AWARHAMMER40,000NOVEL

CiaphasCain:

THEEMPEROR'SFINEST

SandyMitchell

EditorialNote:

ThisselectionfromtheCainArchiveistakenfromarelativelybriefbutfarfromuneventful,periodofCain'slife,whenhewasattachedtothecommandstaffatbrigadeheadquartersasanindependentcommissar.Reviewingtherecordsofthesehalf-dozenyears,it'snothardtoseewhyhearrangedtobe reassigned toa regimentonactive serviceat the earliest opportunity, as even thiswouldhaveseemedrelativelysafeincomparisontosomeoftheassignmentswhichcamehisway,aconsequenceofhisunwantedreputationforheroismwhichheseemstohavefoundbothnaturalandinconvenientin the extreme. (A reputation which, true to form, he continues to insist throughout the currentextractiscompletelyundeserved.Manyofmyreadershavetakenthisclaimatfacevalue,andmanyothers have construed it as a rather engaging blindness to his own virtues, having known himpersonally,Itendtotheviewthatthetruthisalittlemorecomplicatedthaneitherpostulation.)IhavealreadydisseminatedseveralofhissubsequentexploitswiththeValhallan597th,andsee

no need to recapitulate the circumstances of his finally getting his wish. Instead, I've chosen toconcentrateonwhatmayhavebeenthepivotalincidentofthatperiodofhislife,theconsequencesofwhichwere to reverberate fordecades tocome.Withhindsight, too,wecandiscern the first faintbreathofwinddestinedtobecomeastormwhichthreatenedtoengulftheentireEasternArmbytheturnofthemillennium.I was also influenced in my choice of material by the reflection that this selection answers a

numberofquestionsraisedandleftopenbysomeofthepreviousextractsI'veeditedandcirculatedamongmy fellow inquisitors, not least ofwhich is the nature of his connection to theReclaimersAstartesChapter;andthecircumstancessurroundinghisinvolvementintheirill-advisedboardingofthespacehulk''SpawnofDamnation''.SincethedetailsofhisappointmentasImperialGuardliaisonofficertotheChapter,andhiseventfuljourneytomeetthem,havebeencoveredinoneoftheshortextracts I'vealreadydisseminated, I'vechosennot torepeat thematerialhere,but tobeginCain'saccountofeventswiththeViridiaCampaignitself.Asalways,I'veendeavouredtoclarifymatterswhereappropriate,bytheuseoffootnotesandthe

interpolation of additional information by other hands, especially where Cain's habit ofconcentratingontherelativelytrivialincidentswhichaffectedhimpersonallythreatenstolosesightofthebiggerpicture.Thebulkofwhatfollows,however,isunadulteratedCain,andasidiosyncraticasever.

AmberleyVail,OrdoXenos

ONE

IT'SNOTOFTENI'mhappytofindmyselfheadingintoawarzoneasfastasthewarpcurrentscancarryme,butinthecaseoftheViridiaCampaignIwaspreparedtomakeanexception.Myjourneytherehadbeeneventful,tosaytheleast.HavingtakenpassageonanAdeptusMechanicustransportheading inroughly therightdirection, I foundmyself fleeingformylife throughanecron tombworld,whichmyhostshadbeenincautiousenoughtostartpokingaroundenroute.Ifithadn'tbeenforthefortuitousarrivalofashipfromtheReclaimersAstartesChapter,therewouldhavebeennosurvivors of the affair at all.As itwas, I'd escaped by the skin ofmy teeth, andmore luck thananyonehasarighttoexpect.Idon'tsupposeanyonewillbelieveawordofit,though[1],soI'llgetonwithataleIcanprove.AsIdoubtanyone'severgoingtoreadtheseramblingsofmine,it'sallacademicinanycase.

Ican'tsayIremembermuchaboutmyfirst fewdaysaboardthestrikecruiserRevenant [2]butthat's hardly surprisinggiven the condition inwhich Iboarded it.When I came to, itwas to findmyself ina spartan sanatorium,occupyingabedwhich seemed far toobig forme,while faces Ididn't recognise swam in and out of the mist which seemed to be hovering just in front of myeyeballs.

'Commissar,'avoicewhichsoundedimpossiblydeep,rich,andresonantasked.'Areyouawake?'For a moment I doubted that, still comfortably insulated from reality by the pharmaceuticals

clutteringupmybloodstream.Tomydrug-addledmind,thevoicesoundedlikethatoftheEmperorHimself,andIfoundmyselfwonderingifIshouldhavespentabitmoretimeinthetemple,andabitlessinbars,gamblingdensandbordellos,butitseemedalittlelatetobeworryingaboutthatnow.IfIhadindeedarrivedattheGoldenThrone,I'djusthavetohopeitsoccupantwasinagoodmood,andtrytosteertheconversationontosafergroundattheearliestopportunity [3].Thenoneoftheindistinctfacesswamcloseenoughformetofocuson,andmemorybelatedlykickedin.

'Ithinkso,'Ihusked,vaguelysurprisedbyhowthinmyvoicesounded.ForamomentIwonderedif itwas due to disuse, and feared I'd been unconscious forweeks, but asmy faculties began totrickleback,Irealisedthatitsimplysoundedfeebleincomparisontotheonewhichhadaddressedme.Almostatonce,memory followed,and I relivedmydesperatedive through thenecronwarpportal,andmyarrivalaboard their ship just in time toencounteraSpaceMarineboardingparty.'Themetalcreatures,'Iaskedurgently'Aretheydead?'

'A debatable point,' one of the trio of giants surroundingme said, and smiled, in a somewhatunsettlingmanner.Amechanicalclaw,which lookedas though itwouldhavebeenmoreathomeattached to a power loader, hovered behind his shoulder, in the manner of a tech-priest'smechadendrites.

TheoneloomingovermeshothimareprovinglookandturnedbacktothebedIwaslyingon.Thoughthinlypadded,itseemeddamnablyhardforaninfirmary.'You'llhavetoexcuseDrumon'ssenseofhumour,commissar.It'snotalwaysappropriate.'Ahandasbroadasadinnerplateslippedbehindmyshouldersandhelpedmetorisetoasittingposition,bringingmoreofmysurroundingsinto view. Gleaming metal surfaces, burnished like a drill sergeant's boots, were everywhere,makingtheplacefeelmorelikeaMechanicusshrinethanaplaceofhealing.Ifithadn'tbeenforthepervasivearomaofcounterseptics,andtheiconoftheEmperor,inHisaspectoftheGreatHealer,

gazingatmesternlyfromthewallopposite,ImightneverhaverealisedIwasinasanatoriumatall.Most of the equipment I'd expect to see in such a place was absent, perhaps tidied away in thefeaturelessmetallockersrangedagainstthewall,andwhatlittletherewasstillvisiblemeantnothingtome.'I'mApothecarySholer,oftheReclaimers.Andinanswertoyourquestion,theirvesselwasdestroyed.'

Whichdidn't exactly answer thequestion, of course, but it soundedgood enough tome at thetime.(KnowingwhatIknownowaboutthenecrons,Iwouldn'tevenhavebotheredtoask,butitwasthefirsttimeI'dencounteredthem,don'tforget.ThesedaysIwouldn'tcountthemoutiftheentireplanettheywerestandingonhadbeenrazed[4].)

'CiaphasCain,'Isaid,incliningmyheadcourteouslyandimmediatelywishingIhadn't.'IbelieveI'myournewImperialGuardliaisonofficer.'

'That'smyunderstandingtoo,'thethirdgiantsaid,speakingforthefirsttime.Liketheothers,hewasdressedinceramitearmourofadull,off-whitecolour,withyellowgauntlets,althoughhiswasinlaidwith a great dealmore ornamentation than the suits of his comrades.He bowed his head.'CaptainGries,commandingtheViridianExpeditionaryForce.Itappearsyourreputationwaslessexaggeratedthanwebelieved.'

'Indeed,' the Techmarine Sholer had introduced as Drumon said, hismechanical claw flexingslightlyashespoke.'Fewmencouldhaveescapedunscathedfromanecrontombworld.'

'Hardly unscathed,' I said, suddenly remembering two ofmy fingers being ripped away by aglancing shot from themetal killers' hideousweapons.Nervingmyself for the sight, I liftedmyrighthand intoview,and foundmyself staringata formlessbundleofbandages, sobloatedwithpadding that no shape hinting at whatever they might conceal could be discerned. As if beingremindedofitsexistencehadflickedaswitch,Isuddenlyfoundmyentirehanditchingabominably.

'Theaugmeticsareknittinginwell,'Sholerassuredme,asifIhadthefaintestideawhathewastalkingabout.BeforeIcouldaskhim,Drumoncutinagain.

'Youalonesurvived,'hesaid,'whenscoresofyourfellowsperished.Twofingersseemsasmallpricetopay.'

'If youput it like that,' I said, 'I'm forced to agree. I didn't evennotice they'dgoneuntil Iwaswaving goodbye to the creatures in the tunnel.' The jestwas feeble enough, I'll admit, but Iwashardlyatmybestunder thecircumstances,and itdid the job,whichwas toconvincemylistenersthatIwasmodestaboutmyso-calledheroism.Timeandagain,I'vefound,themoreIappeartobetryingtoplaydownmyunmeritedreputation,themorepeopleseemtobelieveit.

Drumonseemedsurprisedatmyflippancy,butagreeablyso.Hisbroadface,seamedwithafainttraceryofscartissue,widenedforaninstantwithabarelyperceptiblesmile,beforereturningtoitsprevious immobilityGriesdidn't react at all, but returned to thepoint as thoughnooneelsehadeven spoken, with the single-mindedness of a servitor attempting to follow a simple set ofinstructions. 'I would like a full report of your experiences on Interims Prime at your earliestconvenience,'hesaid.

Technically,Isuppose,Icouldhavetoldhimtokeephisthinlyveiledorderstohimself,astheonlypeopleIansweredtoweretheCommissariat,butthatwouldhardlyhavebeenpolite,orpolitic.Iwasgoingtohavetoworkwithhim,orthepeoplewhoreportedtohim,forquitesometime,andputting his back up beforewe'd even officially begunwouldn't exactly helpmatters. Besides, I'dhavetocomeupwithsomethingforGeneralLokrisandhisstaffbackatbrigadeheadquarters,toexplainhowI'dmanagedtomislayanentirestarship,andsincebothitandtheexpeditionitcarriedhad belonged to the Adeptus Mechanicus, I was pretty sure they'd be taking a keen interest inwhateverImighthavetosayaboutittoo.

Therecertainlydidn'tseemanyharminlettingthecaptainoftheReclaimershaveacopyaswell;

thewiderIcouldspreadmyversionofevents,thelesslikelyitseemedthatanyonewouldbeabletoclaim I'd been somehowculpable. (Which, for once, I hadn't been, just in thewrongplace at thewrongtime,asseemstohavehappenedinordinatelyoftenduringmylongandingloriouscareer.)SoIsimplynoddedagainandtriedtoignorethefirecrackersgoingoffbehindmyeyesasaresultoftheincautiousmovement.

'Ifsomeonecouldfindmeaslate,I'llgetrightonit,'Isaid.'It'snotasifI'vegotmuchelsetodowhileI'minhere.'

ASJOBSOFmakeworkgo,relivingthenightmareI'dsorecentlybeenthroughwashardlythemostcongenialImighthavechosen,butasIprogressed,Ifoundmyselfsettingouteventswithgreatereaseandmorefluency,recallingthemingreaterdetail thanI'dexpected.NodoubtithelpedthatIhadanunexpectedallyinthisendeavour,Drumonhavingtakenituponhimselftodebriefme,andmakingseveralvisitstothequartersI'dbeenassignedonleavingthesanatoriumforthepurpose.AsIrecountedmyexperiences,hewouldaskquestionsabouttheequipmentthetech-priestshadbeenusingtoprobetheruins,andsuchblasphemousartefactsasIrememberedseeinginthedepthsofthetomb world. I had no illusions about the fact that his interest lay in whatever technotheologicalinsights I was able to provide, rather than my company, but as the voyage progressed, ourconversationgraduallywidenedtoencompassothertopics,andIcan'tdenythathewasrathermorecongenialthantheotherAstartesI'dsofarencountered.

Iwasn'ttheonlyunenhancedhumanaboard,ofcourse:infact,thefewdozenReclaimers[5]wereoutnumberedthreeorfourtoonebytheChapterserfswhocrewedthevessel.Ifoundtheseservantstedious company at best, however, evenmore so than the skitarii I'dmet aboard theOmnissiah'sBounty.Their reverence for theAstartes theyservedseemedsecondonly to theirdevotion to theEmperor, and, unused to the society of anyone outside their enclosed littleworld, they remaineddistantlypolite,rebuffinganyattemptatconversationwithformalandstrictlyfactualresponses.

The one assigned to look after me, a youth named Gladden, was efficient, unobtrusive andunexceptionable,somuchsothatIfoundmyselfmissingthepresenceofJurgenmorethanIwouldhavethoughtpossible.True,myaidewasawalkinginsulttotheuniformofanImperialGuardsman,whomadetheaverageorkseemfastidiousandfragrantbycomparison,butI'dlearnedtotrusthisdoggedloyalty,andhe'dbecomeaninvaluablebulwarkagainstthemoreonerousaspectsofmyjob.After someconsideration, I'ddecided to leavehimbackatbrigadeheadquarters,however;partlybecause the notion of Jurgen in close proximity to the finest warriors the Imperium had everproducedmade evenmymind boggle, and partly because I'd got an inkling that Lokris hadmeearmarkedforanotherassignmentfitfor theherohefondlyimaginedmetobe,andIwantedmyaideinplacetoheaditoffwithhisusualobduraterefusaltodeviatefromprotocol.

Theupshotofwhichwas thatDrumonwas theclosest thing Iwas likely to find to a tolerablecompanionbeforewereachedViridia,andIfoundmyselflookingforwardtohisoccasionalvisits.Onthelastoccasionhedroppedbymyquartershefoundmeannotatingahardprintofmyreportwithaninkstick,andthefaintsmileI'dseenafewtimesbeforedriftedacrosshisface.

'Thenewfingersappeartobesatisfactory,'hesaid,atraceofprideenteringhisvoice.'They are indeed,' I agreed, laying the tedious job asidewith a senseof relief and flexingmy

newly acquired augmetics. I still found their altered appearance a little disconcerting, but they'dstartedtofeellikepartofmyownbodyatlast,andIwasabletograspthingsagainwithoutlookingtomakesureI'djudgedthedistancecorrectlyinsteadofover-orunder-reachingbyamillimetreortwo. Drumon, it transpired, had constructed them himself, collaborating with Sholer on theirinstallation,soitseemedIhadalottothanktheTechmarinefor.Inoddedatthepileofpapers.'At

leastIgotthisfinishedbeforeweleftthewarp,'Iadded.'Thebrother-captainwillbepleased,'Drumonsaid.Asusualheremainedstanding,andseemed

perfectlycomfortabledoingso. Inmy timewith theReclaimers I seldomsawanyof theAstartessittingdown,andwhenIdiditwasalmostinvariablyforsomepracticalreason,suchasdrivingorridinginthebackofaRhino.'TherewillbelittletimeforpaperworkwhenwereachViridia.'

'Isupposenot,'Iagreed,pouringmyselfamuch-neededmeasureofamasec.InactualfactIwasplanningtodoasmuchfile-shufflingaspossible,inpreferencetovisitinganyofthebattlefronts,butIwasn'tabouttoadmitthattooneoftheEmperor'sfinest.

As things were to turn out, though, the insurrection had continued to grow while we'd beentransitingthewarp,andbythetimewearrived,notionslikefrontsandrearareashadceasedtohaveanymilitarymeaningatall.Theentiresystemwasonehugecauldron,seethingwithconflict,andwewereabouttodropintothemiddleofit.

'Haveyoufoundtimetoanalysethestrategicreview?'Drumonasked,andInoddedtowardsthedata-slateonthedeskbesideme.

'I'veskimmedit,' Iadmitted,whichwasthebestanyonecouldhavehopedfor,andagreatdealbetterthanInormallymanagedwiththebriefingdocumentsprovidedbytheMunitorum.Usually,Ifound farmore pleasantways of spendingmy time aboard ship thanwading through the turgidprose of Administratum drones, whose conclusions would invariably turn out to have beenovertaken by events while we were transiting the warp in any case, but the Revenant wasconspicuouslylackinginrecreationalopportunities.'PacifyingViridialookssimpleenough.'

Atthetimemyconfidenceseemedmorethanjustified.RebellionsinbackwatersystemslikethisonetendedtobesparkedbygrievancesagainsttheplanetarygovernmentratherthantheImperiumitself,andthearrivalofafewGuardregimentswasusuallyenoughtobringbothsidestoheel.Sofar as I could see the situation hardly merited the deployment of the Astartes at all, and theReclaimerswouldundoubtedlyhavefoundbetterusesfortheirtimeifithadn'tbeenforthefactthattheViridiaSystemwasamajorsupplieroffoodandrawmaterialstothehive-worldsofthesector:unless the flow of tithes was restored in pretty short order they'd begin to suffer socially andeconomically in turn, leading to awave of instabilitywhich, left unchecked,would drag down adozenworldswithin a decade.Themanpower and resources required to dealwith thatwould beincalculable.

'Iconcur,'Drumonsaid,withalltheconfidenceIwouldhaveexpectedfromoneoftheEmperor'schosen,andImustadmitthatIconsidereditmorethanjustified.Theaverageinsurrectionistrabblewouldn'tlastfiveminutesagainstacoupleofdozenGuardsmen,letalonethegeneticallyenhancedSpaceMarines.Hemighthavebeenabouttosaymore,butthefamiliardisorientatingsensationofastarshipslippingthroughthebarrierseparatingthematerialuniversefromthewarpsweptovermeatthatpoint,leavingbothofusdisinclinedtofurtherconversation.

'Idon'tsupposeI'llevergetusedtothat,'Isaid,littleknowingatthetimehowfarandfrequentmy travelswere to become in the ensuing years, to the pointwhere I was able to shrug off thelingeringnauseaalmostatonce.Onthisoccasion,however,IwasmorethangratefulfortheamasecI'dpouredafewmomentsbefore,anddrainedthegobletinacoupleofswallows.

Iwasjustbeginningtofeelrelativelynormalagainwhenthelightsflickered,andafainttremorran through the deck plates beneath my feet. Memories of my experience aboard the Hand ofVengeancea fewyearsbefore sentmyheart racing, and Iwas already reaching formyweaponswhen,afterlisteningtothecomm-beadinhisearforamoment,DrumontoldmewhatI'dalreadydeducedformyself.'Weappeartobeunderattack,'hesaid.

EditorialNote:Since,asusual,Cainonlygivesthemostcursorybackgroundtotheeventshe'sdescribing,here

seemsasgoodaplaceasany to insertamoreobjectiveoverviewof theViridiaCampaignat thepointheenteredit.

FromTheVirusofBetrayal:TheCleansingofViridiaanditsAftermathbyLadyOttalineMelmoth,958.M41.

IT'SUNDOUBTEDLYFAIR to say that the first fewmonthsofwhatwas to become theViridianInsurrectiongavefewcluesastothescopeofthechaosandcarnagetocome.Whathadbegunasawaveofpopularprotestagainstthemootedimpositionofatwopercenttaxonincenseandvotivecandles by the Administratum erupted into violence in several provinces almost simultaneously.Withhindsight,ofcourse,wecanseehowcarefullyeventswereorchestrated,fromthemomentanagent of the conspiracy first slipped the controversialmeasure into the fiscal projections for thefollowing year. Despite the protestations of the planetary governor that he'd never seen theproposal,andcertainlywouldn'thaveapproveditifhehad,alargesectionofthepopulationlaidtheblame for it squarely at his door, some even going so far as to begin calling him ''Alaric theHeretic''(anicknamewhichthepoormanremainssaddledwitheventoday,albeitnowinjest).

Howmuchof theEcclesiarchy's predictable condemnation of the so-called ''tax on piety''wasspontaneous, and howmuch the result of infiltration of their ranks,we can only conjecture, butthere'snodenyingtheoutragewithwhichtheaverageViridianinthethoroughfarereacted.We'vealwaysbeenproudtocallourselvesanEmperor-fearingfolk,andtheprospectofbeingunabletoafford tomaintain the tiny shrineswhich grace even the humblest hovel, or to do so only at theexpenseofstarvationanddestitution,achoicemanyofourpoorestcitizenswouldundoubtedlyhavemade,wasallbutintolerabletomostoftheproletariat.

In vain, Governor DuPanya pledged that he personally would make sure that the proposedlegislationwasneverenacted.Bythebeginningof928,the''pietytax''hadbecomearallyingpointfor malcontents of all kinds, united only in their dislike of the planetary government. After theinitial riotshadbeensuppressedby theGuardians [6] , backedupbyelements from thePlanetaryDefenceForce in a fewcases, the inevitable casualties among the civilianpopulationbecame thefocusof fresh resentment, and thewaveofunrest intensified.Withwhat seemedat the time tobeastonishing rapidity, butwhichwith hindsight is clearly the result of careful coordination by theshadowyenemywhoseexistenceasyetnooneevensuspected,Viridiabecameallbutungovernable,andGovernorDuPanyawasleftwithnochoicebuttoappealtotheImperialGuardforhelp.

Helpwasnotslowincoming,butthedistancebetweenstarsisavastone,andmanyagonisingmonthsweretopassbeforethevanguardofthereliefforcearrivedinoursystem.TothejoyandastonishmentofallloyalImperialcitizens,thevesselwasnoImperialGuardtroopship,butabattle-barge [7] of the Astartes, bearing not only the matchless warriors of the Space Marines, butCommissarCain,theherowhoseexploitsagainsttheorkishinvadersofPerliahadinspiredbillionsacrossthesector.

Asfatewastohaveit,however,nosoonerhadtheRevenantreenteredthemateriumthanitwastreacherouslyattacked,theanarchywhichhadbythenoverwhelmedourhomeworldhavingspreadtoengulfthevoidstationsandmininghabsscatteredthroughoutthesystem.

TWO

HAVINGNOBETTERplaninmind,IfollowedDrumontothebridge.Ifnecessary,Iwaspreparedtoarguethatmypositionasliaisonofficermadeitmybusinesstoremainabreastofanyunexpecteddevelopments,althoughtobehonestIjustthoughtthatwouldbethebestplacetofindoutwhatintheThrone'snamewasgoingon.I'vebeeninvolvedinafairnumberofspacebattlesinmytime,farmorethananyGuardsmanhasarighttoexpect,andinalltoomanyofthemtheonlythingIcoulddowassitthereandwaitforthetroopshiptotakeahit.Atleastonthebridgeyoucanwatcheventsunfoldinginthehololith,whichintroducesacuriouskindofdetachmentintotheproceedings,asthecontacticonsgothroughtheirstatelydanceoflifeanddeath.

Intheevent,however,noonechallengedmyrighttobethere,whichcameasawelcomesurprise.In fact, the only thing which surprised me more was that until Drumon arrived, there were noAstartesonthebridgeatall.

'Techmarine.'Thevessel'scaptain,whoforsomereasonrejoicedinthetitleofshipmaster [8] ,vacated his control throne and inclined his head respectfully. (Not something the Navy wouldappreciate,havingthemaninchargeabandonhisdutyforthesakeofprotocolinthemiddleofabattle, but the Space Marine Chapters, as I was already beginning to grasp, have a differentperspective on things. Quite how different I wouldn't fully understand for a few more decades,however.)

'Carryon,shipmaster.'Drumonacknowledgedthegreetingwithabarelyperceptiblenodofhisown, and the shipmaster resumed his seat, absorbed again at once in the flurry of informationblizzardingacrosshispictscreen.Oneofthecontrolstationsrangedaboutthehushedanddimlylitchamber, throughwhich themutedchantingandcloudsof incense from the tech-adepts servicingthetargetingsystemsdrifted,remainedvacant,andasthetoweringfigureoftheTechmarinetookhisplacebeforeit,Irealisedthatitwasplacedhigherthantheothers,whereastandingmanmorethantwometrestallcouldworkatitcomfortably.TheotherlecternsweremannedbyChapterserfsinuniformssimilartothoseoftheImperialNavy,althoughtheirinsigniaweredifferent,nodoubtreflectingtheiraffiliationandstatusinsomemannerIcouldn'tbebotheredtoenquireaboutatthemoment.

'What'shappening?'Iasked,andDrumonglancedbrieflyinmydirectionasthoughsurprisedtoberemindedofmypresence,hisgauntletedfingerscontinuingtorattlethekeysofthedatalectern.Ablizzardofimages,changingtoorapidlyformetoassimilate,dancedacrosshisface,reflectedfromthedisplayinfrontofhim.

'Wehave sustainedonlyminimaldamage,'heassuredme,whichcameasa tremendous relief.ThelasttimeI'dbeenaboardavesselunderfireI'dendedupbreathingvacuum,fortunatelyfornomore thanahandfulof seconds,although ithadseemedagreatdeal longer to Jurgenand I.TheRevenantwasmadeofsternerstuffthanthevenerabletroopshipwhichhaddeliveredmetoPerlia,however,beingdesignedtobecapableofholdingherownagainstashipoftheline,andthevoicesaroundmewerereassuringlycalm.

'Whofrom?'Ipersisted,andifDrumonwasirritatedatall,hewastoopolitetoshowit.Bywayofreplyheactivatedanearbypict-screen,andIfoundmyselflookingataslightlyblurredimageofaSystemDefencecorvette.

'Viridian vessel, this is the strike cruiser Revenant, of the Reclaimers Chapter of theAdeptusAstartes,' the shipmaster said, his voice clipped. 'Break off and surrender, or be destroyed in thenameoftheEmperor.'

'They're turning,' one of the vassals said, his voice equallymatter-of-fact. 'Looks like anotherattackrun.'

'Gunnerystationsstandby,'theshipmastersaid,thenglancedatDrumonforapproval.TheTechmarinenoddedagain.'Allweaponbatterieschargedandready,'heassuredthecrew,his

voicecarryingeasilytoeverycornerofthebridge.'Firewhenready,'theshipmastersaid,hisvoiceascalmasifhe'djustorderedamugofrecaf.

'Wait for a positive lock.' The seconds stretched unbearably, the image of the attacking vesselgrowingever largeronmyscreen,until I expected to see raveningbeamsofenergy lancingoutfromitwitheveryheartbeat.

'Targetacquired,'anotherofthebridgecrewsaid,seemingequallyrelaxed,andIfinallyrealisedthatitwasDrumon'spresencewhichwasmakingthemsodispassionatelyefficient.Nobodywantedtobetheonetoletthecrewdowninfrontoftheirmasters,sotheywerealldoingitbythebook,insteadofcuttingcornersandgivingwaytoimpulsiveprofanityliketheGuardtroopersIwasusedtoherdingsooftendidwhenthelas-boltsstartedflying.

Amomentlatertheattackingcorvettebrokeapart,likeaseed-headonthewind,asourstarboardbatteries tore thegutsoutof it, to leavea slowlydissipatingcloudofdebrisdriftingapart in thevoid.

'Whowerethey,though?'Iasked,notreallyexpectingananswer,buttheauspexmanansweredmeanyway.

'TheIFFbeacontaggeditastheLadyHelene,oneofthelocalSystemDefenceboats[9].''Thentheyoughttohavebeenonourside,'Isaid,beginningtofeelthatmattersweren'tgoingto

bequitesosimpleafterall.IfpartoftheSDFhadmutinied,thenthechanceswerethatasubstantialproportionoftheircounterpartsinthePDFhadfollowedsuit(or,morelikely,ledbyexample).

'Acknowledged,'Drumonrumbled,andforamomentIthoughthe'drespondedtomycomment,beforeIrealisedthathe'dprobablybeentoobusylisteningtothevoiceinhiscomm-beadtohaveevenheardit.'Iwillinformthecommissar.'

'Informmeofwhat?' Iasked,alreadymore thanhalf-convinced that Ididn'twant toknow.HisfirstwordswereenoughtotellmeIwasrightaboutthat.

'Thesituationhasdeterioratedsignificantly,'hesaid,withcommendablerestraint.'Accordingtooursignalintercepts,astateofcivilwarnowexiststhroughoutthesystem.'

'Frakking great,' I said, seeing little need to restrain myself under the circumstances. 'DoesCaptainGrieshaveanysuggestionsfordealingwithit?'

I'd got to knowDrumonwell enoughbynow to be fairly confident that the expressionwhichghostedacrosshisfacewasoneoffaintsurprisethatI'devenbotheredtoask.'Interveneatonce,'hesaid,thenbrokeofftolistentoavoiceinhisearpiece. 'Heisembarkinginthehangardeckaswespeak,andextendsaninvitationforyoutojoinhim.'

Not,needless tosay,an invitationIcouldevenconsider refusing. Iwas there to liaisewith theReclaimers'commandstaff,whichbasicallymeantGries,sowhereverhewent,Ihadtogotoo.Atleastuntil the ImperialGuardforces turnedup,andIcouldfindsomeplausibleexcuse togoandbothertheminstead.

'I'dbedelighted,'Isaid,hopingIsoundedasthoughImeantit.

I'D ARRIVED ABOARD the Revenant by teleporter, and been unconscious at the time into the

bargain, so this was my first sight of the warship's hangar bay. My immediate impression as Iwalkedthroughtheairtighthatch,whichslidclosedbehindmewithasquealofmetalagainstmetal,wasoneofpurposefulactivity.TheinevitablecrowdofChapterserfswasbustlingaboutunderthesupervisionofahandfulwhosebearinganddemeanourbetokenedhigherrankthantheirfellows,eventhoughtheiconographyoftheiruniformscontinuedtobestrangetome.Astartlingnumberofthemhadvisibleaugmetics,whicheitherindicatedafairdegreeofhazardintheiroccupations(evenby the standards of serving aboard a warship), or the kind of willingness to voluntarily adoptwhateverenhancementswouldassisttheirworkI'dpreviouslyencounteredonlyamongtheAdeptusMechanicus.Isuspectedthelatter,asI'dgatheredfromtheskitariiaboardtheOmnissiah'sBountythat some kind of pact existed between theReclaimers and the acolytes of theMachine-God, butthere was no time to think about that now. Gries and his entourage were clearly visible in thedistance, towering over the surrounding crewmen, and I set off across the echoing metal plainbetweenusasquicklyaspossible.

LikeeveryhangarI'deverbeenin,thechamberwasvast,buttheveryscaleofitfeltcuriouslycomforting;forthefirsttimesincecomingaboardIfeltameasureofrelieffromthenaggingsenseofstrangenessI'dexperiencedeverywhereelseaboutthevessel,whosecorridorsandhatchwayshadbeendesignedtoaccommodatethegreater-than-humanbulkofSpaceMarines,andleftmefeelingcuriously shrunken. Unlike the docking bays I'd passed through while embarking and departingfromtroopships,however,thevastspacefeltclinicallyefficient.Alltheapparatusrequiredtorefueland rearm the pair of Thunderhawks currently occupying it was neatly stowed, and there was amarkedabsenceofcargopalletsandotherdetritusclutteringuptheplace.

TheThunderhawkswere impressiveenough, too,andI slowedmypacea littleas Ineared thecloserofthem.Theyweren'taslargeastheplatoon-sizeddrop-shipstheGuardroutinelyused,letalone the company-sized behemoths I'd ridden in on occasion, but their blocky solidity lookedimmediately reassuring.Theirheavyarmourcoulddoubtless soakupa lotof incoming fire,andthey seemedmore than capable of dishing it out as well as taking it, judging by the amount ofordnance I could see hanging off their airframes. They were painted yellow and white, like thearmour of the Astartes marching up the boarding ramp of the one I was approaching, theirsimultaneousfootfallsechoingoffthemetalmeshlikedrumbeats,andlookedasfreshasifthey'djust been rolled out for the first time.Havinggathered a little of howmuch traditionmeant to aSpace Marine Chapter, I had no doubt that they were considerably more venerable than theyappeared,perhapsevencenturiesold,buttheirimmaculateconditionwasatributetoDrumonandtheserfenginseershesupervised.Itheartenedme,too,Ihavetoadmit,asIfoundithardtoconceiveofanenemycapableofstandingagainstsuchaformidablevessel.

Itrotteduptherampinthewakeofthepower-armouredgiantsaheadofme,andfoundmyselfina passenger compartment constructed on the same cyclopean lines as everything else sized forAstartes.Onlyabouthalfof theseatswereoccupied,andIscrambledintooneof theemptyones,feelingoddlylikeachildinanadult'sarmchairasIfumbledwiththecrashwebbing.Myfeethungawkwardlyabove thedeckplates, and Iwasunable todraw thewebbingquiteas tightas Iwouldhavewished,butatleastIhadroomformychainswordwithouthavingtoremoveitfrommybelt,aswouldhavebeenthecaseaboardanImperialGuardlandingbarge.

'Commissar.' Gries's helmet turned in my direction, easy to identify, as it was as richlyornamentedashisarmourandsurmountedbyacrestofgreenandblack.'Areyouprepared?'

'BytheEmperor'sgrace,'Ireplied,fallingbackononeofthestockresponseswhichIgenerallyusedtoavoidcommittingmyself,andfeelingitwouldn'thurt to lookabitmorepiousthanusualsurroundedbysomanyparagons.Therewerefifteenoftheminall:Gries'scommandsquad,whichIwas pleased to see includedSholer, his narthecium ready for use onhis left vambrace, and ten

tactical troopers,alreadybrokendowninto twocombatsquads.Mostcarriedbolters,whichIwasmoreusedtoseeingmountedonarmouredvehicles,aseasilyasaGuardsmanhandledhislasgun,while two of their comrades were equipped with heavy weapons it would have taken a team ofordinary troopers to use effectively on the battlefield. One carried a missile launcher, severalreloadspouchedathiswaist,whileanothercasuallyheftedthefirstman-portablelascannonI'deverseen without a groundmount. The faceplates of their helmets were all the same yellow as theirgauntlets,althoughthecaptain'sshonewiththelustreofgildingratherthanpigment.

'MayHewatch over us all,'Gries intoned in response, although, tomy surprise, hemade thecogwheelgesture Igenerallyassociatedwithmembersof theAdeptusMechanicus rather than thesignoftheaquila.

Ididn'thavemuch time to thinkabout that, though,because theboarding rampwas retracting,and the engines fired up to a pitch which left my ears ringing. It might have been fine for theAstartes,whoseheadswerecocoonedinsidetheirhelmets,but itwasdistinctlyuncomfortableforme.Therewasnopointcomplainingaboutit,however,evenifanyonecouldhaveheardme,soIjustpulledmycapdownasfaras itwouldgo,andquietlyresolvedtogetholdofsomeearplugsbeforeIacceptedanotherliftinaThunderhawk.

'Lookinthelockertoyourleft,'thenearestReclaimersaid,hiswordsjustaboutaudibleoverthehowling of the engines, even amplified by the vox built into his helmet.With some difficulty Ifollowed his suggestion, since everything was laid out for far longer arms than mine, anddiscoveredacommsheadsetwithpaddedearpiecesandavoxmiconastalk.Idonneditgratefully,andfoundthenoisealmostinstantlyreducedtoalevelIconsideredbearable.

'Thankyou,'Iresponded,feelingfaintlyfoolish.'This is our primaryobjective,'Gries said, activating apict screen. It seemed someoneonhis

staff had been busy in the relatively short time since our arrival in-system, and hadmanaged togathera remarkableamountof information. 'Fidelis, theplanetarycapital, currentlybeing foughtoverbythreeofthemajorrebelfactions.TheloyalistforcesareduginaroundtheAdministratumcloister,thecathedralprecincts,theMechanicusshrineandthegovernor'spalace,nodoubthopingtherebelswillwhittleoneanotherdownforthem.'Thelandmarkshe'dindicatedflaredgreenonthemap.'We'lldeployfromthepalace.Ifwecanassurethesafetyofthegovernor,thentheEmperor'sruleshouldbeswiftlyrestored.'

Ifoundmyselfnoddinginagreement-alwaysassumingthemanwasstillalive,ofcourse.Ifhewasn't,andhadbeeninconsiderateenoughtoexpirewithoutleavingaclearlineofsuccession,theresultingconfusionasconflictingclaimantsbrawledforthethronewouldprobablymakethingstentimesworse.

'Itakeityouhavegoodreasontobelievehe'sstillincharge,'Isaid,moretoshowIwaspayingattentionthananythingelse.Gries'shelmetdippedinalmostimperceptibleacknowledgement.

'Hemadeapictcastfivehoursago,appealingforcalmandpromisingretributionagainstallwhocontinuedtodefytheEmperor'swill.Therebelsrespondedasonemightexpect.'

'Shellingthepalace?'Iasked,andthecaptain'shelmetinclinedagain.'Giventheamountofdamagethebuildinghasalreadysustained,wecaninferthathemanagedto

survivethelatestbombardmentwithlittledifficulty.'Headjustedtheimageonthepictscreen,andthepalaceanditsgroundsrushedtowardsus,fillingtheframe.EithertheRevenantcarriedsomeofthemostsophisticatedlong-rangesensorsI'devercomeacross,orDrumonhadmanagedtogainaccesstothePDF'sorbitalnet,becauseaccordingtothetimestampinthecornertheimagewasacurrent one. The palace itself showed signs of extensive damage, an entirewing burned out androofless, while the rest of the structure was pocked with the stigmata of heavy ordnance. Theperimeter walls, which had been designed with this sort of contingency in mind, had evidently

withstoodseveralassaultsalready,andbeenshoreduporstrengthenedinafewplaces,although,tomyrelief, Icouldn't seeanyactualbreaches.Themuddywastelandseparating the two,whichhadpresumablyoncebeenformalgardens,wascriss-crossedwithtrenchesandthetracksofarmouredvehicles, several dozenofwhich couldbe seenparked around theplace.Thatwasgoodnews, ifnothingelse,asitmeanttherewouldbeasubstantialgarrisonofPDFloyaliststohidebehindif,bysomeinconceivablequirkoffate,IwastorunoutofSpaceMarines.

Grieshighlightedanopenareabetween the trench lineand thebuilding,whichcommonsenseandexperiencetoldmehadtobecoveredbyemplacedweaponsfromatleasttwodirections.'Thisis our landing zone,' he said. 'My team and the commissar will present our compliments toGovernorDuPanya,whileSergeantTrosque'ssquadwillmoveoutatoncetoensurethesafetyofthecathedralandtheshrineoftheOmnissiah.'

The sergeant, who I'd already picked out by virtue of the chainsword scabbarded at his hip,opposite the holster of his bolt pistol, made no visible sign of acknowledgement, but his voicerespondedatonce. 'Onecombat squad should suffice for eachobjective.Minewill safeguard theshrine,Veren'sthecathedral.'

'WhatabouttheThunderhawk?'Iasked,hopingtheanswerwouldbesomethingtotheeffectofitstayingonthegroundwithitsenginesrunningincaseweneededarapiddustoff,butknowingthiswasextremelyunlikely.

'Seekanddestroy,'Griessaid,whichmadeperfectsense.Withthelocalloyalistsduginatfourknownenclaves,prettymuchanythingelsethatlookedmilitarywouldberenegadeunits,attachedtooneorotherofthesquabblingfactions,andfairgameforthecirclinggunship.'Lettherebelsknowwe'vearrived.'

GiventheamountoffirepowerI'dseenwhileboarding, thatwashardlygoingtobedifficult. Inodded,witheveryoutwardsignofapproval.'Mightaswellstartaswemeantogoon,'Iagreed.

Griesmanipulated the controls of thepict-screen again, and the image changed to an externalview,relayedfrompartofthefirecontrolsystemjudgingbythetargetinggraphicssuperimposedon it. We were still at high altitude, but undeniably within the atmosphere [10] . As I watched,transfixed,thesmokingruinsofFidelisrolledoverthehorizon,andIfoundmyselftryingtopickout the landmarks Gries had highlighted during his briefing. The cathedral was the easiest, stilldominatingthequarterinwhichitstood,despitethetumbledruinsofmostofitsspires.Withthattoorientateme,Iwassoonabletopickouttheblank-sidedslabsoftheAdministratumziggurat,andtheburnishedsteelcladdingof theMechanicusshrine.Thegovernor'spalacewasanothermatter,however, less tall than the others and still somedistance away, surroundedby a cluster of lessermansionsandtheirgrounds,likeashe-groxwithyoung.Aswegrewcloser,itbecameevidentthatmany were burned out, and all had been pillaged, in a manner which put me in mind of mobviolenceratherthanbattledamage.

Thenthepallofsmokecleared,andweskimmedovertheouterwallofthepalacegrounds,toofasttobetargetedbyground-to-airfire,theupturnedfacesofguardsandbesiegersalikeidenticalmasksofastonishment[11].Abruptly,Ifoundmyselfpressedhardagainstthecrashwebbing,asthepilotkickedintheretros,killingourforwardmomentum,thenmystomachseemedtofloatfreeofmybodyaswedroppedtowardstheground.ItwasjustaswellJurgenwasn'twithme,Ithought,ashewaspronetoairsicknessatthebestoftimes,andthiswashardlyoneofthose.Withoutwarning,anork-sizedboot seemed tokickme in the fundament,and thenoiseof theenginesdiedback toalmostbearablelevels.Weweredown.

'Prepare to disembark,'Gries said, as the ramp began to drop, letting in a swirl of damp air,lightlyscentedwithburningvegetationfromtheheatofourlandingthrusters.Trosque'sfire-team[12]deployedfirst,joggingdowntherampandsecuringit;Iwaspleasedtoseethattheyweretaking

nothing for granted, even though we were supposed to be meeting allies. After a moment thesergeantassuredusthatallwaswell,andGriesandhiscommandsquadfollowed.Seeingnoreasontodelayanyfurther,andconvincedthatiftherewastreacheryafoottherecouldbenobetterplacetodiscover the fact than from behind a solidwall of bolter-carrying ceramite, I trotted after them,trying to look as imposing as I could given that my head barely came up to the level of theirpauldrons.

Asmy bootsoles hit solid ground, crunching a little on the ashes and bakedmudwhich stillsmokedgentlybeneaththeThunderhawk,Igotalungfulofsmokeandtriedtosuppressthereflextocough.Nooneelsewas,andIdidn'twanttobetheonetounderminethedignityoftheoccasion.

AsGriessteppedoffthebottomoftheramp,hepausedforamoment,twoofhiscompanionsateither shoulder and an exact pace behind. Taken briefly by surprise, I stopped too, just short ofwalking into thebackofhim,and levelwith theother fourAstartes, completing the line, and,ofcourse,completelyinvisiblefromthefront.

'WelcometoViridia,'someonesaid,andIshuffledsidewaysalittletogetabetterview.Wewereevidentlyexpected,asadelegationhadcometomeetus:ceremonialtroopers,theirgaudyuniformslooking rather the worse for wear by now, who held their lasguns like men who'd recentlydiscoveredexactlywhattheywerefor,andwerereadytoemploytheminaninstant,surroundingaman in robesso ridiculouslyover-ornamented therecouldbe littledoubtas towhohewas,evenbeforeheannouncedthefact.'I'mGovernorDuPanya.'Then,tomyastonishment,hewentdownononeknee.'Youhonourusbyyourpresence.'

'Pleaserise,'Griessaid,thevoxsystemofhishelmet,perhapsmercifully,purginganytracesofsurprise or amusement from his words. 'We have much to discuss, and little time to waste onceremony.'Hereachedup,removingthehelmet,andDuPanyarelaxedvisiblyasthecaptain'sfacecameintoview.Itwasn'texactlyahololith,consistingasitdidmainlyofaugmeticsandscartissue,butitlookedagreatdealmorefriendlythanablankvisageofpittedceramite.'IamCaptainGriesoftheReclaimersChapter,thesearemybattle-brothersandthis...'heturned,apparentlysurprisedtofindmesoclosetohand,'isCommissarCain,ourliaisonwiththeImperialGuardelementsofthetaskforce.'

'ImperialGuard?'DuPanyaasked,standingupashe'dbeenbiddenandgivingmemyfirstproperlookathim.Heappearedtobeinearlymiddleage-althoughIwastoofamiliarwiththenobility'sfondness for juvenat treatments, even on a backwater world like this one, to put much faith inoutwardappearance-andrunningslightly to fat.Hiseyes,however,werekeenand lookedatmeappraisingly.'Iwasnotinformedoftheirarrival.'

'They'restillinthewarp,'Itoldhim,reflectingsomewhatruefullythatIcouldhavesavedmyselfa considerable amount of inconvenience if I'd delayed my departure to travel with them, andwhatever piece of gung-ho idiocy Lokris had been planning to dragme into could hardly haveturnedouttobeworsethanthemetalabominationsI'dbarelyescapedwithmylifefromonInteritusPrime.

'Emperorwilling, they shouldbeherewithin theweek.' In fact they shouldbe therewithin thenextcoupleofdays,ifthewarpcurrentshadn'tshiftedappreciablysincethelastestimateI'dheard,butnothingtodowiththeRealmofChaositselfisevercertain,andIpreferredtoerronthesideofcaution. I raisedmy voice a little, above the scream of the Thunderhawk's engines, which werepoweringupagainnowthatVeren'steamhaddisembarkedbehindus.'Butperhapsthisisn'tthebestplacetobediscussingoperationalmatters.'

'Quiteso,'Griesagreed,hisvoicecuttingthroughthedinasthoughitwerelittlemorethanthemurmuringofwindthroughthetrees.

'Havingcomeheretoensureyoursafety,itseemsalittleunwisetobetalkingwheretheenemy

coulddenyusourobjectivewithaluckymortarroundorasniper'sbullet.'Thisdidn'tseemtohaveoccurred to the governor, who, to his credit, seemed relatively unconcerned at the possibility.Nevertheless, he turned and led theway inside, his escort looking considerably relieved as theyregaineda littlehardcover.Griesandhisentourage followed,while Ioscillatedbetween the twoparties,connectedtobothbytiesofprotocol,butproperlypartofneither.

Aswe reached theheavywoodendoorsof thepalace andpassed inside, I glancedback at theThunderhawk,whichwasrisingfromthegroundlikearaptorinsearchofprey.BeneathitTrosqueandVerenwere leading theirsections towards theperimeterwall, indivergingdirectionsaseachmadeforthegateclosesttohisobjective,andIbreathedsilentthankstotheThronethatI'dbewellundercoverbeforetheseriousshootingstarted.IhadnodoubtthattheAstarteswouldmakeshortworkofanytraitorsstandingbetweenthemandtheirtargets,buttheinitialcontactforbothteamswouldbecloseenoughforustoattractanycollateraldamagethatmightbegoing.

Well, perhaps the Thunderhawk could help clear the path for them. It circled lazily over ourheadsonefinaltime,thenroaredawaytofindsomethingtoshootat.

Watching it go, I felt a faint sense of unease, reflecting that, for better or worse, I was nowcommittedtothedefenceofthisbeach-head,withnowheretogounlessitwasthroughtheenemy.Thenreasonkickedin,andreassuredmethatImustbeassafehereasanywhereonViridia.Afterall, the palace hadn't fallen yet, and it had now been reinforced by five of themost formidablefightersintheImperium.Plusme.Ishouldbeabletoavoidtroublehere,surely.

EditorialNote:Cainhasalludedinpassingtothesubsector-wideimportanceofViridia,butknowingalittlemore

abouttheworld,andthesystemofwhichitisapart,makesitabundantlyclearwhyitspacificationwasimportantenoughtowarrantthedeploymentofanAstartesexpeditionaryforce.ThefollowingextractisalmostasidiosyncraticasCain'sownprose,butservesitspurposeoffillinginsufficientbackground to clarify much of what follows without sacrificing readability to pedantry. AnyonewantinggreaterdetailisreferredtotheCompendiumofTakingsoftheDamoclesGulfandBorderingRegions(Abridged),VolumeMCLXXIV,appendices17,2,378and3,452,691,whichmaybeconsultedatanyAdministratumarchive,oncetheappropriaterequestshavebeenfiledintriplicate.Eventually.

FromInterestingPlacesandTediousPeople:AWanderer'sWaybook,byJervalSekara,145.M39.

THE AGRI-WORLD OF Vidia lies a little to spinward of the more populous regions of theDamoclesGulf, but canbe reached surprisingly easily, due to the largevolumeof traffic to andfromtheneighbouringhive-worlds.Thismakesitausefulstopoverpoint,sincepassagethere,andtowhatever eventual destination thewayfarermay settle upon once its decidedly bucolic charmshavebeguntopall,maybeeasilyobtained.

Itis,however,worthabriefsojourn,asitmanagestocombinebothruralsimplicityandurbansophisticationinamannerwhich,ifnotunique,iscertainlyuncommoninthispartoftheImperium.Inpartthisisduetothesheervolumeofshipping,sinceenterprisinggrainbargecaptainscompeteenergeticallywithoneanothertowringsomekindofprofitfromtheinwardlegoftheirjourneys,ensuringasteadysupplyofoffworldmerchandiseofavarietyalmostunparalleledelsewhereinthesubsector.Asthelocalsayinghasit,ifyoucan'tfinditonViridia,itprobablydoesn'texist.

All ofwhichhasmade theworld itself tolerably prosperous,with a thrivingmercantile class,

who,inthemannerofparvenuseverywhere,fritterawaytheirprofitsongrandiosearchitectureandphilanthropicenterprises intendedtobetter the lotof theartisans,whether theywant itbetteredornot. As a result, the planetary capital, Fidelis, is positively awash with grand public buildings,ornamented to within an inch of their lives and separated by a profuse scattering of parks andgardens.The local populace is hardworking andpious, to such an extent that almost every streetcontainsachapelorshrinetotheEmperor.Notwithstanding,theythrowthemselvesintoanyexcuseforacelebrationwholeheartedly,withtheannualfestivalsdedicatedtosomeaspectorotheroftheagriculturalcyclebeingparticularlypopular.Theepitomeofecclesiarchialarchitecture,however,mustsurelybethecathedralinFidelis,whichinsizeandsplendourcanrivalthosetobefoundonfarmorepopulousworlds,andwhichattractspilgrimsfromallovertheViridiaSystem.

For,unlikemostother agriworlds,Viridia exports agreatdealmore than just foodstuffs.Therestoftheplanetarysystemofwhichitisapartisexceptionallyrichinminerals,andmillionsofitscitizensliveoffworld,inorbitals,voidstationsandmininghabs,dedicatedtoharvestingthisbountyas assiduously as their pitchfork-wielding cousins on the surface do theirs. In fact, it's noexaggerationtosaythataroundhalfthetotalViridianpopulationhaveneversetfootontheplanetthey nominally call home, and never will. The raw material they gather is dispatched to themanufactoria of the neighbouring systems in a never-ending stream, slaking the hunger of theirproductionlinesjustasefficientlyasthegrainbargesdotheworkerswholabourthereon.

THREE

DUPANYAANDHISbodyguardledusthroughthepalaceatarapidpace,downcarpetedcorridorslined with tapestries and through wooden-floored galleries whose polished surface fared badlyundertheheavystrideoftheSpaceMarines,therich,warmsheenofgenerationsofwaxingscuffingand splinteringwherever they set foot.Thedeathmasked facesof thegovernor's ancestors stareddowndisapprovinglyfromthewallsatthiscasualvandalism,althoughDuPanyadidn'tseemtomindmuch,orevennotice;afterall,thedamagewasslightenough,comparedtothedevastationtherebelartilleryhadalreadywroughtonhishome.

TheAstartes seemedequally indifferent,walking in the same synchronised fashion I'dnoticedbefore among their comrades, each left foot striking the floor at exactly the same time, then theright,with the precision of servitors. Every time they took a step the floor shuddered under thecombinedimpact,andIfelttheshockofittravellingupmylegs,tothepointwhereIbegantofeelas thoughIwasaboardsomeslightlyunstablewatercraft.Fortunately thesensationwasrelativelyshort-lived, as, before long, the wooden floor gave way to bare rockcrete, the walls roughlyfinishedinthesamematerial,andIrealisedwewerenowinabunkerbeneaththepalaceitself.Aswe descended several levels, I found my unease diminishing; this hidden redoubt had survivedinnumerableartillerybombardmentsunscathed, andwouldundoubtedlycontinue todo so. Itwas,therefore,withsomethingapproachingalightheartthatIsteppedthroughapairofreinforcedblastdoors, currently propped open by a brace of guards in the same comic opera uniforms as theircompatriots,whoatleasthadthegracetopullthemselvesintoasemblanceofattentionaswepassedthem,tofindmyselfinareasonablywell-equippedcommandcentre.

Dragging my attention from the solid buttresses and thick ceiling protecting us, I caughtintermittent glimpses of pict screens and data lecterns between the towering figures in powerarmourwhichblockedmostofmyview,butcouldmakeoutlittleuntiltheyfannedout,indicatingthatwe'dreachedtheoperationalareaatlast.

'Governor.'Amiddle-agedmaninarathermorepracticaluniformthantheoneswe'dseensofar,resemblingstandardImperialGuardfatigues,mottledingreysandmid-blues[13],lookedupfromthehololithwhichdominatedthecentreofthespace.Afaintlyflickeringimageofthecitywasbeingprojectedinit,spatteredwithiconsIwasfairlycertainmarkedthepositionsoffriendlyandenemytroops. 'TheAstartesareassaulting theenemyoutside theeastandnorth-westerngates.' Ifhewassurprisedtoseemeormycompanions,hegavenosignofthefact,merelynoddingapreoccupiedgreetinginourdirection,andIdecidedIlikedhim,whoeverhewas.Eitherhewaskeepinghismindonthebusinessofdefendingourenclave,orhe'dsimplydecidedhewasdamnedifhewasgoingtolookimpressedbyus,agameIknewwell,andalwaysenjoyedplayingmyself.

Gries nodded, no doubt being kept up to datewith hismen's progress bymonitoring systemsbuiltintohisarmour,andIbegantoregretdiscardingthebulkyheadsetI'dbeenwearingbeforeweleft theThunderhawk. It hadbeenheavy and awkward, true, havingbeendesigned for ahead farlargerthanmine,butI'dgotsousedtofollowingtheprogressofabattlethroughthecomm-beadIhabituallyworethatIfoundmyselffeelingcutofffromeventswithoutit-asensationnomemberoftheCommissariateverfeelscomfortablewith,particularlyoneasparanoidasme.Well,I'djusthavetomakedowiththehololithtofollowwhatwasgoingon.'Theyare,'theReclaimerscaptain

confirmed,'andproceedingtotheirobjectives.Resistanceislight.'FromwhereIwasstandingitlookedliketheenemywerethrowingeverythingtheycouldatthe

twocombatsquads,butIsupposefromGries'spointofview,havingjustseenoffatombworldfullof necrons, a rabble of rebellious PDF troopers afforded little more than a handy bit of targetpractice.

'Thankyou,general.'DuPanyadiscardedhisrobewithevidentrelief,turningout,tomysurprise,tobewearingauniformsimilar to theofficerwho'dgreetedhimbeneath it,butwithout the rankpinsat thecollar. 'That'sbetter.'Hehanded the richlypatternedmaterial to thenearestguard,andsmiledatme,inthemannerofamanimpartingaconfidence.'Can'tstandtheblastedthing,'hesaid.'Makesmelooklikeasofa.'

Icouldn'treallyarguewiththat,soIdidn'ttry.Instead,Iturnedtothehololithandaddressedthegeneral. 'You no doubt know who we are,' I said, 'so I won't waste time with introductions.'EspeciallysinceIdidn'thaveacluewhothreeofGries'scompanionswereinanycase;withtheirhelmetsontheyalllookedaliketome,andIdoubtedthatremovingthemwouldhaveleftmemuchthewiser.'Whatarewelookingathere?'

'The dispositions of all the unitswe're currently aware of,' theman in blue and grey replied,apparentlyjustashappytodispensewiththeformalitiesasIwas. 'Blueforloyalist,yellow,greenandredforthedifferentenemyfactions.They'vebeengunningforoneanotherasmuchasus,sowe'rehappytoletthemgetonwithitwhilewewaitforthereliefforcetoarrive.'

'Ithasarrived,'Gries remindedhim, loomingsuddenlyatmyelbowandstaringat thedisplaywithathoughtfulexpressiononhisface.'Thesedeploymentsmakenosense.'

I lookedat thedisplaymorecarefully, trying toseewhathemeant.Thered,yellowandgreeniconswereclusteredaroundtheblueenclaveslikescumroundanoutfall,eachencirclingwhicheverImperial redoubt fell in the sector of the city they controlled. One each, plus the palace, whichseemedtobeonthecuspoftheirzonesofinfluence,andwhichwasborderedonthesouthandeastbyred,yellowtothenorth,andgreentothewest.

'You're right,' I said after amoment. Therewere concentrations of colour along theirmutualborders,buttheyweren'tcontiguous.Thiswasn'tentirelyunexpected,sincethesquabblingfactionswouldneedfarmoremanpowertofortifyanarbitrarylineseveralkilometreslongthananycouldconceivablybringtobear,butthepositionstheyhadduginatdidn'tseemparticularlystrategic,andseveralpotentialweakpointshadbeenleftcompletelyundefended.

Gries reached for the control lectern, muttering the litanies the enginseers who maintainedsimilarsystemsfortheGuardseemedtoemploywhilefiddlingwiththeknobs.Hemusthavehitonthe rightones, because the three colours suddenly turnedauniformsicklypurple, and thewholepatternfellintoplace.

'ThroneonEarth,'Isaid,horrified.'Thewholecity'satrap!''Clearly,'Griessaid,asthoughitshouldhavebeenobviousfromthestart-which,Isupposeto

him,itmaywellhavebeen.OnlyDuPanyalookedconfused.'GeneralOrten?'heasked,whichatleastansweredthelingering

questionofthefellow'sname.'Whatdoeshemean?''Hemeanswe'vebeenidiots,'Ortenreplied,lookingaboutashappyasanyonewouldbeafterjust

beingstruckbythatuncomfortablerealisation.'Theinternecinesquabblingwe'vebeencountingontowhittlethemdownforuswasjustforshow.'Hesighedheavily. 'I'llremaininmyquartersuntilyoucanconvenethecourtmartial.'

'You'lldonosuchthing,'Isnapped.'Ifthismessreallyisyourfault,I'mdamnedifI'mgoingtolet youweasel yourway out of cleaning it up by jumping in front of a firing squad.'Orten andDuPanyagapedatme,andalthough theAstartes remainedas impassiveasever, somethingabout

theirattitudemanagedtoconveyadegreeofsurpriseaswell[14].'Commissar Cain is correct,' Gries agreed. 'This is no time to deprive ourselves of themost

seniorPDFofficer.'I nodded, following up on the unexpected show of support. 'Right now, we need your local

knowledge.Wecandeterminewhosefaultthisallisoncetherebelshavebeenbroughttoheel.''I'matyourdisposal,ofcourse,'Ortensaid,withsomethingoftheairofaspirejackwho'sjust

hoppedcasuallyoveraventinthehiveskin,beforeglancingbackandrealisingitgoesdowntothesump.

'I'm afraid I still don't follow,'DuPanya said, a trifle apologetically, andGries gestured at thehololithwithayellow-gauntletedhand.

