduetime.FortheGreaterGood.’O’Vesa turned,wavinghisdatawandacross an irisportal’s scanneroval andpassing through to the area beyond. Farsight followed him through a widevestibule that led to a far larger chamber. Everything from stealth-techchameleosuites toXV88weapon cradles lined the vestibule’swalls. Banks ofexperimentalsoftwareconnectedtofactory-greybattlesuitsthroughthickfibre-opticcablesandflickeringantennaedumps.Itwasquiteasight,but itwasthechamberbeyondthatsetafireinthecommander’sheart.Themain section of the subterranean hangarwas truly cavernous, easily thelargestFarsighthadeverseen.Thecentralworkspacewasninefloorsdeep,wideenoughtoaccommodateanentirecoalitionwithroomtospare.Aseriesofslope-walled mezzanines stretched around its perimeter, each with observationwindowsleadingtosmallerexperimentationfacilities.Severalbattlesuitsofimmensesizewerebeingconstructedinthedepthsofthehangar,solargetheirpiston-linedskeletonsandmotiveunitscouldhaveliftedaHammerhead tankaseasilyasFarsightwouldshouldera rifle.Onewasa truegiant, squat-bodied and broad. Its arms, such as they were, housed massivemissile banks that could have cleared a city’s skies of enemy air power in amatterofminutes.Farsightwasalreadyrunningcalculationsandtheoreticalapproaches,devisingnew and excitingmont’kas. The giant battlesuitswere the keystone onwhichtrulymajesticmilitarystrategiescouldbebuilt.Underneaththecerebralthrillofit,hefeltagenuineemotionalcharge, likeanaiveyoungcadetseeingaCrisissuitupcloseforthefirsttime.

‘Ionlywish Ihadwhole rotaa tospend inhere,’ saidFarsightsadly, ‘butmyimmediatedutytotheTau’vacalls.Wemustconfer.’‘We are nearly at our destination,’ said O’Vesa, waddling over to anothervestibulechamberwithadualdoor.‘Youwillneedtopresentyourbio-signhere,I’mafraid.Onlyetherealsand thoseof thehighest rankwhoalsohavespecialdispensationmayenter.Imyselfhavepermanentaccess.’‘Fascinating,’ saidFarsight dully, clickinghis fingers dismissively in front oftheovalsensorpad.Amomentlaterthedoorlightsturnedfromgreytogold;thesensorsoftwarehaddetectedthestill-livingskincellshehaddislodgedwithhisgestureandanalysedtheirgeneticstructureinaheartbeat.O’Vesapursedhislipsindisapprovalandplacedathumbrespectfullyonthepad,hisownlightturninggoldinresponse.A moment later both doors irised open and Farsight slid inside. Anothervestibule,thistimewithoutsignageofanysort,leadingtoacorridorlinedwithblackwindowports.The lackof informationpresentedhere struckFarsightasodd,giventheearthcaste’sobsessionwithit.Somehowitwasmoredisturbingthanthesightofacorpse-strewnbattlefield.Therewasalackofhonestyhere,hecouldfeelit.O’Vesa led Farsight down a long corridor. As he passed each window, thescientisttappedeachblacked-outlozengewithhisdatawandtorenderitbrieflytransparent,blink-capturingthestatusofhisprojectsintheprocess.Awarethathewaslikelyunderscrutiny,Farsightcarefullykepthisfaceneutralandhiseyes front–oneof them,atany rate.Theotherhe slid toobserve thewindows as he passed. The earth caste genius led him on, oblivious. ThoughO’Vesaseemedtothinksuchmattersbeyondasimplewarrior,Farsighthadbeengiven reasons to mistrust O’Vesa in the past, and suspected that even amicrodec’sglimpseofwhatlaybeyondtheblackaperturescouldbeincrediblyrevealing.One glance afforded a snapshot of strange,wiry nests of cables and neurodediscs wrapped around floating spheres. Another showed a magnificenthoverdronedaiswitha regalethereal seated inprofileupon it; the imageshedlightasahologramratherthanreflectingit.FurtherdownthecorridorFarsightcaughtsightofamassivecannonthelengthoftheentireroom,oblongincrosssectionandrepletewithglowingpowersources.As O’Vesa turned a corner and took a different corridor, another lozengewindowwasrenderedbrieflytransparenttorevealaseriesoftallglasscylinders.Eachheldaslumberingtauwithtubesandwiresjuttingfromitsskin,itseyes,its

scalp.Thenearest,thoughhecouldhavebeennomorethantwelveyearsofage,wasthespittingimageofCommanderBrightsword.ThistimeFarsightcouldnotkeepsilent.‘HonouredO’Vesa…wasthatCommanderBrightswordinthere?’‘In a manner of speaking,’ said O’Vesa. ‘That particular donor has beenvoluntarilyinvolvedinourhypergenicsprogramformanykai’rotaanow.Justaswell, really. I need an individual to test a pair of counter-intuitive weapons Ihavedevised,andhehaspreciselytherightmindset.’Farsightkepthispeace, thoughhefelthisbloodgrowhotat theimplications.Unlesstheclonehadbeenbroughtfrominceptiontofullmaturityinthespaceofafewdays, ithadexisted–andperhapsevenhadasentientmind–whilst theoriginalCommanderBrightswordhadstillbeenalive.Itwasagainstalltherulesof scientific reproduction, as far as Farsight understood, and itmade him feelveryuncomfortable.Hewouldnotput suchunsanctionedexperimentationpastO’Vesa, though;not afterwhathedid toFarsight’smentorOb’lotai, rebornasthe artificial intelligence the fire caste called Warghost. Even now, manykai’rotaalater,thatwasnotamatterhecaredtothinkaboutfortoolong.Farsightrealisedoneofhishandshadsubconsciouslystrayedtothehiltofhisbondingknife,andhurriedlyclaspedtheminfrontofhim.Heforceddownhisanger.Thosewereoldwounds,nottobereopened,nothereatanyrate.‘Ah,hereweare,’saidO’Vesa.‘Theanalysissuite.ThedataIgleanedfromourguestsisstillraw,butIhavemadebatchcopiesnonetheless.’‘Youkeepusingthatterm,“guests”.Iassumeyouaretellingmeanumberofgue’ron’shagainedaccesstoyourfacility.’‘That is correct. They gained access through the subterranean communeVer’haya Nineteen Five. Observe, if you will, the anomalous behaviour Irecordedwhentheyfacedoneofourwatercaste.’At thisO’Vesa played footage of a squad of cobalt-armouredSpaceMarinesdemolishinga taumagister’s livingspace.Heheard thegruntingbattlecantofthegue’ron’sha,recognisingmostof thesyllablesandeventheoddwordfromhis studies. One of their number dealt the killing blow to the water castemagister by stamping on her chest just as she pulled a pulse pistol on hiscomrade.Farsightscowled.Amomentbeforethekill, ithadseemedlikeanotherofthewarriors–hisredhelmofrankobviousdespitethedimlight–hadbeenreticenttolandablow.‘Compilethisforme,ifyouwould.Itmaybearcloserinspection.’

‘Ofcourse.’‘So theybroke intoacommune, then found theirway inhere.Givenyouareanalysingtheirdatarather thantheirremains,Icanonlysurmisetheycut theirwayfree.’‘I sent stealthdronesafter them,andmadeCommanderShadowsunawareoftheirpresence,’saidO’Vesareasonably.‘Thematterisinhand.’‘YoutoldCommanderShadowsuninsteadofme?’saidFarsight.‘Ididindeed.’‘DespiteeverythingweachievedtogetheronArkunasha.’‘Why,yes.Itfeltliketherightthingtodo.’Alongsilencefilledtheanalysischamber.‘Thatfootageisamereprologue,inanycase,’blusteredO’Vesa.‘Lookatthedata trail they left behind in the testing zones!’ Hemade his way over to ananalysiscradlethatwasalreadyrenderingadozentypesofdatauponitsbroad,flatholoscreens,andbroughtupadozenmorewithaflickofhiswand.Despitehissimmeringemotions,Farsightcouldn’thelpbutdivertaneyeinitsdirection.The analysis cradle detailed everything from the material tolerances of theImperialwar-techtoballisticsreportsandweaponsparameters.Therewereevenremote radioscopic autopsies assessing the physiology of the Space Marines.Usedcorrectly,itwasenoughinformationtogivethefirecastearealedge,andrevitalise his own analysis projects regarding their war capabilities. Farsightcouldfeelhimselfbecomingelatedatthethought,thefiresofangerflickeringtobereplacedbythoseofenthusiasm.‘Thisisfascinating,’saidFarsight.Thistimehereallymeantit.‘O’Vesa,thisisof paramount importance to thewar effort.You are standingon the crest of asilvermountainhere.’‘IbelieveIam,yes.’Moreimagesflittedpast–scenesoftheSpaceMarinesfightingaBroadside,awarband of cybernetic kroot, amacrostealth suit, and a ballistics unit of trulycolossalsize.‘Theseprototypesneedrefining,ofcourse,’saidO’Vesa.‘Iwonder towhichyouarereferring,O’Vesa,’saidFarsight,his toneflatandcold.‘Theunsanctionedbattlesuits,orthefacsimilekrootIspecificallyadvisedyounottoconstruct?’O’Vesaturnedaway,tinkeringwithhisdatawand.‘If the Shapers get word you are analysing their kindreds in such detail, letalonemakingprogrammableanaloguesoftheirpeople,’saidFarsight,‘youwill

have endangered our relationship with our closest allies, and in doing so,weakenedtheentireTauEmpire.’‘I merely sought to harness as much relevant data as possible,’ protestedO’Vesa,‘Ileavepoliticalmatterstothewatercaste.Asshouldyou.’Technically,thescientisthadapoint.Farsightputthematteraside,resolvingtocome back to it once the immediate conflictswere resolved.Hemotioned forO’Vesatocontinue,andthegue’ron’shacontinuedhackingtheirwaythroughtheartificialversionofthekroothomeworld.Halfwaythroughthefootage,Farsightnoted many of the Space Marines removing their helms. There were severalclearcapturesoftheirfaces.‘Thiswasharnessedbyachameleodroneastheyconferredinwhatwecallthesafe cave,’ said O’Vesa. ‘An area specifically designated for opportunisticrecording.’Twoofthem,Farsightrecognised.Theywerethesamewarriorshehadengagedatthereservoir.Hishandscurledintofistsatthememory.Theimagesplayedon,nowshowingthelunardeathscape.TheSpaceMarineswere fightinghard, engaging thegue’ron’sha simulacraO’Vesahadassembledafter Vespertine. Explosive bolts shattered ablative armour, gauntleted fistscracked into faceplates, and chain-toothed swords chewed through artificiallimbsinshowersofsparks.Bythelookofit,theinvaderswereoutclassingtheirsupposedanaloguescompletely.‘Thesegue’ron’shafightwithmercilessskill,’saidFarsight, ‘butwith little inthewayofsubtlety.’‘Iimagineitwasnoteasyforyoutowatchthemattacktheunarmedmagister,’repliedO’Vesa. ‘Would that act be considered dishonourable conduct by yourcaste?’Farsightnoddedslightly,deepinthought.Thatfootagewascurious.HecouldnotshakethesuspicionthatoneoftheSpaceMarineshadbeenreticenttostrikethemagisterdownbeforetheotherofficersteppedintomakethekillingblow.Onlyafewrotaaago,akindofhonourhadbeenshownbythecaptainthathadduelledBrightsword.TheSpaceMarinehadcalledoffhissupportfirepower,andthat action had indirectly cost him his life. Farsight had held his own fire inresponse,allowingthetwowarriorstofight,oneonone,tothedeath.Asmallpartofhissoulquestionedwhetherhewouldhavestayedhishandifthe Space Marine had not commanded his own allies to cease fire first. HisdecisionhadresultedinBrightsword’sdemise,robbingthefirecasteofagreatchampion,buthehaddiedwell,intheserviceoftheTau’va.Theduelhadbeen

foughtfairly,notthroughformalagreement,butthroughsomeunspokenwarrioridealssharedbyhumanandtaualike.ThoughFarsighthadsparedthelifeofague’ron’shamedicearlierinthebattle,hehadnothesitatedtocapitaliseontheaftermathofthehonourduel,slayingthecrippledcaptainmomentsafteritsconclusion.Perhapsitwashethathadshownaweaknessofthesoulthatday.Perhapsthegue’ron’shacodewasmorestringentthanhethought.Andyet the imageof abooted foot crushing the life from thehelplesswatercastemagisterwashardtoforget.‘Wouldyoucareforacompileofthisdatanow,despitethefactit isstillpre-assimilation?’saidO’Vesa,wavinganotationhoverdisctowardsFarsight.‘Onceit is properly sorted and analysed, I shall of course make it widely availablethrough the proper channels. Still, I know your talents are diverse enough tomakeuseoftherawdata.’‘My thanks,’ said Farsight, bowing formally as he received the disc in bothhands.Intruthhewastakenaback.Forthegeniusscientisttopartwithhisdataharvestbeforehehadthoroughlyanalysedandquantifieditwassacrificeindeed.Itwas akin to a firewarrior partingwith a powerful prototypeweaponbeforehavingachancetotestitinbattle.‘Oh, speaking of your diverse talents,’ saidO’Vesa. ‘Tutor Sha’kan’thaswasaskingafteryou.Aquestionregardingwhetheryourgiftsare,infact,rathertoowidelyspreadfortheGreaterGood.’‘What?’saidFarsight,acoldsplashoffearhittinghischest.Theveryconceptof blending casteswas taboo. For an officer to be accused of straddling thoselines was severe indeed. In the event Tutor Sha’kan’thas’ claim reached theethereals,Farsightcouldbestrippedofrank–andperhapsevensubjectedtothedeadlytrialthatawaitedallthosebrandedvash’ya.The commander steeled himself, compartmentalising the news and forcingfocusuponhisthoughts.Personalconsiderationswerenothingnexttothewiderwareffort.‘TutorSha’kan’thascanwait,’hesaid.‘Thereisawarragingoutside,and my first duty is to the safety of my people. Tell me where these roguegue’ron’shasquadswent.Ishallleadateamafterthemmyselfandcontainthembeforetheydoanymoredamagetoourdomain.’‘NaturallyIextrapolatedtheircourse.ThereisaveryhighdegreeofprobabilitytheyareheadingfortheAth’adraCommandFacility.’Farsightfelthisfearintensifydramatically,skinpricklingwithanxiety.‘Ath’adra?Areyousure?’

‘Withinreasonableparameters,’saidO’Vesa.‘Doesthatalarmyou?Youseemalarmed.’‘Theetherealcouncil ismeeting there,’mutteredFarsight, turningonhisheelandrunningtowardsthedoor.

Tutor Sha’kan’thas ran through his arguments once more, reassuring himselftheir causal paths were proof against even the most discerning observations.Farsightwasvash’ya,hewascertainof it.Hehadknowntherewassomethingwrongwiththatupstartfromthebeginning,backattheMont’yrbattledome.Atfirst,hehadmistakenitforgenius,andencouragedhisstudentineveryway.Ithad been hewho had given the aspiring firewarrior his first name element –Shoh,meaning‘innerlight’–inresponsetohissuperbinsight.But Shoh had proven too precocious, too cunning, and had destabilised anentirebatchofcadetsasaresult.Notonlyhadhefloutedregulationsbyforcinghis induction several kai’rotaa before it was due, he had memorised andexploited every facet of his instructors’ preferred war-styles, then used thatknowledgetounpickeverynewsimulationlikeamasterthiefunpickingalock.Before long it had become disruptive. The youngster had solved the tutors’convolutedtrainingchallengeswiththeeaseofakroothoundsniffingoutadeadbody.That disruption had not gone unnoticed by Shas’ar’tol high command. Tworotaalater,Shohhadtherankofshas’laconferreduponhimbynoneotherthanCommander Puretide himself, and Tutor Sha’kan’thas and his peers had beenrelievedoftheirduties,senttothefrontlineagainsttheArachenoftheWesternVeil.Sha’kan’thas had survived, oneway or another. He eventuallywon back hisformer title, though he had been told hewould never rise further in his field.Meanwhile he hadwatchedwith bitter ire as Shoh swiftly rose to the rank ofcommander– far too swiftly for theGreaterGood. In theprocess theprodigyhadprovenhimself capable to thepointof arrogance, excelling in every field.He had shown the flair of a gifted oratorwhen addressing his cadres, both atZephyrpeakandhereonDal’yth.Perhapsworsestill,hehadusurpedthedutiesoftheearthcastewhenhefield-repairedhisownmalfunctioningbattlesuitunderthe waters of Dal’yth Reservoir. One incident was more than enough for anenquiry,butbothtogetherwereironcladevidenceofFarsightblurringthecastelines.TutorSha’kan’thashadsequesteredevidenceoftheZephyrpeakincidentfrom

thefirecaste’sarchive,andhadcorroborationofthereservoiranomalyfromhisbriefinterviewwithO’Vesa.Thelatterwasheldontherecorder-discushenowheld in his clammy palms. O’Vesa the Stone Dragon was held in such highregard inhis field,witha long-held reputation forunflinchinghonestyand forhavingallthepoliticalacumenofagundrone.Farsightwasbetweencastesallright – even O’Vesa had said as much. For all Tutor Sha’kan’thas knew, thecommanderwasanaturalpilotaswell.The tutor heard the hiss of a door irising open up ahead, and found himselfsittingboltupright, a trickleof sweatmaking itsuncomfortablewaydownhisspine.A tall female ethereal drifted into the corridor.Held aloft by an elegantrepulsorbelt,sheglidedtowardhimwiththesignofgreetings-in-adversity.Astrangefeelingofdoubtwormeditswayintothetutor’smind.Hedesperatelywanted the dangerous firebrand Farsight put in his place, ideally to have himdemotedforthegoodoftheTau’va.Butshouldthehearinggotoowell…TutorSha’kan’thasputthedarkthoughtfromhismind.Asalways,theetherealcaste would do the right thing for the Greater Good. Their wisdom wasunimpeachable.Sowhydidhefeellikehewasholdingasharpenedknifeinsteadofarecorder-disc?

CHAPTERTENPREDATION/THEHIDDENTHREAT

In the deep black void beyond the Eastern Fringe, a living cataclysm glintedagainstthenight.Atfirstitwasonlytheoutriderelementsthatreflectedstarlightfromice-crustedcarapaces, but as the sands of time trickled on, a trillion dormant bio-formsemergedfromthenothingness.No lights winked upon the prows of the ships of this sentient armada. Noenginesgrowledinthedarkness.EventhemostacutewaystationsutilisedbytheUltramarandTauEmpiresfounditallbutindistinguishablefromstellardebris.The bio-fleet moved slowly, well under the speeds that triggered alertresponses. It drifted forward with inhuman patience. Its coming was all butsilent,invisibletoawiderangeofsensorspectrums.Bythetimeitwasdetected,itwouldbefartoolate.Thekillingcoldofinterstellartravelstillclungtothebio-fleet,butasitnearedthe lightandwarmthof thestar systemsahead, instinctivebiological reactionsbrought itsmyriad organs and composite lifeforms to wakefulness. Ice sheetscrackedandsloughedaway.Nictatingeyelids slidbackoverpupils the sizeofbio-domes. As the drifting grotesquerie began to focus, innumerable eyesgleamedblacklyinthevoid.Cold.Deadly.Insatiable.Spreadbeforethebio-fleetwasabanquetoflifestretchingfromthetipofonespiral arm to the other. Light-year swathes of biomass, all waiting to to beclaimed. The fleet would consume it all, leaving nothing but barren rock andchildlessstarsinitswake.Norealdelineationwouldbedrawnbetweenhuman,

SpaceMarineortau,norbetweenplant,insect,orbacteria.Tothefleetitwasalljustbiomasstodevour,toassimilate,tospawnagainasneworganismsreadyforthenextinvasion.Everythingbefore it, from themicroscopic to thegigantic,wasperceived thesameway.Asprey.

Farsightranheadlongdownthewideovalcorridor,callingupthecadre-netonhis headset as hewent. Startled earth caste functionaries stumbled back as hebargedpast,theirposturesfirstofprotocolicshock,andthen,whentheyrealisedwho itwas shouldering hisway through the throng, of contrite deference.Ontowards the Orca hangars he went, constantly barking orders to his sub-commandersandbringingaerialassetsintoplace.Twotall,wide-shoulderedtauintherobesoftheetherealguardsteppedintothecorridor. When they crossed their ritual duelling halberds together to bar hispath, Farsight knew that somethingwas verywrong.Apair of air caste pilotshurriedpastthem,makingthesignofunavoidablecontritionwiththeirsteepledfingers.Farsightusedthemomentaryobstructiontobrushhiscommunionbeadopenwiththebackofhishandashemadeagestureofgreeting.Tauofallcasteswere stopping their business along the corridor, gathering in a loose circle towitnessthespectacle.‘CommanderO’Shovah,’ said the eldest of the two ethereal guard, his politesmilewrinklingthefoldsatthecornerofhiseyes.‘Itisanhonourtomeetyouinperson. IamShas’tralFue’larrakan,and this isShas’tralOa’manita.Weare toescort you to the audience sphere of Dal’yth’s Subterranean Hypercomplex,whereyouwillanswertotheesteemedetherealsAun’Tipiya,GuardianofNewHorizons,andAun’Tefan,BringerofFreshTruths.’‘Wewillaccompanyyouonlyasanhonourguard,ofcourse,’addedShas’tralOa’manita.Farsightfoughtbackafrown;theircrossedhalberdsconveyedquiteanothermessage.‘You do not understand, esteemed ones,’ replied Farsight, his fistsunconsciouslybunching. ‘Iamhonouredby thisaudience.But it is imperativewereinforceAth’adraimmediately.Othermastersareindanger.’‘Itisyouwholacksunderstanding,’saidtheetherealguard.‘Leavethesafetyoftheetherealcaste to thosechargedwith it,commander,andbecontent.Wearefully appraised of the situation upon Dal’yth. You will accompany usimmediately. If you do not comply,wewill be forced to act in a fashion that

resultsinyourpersonaldetriment.’‘Very well,’ said Farsight, his shoulders stiffening. ‘Lead on.’ Rubbing hisupperlip,hesubtlyclosedhiscommunionbeadtothecommanderlevelcadre-net.Hopefullyhisallieshadalreadyheardenough.He forced his anger down, a tight ball of fury in his throat, and mentallypreparedfortheworst.

Farsight sat buckled into the rear of theOrcaNewUnity, fighting to keep hiscalmasithummedthroughtheskiesofDal’yth.Thesafetyharnessheworefeltas if it was tight upon his chest, the restraints of a captive rather than theprecautionstakentoprotectanhonouredguest.Ahead,thetwoetherealguardsthat formed his escort sat with their ceremonial halberds close at hand, bothlookingvaguely inFarsight’s directionwhilst studiously avoiding eye contact.The atmosphere was tense, and he felt naked and vulnerable without hisbattlesuit.‘Youdonotunderstand thegravityof the situation,’ saidFarsight. ‘Thereareelements of the gue’ron’sha invasion force that have escaped the Gel’brynperimeter.Evennow theyareheading forAth’adra.Their intent is to slayourhighcommand,Iamsureofit.’Theetherealguardsremainedassilentasever,theirfacesimpassive.‘Yousitinjudgement,sosureofyourselves,’continuedO’Shovah,‘sosureofyourduty,andtherighteousnessofyouractions.Yetyouarefailing.Witheverydecthatslidespast,youfailtheetherealcasteallthemore.’That got a reaction. Shas’tral Oa’manita’s face soured as he turned to faceFarsightfullon.‘Perhaps it is you who have failed, Commander Farsight. Ask yourself this.Would you be escorted to answer for your conduct if you had acted as theGreaterGoodrequired?’‘Icannotbelieve this,’ saidO’Shovah. ‘TheetherealsatAth’adraare ingreatdanger.Youtalkof theTau’va,but theirsurvival isofutmost importancetoit.Youofallpeopleshouldappreciatethat.Shouldtheydie,mycadresandIwillnotbeheldresponsible.’‘Wehavealreadycontactedthecadre-net,’saidShas’tralFue’larrakan,hissoftvoiceseemingincongruousgivenhistallwarrior’sphysique.‘Thematterofthegue’ron’shastrikeforcetowhichyoureferhasbeenbroughttotheattentionofCommanderShadowsun.Ouretherealmajestiesthereforeconsiderittakencareof.Insteadoffocusingoneventsbeyondyourownsphereofinfluence,’at this

the ethereal guards shared a quick glance, ‘perhaps you should refocus yourenergiesonyourcurrentpredicament.’Farsight’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothingmore on the subject.He had astrongsuspiciontherehadbeenformalallegationsofincompetencemadeagainsthim–incompetence,orworse.O’Vesa’swordswerestillfreshinhismind.Whatotherreasonwasthereforhimbeingcalledtoattendthecelestialmastersunderthedirectsupervisionofanetherealhonourguard?Therewerethoseinthefirecastewhowouldseehimtorndown,strippedofhisrankandinfluence.Byleavinghiscommschannelopenwhentheetherealguardhad first come for him, he had ensured there was at least a chance he hadsupportersatthehearingaswellasdetractors.Evenwithoutthemhecouldarguehiscasestronglyenough.Withinafewrotaa,hetoldhimself,hewouldbebackinthefray,leadingthefirecasteofDal’ythtoagloriousandlastingvictoryovertheoverconfident,bullishhumans.Fue’larrakanmethisgaze, just for thebriefestofseconds.Therewasnothingtherebutdisappointment.Farsightsatbackintheshadows,handsfoldedinhislap,andwaited.Hewasoutwardlycalm,anexpressionofutmostserenityuponhisfeatures.Hisheartwasracingsoharditfeltlikeitmightburst.

Farsightclosedhiseyes,justforamoment.Howhaditcometothis?After the OrcaNew Unity had touched down, the commander had been ledthrough the tall oval doors of theGel’bryn SubterraneanHypercomplex, eachportalsilentlyopeningasheandtheetherealguardapproachedit.Therehehadbeenshowntothevastundergroundsprawlthat layhalfwaybetweenGel’brynCentral and Via’mesh’la, where his escort had doubled in size. Two cadrefireblades had walked with him and the ethereal guards, the gatheringsomewherebetweenanhonourescortandaprisondetail.As they passed the hypercomplex’s med facility, a hover-slab bearing theblackenedcorpseofatauwarriorwasguidedalongthecorridortowardsthembytwo expressionless earth caste orderlies. One made the sign of the Tau’va asFarsight’s delegationwalked past. Farsight absently returned the sign, only tonotice thewarrior lyingon theslabwassomehowstillalive.Awitheredblackwreck with much of his badly-burned flesh coated in antiseptic gel, he wasreachingoutandgesturingfrantically.‘Amoment,’saidFarsight.‘Thisonehassomethingimportanttosay.’The ethereal guard looked at one another for amoment.To their credit, they

stopped,turningtowatchO’Shovahwithhalberdsheldready.‘Amicrodec,nomore,’saidShas’tralOa’manita.Farsightglancedatthedatareadoutonthehoverslab.Thisonewoulddiesoon.‘Whatisit,comrade?’hesaid.‘HowcanIhelp?’Hisbloodfrozeinhisveins.ThegrotesquewreckofatauontheslabwaslistedasCommanderBravestorm.‘I…havhhailedgyou…’saidBravestorm, lidlesseyesbulginghorriblyashestruggled to form words with his black slit of a mouth, ‘O’hheysa…GlackhunderGneesa…’Farsight turned inpuzzlement tooneof theearthcasteorderlies. ‘What ishesaying,fio’la?Whathappenedtohim?’‘ThecommanderwasrecoveredatBlackthunderMesa,’repliedtheorderly.‘Heandhisshas’vreswerefield-testingprototypessuppliedbytheStoneDragon.’‘Codeddesignation“Onagergauntlet”,’saidtheotherorderly.‘Anti-armour devices,’ continued the first, ‘used upon a massed gue’laarmouredcompany.Bravestormandhisteamclosedwiththesuper-heavyassetsguarding the artillery. They physically tore out their power cores. Twenty-sixbombard tanks were destroyed before the Imperials sent walker engines toretaliate.’‘Themacro-classwalkers,’thesecondorderlysaid,histonealmostreverent.‘Indoingso,thecommanderandhisteamsavedtheyouthcadresatthetrainingcentresofDal’ryufrombeingburiedalive.Heiswell-named,itseems.’BravestormwavedahookoffusedboneatFarsight,hisbodyshudderingwiththeeffortofcommunicating.‘Gneychhired…gneychhiredonggneirowng!’Farsightneedednotranslationthistime.Towreakthisvengeance,theImperialwalkershadcommittedtheworstofcrimes.Theyhadfiredontheirownside.Was there no act too barbaric for these creatures to commit in the name ofvictory?‘We must leave,’ said Shas’tral Oa’manita. ‘The ethereals must not be keptwaiting.’‘You served the fire caste long and well, my friend,’ said Farsight, takingBravestorm’sgel-slickedclawinthecuppedhandsofutmostrespect.‘Nowrestandbeatpeace.’Heturnedtotheearthcasteworkersoncemore.‘Doeverythingyoucantosavehim.Ensurehewantsfornothing.’‘Ofcourse,’saidtheworkersinunison.

‘We leave,’ said Shas’tral Fue’larrakan fiercely as he stepped forward. ‘Thisinstant.’Farsightmadethesignofpeace-well-earned,meetingBravestorm’sgazebeforeturningawayandfollowingtheetherealguarddeeperintothecomplex.Therehadbeennofearinthecrippledcommander’seyes.Onlyaburningneedforvengeance.

CommanderFarsight’shonourguardreachedasphericalaudiencechamberlargeenoughtoseattwothousandtau.Aroundthelowerhalfwererangedrowuponrowofhigh-backeddelegation thrones, and in themiddle, a raiseddaiswherespeakerstookitinturnstoaddressthosegathered.Rightnow,thatdaiswasoccupiedbyPor’oDal’ythMesme,atallwatercasteambassadortryinghishardestnottolookpleasedwithhimself.Hewasstaringupatanemptysectionofthechamber,adorationwrituponhisfeatures.Farsight looked up as a circular door at the top of the sphere irised open.Aquartetofadvancedshielddronesdriftedout,formingacracklingrepulsorfieldbetweenthem.Thencameahoverthrone,elaborateyetgraceful.Seated atop the disc-like device was a slender, elderly ethereal. Farsight’sbreathcaughtinhisthroatasherealisedwhomitwashewaslookingat.‘Heretoilluminateusisourmostgraciousleader,’saidthewatercastespeaker.‘ScholaroftheUndyingSpirit,SpeakerofGreatTruths,andShiningLight–theEtherealMasterAun’Va.’Theaudiencestoodasone,theirbacksramrodstraightandtheireyesfixedonthe legend in their midst. Farsight managed to tear his gaze away, just for amoment,tolookaround.Everytaulookedshockedtotheircore,somedelighted,someawestruck.Theonlyexceptionswerethewatercasteambassadorandthetwofemaleetherealshoveringhighonrepulsorbeltsintheinnermostringofthesphere.Aun’VawashereonDal’yth;hewasanuminousbeingsecondonlyinpuritytotheEtherealSupremehimself,Aun’Wei.Forhimtocometotheplanetwithout the usual ceremony, to arrive without the usual joyful water castebroadcasts,wasunprecedented.‘Donotfear,’saidtheEtherealMasterashedescendedonaglowingrepulsorfieldthatlithisserenefeaturesfrombelow.Eventhesoundofhisvoicewaslikecoolhealinggelappliedtotheheatedmindsofeverytaupresent.‘ThisaudiencechamberisasIwishittobe.’Those in the audience sphere felt relief flood through them, instantly contentthatallwaswell.

‘IamhereonDal’ythtoleadthroughyou,mymosttrustedaides,’saidAun’Va.His hover throne lowered him to just above the two female ethereals, one oneither flank. ‘I intend tomonitor the gue’la first hand. They are a fascinatingspeciesandIfeelitishightimeItooktheirmeasure.’Manyofthegatheredtaumurmuredinquietappreciation.‘Aun’Tipiya, Aun’Tefan, proceed,’ said Aun’Va, motioning to the etherealsbelow.Thetwocelestialdignitariesdriftedforward,bothmakingthesignoftheTau’vawiththeirdelicatefingers.Onewasslightlytallerandafewtau’cyrolderthantheother,buttheauraoftranquillitytheysharedwasidentical.‘TheEtherealMasterhasgraveconcerns,’saidtheelder,Aun’Tipiya.‘Commander Farsight,’ said the younger ethereal, Aun’Tefan. ‘As overallcommanderofDal’yth’sdefence,youstandaccusedofallowingalieninvaderstoestablishasignificantpresenceuponaprimaryseptworld.’Farsight felt an electric jolt of shame run through him. To have such anaccusationlevelleduponhim,especiallyinthepresenceoftheEtherealMasterAun’Va,wasnighunbearable.A pair of elaborator drones slid smoothly from the dais in the centre of thechamber,projectingathree-dimensionalhologramintotheheartoftheaudiencesphere.‘The gue’la attack has penetrated sept space to an unforgivable extent,’continued Aun’Tefan, raising a data wand to slide through three-dimensionaltableausofthewiderDal’ythspacelanes.Hugecathedralshipswallowedinthemurkofouterspace,giantarmouredwhalesthatmadetheswifttaucraftfiringattheirflankslooklikeminnowsbycomparison.‘Thekor’vattrahavesentfleetsfrom theother septs,but itwillbe some rotaabefore theyarrive.For this, theadmiralsoftheaircastearebeingcalledtoaccountintheirturn.’‘Yet here, before the guidance of the EtherealMaster,’ said Aun’Tipiya, herfingersentwininginhertwinscalplocks,‘weshalldiscusstheconductofthefirecaste.’Aun’Tipiya’s data wand scrolled the hologram projections through scenes ofutter carnage, thebulky formsof ImperialSpaceMarines fighting through thefirestormsoftheirowncreation.‘ThewareffortuponDal’ythdoesnotprogressasrequiredbytheTau’va,norisaresolutioninsight.’The audience shifted uneasily in their concave seats. Farsight risked a quicklook around.He spottedCommander Sha’vastos there amongst them,wearinghisusualformalregalia,andO’Vesa,representingtheearthcasteaspartoftheelementalcouncil.Hewasreassuredsomewhatbytheirpresence.Atleastsome

ofthefacesamongsttheaudiencewerefriendly.ThenFarsightsawwhowasseatedacrossfromthem,andhisspiritsdropped.TutorSha’kan’thas,hispinchedfaceasbitterasarottinglemon.‘The gue’la attack is pugnacious and blunt, but effective,’ said Aun’Tipiya.‘Gel’brynitself,thoughinitiallycleared,hasbeenthetargetofrenewedattack.Aconcentrated strike from the drop craft utilised across the planet saw the firecastewithdrawinordertoconserveresources.Withinthelastrotaa,thecityhasbeenofficiallydeclaredfallen.’The vivid hologram projected by the elaborator drones showed footage ofwhite-armoured gue’la bikers engaged in a running battle with a Pathfindercadre escorting a speeding transmotive. Their wheeled machines wereearthbound–laughablysimpleintheirdesign–thoughtheskillwithwhichtheirriders leaped, skidded and slid through the rubble of the city outskirts wasadmittedly impressive. Their sheer bulk and brutish design allowed them toshrug off much of the pulse fire that the Pathfinder cadre’s transports sentwingingintothem.Farsightgrimacedasthecareeningtransmotivewashithardby potent energy weapons from a group of three-wheeled bikes, the resultantexplosionsending itslewingfromthemaglev track inasprayofmoltenmetalgobbets.Afullhalfofthegue’ron’shabikerswereshotdownwithcoldefficiencyasabattlesuit group descended to counter-attack from above, and the Pathfindersused the fallen transmotive to anchor their flank as they joined the counter-attack.Foramoment,itseemedthetaumightsnatchvictory,butoncetheotherhalfof thewhite-armouredridersengagedtheirenemiesatclosequarters, theycutdownfirewarriorandbattlesuitalike.Nonewereleftalive.Aun’Tefancontinued,hertonesombre.‘Fourothermajorcitieshavesincebeencut off –Dal’ryu,Via’mesh’la,Mel’vanlui andVar’isar. They have also beendeclaredlost.’‘With the greatest and most profound respect,’ said Commander Sha’vastos,standing with his hands crossed over his heart in the gesture of indulgenceimplored, ‘thewar is still in itsopeningphases.CommanderFarsighthaswongreatgainsagainst theImperialattack,andovercome them inpersononmanyseparateoccasions. JustaswithhisvictoriesuponArkunasha, I feel surehe isfindingthemeasureofourenemiesinordertoinflictlastingdefeat.’‘Thankyou,Commander,’saidAun’Tipiya.Hertonedidnotconveygratitude,andneitherdidherexpression.Theoldveteransatdownquickly,colourdrainingfrom his face. ‘We do not lightly condemn those who risk their lives for the

Greater Good,’ she continued, ‘but this is not Arkunasha. This is a core septworld,withtwohundredtimesthepopulationdensityofthatdesertplanet.Inamatterofafewnights,afifthofthatpopulationhasbeenlost.’Farsighthunghishead.‘Youhavetounderstandourposition,CommanderSha’vastos,’shecontinued.‘The ArkunashaWar was a great victory, but it was won over the course ofthirteentau’cyr.Awholegenerationoffirewarriors,yettobebornatthewar’sbeginning, fought at its conclusion. Itwasa far-flungcolony, and theenemieswefacedtherehadnospacecraft,nonavalpresencewhatsoever.’TheetherealgesturedtothehologramofDal’ythSept’sbeleaguredspacelanesbeforecontinuing.‘Here,today,wefightquiteanotherfoe.Onethatisbrutal,merciless,andwithtechnology so arcane we cannot counter it. They are bolstered by unthinkingfaith in theirEmperor– amonarchical tyrant that abandoned reason longago.Theirnumbersaresuchthattheybrushedasideourownkor’vattranavyasifitwerecobwebs,andnowtheylandtheirteeminghordesuponseptsoilwitheverynew day. They infest our airspace, the ruins of our cities, even the communetunnels beneath them. Their shock troopers are near equal in might to ourbattlesuitpilots,andtheyaredeterminedtowinatanycost.’The holograms changed, this time showing an armoured host of black andsilver war machines. Each primitive-looking vehicle was emblazoned with astylised ebon gauntlet upon a field of white. The mechanised spearhead wastakingheavyfirefromthehuntercadrethathadbeensenttostopthem,railgunroundswhip-crackingthroughtheairtoslamthroughtheSpaceMarinevehiclesfronttoback.Someofthosehit,stillswathedinfire,groundonwards,shruggingoffgreat smokingwounds thatwouldhave reducedaHammerheadgunship toscrapmetal.Farsight was startled to note the gue’ron’sha equivalents of the earth castestrodealongsidetheinjuredmachines,tendingtothemwithstrangeexoskeletalpincers even in the midst of enemy fire. The front of the vehicle spearheadgroundon,fanningoutandacceleratingtoengagetheinterdictioncadrejustasague’ron’shainfantryambushclosedofftheirretreatfromamongsttheshatteredruinsofanearthcastehospital.Therewasastringofdetonationsasthejawsofthetrapclosed,andthehuntercadrecameapartinflame.‘The ethereal council has enough evidence to conclude that the currentmetastrategies are found wanting,’ said Aun’Tipiya. ‘As are those individualsassigned to its leadership.’ She looked pointedly at Farsight and Commander

Sha’vastos.‘AlreadyseveralofthatgrouphavegiventheirlivesfortheTau’va,CommanderBrightswordamongstthem.CommanderBravestormisinacriticalcondition,keptaliveonlybythefinesteffortsoftheearthcaste.’‘Thosecurrentlyinthefieldareexemptfromcensure,forthetimebeing,’saidAun’Tefan. ‘We have reports of jet-pack-equipped gue’ron’sha operatives atlargeinthewastes,roamingoutsidetheperimetersthefirecastehaveestablishedas live war zones. Commander Shadowsun has been tasked with theirdestruction. Itwas judged counterproductive to call her back toGel’brynCityforthishearing.’‘Asforthewiderdefence,’addedAun’Tipiya,‘decisiveactionsarecalledfor,andswiftly.Inchallengingtimes,unusualmeasuresmustbetaken.OurcelestialmajestyAun’Vawilloutlinehisgreatplansinduecourse.’Farsightheldhisbreath,anticipatingtheblowtocome.‘First,wewilladdresstheaccusationsofvash’yathathavebeenlevelleduponyou,CommanderFarsight,’saidAun’Tefan.‘Weneednottellyouhowgraveanaffrontthisistoourwayoflife.’Hereitcomes,thoughtFarsight.Inthepast,thosefoundguiltyofbeingvash’yahad faced themost severe of punishments.Given how the hearingwas goingthusfar,hislifeexpectancycouldbemeasuredindecs.‘Beforeyourarrival,thishearingdeterminedthattheallegationsofinter-casteactivityhaveabasisintruth.TutorSha’kan’thasgaveacompellingtestimony.’‘Mythanks,’saidthetutorfromacrosstheaudiencesphere.Hestoodupwithapostureofconfidenceandtookaformalbow,butFarsightsawalackofsuretybeyondit.Herewasasoulplaguedbydoubt,butwhowastoofardownthepathhehadchosentoturnback.‘HolofootageofFarsight’srallyingspeechatZephyrpeakhasbeenassessedbythewatercaste,andfoundtohavemanyoftheirdiplomatictechniquesevidentwithinit,’saidAun’Tefan.‘Theaccusationbetweenspherestherestands.’‘Aloneitwouldnotbeenoughtocondemnyou,givenyourexemplaryrecord,’saidAun’Tipiya,‘yetthereismore.’Farsightsaidnothing,awarethattospeakoutwouldlikelydamnhimfurther.‘AtTutorSha’kan’thas’formalrequest,’continuedtheelderofthetwofemales,‘ChiefScientistO’VesahasanalysedandassessedyouractionsattheGel’brynreservoir.His report concludes that your field repair of your customisedXV8,uponwhichyou still insistondisplayingunsanctionedcolours,wasaworkofrareexcellenceandperspicacityunderextremepressure.’‘In a member of the earth caste, this would be laudable,’ said Aun’Tefan,

‘Perhapsevenformallyrecognisedasexemplary.Inamemberofthefirecaste,however,itshowsaweaknessofcharacterthatsetsanunforgivableprecedent.ItmayevendamagetheveryfabricoftheTau’va.’Atthis,theEtherealMasternoddedsagely.‘As such, that incident has been struck from any and all records,’ saidAun’Tipiya.‘Thetruthofyourselfishnessmustremainforevershrouded.’‘Iwasabouttodrown!’blurtedFarsight,hisskinflushingdark.‘IsthathowIshouldhavebestservedtheGreaterGood?Bylettingmycontrolcocoonfilltothepointwheremybattlesuitbecameatomb?BylettingthewisdomthatMasterPuretide has beaten into me sink without trace?’ He turned to the dignitariesseated in the front row, his face like thunder. ‘Damn you to a lonely death,Sha’kan’thas!’ he shouted, ‘And you, O’Vesa! You were supposed to be myallies!’The silence that followed Farsight’s outburst was total. All eyes were onFarsight;hefelthewasabouttosuffocate,eventhoughhisbreathwascominginshort,shallowgasps.Aun’Va’s gaze fell upon him, the weight of his disapproval crushing in itsintensity.Therewassomethingelsethere,too,butFarsightcouldnotplaceit.Triumph,perhaps.‘CommanderFarsight speaks ofMasterPuretide’swisdom,’ saidAun’Va, histonessolemn.‘It ispossiblethathehaslocatedthecruxofthematter.Perhapsthatisthekeytovictory–tofollowthepathsthatPuretidehasshownusintheirtotality,notinpart.’Theothertwoetherealsdriftedbackwards,theirrobesfanningoutastheytookpositionbehindtheirleader.‘Then it is agreed,’ said Aun’Va. ‘You shall go to your famous teacher,O’Shovah ofVior’la.Go in exile and disgrace.Go to him and bring back hisunsurpassedinsightsonthenatureofwar.’Farsightstood,stunnedandsilent,astheEtherealMasterspokeon.‘Butyouwillnotbringbackonlyaportionofhiswisdomthistime,theportionthatbestsuitsyourownoutlook.’Aun’Va turnedhishover throneslightlysohecould lookdirectlyatFarsight.The full forceof his authoritymadeFarsightwant to shrivel intohis seat anddisappear.‘You shall retrieve all ofMaster Puretide’s knowledge,’ saidAun’Va. ‘Everylastthought.OuresteemedcomradeO’Vesahasadevicethatwillaidyouinthisquest.’

The Ethereal Master pointed a slim finger towards the earth caste scientist.O’Vesadutifullyheldupablackovalcasketroughlyhalfthesizeofadrone.Itdrifted across the spherical chamber, hovering in front of Farsight until henumbly accepted it with the cupped hands of the gift received. He felt likehurlingthethingaway.HishandswereshakingasbadlyaswhenhehadescapedfromthelethaldepthsoftheGel’brynreservoir.‘Dothisthing,inthenameoftheTau’va,’saidtheEtherealMaster.‘BringusthesumtotalofMasterPuretide’smind, thatwemayturn the tide.Doso,andyoumayyetredeemyourself.’Farsight felt something like hope flare inside him, but at Aun’Va’s nextproclamation,itfrozelikeflashfrost.‘Ifyoufailus,CommanderFarsight,’hesaid,‘thenyouwillbeputtodeath.’

CHAPTERELEVENREBELLION/THEHUNTERSINTHEDARK

TheEighthCompany squads splashed through the soddenwilderness in looseformation,thelockstepoftheirinitialmarchleftlongbehind.Numitorcouldseetheheathazeshimmeringaround theirbackpacks,not fromtheengagementoftheengines,butasaby-productoftheirfierceself-recyclingmetabolism.Itwasthe only thing that had kept the Ultramarines moving through the Dal’ythanhexwastesforthelastfewdays.Colnid, with one of his lower legs replaced by an empty prosthesis, wasslowing them down. Not bymuch, for as a youth he had trained long in themountains ofMacragge, but the drag factor was still noticeable. Sicarius, hiskneewound aggravated by the long days ofmarching through uneven terrain,washidingaslight limpofhisown.The first few timesColnidhad tostop torebindhisfalseleg,thedelayniggledatthetempersofhisbrothers,andSicariushadmadeashowofbeingimpatient,despite thefacthewaslikelygladof thereprieve. Numitor knew better than to mention it. Lately even the slightestsetback or criticism had become like acid upon the nerves. EvenVeletanwasanxioustobebackinthefight,nomatterhow.Indigobladegrasswavedatshinheight,theinchofwateratitsrootssplishingwith each footstep. The grasswas sharp enough to slash open an unarmouredfoot or tendon, but it did nothingmore than partwith awhisper at the SpaceMarines’passing.Hereandtherethethree-headedskeletonofawaterhydralayinpieces.Thickscarletcentipedescrackedthebonewithiron-hardmandiblestogettothemarrowbeneath.ThecarnivorousinsectsstartledattheSpaceMarines’approach,soundlesslyslidingawayintothewaters.

CatoSicariuskickedaribcageintoasprayofspinningbones,dropletsofwatershimmeringprism-likeinthesunlight.‘This is futile,’ he said toNumitor as the sergeant approached. ‘Even if thiscourseistrue,bythetimewereachourdestination,thewarwillbeover.’‘Throne’ssake,Cato.Ithasbeenlessthanaweek.DoyouwanttogobacktoGel’brynandreporttoAtheusindisgrace?’‘At least we would be in the fray,’ muttered Sicarius, casting a black looktowardsColnid. ‘Instead of slogging through themiddle of nowhere at three-quarterpace.’Numitorsighedheavily.‘YouwanttoleaveColnidbehind,perhaps?’Sicariusfrowned,butdidnotreply.‘Whatotheroptiondowe reallyhave?’ continuedNumitor. ‘Ifweheadbackand follow the edges of the hex structures, there is a high chancewewill bebombedtodeathbeforeweevenseearecoverycraft.Colnidisoneofus,andweallagreedonthiscoursebackinGel’bryn.Sostartactinglikealeaderforonce.’SicariusspanaroundbeforesteppingupchesttochestwithNumitor.Hisfacewastwisted,deeplinesoneithersideofsouredlips.‘Insultmelike thatagain,’hegrowled, ‘andIwill leaveyousprawling in thedirt.’‘Perhaps,’saidNumitor,his tonecoldunderamaskofambivalence, ‘perhapsnot.’Kaetoros splashed towards them at a jog, flamer swinging heavily from itsstrap.‘Problem,sergeants?’‘Yes,’ said Sicarius. ‘I need your flamer.’He yankedKaetoros’weapon fromhim so hard the strap broke. Kaetoros recoiled as if he had been struck, butSicariushadalreadyturnedawayandtriggeredtheignitionrune.A blue finger of flame hissed from theweapon’s pilot valve. Sicarius sent aroaringspearofpromethiumouttotheright,lettingitdrizzledowntwentypacesdistantbeforebringingitcloserbyafewmetres.Numitor stepped back in shock as Sicarius lifted the flamer once more andbrought itsnozzlearound inawidearc,angling it so thepromethiumtracedawidehorseshoearoundtheirrouteofadvance.Burningfluidgoutedinshockingmeasure,halfacanisterusedupinamatterofseconds.Sicariuscompletedhishorseshoe shapewith a last lance of fire to the left,mirroring the spar at theotherend.‘WhatintheEmperor’snameareyoudoing?’protestedKaetoros.‘It’s upside down,’ saidNumitor as realisation dawned. ‘But it’s theChapter

symbol.’‘Heis…heisgambling,’saidVeletan.‘WeareUltramarines,’ shoutedSicarius, punching a fist onhis breastplate asthe primarch’s symbol burned high around him, ‘We apologise to no one.Wehidefromnoone.Lettheenemycome.Wewillfight,aswewereborntodo!’‘Thisisrisky,’murmuredMagros.‘Ifthexenospilotcasteseethisfirst…’Numitorscannedtheskies,thetirednesssuddenlygonefromhislimbs.‘Notif,’hesaid.‘When.SquadNumitor!Wegoaroundthis!Newheading,wideberthonmylead!’The sergeant ran around the edge of the burning symbol and the wall ofbillowingsmokethatpouredupfromit,motioningforhismentokeepup.Halfof Squad Sicarius looked set to follow him. The fire was already spreading.SicariusslammedtherequisitionedflamerbackagainstKaetoros’breastplateandwavedhissquadonaparallelcourse.The first aircraft we see had better be ours, Numitor thought. Out in thewilderness,theycouldnothopetobringanotherenemysquadronlow.Therewasnoway such a conflagration could burn away on such awell-patrolledworldwithoutbeingseenbysomeone.ThewindpickedupasthesquadscircumventedSicarius’signalfires,blowingthechokingblackfumesofthepromethiumfirewestward.After a few minutes Numitor saw something disturbing the smoke. Notsomething clear, but more like an absence of form, an unseen obstructioncausing the billowing clouds to dissipate. There was definitely something outthere,buthecouldnotplaceit.Notanaircraft,thatwasforsure.Somethinglowandsleek.‘Eyeswest,’saidNumitor.‘Wearebeingwatched.’

Thefirstsignofcontactwasnotairborne,norwas it theghostlyshapes in thesmoke.Afewhoursafterthefire-signalhadburnedlowbehindthem,asmudgeofboxyshapesonthehorizonresolvedintoatrioofChimeratransports.Behindthem came a pair of snub-turreted Leman Russ Demolishers, one of whichtrailedsmokefromawoundinitsflank.Itwasapitifulexcuseforanarmouredcolumn,buttotheEighth,itwasmannafromtheEmperorhimself.‘Theywillhavecomms,’saidSicariusasheturnedtoNumitor,eyesalight.Hewavedhissquadtoformup.‘Squad,formuponme.Thisistheturningpoint,Icanfeelit.’Numitornodded,aslowsmilespreadingacrosshisfeaturesasthestressofthe

lastfewdaysebbedaway.‘Youareluckyaswellasheadstrong,CatoSicarius.’TheAstraMilitarumwerethelastsightthesergeanthadexpectedtoseethisfarout from the main urban war zones, but they were welcome. It was alwaysstrange, talking to unaugmented humans. The distance between the SpaceMarines and the raw ranks of humanity felt far more pronounced when theywerestandingsidebyside,andtheaweplasteredacrossthefaceofthecommonImperialGuardsmanwasusuallytingedwithfear.Theirinstinctualdeferenceatbeingpresentedwithmankind’sfinestguardianssometimes leftmortalmenonthe verge of grovelling. Numitor found it amusing, in a way, and deeplydisquietinginanother.At least theseoneswerewarriors,Numitor toldhimself.TheAstraMilitarumvehicles had evidently seen a lot of battle. Plasma scars haddugdeepgougesinto their flanks, and here and there a rosette of black sootmarked amissiledetonation that had failed to breach the front armour. The commandChimeralookedsoundenough–ithadalongwhip-aerialbentacrossitslength,andfromthisdistanceat least, itscommsarrayseemed intact.Therewashopehere– ifnot for requisitioning the patrol entirely, then at least for patching in to theAdeptusAstartesvoxnetwork.OncetheycontactedCaptainAtheus,theycouldrendezvous with air support and escape the attention of the tau pilot castealtogether.The tophatchesof theChimera clankedopen, andNumitor sawawhiskeredfacepeeroutatthem.Heheldupanopenhandingreetingandtappedthevoxgrillofhishelmet,amuteindicationoftheirvoxtransmissionbeingdown.The transport’shatchclanged shut.TheChimerabegan toveer away, its rearexhaustgoutingsmokeasitacceleratedoutofthepatrolcolumn.Therearmosttransportslewedaroundtofacetheminstead,turrettracking.OneoftheLemanRussDemolishersgroundaroundtofacethemuntilNumitorwasstaringrightatitswideblackmaw.‘WhatinGuilliman’snamearethey–’Sicariustriggeredhisjumppack,theturbinesroaringasheblastedintoalong-rangeleap.HecamedowninastaggeredrunafewmetresawayfromtheleadChimera and stepped in front of it, banging hard on the personnel carrier’sscarred hull before peering through the vision slit. Numitor chuckled despitehimself.Hisfellowsergeant’suncompromisinglydirectapproachwassometimesexactlytherightpath.‘Etiquette was never his strong point,’ said Veletan, walking up to stand atNumitor’sside.

‘Youcouldsaythat,’repliedNumitor.‘Thatsaid,youcouldsaythataboutalotofusintheEighth.’‘Yield,forweareAdeptusAstartes!’shoutedSicarius,poundinghisfistontheChimera’sslopedhull.‘EighthCompanyoftheUltramarinesChapter.Therearenohostilesinengagementrange.Openupandreport!’‘Comeon,’saidNumitortoVeletan.‘Let’sgetoverthere.’Hemotionedfortherestofhissquadtofollow,sendingacurtnodtowardstheremainderofSquadSicarius as well. The Space Marines set off at combat pace, not willing toexpendanymorepackfuelthannecessary.AsNumitorcoveredthelastfewmetrestothearmouredpatrol,thetophatchofthecommandChimeragaveametallicsquealandopenedupcompletely.‘Hightime,’growledSicarius.A stressed-looking Guardsman wearing sergeant pips, his close-shaved hairgreydespitehisyears,leanedouttolookdownattheUltramarines.Frombehindhimaportly,middle-agedmanwithastarchedcollarpeeredout.‘Whatisit?’saidthesergeant.‘Whatdoyouwant?’Sicariustookastepbackinshock,nostrilsflaringandeyeswide.‘Haveacare,soldier,’hesaid,histonecoldanddangerous,‘oryou’llnotneeda commissar to punish your insolence. You can point that tank’s turretelsewhere.’Thesergeant’sfacepaledvisibly.HewavedfranticallytotheDemolisher,anditsmaingunpivotedaway.‘I didn’t… there’s no need for that,’ the officer said hurriedly. ‘Shell shock,nothingmore.Myheartfeltapologies,brother-sergeant…?’‘I believe this heroic individual’s name is Sergeant Sicarius,’ said the grey-uniformedofficerbehindhim.Hebrushedaspeckofspallfromthemedalonhischest.‘AndthisisJorusNumitor,unlessI’mmistaken.IfImayinterject,IamDeleteiNordgha,oftheOneHundredandTwenty-SecondBaleghastCastellans.’‘I’mSergeantAlectKinosten,’saidthegrey-hairedofficer.‘Actingsergeant,’correctedNordgha.‘Baleghast,’ saidNumitor. ‘I have not heard of it.But you have heard of us,clearly.’‘Asamasterofordnance,Imakeitaprioritytofamiliarisemyselfwitheveryfront-linewarbriefIcanobtain,’saidNordgha.‘Especiallyconcerningvanguardtroops.Cutsdownonthelikelihoodof…unfortunatemiscommunications.It iscommon practice for the captains of the Ultramarines to make their rostersknowntothehigherechelonsoftheAstraMilitarumstructure,and–’

‘–andhetalkstoomuchwhenhe’snervous,’interruptedKinosten.‘Evidently,’saidNumitor.‘Andwhyareyounotwiththerestofyourdivision?’askedSicarius.‘We’re on patrol,’ said Kinosten. Behind him, Numitor saw something inNordgha’sbodylanguage,aslightstiffeningofposture.‘Patrolfromwhere?’‘We’re on autonomous pattern, rearguarding the hexwastes,’ replied thesergeant.‘ItisatruehonourtomeetthefabledwarriorsofUltramar.Isthereanyassistancewecanoffertoyou?’‘Weneedyourvox,’saidSicarius.‘Ah,right,’saidKinosten.‘Yoursnotworking,then?Machine-spiritsangry?’‘Worse than that,’ said Veletan from behind Numitor. ‘They have beenscrambledbyxenoswartech.It isasubjectwehavelearnedagreatdealaboutoverthelastsevendays,sixhoursandfourteenminutes.’‘IntruthitisarelieftofinallyrejointheImperialwarmachine,’saidNumitor.‘Wehavetoreportbackifwearetocontinueourmissionatpace.’‘Well,theVodhjanoihere’stakenagoodfewhits,’saidKinosten, ‘herhailer’sgotthevox-gremsbad.Infact,allofourcommsareshot,evenNordgha’s.Wemusthavebeenhitbythesamexenotechasyou.’‘Isthatso,’saidNumitor.‘Yes,sir,’saidKinosten,meetinghisgazeunflinchingly.‘Itis.’Numitorwasquietlyimpressed.NotmanyhumanscouldlookaSpaceMarinein the eye for long. These particular AstraMilitarumwere different from thenorm,somehow,buthecouldn’tplaceit.‘You will get out of your vehicle,’ said Sicarius, ‘and you will allow us toplacate itsmachine-spirit sowecancontactourbrothers.’Hesteppedforward,handonthehiltofhistempestblade.‘OrwouldyouratherIthrewyouout?’Therewasamomentofstiltedsilence.Kinosten’sexpressiondarkened,andheduckedbackinsidetheChimera,pullingNordghabackwithhimbeforeclosingthehatch.The rear door of the transport clanged open. SergeantKinostenwas the firstout, closely followed by two Guardsmen, both openly gawping at the SpaceMarinesbefore them, thenNordgha.Themasterofordnancehelpedanelderlywoman out of the Chimera, clad in emerald robes and thin to the point ofemaciation.Numitorwasbrieflytakenabackwhenhenoticedshehadnoeyesinhersockets.‘AstrosavantMalagrea,’ she said, turning to face him as she straightened up.

‘Noneedtostare.’Numitorquicklylookedaway.‘Imeantnooffence,’hesaid.‘Youhaveastrikingaspect.’‘Don’tmindthehag,sir,’saidthenextGuardsmantoclamberoutofthetank.‘She’sonlyhappywhenshe’smakingpeoplefeeluncomfortable.’‘You’renotfittotalktothem,Victo,’saidSergeantKinosten.TheGuardsmanlookedaway,swingingablack-barrelledplasmagunaroundfromhisbackandpoppingawadofwhatsmelledlikeCatachantobaccointohismouth.Behind the plasma gunner came the last of the squad.A baldman, heworedomegogglesandagasmask,presumablytoprotecthimselffromthebackwashofheatfromtheflamerheldprotectivelytohischest.Thestrangebehaviourofthe Guardsmen, coupled with the fact they all had their guns unslung, madeNumitor feel evenmoreunsureof the situation.Hishand strayed tocheckhisboltpistol,justforamoment.The other squads were clambering out of their Chimeras too, the AstraMilitarumtroopersformingupinloosegroupswithlasgunsattheready.Atleasthalfofthemwerenursingcrippledlimbs,andseveralhadplasmaburns.Mostofthemhadblood-encrustedbayonetsattachedtotheendsoftheirrifles,andmanyopenlyheldgrenades.Somethingwasn’tright.‘Sicarius,’saidNumitorunderhisbreath,‘Ithinktheyare–’‘I’mhandlingit,Numitor,’growledSicarius,motioningGlaviustowardtothecommandChimera.‘Glavius,getonthatvoxandraisecompanycommand.Wehavetoreportback.’Glavius nodded, hastening to the empty personnel carrier. The SpaceMarinehad to disengage and detach his jump pack just to fit inside, and then had tocrawlonhishandsandkneestogettothevoxinthefront.‘Itoldyou,’saidKinosten.‘Thevoxisout.’Numitor’shandmovedslowlytouncliphisboltpistolfromitsholster.‘It…ithasbeensabotaged,sergeant,’cameGlavius’muffledvoicefrominsidetheChimera.‘Mostofthesewireshavebeencutthrough.’SicariusgrabbedKinostenbythethroatandslammedhimupagainstthesideoftheVodhjanoi.‘You are deserters!’ barked Sicarius. ‘I knew it! Do you want to die indisgrace?’‘Don’t…’chokedKinosten,‘We…’‘Itwas the tauon the ridge!’gabbledNordgha. ‘Webroke them!Wedidour

duty, didn’t we? We turned the tide at Via’mesh’la, by ourselves! Don’t wedeserveareprieve?Thentheysentintheirwarsuits…wedidn’tstandachance!We’remoreusetoyoualive,surely,and…’‘Silence!’shoutedSicarius,veinsbulginginhisforehead.‘Youareallcowards,traitors to theEmperor’sname!Youdeserve todie, everyoneofyou.Doyoureallythinkyoucouldstopus?DoyouthinkthirtylasgunsisenoughtostoptwosquadsofUltramarines?’‘Especially,’saidNumitor,‘whenthey’vegotnoammoclips.’‘What?’saidSicarius.‘Therearenoclipsintheirlasguns.’Kinosten, choking and turning purple as he tried in vain to prise Sicarius’gauntletfromhisneck,hammeredhisheelsagainstthesideoftheChimerainaspasmodictattoo.‘Got… wrong… ammo…’ the Astra Militarum sergeant gasped. A bitter,burblinglaughescapedfromhisblood-fleckedlips.‘Justlethimgo,Sicarius,’saidNumitor.‘Theyneverintendedtofireuponus.Thesemenarebeatenalready.’‘Theywill be,’ came the reply. ‘Severely.And this one at the very leastwillfacesummaryexecutionfromhiscommissar.’TherewasachorusofdissentinggrumblesfromthemassedGuardsmen.‘Lethimgo,’saidthelargestoftheirnumber,ascarredbrutewithskinlikebootleather.‘You heardReytek,’ said a scrawny, rat-faced privatewith amissing ear.Hewasvisiblyshaking.‘Letthesargego.Please.’OneoftheLemanRussDemolishersreversed,itsturretangling.Sicariusgaveabarkinglaugh,longandloud.Numitordidnotlikeitstoneonebit.‘WhenCaptainAtheusgetswindofthis,’saidSicarius,‘youareallforthegallows.’‘Captain Atheus is dead,’ said the astrosavant Malagrea softly. ‘Slain by axenoswarleader.’‘What?Youlie!’Malagreashookherhead,herexpressionsolemn.Numitor felt stunnedas thenewssank in. Ithad the ringof truth to it.Therewassomethingelsebotheringhim,too,inthemiddledistance.Afaintbuthigh-pitchedwhine,likethatofanengine.Numitortappedhisfellowsergeant’sforearmandputacuppedhandtohisear.Sicarius cocked his head, absently letting Kinosten slump to the ground. The

Militarum officer sucked in wheezing gasps of air that turned to whoopinglungfulsashiswindpipereopened.ThentheBaleghastCastellansbegantodie.AfewmetresfromKinosten,Victrodancedlikeapuppetandcameapartinashower of blood. Struck twice by glowing bolts of energy, his plasma gundetonated in a blinding flash to throw gobbets of superheated liquid in alldirections.Reytekwentdownamomentafterashisgutswereblownoutofhisback,his twitchingfingersreflexivelypullingthepinfromthefraggrenadehehadgrabbedfromhisbelt.Bedlameruptedallaround,thescreamsoftheburnedandthedyingfillingtheduskair.AdozenoftheAstraMilitarumweremowndowninthespaceofafewseconds. Reytek’s abandoned grenadewent off, and another three Guardsmenwereshreddedapart.Numitor took three punching impacts on his pauldron.He darted forward onreflex,anothervolleyofshotsalmostspinninghimoverintothebladegrass,andregainedhisbalancejustasastormofpulsefirehammeredintothesideoftheChimerawherehehadbeenstandingaheartbeatbefore.‘Ambush!Fromthewest!’Sicariusblasted into the air, jumppack roaring.Glavius, Ionsian andVeletanfollowedcloseafterhim,theirownpacksspittingblueflame.Almostassoonasthey left the shelter of the armoured column, three volleys of pulse boltsconverged upon them in a deadly crossfire, sending Ionsian and Veletancareeningbacktoearthinblazesofwhiteflame.UsingtheChimeraascover,Numitorleantoutintothegloomforasecond.ThesecondChimerainthecolumnwasrockingdangerously,takingheavyimpactsasitsturrettrackedaroundtospitrubybeamsofmultilaserfireintothedistance.‘Andfromtheeast!’heshouted.‘Wearesurrounded!’Thesergeantquick-scannedthehorizon,butsawnothingotherthanshimmersandflickersoflightinthedusk.Partofhimburnedwiththedesiretotriggerhisjump pack and boost out there, to close down the enemy gun lines with boltpistol andpower fist, but some instinct heldhimback.The tauwere cunning,andjudgingbythefateofIonsianandVeletan,theywereouttherewaitingforthemtodojustthat.Three Imperial Guardsmen ran around the back of the second Chimera,footsteps splashing, only to be met by a volley of hissing plasma. Glowingwoundsburstintheirbacksasunseenambushersmowedthemdown.Therewasa flicker of light in Numitor’s peripheral vision, coming from over a narrow

ridgetothewest.Sicariushadseenittoo.Hewasalreadyonaninterceptcourse,angling in mid-flight with a flare of jets. Glavius, close on his heels, waspunchedfromtheairbytwostreamingvolleysofplasmabolts.Trailingsmoke,hecorkscrewedtoearth,slamminghardintoaswatheofrazorgrasswithasplashofbrackishwater.‘Throne,they’retakingusapart,’saidNumitor.Sicarius roared as he hurtled feet first through a curving stream of energyrounds, taking fire but coming in hard nonetheless. He slammed into a hazyshape,lashingoutwithhisswordtocatchanotherandsenditsprawlinginablurofmalfunctioningholotech.Thenhewas lost toNumitor’s sightbehinda lowridge,astrobingflashofenergylightingthegloominthemiddledistance.‘Taustealthers!’hesaidoverthevox.‘Squad,getoverhere!’‘Holdyourposition,’shoutedNumitor,‘wecannotaffordto–‘The commandChimera’s engine explodedwith a bass crump, sendingAstraMilitarum and Adeptus Astartes flying left and right. Shrapnel pinged fromNumitor’slegsandhipsashestaggeredintoamarksman’scrouch,firinghisboltpistolintotheeast.Hecouldseenocleartarget,andboltammunitionwasnottobewasted,butevensuppressionfirewasworthsomethingif theyweretogainanysortofcontrol.‘Wehavetogetinthereandengage,’saidMagros.‘We’rebadlyoutranged!’‘No,’saidNumitor, ‘that’sexactlywhat theywantus todo.Wegoout in theopen,wewillbecaughtinacrossfire.Thesetauknowhowtobaitatrap.’‘Sergeant,wehavenochoice,’shoutedMagros.‘Sicariusisalreadyoutthere!’‘Cato!’shoutedNumitoroverthevox.‘What’sgoingon?’Therewasnoreply.‘ForThrone’ssake,’cursedthesergeant.‘Kinosten,gettheVodhjanoimoving,and get that third Chimera rolling behind it. The Demolishers on either side.Formabox.Leaveroomfortherestofusinbetween.Thetankscantakealittlemorepunishment.’Kinosten,his throatstillredwhereSicariusthrottledhim,lookedincredulous.Numitorsteppedtowardshim,eyesburningwithintensity.‘Justdoit,sergeant.Drive the damned tank yourself if you have to, andmaybe the Commissariatdoesn’tneedtohearaboutyourlittledetour.’‘Right,’croakedthesergeant,noddingfranticallyandgrabbinghisgas-maskedcomrade’s uniform. ‘Dektro, you heard the man,’ he said, pushing the baldflameroperative in thedirectionof the thirdChimera. ‘Get over to theVorzhtand pull her in behind the Vodhjanoi. Suppressive fire from the turrets until

we’venothinglefttoshoot.’Dektronoddedandspanround,thefueltanksonhisbacksloshingashesentastream of burning fuel arcing across the gap between the first and thirdChimeras.HeandtwoofKinosten’scommandsquadran,crouching,behindthewallofflame,usingitasimpromptucoverastheymadeitacrossthegaptothefarthest personnel carrier and relayed Numitor’s orders. A hail of enemy firechasedthemwhere thebarrieroffirewasthinnest, tearingapart the lastof thethreeGuardtroopers.Numitorwinced,sendingaboltshellwingingoutintothetwilight where he estimated the shots had came from, but the dull bang ofcontactdidnotfollow.Oneafteranother,theAstraMilitarumtanksgroundforward,theVorzhtpullingin behind the Vodhjanoi and the Leman Russ Demolishers on either side.Keepinglow,theGuardsmenandtheUltramarinesmassedinbetween.NumitorledhisAssaultMarinesatthefront,formingawallofceramitebeforetheflak-armouredGuardsmenandmovingatajog.Theytookenfiladingfirethroughthegaps in the box formation, but each had their pauldrons turned into thefirepower,andnoneofthemwentdown.Behind themcame the ragged remains ofKinosten’s platoon,Dektro haulingthehalf-panickedMalagreaintheirmidstastheymovedoutwest.TheturretsoftheChimeras trackedaround,spraying thickrubybeamsofmultilaser fire intothewest.TheLemanRussesventedtheirwrath,sponson-mountedheavybolterschuggingoutfirepowerbrutalenoughtoblastabattlesuittopieces.Numitorstrainedtohearthetelltalebangofthemass-reactiveboltsdetonatingamongstthefoe.Stillnothing.Itwaslikefightingghosts.

Sicarius ran headlong through the waterlogged field, chasing the shimmeringshapes thatflitted justoutofreach.Everytimeoneof the thingsopenedfireaspray of white energy would reveal its location, and Sicarius would sprinttowardsitorlooseashotfromhisplasmapistol,onlytofindnothingthere.Heitchedto triggerhis jumppack, to leaphighandcomedownuponthesexenosinsects with crushing violence, but he knew that by doing so he would bemaking himself a priority target – a mistake that had already cost Ionsian,GlaviusandVeletanbadly.Thesergeantcouldnotshake thefeelinghewasbeing ledfurtherandfurtherawayfromtherestoftheImperialtroops,buthecouldn’tretreatnow.Themorefrustratedhegot,thelessitseemedtomatter.Therewaskillingtobedone,and

hisbloodsangwiththeneedforit.Ahead, oneof the tau stealtherswas in plain sight, firingback into themainfrayfrombehindathicketofrazorgrass.Thealienwarsuithadtakenamultilaserhit,bythelookofitsscorchedandbulboustorso,itsoutlinerenderedvisiblebyitsmalfunctioningchameleonics.Sicarius grinned fiercely.Thewarsuit had not seen him.Heheld his tempestbladeoutwide,chargingintocutthedamnedthingintwo.Heavy impacts struck him from behind, the intense heat of plasma boltsburningacrosshislowerback.Morecameinfromtheright,takinghislegsawayandleavinghimcrashingmid-sprinttotheground.Yetmorehithisarm,blastingthetempestbladefromhishandandsendingpainflaringuptohisshoulder.Thesergeantpushedhimselfupright,sendingaplasmapistolshottowardsthevisiblesuit,butithaddisappearedentirely.Anothervolleystruckhim,sendinghimskiddingthroughthewaterymudoftherazorgrassfield.The world around him dimmed as pain wracked his body, a dozen injuriesfightingforhisattentionatonce.Greyfogcloudedhisvision,threateningtopullhimintoitsnothingness.Thenthewarsuit thathadbaitedhimintothecrossfirereappeared, justoutofreach.Thequad-barrelledcannonthatformeditsrightarmwaspointedsquarelyatSicarius’head.

‘Got him,’ said Numitor, pulling Glavius’ unconscious form from the muddygrassandproppinghimagainsttheVodhjanoi.Theywerestillunderheavyfire,and the Demolishers were taking a pounding on either side of them. But therolling box formationwas slowly getting them towards the cover of the ridgeahead,allowingthemtorecovertheirwoundedalongtheway.‘Glavius!’ shoutedNumitor, slamming him back against the steel hull of thepersonnelcarrier.‘Backonyourfeet!WehavetofindSicarius!’Numitor was swatted from behind so hard that he slammed into his battle-brother,ablindinglighttakinghisvisionforamoment.Heturnedbacktoseeascenefromadementedkiller’sabattoir.TheLoitahadexplodedwithsuchshockingforceithadcutapartafullhalfofthoseAstraMilitarum troopers sheltering in its lee.TheDemolisher itself hadbeen neatly cut in three pieces by some kind of fusion beam that had gonethrough engine and fuel tank at the same time. The searing lines still glowedwhite,yellowandredwherethexenosweaponhadcarveditapart.Lit by the fires of the tank’s demise, a dozenGuardsmen lay in the shallow

water,horrificallywounded.Greatwedgesofshrapnelpiercedfacesandnecks,still-burningtankerfuelturnedmentoflounderingcharcoaleffigiesandsoldiersbawledlikechildrenastheygazedinhorrifieddisbeliefatthesquirtingstumpsthat had once been their limbs. Malagrea sobbed through a mask of blood,scrawnylegscutinahundredplacesbyastumblethroughtherazorgrass.Onepinkhandgraspedablackened,bonyclaw.Numitor felt something watching him. He looked up, eyes still wide withshock.Hoveringbeyondtheburningwreckageofthetankwasadiabolicfigure.Itwasafemaletau,butatthatmomentitappearedtoNumitor’sstunnedsensesmorelikeadaemon in theflames.Xenoscamo-techmade thefigure’selegantwhitebattlesuitappearlikeamantleoffire, thedisc-likedronesoneithersideofherglowing like familiar spirits. A long and decorated scalplock swayed in thethermals.Hereyesboredintohis,theintensityofhercontemptobviousdespiteherinhumanfeatures.Numitor saw red.With a roar, he leaped at the alienwarrior, his jump packfiring.Shesweptawayfromhisbullishchargeandupintotheskies.ThenMalagrea’ssobbingturnedintoascream,andNumitorfellintoblackness.

Waves of nameless energy broke across theEighth, battering theirminds as astormyocean batters aweak swimmer.The screaming drove hot nails of painintoNumitor’sbody,hismind,hissoul.Hefelthisearsfillwithscaldingliquidandhiseyeballsswellashundredsoftinycapillariesbursttofillthewhiteswithblood.Thesoundwashorriblyeloquent, conjuringunstoppablevisions inNumitor’smind.Shatteredpanesofstainedglass,eachdepictingadifferentatrocity,werestabbedhardintohispsyche.Heheardthescreamsofacovenofwitchestrappedinaburningbuilding,ofagenerationofnewbornspushedintothecruelcoldoftherealworld,ofathousandsuddenandviolentdeathsthrustupontheignorantand theunprepared.Theyblurred together intoahorrifyingcacophony, roilingback and forth, robbing all conscious thought andmakingNumitor’s eyes rollbackintohishead.Drooling froth bubbled from his lips as he saw a vision of a giant sphericalroom, rankupon rankofpsykers strapped to its insides, their soulsdrainedbytheimpossiblesentienceatthecavernouschamber’sheart.Thiswasthehomeoftrueagony,of themosthideoussacrifice.Against this,physicalpainseemedagentleandcompassionatefriend.