'These troopdispositionsmakeperfect sense if the rebels are acting as a singleunified force.Theycandefendthecityfromoutsideattackextremelyeffectively,andhamperthemovementsofanyImperialassetsattemptingtodeploywithinit.'

'AnImperialGuardlandingwouldhavetotakeplaceattheaerodrome,'Iadded,pointingoutthelandingfieldontheoutskirtsofFideliswhere,inhappiertimes,aircraftandorbitalshuttleswouldarriveanddepart. 'It's theonlyopenarea largeenough toestablishabeachhead.Butonce they'redown, they'd be sitting waterfowl for a coordinated bombardment, from these Basilisk andManticoreunits.'

Orten nodded. 'Which have been targeting one another up till now, or so we've been led tobelieve.'

'Theycanbeneutralised,'Griessaidcalmly.'Nowwe'reawareofthescaleofthedeception,thestratagemwillnotsucceed.'

'Notwhiletherebelsthinkwe'restillfooled,anyway,'Isaid,wonderinghowthey'dmanagedtopulloffsohugeapieceofsleight-of-hand.Thedegreeofcoordinationrequiredwouldhavebeenimmense,taxingtheskillsofevenanexperiencedhighcommand,letalonearabbleofdisaffectedmilitia.Mypalmswere itchingagain,but this timenosudden floodof insightmadesenseofmynaggingdisquiet,soIturnedmymindtomoreimmediateconcerns.'Thetroubleis,themomentwemakeamovetotakeoutthosepositions,they'llrealisewe'reontothem.'

'My assessment as well,' Gries agreed. 'Redirecting our combat squads would reveal ourintentionatonce, as the enemywill certainlybe awareof their intendeddestinationsbynow.'Hestudiedthehololithagain. 'TheManticorebatteryisclosetothelineofadvancewewouldtaketorelieve the defenders of theAdministratum cloister, however. Ifmy battle-brothers and Imake athirdsally,therebelsshouldassumeittobeourobjectiveuntilit'stoolate.'

'WhichonlyleavestheBasilisks,'Iagreed,unabletofaulthislogic.'CantheThunderhawktakethemout?'Ortenasked,andIshookmyhead.'Idoubtit,'Itoldhim.'I'veservedwithanartilleryunit,andthey'realwayspreparedforanaerial

attack.Theminuteitappearsontheirauspexes,theBasiliskswillscatter.We'dgetsome,butthere'snoguaranteeenoughwouldn'tsurvivetomountaneffectivebombardmentoftheaerodrome.'

'Thenyou'll justhavetosneakuponthem,won'tyou?'anewvoicecutin,andIturnedtofindmyselffacingayoungwomaninanevenmoreabsurdversionoftheelaborateuniformmostofthetroopersinthebunkerwerewearing.Thecrimsonfabricwasfestoonedwithsilverbraid,andtheregimentalcrestwasworkedintoherepaulettesingoldthread,whichglitteredundertheluminatorsalmost as brightly as the buttons on her tunic, the top couple of which had been left undone toexpose a generous helping of cleavage.Thewhole ensemble had clearly come from a couturierratherthanaquartermaster,althoughthelaspistolholsteredatherwaistlookedfunctional,evenifnothingelsedid.

'Commissar,honouredAstartes,mydaughterMira,'DuPanyasaid,althoughtheresemblancewas

so strong I'd alreadydeduced that formyself.MiraDuPanyahadobviously inheritedher father'sbuild, although so far the genetic tendency to chubbiness had got no further than a hint of lushripeness around the face, and imparting awell-filled look to her tunic and trouser seat, which Iwouldcertainlyhavetakenthetimetoappreciateundermorerelaxedcircumstances.Herhairwasblonde and elaborately tressed, green eyes gazing in our direction as though somehow faintlydisappointednottofindusmoreentertaining.

'Thatmightbealittleeasiersaidthandone,'Ireplied,addressingherdirectly,inatonewhich,although formally polite, managed to convey the unspoken suffix so run along and leave thesoldieringtotheprofessionals.Unfortunately,Mira,asIwassoontodiscover,wouldn'trecogniseahintifitwaspresentedtohergift-wrapped,withalabelsaying''Hint''arounditsneck.

'Only ifyou'restupidenough tostayon thesurface,where theycanseeyoucoming,' shesaiddismissively, and went to stand next to her father, who was beginning to look distinctlyuncomfortable.Icouldn'tsayIblamedhimeither,asheobviouslyhadamuchbetterideaofwhowewereandwhatwerepresented.

Tomysurprise,though,Ortenwasnoddingthoughtfully.'Youmeangounderground?'heasked,andMiraechoedthegesture.

'Of course I do,' she said, scorn and self-confidencemingling inhervoice in amanner Iwasbeginningtofindquiteirksome.'Wespentenoughtimebooby-trappingtheservicetunnelstostoptherebelsgettingin,didn'twe?Whycan'tyourpeoplegetoutthesameway?'

'Itsoundsplausible,'Isaid,havingspentenoughtimerunningaroundtheundercitiesofvariousworldstobewellawareofthesprawlingnatureoftheinfrastructurealmostcertainlyunderpinningFidelis.'Arethereanymapswecanconsultdownhere?'

'Thereshouldbe,'Ortensaid,andwentofftoconversewithanearbyaide.IturnedtoGries.'I'vebeendownservicetunnelsbefore,'Isaid,'andtheytendtobeabitonthe

crampedside.'ItriedtopicturehimandhismensqueezingthroughtheconduitsIusedtoplayinasachild[15],andfaileddismally.'Perhapsyou'dbettersticktoyouroriginalproposal,andleavetheBasiliskstoalocalstrike.'

'Indeed,'Griesagreed.'Atwo-prongedassault,undergroundandoverground,wouldseemtobethebeststrategy.Onceourforcesarecommitted,thecombatsquadsandtheThunderhawkcandiverttobackusup.'

'Soundsgood,'Iagreed.'Then we can begin as soon as you've selected a team to accompany you,' Gries said, and I

realised too latewhat I'dbackedmyself into. ItgoeswithoutsayingI'dnever intended to lead theassaultontheBasilisksinperson,butknowingwhatGriesbelievedaboutme,whichwasessentiallythatmy inflated reputationwas justified, I couldbelatedly seewhyhe'dmade thatassumption.OfcoursenowIcouldn'tbackoutwithoutalienatingtheAstartesIwassupposedtobeliaisingwith,andunderminingmyauthorityinfrontofthegovernor,soI'djusthavetomakethebestofit.Atleast,Ithought,thingscouldn'tgetanyworse.

'I'lltakecareofthat,'Mirasaid,buttinginagainwithallthecasualarroganceofarichbratborntoruleaplanet.ShenoddedcoollyattheAstartescaptain.'We'llbereadytomoveinhalfanhour.'

INTHEEVENTitwasclosertoanhourbeforethePDFwereabletogetthemselvesorganised,bywhich time we'd received the encouraging news that both combat squads had reached theirobjectives without taking any casualties, and that the prowling Thunderhawk had got the rebelsstirredup like a stick in anants' nest.Atwhichpoint I foundmyself in a thoroughlyunwelcomeconversationwiththegovernor'sdaughter,whoseemedunabletograsptheideathatanyoneelse's

authoritycouldexceedherown.'I'msorry,mylady,'Isaid,exertingallthediplomaticskillsIpossessedtosuppresstheimpulse

tosaysomethingfarmoredirect,'butIcannotinallconsciencepermityoutoaccompanyus.'MiralookedatmewiththesortofexpressionIimagineshenormallyreservedforaladies'maid

who'drunherbathatthewrongtemperature.'I'mleadingthisexpedition,'shesaidtartly.'Livewithit.'

'It's youcontinuing to live at allwhichconcernsme,' I said, deciding that subtletywas clearlywastedonher. 'Thebattlefieldisnoplaceforacivilian.'Especiallyif theirpresencewasliabletoputmeinanydanger,whichhersalmostcertainlywould.

Thegovernor's daughterdrewherself up toher full height,whichwas roughly levelwithmychin,whilestillsomehowcontrivingtolookdownhernoseatme.'Ihappentobecolonel-in-chiefof theHouseholdRegiment,' shesaid,wavingahand in thegeneraldirectionofherembonpoint,whichwas juttingdeterminedly inmydirection. 'Orcan'tyourecogniseamilitaryuniformwhenyouseeone?'

'Asa rule,' I said,bitingback theobvious rejoinderabouthergarishcostume. 'But the titleofcolonel-in-chiefisgenerallyconsideredanhonoraryone.'

A faint flush began to spread across her cheek, followed by a petulant frown. No doubt thesensationofnotgettingherownwaywithoutquestionwasanunwelcomenovelty.'Howmuchactualmilitarytraininghaveyoudone?'Iasked.

'Myusualdutiesdon'tleavetimeforthatsortofthing,'thegirladmittedreluctantly.'ButI'vebeenouton thewalls a few times.'Shehefted the lasgun she'dpickedup fromsomewhere,withmoreconfidence than I'd normally expect to see in a civilian, and I had to concede she handled it asthoughsheknewwhatshewasdoing.'AndI'vebeenusinggunsonhuntingtripssinceIwasachild.'

'Inveryfewofwhich,Iimagine,thegameshotback,'Irepliedsarcastically.IturnedtoDuPanya,whowashoveringnearbywiththesquadoftrooperswho'descortedhimtomeettheThunderhawk.Despitetheirridiculousgetup,theyalllookedasthoughtheycouldhandlethemselveswellenough,which was nomore than I'd have expected: onmost worlds, the household troops guarding thegovernortendtobethecreamofthePDF,oratleastthecurdsleftbehindaftertheGuardtitheshavebeenmet.I'dhavefeltalothappierundertakingthisfool'serrandwithproperGuardsmentohidebehind,butatleastthislotwouldbethebestavailable.Themajoritywerekeepingtheirexpressionsstudiedlyneutral,butafewweremakingnosecretofhowmuchtheywereenjoyingthespectacleoftheircolonel-in-chiefmeetingunexpectedresistance.'Can'tyoutalksomesenseintoher?'

'Not often,' DuPanya admitted, sounding almost proud of the fact. 'And her rank might behonorary,asyousay,butshedoestakeitseriously.Afterall,itmakesherthemostseniorofficerintheregiment.'

'Fine,'Isaid,greatlycheeredbytherealisationthatinthatcaseIcouldlegitimatelyshootherifshe got too annoying. 'But we're running out of time to debate this.' Gries and his Astartes hadalreadyleftthecommandbunker,andwouldbehalfwaytothegatebynow.Ifweweregoingtobeinpositionbefore theenemy realised their artillerybatterieswere theReclaimers' realobjective,andbereadytolaunchourownassaultatthesametime,we'dhavetogetmoving;otherwisewe'darrivetofindourtargetonhighalert,insteadofhavingtheadvantageofsurprise.

'Thenstopwasting it,'Mirasaid.She turnedandgestured to the troopers,mostofwhomwerecarryingsatchelchargesinadditiontotheirusualweapons.'Moveout.'

'Stay where you are,' I snapped, freezing the squad's first shuffle of movement to instantimmobility.IturnedbacktoMira,withmymostintimidatingcommissarialexpressiononmyface.'You'restayingbehind.Livewith it.'As I'danticipated,havingherownwords thrownbackatherdidn'tgodownatallwell.

'Correctmeif I'mwrong,commissar,' shereplied,pronouncingmytitle in toneswhichwouldhavefrozenhelium, 'but Iwasunder the impression thatyourposition ispurelyanadvisoryone,outsidethenormalchainofcommand.'

'Technically,that'sthecase,'Iadmitted,maskingmysuddenunease.'Butouradviceisgenerallyheededbytheofficersreceivingit.'Becauseifitisn'twe'reentitledto

shootthem,whichinclinesthemtolisten.'Thenconsidermeadvised,'Mirasaid,turningtobeckontothesoldiersoncemore.'Moveout.'Well, I could hardly gun her down in front of her father and hope to continue a productive

workingrelationship,andthereseemedtobeeverypossibilitythattheenemywoulddothejobformeinanycase,soIsimplyshruggedwithwhatIhopedlookedlikecasualindifference.'Dulynoted,colonel,'Isaiddryly.

FOUR

ATFIRST,TOmycarefullyconcealedsurprise,thingsseemedtobegoingwellafterall.Toonaiveorarroganttoappreciatethedangersoftakingpoint,Miraledfromthefront,whichclearlysatwellwiththetroopersaccompanyingus,stridingconfidentlythroughtheechoingundergroundlabyrinthas thoughwewere simply out for a stroll rather than heading deeper into enemy territorywithevery step. That was finewithme. Apart from the callipygian spectacle she presented from thatangle, she was certain to draw the fire from any enemies whomight be lurking down here, ortriggeranyboobytrapstheymighthaveset,ingoodtimetowarntherestofus.

Entering the warren of tunnels had turned out to be surprisingly easy, simply a matter ofdroppingthroughanaccesshatchsetinthefloorofacorridornearthepalacekitchens,andasI'dstraightenedupafter flexingmyknees toabsorb the impactof landing, I'd immediatelyfeltmorecomfortablethanatanytimesincemyarrivalonViridia.Accompaniedbyanabsurdlydressedfiremagnetornot,thiswasanenvironmentIfeltathomein,allmyoldunderhiver'sinstinctsfloodingback.Iglancedround,notingwithapprovaltheburned-offstubsofmetalinthewallwhichhadoncesupported a ladder leading to the hatchway overhead. Orten had assured me that all possibleprecautionshadbeentakentosafeguardthepalaceanditsenvironsfromenemyinfiltration,shortof collapsing the tunnels completely with demo charges (which would have prevented DuPanyafrom fleeing if the palace fell to the besieging rebels, andwas therefore unthinkable), and Iwaspleasedtoseethatheappearedtoberightaboutthat.Apartfromaregrettabletendencytobelieveintelligenceassessmentswithoutaskingtoomanyquestions,heseemedtobecompetentenough,andI felt a certain amount of satisfaction that my judgement about leaving him alive and in chargeappearedtobesound.

Abruptlywewereplungedintodarkness,asthetrapdooraboveuswasdroppedbackintoplace,andIfeltmyothersensesreachingoutastheyalwaysdidintheabsenceoflight.Afaintcurrentofairagainstmyfaceprovidedasenseofdirection,andtheoverlappingechoesofbootsolesagainst'crete pinpointed the walls nicely. 'Close your eyes for a moment,' I advised. 'It'll help them toadjust.'

'Orwecouldjustkindletheluminators,'Mirasaid,suitingtheactiontotheword.Asuddenflareoflightmademesquint,andacoupleofthetroopersfollowedherlead,fillingthenarrowcorridorwithdancingbeams,whichstruckhighlights fromthepipesandcable runsfixed to thewallsanddependingfromtheceiling.Atleastshe'dhadthesensetoattachthethingtothebayonetlugsofherlasgun,leavingbothhandsfreetohandletheweapon,andtheothersweren'tslowtodothesame.

'Goodidea,colonel,'Isaid,withheavysarcasm.'Andhowaboutarousingchorusof''SoldiersoftheThrone''whilewe'reaboutit,sotheenemycanhearuscomingaswell?'

'You're theonewhosaidwe're runningoutof time,' she rejoined, turning to lead thewayatabriskjog,whichdidinterestingthingstoherover-filleduniform.'Wewon'tgetanywherestumblingalonginthedark.'

Reluctant to admit that she had a point, I contentedmyselfwith hanging back enough to takeadvantage of the shadows, in the comforting certainty that my black greatcoat would be almostperfectcamouflageinthedark,particularlyagainstanenemystilldazzledaftergunningdownMira.

Afterafewhundredmetres,whichbymyestimateputusmoreorlessbeneaththeouterwall,I

was able to see the reason for her confidence. The corridor up ahead was blocked by a freshrockcretewall,intowhichanarrowirondoorhadbeenset,justwideenoughforonemantopassthroughatatime.Mirastoppedjustaheadofitandslappedherpalmdownonthescannerplateofagenecodereader,whichhadevidentlybeenwiredintothelockingplatebyatech-priestwithrathermore pressing concerns than doing a neat job. The device buzzed and hummed to itself for amoment,givingmetimetocatchupwithher,thenthelatchclicked,andthedoorswungoutwards.Unbelievably,Iwastheonlyonecoveringit.[16]

'Howdoyouknowtheenemyaren'tjustwaitingontheotherside?'Iasked,nettledbyhersmirkasshepausedonthethresholdtolookbackatme.

'Becausenoneof themineshavegoneoff,' she answered. 'Better hurry, they'll be set again inthirty seconds.' Then she was gone, trotting off into the darkness beyond, her troopers peltingthroughthedoorwayinherwake.

I followed, thedoorboomingback intoplaceatmyback,content to seeby the relativelydimlightfromherluminator,andpickedupmypacewhenIsawshehadn'tbeenexaggeratingaboutthemines.Therewasabigclusteroffragcharges,fixedtothewallsandceiling,theircurvedcasingsdesignedtospreadtheirdeadlypayloadaswidelyaspossible.Intheopenthey'dbelethalenough,butinaspaceasconfinedasthis,they'dquitesimplyshredanyoneincautiousenoughtoapproachthemintobloodymist.

Ipickedupmypaceuntil IwassureI'dpassedbeyond therangeof the lethaldevices,hearingthemrearmwithafaintclick!asecondortwoafterIwasthroughthechokepoint,andsuppressedashudder.'Anymorelittlesurpriseslikethatone?'Iasked,keepingmyvoicesteadynonetheless.

'Nonewe'llhavetoworryabout,'Miraassuredme.Inmyexperience,statementslikethatarejusttempting fate, and, sureenough,before thedaywasout,wewere tobepresentedwitha surprisegreater andmore deadly than either of us could possibly have imagined.But since Iwas still inblissfulignorance,Iturnedandfollowedher,insteadofrunningintheoppositedirectionashardasIcould.

ANOTHERHOURORsoofbriskwalkinggotustoourdestination.AccordingtothemapOrtenhadprovided,andwhichI'dimmediatelyloadedintomyslate,itwasn'tthemostdirectroute;butitdidavoidhavingtopassthroughanychokepointswherewe'dhavehadtocrawl,climbornegotiateobstacles,whichMirahadneither thebuildnor the temperament todealwith.Since Ididn't thinkwe'd lost any appreciable time by the detour,which had taken us through the usual collection ofutility ducts, watercourses and sewers (the last of which had clearly raised Mira's fastidiouspatricianhackles,tomycarefullyconcealedamusement),Ididn'tbothertocallheronit.

Despitemy fears,her luminatordidn't seem tohaveattractedanyunwelcomeattention,which,contrarytowhatyoumightexpect,didnothingtorelievethetensionIwasfeeling.Thelongerweremained undiscovered, themore I became certain thatwewere surely about to be, and I foundmyselflisteningoutforanytraceofsoundwhichmightbetrayambusherslurkingaheadofusinthedarkness. Iheardplenty,ofcourse,but instinctandexperienceenabledmeto identifymostof thenoisesalmostatonce,anddiscountthemasanykindofthreat.

Mostcommonwasthescuttlingofvermin,runningforcoverattheapproachoflightandnoise,butoccasionally thescufflingwaslouder, indicatingahumanpresence.Invariablythesewouldbefleeing too, however, rather than advancing to contact,whichmeant theywere civilians,with anunderstandablycautiousattitude tomenwithguns.Whether theywereartisans, trying tokeep thefractured infrastructure of the city from falling apart completely, or merely the lucklessdispossessedendemic to large-scalecivildisorder,desperateor fearfulenough toattempt to find

somekindof refugedownhere, I hadno idea.Theyweren't shooting at us, and thatwas all thatmatteredtome.

'We'rehere,'Mirasaidatlast,andIcheckedmychronograph,wonderingwhatsortofprogressGries andhis squadweremaking.Fromwhat I'd seenof them, I'dhave laidpretty fair odds thatthey'dreachedtheirobjectivebynow,andweremakingshortworkofit.Onceagain,Ifoundmyselfreaching for the comra-bead which would normally have been sitting in my ear, and rueing itsabsence. It had, of course, occurred tome to scrounge one from the command bunker, but suchrefinements appeared tobe lackingamong theViridianPDF.Thebest theycouldoffermewasabulkyportablevoxcaster,whichwascurrentlybouncingalongonthebackofitsoperator.Stoppingtousethethingwouldhavetakenuptimewecouldillafford,however,soI'dhadtoresignmyselftoremainingoutoftouchforawhilelonger,andtryingtoignoremymisgivingsasbestIcould.

'Good,'Iresponded,surreptitiouslycheckingmyslatetoseewhere''here''actuallywas.Itturnedouttobeasewer,runningdirectlyunderthepiazzatherebelshaddecidedtouseasanartillerypark,andIbegantoget thefirst inklingofabattleplan.Alittle latefor that,youmaybethinking,andyou'dprobablybe right,but I'dbeenbounced into this fool'serrandbycircumstance,notchoice,and I hadn't had much of a chance to think about anything much, beyond the most immediateconcernofensuringmyownsurvival.Ibeckonedthevoxmanforwards,andhecametojoinme,unclippingthebulkyhandsetashedidso.

'CaintoAstartes,' Isaid,prayingtotheEmperor that thefrequencyI'dbeengivenwascorrect,andkeepingitshortincasewewerebeingmonitored.'Inposition.Queryyours.'

'Engaging,'Gries responded, tomy relief. 'Resistance light.TheThunderhawkwill commencediversionaryattacksintwominutes.'

'Thanks,' I replied, taking in the single squadof troopersaccompanyingme, and thedistinctlyunmartial figureofMira,whowas listening intently,butwho, foronce,seemedable to resist thetemptationtoshoveheroarin,thanktheEmperor.'We'regoingtoneedallthehelpwecanget.'

'Leavethischannelopen,'Griessaid,thencutthelinkathisend.'Whatdidhemeanbythat?'Mirademanded,asifIknewtheanswerandwasmerelywithholding

itoutofpique.Ishrugged.'ProbablywantsanaccuratepositionfixfortheThunderhawk,sowedon'tendupon

thewrongendofsomefriendlyfire,'Ihazarded.Consideringtheamountofconcentratedlethalitythat thegunship represented, it seemeda reasonableprecaution tome. I turned to the sergeant incharge of the squad,whose name I didn't know.Mira hadn't botheredwith introductions, if she'devenconsideredthemenunderhernominalcommandasindividualsinthefirstplace.'We'llneedtogetuptopandfindoutexactlywheretheartillerypiecesare.Withabitofluckwecanusethedemochargestocollapsethistunnelunderneaththem,andcripplethebatterywithouthavingtofightourwaythroughthesentries.'

'Ifthey'reparkedcloseenoughtoit,'thesergeantagreed,hominginontheweakspotoftheplanwithoutunderminingmyauthoritybyactuallystatingit,likeefficientnoncoms[17]havebeendoingsincehumanityfirstswungdownfromthetreesonHolyTerraandstartedhittingoneanotherwithrocks.

'Let'shopetheyare,'Isaid,'orwe'lljusthavetodothisthehardway.'Frommytimewiththe12thValhallan[18]Iknewthateachartillerypiecewouldprobablybefully

crewed, plus a few sentries, logistical support personnel and a handful of junior officers andnoncomstomakesuretheconscriptsshovedtheshellsinthebreachtherightwayround.Giventhatwe already knew, from the orbital picts, that there were five Basilisks in the battery, that meantanythingfromthirtytofiftymen.AlthoughI'dbehappyenoughtakingonoddsofthreeorfivetoone againstmere PDFmutineerswith properGuardsmen behindme, the troops I had nowwere

probablylittlebetterinqualitythantheoneswewerefacing.AndthatwaswithouttakingMiraintoaccount,whowasprobablyworthanextrasquadtotheenemyjustonherown.

'Well there'sonlyoneway to findout,' she said, startingup the ladder leading to themanholecover above our heads before I could stop her. Having already seen enough to know thatremonstratingwith herwould be pointless, and shooting herwould be out of the question closeenoughtotheenemyforanalertsentrytohear,I'djusthavetogoalongwithitfornow.

'Waithere,'Iinstructedthesergeant,whoseemedmorethanhappytocomply.'CheckthechargeswhileI'mgone.'Therewasnopoint inhavingthewholesquadblunderingaboutupthere,whenIwas sureMira could attract the attention of the enemyperfectlywell on her own. I could hardlyleave her to her own devices, however, so I clambered up after her, havingwaited amoment tomake sure thather emergence intodaylightwouldn'tbe followedatoncebyabarrageof lasgunfire.

Itwasn't,soIstuckmyheadcautiouslyoutofthehole,findingmyselfinastreetwhichlookedmuchtheworseforwear:thebuildingsoneithersideofitwerepockmarkedandperforatedbytheprolongedandindiscriminateuseofheavyordnance,whilethecarriagewayafewmetresaheadhadbeen comprehensively blocked to traffic by the rusting hulk of a burned-out Chimera. Takingadvantage of the cover it afforded, I popped up out of the hole like a sump rat scenting a freshcorpse,andscuttledintotheleeofthederelictvehicle.

'Where are the others?'Mira asked, from roughly the level ofmy knees, having gone proneundertheraiseddozerbladeforextraprotection,thefirstsensiblethingI'deverseenherdo.Herlasgun was unslung, aimed back at the manhole, evidently intended to cover my advance, and IbreathedasilentprayerofthankstotheGoldenThronethatshehadn'tbeenspookedenoughtopullthetrigger.

'Downthehole,'Isaidquietly.'Itoldthemtostayput.''Youdidwhat?'Shestoodupandglaredatme,theeffectsomewhatspoiledbythethickcoating

of grime now adhering to her jacket and the knees of her trousers; at least she'd blend into thebackgroundalittlebetternow,whichwassomething.'Weneedthemwithus!'

'Didyouevergostalkingonthesehuntingtripsofyours?'Iasked.Miranodded,sullenly. 'Ofcourse,'shesaid,havingthecommonsensetokeephervoicedown

too,whichwasawelcomesurprise.'Anddidyouhaveademi-scoreof trooperscrashingaround theplacewhileyoudid?' Iasked

reasonably.Mira shook her head dismissively. 'Of course not, it would have frightened the game away...'

Thenthecoindropped.'Isee,ofcourse.We'regoingtoneedtomovequietly.'I shook my head. 'I'm going to need to move quietly,' I said. 'You stay here, in case I need

coveringfire.'I'dbe the first to admit that taking the riskof scouting the enemypositionsmyself, insteadof

lettingMiragetonwithit,seemsalittleuncharacteristic,butIhadsoundenoughreasonsatthetime.Firstly,I'dhadmorethanenoughpracticeatsneakingaroundintheimmediatevicinityoftheenemywithoutbeingspotted,whereasMira'sallegedstalkingskillswereanunknownquantity.Secondly,thanks tomy timewith the12thValhallan, Iknewenoughaboutartillery toassess justhowbigathreatthebatteryreallywasonceIgotadecentlookatit,whereasthemostusefulthingMirawaslikelytoreportwasthattheBasiliskswereahorriblyunfashionablecolour.Thirdly,thankstomyinnateaffinity forundergroundenvironments, I'dknow instantly, justby looking,howclose theywere to the sewer line, and where best to place the charges to cause the maximum amount ofsubsidence.

For amoment it looked as thoughMirawas about to argue the point, but before she got the

chance the circlingThunderhawkpilot decided to provide the diversionGries had promisedme.Whatever she'd been going to say was abruptly swallowed by the muffled crump! of a distantdetonation, and a plume of smoke nudged its way above the artificial horizon of the buildingssurroundingus,followedamomentlaterbyafainttremorthroughthesolesofmyboots.Itseemedhe'dfoundanammunitiondump,orsomethingequallycombustible;atanyrate,itwasaprettysafebetthattheattentionoftherebelshadbeeneffectivelygrabbed.

Taking advantage of the moment, I made a run for the nearest building, which seemedstructurallysound,despitethenumberofholesblastedthroughitsouterwalls.Ithadevidentlybeenanemporiumofsomekind,butwhatitusedtosellIcouldonlyguess,asthelootershadbeentherelongbeforemeandguttedtheplace.Enteringthroughthelong,widegapwherethewindowusedtobe,myfeetcrunchingandslitheringforamomentontheshatteredglass,Imadefortheshadowsattherearoftheshop,where,asinthetunnel,mysombreuniformwouldallowmetoblendinmoreeasily.

Luck,ortheEmperor,waswithme,andIfoundastaircasejusttheothersideofawoodendoorwhichhadbeenkickedor rammedoff its hinges.Therewas an elevator too, but Iwouldn't havetakenitevenifthepowerwasstillon;theideaofbeingdiscoveredbytheenemytrappedinasmallmetalboxwasdisturbing,tosaytheleast.Itookthestairseasily,fiveorsixflights,beforeachilldraughtarrestedmyprogress,andIventuredoutintowhathadevidentlybeenoneoftheuppersalesfloors.Indeed,itseemedthatirrespectiveofthenumberofstoreystheemporiumusedtoboast,thiswasnowashighasitwaspossibletogo.Theceilingwasdownacrosshalf thefloorarea,alongwith sufficient rubble to make me certain that whatever might remain of the original structurehigherup,itwasextremelyunlikelytobeabletobearmyweight.

Thisstoreywashighenoughformypurposes,though,asaquickglancewasenoughtoassureme.Thefarwallwasmissing,thefloorcomingtoanabruptendaboutametrefromwhereitshouldbe, affording a panoramic view across much of the city. I made for it cautiously, testing everyfootfall,butitallseemedsolidenough,andwithinaminuteortwoIwascloseenoughtotheedgetolookdownintotherebels'artillerypark,acrosstherubbledremainsoftheinterveningbuildingontheothersideofthestreet.ThishadevidentlyfaredfarworsethantheoneIwasoccupying;thoughafewfloorsstillremained,ithadbeenreducedtoabouthalftheheightoftheshatteredstructureIwascurrentlystandingin.

Themostcursoryofglanceswasenoughtotellmethatmyplantocollapsethesewerwouldn'tcutit.Onlyoneoftheartillerypieceswasintherightplacetobedisabled,therestbeingdispersedaround the square, backed into the remains of buildings for concealment and protection, andsurroundedbysandbaggedemplacements.Nochanceofbeingabletojustrunupandplaceasatchelchargeeither:we'dbecutdownbeforeweevengotclose.Asthewindshifted,itbroughtwithitthegrumbleofidlingenginesandtheacridtangofburnedpromethium;I'dbeenrightaboutthembeingpreparedtoscatteriftheThunderhawkmovedintheirdirectiontoo.Perhapsifweminedtheroadswiththedemochargeswe'dbroughtwithuswecouldbottlethemuplongenoughforthegunshiptotake them out, but our chances of being able to place the explosives in the open without beingspottedwereminimal.

Iwasstillmusingovertheproblemwhenalas-bolthissedpastme,impactingagainstthestumpofoneof thecolumnswhichused tosupport the floorabove. I turned,drawingmyweaponsandcursingmyself for a fool.The very reason I'd chosen this spot to scout the enemy emplacementfrom also made it the perfect place to station sentries, and I should have anticipated an enemypresencehere.Twomenwere runningatme, lasguns in theirhands,andfiringas theycame,butfortunatelyit'salmostimpossibletoshootaccuratelywhileonthemove;ifthey'dhadthesensetostand still and aim properly, they'd probably have droppedme before I'd even become aware of

theirpresence.Unfortunatelyforthem,Iwasn'tsostupid,onlytakingacoupleofstridestofindrefugebehind

thesturdypillarwhichhadalreadystoppedoneoftheirlas-bolts,beforedroppingtoacrouchandcrackingoffacoupleofroundsofmyown.Myaimwasscarcelyanybetteratfirst,oneofthelas-boltsfrommypistolclippingtheedgeoftheright-handman'storsoarmour,butitwasenoughtomakehimhesitate.AshelookedaroundforsomecoverIsavedhimthebother,puttingathirdandlesshurriedshotthroughthemiddleofhisface.Hewentdownhard,andbeyondtheusualreflexivespasms,didn'tmoveagain.

Whichleftthesecondman,whowasgoingwide,towardsthedrop,hopingtoflankmeandgetashotinroundtherockcretepillarIwasshelteringbehind.Idodgedback,tryingtotargethimaroundthe other side, but with a belated surge of common sense he switched to full auto, hosing mymakeshiftpositiondownwithablizzardoffiretooheavyformetobeabletoriskpoppingouttotakeacrackathim.

Abruptly the firingceased, and I seized theopportunity themomentary lullpresented, lungingouttothesideasIstood,mychainswordswingingtomeettheanticipatedcharge,whilemylaspistolsoughtatarget.Tomysurprise,however,hewasalreadydown,flatoutontherubble-strewnfloor,deader thanHorus. I approached the corpsewarily, anticipating some kind of trick, but as I gotcloser I could see that thebackofhis headwasmissing, takenout by another las-bolt.From theangleofthewound,ithadclearlycomefromsomewheredownbelow,outsidethebuilding.

Iedgedcautiouslytothebrinkofthedropandglanceddown.Mirawasstillcrouchedintheleeoftheburned-outChimera,herlasgunraisedandpointinginmydirection.Seeingme,sheloweredtheweaponandwaved,inamannerwhich,evenatthatdistance,struckmeasdistinctlypleasedwithherself.Hardtoresentthatunderthecircumstances,though,soIreturnedthewaveandturnedbackto thebodiesof the latesentries.Neitherhadanyvoxgearonhim,oranythingelsewhichmighthaveprovided someuseful intelligencecome to that, so I started toheadback towards the stairs,intentonnothingmorethangettingbackdowntheholeandoutofsightbeforeanyonegotaroundtomissingthem.

I'dbarelygoneapaceortwo,though,beforetheairseemedtothickenaroundme,thehairsonmy arms bristling as if a thunderstorm was building, and a remarkably unpleasant sensation ofpressurebegantogrowbehindmyeyes.Itfeltasifmysinuseswerebeingpackedwithrockcrete,andIstumbled,myvisionblurring.Then,assuddenlyasithadbegun,thefeelingended,leavingmealmostgiddywithrelief.

Ihurriedbacktotheholeinthewall,lookingoutside,anxiously,justasarumbleofdisplacedairechoedbetweenthebuildings,likeoneofthedistantexplosionswherethecrewoftheThunderhawkwerecontinuingtoamusethemselves.Therebelartilleryparkwasinastateofcompleteconfusion,withpeoplerunningeverywhere,likeratsinaroomwhensomeoneturnsonthelights,andasthefiring started, I began to seewhy. Towering figures inwhite and yellow armourwere ploddingunhurriedlythroughthepandemonium,shruggingoffthelas-boltsandoccasionalgrenadesleetingintheirdirectionwithmagnificentdisdain.TheywerelargerandbulkierthantheAstartesI'dseenbefore; although I was to become familiar with it later, this was the first time I'd ever seenTerminator armour in action, apart from a handful of seconds aboard the necron vessel beforelosingconsciousness.MostoftheAstarteswearingitseemedtobecarryingtwin-barrelledbolters,which put out a staggering amount of firepower, ripping all traces of resistance to shreds withcontemptuousease,andonehadapairofmissilepodsmountedabovehisshoulders.

As Iwatched, the Terminator fired one from each, taking out aBasiliskwhich had started tomove away in an explosion which knocked many of the defenders from their feet, but left theAstartes striding grimly forwards, apparently unmoved. Another of his fellows approached the

nearest artillery piece and began literally tearing it apart, the long metal claws attached to hisgauntlets shearing through the thick metal as though it was no more substantial than mist andshadows,afaintnimbusofarcaneenergiescracklingaboutthem.[19]

Panic-stricken crewmen bailed from it and ran in random directions, desperate to get awaybeforethoseformidabletalonsfoundpurchaseinflesh.

Tearingmyeyes reluctantlyaway from the spectacle,because it'snotoften Iget soclose toabattlewithout someonedivertingmyattentionby trying tokillme, I glanceddown tomake sureMirawasall right.As ithappenedshewas lookingdistinctlyapprehensive,andwhocouldblameher;apartfromthedisconcertingeffectofbeingcaughtinthefringesofateleportfield,she'dbehearing all the noise without a clue as to what was going on. Catching her eye, I waved, asnonchalantlyasIcouldmanage,andstartedbackdownthestairstoreassureher.Afterall,annoyingbratornot,shehadjustsavedmylife,whichwasalwayswelcome,andshewasconsiderablymoredecorativethanJurgen,whosejobthatusuallywas.

'What'sgoingon?'shedemanded,theminuteIcamewithinearshot.'TheSpaceMarinesaretakingouttheartilleryforus,'Itoldher,tryingnottosoundtoopleased

about it. 'That headache a few minutes ago was a bunch of Terminators teleporting in.' Whichseemedabitlikeoverkill,giventhatacombatsquadofordinaryAstartescouldhavetakenouttherebelswithoutbreakingsweat,butonlytheTerminatorshadthetrainingandexperiencetodeploybyteleporter.Athoughtstruckme,andInoddedinsuddenunderstanding.'NowonderGrieswantedthevoxlinkkeptopen.Theymusthaveuseditasahomingbeacon.'

'Thenweneedtogetthemenuphere,'shesaid,turningtowardsthemanholewe'dfirstemergedfrom.'TheAstartesmightneedsomebackup.'

'Idoubtit,'Isaid,keepingtherelieffrommyvoicewithaneffort.Itcouldjusthavebeenthebulkof the intervening building, but it sounded to me like the firing was already reducing in bothintensityandvolume.'Butyou'rerightaboutgettingbackundercoverasfastaswecan.'IfI'dreadthe situation right, the few remaining rebelswould give up trying tomake a fight of it and startfleeingfortheirlivesatanymomentnow,andthatwouldbeabadtimetogetcaughtintheopen.IfullyexpectedMira toargueabout that, as she seemed todomoreor lessby reflexevery time Itriedtogethertobesensible,butifshewasabouttoshenevergotthechance.Instead,shecrouchedbehindthewreckedChimeraandraisedherlasgun.

'Toolate,'shesaid.

FIVE

AQUICKGLANCEroundtheChimera'shullwasallittooktoconfirmthatMirawasright:therewas no way we could get back to the tunnels now without being spotted. A full squad of rebelinfantry,stillwearingtheremainsoftheiroldPDFuniforms,embellishedbysomepaintstickscrawlinplaceoftheunitpatcheswhichhadbeenrippedawayfromthesleeves,wasdeployingfurtheruptheroadinskirmishorder.AsIwatchedthemcome,thepalmsofmyhandsstartedtoitch.ThoughIcouldn'tquiteputmyfingeronityet,somethingwasn'tright.

'Therearemoreupthere,'Mirasaid,swingingherlasguninthedirectionoftheupperfloorI'dbeenobservingtheenemyfrom,andwhereI'dleftthetwodeadsentriesafewmomentsbefore.Shewas rewardedbya flickerofmovement,aswhoever itwasduckedbackoutof sightwithalmostindecenthaste.

'Frak!' I said, heedless of the fact that therewas a lady present.We'd be deadmeat if anyonestarted shooting at us from up there, and even thoughMira had picked off one man from thisdistance,Ididn'timagineforamomentthatshe'dbeabletorepeatthetrickwithlas-boltsburstingaroundher.'Theremusthavebeenathirdmanupthereallthetime.'

I didn't see how there could have been, though, or he would have surely intervened in thefirefight.But the only other explanation I could think of didn'tmake sense either.Neither of thesentrieswe'dtakenouthadanyvoxgear,sohowcouldtheyhavecalledforhelp?

'I'mmoreworriedabouttheonesdownhere,'Mirasaid,crackingoffacoupleofshotsbeforeIcouldstopher,whichtookoneofthetroopersadvancingonusdownandsenttherestscurryingforcover.Shegrinnedexultantlyatme,beforereturninghereyetothesights.'Igotone!'

'Insteadofholdingyourfirelongenoughtobesureofseveral,whentheygotabitcloser,'Isaid,tryingnot tosoundtoohackedoffabout it. I readiedmyownweapons,hunkeringdownjustasalas-bolthit thediscolouredmetalaboveus,sendingabrief rainof rustparticlespatteringoffmyhat.As I'd feared, themanon thebuildingwas targetingus too, although, thank theEmperor,heseemedtobeanindifferentmarksman.

'IthinkI'mdoingprettywell,actually,'Mirasnapped,turningtosendacoupleofretaliatorylas-bolts back in the direction of the upper floor. She didn't seem to hit anything this time, butsuccessfully discouraged whoever it was from trying again for a moment or two. 'At least I'mshootingatthem,insteadofjustcriticisingallthetime.'

Nothing inallmyyearsasacommissarhadpreparedmefora response like that,but then I'dnever encountered anyone quite like Mira before either; at least, not in a parody of a militaryuniform,andapparently trying to liveup to it.Mydealingswith thedaughtersof thearistocracyhad,upuntilthatpoint,beenconfinedtothekindofsoireesmyfraudulentreputationhadattractedinvitationsto,generallyaspartofadelegationfromanImperialGuardcontingentwho'deitherjustarrivedin-systemtodealwithsomepressingthreat,orwereabouttodepartafterhavingdoneso.Iknewtheywerereasonablygooddancers,moderatelydullconversationalistsandtolerablypleasantcompany for the night, but that was about all. There was little point in frittering our last fewmomentsawayonapointlessargument, though,so Ibitbackmy instinctive responseandpeeredroundtheChimera'sdozerbladeagain.

'Something's definitelywrong, here,' I said. Thesewere no panic-stricken routers, fleeing the

Astartes:theywereadvancingswiftlyandpurposefullyfromonepieceofcovertothenext,halfofthemmovingwhile the rest kept their comrades covered. I pulledmyheadbackbehind the thicksteelplatejustaheadofablizzardoflas-bolts.

'You think?'Mira levelledher lasgun to retaliate,heedlessof thestateofherpowerpack,andIcracked off a few shots of my own in the general direction of the upper floor, certain I'd seenmovementupthereagain.Thesituationwasgettingmoredesperatebythesecond:itcouldonlybeamatterof timebefore the lurkers aboveusmanaged to lineup a shot, or the advancing troopersmovedroundourflanks.

Looking back, we'd probably have been dead, or a great deal worse, in another handful ofminutes,haditnotbeenforthesurvivingrebelsintheartillerypark.BythegraceoftheEmperor,theychosethatmomenttobreakandrun,peltingdowntheavenueinaninchoate,howlingmob,anypretenceofmilitarydisciplinecompletelyforgotteninthedesperaterushtosavethemselves.

'Comeon!'Isaid,grabbingMirabythearmandmakingadashfortheopenmanholebeforeshehadachancetostartarguingagain.'Now'sourchance!'

Tohercredit,sheseemedtogettheidea,puttingonafairturnofspeedforawomanwhoseusualideaofexercisewasprobablywalkingdownthecorridortothediningroom.Timingwascrucial:itwouldhavebeenironictosaytheleasttohavebeenshieldedfromthelas-boltsofourenemiesbythebodiesoftheircomrades,onlytobetrampledtodeathbythehystericalmob.

Asitwas,wemanagedtomakeittotheholeintheroadwithnomoredifficultythanonemightexpect,despitetheriskoftwistinganankleontherubble-strewncarriageway,crackingoffacoupleofshotsatourmostvisibleenemiesasweran;notwithanyhopeofhittingthem,ofcourse,butinthe vague hope of preventing them from gunning us down as we emerged. Seeing no point indelayinganymorethanIhadto,Iraisedmylaspistolandchainswordabovemyhead,tokeepthemfrom fouling on the manhole's rim, and jumped feet first into the darkness beneath. I was nostrangertothissortofthing,havinggrownupintheunderhive,andwasalreadyflexingmykneestoabsorbtheimpactasIhittherockcreteaboutthreemetresbelow.Idon'tmindadmittingitjarredalotmore than I remembered itdoingasa juvie,but I remainedonmyfeet,and tookacoupleofcautiousstepstocheckthatmyankleswerestillwheretheybelonged,insteadofhavingbeendrivenupthroughmyshinsliketheyfelt.

'Areyoumad?'Miraasked,scramblingdowntheladder,theluminatorstillattachedtoherlasgunstrobingroundthenarrowchamber,andIshrugged.

'HowwouldIknow?'Iasked,notreallycaringtohearheranswer.I'dalreadymetenoughheadcasesinthecourseofmycareertohavefilledanasylum,andeverysingleoneofthemhadthoughttheywereperfectlysane.Tomyrelief,however,Miradisdainedtoreply,havingfoundsomethingelsetogetsniffyabout.

'Sergeant!'sheyelled,raisingechoeswhichchasedtheirwaydownthetunnels.'Whereareyou?''Quiet!' I said, the absence of the squadwe'd left here beginning to register for the first time.

'Something'sverywrong.''Icanseethat,'shesaidpettishly,thebeamofherluminatorsweepingroundthetunnelatrandom,

whichwasnohelpatall.Atleasttherewerenovisiblesignsofrecentcombat,whichIsupposedwassomething.'Theyshouldhavebeenwaitingforus.'Thefullseriousnessofthesituationstillseemednot tohave registeredwithher; itwasaminorannoyance,onaparwithbeingkeptwaitingbyatardychauffeur,thatwasall.

'Weneedtogetmoving,'Isaid.Whateverhadhappenedtoourcompanionswasamysterywhichcouldwaituntillater.'Thatsquadwillbedownhereafterusatanymoment.'Asiftopunctuatemywords, something rattleddown the rungsof the ladder,and I started to rundown thepassagewaywithoutfurtherthought.'Grenade!'Icalledbackovermyshoulder.

Fortunately,Mirawas fast enough on the uptakewhen itmattered, andwas hard onmy heelswhen the frag charge exploded, peppering the stonework around where we'd been standing amomentbefore.

'Youjustleftmethere!'shesqueakedindignantly,oncetheechoeshaddiedawayenoughtohearher.

'I warned you,' I snapped back. 'What more do you want? ''Ladies first'' doesn't count on thebattlefield.'Andagoodthingtoo,ifyouaskme,otherwisewe'dbothhavebeenshredded.

Mirastaredatme,hermouthworking,butstunnedintosilenceforthefirsttimesinceI'dmether.Whilemymomentaryadvantagestilllasted,Igrabbedthebarrelofthelasgun[20],anddousedtheluminator.

'Andkeepthatfrakkingthingturnedoff,'Iadded,'ifyouwanttogetoutofherealive.'IbracedmyselffortheargumentIwascertainwouldfollow,butouradventuressofarseemedto

haveconvincedMirathatplayingsoldierswasalotmoredangerousthanshe'dbargainedfor,andshe contented herself withmuttering something that sounded like ''peasant''. All in all, I've beencalledalotworseinmytime,andcouldcertainlylivewiththat.

'Comeon,'Isaid,takingherarmandleadingherdownasidepassagewhichIcouldsensenearbyfromthealteredpatternofechoesaroundit.Isupposeitwaspossiblethatourpursuersmighthavegiven up after chucking their frag grenade down themanhole, but if Iwas as determined to seesomeonedeadastheyseemedtobe,Icertainlywouldn'tbetakinganythingforgrantedatthatpoint.

'Whereto?'Miraasked,keepinghervoicedownatleast.'Wherever this leads,' I replied, resisting the temptation toshrug,whichshecouldn'thaveseen

anyway.Therewasafaintcurrentofair,whichmeantthatitmustcomeoutintheopeneventually,oratleastconnecttosomewherethatdid.ThenIcaughttheunmistakablesoundofrunningfeetinthepassagewaywe'djustleftbehindus,andtightenedmygriponherbicep.'Freeze.'

At least shehad thegumption tocomplywith that, andwe remained immobileas the slappingbootsolesgot louder, accompaniedby a risingglow,which seeped intoour refuge - thoughnot,fortunately, far enough to reach our position. If any of the troopers chasing us had bothered todirectabeamalong thesidepassage theywouldhavenailedus forsure,but luckily theyseemedconvincedwe'dstucktothemaintunnel,andcouldbecaughtupwithiftheyjustranfastenough.Astheglowandthehurryingfootstepsfadedaway,Miraletoutasighofreliefandsaggedagainstme.

'Whowerethosepeople?'sheasked.'I've no idea,' I told her, happy to let her remain there for a minute or two, while I got my

bearingsandmybreathback.Surewe'deludedourpursuersforthemoment,IpulledtheslateoutofmypocketandcheckedOrten'smap,beingsuretokeepmybackbetweenthepassagewaybehindusand the faint glow of the pict screen.Mira's face shimmered out of the darkness, as she leanedforwardstolookatit.

A fewseconds' scrutinywas enough to identify the sidepassagewe'd taken refuge in, andmyspiritsbegantolift,atleastalittle.Wehadn'tcomefar,andifwecouldfollowthedraughtIstillfeltagainstmyfacetothesurface,wewouldcomeoutcloseenoughtotheAstartestolinkupwiththem.

'We have to go back,'Mira said, a worried frown just visible on her face as she studied thepictscreen.'Thispassageisheadingcompletelythewrongway.'

'It's therightway, if it's takingusawayfromthosetroopers,' I toldhershortly. 'They'll realisewe'vegiventhemtheslipatanymoment,thenthey'lldoubleback.'Thisclearlyhadn'toccurredtoher.

'Butwhataboutourownpeople?'sheasked.'Shouldn'twetrytofindthem?'Ishookmyhead,forgettingthegesturecouldn'tbeseeninthedarkness.'There'snopoint,'Itold

herbluntly. 'Somethingmusthavehappened to them,or they'dstillbewaitingwhenwegotback.

Bestcase, theyspottedsomerebelstryingtoescapealongthetunnelsandarestill tryingtochasethemdown.'

'Andworstcase,themutineersfoundthemfirst,'Miraconcluded.'Right,'Isaid,notwantingtothinktoomuchaboutthat.Therewastoobigacontradictionhere,

between thedisciplined, coordinated trooperswhowerepursuingus, and thedisorganised rabblewho'dfortuitouslygotintheirwayjustwhentheyhaduscold.

'Thenlet'sgetonwithit,'sheagreed.'Canweusetheluminatoragain?'After a moment, I agreed, reluctantly. We'd make precious little progress without it, the

governor'sdaughterlackingmyfeelforthelabyrinthwe'dfoundourselvesin,andIdidn'twanttostillbeherewhen thesquadwe'deludedcameback tocheck theside tunnels. 'For themoment,' Isaid. 'But keep listening out. Themomentwe hearmovement behind us, I want you to douse it.Clear?'

'Pellucid,'shesaid,andclickeditonagain.Thebeamrevealedthesameage-wornbrickworkthatI'dseeninthemainsewer,itssurfacemoistandslickwithlichen,althoughthebranchpassagewe'denteredseemedtobeastormdrainratherthanacloaca,toMira'sevidentrelief.Thetrickleofwaterunder our boots was clear, and noticeably less odiferous than the stream we'd so recently left.'What'sthat?'

'Nothing good,' I said, stopping to examine the patch of lichen she'd spotlighted. It had beenscrapedbysomething,whichhad leftparallelgroovesofvisiblebrickwork. I spreadmyfingers,barelyabletospanthem.'Arethereanystoriesofmutantslivingdowninthetunnelshere?'

'Ofcourse.'Mirabegantolaugh,beforerealisingIwasn'tjoking.'Therearealwaysstoriesabouttheundercity.Idoubtthere'sanywhereintheImperiumwhichdoesn'thaveitsfolktales.'

Well,shewasrightaboutthat,whichdidn'tmeantherewasn'tagermoftruthinatleastsomeofthem.Therewasnopointworryingabout it though: thesoldiersbehinduswererealenough,andanythingelsewemightrunintowasonlyapotentialthreat.Igesturedaheadofus,intothedarkness.'Afteryou,'Isaid.

'Ithoughtyousaid''ladiesfirst''didn'tcountonthebattlefield,'Mirasaid,movingoff,withagrininmydirection.

'It does when you're carrying the light,' I told her, making sure I hung back enough to takeadvantageofmyblackcoat in thedarkness.A faint alteration in thepatternof echoes tickled theedgeofmyawareness,andIurgedheron,pickingupmyownpaceasIdidso.'Bettergetmoving.They'recomingback.'

Mira neededno further encouragement andbroke into a trot, her lasgunheld ready for use. Ifollowed,my ownweapons readied, hoping Iwouldn't need them, but rather suspecting Iwouldbeforetoomuchlonger.

Thefaintcurrentofairwasgrowingalittlestrongernow,andIbegantohopewe'dmakeitbackto the surface before the pursuing troopers picked up our trail again, but in this I was to bedisappointed.

'Killthelight,'Imurmured,justbeforethefootstepsreachedthejunctionbehindus,and,tomyrelief,Miradidsoatonce,withoutarguing.

'Icanseedaylight,'shebreathed,thereliefinhervoicepalpable,andImustconfesstofeelingthesame.A faint grey glowwas seeping into the tunnel from somewhere up ahead, andwe hurriedtowardsit,certainthatourpursuersmustbegainingbynow.Thescufflingofbootsolesbehindussuddenlybecamemoreresonant,tellingmeplainlythatthey'denteredthenarrowerpassagebehindus,andmyshoulderbladesbegantingling,anticipatingalas-boltatanymoment.

Theglimmerupaheadbegan togrowbrighter, but theyellowerglowof luminatorsbegan topervade the tunnel too, and I turned, loosing off a flurry of las-bolts frommy pistol. I scarcely

expectedtohitanyone,butIwashopingitmighttaketheedgeofftheirenthusiasmattheveryleast.'Areyousureyoushouldbegivingthemideas?'Miraaskedwaspishly,butIwastoobusytrying

tolistentothecommotionbehindustopayanyattentiontoher.Thebobbinglightdimmed,andtherhythm of boot against brickwas abruptly disrupted. The echoesmade it hard to be sure, but itsounded tomeas if the leading trooperhadstumbled,orevenbeenbroughtdownif Iwasreallylucky, and the others were either tripping over him or breaking stride to negotiate the suddenobstacle.

'I've justboughtusafewmoreseconds,' Isnapped. 'Don'twaste them!'Thelightupaheadwasbrightenough topickoutour surroundingsbynow-more lichenousbrick -and Icouldsee thedropletsofwaterthrownupbyourfeetastheyslappeddowninthethinfilmofmoisturecoatingthetunnel floor.Theaircurrentwasstronger too,andsmelling fresher;wewerealmostout into theopenair.

Abruptlywebrokefreeofthetunnel,intoawidechamber,fromwhichanumberofpassagewayssimilartotheonewe'denteredbyled.Mirastopped,almostinthecentre,illuminatedbyawanshaftof sunlight,which struck highlights from the garish ornamentation on her tunic and her by nowratherbedraggledcoiffure.'Frakkingwarp!'shesaidfeelingly.

Iwassosurprisedby thesuddenbarrack-roomoath in themouthofa ladyofbreeding that ittookmeamomenttoregisterthereasonforheroutburst.WhenIdid,I'mboundtoconfess,Ifeltlike heartily endorsing it. Daylight and fresh air alike were coming from a metal grille in theceiling,atleastametreaboveourheads,withnoobviousmethodofgettingtoit,orthroughitevenifwecould.

'Uponmyshoulders!'Isaid,stowingmyweaponstofreemyhandsandstoopingtoofferMiraaboost.

ShelookedatmeasifIwasderanged.'I'machatelaine,notacarnivalperformer!'shesnapped.'You'llbeadeadoneifwecan'tgetthatgrilleopen,'Iretorted.'Wouldyouratherliftmeuptoit

instead?'Anyverbalresponsetothatbeingentirelyunnecessary,shesimplyslungherlasgunacrossher

backandclambereduptoperchawkwardlyonmyshoulders,herlegsdanglingeithersideofmynecklikeanoverstuffedscarf.Ireacheduptosteadyher,andsheslappedmyfingersaway,almostoverbalancingintheprocess.

'Keepyourhandstoyourself!'shesquealed,intonesofoutrage.'I'msureyou'reconvincedyou'retheEmperor'sgifttomen,'Isnarled,'butbelieveme,afurtive

fumble is the last thing on my mind at the moment. Get the frakking grille open!' The squadpursuinguswasgettinguncomfortablyclosebynow,andalthoughitwashardtomakeanythingoutwithMira'sthighsclampedtomyears,IwassuddenlyconvincedthatIcouldhearmovementdownsomeoftheothertunnelstoo.

'Itwon'tmove!'shecalled,anedgeofpanicenteringhervoice.'It'sbeenweldedshut!''Oh, nads,' I said, the coin suddenly dropping as I looked up to see how she was doing, and

pickedoutacoupleofsmallstubsofmetalontherimofthegrille.I'dseenidenticalprotrusionsnotlongbefore,wheretheladderhadbeenremovedfrombeneaththetrapdoorwe'denteredthetunnelsbeneaththepalaceby,andIwassuddenlypreparedtobetayear'sremunerationthatasimilaronehadstoodherenotlongbefore.'Wehaven'tbeenchasedhere,we'vebeenherded.'

'Whatareyoutalkingabout?'Mirademanded,asIhandedherdown,withaconsiderablesenseofrelief.Allthatpaddingmightbeaestheticallypleasing,butitdidn'texactlymakeheralightweight.

'Imeanwe're trapped,' I said,with asmuch restraint as I couldmuster, anddrewmyweaponsagain.Therewasdefinitelymovement in severalof the tunnels,but I couldn'tbe surewhich, and

howgreat:theechoeswereoverlappingtoomuch.IfIcoulddetermineonethatwasclear,wemightstillbeabletomakearunforit,though...

Abruptly, thathopeevaporated,as the rebel squadwhichhadattackeduson thesurface trottedinto thechamber, their lasguns level.Theywereacoupleofmenshort, though,whichgavemeacertainamountofvindictivesatisfaction;ifIwasonmywaytotheGoldenThrone,atleastI'dbetakinganhonourguardwithme.

Miraunslungherownweaponandbroughtitup,butIforestalledherwithahandonthebarrel.'Standdown,'Isaid.'Theyobviouslywantusalive,butI'msurethey'llchangetheirmindsifyou

startshooting.''Quiteright,commissar,'someonesaidbehindus.Thevoicewasvaguelyfamiliar,butitwasn't

until I turned and saw the sergeant of Mira's detail emerging from another of the tunnels thateverythingfellintoplace.Hewascarryinghislasguntoo,withaneasyconfidencethattoldmehewas perfectly willing to use it the moment he felt the need. There were another three or fourfamiliar faces standing beside him, in the same ridiculous uniform, including our voxman, hisbackpack transceiver still in place.Allwere still carrying their guns, but the satchel charges hadevidentlybeenstashedsomewhereelseforsafekeeping.Wheretherestofthesquadwere,Ihadnoidea,butstronglysuspectedthey'dpaiddearlyforrefusingtoturntheircoats.Thesergeantandhiscronieswerelookingdecidedlytheworseforwear,theirflakarmourscoredanddented,theirfacespained. 'Miladywill be a great assetwhen she joins us, but you, in theheart of the Imperialwarmachine,willbeaprizebeyondvalue.'

'Dream on,'Mira said scornfully. 'If you think I'm going to betraymy world andmy father,you'reevenmorestupidthanyoulook.'