Then,inaninstant,itwasover.Numitorfeltasifhisbrainhadbeensubmergedin icewater as consciousness returned, his senses awakening just as his jumppackleapcametoanungracefulend.Helandedinatumbledheapinthemud,butswiftlygotbackuprightwithhisboltpistolaimedandready.Hishand,forthefirsttimesincehisinitiationintotheAdeptusAstartes,wasshakinglikethatofapalsiedoldman.Thesergeantforcedhimselftofocus.Yearsofhypnoticallyreinforcedtrainingfell back into place, restoring order to his aching soul like slabs of thickferrocretecoveringanunquietgrave.Aroundhimwasacharnelhouse.Thosealreadygrievouslywounded,whetherbecauseofoldwounds,theone-sidedfirefight,ortheexplosionoftheChimera,hadbeenpushedoverthethreshold.Apartfromthecracklingpopofaburnt-outChimerahullandtheoccasionallowgroan,therazorgrassfieldwassilent.Notasinglegunshotmarredthestrangeatmosphereofdisbelief.‘Sergeant?’saidAordusashesteppedclosertostandinfrontofNumitor.‘Areyousound?’‘Iamifthetauarealldead,’saidNumitor,‘butsomehowIdoubtthat.’‘Thenyou’llwantalookatthis,’saidAordus,pointingoutintothefields.Numitorfrowned,usinghislenses’magnocularfunctiontoscantheperipheryof the firefight. At first he thought Aordus was pointing out pale rockformations, but then he saw them for what they were – the bodies of taustealthers,theirbulbousbattlesuitsslumpedlifelessasiftheyhadsimplyfallendeadwheretheystood.A shiver crept acrossNumitor’s crested scalp as he realised thatwas exactlywhathadhappened.‘Apsychicattack,then?FromthatonetheycalledtheHag?’Aordusnodded.‘Malagrea,hernameis.ShelostahandwhentheDemolisherwentup.’‘Isshebleedingout?’‘Isawtoher.It’sugly,butshe’lllive.’‘Goodwork.She’s…she’sgoodatherjob,itseems.’‘Usedthepain,maybe.’‘Yes,’saidNumitorsoftly.‘Allofit.Morethanwecouldeverunderstand.HaveSquadSicariusreportedin?’‘Notyet,’saidAordus.‘Searchingnow.’‘Doso,’saidNumitor.‘Ishalljoinyou.’ThetwoAssaultMarinesmovedofftojointhesearch.AtfirstNumitorwalked

as if in a daze, but as the ordered, concentric circles of their recovery patterngave him focus, he found his surety returning. There was a strange kind ofcomfortinthemundanityofrepetitivetasks.‘Magros,Duolor,’saidNumitor,‘keepvigil.Therestofus,regroupduty.’Glaviuswasfirst tobefound,shakinghisheadindisbeliefashecheckedtheintegrity of his stricken battleplate. Four dark scorch marks, each wider thanNumitor’s hand, surrounded the areas where the tau cannonades had takenchunksoutofhisceramitearmour.Yetstillthebattleplate’sintegrityheld.‘Fourmoreontheback,’saidGlavius,histoneshaky.‘I’mluckytobealive.’‘PraisetheMachineGod,’saidNumitordrily.‘Nexttimedon’tbesoquicktojumpintothejawsofatrap.’‘Hmmph.TellthattoSicarius.’‘IwillifIcanfindhim.’‘Congratulations,’saidCatoSicariusashesplashedupthroughtherazorgrass.‘Youfoundhim.’The sergeantwas amess. Almost every slab-like plate of his armour bore adeep gouge or a smoking hole, the cobalt blue of the Ultramarines heraldryblisteredandblackened.Layeredceramitewasvisiblewhereplateshadshatteredandbrokenaway,andsubcutaneouswiringfizzedsparkswheneverthesergeanttookalimpingstep.‘Lookingworseforwear,Cato,’saidNumitor.‘Notagoodideatogoharingofflikethatagainstanunseenfoe.’‘I used to know a brave and fearless warrior named Jorus Numitor,’ saidSicariusgruffly.‘Youwouldhavelikedhim.I’mnotsurehe’dhavelikedyousomuch.’‘Well,maybehe’sgrownalittlewiser.’‘Maybehe’s forgottenhisCodexAstartes,’ saidSicarius. ‘When the enemy’sreachislong,andyoursisshort…’‘Closethedistanceandwrestvictoryfromhisgrip,’finishedNumitor.‘Iknowthatwellenough,butI’mnotsureIrememberthenextpartsaying“chargelikeamaddenedgrox into the teethof the enemyguns”.Andhowdidyourvictory-wrestinggo,bytheway?’‘Itookheavyfire,andtheyalmostkilledme,’saidSicarius,alltraceoflevitygone.‘Then…thencamethatscream.Myhead’sstillringingfittoburst.Butatleastthexenosfaredworse.’‘Thattheydid,’saidNumitor.Sicariusstrodepastoneofthefallentau,spittingonitscorpse.Theacidinhis

salivaburnedahissinghole in the sensorplate that formed thealienwarsuit’sface.Numitorwalkedafterhim,shakinghisheadinwarningwhenGlaviustriedtofollow.As the two sergeantswalkedout of earshot,Numitor spokeoncemore. ‘Youlefthalfyoursquad,Cato.’‘Iknow,’saidSicarius.‘Itwasamistake.Iacknowledgethat.Itwon’thappenagain.’Numitorsaidnothinginresponse.‘IsGlaviusstillabletofight?’askedSicarius.‘He’sinabetterstatethanyou,certainly.Tough,thatone.’‘Inbody,atleast.’‘Whobettertoteachhimindependentthoughtthanyou?Afterthis,evenhewillthinktwiceaboutblindlyfollowingyourlead.’‘Iimagineso,’saidSicarius.Alongsilencestretchedbetweenthetwosergeantsastheystaredoutacrossthewavingrazorgrass.‘IcannotbelieveAtheusisreallydead,’saidSicarius.Numitorgaveatiredsigh.‘IthinkMalagreawastellingthetruth.Youcouldtellbyherdemeanour.AsadlosstotheChapter.’‘Iknow.It’sjust…’‘Whatisit,oldfriend?’askedNumitorsoftly.‘Withhimdead,’saidSicarius,‘whowillbepromotedtocaptaininhisstead?’Numitor staredathis fellowwarrior fora second.Thenheshookhishead indisbelief,turningawayfromSicariusandwalkingbacktotherestofhissquad.

‘Theyhadustrapped,trussedandreadytokill,’saidKaetoros.‘Whenwehuntedfor them, they faded away.When we stayed put, they hammered us from allsides.Whenwetooktotheskies,theycaughtusinacrossfire.Wecannotfightlikethis.’‘It does look like they have our measure,’ agreed Veletan. ‘From a tacticalviewpoint,theyhadusout-plannedandoutgunnedfromthestart.’‘UntilMalagreajoinedthefight,’saidNumitor.‘Weoweherourthanks.’Thewizenedoldastropath,stillclutchingthewristofherblackenedandclaw-like hand, gave a curt nod of acknowledgement. She hadmanaged to keep adignified expression since the impromptu gathering began, butNumitor couldseeshewasstillinalotofpain.‘Isitpossiblethetauhavenoexperienceofpsychicattack?’Numitoraskedher.

‘Orareparticularlyvulnerabletoit?’Malagreainclinedherhead.‘Iwouldnotbesurprised.Thesecreaturesarenotsoulless,assuch–’Atthisshegaveaninvoluntaryshiver,followedbyagrimaceof pain. ‘But they have little in the way of spirit. Their will is communal.Individually,itiseasyenoughtoovercome.’‘Have you knowledge of any other psykers, in your battlegroup?’ askedNumitor. ‘It could be that’s our best shot at disrupting the tau war machinebeforeitrepelstheinvasionaltogether.’KinostenandNordghaexchangedalook.‘Do we know any psykers, he asks,’ said Nordgha. ‘Haven’t you heard thestoriesabouttheBaleghastCastellans?’‘Enlightenus,’growledSicarius.‘We’re the One Hundred and Twenty-Second Baleghast Castellans,’ saidNordgha.‘BetweenusandtheOneHundredandTwenty-Third,we’vegotmorepsykersperplatoonthananyotherregimentintheGel’bryntheatre.’‘It is true,’ agreed Malagrea in her thin, quavering voice. ‘We are… luckyenough to have not only Primaris Psyker Vykola Herat, but the three-manmindchoirssanctionedbytheScholasticaPsykana.’‘Can you get us to them?’ said Numitor. ‘Marshal asmany as possible, andrendezvouswithinreach?’‘In theory, yes,’ said SergeantKinosten, his voice still hoarse from Sicarius’violence,‘thoughyourfriendthereseemshellbentonseeinguslinedupinfrontofacommissar’sboltpistol.AfterescapingatauambushI’mnotfeelingsokeenondeathbycourtmartial.’‘Thatcanwait.Andthere’sstillachanceyouwillredeemyourselves.’Kinostenraisedaneyebrow.‘Ifwecangatherasmanypsykersaspossibleinoneplace,’continuedNumitor,‘we’llhaveanadvantagethateventhetauhavenowayofanticipating.Westrikeaviciousblow,andwetaketheirfinestcommandersoutinonefellswoop.Wealreadyknowwheretofindthem.’‘A commendable concept, sergeant,’ said Veletan, ‘But these deserters havesabotagedeveryoneof the tanks’voxes,not just theoneexaminedbyBrotherGlavius,inordertoescapedetection.’‘Thereareotherwaystocommunicate,’saidMalagrea,brushingherlankhairbehindherears.‘Ispecialiseinthem.’‘Thengetitdone,’saidNumitor.‘Sendapsychicmessage,gatheryourkin,andwe’llconvenientlyforgettomentionyourplatoon’s…lapseofjudgement.Won’t

we,SergeantSicarius?’TheTalassarian bladesman stared atNumitor for a long time, his expressionsour.Thenhegaveacurtnod.‘Then it’sagreed,’ saidNumitor, extendingahandclad inceramite.Kinostengraspedhis forearmasbesthe could in thewarrior’shandshake.The ImperialGuardsman’s muscled arm seemed like that of a child in comparison toNumitor’s.‘But ifyoubetrayus,SergeantKinosten,’saidNumitor, ‘ifyoueven thinkofstrayingfromthispath…’TheUltramarinesankhisfingersintoKinosten’sfleshandsqueezedhard,pullinghimincloseenoughtosmellthesharptangofhumanfear.‘…Iwillcrushyoulimbbybloodylimb,andeveryoneofyourmenwillhang.’

CHAPTERTWELVEBETRAYAL/THEPRODIGALRETURN

Farsight looked up themountain path to the tallest ofKan’ji’s perilous peaks.Tinypuffsofcondensationmistedinfrontofhisolfactoryfissureashecaughthisbreath.Thesnow-cappedmoundwasswathedinmorningmist,buthecouldmakeoutthebuildingsdottingitssidesaspatchyshadowsinthedistance.Thecommanderstoppedforamomenttorevelinthecrispnessoftheair.Ithadbeenapunishingclimb.Theachinginhislungsandthehotfeelingofexertionunderhisskinwasalltoofamiliar.Itwasaby-productofanaltitudethathehadlearned to appreciate, even enjoy, over the harsh tau’cyr he had spent here.Despitethecircumstances,itwasgoodtobeback.Lookingbackdowntheslope,FarsightsawtheDevilfishthathadbroughthimpivotandturnaway,glidingsilentlyalongthecrevassethatledbacktoGel’brynCity. It had felt very much like cheating, riding in the TY7 to the slopingshouldersofthepeakbeforeclimbingtherestoftheway.Hehadbeentoldthatonly the worthy made it to the top, and laboured hard to prove it. To hisknowledge, this was the first time a student of the master had simply beentransportedthere.FarsightwatchedtheDevilfishfadefromviewoverthelowermountainslopes,where gnarled ovidu trees spread their carpets of mauve blossom in thespringtime.Nogoingbacknow.Shouldering the long military satchel he had been given on his departure,Farsightwalkeduptheslopetowardsthemountainpeak.Bythesideofthepath,patchesofwintersnowglowedandglistenedwiththepinksandorangesofthe

dawn.FarsightwalkedonpastthesimplehutsofthefirstKan’jianpioneers,humblewoodenconstructionsbuilt to last.Eachhadhousedadozenof thefirecaste’sfinest over the years. Farsight had mended several of the roofs himself, andreceived a beating for it. It was not for the leaders of the Tau’va to rest incomfort,MasterPuretidehad said–nor to take theworkofothercastesuponhimself,cometo that.Howtrue thatwas.Perhaps ifhehadremembered it,hewouldnotbeherenow.Farsight followed thepathalong thebanksof the ice river,where theMasterhadmadehimstandone-leggedinthefreezingwaterbeforemakinghimhobbleintoanichostickduelagainstKauyon-Shas.Hehadfoughtherwithhisfeetbareandoneeyestillswollenclosedbythebruiseoftheirfistfightthenightbefore.Seeing that as a great injustice at the time, he had railed against it, especiallyaftershehadunceremoniouslydumpedhimrightbackintheriveratduel’send.Shecouldbeathimevenonhisbestday,andtheybothknewit.Butlearningtofightat adisadvantagehad savedFarsight’s lifeonmanyoccasions since, andthousandsoffirecastelivestoboot.Up past the Seeing Tree he walked, half-expecting Monat-Kais to still bemeditating up there with eyes closed.What secrets the distant young tau hadkept behind those hooded lids. He was a silent inspiration to all those whofollowedthemonat’slonelypath,butonlyFarsightandShadowsunreallyknewhim,andeventhen,thereweredepthstheydarednotplumb.Notsincethenightofthefailedta’lissera.Walkingonward,thecommanderpassedtheslopinggrovewhereKauyon-Shashadtaughthimtolookintwodirectionsatonce.Therehehadcaughttwoofthedriftingleavesshehaddropped,twirlingthemintoabirdinflightandofferingthemtoherasagift.Shehadbeenthebestofrivals,seeingeachnewchallengeasa chance to spinher traps like the arctic spiders sheadmired somuch.Herlethalpatiencehad servedherwell; in time, theyoungwarrioresshadbecomeoneofthefiercestandmostwidelyrespectedleadersinthetauempire.And there, atop the mountain, was the mentor who had taught them both –them,andentiregenerationsofthefirecaste.The warrior sage was seated with his back to Farsight, crosslegged upon asimple hover-throne discoloured by use. He was looking out across the GreyCrevasse to the waterfalls of amethyst-hued water that cascaded down theoppositepeak.ItwasthesamepositionhehadbeensittinginwhenFarsighthadfirstmet him somany tau’cyr ago.Hispoisewasperfect, his body so still he

couldhavebeenoneofKauyon-Shas’ghosts.A few spots of chill rain fell from the skies, quickly growing into a lightspattering.Farsightfelthisskinpucker,theoldsensationoftrepidationrisinginhis throat.Hepushed itdown,straighteninghisback.Hewasawell-respectedcommanderofthefirecastenow,notsomeawestruckstudent.‘Come forward,Mont’ka-Shoh,’ saidMasterPuretidewithout looking. ‘I canhearyoubackthere,failingtocontrolyourbreathing.’Farsight forced himself to calm.The disapproving tone of hismaster’s voicestillhadapotentaffectonhismood,andpartofhimalreadyfeltchastened.‘Youforgetyourfocalrhythms,’continuedMasterPuretide.‘Itislikelisteningtoawoundedboar, snufflingaway.Kauyon-Shaswouldhave spittedyou longago.Weresheeverhere.’‘It is good to see you too, master,’ smiled Farsight, stepping forward andkneeling in the posture of the supplicant-bearing-his-sword. ‘You have notchanged,Inote.’Puretideturnedinhisthrone,fingerslacedinthegestureofelder-accepting-the-gift. His face was as craggy and lined as the cliff opposite, deep lines in hisupper lip leading to a thin slit of amouth. Eyes as hard as diamonds glintedunderanoblebrow.He lookedold,older thanany tauFarsighthadeverseen,butstillstrong.‘Timehasbeenkindtoyou,Mont’ka-Shoh,’saidtheoldwarrior.‘Yourbearingisthatofthehero.’‘If I have earned that accolade,’ said Farsight, ‘it is only because of theapplication of your wisdom. The fire caste would be a shadow of its currentincarnationwithoutyou.’‘Ihave trainedsomany,since I tookresidencehere,’ sighedMasterPuretide.‘Thirteentau’cyrIhavespentonthismountain,withtheyoungandthenaivemyonly companions. I remember them all, every detail. Yet you are the first tocomebacktome.’Farsightfeltsomethingwritheinthepitofhisstomach.Suddenlythecontentsofthesatcheloverhisshoulderfeltheavyandawkward.‘Ihadforgottenhowbeautifulitwashere.’‘Idoubtthat,youngwarrior.Youwereneveronetoforget.Ialwaysknewyourstar would rise high, ever since I met you. A raw cadet, back then, but stilloutwitting your tutors daily at Battle Dome Mont’yr.’ The war-sage’s facecrackedintoawrinkledsmile.‘Oneoftheminparticulardidnottakekindlytoit.’

‘He still doesn’t,’ said Farsight. The thought of Tutor Sha’kan’thasmade hisblood sting in his veins, but he pushed the emotion down. That one did notbelonghere,noteveninspirit.‘Mymost recent students toldmeofyourvictoryatArkunasha,’ saidMasterPuretide.‘AtruesonofVior’la,settingthestormagainstthefoe.Anaptechoofyoursept’sowntrialbyfire.’‘Too many good warriors died to the orks there,’ said Farsight. ‘I cannotconsideritavictory.’‘Do not let the guilt consume you. Thebe’gel are not easily defeated. Theirwaysarestrange.’‘Master…itseemswehaveencounteredanevenstrangerfoeinthegue’la.’Puretide frowned, turning back to the crevasse and closing his eyes. ‘I haveseenthefiresinthesky.TheyseektopushabladeofdoubtintotheheartoftheTauEmpire.’‘Iwillnotallowit,’saidFarsight.‘Soyoucomehere.Toseekmyhelp.’Farsightswallowed.‘Yes.FortheGreaterGood.’‘Mysoullongstofight,intruth,’saidPuretide.‘AndyetIlaiddownmygunslongago.IshallnotweartheHero’sMantleagain.’‘Iwould not ask it of you,’ said Farsight. ‘But… the great ethereals,master.They wish to harness your wisdom in as many ways as possible. They havetaskedtheearthcastewiththis,aswellasthefire.’‘Andyetyouwalkthemonat’spathtoreachme,’saidPuretide.‘Youhavethatwithinyou, thepowerofone.Yetyoumust learn to fightwithkauyon,monatandmont’ka,ifyouaretofulfilyourdestiny.Tobait,todecoy,toguidefoesaswell as friends along the paths of fate. These are things Kauyon-Shasunderstandswithinhersoul.ButIfearyouneverwill,nottruly.Justasshewillnevertrulyunderstandthemont’ka.’‘The victory of themind is to consider thewhole, not its constituent parts,’quotedFarsight.‘Just so,’ nodded Puretide. ‘Easy to repeat, not so easy to achieve. Take thegue’la invader’s mind into your own, my child. Study the stone-shape of histhoughts from the ripples that flow from their impact. You must form theda’thle’vral,themirrorthatshowstheweakness.Then,andonlythen,willyouwillprevail.Tosecurevictory,thewisemustadapt.’‘Thereislittletimeforstudy,master,’saidFarsight.‘Thisisnotawarconfinedto a single world, like Arkunasha. The gue’la, their warships come from

nowhere.Theypourmoreof their filthuponDal’ythwith everynewnight. Iftheywinhere,theywillnotstopuntiltheentireTauEmpireisshatteredandourdestinycastintothevoid.’‘Andsoyouwishtowininhaste,’saidPuretide,hisexpressionsour.‘Justasyoualwaysdid.’‘No,master,’saidFarsight.‘Irealisethatpatienceiskey.Yettheetherealsbademetakeadifferentpath.’Puretide said nothing, his expression unreadable. The thin, cold rain wasturning to tiny flakes of snow, dancing andwhirling as it came down aroundthem.‘Master,thegue’laarehere,onthisplanet!’protestedFarsight.‘Theinvaders’beachheadislessthantworotaafromwherewenowsittogether,talkingasifIhad never left!’His face felt hot, despite the coldwind playing around them.‘Withadeterminedpush,theirstriketrooperscouldtakethismountaintonight,’saidFarsight,‘andkillyouwhereyousit!Doesthatnotaffectyourphilosophy?Doyounotcareforvictoryanymore?’ThevenerablewarriorjustlookedatFarsightasiftheanswerwasobvious.Thehabitwasjustasinfuriatingasthefirstnighthehadspentonthemountain,butthistime,thestakeswerefar,farhigher.Just as Farsight’s simmering anger was about to boil over completely, themasterspoke.‘IfIdie,child,thenitwillbebecausemytimehascome.’‘AndwhatifDal’ythdieswithyou?Icannotallowit.’Farsightswungthesatchelfromoverhisshoulder,releasingthestripthatheldit closed,andpullingoutadisc-shapedcryocasket.Heslida fingeraround itscircumference and it hissed open. As he gingerly took out the contents, alatticework device made of dangling wires and tiny circular pads, the devicewrithedslightly.ItremindedFarsightuncomfortablyofaDal’ythanjellyfish.‘This is a recording device,’ said Farsight. ‘Youmustwear it,master. Itwillcaptureyourwisdom,thebettertodistributeitamongstthecommandersoftheTau’va.Weneedyourhelp,andweneeditnow.’‘So theywish to takemymind,’saidPuretide. ‘Iknewthisdaywouldcome.ButIdidnotexpectitwouldbeyouthatbroughtittome.’Farsightmadethegestureoftheunworthystudent.‘IntruthIdonotknowtheirfullintent,master.IonlyrelayitonbehalfoftheShas’ar’tol.’TheancientsagelookedsidelongatFarsight,hisexpressiontimeless.‘Donotbringmefalsehoods,Shoh.’

Theuglysensationinthecommander’sgutwasgettingstronger.Hesuddenlyfelt as if hewanted to choke out the contents of his stomachs, but clamped itdown.‘IonlydoasIamordered,’saidFarsight.‘Astheetherealshaveaskedofme.’Puretide turned inhishover-throne to facehis student, his face a stoicmask.‘Dowhatyoumust,then,’hesaid.‘InthenameoftheTau’va.’TakingthejellyfishdeviceandspreadingitoutwithhisfingersasO’Vesahadshownhim,Farsightdrapedituponhismentor’sbaldpatewiththeutmostcare.Itwasastrangereversal,forthestudenttotreatthemasterinsuchafashion.Inhismind’seye,amemoryflashedoftheceremonialendingoftheirtraininguponMountKan’ji.Themasterhad finger-traced the crownof thenewcommanderuponFarsight’sheadinamixtureofbloodandash.Kauyon-Shashadbeennext,thenMonat-Kais.Ithadbeenadayofjoy,celebrationandrelief.TheoppositetowhatFarsightnowfeltinside.Steelinghimself,thecommanderbeganpressingthediscsontotheneuralsitesas he had been instructed. All the while, the serpentine feeling of disquietslitheredinhisgut.Puretidelookedupathim,hiseyesswimmingwithsadnessandregret.Inthosedarkpoolswerethereflectionsofasoulsteepedindecadesofcontemplation.‘Ourracewillwalkdarkpaths,oneday,’hesaid.‘Darkpathsindeed.’Farsight did not reply, but inside his heart felt as if it were shrivelling. Hetouchedthedevice’sactivationnode,andatinyneedlebehinditextruded,poisedoverhismaster’sbrain.At the lastmomenthismentor shotahandupandgrabbedhimby thewrist,pullinghimclose.‘Donottrustthemall,mychild,’whisperedPuretide.‘Donottrustthemall.’ThenFarsight pushed thenode all theway inwith the faintest of clicks, andPuretide’s eyes rolled back into his head, as white as the snowflakes driftingdownfromthetroubledskies.

Commander Sha’vastos leaned back into the ovoid med-slab, its cushionedrecessesaswelcomingasasoftbed.Proudtobepartof thisnewphaseof thetau’smilitaryevolution,hesmiledbroadlyathisfellowcommandersandattheearthcastescientistsbustlingaroundthemastheyplacedlongneedlesundertheskinoftheirsubjects’scalps.Thedoorportalhissedopen,andallthosetaunotstrappedtoamed-slabstoodtoattention,avertingtheireyesas theEtherealMasterhimselfsteppedintothe

chamber. Every muscle in Sha’vastos’ body strained to stand bolt upright insalute, to make the sign of the Tau’va and progress through the full sevenobeisances, but he was strapped down so securely he could do nomore thantwitch.Heforcedhimselftoadoptanexpressionofhumbleaweinstead.Aun’Vasweptfurtherin,hisceremonialguardsoneithersideasheexchangedsoft words with the chief scientist, O’Vesa. Commander Sha’vastos felt weakwith wonder. It was the very greatest of honours to have a member of theetherealcastewatchoverhimashisoperationwasperformed,letalonetomeetAun’Va,Master of theUndyingLight, in person.He could hardly believe hisfortune.Soonhewouldscalethepeaksofmilitaryperfection.Itwasanobledream,tobe spotless in the philosophies of war. He had always been in awe of thelegendaryMasterPuretide,alwayslookedtohimastheepitomeofwhatthefirecaste could achieve.Tobemadeonewith all thatwisdom, and to live as thatwhichhehadalwaysmostadmired…andallbeforethegreatestembodimentoftheTau’vawhohadeverlived.Itwasadizzyingthrilljusttothinkaboutit.Anearthcaste scientist stepped into thecommander’s lineofvision,notationdiscblinkinginhispalm.‘Doyou,CommanderShas’vastos,consenttothisprocedureinthenameoftheTau’va?’Therewasreallyonlyoneanswer,andSha’vastoswaspleasedtogiveit.‘Ofcourse.’Sha’vastosglancedatO’Vesa, hoping for reassurance.The squat luminaryoftheearthcastesimplypeeredathimasifhewasaninterestingspeciesofinsect.Behindtheearthcastescientistthecommandercouldseeaprocessorbankwithalong,tallcylinderofblueliquidatopit.InsidethatwastheneuralcrownthathadharnessedthesumtotalofMasterPuretide’swisdom.Thewire-thingmovedgently in its liquid suspension, motes of light trickling down its translucentappendagesasittransmitteditsdatatotheengramarraysbelow.Itwasstrange,tothinkthatthebestofthefirecaste’slongandproudwarriortraditioncouldberepresentedinsuchafashion.Strangeandalittleunsettling.Sha’vastoslookedbacktoAun’Va,andhisdoubtsvanishedcompletely.Thiswasabsolutelytherightthingtodo.‘Do you have any questions before we begin the procedure?’ said the earthcastescientist,gently takingasliverofbiotechfromthebottomof theengramarraywithapairofrepulsorfieldtweezers.Perhapsthesizeofafingernail,thedevicehadanestofhairlinewiresbristlingfromitssides.

‘IonlywishtoregistermyprofounddelightinbeingallowedtoparticipateinthisnewfurtheranceoftheGreaterGood,’saidSha’vastos.‘Verywell,’repliedthescientist,pressingapaneluponthewall.Heselectedalaser scalpel from the small rack of instruments that hissed out. ‘Then let usbegin.’‘I echo Sha’vastos’ sentiment, of course,’ said Shas’o Myen, the femalecommander in the next alcove. ‘Is it possible, in theory, for the engramneurochiptoberemovedatalaterdate?’ItwasallSha’vastoscoulddonottolaugh.Whatasimple-mindedfoolshehadproved herself to be, asking such a question in the presence of his EtherealMajesty. The very idea of wanting to relinquish the strategic brilliance thatMaster Puretide’s engram would transfer to them… it was anathema to goodsense.‘Remove it?’ said O’Vesa, his grey slab of a face wrinkling in the middle.‘Well,yes,ofcoursewecouldremoveit.Thesideeffectswouldbesignificant,ofcourse.Oncethechipisembedded,theneurologicalstructureofthebrainischanged permanently. The host would likely be changed behaviourally, wellbelow operational parameters in fact. But the chip itself would likely surviveintact.’Hesmiledbroadly,showingflatteeth.‘Webuildthesethingstolast,youknow.’‘AndwillallofMasterPuretide’smagnificencebetransferredintact,O’Vesa?’askedAun’Va,hispurringtonesassoftasmoonlightonsilk.‘Thatremainstobeseen,’saidthemasterscientistawkwardly.‘It is,afterall,an experimental procedure. If I could have access toMaster Puretide’s actualbrain,perhapsremoveitfromitshousing,thenIcouldensure–’‘We shall continue with the current engram plan, for now,’ said Aun’Va.‘Proceed. Let the Swords of Puretide be drawn, and the Tau’va risemagnificentlyfromtheflamesuponDal’yth.’Sha’vastos’horroratthegrotesquesurgeriesO’Vesahadbeensuggestingfadedaway,washed into cool tranquility by the liquid tones of the EtherealMaster.Aun’Va’s voice was more soothing than that of any water caste ambassador;Sha’vastos could listen to it fromdawn until dusk and still drink in his everyword.‘Initiating,’saidthescientistinthecommander’speripheralvision.Sha’vastosfirstfeltaseriesofsharppricksinhisskullasthemed-slab’sanaestheticneedlessank deep, then nothing. His vision dimmed to grey, but his sense of smellremained.Thescentofsearedfleshandburningbonefilledhisolfactoryfissure

asthetopofhisheadwascutaway.Thenhissensesblurredtogetherasone.Sha’vastoscouldactuallyseethesmellofsingedhair,tastethemonochromeofshifting lights, and feel the spokenwordscaressinghisopenedcraniumas theearth caste scientists talked through the procedure. A kaleidoscope of colourswhirledacrosshismind,eachadifferentmelodyinasymphonyofpain.Thenthe biochip’s tiny wires stretched out into his brain, and his consciousnessdwindled away completely, subsumed by that of a warrior he had alwaysadmiredbutnevermet.Unbidden,wordsrosetothesurface,andbubbledout.‘Donothtrusstthemall,mychild,’slurredthecommanderthroughamouthfulofstringydrool.‘Donothtrusst…’Atthebackofthemed-bay,seenonlybySha’vastos’milk-whiteandsightlessorbs,Aun’Va’seyesnarrowedtothinandcalculatingslits.

CHAPTERTHIRTEENFORTIFICATION/THEARMOUREDISLAND

On the outskirts of Via’mesh’la was the ‘instant fortress’ zone codified asMunitorumZone Theta Tert. An elongated octagon in shape, its every cornerbristledwithautonomousweaponry.Theareahadbeenhastilyclearedoverthelasttwodays.AlreadyitwasbustlingwithImperialtroopsandarmour.Under the supervision of a cabal of enginseers, the half-mile wide area hadbeen blasted flat by demolitions charges and industrial-grade seismic drills.Around the rudimentary base’s edges were chunks of smooth tau architectureshattered into unrecognisable ruin. Amongst a thin haze of dust and smoke,Sentinel power lifters and piston-armed servitors still laboured to flatten thescatteringsoftumbledbuildings.Onthecornersoftheoctagonwererockcretedrop-bastions,reassuringiconsofsafety and solidity with the Imperial eagle emblazoned upon their sea-greenflanks.Guardsmenkeptvigilfromtheirroofs,staringsullenlyupat thedomesandbalconiesof the curving taubuildings that constituted theperiphery.Eachbastionwas toppedwithanIcarusquad-gun.Asmanyof thegiantautocannonarrayswere trainedupon the ivory roofsand thebrokenstretchof transmotivesweeprailtothewestasweretrackeduptothecloudysky.Inside the bastions, platoons ofGuardsmen rested, ate their rations or tendedtheir wounds, adding an all-too-human stink to the soulless interiors of eachprefabricatedkeep.Betweeneachofthesestrongholdsstretchedaegislinesthatformedtheouterperimeter,battlementsectionsloweredintoplacebythesamewide-bellied drop ships that had placed the bastions. There were gaps at thecardinal points of the barricades; two more bastions bracketed them like the

towers of a gatehouse. Through these gate sites, columns of smoke-belchingtanks ground into the complex and fanned out, guided to areas designated bymonotaskservitorsthatgesturedrepetitivelywiththelumenrodsbuiltintotheirskeletallimbs.ThetaTertformedthecentreofaMunitorumbeachhead.ItwasbuilttofollowoneofthefabledStandardTemplateConstructs,ancientblueprintsdevisedtobeofoptimumutilitynomatterthewarzonetheywereemployedin,oneofadozensuchzonesestablishedacrossDal’yth’ssurfacesincethemainImperialinvasionhad struck. Already half a regiment of Imperial Guard had mustered there.Transportsaswellasbattletankswerecrunchingthroughdriftsofwhitegravelastheyrepositionedforrefuellingandrearmingatthebaysnexttothearmouredpromethiumsilos.ApairofVendettagunshipssat idleinthenorth-eastcorner,lascannonsjuttingfromtheirengine-tippedwings.Thetangofcorditeandelectricaldischargefilteredthroughthechokingpallofdust, so thick it lingered on the tongue. In the last fewminutes, the noise ofbrutalindustryhadabatedtothepointthatthedistantrumbleofexplosionswasclearly audible in thedistance.Hourbyhour the tensionofbeing in anactivewarzoneincreased.ItwasvisibleinthehunchedshouldersofeveryNavypilotandAstraMilitarumtrooperhustlingtoreachhisdesignatedmusterpoint.SergeantNumitorsteppedfromthesideoftheBaleghastChimeraVorzhtwhilstit rolled into its designated position, his feet crunching into the thin layer ofdebristhatcoveredthedropzone.Aftersixhoursclingingtothetank’ssiderailwith his feet braced a hand’s breadth from its grinding wheels, he wasprofoundlygladtobebackonfirmground.Thefourremainingmembersofhissquadfollowedhisexample,quicklyformingupintostandardCodexdispersal.Behind them,Kinosten,Nordghaand the tattered remnantsof theircommandsquademergedfromtheVodhjanoi.ThesurvivorsofhisplatoonemergedfromtheChimerasafterthem,theirhangdogexpressionsthoseofmenbeatenbeyondthe point of desperation and back again. A hesitant young private who hadintroducedhimselfasFeindhastranacrosstoasetofolive-huedcratesstencilledwith ammo codes, delving in to lift out handfuls of lasgun clips with adisbelievingshout.‘Brother Duolor,’ said Numitor, ‘that bulk case next to the fortunate PrivateFeindhastlooksverymuchlikeitbearstheammunitioncodeforboltpistolclips.Openitanddistributethemtowhoeverneedsthem.Ifyoucanfindsomeplasmacellsorpromethiumflasks,somuchthebetter.’‘Understood,ofcourse,’saidDuolor,hasteningtoobey.

‘BrotherMagros,findthevoxhub,getasmuchup-to-dateveritasasyoucan,andmakeafullreport.ThefulltruthabouttheCastellanscanwait,though.’‘Aye,sergeant,’saidMagros,noddingbeforemovingawayatcombatpace.Astridentvoicerangout.‘AndfindoutwhotheyareconsideringforcaptaincyoftheEighth!’Sicariushaddisembarkedfromatransportcloseby,hissquadpacingafterhimasheovertookNumitorandinspectedthecomplexataglance.Nodoubtlookingforsomeonetobuttheadswith,thoughtNumitor.Hedidnothavetowaitlong.Acommissarinabillowingblacktrenchcoatwascrossingthebeachheadzone,fistclenchedaroundthehiltofanactiveandwell-usedpowerswordthatsparkedwith the energies of an overcharged disruption cell. The officerwas huge; hisneckwas thick and corded,with taut tendons leading up to a bald bullet of ahead.Heavybrows loomedover two sunkeneyes,darkeyelidspulledback torevealcrystalblueeyesthatcouldpierceaman’ssoul.NumitorsawSergeantKinostenshrinkbackasifstruckasthecommissarboredownuponthem.SnappingoffthebriefestofsalutestotheSpaceMarinesthatstood within arm’s reach, the commissar did not stop until he had walked towithin an inch of Kinosten’s nose. To his credit, the sergeant held his gaze,thoughhelookedonthebrinkofboltingforthesafetyofhisChimera.ThebaldofficerstaringhimdownwasalmostastallasaSpaceMarine,andwithagoodfewslabsofmuscletogowithit.‘Andwhereinsevenhellshaveyoucowardsbeen?’hissedtheblack-uniformedofficer.HeraisedhispowerswordandhelditspointcloseenoughtoKinosten’sjawthat thefaintsmellofburningstubblereachedNumitor throughhisgrilledhelm. ‘Desertion ispunishableby summaryexecution,Kinosten.GivemeonereasonwhyIshouldnotsimplycutyourheadfromyourneckwhereyoustand.’ToNumitor’sshock,itwasVeletanthatsteppedinfirst.‘For one, perhaps because Astra Militarum field regulations outline suchexecutionsshouldbeperformedwiththepistol,nottheblade.’The black-clad officer looked askance at Veletan. He unclipped a bolt pistolfromunderhiscloak,hisshockatbeingaddresseddirectlybyaSpaceMarineovershadowedwithannoyanceathavinghisinterrogationinterrupted.‘Two,’ continued the Ultramarine, ‘because these men and women are nottraitors.’‘What is your name and company?’ said the commissar, his voice low anddangerous.