'You'llthinkdifferentlywhenthebroodtakesyouin,'thesergeantassuredher,andagushoficewaterseemedtosluicedownmyspine.Therewereinnumerableminorwoundsamongtheturncoatsoldiers, but all had sustained identical ones below the ribcage, marked by a trickle of blood,already clotting. I'd seen wounds like those before and searched the men's faces again. As I'dexpected, they looked dazed and disorientated, but followed the lead of the sergeant. He aloneseemedalert and incontrol,hisownarmourunmarred -a third-generationhybrid, then,orevenlater,abletopassfullyforhuman.

Despite my mounting horror, I kept my voice steady, concealing the knowledge of what I'ddeducedandlookingdesperatelyroundthechamberforsomeavenueofescape.Morepeople,or,tobemoreaccurate,thingsthatlookedlikepeople,wereemergingintothelight,fromtunnelmouthafter tunnelmouth, somearmed,mostlynot.Manyborevisible tracesof their inhumanheritage:somehadanextralimbortwo,tippedwithrazor-sharptalons,whileothershadskinthickenedtonatural armour, or were betrayed by nothing more than a subtle wrongness of posture, likeKamella,thejoygirlwho'dtriedtobitemyheadoffonKeffia.

'Whatarethey?'Miraasked,curiosityandrevulsionminglingonherface.'Mutants?''Thestoriesdon'tseemsofar-fetchednow,dothey?'Iasked,unwillingtorevealtothehybrids

thatIknewtheirtruenature.Ididn'tknowquitehowconcealingthatknowledgewouldaidus,butIwasn't willing to concede any potential advantage, however small, over an enemy. One tunnelseemedtobeopenstill,andIpoweredupmychainsword,nudgingMiratowardsit.Ofcoursethatwaspreciselywhatweweremeanttodo-Ididn'tneedtobeabletotapintothebroodmindtoknowthat-butpretendingwewerefooled,evenifonlyforafewseconds,mightjusttipthebalancebackinourfavour.Itwasaninsanelyslenderchance,butitwasonlyafewweekssinceI'dtakenaheaderthrough a necronwarpportal, and compared to that,what Iwas contemplating lookedpositivelysensible.

As I'd expected, the whole damned lot of them responded at once, taking a couple of steps

forwards in eerie silence, tightening the cordon aroundMira and me, while moving out of thetunnelsandintotheopenspace.Including,tomycarefullyconcealedrelief,thehybridsergeantandhisnewlyimplantedsquadmates.

'Followmylead,'Imurmured,certainthatifIwasn'tactuallyoverheard,enoughoftheabhumanmonstrositieswould be able to readmy lips and share the knowledge ofwhat I'd saidwith theirbroodmates.'Backtowardsthattunnelbehindus.Ifanyofthemlooklikeshooting,dropthemfirst.'

Miranodded,once,tightly,herposturestiffwithnerves.'Countonit,'shesaid,hervoicehardlywaveringatall.

'Goodgirl,' Isaid,keepingupthecharadeandfeelingthatabitofquietencouragementat thisjuncturewouldlookappropriatelycommissarial.'Iftheyrushus,justhosethemdownonfullauto.'

Whichwouldprobablybeaboutaseffectiveasgiving themasevere talking to, if themob I'dsurvived onKeffiawas anything to go by.The broodmind doesn't care about a few losses, anymorethanatyranidarmydoes,butit'sthesortofthingthatwouldworkagainstamutanthorde,andIwasmoreinterestedinmisdirectingthealiengestaltintellectfacingusthangivingsensibletacticaladvice.

It almostworked, too.Wewere just edging intoposition formydesperategamble, thehybridsergeantpracticallywithinreachofmyhummingchainblade,whenIbecameawareofanominoussusurrationinthedepthsofthetunnelbehindus.Iturnedslowlytofaceit,Mirafollowingsuit,thepitofmystomachknotting.Iknewthatsound:achitinousexoskeleton,movingfast.

Ibroughtupmyweapons,butbeforeIcouldshoot,theghastlyformofapurestraingenestealerburstfromthedarkenedportalandflungitselfuponus.

SIX

ASSHEGOTherfirstsightofthexenosmonstrosity,Mirascreamed,aswellshemight;ifIhadn'thadanimagetomaintainI'dprobablyhavedonethesame,butasitwas,Itookanineffectualcutatitwiththechainsword,divingtoonesidetogetoutofitsway.Bygreatgoodfortune,themovementgotme closer tomy real objective, but therewasn't any time to exploit the fact, as the creatureturned, all four arms reaching out to eviscerate me. Mira pulled the trigger of her lasgun,unleashingaburst,andIflinched,anticipatingfallingtofriendlyfire;butshewasaimingdownthetunnel,fromwhichanother'stealeremerged,secondslater,bearingdownonherlikeaChimeraatfullthrottle.HowmanymoreofthethingstheremayhavebeenlurkinginthedepthsbelowthecityI've no idea, but fortunately the broodmind seemed to think that one eachwould bemore thanenoughtoimplantthetwoofuswithitstaint.[21]

'Dropyourweapons,'thehybridsergeanturgedus.'Theywon'tharmyouifyoudon'tresist.''Yeah, right,' I said sarcastically, parrying the reaching limbswithmy chainsword. It bit deep,

shearingthroughchitininawelteroffleshandichor,whichspatteredliberallyaroundthechamber,mistingthefacesofthenearestspectators.Nonereactedwiththerevulsionyou'dnormallyexpect,justcontinuing towatch in impassivesilence,which in itsownwaywasmoreunnerving than thecreatureinfrontofme.

'Justturnusintoabominationslikeyou[22].'The creature flinched,withdrawing the injured limb, and I rolledunder another just as its fist

closedinagrab,missingmebymillimetres.TheoneclosinginonMiramomentarilycheckeditschargetoo,asarashoflas-boltcraterseruptedonitsthorax,thencameonagainasherlasgunfellsilent, its powerpack expended.With a shriekwhich all but rupturedmy eardrums she flung theemptyweaponat theonrushingmonstrosity,hoping toachieveEmperorknowswhat.The 'stealerswatted the mass of metal aside in an eyeblink and it clattered to the floor nearby, where thewatchinghybridsignoredit.

'Youcouldn'tjusthavereloaded?'Iaskedpettishly,findingmyselfcloseenoughtoslashatitslegas I tried tomake distance from the one attackingme, and doing sowith enthusiasm.Again, theblade bit deep, and it stumbled sideways, crashing into the other 'stealer,whichwas still lungingdesperatelyinmydirection.

'He's carrying the spare powerpacks!' Mira snapped back, taking advantage of the ensuingconfusion to slip past the entangled creatures, and glowering at the sergeant as she did so. Thecrowdofhybridsbegantoclose,movingforwardstonarrowthearenawefoughtin,andIcrackedoffacoupleofshotsfromthepistolinmyhand,droppingthetwonearesttothetunnelthe'stealershademergedfrom.

Ofcoursehewas,Ithoughtirritably.Noblesnevercarriedanythingforthemselves;that'swhatservantswerefor.'Pickthebloodygunup!'Ishouted,asshealmosttrippedoverthething,andshescoopeditintoherhandagainwithoutslackeningherpace.Ifshe'dbeenissuedwithit,sheshoulddamnwelllookafterit,sofarasIwasconcerned[23].

The purestrains were sorting themselves out and looking seriously hacked off by now, evenmoresothantheirkindusuallydid[24].Asone,theyturnedtostareatme,thebroodmindnodoubtperceivingmeasthegreaterthreat.Well,ithadgotthatright,I'dseenbathspongesmoremenacing

thanMira looked at the moment, and with nothing left to lose I did the one thing I hoped theywouldn't expect: charged both creatures, bellowing 'WAAAAAAAAGHHHHH!' as loudly andenthusiastically as the orks I'd seen far toomuch of on Perlia. As I'd hoped, it focussed all thehybrids' attention on the purestrains, sowhen I veered aside, leaving the pair of them leaping toattackthespotwhereIsuddenlywasn't,andshotthesergeantinstead,noneofthecreaturesreactedforacrucialsecond,takencompletelybysurprise.

By the time the sergeant hit the floor, I was among the crowd hemming us in, swingingmychainswordindefensivepatternsyearsofdrillingandduellinghadmadesoinstinctiveIwasbarelyawareofthem,reapingarichandrepellentharvestofseveredappendagesandspoutingichor.Thenewly implanted PDF trooperswere still too dazed to react, going downwithout even trying toresist,andIfeltasmallqualmatthatpoint,temperedwiththereflectionthatitwasnotonlymydutytopurgethembutamercifuldeliverancetoo.Asthevoxopfolded,hisheadflyingoffinarandomdirection, I letmy pistol fall unheeded to the sodden rockcrete beneathmy feet and grabbed thehandset,prayingtotheThronethatitwasstilltunedtothesamefrequencyasIremembered.

'Astartes!Help!' I just had time tobellow,beforebeingborne to themoisture-slick floorbyatidalwaveofmalformedbodies.Ididmybesttoresist,ofcourse,kickingandflailingwildlywiththe chainsword until itwas torn frommygrasp, and probably biting too if anything came closeenough,butitwashopeless;thereweresimplytoomanyofthem.ForamomentIcouldseenothingbuttwistedfaces,theirexpressionsblank,stillmovingineeriesilence.Noonescreamed,shoutedorsworeatme, and thatwas themostdisturbing thingof all.At leastuntil theyparted, and I foundmyselfstaringintotheeyesofthegenestealerI'dmaimed.

TherehavebeenfartoomanytimesinmylongandingloriouscareerwhenI'vebeenconvinced,with good reason, thatmy lastmoment had come, but fewof themwere accompaniedby such acomplete sensation of absolute helplessness. In almost every other instance I've at least had theillusionofbeingabletoaffecttheoutcome,seensomelast,desperategamblewhichultimatelypaidoff,butheretherewasnothingatallIcoulddo,beyondwrithingineffectuallyandlettingripwithavolley of profanity that would have made a Slaaneshi cultist blush. It didn't perturb the 'stealer,though;itjusthissedthroughitsthoraxandopeneditsjawsunfeasiblywide,showingfartoomanyteethandaddingalayerofstickydrooltotheotherunpleasantsubstancesalreadyruiningmycoat.

Somethingmoved in the back of its throat, and a thick,muscular tube emerged in place of atongue.Iflinched,anticipatingthestabbingpainabouttobeinflictedonmychest,and,worse,thecompletesubversionofeverythingIwas.WouldIstillfeellikemeatallinfiveminutes'time,andifIdidn't,wouldIevencare?I recalled the implanted troopersI'dknown,andfoughtalongside,onKeffia. They'd seemed perfectly normal, giving no clue at all to their altered nature, until they'drevealedthemselvesbyturningonusintheheatofbattleagainsttheirbroodmates.IfIbecamelikethem,withtheaccessIhadtoaSpaceMarineChapterandtheupperechelonsoftheImperialGuard,thedamagemyalteredselfcoulddototheImperium'sinterestswouldbeincalculable.Rathermoreto the point though, Iwas perfectly happywithmyself theway Iwas, and the prospect of beingturnedintoapuppetofthetyranidsbyanovergrowncockroachwasabsolutelyintolerable.

Abruptly, the creature looming overme jerked and shuddered, keening loudly, even over thestuttering crackle of a lasgun on full auto, as a rain of successive las-bolts chewed their waythroughitsarmouredcarapaceandbeganmakinganunholymessofitsinnards.Takenbysurpriseonceagain,thebroodmindlostitsfocusforamoment,andthemyriadofhandsandtalonsholdingmeslackenedtheirgrip.

That was the only chance I needed. Tearing free of them, I snatched upmyweapons, which,praisetheEmperor,stilllayonthefloorwithineasyreach,andturnedtofacemydeliverer.Iam,bynature,somethingofanoptimist,butI'dneverdaredtohopethatmymessagewouldbeansweredso

quickly,ifitevengotthroughatall.'What the hell are you still doing here?' I asked in astonishment, laying about me with the

chainbladeagainandpoppingoff random las-bolts, certain that in a crowd thisdense they'd findsomekindofmark.

Mirapausedforasecond,beforeejectingthespentpowerpackfromherlasgunandsnappingafresh one in,whereupon she began firing short, precise bursts at the second 'stealer, presumablyhavingdiscoveredjusthowquicklystayingonfullautowoulddepleteit.

'Thank you for saving my neck, milady,' she said sarcastically. 'Oh, think nothing of it,commissar.'Shewasstandingastridethesergeant'sbody,whichatleastexplainedwherethereloadshadcomefrom.Nodoubtshe'dcarryherownfromnowon,ifshestillfelttheurgetoplaysoldiers.

'Runnow,thankslater,'Isaid,cuttingmywaythroughtoherside.'ButI'mdefinitelypleasedtoseeyou.'

'I'mflattered,' shesaid,backing towards thenearest tunnelmouthandcontinuing topepper thepurestrainwithlas-bolts.Thisone,however,wasmadeofsternerstuffthanitsfellowandcontinuedtoadvanceinexorably,hoppingawkwardlyonitsinjuredleg,nodoubtaidedbythefactthatMirakept having to shift her aim to keep the swarm of hybrids off our backs too. If the ones withweaponsopenedupwe'dbothbedeadinseconds,buttomyamazementandrelieftheycontinuedtoholdtheirfire,stillbelievingthattheyhadtheadvantageofnumbersandcouldeventuallytakeusalive,tobecomepartoftheirconjoinedmind.Theywereprobablyrightaboutthattoo,closinginarounduswitha speedandprecision Iwouldn'thavebelievedpossible if Ihadn't seenwhat theywerecapableofbefore,andasheedlessof theirownlossesas the tyranids themselves.Foreveryonethatfelltoourlas-boltsandmywhiningchainblade,anotherwouldstepin,anditcouldonlybeamatteroftimebeforewewereoverwhelmedandbroughtdown.

Ishotanotherhybridstandingbetweenusandthetunnelmouth,butevenasIdidsoIcouldtellitwastoolate:thatwayoutwasblockednow,thesilentcrowdpressinginonallsides.Forthesecondtimeinahandfulofminutes,Iwasfacingtheimminentcertaintyofmyowndeath-oratleastthedeathofeverythingIdefinedmyselfby.

'It'sbeenanhonourtoservewithyou,colonel,'Isaid,feelingthatmylastactmightaswellbetoboostMira'smorale.I'dhardlybeenamodelcommissar,Emperoronlyknows,butatleastIcoulddielikeone.

'Webothknowthat'sabigfatlie,'sherepliedgrimly,asherlastpowerpackrandrydespiteherattemptstohusbandit,andshebegantousetheheavylasgunasaclub,'butIappreciatethethought.'

'You'rewelcome,'Isaid,mylaspistolgivinguptoo,andsweptthechainswordatthe'stealer.Weonlyhadsecondsleftnow,butIwasdeterminedtotakeasmanyoftheabominationswithmeasIcould.Time slowedand stretched, as it generally seems tounder this sort of circumstance, and Ifoundmyselfsuddenlyawareofarisingshriek,whichgrewinintensityandvolume.Iflickedmygazeapprehensivelyatthenearesttunnelmouth,anticipatingthesuddenappearanceofsomefreshhorror,ascreamer-killerperhaps [25] -nothingwouldsurprisemenow...exceptforwhatactuallyhappenednext.Witharumblelikethunder,andasuddenburstofozonewhichleftthehairsonmyarmstinglingupright[26],theroofoverourheadsvaporisedinaburstoflightsodazzlingIwasleftblinkingafter-imagesfrommyretinaforseveralminutes.Shardsofcarboniseddebrispatteredaround us, but fortunately nothing of any significant size actually hit; the turbo lasermust havestruckthegroundaboveusfullon,toleavenothinglargerthanafewhandfulsofgravelbehind.

'What the hellwas that?'Mira yelled, as the noise suddenly redoubledwithout the interveninglayerofbrick,earthandrockcrete.

'It's theThunderhawk!' Ibellowedback, recognising thedistinctive silhouette as it flashedpastoverhead,itsshadowmomentarilyeclipsingtheopenpitwenowfoundourselvesin.Asecondlater

the screaming of its enginewas suddenly punctuated by the distinctive staccato rhythm of heavybolterfire,andthehybridsscattered,racingforwhateverrefugetheymightfindinthesurroundingtunnels, while the genestealer exploded messily just before closing to contact with us. 'And theAstartes!'

TheunmistakablebulkoftheTerminatorsI'dseentakingthehereticartillerypositionapartwerelumbering into position around the rim of the pit, pouring fire from their storm bolters into it,while thehybrids fled anddied indroves.Thiswashardly a comfortableposition tobe in, evengiventhephenomenalaccuracyoftheSpaceMarines,buttheypickedofftheirtargetswithoutevencomingclosetous,andinanycasethefiringdiedawayaboutasquicklyasyoumightexpect,givenhowrapidlytheyranoutoftargets.

MiraandIstaredatoneanother,grinninglikeidiots,notquiteabletobelievehownarrowlywe'descapedwithourlivesandsoulsintact.

'ItseemsIoweyouanapology,'shesaidafteramoment,hergenerousdecolletageheavingwithemotion.'Ishouldhavelistenedtoyouradviceandstayedbehind.'

'Underthecircumstances,'Iconceded,'Icanonlybegratefulthatyoudidn't.'Nowthey'drunoutof things to kill the Terminatorswere advancing into the pit,mainly by the simple expedient ofjumping,whichwascreatingaseriesofminortremorsintheground.Howtheywereintendingtogetupagain,Ihadnoidea[27].

Miraeyedmespeculatively. 'I'msurewecanfindsomewayofmakingituptoeachother,'shesaid, in amannerwhichmade it abundantly clear justwhatkindof reparation shehad inmind. Inodded,theprospectseemingdistinctlyappealingatthatpoint,andEmperorknowsIfeltI'dearnedit.

'I'm sure we can,' I said, then turned to the Terminator in charge, easily recognisable by thepowerbladehewascarryingalongwithhis stormbolter. 'Thankyou, sergeant.Your interventionwasmosttimely.'

'Your deathwhile a guest of theReclaimerswouldhavebeen an affront to the honour of ourChapter,'hetoldme,thesepulchraltonesofhiskindissuingfromthevoxunitofhishelmet.Iwasusedtothetimbrebythistime,butMirawasclearlystartled,flinchingvisiblyashebegantospeak.'Wemadewhathastewecouldtothesourceofyoursignal.'

'Then I'll do my best to keep your honour upheld,' I said, feeling oddly disconcerted by thedispassionate statement.TheotherAstarteswere fanningout,weaponsat the ready,pokingat thefallenbodiesofthegenestealersandthehybrids.Igesturedtotheremainsofthenearest,drawingthe sergeant's attention to it, although I hadnodoubt that the voxes built into theSpaceMarines'helmetswere already hummingwith the news. 'Especially now things have become a littlemorecomplicated.'

EditorialNote:TheReclaimers'arrivalonViridiahadproventobeasbriskanddecisiveasinterventionbyan

AstartesChaptergenerally is,andnewsof theircomingspreadrapidly.Though, in those first fewhours,theirpresencehadbeenconfinedentirelytotheplanetarycapital,theeffectontherestoftheplanethadbeenprofound; somethingCain,asusual,doesn'tbother tomention,anymore thanhedoestherestoftheretailingofFidelis.Since my readers cannot be presumed to share his lack of interest in the bigger picture, the

followingextracthasbeenappended.

FromTheVirusofBetrayal:TheCleansingofViridiaanditsAftermathbyLadyOttalineMelmoth,958.M41.

THEARRIVALOF theAstartes was as welcome to the loyal servants of the Emperor as it wasstartling,many of the faithful taking their advent as a sign ofHis special interest in our blessedworld.Indeed,manyservicesofthanksgivingwerebegunintemplesandchapelsaroundtheglobeevenbeforetheirfirstbattlewasconcluded.Notthatthismadeanydifferencetothefervourofthecelebrants: for them, thecomingbattle tocleanseViridiaofheresyandworseseemed littlemorethanaformality,sincethewholegalaxyknowsthatHisSpaceMarinesarethestrongrighthandoftheEmperorHimself,andthatoncetheyembarkonaquestinHisholyname,thetaskisasgoodasdone[28].

TheAstartesmade their first landing inFidelis,at thepalaceofGovernorDuPanya, losingnotime inbreaking theheretical siege lineswhichhadkept theEmperor'sanointedcustodianof theplanetconfinedandpowerlesstointervenedirectlyintheconstantturmoilofcivilstrifewhichhaddonesomuch tomar the fair faceofViridia.Thisdone,he immediately tookup the reinsofhisinterruptedstewardship,whiletheAstartessweptontoevengreatervictories.Thecathedral,alwaysabeaconofhope in thosedesperate times, and thereforeunderconstant threat from thedissidentelements,wasliberatedwithinthehour,aswastheshrineoftheOmnissiah,freeingthetech-prieststobeginministeringtothecity'swoundedmachine-spiritswiththeutmostdispatch.

PerhapsthemostdesperatebattleswerethosetoeliminatetheartillerybatterieswhichtherebelshadsetuptopreventamasslandingofImperialGuardtroops,which,ifleftinplace,wouldhavetaken a terrible toll in lives and resources. The crucial importance of this assignment can bededuced from the fact that themission to removeonewas ledby the commanderof theAstartesexpeditionary force and his personal guard, while the task of placing a beacon to guide theteleportingstriketeamwhichdestroyedtheotherwasentrustedtononeotherthanCommissarCain,accompanied by Colonel Mira DuPanya, the governor's youngest daughter and a formidablewarriorinherownright.

It need hardly be said that both missions ended in unqualified success, with the completedestruction of the designated targets, although one was to have unexpected and seriousconsequences.DuPanyaandCain'sreconnaissanceenroutetotheirdestinationhadrevealedthetruenatureoftheenemywewerefacing,and,forthefirsttime,thefullextentofthehideousconspiracygnawingawayatthefabricofoursociety(quiteliterally,itseemed)becameclear.

SEVEN

THE NEXT FEW days passed in a predictable blur of briefings, conferences and occasionalbloodshed,asthefullextentofthegenestealercult'sreachbecameclear.Nottoputtoofineapointonit,thebloodythingswereeverywhere,fromthelocalArbites[29]tothesanitationworkers'guild,andwinklingthemoutwasajobIfeltheartilygladhadn'tlandedinmylap.FortunatelytheGuardtroopships had arrived in-system on schedule, bringing a mixed bag of Tallarn, Vostroyan andCaledonianregimentswiththem,sotherewasnoshortageofoutsidersunquestionablyfreeofthexenostainttostartroundingupsuspectsandbeginthescreeningprocess.

'Thetroubleis,'Mirasaid,ononeofherperiodicsocialvisitstomyquarters,'thatmeansprettymuchtheentirepopulation.'Sheshrugged,settingupinterestingripples in thefabricof thegownshewasalmostwearing,andleanedforwardstostudytheregicideboardonthetablebetweenus,givingmetheopportunitytofullyappreciatetheeffect.Shewasanenthusiastic,ifsomewhatdirect,player,anattitudesheseemedtobringtoallherrecreationalactivities,anddespiteushavinggotoffon thewrong foot, a surprisingly congenial companion.At least for the short time I expected toremainonViridia.Icouldseeherinnateself-centrednesswouldgrowwearyingafterawhile[30] ,althoughIsuppose,givenherupbringing,thatwashardlyherfault.

'Thecrucialthingistopurgethemostinfluentialinstitutionsasquicklyaspossible,'Itoldher,drawingonwhatIrememberedoftheKeffiaCampaign,inwhichallthepolicystuffhadtakenplacesofarabovemyheaditwaspracticallyinthestratosphere:inthoserelativelycarefreedays,allI'dhad to worry about was rounding up the defaulters, watching our Earthshakers lob shells at anenemytoodistanttoshootback,andavoidingColonelMostrue'soccasionalattemptstomanoeuvremeintothefiringline.(Apartfromgettingsuckedintoastand-upfightwithahordeofgenestealerhybridsuncomfortablyreminiscentoftheoneMiraandIhadsorecentlyfacedtogether,ofcourse.)'StartingwiththeGuardiansandthePDF.'BecausethesoonertheViridianscouldbegincleaninguptheirownmess,thesoonerI'dbeabletogetbacktobrigadeheadquartersandawayfromanythingwantingtokillme;at leastuntilGeneralLokrisfoundanotherinsanelyriskyerrandtolobinmydirection.

TheReclaimerswouldhardlywanttohangaroundoncetheinitialflurryofactionhadsubsided,andthebackoftherebellionhadbeenprettymuchbrokenalready.TherewerestillafewunitsofPDFmutineersoutthere,eithercomposedofhybridsandimplantedhumansundertheswayofthebroodmind,orclingingtotheideologicaltwaddlethey'dbeenfedtogetthemtojointherevolutioninthefirstplaceandunwillingtoadmitthey'dbeendupedbyxenos,buttheywerehardlygoingtolastlongagainstGuardsmen,letalonetheEmperor'schosenwarriors.GrieshadmadenosecretofthefactthatheintendedpullingouttolookforamoreinterestingwarassoonastheReclaimershadfinishedcleansing theoffworldhabs,andwhen theAstartes leftViridiamyassignmentwouldgowiththem,astherewouldhardlybeanyneedforthemtocontinueliaisingwiththeImperialGuard.

Inthemeantime,IwasfarmorecomfortablethanI'danyrighttoexpect.Mirahadprevailedonherfathertofindmeaguestroominthepalace,citingtheneedtokeepmeonhandasamilitaryadvisorwith experience of genestealer infestations, and if hewas aware of her realmotives thegovernorwasenoughofagentlemantoaffectignoranceofthem.Infacttheaccommodationwastooluxurious,ifanything,andI'dtakentosleepingononeofthecouches,thebedbeingtoosoftfor

me,atleastforitsintendedpurpose.'Isupposeso.'Sheturnedoneofmyecclesiarchs,effectivelysurroundingthekingwithherown

pieces,andsatback,lookingsmug.'Mygame,Ithink.''Itlooksthatway,'Isaid.IntruthIcouldprobablyhaveturneditroundagaininacouplemore

moves,buttheensuingendgamewouldhavebeentediouslyprotracted,andMira'sinevitablesulkatbeingmadetolookfoolishwouldhaveputadamperontherestoftheevening.Whereasresigningnowwouldleaveherinagoodmood,andreadytomoveontothemoreenjoyablepursuitswebothknewweretherealreasonforhervisit.

SoitwaswithsomewhatmixedfeelingsthatIheardthedoorofmysuitebangclosed,followedby theunmistakable clatter of anoverstuffedkitbag falling to the carpet.Mira's eyeswidened, inmuchthesamefashionastheyhadwhenshefirstcaughtsightofthegenestealers,andevenbeforeafamiliarodourdriftedpastmynostrilsIwouldhaveputaconsiderablesumofmoneyonwhatI'dfindwhenIturnedround.

'Jurgen,'Isaid,adegreeofwarmthwhichsurprisedmeelbowingitswayintomyvoice.'HowinTerra's name did you get here?' He looked just as unprepossessing as I remembered, as if anurglinghadsomehowbecomeentangledwitharandomcollectionofGuardsmen'skit,butIwasdelightedtoseehimagainnevertheless.

'On one of the troopships,' my aide said, picking his nose thoughtfully, taking the rhetoricalquestion as literally as he did everything else. 'Then I got on the first shuttle down.The generalwasn'thappyaboutit,butItoldhimIwaswithyou,sotheyfoundroom.'

'I'llbethedid,'Isaid,knowingalltoowellhowobdurateJurgencouldbeinpursuitofwhateverhe conceived tobehisduty, irrespectiveof anydifference in rankor statusbetweenhimand theunfortunate target of his ire. I've no doubt that without the protection the quasi-commissarialcredentials his position as my aide conferred, he would have been shot on the spot forinsubordinationinnumerabletimes.I indicatedmyguest,whoseemedevenmoreastonishedthatIapparently knew this apparition than she had been by his original appearance. 'This is MiladyDuPanya, daughter of his Excellency, and a senior officer in the PDF. Mira, my aide, GunnerJurgen.'

'Pleased to meet you, miss,' Jurgen said, mercifully too distant to proffer a hand. Unable toreconcileherevidentcivilianstatuswithwhatI'dtoldhimabouthermilitaryrank,heraisedahandto the straggle of lank hair escaping fromunder his helmet in something between awave and asalute,beforescratchinghisheadinperplexity.'IthoughtyouwerewiththeAstartes,sir.'

'Liaisingwiththem,'Isaid.'ButthemainPDFcommandcentre'shere,inthepalace,whichmeansit'llbethecentreoftheGuardoperationaswell.'

'Isee,'Jurgensaid,noddingjudiciously.'Soyouneedtobehere,really.Forthisliaisonthingtowork.'

'It'salotmoreconvenient,'Mirasaid,stiflinggiggles.'Fortheliaisonthing.''Yes, it is,' I said, a littlemore shortly than I'd intended. Jurgen and I had been through a lot

together,andhe'dalreadysavedmylifemoretimesthanIcouldcount.Iwasusedtopeoplejudginghimbyhisunprepossessingexterior,butMira'sthinlyveiledmockeryraisedmyhackles.Perhapsfortunately, theywere as thick-skinned as one another in their own fashion, and she remained asoblivioustomydisapprovalasJurgendidtoheramusement.'We'llhavetofindyousomequarters.'

'Thatwon'tbeaproblem,'Jurgensaid,rummaginginhiskitbag. 'I'vegotabedroll.'Hestartedlookingroundthelavishlyappointeddrawingroomforsomewheretospreaditout.

'I'mgladtoseeyou'reaspreparedasever,'Isaid,tryingnottopicturetheshambleshe'dreducetheelegantchambertowithinadayofsettlingin,nottomentionthedisruptionhispresencewouldcause to my continuing to liaise as happily as I had with a particular honorary colonel of the

HouseholdRegiment.'ButI'msurewecanmakeyoualittlemorecomfortablethanthat.''Ofcoursewecan,'Mirasaid,rallyingatlastandrecomposingherfeatures.'Theguestsuitesin

thiswinghaveservants'quartersattached.'Sheindicatedalockeddooronaninnerwall,whichI'dassumedonmovinginsimplyconnectedtoanadjoiningsuitelikemyown,forthebenefitofguestsneedingabitmorespacetosprawl.'Youcanusethose.'

'Iwouldn'twanttoputyoutoanytrouble,miss,'Jurgensaid,apparentlyundertheimpressionshewasproposingtotakecareofthematterherself.

Mirashookherhead. 'It'snotrouble,'sheassuredhim,withacommendablystraightface. 'Themaindoorfromthecorridorshouldstillbeunlocked,forthecleaners.'Forwhom,thoughI'dneverseenthem,Ifeltasuddenpangofsympathy.'Andwecangetthemajordomotoopenthatoneinthemorning.'

She glanced a wordless question at me as she indicated the connecting door, and I nodded.Despite his slovenly appearance, and themiasma of ripe socks which hung about him, Jurgen'sdiscretionwasconsiderable;hewouldn't intrudewithoutgoodreason.Not tomention that,withagenestealercultlurkinginthewoodwork,I'dsleepagreatdealmoresoundlyknowingmyaideandhis lasgun were within earshot. I always kept my own weapons to hand, of course, but it wassurprisinglycomfortingtoknowthatonceagainIhadback-upIcouldrelyoncompletely.Infactit'shardlyanexaggerationtosaythatIonlyfullyappreciatedhowmuchI'dmisseditonceJurgenmaterialisedsounexpectedlyinmyquarters.

'Then,ifthere'snothingelse,sir,I'llturnin,'myaidesaid,stoopingtogatheruphiskit.'Probablybest,'Itoldhim.'NowtheGuardhavearrived,we'reinforabusydaytomorrow.''Almostcertainly,'Miraagreed,as thedoorclickedclosed, leavingonly the lingering traceof

hispresencehangingintheairlikeanodiferousphantom.Sheraisedaspeculativeeyebrowatme.'Perhapswe'dbettergetonwithsomeliaisingwhilewestillcan.'

WELL, I HADN'T been wrong about the effect the sudden arrival of a few score thousandGuardsmen was going to have on the planet, and my peace of mind. Now there was an actualImperialGuardforceinthesystemtocoordinatethingswith,Griesbeganvoxingmerathermorefrequentlythanonceaday,andatgreaterlengththantheterseexchangeswe'dgrownusedto,whichhad largelyconsistedofexchanging the tallyof 'stealer spawnbaggedbyhisAstartes (high)andOrten's PDF (pitifully low) since the last communique. Given how compromised the PDFwere,Gries had decided to set up the Reclaimers' operational headquarters at theAdeptusMechanicusshrine,where,Igathered,heandhismenhadbeenmadeaswelcomeasoutsiderseverwerebythedisciplesoftheOmnissiah.AsyetIhadn'tventuredacrossthecitytojointhem,feelingthatmydutyrequiredme to stayas closeaspossible to thePDFcommandbunker, and the rather less spartanaccommodationofferedbythepalace.

WithinacoupleofdaysoftheGuard'sarrival,however,Iwasbeginningtofindtheprospectofabit ofMechanicus austerity considerablymore appealing. GovernorDuPanya had kindly put thebunkerunderhishomeat thedisposalof theexpeditionaryforce [31] ,whichmeantIwasdealingwith general staff matters pretty much non-stop. Predictably, everyone from regimentalcommandersandtheircommissarsonupwantedtomeetme,getmyopiniononmattersI'dneverheardofandaskifIcouldperhapssuggesttotheAstartesthattheymovethesepressingconcernstothetopoftheirToDolist.Ifithadn'tbeenforJurgendeflectingthemajorityoftheserequestswithhisusualcombinationof stubbornnessand literallymindedadherence toprotocol, I'dneverhavebeenoffthevoxtoGriesatall.EvenMira'spresencewasstartingtoseemscantcompensationforthenever-endinglitanyofrequests,complaintsanddata-shuffling.

Ihadnodoubt,fromwhatI'dseenoftheAstartesduringourvoyagehere,thattheirpatiencewiththis kind of confusionwould be limited at best, so you'll no doubt appreciatemy surprisewhenGriesvoxedonemorningtorequestameetingwiththegovernor,andtheseniorGuardofficers,athisearliestconvenience.AsithappenedIwashavingbreakfastwithMiraatthetime,andshelookedat me quizzically over the plate she'd just stuffed with salt grox, coddled eggs and some localspeciesofsmokedfish.

'Whatdoyou supposehewants?' she asked, and I shrugged,quietly fascinatedasusualby theamountoffoodsheseemedabletopackawaywithoutanynoticeableill-effects.

'Isupposewe'llfindoutsoonenough,'Isaid,sippingmycupoftanna[32]gratefully,Jurgenhadbroughtasupplywithhim,andIhadn'trealisedquitehowmuchIwasmissingthestuffuntilitwasback.'Weneededtogethiminforajointstrategymeetinganyway.Probablyaloteasierifhethinksitwashisideainthefirstplace.'

'Perhaps,'Miraagreed,slightlyindistinctly.'Butwhywouldn'thecomeifyouaskedhimanyway?Ithoughtwewereallsupposedtobecooperating.'

'Astartes like to cooperate on their terms,' I told her, punctuating my words with sips of thefragrant liquid. I had no doubt that they were zealous servants of Him on Earth, but whateveralchemymadethemmorethanhumanundeniablysetthemapart.PerhapsifIhadn'tbeensoaffected,bothphysically andmentally, bymyexperienceson InterimsPrime, Imighthave interactedwiththem to a greater extent on our journey here, and foundmore common ground than I had, butsomehowIdoubtedthat.TheclosestthingtoapersonalconnectionI'dbeenabletoforgewaswithDrumon, and he'd been more interested in the necrons and their infernal devices than anythingapproachingthesocialniceties.

'Whodoesn't?'Miraasked,reasonablyenough.Icouldn'tthinkofananswertothatwhichdidn'tsoundtrite,orsmug,soItookrefugeinmybreakfastandsimplyshrugged.

***

TOGIVETHEgovernorhisdue,helostnotimeinsettinguptheconferenceGrieshadrequested.As I entered the command bunker, the taste of tanna still fresh in my mouth, I was pleasantlysurprisedtoseeOrtenthere,apparentlyatDuPanya'sinvitation.Havinghimonhandasasourceoflocalknowledgewouldbeuseful,andsaveusthebotherofrebriefinghimlaterintheunlikelyeventofusneedingtheforceshecommandedforanything.Inoddedanaffablegreetingandexchangedafewwords,notingwithquiet amusementhowmy friendliness towardshimseemed tochange theattitudeofanumberoftheGuardofficerspresentfromindifferenceorbarelyconcealeddisdaintoa slightly forced cordiality. They would have had little enough time for the PDF even if a fairproportionofithadn'tbeenshootingattheirmen,ofcourse,butunderthecircumstances,Iwouldn'thave been all that surprised if at least some of them hadn't suspected Orten of being a hybridhimself.[33]

RathermoresurprisingwasMira'spresence,wearinganotherofherwedding-cakeuniforms,butatleastthistimeshe'dhadenoughsensetopackthecleavageawaywhereitwouldn'tdistractanyone.ShesmiledatmeasIcamein,althoughifanyoftheassembledofficersnoticed,theyhadthegoodgracenottoappeartotakeitforanythingotherthanaperfectlynaturalinfatuationwiththedashingheroIwaspopularlysupposedtobe.Imademywayovertothegirlandherfather,acknowledgingthegreetingsoftheGuardofficersIwasacquaintedwith,orwhowishedtofostertheimpressionthatIwas.

'Governor,' Isaid,greetinghimfirst,asprotocoldemanded,beforenoddingtoMira. 'Colonel.Anunexpectedpleasure.'Whichitwas.She'dsaidnothingabouttaggingalongwhenshe'dleftmy

chambers an hour or so before, andmust have got changed remarkably quickly, at least by herstandards.Manyof the Imperial officersmilling aroundus seemed confusedbyher presence, asevenif theyacceptedhermilitaryrankasreal,whichIdoubtedanyofthemdid, itwasbyfarthemostjuniorintheroom.Shesmiledagain,butbeforeshecouldreply,DuPanyacutin,asdextrouslyasImighthavepinkedanopponentwithmychainsword.

'My daughter is here as my potential successor, commissar [34] ,' he said. 'In these days ofuncertainty,it'simportantforhertobekeptabreastofpolicymatters,incaseshehastotakeoverthereinsofgovernment.'

'Ofcourse,'Isaid,noddinggravely,asiftherewasanygovernmentworthadamnonViridiaatthemoment other than jumpyGuardsmenwith lasguns,who'd applywhichever fragments of theoccupation code [35] they remembered so long as nothing or no one looked like threatening thesafetyoftheirsquadmates,andusetheirweaponsindiscriminatelyiftheirparanoiawassufficientlytweaked.(Which,undertheright,orwrong,circumstances,wouldn'ttakemuch,asarule.)'ButI'msureweallhopeitwon'tcometothat.'IcertainlywouldifIwasaViridian,anyway.

'Quite.' DuPanya glanced at his daughter, apparently picking up my implied meaning withouteffort,andmovedthediscussionontosafertopics.'WhatdoyouthinktheAstarteswanttodiscuss?'

'I'venoidea,'Iadmitted,tryingnottosoundasthoughitrankled.Wewere,afterall,supposedtobe on the same side, but, as I'vementionedbefore, theAstarteswere a lawunto themselves, andconfided asmuch or as little in their allies as seemed to suit them.At least, thatwas true of theReclaimers,andI'venoreasontosuspectthatitdoesn'tholdtruefortheotherChaptersaswell[36].'ButI'msurewe'llfindoutsoonenough.'

Wedidn'thavelongtowait,either.Attheappointedhour,almosttothesecond,thesynchronisedclashofarmouredfeetagainstrockcreteI'dcometoassociatewiththeAstartesechoedthroughthebunker, shaking a thin film of dust free of the support beams to sprinkle everyone lightly withsyntheticdandruff,andalleyes turnedto themaindoorway.Afteramomentor two, inwhichtheclatteringandthevibrationincreasedtolevelsjustshortofuncomfortable,Griesappeared,flankedbyacoupleofhiscompanionsfromthesquadwhichhadaccompaniedhimbefore[37].Amomentlater,Ihadarealsurprise.Drumonwastrailingapaceortwobehindthem.Evenifhe'dstillbeenwearing his helmet,whichwas hanging from a pouch-filled belt at hiswaist, next to a holsteredplasmapistol,Iwouldhaverecognisedhiminstantlybythemetalclawathisback,thejointedarmtowhich it was attached folded neatly away parallel to his spine. Hewas carrying a scabbardedswordontheoppositesidetohispistol,withanactivationruneofsomekindinthepommel.Hewasevidently used to employing them in tandem, in the same fashion I used my chainsword andsidearm,andIsmiledinvoluntarily,amusedtohavefoundanothersmallthingwhichthetoweringTechmarineandIappearedtohaveincommon.

Catchingmyeye,Drumon returned the smileandnoddedagreeting,whichclearlyastonishedthoseamongtheassembledofficerswhonoticeditevenmorethanitdidme.Infact,Iwassotakenaback, I tookamoment to register the red-robed tech-priestglidingsmoothly inhiswake, likeagretchinafteranork [38] .Ihadnoideawhatthetech-priest'spresenceportended,butIwasprettysureitwasnothinggood.

'Captain.'DuPanyasteppedforwardstogreetGries,whoglanceddownathim,thenremovedhishelmet, hanging it at his hip as Drumon had done. Seeing the two men together, I was putincongruously inmindofanadult, tiltinghishead to listenpatiently toan importunatechild. 'Towhatdoweowethisunexpectedpleasure?'

'WehavebeenconferringwiththeacolytesoftheOmnissiah,'Griesexplained,withoutpreamble.'MagosYaffelbelieveshehasidentifiedthesourceofthegenestealertaint.'

That got everyone's attention, as I'm sure you can imagine. The room,which had gone quietenoughwhentheAstartesappeared,stilledcompletely.Icouldhearlittlebutthesusurrationofmyownbreathing,andI'mprettysureafewoftheothersstoppedeventhatforamoment.Fortunately,beforeanyonecouldturnblue,Drumonandthetech-priestcommandeeredthehololith,coaxingitinto lifewitha fewdextrous touchesof their ceramitegauntlets andmechadendrites respectively,while murmuring the litany of activation. We all crowded round, trying to look as though weweren't using our elbows on purpose to obtain a better view, and I did my best to ignore theproximityofMira,whowastakingadvantageofthehuddletogetconsiderablyclosertomethandecorumwouldnormallypermitwithotherspresent.

'I'msureyourecognisethis,' thetech-priestbegan,inthereedytonesofavoxcasterinneedofrepair.Likemanyofhisbrethren,he'dapparentlyreplacedhisvocalcords,andagreatdealelse,withaugmeticsystems.Ashespoke,hemovedslightly,oscillatingbackandforthlikeadrunkardattemptingtokeeppacewiththefloor;afteramomentortwoIcaughtaglimpseofmetalbeneathhisrobe,andthecoindropped.Thelowerhalfofhisbodyhadbeenremovedcompletely,leavinghis torso restingon ametal plate,which in turnwas supportedby a thin steel tube, attached to asingle,fat-tyredwheel.Nodoubttherewasagyroscopesomewheretoimpartstability,but,ifso,itseemedbarelyadequatetothetask,necessitatingconstantminoradjustmentsofbalancetokeephimfromtopplingover.

Everyone nodded as an image of the Viridian stellar system appeared, the planet we werestandingonmarkedwiththegreenrunewhich,somewhatoptimistically,identifieditasnowbeingsafelybackinImperialhands.Mostofthesignificantoffworldhabsweresimilarlytagged.Thiswasnotsurprising.TheReclaimersleftbehindontheRevenanthadhardlybeenidlewhilethewaronthe ground was going on, and had retaken the largest rebel stronghold with an ease which haddisinclined most of the others to make a fight of it, while the strike cruiser swatted any of theSystemDefenceboatswhichfailedtostriketheircoloursascasuallyasithadtakencareoftheonewhichhadbeenfoolishenoughtoattackuswhenwe'dfirstemergedfromthewarp.Onlyafewrediconsmarkeddie-hard dissidents,which quite effectively pinpointed the offworld siteswhere the'stealershadmanagedtogainasignificantfoothold,andIwaspleasantlysurprisedathowmeagretheywere[39].

'Ahundredandforty-sevenyearsago,'thetech-priestwenton,apparentlyindifferenttoournodsandmurmurs,'aflareofwarpenergywasdetectedinthehalo[40].Analysisatthetimesuggestedanobjectofconsiderablemasshademerged,andaSystemDefenceboatwasdispatchedtoinvestigate.Perhapsfortunatelyforthem,however,theobjectdisappearedbackintotheimmateriumbeforetheywere able to providemore than a few long-range sensor records.'Drumon did something at thecontrollectern,andtheimagechangedtoanindistinctblobwhichlookedlikenothingsomuchasadiseased tuber tome.Thereseemed tobenothingparticularly threateningabout it,butDuPanya'sfacehadpaled.Miraglancedatherfather,lookingconcernedaboutsomeoneelseforthefirsttimesinceI'dmether.

'The space hulk,' the governor said heavily, and that got a reaction, you can be sure. Gries'sshatteredvisagetwitchedintothesemblanceofafrown,andhegazedatDuPanyalikeascholatutorfacedwithapupilstumblingoverthecatechism.

'You were aware of this?' he asked, his voice rumbling through the bunker like a distantearthquake.

DuPanyanodded. 'Of course,' he said, recovering fast. 'But as itwasonly in-system for a fewhours,wefelttheriskitposedtooursecurityhadbeennegligible.WekepttheSDFonalertforawhile,butwithnothingtoshootat,theredidn'tseemmuchpointinprolongingthewatch.'

Concealingmysurprisethathewasapparentlyintohissecondcentury,whichIsupposeIshould

haveexpected,givenwhatI'dalreadydeducedaboutthenobility'sfondnessforjuvenattreatments,Inoddedjudiciously. 'That'sunderstandable,' Isaid,wonderingfor thefirst timeifMirawasreallyquiteasyoungassheappeared,anddecidingIdidn'tmuchcareeitherway.'Ifthereweregreenskinsaboard,I'msureyouwouldhavenoticed.'

SeveraloftheImperialofficerssmiledattheunderstatement,anorkinvasionhardlybeingnotedforitssubtlety,butitseemedGrieshadaslittletimeforflippancyashehadforanythingelsewhichwasn't about slaughtering the enemies of the Emperor. 'Such complacency was negligent in theextreme,'hesaid.

DuPanya flushed. 'We could hardly remain on alert indefinitely,' he pointed out, a trifledefensively. 'Thepopulacewouldhavebeenpanicked, tonopositiveeffect.And it'snot as ifourdefencesweresetuptocounterthiskindofinsidiousinfiltrationinanycase.'

Griesdidn'thavetosay''Perhapstheyshouldhavebeen''.Hissilencewasemphaticenough.Todispelthetensionhangingintheair,andforestallanyrecriminationwhichwaslikelytoberipenedbyit,Isteppedintorestoreourunity,likethegoodlittlecommissarIwassupposedtobe.

'All ofwhich rather begs the question of how the 'stealers got planetside at all,' I said, as if Ireallywantedtoknowtheanswer.

'Magos,I'msureamanofyoureruditionhasbeenabletoworkitout?'Thewobblinghalf-manlookedaspleasedasitwaspossibletowithafacecomposedlargelyofmetal.TheacolytesoftheOmnissiaharesupposedtobeabovepettyhumanemotions,butI'venoticedtheyseemassusceptibletoflatteryasanyoneelse.

'The balance of probabilities would seem to favour an opportunistic boarding by mineralprospectors in searchofbooty,' hepiped,his thin tones inmarkedcontrast to thoseof theSpaceMarinecaptain.'Thehaloisfullofsmallvessels,whichtheSDFcrewwouldhavefoundextremelydifficulttodistinguishattherangetheywere,giventhemaskingeffectofthehulkandtheprofusionofcometarydebrisregisteringontheirauspex.'

Thatsoundedplausibleenoughtome.Itwouldonlytakeahandfulofpeopletobeimplantedforthe taint to take root,growingstrongerwitheachgenerationofhybrids, and thecrewofa smallvesselwoulddonicelyforstarters.Particularlyiftheyhadroomaboardforapurestrainortwo,tohurrytheprocessalongabit.

'Which raises another alarming possibility,' I said. 'Given the amount of cargo entering andleaving thesystem,and thenumberofvesselscarrying it,howsurecanwebe thatsomeof theseabominationshaven'ttakenpassagetootherpartsofthesector,intentonspreadingtheircorruptionas widely as they can?' The expressions of the senior officers surrounding me were all theindicationIneededofjusthowmuchnoneofthemlikedthatidea.

'That seems unlikely,' Drumon interjected, to everyone's visible relief, 'although it would beprudenttosendanastropathicmessagetotheappropriateauthoritiesinthenearbysystems.'

'Iconcur,'Griesagreed.'Genestealercultsgenerallyremainfocussedonsubvertingoneworldatatime.'Well,Isupposedhe'dknow,beingthegreatestlocalexpertontheenemiesoftheImperium,andthebestwayofscrapingthemoffitscollectivebootsole.

'Amore pressing concern is the hulk itself,'Yaffel put in,with the unmistakable air of amandraggingeveryonebacktothepoint.'Whereveritgoes,itwillcontinuetoinfectinhabitedsystems.'

'Not tomention the ones it's already been through,' I said. I glanced round the bunker, finallymanagingtocatchtheeyeoftheseniorintelligenceanalystamongthegeneralstaffers.'We'llneedtosearchtherecords,trytofindothersightingsthatmatch-'

'We have already identified it,' Drumon assured me, the faint trace of amusement I recalledseeing aboard the Revenant duringmy convalescence surfacing briefly again. 'It's the Spawn ofDamnation,firstsightedin447.M36,intheSpinwardDrift.Or,atleast,firstsightedbyanyonewho

survivedtomakeareport.Itsmovementsareaswell-knownasanypieceofwarpflotsam.''Well, that's a comfort, at least,' I said, trying to sound as though I meant it, and hadn't been

disconcertedbythename.Whochoseit,andwhytheycan'tcallthesethingssomethingalittlemorecheerful,isbeyondme[41].'It'sashamewecan'twarnwhoeverit'sheadingfornext.'

'Unfortunately,giventhenatureofthewarp,suchapredictioncannotbemade,'Yaffelsaid,notquite managing to inject an edge of regret into his mechanical monotone. 'However, it may bepossibletofollowthehulktoitsnextdestination.'

'How?'DuPanya asked, quite reasonably under the circumstances,whileMiramerely pulled afaceatme,andmadeasurprisinglyvulgargesture indicativeofmentalderangement.Privately, Iagreedwithher,but if theAstartesweretakingthisnonsenseseriously, theleastwecoulddowashearthefellowout.

'By entering the warp at the same point the hulk did,' Yaffel said, 'and following the current.We'veexaminedthelogsofnumerouscargovesselswhichenteredandlefttheViridiaSystemoverthelastcenturyandahalf,andtheindicationsarethattheflowoftheimmateriuminthisregionofspaceandtimehaveremainedreasonablystable.'

'Reasonably stable being something of a relative term,' Drumon interjected again, dryly.'Following the wrong current will take us to a different system entirely. But we have a goodNavigatoraboardtheRevenant,andheconsidersthegambleareasonableone.'

'Not to mention the calculations I've made, which should narrow down the possibilitiesconsiderably,'Yaffeladded.

'Then, forgiveme if I'mwrong,'DuPanyasaid, 'arewe to infer thatyou intend trying to trackdowntheSpawnofDamnationinyourownship?'

'Wedo,'Griessaidflatly.Hisheadturned,sweepinghisgazeacrosstheassembledofficers.'TheImperialGuardshouldbecapableofresolvingmattersonViridianowthebackoftherebellionhasbeenbroken.Oncetheoperationswecurrentlyhaveunderwayareconcluded,wewilldepart.'

'You'llbemissed,'Isaiddiplomatically,steppinginbeforeanyoftheGuardofficerscouldsaysomething unfortunate that might lead to hurt feelings or worse. 'But we must all do our duty,whereveritleads.'

Lookingback, I sometimeswonderwhether if I'd just had the sense toholdmy tongueat thatpointIwouldhaveavoidedagreatdealofunpleasantness,butsomehowIdoubtit.Grieshadclearlymade hismind up about thewhole thing before he voxedme thatmorning, and a captain of theAstartesisahardmantosaynoto.Hisgazesettledonme.

'Commissar.Youmay accompany us, if youwish.TheSpawnofDamnation is a threat to thewholesector,andwillcontinuetobesountilitisneutralised.NodoubtthehigherechelonsoftheImperialGuardwouldvalueyourreportofouractions.'

'I'venodoubttheywould,'Isaidsmoothly,whiletryingdesperatelytothinkofaplausiblereasonnot to get dragged into this lunatic quest. None came to mind, and, once again, I foundmyselfcursingmy unfounded reputation. How could I possibly refuse, with a roomful of generals andseniorcommissars staringatme,mostlywithundisguisedenvy? I shrugged,determined tomakethebestofit.'Myordersweretoliaisewithyouforaslongasyoudeemnecessary,soofcourseI'mhappytocontinue.I'llinstructmyaidetomakethearrangementsforourdeparture.'

'Verywell.'Griesnodded,turnedandstrodeoutofthebunkerwithoutanotherword,followedbytherestoftheAstartesandthewobblingtech-priest.Ababbleofvoicesbrokeout,incredulityandoutragethepredominantnotes,andIbecameawareofMiraclutchingmyarm,herfaceset.

'Ciaphas,'shesaidfirmly,'weneedtotalk.Aboutus.'

EIGHT

JURGENTOOKTHEnewsofour imminentdeparture inhisusualphlegmatic fashion,althoughI'mboundtosaythatIwaslessthanenthusiasticattheprospectofgettingbackaboardastarshipsosoonaftermakingplanetfall.But then, forJurgen,ordersweresacrosanct. Isometimessuspectedthat hebelieved the chainof command to extendunbroken all theway to theGoldenThrone, soeven matters as mundane as the appointment of the day's latrine orderly were imbued with theunassailableauthorityoftheEmperorHimself.Atanyevent,hesimplynoddedandbusiedhimselfaboutpackingmyeffectswithnomorethanasimple''Verygood,sir.Willyoubewantingabitoflunchbeforeweleave?''.

'Ibelieveso,'Itoldhim,afterconsideringthematter.I'dlostlittletimeinrequisitioningacomm-beadfromthenewlyarrivedGuardcontingent,toreplacetheonethenecronshadvaporisedalongwiththeOmnissiah'sBounty,soIwasabletofollowtheAstartes'preparationsfordeparturewithoutbotheringGries,which probably came as a relief to both of us. Recovering their active combatsquads,whowerescatteredacrosshalfthesystem,wasgoingtotakealittletime,evenforwarriorsoftheirformidableefficiency,and,truetothecodeoftheirChapter,noneofthemwouldbewillingtobreakcontactwithastill-livingenemyandleavethetaskthey'dbeenallocatedhalf-done.

LunchwouldalsobeagoodopportunitytotakemyleaveofMira(whoI'dmanagedtodetachmyself from in the command bunker as quickly and tactfully as possible), on reasonably goodterms.Herwordshadshakenme,which,givensomeoftheperilsI'vefacedintheEmperor'sname,youmightfindsurprising,butatleastyouknowwhereyouarewithachargingork.Whenawomantellsyoushewantstotalk''aboutus'',theonethingyoucanbesureofisthatnoamountofcombatexperienceisgoingtogetyououtunscathed.

Tomysurprise,and,Imustconfess,reliefhowever,myinvitationwentunacknowledged,savebyasour-facedladiesmaid,whoinformedmewithmingledrelishanddisdainthathermistresswas'''notavailable''.RememberingthesulkyexpressiononMira'sfaceasI'dprisedherfrommyarmand found urgent businesswith the intelligence analyst I'd tried to speak to before, I couldwellbelieveit.Ithadbeenobvioustomefromthemomentwe'dfirstgotinvolvedwithoneanotherthatourliaisonwouldbeasfleetingasalltheothersI'dhadovertheyears,mypositionanddutytotheCommissariatmakingitinevitablethatI'dbemovingontoanotherwarassoonasthesituationonViridiahadstabilised,butMira'slittleworldhadalwaysrevolvedaroundher,andIwasbeginningto realise, somewhat belatedly, that shewasn't going to take kindly tomy departure on anyone'stermsbutherown.

Ohwell, toobad, I thought.Heiress toaplanet shemayhavebeen [42] , but I couldn't see thathavingmuchweightwithGriesifshetriedtoarguehimintoleavingmebehind.Foramomentthemental picture that conjured up, of the petulant young aristocrat haranguing the Space Marinecaptain, raised a fleeting smile, before I dismissed it and turned my attention to more pressingmatters.'Seeifthey'vegotanyofthoselittlelizardthings,andsomeofthatsmokedfishpate,inthekitchen,'ItoldJurgen.TherationsaboardtheRevenantwereadequate,ofcourse,butfairlybasic,the littlecomfortsof lifegenerallycoming lowon the listofprioritiesofaSpaceMarine,and Iintended to make the most of the skills of the governor's chef while I still had the chance.'Otherwise,useyourinitiative.Andgetsomethingforyourself,too.'

'Verygood,sir,'hesaid,anddepartedasquicklyashecouldwithoutcompromising theairofdignityhefeltappropriatetosomeoneintheexaltedpositionofacommissar'spersonalaide,andwhich he endeavoured to maintain at all times, in blissful ignorance of the fact that it wascompletelyinvisibletoeveryonebuthim.Hereturnedashortwhilelaterwithalargecoveredtray,thecontentsofwhichhelaidoutforme,andathermalbagleakingsteam,which,tomyunspokenrelief,heboreofftohisownquarters,therebeingfewthingsinthegalaxymorelikelytocurtailtheappetitethanwatching(orlisteningto)Jurgenstuffinghisface.

After concludingourmeals therewasnothingmuchelse todo, sincewehad little enoughkitbetween us, and Jurgen had already stowed it, so I found myself in the unwelcome and novelpositionoftimehangingheavilyonmyhands.Ibusiedmyselfwithmake-work,visitingthebunkerforonefinal timetopassonwhat informationIcouldabout thestateofaffairs theAstarteswereleavingbehind(alotofdeadheretics,mainly),andpickupthelatestnewsoftheGuardcampaignincase,indefianceofmyexpectations,Griesturnedouttobeinterested.(Iwasright,asithappened;hewasn't.Assoonaswe'dlefttheViridiaSystem,hisattentionwasfocussedentirelyonthepursuitofthespacehulk,andIcan'trecallhimevermentioningthecampaignthereagain.)

Tomyrelief,Ididn'trunacrossDuPanyaanywhereinthecorridorsofthepalace,asIwasbynomeanscertainhowmuchheknewofmyassociationwithhisdaughter,orofherrecentdispleasure.As it happened, I never set eyes on him again. I did findOrten hanging around in the commandcentre, marginalised by the Guard officers but gamely determined to do whatever he could toprevent them from making too much of a mess of his home world, and made sure I said myfarewells tohimaspublicly aspossible: I don't know if thatmadeanyone takehima littlemoreseriously,butIhopeso[43].