‘DaeliosVeletan,EighthCompanyoftheUltramarines.’Numitor frownedwithin his helm, but said nothing. Veletan was the best ofthemwhenitcametomattersofImperiallaw.‘Ontova Platoon is under military arrest, by the authority of the ImperialCommissariat,’ said the officer. ‘With all due respect, I alone shall determinewhetherornotthesefugitivesaretraitorstotheImperium.’‘Notwithouthearing theextenuatingcircumstances first,’ saidVeletan. ‘Theyhavegoodreasonfortheirdelay.Wearethinenoughontroopsasitis,letalonegoodarmour.Thiscanallbeexplained,commissar…?’‘Lordcommissar,’growledtheofficer,‘andit’sDuggan.’Therewasaroarofenginesinthemiddledistance,soloudandthroatyNumitorfelt certain it could only have come from an Imperial warmachine. A black-flankedValkyrieemblazonedwiththesymboloftheScholasticaPsykanacarvedoverhead in a tight circle, the vectored engines on its wingtips angling as itcompleted a vertical landing less than fifty metres away. Dust and smokebillowed across Imperial Guardsman and Space Marine alike, forcing thediplomaticstandofftopauseuntilthemightyaircrafthadsettled.‘Great,’snarledDuggan,hislipstautacrosshisteeth.‘Thefreakshavearrived.’DuolortookadvantageofthedistractiontohandNumitorapairofboltpistolclips,passingtherestofhishaultohisfellowwarriorsonebyone.‘BrotherVeletan,’saidDugganasheturnedback.‘Ibelieveyouwereabouttotellmewhyanabsent-without-leaveplatoonhasreturnedtousintheillustriouscompanyoftwosquadsoftheUltramarinesEighthCompany.’Sergeant Sicarius was next to step forward. ‘Our vox was out. I called forassistancebysendingupasmokesignal,andtheyanswered.Wewerestrandedinunchartedterritory,andthesegoodmenandwomenwerefirsttoattendus.Iamprofoundlygladtheydid,forthewastelandsarecrawlingwithtaustealthers.WithoutSergeantKinostenandhisplatoon,itislikelywewouldnothavemadebackittoImperialterritoryatall.’DugganstaredupatSicarius,butdetectednothingmorethantruthinhiswords–unvarnished,bluntandhonestasabattering ram. Itwasa language the lordcommissarclearlyrespected,forhisaggressivestancebecamemoreatease.Numitorwasimpressed,too.HehadexpectedSicariustosimplybrowbeatthemanwith rankand lineage.But thiswasan Imperial commissar, anda lordatthat – a graduate of theScholaProgenium, andoneof the bravestmen in theImperium.Intimidationtacticswouldalmostcertainlyhavebackfired.‘We learned a vital truth about the tau during that ambush, I believe,’ said

Numitor.Duggan raised an eyebrow. ‘And before you distract me with that truth,sergeant,wouldyoucaretoexplainwhyyoudidnotsimplylong-rangevoxforaid?Andwhywe could not reach theOneHundred andTwenty-Secondwithvoximperativesofourown?’‘Xenotech,’saidNumitorandKinostenatthesametime.Duggan looked somewhere between disbelief and mounting anger. He wasopening hismouth to ask further questionswhen the side doors of the black-hulled Valkyrie rolled back with a clang, and several greatcoat-clad figuresemerged.Numitorhadneverseenastrangercollectionofsouls.At theheadof the raggedentouragewas a slender, androgynous femalewithhair braided into an elaborate crown like a blonde basket upon her scalp. Agreatcoatwithgoldfroggingflappedaroundherlonglegs.Herskinwasawarmbronze, and she had a tarot card tattooed on her otherwise spotless forehead.Numitorwassurprised torecognise it; it looked likeoneof thehigharcanahehad learned of in his classical elucidations upon Macragge. Frowning, hetriggeredhisopticenhancers.Sureenough,thecardshowedtheShebyteQueen,bedeckedingoldcatskinsasshedancedwithaskeletalking.TheimageofthecyberneticfemaleonthecardsmiledslylyathimandblewNumitorakiss.Heblinkedinsurprise,andtheimagewasgone.‘Primaris psyker, sir,’ saidKinosten atNumitor’s side. ‘She’s thebest on theplanet,butwetrynottoletherfazeus.Sheonlyplaysonit.’The tattoowas not the only thing about thewoman thatwas disturbing.Herfacialfeaturesweresymmetricalineveryway,tothesmallestdegree.‘What the hell is Vykola doing here?’ grumbled Lord Commissar Duggan.‘Gaugemustbeoutofhismind,sanctioningthis.I’llbeoutofboltshellsbeforedawn.’Behind the gaminewoman that led them came a trio ofwhat could only besanctionedpsykers.Therewasnothingof thesoldierabout theirformation,foreachwasmorepeculiarthanthelast.HoldinglongstaffstippedwiththeeyeoftheScholasticaPsykana,theyshambledinVykola’swakeasshestrodetowardsKinostenandtheraggedremnantsofhiscommandgroup.‘Greetings,gentlemen,’shesaidtothegatheringofwarriors,sketchingasmallbow. ‘AndMalagrea, you oldwitch,wellmet.’ The Primarismotioned to theelderlypsyker’scrippledlimb.‘Whathappenedtoyou?’‘Thetau,’saidtheastropath,makingthesignoftheevileyewiththefingersof

hergoodhand.Shepulled the sleeveofhervoluminous robesup tocover theblackenedclawon theotherside,hissingwithpainas the roughfabric rubbeduponcharredflesh.‘Imadethempay,though.Iwilldosoagain.’‘Goodlucktoyou,’sniffedVykola.‘It’salmostimpossibletogetclosetothem.Their long-range fire is like nothing I have ever seen, and they’ve taken towithdrawing at the first sign of trouble. Most unsporting.’ The androgynesteppedinclosetoMalagrea,gentlytakingherforearm.‘GiveMamzelVykolathatforamoment,dearheart.’Malagreashrankawayatfirst,butthenrelented.Vykolatookthewizenedclawinher long-fingeredhands, and started to babble andyammerwith a horrible,quiet intensity. A red glow surrounded her hands, so intense Numitor felt hisautosenses compensate. The Baleghast Guardsmen averted their eyes, but totheircredit,notoneofthemflinchedaway.Malagrea’sskeletonbecamevisibleunderthered-amberglowofherflesh,andthe elderly astropath gave a keening whine of pain. She began to shake asVykola’sstrangechantreachedacrescendo.Then itwas done.Vykola took her delicate hands away to revealMalagrea’scrippled limbwhole oncemore, hale and pink and utterlywithout blemish orwrinkle.Ifanything,itwasmorethehandofayounggirlthantheliver-spotted,veinyequivalentontheotherside.‘Goodasnew,orbetter,’saidVykola.‘Now,Iambeingremiss.ItisanhonourtoseethefableddescendantsofGuillimanintheflesh.Aretheseproudwarriorstheoneswhorequestedourpresence?’‘Aye,’ answeredNumitor. ‘SquadsNumitor and Sicarius of the Eighth. I amJorusNumitor.Irequestedthisrendezvous.’‘ItisamostunusualmeasureforaSpaceMarinetocallupontheservicesofaPrimarisandherentourage.WouldtheLibrariusapprove?’‘I have asked Malagrea to contact Epistolary Elixus, but his astropathicsignatureisnotaswellknowntoherasyourown.Weareunsureofwhetherhereceivedthepsy-missiveornot.Timeisoftheessence,sowemayhavetoactbeforehearrives.’‘Ashame,’saidVykola.‘Iwouldrelishmeetinghim.’‘Ihaveatheoryaboutthewarwearefighting,’saidNumitor,‘andhowtostrikeadecisiveblowagainstthexenos.’‘We’relistening,sergeant,’saidDuggan.‘WehavefoughtfromtheheartofGel’brynsincetheinitiallandings.Indoingsowehavelostmanyofourbrethren,butIpromiseyoutheydidnotdieinvain.

We have gathered critical information regarding the leadership cadres of theenemy.’‘Ifwehaveawaytotearthesexenosdown,let’suseit,’saidVykola.‘We wounded one of their high-level commanders,’ said Numitor. ‘The oneemblazoned upon their propaganda images, night after night. Wounded himcritically,webelieve.We thenmonitored thecourseof thecraft that extractedhim.ItmadeforwhatwehadpreviouslyconsideredfringefacilitiesonthefaroutskirtsofDal’ythanmetahexPrimeSec.WewereintheprocessoffollowinghimtherewhenwecameacrosstheCastellans.’‘Thesefacilities.Medicalsites,doyouthink?’askedDuggan.‘Morethanthat,’saidNumitor.‘Acommanderofthatlevelwouldnotwithdrawtoacommonmedicalstation.Hewouldlikelybetakenintothecareoftheirhighcommand–andindoingso,betraytousthelocationoftheirheadquarters.’Vykolacockedherhead,astrangelyaviangesture.‘So…cutoffthehead,andthebodywilldie?’‘Adecisiveairdropcouldwork,’noddedDuggan.‘Especially,’ said Numitor, ‘when we have a way to break their defensivestrategieswideopen.’‘Andhowisthat?’askedVykola.‘Bruteforce,Ipresume?’‘Psykers,’repliedthesergeant.‘Thesetaudrilladvancedtenetsofwarfareintotheir warrior caste, but in matters arcane, they come unstuck. Barring a fewengagementswithNicassardhow-shipsinthespacelanesaroundPra’yen,therehavebeennorecorded incidentsofpsychicactivity inourclasheswith the tauthus far. It is my belief they place an extremely low importance on esotericwarfare.’‘That tallieswithmyownexperiences,’ saidVykola. ‘They seemnot tohaveanyrealconceptionofwhatispossiblewhenoneopensone’smind.’Shesmiled,showingfartoomanyteeth.‘Sowe capitalise on that,’ saidNumitor. ‘A hard, fast strike from theEighthCompany, allowing a concentrated core of psychics to get in close, then weunleasheverythingwehave.Theywilllearn,andquickly–thetauarecunning,asweknowtoourcost.Butifweusethatelementofsurpriseattherighttime,wecouldbreakopentheirheadquartersandslaydozensofcommandstaff inasinglestrike.’‘Donewell,’saidDuggan,‘thatcouldbeenoughtotipthebalanceofthewar,maybebreakopennewfrontsacrosstheentireplanet.’Nearby,SergeantSicariusnodded insupport. ‘Donewell, itmaybea turning

pointfortheentirecampaign.’‘Weintendtofindout,’saidNumitor,‘butweneedasmanycapablepsykersaswecanmuster.’‘Thenyouhadbettermeetmycompanions,’saidVykola.‘Remnants,castawaysandscoundrelsall,butcurrentlythebestBaleghasthastooffer.’Theprimaris twirledonherheel, extendinga finelymanicuredhand towardsthestrangeindividualsbehindher.‘My fellow biomancer first,’ she said, her tarot card shifting to portray amannequin-like shaperdoll. She motioned to a waif-like female, curled in onherself,shakingandwide-eyedinauniformtoolargeforher.Stringystrandsofectoplasmwavedaroundherbaldhead like themaneofagorgos fromoneofMacragge’sancientmosaics.‘ThisisDarrapor,’saidVykola,loweringhervoiceconspiratorially.‘Alittleafraidofherownpower,assomanyofourkindare.’Shelookedbackatthecoweringpsykerwithabeamingsmile.‘Butwegetthebestoutofherwhenitcounts,don’twe,dear?’Theyounggirlgrinnednervously.Thin,wavingwormsofpsychicby-productemergedfromthegapsinherteeth.Numitorgrimaced,gladhisexpressionwashiddenbehindhishelm.‘WhereareGhurstandGodnis?’askedMalagrea,‘Ican’tfeeltheirpresence.’‘Theydidn’tmakeit,’saidVykolasadly,herringmaster’sflamboyancereplacedwithsombreresentment.‘Infact,theydiedbadly.Iwillnotspeakofthematterhere.’Malagreabowedherhead.‘Theothertwoarepyromancers,I’mafraid,’sighedVykola.ThetarotcardonherforeheadbecametheburningcitadelofInfernalDestruction.‘Unsubtle,butextremely effective.’ She motioned to a spent strike-match of a man, almostdrowninginhisgreatcoat.‘Cobliaze,’shesaid,‘summonerofdarkfires.Burnstwiceasbright,buthalfaslong.’Cobliazenoddedinsolemnacknowledgement,hiseyessadandoldwithinsunkensockets.‘AndthisisMannis.’A young redhead with pale eyebrows and milk-white skin stepped forward,nodding ingreeting.Heheldoutahand towardsNumitor,grinningaspsychicfiredrizzledinstreamsfromhisfingertips.Numitor just gazeddownat thepsyker, impassive andunmovingas a statue.Nexttohim,Sicariusturnedhisheadandspatatabentpipelinethatjuttedovertheaegislineperimeter.Thesalivahittheweakestpoint,itsacidicconstituentsfizzlingasitburntthroughtheweakenedalloy.Asecondlaterthetophalfofthe

pipehingeddownwithaloudcreaktocrunchintothegroundhalfametrefromMannis’ feet.The sanctioned psyker scrabbled backward to rejoin his fellows,therestofthemenjoyingasmirkathisexpense.LordCommissarDuggan,hisattentiondivertedfromtheBaleghastCastellans,walkedslowlybehind the trioofsanctionedpsykers.Hestaredat thebacksoftheirheadswithsuchintensity itwasas ifhewaspeeringinto theirsouls–orchoosingwhere toput abolt round shouldoneof theirnumber stray from thesufferancesoftheCommissariat.Therewasalowpurrfromabove,andNumitorsawthedistinctiveT-shapeofataufighterpasshighoverhead,faroutofcombataltitude.‘Spottercraft,’hesaidgrimly,pointingupwards.‘Notagoodsign.’Dugganwasalreadyrunning.‘Getthosebirdsupthereandtakeitdown!Icarusfire,weaponsfree!Snaptoit!’The pilot of the black-hulled Valkyrie carrier was leaning from his cockpit,engagedinadebriefwithaNavyattaché.Hegaveasaluteandslidbackin,theenginesstartingupwithacoughingroar.Behindthecraft,thepilotsandgunnersof the twoVendettas scrambled to their own aircraft, jamming on their flighthelmsbeforeboundinguptheladdersthatledtotheircockpits.‘Holdon,’saidNumitor.‘LordDuggan,thetauarefondoftraps.Ifthisisbait,wecouldbewastingouronly…’Theroarofanti-aircraftgunsfromanearbybastionsnatchedhiswordsaway,athunderousbrakk-brakk-brakkofquadautocannonssendingshellshighafterthetaucraft.Tracerfirestitchedtheskies,butthexenosspotterwasalreadyoutofrange.WithalurchtheblackValkyrieliftedstraightup,thehowlofitsenginesrisingasittookoffafterthespottercraft.WithinsecondstheVendettashadfollowedsuit,blastingupwardsfromtheirrudimentaryairstriptofallintolinebehindtheValkyrie.Ruby lasers spat from theirprow-mountedguns, twostriking the tauaircraft just as it disappeared over the roofs of the domed buildings.Numitorcouldjustmakeoutthetinydiscofablackdronedetachingfromthewingtipofthespottercraftandflyingtosafetyastherestwentdowninflames.Andthentheskystrobedwhite.AssoonastheValkyriepilotandhiswingmenhadlefttheprotectiveaegisoftheanti-aircraftgunbatteries,fourtausquadronsappearedfromoverthetallestbuildingstofireeverythingtheyhadattheadhocImperialsquadron.Alatticeofwhiteenergyandwhooshingmissilesstreakedoutfromthetaucrafttoblastintothe Valkyrie and its Vendetta wingmen, tearing them to pieces in a chain

explosion that cast stark shadows across the fortress zone. Fiery debris rainedfromthesky.Astra Militarum troopers were scrambling from the bastions to take firingpositionsbehindtheaegislines,heavyweaponteamssettingupatopeveryroof.Numitorwas slide-checking the new clip in his bolt pistolwhen he noticed aswarmoftaudronesdetachfromadamagedsectionoftheburnt-outtransmotiverail,driftingawayintothestreets.Theywerenotthegundroneshewasusedto,but smaller grey-white models with complex manipulator arms around theircircumferences.Spies,nodoubt.Hisheartlurched.Manipulatorarms,likethoseofaservitor.Theywerenotspies,butbuilders.‘Gunsights trainedon the transmotive rail!’he shouted. ‘We’llhavecompanyanysecond!’A blaze of blue light came from the east.Numitor’s photolenses hazed for amoment, then sprang back into focus to reveal five massively-armouredTerminators shadowed in a dome of sickly orange energy. Four of the hugeUltramarines boremassive storm shields in one hand and long-hafted thunderhammersintheother,buttheirsergeantwieldedacracklingbroadswordofraw,angry plasma energy. Shielded by their bulk was a Space Marine with themechanism of a psychic hood gripping his temples like a vice. His staff wasraised aloft, a horrible amber light burning in his eyes as corpuscant playedalongitslength.EpistolaryElixus,andhehadbroughtbrothersoftheveryhighestcalibre.‘Do not yield!’ he called out, his stentorian tones electrifying. ‘Look to therooftops!’Numitorheardthesamevoiceinhishead,thistimeculturedandsmooth.+Thetau are launching simultaneous ambushes upon every Imperial zone in everycity,+itsaid,thefeelingofpsychiccommunicationeerieandunsettling.+Thisisthelastsitestillstanding.Itmusthold.+TheseveredwingofaVendettasmashedandbouncedbetweenthebuildingstothewest,pinwheelingendoverendbeforeploughingintothesideofabastionandcrashingover theaegisdefence line ina flurryofsparks. Itcrippled threeAstraMilitarum troopers before one of theTerminators strode tomeet it and,withanoverhandblowofhisthunderhammer,smasheditintoskiddingscrap.Everywhere,onrooftopsineverydirection,thesignatureochreandwhiteofthetau warrior caste could be seen. Bulky warsuits stepped from the elevatorcolumnsofbuildingstotaketheirplacealongsidemassinginfantry.Inthestreet,

wedge-shapedformationsofhovertanksglidedintoview.AsNumitorhadpredicted,atransmotivezoomedoverthesweeprailsectiontheImperialdefendershadpreviouslythoughtimpassable,movingoverthetumbledsection on a freshly-rebuiltmag-rail before hissing to an abrupt halt.Warsuitsshot from the ejection cradles on the transport’s roof to take position atopcylindrical hab towers. Teams of tau riflemen disembarked from thetransmotive’scarriagestoformgunlinesuponnearbyroofs,whilstotherstookpositiononthesweeprailitself.Without exception, the tau ambushers were taking elevated positions. Theywere forcing thevastmajorityof the Imperial troops toengage inaone-sidedfirefight,with no hope of rushing them.With theMunitorum base’s air covergone, the tactic would likely see the defenders all cut down in a matter ofminutes.Pulse fire lanced down into the streets, the Imperial Guard returning fire.Sicarius’ jumppackcycledactive,butbeforeheblastedskyward,he turned toNumitor.‘Getinclose,youthink?’heshouted.‘Ifyoucan,’saidNumitor.‘EpistolaryElixus,willyouaidus?Canyoureachtheroofs?’‘Ican,’saidElixus.‘Hit themwith everything theywon’t expect.Weonlyhaveone chance.Failhere,andwewillbewipedfromthefaceoftheplanet.’

CHAPTERFOURTEENREALISATION/HOUROFTHEWITCH

Commander Sha’vastos looked with distaste upon the myriad readouts andcommand screens of his personalised XV85 Enforcer-model Crisis suit. Itsarrangementwasnolongertohisliking.Heeye-flickedarequisitionforastandardmodelXV8tobemadeavailabletohimupon return toShas’ar’tolhighcommand.Everythingwas ready; thedualstrikewasset,ablendofkauyontrapandmont’kablowthathadtheImperialsall but defeated purely by their relative positioning. So why did the latestgenerationofcommanders feel theneed toovercomplicatematters,clinging tosomanyauxiliary information feeds as if theywould increase theharmonyofthemoment?Perhapsthatwaswhythefirecastehadbeenstrayingfromthepathtovictoryoflate.‘Toembracesimplicityistowalktheroadtoperfection,’hesaidinavoicenotquitehisown.‘Commander?’ came the replyover the cadre-net fromhis saz’nami,Ula’tan.Hisiconshonetheblue-greysteelofuncertainty.‘Signalambiguous.Shouldweletthekillingblowfall?’‘Strike,’saidSha’vastos.‘Thatisthedistillationofpurposeintoasingleperfectmoment.Bethefirsttostrike.’‘Acknowledged,’saidUla’tan.‘Commencing.’CommanderSha’vastoswatchedtheelementsofhisstrategyfallintoplacelikethe interlockingpiecesofameditationmosaic.Each teamwasplaying itspartuntilthewholewascomplete.Thebait,providedbythenobleWarghostOb’lotai3-0 in the formof a passing drone-plane, had drawn off the gue’la aircraft as

surelyasthehornetdrawsthegnawspiderfromitsweb.Thestinghadbeensoontofollow.Sha’vastos’teamshadmadetheirwaythroughthecity’sundergroundnetworkand then ascended through the spinal elevators of the district’s buildings toemergeupontheirroofs.Itwasashehadalwaystoldthem:toreachtheheavens,a warrior must first learn to crawl. They had opened fire with pleasingsynchrony, justas theyhadinadozendifferent locationsacross theplanet.Heknewwith all the convictionof theTau’va that his fellowSwords ofPuretidewerealsobringingtheirstrategicbrilliancetobear.Thiswarwouldsoonbeover,andthentherealconquestoftheImperiumcouldstart.Commander Sha’vastos idly considered joining the fight in person, forsomethingwithinhimwasstirredbythesightofbloodandthepungentsmellofsmoke.Therewasnorealneed,hereflected,pushingdowntheimpulsewithadeep,measuredbreath.Letthelowerranksofshasmaketheirmarkthisday.AtruemasteroftheCodeofFireachievesvictorywithoutoncedrawinghisblade.The air caste also had their part to play, of course, aswas only proper in thenameoftheTau’va.Buthewouldremainonhigh,overseeingtheslaughter.‘To bind the beast, first blunt its claws,’ said the commander.With the codephrasegiven,twelveteamsofmissile-armedCrisisandBroadsidesuitssenthimthe gold symbol of affirmation. A heartbeat later, missiles streaked from therooftops on every side of the Imperial drop zone to detonate upon the quad-barrelled gun emplacements the gue’la fondly imagined would protect themfromaerialattack.Thestringofdetonationswasa thingofbeauty,witheverygunnerkilledorblinded,andallbaroneoftheweaponsthemselvesreducedtomangledscrap.Sha’vastosretroactivelyblink-recordeditastrainingfootageforlatergenerations.‘AdmiralTeng,’hesaidsoftly,eye-flickingtheaircastefrequency.‘Itistime.Thewayisclear.’‘Acknowledged,’ came the reedy voice of the air caste admiral. A few decslater,fourSunSharkbombersquadronsflewinatightlatticeformationoverthewar zone. The glowing spheres of their pulse bombs were released from thegenerator arrays on their undersides, dropping towards pre-programmedcoordinates. They crackled down to detonate between the dual towers thatbracketedeachofthecompound’sexits.Plasmafireboiledinthecratersofeachbombardment, fierce enough to melt the metal of a fuel tank. The thuggishImperialvehiclesthatwereseekingtoleavethezoneslewedtoahalt,blockingeachexitwiththeirlumpenmass.

Commander Sha’vastos smiled at the air caste’s impeccablework. ‘Thewisewarrior turns the enemy’s fortress into his cage,’ he said. ‘My compliments,Admiral.’‘Iamnotworthyofthem,master,’saidTeng,histhinvoicehighandformal.‘ItisrewardenoughtowatchMasterPuretide’sgeniusatwork.’Thenorth-eastquadrantof thebattle,purposefullyleftemptyof taupresence,hadseenasurgeofgue’latroopersclamberovertheircrudebattlementtosprintdownthestreet.Predictably,theyweremakingfortherampofrubblethatledtothe roof above.The commander almost felt disappointed, so eagerly did thesefools dive into his kauyons. Without the gue’ron’sha to provide a challenge,therewouldbelittlehonourinthisvictory.Sha’vastosblink-clickedanicongold,andasquadronofDevilfishveeredfromconcealment in the streetsahead.Theirburstcannonanddrone-mountedpulsecarbinescutdownthehumansoldiersastheybravedtheopenterrain,sprayingboilinggoreanddismemberedbodiesacrossthestreets.Inweakness,hidestrength.Seeingtheircomradessodramaticallycutdown,therestofthegue’lainfantryhunkered down to escape the hail of energy bolts hissing into their ranks.Desultoryfirecrackledout,andoneoftheirheavyweaponsblastedadronefromthe sky. An acceptable loss, thought Commander Sha’vastos. As he hadpredicted,thegue’lahadhuddledclosetooneanotherlikefrightenedherdbeasts.He eye-flicked the icon of his railgun teams, and the Broadsides he hadpositionedontheeasternandsoutherntowersopenedfire.The armoured refuelling silos the Imperium had planted within theirbeachheads were capable of turning aside even large-calibre rounds fromconventional armaments; this the fire caste knew from experience. TheBroadsides’ hypervelocity rounds punched through them with the ease of abondingknifestabbedthroughapaperlantern.Threefueldumpsdetonatedwithathunderousboom.Mushroomingcloudsofsmokebillowedskyhighasburningfluidsturnedthehuddlingsoldiersintopillarsofflame.Sha’vastosallowedhimselfasadsmileattheirony.Thecrudefuelthehumansprizedsohighlywassoindicativeofthegue’lamindset–powerful,volatileandeasytoigniteintoaself-destructiveexplosion.The elemental castes of the tau, measured, proficient and balanced by theblessed ethereals, did not make such simple mistakes. Here, CommanderSha’vastoshadusedtheverticalaxisastheirshieldagainstthebarbaricgue’la,for they had proved too slow of wit to fight with true three-dimensional

awareness.Aswordsmanwithoutreachcannotstrike.Evenachildrealisedthat.Hisgazesweptanothermont’kaintoplaceonhisdistributionsuite.There was a horrible screaming, a sound unlike any Commander Sha’vastoshadheardbefore.Thegiantpillarsofflamethathaderuptedfromthefuelsilostwisted, turned upon themselves, and struck like angry serpents at the Crisismissile teams on the rooftops. The commander gaped in horror as heroic firecastebattlesuitsmeltedaway,moltenmetalminglingwithbubblingfleshtospillovertheedgeoftherooftopsinfoulrivulets.OneoftheHammerheadguntanksclosingthetrapfromthesouthblippedthedeepredofalarm.Thecommandersparedaglancewithhislefteye,gapingindisbelief atwhat he saw.AHammerheadonSha’vastos’ left peripheral screenlurchedvertically,tumblingupthroughtheairasifflungskywardbythehandofaninvisiblegiant.ItreachedtheapogeeofitsflightatthelipofthetowerandcrashedhardintotheBroadsidemissileteamstationedthere,bowlingtwoofthebattlesuitsoverandskiddingintothefiringlaneofthethirdwithatremendouscrash.Sha’vastos searched hismiraculousmind for a way to counter the threat, toidentifyandneutralisewhateverinvisiblepowerhadhurledthehoveringgunshiplikeadiscardedtoy.Hefoundnothing.On the roof across from his vantage point, a flare of amber light burst intobeingnexttohisrailgunBroadsideteam.Itwasnotanexplosion,ashehadfirstthought. Its electronic signatures were not recognised by his suit’s analysisprogramsatall.The orange fires burned on as Commander Sha’vastos diverted an eye’s fullattention to it. He zoomed in on impulse. There were shapes resolving there,bulkyandbroad-shoulderedinthemannerofthegue’ron’shaelite.Theychargedfromtheamberlight,raisingtheirshields.Sha’vastosblink-stabbedtheiconofhisBroadsideteam.Asonetheyswungtheirrailgunstofacethenewthreatandsmoothly opened fire. The commander breathed a mental sigh of relief. Nohuman infantry couldwithstand a hypervelocity round impact, nomatterwhatshieldtheybore.An explosion of cerulean electricity put the lie to his thoughts as thegue’ron’shawarriors charged straight through the volley into themidst of theBroadsides.Hammersroseandfell,disruptiveenergiesflaringastheypulverisedthehulkingbattlesuitsoneafteranother.Oneofthewarriorsswungacracklingsword of what read on Commander Sha’vastos’ analysis screen as plasma

energy.Battingasideawildswingfromarailgun,theshocktrooperbroughthissword up in diagonal sweep, cutting right through the Broadside from hip toshoulder.Asthebattlesuit’sseparatehalvestoppledaway,thecauterisedremainsofitspilotslidfreeinatangleoflimbs.Thecommandercastabout inmountingconfusion.Suddenlyhesawuponhistargetingscreenasilveredgue’lahellion,risingontotheroofonwhichhestood.Hecouldnottellifthemetallicfigurewasamaleorfemaleofthespecies,anditappeared to have no means of propulsion. Its stylised coat billowed in thethermalsof the firesbelow.Let theearthcaste solve thatmystery,he thought,slidinghisplasmarifle’scrosshairsoverthebeing’storso.Thekillshothititscentremass,asheknewitwould.Ityieldedafewpuffsofsilversmoke,butnothingmore.Sha’vastos’ bodyguard opened fire too, their burst cannons whirring as theypoured firepower into the creature to no discernible effect. He blink-stabbedpermissionforhisdronestointervene,andtheyaddedtheirpulsecarbinestothevolley. Consumed in the firestorm, the strange creature’s finerywas shreddedawaytonothing,butitssilverbodyremainedwhole.Thedronesdivedin,anditswattedthemawayasiftheywerenomorethaninsects.Then, against all logic, themetallic figurewas upon them. Stretching out itshatefulfive-fingeredhands,itgrabbedthearmofUla’tan’sbattlesuitandpulledit free in a showerof sparks.Sha’vastoswinced as it hurled the limbaside tocrashthroughthemissilevolleyofSaz’namiDu’erlkaandthudintohisplexushatch.Ula’tan’sjetpackflaredasheboostedaway,andthecommanderquicklyfollowedsuit.ThesilveredthingreachedoutandcaughtUla’tan’slegatthelastmoment, swinging the entire battlesuit like some outrageous club towardsDu’erlka.Itstrucktheothersaz’namifullon,bowlingthembothovertheedgeofthetowerinasprayofsparks.Commander Sha’vastos was already airborne, putting as much distancebetweenhimself and themetal-skinned anomaly as possible.Hismind burnedhot ashe cycled throughendless tactics, strategies andaphorisms,butnothingseemed to apply. He cast around the screens of his command suite, seeingglimpsesofgue’ron’shabrutescuttingdownhiswarriorsoverandover.Blackspotsappearedinhisvisionasthestressbuilttounbearablelevels.‘CommanderSha’vastos,’cameavoiceontheedgeofpanic.‘Unknownenemycapabilitiesencountered.Whatareyourorders?’Sha’vastosfeltwhite-hotneedlesofpainshootthroughhismind.Anaggressivemigrainethrustafistofagonyunderhisskull.Hisfocuswasgone,histhoughts

scatteredinahundreddirectionsatonce.Heclawedattheemergencyprotocolpad,andhisbattlesuitveeredawayintothenight.‘Commander?’camethevoiceoverthecadre-net.‘Commander!Whatareyourorders?’NeitherSha’vastosnorPuretidecouldreply.

Numitor triggered his jump pack, focusing on the wider battle despite thepyrotechnicsofthepsykersatwork.WithEpistolaryElixusandhisTerminatorsusingarcanemeanstocounter-attacktheartillerywarsuits,andMannis’columnsof flame burning the jump-capable machines from the rooftops, the greatestremainingthreatwasposedbythetransmotive.Tauinfantryweredisembarkingbythescore,andtherewaslittleinthewayoffirepowertohinderthem.Mostwere firing salvos into the complex from the edge of the sweeprail bridge.Othershadspilledfromthefarsideofthetranslocator,jumpingdowntotheroofofthecylindricalbuildingbeyond,findingyetanothervantagepointfromwhichtopourfirepowerintotheMunitorumbase.TheCodexAstartes had a lot to sayon thematter of emergent threats.Evenafter the passage of almost ten millennia, those tenets still held true. Thewordingwasancient,laiddownbythegreatprimarchoftheUltramarines,butinNumitor’seyes,theyallboileddowntoone,agelessconcept.Hitthembeforetheyhityou.ThesergeantsoaredhighontwinplumesofflametowardsthesweeprailwithMagros,Duolor,AordusandGolotanclosebehindhim.Aimingtousetheroofbetween the two points as a staging post, Numitor flew over the lip of thebuildingwhereateamofthreeenemywarsuitshadstoodmomentsbefore.SinceVykola’s pyromancers had seized control of the promethium fires, all thatremainedofthemwasvile,bubblingsludge.Avolleyofplasmashotsspatdown,oneburningintoNumitor’sjumppackasheturnedhisheadbrieflytoensurehismenwerestillclosebehind.‘Damn it,’ he swore, cycling his pack’s jets. They were intact, thank theEmperor.Imperialtechnologywasbuilttolast.Amoment laterhewasairborneoncemore.A smatteringofpulse rifle shotsblazeddown.ThistimeonestruckAordus,burningawaythesquadmarkingofhispauldron,whilstanotherhitDuolor’schainswordandsentitspinningdowninto the street. The third hit Numitor on the top of the head, whipping itbackward,buttheceramiteofhishelmheldtrue.A flash of insight struck him, ill-timed but profound.Less than a fewweeks

ago,hewouldhavemade that jumpunhelmed, thebetter todrink in thesightsand smells of an active war zone. No more, swore Numitor. No moreunnecessaryrisks.Hehadbrotherstoavenge,lifedebtstopay,andtheywouldbemadegoodinxenosblood.Numitor made the leap to the sweeprail, his squad close behind him. Theycruncheddownonthealabasterlipinquicksuccession,thetransmotivetwelvefeet away to the right. The tau warriors ranged along the sweeprail’s edgescrambledtomakethebestof theenfilade.Theclosestopenedfire,oneof theshots punching into Numitor’s hip to spin him halfway over the sweeprailbridge’sedge.Hesentaburstoffirefromhispackthatflunghimupright–andthenturnedthemomentumintoacharge.‘ForMacragge!ForUltramarandMacragge!’The Assault Marines shot along the sweeping bridge, their flight all buthorizontal. There was a burst of light and sound from some manner ofsuppressive grenade, but their momentum was unchanged; with their headsturnedawayandtheirphotolensdampenerskickingin,theblastdidlittlemorethan dazzle. Numitor and his squad hit the tau lines like a cluster of cobaltmeteors, shoulders turned to slam into themillingxenos rankswithmaximumimpact.Three tauwerehurledover the lowwallof the sweeprail, tumbling totheirdeathsintherubble-strewnstreetsbelow.Sixmorewerebowledfromtheirfeetintotheircomradesbehind,thedominoeffectoftheserialimpactknockingrifleswideandsquare-bodiedpistolsfromshakingfingers.ThentheSpaceMarineswereinthethickofthefoe,andthefullpoweroftheirtrainingwasbroughttobear.Aordus’chainswordjudderedthroughoutstretchedhands, wrists and breastplates to chew voraciously through the alien fleshbeneath.Magroskickedatauwarrioroverthesweeprailedgetobouncefromawarsuitpassingbelow,hispistoltakingthemachine’sheadfromitsshouldersasit turned to face him.Duolor discharged his own plasma pistol at point-blankrange.Theshotfromitsfatmuzzleburnedthroughonetauwarrior’schestevenasDuolor’sopenpalmcrunchedintoanother’sface.Golotanlookedhalf-dead,theceramiteofhisbattleplatecrackedinahundredplacesbyapulsebomb,buthe fought as if born anew, spinning and shooting and slashing with hischainsworduntiltorncadaverswerestrewninhiswake.Numitor’s contribution was sheer, crushing violence. He pounded one tauwarriorintoacrumpledheapwithadownwardswingofhispowerfist,thenshotanexplosivebolt into thegutofanother to senda fountainofcrimsonviscera

over the aliens taking aim behind.His fist came in oncemore in a backhandblow, a trail of lightning in its wake as it crunched horizontally through twoxenoswarriorsfranticallytryingtogetoutoftheway.In such cramped confines the tau’s long-barrelled rifles were proving worsethan useless. With a narrow column of space separating them from thetransmotiveandthesheerdropontheothersideof thesweeprail, theywereattheAssaultMarines’mercy. Those at the back had begun to retreat to the farcarriage, their brethren covering them with ill-disciplined volleys as theirsquadmates sought better shots.A luckyhit tookDuolor’s plasmapistol in anexplosionofburninglight, thehissingliquidinsideitscartridgeburningacrosstheIaxian’sflank.Hedidnotcryout,butinsteaddivedfurtherintothetauranks,fistsswingingtobowloverthetauwarriorsinarm’sreach.Numitorrevelledintheshrillcriesandwailsofthealienashekilled.Thexenoswerescramblingawayfromhimasifhewereadaemon,someliterallyshakingwithfear.Awarehewasenjoyinghimselftoomuch,heforcedhimselftothinklikeasergeant rather thananewrecruit.ScreamsechoedfromtheMunitorumzonebelow,thoseofmeningreatshockandpain.Withthetaubreakingbeforehim,hetookaswiftglanceintothewiderbattle,andsawastormofpulseriflefirefromalowroofontheothersideofthetransmotivesleetingintotheAstraMilitarumbehindtheaegislines.AChimeratransportmovedintocoverthem,but the taufirepowerwasintense,andthevehicledetonatedwithadullcrumpthattookhalfasquadwithit.AnideastruckNumitor.Hetookaquickglanceunderthetransmotive’shull.‘Gettotheendcarriage,equalspacingalongitslength,’hevoxedtohissquad.‘Fraggrenadesforsuppression.’Hissquadactedasordered,pluckingfraggrenadesfromtheirbeltsandshort-fusingthemtodetonateasecondaftertheywerethrown.Thetaumassinginthecarriage took cover, but most of their number were still hurled backwards orflattenedbytheviolenceoftheserialexplosions.Numitorblasted forwardsoveracarpetofaliencorpses, skidding toahalt toreachunderthetransmotivewithhispowerfist.Thegauntlet’sdisruptionfieldscrackled and snapped in protest as he grasped the mag-bar underneath andwrenched it loose, buckling the entire length and sending energy fizzlinghaywireasitwasbrokenfreefromthemagneticfieldofthesinglerailbeneath.Unbalanced,theentirecarriagetiltedovertowardshim.‘Backstoit,andheave!’shoutedNumitor.Hismen,alreadyinposition,obeyedwithout question. The carriage was massively heavy – alone, even a Space

Marine could not have prevented himself from being crushed like an insectbeneath it.Five straining together, however,was adifferentmatter.The tiltingcarriageslowed,andstopped.The weight was immense. Numitor ground his teeth, but he could feel hisfootholdslipping.Hebracedonelegagainstthesweeprailwall,thentheother,tostabilise himself.Duolor followed his example, the others finding purchase oftheirown.Stillthetransmotivecarriageboredownonthem,inchbyinch,metalshriekinginprotestasitssheertonnagewasbroughttobear.‘On…my…mark,’saidNumitor,jawclenched.‘Boost!’AllfiveSpaceMarinespushedbackwardswitheverythingtheyhad,theservo-motorsoftheirbattleplatewhiningastheytriggeredmaximumthrustfromtheirjumppacks.Thecarriageliftedswiftly,reacheditsapexandtoppledintheotherdirectionamongstahowlingofjumpengines,itssoleremainingmag-tetherrailacting as a hinge. It slammed downon the other side of the bridgewith suchforcethatitscouplingtothecarriagebehinditwastorncleanaway.Theentiresection,taupassengersandall,wentoverthefarsideofthesweeprailinasprayofdebris.Therewasasplitsecondofsilenceasitfell.Then,withatitanicboom,thetransmotivecarriagecrashedlengthwiseintothefire warrior gunline on the roof beneath. The sound resounded across thebattlescapeasitsimmensebulksmashedthroughthecylindricalbuilding,takingperhapsfiftyxenosriflemenandsniperteamswithitinanavalancheofrubble.A vast cloud of dust billowed up, twin curtains of alabaster bracketing thesweeprailastheAssaultMarinesrenewedtheirattack,boltpistolsspittingdeathinto those few tau left atop it. Numitor slammed in a fresh clip as he strodeforward,puttingdownthelasttwoalienswithpinpointshotsthatblossomedintomessyexplosionsofgore.Hewassmilingfiercelybeneathhishelm.Makeaweaponfromyourenvironment,RobouteGuillimanhadwrittenintheholytomeoftheCodexAstartes.Makeityoursword,andmakeityourshield.Numitorhadmadeitahammer,butthatsuitedhimjustfine.

Atopadomedroofscatteredwithtaucorpses,CatoSicariuslaughedgrimly.Hewas liberally covered in xenos blood from the waist down. It made him feelunclean,butsomehowrighteous.Nearby,hissquaddismemberedthelastofthealienstoresist.Animpactsmackedintothesmallofthesergeant’sback,burningpainflaring

as his compromised armour yielded. Then another impact. This time hestumbled,puttingthehiltofhistempestbladeagainstthegentleslopeoftheroofto stophimself fromgoingover altogether.He turnedashegotbackup, eyeswideandplasmapistolaimedtowardthesourceforthereturnshot.Hecouldseenoxenosinthestreetbelow.Aflareofwhiteasanotherimpacthithim,thistimeinthetemple.Akillshot,stoppedonlybyaninchofpowerarmour.Shakinghisheadtoclearit,Sicariusfoundhis righteyestickywithblood,withoneear ringingand tornraggedbysliversofdislodgedceramite.‘I’llkillyouall!’heroared,firinghalf-blindintothestreet.Hismenfollowedsuit,buttheirboltsfoundnothing.‘Cease!’shoutedSicarius,notwillingtowasteanymoreammo.Hewaslivid.Itwashappeningagain.Thestealth-ghostswerehuntinghim.‘Down into the street,’ he said, firing up his jump pack and leaping in acontrolleddescent to landwithagravelly crunch.Hispistolmuzzle swept theareaashissquadlandednearby,autosensesscanning.Anotherflashofwhiteplasmabolts,thistimefromtheleft.TwoofthemtookIonsianintheshoulder,thebigwarrior’sgruntofpainandsurpriseaudibleoverthevox.ThreemoretookKaetorosinthechest,knockinghimoverinacloudofflaking black paint. Still gripping his flamer, he sat up fast, a boost of his jetpackhurlinghimforwardandupintotheair.Hesentagloriouscloudofflameroaringintothestreets,hopingtoconsumewhateverwashidingthere,buteventhegoutingpromethiumfiresfoundnothing.Sicariuscastabout,desperatelylookingforapsykerinthehopethattheirextra-sensoryperceptioncouldrevealtheirpersecutors.Hefoundhisopportunity,butitcamefromsomethingelseentirely.To the west, the lead carriage of the transmotive on the high sweeprail wastopplingontotheroofbelow,collapsinganentirebuildingfloorbyfloor.Cobalt-armouredfigurespunchedtheaironthebridgeabove.Abillowingcloudofdustexplodedoutward,racingtowardstheConquerors.‘Edifice damage!’ Sicarius cried over the vox. ‘Must be Numitor’s sloppywork!’Thereplywasdistorted,butbythetonethesergeantpickedupitsmeaningwellenough.Thenthewallofdebrisanddustwasuponthem.Withitcamerevelation.Nomatter the camouflage, no matter their technology, the tau stealth operativeswouldbehitbythedustasmuchasanyother.

‘Lookforthemintheclouds!’shoutedSicarius.‘Huntandslay!’Harsh shouts of assent came over the vox as his warriors plunged into thechokingmist.Sicariusranpell-melldownthestreet,awarethathehadsecondsatbest.ThewordsoftheCodexAstartesroseinhismind–opportunityisfleet,andsomustbethevictor.Butneverhuntalone.‘Glavius,Veletan,Ionsian,stayclosetome,’orderedSicarius.‘Aspear’slengthapart,webarthisendofthestreet.Kaetoros,Colnid,Denturis,gettotheotherendasfastasyoucan.Laydownflameandcloseitoff.’‘Aye,sergeant,’cametheresponses.Sicariusheardsomethingintheirvoices,anote ofwarmth, even relief.Kaetoros and his comrades roared away, the dustswirling into eddying vortices behind them as theymade it to the end of thestreet ina singlebound.Anorangeglowappeared in thedistanceasKaetorosthrewalinearinfernoacrossthestreet.There–abulbousshape,asmuchanabsenceofsolidmatterasarecognisableanatomy. Three more disturbances in the dust shimmered behind it. Sicariusbellowedlikeabull,hurtlingforwardwithbladeoutstretchedinanexaggeratedTalassarian lunge.Thestealtherswung itsarm-cannon,dustswirlingaround it,butitwastooslow.Sicariusfelthisarmjoltinhisshoulderasthetempestbladeran through the thing’s torso and punched out the other side. A crackle ofdisruptionenergies,andthestealtherwasvisible,aweirdly-shapedbipedwithanovalcoreandbackjointedlegs.‘Notsoclevernow,’saidSicariusthroughgrittedteeth,bracinghisfootonitschestandpullinghisswordfreeinaspurtofblood.Veletanwasnearby,drivinghischainswordupwithbothhandstoripthearmsfromanotherofthestealthertau.Glaviusdivedleftasastreamofshotspulsedfromanother’squad-barrelledcannon,oneofthemscoringtheceramiteofhisjumppack.Ionsianwasonthexenos in a flash of blue, slamming into thewarsuit from the side to knock itsprawling.As the tauwarrior scrabbled togetupright, Ionsian stampedon thesensorunitthatformeditshead,dislodgingitfromthebodybeforedrivingthetipofhischainswordstraightdownintothegap.Hewasrewardedwithasprayofbloodandbone.Sicariushadseen thewarrior’schainswordchewthroughahundreddifferenttypesofarmour–nomatterthesophistication,italwaysmadeahorriblemessofwhateverwasinside.Thedustwasclearing,butthesoundsofdetonatingboltroundsandthewhooshofpromethiumletSicariusknowthemenhehadstationedattheendofthestreetwere still engaged. He looked back to see two trails of mist making for the

corner of the street, and his nostrils flared at the thought of some of his foesslippingthenet.Withoutthedusttorevealthem,thestealtherswouldbeabletohunttheUltramarinesontheirtermsoncemore.A bald, stooped girl in torn Baleghast fatigues staggered around the curvedcorner of the building, clutching her stomach. She gave a gurgling yell andspasmed, projectile vomiting a copious streamofwhat looked toSicarius likeegg yolk. The stream turned into a geyser, gushing into an escaping a taustealther. It pushed the warsuit back, its feet slipping and skidding, into theopposite wall. Congealing, the stringy vomit pinned the stealther in place, ayellowishspider’swebthathadtrappedameatymorselofprey.Sicarius and Ionsian were running over to kill the stealther when a ten-footwarsuithoveredintoviewabovethem,flameslickingfromtheweaponssystemsonitsarmandshoulder.ItpouredatorrentoffireandplasmaintoIonsian.Anunearthly scream came from the bigwarrior as his ceramite and fleshmeltedaway. Sicarius blasted upwards to meet the battlesuit head on, passing a lowrooftopwhere awizened, black-skinned psyker looked right at him. Then thebattlesuit’sflamersroared,andSicariuswasconsumedbyfireandash.

Numitorleaptontowhatwasleftofthetransmotive,lookedbacktotheImperialcompound,andsworeanoathoffrustration.Everywhereanarchyreigned.TheAstraMilitarumwerefightingadozenskirmishesatonceinsteadofworkingasasingleunitedfront.Lakesofflameburnedamongstthem,sendingcolumnsofchokingsmokeskyward thatbillowed thiswayand that in the tempestofwar.For all their fortifications, plans, orders and military precision, the ImperialGuardhadbeentakenapartinamatterofminutes–andfromwhatElixushadsaid,thesamestorywasbeingrepeatedacrosstheplanet.Yet the bedlam was by no means confined to the Imperial lines. Every tauambushsitehadbeensmashed,burned,stormedorcollapsedbytheintensityofthecounter-attack.Taubodies littered the streets ingreaternumbers thandeadGuardsmen, a victory of sorts. Flames ran wild in the streets, appearing likecapering elementals or writhing serpents in those places where Vykola’spyromancersunleashedthepowersoftheirhauntedminds.Tothenorth,adomeof flame shed flickering light across the whole grisly vista, making shadowsdance.They looked toNumitor likedevils rejoicingat somehellish feast.TheImperiumhadbroughtutterchaostothisworld.Thesergeantshookhishead,appalledatwherethosethoughtswereleading.Retribution.Theyhadbroughtretribution.

Afewroofsaway,ElixusandhisTerminator-armouredbrethrenweresmashingapartthelastofawarsuitteamoptimisedforsupportingheavyweaponsfire.Itwas a rare honour to glimpse the First Company at work. The plasma bladebornebytheunit’ssergeant leftbrightblue trails in theairas itslicedthroughbattlesuit,pilotanddronewithoutslowing,thegraceandswordsmanshipofitsbearer impressive despite him being clad in the heaviest armour the AdeptusAstartescouldfield.NumitorwasnottheonlyonetonoticetheTerminatorassault.Ateamofwide-bodieddrones,juttingriflesunderslungbeneaththem,appearedfromthecoreofasplit-cylinderbuildingtothesoutheast.Pivotingsmoothly,theyspatfireintothe melee. Numitor gasped as they struck Elixus three times, tearing awaychunksofhischestandstomachbeforesendinghimsprawlingfromtheroofintothestreetsbelow.A lowhum,and thesquadronsof the taupilotcastecame through thecloudsoncemore,spheresofcracklingplasmaheldsuspendedbeneaththem.Oneafteranother they dropped their strange munitions, the energy payloads detonatingamongst the Terminators on the rooftops. TheUltramarines raised their stormshieldshigh,onlyforthedronesthathadfelledElixustohammeravolleyofionenergyintotheirexposedarmjoints.Morebombsraineddown.TwooftheTerminatorswentover,theheavycrunchof their impact audible even across the battle-torn plaza. Theywere stranded,their foes out of reach. Even their priceless and irreplaceable suits ofTacticalDreadnought armour had limits. A fewmore bombing runs, and the veteranswouldbenomore.‘SquadNumitor,’calledthesergeant,‘closein.Wehaveworktodo.’

Sicariusopenedhiseyestoseetheintensefiresthateclipsedhisvisionflowoverhis head, encapsulating him with the web-trapped stealther and the stoopedyoungwoman. The flames roiled and poured like liquid covering an invisibledome.Intenseamberlightcastdancingshadowsacrossthestrangetableau.‘Weare safe,’ said thegirl softly,wipingectoplasm fromhermouthwith thebackofhersleeveasshelookedaroundthefiredome.‘He’snot,’saidSicarius,drivinghistempestbladesidelongintothewrigglingtaustealther’sheadpiece.Thexenosfellstill.Sicariusscrapedhisbladeonhisforearmandmadetoleave,buttheheatofthedomearoundhimwassoblisteringlyintensehefellbackagain.Hecouldnotgothroughwithoutriskingsevereburns,orworse, theignitionofhis jumppack’s

fuel.‘Thiswillnotstand,’hesaid.‘It’sstillupthere,theflamersuit.AndIonsianisdown.’‘Itisn’t,’thegirlsaidseriously,shakingherhead.Ruddylightplayedacrossthecontoursofherskull,wispystrandsofpsyker-stuffcoilingaroundit.Sosmall,thoughtSicarius.Soeasilycrushed.‘That warsuit used flame near Cobliaze,’ she continued. ‘It’s dead already.Melted.’‘YouareDarrapor?’saidSicarius.Shenodded.‘Andthisisyourcontributiontothewar effort, this…whatever this is?’Hewaved to the yolkymess that stillpinnedthetautothewall.Shenoddedagain,herhalf-smileshowingbrokenteeth.‘Ijustthinkofthemtaualllinedupintheirtubes,anditmakesmesosickIhavetoletitout.’Sicariusgaveanapprovingfrown.‘Commendablehatred.’Therewas a distant series of booms, the light of the explosions visible evenunderthestrangedomeoffire.‘That’s the air caste,’ she said sadly. ‘Their castes all work together. Likedisgustinginsects.’‘Itwon’tsavethem,’saidSicarius,hisfeaturesgrimasdeath.‘Itwill,’saidDarrapor.‘Isee theminmydreams.Themainones tell therestwhattodo,andtheothersallhavetodowhattheysay.’‘The main ones?’ Sicarius was only half listening, prowling around thecircumferenceofthefiredomelikeacagedlion.‘Thefifthcaste.Nooneknowsaboutthem.’Sicariusstopped,andturnedtotheyoungpsyker.‘Whatdidyousay?’‘There’s another caste.Noone listens tome,but I seen them, in theirhover-chairs.TheGoldenGiantshowedthemtomeinadream.’‘Andthisfifthcaste,theyaretheleadersofthisrace?’She nodded earnestly, picking a string of ectoplasm from between her teeth.Around them the dome of fire was dimming, flame coiling away to leavethinningsmokebehind.‘My thanks,’ said Sicarius, turning to go. ‘For the shelter, and for theknowledge.’‘ItwasCobliaze,’saidDarrapor.Hertonewasawkward,butshestoodalittletaller,alittlestraighter.‘YouhavetosayitCob-lee-ay-zee.’‘Fightwell,littleone,’saidSicarius,blastingintotheskytorejointhefray.

Numitor sprinted down the corpse-scattered track of the sweeprail beforelaunchingdiagonallyfromitswall.Therunningjumpsawhimsailthroughtheair,ahalf-secondburstfromhispackpushinghimontotheovalroofofthewidetower below.Magros was close behind as he changed direction and boundedagain,thistimesettinghisjumppacktofullblast.TheyleftDuolor,GolotanandAordusbehindtosetkrakgrenadesat theweakestpointsofthedrone-repairedbridge, theirorders tobring itdown.Foranother translocator tobring inmorereinforcementsatthispointwouldbedisastrous.Numitor leapedover the burning hull of aLemanRussDemolisher, the tankstill hammering a tau vehicle echelonwithwide-bore shells even as it trailedfire.TheBaleghastCastellanswereoutnumbered,bothintermsofinfantryandmachines–andwiththeanti-aircraftgunnerscutdownintheopeningsalvoofthebattle,thetau’sairsuperioritywouldlikelyseethexenosturnthetideoncemore.Anotherjump,thoughtNumitor,andhewouldredressthebalanceinperson.Therewasashrillwhistle,descendinginthemannerofincomingordnance.Aheavyshellplummeteddowntoblastintothetauvehicleechelon,hurlingtwoofthe ochre-hulled skimmers into the buildings on either side.Numitor heard anexultant shout, and spotted the Castellans’ master of ordnance, Nordgha,slamminghisfistintohispalm.‘Keepthemcoming!’shoutedNumitorashebackedawayfromtheroof’sedgeand took another running jump. Across from him was what looked to be alargelyintactanti-aircraftemplacement,abandonedatopabastionhalfcakedinsoot.Numitorwas perhaps ten feet from the bastion’s roofwhen amissile veeredaroundabuildingtosmackintohischest-plate.Itdetonatedwithsuchforcethatit flunghimbackwardsandsentMagrosoff-course to slam into thebuilding’sflank. They both went down hard into the street, Numitor struggling to stayconsciousasthedoubleimpactturnedhissightintoanindistinctblur.A deep boom nearby brought Numitor to his senses.Magros was out, lyingmotionless in the street. Therewas no time to attend him. Therewas anotherdetonationfromtheroofstothesouth.TheTerminators,withoutElixustomovethem,werestrandedupthere,andthecirclingtaubombersknewit.Thesergeanttriggeredhis jumppack, intending tovaultupwards to thebastion roof above.Theleftenginecaught,buttherightstutteredandcoughed,failingtoengage.Itwasallhecoulddotokeepfrombeingflippedover.Mortissignalsflareduponhishelm’s readout, a sure sign thepackwouldnot respondwithout theproper

ritualmaintenance.Numitor ranacross the street,planteda footatopanaegis lineandsprangashighashecould,catchingthejuttingmuzzleofaheavybolterprotrudingfromthesponsonshalfwayupthebastion’sflankwithonehand.Hereachedafootoutandbracedhimselfontherivet-studdedbottomlipofthegunemplacement.Hepushedupfarenoughtogetbothhandsonthetopedgeofthesponsonjustasavolleyofxenosweaponfirestitchedverticallyupthesaggingbannertohisleft.Ignoringit,Numitorhauledhimselfupward,gettingakneethenafootatoptheemplacedweapon.Hespring-jumpedupwardtocatchtheliprunningaroundthebastion’screnulatedroof,onefootonthehighestouterridge.Fromthereitwasasimplemattertopushupwardsoverthelowestpointofthebattlements,rollingoverontothefloorbeyonditwithathumpingclatterofceramite.Anothermissiledetonated, flatteninghimagainst theblood-slickedsteel.HadNumitorbeenaheartbeatsloweritwouldhavepitchedhimrightofftheroofandbackintothestreet.Numitor stole a glance though the battlement’s vision slit. The missiles hadcomefromawheelingtaufighter.Timetostrike,beforeitcamebackaroundforanotherrun.ThesergeantmadeforthebatteredIcarusquad-gunthatjuttedfromthecircularplateinthemiddleoftheroof.Thoughoneofthebarrelswasafusedmess,threewerestillintact.Thecyberneticskullattachedtothegun’sautomationreliquarybuzzedangrilyathim,butitsstatuslanternwasgreen.Itwasstillreadytofight.‘Time for your revenge, machine,’ whispered Numitor. He swung the anti-aircraftgunallthewayarounduntilthetaufighterwassquareinhissights,andsqueezedthetrigger.Therecoilshookhisarmsasthequad-gunroareditsfury.Its autoloaders clanked and spat sparks as shell after shell thumped into thebreech,and twelvespurtsof fireblazed fromtheendsof the threebarrelsstillintact.Numitor’s photolenses kicked in, dampening the flashes of theweaponmuzzlestoshowthexenoscraftweavingthroughtheflak.Numitor’s aimwas sound, and thevolumeof shellshe fired impressive.Onetookthexenoscraftinthewing,allbuttearingitoff.Trailingsmoke,itveeredover the circular roofs and disappeared from sight. A distant explosion put abroadsmileonNumitor’sfaceasheswungthequad-gunaroundtofindanothertarget.On the other side of the Munitorum base, a squadron of tau aircraft weredroppingonepulsebombafteranother.TheTerminatorsof theFirstCompanywere taking heavy fire, not only contending with the white fires of plasma

bombs, but also themarksman drones on the roof behind them. Outfitted forcloseassaultand tooheavy tomake the leap, therewasnothing theycoulddoshortofhunkerdownandweatherthestorm.‘Time’sup,xenos,’mutteredNumitor,aligningthequad-gun’ssightsuponthecirclingsquadronoftaubombers.‘Yourdoomisathand.’The sergeant squeezed the trigger and held it, playing the long-barrelledautocannonsbackandforthacrosstheskies.Thetaupilots,thinkingtheImperialair cover neutralised, had been flying in close formation. The punishment thegunmetedoutwasruinous.Shellsthethicknessofaman’swristblastedthroughwings, fuselages and cockpits. In amatter of seconds, all three of the aircraftweresentblazingoutoftheskies.Asecondxenocraftsquadronpeeledaround,gunsreturningfire.This timeitstargetbehind the Icarusemplacementwasnomere ImperialGuardsman,but aSpaceMarinecladinindomitablepowerarmour.Impactspunchedintoboththequad-gunandNumitor,onesmackingrightintothesergeant’sthroatandstealinghis breath, but the thick layers of his battleplate stopped it from tearing hiswindpipe out. Numitor held the flak-gun steady, thumping out rounds with adeep staccato rhythm.His fusillade saw the lead aircraft torn down in flames,followedmomentslaterbytheonebehindit.Therewasahissingseriesofclicksastheautocannonsrandry,barrelsplinkingas they cooled.The third xenos aircraft came on, the quad-linked ionweaponthatformedthestingunderitstailblastinghissingbeamsthatstrucktheIcarusguntrue.Theenergieswereblindingintheirintensity,andNumitorwasforcedto turn away. With a groan of defeated metal the entire anti-aircraft arrayslumpedtotheright,hopelesslyruined.The aircraft was closer now as it came in low, guns retrained on Numitorhimself.Hecycleduphisjumppackoninstinct,butnothinghappened.Thenthebastionitselfopenedfire.Withitswarspiritroused,thesameheavybolter thathadprovidedhimahandhold less thanaminuteagoaddeditsdeepbass to the chorus of destruction echoing through the city. Large-calibre boltsstitchedanarcintheskyastheytrackedtheoncomingxenocraft.Onesmackedinto the tau fighter’s nose, detonating in a suddenblossomof fire and smoke.Thexenocraftroaredon,swathedinflameandoutofcontrol,hurtlingtowardsNumitoronacollisioncourse.Thesergeantduckedasthetauaircraftcareenedheadlongoverhimandburieditselfinthebuildingbehind,itsimpactsotremendousthatonlyitstailcouldbeseen.

Withitsarchitecturalstabilityshattered,thetopofthexenosstructurecollapsedinanavalancheof rubble that crushed theaircraft flat.Theentire roof sectionslid away and the landslide crashed into the street, throwing up another bowwaveofrockdust.With their air covergoneand their ambush in tatters, the tauon the rooftopsaroundthemunitorumzoneweremakingafullretreat.Eventhedronesfloatedout of sight, the cursed discs disappearing into the dust-choked streets. TheTerminators stranded on the rooftops across from Numitor broke formation,movingtoareasofbuildingthatwerestillbroadlyintact.Theirsergeantcaughthisgaze,hiseye-piecesglintingasheraisedhisplasmabladeinaMacraggiansalute.Numitor smiled broadly at the sight, tapping his foot on his bastion’s accesshatch in a gesture of thanks to itsmachine-spirits. Therewas no finer feelingthanvictoryhard-won.His thoughts strayed to theCodexAstartesoncemore.Do not hasten to attack the enemy in his stronghold, it taught. There he isstrongest,andyoumaydashyourstrengthtonothingagainsthiswalls.Thesergeant’selation fadedasheapplied themaximto thewidersituation–not to the tau that had attacked their ersatz fortress zone, but to the Imperialinvasion – a headlong attack upon the heart of an alien empire, a civilisationwithlimitlesstechnicalresource.Thebattleforthemunitorumzonewasover,butthewarwasalongwayfromwon.

CHAPTERFIFTEENREFLECTION/BEFORETHETEMPEST

Inthewakeof theaborted tauattack,munitorumzoneThetaTertwascleared,rebuilt and reinforced. Dozer-bladed demolitions tanks ground through therubble-strewn streets. Columns of enginseer-led tankers and Munitorumvehicles, swathed in the purifying incense of censer-armed servitors, followedthemtoresurrectthevehiclebaysdestroyedinthebattle.Valkyriesortiesflewinlowsupplyruns,takingadvantageofthelackofenemyairpresence.BeforelongTheta Tert teemed with twice the manpower it had before the attack, everysoldieronhighalert.Aside froma fewdistant sightingsofdrones, the taudidnotcomebacktotroublethem.ItwasnotonlytheAstraMilitarumthatusedthefortresszoneasastagingpost.Scout squads from the Ultramarines Tenth Company operated out of themunitorumzone toensure itwasnotambushedagain,combing thestreetsandtakingthosehighvantagepointsrecommendedbyAordusasstableground.TherestoftheAssaultsquadstookthechancetorearmandrefuel.Duolorretrievedhislostchainswordandpistol.Denturis’boltpistolwasmangledbeyondrepair,so he opted to retain both chainswords, claiming he would return to Codex-approvedwargearpatternsatthefirstopportunity.TheHammersofDornbrieflyusedtheareaasastagingpost,grumblingaboutthe Eighth Company’s recent abuses of the CodexAstartes until Veletan out-quoted themforafullhourandsent themawayinfrustratedsilence.Even theproud riders of the White Scars had refuelled there, Stormseer Sudabehconferring with Numitor and the injured Elixus on how best to exploit theenemy’sblindspotforarcanewarfare.

In the last few hours, the command squad ofCaptainAtheus had arrived byStormraven. With them came Techmarine Omnid and a trio of plump andunblinkingcybercherubs,eachwithbionicadditionsmoreoff-putting than thelast.TheyhoveredaroundOmnidashewentaboutsettingupatemporaryforgestation in themidsection of one of the bastion towers. There he repaired andresanctifiedthebatteredwargearofSquadsNumitorandSicarius.WhilstVeteranSergeantEnitor debriefed everyofficer involved in thebattle,ApothecaryDrekostendedto thewoundsof thosetoobadlyinjuredtorecoverontheirown.Colnidhadhismissinglegproperlycauterised.DrekosandOmnidworked together to provide their brotherwith aworkable bionic taken from aWhite Scars casualty, donated with the blessings of the khan by one VeteranSergeantSarik.Ionsian,whohadsufferedsobadlyinthetauambushthathisarmourhadbeenmeltedawaytoexposehisblackenedmulti-lungsandburnedhearts,diedofhiswounds.When the Apothecary had asked to see the rest of their dead, Sicarius andNumitor had given him exact coordinates for where their brothers had fallenalongtheway.TheprogenoidsofthefallenwereofparamountimportancetotheAdeptusAstartes,fortheycontainedthegene-seedoftheprimarchsthemselves– the key ingredient in the transformation of amortal to SpaceMarine. Theywere vital to securing the future of theChapter.Drekos hadministered to thewoundedasquicklyaspossible,thengoneonhisway,theStormravengunshipGuilliman’s Grace bearing him skyward in search of the Eighth Company’sdead.Hiswasaharrowingduty,butonethatcarriedlimitlessrespect.ThoughNumitorhadledtwomoresortiestoreclaimthefortificationzonesofThetaPrimeandThetaSecfromthetaugarrisonsleftthere,hehadbeenbackatbase for almost a full day.Hehaddonehisbest tomeditate and trainwithoutshowing any signs of irritation, but it had been a challenge. ThewaitingwasworseforCatoSicarius,forofalloftheEighth,hewasperhapsthemostbattle-hungry.Yet theywere both sergeants, experienced enough to realise that evenSpaceMarineshad tomake theirpeacewith theebband flowofmilitary life.WithCaptainAtheusgone,andwiththefaceofthewarforDal’ythchangingsoquickly,theywouldnotplungeintobattleagainwithoutdirectinstructionfromtheChapter’scommandechelon.Sotheywaitedforneworders,andintime,theywererewarded.

Cato Sicariusmade hisway over to the bastion that had been sequestered by

ApothecaryDrekos,reasoningthatwiththemedicaegone,hisprohibitionuponentrywasgonetoo.DuringthebattleIonsian,KaetorosandGlaviushadtrappedthe stealth team as ordered, killing half a dozen of the things, but had takenheavy fire in the process. Sicarius understood from Drekos that the woundstakenbytheothertwowerealmostassevereasthosethathadkilledIonsian.Still, he needed to talk to his squad, and thematter hadwaited long enough.Therewas the possibility of a fifth caste in tau society, andwhat bearing thatmighthaveontheirsituationSicariusdidnotknow.Hehadnoespecialdesiretotalk toNumitor about it; his fellow sergeantwould askwhere the informationhad come from, and the answerwould not be easy to explain.He verymuchdoubted the Ultramarines would change their war strategy on the word of awarp-touchedyoungpsyker.HecouldalmostseeNumitor’sstolidexpressionasSicariusmadehimself looklikeafool infrontofhismen.No.HewouldseekGlavius’advicefirst,atleast.Ashemadehiswayover,Sicarius sawanAstraMilitarummedic carrying abundleofgore-soakedbandagesexitthehospitallerbuilding.Themedicstoppedandstaredathim,butassoonashestaredbackthehumanavertedhisgazeandscurriedoff.Sicariusnoddedtohimselfandproceededinside.Thedingyroomsmeltofsweat,bloodanddamprockcrete. Itsdrippingwallswerelinedwithmakeshiftbunks,woundedanddyingGuardsmenlyinginsuchprofusion that the place looked like a breeding ground for disease. VorticoIonsian’srecumbentcorpselayinthecorner,atatteredredstandarddisplayingathreadbareImperialaquiladrapedneatlyacrosshischest.Twogiantsamongstmenstoodatthevigilslitsoneithersideoftheroom.Theupperportionsoftheirpowerarmourwerearrangedagainstthefarwall,leavingtheirtorsosmostlybare.Inplacestheblackcarapacesfusedtotheirchestswerecrustedwithdriedblood,anddressingsandbandagesboundtheirwounds.‘Golotan,Glavius,’ saidSicarius. ‘Glad to see you on your feet.What in theprimarch’sname…’Locon Kaetoros rose from a makeshift bunk, his bolt pistol’s adjoinercomponentsspreadacross it.Hisheavilyburnedface,disfiguredbadly the lasttimeSicarius saw it,wasnow little but amaskof exposed teeth andmangledflesh. Itwas all the sergeant could donot to step back in shock as the flameroperative rose up like a shark lunging from the depths. A heartbeat later hishideousfeatureswerescantinchesfromSicarius’own.‘Gladtoseeus,areyou,’hehissed.‘Youdon’tcareaboutusatall,youglory-seekingbastard!’

Sicariussawthecurledfistofapunchmid-throw,andsteppedback, lettingitcatchhimon thegorget.Kaetoros lunged forward, headbuttingSicarius in themouthsohardthathefilledthesergeant’smouthwithblood.Dazedandangry,Sicariusverynearlyletthemusclememoryofathousandsparringsessionstakeover,butdidnotraisehisfists.InsteadheletKaetorosthrowarighthookthathithimsohardhe felthisbrainbruise insidehis skull.A follow-uppunchnearlydislocatedhisjaw,knockingtwoofhismolarsfree.‘Enough,’saidGolotan.‘That’senough.’‘Itfeelslikeenough,’saidSicariusthroughamouthfulofblood,spittingteethontothefloor.‘Brother Kaetoros has a point,’ said Glavius. ‘You’re not fit to lead thiscompany.’The accusation hit Sicarius far harder than Kaetoros’ assault. It was doublyshockingcomingfromIgnacioGlavius.Hisbattle-brotherhadalwaysbeenthereathisside,readytosnapto,ortofightathisshoulder.SicariusbackedawayfromKaetorosasheslumpedontohisbunk,grimacingand clutching his wounded chest. The sergeant glanced at his second incommandwithanexpressionofaggrievedshock,andsawGlaviusasifforthefirsttime,eyesnarrowinthegloom.‘You’vebeenactinglikeaFenrisiantribesmanfreshofftheice,’saidGlavius.‘Youknowit,andweknowit.Austosknewit too, talked tomeabout itmorethanonce.BysplittingthesquadatGel’brynCity,youeffectivelygothimkilled.DalatonandEndriondiedonyourwatchtoo,whenyouwentafterthepilotcasteinsteadofseeingthedropthroughtotheend.’‘Forthat,Iamtrulysorry,’saidSicarius.‘Andthenyoushotoffintothewastes,afteryourstuntwithKaetoros’flamer,’continuedGlaviuscalmly. ‘Wewentafteryou,aswealwaysdo. I suffered forthatdecision.’Hegesturedtothefourfinger-thickholesinhistorso.‘Fourmoreontheback,shallowenoughbutstillpainfulasallhell.That’sjusthowit is,Ithought.That’showitisintheEighth.’Kaetorossnorted,thenwincedinpain.‘Untilhere, atThetaTert,’ saidGlavius. ‘This timeyouactuallygaveorders,and even talked toNumitor first before bounding off into the fight. I thoughtyou’d turnedacorner,butyousplitusupagain,Cato.Andjust likealways, itwasthesquad,notitsgloriousleader,thatpaidtheprice.Ionsianpaidwithhislife.’‘SplittingintocombatsquadsisCodex-adherent,’saidSicarius.

‘Only when necessary,’ said Glavius. ‘Ask Veletan if you want. You alwayssplitusupatamoment’sprovocation,Cato.Youdonotseeusasbrothersatall,butdistractions.’‘We are Space Marines!’ shouted Sicarius. Around the room, woundedGuardsmenstirredintheirhalf-comatoseslumbers.‘WarriorsofUltramar!Youaresupposedtobeabletolookafteryourselves.Youdon’tneedashepherd!’‘Welookaftereachother.That’swhywe’restillalive.Someofus,atleast.’Hegestured at Ionsian’s cadaver, and Sicarius saw for the first time the gougedholes in his neck where Drekos had recovered the warrior’s progenoids. Thewoundswereblackwithdriedblood.‘Atrueleaderunitesthosearoundhim,’continuedGlavius.‘You’readestroyer,Cato.Youthriveonit.Yourtalentforwarandyourtacticalnoushavegotyoufar. But you have to temper that part of yourself if you are to be a decentsergeant,letaloneacaptain.’Golotan turned from the vigil slit on the other side of the room and noddedsombrely.‘It’strue.Wehavediscussedthematteratlength.’‘IknowIhaveactedrashly,andIhaveresolvedtolearnfromit,’saidSicarius,hisfacealreadybeginningtobruise.‘YetwhydoyounotspeakagainstNumitor,Golotan?HehaslostmoreofhissquadthanI!’Kaetorosgaveadisgustedcryfromhisbunk, throwinguphishands.‘Wearenot just numbers, sergeant, to be compared as metrics of victory! We areUltramarines!Andmorethanthat,weareyourkinsmen!’Hegavealongsigh,wipingbloodfromthecornerofhismouth.‘Toyou,everythingisacompetitionto be won. That is the diametric opposite of good leadership. It blinds you,makesyouvulnerablebyproxy.’‘Atruewarrior’sshieldisthebrotherhetrusts,’saidGolotansombrely.‘The primarch’swords,’ saidGlavius. ‘But of late, Cato, you have put themaside.DisregardedtheminyourhastetoproveyourselfbetterthanNumitor.Youthinkyourselfonthebrinkofthecaptaincy,butItellyounow,youarenotreadyforit.’Sicariushadnoanswer.Silencestretchedoutinthebastion,brokenonlybytheoccasionalcoughormoanfromawoundedGuardsman.‘Perhaps it is just the Talassarian way,’ said Sicarius after a while. ‘We areencouragedtocompete,toexcel,tostrainfornewheights.’‘You forget,’ saidGolotan. ‘I, too, hail fromTalassar. It is ourway,yes.Theway we teach the young ones. But we have grown to adulthood. We mustreassessthesimpleblacksandwhitesofouryouth.Colourthemwiththegreys

ofexperience.Andsometimeswemustlose,thatothersmightwin.’Therewasanotherlongmomentofsilence.ItwasthemosttheyhadeverheardGolotansayatonetime.‘Youare right,ofcourse,brother,’ saidSicarius. ‘Imust learn to fight for theImperium,forthewareffortasawhole,notjustformyowncauses.’Glaviusstoodupright,makingforthedoor.‘Thatisgoodtohear.Weshallnotspeak of this outside the bunker, and these men,’ he said, motioning to thewoundedandthedying,‘theyaretoofargonetocare.’Glaviuswalkedpasthissergeantwithoutabackwardglance,bracinghiswoundedchest.Sicariuslethimgowithoutrebuttal,watchinghisbrotheropenthedoorandemergeintothewansunlight.Sicarius looked at Kaetoros, but the warrior turned away, shaking his head.Golotan was already back at his post, staring out through the vigil slit withshouldershunched.‘I am sorry, Brother Kaetoros,’ said Sicarius. ‘I realised too late what I wasdoing in the wastes, but… but I suppose I have not yet learned from it. Nottruly.’Kaetoroslookedupathimfrombeneathflame-ravagedeyelids.‘Solearn.Itisnevertoolate.’‘I shall think long on thematter,’ said Sicarius. ‘You havemyword on that.First,though,Ihaveinformationthatneedstobeshared,Ithink.Andthankyou,brother,forbringingmetomysenses.’‘Hmm,’saidKaetoros.‘Youcanthankmebylettingmesleep.’‘Ofcourse.’Sicarius turned and left the bastion, shoulders slumped as he made for thewatchpost.