OfMira, I saw nothing before quitting the palace, which I must confess to being ambivalentabout. On the one hand, I couldn't help feeling a certain sense of relief at having avoided aconfrontationwhichwouldprobablyhaveendedinrecrimination,butontheother,I'veneverlikedleavingunfinishedbusinessbehind.AsJurgendroveusoutofthemaincourtyardandthroughthewreckageofthegardensalongthemaincauseway,whichstoodoutclearlyasastraightstripofmudmarginally lesschurnedup than its surroundings, I foundmyselfglancingbackover thearmourplate protecting the crew compartment of the Salamander he'd requisitioned from somewhere toscanthehundredsofwindowsinsearchofaflashofblondehair;butinvain.Atlast,aswepassedthrough thebatteredgate in theouterwall throughwhichTrosquehad launchedhisattackon thebesiegers, the palace disappeared from sight, and I directed my attention to our immediateenvironment.

Ihadn'tseenmuchofFidelisintherelativelyshorttimewhichhadelapsedsinceourarrival.OnthefewoccasionsI'dventuredouttocomparenoteswithGuardcommandersorAstartesinthefieldithadbeenaboardaRhinowhichmyhostshadthoughtfullydispatched,thearrivalofwhichalwaysseemedtoexciteacertaindegreeofinterestamongGuardsmenandPDFloyalistsalike.ItseemedtheReclaimerswere still taking thematter ofmy personal safety as seriously as theTerminatorsergeanthadintimated,whichwasfinebyme.TheonlydownsidesthatI'ddiscoveredsofarwereaninabilitytoseeanythingbeyondtheinterioroftheAPC,whichwasconsiderablyroomierthantheChimerasIwasfamiliarwith,andthefactthatthebenchseatsweretothesamescaleasthefittingsaboardtheThunderhawk:fineforthesuperhumanstatureofaSpaceMarineinpoweredarmour,butdistinctly uncomfortable for us ordinary mortals. The upshot of which was that I'd only seensnapshotsofthecity,asitwere,generallyadisputedpart,wheretheamountofambientnoiseandincomingfiremadeloiteringtosightseedecidedlyunwise.

Now,asJurgencannonballedusthroughthestreetsathisusualbreakneckpace,swervingaroundthosefewobstaclestoosolidtobounceourtracksacross,Ifoundmyselfpleasantlysurprised.The

tideofwarhadevidentlyrecededfromthecapitalatlast,onlyafewrockpoolsofunrestremainingtobedealtwith,andthefirstsignsofsomethingapproachingnormalitywerebeginningtoappear,likeshootsofgreenamongtheashesofaforestfire.Theroadtothestarportwasclearofdebris,theworstofthecrateringmarringitssurfacepatchedwithrawrockcretedressings,whichIsupposewasonlytobeexpectedgiventheamountofmilitarytrafficrumblingalongit inbothdirections.WhatIhadn'tanticipatedwasthenumberofcivilianvehiclesthreadedinamongthem,overloadedcargo haulers for the most part, jammed with furnishings, possessions and grim-faced peopleclingingonfordearlifeamongthedetritusoftheirlives.Theywere,Isuppose,returningtotheirhomes,orthesiteswhereoncetheystood,hopingtopickupwherethey'dleftoff,indefianceofallreason. Most of the ramshackle transports were graced with icons of the Emperor, and a fewmeagreofferingshadbeenleftattheshrinesbesidetheroad,where,nodoubt,they'dbepurloinedassoonasduskfell,indefianceofthecurfew[44].

Theside streets,whichJurgeneventually took to, impatientwith the restrictions thedensityoftraffic on the main thoroughfare placed on his natural inclination to open the throttle to itsmaximum and leave it there, weremore cluttered, of course, but even here there were signs ofreturning life, which I found cheering. People were moving among the rubble of the sunderedbuildings,salvagingwhattheycould,althoughiftheemporiumI'dencounteredthesentriesofthebroodmindinwasanythingtogoby,Idoubtedthatthelooterswouldhaveleftthemmuch[45].Inafewplaces the smokeof cooking fires rose fromwithin the ruins,where enoughof theoriginalstructures remained to keep the rain off, occasionally supplemented with tarpaulins or othermakeshiftmaterials.

Fewof thepeoplewepassed sparedusaglance,with the inevitable exceptionof thechildren,whowereplayingamidtheruinswiththetotalabsorptionintheconcernsofthemomentpeculiartothe very young. They tended to glance up as we hurtled by, stones and chunks of pulverisedrockcretescatteringfromourtreads,shoutingorwaving,beforereturningtotheirgames.

As yet, there seemed little in theway of organised rebuilding, althoughwe caught occasionalglimpses of what might have been the beginning of a coordinated effort at returning Fidelis tohabitability. A handful of tech-priests seemed to be abroad, roaming the city in ones and twos,makingearnestnotesintheirdata-slatesorpokingaboutinconduits,whileapartyofsappersfromoneoftheVostroyanregimentswaserectingflakboardhutsinaparkJurgencouldn'tbebotheredtocircumvent, presumably intended to house the hopeful occupants of the lorrieswe'd seen earlier.Theonly buildingunder active repair thatwepassedwas a local temple,where ragged refugeeswere layingbricksunder the supervisionof anelderly ecclesiarch,nodoubt in exchange for thepromiseoffoodandabedforthenight[46].

Afewmomentslaterourprogressbegantoslowagain,andIpokedmyheadoverthearmourplate surrounding the passenger compartment, reaching for my laspistol by reflex as I did so.Normally I liked to have the Salamanders I requisitioned fitted with a pintel mount, so I'd havesomethingabitmorelethaltohandifthingswentploin-shaped,butJurgenhadjusthadtotakewhathecouldfindinthevehiclepool,leavingmetomakedowithmysidearmifpushcametoshove.ACaledoniansergeant, inamottledcamo-patterneduniformsimilartotheoneOrtenfavoured,wasflagging us down, the squad of troopers with him regarding us with the wary eyes of combatveterans.Theywerekeepingtheirlasgunstrainedonus,justastheyshouldhavedonewithsomuchPDFkitstill in thehandsof insurrectionistsandtroublemakers,andIwaspleasedtosee that theykeptthemonaimevenaftermyuniformhadbecomevisible.

'Commissar.'Thesergeantnoddedagreeting,nodoubtwonderingifheoranyofhismenwereintrouble,butdeterminednottoshowit.VeryfewGuardsmenarepleasedtoseearedsash,whichnodoubtaccountsfortheinordinatenumberofmycolleaguesfelledbyfriendly-fireaccidents.'We

weren'ttoidtoexpectyou.''Probably because I had no idea any of our people were down here,' I said, noting the faint

stirringofreliefamongthesoldiers. 'MyaideandIareonourwaytotheaerodrome.'Ismiledatthetroopers,whowerestillkeepinguscovered.'Youcanstanddown.We'renothybridsor'stealerpuppets.'

'Ofcoursenot,'thesergeantagreed,steppingforwards,atriflenervously,withaportableauspex.'Butifyouwouldn'tmindindulgingme,sir?I'msureyouwouldn'twantustoneglectourorders.'

'Bynomeans,'Iagreed,reholsteringmylaspistolandclimbingdowntotheroadwaysohecouldtake his genescan a little more easily The unit beeped, and a rune flashed green, after whicheveryone looked a little more comfortable, particularly once Jurgen was confirmed to be areasonableapproximationofahumanaswell.'You'retobecommendedforyourcaution.'

Thatwentdownwell,asI'dknownitwould.Therearefarbetterwaysofmanagingtroopsthansimplyputting thefearof theEmperor into them,asI try toconvince theyoungpups inmycarethesedays,inthevaguehopethattheircareerswilllastabitlongerthantheirfirstnightpatrol.

Thesergeantnodded.'That'stheworstthingaboutfighting'stealers,'heagreed.'Youneverknowwhomightturnouttobeahybridoranimplant.SquadmateofmineturnedonusonKeffia,justlikethat,nowarning,beenwithussincebasic.Hadtoshoothimmyself.'

'Iwastheretoo,'Isaid,notwantingtoremembertoomuchaboutit.'Similarthinghappened.Badbusinessallround.'

Thesergeantshrugged.'Ineverlikedhim,mind.AndIgothisstripe.Forshowinginitiative.Soitcouldhavebeenworse.'

Ismiledagain.'You'reabornoptimist,sergeant.TheGuardneedsmenlikeyou.''Kindofyou tosayso,sir.'And,Emperorhelpme,heactuallyblushed. 'Butyou'llhave togo

round,I'mafraid.Thestreet'simpassable.''We'llgetthrough,'Jurgensaid,withquietconfidence,takingthestatementasachallenge,asI'd

knownhewould.Thesergeantshookhishead.'Idoubtit,'hesaid.Jurgenmighthavebeenabouttoarguethepoint,

butsubsided,atalookfromme.'Impassablehow?'Iasked,andthesergeantshrugged.'It'snotthere,'hesaidsimply.Well,thatsoundeddistinctlypeculiar,soIlefttheSalamanderwith

its engine running, and walked off down the rubble-strewn carriageway. For the first hundredmetres or so, nothing seemed to have changed, the ravaged cityscape loomingoverme, andmybootsolesscrapingagainstthesmallerchunksofdebrislitteringthe'crete.

Thentheroadended,assharplyandabruptlyasifexcisedwithaknife.Forafewmetrestheroadsurfacebecamerippled,likeahardenedlavaflow,thensimplydroppedawayintoabroadpit,somethreeorfourmetresdeep.Itmayseemincredible,readingthisnow,butmyfirstthoughtwassimplyhowluckywe'dbeentohaverunintothetrooperswhenwedid;iftheyhadn'tflaggedusdown,wemightwellhavediscoveredtheholebyfallingintoit.Then,asIbegantotakeinthewaytheedgesof thebuildingsaroundmehadalsomeltedand flowed likecandlewax, realisationbelatedlyhit.ThiswaswhereMiraandIhadfoughtourdesperatebattlebeneaththeground,andcomesoclosetoextinctionbeforetheThunderhawkhadtorntheroofofftoallowtheTerminatorstocometoourrescue.

Ican'tbesurehowlongIstoodthere,relivingthehorrorandmarvellingattheprecisionofoursaviours,beforeafamiliarodourbroughtmebacktomyself.

'That'sabighole,' Jurgencommented,materialisingatmyshoulder,his lasgunheldreadyforuseasalways.

Inodded.'Itisindeed,'Iagreed,pickingoutthetunnelthepure-strainshademergedfromatlast.

Nothing was left of the creatures which had attacked us, save a few greasy stains on the rain-streakedrockcretebelow;someoftheTerminatorshadcarriedflamers,andmadesurethateverylastonehadbeenconsignedtothepyrebeforetheybrokeoff.Icouldn'thelpwonderinghowmanymoreofthexenosspawnstilllurkedbeneathourfeet,though,orhowmanyapparentinnocentsstillcarried their taint.But thatwasn'tmyproblemany longer, thanks toGriesand the libratory tech-priestYaffel.

'It'lltakesomefillingin,'Jurgenadded,afteramomentortwooffurtherdeliberation.'I'msureitwill,'Isaid,turningawayatlast,beforemyimaginationcouldstartplayingtrickswith

theechoes.'Canyoufindyourwayroundit?We'vestillgotashuttletocatch.'Jurgennodded.'Leaveittome,'hesaid.

THANKSTOMYaide'susualrobustdrivingstyle,theunexpecteddetourdidn'tdetainusovermuch:we reached the landing pad just as the Thunderhawk I'd arrived aboard, or its identical twin I'dnoticedinthehangarbay,roaredinoverourheadsandsnuggleditselfdownbetweentheblastwallslike a raptor returning to its nest.Mine wasn't the only head turning to follow it: the scores ofGuardsmen and Navy hands scurrying about the place were undoubtedly accustomed to theceaselessarrivalanddepartureofValkyries,AquilaeandThronealoneknewhowmanyothertypesofshuttle,drop-shipandcombatcraft,but thedistinctivesilhouetteof theAstartesvesselgrabbedtheirattentionatonce.

Jurgen,fortunately,remainedasphlegmaticasever,apparentlyconsideringitnothingmorethana ship like any other, and weaved his way through the distracted ground crews with his usualaplomb,missing cargo haulers and foot sloggers by a typically narrowmargin. Fortunately thenoiseofourengine,and the idlingThunderhawk,drownedout thecommentswhich followedus,althoughthegestureswhichaccompaniedthemweremorethansufficienttoconveytheirgist.

Ashesteeredusthroughtheslalomofblastwallssurroundingthepad[47],itbecameclearthatJurgen and I weren't the only guests of the Chapter intending to embark for the Revenant thatafternoon.MagosYaffelwastheretoo,oscillatingevenmorethanusualinthebackwashfromtheidling thrusters, accompaniedby a handful of tech-adepts, and a couple of servitors,whichwerebusily engaged in transferring an unfeasibly large collection of boxes and bundles aboard. AsJurgencoastedtheSalamandertoahalt,andbegancollectingourkittogether,Ihoppeddownandnoddedacordialgreetingtothecogboys[48].

'Magos,'Isaid,raisingmyvoicealittletobeheardoverthescreamingengines,'Iwasn'tawarethatyou'dbeaccompanyingus.'

'TheOmnissiahdirectsourfootstepsalongthepathofknowledge,'Yaffelreplied,crankingupthevolumeofhisvoxcastertoovercomethedin.Refrainingfrompointingoutthatinhiscasethatwouldbesingularlydifficult,Imerelynodded,asiftheevidentquotation [49]meantsomething tome. 'And the potential store of data to be reapedon this endeavour is incalculable.'At the time Ithought hiswords to be nomore than a simple figure of speech. If I'd known thenwhat hewasdrivingat,I'dhaveclamberedbackaboardtheSalamanderandtoldJurgentoheadforthehorizonwithallthespeedhecouldsqueezefromit(whichI'venodoubtwouldhavebeenconsiderable).Asit was, however, I merely exchanged a few more reflexive pleasantries, before following myoverloadedaidetothebottomoftheboardingramp,anddodgingoutofthewayofaservitoronitswaybackforanotherloadofwhateverYaffelandhiscroniesconsideredessentialonthevoyage.

As I regained my balance, another vehicle drew up smoothly alongside our abandonedSalamander, and I felt a strangeuneasedescenduponme. Itwas agroundcar, long and sleek, itsarmourcryswindowspolarisedtothesameglossyblackasthebodywork.ForsomereasonIwas

putinmindoftheblank,reflectivefacesofthemetalkillersI'dfledfromonInterimsPrime.WhichI'dalmostratherhavefacedagain,ifmysuddenintuitionaboutthecar'spassengerturnedouttoberight.

Itwas.Auniformedchauffeur,inaliveryI'dcometoknowwellsincemyarrivalhere,unfoldedhimself from the driver's compartment and glided round to the rear door.As he opened itMiraemerged,thesuddenchangeinherexpressionaclearindicationthatthevehiclewassoundproofedaseffectivelyasitwasshieldedfromthevulgargazeofthehoipolloi,andwavedcheerfullyinmydirection.

Iwavedback,maskingmyreliefatherevidentgoodhumourwithafaintsmilemeanttoconveypleasedsurprise, andshecame trottingover,grinning likeapuppywho's justdiscoveredhow toopenthemeatlocker.She'devidentlygottiredofplayingsoldiers,asshe'ddiscardedthedress-upuniforminfavourofsomethingalittlemorefeminine:anindigoblouse,low-cut,likeprettymucheverything else in her wardrobe, and a crimson knee-length skirt, which, like the blouse, wasfashioned from some material that shimmered slightly as the light caught it. In the turbulencethrown up by the Thunderhawks idling thrusters it rippled constantly, so thatMira seemed to beclothedby a nimbusof rainbows.Her footwearwas surprisingly practical: calf-highbootsmadefromthehideofsomelocalanimal,althoughIdoubtedthattheiroriginalownerhadbeenquitesofluorescentlypink.

'Mira,'Isaid,exhalingalittlemorestronglythanIintendedassheenvelopedmeinahugwhichwouldhavecrackedanork'sribs.'Itwaskindofyoutocomeandseemeoff.'

'I'mnot.'Shegrinnedagain,andwithadefinitesenseofforebodingIbelatedlyregisteredthefactthatthechauffeurwasremovingwhatlookedlikealmostasmuchbaggageasthetech-priestshadaccumulatedfromthecar.'I'mcomingtoo.Isn'tthatawonderfulsurprise?'

'Wonderfuldoesn'tevenbegintocoverit,'Isaidtruthfully.

NINE

PERHAPSFORTUNATELY,THEear-splittingnoiseinsidetheThunderhawkafterittookoffmadefurtherconversation impossible.Therewere theheadsetsVerenhaddrawnmyattention toon thejourney down, of course, but the last thing I needed was Mira vox-casting the details of ourassociationacrossanopencomm-net,soImadesuretheoneIgaveherjustpriortoourdeparturewas switched off before handing it over. Though grateful for the aural protection it offered, Ideclinedtoactivatemine,either:Ihadnointerestinanythingthetech-priestsmighthavetosay,andIknewfromlongexperiencethatJurgenwouldsimplylapseintosullensilencethesecondourskidsleft theground, toopreoccupiedwithholdingontohis lastmealuntilwereachedtheturbulence-freezonebeyondtheatmospheretorespondtoanythingshortofalife-threateningemergency.Orpossiblyanacutelackoftanna.Inanyevent,hewashardlyasparklingconversationalistatthebestoftimes,soIwasn'texactlyleftfeelingdeprived.

Allofwhichleftmewithfartoomuchtimetobrood.I'dhadafewmomentsbeforeweliftedtoaskMirawhatthefrakshewasdoinghere,althoughofcourseIwasrathermorecircumspectaboutthe manner in which I phrased the question, and she'd smiled in a manner I found distinctlydisturbing. Before she could answer, though, the tech-priests had started trooping aboard, andJurgenreturnedtoinformmethatourkitwasproperlystowed,soI'dhadlittleoptionbuttofollowtheherdandhopeeverythinghadarationalexplanation.Miracertainlywasn'tbehavingintheusualfashionofpeoplebiddingfarewelltotheirhomeworld,gazingatitthroughtheviewportsaslongastheycould,tryingtoburntheimageofitintotheirmemoriesinthenearcertaintyofneverseeingitagain,preferringinsteadtosmileatmeinamanneruncomfortablyreminiscentofaboredeldarreaver looking for someone to torture to death to pass the time. Perhaps she simply lacked theimaginationtograspwhatembarkingonavoyagethroughthewarpactuallymeant.Evenifshedidreturnhome,thechanceswerethatdecades,orevenacenturyortwo,werelikelytohavepassed,andthatshe'dbeasmuchofastrangertothealteredViridiaasanoffworldersettingeyesonitforthefirsttime.[50]

Predictably, I didn't get another chance to broach the subject until after the Thunderhawk haddockedwith theRevenant,aftera journeyJurgenhadprobablyfoundmercifullybrief.ThestrikecruiserwasstillorbitingViridiaatarelativelylowaltitude,barelybeyondthepointwherethefirstfaintwispsofupperatmospherewouldbegintodragatherhull,nodoubttofacilitatetheuseofherteleportarium,orallowherweaponbatteriestostrikeattargetsonthesurfaceintheunlikelyeventofherSpaceMarinecomplementrequiringalittleadditionalassistance.Itstillseemedlongenoughtome,though,anditwaswithagreatsenseofreliefthatIheardourenginesthrottlingback,andtheseries of metallic clangs which preceded our arrival.What Yaffel and his tech-priests found toamusethem,Ihavenoidea.Perhapstheyconversedamongthemselves,inthepeculiarmanneroftheirkind,orjustremainedabsorbedincommuningwiththeirdata-slates.

I didn't have much opportunity to talk to Mira after we disembarked, either. To my pleasedsurpriseDrumonwasstandingatthebottomoftheramp,andexchangedafewwordsofgreetingwithme,beforestridingontoconferwiththetech-priestsandbeginexaminingtheequipmentthey'dbrought with them. By the time I'd completed the pleasantries and looked round for MiladyDuPanya, she'dalreadysnaredacoupleof faintly stunned-lookingChapter serfs,who'devidently

beenincautiousenoughtowanderwithinhectoringrange,andwasholdingforthtothemingreatdetailabout thecorrectdisposalofher luggage. Idecided to leaveher to it,andwent toseparateJurgenandGladden, thefactotumwho'dbeenassigned to lookaftermeon thevoyagehere,whowerealreadysquabblingoverthematterofwhoshouldberesponsibleformykitwithbelligerenttenacityandicypolitenessrespectively.Apparentlynoonehadexpectedmetobringmyownaide,letaloneonewholookedmorelikeaNurglecultist thanamemberoftheImperialGuard,sohisarrivalhadcaughtthemonthehop,rather.

BythetimeI'dsortedthatoneout,Drumonandthetech-priestshaddisappearedaboutwhateverbusiness theyhad together, and thepileof luggageMirahadbroughtwithherhaddiminished tosomething approaching portable. I lingeredwhile the last of it was thrown onto a trolleywhichlooked as though it was more usually employed to rearm the Thunderhawks, and fell into stepbesideher. 'Igiveup,'Isaidlightly,contrivingtolookasthoughIwasjoking. 'Whatdidyousayyouweredoinghere?'

'I'm the official representative of theGovernor ofViridia,' she said, grinning impishly atmefromunderherfringe. 'Myfather'ssentmetoassesswhether thespacehulkremainsanykindofthreattooursystem.'

'Howcan it?' I asked,nodoubt lookingand soundingasbaffledas I felt. 'It'sbeengone for acenturyandahalf,andit'shardlylikelytocomeback.'

'Butitcouldhaveleftotherthreatsbehind,aswellasthegenestealers,'Mirasaid,intoneswhichmadeitabundantlyclearthatshedidn'tbelievethatanymorethanIdid.'We'dbefailinginourdutytotheViridianpopulaceifwedidn'tmakeeveryefforttoensuretheirsafety,particularlynow.'

'SoyourfatheraskedyoutocomealongonthehuntfortheSpawn?'Ienquired,tryingtokeepmyscepticismfrombecomingaudibleinmyvoice.

Miragrinnedagain.'Isortofvolunteered,'shesaidcheerfully,takingholdofmyarm.Inodded,beingable to reconstruct thatconversationall tooeasily.Thishadallbeenher idea,

clearly,althoughIstillfoundithardtocredit thatshe'dbecomesufficientlyinfatuatedduringourbriefaffairtobewillingtowavegoodbyetoeverythingshe'dknownjusttofollowmethroughthewarp.[51]'Howverydutifulofyou,'Iresponded.'Nodoubtthepopulacewillbesuitablygrateful.'

'No doubt,' Mira agreed, clearly not giving a flying one what the hoi polloi thought, andattachingherself tomewith a tight grip. 'So it looks as thoughwe'll be liaising together for theforeseeablefuture.'

DESPITE THE FAINT sense of unease about the situation which continued to oppress me,particularlyinthequietermomentswhenIhadtimetoreflectonthepotentialramifications,IhadtoadmitthatMira'swordsinthehangarbayhadcheeredmeatleastasmuchastheygavemecausefordisquiet. As I've said before, she was pleasant enough company, and I'd felt rather starved ofcompanionshipduringthevoyagetoViridiaonceI'drecoveredenoughtostarttakingnoticeofmysurroundings.Thistimeround,althoughthecircumstancesweresomewhatbizarre,IhadsomeoneIfelt I could conversewith, aswell as engaging in avarietyof recreationalpursuits, all ofwhichpromised tomakemy second sojourn aboard theRevenant a great dealmore congenial than thefirsthadbeen.

Then,too,IhadJurgenwithmeagain,whichfactaloneeasedmymindconsiderably.We'dbeenthrougha lot together sinceour first chancemeetingonDesolatia (andwere togo throughevenmore in the years to come, although, perhapsmercifully, I had little inkling of quite howmuchterrorandbloodshedawaitedmebeforeIcouldsinkintoarelativelypeacefulretirement[52]),andtheprospectoffacingwhateverhorrorsawaitedusaboardtheSpawnofDamnationseemedfarless

dauntingthantheywouldhavedonewithouttheknowledgethathewouldbewatchingmybackassteadfastly as always.Not that I had any intention of gettingwithin a thousand kilometres of thecursedpieceofwarpflotsam,ofcourse,soanythinglurkingwithinthetangledmessofconjoinedstarshipswasoflittleinteresttome;oncewe'dcaughtupwithit,ifweeverdid,theshipmasterandhisgunneryteamscouldcarveitupattheirleisure,andintheunlikelyeventofanythinggettingoffbeforetheydid,itwouldhavetobefoolishintheextremetotryboardingaSpaceMarinevessel.

Allinall,Isuppose,Ifeltashappyaboutthefool'serrandwewereonasitwaspossibletounderthe circumstances, and resolved to make the best of things - an endeavour which Mira seemeddeterminedtohelpwith.

'I'mstillnotsurehowyoumanagedtopersuadeGriestoletyouaboardinthefirstplace,'Isaid,overasurprisinglypalatablemealinmyquarters,afewhoursafterwe'dboarded.Afairproportionofhermountainofluggageturnedouttohavebeendelicaciesofonesortoranother,nodoubtwithmy comments about the Spartan fare I'd subsisted on during our voyage toViridia fresh in hermind.Itfeltoddtobeeatingasecondbreakfastwhenmybodyclockinsisteditwaslateevening,butI'dhoppedbetweenenoughworldsbynowtobeconfidentthatI'dhavereadjustedtotheRevenant'sideaofchronologybeforetoomuchlonger.Gladdenhadgotusedtobringingmymealsintomehereonthepreviousvoyage,andresumedthearrangementwithoutbeingasked;nodoubttheserfswouldhavebeenasuncomfortabletoseeMiraandIintheirmesshallaswewouldhavefeltaboutbeingthere.WhattheReclaimersdidaboutmeals,Ihadnoidea,butiftheyatetogetheratallIwascertainthey'dfindcateringtothetastesandneedsofordinarymortalssomethingofatrial.Atanyevent,neitherMiranormyselfwereeverinvitedtojointhem,whichI'msurewefoundasmuchofareliefasourhostsdid.[53]

Mirashruggedandbitintotheflorncakeshe'djustspreadwithackenberrypreserve.'Youknowhowitis,'shebegan,atrifleindistinctly,beforeswallowingandcontinuingmoreclearly.'Youcangetpeopletodoprettymuchanything,ifyouputyourmindtoit.Youjustneedtoknowhowtoask.'

Which didn't really answer my question, of course, and being an old hand at verbal evasionmyself,Ipersisted,evenasIadmiredhertechnique.Afterafewmoremomentsofverbalsparring,which I have to confess I rather enjoved. I eventually backed her into having to give a straightanswer.

'It was easy enough,' she admitted, licking a few stray traces of the sticky preserve from herfingerswithacoquettishglanceinmydirection,toseeifI'dbedistractedbythatoldtrick.(Which,I'm bound to say, Imight have been if I didn't already know her aswell as I did, so I just keptlookingatherwithanexpressionofpoliteenquiryuntilshegaveitupasabadjobandcarriedon.)'IsimplytoldhimitwasmydutyasamemberoftherulinghousetoconfirmthatViridiawassafe,justasitwashisafterhavingpledgedhisaidtoourpeopletomakesurethatthejobwascomplete.'

'Isee,'Isaid,contrivingtolookunimpressed,althoughifI'dstillbeenwearingmycapatthetimeI'dhavetakenitofftoher.Basically,she'djusttoldacaptainoftheAstartesthatchargingoffonaprivatequestbeforemakingsurethateverysingle'stealer,hybridandimplantonViridiahadbeentrackeddownanderadicated[54]wouldbeagrossderelictionofhisduty,buthecoulddowhathelikedwithoutimpugningthehonourofhisChapterifhetookheralongtoo,asthatwouldmakeitanextensionofhisoriginalassignment.Haditnotbeenforhercompleteself-absorption,shewouldhavebeenanextraordinaryassettoImperialdiplomacy.

'Howlongdoyouthinkit'llbebeforewecatchupwiththeSpawn?'Miraasked,afterherfinalreconsweepamongtheemptyplatterslitteringthetrayhadfailedto

turnupanyfurthercomestibles.I shrugged 'Hard to say,' I said, which sounded a little more authoritative than ''frakked if I

know'',whichwasactuallythetruthofthematter.'IsupposeitdependsonhowgoodtheNavigator

isatreadingthewarpcurrents,andwhetherYaffelhasgothiscalculationsright.Evenifeverythinggoesperfectlywhichitneverdoes,we'llprobablybefollowingthedamnedthingformonths-ifweevercatchupwithitatall.'

'Soundslikewe'reinforratheradulltime,then,'Miraconcluded.'Yes,I'mafraidso,'Iagreed,littleguessinghowfaroffthemarkthatwasgoingtoturnouttobe,

andjustaswelltooformypeaceofmind'We'lljusthavetoamuseourselvesasbestwecan.''I'msurewecanthinkofsomething,'shesaid,beforeyawningspectacularlyandstretchingina

mannerwhichemphasisedhernaturalundulationsinadecidedlypleasingfashion.'Lookslikeyou'rereadyforbed,'Isaid,chimingforJurgentocomeinandclearthedebrisof

ourmeal.ItseemedheandGladdenhadreachedthesortofcompromisethatonlyoccursormatterstounderlingsjealousoftheirstatusincollidinghierarchies,andthathenceforthrefreshmentsandtheir subsequent remainswere to be handed fromone to the other in the corridor leading to theguest quarters -which seemed like a pointless duplicationof effort tome, but if it keptmy aidehappy,thengoodlucktohim.

Miragrinnedatme,thefamiliarmischievousexpressiononherface.'Ithoughtyou'dneverask,'shesaid.

INTHEEND,weweren'tlefttospeculateaboutourmissionforverylong.Afterafewhours'sleep,whichleftmesufficientlyrefreshedtoresumemyduties,andleftMirasomewhatcrankytosaytheleast,Jurgen'sdistinctivearomaoozedintomyquartersagain,accompaniedbythemorefragrantoneoffreshlybrewedtanna.'CaptainGriespresentshiscompliments,sir,andwouldliketoseeyouonthebridgeatyourearliestconvenience,'heinformedme,busyinghimselfwiththetannapotandapairofteabowls.

'Whataboutme?'Miraasked, followinghim in from thedirectionofherownstateroom, stilllookingsomewhat theworse forweardespiteachangeofclothesanda spraybath. It seemedshefound the beds theReclaimers provided for their guests a little too firm for comfort, although IfoundmineconsiderablymoreconducivetosleepthantheoverstuffedmattressesofthepalaceinFidelishadbeen.

Jurgennodded.'Ibroughtanextrabowlin,miss,incaseyoufanciedonetoo.''Justgetmearecaf,'shesnapped.'Andthat'snotwhatImeant.'TheintransigentexpressionIknewonlytoowellbegantosettleacrossmyaide'sgrimyfeatures,

andIsteppedinhastilytoheadofftheinevitableclash.'Ifyouwouldn'tmind,Jurgen,'Iadded.'Of course not, commissar,' he said, his equanimity at least partially restored by the belated

courtesy,albeitone thathadarrivedbyproxy.The lookhegaveMira'sobliviousbackashe left,however,madeitabundantlyclearthattheslightwouldn'tbeforgotteneasilyorsoon.

'AndI'venomessagesconcerningtheyounglady.''Thankyou,'Isaid,ashedisappeareddownthecorridor,thedoorhissingclosedbehindhim.I

picked up the drink he'd prepared and sipped it gratefully, regardingMira gravely through thesteam.'Pleasedon'ttreatJurgenlikeoneofyourhouseholdservants,'Isaid,assoonasIwassurehewasoutofearshot. 'He'sanImperialGuardsman,andtheaideofacommissar,withanexemplaryrecordofcourageinthefaceoftheenemy.Hedeservesabitofrespect.'

Mira stared at me, her jaw working for a moment like a ruminating bovine, and the sullenexpressionIhadn'tseensincethedayofourfirstmeetingsmeareditselfacrossherface.Then,asabruptlyasthemistburningofffromanearly-morninghabspire,ithadgone,displacedbyanotherjaw-crackingyawn.

'Ofcourse,'shesaid.'Sorry.Notenoughsleep.'Thenthegaminegrinwasback.'Itwasworthit,

though.'Perhaps fortunately I was spared having to find a reply to that by the return of Jurgen, who

usheredthetray-bearingformofGladdenthroughthedoor,withanairywaveinMira'sdirection.The odour of recaf began tominglewith the others in the room,whichwas beginning to seemdecidedlycrampedbynow,despitethehighceiling.

'She'sinthere,'hesaidperfunctorily,thenreturnedhisattentiontome.'IfoundGladdenoutside,sir,lookingfortheyounglady,soItookthelibertyofdirectinghimin

here.Seeingassheseemedinsomuchofahurry.''Thankyou,Jurgen,'Mirasaid,withasmilewhichsurprisedmealmostasmuchasitevidently

didmy aide. 'That was very thoughtful of you. Especially as I'd been so unforgivably rude. I'mafraidI'mnotatmybestwhenI'vejustwokenup.'

'That'sall right,miss,' Jurgensaid, fullymollifiedby theunexpectedapology. 'Youshouldseethecommissarfirstthinginthemorning.'

'Quite,'Isaid,whileMiraturnedawayfromhim,suppressingafitofthegiggleswithmanifestdifficulty.'Wasthereanythingelse,Jurgen?'

'Not for themoment, sir,' my aide said, retreating from the roomwith an unmistakably self-satisfiedair,whileMirafellontherecaflikeakrootonfreshmeat.

Gladdencougheddelicately. 'Thebrother-captainextendsgreetingstotheViridianenvoyinthenameoftheReclaimers,andsuggestsyoumayfindavisittothebridgeinformative,madam.'

'TheninthenameoftheViridianHegemony,Ireciprocatehissalutations,andwillattenduponhimwithallduedispatch,'Miraresponded,witharemarkablystraightface.

'I'llbealongtoo,assoonI'vefinishedmytea,'Isaid,refillingthetannabowl.Gladdenlookedmildlydisconcertedforamoment,butrecoveredquickly. 'ThenI'llconveythe

newsofyourimminentarrivals,'hesaid,andlefttheroomasquicklyashecouldwithoutappearingtohurry.

Mira turnedanaccusingeyeonme. 'Ciaphas, thatwasmean,' shesaid,notquitesucceeding inhidingheramusement.'Hewasonlydoinghisjob.'Sheliftedthelidfromasideplate,nexttoherrecaf,andstudiedthelumpsofreconstitutedproteinthusrevealedwithafaintlysuspiciousfrown,beforestuffingoneintohermouthwitharesignedshrug.

'Isupposeyou'reright,' Isaid, feelingas thoughI'dbeensomehowcaughtoutbyher. 'ButI'veneverbeencomfortablewithall thatfloweryprotocolstuff.' I'dbeengettinga lotmoreusedto itsincebeingattached tobrigadeheadquarters, of course,whichhadmeant attendingmore tediousdiplomatic functions than I'd ever thought possible back in my early days with the 12th FieldArtillery,butImuchpreferredpeople toeithersaywhat theymeant,or lie tomeinplain,simplelanguage.Stilldo,ifI'mhonest,althoughIsupposeitwasgoodpracticeformuchlateroninmycareer,whenIfoundmyselfattachedtothelordgeneral'sstaff,andhavingtohackmywaythroughthicketsofpoliteobfuscatoryverbiageonanalmostdailybasis.Luckily,bythattime,myfraudulentreputationwassowidespreadIwasabletosidestepthegameentirely,playinguptomyimageofthebluffmanofaction,soIneverhadtolearntotalklikethat.Whichwasprobablyjustaswell,ormybrainwouldhavehadtoshutdowninsheerself-defence.

Mira shrugged, failing to offerme any of the nutritionally balancedwhatever-it-was shewasthrowingdownherneck,andwashedthefinallumpawaywithachugofrecaf.'HowdoyouthinkIfeel?'sheaskedrhetorically.'IgrewupthinkingthatsortofsoilimproverwasplainGothic.'

'ThenI'mamazedyou turnedoutaswelladjustedasyoudid,' Isaid,wonderingforamomentjusthowsarcasticIwasbeing,butMiraappearedtotaketheremarkatfacevalue.

'It'snotbeeneasy,' she remarkedcomplacently,andbrusheda fewcrumbsfromher inevitablyexposedcleavage.'Doyouthinkthisisalittleloucheforvisitingthebridge?'

Iexaminedthedaygownshe'ddonnedwithacriticaleye.Itwascutfromsomeshimmeringgoldfabric, which seemed to be held up by nothingmore thanwillpower, andmoulded itself snuglyaroundwhateverittouched. [55]Theeffectwascertainlystriking,particularlyif theoneyouwereafterwasthatofahighlypricedcourtesan,buthardlysuitedtoamilitaryenvironment.IwassuretheAstartesandtheMechanicusdroneswouldn'tbedistractedatall,iftheyevennoticedit,buttheshipanditsdefenceswereinthehandsofflesh-and-bloodmortals,whomightfindtheirattentionwanderingatacriticalmoment,sopleasantastheviewwasintheabstract...

'Possibly,'Itemporised.'Perhapssomethingalittlemorebusinesslikewouldbebetter.''Why,CiaphasCain.'Miragrinnedatmeagain,withacoquettishtilttoherhead,whichmadeher

lookmore likeafifty-credit joy-girl thanever. 'Idobelieveyou're jealous.'Then,beforeIcouldgathermywitstodoanythingmorethangapeinastonishment,sheundulatedoutoftheroom.

TEN

BY THE TIMEMira returned, rather more suitably attired in what she told me was one of herhuntingoutfits,I'dmanagedtoconvincemyselfthatshe'dbeenjoking.Afterall,theveryideaofmebeing resentful of othermen appreciating her physical attributeswas ludicrous enough to beginwith,letalonethefactthatmostofthepotentialrivalsforheraffectionsaboardtheRevenantwouldeitherhavebeentech-priestsorSpaceMarines,andthereforeoutoftherunning.Whichleftonlytheserfs,whoIdoubtedshe'devenconsiderinthatregard,givenhertypicallyaristocratictendencytoviewthelowerordersaslittlemorethanarefinedtypeofservitorwhichdidn'tdribblelubricantsonthecarpet,andJurgen,whowashardlythestuffamaiden'sdreamsweremadeof,unlessshe'deatentoomuchcheesebeforeturningin.

'Very suitable,' I complimentedher, havinghadno ideauntil now thatherwardrobecontainedanythingevenremotelypractical.Ithaddefinitelyrisentotheoccasionthistime,though,providinga jacket and trousers inmuted colours, and a stout pair of boots, all ofwhich lent her an air ofbusinesslike efficiency, without overstating the effect. Fortunately, she appeared to have left thefowlingpiecethatwentwithitathome.

Mirapulledaface.'It'sallabitdowdy,ifyouaskme,'shesaid,examiningtheeffectcriticallyinanearbymirror.'PerhapsIshouldtryagain.'

'We're expected on the bridge,' I said, mindful of the length of time she'd already wastedrummaging through her luggage, and leaned in to straightenmy cap in the looking glass she'dappropriated. Jurgen handedmemyweapon belt. 'We can't keep our hostswaiting any longer,' Iwent on, checking the power levels in the laspistol and the chainsword'smotivator cells, beforefasteningitintoplace.'Itwouldn'tbepoliteordiplomatic.'

'Says the man who thinks ''tact'' means ''nailed down'',' Mira said, following me out into thecorridor.Atleastshewasn'targuingaboutit,though,whichIsupposewassomething.

'I'masoldier,'Isaid,takingrefugebehindmypublicpersona.Somethingwasgettingtoher,thatmuchwasobvious,but Icouldn't for the lifeofmeseewhat itwas. 'Thatmeans I takemydutiesseriously.'Whenevertherewasagoodchancethatsomeonewaswatchingme,anyway.

'You can be really pompous sometimes, do you know that?'Mira asked, in the tone of voicewomen use when they neither want nor expect an answer, and strode off ahead of me lookingsulkierthanever.IrememberedenoughofthelayoutoftheRevenanttofindmywaytothebridgewithoutdifficulty,andfortunately,bythetimewegot there,eitherMira'smoodhadimproved,orshewaspractisingherdiplomaticskillsagain.AsI'dexpected,thewarrenofcorridorshadprovensufficiently daunting for her to have rejoined me without a word a few moments after herinexplicableburstofbadtemper,andsheseemedtobeonherbestbehaviourassoonaswewereinthepresenceofourhostsoncemore.

'Commissar. You are prompt, as always,' Gries greeted me, politely and inaccurately as weentered thebridge, andDrumon lookedup fromahuddleof tech-priests hewas conferringwithnexttothehololithjustlongenoughtonodagreetinginmydirection.Miragavemeasharplook,as though I'd somehow contrived to upstage her on purpose. 'MiladyDuPanya.Your presence isappreciated.'

'Butnotthatmuch,apparently,'shemutteredsottovoce,apparentlyforgettingthepreternaturally

keen senseswithwhich the Emperor had seen fit to endow his chosenwarriors. If either of theAstartespresentoverheardher,however,theyweretoopolite,orindifferent,torespond.

'Arethelastofyourcombatteamsaboardyet?'Iasked,keentoshowthatIwastakinganinterest,andGriesnodded.

'They are,' he assured me. 'Squad Trosque completed the cleansing of the forge complex onAsteroid459whileyouweresleeping,andtheirThunderhawkdockedafewmomentsago.Nothingremains to be done beyond themopping up of a few isolated remnants of the infection and therestorationofgoodgovernance,bothtasksforwhichtheImperialGuardseemadmirablysuited.'

'Iconcur,'Isaid,althoughbeingfarmorefamiliarwiththewaytheGuardworkedthanhewas,IfeltratherlesssanguinethantheReclaimers'captainabouthoweasythejobwouldturnouttobe.[56]

'Thenitappearsmypeopleoweyoursaconsiderabledebtofgratitude,'Mirasaid,withaformaltiltoftheheadtothetoweringSpaceMarine,whoturnedhisowntolookatherasthoughoneofthechairshadjustspoken.

'Our service to the Emperor is reward enough,' he said, 'although your consideration isappreciated.'

'I'mpleasedtohearit,'Mirareplieddryly.'Areweunderway,then?'Iasked,feelingfaintlyfoolishathavingtoask.Thebarelyperceptible

thrummingoftheRevenant'sengineshadbecomesofamiliartomeinthecourseofourvoyagetoViridiathatIhadn'tnoticeditsinceboarding,althoughitwascertainlythere,acomfortingpresenceinthebackground.Theywouldhavebeenidlingwhileitwasinorbit,ofcourse,tickingoverjustsufficiently toprovidepower to feed the innumerablemachine-spirits onwhosehealth thevesseldepended, and I listened hard, trying to determine if the note had deepened at all; but if it had, Iwasn'tabletotellthedifference.

'Weare,'theshipmasterinformedmefromhiscontrolthrone.I was a little surprised, but apparently questions regarding the functioning of the ship were

delegatedtohimautomaticallybyhismasters,whichwasnobadthing;I'dhatetobeaboardavesselincombatwhosecaptainhadtorefereverytacticaldecisiontoahigherauthority.'We'llbeenteringthewarpatthedesignatedmaterialcoordinatesinapproximatelysevenhours.'

'Six hours, fifty-four minutes and twelve point three one four seconds,' Magos Yaffel put insharplyfromhispositionbythehololith.

'As I've explained, timing is absolutely crucial if we're to enter the warp currents in thisparticularregionofspaceandtimeinpreciselytherightconfigurationtocatchthefastest-flowingportionofthestream.'

'We'llcatchit,magos,'theshipmasterassuredhim,'Omnissiahwilling.'Then,tomysurprise,hemadethesignofthecogwheel,whichthetech-priestsandAstartespresentallechoed.

'Forgive my ignorance,' I said, approaching the hololith, 'but if we're merely going to befollowing the samecurrent as the spacehulk,howcanwehope to catchupwith it?Won'twebetravellingatthesamerate?'

'Averyastutequestion,'Yaffelsaid,inthemannerofaborndidactpouncingontheopportunitytoexpoundonhisfavouritesubject.'Butthesituationisn'tashopelessasyoumightsuppose.Don'tforget that theSpawnofDamnation is drifting,while theRevenant ismovingunder power.Thatmeanswecancorrectourattitudeandorientation to thecurrent, tooptimise the flowaroundourGellerfield.'

'And in simple language for the rest of us?' Mira muttered, then had the grace to blush asDrumonansweredthecommentshe'dclearlybelievedtobeinaudible.

'Igatherthesportofwaveboarding[57]ispopularinsomeofthecoastalregionsofyourworld?'

heasked,andMiranodded,althoughEmperoraloneknowshowhediscoveredthis.'Thenthinkofusas ridingawaveboard,while thehulk justbobsaboutas theEmperorsees fit.Does thatmakethingsclearer?'

'Isupposeso,'Mirasaid,aspolitelyasshecould.'Thanks.''Inaddition,'Yaffelsaid,tryingnottosoundmiffedattheinterruption,'theSpawnofDamnation

willbereturningtothemateriumatrandomintervals,forindeterminateperiodsoftime,someofwhichwillbeintheorderofyears.We,ontheotherhand,canenterandleavethewarpatwill.Assoonaswedeterminethatit'snotatagivenexitpoint,wecanre-entertheimmateriumandcontinueourpursuit.'

'Isee,' Isaid,vaguelysurprised tofind that Idid. 'Buthowcanwebesurewe'vefoundanexitpointinthefirstplace?'

ThemomentI'dfinishedspeaking,IknewIwasgoingtoregretaskingthatparticularquestion:Yaffel'sgyrationsincreasedmarkedly,asifhecouldbarelycontainhisexcitement,andheraisedahandtopointatthehololith.ApparentlydiviningwhatI'djustdone,Mirakickedmesharplyintheankle,althoughIsuspectmyGuard-issuefootwearmade thegesturemoreuncomfortableforherthanitdidforme.

Fortunately,Drumoncametoourrescue,interveningjustbeforethemagoscouldlaunchintothetiradeoftechnotheologicaljargonI'dunwittinglycomesoclosetounleashing.'Essentially,'hesaid,'the passage of so large an object between the two realms leaves a weak spot in the boundarybetweenthem,whichourLibrarianandNavigatorbelievetheycandetect.'

'Howweak?'Mira asked, no doubtmindful that just such a spot now existedwithin her homesystem,andprobablypicturingahostofdaemonsfloodingthroughittolaywastetoViridia.

Yaffelnoddedreassuringlyather,nodoubthavinghadtoassuagethefearsofsufficientnumbersoflaylistenersbynowtobeawareofwhatshemustbethinking,andgrabbingthechancetodisplayhisexpertiseafterall. 'Notenoughtoallowanyofthewarp'sdenizensaccesstothematerium,'hesaid,hisflatmonotonesoundingoddlysureofitself.'Theweaknessismoreakintoadeformationoftheinterfacethanabreachofit.'

'I see,' Mira said, managing to sound as if she meant it. 'But if you can predict where theweaknessesare,can'tyoujusttellwhichsystemsareatriskandwarnthembyastropathbeforethehulkgetsthere?'

'Thingsare less simple than that,'Drumonsaid,drawingour attention to thehololith again.Amoment'sperusalwasenoughformetorecogniseanastronomicaldisplayofthesectorandafewof the systems surrounding it. 'Here is Viridia.' The system flared green. 'And these are theboundarieswithinwhichtheSpawnofDamnationcouldhavetravelled.'Atranslucenttubebegantoextenditselffromthegreendot,themouthofitwideningthefurtheritextended,sothatbythetimeit reached its fullest extent, well over two dozen systems had been swallowed by the flickeringfunnel.

'Itwouldtakealifetimetosearchallthosesystems,'Isaid,obscurelyrelievedattherealisationofjusthowimpossibleataskweweretakingon.AfterafewmonthsI'dfindanexcusetoleavethemtoit, and return tomy desk, secure in the knowledge thatwhatever foolhardy undertakingGeneralLokrishadbeenplanningtodropmeintothemiddleofwouldbesafelyover.

'Fortunately,wewon'thaveto,'Yaffeltoldus,lookingsmuggerbythesecond.'Eachemergencepointwefindwillreducethepotentialvolumeofspaceinwhichourquarrycouldbe,andrefineourpredictions.Afterthefirstfewhavebeenplotted,weshouldbeclosinginonitnicely.'

'I'mgladtohearit,'Isaid.'Iftheycanfindanyweakspotsinthefirstplace,'Miramutteredbesideme.'Howcanweknowuntilwetry?'Drumonsaid,leavingeveryoneelselookingfaintlybaffled.

Afterthat,thebriefingwasclearlyovertoallintentsandpurposes,althoughImadesureIaskedafewsupplementaryquestionstoshowaproperconcernforwhatwemightbegettinginto.BythispointMira had given up even pretending to be interested, simply standing as close tome as shecouldinagrimsilenceIbegantofindincreasinglyoppressive.

Asweeventuallyleft, tolet theshipmasterandhiscrewgetonwithwhateverit is thatstarshipbridgeofficersdo,IfeltitpolitictopauseforamomentinpassingandpayourrespectstoGries.Tomy surprise, he acknowledgedmy salute and nodded tome. 'I trust you have everything yourequire,commissar?'

IgnoringMira'ssmugexpression,Inodded.'YourhospitalityisasgenerousasIremembered,'Itoldhimtruthfully. 'ButIwaswondering, if it'snoimposition,whetheryouhadalittlefreespacesomewhere I could run throughmycombat drills everyday. I rather neglected themwhile Iwasconvalescing, and I almost paid the price for that in the 'stealer nest.' Shaken a little by thenarrownessofourescape,I'dresumedmyregularpracticesessionswiththechainbladeforthwith,andIhadnodesiretoforegothemagainifIcouldavoidit,althoughmyquarterswererathertoocrampedformuchinthewayofphysicalexercisewhichdidn'tinvolveMira.

'Of course.'Gries looked atme approvingly and nodded. 'Iwould expect nothing less from awarriorofyourrenown.I'llseetoitthatyou'regivenaccesstooneofourtrainingchapels.'

'Thank you,' I said, only too aware of the magnitude of the accolade he'd so unexpectedlybestowed on me. All I'd been expecting was a corner of a cargo bay somewhere; this wastantamount to a senior ecclesiarch throwingopen thedoor to the sepulchreof a saint andaskinghowmanybonesI'dliketotakehome.[58]'I'lltrytoproveworthyofthehonour.'

THERECLAIMERS'CAPTAINwas as good as hisword.We'd barelymade the transition to thewarpwhenJurgenknockedonmydoorwiththenewsthatthetertiarytrainingchapelhadbeenputatmydisposalforanhouraday.I'venoideawhattheothertwowerelike,butthisoneturnedouttobe an airy chamber about the size of a scrumball pitch, floored with metal mesh, and withluminatorsintheceilingwhichcouldbeadjustedtoreplicateanylightlevel,fromtheglimmeringofstarsonamoonlessworldtoadazzlingglare.Muchoftheequipmentrangedaboutthewallswaseitherunfamiliartome,orintendedforusersagreatdeallargerandstrongerthanIwas,soIleftitalone, preferring to run through the complex patterns of attack and defencewith the chainswordwhichyearsoffamiliarityhadmadeinstinctivebeyondconsciousthought.

It'sprobablynoexaggerationtosaythatthosehoursofsolitarysworddrillsaboardtheRevenantwereamongthehappiestofmylife.ThronealoneknowsI'mnoEmperor-botherer,butcenturiesofusebyHis finestwarriorshad imbued theverywallsof theplacewitha senseofdedicationandreverence for tradition which made me feel as if everything I did there was part of somethinggreater thanmyself.Not a sensation I'm used to, or particularly comfortablewith in the normalcourseofevents,butIcouldn'tdenyitatthetime.

If I'm honest, I also found the periods of solitude I spent there becoming an increasinglywelcome respite fromMira's company. Which isn't to say that her companionship had becomewearisome,exactly,butwithvery little todoherself, sheseemed towant tospendeveryminute Iwasn'tattendingtomydutiesattachedtomelikeaCatachanfaceeater.ForamanasusedtohisownsocietyasIwas,thatwasaverymixedblessingindeed:somuchsothat,fromtimetotime,Ifoundmyselfinventingerrandsinordertodelaymyreturntomyquarters.OnoneoccasionIevenwentsofarastoaskMagosYaffelforsomefurtherdetailsof thetechniqueshewasusingtotrackthespacehulk through the immaterium,which Idutifully transcribed into the report Iknew fullwellGeneralLokriswasn'tgoingtobother toreadanywaywhenIeventuallycompletedit,despitenot

havingunderstoodmorethanonewordintwenty.We all experienced a brief flurry of excitement about ten days into our voyage, when Gries

announcedthattheReclaimers'LibrarianhadsensedthedeformationofthemembranebetweenthewarpandthematerialuniversewhichYaffelhadpredicted,butwhentheRevenantpoppedbackintotherealgalaxyforaquicklookroundweturnedouttobedriftingthroughthesilentvoidbetweenthestars,withnothingontheauspexforlightyearsinanydirectionexceptfortheoccasionalgascloud. Nevertheless, the Reclaimers and the tech-priests were all greatly heartened by thisconfirmationthatthetheorywassound,andsincenoonehadseriouslyexpectedtobagtheinfernalreliconthefirsttryanyway,weresumedourprogressatoncewithhighmoraleallround,exceptforMira,whotoldmeinnouncertaintermsthatshewasboredstiff,andthatthiswasallsomehowmy fault for persuading her to come along on this absurd junket in the first place. I can't deny,though,thatwhenshefinallycalmeddownenoughtoapologise,herideaofmakingthingsuptomewasdefinitelyworthit.

Our second emergence in the wake of the Spawn found us in a stellar system, which meantseveraldaysoffranticactivityasweanalysedauspexreturnsandsenttheThunderhawksscurryingaround tocheckoutanythingwhich lookedpromising,but in theendwedrewacompleteblank.Fortunately,byluckorthegraceoftheEmperor,thestaratitscentrewasasullen,shrunkendwarf,husbandingthepost-novaembersofablazewhichwouldhaveconsumedanythinginitshabitablezone aeons before, andwas noworbited by nothingmore than barren chunks of scorched rock,whichmeantthatthe 'stealerswouldhavefoundnothingornooneheretocontaminate.Sowithaquick prayer of thanks to theGoldenThrone,wewere off again, casting ourselves adrift on thecurrentsofthewarponcemore.

ItmusthavebeenadayorsoafterweresumedourjourneythatIarrivedinthetrainingchapelatthe appointed time to find it already occupied. I'd barely taken a couple of steps inside when InoticedDrumonin themiddleof thechamber,surroundedbywhirlingcyberskulls,whichhewasfendingoffwith the sword I'dnoticedhimwearing in thebunkerunder thepalace inFidelis,hisplasmapistolgrippedinhisotherhand.Thebladewassurroundedbyanimbusofcracklingenergy,liketheclawsI'dseentheTerminatorsusetotearaparttheinsurrectionistartillerypieces,althoughhemust havemoderated its strength in someway, as the tiny airborne servitors simply bouncedawayfromeachstrikeasthoughdazedbytheimpactratherthanbeingshearedasunder.Inasimilarfashion,hisplasmapistolhadevidentlybeenmodifiedtounleashthemerestfractionofitscharge,as instead of being vaporised, each of the bobbing skulls he shot was only thrown aside for amoment,beforereturningtotheattack.

Thespeedandprecisionofhismovementswereastonishing.I'maprettyfairduellistmyself[59],butI'dneverseenanythingtomatchtheflurryofstrokeandguardtheTechmarinewasdisplaying.Notonly that, hewas somehowable to employhis sidearmwithundiminishedaccuracy too, andevendivertalittleofhisattentiontoswatatanycyberskullstryingtoattackhimfrombehindwiththeservo-armgraftedtothebackofhisarmour,whichheemployedwiththesamecasualexpertiseFeliciahaddisplayedwithhersimilarlysitedmechadendritebackonPerlia.

MuchasI'dhavelikedtolingerandenjoythespectacle,IbegantoedgeawaytowardsthedoorbywhichI'dentered.ItseemedtomethatDrumonhadafarstrongerclaimonthetrainingchapelthan I did, since the demands of his duties must of necessity supersede the convenience of hisChapter'sguests,andthatbymyverypresenceIwasintrudingonsomethingprivateandpersonal.(By thispoint,althoughIstill felt Ihad little incommonwith thesuperhumanAstartes, I'dgot toknowafewslightlybetterasaresultofthehonourtheircaptainhadseenfittobestowonme,andI'dgatheredthattherewaslittleaSpaceMarineregardedasmoreimportantthanhoninghiscombatskills.) Imust have betrayedmypresence in someway, however, becauseDrumonbroke off his

exercise to look in my direction, while the darting cyberskulls stopped moving, other than tocorrecttheirpositionsslightlyintheaircurrentsissuingfromtherecirculators.

'Commissar.Myapologies.'Heinclinedhishead,andmadesafehisweapons,beforesheathinghisswordandholsteringhispistol.'Irecentlymadesomeadjustmentstomywargearandwishedtoassesstheirperformance.IregretthetrialshavetakenfarlongerthanIbelievedtheywould.'

'Timeflieswhenyou'rehavingfun,' Isaid, intending toreassurehimthatnooffencehadbeencaused,thenfoundmyselfwonderingifI'dsoundedtooflippant;afterall,itwasalmosttantamounttojokingaboutthesacramentswithanecclesiarch.Tomyrelief,though,Drumonsmiled.

'Itdoesindeed,'heagreed,dismissingthecyberskullswithagesture:theyhummedawaytoonecorneroftheroom,likeossiferousgrox-flies,andtheTechmarinefollowedthem,pausinginfrontofoneofthecontrollecternswhosepurposeI'dbeenunabletoguessatbeforenow.

'Wouldyou likeme to leave thesparringdronesactive?'heasked,onegauntletedhandpoisedabovetherunesofthedisplay.

'Ithinkthey'dbetoomuchforme,'Itoldhimhonestly,rememberingtherapidityandprecisionwithwhichtheReclaimerhadmoved,unencumberedbythebulkyarmourhewore.

Drumonlookeddownatme,hisheadtiltedquizzicallytooneside.'Youcanvarythespeedandnumberoftheattacksfromthislectern,'heexplained,demonstrating

theprocedure,his fingersmovingdeftlyaround thedialsdespite their thicknessand theceramitegauntletsinwhichtheywereencased.'Usethesecontrolstoactivateanddeactivatethesystem.Ifyouwishtoavailyourselfofitanotherday,Icanteachyouthecorrectincantationsofawakening.'

'Thankyou,'Isaid.Itwasatemptingoffer.MuchasI'denjoyedthelastfewweeksofwhatmyoldscholaduellinginstructorMyamotodeBergeracalwaysreferredtoasshadowpractice,itwasn'tthesameasworkingwithanopponent,andalthoughitwasn'tquitethesamething,thesparringdroneswouldmakeanacceptablesubstitute.'Areyousuremylaspistolwouldn'tdamagethem,though?'