Numitor and Magros were discussing the campaign’s latest developments intheirmakeshiftstrategiumwhentheywerecalledtoattendcompanycommand.Thesergeantnoddedtotheservo-skullthathadbroughtthemessageparchment,linkinghisthumbsinthesignoftheaquilaandtellingithewasonhisway.Leaving the bastion and walking into the centre of the munitorum zone,NumitorwaspuzzledtoseetherestofEighthCompany–somesixtywarriorsintotal–standing toattention inparadegroundformation.With themwere threesquads from the Tenth Company, chameleoline cloaks cast back over theirshoulders,andfourfromtheFifth,eachSpaceMarineholdinghisbolteruprightinfrontofhim.Attheirforetheskull-helmedChaplainUticoswasstandingatop

one of the promethium silos, his deep bass voice filling the air as he regaledthosegatheredwiththegloryoftheimmortalEmperor.‘Anyideawhatthisisabout?’askedNumitor,lookingsidelongatMagros.‘Some,’admittedhisbattle-brother.At the head of the gathered Ultramarines were Veteran Enitor, ApothecaryDrekos,returnedfromhismissionofrecovery,andthenewlyelevatedcompanychampionVellu,swordandshieldgleaming in theevening light.Next to themwas Zaetus, holding aloft the EighthCompany standardwith his shining newbionic arm. The priceless banner’s shaft had been meld-torched together, thejointpolished toahighsheen. Itsheavyembroideredclothstirred in thewind,bullet holes dotting its face and purity seals flapping on its crosspiece. Theheraldryitdisplayedwasarousingsight:thechampionskullovertheiconoftheUltramarines,thegladiioftheswordmaster,andthelaurelsofvictoryonafieldofsteelgrey.‘The Eighth is out in force,’ saidNumitor. ‘Looks likewe have new orders.Maybeabigpush,atlast.’‘Lookslikely,’repliedMagros,noddingslowly.AsNumitorstrodetojointherestofhissquad,thecyber-cherubsthathadbeenflittingaboutthecampcametogetherabovetheEighthCompanystandard.Theyopenedtheirmouthsandsang,amajorchordthatsoundedangelicatfirst,thenmechanical.Projectorarrayspushedoutfrombetweentheirlips,tripletubesthatrevolvedandclickedasflickeringlightpouredforth.Theapparitiontheywereprojectingflickeredblue,gold,crimsonandtan,butonly when the lightfields overlapped fully did Numitor realise what he wasseeing.‘Brothers,’cameaboomingvoice,richandseasoned.‘InthenameofUltramar,Ibidyouwelcome.’The speaker was Marneus Augustus Calgar, the Lord Macragge, ChapterMasteroftheUltramarines.Everywarrior standing in formation, from the oldest veteran to the youngestBaleghast conscript, stood tall and saluted the giant lumen-spectre of LordCalgar.Thoseupontherooftopscontinuedtheirwatchfortauattacksunabated,aware that to turn away from duty before the master of Ultramar was todishonourthemselvesbeyondmeasure.NumitorfeltasenseofprideandpurposewellupinsidehimatthesightofhisChapter’s liege. LordCalgar appeared as a glowing giant resplendent in deepblue Terminator armour – the Armour of Antilochus, no less, trimmed with

gleamingImperialsymbolsandatiltingplateinthestyleofagoldeneagle.Hisregal featureswere framed by cropped hair aswhite as the cloak fanning outbehindhim,thegarmentunstirredbytheeveningwind.Lord Calgar opened his arms wide to encompass his audience, his massivegauntlets articulating so finely it seemed he could conduct a Macraggiansymphony.Numitor had seen those twin power fists pull apart a heretic stalk-tankasifitweremadeofdampparchment.‘Icomebeforeyoutodaywithtragicnews,’intonedLordCalgar,hisrichtonesrollingfromthelaud-hailerschainedbeneaththeattendantcherubs,‘andtomarkanewbeginning.AnewstartfortheEighthCompanyoftheUltramarines,andanew phase of war upon this xenos-tainted planet. A world that will soon bescouredclean.’There were a few scattered murmurs of agreement from the BaleghastCastellans,butmostoftheassembledwarriorswatchedinraptsilence.‘CaptainLedoAtheushasbeenkilled,’saidLordCalgar.‘HefellinservicetotheImperium,shotdownbyaxenoswarsuit.Hislikewillnotbeseenagain.’Murmursofassentfromthecrowd,manyofthethrongmakingthesignoftheaquilainremembrance.‘Hediedwell,asaheroof theImperium.Duringacommandstrikeupon theprimaryinvasionsite,CaptainAtheusfoughtahighchampionofthetauwarriorcaste.Heemergedtriumphant,provingthesupremacyof thehumanspiritoverthis most ambitious of foes. Only after he had struck a grievous blow to taumoraledidhe allowhimself to fall.His legacy shall liveon for eternity.Hail,Atheus.’‘Hail,Atheus,’cametheresponsefromthecrowd.‘Thewar he left behind is far fromover,’ saidLordCalgar. ‘Wehave struckhardatthexenosintheirnest,andbeenstruckinreturn.Nowwemustassertourrighttorulebeyonddoubt.’Silence,butforthethumpofexplosionsinthefardistance.‘There isoneamongstyouwho tookbattle to thehighcommanderof the tauempire’smilitarycastewithinanhourofmakingplanetfall.Hedidso throughinstinct,andinitiative.Hissquadhassinceuncovered,categorisedandreportedmoreinformationonthetauthreatthananyothergatheredhere.’Numitorfeltahotcoalofnervousnessat thebaseofhis throat,mingledwithsomething like shame.He had lost near half of his squad in that same fatefulhour.‘Wordwilllikelyhavereachedyouofthepunitiveassaultsexperiencedbyour

invasionforcesoverthelastfewdays.Myadvisorswouldhavemenamethemsetbacks. But I shall not lie to you, my brothers, my kindred. The tau areformidablestrategists,andtheirweaponryisstrong.Theymadegreatgainswithaconcertedcounter-attackthattestedourowntenets,theCodexAstartesandtheTacticaImperium,tothelimit.Onlyafewdaysago,theareainwhichyounowstandwastheonlyzonestillinImperialhands.’Theaudienceheldtheirbreath,eyeslockeduponthemagnificentapparition.‘Oneamongstyousawawaytobreakthenoosethatclosedaroundourthroats,’continuedCalgar. ‘TheCodexAstartes teaches us to use everyweapon at ourdisposal,nomatteritsnature.Oneweaponwehavethatthetaucannotmatchisthatofourminds.Itwastheweaponsofthemindthatsawthisstrongholdstandfirm. Itwas that same inspirational solution that has seen the tide turned in adozencriticallocationssince.’Thesanctionedpsykersgatherednear thecommandChimeraof theBaleghastCastellans were scruffy and mismatched, a freak show in comparison to theorderedUltramarines, but they stood upright with eyes raised high. Since thedefenceofthemunitorumzonetherehadbeenaquietprideintheirbearing.‘Wemust weigh our blades,’ said Calgar. ‘Wemust drive them not into thebody of the foe, but into hismind.Wemust take away his ability to plan, tothink,toreact.ThisisthedutyIgivetoyou.YouaretheforceInowcallupontoachievethisstrike.Butfirst,youmusthaveonetoleadyoutovictory.’TheUltramarinesstoodstockstill,awaitingtheirmaster’spronouncement.‘Leading this assaultwill be JorusNumitor,’ saidLordCalgar. ‘Amongst thesergeants of the Eighth Company, he alone has fought this war not just as aSpaceMarine,butasanadeptoftheImperium.Indoingso,heuniteddisparateforcestowrestvictoryfromdefeat.’Numitorfelthismouthgosuddenlydry.‘SergeantNumitor,stepforward.’The sergeant felt suddenly very alive.Over a hundred SpaceMarines turnedand fell back to make space for him to walk up to the command podium,weaponsheldtighttotheirchests.Thesergeantwalkedforward,approachingthegiant apparitionofhisChapterMaster and theofficers that lookeddown frombesideit.‘JorusNumitor,IherebyelevateyoutoCaptainoftheEighthCompany,’saidMarneusCalgar,‘andnameyouLordExecutioner.’The ChapterMaster gestured towardsNumitor, and a quartet ofmanipulatorservo-skulls came forward, bearing themassive two-handed greataxe that had

oncebelongedtoCaptainAtheus.Numitor stared, disbelieving. The honour accorded to him was beyondmeasure.Hundredsofwarriorsturnedtohimasone,salutingwithastampoftheheel.The servo-skulls hovered closer, their hinged manipulators holding the axewithin Numitor’s reach. The weapon was magnificent, a true work of theMacraggian mastersmith’s art. Twin power blades curved on either side of apolished gold generator, thick cables linking it to seven feet of ornate haftinscribedwiththeTwelveTriumphs.Theweaponhadacobaltbluegauntletstillclaspingitshaft.‘Captain Atheus’ will to fight was so strong he would not relinquish thisweaponevenindeath,’saidtheLordMacragge.‘Itishiscommandsquad’swishthatyourespectthetenacityofhisspiritbywearinghisgauntletinsteadofyourown.’Thoughtakenabackbytherequest,Numitordisengagedhispowerfistwithaseriesofharsh,decompressivehisses.Heeaseditoffandplaceditcarefullyonanearbyammocrate,hisexposedhandfeelingstrangelynakedandsmallinfrontofthevastapparitionoftheChapterMaster.Numitortookadeepbreath.Takingtheaxewithhisrighthand,heslidhisleftintoAtheus’gauntlet.Itwascoldandslightlyclammybutitfit.Heworkedhisfingers all theway to the tips, his grasp forced tight around thegreataxe.Theweapon was heavy and solid; it would take some getting used to. Part ofNumitor’ssoulrejoicedintheideaofseeingwhatitcoulddotoatauwarsuit.Pride,unease,griefandjoyallmingledintoanoverwhelmingsurgeofemotion.Sensinghundredsofeyesuponhim,Numitorpushedthefeelingsdown,forcinghimselftofocusandkeephisexpressionneutral.Thenheturned,raisingtherelicgreataxeinbothhandsabovehishead.The roarof applause fromSpaceMarinesand ImperialGuardsmenalikewaslikeaphysicalforce.ItcontinuedlongafterTechmarineOmnidhadtorch-fusedAtheus’ iron halo to the back of Numitor’s power armour, long after thecommandsquadofEnitor,DrekosandVelluhadwalkedforwardtostandathisside.Zaetus raised thecompanystandardhighand theapplausewas joinedbywarcriesandshoutsofapprobation.Numitor’seyesmetthoseofSicarius.Thesergeantnoddedsagely,makingthesignoftheaquila.NumitorturnedbacktofacehisChapterMasterandgiveaMacraggiansalute–notasasergeant,butasthemasterofanentirecompany.‘TheLibrariushasspokentomeofthevalourtheysawuponthisfieldofwar,’

saidMarneusCalgar.‘EpistolaryElixushaspersonallyvouchedfortheconductoftheOneHundredandTwenty-SecondBaleghastCastellans.Hetellsmethatwithouttheirsallyingforthintotheopen,hewouldhavebeenslaininthestreet.Theyaretobecommended.’TherewasaraggedchorusofcheersfromtheCastellans,andmanyathumponthe back.Numitor could see Lord CommissarDuggan from the corner of hiseye, standing to rigid attention at the front of the Astra Militarum assembly.Eveninprofileitwasobvioustheofficer’sexpressionwasthatofaconstipatedgrox.Thecommissarmotionedanaideforwardwithaflickofhiswhite-glovedfingers, and whispered something from the corner of his mouth. No doubtrescindingthe122nd’simminentcourtmartials,thoughtNumitor.‘EpistolaryElixusalsospokeofonewhoapproachedhim,oneofyournumberwhowishestoremainnameless.Thiswarriorbroughtknowledgeconcerningthecastestructurebywhichthetauarrangethemselves.’Numitorfrowned.Hehadheardnothingofthis.‘Wehadpreviouslybelievedtausocietytobelooselystructuredaroundthefourclassical elements, but it seems there is in fact a fifth caste that oversees theothers.TheLibrariushavesincescriedthemind-statesofcapturedenemies,andhaveconcludedtheinformationissound.’A low hubbub erupted in the Astra Militarum lines. The Space Marinesremainedsilent,listeningintently.‘Thenextphaseofthiswarwillbethemostimportant,’saidLordCalgar.‘Yourordersaretolocatethisfifthcaste,anddestroyitwhereveritistobefound.’Hepaused,eyesscanningacrosstheaudienceasifhecouldseethemdirectly.‘In the last few days, the tau have been attacking in concert, their militarymanoeuvresuncannilysimilarnomatterwheretheyareontheplanet.Itisasiftheircommandersaresomehowmind-linked,likeinsectsfromthesamecolony.Anaptcomparison,I’msureyouwillagree.’Therewas a quiet ripple ofmirth from theAstraMilitarum.Numitor smileddutifully,butinside,hewasnotsosurethecomparisonheldtrue.Thexenoshadsomeconceptofawarriorcode.Hehadheard the taufemale in thehab-blockspeak of it, and even Calgar himself had referred to the events leading up toAtheus’deathasanhonourduel.‘Thisbehaviourbearsoutthistheoryofacommandcaste.Shouldthesebetheoverseers of the enemy’s civilisation, their destructionmay hand us not just amilitaryvictoryuponDal’yth,butthekeytodefeatingtheentireTauEmpire.’ThelowsusurrusamongsttheGuardsmengrewtocriesofoutrightcelebration.

Chaplain Uticos brought his crozius arcanum down onto the flank of hisimprovised podium, the gunshot crack that rang out silencing the audiencecompletely.Numitorsawinstantlythatsomethingwaswrong.LordCalgarwaslookingnotatthegatheredwarriors,butofftooneside,hisexpressiondeeplytroubled.Theapparitionblurredandfaded,goingbadlyoutoffocus.‘How close is this bio-fleet?’ came Calgar’s muffled voice, so quiet thatNumitorhadtostraintomakeitout.Hewouldnothavehearditatallbutforthecyberneticcherubsbeingsoclose.‘Howlongdowehave?’Therewasareplyfromanunseenadvisor,butitwasunintelligible.‘CaptainNumitor,’saidMarneusCalgar,springingintofocusoncemoreabovethosegatheredintheMunitorumzone.‘Youroriginalcommandisover.BrotherMagros shall serve as sergeant of theCalgarians inyour stead.You shall leadthose gathered here in the hunt and slaughter of the fifth tau caste, effectiveimmediately.Usethisopportunityswiftly,andwell.’NumitorlookedupattheChapterMaster,meetinghisgazeforthefirsttime.‘Ishall,mylord.’‘Of that I have no doubt,’ said Calgar distantly. He paused for a moment,seemingdiminishedsomehow,thenstraightened.‘WarriorsofMacragge,gothisverymoment to rejoin the fight. Smite the leaders of this alienworld. Shattertheir armies and destroy their will, and do not rest until every sign of xenosinfestationliesdesolateandcastintothedust.ForMacragge,andtheEmperor.’‘ForMacraggeandtheEmperor!’Despite the elation inNumitor’s soul, somethinghad changed in theChapterMaster’sdemeanour,tryashemighttodisguiseit.Thatfactalonetroubledhimgreatly.LordCalgar brought his fist across his breastplate, blurred out of focus, anddisappeared.

‘Cato,’saidNumitorashecaughtuptoSicarius.‘Amoment.’The sergeantwas trudging into the shadow of one of the bastions, evidentlyseekingamoment’speace.RespitewasaluxurytheUltramarinesnolongerhad.Numitor had already briefed his command squad with an exit plan, orderingOmnid to make ready the transports and Enitor to brief the Astra Militarumofficercorps.TheywouldbeoutofThetaTertwithinthehour.‘Captain Numitor,’ said Sicarius with a tired smile. ‘Congratulations. I trulymeanthat.’

‘Youdo?Ithoughtyou’dbefullofreasonswhyitshouldbeyouluggingthisunfeasiblyheavyaxearoundtheplace.’‘I’mmoreofabladesman,truthbetold.’‘Ofcourse.’ThetwowalkedinsilenceforamomentbeforeNumitorspokeagain.‘Youseemdifferent,oldfriend.’‘I just saw the corpse of Vortico Ionsian,’ said Sicarius. ‘I lost another one,Jorus.Kaetorosisinbadshapetoo.HeandGlaviushadsomeprizewordstosaytome,Icantellyou.’‘Glavius?Hechallengedyou?’‘Thathedid.’‘Emperor’steeth.Thesearestrangetimesindeed.’‘Theyhaveapoint,though,Jorus.Idonotdeservetobecalledaleader.’‘Perhaps it’s not your strongest suit,’ said Numitor awkwardly. ‘I’ll tell youwhatyouare,though.’SicariuslookedsidelongatNumitor.‘Letmeguess.Arrogant?Blind?Callous?’‘No, idiot,’ saidNumitor. ‘Youare a champion.Abornwarrior that even theUltramarineslookupto.Trustmeonthis.Peoplewatchyouslaughteringthesexenos bastards by the dozen, and it gives themhope.Makes thembelieve theImperium can not only survive, but excel. That’s how you lead, Cato. Byinspiringothers,andmakingthemwanttobethebesttheycan.’‘Thankyou,brother.Thosearekindwords.Tobehonest,ifthatisthecase,itisbyaccident.Glavius said Iwas like ayoungFenrisian,hungryonly forglory.The comparisonwas fair. I am supposed to be a sergeant of theUltramarinesChapter,forGuilliman’ssake.Ishouldbebetterthanthat.’‘So think first, act second,’ said Numitor. ‘Use the Codex Astartes as yourguide.Iknowthatseemshypocriticalcomingfromme,butagainstthesetauandtheirtraps,it’simperativewecleavetoitsteachings.Forallofourstrength,wearen’tinvulnerableafterall.’‘Aye,’saidSicarius.‘I’mbeginningtorealisethat.’‘Donotloseyourconfidence,though,’warnedNumitor.‘It’swhatmakesyouwhoyouare.’The warriors kept their peace as they walked on around the perimeter,approachingaBaleghastsentrysmokingalho-stickintheleeofanIcarusquad-gun.He hurriedly ditched it, face draining of all colour as he ground the buttunderhisheel.‘Captain,’hesaidinadry,strainedvoice.

‘Verydiscreet,private,’saidNumitor.TheAstraMilitarumtroopersalutedweaklyastheUltramarineswalkedon.‘TheLordCalgarspokeofafifthcaste,’saidNumitor.‘Knowanythingaboutthat?’‘Some.Oneofthepsykerstoldmeaboutit,duringthebattle.Darrapor,thebaldone.Ididn’tputmuchstockinit,atfirst.Sheis…disturbed,Iwouldsay.’‘Thatwasyou?YoutoldtheLibrariusofthesehiddentauleaders?’‘Idid.ThoughItookfartoolongaboutit.’‘Sowhatchanged?’‘Thatfactthatifsheisright,wemaylosealotlesslivesintheprosecutionofthiswar.Iwouldratherlookafoolthanseethathappen.’‘Thatisthelogicofaleader,’saidNumitor.‘Notagloryseeker.’Sicariusdidnotanswer.‘Ifthatsuppositionistrue…’Numitorstopped,andturnedtofacehisbrother.‘You realise if Calgar knew it was you that passed on that information, youlikelywouldhavehadafarbettershotatthecaptaincy?’‘Perhaps,’saidSicarius.‘Perhapsnot.’‘Usedwell,thatveritascouldtoppletheTauEmpire.’‘Youdeservethehalo,brother.WebothknowIamnotreadyforit.’‘Notyet,’saidNumitor.‘Besides,’ Sicarius smiled ruefully, ‘I have my eyes set on a far greatercaptaincythanthatofamerereservecompanysuchastheEighth.’‘Ha!Iwouldhavethoughtyou’dbeeyeingupLordCalgar’sthroneinstead.’The two walked along the perimeter in silence once more, the gravel ofshatteredbuildingscrunchingunderfootastheypassedanothersentry.When theywere out of earshot,Numitor spoke again, so quiet itwas barelyaboveawhisper.‘Putyourhelmon,Cato,justforamoment.’Sicariuslookedquizzicallyatthecaptain.‘Why?Doyoususpectthesniper-machinesthatgotElixus,or…’‘Justdoit,Cato,’saidNumitor,‘beforeImakeitanorder.’Thesergeantmadeadistastefulface,unclampinghishelmfromhiswaistandslidingiton.Numitoropenedadiscreetvox-link,ensuringonlySicarius’runewasactiveinhishelmdisplay.‘I heard something when the Lord Calgar defocused, just on the edge ofearshot.’

‘Somethingbad,Itakeit?’‘Iheardhimsaysomethingaboutabio-fleet.’‘Awhat?’SicariusturnedtofaceNumitor.‘WhatinGuilliman’snameareyoutalkingabout,Numitor?Anorkfleet?’‘That’snotwhatIheard,’saidNumitor,histonegrave.‘Hesaid,“Howcloseisthisbio-fleet,howlongdowehave.”’‘Throne,’ said Sicarius. ‘What do you suppose itmeans?Another species ofalien?’Numitorshrugged.‘Itdoesn’tsoundgood,whateveritis.’‘Surelywe’dknowabout italreadyif therewasanotherxenosfleet inbound?AndwhydidMalagreanotspeakofit?’‘Idonotknow.LordCalgarclearlythinkswehaveworktodoherefirst.’Thetwowalkedoninsilence.Unbidden,theirpaceincreased.‘Time is of the essence then,’ said Sicarius. ‘We shouldmake ready thewarcouncil.’‘Good idea,’ saidNumitor, ‘though I can tell younow,my intention is to gobacktotheoriginalplan,butwithalotmoremanpower.Ourtheoryconcerningthe red-armoured tau commander is still sound. And those were Atheus’ lastorders.Weshouldrespectthem.’‘Verywell.AndJorus?’‘Yes,sergeant?’‘Weshouldconsiderorderingsomedropshipstostayonstandby.’‘Ialreadyhave,’saidNumitor.‘Wearelikelytoneedthem.’

CHAPTERSIXTEENREDEMPTION/THELINEISDRAWN

The Silent Aftermath slid through the skies, its repainted hull as red as theDal’ythan sunset. Violet clouds scudded beneath the Orca as it carriedCommanderFarsighttowardstherendezvouspointwherehewastomeethisoldcomradeSha’vastos.Given the rumours about the venerable commander’s mindset, it was not anencounterFarsightwaslookingforwardto.The Aftermath had no honour guard of air caste craft attending it. Afterreturning fromMount Kan’ji with O’Vesa’s mind-scanning device, the neuralcrownrepletewith the totalityengramofMasterPuretide’sbrain,Farsighthadbeen left to his original command oncemore. Clearly Aun’Va considered hisdedicationtotheGreaterGoodproven.Itwasagreatrelief,toberedeemedasonewiththeTau’va,theaccusationsofvash’yaputtoonesideinviewofhissuccess.Still,astrangesenseofdisquietgnawed at Farsight’s conscience in the long hours of the night. Puretide’swarningstilllingered,colouringhisperceptions.Theveryideathatnotalloftheethereal caste could be trustedwas nonsense, tantamount to deliberate idiocy.Yetithadcomefromhismentor,thewisestofallthefirecaste.Itwasafu’llassomindknot,anditwouldnotleavehisthoughts.Onthenightofhisreturntoactiveduty,FarsighthadorderedhisOrcapaintedredinthemannerofhisarmour,ostensiblyforthesamereason–tohonourthebloodspiltbythefallenofArkunasha.Heknewinhisheart ithadmoretodowithhimassertinghisownidentity,reinstatinghiscommandonsomesymboliclevel.

If he was honest with himself, it was likely because he was not one of theSwordsofPuretide.Themajority ofFarsight’s fellow shas’o hadgladly volunteered for that eliteclique,forthefirecasteheldthewar-sageasarolemodel,afigureoflegend.Asimpleactofsurgery, theyweresaying,and thecommanders’brainswouldbeembellished with an engram neurochip bearing Puretide’s own thoughts andphilosophies.Inaway,itwasgenius,aquickandeasywaytoaccessthefinestof fire caste strategies in time to bring them to bear on the Dal’yth war,outwittingtheImperialsbeforetheirintrusiontookanymoreground.Farsighthadpolitelydeclinedthesurgery,knowingthematterwouldnotbethatsimple. Inmanyways there was something that bothered him about the veryconcept.HerealisedtheTau’vacamefirst,overandaboveanyloyaltytocasteor comrade.YetO’Shaserra–alongwithO’Kais–had studied formany longandhard tau’cyratopMountKan’ji to fullyunderstandPuretide’swisdom.Tomerelycopyitfromhisneuralmatrixasifhewereamachineanddownloadtheinformationintothebrainsof livingbeings,andusinganuntestedprototypeatthat, felt disrespectful in the extreme. There was a difference between theintelligent application of principles and the direct imitation of past success. Ithadallthehallmarksofaswiftroutetodisaster,thoughFarsightcouldnotplacewhy.Inthelastfewrotaa,thecommander’sinstinctshadbeenborneout.Fromwhathehadheard,thosewhosemindshadassimilatedtheneurochiphadfoundtheirpersonalitiesnotsomuchcomplementedassubsumedbytheiron-hardmindofPuretide.Theinventorofthetechnology,O’Vesa,wasgifted;somesaidhewasthefinestmindinalloftheearthcaste.ButFarsighthadknownhimlongenoughtorealisehisprototypes tendedtobegearedaroundpowerrather thancaution.The scientist was obsessed with the act of innovation, and rarely paused toconsiderthemoralimplicationsofhisrampantinvention.Inthepast,therehadbeen times when Farsight had thought O’Vesa did not even understand theconceptofmorality.Onimpulse,Farsightpatchedthroughto thescientistonhisbattlesuit’scaste-net suite, eye-flicking the square-and-circle symbol of the earth castewith thestylisedStoneDragonentwinedaroundit.‘Commander!’ said O’Vesa, his flat, broad face twisting into a bright smile.Farsight felthimself returning it.The scientistwasalwayspleased to seehim,genuinelyso.Despitetheirdifferencesthefeelingwasslowlybecomingmutual.‘Itakeityouhavebeeninformed,then?’

‘Informed?’saidFarsight.‘AboutSha’vastos’recentincident,youmean?’‘No!’criedO’Vesa,almostbesidehimselfwithglee. ‘That isameresetback.No, we are to go into battle together! Well, in a manner of speaking. Myprototypeswillbeaccompanyingyou.Ihavemadesomemodificationssincethegue’ron’shabreachofthetestingfacility.Ifittedthelatestiterationofthepulsedriver cannon! And I hear your new sunforge attack pattern is paying greatdividendsagainstthoseuglygue’lavehiclecolumns.’‘A simple application of vertical envelopment theory, twinned with pairedfusionblasterXV8s,’saidFarsight.‘HardlyatacticworthyoftheSwords.IstheWarghostwithyou?’‘Ob’lotai3-0ispresent,yes.AndheisnottheonlyoldfriendofyoursIhaveonboard.’‘Whereareyouatthemoment,O’Vesa?’‘Very close! Almost on top of your little craft, in fact. I have stealth fieldsrunning that a mere Orca could never penetrate. The timing of your call hasruinedthesurprise.’Farsight frowned, eye-flicking to the distribution array, then the exteriorscreens.Looming through the cloudbankswas an earth caste builder ship so large itscargobayscouldhaveaccommodatedahundredCrisissuitswithroomtospare.Thecraft’svastbellyblockedoutthedarkeningskieshighabove,thepressureofitsdescentbuffetingtheAftermathsohardFarsightcouldfeeltheturbulenceinhiscontrolcocoon.‘Kor’ui Y’eldi,’ said Farsight to the Orca’s pilot, ‘give that great sky-whalesomeroom.’‘Ofcourse,’cametheresponse,‘thoughthatseemsaharshwayofreferringtoanhonouredcomrade.’Farsight gave a tired smile and shook his head. The willow-thin air casteusually said exactly what was on their mind, and Kor’ui Y’eldi was alwaysquicktotakeashotifhecould.Suchunvarnishedhonestywasavaluableassetin combat airspace,wheneverymicrodeccouldbe thedifferencebetween lifeanddeath.Inadiplomaticsituation,itcouldbealiability.‘Justconcentrateonourflightpath,please,’saidFarsight.‘O’Vesaisanoldallyofmine.Besides,Iprefertothinkofhimasrobustinconstruction.’‘Iwouldsayheispracticallycuboid.’‘Enough,Y’eldi.’TheAftermathdulyflewlower tocompensate,comingoutof theclouds.The

Ath’adra command facility was visible in the distance, a series of five tallhexagonalstructuressetatstaggeredheightslikeazoomed-inviewofacrystalformation.Thecaste-netchimed,andthesplitpentagonoftheetherealcasteappearedonhisdisplay,thecircleatopitflashinggold.‘Onemoment,O’Vesa,’saidFarsight,blink-pushingthegoldensymbol.‘GreetingsinthenameoftheTau’va,’cametheculturedtonesoftheetherealAun’Tefan. Her features were serene, appealing in their tranquility, thoughFarsightnotedherdresswasnotceremonial,butpractical.Bythelookofit,shewasplanningongoingsomewhereassoonastheconversationwasover;eitherthat,orshewasalreadyonthemove.‘Greetings, honouredAun,’ said Farsight, blipping the symbol of theGreaterGood. ‘I hear I may be going into battle, rather than attending a strategicrendezvous.’‘That is true,’ said Aun’Tefan. ‘There have been some developments in theshape of the war outside Gel’bryn. The Imperials are making a massed pushsouth.TowardsAth’adra.’‘Isee,’saidFarsight.‘Well,Iamonmyway.Mybattlesuitretaliationcadreisnotfarbehind.’‘Excellent.Commander,thegue’ron’shaareleadingastrikeatgreatspeed.Wehave begun evacuation of all ethereal personnel, as well as high-ranking taufrom theothercastes, firecasteexcepted.Everyactivecommander in theareahasbeengivenanimperativetointercept.AdmiralTengisleadinganaircasteattackrunaswespeak.’‘TheSwordsofPuretidewillbeinattendance,Ipresume?’‘Only Sha’vastos, and then because he is already here, overseeing theevacuation,’saidAun’Tefan.Shestraightenedhergarments,astrangeexpressioncrossingherfeatures.‘Intruth,theprototypeshavebeenfoundwanting.’‘Theyhave?’saidFarsight.‘Howso?’‘The Swords are using the same tactics across the planet, in the samesituations,’ saidAun’Tefan. ‘Theymetwithgreat success, initially, conqueringnear every beachhead the Imperials had established. But their strikes are soconsistent,sotheyarebecoming…’‘Predictable?’‘It seems so. The humans are not idiots, despite their appearance. Thegue’ron’sha share information swiftly between their tribes, and are capable oflearning at an impressive rate. Even a theoretically impeccable tactic is found

wantingiftheenemyisabletoanticipateit.’‘TheSpaceMarineshavestrictdoctrinebehindtheiractions,’saidFarsight.‘Ihavebeenmonitoringitclosely,forinthelongtermIbelieveitmaybethekeyto defeating the Imperium’s finest armies. In a way, that doctrine has beenmatchedagainsttheCodeofFire.Theelderstrategiststhatlaiddowntheirtenetsofwarhavebeentestedagainstours.’Aun’Tefannoddedsagely.‘Andourshavebeenfoundsuperior.’‘Of course. Theirmodus is primitive and lacking in insight, but it has somebasicsensetoit.Someofthehumanorganisations,suchasthosethewatercastecall theHammersofDorn,obey its tenets to suchanextent theiractionshaveallowedme to codify several of its key points. The ones Por’oKais calls theUltramarines have exhibited very similar invasion dispersals and battleprotocols.Aweaknesstobeexploited,inthefuture.’‘Ifonlyallthesehumanswereasformulaicasyouclaim,’saidAun’Tefan.‘Doyourefertotheanomalousdata,honouredAun?’‘Yes.Thehumanshavebeenlaunchingattackswith…unconventionalmeans.They are deploying warriors that defy easy categorisation and are almostimpossible to anticipate, for there is no visible sign of their weaponry. Theappearanceoftheoperativesandtheeffectstheymanifestdonotseemlinkedinany meaningful way. Sometimes the weakest specimens prove the greatestthreat.’‘Surely these incidents are localised, and easily avoided?’ said Farsight.‘Metaphysicalphenomenaarenotunknowntous.WhatdotheNicassarhavetosayonthesubject?’‘Very little, savevagueandsuperstitiouswarnings.This isnotambientmeta-tech,commander,norisittheremotehypnologyoftheNagi.Thisactivityis…weaponised, forwant of a better term.Ghu’lachmind-science, the earth castecall it. The gue’ron’sha have been actively using it against us at everyopportunity. We have ordered the Shas’ar’tol to comb their archives, and itseemsCommanderPuretideneverencounteredthishumantechniqueofwar.’‘Tomyknowledge,thatistrue.’‘The resultant cognitive dissonance is causing the Puretide engrams tomalfunction.Inplacesthishascostthefirecastedearly.Theordertorescindthedevices has already been given by Aun’Va himself. Many of the Swords ofPuretidearealready incustodyof theearthcaste,andcannotcontribute to thewareffortatthistime.’‘I see,’ said Farsight, scowling. ‘Andmay I ask a question?Are the devices

extractedfromthehosts’brainswithoutincident?’Theetherealpaused,herexpressiondarkening.‘Sadlynot,’shesaideventually.‘Thewatercastewillbriefyouonthedetails.’‘Iamsuretheywill.’‘Becauseofthissetbackwearecallinguponthosecommanderswhohavenotundergonetheprocess,firstamongstthemyourselfandCommanderShadowsun,todefendAth’adrawithallavailableassets.’‘Understood.’‘Wehave reinforcements inbound from fiveother septs, and thekor’vattra isconvinced its fighter shoals will be mustered in numbers enough to gut theImperialfleetshoulditholditsposition.Wewillwinthiswar,commander,andsoon.But should the gue’la somuch aswitness the craft bearing the etherealcaste from the site, we shall consider the mission a failure. It is of criticalimportancetotheTau’vatheyescapewithoutincident,andarenotpursued.’‘Ofcourse.’‘WehavesanctionedO’Vesa’sinclusioninthismatter,andtheuseofwhateverprototypes he believes battle-ready,’ said Aun’Tefan. ‘Noweapon will be leftasideinthedefenceoftheetherealcaste’ssafety.GiventheunreliablenatureoftheSwordsofPuretide,wearereinstatingyouasoverallcommanderfortherestof theDal’ythwar effort, effective immediately. Commander Shadowsunwillworkalongsideyou.Donotfailus.’‘Iwillnot,’saidFarsight.‘ThisIpromise,fortheGreaterGood.’The ethereal nodded and patched out. As the distribution array’s screenresolved oncemore, Farsight noted not onlyO’Vesa’s symbol winking in thecorner,butthefour-fingeredclawsymbolofthekrootshaperKraakorProkk,thestylisedelectromagneticpulseof theCadreFirebladeShas’graofRala’tas,andthe split blue triangle of the air caste. Underneath it, Admiral Teng’s plateauraptorsymbolglowedgold.Scanningtheexteriordisplayscreensoncemore,thecommandersawthemodifiedochreBarracudatheadmiralusedashispersonalcraftarcingthroughtheskiesaheadofthem.‘AdmiralTeng,’transmittedFarsight,‘anhonourtohaveyouasthetipofourblade.’Theaircasteofficer’ssymbolflashedinaffirmation.Then Farsight’s heart lurched. The circle of the fire caste had appeared, astylisedwhitespiderholdingitinitstinyclaws.TheKan’jiMal’caor.Hegatheredhisfocus,breathingin,out,inagain.Hardenedhissoul.Heblink-

pushedthesymbol.Shadowsun’s face filledhis screen, stern andnoble.Her smooth featureshadbeguntowrinklealittleattheeyes,butifanythingthesignsofmaturityaddedtothesenseofpowerandpresencesheexuded.ToFarsight,thecoldseverityofhergazewaslikeapunchinthegut.‘CommanderO’Shovah,’shesaid.‘CommanderO’Shaserra.’Farsight eye-masked the transmission, blocking out everything but the mosthigh-gradeurgencyprotocols.‘Yourplan?’saidFarsight.‘I will take the fight to the ground assets in the locations appended to thistransmission,’ saidShadowsun. ‘Mycadresarealready inposition,hiddenandreadytostrike.Donothinderthemwithyourownefforts.’Herlipswereathin,coldslash.ItwasanexpressionFarsightknewalltoowell.‘Kauyon-Shas,’sighedFarsight,‘thisneedn’tbe…’‘Donotcallmethat.ThatnamediedonMountKan’ji.’Farsight frowned and shook his head. ‘Contrition.An old artefact of speech.Butwehaveacommondutyhere.WearethetrueSwordsofPuretide,notthesevralj’kaarasAun’Vahasfashioned.You,Kais,andI.AndKaisisnothere.’‘Heisneverhere,’saidShadowsun,lookingofftooneside.‘You cannot believe this surgical procedure of Aun’Va’s does honour to ourmentor’slegend,’saidFarsight.‘ItisO’Vesa’sdoing,notthatoftheEtherealMaster,’shesaid,hertonecoldassheturnedtofacehimoncemore.‘Hiswasthehandbywhichthedeedwasdone,yes,’saidFarsight.‘Butthefactremains.Withthevastmajorityofourcommandersoutofcommission,itfallstoustoupholdthefirecaste’shonour.’Shadowsunsaidnothing,whichFarsightknewtobeasclosetoanagreementashewaslikelytoget.Somethingwasstrangeinhergaze.Notasingleothersoulwouldhavepickeduponit,notevenO’Kais,but therewaspain there,behindthemask.‘Aun’Tefanspokeofthedevices’extraction,’saidFarsight.‘Shesaiditwasnosimplematter.’‘It certainly is not,’ said Shadowsun. He saw something flicker in her eyes,someemotionbetweenangeranddespair,beforeher shieldofprofessionalismfell intoplaceoncemore. ‘Anoldcomradeofmine,O’Myen,hasalreadyhadhersextracted.’

‘IrememberO’Myen.Isshestillasshewas?Beforethesurgery?’Shadowsun’seyesgrewthin.‘No.Shehasbecomeasaninfant.Perhapsworse.“Suchisthecostofvictory,”asthewatercastesaid.’Farsightfeltthetruthseepintohisbloodlikepoison.Itburnedforamoment,andthengrewhot.Hotenoughtoburnworlds.‘Youmeantotellme…’Hefelttheflameofoutrageburstinhisveins,hislipstightening. His eyes flicked to O’Vesa’s icon, winking in the corner of thedisplay,hismaskofsuppressedangerturningintoafurioussnarl.‘CommanderFarsight,’saidShadowsun.‘Idonotthink…’‘This cannot go unpunished, O’Shaserra!’ shouted Farsight. ‘They take ourbrightest,ourbest,andtheyusethemuplikeammunitioncells!It tookthemamatterofwhat,tworotaa?Andwhatdotheyleavebehind?’‘Mont’ka-Shoh,’saidShadowsunsoftly.‘Don’t.’‘Sha’vastos has had this procedure!’ cried Farsight. ‘He was the first tovolunteerforit!ThatheedlessfoolO’Vesa,hejustsmiledatmeafewmicrodecsago, like nothingwaswrong!Howmanyother gifted leadersmustwe lose tothiscolossalmistake?’Shadowsun’sexpression toldFarsight theanswer. Itwasasstarkandclearasthinice–icewithdeep,blackwatersbeneath,socoldtheycouldkill.‘Bythestars,’whisperedFarsight,hisemotionsovercominghim.‘It’smyfault.I took the original engram.’His almond eyes closed involuntarily.When theyopenedagain,theywererimmedred.‘WhathaveIdone?’‘YouwereorderedtogotoKan’jibytheetherealcouncil,’saidShadowsun,hertonefirmbutgentle. ‘Therewasnotasoul in theTauEmpire thatwouldhavedoneotherwise.’‘Iknow,’saidFarsight.‘Iknowthat.Ijust…Ican’tbelieve…’‘Wemustbelieveinourleaders,Shoh.Thatisourway.’Alongpausestretchedbetweenthem.‘I know what you are going to say next,’ whispered Farsight. ‘Trust in ourdestiny.’‘Yes,’saidShadowsun,herexpressionsoftening justa little. ‘Thatmightbeagoodidea.’‘Youareright,ofcourse.’Hehunghishead. ‘Ioffercontrition,O’Shaserra. Ishallkeepmyfocusonthismatter.’Sheshookherheadquickly,dismissively.‘Stopapologising.’

‘Itisnotasignofweakness,commander.Youshouldtryitoneday.’Shadowsun’s lookofcontemptwaspainful towitness. ‘Youhavechangedsomuch,’shesaid,‘andyetsolittle.’Farsightshudderedoutabreath.‘Thisisadarktimeinourlives.’‘Then do not make it darker,’ said Shadowsun. ‘We follow the path to theGreater Good, as the ethereals show it to us. Even if that path should leadthroughshadow,wemustwalk itwithourheadsheldhigh, andwecannotdothatwithoutthem.NotwithoutriskingalapseintotheMont’au.’TheTimeofTerror.Farsightfelthisskinpuckerattheverythought.‘Younearourposition,commander,’Shadowsunsaidarchly. ‘It is time todowhatyouwereborntodo.’‘Ishallnotbefoundwanting,’saidFarsight.‘Ipromiseyouthat.’‘Youhadbetternotbe,orIshalllocateMonat-Kaisandtellhimtopayyouavisitinthenight.Ishallseeyouoncethetrapissprung.’‘Untilthen.Andthankyou,commander.’Shadowsunraisedaperfectly-archedeyebrow,andcutthelink.