'Agoodpoint,'Drumonsaid.'Iwillobtainapracticepowercelltofititandreducethepowerofyourshotstowithinthelimitsofthedrones'structuralintegrity.'Sothatwashowthey'dbeenabletokeep bouncing back from hit after hit that should have pulverised them. 'In the meantime...' Hepowereddownthesystem,andthecyberskullssettledontotheirstorageshelflikeroostingbirds.

'I'll look forward to trying them out,' I said. 'Running through the drills is all verywell, butthere'snothingquitelikesparringwithapartnertomaintainyouredge.'

'Indeednot,'Drumonagreed,andlookedatmespeculatively.'IhavealittletimebeforeIneedtoresumemyduties.Ifyouconsidermeasuitablematch,IwouldbehonouredtoassistaguestofourChaptertohonetheirskills.'

'Morethansuitable,'Isaid,wonderingifI'dlivelongenoughtoregretacceptingtheoffer.ButIcouldhardlyrefusewithoutinsultinghim,and,byextension,therestofmyhosts.NotforthefirsttimeIwonderedwhyI'deverbeenpersuadedtoleavethe12thFieldArtillery,wherelifehadbeenrelatively straightforward, but my snowballing reputation had finally attracted the attention ofpeople of influence, and that had been that. If I'm honest, I'd thought a long and tedious careerbehindadesk,anda longwayfromanythinglethal,hadawaitedmeatbrigadeheadquarters.Therealityofbeinganindependentcommissarwithareputationforrecklessheroism,andthereforeamagnetforeveryhazardousassignmentwhichcamealong,hadbeenratheranunpleasantsurprise.

'Isuggestbladesonlytobeginwith,'Drumonsaid,drawinghisandpressingtheactivationrune.Thepowerfieldarounditcrackledintolife,andaflickerofdubietymusthaveappearedonmyface,asheadded,'theintensityofthefieldhasbeenreducedtonon-lethallevels.'

I smiled, with every appearance of being at ease. 'Non-lethal for an Astartes, or for a meremortallikeme?'Iasked.

'Both,Iassume,'Drumonreplied,returningthesmile.'Itshouldfeelnomoreuncomfortablethan

aglancingblowfromashockmaul.'Which,onitsown,wouldbeenoughtoreturnmetoSholer'sdomainifhewasn'tcareful,sohewasn'tbeingquiteasreassuringasheevidentlythoughthewas.Itwastoolatetobackoutnow,though,soIdrewmyownweaponandstartedtheteethrotating.

'I'mafraidIcan'treturnthefavourwiththisone,'Isaid.'Ifithits,ithits.'Drumontookupaguardposition,whichseemedfamiliarenough,andbeckonedmeon.'Ifyou

canstrikethroughmyarmour,'hepointedoutreasonably,'Ideserveafewnicks.'Webegancautiously,feelingouteachother'sstyleandfavouredstrategies,butaswebegantoget

themeasureofoneanothertherhythmofourstrikesandparriesbegantoincreaseintempo.Iwasconsciousthathewasholdingback,givingmeachance,andalthoughIcontinuedtoworkat it, Ididn'tputeverythingIhadintothecombateither,contenttopacemyselfinsteadofburningoffallmyenergyinasingleburstofdo-or-dieendeavour.Hewasblindinglyfast,ofcourse,asI'dalreadyseen,but I trustedmyreflexes rather than trying to think toohardaboutwhat Iwasdoing. Inmyexperience of close-quarter fighting, which is far greater than I'm comfortable with, it's usuallybetter towait foryouropponent tomakeamistake thanit is togocharginginandsuddenlyfindyourselfonyourhandsandkneeslookingforyourhead.Onthewhole,itseemedtobepayingoff:Itookacoupleof jolts fromhissword'spowerfield,butheldon tomyown,andseeingasuddenopeningdroveinatDrumon'schest.Theteethofmybladehadjuststartedtoskitteroffhis torsoarmourwhenhisownreflexescutin,andheparriedmyattackwithaspeedandprecisionwhichleftmebreathless.

'Verygood,'theTechmarinesaid,withmoreanimationthanI'deverseenfromhim(oranyoftheothersforthatmatter).'Firstbloodtoyou,commissar.'

'Ihope Ihaven'tdamagedyourarmour,' I said,knowinghowprecious itwouldbe tohim,butDrumonshookhishead.

'Iwillleavethatmarkasareminder,'hesaid,'nevertounderestimateanopponent.''I'mfullofnasty,underhandedtricks,'Isaid,truthfullyenough,butinflectingitlikeajoke.Drumon nodded. 'Inmy experience, survival is honour enough for the battlefield.Would you

caretocontinue?'Well,Iwould,andwedid,althoughInevergotthroughhisguardagain;eventhoughhestillheld

back, he was always more than a match for me. By the time we'd finished we found ourselvesagreeingtomeetagainthenexttimehisdutiespermitted,andoverthenextfewweekswemanagedtotraintogetherseveraltimes.I'venoideawhathisfellowSpaceMarinesmadeofourarrangement[60] , but many of them seemed to bemakingmore of an effort to be friendly around the timeDrumonandIstartedtrainingtogether.

All in all, the growing undercurrent of tension between Mira and I notwithstanding, I wasbeginningtoslipintoafairlycomfortableroutineaboardtheRevenant;somuchsothatIbegantotakeitforgrantedthat thevoyagewouldcontinueuneventfullyuntilweeithercaughtupwithourquarry,orabandonedthesearch.But,ofcourse,Iwasabouttoreceiveasalutaryreminderofjusthowdangerousourquestwas,andthatthegalaxycontainedfarmoreperilsthantheonewepursuedsodiligently.

ELEVEN

OURTHIRDATTEMPTtolocatethehulkinthematerialuniversewasalmostthedeathofusall;notthatwehadanypremonitionofthefactaswepreparedtomakeourlatesttransitionbackintotherealmofthereal.Ifanything,Isuppose,bynowweweregrowingalittlecomplacent,confidentthatYaffel'scalculationscouldbereliedon,andthattheLibrarian'sabnaturaltalentswouldbesufficienttodropus into themateriummoreor lesson topof the spacehulkwe sought -or,more likely,whereithadbeenatsometimeinthepast.

Accordingly, when Gries invited me to the bridge to observe the transition, my immediateexpectationwasofa repeatofourpreviousattempts:merelyawildernessof thevoid, thedetailsprobablyalittledifferentfromthosewe'dinvestigatedbefore,butessentiallynomorethananotherdead end to be discounted beforemoving on.Mira had been invited too, of course, as protocoldemanded. But, no doubt to everyone's relief, she'd declined to drag herself out of bed, thesummons having arrived inwhat she and the ship's chronographs insistedwas themiddle of thenight.

I,ofcourse,wasenoughofaseasonedcampaigner tohavehauledmyselfupright,yankedmylaspistoloutfromunderthepillow(provokingatiradeofmostunladylikelanguageintheprocess)andclamberedintomyuniformwithinmomentsofthemessagebeingdeliveredbyableary-eyedJurgen. Fortified by themug of tanna he'd waved in my general direction as I mademy exit, Iarrived on the bridge a mere couple of minutes after the surge of nausea which generallyaccompaniedthetransitionfromthewarptotherealmofrealityhadsweptoverme.

'Anyluck?'Iasked,andthecrewmanmanningthesensoriumdisplaynoddedinmydirection.'Thesystem's teemingwith life. If the 'stealersarehere,orhavebeen, there'sa lot for themto

infect.''Whatkindoflife?'Iasked.Itcouldn'thavebeenanImperialsystemwe'darrivedin,orourvox

receiverswouldhavebeenfloodedwithcommstraffic,andchallengesfromthelocalSDF,bynow.'WhereintheThrone'snamearewe?'

'Processing the starfield data now,' Yaffel assured me calmly, gazing into the hololith. 'Aftercorrecting for parallax errors, our most probable location would be here, give or takeapproximately eight light-seconds.'Oneof the stellar systems inside the green funnel,whichhadbeenreducedsubstantiallysince thefirst timeI'dseen it, flaredmorebrightly,and the translucentconeobliginglyshrankalittlemore.

'Anythingonauspex?'Iasked,andtheoperatorraisedhisheadtoglanceatme.'I'vegotthousandsofcontacts,'hereported.'It'lltakeawhiletonarrowthemdown.''Thousands?'Iasked,ashereturnedtowork,mypalmsitchingworsethanever.'Void shields to maximum. All gunnery stations stand to,' the shipmaster said, pretty much

confirmingwhat Imost feared,before lookingacrossatmeaswell. 'Manyof themappear tobeunderpowerandclosingonourposition.'

'Wonderful,'Isaid,beforerealisingthatsarcasmwasn'tquitewhatwasexpectedofthedauntlesswarrioreveryoneherefondlyimaginedmetobe,andplasteringasmileonmyfacewhichIhopedwouldseemsufficientlyinsouciant.'Alwayssomethingtobesaidforatarget-richenvironment.Anyideawhosedaywe'reabouttospoil?'

'Still scanning frequencies,' the vox operator reported, his voice almost as calm as Yaffel'smechanicalone.'Gettingsomething...'

'Put it on the speakers,' Gries ordered, and a moment later an overlapping babble of harsh,gutturalvoicesburstintotheroom.

Mystomachknotted,andItookadeepbreath,stillingtheinstinctivesurgeofpanicwhichsweptoverme.Irecognisedthatsoundalltoowell,wasevenabletopickoutawordortwoIknew.'Orks,'Isaid.

'Undoubtedly,'Griesagreed,nodoubtfamiliarwitheveryenemyoftheImperiumI'deverheardof,andadoublehandfulofonesthatIhadn't.'Andeagertowelcomeusinthemanneroftheirkind.'Helookedacrossattheshipmaster.'Engagethematyourleisure.'

'Byyourcommand,'theshipmasterresponded,withagraveinclinationofhishead.'Allbatteries,fireatwill.'

Imovedacrosstothehololith,whereYaffelhadthoughtfullybroughtupatacticaldisplaywhichenabledmetoseejusthowfrakkedwewere.Innumerablegreenskinvesselswereswarminginonour position, evoking a curious half-memory of Drumon surrounded by the sparring drones,beforethefullseriousnessofourpositionelbowedthewhimsicalimageaside.

TheChapterserfgunnersweredisciplined,Ihavetogivethemthat,holdingtheirfireuntiltheyweresureofatarget[61],beforeunleashingthefullfuryoftheirawesomedestructivepowerinasingleconcentratedsalvowhichguttedtheramshacklegreenskinvesselsthey'dtargeted.Foreveryone they brought down, though, ten surged forwards to fill the gap, and had they been able toconcentratetheirfireitwouldallhavebeenoverwithinmoments.Fortunately,however,theywereasdisorganisedasorkmobsalwaysare,blazingawayinourgeneraldirectionwithoutseemingtoaim,andonlyafewoftheirshotsstruckhome.Ifeltthefainttremoroftheirimpactsthroughthefabricofthehullwithanansweringquiverofapprehension,beforeforcingawaythememoryofthegreenskinattackontheHandofVengeance,whichhadcomesoclosetotakingmylife.

'Thunderhawksaway,'theauspexmanreportedamomentlater,andaclusterofsmallerechoes[62]tookupstationaroundtheblipwhichmarkedourposition,doingaverynicejobofkeepingthegreenskinfightersandoccasionaltorpedovolleyoffourbacks.'Stillnosignofourprimarytarget.'

'Then it's probably not here,' I said,mainly toGries, but pitchingmy voice so thatmy calm,reasonabletoneswouldcarryacrossmostofthebridge.'Andevenifitis,it'lltakemorethanoneshiptogettoitthroughthismuchresistance.'

'Iconcur,'theSpaceMarinecaptainrumbledafteramoment,muchtomywell-concealedrelief.The overhead luminators flickered, plunging us into momentary darkness, broken only by theeldritchglowofpictscreensandlecternlights,beforeflaringupagain.

'Voidshieldsholding,'oneofthebridgecrewreported.'Generatorstwoandninedown.Damagecontrolresponding.'

GriesturnedtoYaffel,ignoringtheclearimplicationswhichseemedtomelikeanunwisedegreeofsingle-mindedness.'Yourassessment,magos?'

'TheprobabilityoffindingtheSpawnofDamnationstillwithinthissystemisnowapproximatelyseventeenpercent,andfalling,'Yaffelsaid,afterconferringwithacoupleofhisjuniortech-priests.'Analysisoftheauspexechoescanonlygosofar,however;thefivepercentofanomaliesrequiringfurtherinvestigationwefoundlasttimewouldappeartobesomethingofanirreducibleminimum.'

'Thenweremainuntiltheprobabilitydropstofivepercent,'Griessaid,'beforeproceedingtothenext emergence point. If none exists,wewill have to return in numbers sufficient to secure thissystemwhileweinvestigatetheremaininganomalies.'

Well,goodluckwiththat,I thought,resolvingthatifwegotoutofhereinonepieceI'dkissagretchinbeforeallowingmyselftobedraggedalongonsopatentlysuicidalanendeavour.Which

reminded me... I tapped the comm-bead in my ear. 'Jurgen,' I said, 'the ship's under attack bygreenskins.Don'talarmMissDuPanyaunduly,butifyoucanpersuadehertogetdressed,andreadytomoveinahurry,itmightbewise.'

'Verygood,sir,'myaideresponded,inhishabitualphlegmaticmanner.'Don'twanttogetcaughtonthehopagain,likewedidoffPerlia,dowe?'

'No,wedon't,'Iagreed,notenvyingthetaskI'dinflictedonhim.Mirawouldprobablyhavejustgotback to sleep, andwouldn't take at all kindly tobeing rousedagain.Better cranky thandead,though,inmyview,andiftheorkgunners'aimimprovedinthenextfewminuteswecouldallbebreathing vacuum ifweweren't light on our feet. (Not an experience I'd recommend, orwish torepeat.)

Thedeckshookundermyfeetagain,andwewereplungedintodarkness,fornearlytwosecondsthistime.Whentheluminatorsrekindled,theyhadaredtingetothem,whichmadethebridgelookuncomfortablyasthoughsomeonehadsprayeditwithblood.

'Starboard shields down,' theman at the enginseer's station reported dispassionately. 'DCT [63]reportsreconsecrationwilltakeatleasttenminutes.'

'That'stoolong-'Ibegan,justastheauspexmanglancedupfromhispictscreen.'Mass torpedo barrage incoming,' he said, a blizzard of contact icons erupting into the space

betweenusandtheorks.'ThroneonEarth!'Ibreathed,horrified.TherewasnowayinthegalaxythattheThunderhawks

couldinterceptthatmanymissiles,buttheygaveittheirbestshot,managingtowhittlethemdownbyabouttenpercentbeforetheystruck.Whichonlyleftenoughtotearthegutsoutofthecruiserinsteadofvaporisingit.

I bracedmyself for the ripple of impacts, but instead of the explosions I'd expected, I felt nomore than the faintest of tremors through the soles of my boots, as the fast-moving projectilesimpactedwithoutdetonatingagainsttheadamantiumhullplates.'Theydidn'tgooff!'Isaid,buoyedupbyasuddensurgeofrelief,whichdissipatedalmostatonceastheobviousexplanationoccurredtome.'Theymustbe-'

'Prepare to repel boarders,' Gries voxed through the ship's internal speakers, confirmingmyconclusionbeforeIcouldvoiceit.HeturnedbacktoYaffel.'Magos?'

'The probability of a successful detection is down to eight point five per cent,' the tech-priestinformedhim,hisvoiceasuninflectedasever.Itmighthavebeenmyimagination,ofcourse,butIwassurehewasoscillatingmorethanusual,however.

'Thenrecall theThunderhawks,'Griessaid, 'andprepare towithdrawassoonas it falls tofivepercent.'

Theshipmasternodded,andopenedavoxchannelofhisown.'Bridgetoenginarium,'hesaidcrisply.'Prepareforentryintothewarp.'For thesecond time inasmanyminutes,mysighof reliefwaschokedoffbeforecompletion.

Insteadoftheacknowledgementwe'dallbeenexpectingfromDrumonoroneoftheserfenginseersunderhissupervision,thespeakerrangwiththesoundsofcombatandthebellowingwarcriesoforks. The greenskins had breached the enginarium, and until they were evicted, we wouldn't begoinganywhere.

IMUSTSAY,wealltookitremarkablycalmlyunderthecircumstances.Or,tobehonest,everyoneelsedid,respondingtotheunexpectedreversalwithaflurryofsharp,succinctorders,whileIkeptapanicky eye on the hololith for any further signs of a greenskin assault. They weren't slow incomingeither,withseveralmorewavesofboardingtorpedoesalreadyinbound,althoughwiththe

Thunderhawksoutof theway,ourgunnerswere reapinga richharvestof them,havingswitchedtheiraimfromthelargerwarships.Fortunately,theapparentscrambletoclaimusasaprizemeantthat anymore destructive incoming fire from the surrounding fleetwas sporadic at best, and nomoreaccuratethanyoumightexpect,soallinallwewerestillgettingofffarmorelightlythanIwouldhavebelievedpossible.Italsoprobablydidn'thurtthatseveralofthegreenskinvesselswerenow exchanging fire with one another, the instinctive aggression of their kind finding a moreimmediate form of expression now that the battle for the Revenant had reached something of astandstillfromtheirpointofview.

'SquadTrosqueisenroutetotheenginarium,'Griesinformedtheshipmaster,andasuddensenseofforebodingseizedmeinitstalons.Iwasstandinginthemiddleoftheprimetargetforaboardingparty,withEmperoraloneknewhowmanyorkschargingtowardsitasfastastheirmalformedlegscouldcarrythem.

I tapped my comm-bead again. 'Jurgen,' I said, 'the greenskins have boarded the Revenant.Numbersunknown.Anysignofthemwhereyouare?'

'Not yet, commissar,' my aide responded, sounding a trifle disgruntled if I was any judge.Clearly,MirahadproventobeasacrimoniousasI'danticipated.Atleasthe'dbeabletotakeitouton theorks, though,whichI'dnodoubthewould,withasmuchrelishasanyValhallanfindingagreenskininhissights.[64]'Wouldyoulikemetogohunting?'

'No,betterstaywhereyouare,'Itoldhim,'andkeepaneyeontheViridianenvoy.'I'dneverhearthe lastof it, Ihadnodoubt,but the ideaofMiraon the loosewitha shipfuloforks to run intohardlybore thinkingabout.Themoodshewas in,she'dprobablychallengeone toahead-buttingcontest.

'Oh,' Jurgen said, in the tone I knew all toowellwas the precursor to tellingme something Ireallydidn'twanttoknow.'I'mafraidtheyoungladyisn'thereatthemoment,sir.Shetoldmeshewascominguptothebridgetoseeyou.'

'Didshe?'Isaid,mystomachplungingtosomewhereintheregionofmyboots.Therewasnopointaskinghimwhyhehadn'taccompaniedher.I'dorderedhimtowakeherup,andthathe'ddone,aspunctiliouslyashefulfilledeveryotherorderhewasgiven.And,ifI'mhonest, inhisplaceI'dhavebeenaspleasedtoseethebackofherashe'dundoubtedlybeen.

'Wouldyoulikemetogoafterher,sir?'Jurgenoffered.'No,stayintheguestquarters,'Itoldhim,afterafractionalpauseforthought.Theywereabout

as far removed from anything strategically important as itwas possible to get aboard the strikecruiser,andalthoughorksweren'texactlyrenownedforsophisticatedtacticalanalysis,theirbrutishinstinctswereoftenareasonablesubstitute.Itwasstillpossiblethatapartyofthemmightblunderinthereanyway,ofcourse,butonbalanceitwasasclosetoasaferefugeaswewerelikelytofind.'Dowhatever you can to make them defensible, and wait for me there. I'll go and retrieve MissDuPanya.'

Icouldturnthistomyadvantage,Ithought,asIfilledGriesinonthisdevelopmentassuccinctlyasIcould.'I'maboutasmuchusehereasaheretic'soathatthemoment,'Iconcluded,almostinthesamebreathasYaffelreportingthatiftheblastedspacehulkwasanywhereinthesystemweweren'tgoing to find it now, so we might as well move on as soon as the little ork problem in theenginariumhadbeendealtwith, [65] 'andwe canhardly leaveherwandering aroundonher ownunderthecircumstances.Ifyou'venoobjection,I'llgoandescortherbacktoherquarters.'Whichoughttoleavemewelloutofthewayifthegreenskinsattackedthebridge,asIstillexpectedthemtoatanymoment.

'Of course,' Gries said, apparently taking my evident eagerness to get out there for a thinlydisguiseddesiretobagafeworks.

'MaytheEmperorwalkwithyou.'HemadetheMechanicuscogwheelgestureagainandturnedaway to discuss the tactical situation with the shipmaster, no doubt relieved to know that Mirawouldn'tbeblunderingintodistracteveryoneatsomecrucialpointinthebattleifIcouldgettoherfirst.

IleftthebridgeasquicklyasIcouldandtrotteddownthemaincorridorleadingawayfromit,myweapons inmy hands. Iwas pretty sure I knewwhich routeMirawould take from the guestquarters,andwasconfidentofbeingabletointerceptherwithouttoomuchdifficulty.AsIreachedthefirstjunctionofthecorridor,Ifoundacontingentoftheship'screwsettingupalascannononatripod,whileotherssettledbehindamakeshiftbarricadewithlasgunsintheirhands,andIbegantowonderifmydecisiontoleavethebridgehadbeenatriflehasty,buttherewasnothingtobedoneabout that now; and at least I had another bolthole to run for if the greenskins turned out to bebetweenmeandtherelativesafetyoftheguestquartersafterall.Feelingmildlyreassuredbythat,Imovedon,afterexchangingafewwordswiththepettyofficerincharge.

TheywerethelastpeopleIsawforsometime,however.Thecorridorsseemedeerilysilent,theChapter serfs Iwasused toseeingpassing toand froonerrandsof theirownabsentaboutmoreurgentbusiness, andmy footfalls echoedon thedeckplatesmore loudly than theynormallydid,unmuffledbytheambientsoundsofotheractivity.ItseemedtobetakinganinordinateamountoftimetofindMira,andIwasonthepointofgivingupandretracingmysteps,inthebeliefthatshemusthavegotlostinthelabyrinthofinterconnectingpassageways,whenIfinallybecameawareofthesoundoffootstepsotherthanmyown.

I tensed, taking a firmer grip on the hilt of my chainsword, and flattenedmyself against themetallicwallofthecorridor.Iwasclosetooneofthemaintenancehatches,whichriddledthematintervals.Pointlessattemptingtoseekrefugeinoneoftheutilityareasinthiscase,though,asthehatcheswereallkeptsecurelylocked,andIhadn'tyetfoundaplausiblepretexttoaskfortheaccesscodes.AfterlisteningintentlyforamomentIwasabletoreassuremyselfthatthefootstepsweretoolighttobethoseoforks,and, inanycase, if thevoicesinmycomm-beadcouldbereliedon, thegreenskinboardingpartieswereallbeingsuccessfullyengagedelsewherearoundtheship.

Thus reassured, I stepped out of concealment in the recess containing the utility hatch, just asMirastrodepast,herexpressiongrim.Shewasnot,Isurmised,pleasedtoseeme.

'Isupposeyouthinkthisissomekindofjoke,'shebegan,beforeregisteringtheweaponsinmyhandsandmoderatinghervoicealittle.

'Whatareyoucarryingthosefor?Youcan'tjustopenawindowandtakeashotattheenemy.''Iwon'thaveto,'Itoldhershortly.'They'veboardedus.Where'syourgun?''Stillinmyportmanteau,ofcourse.'Shescowledpettishly.'Yourranklittleimbeciledidn'tbother

tomentionthatparticulardetail,justtheattackingships.''He didn't know anything about the boarders until I told him a couple ofminutes ago,' I said

shortly.HerdescriptionofJurgenwasundeniablyaccurate,butitirkedmenonetheless.'Comeon.''Whereto?'Mira,itseemed,wasn'tabouttoletthetrivialmatterofahordeofgreenskinsonthe

loose divert her from the more pressing concern of her irritation with me and my aide fordisturbingherrest.

'Shouldn'tyoubeoffshootingorksorsomething?''Maybe I should,' I said, on the point of turning away and leaving her to it.After all, I could

alwaystellGriesIhadn'tfoundherintimeiftheorkscaughtupwithherbeforeweeliminatedthemall.'Ijusthadthisratherstrangenotionofmakingsureyouweresafefirst.'

'Didyou?'Herexpressionsoftened,andforamomentIrememberedwhyI'dlikedher,untilhercorrosivepersonalitybegantoleakoutaroundtheedges.'Sowhatdidyouhaveinmind?'

'Getting you back to the guest quarters, to start with,' I said, beginning to move off in the

directionfromwhichshe'dcome.Itseemedshehadenoughsensetofollowmewithouturging,forwhich I was grateful; the last thing I needed under the circumstances was a further round ofbickering.

Wehurriedback through theeerilydesertedcorridors,our footfalls ringing loudlydespiteallwecoulddotomufflethem,andMiraglancedatmewithatraceofthebravadoIrememberedfromthedaywe'dfirstmet.'Remindyouofanything?'sheasked,andInodded.

'Wedoseemtobemakingahabitofthis,'Iagreed,justastheshipmaster'svoicesuddenlyburstintomyearpiece,effectivelydispellinganyinclinationImighthavehadtoswapfurtherbanter.

'Incoming.Braceforimpact.''Hangontosomething,'Isaid,anditseemedMiratrustedmyjudgementenoughtodosowithout

further argument. She took hold of the handle of another of the ubiquitous utility hatches, andlookedatmequizzically.'Anotherwavejustgotpasttheguns.'

Beforeshecouldformulateareply,thedecktrembledalittlebeneathourfeet,afaintvibrationbarelyperceptiblethroughthesolesofourboots.Miraletgoofthemetallicprotuberanceandtookasteptowardsme,hertestinessevidentlyintensifiedbytheanticlimaxandthesenseofhavingbeenmade to look foolish. 'Well, thatwashardly-' shebegan, just as adeafeningclangourofbrutallymaltreatedmetalassaultedmyears,drowningoutwhateverelseshemighthavebeenabouttosay.Thedeckrippledbeneathmybootsoles,andasectionoftheceilingappearedtodecideitwouldbehappierasawall,swingingdowntomeetthedeckplatesinashowerofsparksandtrailingconduit.

'Youweresaying?'Iaskedmildly,asMirascrambledtoherfeetandglaredatmeasthoughthewholethingwassomehowmyfault.

'Agentlemanwouldhavehelpedmeup,'shetoldmewitheringly.'Handsfull.Sorry,'Irepliedinsincerely.OnlyanidiotwouldrelinquisheitheroftheweaponsI

was currently holding under the circumstances.Now don't getmewrong, I've asmuch time forchivalryasthenextmanwhenthere'ssomethingtobegainedbyit,oratleastnothingtolose,butanimpactthatbigmusthavemeantthataboardingtorpedohadhitnomorethanadeckortwofromus,whichputthegreenskinsfartoocloseforcomfortsofarasIwasconcerned.Itappedthevoxinmyear.'Caintobridge,hullbreachinSectionK,deckfifteenorthereabouts.'

'Acknowledged,'acalmvoicereplied,conspicuouslyunaccompaniedbyanysoundsofcombat,and I began to regret my impulsive decision to leave there even more strongly. 'Your currentposition?'

'Kfifteen,'Isaid.'EscortingtheViridianenvoytosafety.'Whichsoundedalotbetterthanputtingas much distance as I could between me and any greenskins who might have been aboard theprojectile.Itneveroccurredtometoquestionwhetherthey'dsurvivedanimpactwhichwouldhavereducedahumantoasmall,unpleasantstain.[66]I'dseenmorethanenoughoftheirabilitytoshrugoffalmostasmuchdamageasapower-armouredSpaceMarineonPerliatobecertainthatsomeatleastwouldbepulling themselvesoutof thewreckageevenas I spoke. Iglancedat the tangleofcollapsed and twisted metal which effectively barred us from our original objective now, andgesturedtoMirawiththehandholdingmylaspistol,backthewaywe'dcome.

'Thisway,'Itoldher.'We'llhavetogetroundit.''Right.' She nodded, decisively, the clear and present danger we were in obvious enough to

forestallanyfurtherfrivolousobjections,andbeginningtodisplaysomeofthefortitudewhichhadsustainedherinthetunnelsunderFidelis.'Atleastthatshouldbeasmuchofabarriertotheorksasitistous,'sheadded,withafinalglanceatthecollapsedceilingbeforemovingtojoinme.

Hardlyhadthewordslefthermouth, though, thantheutilityhatchshe'dbeenleaningonjustafewmomentsbefore suddenlybulgedperceptibly, the thin sheetmetal fromwhich itwas formedtwistingundertheimpactofablowwhichreverberatedbetweenthecorridorwallslikethetolling

of a cathedral bell. 'Run!' I shouted, as the soundwas repeated, but before I could takemy ownadvice theflimsyhatchpoppedfromitshinges, framingasight I'dhopednever toseeagain(butwhichIcontinuedtoseemoreoftenthanIcancountover theyears): theheadandshouldersofasnarling,blood-crazedork,whichbellowedinexultationtheseconditsawus,andcharged.

TWELVE

LUCKILYFORUS,andunluckily for thegreenskin,myweaponswerealready inmyhands,andwith reflexes sharpenedbyparanoia I crackedoff a coupleof las-bolts the second I saw it.Bothroundshit theirmark, inflictingwoundswhichwouldhavecrippledorkilledahuman,butwhichonlyseemedtoannoytheork.Notforthefirsttime,IfoundmyselfmarvellingattheirresilienceevenasIcursedit.Theshotsdidservetodistractthebrute,however;asitpusheditswaythroughthe narrowgap, the frame of the hatchway deforming to admit the fullwidth of its shoulders, itstaggeredfromtheimpact,catchingitsfootagainstthethreshold.Pivotingadroitlyoutofthewayofthetopplingslabofbellowing,spittle-sprayingmalevolence,Idecapitateditneatlywithasinglestrokeofmychainsword,andturnedtorunbeforeeithersegmentofthecreaturehadhitthedeckplates.

'Whatareyouwaitingfor?'Ishouted,findingmywayblockedbyMira,who,tomyamazement,wastrottingtowardsthedownedorkwithanexpressionofgrimdeterminationonherface.

'I need a weapon,' she said, stooping towards the outflung hand which still clutched a huge,crudelymadepistol.

'Notthatone!'Ishouted,knockingheroutofthewayjustasthecadaver'sterminalmusclespasmtighteneditsfingeronthetrigger,andthespotshe'dbeenstandingonabruptlybecameaholeinthedeckandablizzardofrazor-edgedmetalshards.Evenifshecouldhaveprisedtheork'shandopen,adubiouspropositionatthebestoftimes,grabbingthegunwouldn'thavehelpedhermuchinanycase: she'd have had trouble even lifting the thing, and any attempt to fire it would simply havedumped her on herwell-padded aristocratic arse, probably breaking her arm in the process. [67]Now was hardly the time to be explaining all this, though, so I simply pointed at the howling,frenziedmobofgreenskinsfightingoneothertogetthroughthegapinthewall,whilethebrighteronesbegantodismembertheirerstwhilecomradeinanattempttogetpasttheobstructingcorpsetoreachus.'Run!'

Stubbornandargumentativeshemayhavebeen,butMirawasnofool.ShewashardonmyheelsasIpeltedalongthecorridor,intentonnothingmorethanopeningupasbigaleadasIcouldbeforetheorkscouldforcetheirwaypastthecadaver,andoneanother.Abriefburstofgunfirebehindusspurred me on, indicating as it did that the question of precedence had now been settled in thetraditionalorkishfashion,andthatthevanguardwasprobablyalreadyinpursuit.

'What'syourplan?'shepanted.'Don'tgeteaten,'Isaid.I'dbethefirsttoadmititwasn'tmuchofone,butithadalwaysworkedup

untilnow.Iactivatedmycomm-bead.'Caintobridge,contactconfirmed,hostilesengaged.'(WhichIthoughtsoundedalotbetterthan''runawayfromafteraluckyhit''.)

'Oh,andtheViridianenvoy'sstillwithme.''Acknowledged.' The Astartes captain sounded a little distracted, even given the current

emergency.Ashepaused,thefaintsoundsofcombatdriftedthroughthetinyvoxreceiverinmyear.It seemed theorkswereassaulting thebridge, just as I'd feared,buthadyet tobreak through thedefencesI'dseenbeingerectedonmywayout.[68]'Allunitsarecurrentlyengaged.'Inotherwords,goodluck,you'reonyourown.

'May the Emperor protect,' I said as I signed off, which he was welcome to interpret as

encouragementifheliked.IhadsomeonealittlecloserinmindforHisattention,andcouldn'thelpwishingHe'dhadafewspareAstartestomakethejobeasier.

'I'monmyway, commissar,' a newvoice cut in, and I'd be lying if I didn't admit to feeling asuddensurgeofreliefatthefamiliarsoundofJurgen'sphlegm-thickenedtones.Here,atleast,wasaidIknewIcouldrelyon,evenifitwasgoingtotakeawhiletogethere.

'We'll save a few greenskins for you,' I assured him. No Valhallan Guardsman would relishsittingonthesidelineswhiletherewereorkstobeshot,andIwascertainhe'dbeenchafingundermyorderstoremainwherehewas.'Anysignofthemdownthere?'

'Noteventhesniffofone,'Jurgensaid,hisfaintlyresentfultoneconfirmingmyguess.'Thenwe'llmeetyouhalfway,'Itoldhim.ItappearedI'dbeenrightabouttheguestquartersbeing

asclose toasaferefugeasanyonecouldfindaboard theRevenantunder thecircumstances,so itseemed a pity not to take advantage of the fact. Jurgen may have lacked my affinity for three-dimensionalmazes,buthisstraightforwardmentalprocesseswouldmorethanmakeupforthat.I'dhavebetmypension(which,likeeveryothercommissarinthefield,Ineverreallyexpectedtobeclaiminginanycase)thathe'dsimplyheadforKfifteenbytheshortestpossibleroute,andMork[69]helpanygreenskinstandinginhisway.

'Meetwho,halfwaytowhere?'Mirademanded,onlyhavingheardonesideoftheconversation,andIfilledherinasrapidlyasIcould.

'Jurgen,theguestquarters.There'sfightinggoingonallovertheship,soitseemsthebestplaceto keep you safe.' There were always the saviour pods, of course, but taking to them woulddefinitely be the last resort: our chances of surviving in a system crawling with orks werenegligible.TheRevenant,ontheotherhand,wasourhomeground,albeitinfestedwithgreenskins.Iftheyweren'treinforcedagaintooquickly,wemightyetturnthetide.

Asiftomockmyhopes,thevoiceoftheauspexoperatorranginmycomm-beadalmostassoonasI'dcompletedthethought.'Incomingtorpedovolley.Standbytorepelmoreboarders.'

'Likewe're justgoing to ignore them,' Imuttered irritably, receivinga sharp look fromMira,who probably wondered if I was finally cracking under the strain. Before she could distil herdisquiet into a typically acidic comment, however, the rather more welcome voice of Drumoncrackledinmyear.

'Enginariumpurged.Transitingnow.'Hardly had he finished speaking than the synapse-wrenching sensation which usually

accompaniedentrytothewarpsweptoverme,morestronglythanIcouldrecalleverhavingfeltitbefore;clearly,whatevertheTechmarinehaddone,he'ddoneinahurry,withouttimetocompleteallthenecessaryrituals.Asthewaveofnauseapoundedthroughmybody,IstillfounditinmetothanktheEmperorthathe'dmanagedit.Thewaveofreinforcementstheauspexophadjustdetectedwouldbepassingharmlesslythroughemptyspacebynow,[70]insteadofinjectinganotherdoseofpoisonintoourreelingvessel,andthebalanceofthebattlehadjusttippeddecisivelyinourfavour.Now it would just be a matter of tracking down the ones who'd already made it aboard, andeliminatingthem.

'Whatthehellwasthat?'Miraasked,herfacepreternaturallypaleafterdepositinghersupperonthedeckplates.

Checkingtheimpulsetorespond'Lookslikeitusedtobeflorncakes,'Ishrugged.'We'rebackinthewarp.Drumongotusoutinthenickoftime.'

'Wellhecouldhavebeenabitmorecareful,'Mirashotback.'Ifeelawful.''You'd have felt a lot worse with another wave of greenskins rampaging through the ship,' I

pointedout,perhapsnotastactfullyasImighthavedone,butIstillwasn'tfeelingtoogoodmyself,don't forget. Hardly had the words left my mouth than a bellow of triumphant rage behind us

remindedmethattherewerestillmorethanenoughorksaboardtobegoingonwith.'Run!''Run?Icanhardlywalk!'Mirasnappedback,clearlywellontheroadtorecovery.Sheturnedher

head,andapparentlydecidedshecouldrunquitewellafterall,asshecaughtsightof themoboforks rounding the last turnwe'd taken in the corridor.Therewere fiveof them, the two in frontfillingthepassagewayfromsidetoside,allbrandishingshootas[71]liketheoneI'ddissuadedMirafrompickingupinonehand,andequallycrudeaxesintheother.

Theoneinfronthadametaljaw,whichI'mboundtosayhardlyimprovedhisappearance,andmorescartissuethanGries.Clearlythemostdangerous,andthereforethenewleader.Therestwerelittlebetter,particularlytheonewhoseemedtohavetakenabathinacidsometimeinthepast,whoglared at theworld through a single, red-rimmed augmetic eye, andwhose stance atMetaljaw'sshoulderwasenoughtotellmethatthetwoofthemhadfoughttogetherlongenoughtowatcheachother'sbacksaseffectivelyasagreenskincould.

BeforeIcouldgetadecentlookattherest,boltsandsolidslugsbeganmakingamessofthewallnearwherewestood,butfortunatelytheyappearedtobenobettershotsthanmostoftheirkind.Itcouldonlybeamatterof timebefore theygot lucky, though,soIduckeddownthenearestcrosspassage,Miraatmyheels.

'Whydidn'tyoushootback?'shedemanded,withasingleglanceoverhershouldertoseeifthegreenskins had reached the junction yet. I didn't bother, secure in the knowledge that a renewedfusilladewouldannouncetheirpresenceassoonastheycouldseeusagain,andturnedintothefirstcrosscorridorwhichwouldtakeusbacktowardsouroriginalroute.Thelast thingIneedednowwasJurgenmissingusbecauseoftheimpromptudiversion.

'BecauseI'dhavetobedamnluckytobringonedown,andtherestwouldbeonusbythetimeIdid,'Iexplained,remindingmyselfthatshe'dneverseenthecreaturesbefore,soshewouldn'thaveanythinglikethehard-wonappreciationIdidfortheirresilienceandferocity.

Nodoubtrecallingtheexaggeratedstoriesshe'dheardaboutmyexploitsonPerlia,Miranoddedbriskly.'Canweoutrunthem,then?'sheasked.

'I doubt it,' I said.We might stay ahead of them for a while, but their superior strength andendurancewouldtellagainstusintheend.

'Thenwe need an edge.' She slowed, and looked speculatively at the nearest of the ubiquitousaccess panels, towhich a prayer slip hadbeen affixedby awax seal, the freshness of bothmutetestamenttothediligenceoftheRevenant'senginseers.'Canyougetoneoftheseopen?'

Bywayofananswer,Iswungmychainsword,chewingthroughthethinmetalinsecondsandashowerofsparks.Nodoubtthetech-priestswouldbehorrifiedbysocasualadesecrationofeventhisminorashrinetotheOmnissiah,butitwasnothingcomparedtothedamagetheorkswoulddototheshipifleftunchecked.Ortous,cometothat,whichImustadmitwasofrathermorepressingconcerntome.'Whathaveyougotinmind?'

Mirasmiled,forthefirsttimesinceI'drunintoher. 'Anoldhunter'strick,'shesaid,startingtopullwiresfromthegapbetweenthewalls.

IhavetoadmitI'dhadmydoubtsaboutthewisdomofgoingalongwiththis,everysecondwedelayederodingourhard-won lead,but I stayed tocover thecorneraroundwhich Iexpected theorkstocomeatanymomentwhileMirabusiedherselfwiththecablesshe'dextracted.ItseemedthatdespitemyearlierscepticisminthebunkerbelowthepalaceinFidelis,herhuntingtripshadindeedendowedherwithsomeknowledgeandskillswhichmightbeofusetousinthepresentemergency.Hermarksmanship,quiteexceptionalforacivilian,Ialreadyhadgoodreasontobegratefulfor,soitseemedworththerisktotarryamomentortwotoseewhatelseshehaduphersleeve.Besides,IwasconfidentthatIcouldrunfasterthanherifpushcametoshove,andourpursuersgottooclose.

'Finished,'shesaid,aftera tensefewmoments,andnotbefore time,as theclatterof iron-shod

feetagainstdeckplateswasbeginningtoreverberatethroughmyspine.'CanIborrowthis?'BeforeIcouldevenaskwhat''this''was,shesnatchedmycapfrommyhead,andreachedupto

hook itona lengthofwire she'd thrownoverapipe runningalong thecentreof theceiling.Mypurloined headgear swung in themiddle of the corridor, a little abovemy head and about faceheight for an ork. I didn't have the faintest idea what she intended to achieve by it, other thandrawing their fire perhaps, but my neck seemed a great deal more important than my hat, so Isimplystartedrunningagain.

'Nottoofar,'Mirasaid, layingahandonmyarm. 'You'llberoundthenextcornerbeforetheycan seeus.'Well, that sounded fine tome.She seemed tohave some ideaofwhat shewasdoingthough,soIslowedmypacealittleandtookrefugebehindthenextjunction,levellingmylaspistolbackthewaywe'dcome.Lettingthemseeuswasonething,butIwasn'tstupidenoughtostandoutintheopenwherethey'dhaveaclearshot.Evenanorkcanhitthetargetoccasionally.

Theyburst intoview inaclump, jostling forpositionas theyalwaysdid,whichnodoubthadslowed themdownconsiderablyandboughtusenough timeforMira todowhatever itwasshe'dbeendoing.Iflexedmyfingeronthetrigger,tighteningittothepointwheretheslightestmovementwouldbe sufficient to fire.Myhoursof practice against thehovering cyberskulls in the trainingchapel had paid off handsomely,mygrip on theweapon as assured and instinctivewithmynewaugmeticfingersasithadeverbeenwithmyoriginalones;evenmoreso,ifanything,asI'dfounditeasiertoremainpreciselyonaimwithoutthefainttremorsnoamountoftraininganddisciplinecanquiteeliminate.[72]Iheldback,though,wantingtobesureofatarget.Istillhadn'tthefaintestideawhatMirahadbeenupto,andthelastthingIwantedtodowasthrowawaywhateveradvantageshe'dbroughtusbyprecipitateaction.

The first thing the greenskins saw was my hat, of course, all of them staring at it withexpressionsofvagueconfusion,whichis theclosest theirkindcancometoanyformofcerebralactivity. Their headlong rush slowed, and they began to move down the corridor towards us,gruntingandbarkingintheirbarbaroustongue,whichIwasfamiliarenoughwithtogatherthattheoneI'dkilledhadindeedbeentheirleader,andthathissuccessorwasstillattemptingtoimposehisauthorityontheothers.[73]

'If youwouldn'tmind shooting them?'Mira asked irritably, so I tookcareful aimatMetaljaw,since he was the one shouting the most, which is usually a reliable indicator of status amonggreenskins,andsqueezedthetrigger.I'donlyintendedgettingtheirattention,whichwaspresumablywhatMirahad inmind,but I succeededbeyondmywildest expectations: I fired just asmy targetopenedhismouthtobellowatarecalcitrantsubordinate,andbygreatfortunemylas-bolthithiminthebackofthethroat,exitingthroughhisskullandtakingmostofhisbrainwithit.

For a fractionof a second the survivinggreenskins stood in stupefied astonishment,watchinganotherleadertoppletothedeckplates,thenasonetheyreacted,chargingforwardswitharoarof'WAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!'Despite this, I felt a faint surge of optimism. I'd seenmany times onPerliathatonceagroupoforksfallsbelowacriticalproportionoftheiroriginalnumbertheytendto lose heart for the fray, breakingoff to seekout anothermob to join insteadof pressing theirattack.IfIcouldjustpickoffanother,thatmightbeenoughtoshaketheresolveoftherest.

ButbeforeIcouldsqueezethetriggeragain,thespacebeyondmysightswassuddenlydevoidofork. The whole group of them had fallen, sprawling across the deck plates like drunkards in adrinkingden,thrashingandbellowingwithrageastheytriedtorise,hamperingeachotherastheyflailedaroundliketantrum-throwingtoddlers.

Miralookedatthemwithafaintairofdisappointment.'Iwashopingthey'ddroptheirweapons,'shesaid.

'Thatwasyourbrilliantidea?'Iasked,withatouchofasperity,gettingreadytofleeagain.There

wasaboutasmuchchanceofanorkdroppinghisweaponsasdecidingtotakeupflowerarranging.'A tripwire?'Whichexplainedwhyshe'dneededmyhat,ofcourse: the firstprincipleof settingaboobytrapistodirectthevictim'sattentionelsewhere.

'Mostly,'sheadmitted.'Then shouldn'twe be running again?' I asked,with a hint of impatience. The only point of a

tripwire would be to delay our pursuers, and standing around while they stood up and dustedthemselvesoffwouldthrowawaythatmomentaryadvantage.

'Maybe,'Mirasaid, still lookingbackdown thecorridorwithanairofvagueexpectation,andshowingnosignsofmovement.Acidfacehadscrambledtohisfeetbynow,bellowingimprecationsattheothers,andswattedatmydanglingcapwiththeaxeinhishand,nodoubtrelievinghisfeelingsinthemostdirectfashionhecould.

Asthecrudeweaponsmackedintomyheadgear,ablue-whitearcofenergysparkedacrosstothemetalblade,andtheorkspasmed,roaringandbellowingashesuddenlycompletedacircuitwiththecableMirahadstrungacrossthecorridor.Hiscomradeswerecaughtinthedischargetoo,thrashingon themetal floor like fishonagriddle, theirownululationsechoing loudlyenough topain theears.

'That went about as well as could be expected,' Mira said, her expression now smug in theextreme.

Ilookedather,thenbacktothetwitchingpileofsmoulderingorks.'Whydidn'tyoubarbecueyourselfwhileyouweresettingthatup?'Iasked,insomeperplexity.Mirashrugged.'Rubber-soledboots,'shesaid.'Savestimeriggingtheshockfenceroundacamp.

It'san-''Oldhunter'strick,'Ifinishedforher.'Nexttimeyouseethatoldhunter,thankhimforme.'Before she could reply, the abusedpower feed finally shortedout, and the standinggreenskin

collapsedontopofhiscomrades,withafaintclatteroffallingweaponry.Afreshodour,pungentandfamiliar,forceditswaypastthestenchofcharringork,andIturnedtogreetmyaide.

'Jurgen,' I said. 'Prompt as always.' I indicated the feebly stirring mound of incapacitatedgreenskinsbehindme.'Ifyouwouldn'tmind?'Icouldquiteeasilyhaveputalas-boltthrougheachoftheirheadsmyself,butI'dpromisedtosavehimafew,andhe'donlyhavesulkedifIdidn't.

'Ofcourse,sir,'hesaid,andtrottedofftoadministerthecoupdegracetothefallenwitheverysignofenthusiasm.Afewmomentslaterhereturned,bearingmycap,whichhehandedtomewithafaintairofpuzzlement. 'I'llhave toseewhatIcandowith this,'hesaid, 'butI'mafraid it'sa littlesinged.'

THIRTEEN

AS I'D SURMISED , now they'd been deprived of the almost infinite number of reinforcementsthey'dsurelybeencountingontotaketheRevenant,theremaininggreenskinswereeasymeatfortheReclaimers.Trackingthemdowntookalittletime,ofcourse,giventhesizeofthevessel,butafully-grownorkisn'texactlyhardtomiss,andtheAstarteswereextremelyadeptatxenoshunting.BythetimeGriescalledameetingtodiscussthesituation,theshreddedremainsofthelastonehadbeenhauledawaytothetaxidermist[74],andtheship'senginseerswereinhalingthroughtheirteeth[75]atthedamageallthoseboltershellshaddonetotheirnicecleanbulkheads.Mirahad,ofcourse,been invited, but to no one's surprise elected to return to bed instead. Before doing so shedisinterred her laspistol from the bottom of her luggage and tucked it under her pillow, as Ihabituallydid.Better late thannever, I supposed,but just in case therewas still akommando [76]lurking somewhere in the bowels of the ship, I'd asked Jurgen to keep an eye on the corridor.Needless to say, his vigil was a vain one, but he took the disappointment as stoically as he dideverythingelse.

Which left Gries, Drumon, Yaffel and me arranged about the hololith, while the ship's crewscurriedaroundustidyingupthebridge.Thedamageinhereappearedremarkablyslight,althoughthenumberofholes,scorch-marksanddisquietingstains in thesurroundingcorridorsboremuteandeloquenttestamenttotheferocityofthebattletopreserveit.HardtotellifI'dhavebeenbetteroffremaininghereafterall,orwhether,despitemymisadventures,I'dbeenprudenttogetoutwhileIcould,soIgaveupspeculatingaboutitinfavourofthediscussion.

'Damagetotheenginariumwassevere,'Drumonreported,'buttheguardianspiritsofthecircuitbreakers responded promptly, preserving the core systems from harm. Our enginseers areperforming the ritesof reactivation,andhavealreadyhonoured theguardians.Thewarpenginesare performing as well as one might expect after a cold start, but will need shutting down forcompleteresanctificationafterwenextemergeintothematerium.'

'Thatsoundslikea longjob,' Iventuredcautiously,not likingthesoundof itatall.Ifournextportofcallturnedouttobeafire-waspnestliketheonewe'djustescapedfrom,thelastthingweneededwastofindourselvesstrandedtherewithnolineofretreat.

'Roughlyninedaysstandard,'Drumonrepliedpromptly. 'HalfthatifweputintoavoidstationwithaMechanicusshrine,butwemightaswellwishforaforgeworldthisdeepintotheGulf.'

'I'll happily settle for a system free of orks,' I told him, while Gries and Yaffel reflexivelymeshedtheirfingersinthecogwheelgestureoftheAdeptusMechanicus,inresponsetothepassingreferencetooneofthehallowedworldsdevotedtotheworksoftheMachine-God.

'Underthecircumstances,sowillI,'Drumonagreed.'ThenwemusttrusttotheOmnissiahtoprovidetherespiteoursystemsrequire,'Griessaid,ina

voicewhichmadeitclearhe'dtakeadimviewofitfailingtohonourtherequest,andmovedontothemaintopicontheagenda. 'Thoughyourresourcefulnesssavedourvessel, itmayhaveputthesuccessofourmissionatsomehazard.'

'Quiteso.'Yaffelnodded,oscillatingalittleashealwaysdid,andwenton.'Theconditionsunderwhich we enter the warp are crucial to our ability to follow the right current. Being somewhatdistractedat the time [77] , Iwasunable to complete the relevant calculationsbeforewemade the

transition,whichinturnrendersourabilitytodetectthenextemergencepointproblematicatbest.''What'stheworst-casescenario?'Iasked,toshowIwaspayingattention,andtryingnottoseem

visiblypleasedthatthisfool'serrandsoundedlikelytobecomingtoanendbeforetoomuchlonger.There was bound to be a Guard presence on any Imperial worlds in the vicinity, to discourageopportunisticraidingbyourrecenthosts,soifImademyselfknown,IshouldbeabletofindashipheadingbacktoCoronuswithouttoomuchtrouble.MentioningthispriortomydeparturemightgetbacktoMira,however,soIkeptmyowncounsel,waryoffindingherturningupatthebottomoftheboardingrampagain.

'Thatwefail to find theemergencepointatall,oranyclueas to itswhereabouts,'Yaffelsaid,lookingatmeasthoughIwasasimpleton.

'Andwhatarethechancesofthat?'Iasked,refusingtobedeflected.IfIcouldgetthemtorealisethemissionwashopelessforthemselves,itwouldcircumventanyamountofarguinglateron.

'Somewhereontheorderofthreepercent,'thewaveringmagostoldme,lookingasperturbedasthoughthatwasarealpossibility.

'Whysohigh?'Iasked,beforereflectingthatperhapssarcasmwasn'tparticularlysensibleunderthe circumstances, neitherGries norYaffel having shownmuchof a sense of humour about ourquest. Ifeitherwasoffendedbymyflippancy,orevennoticedit,cometothat, theygavenosign,however.Yaffelmerelygesturedtothehololith,wheretheglowinggreenfunnelwasstillprojectedoverthestarfield.

'We'vebeenabletorefineourestimates,'hesaid,'butonlysofar.Giventheflowofthecurrentwe're now in, our destination could be any one of these three systems, with a probability ofseventeen, twelve and thirty-twoper cent respectively.Other, less likely, destinations are here.'Arashoficonsappearedthroughoutthecone,afewinplanetarysystems,thevastmajorityinthedeepgulfbetweenthem.AsIregardedthese,Ifeltafaintshiverofapprehension;ifweendedupinthevoid between the stars, and for some reason the warp engines failed to respond to Drumon'sministrations,wewouldall surelydie in the fathomlessdark, centuries fromsuccour evenat thebestspeedourvesselwascapableofinthematerialrealm.

'Whatifwereturntotheorkholdandre-enterthecurrentafteryourcalculationsarecomplete?'Griesasked,ascalmlyasifcommittingsuicidelikethatwasaperfectlyreasonableproposal.

Tomy horror, Yaffel nodded. 'I've considered this,' he said, his tone so even that theymightmerelyhavebeendiscussing theweather, rather thancondemningusall tocertaindeath.Allofasudden,makingarunforitinasaviourpodwasbeginningtolookpositivelyattractive.

'Myestimateofaninety-sevenpercentprobabilityofsuccesswaspredicatedonushavingdoneso.'

'We'llhavetolayoverandresanctifythesystembeforewetrythat,'Drumonsaidfirmly.'Alotofthemachine-spirits are still traumatised, and need to be healed before we can take the ship intocombatagain.'

'Soitlooksasthoughwe'lljusthavetocarryonlookingfortheSpawn'snextemergencepointforthetimebeing,'Isaid,tryingnottosoundtoorelieved.Ifwefoundit,allwellandgood;eitherthehulkwouldbethere,orwe'dcarryonsearching,andeitherwaythere'dbenoreasontoreturntoanork-infestedhellhole.Ontheotherhand,ifwedidn't,atleastI'dhaveninedaysorthereaboutstofindaplausibleexcusetoleavethemtoit-andfailingthat,therewasalwaysthepods.'Whatareourchancesofsuccessunderthepresentcircumstances?'

'Nomorethanseventy-twopercent,'Yaffelsaidgloomily,andIresistedthetemptationtothrowthenearestheavyobjectathim,withwhatIstillconsideraheroicfeatofself-control.I'dcomeoutaheadonconsiderablylongeroddsthanthat,oninnumerableoccasions,andsaidso.IfI'mhonest,Iwasalmostgiddywithrelief,butstillinsufficientcontrolofmyfacultiestorefrainfromtellingthe

desiccatedtech-priestpreciselywhatIthoughtabouthiswillingnesstosacrificethelotofusjusttotidyuphissums.

'Letushopeyourconfidenceisjustified,commissar,'Griessaiddryly,andonthatencouragingnotethemeetingcametoanend.

WITHSOMUCHatstake,itwashardlysurprisingthatthenextfewweeksweremorethanalittletense.IwhiledawaythetimeasbestIcouldwithonepieceofmakeworkafteranother,relishingmydaily exercise with the practice drones, and a couple of sparring sessions with Drumon, whoseemedasrelievedtogetawayfromhisdutiesasIwas.Thoughheneversaidsodirectly,Isooninferred that the orks had left a considerable legacy of damage behind them, and the task ofcoordinatingtherepairswasanonerousone.Despitemybesteffortstoignorethem,Yaffel'swordshadleftmefeelingunsettled,andalthoughIknewthechancesofbeingdraggedbackto theorks'domainonasuicidalattempttomakehiscalculationscomeoutrightwereremote(practicallynon-existentifIhadanythingtodowithit),Icouldn'tshakeanaggingsenseofdisquiet,whichrefusedtoleavemeentirelyexceptwhenIwasengagedinphysicalexercise.

Perhapsasaresultofthis,orperhapsbecauseelectrocutingamoboforksseemedtohaveputher in a bettermood, I foundmyself spendingmore timewithMira again. I can't claim to haveenjoyed her society asmuch as I had done back in Fidelis, but her enthusiasm formine seemedundiminished,andasI'venotedbefore,myopportunitiesforsocialinteractionaboardtheRevenantweresomewhatcircumscribed.Tobehonest, I'dbeena littlewaryofrenewingourassociationatfirst, a faint voice at the back of mymind still insisting that this was a bad idea, for reasons Icouldn'tquitearticulate,wheneverIcouldbebotheredtolistentoit.Butasthedayspassed,andshekepttheviragosideofherpersonalityunderbettercontrol,Ibegantofeelalittlemorecomfortablearoundher.Perhapstoomuchso;otherwiseI'dcertainlyhavepaidmoreattentiontotheitchinginmypalms,which continued to flare up from time to time in themiddle of apparently innocuousconversations.

Therewasoneinparticularwhichsticksinmymind,althoughthefullsignificanceof itdidn'treally occur tome at the time. Spurred on by our recent encounterwith the greenskins, I'd beentelling her a few colourful lies over a leisurely supper together about my supposedly gloriouscampaigntoliberatePerliafromtheirkindred,andbeendulyrewardedbyoohsandaahsofwide-eyed credulity inmost of the right places - then she looked atmeover the rimof her goblet asthoughtakingaim.

'Haven'tyoueverthoughtaboutdoingsomethingelsewithyourlife?'sheasked,inthestudiedlyneutralfashionshetendedtoadoptwhentryingtopretendshedidn'tcareabouttheanswer.Ishookmyhead,insomeperplexity,completelytakenaback.

'Haven'tyou?'Iaskedinreturn,knowingthatmyquestionwasequallyridiculous.Mirahadbeenborn into the ruling family of an Imperial world, destined since birth to take a hand in thegovernance of it, and her education and upbringing had no doubt been predicated on thatassumption; she was no more in control of her own destiny than I was. From the day I'd beenearmarked as a future commissar by a schola progenium functionary with a twisted sense ofhumour [78] ,my destiny had been set in stone, just as surely asMira's, butwithout the limitlesswealthwhichhadnodoubtmadeheradolescenceagreatdealmorecomfortablethanmine.

'Allthetime,'shesaid,tomysurprise,anunexpectedairofwistfulnessenteringhertone.Thenshesmiled,asiftomakelightoftherevelation,andshrugged,settingupinterestingoscillationsinthe clinging gold fabric of her favourite gown -which stillmade her look like a joygirl if youaskedme. (Not that I considered that aspect of her appearancemuchof adisadvantage.) 'But I've

neverhadthechance.'Sheglancedslylyatme.'Notuntilnow.''Being offworld, youmean,' I said, managing to look as though I was interested without too

muchdifficulty.ThiswasahappyknackI'dacquiredearlyenough in life tomakemytimeat theschola more tolerable than it might otherwise have been, and which had served me well in mysubsequentcareer.

Miranodded.'Partly,'sheagreed.Shehadaconspiratorialairabouthernow,asthoughshewereabout to impartsome intimateconfidenceandfearedbeingoverheardbyeavesdroppingservants.AlthoughsinceJurgenwasstilltheclosestthingeitherofushadtodomesticstaff,andhispresencewasprettynoticeableevenifhewasoutofsight,Ididn'tthinkshehadtoomuchtoworryaboutonthatscore.'Itopensupanumberofopportunities.'

'Doesit?'Iasked,unableforthelifeofmetoseewhatshewasdrivingat.Shenoddedagain. 'It does,' she confirmed, as though I'dgraspedwhatever shewasblethering

about,andtacitlyagreedtoit.'Withtherightconsortbesideme,myfatherisboundtoconfirmmeashisheir.Viridiawillneedstrongleadershiponcethemesstherehasbeencleanedup,andImeantoprovideit.'

'Well, good for you,' I said, trying not to smile as I finally grasped the real reason she'dmanoeuvredherwayaboardour shipof fools.Shewaspositioningherself to fendoff any rivalclaimantstothethrone,andwantedtoproveshe'dgotoanylengthstoprotectherhomeworld.AndifshecouldbagherselfaSpaceMarinetomarryalongtheway,somuchthebetter: the ideawasquiteludicrous,ofcourse,butsomehowquitecharminginitsnaivety[79].

'Ican'tthinkofasaferpairofhands.''Iwashopingyou'dsaythat,'Mirareplied,smilingatmeinawayIhadn'tseenforalongtime.I

returneditinkind,reflectingthatthisauguredwellforthesubsequentprogressoftheevening,andI'mboundtosaythatIwasfarfromdisappointed.

FOURTEEN

I DIDN'T HAVE long to enjoy the sudden change in Mira's demeanour, although she certainlybecamemore pleasant company after that. It was almost like reliving the earliest period of ourassociationbackonViridia, andalthough I couldn't helpwonderingnowandagain justwhat laybehindit,particularlyontheoccasionsInoticedherstaringatmelikeakrootatsomechoicepieceofcarrion,forthemostpartIwassimplygratefulfortheimprovement.Somarkedwasit,infact,thatIwastakenbysurprisewhenamomentaryflashofheroldpetulancesurfacedonemorning,justafter Jurgenhadknockedon thedoorofmyquarters to informme thatGries had requestedmypresenceonthebridgeatmyearliestconvenience.

'Doyoureallyhavetogorushingofflikealackeyeverytimesomeonesendsyouamessage?'sheasked,asIscrambledintomyuniform,consideredthestateofmycap,which,despiteJurgen'sbestefforts,wasstilllookingtheworseforwear,anddecideditwouldjusthavetodo. 'Hesaidatyourconvenience,notrightthisminute.'

'It'sthesamething,'Itoldher,tiltingittohidetheworstofthedamageandcheckingtheeffectinthemirror.'Youmightbeabletokeeppeoplewaitingaslongasyoulike,butIcan't.Thatwasjustapolitewayofphrasinganorder.'Deciding Iwasnowaspresentableas Iwasevergoing tobe, Iturnedback,tofindherexpressionsofteningagain.

'Thatwon'tbethecaseforever,'shesaid,andIsmiledback,touchedbyherevidentfaithintheupward trajectory of my future career. (Which has indeed left me in a position to keep peoplewaitingaslongasIcareto,andhasdoneforsomedecadesnow,althoughtherealitiesofmyjobmeanthatit'sstillgenerallyimpolitictoindulgetheimpulse.)

'I'll be back as soon as I can,' I promised, and left as briskly as protocol demanded. It waspointless asking if shewanted to accompanyme; even if she could be persuaded to getmoving,whichwithMirawasalwaysproblematicatbest,thesummonshadbeenformealone.Itwasentirelypossiblethataseparatemessagehadbeendispatchedtoherownquarters,ofcourse,intheinterestofdiplomacy,but shewas sounlikely to respond that itwouldn't have surprisedme to learn thatGries had simply given up even the pretence of attempting to include her inwhatever decisionsneededtobemade.

'Commissar.' TheSpaceMarine captain nodded an affable greeting tome as I strode onto thebridge,beforereturninghisattentiontotheshipmaster,withwhomhewasinanimatedconversationaboutmatterswhichmeantnothingtome.

IfI'dhadanylingeringdoubtsaboutwhatIwasdoingheretheyweredispelledalmostatonce,asmyeyefellonYaffelandDrumon,whowerestandingbythehololith,examiningthestarchartwithevery sign of satisfaction. I ambled over to join them, and the Techmarine glanced up as Iapproached.

'Commissar,'hesaid,standingasidetoallowmeanunimpededviewofthedisplay.'Justintime.''SoIsee,'Ireplied,takinginthefamiliarstarchartinasingleglance.Oneofthethreesystems

Yaffelhadpointedoutatourpreviousmeetingwasilluminatedmorebrightlythananyoftheothers,andthegreenfunnelhadshrunkagain,toleavetheiconapparentlystuckinitsnarrowingthroat.InoddedanacknowledgementtoYaffel.'Congratulations,magos.Itseemsyourcalculationswereasreliableasever.'

'By thegraceof theOmnissiah,' the tech-priest agreed, contriving toproject an impressionofsmugnessdespite themonotone inwhich thewordsweredelivered,and the impassiveexpressiongenerally considered appropriate to one of his calling. 'We've detected another weakness in theinterfacebetweenrealities,consistentwiththosewerecordedearlierinthevoyage.'

'Whichshouldputusabouthere,'Drumonadded,proddingattheiconI'dalreadynoticedwithhisservo-arm.'TheSerendipitaSystem.Withintheusualmarginsoferror,ofcourse.'

'Ofcourse.' Inodded, toshowIwaspayingattention,andtriednot toreflect thatpredictinganemergencepointfromwithinthewarpwasalwayslittlemorethananexerciseinwishfulthinking;althoughourNavigatorhadprovenremarkablyableinthatregard,whichnodoubtaccountedforthe fact that he or she had been engaged by a SpaceMarine vessel in the first place [80] . Thensomethingelsestruckme.'We'vealwaysemergedblindbefore.Howcanyoubesosurethisisthesystemwe'recomingoutin?'

Ishouldhaveknownbetter,ofcourse,andspentmostof thenext tenminutesnoddingpolitelywhileYaffel sprayed technical terms around, andwondering if his augmetic enhancements reallyhad left him without the need to inhale, or whether it simply sounded like that to my reelingeardrums.Eventuallyhegroundtoahalt.

'Something of an oversimplification,' Drumon observed sardonically, 'but accurate in itsessentials.'Then,apparentlytoensureIrealisedhewasjoking,headded, 'Itseemsthemostlikelycandidate,giventheflowofthecurrentsourshiphasbeenfollowing.'

'I see,' I said, wondering why Yaffel couldn't have been equally succinct. 'Is it an Imperialsystem?'

'AbsolutelyImperial,'Drumonassuredme,withoneofthefaintsmilesI'dgrownmoreadeptatnoticing since we'd become sparring partners. 'One primary world, seven others supportingsettlements, and thirty-eight void stations. Two of which are starports with dockyard facilities.'Whichclearlyaccountedforhisbuoyantmood.Ibegantofeelasenseofgrowingdisquiet.

'That implies a sizeable population,' I pointed out. 'Whichmeans it's the perfect place for the'stealerstospreadtheirtaint.'

'Quiteso,'Griesagreed, turningto lookinourdirection,andremindingmeonceagainof thephenomenalhearingwithwhichtheEmperorhadseenfittoendowhim.'Youcanrestassuredwe'llbepreparedforanyactsoftreachery.'

'I'm glad to hear it,' I replied, though I felt a lot less easy than I tried to sound. We'd beenambushed almost as soon as we'd arrived in the Viridia System, and although the Revenant hadshruggedofftheattackeasilyenough,Drumonhadmadeitabundantlyclearthatshewasinnofitstatetogointobattleagain.AndViridiahadprobablybeeninfectedbynomorethanahandfulofimplantedhosts; if theentirebroodaboardtheSpawnofDamnationhadbeenroused,andabletorampagethroughthepopulationvirtuallyunchecked,theSerendipitaSystemcouldalreadybelostto humanity. If that were the case, as my increasingly pessimistic imaginings were halfway toconvincingme,thenitwouldbelikeourarrivalintheorkholdalloveragain.

So,asyou'llreadilyappreciate,asweallturnedtothepictscreenwhichrelayedanimageoftheuniverseoutsidethehull,thelingeringnauseaofourtransitiontothemateriumwastheleastofmyworries.

In the event, I must confess, I found it something of an anticlimax. Instead of themaraudingwarships I'd steeled myself to expect, there was nothing to be seen in any direction but thereassuringglowofthestars.Noneofthepinpricksoflightappearedtobemoving,whichcameasafurtherrelief;iftheyhad,theycouldonlybevesselsofsomekind.Ofcoursetheauspexoperatorhad farmore sophisticated senses to relyon thanmyeyes, andamoment laterheconfirmedmyimmediateimpression.

'Allclear,'hereported, in thesameclippedmonotone thewholeship'screwappeared toaffectwhileonduty.'Commencingdetailedscan.'

'Howfaroutarewe?'Iasked.Myparanoiawasasacuteasever,leavingmeconvincedthatthesystemwasgoing to turnout tobeanotherfirewaspnestsooneror later,andIwanted tobesurewe'dhaveplentyofwarningiftroublecamelookingforus.Noneofthespeckledlightsseemedanybrighterthantheothers,butIwasaseasonedenoughtravellernottofindthatstrange:atthekindofdistancesstarshipsusuallyenteredandleftthewarp,thelocalsunwouldbesofarawayastoappearnolargerthananyotherstarinthefirmament.

'A littlebeyond themainbulkof thehalo,'Drumon said, a thoughtful expression crossinghisface,ashenodoubtreachedthesameconclusionIjusthad.Innumerablepiecesofcosmicflotsamwould be clogging our auspex receptors, which meant an attacking flotilla would be all butundetectable at a distance - at least if they had the sense to power down and coast, igniting theirenginesonlyforthefinalattackrun.

'Thatseemsabitfar,'Isaid,determinedtoseemateasedespitetheapprehensiongnawingawayatme.Starshipswouldusuallyshoulder theirwaybackinto therealgalaxyasclose toasystem'sprimary as they dared, tominimise the amount of time required to coast in to their destination;somethingI'dcometoappreciateonthelong,slowjourneyJurgenandIhadmadefromthehalotoPerliaaboardasaviourpod.

Yaffeldidn'tactuallyshrug,buthecontrivedtogiveapassableimpressionofhavingdonesoashe leaned across the hololith table, oscillating slightly in his usual fashion. 'The hulk is driftingrandomly,andwesimplyfolloweditthroughtothemateriumatthepointfromwhichitemerged,'he pointed out, in themanner of one ofmy old schola tutors wearily explaining the blindinglyobvioustoanindifferentcadreofprogeniforaboutthethousandthtimeinhiscareer.(AsensationI'mbeginningtosympathisewith,nowI'mtheonetryingtogettheyoungpupstopayattention.)

'Whichmightmeanithasn'tbeenin-systemlongenoughforthegenestealerstoinfectanyone,'Isaid,feelingthefirstfaintstirringsofhopesinceourarrival.Yaffellookedatmeblankly,soIwentontoexplain.'Allthoseorkshipswereclusteredaroundthelastemergencepoint,weren'tthey?'

Thetech-priestnodded.'Isupposeso.Whatofit?''ItmustmeantheSpawnwastherejustbeforewewere,'Ipointedout,consciousoftheironyof

thesuddenreversalofourpositions.'Aflotillathatsizecouldn'thavebeenmobilisedtointerceptusthatquickly.Thoseshipsmusthavebeengoingafterthehulk,andarrivedtoolate-justintimetotargetusasweemergedfromthewarpinitswake.'

'Asoundinference,'Griesagreed,andDrumonnodded.'Whichmeanswe should be concentrating our search efforts in this area.'Hemanipulated the

controlsofthehololith,mutteringincantationsunderhisbreath,thenhitthedisplaythreetimeswiththeheelofhishandtostabilisetheimage.Thelong-familiarstarfielddisappeared,tobereplacedbya simulation of the stellar system we'd arrived in. A scattering of crimson dots picked out theImperialpopulationcentres,confinedforthemostparttothemoonsofthelargestgasgiant,whileasinglegoldrunemarkedthepositionoftheRevenant.Athree-dimensionalgridfannedoutinfrontofit,reachingalmosthalfwaytothesuninthemiddleofthedisplay.

Yaffel studied it foramoment, thennodded. 'Iconcur. If thecommissar'sdeduction iscorrect,which seems extremely likely, the probability of finding the Spawn of Damnation within thedemarcatedvolumeisapproximatelyninety-ninepointtwosevenpercent.'

'I'm pleased to hear it,' I said,moving aside tomake room for Gries, who, like all Astartes,requiredaconsiderableamountofspacetostandin.Ilikedthesoundofthatagreatdealmorethanthetech-priest'slastsetofsums.Evenmorecheering,frommypointofview,wasthefactthatthegasgiantanditsattendantclusterof iconswasonthefarsideof thesun,waybeyondtheareaof

spaceDrumonhadpickedout,andeventheclosestoutpostofcivilisation [81]waswelloutsideitsboundaries.Itwasstillpossiblethatascavengervesselofsomekindhadstumbledacrossthehulk,ofcourse,ashadappearedtobethecaseonViridia,buteventhatworst-casecontingencycouldbecontainedifwewerequickenough.Despitealifetime'sexperiencethatsuchfeelingsweremerelythe prelude to the discovery of a hitherto unsuspected greater threat, I found myself smilingconfidently.'Itseemsthingsaregoingourwayatlast.'

DESPITETHEPERSISTENTlittlevoiceatthebackofmyheadwhichcontinuedtoinsistthatthingscouldonlybegoingthiswelltolullusintoafalsesenseofsecurity,ImustconfessIfoundmyselfbeginningtorelaxoverthenextfewdays.Thesearchforourquarrywasaspainstakingandtime-consumingasoneverypreviousoccasion,with theobviousexceptionof the timewewerebeingdistractedbyorks- thesheeramountofdebris inSerendipita'shalowashamperingourauspexesjustasmuchasI'dexpectedittodo.Thistime,however,Ihadsomethingproductivetogetonwith,andthrewmyselfintotheworkwithanenthusiasmwhichsurprisedmealittle.

Wehad,ofcourse,transmittedthenewsofourarrivaltoSerendipita[82],andthepresenceofaSpaceMarinevesselwithintheirbordershadcreatedaboutasmuchexcitementasyoumightexpect,especiallyoncethecoindropped,andtheupperechelonsoftheSystemDefenceFleetrealisedthatourmissionmeant a clear andpresentdanger to theirhomeworld.Accordingly, adelegationoflocalworthieshadbeendispatchedtomeetus;andsincediplomacywashardlyGries'sstrongpoint,I'dfoundmyselfcalledupontoliaisewiththeminhisstead.

Tomyfaintsurprise,however,Miradidn'tseemtosharemyenthusiasmfor thisdevelopment,seeming, if anything, positively put out by it. 'I don't seewhy you have to do all theirwork forthem,'shesaid,echoesofthepettishnessIrememberedalltoovividlycolouringhervoiceforthefirsttimeinweeks.

Ishrugged,andsippedmytanna,whileshetoreachunkoutofafreshlybutteredflorncakewithherteethandmasticateditsavagely.WewereenjoyingwhatIsincerelyhopedwasabouttobecomeararequiet interlude,before theheavyshuttlebearing theReclaimers' latestguestsarrived,andIfelt it best to keep the peace if I could. 'I don't really have a choice,' I pointed out reasonably,transferring one from the salver to my plate while I still had the chance, and topping it with aspoonfulofackenberrypreserve.I'dhadampleopportunitytoobservethatMira'sconsumptionoffoodstuffsgainedmomentumindirectproportiontohowaffrontedshefelt,andexperienceinclinedme to safeguard my own provender. 'My orders were to liaise between the Reclaimers and theImperialGuard, andsince there's aGuardgarrisononSerendipita, I'dbederelict inmyduty if Ihadn'tcontactedthemattheearliestopportunity.'Andtherebylaidthegroundworkformypassageback to Coronus, as soon as I could detachmyself from this increasingly pointless assignment,althoughnooneneededtoknowthatjustyet.

'Icanseethat,'Miraconceded,withaconciliatorytiltoftheheadandafaintsprayofcrumbs.'Ijustdon'tseewhyyouhavetowasteyourtimewiththerestofthem.'

'I'drathernot,'Itoldhertruthfully.'Butthey'reallarrivingtogether.Splittingthemupisn'treallyanoption.'

'No.'Sheshookherhead,andIbegantorealisesheprobablyunderstoodthesituationbetterthanI did: after all, she'd grown up surrounded by competing factions jockeying for position, allneeding tobekeptworking together for thecommongood. 'It'dcreate toomuchdivision, and ifwe'regoingtokeepthegenestealersfromoverrunningSerendipita,weallneedtobesingingfromthesamepsalter.'

'You'dmakeagoodcommissar,'Isaid,onlyhalf-joking,andshesmiledatmeacrossthetable.

'You'dmakeagoodregent,'shesaid.Thensheturnedherhead,thesmileslidingfromherface,asthefamiliarodourofmyaidethickenedtheroom,followedamomentlaterbyitssource.'Itoldyouweweren'ttobedisturbed.'

'Pardon the intrusion, sir,' Jurgen said, addressingme directly,with the exaggeratedly formaltones he tended to employ while sticking rigidly to protocol in the faces of irate officers, thenturninghisheadslightlytoaddaperfunctory''miss'',beforereturninghisattentionentirelytome.'CaptainGrieswouldlikeyoutojoinhimattheventraldockingport.ThediplomaticshuttlefromSerendipita'sdueinabouttenminutes.'

'Thankyou,Jurgen,'Isaid.'Pleaseconveymyrespectstothecaptain.I'llmeetyoudownthereinamoment.'

'Very good, sir.' He saluted, no doubt to underline that this was military business whichsupersededwhateverMiramightthinkabouthisunexpectedarrival,andmarchedoutinavaguelymartialslouch.

I turnedback toMira,whoseexpressionnowlookedaboutaswarmasaValhallanwinter,andwhateverquipI'dbeenabouttomaketolightenthemoodscurriedbacktothesafetyofmysynapsesunvoiced.

'Areyouserious?'sheasked,inincreduloustones.'WhatinthenameoftheThronedoyouwantthatmalodoroushalfwitwithyoufor?'

'Because he's my aide,' I pointed out, with a little more asperity than I'd intended. 'Protocoldemandsit.Andhedivertsattentionfromme.'WhichmeantIcouldsizeupthenewarrivalswhilethey were nicely distracted, instead of being gawped at like a sideshow mutant because of myridiculousreputation.

'Icanbelievethat,'Miraconceded,andthefrostinhertonebegantothaw.Sheroseandbegantomakeherwaytowardsthedoor.'I'dbetterleaveyoutoyourpreparations.'

'I'mprettymuchpreparedalready,'Iadmitted,pickingupmymuchabusedcapandstickingitonmyheadwithoutfurther thought.I'dgivenuptryingtopositionit tominimisethedamage,andifanyoftheSerendipitansdidn'tlikethelookofit,they'djusthavetolumpit.

Tomysurprise,Mira turnedback, reachedupandadjusted thepositionslightly, thenregardedthe effectwith a faint smile. 'That's better,' she said. 'Makes you look dangerous, rather than justknockedaboutabit.'

Iglancedatthemirrortoseewhatshe'ddone,andfoundmyselfstaringatthereflectionofahardbittenwarriorwho'dborrowedmyface.'Thankyou,'Isaid,astonishedbythetransformation.'Howdidyoudothat?'

Mirasmiled,alltraceofherpreviousbadmoodgone.'It'snotwhatyouwear,'shesaid,'it'sthewayyouwearit.Everywomanknowsthat.'Thensheturnedandresumedherprogresstowardsthedoor.

'Nowifyou'llexcuseme,Ineedtotakemyownadvice.Seeyouinthedockingbay.''You'regoingtoo?'Iasked,andhersmilespread.'Yousaidityourself,'shetoldme.'Protocoldemandsit.'

THEHANGARBAYS used by the Thunderhawks were all positioned on the flanks of the ship,wheretheycouldbestbecoveredbythebroadsidebatterieswhendeployingunderfire,sothiswasmyfirstsightoftheventraldocksprotrudingfromtheRevenant'skeel.Thereweretwobaysinall,setbacktobackandseparatedbyheavyblastdoors,whichDrumontoldmecouldberetractedtocombinethetwochambersifrequired.Ihadnoideawhenthiswaslikelytobe,havingseennosignofanythingthesizeofanImperialGuarddrop-shipinservicewiththeAstartes,butwashappyto

takehiswordforit[83].IsupposeifI'dcaredIcouldhaveaskedhimformoredetail,buthewasengagedinconversationwithGriesandhisbodyguardsformostofthewait,anditwouldn'thavebeenpolitetointerrupt.

At any event, both bayswere accessed from open space by the usual arrangement of airtightdoors, thickenough tobe rammedbyaChimerawithout takingadent,whichclosedoff the endopposite the bulkhead separating them. From the observation gallery running along one side ofboth, and protected from decompression by a handswidth of armourcrys, it was pretty obviouswhichonewassoontoreceiveourguests:themightyportalhadbeencrankedopen,revealingthestar-speckled velvet of eternal night beyond, while the other chamber was still sealed andpressurised.

'Impressive,'Miracommentedquietlyinmyear,herperfumebeginningtodisplacetheearthierscentofJurgen,andIstarted,havingremainedunawareofherapproach.

'Very,'Iagreed,turningtolookather.'Everymillimetrethediplomat.'Tomyunexpressedreliefshe'ddispensedwiththejoy-girloutfit,replacingitwithaformalgownofindigohue,whichwasechoedby the soft slippers she'demployed to sneakuponme.But then, I suppose,matchingherappearance to the occasion was a skill she'd grown up with, not unlike my own talent fordissembling.

'I'mgladyouapprove,'shesaid,witheveryappearanceofsincerity.'HaveImissedmuch?'Ishookmyhead. 'Notyet,'Iassuredher,withanodtowardsthevacanthangarbay.Something

was clearly going on down there though, void-suitedChapter serfs scurrying about on the deckplates,sothearrivaloftheshuttlewasundoubtedlyimminent.Afreshburstofmovementcaughtmyeye,andInodded.'Oh,nicetouch.'

GriesandtheotherAstarteswereenteringthechamberthroughanairlockalmostdirectlybelowus,andbeginningtotakeuptheirpositions,readytogreetthenewarrivals,completelyuntroubledby the lack of anything to breathe down there. The impressionmade on the delegates, watchingthrough the viewports of their transportwhile the chamber pressurised,would undoubtedly be astrongone,reinforcingtheairofsuperhumaninvulnerabilitySpaceMarinestendedtoprojectasamatterofcourse.

'He's more of a diplomat than he thinks,' Mira agreed, as the shuttle finally appeared in therectangleofstar-spattereddarkness,andcoastedinsideassilentlyasanocturnalraptorswoopingonarodent.ItwaslargerthanI'dexpected,closerinsizetoabulkcargolifterthantheAquilaI'danticipated,andIbegantorealisethatperhapsGrieshadhadtherightideainkeepingasfarawayfromitspassengersaspossible.

'Lookslikeabitofacrowd,'Jurgenobserved,andInodded,calculatingrapidly.Youcouldhavefittedaplatooninsideitquitecomfortably,alongwiththeirChimeras,butifIwasanyjudgeavesselthat extensively ornamentedwould have been designedwith its passengers' comfort a far higherpriority than the efficient use of space. Even allowing for individual staterooms and a fairlycommodiouscommonarea,though,therewouldstillberoomforacoupleofdozenatleast.

'About thirty, Iwould think,'Mirasaid,and it suddenlydawnedonme thatshewasprobablyagreatdealmorefamiliarwiththistypeofvesselthananyoneelseonboard.Shepointedtoadetailedmosaicofthermaltileswrappedaroundthebluntnoseoftheship. 'That'sthegovernor'spersonalheraldry,sowecanexpectthatwhoever'sonboardhasafairbitofpull.'

'Wouldn't we have been informed if the governor was coming?' I asked, andMira shrugged,whichIalwaysfoundagreeablydiverting.

'Notnecessarily,' shesaid, 'but Idoubt it.He'sprobably runninground in littlecirclesbackonSerendipita,makingsureanyobvioussignsofcorruptionormisgovernmentaretidiedawaybeforetheAstartesarrive.'Thenshesmiled,inaself-deprecatingfashionwhichquitesuitedher.'It'swhat

I'ddo.''Butheputhispersonalshuttleat thedisposalofthedelegation,'Isaid. 'Howverygenerousof

him.'Mirasmiledagain,eitheratmyapparentnaivety,or the thinlyveiledsarcasm. 'Generosityhas

nothing to dowith it,' she said. 'It showshe's taking theReclaimers seriously, andwilling to getinvolved,butkeepshimconvenientlydistancedfromanydecisionsmadeherewhichmightcausetroubleathome.'Hervoiceheldafaintlyadmiringedge.'Heplaysthegamewell.'

'Let'shopeyougetthechancetotellhimthat,beforethegenestealerseathissystemoutfromtheinside,'Isaid.Wewerecertainlyofftoagoodstart,butmyinnatepessimism,forgedinthecrucibleoffartoomanyunpleasantsurprisesjustwhenwethoughtwe'dgotontopofthings,wasrefusingtoletgoof theconviction that thesituationwashardly likely to remainasstraightforwardas ithadbeen.

Jurgen nodded. 'Doesn't do to turn your back on them,' he said, no doubt mindful of ourexperiencesonKeffia.

'Idon'timaginewe'llbedoingthat,'Mirasaid.'Certainlynot,'Iagreed.Achillmistwasbeginningtodriftagainstthearmourcrysbynow,asthe

thickening atmosphere in the docking baywas chilled to the temperature of space, and a barelyperceptiblethrummingwasgrowingaudible,astheairbecamedenseenoughtotransmitthesoundof thepumpsfeedingit into thecavernouschamber. Ibeganto leadthewaytowards thestaircaseleadingdown to theairlock. 'Our firstpriorityhas tobeassessing the threat, and thebestway tocombat it with the assets we have in-system.' I'd timed it nicely, the outer doors of the airlockgrindingopentoadmitthediminishinghowloftheshuttle'sengines[84],asthepilotpoweredthemdown.

'Commissar.Commendablyprompt,'Griesrumbled,astheboardingrampbegantodescend.IfhewassurprisedtoseeMirawithme,hishelmethidit,andheacknowledgedherpresencewithasimple'Envoy.'

'Captain,' she responded, with a perfunctory curtsey. 'Whose company are we to expect thepleasureof?'

Pleasure wasn't exactly the thing I was anticipating, I must admit. I wanted to talk to the realsoldiersamong thedelegation,whichbasicallymeant theImperialGuardofficers,alongwith thePDFandSDFrepresentativesfortheirlocalknowledge.IwasalreadycertainthatthevastmajoritywouldturnouttobeAdministratumdronesandmembersofthelocalaristocracyinstead,though,keener to boost their position by association with the Astartes than to make any meaningfulcontributiontothedefenceofthesystem.

Griesevidentlyfeltmuchthesameway,judgingbythecurtnessofhisreply.'Omnissiahknows,'hesaid.'Orhowmanyofthemwillhavesomethingrelevanttosay.'

'ThenifImaymakeasuggestion,'Mirasaidbrightly,'perhapsCiaphasshouldjustliaisebetweenyouandthemilitarypeople,likehe'ssupposedto,whileIkeepthehangers-onoutoftheway.I'venothingpractical tocontribute to thestrategicplanning inanycase,but Idoknowhowto talk topoliticianswithoutyawning.'

'Thatwouldbehelpful,'Griesagreed,andInodded,concealingmysurpriseasbestIcould.'Itwouldindeed,'Iconcurred,wonderingwhatwouldbeinitforher,anddecidingthatrightnow

Ididn't reallycare.Theimportant thingwas tostopSerendipitafromgoingthewayofherhomeworld,andtoomanyothersalongtheEasternArmforcomfort.

'Good.'Mirasmiledatme.'Thenlet'strytolookasthoughthey'reallwelcome,shallwe?'

EditorialNote:Asusual,thoughhementionsafewoftheastrographicdetailsinpassing,Cainisvagueatbest

aboutconditionsintheSerendipitaSystem.Accordingly,I'veinsertedthefollowingextracthere,inthehopethatitmaymakethingsalittleclearer.

FromInterestingPlacesandTediousPeople:AWanderer'sWaybook,byJervalSekara,145.M39.

SERENDIPITAISWELLnamed,foritdoesindeedcomeasadelightfulsurprisetothewarp-wearytraveller;asmallconstellationofhabitableworlds,though,itmustbesaid,withvaryingdegreesofcomfort,orbitingasinglegasgiantofquiteprodigioussize.Solarge,indeed,thatitradiateslightandwarmthinthemannerofasmallstar[85],renderingitshalf-dozenplanet-sizedmoonstolerablefor the hardy folkwhomake their homes here.Themost favoured of these is Serendipita itself,whichenjoysatemperateclimate,abundantoceansandtwosmallpolarcaps.Renderedthecapitalworldofthesystembyvirtueofsupportingthebulkofitspopulation,andhavingbeenthefirstorbsettled by humanity, it's a pleasant enough sphere to tempt even the most jaded wayfarer intolingeringforawhile.

Should its charms pall, however, the other moons of this singular primary are also worthvisiting, with the exception of Tarwen, the industrial centre of this curious conglomeration ofworlds.Tarwenisasaestheticallyunpleasingasitsinhabitants,who,liketheirhome,aregrimyanddour, and the best that can be said for the place is that its existence allows Serendipita itself toremain charmingly unspoilt, save for those little comforts of civilisation which only seemimportantwhenunobtainable.Inasimilarfashion,muchoftheagriculturesupportingthefar-flungpopulationisrelegatedtoothermoons,althoughSerendipitadoesboastsometolerablypicturesqueruralhinterlandsservingherlargercities.

Itshouldbenotedinpassingthatothercentresofpopulationexistinthewiderstellarsystem,butcontainnothingofinterest,beingdevotedentirelytomining,commerceorothersuchoccupationsof theartisanclass,whilea remarkablenumberofne'er-do-wellscontinuallyply themagnificentringsystemand innumerable lessermoonsaroundSerendipita in searchofexploitable resourcesand other plunder; not the least ofwhich are the ramshackle vessels generally employed in thispursuit,andwhichcometogriefaboutasoftenasonemightexpectgiventheinordinatenumberofhazardstonavigationinsothickabeltofdebris.Fromthesurfaceofthehabitableworlds,however,the ring is most notable for the breathtaking spectacle it affords those seeking diversion afternightfall.

FIFTEEN

OVER THE NEXT few days, I must confess, I had good reason to be thankful for Mira'sintervention.Thedelegationhadproventobeeverybitasoverrunwith time-servingbureaucrats,Emperor-botheringecclesiarchsand inbred imbecilesfromthe localaristocracyasI'dfeared, fartoomanyofwhomwantedtheirpictstakenwithhonest-to-EmperorAstartes,theHeroofPerlia,orboth, tokeepmytemper incheckwithout theconsiderableexertionofwillpower.Fortunately, theprospectofhavingtoingratiatethemselveswithJurgeninordertogainaccesstomedeterredallbutthemostpersistent,andthefewwhoperseveredhadnomoreluckgettingpasthimthananyoneelseIdidn'twanttosee;butitcouldn'tbedeniedthatMirawasdoinganexcellentjobofkeepingthemajorityoccupied,andIwasdulygrateful.QuitewhatshedidwiththemIhadnoidea,andcaredevenless,butitwasboundtohavefewerrepercussionsthanmyfavouredoptionofshovingthelotofthemoutofthenearestairlockandleavingthemtowalkhome.

Atanyevent,herwillingness tosuffer foolsgladly,orat least to tolerate themwithoutgivingwaytotheimpulsetoviolence,leftthewayclearformetoassessthethreatwiththeaidofGeneralTorven,theoverallC-in-C[86]oftheGuardunitsgarrisoningthesystemagainstthepossibilityofan attack by the orks we'd run into on our way here, Planetary Marshal Kregeen, his oppositenumber in the local PDF (who, tomy relieved surprise, seemed both to take her responsibilitiesseriously, and understand them, neither ofwhich could normally be relied onwhen, as here, thesenior command staff of the local standing army was drawn from the ranks of the localaristocracy), and Admiral Duque, whose stewardship of the SDF fleet may have lacked theswashbucklingpanacheofaHoratioBugler[87],butseemedsolidlycompetentatleast.Allofthemhad brought aides, adjutants and advisors with them, of course, but the ones who sat in on themeetingsgenerallyhadthegoodsensetokeepquietunlesstheyhadsomethingusefultocontribute,and I must say we made pretty good progress between us. Gries was, of course, far too busydirecting the hunt for the space hulk to participate himself, but that was the whole point of myliaison job, and Imade sure he had a cogent summary of our deliberations at the end of everysession.

Thegoodnewswasthatweseemedtobeprettywellpreparedtocounterthegenestealersiftheywerefoolishenoughtoshowtheirhand(ortalons,tobealittlemoreaccurate)openly.TheexistingthreatoftheorksmeantthatSerendipitawasinaconstantstateofvigilanceanyway,andeveryonepresent had been involved in seeing off a raid or two in recent years. I had no doubt that theSerendipitans,andtheirGuardallies,weremorethancapableofholdingtheirownagainstevenafull-scaleincursion,butthemoreinsidiouslong-termthreatposedby 'stealerinfiltrationrequiredmoresubtlecounter-insurgencymeasureswhichsimplyhadn'tseemednecessaryupuntilnow.

'We'vegotacoupleofregimentswiththatkindofexperience,'Torvensaid,oneofwhichturnedouttohaveacquiredtheirsonKeffia,whichwasaconsiderablebonus.'Theycantakepointonthis,andbringtheothersuptospeed,'Asalways,hespokequietly,butwiththedeliberateemphasisofsomeonewho didn't need to raise his voice to be sure hewas being listened to - an assumptionwhich, given his wealth of experience in the field against the enemies of the Emperor, he wasperfectlyentitledtomake.Hisappearancewasasunassumingashisvoice;despitehisrankhestilldressed for the field, in fatigues andbodyarmour, although fewof themenunderhis command

wouldhaveeitherwhichfittedsowell,orwerekeptsoscrupulouslyclean.Unsurprisingly,hewaspopularwiththecommontroopers,whoregardedhimasoneoftheirown;andhe'dcertainlydonehis time in the field, if the burn scarwhich stillmarked the left side of his face (the result of anearbyplasmaburst,ifIwasanyjudge)andthewornconditionofhispistolgripwasanythingtogoby.

'Mypeople couldbenefit fromsome instruction in that area too,'Kregeenadded, 'ifwecouldarrangetoliaiseonthat.'ShewasastuteenoughtoknowthatthePDFwereregardedassomethingof a joke by theGuard contingent, but never acknowledged it, always speaking to Torven as anequal;andhewassensibleenoughnottoresentit,orshowthefactifhedid.Despitebetrayingheraristocratic lineage by sporting a dress uniform evenMiramight have regarded as a little over-ornamented,shepaidcloseattentiontoourdeliberations,andsuchinterjectionsasshemadewerealways cogent. Now she rested her elbows on the table, supporting her chin on her hands, andlookedatthegeneralasthoughshe'drequestednothingmoresignificantthanafreshmugofrecaf.

'Thatwouldbeprudent,'Torvenagreed,andtwosetsofaidespeeledawayfromthetable,togointoahuddleinonecorneroftheconferenceroomwhichhadbeensetasideforouruse.Giventhatthelongtableandthepaddedbencheswereacomfortablesize,insteadofbeingscaledforthemoremassiveframeoftheAstartes,Iassumedthatsomeofthecrewwereevennowcursingusquietlyforthedisruptiontotheirregularmessingarrangements-animpressionstrengthenedbyastaininthegrainofthetabletopnotfarfromwhereIwassitting,whichlookeduncannilylikegravy.

Kregeen nodded,meeting the general's light brown eyes with her own, whichwere the sameflinty grey as her hair. Although she presumably had the same access to juvenat treatments asanyoneelseofherstatus,she'devidentlychosentofixherbiologicalageataroundthemid-forties,asavisiblereminderofthesignificanceofheroffice.

'I'll open some channelswith theArbites aswell,' she said. 'I'm sure they'll have some usefuladviceaboutwhattolookfor.'

'Thatsoundslikeagoodidea,'Iagreed.Likemostcivilisedworlds,Serendipitahadasmallstaffofresidentarbitratorstooverseethelocallawenforcers,andI'dbeenvaguelysurprisednottofindoneofthemincludedinthedelegation [88] . 'They'vehadmorepracticeatrootingoutclandestineactivity thananyoneelse, so ifa 'stealercultdoesgetestablished, they'realmostcertain tobe thefirsttoknow.'

'Iftheyknowwhatthey'relookingforinthefirstplace,'Torvenadded.Inodded. 'Goodpoint.Perhapsyoucoulduse themarshal's contacts tomake sure theyget the

benefit of your Keffian veterans' experience.' Not a desperately subtle way of making sure theGuardandthePDFwereworkingtogether,ratherthanfollowingtheirnaturalinclinationstoignoreoneanotherasmuchaspossible,butitseemedtodothejob:TorvenandKregeenbothnodded,apairofaidesnexttothemmadeeyecontactandbriefentriesontheirdata-slates,andwewereontothenextitemfordiscussion.

'It'sallwellandprudent,'Duquesaid,havinglistenedtotheexchangewithoutcommenting,'tobepreparedtofightthegenestealersifwehaveto,butsurelyitwouldbefarmoresensibletoeliminatethethreatentirelybeforethingsgettothatpoint.'Hehadthepalecomplexionandectomorphicbuildofavoid-born,andnodoubtfeltmorecomfortableaboardavesselinspacethanonthesurfaceofaworld,whichwasquiteironicgiventheunusualdegreeofchoicehishomesystemofferedinthatregard.

'Itwould,'Iagreed, 'if thatwerepossible.Doyouhaveanysuggestionsastohowwegoaboutachievingit?'

Theadmiralnodded,hispalefacebobbingaboveamidnight-blueuniformwhichseemedevendarkerthanitactuallywasbycontrast. 'Ido,'heassuredme,withquietconfidence.Hegesturedto

one of his staff, a junior lieutenant who bore a faint resemblance to him, a niece or a cousinperhaps, and took the data-slate she proffered. 'Given the progress of the search so far, we canassumethattheSpawnofDamnationwillbelocatedwithintheweek,andmostprobablyagreatdealsooner.'Heconsultedthedisplay,thenglancedaroundthetable.

'I'vealreadygivenordersforthemajorityofourSystemDefenceFleettorendezvouswiththeRevenant,intheexpectationthatbythetimetheyarrive,thehulkwillhavebeenfound.'

'Welldone.'Kregeenwasnoddinginapproval.'Ifwecankeepitblockaded,nothingwillbeabletogetonoroff.Allwe'llhavetodoiswaitforittofallbackintothewarp,andblastanythingwhichgetstoocloseortriestoleaveinthemeantime.'

'Blockaded?' Duque looked surprised for a moment, then smiled, in what looked to me likehonestamusement.'Youmisunderstandme,madammarshal.Iintendtodestroyit.'

'Withrespect,admiral,'Isaid,'Ithinkyoumaybeunderestimatingthesheersizeofthething.I'mgiven to understand that previous encounters recorded itsmass as beingon the order of a smallplanetoid,ratherthanaspacecraftaswe'dnormallyunderstandtheterm.'

'Quiteso.'Thepalemandidn'tseemtooputoutattheinterruption.'But we'll have plenty of time to shoot at it. If the estimates the Astartes have given us are

accurate,itwillbeatleastamonthbeforetheSpawnpassescloseenoughtoanyhumanhabitationtoposeathreat.Wecanreduceitapieceatatimeifwehaveto,butreduceitwewill.'

'Won't that create an even greater danger?' Torven asked, looking troubled. 'That amount ofdebriswillposeasignificanthazardtonavigationthroughoutthesystem.'

'Notforlong,'Duqueassuredhim.'TheSpawnofDamnationiscurrentlyheadingalmostdirectlyforthecentre,andwillendupfallingintoacometaryorbitaboutthesunwithinthenexttwotothreeyears.Itwon'ttakemuchtotimetheattackstonudgeitalittle,sothatthebulkofthedebriswillpasscloseenoughtobevaporised.Someofitwillescape,ofcourse,butthatwon'tbepassingclosetoSerendipita,oranyoftheotherhabs,onthisorbit,andbythetimeitcomesroundagainit'llbethemiddleofM43; timeenough, Iwouldhave thought, to takeany reasonableprecautionsagainst ithittingsomething.'

'Itsoundsabitchancy,'Isaid,'butI'dratherhaveacloudofjunktodealwiththanaspacehulkfullof 'stealers.'Afterall,therewasnotellinghowlongitmighttakefortheSpawntodropbackintothewarpagain;accordingtoYaffeltheysometimesstayedintherealgalaxyfordecades,andthethoughtofthousandsofgenestealersdriftingaroundadenselyinhabitedsystem,justwaitingforsome idiot whose greedwas stronger than their sense of self-preservation to come dropping inlooking for loot, mademy blood run cold. After all, that's what appeared to have happened onViridia,andtheblastedhulkhadonlybeenin-systemforlessthanaday.Duque'sSDFcouldmountablockade,ofcourse,butthelongeritwenton,thehigherthechancesofa'stealerortwosomehowmanagingtoinfectahostandsneakingofftowreakhavoc.

I nodded judiciously. 'In the absence of a more effective plan to preserve the security of theSerendipitasystem,I'llrecommendwecarryitout.'

'OUTOFTHEquestion,'Gries said flatly.Bynow I'dgot toknowhimwell enough to realise astatementlikethatwaseffectivelytheendofthematter,butIhavetoadmitIwastakenabackbythespeedandvehemenceofhisreaction.

Accordingly,Imerelynoddedinresponse,maskingmydismaywiththeinstinctiveeaseofamanwho'dbetheavilyonan inordinatenumberofpromising-looking tarothands inhis time,only torealiseshortlyafterwardsthateveryoneelse'swerebetter.(Areflexwhichhadenabledmetoscooprather more pots than I'd otherwise have been entitled to, nevertheless.) 'Might I ask why?' I

enquired,asthoughtheanswerweremerelyofacademicinterest.Icouldn'tdenythatDuque'sschemewaschancy,tosaytheleast,butitstillseemedtomethatthe

balanceofriskwasmarginallyinitsfavour.'BecausetheSpawn'svalueis incalculable,'Drumonputin,glancingacrossthebridgetowards

thehololith,whereYaffelandacadreofhisred-robedacolytesweretwitteringawaytooneanotherin Binary, as they studied a three-dimensional image of what looked to me like the circulatorysystemofadiseasedheart.'Aspacehulkthatvenerableisarepositoryofarcheotechalmostbeyondimagining.'

With a sudden sinking feeling, I realised that the diagram the tech-priests were studying sointently must be a schematic of the hulk's interior, no doubt reconstructed from generations ofsensorscansculledfromthearchives,andthereforesooutofdateastobeworsethanuseless[89].'Don'ttellmeyou'replanningtoboardit?'Iprotested,toostartledtogiveafrakforprotocol.

'We are,' Gries said, in a voicewhich brooked no argument. It's probably ameasure of howstartledIwasthatItriedarguinganyway.

'The potential rewardsmaywell be worth the risk,' I conceded, secure in the knowledge thatsomeoneelsewouldbe taking it, anddetermined toat leastbediplomaticaboutmyreservations,'butsurelyourhighestpriorityhastobethesecurityofSerendipita?'

Clearly,Grieswasn'tusedtohavinghisdecisionscalledintoquestion,atleastbyanyoneoutsidehisownChapter[90],butfortunatelyheseemedwillingtomakeanexceptioninmycase.Ifanythingheseemedsurprised,ratherthanirked,whichwasfinebyme;mysparringsessionswithDrumonhadleftmewellawareofthespeedandprecisionwithwhichanangryAstartescouldstrikedownanyoneprovokingtheirwrath,andIhadnodesiretoprovideabitofpractice.

'OurhighestpriorityisourdutytotheEmperor,'Griestoldme,lookingdowntomeetmyeyes,andIsawinhisthekindofcompleteandutterconvictionthatI'mmoreusedtoseeinginmadmen,inquisitors andmembers of theAdepta Sororitas [91] . 'And Iwill determinewhere that lies.'Hedidn'thavetoadd,'andnotyou,'becauseIhearditquiteclearlyinanycase.

'Quiteso,'Iagreed,incliningmyheadinarespectfulnod.Iwantedhimtocontinuetothinkofme as a trustworthy ally, rather than a potential problem. 'Given yourwealth of knowledge andexperience,Iwouldn'thavethoughtotherwiseforamoment.ButI'mafraidit'smyjobtokeeptheSerendipitansonside,andtheonlythingtheyseemconcernedaboutistheclearandpresentdangertotheirhomeworld.'

'Of course.' Gries nodded, apparently mollified. 'Then you must assure them we remaincommittedtothatobjective.'

'I'llmakethemseesense,'Ipromised,althoughtobehonestthatwassomethingwhichseemedinvery short supplyaboard theRevenantat themoment.GriesandDrumonseemed tobebuying itanyway,lookingdownatmeinafaintlyapprovingfashionwhichremindedmeofmyoldscholatutorswhenIparrotedtheanswerIknewtheywantedtohear. 'Blockadingthehulkseemsarathermorepracticaloptioninanycase.'

'Considerably more,' Drumon agreed. 'And the presence of an Astartes strike cruiser shoulddissuadeanyonefromtryingtorunit.'

'Itwouldme,'Iagreed.'ButI'mnotascavbargeskipperwhothinkstheEmperorjustdroppedafortuneinhislap.Anyonestupidenoughtoriskboardingahulkfullofgenestealersisn'tgoingtobeputoffbythenearcertaintyofbeingblowntobitsonthewayin.'

For amoment, asmybrain caught upwithmy tongue, Iwondered if I'd riskedoffendingmyhosts again, but apparently neitherAstartes thoughtmy remark about the idiocy of attempting toboard theSpawnofDamnationapplied to them.But just tomakesure, I thought I'dbetterdrawadistinction. 'I'msureyouroperationover therewillbe ratherbetterplannedandresourced thana

scawyraid[92],however.''Indeed,'Gries said, nodding again. Then, tomy surprise, he strode to the hololith, scattering

tech-priestsashewent,andgesturedtometofollowhim.Ilookedatthetangleofpassagewayslaidoutbythefaintlyflickeringthree-dimensionalimage,

my underhiver's instinct translating the intersecting streaks of variously coloured light into analmostphysicalsenseofthespacetheyrepresented.(SomethingIwastobealltoogratefulforlater,as it turned out, butwhich at the time seemed nomore than a convenient aid to interpreting thebriefing.)

'Ourfirstentrypointwillbehere,'Drumonsaid,indicatingachambersomewhereontheouterskin of the complexweave of ducts and corridors. 'A relatively undamaged docking bay, whichseems large enough to accommodate a Thunderhawk, and defensible enough to provide abeachhead.TheTerminatorswillsuppressanyresistanceandsecuretheperimeter.Oncethat'sbeendone,MagosYaffelandmyselfwillleadaworkingpartyhere...'

Hedidsomethingwithhisservo-armwhichcausedtheimagetozoominonthesectorhe'dfirstindicated,separatingthebeachheadandtheobjectivebyalmostametreinsteadofjustthemillimetreortwothey'doccupiedoftheoverallschematic.Astheareadepictedenlarged,sodidthedetail,anda further tangle of intersecting capillaries grew around the veins and arteries we were alreadylooking at, leaving thewhole hololith just as crowded as it had been before. For the first time Ibegan toappreciate justhowvastandcomplex the leviathanof thewarpwewerepursuingreallywas,andwished theboarderseverybitof luck theEmperorcouldspare; Iwascertain theyweregoingtoneedit.

'...andattempttorecoverthecogitatorcoreofthisvessel,'Drumonconcluded.'Whythatone?'Iasked.'Becauseithasthemostdirectlyaccessiblecogitatorbanksofanyofthederelictsmakingupthe

hulk,' Gries said, as though that should have been obvious from a cursory glance at the pile ofvirtualstringhoveringinfrontofmyface.

'Andbecauseit'sbeententativelyidentifiedasaRedeemer-classvessel,noneofwhichhavebeenin service for over five thousand years,' Yaffel put in, positively salivating at the prospect. 'Themaintenance logs alone should yield untold blessings of theOmnissiahwhich have been lost toposterity.'

'A prize indeed,' I said evenly, which was far more tactful than verbalisingmy real thoughtswouldhavebeen.Itseemedtomethat if thegalaxyhadbeengettingalongperfectlywellwithouttheselostblessingsforthelastfivemillenniainanycase,losingthe'stealersalongwiththemwouldhavebeenbetterallround.Butitwasn'tmycall,sothatwasthat.I'djusthavetobreakittoDuquethathewouldn'tbeabletoknockanylumpsoffthehulk,atleastforthetimebeing,andrideouttheensuingrecrimination.Cometothat,TorvenandKregeenwouldbefarfromthrilledtoo.AtleastIhadGriestoblame,andI'dbeenacommissarforlongenoughtoknowhowtousetheircommonresentmenttogetthemcooperatingabitmoreeffectivelythantheyotherwisewouldhavedone,soall inall, thingscouldhavebeenworse.Thensomethingelseoccurredtome. 'This isprobablyastupidquestion,' Iasked, 'butwhathappens if theSpawnfallsback into thewarpwhileyoursea...retrievalexpeditionisstillaboardit?'

Yaffelgavemeafaintlysuperiorlook,likeaneldardeigningtonoticeoneofthelesserbreedsofthegalaxy(whichtheyconsidertobeeveryoneexceptthem).'Thatcan'thappen,'hesaid,withanairyconfidencewhichleftmefarfromconvinced.

Drumonnodded. 'Thehulk iscoasting in towards thesun,'he remindedme. 'Andnaturalwarpfissurescanonlyoccuroutsideagravitywell.EvenastarshipwithaproperlyfocussedGellerfieldcanonlyforceitswaybetweentherealmsonthefringesofasystem.'

'Soit'sstuckhereuntilitdriftsoutpastthehaloagain,'Isaid,gratefulasalwaysforhispared-downsummaryofthesituation.

Magos andTechmarinenodded inunison, apparently equallydelighted at theprospect.They'dhave years to poke around in the wreckage for technosorcerous trinkets, with nothing more toworryaboutthanEmperorknewhowmanyravenousgenestealerslurkinginthedark.

Whichalsomeantthat,farfromcomingtoacloseasI'dexpected,myassignmentherelookedlike being prolonged indefinitely. Someone would have to liaise between the Reclaimers, theSerendipitansandtheImperialGuard,and,forbetterorworse,I'dbeenstuckwiththejob.

Iconsideredtheimplications.Itwouldn'tbetoohardtoconvinceeveryonethatthebestplacetowork from would be Torven's HQ on Serendipita, where I'd have ready access to system-wideintelligence, thePDF andSDF command structures, and,most importantly, all the little comfortsavailableonacivilisedworld,insteadofbeingstuckaboardastarshipwherethechancesoffindingadecenttarotgamewereaboutashighasJurgenbecomingthenextlordgeneral.AndwhileIwasgettingonwithlookingbusy,I'dbealongwayfrombrigadeheadquartersonCoronus,alongwithanyoneintentonropingmeintowhateversuicidemissiontheyhappenedtohavetohand.Allinall,Ithought,Icouldlivewiththat.

IRETURNEDTOmyquarters in a distinctly cheerfulmood, to findMirawaiting formewhileJurgenlaidoutatolerablypleasantsupper,andlostnotimeinsharingthegoodnewswithher.She'dhave found out anyway, soon enough, and I felt it prudent to be the one to tell her. That way,whateverelseshemighttakeexceptionto,atleastIcouldn'tbeaccusedofdeceit.

DespitewhateverforebodingsImayhaveharboured,however,sheseemedalmostaspleasedattheprospectasIwas,whichIsupposeshouldn'thavecomeasthatmuchofasurprise.She'dclearlyfoundlifeaboardtheRevenantevenmoretediousthanIhad,andwouldnodoubtseizethechancetorelocatetomoresalubrioussurroundingswithequalalacrity.

'Infact,'shesaid,aforkfulofsmokedsalmafromherhoardofdelicacieshalfwaytohermouth,'Isupposemylittleerrandhereisprettymuchovertoo.'

'Isupposeso,'Iagreed,takingamouthfulofmyownandwashingitdownwithaninoffensivevintageIstronglysuspectedwasthebesttheSpaceMarinevesselhadtooffer.'Thehulkdefinitelyisn'tgoingtopresentanykindofthreattoViridiafromnowon.'Wheniteventuallydiddriftbackintothewarp,IhadnodoubtthattheReclaimersandtheAdeptusMechanicuswouldgorightalongwithit,asreluctanttoletitgoasakrootwithabone;andtheireagernesstocarryonlootingthehulkwhereveritendedupwouldpreventitfromposingathreattoanyImperialsystemithappenedtoarrivein,whichwasalltothegood.

Mira smiled, as though I'd just said somethingwitty. 'Quite,' she agreed. 'But I did have othermotivesforcomingalong,you'llrecall.'

'Ofcourse,'Isaid,dredgingmymemory.Somethingaboutstrengtheningherclaimtothethronebackhome,andfindingaconsortabletohelphergrabit.'I'mgladtheyseemtobeworkingoutforyoutoo.'SheseemedtohavegivenupontheridiculousideaofpersuadingaSpaceMarinetoelopewithher,andforamomentIwonderedwhoelseshe'dfoundwholookedlikeasuitablecandidate.One of the Serendipitan delegation, presumably - they can't all have been as pointless as theylooked.

Hersmilespread.'Forbothofus,surely.''Well,yes,' Iagreed.Itwouldn't takemuchto turnmyliaisonjobintoasinecureguaranteedto

keepmecomfortablyoutofharm'sway foryears tocome,whichwasprettymuchasgoodas itevergotforsomeoneinmyposition.Iraisedmygoblet,inaslightlyironictoast.

'Here'stobothofusgettingwhatwewant.''Tobothofus,'Mirasaid,herglassclinkingagainstmine,andIfoundmyselfgenuinelywishing

herwell,whichforsomeoneasfocussedonmyownconcernsasIusuallywas,cameasabitofasurprise.Hercheekscolouredslightly,andassheloweredherdrink,shelookedatmeinamannerIfoundalittleodd.'Areyousureaboutthis?'

'OfcourseIam,'Isaid,touchedbyherconcern.ThesoonerIcouldfeelaworldbeneathmyfeetagainthebetter.

'Good.'Shebecamebusinesslikeagain. 'Serendipitadoesn'tdomuchtradewithus,butthere'saChartershiportwolinkingthesystems,withonlyacoupleofintermediatelayovers.Weshouldbeabletogetpassagewithinafewmonths.'Shelookedatmespeculatively. 'Unlessyou'vegotsomestringsyoucanpull?Wemightaswellusethemwhilewecan.'

'Whilewecan?'Iechoed,feelingoddlylikeacharacterinaballroomfarce[93].HerwordswereundeniablyGothic,butthemeaningbehindthemkepteludingme.

Miranodded.'WhileyoustillhavesomeinfluencewiththeMunitorum,'sheelucidated,asthoughthatmadeperfectsense.'Couldyougetusberthsonamilitaryship?'

'Isupposeso,'Isaid,fallingbackonthecardplayer'sinstinctwhichgenerallyhelpedmeoutatmomentslikethis.TimeandagainI'vefoundthatifyouappeartounderstandwhat'sgoingon,anddon'tpanic,sooneror lateryou'llgetaclue.Everythingwillfall intoplace,andnoonewilleverknowyouwereoutofyourdepth.It'sanimportantskillforacommissar,too,cometothinkofit,aswe're supposed to look calm and in control whatever happens. It's remarkably difficult to rallytroopsunderfirewhenyou'reditheringaboutscreaming''Frak,ohfrak,we'reallgoingtodie!''.SoInoddedjudiciously,asthoughshe'djustaskedaperfectlyreasonablequestion.

'Ifyouwantedtohurryback,ofcourse.''Goodpoint,' she rejoined, smiling atme again, in amanner I can only describe as curiously

cloying. 'Let'senjoyourselvesforafewweekswhilewecan.Serendipita'squiteapleasantworld,apparently.'

'Something to do with the ring system, I suppose,' I said, having picked up a little bit aboutconditionstherefromTorvenandtheothers.

'Ihearit'squitespectacular.''Then you've talked me into it.' Mira's smile became coquettish. 'Wemight as well enjoy the

honeymoonbeforewehavetogetdowntowork.''Exactly,' I heard my mouth say, the pieces finally dropping into place, and our earlier

conversationtakingonanentirelynewmeaningwhichhadescapedmeatthetime.Shehadn'tbeenouttobagherselfanAstartesatall.TheLiberatorofPerliawoulddoperfectlywellasaconsort,particularlyasIseemedtobeaheroonViridiaaswell.

Achillprickleofpanicchaseditselfdownmyspine.Ican'tdenythat,intheabstract,thenotionofcontinuing to enjoyMira's more obvious charms indefinitely, along with the material comfortsformalisingour relationshipwouldprovide,had itsappeal,but the ideawasutterlypreposterous.TheCommissariatwasn'tlikeoneoftheconfection-boxregiments[94]mywould-befianceeandheraristocraticcroniesamusedthemselvesbyplayingatofficers in,whichwouldcheerfullyacceptaresignedcommissionwhenevermorepressingordivertingbusinesspresenteditself.IfIabandonedmyassignmenttoreturntoViridiawithherI'dbebrandedadeserter,andtheonlyquestionleftopenaboutmyfuturewouldbewhethertheensuingtribunalhadmeshotbyafiringsquad,orpackedmeofftoapenallegiontolettheenemiesoftheEmperorsavethemtheammo.NodoubtMirabelievedthatbeingtheconsortofaplanetarygovernorwouldbesufficientprotectionfromthewrathofmyerstwhilecolleagues,butIwasundernosuchillusion:onceyouputonthescarletsash,it'stheretilltheyburyyouinit(assumingtheycanfindenoughbitsfortheceremony,whichinourvocationis

neverentirelycertain).Evenifyoumakeitthroughtoretirementintact,youcanstillbeyankedbackintothefieldprettymuchonawhim,asI'vefoundoutonlytoowelltheselastfewyears[95].