CHAPTERSEVENTEENCULMINATION/THEKILLINGBLOW

The Silent Aftermath came down outside the staggered hexagonal towers ofAth’adra, the four pillar-engines at each corner of the craft rotating until theywerevertical.ThecraftpowereddownwithsuchgracethatFarsighthardlyfeltitland.‘Compliments, Y’eldi,’ he said absently. After his conversation withO’Shaserra,therewasmuchonhismind.The transportbaywasfloodedwithsilver light, thengold.The innerdoorsatthecraft’srearslidback,theramphingingdownsoundlessly.Farsightsteppedout inhisXV8, thebattlesuit’sanalysisarrayspanningwideanditssensorvanerisingtomaximumelevationasitharnessedeverypossiblescreed of information from the environment. The five hex-towers ofAth’adraloomedhighandproud in themiddledistance. In thedusk, their faceted sideswererenderedivory,orangeandblack.O’Vesa’svastdropshipcircledaroundtothe macro dropsite beyond, Admiral Teng’s Barracuda squadron acting as itsescort.The hex-towers were of different dimensions, but much the same designaesthetic.Lowestinheightwasthesquatbutmassivetoweremblazonedwithagigantic symbol of the earth caste, the regular oval windows in its flanksglowing bright. Drone nests dotted its upper walls, the sophisticated helper-machines within them ready to come to life at a moment’s notice. Farsight’spunch-cylinderreadoutdisplayedaslightvibrationcomingfromtheearthcastetower’s confines, as if itweregenerating an incredible amount of energy.Thecommander nodded in satisfaction – his requested protocols were already in

place.Next largest was the water caste hex-tower, its topmost plane ringed withelegantcommunicationsvanes.Castingashadowupon itwas the towerof thefirecaste,whereFarsighthadspentmanyrotaadiscussingseptdefencewithhispeers.Tidewallgunrigsbristledfromthebuilding’shexagonalroof,andartfullyconcealedbattlesuithangarsdotteditsupperstories.Risingabovethefirecastetowerwasthecolumnoftheaircaste,tallandthinlike the anatomies of the tau that dwelt there. Farsight had always beenimpressedbythebuilding’senvironmentalengineering.Insidethehollowtowerwasamarvelofearthcastescience,anartificialcolumnoflowgravityintendedtomake the long-limbedaeronautsmorecomfortable.Atop theaircaste towerwere thewinking lightsof landingzones.Everysooftenacraftwould liftofffromitonamissionofdeliverance.Tallest of allwas the towerof the ethereals. Itwas featurelessother than thesignof their casteupon its flankandaviewinggalleryat the top that enabledthose inside to look down on the ordered landscape ofDal’yth as it stretchedawayto thehorizon.Yet itdidnotneedembellishments toconveyitspurpose.Itsheightandprominencespokevolumes.The sweeprail that led fromGel’bryn reservoir rose up to embrace the earthcastetower,curlingaroundittotheinteriorofthecomplexbeforecomingbackaroundthefarsideofthewatercastebuilding.Itloopedaroundthetoweroftheaircaste,thenthatofthefirecaste,andfinallywoundupwardtwicearoundtheetherealtowertotheverypeakoftheAth’adracomplex.Alongthetransmotiverail’s lengthwere node-stations that allowed passengers to disembark into thetowers themselves. From a distance, the sweeprail looked like a cord bindingfivedisparateelementsasone. Its symbolismhadneverbeen lostonFarsight.The castes were linked together by communication, technology and commonpurpose.Shouldthegue’ron’shamanagetopenetratethekauyonsthatO’Shaserra’sfirecastehadpreparedforthem,thatcommonpurposewouldformtheirlastlineofdefence.A shadow fell across the landing site, its edge a gentle curve. The MantaElocutionofFlamehadslidintoplacesomehundredfeetabove.‘CommanderFarsight?Weaskyourpermissiontoapproach.’Farsight consulted his distribution array and blipped his assent. Against theinkyskyhecouldmakeoutCommanderSha’vastosashedescended from theManta, his XV8 battlesuit’s vectored retro-thrusters flaring and his saz’nami

bodyguardscloseby.Theagedveteran’sCrisissuitwasawelcomesight.LesssowasthebattlesuitofTutorSha’kan’thas,driftingdownalongsidehim.Farsight groaned inwardly.Hewas not sure he had the energy to dealwith amentally traumatised facsimile of Puretide and his old detractor TutorSha’kan’thasatthesametimeasplanningthedefenceofavitalsite.‘GreetingsinthenameoftheTau’va,’saidFarsighttoCommanderSha’vastos,pointedlyignoringthewarriorathisside.‘Assumingthatisstillyourname?’Sha’vastos blipped the sign of the unworthy one, his battlesuit lowering in agestureofdeference.‘Commander,I–’‘Please, esteemed comrades,’ said Tutor Sha’kan’thas. ‘Allow me to speakfirst.’Farsight’sexpressionsoured inhiscontrolcocoon. ‘Ifyouhavesomething tosay,sayitnow.Thegue’ron’shastrikeapproaches.’‘Ihavemademanymistakesinmylife,’saidtheoldtutor,histonethatofonewhohaspractisedaspeechmanytimes.‘Theworstofthemwastohinderyouinyourcareer,CommanderFarsight.At thebattledomes I taughtyoupracticallynothingthatyoucouldnotworkoutforyourself.Whenyouprovedyourselfthegreater mind, I sought to hold you back in the hope you would lead withmaturity and experience instead of youthful pride. By doing so I became theproudone.IhavenotactedinthewaydemandedbytheTau’va.Iunderminedthetrustourracehasinyou,andindirectlyledtothelossofmanyofourcaste’sfinestminds.Icannotlivewiththisburden.’‘Partsof that are true,’ saidFarsight, ‘butnot all of it.Without adversity,wecannotevolve.’‘Thatisgraciousofyoutosay,’saidthetutor,‘butImustatone.ItwasIthatlevelledtheaccusationthatyouwerevash’ya.’Farsightshiftedinhiscontrolcocoon,hisbloodpoundinghot.‘Imuststartmylifeanew,’continuedTutorSha’kan’thas.‘Ishalltaketheroleofmonat, fighting alone until either I redeemmyself, or givemy life for theGreaterGood.’‘You,amonat?’saidFarsight.‘ImustadmitIdidnotseeyoutakingthatrole.’‘Ihavebeenblindedbythecloudsofaselfishperspectivefortoolong.Inmyhastetoprovemyselfacapableteacher,Iforgothowtolearn.Thatstopsnow.Ibeginmynewlifethisday.Tothatend,Iimploreyou–bestowuponmeanewname.’Farsightwas taken aback by the change in his old adversary, but he did not

speak.Thesensorantennaeofthewatercastetowerwereathisback,nodoubtrecordinghiseveryword.Theoccasiondemandedthathegraciouslyforgivehisoldteacher,andorderthetutortoredeemhimselfbyfightingalongsidethefirecaste’sfinestinthebattletocome.ButtherewasapartofFarsight’ssoul,partofhis youth even, that still remembered every defamatory comment TutorSha’kan’thashadevermade.Moreimportantly, thememoryof thehurtbehindShadowsun’seyeswhenshehadtalkedaboutherfriendO’Myenwasstillfresh.WithhisaccusationsofFarsightbeingbetweenspheres,Sha’kan’thashadledtoFarsight’sexile,tohimdishonouringhismentor,andtotheuseoftheengramsthathadcrippledsomeofthefirecaste’sfinestminds.Diplomacybedamned.Thetutorwouldsuffer.‘Asyouwish,’saidFarsight,‘Itakefromyouyourformernameandtitle,andgiveyouthenameSha’ko’vash–fire’sworthycause.Andyouwillliveuptoit,starting now. You shall return to Gel’bryn and descend into the deepestmagnorail tunnelsasamonat, there tohunt thegue’ron’shaknownas theScarLordswithoutsomuchasadronetosupportyou.TheScarLordsaredisfiguredmonstrosities thatare seeking touse themostcovertmeans theycan findasaway to gain entrance to our core buildings. Terminate as many of these vilecreaturesasyoucan.Killthemallandearnatonement,ordieintheattempt.’‘Thank you, commander,’ said the newly-named Sha’ko’vash, making theraisedpalmsofthegiftreceived.‘Ishallgoimmediately.’Themonat turnedandwalkedtowards thenearest transmotivenode,breakingintoaboundingrunassoonashewasclearofthelandingzone.‘Goodfortune,’saidFarsight.‘Andgoodbye.’‘I must offer contrition, too,’ said Commander Sha’vastos. ‘When the foe’sneckisexposed,onlytheunworthystaytheblade.’‘Wewill talk of that later, old friend,’ said Farsight. ‘Your fate is distressingenoughasitis.’‘Afateavoidedisafatepostponed,’saidthecommanderawkwardly.‘Yes, thank you, commander,’ said Farsight. ‘I listened well to MasterPuretide’s wisdom in my four years atopMount Kan’ji. There is no need toreappraisemeofit.’‘ThatisnotwhatIheard,’cameafamiliarvoice.Farsight’smindreeled.‘Bravestorm?Whatareyoudoingonthecadre-net?’‘Usingittocommunicatewithmyfieldcommander.’Therewas a distinct thud from behind Farsight. He span around, only to beconfrontedbyamassiveiridiumCrisissuitwithashieldgeneratorononearm

andanoutsizedgauntletontheother.‘Reporting for duty,’ said Commander Bravestorm. ‘Do you want to seesomethingshocking?’‘Notreally,’saidFarsight.‘Well, I offer no contrition whatsoever,’ said Bravestorm, force-patchingthrough a live feed towhat lay behind the thick iridium armour of his plexushatch.‘BythelightoftheTau’va,’breathedFarsight.‘Indeed,’ said Bravestorm dolefully. ‘An unforgettable sight, even from theoutside.’ He paused, the battlesuit’s posture changing from formal-ready to atease.‘Iwon’tbeleavingthisXV8,commander.Thisisthetotalityofmyform.’‘Isee,’saidFarsight.‘Alifesupportmechanism,then.’‘O’Vesa’sbeststudentsconstructedit.Thespeechrelaysareexceptional.IcanalmostfoolmyselfIhaveafaceagain.ButtothinkIshallnevertrulysee,neversense anything again…’ His battlesuit’s giant gauntlet flexed, four massivearticulatedfingersclutching intoa fist thatglowedfromthe insidewithbarelysuppressedpower.‘Itmakesmewanttokill.’‘Channelit,oldfriend,’saidFarsight.‘Usethatfire.MaketheImperialspayforwhattheydidtoyouandyourwarriorsatBlackthunderMesa.’‘That ismy intent,yes.Theearthcastecouldnotdeadenmynervous systemwithoutruiningtheinterfacewiththissuit.Iaminseriouspain,commander,atalltimes.Iintendtorepayittenfold.’‘Thenwemustmakeastart,’saidFarsight.‘Thedecoysareinplace.Wemustblockthegue’ron’shaadvancewellbeforetheygethere.’Farsight checked his topographical display. The Imperial tank column wasmovingatimpressivespeedfromtheoutskirtsofGel’bryn,giventhecrudenessandbulkofitsvehicles.Theyhadalreadypassedthereservoirs,headingstraightforAth’adra–andintheprocess,approachedShadowsun’skauyontrapsinsidethetransmotivesweeprails.‘We’d better move out,’ said Farsight. ‘It would be a shame to missCommanderShadowsunsavingthefirecaste’sreputation.’

AccordingtoFarsight’sdistributionarray,theImperialvehiclecolumnwasonehundred and forty-six vehicles strong. At its fore were the boxy, cobalt bluevehicles of theUltramarines cadre, pugnacious and graceless butwith enoughengine strength to crunch over rubble without slowing. The massive tracked

giantsattheirforewerefiringthickrubylaserbeamsattheoverlandtransmotivetunnels as they approached, blasting away the structural integrity so thatdemolition shells from the rolling siege guns behind could shatter them tocrumbled rock. Before the dust had settled the vehicles powered through thebreach, eachgrinding setof trackspulverisingdetritus intogravel andmakingthewayclearer for thenext. Itwasan impressiveyetvulgardisplayofpower.Farsighthadneverseenanadversaryrushheadlongintoatrapsofast.‘Thisshouldbeasimplechallenge,’cameBravestorm’svoiceover thecadre-net.‘OnceShadowsunbringsthemtoahalt,wewillhavethemsurrounded.’‘I hope you are correct,’ said Farsight. ‘All cadres, prepare for the mont’kastrikeassoonasthekauyonhasbegun.TheWayoftheShortBladewillbeourcontingencyincasetheenemyclosesin.’Golden affirmation symbols winked across his distribution array. All was inreadiness,yetsomethingwasnaggingatthebackofFarsight’smind.‘Wherearethegue’ron’shawarriors?’hesaidsoftly.‘Commander?’saidBravestorm.‘TheyarethebrightlycolouredonesblastingapathtowardsAth’adra.’‘No,’saidFarsight.‘ImeantheSpaceMarinesthemselves.’‘Insidethevehicles,’saidBravestormslowly.‘Thesehumansarecunning.Theyareusingtransportstomovefromonelocationtoanother.’‘I am serious about this,’ said Farsight, unease slowly churning in his gut.‘They tend to man their guns in person. Their turrets and pintles. Check thearchives.’‘Perhapstheytookthelogicalroutethistime,’saidBravestorm.‘Perhapstheyarepreservingtheirstrengthforthemainconflict.’‘No,’saidFarsight.‘Irecognisetheiconsontheirtanks.TheVshapewiththethreeverticallinesnexttoit.ItdenotestheImperialnumeraleight.Ihaveseenthat same cadre’s warriors fight an orbital drop bareheaded, with their helmsclampedattheirwaists,justtoshowtheyarenotafraid.Theywouldnotwasteachancetotakethefirstshot,notforsafety’ssake.Thatisnottheirmindset.’‘Wait,’saidBravestorm.‘You’renotsuggesting…’‘Thisisadecoy,’saidFarsight,hisvoicerisingastheshockhithome.‘TherearenoSpaceMarinesinsidethosevehicles,justthecrew,I’msureofit!Wearefallingfortheirkauyon,Bravestorm,nottheotherwayaround!’The symbol of the Kan’jiMal’caor blipped upon Farsight’s command suite.‘My infiltration cadre has been intercepted by elite gue’ron’sha,’ cameShadowsun’svoice,highandtense.‘Theyappearedfromnowhere…aburstof

light…Imustlooktomyown.’The air caste symbol of Admiral Teng flashed urgently on Farsight’scoresystemcontrolsuite.Withagreatsenseofforeboding,thecommandereye-flickeditwithonepupilwhilsttheotherremainedonthearmouredcolumn.‘Commander,’ said the Admiral. ‘We have inbound. At least thirty airborneImperialcraft,converginguponAth’adrafromthreeseparatecloudbanks.’Farsight’seyeswidened.Thefirecastehadfailedbeforethebattlehadevenbegun.

Captain JorusNumitor sat in the steel-greybellyof theThunderhawkgunshipSwordofCalthasTechmarineOmniddroveit throughthecloudbanks towardsthe hexagonal command complex. The gunship’s interior scryer-slabs showedthesiteinthedistance,litupfromwithin.ItgrewcloserwitheachminuteuntilNumitorcouldseedotsoflightinathousandplaces,itscurlingtransmotiveraillitupbywhatever infernal lumen-technologythetaufavoured.Behindhimhiscommand squad, each having secured a jump pack atNumitor’s behest, werepre-blessingtheirignitionsystems.‘Sideportaldisembark,captain?’saidEnitor.‘No,’saidNumitor.‘Weusethetailgate,aspertheCodex.Andhelmson.’Heslidhisintoplace.EnitorandDrekossharedalook,thesubtlestofnodspassingbetweenthem.‘TechmarineOmnid,’saidNumitor,‘arewenearlyinposition?’‘Aye,’saidOmnidoverthepilot’svox.‘Fourminutestillgreenlumin,ifthesecloudsstaythick.Captain,Ihaveaconfessiontomake.’‘Speakon,Omnid.’‘When I was running sanctifications at Theta Tert, the residual fuel in yourjump pack proved anomalous. It was more refined than standard Adept-classpromethium.Considerablymoreso.’‘Wehadtorefuelenroute.Youpurgedit,Ipresume?’‘Atfirst,yes.ThenItookthelibertyofanalysingit,synthesisingitwithThetaTert’ssiloarrays,andensuringtheEighthhadenoughtogoround.’‘Did you indeed,’ saidNumitor. ‘You realise that is a serious breach ofCultMechanicuscommandments?’‘Hencetheconfession.’‘Willitwork?’‘Betterthanyouwouldbelieve.Itisgreaterthanthesumofitsparts.’‘Thenkeepquietaboutit,’saidNumitor.‘IamsureSergeantSicariuswillnot

object to the extra power, nor the rest of theEighth, come to that.But it hadbetterbestable.’‘Itis.YouhavemywordasaTechmarine,andasadiscipleofMars.’‘Verywell.Thisstaysbetweenus.’Numitor’s command squad nodded in understanding. Checking their jumppackswere twice-blessed and harness secured, they sent icons of readiness toNumitor’shelmdisplayonebyone.‘Aremotemissiveforyou,captain,’saidOmnid.‘ItistheLordMacragge.Iamrelayingitnow.’The Chapter Master appeared on the scryer-slab mounted atop theThunderhawk’sreliquary.Hisexpressionwasimperiousandgrave.‘Captain Numitor,’ he said. ‘I have new orders for you. I have instigated aworldwideevacuationfromtheplanet.ThebattlegroupinvasionistowithdrawentirelyandattendthefleetmusteratBrimlock.’‘My lord,’ protested Numitor, ‘we are poised to strike at the tau commandechelon.’‘AmajoralienincursionisencroachinguponUltramar,captain,itsdesignationunknown.ItscurrentheadingleadsitstraighttoPrandium,jewelofourempire,then onto Macragge itself. You will make haste to the exact coordinates myastropathicchoirissendingtoEpistolaryElixus,andfromthere,makethewarpjump to Ultramar’s coreward Mandeville point. This matter is of the utmostimportance.’‘Aye,LordCalgar,’saidNumitor.‘TheEighthwillbethere.’‘Dal’ythcanwait,ascantheseupstarttau.Macraggecannot.’‘Asyousay,mylord.’‘Then farewell, captain, and may good fortune go with you.’ Lord Calgarsaluted,andthecommuniqueendedinastutteredblurtofstatic.‘Dropsiteinthreeminutes,captain,’saidOmnid.Numitor turnedback tohiscommandsquad.Theveteranswereall lookingathim.‘Captain?’saidEnitor.‘Dowebreakofftheattack?’Numitor did not reply for amoment. He could almost feel the paths of fateunfoldingaroundhim,theweightofthesoulsthatwouldliveordiebasedonhisnextdecision.‘Irealisetimeisoftheessence,’saidNumitor,‘butwearesoclose.’‘Surely we cannot receive orders to withdraw, and then immediately attack,withoutriskingcensure?’saidZaetus.

‘To call it off nowwould strandmany of our brotherswithout support,’ saidDrekos. ‘The resultant gene-seed extractionwould take longer than securing aswiftvictory,andlikelycostmorelives.’‘Sowearetomakethedrop,then?’askedEnitor.‘Twominutes,captain,’saidTechmarineOmnid.Vitalsecondstickedpast.‘I know it seems contrary to Lord Calgar’s orders, but yes,’ said Numitor.‘Many of our elements are already committed, the Astra Militarum amongstthem.Withoutus,theywillbeslaughtered.Weattack.’Drekosnodded,andVellusmiled.Enitorsimplyinclinedhishead,andturnedtomakehisfinalpreparations.‘AllEighthCompanysquads,readydrop,’saidNumitoroverthecompanyvox.Hishelmarraylitupwithrunesofreadinessfromeachofhissergeants,Sicariusamongstthem.Numitorclosedchannelsonhisvoxuntilonlyhisoldcomrade’srunewasleft.‘Sicarius,’ saidNumitor. ‘I justgotorders towithdraw fromLordCalgar.Nodoubt theothercaptainshave received the same.Ultramar is indanger fromadifferentbreedofxenosaltogether.’‘Thenwhyarewestill inbound?’askedSicarius.‘SurelythisisnotimetogoagainsttheChapterMaster’sorders.’‘Dropsiteintenseconds,’cameOmnid’svoiceovertheThunderhawk’sinteriorhailer.‘Weneedtomakethisstrike,Sicarius,’saidNumitor.‘Areyousureaboutthis?’saidthesergeant.‘Eight…Seven…’saidOmnidoverthehailer.‘Yes,’saidNumitor.‘Wedoit.Seeyoudownthere,oldfriend.’Hecutoffthechannel.‘Six.Five.’‘Portalsopen,Omnid.’The Thunderhawk’s rear doors pistoned apart, and howling winds blastedNumitorasthegunship’sinteriorfilledwiththedeeppurplelightoftheplanet’ssunset.TheDal’ythangascloudwasvisibleinthedistance,afaintblurofcoldblue.Numitorfelttheoldfamiliarurgetoleapheadlongintothenothingnessandneverlookback.‘Four.Three.’‘Cleandispersal,brothers,’saidNumitor,heftingthegreataxeashiscommandsquad took position.He looked down atAtheus’ gauntlet, still feeling strangeuponhishandinlieuofhispowerfist.

‘Two.One.Site.’‘FortheEmperor!’shoutedNumitor.Leaningforward,heranheadlongintotheThunderhawk’stailgateportalandleaped,triggeringhisjumppackandboostingawaywithhissquadclosebehind.It was strange, not having the air blasting straight into his face, but thesensation of freefall was still exhilarating. He smiled involuntarily inside hishelmet,hisgrinwideandhonest.Aroundhim theEighthweredeployingwithnear-perfectdispersal.BelowthemwasthetaucommandsitethatNumitorandSicariustheorisedwasthe headquarters of the xenos Gel’bryn operation. Already tau craft werezoomingthroughthethincloudstocounter-attacktheairdrop.Numitorhadseenthatcoming,andorganisedhisassaultintothreeseparategroups.Ifthetaupilotcastegroupedtostopone,itwouldlettheothersthrough,butifitspreaditselfthintointerceptallthree,itwouldbebrushedaside.ToNumitoritlookedasifthetauwereoptingforthelatter.Twosquadronsofthefightercraftwereliftingofffromthehex-towerwiththeairfieldzoneatopit,whilstagoldenair superiority fightercut through theskiesahead.Thecannonmounted off-centre on its prow flashed, and fat spheres of blue energy shottowardsthem.‘Evade,’shoutedNumitor.Hissquadengagedtheirjumppacks,theirformationexplodingoutward to let thehurtling spheresofenergypass.Numitor shutoffthevox,laughingwildlyforamomentbeforereopeningthechannel.‘Everythinginorder,captain?’askedEnitor.‘Yes,’saidNumitor.‘Neverbetter!’Thefivehexesofthecommandcentreweregrowingeverlarger,athickcolumnof Imperial tanks crawling towards them from the south. The front elementswereswathed insmoke, theLandRaidersat thepointof thespearon fireandslewed at a bad angle. The tau had taken the bait and hit the vehicle columnhard, but in doing so they had left the Eighth free tomake a vertical assault.Furthermore, a hundred and fifty tanks was not a force to be stopped easily.Baleghasttransportswerealreadypeelingofffromthemaincolumnanddrivingonwardatfullspeed,escortedbyRazorbacksandtheoccasionalPredatorbattletank.‘Backupinbound,’saidNumitor,‘wewon’tbedoingthisalone.’‘Alonewouldhavebeenfine,’cameSergeantSicarius’voiceoverthevox-net.‘TheEighthwasmadeforthiskindofaction.’‘You say that now,’ said Numitor. ‘Look at the largest of the hex-towers.

Recognisetheanatomyofthemachineontopofit?’‘Isthatgreatbeastthethingwecrippledbackinthejungle?’‘That,orsomethingverysimilar,’repliedNumitor.‘Wetakethatoutfirst,ortheBaleghastsaredeadonarrival.Thethinghasnoshortageofcompanions,either.’Around the giant warsuit were six teams of artillery suits. Three had long-barrelled rail cannons held before themmuch like aDevastatorwould hold aheavy bolter. As Numitor watched, they fired solid shots that left striatedcylindersofairdisturbance in theirwakebefore thewhip-cracksoundof theirfusillade reached him.Where the artillery suits struck, AstraMilitarum tanksrocked on their suspension before springing high on columns of flame, theirturrets spiralling away to smash into the vehicles behind. The other threeartillery suits had boxy missile arrays in place of gauntlets, their designreminiscent of the titanic walker the Eighth had fought in the jungleenvironment.Salvoaftersalvostreakedout,whitecontrails intertwiningas themissilessmashedintotheUltramarinesRhinosbullyingthroughthewreckageoftheir comrades’ tanks. One by one the vehicles were ripped apart, yet morewrecksintheburningscrapyardthatthearmouredspearheadhadbecome.‘We need a sacrifice,’ said Sicarius, his voice clear overNumitor’s earpiece.‘They’retakingusapartdownthere.’‘SergeantKinosten,’voxedNumitor.‘Doyoureceivethis?’‘Goahead,captain,’camethereply.Anexplosionsoundednearby.‘Weneedtodistractthewarsuitsatopthelowesttower.Findcover,disembarkyourmen,andgetafewChimerasinthereonautodrivetoforcetheirhand.Wewilldotherest.’‘Notimetodisembark,sir,’saidKinosten.‘We’regoinginnow.Andcaptain?’‘Disembark,sergeant!’shoutedNumitor,‘that’sadirectorder!’‘TellDuggantoshovehisfancysworduphisbackside.’Pennants streaming, theBaleghasts’ armoured column drove straight towardsthelowestofthehex-towers,theheavyboltersandmultilasersoftheirmachinesstitchingfireacrossthegiantwarsuit’sindomitablehide.Therewasablueglowat the end of the behemoth’s shoulder-cannon, a flash, and two BaleghastChimerasweresimplyerasedfromexistence.Thevehiclesbehindveeredcrazilytoavoidtheglowing,perfectlyovalcraterthatwasleftintheirwake.Indoingsothey allowed the squadronofLemanRussesbehind to approach the lipof thecrater and open fire, pounding the giant warsuit on the roof with one battlecannonshellafteranother.When the smoke dissipated, the monstrosity was scorched, dented, but still

standing. The Leman Russes began to reverse, slowly but steadily, furtherconfusingtheranksofthearmouredcolumn.Missilesstreakedfromtheartillerywarsuitsatoptheroof,ascoreofwarheads,then another – enough to kill a platoon of infantry three times over. Numitorgrimaced as they careened towards the Baleghast column. Suddenly the tophatch of a languishingChimerawas thrown open, a tiny figure in a greatcoatcrawling out from it.Awall of flame burst into being in front of the hurtlingmissiles,and theycookedoffas theypassed through, thepyrotechnicsof theirdetonationdoingnothingmorethanlightthebattlefield.TherushoffreefallwasfadingforNumitor,replacedbyapowerfulfeelingofanticipation.Thehexcomplexandthegroundweregrowingnearerwitheverysecond.The third tallestof thehexagonal towers, eachof its cornershost toamassivecannonstructure,wouldhavetheminitsarcoffireanymoment.Worsestill,with its primary target rendered non-viable, the xenoswar goliath belowwasrevolvingitsmassivemissilearraysskyward.‘Throne,’saidNumitor.‘It’sseenus!Omnid,theDivingEagle!’TheThunderhawk, locked in a deadly aerial duelwith the golden superiorityfighterthathadfireduponthem,disengagedandtooktwopunishinghitsfromitstauopponentintheprocess.‘Therehadbetterbeagoodreason,captain,’saidOmnid.‘CantheSwordwithstandadirectmissilehit?’saidNumitor.‘Dependsonthemissile,’saidOmnid,thestressinhisvoiceobviousasheputthemachineintoanear-verticaldivetowardsNumitor.‘Butalmostcertainly.’‘Howaboutadozen?’‘No.It’sthoserailguntowersIamworriedabout.’Numitor changed his vox-channel and turned in midair to see the secondspearheadbullyitswaypastathincordonoftaufighters.‘Stormraven squadrons, take out the roof-mounted cannons on the tower’ssouthernside,optimumdispersal!’His command was answered almost immediately by a profusion of strikemissiles, theiryellow-tippedwarheadsbrieflyvisibleas theystreakedfromtheStormravens to detonate upon the high-necked railcannon emplacementspunchinghypervelocityshotintothesky.Twoofthetauguntowerswerestruckin the centre line, and toppled like felled trees.Smoke trailed as they tumbleddowntosmashintothexenosinfantryfanningoutofthebuilding’sgate-portals.Numitor turned back into the Codex freefall position, explosions of tau flakburstingnearby tobuffethimwith tremendous forces.As theAssaultMarines

plummeted, the boxy missile arrays of the war goliath came into focus, themachine stomping around ponderously to get a better bearing on theThunderhawkbeforelettingfly.Aprofusionofmissilessoaredstraightupwardstowards the gunship, some no bigger than a tank shell, some as long asNumitor’sarm.‘Staydirectlyaboveit,Omnid,’voxedNumitor.‘Thecannononitsshoulderisitsmostpowerfulweapon,butithasalimitedrangeofmovement.Italsotakesamomenttorechargeafterfiring.Weknowthisfromexperience.’‘Understood.’The goliath’smissile salvo, as orderly in their flight as a flock ofmigratingbirds,hurtledupwardstowardstheThunderhawk.Theydetonateduponthethickceramiteinaserialburstofexplosions.Theheavily-armouredgunshipcontinueditsheadlongdive–scorched,swathedinflame,butunhurt.Thin beams of blue light flickered vertical from drones in the sphere-nodesridgingtherooftops,glancingacross theThunderhawk’sprow.Amoment latertheartillerywarsuit released twomoremissiles; theyshotoutata sharpanglebeforeveeringupwardsonan intercept course.Theseprojectileswereof trulydauntingsize.Fourfinsringedtheirthickbodies,extendingandadjustingmid-flightastheyroaredtowardstheThunderhawkcomingattheminaverticaldive.‘Numitor,’saidOmnidwarily,‘Iamnotsosureabouttheseones.’TheSword’sheavyboltersponsonsthunderedouttheirself-propelledbolts,butatsuchvelocityandwithsuchrelativelysmalltargets,theyflewwide.‘Sicarius,Vosarian,canyouinterceptthosetwomissiles?’askedNumitor.‘Wecantry,’saidSergeantVosarian.NumitorsawVosarian’ssquadaltertheirflightpathatfulldive,jumppacksflaringbright.‘Wecansucceed,’saidSicarius,blastingfromNumitor’sblindspottowardsthenearestmissile.He put a plasma shot right atop the firstmissile’s squared-offwarhead,andtheskywaslitbyaviolentwhiteburst.Asplitsecondlatertherewas a thunderous boom that caused Numitor’s photolenses to dim before hisvisionblurredbackintoplace.SquadVosariantooktheirshots,boltpistolsbarkingastheyflewin.Incredibly,the square-bodied missile veered away as if sensing the threat, compensatingimmediatelyafterwardstohurtleontowardstheSwordofCalth.Inbuiltdroneintelligence.AwarheadmostlikelydesignedtofellTitans.Andthegunshipwasinfulldivetowardsit.‘Ihavetheunhallowedthingcold,Numitor,’saidOmnid.‘I’mtakingtheshot.’TheThunderhawkfireditsdorsalturbo-laserdestructor,andathickcolumnof

rubyenergyburnedvertically through the skies tobullseye thegoliathwarsuitstraightandtrue.Thekillingforceofthestrikepunchedthroughthemachine’shead,downthroughitschest,andoutfrombetweenitssplayed legs,gutting itcompletelyinablindingburstofscarletlight.Then the warsuit’s macro-missile struck the Thunderhawk’s nosecone. Thedetonationwassoviolentitrippedtheancientgunship’scockpitwideopenandannihilated bothOmnid and his co-pilot in a single terriblemoment.A titanicexplosionthrewstarkshadowsacrossthebattlefieldbelow.TheThunderhawk’sravagedremainshurtleddownwardwitharisingroar.Tauscatteredbelow,warsuitsdisengaging fromfiringpositions tostompaway,buttheywere too slow. The gunship ploughed so hard into the lowest hexagonaltower that the craft’s reactor core gave out in a cataclysmic explosion thatconsumedeverytau,droneandbattlesuitatoptheroof.NumitorbracedhimselfamomentbeforethefreefallingEighthwerescattered,allcoherencelostastheirdropvectorwashitbythepressurewave.Flunghighwith his helm readouts haywire, Numitor fought to claw back some kind ofcohesion.Hisgreataxewasthrowinghisbalanceoff,butheheldittight.Ittookhimamomenttofindhisequilibriumandrejoinhissquadastheypulledbackintoformation.Thecrimsonwarsuit,attendedbyaclusterofitsfellows,wasboundingtowardsthemfromthedarknessofthesouth.Theeliteteamblastedfromoneroof,thenanother,touchingdownonthethirdinacloudofdust.‘Sicarius!’shoutedNumitor.‘Behindtheguntowers!Thexenoswarlord!’‘Iseehim,’saidSicariusgrimly.‘Interceptingnow.’‘Withme,’voxedNumitor tohissquad.Flingingouthis legs,heengagedhisjumppackandhurtledtowardsthehexstructurewiththecircularcrestofthetaumilitary.Thesheerpowerofthepack’sturbineswasincredible–thefuelOmnidhadprovidedwasarevelation.Numitor’s attention was drawn for a moment to the chain of transmotivesslidingsoundlesslyaroundtheperimeterofthetower.Indistinctfiguresmassedinside.Somethingabouttheirrangysilhouetteswasstrangelyfamiliar.ThenNumitor’smortis signals blipped, and a pair ofmissiles shot past him,explodinguponEnitor’spauldronandhip.Theveterancriedoutashespiralledoutofcontrol.‘I’mdown!’‘Wewillmakethempay,’saidNumitorgrimly.Threeofthetauwarsuitswereboosting towards them, the quad-cannons on their shoulders spitting thinlozenges of plasma. Numitor twisted away, but their aim was sound, and the

volleyswereunavoidable.‘Brace!’heshouted.Aflaringsphereofenergy,andherocketedthrough,unscathed.‘Ironhalo,captain,’saidApothecaryDrekos.‘Getusedtoit.’Numitorreleasedadeepbreathinsidehishelm,silentlythankingAtheusforthegiftfrombeyondthegrave.Another pair of missiles streaked up towards them from the warsuit groupbelow.ThistimeNumitorwasready,battingthembothawaywithawidesweepof his greataxe and bursting through the resultant cloud of flame. The axe’sswingwasabsurdlyheavy,andthemomentumthreatenedtounbalancehim.Thistime he went with it, twisting around as he shot like a bolt of blue lightningtowardsthethreexenoswarsuits.Hebroughttheartefactweaponaroundinawideloop,trustingtohisinstincts.Theaxe’sedgestruck thefirstwarsuitsohard it ripped thechestunit in two,the fleshy ruin of the hewn pilot inside flying out of the control seat in anexplosionofbloodandsparks.Asplit second laterNumitorcollidedshoulder-firstwith themachine’s remains. It flewbackwards into thewarsuit behind it,knocking it off-balanceas it tried tododgepast.Numitor sawanopeningandthrusttheaxeoutone-handedrightintoitspath.Theedgeofthebladeclippedthesecondbattlesuit’sheadunitfromitsneck,sendingitspinningendoverendtosmashintothetowerbelowinanexplosionofrockdust.‘Blessedaquila,’saidNumitorinsurprise.‘Afittingstart forournewLordExecutioner!’ laughedVelluasheknockedaveeringmissile asidewith his combat shield, thrusting his power sword downthroughtheneckofthewarsuitthathadfiredit.‘Timeforback-slappinglater,Vellu,’saidDrekos.‘Atthem!’Numitor, overshooting the tower after his deadly strike, planted his feet on ajuttingantennaearrayinstead.Hesprungupwardstoboundovertheremainsofashatteredguntower,hiscommandsquadfollowingsuit.As soon as they crested the lip, Numitor’s world exploded into light. Ahorizontalstormofplasmagreetedhissquad,blastingDrekos,VelluandZaetusbackovertheroundedwallofthetowerinashowerofvaporisedblood.Numitorwasstrucktoo,buttheenergiesofhisironhalodissipatedthefirstvolley,thenthesecond.The thirdhitwithaseriesofstabbing,agonising impacts.Numitorcrashed awkwardly to the rubble-strewn ground, his momentum sending himtumblingheadoverheelstolandinasmokingpileoflimbsasAtheus’greataxeskitteredaway.

The crimson warsuit loomed over him, its bodyguards close behind and thebarrelofitscylindricalplasmagunlevelledathishead.‘Disappointing,’itsaidinaccentedLowGothic.Therewas a clattering thud as SquadSicarius slammed into the enemy fromabove,closelyfollowedbyastringofexplosionsfromtheirboltpistolfire.Thecrimsonwarsuitwasonlydistracted for thebriefestmoment,butNumitorwasalready rolling away. Then Sicarius was in the thick of them, spinning andwhirling,hisTalassarianbladeablurasitcutthroughlegs,wristsandweapons.Aburstofplasmafromhispistolknockedbackthefirstwarsuitlongenoughforhimtoramhisbladeupunderitswaistgimbalandintothecockpit.Asharpkicktook the leg from the second even as its rotary cannon spat fire. Sicariuswasalreadyunderit,ashoulder-lungeboostedbyhisjumppack’senginesslammingthethingintothewall.BeforeitcouldrightitselfSicariusfiredhisplasmapistolthroughthething’svisionslit,asidelongblastofbluelightmarkingthepilot’sdemise.Ateamofthreewarsuitshoveredinclose,weaponslevelledatSicarius’back.Denturis hit them like a charging bull, twin chainswords shrieking as theygnawed through metal to take the barrels from their guns one after another.VeletanandColnidfiredboltpistolsat jointsandsensorsastheystrodein, theexplosions tearing the hesitating tau suits into pieces.Another teamhove intoview, only for Kaetoros to slam down in front of them, his flamer blasting ageyserofpromethiumflamesointenseitknockedthewarsuitsbackwards.Theirblazing hulks staggered away, two falling back over the edge of the tower ascracklingfireballs.Thethirdhoveredupward,aburningdevilinthesky,beforeaplasmashotfromSicariusblasteditlimbfromlimb.Omnid’salchemywiththefuelhadpaidoffadozentimesover,thepyreofdeadtaubelowafittingtributetohismartyrdom.Suddenly the crimson warsuit shot upwards, the flight vanes on its jet packanglingasitsoareduptotheringofbluelightscirclingthehighestofthehex-towers.‘Afterit!’shoutedSicarius.‘Surroundit!Abackblastofflame,acloudofpromethiumstink,andSquadSicariushurtledafterthexenoscommanderintothedarkeningskies.Numitorrecoveredhisaxe,crackinghisneckashisbattleplaterandiagnostics.Hewas hurt, but not out of the fight,more than could be said forZaetus andVellu.Theirstatussigilsallshowedtheredofcriticaldamage.Drekossentthehelixrune;hewasdownthereattendingtotheirwounds,buttheywouldnotbe

backinthefraybeforeitwasover.‘Thankyou,Cato,’saidNumitortotheblueflamesdisappearingintothenightabove.‘Iwillrepaythefavoursomeday.’‘Wearebrothers,arewenot?’camethereplyoverthevox.‘Nowgetbackupandputthatoversizedmeatcleavertouse!’Smilingtohimself,Numitorleapedupintothenightonapillarofflame.

Thelightsofthetallesttowerflashedby,goldinthedarkness,asJorusNumitorshotupward.‘Permissiontojoinyou,captain?’Magros roaredupalongsidehim, the redhelmof thesergeantclampedathiswaistandTrondoris’six-footevisceratorheldacrosshisshoulder.‘Verymuchso,’saidNumitor.‘Decidedagainstthehelmthistime?’‘Twenty-eightyearsofdoingthingssensibly,’camethereply.‘Itistimetofeelthewindinmyface.’TherestoftheMacraggiansroaredupwards,comingalongsideNumitorasone.Golotan,hiscrackedceramiteweldedwhole inaspider-web traceryacrosshischest,sketchedanaerialsalute.‘Tohaveyouatthetipofthespearisarelief,’saidDuolor,holdinghisplasmapistolinbothhandsathissideasitrecharged.‘Andtowelcomeyoubackisapleasure.’‘Theredwarsuitleadsusintoaverticaltrap,’saidAordus,jumppackflaringasheswoopedwithinahand’sbreathof thehex-tower. ‘Letusnotmakeaneasytarget.’‘Goodadvice,Aordus,’ saidNumitor. ‘Everyone close to thewall, and readyfrags.’Thecaptain’sfuelgaugewasdroppinglow,buttherewasstillenoughtogettothe top of the tower. The tau commander had been banking on the AssaultMarineshavinglimitedreach,butonceagainhehadunderestimatedtheEighth–andNumitorintendedtomakehimpaydearlyfortheerror.Eitherthat,orAorduswasright,andNumitorwasabouttorepeatthemistakethathadcosthimhiscommandsquad.Thegiantgoldorbsthatstuddedtheexteriorofthetallesthex-towerflashedby,thenaluminousstripofglasteel-analogue,theviewinggallerybeyondemptyofallbutlight.‘Calgarians!’ he shouted. ‘Letme take the first volley! The rest of you burnslow!Grenadesonmymark!’

TheAssaultMarines fellbacka little,enough toclaimtheyhadfollowed theorder,butnotenoughtopreventthemfromtakingsomeoftheshotsmeantforNumitorifitcametoit.Thecaptainclenchedhisteethinfrustration.Notimetoreprimandthem.‘Now!’’Fourfraggrenadeswereflungupwards,crestingthetower’srooftodetonateinadevastatinghailofshrapnel.Numitorbracedhimselfforastormofplasmaashecrestedthelipofthetower.Nothing.Sicariusstoodinthecentreoftheroof,histempestbladeheldoutwidewithhissquad close by. The crimson battlesuit stood alone before him,maybe twentyfeetdistant,theboxyblasteronitsforearmheldbehindalong-barrelledplasmaweaponandashimmeringdiscofforce.Numitorwas about to hurtle in for thekillwhenhe recognisedwhenhehadseenSergeantSicarius’stancebefore.ItwastheengardeofaTalassarianhonourduel.

CommanderFarsighttookineverydetailoftheSpaceMarinewarriorthatfacedhim.The creaturewas stocky, but powerful – half the size of a battlesuit andnowherenearaswellarmed.Buthehadseen thesecreatures fight.Theywerestrong, fast, and determined; those thatwore the coloured helms of their elitemostofall.Thisone,byitsstance,wantedtofighthimandhimalone.Farsight felt theweight of theCode of Fire upon him.He had contingenciesleft:twoofthem,infact.Buttherewasnowayhewouldrefusethisduel,evenifthere were no other living soul within a hundred leagues – and no way hiswarriorswouldbreachthecodebyinterruptingit.Thiswastauagainsthuman,theGreaterGood versus the Imperium ofMan. The clash of two spacefaringempiresepitomisedbytworivalavatarsofbattle.Itcouldnotbedenied.‘Yourname,bladesman?’‘SergeantCatoSicariusofTalassar,UltramarinesEighthCompany.’‘IamcalledShas’oVior’laShovahKaisMont’yr,Commanderof theSecondSphere.’‘Meaninglessnoisetome,alien.Iwilltakeyourhead,fortheImperiumandforthoseofmybrothersyouhavekilled.’‘Thenyoumaycallmedeath!’

Farsightsprinted forward,honourpennants flutteringbehindhimashe raisedhisrifleandfiredadoubleblastofplasmaatthegue’ron’sha.Hisadversarywasalreadyleapingaside,justasthecommanderknewhewould.Farsightswepthisfusionblaster’sbeamaroundtwofeetfromthegroundtotakethewarrior’slegs,but the bladesmanwas already leaping over it with a blast of his jump pack.LevelwiththeXV8’shead,theSpaceMarinekickedouthard,almosttearingthesensor node from the battlesuit’s neck and sending Farsight’s control cocoonscreenshaywireforacriticalsecond.Farsight heard a barking laugh, and sensed rather than saw the sworddescending.Heraisedhisshield,eye-flickingitsfieldtomaximum.Therewasablaze of warring energies as disruption weapon fought shield technology, butFarsight’sgeneratorwasfarmorepowerful,andthebladeslidaway.TheSpaceMarinelandedwithathump,andFarsighttriggeredhisrepulsorjets,his battlesuit gliding backwards a few feet from the ground. Raising a fat-barrelled plasma sidearm, the warrior took a shot as he ran forward with hisbladecarving ina figureofeight.Acannyploy;Farsight’sgenerator flared toprevent the plasma bolt, and in the miniscule lag of recharge his opponent’sbladeslashedawayabigchunkoftheXV8’storsoandmuchofitsrightthigh.Hisdamage control hub flashed, the tinyholographicdoppelgangerof his suitglowingredwherethewoundshadbeeninflicted.Farsightstaggeredbackwards,kickingoutindesperation.TohisrelieftheblowconnectedastheSpaceMarinecame in hard, sending him skidding along the white marble of the EtherealTower’sroof.Withablastofjumpjetsthewarriorwasstraightbackin,theplasmarifleshotswithwhichFarsighthad intended to end theduel flyingwide.His adversary’sglowingbladecamedownagain,andthecommanderraisedhisshield–onlytorealiseitwasafeint.TheSpaceMarinereversedthesword’scourse,spanit,andshearedthebarrelfromhisplasmariflewithnomoreeffortthanifithadbeenapaper tube. A straight kick in the plexus followed, and Farsight reeledbackwards,eye-flickinghisrepulsorjetstokeepfromgoingover.Thisfoe’sstrengthwasinaggression,skillandlimitlessconfidence.Onthewarriorcameagain,thesametactic.Offbalance,Farsightsawhisdoomonthepointofthatsword.Thistimetheplasmasidearmflaredwhite,steaming,butdidnotfire.Astayofexecution.Thenaflashofinsight–aduelwithO’KaisuponMountKan’ji, a flick of the staff,well-timed.O’Kais staggering past tosplashintotheicyriver,faceamaskoffury.Thegue’ron’shawarriorshoutedanoathandcamein,hisswordcracklingblue

inanoverheadsweepwiththestrengthofhumanity’shatredbehindit.Farsightbrought his fusion blaster up in a warding sweep, intending to take his foe’shead,buthemistimedthestrike.Hisfusionbeamwenthigh,takinghisenemy’sbladeinstead.Thetophalfoftheswordspanawaytoclatter,scorchedblack,ontheroof.ThethuggishSpaceMarineroaredlikeawoundedkrootox,leapingforward,hiskneecominguptoforcetheshieldgenerator’spulse–andthenrammedhishalf-bladethroughthevisionslitatthetopoftheXV8’schest.Two feet of jagged metal burst through the slit’s meniscus layer, enteringFarsight’s control cocoonwith a scream of protestingmetal. Its blackened tiprushedtowardshim,ahair’sbreadthfromhiseyeballwhenitcametoasuddenhalt.There was a burst of noise and activity from the other side of the roof.Farsight’s screens, half-crazed by the fading energies of the powered blade’sdisruptioncore,showednothingconclusive.Buthewasstillalive.Fornow,thatwasenough.

CaptainNumitorwas theonlyonenotwatching theduel, andeven then,onlywith the greatest effort ofwillpower.Subvocalisingorders to the battle ragingbelow,heheardtheplaintivevoiceofMalagreaoverthedinofwar.+JorusNumitor,+cameherwheezingtones,ticklingthebackofhismindlikeanitch.+Bewarethelong-hawks.Andlooktothestars.+Frowning, Numitor looked up in time to see a giant shape blot out theDal’ythan gas cloud. Thin strips of light glittered on its underside like thebioluminescenceofsomeoceanpredator.ItwasaslargeasanAstraMilitarumdropship,yetalmostentirelysilent.Suddenlyapairofxenoswarsuitsdroppedoutofthesky.Longbladesoflightblazeddownfromoneofthemtowardshim.Numitor threwhimself aside a fraction of a second before the beams burnedblackholesdeepintothehex-tower’sroof,carvinginagiantXpatterntobisectAorduswherehestood.ThetwohalvesoftheAssaultMarine’scorpsefellapartwithadisgustinghissingnoisebeforeclatteringontothemarbleroof.‘Attack!’ shouted Numitor, both a warning and an imperative. Sicarius spanaround,leapingawayfromthefallenxenoscommandertofireplasmaboltsintothoseenemiesdroppingtowardsthem.Chaos erupted atop the hex-tower as the two warsuits touched down. OnedeflectedMagros’scythingevisceratorwithashimmeringwallof forcebeforepunching him in the chest with a glowing gauntlet. The blow sent the

Ultramarineflyingthirtyfeetacrosstheroof.Theotherwarsuitswipedtwelve-foot long blades of fusion energy across Squad Sicarius. Most of the SpaceMarinesreadtheblowasitcameandevadedintime.Colnid,afractionslower,wasshornintwofromhiptoshoulder.Numitor cried out, hurtling in with his greataxe swinging. The shield-totingwarsuit stepped forward tomeet him, taking the powerweapon on his energywall in a thunderous boom of clashing forces. Off balance, Numitor saw thereturnblowtoolate.ThexenossuitthrewamassivearticulatedfistthatcrashedagainstthefieldofNumitor’sironhalosohardtheenergydischargeturnedhisvisiongreyandsenthimstumblingbackacrosstheroof.The second battlesuit followed up close behind. Rendered monochrome byNumitor’s scrambled photolenses, it swung a blade of pure light atNumitor’shead. The iron halo burned bright. This time, the force field’s icon on thecaptain’shelmarrayfadedoutaltogether.Numitor’ssightreturnedtonormaljustasthefirstwarsuitswungitsgreatfist.Herolledundertheblow,kickingouttofoldthething’skneebeforecomingupwith the greataxe curving in a low arc underneath its shield. The blowconnected, ripping the tau’sshieldarmawaywithsuchforce itsailedoutoverthehex-tower’slip.Numitorgrinnedfiercely,swinginghisaxearoundinakillingarc.‘Nowyoudie,’hesaid.

Farsight finger-pushed failsafes and overrides on every screen of his controlcocoon,desperatelybringingthembackonlineashisautocompensatorsgottheXV8backtoitsfeet.Thesceneontheroofwasuttercarnage.Bythelookofit,assoonastheSpaceMarinebladesman’sswordhadplungedthroughFarsight’splexushatch,CommanderBravestormhaddroppedintothefight,heedlessoftheodds against him and regardless of their prearranged plan. With him was abattlesuit thatwas unmistakeably that ofCommanderBrightsword.His fusionblasters had long, tapering energy blades extending from their barrels thatseemedpermanentlyactive.Farsight had a flashofmemory– a dormant clone in thedepths ofO’Vesa’slaboratorycomplex,itsresemblancetohisdeadfriendBrightsworduncanny.Notimetountanglethatmind-knotnow.TheSpaceMarines,outnumberingthetauthreetoone,wereonthecuspofvictory.Timetoredressthebalance.‘Bravestorm,’ he transmitted. ‘You and your companionmust clear the zone

immediatelytotheappendeddistance.Drone-net,comeincloseonmyposition,suppressive fire. All personnel, prepare for Rala’tas manoeuvre. We have nootherchoice.’‘No, commander,’ said Bravestorm, his XV8 veering backwards as a SpaceMarinesweptanimpracticallylargeaxeahand’sbreadthfromhisplexushatch.‘Icannotleave.Iwillfightatyoursideuntildeath!’‘Bravestorm,’ said Farsight. ‘You are jeopardising my strategy. Leaveimmediately.’Something inhisvoicemusthavegot through to thefearlesscommander, forBravestormblippedthegoldsignofacknowledgementandlaunchedfromthelipofthetower.‘All shaper kindreds, disembark and climb,’ said Farsight. ‘Whoever that iswearingBrightsword’smantle,gohigh.’The warrior shot vertical, carving an X into the roof that sent the Imperialsdivingtoavoidthesamefateastheirslaincomrades.‘Farewellfornow,unworthyones.’Astormofpulsecarbinefireeruptedasadrone-netcloudcrestedthelipofthetower, keeping the SpaceMarines low.The gue’ron’sha returned fire, blastingseveral of the drones out of the sky, but the distraction had bought the timeintended. As his battlesuit righted itself, Farsight watched Bravestorm’s iconconnectwith that of theAftermath, theOrca bearing the commander away atspeed.A water caste accord message, priority gold, spooled across Farsight’scommandsuite.Hereadit,andsmiled.Ahead, several of the SpaceMarines turned to face him, their strange tooth-edgedbladesroaringintheirfists.Hecouldfeeltheforceoftheiranger,sopureitcouldburnanempiretoash.‘O’Vesa,’ saidFarsight, kicking themanual releaseof his suit’s accesshatch.‘Initiate.’Thedistantthrumoftheearthcastehex-tower,representedbyatightsinewaveon Farsight’s control display, spiked hard as an electromagnetic pulse ofstaggering force burst out from its depths. The purple hemisphere of itsperimeterexpandedoutacrossonemile,thentwo,leavingnothingbutdarknessinitswake.

Numitor raised his greataxe for the blow thatwould finally slay the crimson-armouredwar leader, flaringhis jumppack just as apurplewaveof crackling

electromagneticforcepassedacrosshim.Nothing happened. His helm displays dimmed and disappeared, his warsightreducedtowhateverhecouldmakeoutthroughitsreddish-blacklenses.A rising sense of unease swept over Numitor as he realised his armour’ssystems had shorted out entirely. The serial generators of his backpack weresilentas thegrave.Thecaptain tookaheavystep forward, thenanother,but itwasrealeffort.Manyofhissquaddidthesame,stampingtheroofinvoluntarilyasifitsgravityhadincreasedthreefold.Veletanstumbled,andfellwithaheavycrash.Themachine-spiritsoftheUltramarines’battleplatewereutterlydormant.Whathad once been some of the finest personal wargear the Adeptus Mechanicuscoulddevisewasnowlittlemorethandeadweight.Numitor’saxefellfromstifffingerstoclanghardontotheroof.The captain’s sense of rising disquiet increased as he saw strange, hookedhandscurloverthelipofthetower.Avianheads,beakedandquilled,werejustvisibleinthegloom.Ganglysilhouetteshauledthemselvesupandovertheedgeoftheroof–adozen,thentwo.Withagrindingeffort, thecaptainunholsteredhisboltpistol,aimedandpulledthetrigger.Ittoodidnotrespond,itsbelligerentlittlemachine-spiritexorcisedbythetau’snullifyingwitchery.Clawed fingers eclipsed Numitor’s eye lenses for a moment, nimble talonsdisengagingtheexteriorclampswithahissofdepressuringair.Hishelmetwasliftedfree.Thecaptainelbowedbackhard,butdidnotconnect.Ininstantlaterhefeltabladeathisthroat–razorsharp,withenoughpressurebehindittodrawblood.Theoilystinkofthexenosmercenariesknownasthekrootfilledhisnostrils,sopungentitmadehiseyeswater.‘Captain?’askedMagros.Numitorsawthewarriorinhisperipheralvision.Hetoohadabladeathisneck.Allofthemdid.‘Justkillusthen,’growledSicarius.NumitorthoughtbacktoMalagrea’swarning.Bewarethelong-hawk.Theredwarsuitfacingthemwasstockstill,renderedinertbytheelectromagneticpulse.Butthesekroot,avianandstealthy,werenotroboticfacsimileslikethoseintheearthcastefacility.Theseweretherealthing–slendereatersofflesh,skin-takersandcannibals.Theyneedednowar-techtoworktheirhunter’sarts.Ahead,thewarsuit’shatchwaskickedopen,andaslendertauwarriordroppedouttolandinahunter’scrouch.Hestoodslowly,andbowedwithouttakinghiseyesfromNumitor’s.Thecaptainexpectedtoseeanalienexpressionoftriumph

on the flat slab of the warlord’s face, but instead saw something that lookedmorelikesadness.‘Parley,Ithinkyoucallit,’saidthexenos,hisLowGothicstrangelyliltingbutaccurate.‘Verywell,’repliedNumitor.‘Assoonasyouhaveyourpetstaketheirbladesfromourthroats.’‘Ithinknot,’saidthetauwarlord.‘Notyet.HonouredcitizensofPech,pleasestayyourhands.Butifevenoneofthesegue’ron’shamoves,killthemall.’Sicarius spat a gobbet of acidic saliva towards the xenos leader. It landed ahand’sbreathfromhisthree-toedfoot,hissingasitburntintothescorchedroof.Thealiencalmly tookastepbackwards,andmadeacomplexgesturewithhishands.SomethingwhisperedatthebackofNumitor’smind.Theastropath,Malagrea.Thistime,itwasanimpression,morethanwords–atrillionmalevolenteyes,allunitedbyasingle,galaxy-devouringhunger.Forthefirsttimeinhislife,Numitorfelttruehorror.‘You have inflicted much damage upon Dal’yth,’ said the alien warlord.‘ScarreditdeeplyasyoufoughttoconqueritforyourEmperor.ThoughIshouldnotsaythis,Irespectyoufortheskillandstrengthyouhaveshownhere.’Numitorfrowned,butdidnotspeak.Thethreatofimminentviolencehungintheair,almostthickenoughtotaste.ButwitheverypieceofImperialwar-techtemporarilyrendereddormant,andwiththetauabletobringinreinforcementsfromoutsidetheelectromagneticblastzone,asinglehostileactioncouldresultinamassacre.‘Youare faithlessbastardsall,’ saidSicarius, ‘andonedayyouwillbeput todeath,inthenameoftheEmperor.’‘Faith isapowerful force indeed, it is true,’ saidFarsight. ‘Wehaveourownfaith–notinoneofournumberraisedtogodhood,butinamutualdestinythatcannotbedenied.’‘Thinkwellbeforeyoutalkofsuchthings,’saidNumitor.‘Thoughitmaycostmemylife,IfeelsureIcouldsnapyouintwobeforeIbledout.’‘Youwouldattackanunarmedopponent?’ said thealien. ‘Youwouldput thelives of your brothers in unnecessary danger? I thought you had honour, youUltramarines.OristhattheHammersofDorn?’‘Whatwouldyouknowofhonour,’snarledSicarius.‘Iknowthatifitisbroken,itcannoteasilyberepaired.Wetoohaveawarriorcode.’

‘Lies,’saidSicarius.‘For instance,’ said the alien, ‘I would consider it dishonourable to givemycadrestheordertohuntdownandkilleveryoneofyourwhite-armouredmedics,ensuringtheirritualdeathflasksaregroundbeneathourboots.ThatwouldbeastainuponmysoulIcouldnoterase.’Numitorfelthisgorgeriseatthethoughtoftheprimarchs’legacyscatteredinthedust,butstruggledtokeephisexpressionneutral.‘It would be a great shame if matters came to that,’ continued the xenoswarlord.‘Enoughliveshavebeenlost,onbothsides,forus to learnfromthis.Butmyadvisorshaverecentlytoldmeyourmastershaveorderedanevacuation,soperhapssuchextrememeasuresarenotneededafterall.’TheUltramarines glanced at one another in disbelief. Numitormet Sicarius’gaze. His fingers, stiff with the effort of moving the dormant power armour,pickedoutamessageinTalassariansea-cant.Home.In.Danger.‘Isee,’saidSicarius,speakingasmuchtoNumitorasthealien.‘Sobeit.Andifwedowithdraw thisday,alien,youwill simply letus leave?Every last army,craftandtrooper?’‘Yes,’saidthexenoswarlord.‘Youhavemywordonthat,asacommanderofthefirecaste.’This time, Sicarius did not grunt in disbelief. ‘Stand down, squad,’ said thesergeant.‘Thereismoretruthtothisfoulalien’sclaimthanyourealise.’A stunned silence pervaded across the roof. Nine pairs of eyes looked toNumitor,andhenodded,slowlyandsombrely.‘Itistrue,’hesaid.‘Ultramarisindanger.’‘Citizens of Pech,’ said the warlord, ‘release these ones. They are under theshieldoftruce,andmustreturntodefendtheirownplanet.’Numitorfelttheknifeblademovefromhisthroat,hisaugmentedbloodclottingwithinsecondsasthestinkofthekroot’sproximityfadedaway.‘Allies can bemost useful, captain,’ said the tau commander as he turned toNumitor,‘andsometimesfoundinthestrangestplaces.’Amassivedrop shipbellieddownoutof the clouds, its rampextending as itnearedthehex-tower’sroof.Apairsofbattlesuitsdescendedgracefullyfromtheportals on the side of the craft. Extending their manipulator gauntlets, theyreached under the inert warsuit and bore it upwards with a loud thrum ofrepulsorjets.Thealienwarlordwaitedfortheship’sramptotouchtheedgeofthetowerand

stepped onto it,making another complex gesturewith his hands as he backedaway.‘Our civilisationswill cross paths again,’ said Sicarius. ‘That I promise you,alien.Andonthatday,therewillbeblood.’‘Iamsureofit,’saidthexenoswarlordsadly,turningandwalkingslowlyintothecraftasitdriftedtowardsthestars.

EPILOGUE

CommanderFarsightheardthelowchimeof thebedchamber’sportal.Steelinghismind,hestoodupfromthespartanreclinerofthedorm-cell.Attheheadofthe recliner was Sha’vastos’ neatly arranged dress uniform, old fashioned butimpeccablypresented.Farsight’skneesachedfromsitting in thesamepositionforsolong,andhehadnotfeltameditativecalmforalmosttworotaa,butbythelookofthesymbolshowingonthedoorpanel,hislongvigilwasatanend.The commander cast a last glance behind him, through the window slit.Farsightcould justsee theAftermath in thedistance, its cargohold sealedandthestasiscasketsafelyinside.‘Thistime,itisIthatoffersyoucontrition,oldfriend,’hesaidsoftly,touchingthedressuniformonthechest.Walkingtotheportal,hesteeledhimself,straighteninghisapparelandstandingasuprightashecould.‘Open,’hesaid.Thepanelsoftheportalslidintotheirrecesses.TheforceofAun’Va’spresencestruckFarsightlikethefirstraysofthedawn.TheEtherealMasterwasstandinganarm’s lengthawayas if foraceremonialportrait, tall and magnificent in his robes of office with his ethereal guardflankinghimoneither side.The sheer auraof authoritywasoverwhelming. ItwasallFarsightcoulddonottofalltohisknees.‘Commander Farsight,’ said Aun’Va, his brow furrowing the tiniest amount.‘Anunexpectedpleasure.’‘Greetings,master,inthenameoftheTau’va,’saidFarsight,bowinghishead

andmakingthegestureoftheunworthysupplicant.‘I have come for Commander Sha’vastos,’ said Aun’Va. ‘It is time for hisneuralcommunewithMasterPuretidetocometoanend.Asamarkofrespectforhiscommitment,Iwillaccompanyhimtothelaboratoriesmyself.Handhimoverimmediately,thatwemightbegintheextractionprocessonschedule.’‘I understand your intent, master,’ said Farsight. ‘Unfortunately, I cannotcomply.’‘Andwhyis that?’askedAun’Va,eyesnarrowing.Farsightfelt thefeelingofthesun’sraysfade,replacedbyachillascoldasthevoid.Hebunchedhissoulinto a tight fist, and said thewordshehadbeenpractising for an entire rotaa.Stilltheydidnotcomeeasy.‘CommanderSha’vastosgavehislifeinthebattleforAth’adra,dyinginpursuitof the Greater Good. His body was burned so severely it was completelyunrecoverable.’Alongpausestretchedout,coldanddeathly.‘Thatisterriblenews,’saidAun’Va,hisexpressiongrowingsternerstill.‘Itis,’saidFarsight.Thetwotaustaredunblinking,eyeslocked.Farsightkepthisexpressioncalm,buthefelthismindbeingswallowedbytheinfinitedepthsofthoseblackorbs,drowning,spinning,comingapart.Justasitfeltasifhissoulwouldunravelcompletely,confessionsspillingfromhislips,theEtherealMasterspoke.‘Agreatshame,’saidAun’Va.Farsightfoughthiswaybacktosomesemblanceoffocus.‘Suchisthecostofvictory,’hesaidquietly,dippinghisheadinsorrow.Withoutanotherword,theEtherealMasterturnedonhisheelandsweptaway,hisceremonialrobesfanningoutbeforehim.Hishonourguardfollowedwithoutsomuchasglancingbackward,theirbacksasstraightastheirduellinghalberds.Farsight waited until they had passed into the vector lift at the end of thecommunalhousingunit’scorridor.Then he closed the portal to Sha’vastos’ room, keyed off all systems, andallowedhimselftocollapse.

The Imperial dropship Harsh Finality roared and shuddered into high orbit,makingitswaytothemusterpointatBrimlock.CaptainNumitorstaredlongandhard through a mildewed viewport at the hexagonal structures covering thesurfaceofDal’ythPrime.Theplanetbore thescarsofwar, longswathesof its

surfacediscolouredbysmokeandragingwildfire.Gel’brynCitywasjustoneofthewarzonestheImperiumhadtorndowninflamebeforetheTauEmpirehadmustereditsarmadainearnest.Theconvergingfleetsoftheotherseptworldswerevisibleinthefardistance,asilveredswarmglintinginthefirmament.Agoodenoughreasonforwithdrawal,andonethatwouldmollifymanyanImperialofficial.Butnotthewholetruth.Notevenclose.LordCalgarwasright.Therewassomethingstrangelyinsectileaboutthesetau,ordered and neat in their honeycombworlds. They allworked together in thenameofsomeephemeralutopia,unawarethatimminentdisasterhung,coldandmerciless, above their heads. With all their technology, with all their talk ofhonour and progress, the tau still had no comprehension of the horrors thatawaited them as they stepped away from the flickering candle of theircivilisationandoutintothehungryvoid.Thegalaxywasacold,darkplace.Onlyonethingcouldthrivethere,eternallyviolentandunrelenting.TheImperiumhadmadesureofit.

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

PhilKellyistheauthoroftheWarhammer40,000DamoclesnovellaBloodOathsandtheWarhammertitlesSigmar’sBloodandDreadfleet,aswellasanumberofshortstories.HeworksasabackgroundwriterforGames

Workshop,craftingtheworldsofWarhammerandWarhammer40,000.HelivesinNottingham.

AnextractfromFarsight.

Commander Farsight was struck by a dozen bullets at once. The solid slugspunched into the armoured plates of his Crisis battlesuit, each hitting hardenoughforhimtofeelwithinitscontrolcocoon.MoreimpactsdentedtheochreplatesoftheXV8’sexterior.Heswunghisshieldgeneratortoblockthegunfire,the shallow dome it projected rippling at each impact. Above his commandsuite’sdamagedisplay,aholographicdoppelgangerofhissuitpulsedred.Theorksinthestormoutsidewereshootingatanythingthatmoved,roaringintheirbestial tongueas theyemptiedtheirgunsinto thetempest.Theirfusilladehad raw kinetic power, but little chance of penetrating a battlesuit’snanocrystallinealloy.Farsight’seliteCrisisteamscouldtheoreticallyrideoutanorkvolleywithnomorethansuperficialdamage.EvenabasicXV8pilotcouldholdoutlongenoughtokillhisattackers.Thecadre’sfirewarriorinfantrycouldnot.Taubodieslitteredtherustdunes,chewedtodismalruinbythekillerstormandtherelentlesshailoforkfirepower.‘Beasts,’ spat Farsight, recalibrating his plasma rifle for close-rangeengagement.Withthehowlinggaleturningtheairredwithoxideparticles,long-distancemarksmanshipwasoutofthequestion.Therewas amomentary lull in the din of battle. Sensing an opportunity, thecommanderbroke left into thestorm.Hekepthisshieldraisedandhiscowledhead-unitturnedawayashissensorsextrapolatedthepathsofthelargestcalibrebullets to strike him. Ghostly lines flickered across his targeting bay, each aballistictrajectory.The analysis was complete in a microdec, confirming the firing solutionFarsighthadalreadyputinplace.Hisindexfingertwitchedthreetimes,andthelongcylinderofhisplasmariflesearedwithstaccatobursts.Eachboltofplasmasilencedaheavygunhiddeninthestorm.Farsight’shumourlesssmilesoonfellaway.Suchkillswouldhavebeenroutine

inanopenbattlescape.Inthetrainingsimulationshehadundertakenasacadet,he had taken entire waves of orks apart with systematic efficiency. But therealityofArkunashawasworsethanTutorSha’kan’thashadeverimagined.The immense tornados haunting the rust planet’s wilderness whipped greatswathes of its ferrous deserts into the air, flinging tiny metal fragments at aterrifyingpace.Anunarmouredtauwarriorwouldbechewedtoruinbeforehecouldescapethestorm.Eveninsidehisbattlesuit,Farsightcouldpracticallyfeelthe airborne rust gnawing at him, its violent energies rendering his suit’sblacksun filter next to useless. As well as disrupting any kind of electronicsurveillance,thetempestmadeitimpossibletomaintainbattlefieldcohesion.Fortheorks,aracethatthrivedonanarchy,thestormwasaninconvenience.Forthetau,itwasanightmare.Thecommanderscannedlefton instinct.Sureenough,aknotofhulkingorkswasbarrellingoutofthemurk.Theywerealmostasbroadastheyweretall,cladinsoiledclothandbeatenmetalplate.Intheircallousedfiststheyclutchedcrudebludgeons,whirringmechanicalaxesandboxypistols.Theirbucket jawshunglow, exposing blunt yellow tusks. The orks charged, roaring like hungrypredatorshuntingfreshprey.Theyfoundsomethingelseentirely.The commander took a long step backwards before firing, coring the nearestbeastwith a plasma bolt. The second orkwas close behind; a blinding arc oflight seared from the fusion blaster on Farsight’s right arm, and the creaturecollapsedinapuffofscatteringash.Thethirdgreenskinchargedwitharoar,bringingitschain-toothedaxedowninan overhead sweep. Farsight’s rifleman stance became a low crouch, and heblinked his shield generator tomaximum just as the ork’s blowwas about toconnect. The generator’s flaring energy field hurled the ork backwards, thecommander swiftly taking its head with a plasma shot to the jaw. The stormsnatchedthething’sdecapitatedbodyintothevortexlikesomanyothers.Farsight recalibratedhis sensors,adjustinghisblacksun filter tomaskout thestorm’s latest assault.Bloodstained corpses lay everywhere, tau and ork alike.Somewere slumped on the dunes, whilst others hurtled through the air uponviolentwinds.Tohis right,Farsight sawa lonegundrone struggle against the stormbeforebeingwhippedintothehurricane.Behindit,ateamofCrisissuitsstalkedoverthecrestofadune,jetpackventsglowingblue.‘Keepyouraltitudelow!’shoutedFarsight.Agoldsymbolofacknowledgement

flickered on his command suite. The wind changed abruptly, and anotherbattlesuitteamemergedfromtheredhaze,CommanderSha’vastosattheirhead.Theoldwarriorpickedoffaclusterofnearbyorkswithpreciseburstsofplasma,histeammatchinghimasbesttheycould.Theorksbroke,scatteringfromsight.‘Wecannotwinthiswar,CommanderFarsight,’transmittedSha’vastosoveraclosedfrequency.‘Wecannotbattletwofoesatonce.Wefightthestormandtheorkinfestation,yetwehavemasteredneither.’‘Keepscanning,Sha’vastos.Recalibrateeverydecifnecessary.ToothJawisinheresomewhere.’In his heart, Farsight knewSha’vastoswas right.The ferrous sands gummedenginevents,cloggedball-and-socketjointsandbaffledelectromagneticsensors.Exactlythekindofscenariohistutorshadsaidtoavoid.‘Allteamscompensateforthestormasbestyoucan,’transmittedFarsightintothe cadre-level net.With any luck, itwould reach at least some of his teams.Somesentthegoldofacknowledgement,alooseconstellationoficonsblippingacross his distribution array. Others remained the silver that denoted anunconfirmedstatus.Aworryingnumberhadturnedthecharcoalgreyofdeath.Thecommanderfelthisthroattighten.Theywerelosing.He pushed on through the storm, his sensors reaching out for signs of hisquarry.Awhite-yellowheat signal flickered, and he bore downupon it at topspeed. A many-armed smudge began to resolve in the rust clouds ahead. Itssilhouette slowly coalesced intooneof thebarrel-bodiedcontraptions theorksusedaswalkers.Thecommander’sfacetwisted,disgustedbythemockeryoftheHero’sMantleconfrontinghim.Thewaddling scrapheapwas a single-pilotwarmachine, buttherethesimilaritywithataubattlesuitended.Such ugliness. Such inefficiency. Yet the thing was clearly dangerous; itshydraulicshearswerecrustedwithtaublood.The commander’s plasma rifle burned a fist-sized hole through the thing’smetalplates.Theorkwalkerstompedonregardlessandreturnedfire, thesolidslugs ricocheting from the invisible disc of Farsight’s shield generator. Themonstrosity’sjointswheezedsteamanddrizzledoilasitcameaboutinclumsy,limping increments. Around themachine came amob of hollering orks, theirporcineeyesglintinginthestorm’sstrangetwilight.Farsightdidn’tneedhissensorprogramstofindthelumpenthing’sweakspot.He broke left, drawing the walker’s ork followers towards him, and thensuddenly burst right. Pounding awide circle to the clankingwalker’s rear, he

slashedhis fusionblaster’sbeam into itsmidsection.The shot cut through theboiler door strapped over its power plant, and thewalker exploded.A ring ofknife-sharpshrapnelburstoutwards.Farsightrolledwiththeimpact,buttheorkswhohadbeenadvancingalongsidethewalkerwereshredded.Asecurefrequencystutteredopen.‘The storm’s eye is moving counter-intuitively, commander,’ transmittedSha’vastos.‘Ourcadrescannotsustainmuchmoreofthis.’‘I realise that, Sha’vastos,’ replied Farsight, firing into a knot of orks as hecamealongsideoneofhisXV8shas’uiveterans, ‘yetunlesswemake it to theeye,escapeisimpossible.Wemustpresson.’Hissensorsuiteflaredaredwarning.Anomalousreadingsspikedasanenergybuild-upbloomedfromhisright,cracklinglikeathunderheadabouttostrike.Inaflashofgreenlight,theXV8shas’uisimplydisappearedfromthewaistdown.Farsight staggered back in shock as the pilot, his legs shorn completely,slithered from the control cocoon. The remains of his battlesuit fell sparkingontotherustdunes.Rightinghimself,thecommanderleanedintothestormandpushedtowardsthesourceofthehideousattack.Hissensorsdetectedmoreofthepowerfulenergyemissions typical of theorks’mechanic caste.He could justmakeout a loosegroupofthecreaturesupahead.Allwerecladinthickpiston-drivenarmour,butone had a strange contraption strapped to its back. Its readings shone withaggressivebrillianceonFarsight’ssensorunit.‘Orkelderslocated,’hetransmitted.‘Allteamscloseonmyposition.’Findingafiringsolution,heloosedaburningboltofplasma.Itdissipatedatthelastmoment,dispersingacrossacracklingdomeofforce.‘Sha’vastos,’ said Farsight, his tone grave, ‘they have portable shieldtechnology.Appendingfootage.’‘SendittoEl’Vesa.It’shisfield.’‘Notime,’Farsightlied.Takingagunman’scrouchbehindthelipofadune,thecommanderjoinedhisfusionblaster’sbeamtothetrajectoryofhisplasmarifleandpouredeverythinghe had at the ork mechanic caste. The primitive power field overloaded in ashowerofsparks,sendinggreenskineldersstumblingbackwards.Theflame-paintedbattlesuitoftheyoungCommanderBrightswordburstfromthetempesttoleapoverFarsight’sposition.Twinfusionbeamscutagreat‘X’intotherustdunes,reducingallbaroneoftheorkmechanicstosteamingruin.‘Die, worthless ones,’ Brightsword said through his XV8’s vocalisers. ‘This

planetisours!’ThesymbolofStealthTeamTar’osaappearedonFarsight’sdistributionarray,thetelltalerippleof theirpassageglidingthroughthestormnearby.Theywereheading to intercept a scrawny ork in brightly coloured attire with a highlyunusualheatsignature.Farsightpunchedthecreature’simageupclose.Forsomereason, the writhing ork was being held in the grip of two much largerspecimens. Some trick of the storm’s lightmade it look as if the beast’s eyeswereaflame.Farsightwatchedtheorkspasm,thebio-signreadingsonhissensorsuitegoinghaywire.Thecommanderfelthisbloodthunderwithinhisveinsasasicklylightpouredfromthealien’seyesandmouth.Blindingwhipsofgreen-whiteenergylashedfromthegreenskin’scranium.SeveralgroundedonStealthTeamTar’osa,renderingtheshimmeringbattlesuitsvisibleforaflickeringmomentjustastheylevelledtheirburstcannons.Thenthecracklingenergiessimplyerasedthetaufromexistence.Crying out, Farsight triggered his battlesuit jets and boosted low through thestormtotheirposition.Athreatalarmblippedinsistently;hehadlefthisfellowCrisispilotsoutofformationinhiswake.Heignoredit.Suchunnaturalhorrorscouldnotbeallowedtosurvive.Ashotfromhisplasmariflecutoneofthecreature’sorkbodyguardsdown,itsmuscular flank burned away. The other ork stepped in, axe raised. AcontemptuousshotfromFarsight’sfusionblastervaporisedit.Before the commander could make another kill, the gangling ork wretchconvulsed,itssnaggletoothmawyawningwide.Heavingforwards,itvomitedakaleidoscopicgeyserofenergythatstruckFarsight’scustomisedCrisisbattlesuitfullinthechest.Fierce spears of light jabbed at Farsight’s eyes as his entire control consolewent haywire. He could see nothing but crazed static, his targeting systemsglitchingandunresponsive.Evenhismotiveunitshadstoppedworking.Unabletofightthestorm,Farsight’sCrisissuittoppledontoitsside.Hisaudiopicked up the ork’s febrile yammering outside. The commander twitched hisfingersinsidehiscontrolgauntlets,eachgesturecallingforakill.Nothinghappened.The commander blink-jabbed fail-safe icons, but even they were offline. Hecould see a yellowish fluid bubbling through his hatch seals, its suffocatingstenchfillingthecocoon.Histhroatwasscorchedwitheverygaspingbreath.Heyankedhardatthemechanicalreleaselever,butitwasstuckfast.

Hisbattlesuithadbecomeatomb.Farsight took a desperate glance through the plexus vision slit. The controlcocoon was filling with smoke, the stench of burning electrics and ork bilechokinglyintense.Eyeswatering,thecommanderdisengagedhisbuckleclaspsandkickedhardatthemanualreleasepanel.Thesealsdepressurisedwithahiss.Stillthetorsounitdidnotopen.The smell of boiling vomit clawed at Farsight’s throat, eyes and skin.Lungsburning, he braced against the cocoon’s backrest and placed both feet on thehatch.Hekickedouthardandsharp,butitshiftedlessthanafinger’sbreadth.Farsight channelledhispent-upanger and frustration; the firesofdesperationroaredwithinhissoul.Withagreatcry,hepushedashardashecould.Thehatchgroaned for a singlemicrodec, then sprangopen.Farsight fell intothehowlingstorm.Helandedonhishandsandkneesonaduneofsharp-edgedrust,asvulnerableasanewborn.Razoredflinderschewedathis faceandhandsashestumbledawayfromthesparkingwreckofhisbattlesuit.Asuddengalehurledhimfromhisfeet,andthecommander scrambled backwards over the lip of a dune. The rust sliced hisnimblepilot’sfingerstothebone,terrifyingpainwrackinghishandsasthetopsofhisdigitswerecarvedaway.Hefeltterrorcreepoverhismindasherealisedhishandswereallbutuseless.Hecouldnotpilotabattlesuitnow,evenwerehesafeinsideone.Farsightshieldedhisfacetodrawinafoul-tastinglungfulofhotair,gettingamouthfulofrustysandforhisefforts.Hefell,coughinghardassplinteredmetalstabbed him in a thousand places at once.Mind blazing, he tried to focus, tosomehowgraspastrandofhopethatcouldleadtohisescape.An insistentbuzzinggrew louderover thehowlinggale, accompaniedby thethin screech ofmetal. The silhouettes of three ork walkers emerged from thetempest.Rotarysawsattheendofeachoftheirlimbsbuzzedloudly.Agiant of anork stomped amongst them, its suturedbody asmuchmetal asflesh.ItwaseasilytheugliestthingFarsighthadeverseen.Beneathacrownofcracklingantennae,ascarredheadpeeredthroughthestorm,itsleerobscuredbyajuttingmetaljawandthebuzzsawsthatrevvedinplaceofitshands.Thepig-likeeyesofDokToofjawglintedred,litbythefiresofmalice.ThenthebuzzsawscamedowntoendtheArkunashanwaronceandforall.

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