Even so, I hesitated before speaking.Mirawas clearly under the impression that I'd not onlydivinedherpurpose,butsomehowsignalledmyagreementtoherabsurdproposal.Iknewonlytoowellhowshewaslikelytoreacttobeingdisabused.I'dseenthelurkingviragoeruptfrombehindtherefinedfacadeovermatterssominorthey'dbarelyregisteredwithme,andnowIwasabouttotakeachainswordtohermostcherishedambitions.Worsestill,ofcourse,wouldbetheblowtohervanity.Mostwomen like to think they're irresistible, and discovering that shewasn'twouldn't sitwellatall.AddtothatthefactthatI'dseenherkillpeoplewithoutturninganimmaculatelygroomedhair,andmywarinessbecomesevenmoreunderstandable.

All thisbeingso, itcancomeaslittlesurprisetohearthatIremainedparalysedbyindecision,noddingandrespondingwithautomaticplatitudes,whileMiraprattledonabouthergrandioseplansforViridiaoncewe'dconsolidatedhergriponit,mostofwhichseemedtoconsistofscore-settlingwithpeopleI'dneverheardof.WhetherIwouldeventuallyhavefoundthecouragetospeakout,orjustjumpedonthefirsttransportshipbacktoCoronuswhileherbackwasturned,I'llneverknow,however. Iwas juston thepointofpouringmyself the largestamasec I thought Icouldgetawaywith,whenJurgenreturnedtomyquarters,hisfacecomposedinthefaintlydyspepticexpressionhetendedtoadoptwheneverhefeltanairofgravitaswasrequired.

'Sorry to interruptyourmeal,sir,'hesaid, 'butyourpresence is requestedon thebridge.Theyseemtothinkthey'vefoundit.'

SIXTEEN

SEIZINGGRATEFULLYONmyaide'stimelyintervention,Ilostnotimeinhurryingtothebridge,leavingMirahappilyplanninghercoupd'etat[96]withalltheenthusiasmmostwomenofherrankreserveforcotillions.ThoughmymindcontinuedtoreelwiththeshockoftherealisationofwhatI'dblunderedinto,ImustconfessthatthebustleofactivitywhichmetmyeyesthemomentIenteredthenervecentreoftheRevenantwasalmostsufficienttodriveitoutentirely.

'Contactconfirmed,'theauspexoperatorwassayingasIsteppedthroughthedoors,whichwerestillshowingfainttracesoforkishsmall-armsfiredespitethebesteffortsoftheshipboardartisansto restore thedevotional imagesadorning them,and theairofexpectationsuffusing thechamberbecamesodenseIalmosthadtoresorttohackingthroughitwithmychainsword.'It'sdefinitelyahardreturn[97],refinedmetalsbythesignature.'ForthefirsttimeIheardatremorofsuppressedexcitementintheeventonesI'dgrownusedtohearingfromtheChapterserfsmanningthebridge,and,despitemyownconcerns,feltanansweringflickerofitwithinmyself.

If this trulywas the endof our quest, it could hardly have come at amore propitious time. ItmeantI'dbeonmywaytoSerendipitaalmostimmediately,andonceIwasthere,I'dbeabletoavoidMira farmore effectively than I possibly could in the cramped confines of theRevenant.A faintflickerofoptimismevendaredtoraisethehopethat,oncewewerebackonterrafirma,andshewasagain immersed in her own social environment, she'd begin to see the huge gulf between ourrespective milieux for what it was, and abandon the absurd project she'd conceived of her ownvolition.(Notthatitseemedparticularlylikely.Whenshemadehermindupaboutsomething,shepursueditastenaciouslyasagauntscentingblood.)Itwaspossible,however,thatIcouldgetofftheshipbeforeshenoticedIwasgone,citingordersandduty,whichwouldatleastbuymeabreathingspace.

'Coulditjustbeavessel?'Griesasked,leaningforwardsalittle,asthoughhecouldforcethepictscreen to greater magnification purely by willpower. 'The SDF flotilla should be nearing therendezvouspointbynow.'

'Unlikely,' Drumon told him. 'None of the System Defence boats would be that far out ofposition.'Heloomedovertheauspexoperatorandmadesomeminuteadjustments tothedialssetintothesurfaceofthecontrollectern,pinchingthemdelicatelybetweenthefingersofhisgauntlets,likeanogryntryingtopickupaporcelainteabowl.

'Displacementreadsinthegigatonnes.''Thenit'stheSpawn,'Yaffelsaid,soundingrathermoreexcitedthanwasstrictlycommensurate

withhisposition.Hewasn'texactlyhoppingupanddown,whichwouldhavebeendifficultgivenhislack of legs, but hewas definitely oscillatingmore violently than usual. 'It's the only reasonableinference.'

'Andrightwhereyoupredicteditwouldbe,'Iremindedhim,whichwasn'texactlytrue,ashe'donlybeenabletonarrowitdowntoaprettywidevolumeofspace,buthedidn'tseeminclinedtoquibbleaboutit,merelynoddingsagelyinagreement.

'The Omnissiah leads us down the path of logic to a sure destination [98] ,' he said, with thecomfortablecertaintyofamanforwhomtheuniversenotonlyranlikeclockwork,butchimedthefirstfewbarsof''ThroneEternal''onthehour.

'Boostingthegainonthelong-rangeimagifers,'Drumonsaid,doingsomethingIcouldn'tseetothebackofanearbylecternwithhisservo-arm,andYaffeltrundledovertothehololith,wherehebegantopokearoundinturn.

'Theniftheinterocitersholdtogether,'thetech-priestadded,'weshouldbeableto...Omnissiahbepraised.' The three-dimensional display flickered into life, and the image of what looked like ajaggedpieceof scrapmetal began to tumblegentlywithin it, growing largerwith everypassingminute,untilitfilledthespacealmostentirely.Itwaveredabit,assuchrepresentationsgenerallydo,butYaffelseemedtoknowwhathewasabout,andwithafewmutteredbenedictions,somefiddlingwiththecontrols,andawell-placedthumpofhisfist,hesteadiedtheimage.

'TheSpawnofDamnation,'Drumonsaid,hisvoiceremarkablyhushedforaSpaceMarine.Griesnodded, apparently too overcome to speak at all, and his battered half-face relaxed into anexpressionIfoundhardtointerpret,buthadcertainlyneverseentherebefore.

Istudiedtheimage,seeingnothingthatmademuchsenseatfirst.Iwasawareofthescaleofthething intellectually, of course, but it wasn't until I suddenly recognised a small blemish on thesurfaceasaGalaxy-classtroopshipthatsomethingoftheaweclearlyfeltbyeveryoneelsepresenttransmitteditselftome.'ThroneonEarth,'Ifoundmyselfsaying.'It'svast!'

Eventhatinvoluntaryexclamationbarelybegantocoverthesheersizeofthehulk.Itwasbigtheway a small moon is, beyond any sense of scale a human can grasp or relate to [99] . Despiteknowingtheeffortwaspointless,Ibegantotrytopickoutmoredetails,butanyattempttoimposeorder or understanding on the tangled lump ofwreckagewas doomed to failure. Even trying toestimatethenumberofvesselswhichhadfallenvictimtothisreefofspace,onlytobecomepartofitintheirturn,wasimpossible;atleastforme,althoughIwassureYaffelwouldhavebeenabletotakeashotatit.Drawntogetherbyeddiesinthewarpcurrents,theirphysicalstructureshadbecomecombined and mingled, twisted around and within one another as they collided, rather thanshatteringandfragmentingas theywouldhavedone in thematerium.Itwasas ifavasthandhadscoopedup a random selection of starships, and kneaded them together like a pastrycookwith afistfulofdough.Anditwasn'tjustships:IwassurethathereandthereIcouldmakeouttheharsherlinesofpiecesofnaturaldebris,rocksandasteroids,drawninbythegravitationalfieldofthehulkduringitsperiodictransitionsthroughrealspace,tobecomeinextricablepartsofitinthecrucibleofthewarp.

Theworstthingaboutit,however,wasthesenseofmenaceitradiated,analmostpalpablethreat,likethesnarlingofanorkjustbeforeitcharges.

'Whereareyouplanning toboard it?' I askedYaffel, andhe indicateda semi-intacthull aboutthree-quartersofthewayroundthelumpfromthewreckoftheGalaxyI'dpreviouslyrecognised.

'The docking bay here,' he told me, and I was orientated at last, my underhiver's synapsesinstinctively overlaying the internal structure I'd seen before on the exterior view. 'The sensorrecordswerecoveredfromthearchivesaresomecenturiesold,ofcourse,buttheyseemtoindicatethatitcouldbemadefunctionalagainwithlittleeffort.'

'Solongasa'stealerbroodhasn'tsetuphomethereintheinterim,'Isaid,notentirelysurehowseriousIwasbeing.

'We'll take precautions,' Yaffel assured me, sounding blithely unconcerned; but I'd seenpurestrainsupclosetoooften,andtoorecently,todismissthethreattheyrepresentedsocasually.

'Then you'd better hope to the Throne they're sufficient,' I counselled, perhaps a little moresharplythanI'dintended.ItmayhavebeenthiswhichdrewDrumontojoinus,orperhapshejustwantedabetterviewofthespacehulk.Atanyeventhewassuddenlyatmyside,loomingovermelikeawell-disposedpromontory.

'Theywillbe,'hepromised.'Bythetimewegetoverthere,wewillknowwherethebulkofthe

brood is.' His demeanour was calm, and despite the improbability of his claim, I found myselfreassured.Afterall,hewasoneoftheEmperor'schosen,andhe'dprobablybeenfacing'stealersorworsesincemygreat-grandfatherwastrackingbountiesinthesump(ortryingtooutrunthewould-becollectorsofhisown,mostlikely)[100],soheoughttoknowwhathewasdoing.

'Howsoonwillthatbe?'Iasked,consciousofmyresponsibilitiestoTorvenandtheothers.IfIwasgoingtomakeagoodcasefortransferringmyliaisonposttotheImperialGuardheadquartersonSerendipita,I'dbetterhavesomejuicytitbitstothrowtothem.

Drumonconsideredthequestionamoment.'Aroundtwelvehours,'hesaid.'Thecatsshouldhavedispersedenoughtolocateanyactivegenestealersbythatpoint.'

'Cats?'Iechoed,baffled.PlentyofGuardregimentsuseanimalsforonepurposeoranotheronthebattlefield,generallyascavalrymountsorattackbeasts,butI'dneverheardofAstartesdoingso;andeveniftheydid,felineswouldhardlyseemthemostlikelycreaturestogiveagenestealerarunforitsmoney.

'Seeaytee,'Yaffelelucidated,nodoubtdiviningmyconfusion.'Cyber-AlteredTaskunits.Likeverysimpleservitors,withoutthebiologicalcomponents.''Thenhowdotheywork?'Iasked,evenmorepuzzledthanbefore.Imightnothavebeenatech-

priest,butevenIknewitwas the livingbrainwhichallowedaservitor to rememberandprocesssimpleinstructions.

'Quite satisfactorily,'Drumonsaid,withamomentary smile athisownwit,beforecontinuing.'They require no cognitive functions; just a simple vox circuit to relay picts and otherenvironmental data. Once released, they just keep moving in a straight line until they reach anobstacle.'

'Ofwhich,'Isaid,equallydryly,'IsuspecttheSpawnofDamnationhasmorethanitsshare.''Undoubtedly,'Yaffelagreed,apparentlyasconstitutionallyincapableofrecognisingsarcasmas

themajorityofthoseinhisvocation.'ButtheCATshaveasimplemechanismattachedtotheirtracks.Whentheyreachanobstruction

theycan'tnegotiate, theysimply rotate tendegreeson thespot,beforemoving forwardsagain. Ifthey'restill impeded, theyrepeat theprocess,andsoon.Eventually theyfindadirection theycanprogressin.'

'They sound ingenious,' I said, wondering which of them had come up with the idea, andsuspecting itwasprobablyDrumon; thedevicesYaffelwasdescribing seemed to fithispracticalturnofmindratherbetterthanthetech-priest'sanalyticalone[101].

'Theyshouldservetheirpurpose,'Drumonagreed.'Weplantoteleportthirtyofthemacrosstothehulk,aroundtheareaweintendoperatingin.Ifthereareenoughgenestealersaroundtoposeathreat,we'llknowaboutitlongbeforetheThunderhawkarrives.'

'Thatsoundslikeawiseprecaution,'Iagreed,noddingjudiciously.IfI'dbeengoingofftolootaderelict, knowing there was a 'stealer brood lurking somewhere aboard, I'd feel a lot happierknowingwhere theywere too -or,at least, that theyweren't in the immediatevicinityofwhere Iplannedtobe.'Canyoustickabolteronthemaswell?'

Yaffel shook his head, failing to recognise the joke. 'That wouldn't be a practical option,' hebegan.'Thepower-to-weightratio-'

'Pity,'Isaid,littlerealisinghowprescientIwasbeing.'Thatmightsaveeveryonealotoftrouble.'

ASI'DANTICIPATED,TorvenandtheSerendipitanswerelessthanenthusedbythetidingsIbore,and the atmosphere around the makeshift conference table was distinctly frosty by the time Iconcludedmybriefing.Itwasplainthatallthreeofthemsharedmymisgivingsaboutthewisdomof

boardingtheSpawnofDamnation,and,asI'dexpected,itwasDuquewhofirstputthemintowords.'Sowhatyou'retellingus,'hesaidslowly,'isthatnotonlyarewepreventedfromdestroyingthe

thing by the presence of friendly units in the target zone, we can expect the genestealers to behandedapotentialvectorofcontaminationonaplatterwithasaladgarnish?'

'Essentially,yes,'Itoldhim,notingtherestivefashioninwhichTorvenandKregeenshiftedtheirweightonthebenchesasIdidso.

'ButI'msureourgallantalliesintheAstarteswilltakealldueprecautions.'Notforthefirsttime,I foundmyself treadingadelicatepathbetweentheconflictingagendasof theReclaimersand thedefendersofSerendipita. If Iwasgoing to turn thisassignment intoacomfortablerefugefromagalaxy apparently hell-bent on killingme, I needed to keep both factions feeling I wasmore insympathywiththeirpointofviewthantheother.

'Nodoubt,'Kregeensaid,inavoicewhichoozeddubiety.'Theyshouldknowwhatthey'redoing,'Torvensaid. 'They'reAstartesafterall.It'sthecogboys

that worry me. They seem so obsessed with the prospect of getting their hands on a stash ofarcheotechthey'reincapableofassessingtheriskobjectively.'

I couldn't arguewith that, and I didn't have the heart to tell him that so far as I could see theReclaimerswereequallykeentogodashingoffonatreasurehunt,soIsimplynoddedjudiciously.'Theybelievetheycan,ofcourse,butI'veyettomeeta'stealerthat'llbackdownandrunawayifyoutellititspresenceisastatisticalfluke.'Thatlightenedthemood,ofcourse,asI'dhopeditwould,aswell as reminding them that I'd faced and fought the creaturesonmore thanoneoccasion, and Ifolloweduptheadvantagewithalittlecarefulmorale-boosting.'Atleastifanyonedoesfallpreytothem,thedamageoughttobeself-limiting,'Iadded.'AstartesandMechanicustendnottogoinforlargefamilies.'

This time thewitticism produced visible smiles, even from some of the aides,who generallyseemed to feel that their chances of promotion depended on behaving asmuch like servitors aspossiblewithoutalobotomy.

'Quiteso,'Torvenagreedevenly.'ButthebulkoftheRevenant'screwareordinarymen.Ifanyofthem should become tainted, and make their way to Serendipita, they'll start spawning hybridsalmostatonce.'Thiswas true,ofcourse,andInoddedreassuringly. 'Then it's fortunate thatonlyAstartesandmembersof theAdeptusMechanicuswillbe includedin theboardingparty.NoneoftheChapterserfswillbeexposed.'

'Not initially,'Torvensaid. 'Butyousaid ityourself, theyintendtocontinueexploringthehulkfor as long as it remains in thematerium. That could be anything up to a decade, and a lot canhappeninthatamountoftime.'

'AndwhathappensifoneoftheAstartesdoesgetimplanted?'Kregeenasked.'Theydon'thavetofatherchildren toact in the interestof thebroodmind,do they?'Foramoment the imageof thetaintedPDFtrooperswho'dturnedagainstMiraandIinthetunnelsbeneathFidelisroseupinmymind,andItriednottocontemplatethehavocasimilarlycompromisedSpaceMarinecouldwreak.Not tomention the prospect of an implantedThunderhawkpilot smuggling a fewpurestrains onboard,tocutaswathethroughthecrew,therebyseedingthenucleusofanothergenestealercultintheheartofSerendipitansociety.

'No,theydon't,'Iagreed,myresolvetogetasfarawayfromtheRevenantasquicklyaspossibleevenstrongerthanbefore.'I'llraisethepossibilitywithCaptainGriesattheearliestopportunityandletyouknowwhatprecautionshe'llbetakingagainstit.'Ifnothingelse,hewasarealist,andIwassurehehadcontingencyplans inplace,even if theywere just thesameas theoneswehad in theGuard:summaryexecutionandburnthebody.(Whichwasinfactthecase:whenIdideventuallygetthe chance to raise the subject he became as close to agitated as I ever saw him,which I found

strangelyreassuring.Clearlyheregardedthenotionoflosingoneofhisowntothebroodmindasabhorrentasanymortalcommanderwouldhavedone[102]).

'That'sallverywell,'Duquesaid,'butI'drathertakeprecautionsofmyown.'Intheabsenceofahololith,orpictscreenlargeenoughforusalltolookat,hepassedroundadata-slate,onwhichaclusterofilluminateddotsappeared,annotatedwithiconsidentifyingthemasthehulk,theRevenantandadozenorsoSystemDefenceboats.'I'mdeployingtheblockadeinthispattern.Individualshipswillrotateinandout,ofcourse,accordingtooperationalrequirements,refitandresupply,butthetotalnumberwillneverdropbelowthisminimum.'

'Itlooksprettytight,'Isaid,althoughmygraspofthree-dimensionaltacticswastenuousatbest;oneofthefirstthingsagoodcommissar(asopposedtotheby-the-bookmartinetswho'llexecuteatrooperatthedropofahat,andlikeasnotenduponthewrongendofanegligentdischarge[103])learns iswhen to dispense a fewwords of quiet encouragement. 'Butwon't committing somanyvesselstothisoperationleaveyouoverstretchedelsewhereinthesystem?'

'We'llmanage,'Duquesaid. 'Wewon'thavemuchofastrategicreserve left,admittedly,butwecanstillrespondtoagreenskinraideffectivelyenoughifwehaveto.Andthegenestealersareherenow,sothat'swhereI'mputtingmyships.Iftheworsthappens,wecanstillkeepthemfromcausinganyharm.'

'Well,let'shopeyoudon'thaveto,'Isaid,takinghismeaningandnoddingalmostimperceptiblytolethimknowI'ddoneso.He'dpositionedhisshipswheretheycouldcombinetheirfireagainsttheRevenant if theworstcametotheworst,andenoughof theReclaimersandtheirvassalsweretakenoverby thebroodmind toseizecontrolof thecruiser. If itevercamedown to it, the fightwouldbeabloodyone,buttheSDFwouldalmostcertainlyprevailbysheerweightofnumbers.'Itakeiteveryoneelsehasbeenconsideringtheworst-casescenarios?'

TorvenandKregeenglancedatoneanother,thennoddedinunison,andIwaspleasedtoseethattheyappeared tobeworking together reasonablywellon this. 'Wehave,'Torvenconfirmed. 'ThemarshalandIareagreedthattheexistingcontingencyplansagainstanorkishinvasionwillprovesufficient ifrequired.'Soitseemedwewereaspreparedaswecouldeverbetodefendourselvesagainst a strike force of implanted Space Marines spearheading a genestealer swarm: anotherpossibilityIdevoutlyhopedwouldremainpurelytheoretical.

'The trouble is,'Kregeen said, 'we'vegot no real ideaof the scaleof the threat.Best case, theAstartesandtheMechanicusreallyareasontopofthingsastheyliketothink,andwecanletthemgetonwith itknowing theadmiral'sblockadewillbeenough todo the job if theyfumble.Worstcase,it'sallgoingtothewarpinasabretache,andweneedtobereadytomobiliseinaheartbeat.'Sheshrugged.'Sowhichisit?'

Iadoptedanexpressionintendedtoconveysoberreflection.'Idon'tsupposewe'llknowforsureuntilthey'vebeenoverthere,'Isaid,afterpausingjustlongenoughtogivetheimpressionI'dbeenmullingitover.

'Exactly,' Torven agreed.He leaned across the table towardsme, as though about to impart aconfidencehe'drathernothaveoverheard.'Whichiswhywe'dallfeelalothappieriftherewasanobjectiveobserverattachedtotheboardingparty.'

Duque and Kregeen nodded their agreement, and with a sudden thrill of horror uncannilyreminiscent of my conversation withMira, I realised what they were driving at. Nevertheless, Inoddedagain,asifIwasseriouslyconsideringit.

'IcouldaskCaptainGriestoletmetagalong,'Isaid,whichwasperfectlytrue,Icould;butIhadaboutasmuchintentionofdoingsoasgoingbacktotheorkholdtochallengethelocalwarbosstoanarm-wrestlingmatch.'Howhe'dfeelaboutit,though...'Ishrugged,toshowIhadnoidea.Hardlyasubtlepieceofmisdirection,I'msureyou'llagree,butitdidthejob.Everyonerelaxedvisibly,and

althoughnoonewentsofarastopatmeontheback,IwasleftinnodoubtthatawarmwelcomeawaitedmeonSerendipita.

'Wecouldn'taskformore,'Torvensaid.I smiled, playing up tomy reputation for modest heroism, as though being asked to take an

insanelydangerousriskwasmerelyroutine(which,cometothinkofit,itmoreorlesswasbythispointinmycareer),andglancedaroundthetable.'ThenperhapsI'llhavesomemorenewsforyouwhenwemeetonSerendipita,'Isaid.Whateverhappened,thiswouldbeourlastmeetingaboardtheRevenant: it seemed the parasites Mira had been herding had had enough of the Reclaimers'hospitality by now, a sentiment which I was certain was heartily reciprocated, or perhaps thegovernorjustwantedhisshuttleback.Atanyevent,thedelegationwasduetodepartthefollowingday,andthemilitarypersonnelalongwithit.(ApartfromDuqueandhispeople,whowerehoppingover to his flagship aboard an Aquila it had dispatched for the purpose, and which was ratherpointedlytimedtoarriveseveralhoursbeforetheboardingpartysetofffortheSpawn.)

Ofcourse,despitetheimpressionI'dgonesomewaytofoster,Ihadn'ttheslightestintentionofattachingmyselftowhatIwasconvincedwaslittlemorethanasuicidemission.But,onceagain,I'dreckonedwithoutMira.

I'DTAKENTHEprecautionofvoxingJurgenbeforeleavingtheconferenceroom,toensurethatmyquarterswerecurrentlyfreeofmyself-appointedhelpmeet,soImustadmit tofeelinga littlecheatedbyfatewhenshepoppedoutofacrosscorridorclosetotheguestquartersasabruptlyasavillaininamysteryplay[104].

Seeingherinthefleshagain,aestheticallypleasingasitwas,disconcertedmeconsiderably,andthedilemmaI'dmanagedtopushtothebackofmymindunderthepressureofmorerecenteventscamefloodingback,seeminglyasintractableasever.

'Ciaphas.'Shesmiled,evidentlystillinagoodmoodandapparentlypleasedtoseeme.'Thisisapleasantsurprise.'

'Icouldsaythesame,'Ireturned,donningasmileofmyownandwonderingifI'dbeabletoheadofftheinevitableconfrontationforawhilelonger,orwhetherIshouldsimplyget itoverwithasquickly as possible. I carried onwalking in the direction ofmy stateroomwhile I spoke, in thevaguehopethatshehadurgentbusinesselsewhere,orthatatleastifitallwentploin-shapedshe'dbeless inclined to try to killmewith Jurgen in earshot. Tomy distinct lack of surprise she fell inbesideme,chatteringbrightlyassheundulatedalongthecorridor.

'I've justhadsomeexcellentnews,'she informedme,anddespite thefaint itching inmypalmswhichthesewordsprovoked,Inodded,asifIcouldn'twaittohearthedetails.

'Good,'Isaid,notentirelyinaccurately.'Icoulddowithsome.'Mirasmiled,lookingforamomentasifI'djustcomplimentedheronherfingerpainting. 'I've

been talking to theseneschal,' shesaidbrightly,as if Ikneworcaredwhichof the inbreddronesamong the delegation she meant, 'and he said not all the military people are going back toSerendipitaontheshuttletomorrow.'

'That'sright,'Isaid,wonderinghowsomegretch-frottingcivilianhadfoundoutaboutthis,whilemakingamentalnotetoremindeveryoneintheSDFpartywhat''needtoknow''meant,andputthefearoftheThroneintothemuntilitstuck.

'Duqueandhispeoplearejoiningtheblockade[105].''Oh,youknew.'Shelookedfaintlydisappointed,asifI'dguessedthepunchlineofajokeshewas

tellingbeforeshe'dreachedit.Thenshebrightenedagain.'Soyouknowwhatthatmeans,right?''A littlemore leg room for the others?' I hazarded, although fromwhat I remembered of the

shuttle'sarrival,thatdidn'tseemmuchofaconsideration.Mirasmiledatme,unsurewhetherIwasjoking,orgenuinelydidn'tgetit.Correctlydiviningthe

latter, she grinnedmore widely. 'Room formore passengers,' she said.When I still didn't jumparoundpunchingtheair,sheamplifiedfurther.'Us.'

Emperorhelpme,shewasserious.Istoppedmovingandstaredatherinperplexity.'Mira, I can't just up and leave on awhim.' The first thunderclouds started to gather over her

perfectly groomed eyebrows, which were moving together over deepening frown lines, and IcarriedonasthoughI'dalwaysmeantto,hopingtoheadthemoff.Nowitwaslookinglikeadistinctpossibility,IdecidedIreallycouldn'tdealwithaconfrontationtoday. 'HowevermuchI'dliketo.Ihavedutiesandresponsibilitiestoconsider.Therearejusttoomanypeopleherecountingonmetodomyjob.'

'Do they mean more to you than I do?' she asked, and I could hear the first rumble of theapproachingstorm,likedistantartillery,inhervoice.

'WhatIwantdoesn'tcomeintoit,'Isaid.Thathadbeentrue,onewayoranother,fromthefirstdayItiedmysash,andlentverisimilitudetotherestofmywords. 'WhatI'mdoingnowcouldbecrucial to protecting Serendipita from the genestealers. If I could turnmy back on that,would IreallybethemanyouwantbesideyouonViridia?'Tomyrelief,thefirstfaintflickerofdoubtwasbeginningtoshowonherface,asshebegantothinkaboutit.Ifolloweduptheadvantage.'IfIgotonthatshuttlewithyounow,you'dregretit.Maybenottoday,ortomorrow,butsoon,andfortherestofyourlife.You'dneverknowifIwasthereforyou,andthegoodofViridia,orformyownselfishreasons.'

'I'dknow,'shesaidconfidently,buttheflickerofdoubtinhereyestoldadifferentstory.'If I could go with you, I would,' I said, truthfully enough; I had precious little idea what a

governor'sconsortwassupposedtodo,otherthansupplyanheiror two,whichIwasconfidentIcouldmanage given the amount of practicewe'd had, but Iwas sure they got shot at rather lessfrequently than I was used to, and the food and accommodation were certainly far superior toanythingtheImperialGuardhadtooffer.'ButI'mneededhere.Theboardingparty'sgoingacrossinthenextfewhours,andtheGuardandtheSerendipitansneedmyreports.Thesecurityoftheentiresystemmightdependonit.'Idon'tmindadmittingIwaslayingitonwithatrowelbynow,buttheresultswereundeniablysatisfying:MirawaslookingatmewithakindofawedrespectIhadn'tseenbefore,andwhich,Imustconfess,Iratherliked.

'You'regoingover to thespacehulk?' sheasked,all traceofher incipient tantrumgone,andInodded,milkingthemoment.

'I'vebeenaskedto,atanyrate.IwasjustonmywaytodiscussitwithCaptainGrieswhenIranintoyou.'Toolate,Irealisedthetrapmytonguehadlaidforme.Miracouldnomorekeepajuicymorselofgossiplikethattoherselfthanshecouldgiveupbreathing,anditwascarrotstocreditsitwouldbeall round theparasitesshewasherdingbefore thehourwasout.Which, in itself,didn'tmatterthatmuch,exceptthatTorvenandKregeenwouldbeontheshuttlewiththem,socertaintohear all about it, and my chances of retaining their good opinion once they realised I'd beennowhereneartheSpawnwouldbesomewherebetweenslimandnegligible.

'ThenI'dbetterletyougetonwiththings,'Mirasaid,disengagingfrommyarmaswearrivedatthedoortomyquarters.AsIopenedit,Jurgen'sdistinctivearomabillowedoutintothecorridor,andsheturnedawayquickly.'Goodluck.'

'Thankyou,'Iresponded,steppinginsideandhopingIwasn'tgoingtoneedit.'Areyouall right, sir?' Jurgenasked, rearranging thegrimeonhis face intoanexpressionof

puzzledconcern.'Youlookabitpeaky,ifyoudon'tmindmesayingso.''I'vefeltbetter,'Iadmitted.

'I'llgetsometannaon,'Jurgensaid,slouchingawayinsearchofakettle.'Thankyou,'Isaid.'Then,ifyouwouldn'tmind,canyouarrangeameetingwithCaptainGries?'Thesituationwasn'tentirelylost,Itoldmyself,asthewelcomescentofbrewingtannabeganto

permeatetheroom.Afterall,hecouldalwayssayno.

SEVENTEEN

ISHOULDHAVEknownbetter,ofcourse.Grieswasallforit;hedidn'tgoquitesofarastopatmeon thebackand say ''Wish Iwasgoingwithyou,bag a 'stealeror two forme'', butheprobablywouldhavedoneifthatsortofthinghadn'tbeenunseemlyinanAstartesofhisrankandseniority.Asitwas,hesimplynodded,said ''Thatwouldbeacceptable'',andgotoneoftheChapterserfstoscurryoffandmakethearrangementsbeforeIcouldthinkofaplausibleexcuseforchangingmymind.

TheonlybrightsidetothewholesorrymesswasthatMirawassoimpressedwithmyapparentheroismsheinsistedonspendingthefewremaininghoursbeforemydepartureinaprotractedandstrenuous farewell,whichcameclose tomakingmy imminentdemiseseemalmostworth it.As ItrudgedacrossthehangarfloortoourwaitingThunderhawk,though,theprospectoftakingafewhappymemoriestomygravewithmedidlittletooffsettheleadenweightofdreadnowfreightingmystomach.

'Commissar,'DrumongreetedmeasIapproached.'Goodnews.ThevoxrelayswiththeCATsarefunctioningwell,inmostcases,andthereappearstobenogenestealeractivityinthevicinityofourlandingpoint.'

'Excellent,' I said, trying to appear relaxed, enthusiastic and quietly confident, and probablyfailing dismally in every respect, before the full import of his words filtered through mytrepidation.'Whatdoes''inmostcases''mean,exactly?'

'Three of them are failing to transmit any data,' Drumon expanded. 'We infer that theymaterialisedtoodeeplyinsidethederelictforthevoxsignaltoreachthroughthehull.'

'Definitely not ripped apart by genestealers, then?' I asked, trying to sound as though I wasjoking.

'That seemsmost unlikely,'Yaffel assuredme, scooting across to join us, and I foundmyselfwonderinghowwellhewasgoingtofareiftheSpawnofDamnationwasaschewedupaswreckedshipsusuallyseemedtobe.[106]

Drumonnodded.'Iftheyweredisabledbyenemyaction,theywouldhavetransmittedsomedatabackbeforewelostthelink,'hepointedout,and,somewhatreassured,Iechoedthegesture.

'One did,'Yaffel said,with perfect timing, andmy burgeoning confidencewilted again like aTallarnsalad.'ButIcanconfidentlyruleoutaggressionbyagenestealerasthecause.'

'I'mdelightedtohearit,'Isaid.'Andthereasonforyourconfidencewouldbe...?'Yaffel quivered a little, although whether it was from suppressed indignation at mymanifest

scepticism, or the vibrations set up in the deck by the synchronised plodding towards theThunderhawk of our Terminator escort, I couldn't rightly have said. 'The CAT in question wasequippedwithmotion sensors,' he said. 'Nothing could have approached it within twentymetreswithoutregistering,andnothingdid.So,unlessyou'reawareofagenestealercapableoftravellingin excess of ninetymetres a second, in order to overwhelm the response time of the auspex tomovement within its vicinity, simple mechanical failure seems far more likely.' He seemedgenuinely put out by the admission, which I suppose was only to be expected, having noted onpreviousoccasionshow loath tech-priestsgenerallywere toadmit that anythingmightgowrongwiththeirpreciouscontraptions.

'Stealersarehellishfast,'Iagreed,'butnotthatquick.'Anotherthoughtstruckme,andIseizedonit eagerly, seeing a last, faint hopeof avoiding this ridiculous enterprise. 'I don't suppose anyofyour mechanical moggies were able to tell if there's anything fit to breathe over there?' TheReclaimerswouldn'tcareonewayortheother,ofcourse,andforallIkneweveryoneinthetech-priestcontingenthadbeenfittedwithaugmeticlungs,butImostdefinitelyrequiredsomethingwithadollopof oxygen in it tokeepmegoing. I'd triedbreathingvacuumoncebefore, and thatwasnoveltyenoughforonelifetime.

'Theywere,'Drumonassuredme.'Bothcompositionandpressurearewellwithintolerablelimitsforanunmodifiedhuman.'

'Well, that's nice to know,' I said, as the air inmy immediate vicinity becamemarginally lesswholesome,announcingthearrivalofmyaide.

'Sorrytokeepyouwaiting,sir,'Jurgensaid,withasalute-likewaveinthegeneraldirectionofDrumon,acompromisehegenerallyfellbackonwhenunsurepreciselywheresomeoneconnectedtothemilitarystoodinrelationtohisownsomewhatnebulousposition[107],andabusinesslikenodtoYaffel.'Iwaspreparingaflaskandafewsandwiches,incaseyougotabitpeckishlateron.'

'Thankyou, Jurgen,' I said, andalthough itwouldhave takena lotmore thanaquickslurpoftannatoperkmeupatthatpoint,Ifeltmyspiritsbeginningtorevivenevertheless.AsI'veremarkedbefore,hisphlegmaticdemeanourandapparentlyboundlessconfidenceinmyleadership,howevermisplaced, was curiously heartening. His lasgunwas slung from one shoulder, in an apparentlycasual fashion which belied the speed with which he could reverse and use it, and, as ever, heseemedperfectlywillingtofollowmeonthisabsurdescapadewithnomorethoughtfortherisksinvolvedthanhewouldhaveemployedonaforayintothekitcheninsearchofasnack.

Hisflakarmourwaspartiallyobscuredbyatangleofpouchesandwebbing,containingEmperoralone knew what (apart from a flask of tanna and some sandwiches, of course, although theirpreciselocationwasanybody'sguess),butbynowwe'dservedtogetherforsolongthatsomethingwould have seemed seriously amiss if hewas prepared to venture into the fieldwithout it. 'Yourtiming's impeccable,asalways.'Whichwasn'texactly true,butnooneelseseemedquite ready toleaveeither.

'Wemightaswellboard,'Drumonsaid,leadingthewayuptherampandintothebowelsoftheThunderhawk.Seeingnofurtherreasontodelay,Ifollowedsuit,Jurgentrottingatmyheels.Yaffelstayed where he was, hovering anxiously, while a couple of loading servitors with the AdeptusMechanicus sigil proudly displayed on their tabards plodded towards the Thunderhawk bearingbrass-boundboxes,forall thegalaxylikeanapprehensivehabwifewatchingthefamilyporcelainbeingheavedintoapantechniconbycarters.WhattheycontainedIhadnoidea,andcaredevenless,beyondinferringthattheyhadsomethingtodowiththetech-priests'scavengingexpedition[108].

TheinteriorofthepassengercompartmentseemedratherlesscommodiousthanIremembered,around a dozen Terminators taking up quite a lot of room [109] , but we found seats with littledifficulty - and this time I made sure that I got hold of a headset before strapping in. The seatDrumon had steered me to, before settling into his own, between the looming bulk of theTerminatorsandthered-robedtech-prieststwitteringawaytooneanotherinBinary,hadaclearlineofsighttoanearbyviewport,throughwhichIwatchedYaffeldirectingthestowageofthelastofhisbaggagebeforescootinguptheramptojoinus.

No soonerhadhedone so than theboomof the closinghatch, felt rather thanheardover therisingracketoftheengines,echoedthroughmybones,andthesuffocatingsenseofapprehensionI'dfoughtsohardtodispelsweptovermeoncemore.Likeitornot,Iwascommitted,abouttosetfoot aboard awarp-spawned deathtrap, and however devoutly Imightwish it, there could be noturningback.

IDON'TSUPPOSEtheshorthopfromthestrikecruisertotheSpawnofDamnationtookmorethanahandfulofminutes [110] ,but it seemedaneternity tome,myapprehensiongrowingwitheverypassingsecond.Todistractmyself,Iflickedthroughthefrequenciestheheadsetcouldpickup,butnoneoftheconversationsIoverheardmademuchsense:theMechanicuscontingentseemedcontenttocontinuewarblingatoneanotherintheirownprivatelanguage,theTerminatorswereabsorbedinoneofthepre-battlelitaniespeculiartotheirChapterandDrumonseemedtobemeditating,nodoubt praying to the Omnissiah to provide a sufficiently juicy stash of archeotech to make theabsurd risk we were running worth taking. Since Jurgen was never exactly a sparklingconversationalist at the best of times, I was effectively thrown back on my own company, withnothingtooccupymymindapartfromtheominousviewthroughthepanelofarmourcrysfacingme.

Until our Thunderhawk left the docking bay, I'd had no idea how close to the space hulk theRevenant hadmoved; but almost as soon as the sturdy gunshipmoved out of the shadow of thehangar doors, the vast derelictwas filling the viewport, like amisshapenmetal asteroid.As ourpilotboostedusaway,onaparabolic trajectory towards the shatteredhullof theRedeemer-classvessel somewhere on the far side of the vast conglomeration of scrap, the strike cruiser shrankrapidly,diminishedbydistance,whilethedimensionsofthespacehulkseemedlargelyunchanged.Ifoundmyself remindedof the tiny fish that accompanyoceanic leviathans [111] , then, rather lesscomfortably,ofthelesserbioformswhichswarmaboutthemassivebulkofatyranidhiveship.

Though I tried to pick out some of the more identifiable features I remembered from thehololithicimageDrumonandYaffelhadshownme,theeffortwasfutile.I'dseenspacecraftfromtheoutsidebefore, of course, but in every case their hulls hadbeen limnedby amyriadof lightsources, from the huge luminators guiding shuttle pilots into the hangar bays to the sputteringsparksoftheweldingtorchesinthehandsofthevoid-suitedtech-adeptspotteringaboutonthehull,nottomentionthewarm,welcomingglowseepingfromuncountableviewports.TheimmensebulkoftheSpawnofDamnationwasutterlydark,however,asbleakandinhospitableasthevoiditself,sothatdespiteitssizeandsolidityitseemedaninsubstantialphantom,appearingonlyasaholeofgreaterdarknessagainsttheglitteringbackdropofthestars.

Afterafewmomentsthegloweringshadowhadexpandedtoencompasstheentireviewport,andI feltanoverpoweringsenseofvertigo,as thoughwewere fallingdownan infiniteabyss rippedintothefabricoftheuniverse.Igrippedthearmreststightlyandlistenedtothehammeringofmyheart,whichforamomentor twoseemed todrownout theperpetualhowlof theThunderhawk'sengine[112].

Itwasonlyatthispoint,perhapsbecauseweweresoclosebynow,thatIfinallybegantopickoutpatternsinthedarkness,deepershadowswhichspokeoffissuresintheaccretionofdetritusbelowus,andthefaintgleamofreflectedstarlightstrikinghighlightsfrompeaksandpromontoriesinthehorizonoftwistedmetal.

'Magnificent!'Yaffelbreathed,apparentlyinallsincerity,andIfoundmyselfreflectingthattherewasneveraheavyobjectaroundtothrowwhenyoureallyneededone.

'Let'shopeyoustillthinkthatwhenyou'vegotapackofgenestealerssnappingatyourheels,'Isaid,momentarilyforgettingthathedidn'thaveany,andwithatouchmoreasperitythanpolitenessandprotocolwouldnormallyhaveallowed.

'Our Terminators should be able to keep them at arm's length, at least,' Drumon commentedwryly, rousinghimself fromhis trance in time to forestallwhatever riposte the tech-priestmighthavebeenabouttomake.

'Bolter rangewouldbebetter,' Isaid, inflecting it likeapleasantry,andnodding toconveymygratitudetohimforhelpingtosmoothoverapotentiallyawkwardmoment.

'Betterforsome,'thenearestTerminatorputin,raisingahandtodisplaythefearsomeclawsI'dlast seen ripping apart an artillery piece.His helmet swivelled inmydirection, the voice issuingfromitimbuedwiththecalmnesswhichcomesfromunshakableconfidence.'Arm'slengthsuitsme.'

'I'm pleased to hear it,' I replied politely. 'In my experience, the one thing you can say forgenestealersisthattherearealwaysenoughtogoaround.'

'Wellsaid,'thesergeantI'dlastseenintheruinsofFidelisputin.'Iftheyturnup,we'llbeready.''They're not going to turn up,' Yaffel said, with an edge to his voice whichmight have been

irritation if tech-priests hadn't been supposed to be above such things. 'The corridors around thebeachheadarecompletelyfreeofthecreatures.NoneoftheCATshasregisteredanymovement.'

'Thenwherethefrakarethey?'Iasked,notunreasonably.'Inhibernation,probably,'Yaffelsaid.'Ifthereareanyleftaliveatall.'Thoughhewasn'texactly

builtforshrugging,hemadeacreditableeffort,whichhisshoulderharnesseffectivelyneutralised.'We're only inferring their presence, after all, from the infiltration of Viridia. It's possible theinfestationcamefromanothersourceentirely.'

'Possible,'Drumonconceded,'buthardlyprobable.''Be that as itmay,'Yaffel said, effectivelyconceding theargument,probablybecause ifhedid

bother towork out the odds as he usually did itwould have demolished his own position [113] ,'there'snoreasontosupposethattherewasevermorethanahandfulofthecreaturesonboard.'

'Can I have that inwriting?' I asked, once again allowing something of the agitation I felt toimbuethewordswithrathermoretestinessthanI'dintended.'Iftherereallyare'stealersaboardthehulkit'sbecausethetyranidsputthemthere,andtheyneverbotherwithjustahandfulofanythingwhenafewhundredwilldo.'Asitturnedout,eventhatwasawoefulunderestimate,butasIwasstillinblissful ignoranceof thatparticular fact,my initialguessworriedmemore thanenough tobegoingonwith.

Anyfurtherdebatewascutshortbyafewuncomfortablemomentsastheenginesfiredagain,andtheThunderhawkpitchedabruptly,itsnosecomingupasthepilotaligneditwithwhateverwasleftoftheoldRedeemer'sdockingbay.Thenthegunship'sexternalfloodlightscameon,throwingthewildernessofmetaloutsideintoclearvisibility,andanaudiblegasprosefromthelittlecoterieoftech-priests,despitemostof themnodoubt feeling suchblatantdisplaysofemotionwerea trifleinfradiginthenormalcourseofevents.

Not that I could blame them for that. In its own way, the metallic landscape was quite awe-inspiring, though undeniably bleak. It spread out below us, filling the viewport to the jaggedhorizon,awastelandofbentandbuckledhullplates,shearedstructuralmembersandwhatlookedtomeuncomfortablylikethewreckofautilitycraftofasimilarsizetoourThunderhawk.Whateveritwashadimpactedtooquicklyformuchtoremainidentifiable,buttherewasawrongnessabouttheproportions of the pieces of tangled wreckage which made me suspect it had been of xenosmanufacture. Before I could drawDrumon's attention to it and ask his opinion, however, it hadpassedoutofsight,andourdescenthadbecomeevenmoreprecipitous.

Havingbeen throughmoredocking runs than I could count, even in thosedays, I gripped thearmrests ofmy chair just as the pilot rolled us vertiginously around, the on-board gravity fieldfluctuatinguncomfortablyforasecondortwoasitsynchronisedwiththelocaloneandestablishedasubtlydifferentdirectionfordown.Now,insteadofdescending,weappearedtobeapproachingasolid wall of fissured metal, and, despite knowing intellectually that our pilot was more thancompetent,Itensedinvoluntarilyforanimpactmyhindbraininsistedwasabouttocome.

It didn't, of course. No sooner had Jurgen's muttered imprecation about the flight crew'sparentage faded into the echoes around us than the exterior of the derelict disappeared, to bereplacedbythewallsofadockingbay.

'Thisappearstostillbefunctional,'Yaffelsaid,histoneaddinganunspoken''Itoldyouso''.'Itdoesindeed,'Drumonagreed,'butappearancesareoftendeceptive.''Quite so,' Yaffel agreed. 'But we should be able to get the doors closed and the chamber

pressurisedwithouttoomuchdifficulty.'Thehull-mountedluminatorswerereflectingbrightlybackfromwallsofage-dulledmetal, theirbuttressesmoreslenderandfinelywroughtthanthoseIwasusedtoseeingaboardImperialvessels,andthearcanemechanismsscatteredabouttheperipheryofthe docking bay seemed somehow simpler and more compact. What this meant I had no idea,beyondavaguenotionthatourintrepidhuntersofarcheotechhadbeenpippedtothepost,andthatanythingusefulhadprobablybeensalvagedbyothersgenerationsbefore;butYaffelandtheothersdidn'tseemintheleastbitdownhearted,chirrupingawaytooneanothernineteentothedozen,andpointingthingsoutwithfingersandmechadendriteslikejuviesinaconfectionerystore.

A final impact jarred againstmy spine, and the shrieking of the engines died back to a pitchwhichenabledmetoremovetheheadset.Jurgenshookhishead,scatteringdandruff,ashefollowedsuit.

'Well,thatdidn'ttakelong,'hecommented,checkinghislasgunashehoppeddowntothefloorfromtheAstartes-sizedchairhe'dbeensittingin.'Betterbringafootstoolnexttime.'

'Good idea,' I said, flexing the pins and needles out ofmy legs, andwonderingwhy I hadn'tthought of that myself. A faint tremor was transmitting itself through the deck beneathmy feet,whichseemedalittleodd,andIfoundmyselflookingaroundforthecause.

'Amazing,'Yaffelsaid,staringoutoftheviewportforamoment,beforeturningtoDrumonwithaself-congratulatoryair.'Theautonomicrelaysappearstilltobefunctioning.'

Ididn'thaveacluewhathewastalkingabout,ofcourse,butthegistofitwasclearenough:theship's machine-spirit must still have been watching over the hangar bay, even after all thesemillennia, because themassivedoorswere slidingclosed,with a smoothness andprecisionquiteeerie tobehold.Backon theRevenant it had takenadozenvoid-suited crewmen to supervise theequivalent mechanism, and the same number again to begin pumping the atmosphere into thechamberonceitwassealed.Here,itseemed,theshipwascapableofdoingthejobforitself.

'Who's closing the hangar doors?' Jurgen asked, hefting his lasgun as he peered out of theviewport,evidentlyexpectinghordesofambusherstorushtheThunderhawkatanymoment.

'Thevessel'smachine-spirit,' thetech-priesttoldhim,nodoubtrelishingthechancetoexpoundonthemiraclesoftheMachine-God,despitemyaide'smanifestinabilitytograspthefinerpointsoftechnotheology.(Notthatmine'sallthatgreateither,Imustconfess.

Eithersomethingworksoritdoesn'tsofarasI'mconcerned,andifitdoesn'tit'sanenginseer'sproblem.That'swhywehavetech-priestsinthefirstplace.)'It'sclearlyawareofourpresence.'

'Thenlet'shopeit'stheonlyone,'Isaid,scanningtheshadowsforsignsofmovement.Ihadnoideaifgenestealerscouldsurvivewithoutair[114],butIlearnedalongtimeagothatitneverpaystounderestimateanenemy.

Drumonglancedinmydirection,adata-slateinhishand,andnoddedreassuringly.'NoneoftheCATsareregisteringmovement,'hesaid,'soitseemsareasonableinference.'

'Sofar,'Isaid.'Sofar,'Drumonagreed,anddonnedhishelmet.Whenhespokeagain,hisvoicewasflatteneda

little by the external vox speaker. 'I'll let you know themoment anything registers.'He began tomakehiswaytothenearestairlock,nodoubtintentondoingwhateverwasnecessarytoprovideuswith somethingoutsidewecouldbreathe, butbeforehe could enter it, I becameawareof a fainttendrilofmistwaftingpasttheviewport.

'I thinkyou've justbeen savedanother job,' I said, beginning tounderstandwhyhe andYaffelweresokeentorecovertheancienttechnologieswhichmademarvelslikethispossible.Oncethey

wereunderstood,theycouldundoubtedlybeusedforthebenefitoftheImperiuminwaysIcouldn'teven imagine. However great the hypothetical gains may have been, however, the threat of thegenestealerswasbothrealandimmediate,andIresolvednottoletmyguarddownforasecond.

'Soitappears,'theTechmarineagreed.Hegesturedtowardstheboardingramp,includingusallinthegeneralinvitation.'Shallwetakeadvantageofthefact?'

'Byallmeans,' Iagreed,determined toat least lookas thoughI feltconfidentofsurviving thenextfewhours,andfellintostepbesidehim.

EIGHTEEN

MYINITIAL IMPRESSION,asmyboots first echoedondeckplateshalf asoldas the Imperium[115],was,surprisingly,oneofpeace.Thevenerabilityandsizeofthecavernoushangarbaylentitsomethingoftheairofacathedral,andalthoughI'veneverhadmuchtimeforthesongsandpongs,[116]ImustadmittofindingsuchplacespleasantlytranquilonthefewoccasionsI'vehadreasontoenter them. The ceiling was high and devoid of the curving buttresses I'd have expected to seesupporting it aboard a Navy vessel, but the bas-relief aquila on the far wall, looming overeverything,was reassuringenough,even though ithadbeen rendered ina fashionwhichmade itlook as though it was floating without sufficient support for its weight. The air was musty, ofcourse,butnoworsethanonewouldexpecttofindonthelowerlevelsoftheaveragehive,andIfoundthespurioussenseoffamiliaritywhichthatimpartedtooursurroundingswasalsohelpingtoputmeatmyeasealittle-atleastasmuchaswaspossibleunderthecircumstances.

'Thisisn'tsobad,'Jurgensaid,producingaluminatorfromsomewhereamonghiscollectionofutility pouches, and snapping it onto the bayonet lugs of his lasgun. The external lights of theThunderhawk were still burning brightly enough to render our immediate surroundings clearlyvisible, but he swept the shadows in the corners methodically nevertheless, and I nodded,commendinghiscaution.

'Sofar,sogood,'Iagreed,unfasteningtheflapofmyholsterandlooseningmychainswordinitsscabbard.TheTerminators trotted forwards to secure our beachhead, theirweapons at the ready,and I relaxed a little; nothingwas going to get past themwithout being noticed, and raising anunholyracketintheprocess.Tomysurprise,however,insteadoftakingupfiringpositionstocoverthedoorleadingfromthehangartotheStygiangloomofthecorridorbeyond,thehulkingfigurespassedstraightonthroughitanddisappeared.

'Wherearetheyoffto?'Jurgenasked,soundingaboutaspuzzledasIfelt.'Fanningouttocoverourlineofadvancetothecogitatorbanks,'Drumonsaid,loomingoverus

asheapproached.'Thereareanumberofcrosscorridorsintersectingwithouroptimumroute.''Good idea,' I agreed, remembering the tangle of ducting and passageways projected in the

hololith.Therewere far toomanyopportunities for ambush formy liking, and itmade sense toplugasmanyofthemaspossiblewithsentriesbeforethemainbodyoftheexpeditiondepartedthehangar bay. 'Wouldn't want to find a horde of genestealers charging up your... aah, magos. Goteverythingyouneed?'

'Ibelieveso,'Yaffelconfirmed,rollingupwithhisservitors,andagaggleofred-robedacolytes,intow.MostofthemwereluggingmorejunkthanJurgen,althoughwhatpurposeitservedwaswaybeyondme.TheonlythingIrecognisedforcertainwasthebolterDrumonwascarrying,and,withasuddenthrillofapprehension,itdawnedonmethat,apartfromtheTechmarine,JurgenandIweretheonlypeopleinsightholdingweapons.'Wewon'tknowforcertainuntilwereachthesanctum,ofcourse,butwe'vebeenabletoanticipatemostcontingencies.'

'Apartfromhavingtofightyourwayout,'Isaid.'Don'tyouthinkafewgunsmightbeadvisable?''Therisksarenegligible,'Yaffelassuredmeairily.'We'restillgettingnosignofmovementfrom

theCATs,andintheunlikelyeventofadormantgenestealerortworevivinginsideourperimeter,I'mcertaintheTerminatorswillbeabletokeepthemawayfromourparty.'

'Ourparty?'Iechoed,maskingmyhorrorasbestIcould.'IwasundertheimpressionJurgenandIwerealongmerelyasobservers.'AresponsibilityI'dbeenintendingtodischargefromthesafetyand relative comfort of the Thunderhawk's passenger compartment, well away from anygenestealersthatmightbelurkinginthevicinity.

'What better opportunity to observe, then?' Yaffel asked, as though bestowing an enormousfavour.'Youcanmonitorthecommunicationchannelsjustaseffectivelythroughyourcomm-beadwhileyouaccompanyus,andseetherecoveryoperationatfirsthandwhileyou'reaboutit.'

'Achancenottobemissed,'Iagreed,maskingthesinkingfeelinginthepitofmystomachwiththeeaseofa lifetime'sdissembling.Hestill seemeddangerouslysanguineabout thechancesofagenestealer attack tome, but at leastwe'dhave a squadofTerminators tohidebehind, and fromwhatI'dseenoftheeasewithwhichthey'dcleansedthenestunderFidelistheywouldn'tbegotpasteasily.Icouldstillhaverefusedtogo,ofcourse,butthatwouldhavemeantsacrificingameasureofDrumon's regard, andwith itmy undeserved standing among theReclaimers. So, as ever in thatkindofsituation,Iresolvedtosimplymakethebestofabadjob,andbepreparedtomakearunforitatamoment'snotice.

Asitturnedout,though,myfearsappearedtobeunfounded,atleasttobeginwith.Afterleavingthedockingbaywemadesurprisinglygoodtime,thecorridorsfreeofclutteranddetritusforthemost part, although the occasional ceiling panel had fallen, and some of the deck plates weresufficientlycorrodedtopresentatriphazardtotheunwary.Inoneortwoplacesthereweresignsofmore serious obstruction, but these had been removed from our path by the vanguard ofTerminators,andnoseriousobstaclestoourprogressremained.

The only other sign that our companions had come this way before us was the channel ofdisturbeddustalong thecentreof thepassageway,and theoccasionalcyclopean footprint,pickedoutbyJurgen'sluminator.Hiswastheonlyonekindled,leavingtheechoingdarknesstowrapitselfoppressivelyaroundus.Ihadnoproblemwiththis:ourenvironmentwassufficientlyclosetotheunderhives I'd grown up in for allmy old instincts to have returned, theway sounds reboundedfrom the surfaces surrounding us and the feel of stray air currents against my face more thancompensatingforthelackoflight,andIwasperfectlyhappynottobemakingmyselfanobvioustargetbycarryingone.Drumon,Iwassure,hadnoneedofaluminatortofindhiswayinanycase,hishelmetbeingstuffedwithartificialsensestosupplementhisown,andnodoubtthetech-priestshadsufficientaugmeticeyesandthelikebetweenthemnottobumpintothingsandeachothertoooften.

We came across one of theTerminatorswithin a fewmoments of setting off, his back to thecorridor,facingoneofthesidepassages,histwin-barrelledbolteraimeddownitinareassuringlysteadygrip.Aswecarriedonpasthim,Drumonpausingtoexchangeafewwordswithhiscomrade,I realised for the first time just how bulky the heavy armour was; even the Techmarine lookedrelativelyslightstandingnexttoit.TheTerminator,bycontrast,filledalmosttheentirewidthofthenarrowpassageway,thehunchedshouldersrisingupbehindhishelmetbrushingagainsttheceiling,andfor thefirst timeIbegan towonder ifperhapswe'dhavebeenbetteroffwitha lighter,morenimble escort. If the worst came to the worst, these lumbering behemoths would block theconstrictedcorridorslikecorksinabottle.Idon'tmindadmittingthatchillsofapprehensionchasedone another down my spine at that thought, my morbid imagination being able to picture theconsequencesofbeingunabletoshootpastourguardians,ordodgeroundthemtofleeunhindered,alltoowell.

'Anysignsofmovement?'Iasked,asIcameabreastofhisback,andtheTerminatorrespondedatonce,hisvoiceechoingslightlyinmycomm-beadasitoverlappedwiththeoneissuingfromtheexternalspeakerofhisarmour.

'A few faint auspex returns, very tenuous,' he toldme. 'No visual contact.'Which prettymuchconfirmedmyearlierguessaboutthesensoriumlinksinhishelmet.

Mypalmsbegantinglingagain.'Howdistant?'Iasked.'They're reading at about three hundredmetres,' he toldme, apparently quite unconcerned. 'If

they'rethereatall.''Justauspexghosts,'Yaffelsaidconfidently.'Nothingtoworryabout.''Ghosts?' Jurgen asked, soundingmildly curious, and nomore perturbed than usual. 'Are the

wreckshaunted?'Heswunghis luminatoraroundforamoment,as ifhopingtofind theshadeofsomelong-deceasedcrewmandrippingectoplasmonthebulkheads.

'It's a theological term,' Yaffel explained patiently, 'for a false reading, which looks like agenuine trace. Even the most conscientious of machine-spirits will sometimes be mistaken, orperhapsbemovedbyasenseofmischiefinappropriatetothesanctityoftheirtask.'

'Orperhaps therereally issomethingout there,' Isaid,drawingmylaspistol.Thegesturemayhavebeenfutile,buttheweightoftheweaponinmyhandfeltcomforting,andIstretchedmysenses,listeningintentlyforsoundsofscrabblinginthedark.

'Ifthereis,it'lljustbevermin,'Yaffelassuredmeeasily,withafaintlysuperciliousglanceatmydrawnsidearm,'orcablesmovingintheaircurrentfromtherecirculators.'

'Vermin that's spent countless generations exposed to the warp?' I wondered aloud. 'Emperoraloneknowswhat that'll haveevolved into.'Orwhat it livedon, come to that.Foragingwouldn'texactly be easy in an environment composed mainly of metal, which was why the genestealerstended tohibernatebetweensystems. (At least according to thearchivesGrieshadauthorisedmyaccess to, and remarkably thin they'd turnedout tobe, considering thisparticular spacehulkhadfirstbeenreliablyidentifiedalmosttwothousandyearsago[117].)

Yaffelsubsided,lookingabitlesssureofhimself,althoughIhadlittleenoughtimetoenjoymyminor victory. I voxed Drumon, sure that he'd been paying at least partial attention to theconversation.'AnychangeinthereadingsfromtheCATs?'Ienquired.

'Still no sign of movement in their immediate vicinity,' the Techmarine responded at once,confirmingmyguess.'Butanotheronejustceasedtransmission.'

'Inthesamewayasthefirst?'Iasked,feelingasenseofvaguedisquiet.'Precisely,'Drumonconfirmed.HishelmetswivelledtowardsYaffel.'It should be recovered for examination. So high a failure rate may point to an unforeseen

environmentalfactor.''That may be the case,' the tech-priest conceded, sounding more than a little unhappy at the

possibility.'Butourhighestpriorityhastobetherecoveryofthecogitatorcore.'Icranedmynecktocatchaglimpseofthedata-slateYaffelhadproduced.Adeckplan,familiar

from the hololith aboard the Revenant, was displayed on the tiny screen, our position markedpreciselywhereI'dexpectedustobe,andaspecklingoficonsarounduspickedoutthecordonofTerminators.Awider scattering of coloured dots a littleway beyond them,most ofwhichweremovingslowlyanderratically,justhadtobetheCATs;theonenearesttouswasbothstationaryandlimnedinred,indicatingthatithadjustmalfunctioned.

'Thatgoeswithoutsaying,'Isaid,thinkingrapidly.IfJurgenandIbranchedoffatthenextcrosscorridor, always assuming we could squeeze past the Terminator guarding it, we'd reach thedowned mechanism in a handful of minutes. It wouldn't be hard to manhandle it back to theThunderhawk,andwecouldspendtherestofthetimebeforeourdeparturewithseveralcentimetresof ceramite and a reassuring amount of firepower between us and the genestealers infesting thisdeathtrap,insteadofroamingaroundapitch-darklabyrinthwaitingforsomethingtopounceonus.'ButDrumonhasapointtoo.Ifthereissomethingaboutthehulkaffectingourdevices,there'sno

tellingwhatcouldfailnext.''That'shighlyunlikely,'Yaffelsaid,withanairofstudiedunconcern,nodoubtreflectingthatfor

someoneasdependentonaugmeticsashewasI'd justraisedaratherdisturbingpossibility. 'ButIsupposeitwouldbeprudenttolookintoit.Whatdoyousuggest?'

'MaybeJurgenandIcouldrecovertheCAT,'Isaid,asiftheideahadonlyjustoccurredtome,'whileyoupushontotheobjective.Wewon'tbemuchhelpwiththetheologicalstuffanyway,andeveryoneelsewillbeneededtosalvagethecogitators.'

'Thatwouldseemtobethemostefficientuseofourresources,'Drumonagreed.HeindicatedtheiconmarkingtheTerminatorguardingthenextjunction.'BrotherBlaincanaccompanyyou,asthatshouldn'tcompromiseourperimeter.Hecanresumehispostonceyou'vepickeduptheCAT.'

'Soundsgoodtome,'Iagreed,passingthroughadoorwayintoaroughlysquarechamber,wheretheclawedTerminatorwho'dconversedwithusbrieflyaboardtheThunderhawkwasonsentrygo.Liketheotherportalswe'dpassedthroughonthewayhere[118],ithadbeenleftopen,presumablybytheadvanceguardaheadofus;thedoortotheleftasweenteredwasopentoo,thetracksontheflooroftheexposedcorridorconfirmingthatitwasindeedtheroutetoourobjective,whilethepairdirectlyaheadandtoourrightremainedtightlyclosed.

JurgenandImovedaside,intothefarcorner,clearingthewayfortherestofourpartytoturntothe left and clatter off into the darkness,whileDrumon andBlain exchanged a fewwords. If theTerminatorwassurprisedorresentfulofhissuddenchangeofordershegavenosignofit,merelybeckoningtoustofollowasheslappedthepalmplatesetintothewallnexttothedooroppositetheonewe'denteredtheroomby.

'Thisway,'hesaid,unnecessarily,asthethicksteelplatemovedsmoothlyaside,withnoneofthemetallicgroaningI'dbecomeusedtoaboardthevesselsI'dtravelledon.Jurgenshonehisluminatordownthecorridorthusrevealed,pickingoutnothingmorethreateningthananotheridenticalportalclosingofftheendofitsometenortwelvemetresaway.

'Afteryou,'Isaid,mindfulofmyearlierfears,andunwillingtofindmyself trappedbetweenajammeddoorwayanda lumberingceramitegiant if itallwentploin-shaped,somethingmywell-developedparanoid streakkept insistingcouldonlybeamatterof time.Whatever the tech-priestmightprefertobelieve,thereweredefinitelygenestealerssomewherearound,andthatmeanttheywereboundtoshowupsoonerorlater.'Anythingontheauspex?'Itwasalsoaprettysafebetthat,like the Terminator we'd passed on ourway here, Blain had enough sensory gear built into hishelmettogiveusausefulheadstartifthe'stealersstartedmovinginonourposition.

'Nothingsignificant,'Blainsaid. 'I'mpickingupfaintsignsofmovementonthedeckaboveus,butnothingonthislevelatall.'Heledthewayintothenarrowpassage,fillingitalmostcompletely,likeamobilewall,whileJurgenandItrottedinhiswake,ourweaponsaimedbackbehindusincaseof unexpected ambush. A moment later he stopped abruptly, almost provoking an undignifiedcollision.'Itshouldbethroughhere.'

Another pneumatic hiss, as air pressures equalisedon either side of the openingdoor, andhesteppedthroughintoawiderpoolofdarkness.Jurgenfollowed,sweepingthelaminatoraroundthewalls,and,reassuredthattherewasnothinglurkinginthegloomwaitingtopounce,Itookuptherear.

Wewereinanothersquarechamber,Irealisedatonce,theambientechoesenoughtotellmethateven if the beamofmy aide's luminator hadn't been bouncing off thewalls, picking out anotherthree doors, all closed. Blain was plodding towards the middle of the enclosed space, casuallypushingasideafewscatteredcargocontainerswhichwouldhavetaxedaheavy-liftservitor,whenhe stopped and looked down. (Or, to bemore accurate, his helmet tilted a fewdegrees from thevertical,whichseemedtobeaboutasmuchheadmovementasanyonewearingaTerminatorsuit

wascapableof.)'It'soverhere,'hesaid,gesturingtowardsatangleoftwistedmetalbyhisfoot.Jurgen and I hurried over to join him, the shattered mechanism pinned in the beam of the

luminator.Iactivatedmycomm-bead,staringatthewreckedCATinperplexity.Thingshadindeedtakenaturnfortheworse,butnotquiteinthemannerI'danticipated.

'Drumon,' Ivoxed, 'we'vefoundit.Andyouwererightaboutanenvironmentalfactorbeingtoblame.'

'Withrespect,commissar,'Yaffelcutin,beforetheTechmarinewasabletoreply,'that'shardlyadeterminationyou'requalifiedtomake.'

'InthiscaseIam,'Isaid,nottooperturbedtoenjoythemoment.'Somebody'sshotit.Withamedium-calibrebolter,ifthedamageisanythingtogoby.'There was a moment of stunned silence, broken only by the faint hissing of static, before

Drumonreplied.'Genestealersdonotuseguns.''Hybrids do,' I said, with the unshakable authority of personal experience. 'I recommend you

proceedwithextremecaution.'Whichwashardlynecessaryadviceunderthecircumstances,but itwouldn'thurttolookasthoughIwastakingthemissionseriously.

'Noted,'Drumonreplied,inthetonesofamanintendingtofollowthatadvicetotheletter.IturnedtoBlain.'Anythingontheauspexwithinfiringrange?'Iasked,suddenlyconsciousthat

whatmighthaveseemedareasonablysafedistancefromapurestrainwouldbeanythingbutfromahybridwithabolter.

'Still nothing on this level,' he assured me, sounding faintly disappointed - but then he waswalkingaroundbehindenoughceramitetoshrugoffadirecthitfromanythingshortofatankshell.[119]

Notbeingsimilarlyblessed,Iwasagreatdeallesssanguine,youmaybesure.Iwalkedaroundthechewed-upmechanism,wonderinghowbesttoshiftit.Upclose,itseemeda

lotlarger,andconsiderablymoreunwieldy,thanI'danticipated.JurgenandIshouldstillbeabletomanageitbetweenus,though,butitwouldmeanhavingtostowourweapons,andforamomentIhesitated;butourjourneybacktothehangarbaywouldbeprotectedbythecordonofTerminators,sotheriskofdoingthatshouldbeminimal,andtheonlyalternativeIcouldseewastoadmitdefeatand catch upwith the others. I'd promisedDrumon I'd recover his toy, and scuttling back to theThunderhawkwithout itwouldunderminemycredibilitywithhisChapter,so itwaseither thatorshow willing by taking my turn as 'stealer bait. Something about the shattered CAT's positionseemedsubtlywrongtome,althoughIcouldn'tforthelifeofmeseewhy.

'Howdoyouthinkitgotinhere?'Jurgenasked,andIshrugged,mymindstillmainlyengagedwiththemorepressingmatterofwherebesttogetagripontheblastedthing.

'Thesamewaywedid,Isuppose,'Itoldhim.'Oh.'Hefrownedinperplexity.'Ijustdon'tseehowitgotthedooropen,that'sall.''Itcouldn't,'Isaidinsomealarm,glancingattheopenportalbehindus,andthethreeothers,all

firmlyclosed.Ibroughtmylaspistolupandbeganbackingawaytowardsthedoorwe'dcomeinby,trying to keep all the scattered cargo containers covered at once. Confident as always in myjudgement,thoughEmperorknowswhy,Jurgenbroughthislasgunuptoafiringpositionandfellintoplaceatmyback,bringingawelcomesenseofgreatersecurityandablastofhalitosisashedidso.

'Commissar?' Blain asked, sounding about as baffled as my aide usually did. 'Is somethingwrong?'

'Theroomwassealedwhenwearrived,'Isaid,chillsofapprehensionchasingoneanotherdownmyspine.'Whatevershotitcouldstillbehere.'

'If it was, it would have registered on the auspex before we entered,' Blain said, with whatsoundedsuspiciouslylikeatraceofamusementinhistone.'Anditwouldbedeadbynow.'

I shouldhave found that reassuring,but for some reason itonly increasedmyapprehension. IstaredatthedetritussurroundingthecrippledCAT,andsuddenhorrifiedunderstandingburstinonme.

'Theblipsonthenextlevel,'Iaskedurgently.'Howclosearethey?''Ascoreorsometres,'Blainrepliedevenly.'Out!Now!' I said, Jurgen responding instantly, as I'd known hewould,while the Terminator

simplytookacoupleofpacesinourdirection,nodoubtwonderingifI'dlostmywits.Suddenlytheair current I'd assumed was coming from a grille above our heads took on far more sinisterconnotations,andIdrewmychainsword,poweringupthebladeasIdidso.'Jurgen,theceiling!'

'Commissar.'Myaidecompliedatonce,raisingtheluminatorattachedtohislasgun,andpickingout a ragged hole in the roof of the chamber. The luckless CAT hadn't been sniped, as I'd firstassumed,juststruckbyasingleboltfromawholeburst,therestofwhichhadchewedupthefloorplatesaround itbadlyenough todrop it through to thedeckbelow.Tomyhorror, theattenuatedbeampickedoutsomethingmovingintheshadowsbeyondthegap,boundingforwardsinhumanlyfast,beforeflowinglikequicksilverthroughtheapertureaboveus.

'Blain!'Ijusthadtimetoshout.'Lookout!'thenthefirstofthepurestrainswasonhim.Isawthecrackleofarcaneenergies I'dmarkedbefore inFidelisplayingabout thebladesat theendofhisarms,asheparriedthe'stealer'sfirstblow,matchingitslashforslash.Itfell,bisected,whileJurgenandIopenedupwithourlasweapons,secureintheknowledgethatwecouldharmonlyourfoes.Sureenough,anotherof thecreaturesfell, intheactof leapingtowardsus,whileafewstraylas-roundsexpendedthemselvesharmlesslyagainstthereassuringbulkoftheTerminator'sceramite.

ThenIfeltthebreathconstrictinginmythroat.Parallelgrooveshadbeenscoreddeeplyintothesurfaceoftheimpregnablearmour,wherethefirstgenestealerhadstruckbeforebeingdispatched,and some thick, dark fluid was seeping from it, crusting like resin to seal the damage [120] . Ihesitated,unwillingtoriskfellinganallybyfriendlyfirenowhissuithadbeenbreached,buteventswereoutofmyhandsbythistime:asJurgenandIbegantoretreatdownthecorridor,athirdpure-strainthrewitselfatBlain'sunprotectedback.Heduckedforwards,loweringhisrightshoulderasfar as the cumbersome armour would allow, trying to dislodge it in the manner of a wrestlerattackedfrombehind,buttonoavail;powerfultalonstoreintotheceramiteaseasilyasapotter'sfingers intoclay, findingpurchasewherenoneshouldexist.Blainbacked into thewall,hard,andchitincracked.The'stealerkeened,anululationofagonywhichmademyteethacheandpiercedthespacebehindmyeyes likeasliverof razor-edged ice,echoingoff into thedarkness,butheldonregardless,distendingitsjawsassomefoul-smellingichorissuedfromthecracksinitscarapace.

'Turn round!' I bellowed, forgetting in the terror of the moment that Blain could hear meperfectly well over the vox. 'Let us get a shot at it!' The Terminator stumbled in our direction,abused servos in his knee and ankle joints whining in protest, but before he could comply thegenestealer brought its head forwards over his own, and beforemy horrified eyes sank its teethdeepintotheceramiteofhishelmet.ThedeckplatesshudderedasBlainfell tohisknees,andthe'stealeronhisbackbrought roundahandfulofwickedly curving talons, toplunge them into thejoint where helmet and suit conjoined. The vox in my ear carried a small sound, somewherebetween a cough and a sigh, andBlain collapsed, toppling towards Jurgen andmyself, his torsoclatteringresonantlytothemetalfloorofthecorridor.

The'stealerraiseditsheadandstaredatJurgenandI,apparentlybemused,shakingitsheadasifit had been dazed by the impact [121] . Then it seemed to rally, fixing me with a gaze of puremalevolence.Itsmomentaryhesitationwastoproveitsundoing,however,asJurgenandIhadtaken

advantageofthebriefrespitetocentreitinoursights;beforeitcouldspringatus,wefiredalmostasone,tearingitapartinaflurryoflas-bolts.

'Blain'sdown,'Ivoxed,'dead,Ithink.'Tomysurprise,myvoicesoundedcalmandauthoritative,despite thepanic rushofadrenalinehammering throughmysystem. 'Threepurestrainsaccountedfor,butthereareprobablyotherscloseby.'Thefaintechoofscrabblingtalonsdriftedtomyears.'Correction, definitely others,moving thisway.' One look at Blain's corpse, stretched across thethreshold,wasenoughtodispelanyhopeofclosingthedooragainsttheonrushingtideoftalonandmandible;Icouldbarelyhavemovedhishand,nevermindthatmassofceramite.

'Hislifesignshaveceased,'Drumonconfirmed [122] ,afterwhatwasprobablynomorethananinstant or two, but seemed considerably longer. This came as a relief; for a moment I'd fearedhaving to attempt somekind of rescue, despite themanifest impossibility of success, in order tomaintainmyreputation.

'Thenwe'repullingout,' Isaid,backingawaydownthenarrowcorridorasquicklyasIdared,reluctanttotakemylaspistoloffaimforfearoftheworst.Andwithgoodreason:aninstantbeforeJurgenandIreachedtheoppositeend,burstingarse-firstintothechamberBlainhadbeenguardinginamannerI'venodoubtanyoneobservingourarrivalwouldhavefoundcomicalintheextreme,theheadandshouldersofanotherpurestraineruptedintothepassage,themisshapenbodybehinditattempting to force its way past the obstructing cadavers. Jurgen and I popped off a couple ofroundseachtodiscourageit,scoringaluckyhitortwo,butthechitinoushorrorprovedasresilientas most of its kind, merely ducking back as our las-bolts vaporised fist-sized chunks of itsexoskeleton[123].Thatboughtusenoughtimetohitthepalmplate,though,andbeforethe'stealeroranyofitscompanionscouldrecover,thethickmetalslabslidbackintoplace,sealingthemin.

Orus,Isuppose,astheystillhadtherunofmostofthehulk;andsofarasIwasconcerned,theywerewelcometoit.

'Whatnow,sir?'Jurgenasked.'Shouldwecatchupwiththeothers?'Ishookmyhead.'BacktotheThunderhawk,'Isaid,nolongergivingtheproverbialflyingone

what anybody thought. I'd come up with some kind of excuse before Drumon and the cogboysreturned,iftheyeverdid.Wemighthaveevadedthemthistime,butthebroodmindwasnowawareofourpresenceaboardthehulk,andwouldbemobilisingitsgenestealersagainstusassurelyanddispassionatelyasantibodiesagainstan invadingvirus. Iexhaled, releasing the tensionwhichhadwoundmybodytight,tremblingalittlefromtheadrenalinecomedown,andtappedmycomm-bead.'We're back at the sentry point. More 'stealers in pursuit, but we've sealed the hatch, so theperimeter'ssecureagain.'

Ishouldhaveknownbetter,ofcourse;agenestealerbroodmaybeonlyapalereflectionofthetyranidhivewhichoriginallyspawnedit,butitsgestaltintelligenceisapowerfulone.ThebroodsI'd encountered on Viridia and Keffia should have taught me that, but the individual purestrainsbehavesomuchlikepredatoryanimalsthatI'dfallenintothetrapofbelievingthemtobelittlemorethanmindlessbeasts-anerrorpointedouttomeinthemoststarkandgraphicmannerpossible,asthedoorslidsmoothlyopenagain,andanentirepackofthecreaturesboiledintotheroom.

NINETEEN

'PERIMETERBREACHED!'Iyelled,openingupagainwithmylaspistol,andwishingI'dreplacedthepowerpackwhile I'dhad the chance. Jurgen flicked the selectorofhis lasgun to full auto, nodoubt reflecting that if we didn't manage to check the creatures' headlong rush, running out ofammunitionwasgoing tobe the leastofourworries.The leadingone fellunder thehailof las-bolts,notasecondtoosoon,stillreachingoutforme,andIswatteditswickedlytalonedhandasidewiththebladeofmychainswordasIretreated.

Tomy horror, a babble of overlapping voices answeredmywarning, and the distant roar ofheavybolters echoing through the corridors fromwhat seemed like everydirection immediatelyconfirmedmyworstfears.Itseemedthegenestealershadmerelybeenbidingtheirtime,buildinguptheirnumbersatthelimitsofauspexrange,beforeattackinginforce.

'Multiplesignalsallround!'oneoftheTerminatorsconfirmed.'Closingfast.''Engaging,'anothercalled,asIcrackedoffafusilladeofshotsatthe'stealerboundingoverthe

corpse of the group leader, seemingly fixated on rippingmy spleen out. This time the las-boltsbarelyslowedit,andIparriedthefirstslashofitstalonswithmychainsword,feelingthescreamingteethbitedeepintochitin.Ifollowedupreflexively,steppinginsidethereachofitsquartetofarms,anddrivingthetipofthebladeupthroughitsjawasIdidso,toburyitdeepinthecreature'sbrain.

'Commissar!'Jurgenfiredanotherburst,slowingthenextoneasitlunged,andIpivotedaside,draggingtheexpiring'stealerwithmetoimpedetheprogressofitsfellow,asthechainbladerippedfree,bisectingitsskull.'Thisway!'He'dtakenupapositiondefendingthedoorwe'dfirstenteredthechamberby,guardingour lineof retreatback to theThunderhawk,andImadehaste to joinhim,shootingrandomlyintothemiddleofthepackasIwent.Hislasgunbarkedagain,thenwentsilent.'Sorrysir,I'mdry.'

Deprived of his covering fire I fell back on my duellist's reflexes, retreating step by step,parryingbypureinstincteachblowthatsoughttoeviscerateme.Therewasnotimeforthought,andifItriedI'dbedead.AcoupleoftimesIfiredmypistolagain,oncedowninganotherofthe'stealerswithaluckyshotthroughtheeyesocket,butrelyinginthemainformysurvivalonthewell-wornbladeinmyhand.I'venodoubtthatthehoursofpracticeI'dspentintheRevenant'stertiarytrainingchapel,andmysparringboutswithDrumon,savedmymiserableskininthosefewfranticmoments,thekeenedgethey'dimpartedtomyfightingskillsmakingallthedifference.

OutofthecornerofmyeyeInoticedJurgen'shanddipintooneofhisarrayofpouches,but,tomy surprise and consternation, insteadof the lasgunpowercell I'd been expecting, hedrewout afraggrenade.BeforeIcouldshoutawordofcautionhe'dalreadyprimedit,onlythepressureofhisgrip forestalling an explosion which would undoubtedly kill us both in so confined a space.Watchingmeintently,heretreatedasteportwo,intothecorridorbehindhim.

Well, grenade or no, it still seemed a healthier place to be than the middle of a genestealerswarm,soIswungthechainswordinalastdesperatearc,drivingmyassailantsbackforthespaceofaheartbeat,andscrambledthroughtheportalmyself,smackingthepalmplateasIpassedit.Notthatclosingthedoorhadhelpedmuchthelasttime,butevenasecondortwo'sheadstartwouldbebetterthannothing,andaftermorethanadecadeofservingtogetherIthoughtIhadaprettygoodideaofwhatJurgenhadinmind.

I was right. The second I reached for the door control my aide lobbed the frag charge he'dreadied, and themetal slab slid smoothly closed just before it detonated. The dull thump of theexplosionwasfollowed instantlybyametallicclatter, likesomeonedroppinga trayfullof tannaspoons[124] ,as thehailstormof razor-edgedshrapnelshardspatteredagainst theshelteringsteelplate.(Withanyluckafterpassingthroughaconsiderablethicknessofinterveninggenestealer.)

'Nicelydone,'Icongratulatedmyaide,andhenoddedwithquietsatisfaction.'Butwhatwouldyouhavedoneifthey'dkilledmebeforeIgottothedoorcontrol?'

'Hit the plate with my elbow,' Jurgen said, as incapable as ever of recognising a joke, and Inoddedtoo,asifconsideringthematter.

'Thatwouldhaveworked,'Iconceded.'ButI'mpleasedIcouldsaveyouthebother.''Metoo,sir,'heagreed,snappinganotherpowercellintohislasgunatlast,and,surethathewas

now able to keep the door covered in case of any more unpleasant surprises, I lost no time infollowing suit. According to the glowing runes in the butt which kept track of such things, thenumberofshotsremainingweredowntosinglefigures,andIwantedalotmorethanthatinhandwith'stealersontheloose.

Wewaitedtenselyforasecondortwo,ourweaponsaimedattheblankmetalslab,butif therewereany'stealersleftontheothersidecapableofopeningittopursueustheyhadmoresensethantotry.Whenitbecameclearnothingwasgoingtohappen,IturnedandbegantoleadthewaybacktowardstheThunderhawkatarapidjog.Imustadmititcrossedmymindtoputalas-boltthroughthepalmplate,justtomakesurewecouldn'tbefollowed,butreasonprevailedovertheimpulse.I'dhardly be able to maintain my good standing with the Reclaimers if anyone survived thegenestealers' initial onslaught, only to discover that I'd sealed them inwith a slavering horde ofraveningpurestrains,andtherewasnoguaranteethatdamagingthecontrolswouldsecurethehatchin any case.For all I knew, themachine-spiritwhichhadnursed thiswreckedvessel for so longwouldreacttosuchcasualvandalismbyopeningitagainoutofpique,andthelastthingIneededwasprovokingitintosidingwiththechitinoushorrors.Asitturnedout,IwasgoingtobegratefulformyrestraintsoonerthanIexpected.

'Pullback,'Drumon'svoice instructed inmyear, and I realised thatonlyahandfulof secondscouldhavepassedsincemyfirstpanic-strickenwarning.'Formuponthisposition,andwe'llpunchourway through to thedockingbay.'Achorusofassentansweredhim,whichI ignored; Iwasn'tabouttoputmyselfinharm'swayagainwithasaferefugeamerefewminutesrunningtimeaway.

OrsoIthought,untilamarkedincreaseinthenoiseaheaddrewmyattention,andIbeheldasightwhichchilledmealmostasmuchasaValhallanshower.TheTerminatorwe'dpassedonourwayinwasbackingtowardsus,firingcontinuouslyashecame,almostfillingthepassagewaywiththebulkofhisarmour.Therewasn'taheretic'sprayerofgettingpasthim,althoughgiventhatthestrobingmuzzle flashes of his stormbolter [125]were affording lurid glimpses of amass of genestealerspressinghimhard,I'dfeelseriouslydisinclinedtotry.Theywerefallingindroves,asyoumightexpect,butforeveryonewhichwentdown,anotherwouldappear,boundingoverthecorpsesofitsfellowstochargestraightdownthebarrelsofhisgun.Whattheywerehopingtoachievebythiswasbeyondme, at least to begin with; like the 'nids that spawned them, genestealer broods seem toregardindividualmembersofthegroupmindasessentiallyexpendable,butinmyexperiencetheyonly did so in pursuit of an objective. This seemed like a wanton waste of life, even by theirstandards.

'Back,'ItoldJurgen,unnecessarily,astherewasclearlynowhereelsetogo;notevenanairductwecouldhavesqueezeddownatapinch.Henodded,phlegmaticasalways,andbeganjoggingbackthewaywe'dcome.

AsI turnedtofollow,thepurposeofthebroodmind'sstrategybecamehorrifyinglyclear.The

Terminator's weapon jammed, probably overheated by the constant firing; for a moment hestruggled to clear it, then the leading 'stealer surged forwards, slashing with its talons. TheTerminatorstoodhisground,tryingtofenditoffwiththeuselessweapon,butthecreaturehadanunbreakablegriponhisarm.Ashetriedtotearitfreewithhisotherhand,asecondonesprangoutof thedarkness, rippingopen the ceramiteprotectinghis torso as though itwerepaper.Before Icouldeventhinkoftryingtointervene,hewasdown,thetremorsofhisfallvibratingthroughmybootsoles, and I turned and ran,while the rest of the pack skittered and struggled to get past thebulkyobstructiontodismembermyaideandI.

Nodoubtwarnedby the echoesofmy sprinting footfalls, Jurgenputon aburst of speed too,strikingthedoorplatewithhiselbowashepassedit,anddivingthroughthewideninggapwithoutslowing, his lasgun at the ready.No sounds of combat ensued, so I followedwithout hesitation,crackingoffafewshotsasIturnedtoclosethehatchbehindus.Theboltsimpactedonthesnoutofa'stealerwhichhadmanagedtogetpastthedeceasedAstartesandthetangleofitsfellowsstillatophim,andgotfartooclosetomyunprotectedbackforcomfort.Itreeledfromtheimpactsandlaythrashingonthefloorof thepassage,althoughwhetherI'ddoneenoughtokill it I'llneverknow.Thedoorslidclosed,hidingthesightofthecarnagebeyond.

'We'dbettergetmoving,'Isaid,pickingmywaythroughthechunksofgenestealerdecoratingtheroom, a rather satisfying result of Jurgen's trickwith the grenade.Now the creatureswere dead,there seemed to be fewer of them than I remembered, although whether that was because thesurvivorshadfled,orI'dsimplybeentoobusyforanaccurateheadcountatthetime,Icouldn'tbesure.'They'llbethroughatanymoment.'

'Downhere?'Jurgenasked,flashinghisluminatoralongthepassagewayDrumonandthetech-priestshadtakenthefirsttimewe'dpassedthroughthechamber.Ilistenedforamomentandshookmyhead.Anall-too-familiarscrabblingsoundwasechoingoutofthedarknessbeyondtherangeofthebeam.

'No,'Isaid.'The'stealersareaheadofus.'Nodoubttheywereintentonslaughteringthesalvagepartyatthemoment,butIwascertainthey'ddevotesomeoftheirattentiontousifwewerefoolishenoughtoattractit.Iheftedmyweaponsandstruckthecontrolplateofthesealeddooropposite;wealreadyknewtheotherexitledstraighttomoregenestealers,sotomywayofthinkingthisonewasthe best card in a rather poor hand. Despite my trepidation, however, the darkness beyond wasreassuringlysilent,soIlostnotimeinhurryingthrough;amomentlateranincreaseintheambientlight levels, and a small but perceptible thickeningof the atmosphere, toldme Jurgenwas atmyshoulderoncemore,andIclosedtheportalagain.

'Wherearewe?'heasked,flashingthebeamofhisluminatoraroundourrefuge.Itlookedlikealltheothercorridorswe'dseensofar,butthatdidn'tbotherme;I'drecalledenoughoftheinternallayoutI'dseenonthehololithdisplaytoremainconfidentoffindingourwaybacktothehangarbaywithouttoomuchdifficulty,solongasthereweren'ttoomanygenestealersaroundtogetintheway.

Ishrugged.'Onlyonewaytofindout,'Isaid,leadingthewayintothedarkness.

HOWLONGWE'DbeenwanderingthroughthepassagewaysIcouldn'tbesure,butitwascertainlytakingalotlongertogetbacktotheThunderhawkthanI'dexpected.Myinnatesenseofdirectionseemedtobeworkingaswellasever,soIwasprettyconfidentthatIknewroughlywherebothweanditwererelativetooneanother,buttherewasnogettingaroundthefactthatconnectingthetwopointswas a lot less straightforward than I'dhoped. I could still recall the images I'd seen in thehololith in reasonable detail, but the reality of the maze of intersecting passageways we foundourselves negotiating was considerably more complex than the clear lines of the diagram

suggested.Somerouteswereblockedbydebris,orunsafedecking,forcingusintotime-consumingdetours,whileotherrouteswereblockedbytheechoesofanominousscrabbling,whichbetrayedthepresenceofmoregenestealers lurking in thedarknessahead.Needless tosay, Iavoided thesepassagewaysentirely,evengoingsofarastoretraceourstepsforawhilebeforeturningaside,justtomakecertainwe'dgiventhesepocketsofactivityawideenoughberthtoevadedetection.

Justtocomplicatematters,itwasn'tlongbeforeIrealisedthatwe'dpassedbeyondthesectionofthe Spawn ofDamnation I'd seen enlarged, somost of the corridors, ducting and cable runswefollowedhadn't appearedon the reduced scale of themainmap at all: the only things I couldbecertainofwere thatweweredeviatingeverdeeper into thecoreof thehulk,andthatwe'dpassedfrom the relatively easy going of the derelict we'd first boarded tomore decrepit surroundingsentirely.Onacoupleofoccasions I even felt a curious sensationofmomentaryvertigo, as leveldecks suddenlybecame slopes, or viceversa,whilemyeyes stubbornly insisted that nothinghadchanged [126] .As you can imagine, thiswas particularly disconcertingwhenwewere traversingsections of thewreckswhichwere out of kilterwith one another in any case; a couple of timesJurgen and I found ourselves picking ourway through clumps of defunct luminators protrudingfromthefloorlikerustingundergrowth,andrealisedwewerewalkingalongwhathadoncebeenaceiling before the warp had claimed whatever luckless vessel this was, and on one particularlyunpleasant occasionwe traversed a section of ship turned at ninety degrees from its neighbours,where corridors had become abyssal shafts, plunging further than our luminator could plumb,forcingustoscramblearoundthemonnarrowledgeswhichoncehadbeenthresholds.

Everywherewewentthereweredoors, too,althoughoncewe'dleft theenvironsoftheancientderelictandthevenerablemachine-spiritstandingguardoverit, thesehadtobemanhandledopenorclosed,withafairdegreeofsweatandprofanity.(TheformerpredominantlyfromJurgen,andthelatterfromme,althoughImustownthatweeachcontributedliberallytoboth.)Inthemainwelefttheportalswe'dpassedthroughopen,unwillingtotakethetimeandeffortrequiredtoshutthemagain,andreluctanttocutoffaknownlineofretreat,althoughIwasmorethanawareoftheriskthisentailed;youmaybecertainIkeptmyearswellopenforanysuspicioussoundsbehindus,andwehaltedoninnumerableoccasionstolistenmorecarefullyanddiscount thepossibilityofbeingfollowed. Most of the corridors we wandered down were, of course, lined with doors too, butmindfuloftheeffortrequiredtogetintothem,andspurredonbytheworryingpossibilitythattheThunderhawkwoulddepartwithoutus,weweredisinclinedtoexploreanyofthesidechambers.

PerhapsthemostdisturbingthingaboutourpresentcircumstanceswasthatI'dlostcontactwithDrumonandthesurvivingTerminators.Mycomm-beadwascertainlycontinuingtofunction,ifthefaintwashof static inmy earwas anything to goby, but the fragments of signal traffic I'd beenlistening to, hoping to keep track of their progress (and, by extension, the whereabouts of thegreatest concentration of genestealers, or so I devoutly hoped), had been getting progressivelyfainter forsome time.Nowitseemed that thesheermassofmetalbetweenuswaspreventing therelativelylow-poweredsignalsfromgettingthroughatall.Ifoundmyselfwonderingifanyofourcompanionswerestillalive,andhopingso,although the last fewgarbled transmissions I'dheardhadbeenlessthanencouraging.CertainlymoreoftheTerminatorshadfallen,althoughsomehadlinkedupwithDrumonbythetimeI'dlostcontact.ButfromwhatI'dseen,theirchancesofmakingitbacktothehangarbaythroughthelabyrinthofnarrowcorridorswereslenderatbest.

Iwas roused frommysombre reverieby Jurgen,whowaswalkinga fewpacesaheadofme,sweepinghisluminatormethodicallyacrosswalls,ceilingandfloor,payingparticularattentiontoany areas of shadow cast by protrusions or recesses.We'd both seen enough by now to bewellaware of how readily the purestrains could conceal themselves, andwere by nomeans sanguineaboutthepossibilityofsuddenambush.

'Wait, sir.'Heheldupawarninghandandadvanceda fewmorepaces, thebeampickingoutahuddledmassonthedeckplatesaheadofus.

I drew my weapons as it came more clearly into view. 'Is it dead?' I asked. The genestealerremained inert, instead of bounding to its feet and charging us as I would have expected, but Iremainedalertnevertheless.I'dneverseenoneasleepbefore,iftheyevendid,andthemiddleofthecorridorseemedlikeanoddplacetochooseforanaptosaytheleast.

Jurgenpulledthetriggerofhislasgun,andthe'stealerremainedwhereitwas,despitethefreshcraterwhichappearedinitsmisshapenforehead.Myaideshrugged.'Itisnow,'hesaid,inamatter-of-facttone.

I listened to the echoes of the crack of the weapon's discharge fade away into the distance,reboundingintothelabyrinth,andhopedithadn'tattractedanyattention;butthedamagewasalreadydone,ifanyhadbeen,andchidinghimwouldhavebeenpointlessatthisjuncture.Instead,Imerelynodded.'Soitwouldseem.'

Emboldened, I approached the creature and examined it curiously. The wound Jurgen hadinflictedhadpenetrateditsskull,neatasyouplease,butthatwasn'twhathaddoneforit.Itsthoraxwasrippedopenfromtheinside,inamannerIcouldrecognisealltooeasily.

'That'sabolterwound,'Isaid,wonderinghowinthewarpithadmanagedtocrawlthisfarfromtheattackingAstartesbeforeexpiring.

Myaidenodded.'Oldone,too,'headded,hisfacetwistingintoagrimaceofdistaste.'It'sgettingprettyripe.'

'Itisindeed,'Iagreed,thestenchofdecaybelatedlyreachingmynostrilsthroughthenearerandmore familiar odour of Jurgen. As he widened the sweep of the beam, I began to discern aspatteringofdriedichorandvisceraonthewallsandthegratingunderfoot.'Anditwasshotrighthere.' I indicated the traces left on our surroundings by the explosive projectile's detonationsomewherewithinthecreature'schestcavity.

Jurgennoddedthoughtfully.'Youthinkthere'sanothergroupofAstartesonboard?''Idoubtit,'Isaid,afterthinkingitoverforamoment.ItwaspossiblethatGrieshaddispatched

another teamwithout tellingme,but ithardlyseemed likely.Gettingourowngroup togetherhadbeenanunholyscramble,andIcouldn'tseethathe'dhavehadthetime,eveniftheReclaimersdidhavesomeclandestinebusinesstheydidn'twanttosharewiththerestofus.'WhywouldtheyshoottheirownCAT?'

Jurgenshrugged.'Beatsme,'headmitted.'Butwhywouldahybridshootanothergenestealer?'That didn'tmakemuch sense either, and I shrugged in turn. 'We'remissing something,' I said,

edginggingerlyaroundtherepulsivecadaver.But therewasnopointworryingabout itnow.Theimportantthingwastogetbacktothehangarbayandsafetyasquicklyaspossible.Ihesitatedforamoment, reorientatingmyself, and selected the next right-hand turning I could see, a fewmetresfurtheronfromwherewestood.'Thisway,Ithink.'

Foronce, itseemed,Iwasinluck.ThecorridorI'dchosenwaslongandunobstructed,andwemade good time, despite the caution with which we continued to move. Though I carried onlistening as assiduously as ever for the sinister skittering sound I'd come to know sowell, thereseemed to be a remarkable absence of genestealers in this part of the hulk, for which I gavecontinualthankstotheEmperorundermybreath.Welcomeasthisunexpecteddevelopmentwas,Imust admit I found it vaguely disquieting. The only explanation which occurred tomewas thatDrumonand theTerminatorswere continuing tomakea fightof it, andkeeping thebroodminddistracted.Icouldn'tseethathappycircumstancelastingformuchlonger,ifitwasindeedthecase,however,andmadeasmuchhasteaspossible,towringthemaximumadvantagefromthesituationwhileIstillcould.

After a while I became aware that our surroundings were growing a little more distinct, theshadowy forms of struts and girders emerging out of the murk, and the outlines of piping andventilatorgrillesbecomingmoreclearlyvisible.IgesturedtoJurgen.'Killtheluminator,'Isaid.

He complied at once, plunging us into a darknesswhich seemed at first to be as profound asbefore. As our eyes adjusted, however, I found I'd been right, a pale glimmer of illuminationseepingintooursurroundingsfromsomewhereupahead.'Weneedtogocarefully,'Icautioned.

'Rightyouare,sir,'Jurgenagreed,holdinghislasgunreadyforuse,andwepressedon,alertforanysignsofambush.SofarasIknew,purestraingenestealershadnomoreneedoflightthantheAstartesdid,butsomehybridsatleastseemedmorecomfortablebeingabletoseewheretheyweregoing[127],andIcouldconceiveofnootherexplanationofthelightsaheadofus.Wewerealongwayfromourownparty,iftherewasanythingleftofitatall,andthechancesofaluminatorsystemstillhappening tobe functionalaboardoneof thederelictsaftercenturiesofdrifting in thewarpwithout theministrationsof a tech-priest seemedvanishingly small.Allmy instinctswere to turnbackandavoidwhatevermightbewaitingforus,buttherewasnosignofanyimmediatethreat,andtheThunderhawkwouldn'twaitforever.Atleastifsomethingtriedtokillusnowwe'dbeabletoseewhatitwas,whichinmyexperienceisgenerallyanadvantage.

AsI'dexpected,theambientlightlevelscontinuedtogrowaswemovedclosertothesource,thebrighteningglowleakingaroundcornersandfromsidepassages,untilatlastwecametoasectionofcorridorwheretheluminatorswerefunctioningnormally.AsIstaredaroundus, takinginoursurroundings,asenseofdisquietIcouldn'tquiteaccountforsettledovermeliketheever-presentpallofchokingdust.Wireswererunningfromtheglow-platesintheceiling,linkingthemtooneanother,anddownthrougharaggedholeinanearbywallpanel,beyondwhichthey'dbeencrudelysplicedintoathickercable,whichsparkedandsizzledalarmingly.

'Tracks,'Isaid,stoopingtoexaminethem,butthedusthadbeenkickeduptoobadlytodiscernanythingother than thefactofconsiderableactivity-something therepairs to the luminatorshadalreadybeenenoughtotellme.

Jurgenedgedpastthehissingcableasthoughitmightsuddenlyrearuplikeaserpenttostrikeathim,and Imustconfess I felt somethingof the sameapprehension.Thiswasclearlyunsanctifiedwork,withnoneof the amulets or prayers of protection a tech-priestwouldhaveput inplace tomakeitsafe,andtheplacepositivelycrackledwiththesourscentofdanger[128];Ifeltthehairsonthebackofmyneckstirringinresponse.

So pervasive, in fact, was the sense of some lurking threat in this unhallowed place, that thesuddensoundofgunfireeruptingfromanearbycorridorcamealmostasarelief.

IHESITATEDFORamoment,torn,assoofteninthecourseofmylife,betweentheimpulsetofleeandthedesiretodiscoverpreciselywhatthreatIwasfacing.Intruth,however,therewasonlyonechoice to bemade, and I did so; on the battlefield it's the unexpected that kills you, and the bestchanceof safety Ihadwas to findoutwhat elsewas lurking in thesecorridors apart fromme, amalodorousGuardsman, and an inordinate number of genestealers. I suppose I could have beeninfluencedbytherealisationthatatleastsomeoftheshootingappearedtobecomingfromabolter,whichmightmeanthepresenceofmoreReclaimerstohidebehind,butinmyheartofheartsIknewsoconvenientadevelopmentwouldbetoomuchtohopefor.Accordingly,IgesturedforJurgentoaccompanyme, and set off to discover what else the Emperor had placed aboard the Spawn ofDamnationtomakemylifedifficult.

Confidentthatthesoundsofbattlewouldmaskanynoisewemightmake,JurgenandIpickedupour pace, grateful for being able to seewherewewere going at last. The roar of gunfire grew

louderaswegotcloser to itssource,andI tightenedmygriponmysidearm,snugglingthegripreassuringlyintomypalm.Myrecentlyacquiredaugmeticsfeltlikeanaturalpartofmybodynow,theforefingerrestinggentlyagainstthetriggerneedingthemerestflexiontospitdeathatwhateverenemyhadthetemeritytopresentitself.InmyotherhandIheldthechainsword,mythumbpoisedtoactivatethewhirlingbladesataheartbeat'snotice.AllofwhichmayconveyalittleofwhatIfeltatthetime;althoughIwasasloathasevertogolookingfortrouble,Iwasprettyconfidentofbeingabletodealwithanywemightcomeacross,especiallyifwecouldsneakuponitfrombehind.Anotion,I'mboundtosay,whichIwassoontobedisabusedof.

The roar ofweapons had increased in volumeby now, and I began to pick out the sounds ofseveraldifferentkinds.TheunmistakablesibilantbellowofbolterfireI'dalreadyrecognised,asIsaid,butbehindandarounditwasasyncopationofstutteringslug-throwers,andthesharpbarkofashotgunortwo.Somethingaboutthecacophonystruckmeasvaguelyfamiliarthen,butIcouldn'tquiteputmyfingeronit.Therewasanothersoundtoo,whichsurroundedandoverlaidtheothers,aninchoateroaringlikeadeephivesumpfall[129],whichIfeltsureIoughttobeabletoidentify,butwhichsomehowcontinuedtoeludeme.

'We seem to be coming to a hold or something,' Jurgen said, and I nodded, surprised.We'dpassedthroughafewopenspacesinourerraticprogress,butthelastreallyvastchamberwe'dseenhadbeenthehangarbayinwhichtheThunderhawkhaddocked;andthedeeperwe'dpenetratedintothe hulk, themore constricted ourway had seemed to become. [130] Now, though, the pattern ofechoesindicatedanopenspacefarlargerthananywe'dsofarcomeacross,andIbegantomovemorecautiouslyagain.Thepassagewaywewerefollowingseemedtobecomingtoanend,aroughrectangleofbrighterilluminationgrowingaheadofus,althoughasyetIhadnoideawhatwe'dfindwhenwereachedit.

Aswedidso, thenoise,nolongerattenuatedbydistance,batteredatus likeaphysicalforce.Iedgedforwardsafinalpaceortwo,findingthecorridorendedinavertiginousdrop,andglanceddown,flatteningmyselfagainstthelastmetreorsoofthemetalwall.Mybreathseemedtocongealinmychest,andImutteredafewexpletives,inacombinationI'donlypreviouslyheardinagamingestablishmentwhenoneofthepatronsturnedouttobecarryingafewofhisowncardsforluck.

Jurgen was, as always, more succinct. 'Orks,' he said, as though they might somehow haveescapedmynotice.'Thousandsof'em.'

TWENTY

ATFIRSTGLANCE,whichwasmorethanenoughforme,myaide'sestimationofthegreenskins'numbers seemed depressingly accurate. Everywhere I looked, there seemed to bemore of them.Fromourvantagepointhighonitsslopingrim,wewereabletolookdownintoavasthollowattheheartofthehulk,hundredsofmetresacrossandalmostasmanydeep,seethingwithactivity.Andeverywheremy eyes fell there seemed to bemore of the creatures, squabbling, hurtling aroundrandomly in ramshackle vehicles, or busying themselves battering metal into new shapes, forpurposeswhich eludedme.Therewere at least asmany gretchin among the larger creatures, ofcourse, scurrying around on errands for whichever ork offered them a measure of protection,beingcasuallyswattedoutofthewaybyanyotherswhoseprogresstheyimpeded,orengaginginvigorousaltercationsoftheirown.Apallofsmokedriftedoverthesectionwherethebustleseemedgreatest, where the mekboyz [131] and their stunted servants were busying themselves with theconstructionofnewenginesofwar;butstrainmyeyesasImighttopenetratethechokingshroud,itandthedistancecombinedtoobscureanyusefuldetailsaboutwhattheymightbeupto.

For a moment or two I found myself wondering how a space this big could exist in such adensely tangledaccumulationofderelict ships.Thenmyeye fell on the raggededgeof thedeckplates Iwas standing on, and the answer came tome, as I registered the unmistakablemarks ofcrudelywielded tools: the orks had created this steel cave themselves, hacking away at themetalsurroundingthemwithallthebruteforcetheywerecapableof,scavengingthepiecestoconstructfreshweaponsandtheothernecessities[132]requiredtosupporttheircolonisationofthehulk.Nowthereasonforthearmadawhichhadmetusonourarrivalattheorkholdbecamehorrifyinglyclear.They'd been the stragglers, too late to board the hulk with the others before it returned to theimmaterium,impelledbysomeinnatedrivedeepintheorkishpsychetomigratewiththewarptideswherevertheyled[133].

'HolyThrone,'Ibreathed,asthefullimplicationsofthishorrifyingnewdevelopmentdawnedonme.Serendipitawasn'tjustfacingthepossibilityofstealthyinfiltrationbythegenestealers;assoonastheSpawnofDamnationhaddriftedcloseenough,atorrentoforkishinvaderswoulderuptfromit like pus from a boil, intent on nothing but bloodshed and destruction.Duque's cordon of SDFboats would never be able to stem such a tide, and unless I found someway to warn them, theplanet'sdefenderswouldbecaughtcompletelybysurprise.

Ireachedforthecomm-beadinmyear,thenletmyhandfallwithoutactivatingit.Therewasnoone close enough to hear the transmission, except possibly the greenskins, and the longer theyremainedunawareofourpresencethebetter.Idrewbackalittlefurtherintoourrefuge,butnoneofthecreaturessomuchasglancedinourdirection, thosecloseenoughtohavenoticedourarrivalcompletelyabsorbedinthesourceofthegunfirewhichhadfirstattractedourattention.Ashappenssooftenamongorks,aquarrelseemedtohavebrokenoutbetweentwooftheinnumerablefactionsamongthehorde,andthey'dpromptlybeguntosettletheirdifferencesintheusualfashionoftheirkind.Aroundadozenwerefiringweaponsattheirrivals,withthegenerallackofaccuracyI'dhadplentyofcausetobethankfulforduringmyencounterswiththemonPerlia,whilealmosttwiceasmanyhackedandbelabouredoneanotherwithavarietyofbladesandcudgels,andseveralhundredoftheirfellowscalledoutencouragementorinsult[134]fromthesidelines,heedlessofthedanger

ofbeingfelledbyastrayroundortwo.Theopposingleaderswereeasyenoughtopickout,beingbiggerthananyoftheircompatriots,

and brandishing the largest and most destructive weapons in sight. Each wore crude armour,decoratedwith the barbarous glyphswhich the greenskins employ in place of both heraldry andscript,andJurgennoddedsagely.'Clanleaders,'hesaid.'Bothusedtobeingwarboss[135].'

Thatmade sense. I'd seen on Perlia how different tribeswould put aside their enmities in thepursuit of a greater conflict, but the old rivalries would remain simmering beneath the surface,leaving such alliances fragile at best. (A circumstancewhichhadworked strongly in our favour,once I'd inadvertentlykilled thewarbosskeeping theothers in line,and thewhole invasion forcehadfallenapartashiswould-besuccessorsturnedtheirgunsononeanotherinsteadoftheImperialforcesopposing them.) If I kneworks (which I did rathermore than I'dhave liked sincePerlia),neither would be willing or able to back down, for the fear of a potential challenger scentingweaknessandattemptingtousurptheirposition,whichwasfinebyme:thelongerthebattlebelowkeptthegreenskins'attentiondiverted,whileJurgenandIslippedawayquietly,thebetterIlikedit.

Itookalastlookaroundtheechoingsteelcave,gaugingitsextentasbestIcould,andfeltafaintshiver of apprehension. It would take us hours to circumvent, particularly if we did our best toremainat a safedistance from it tominimise thepossibilityofdiscovery, and thechancesof theThunderhawkstillwaiting in thehangarbayby the timewereached itwereminimal.Not for thefirst time I remindedmyself thatminimal and non-existentwere far from synonymous, and thatcrucialdistinctionhadmadeallthedifferencebetweensurvivalanddeathoftenenoughbynowtoram the lesson home. (Though not nearly as thoroughly as the ensuing decades were to do, ascircumstanceandill-luckforcedmetoapplyitoverandoveragain.)

'Pull back,' I told Jurgen, sotto voce, although the cacophony frombelowwas still enough todrownoutamarchingband.Ifanythingitwasgrowinglouder,asanotherorknob[136],largerandmoregenerallyrepulsivethaneitheroftheothertwo,andsurroundedbybodyguardswhoatleastmatched them in physique, ploughed through the baying crowd, bellowing orders and threats. IwouldhavesurmisedhimtobethewarbossoftheentireWaaaaghh!fromthisalone,evenwithoutthedistinctresemblancetothelateandunlamentedKorbul[137].'Timewewereleaving.'

'Rightyouare,sir,'Jurgenagreed,nodoubtconsideringthatthemultitudebelowwererathertoomanytotakeon,ancestralvendettaorno.Heindicatedthewarboss,whowasrestoringorderwithall the tact and subtletyof aKhornateberserkerwith ahangover, andpattedhis lasgun. 'Shame Ican'tgetacleanshotfromhere,though.'

'It'd make a good trophy,' I agreed, retracing our steps as quickly as I could consistent withcaution,incasehewastemptedtotakeacrackatitanyway.ThatwouldbeallIneeded,anarmyofhacked-offorkschasingafterme,aswellasplayingdodgethegenestealer.'ButI'mnotsurethere'sroomforitonthewallofyourquarters.'

'Probablynot,'Jurgenconceded,afteramoment'sreflection.Thenhebrightened.'ButatleastweknowwhoshottheCATthingnow.'

'I supposewedo,' I said,asweregained thewelcominggloomof theunlit tunnelsat last.Theindiscriminate hail of bolter fire which had blasted a hole in the deck as well as the target wascertainlyconsistentwithorkishideasofmarksmanship.Butorkswerelootersbynature,almostasinnatelyas theywere fighters,andnoneof thegreenskins I'dpreviouslyencounteredwouldhaveabandoned a prize like that after disabling it, especiallywith a contingent ofmekboyz around tobarter for the remains once they'd dragged it home. The palms of my hands itched again, butwhatever disquieting pattern my subconscious was recognising failed to elbow its way into myforebrain.Knowingbetter than to try forcing it, I turnedmyattention toa strategy forgettingusbacktothehangarbay;unfortunately,thebestIcouldcomeupwithwas''Keepmovingandavoid

thexenos'',which,althoughitseemedtohaveworkedsofar,seemeda little lightontheessentialdetails.

Jurgennoddedsagely.'Betterkeepaneyeoutforperimeterpatrols,'hecautioned,rekindlingtheluminator.'Musthavebeenoneofthosethatgotit.Andthe'stealerbackthere.'

'Morethanlikely,'Iagreed.Ifmyinnatesenseofdirectionwasworkingaswellasitusuallydid,thedockingbaywouldbesomewhereonthefarsideoftheorks'encampment,anditwasonlytoolikelythatthey'dpostedouterpicketsthere,oneofwhomhadusedtheperipateticautomatonforaspotoftargetpractice.Whichmeantgettingtosafetywouldmeaneludingagreaterconcentrationofgreenskinsfromnowon,aswellastherovingfragmentsofthebroodmind.

Then some of the sense of unease I'd been feeling crystallised suddenly into a hard knot ofapprehension.'Ifthey'vegotsentriesout,'Isaidslowly,'whydidn'tweseeanyonthewayin?'

Jurgen shrugged. 'Maybe the genestealers got them,' he said. 'Theywere quick enough to getthroughtheholetheorksshotinthefloor.'

'Theywere,' Iagreed, thedarkshadowstill failing to lift fromwhatevermysubconsciouswasfrettingabout.'Butwedidn'tseeanyofthoseclosetothegreenskincampeither.'

'Apartfromthedeadone,'Jurgenremindedme,pausingtoputhisshouldertoacorrodedhatchcoverblockingourprogressanyfurther.Ikeptthewideninggapcoveredwithmylaspistoluntilwewerereasonablycertainnothingwasgoing to leapoutandattackus, thenmotionedhimthrough,glancing back down the corridor for any signs of a hostile presence. Despite my obviousapprehension,Iheardnothinglikethescrabblingoftalonsortheringingofiron-shodbootsonthedeckplates,althoughmyimaginationsuppliedmovementenoughintheshadowsbehindus.

'Shotwithabolter,'Imusedaloud,andJurgennodded,nodoubttakingtheattempttoordermythoughtsasadesireforconfirmation.

'Lookedlikeittome,'heagreed.'Andatleastaweekago.Couldhavebeenmore.Nowaytotellhowfastthingsrotinaplacelikethis.'

'Theorkshavebeenherealotlongerthanthat,'Isaid,understandingbeginningtosinkinatlast.'Sowhyhasn'tthebroodmindmovedagainstthem?'ThegenestealershadattackeduslessthananhourafterourarrivalaboardtheSpawnofDamnation.Yet theorks,who'dpresumablybeenhereforweeksonend,stillseemedunawareoftheirpresence.

'Just toomanyofthem?'Jurgensuggested.Well, thatwaspossible,ofcourse,butaccordingtoGries'sdatafilesahulkaslargeasthisonewouldnormallyhavethousandsofgenestealersaboardit, and a battle on that scale would certainly have left far more evidence of itself than a singlecadaver.

'Idon'tthinkso,'Isaid,withashakeofmyhead.ThegenestealershadbeenquickenoughtoreacttothepresenceoftheReclaimersandthetech-priests,andiftheorkswerebeingleftaloneithadtobe for a reason.Once again, I foundmyself forced to consider that the broodmindwas amoresubtleanddangerousenemythanthewavesofanimalisticgenestealersitcontrolledmadeitappear.'The'stealersareuptosomething.'

Jurgenshruggedagain.'Ofcoursetheyare,sir.They'rexenos,'hepointedoutreasonably.'Butifthey'reconcentratingontheorksinsteadofus,goodluckto'em.'

Well,thoseweresentimentsIcouldhardlyarguewith,soInoddedinstead,butkeptmyweaponshandynevertheless.Bothxenosbreedswereutterlyinimicaltohumankind,andtheywerewelcometo take lumps out of each other until there were none of either left standing so far as I wasconcerned;butmyfinelytunedsenseofparanoiawasconvincingmethatwhicheversidewon,we'dlose.

WORKINGOURWAYroundthegreenskins'beachheadtookjustas longasI'dfeared,andmorethanonceIhadcausetobegratefulforthetannaflaskandrationbarsJurgenhadsecretedabouthispersonbeforeleavingthesafehavenoftheRevenant.

Thoughnecessary,eachofthesepausesforrestandrefreshmentwereanxiousones,punctuatedby glances at my chronograph, until even my most optimistic estimates of how long theThunderhawkwould remainwaiting for survivors to straggleback to ithadbeen longexceeded.ButtherewasnowhereelsetogothatIcouldthinkof,sothehangarbayremainedourobjective.Eveniftheentireexpeditionhadbeenmassacredbythepure-strainsstalkingit,IwasprettysuretheReclaimers and their allies in the AdeptusMechanicus would be unwilling to leave the treasuretroveofarcheotechaboardtheSpawnofDamnationaloneforlong,anditwouldonlybeamatteroftimebeforetheylaunchedanotherattempttolootthehulk.Whichmeantrescuewouldsimplybeamatterofwaiting,andhopingwedidn'tsuccumbtostarvation,thebladesoftheorksorthejawsofthegenestealers,beforetheystoppedditheringandgotonwithit.True,therewasnoguaranteethatthey'dmakeforthesamedockingbayagain,butthatwasapossibilityIdidn'tallowmyselftodwellonfortoolong.

Bythesimpleexpedientofkeepingthefaintglowofthefunctioningluminatorstoourright,asitcontinuedtoseepthroughthelabyrinthofpassageways,ductsandconduitsliketheheraldofdawnonsomehabitableworld,wecontrivedtoremainfarenoughfromthemainbodyofthegreenskinsto avoid ready detection,without deviating too far into the depths of the hulk again.On severaloccasionswewereforced toseekrefuge insomeshadowyside turning,orbehindsometumbleddebris,bytheapproachoffootstepsandthegutturalbarkingofthegreenskins'barbaroustongue,but orks and gretchin aren't exactly stealthy at the best of times, and Jurgen and I were able toconceal ourselves long before the risk of detection became a real possibility. Though all thesepartieswere armed, the carryingofweapons being as natural as breathing to an ork, so far as Icould see, without sticking my head out far enough to be noticed, they were being hefted in adistinctly casualmanner, and I remarked asmuch to Jurgen, as the shrill squabbling voices of agretchinscavengingpartyunderthesullensupervisionofanapprenticemekandacoupleofbored-lookingboyz[138]fadedintothedistance.

'I thought that too,'my aide confirmed, rekindling the luminator attached to the barrel of hislasgunoncehewascertainthegreenskinsweretoofarawaytonoticeit.Althoughtheywerekindenoughtoletusknowtheywerecomingfromscoresofmetresaway,thegenestealerswerefarlessconsiderate,andneitherofusfeltparticularlykeentobetakenbysurprise,thefateofBlainandhisbattle-brother still vivid in ourmemories. 'They can't expect to be running into any 'stealers thisclosetotheircamp.'

'Idon'tthinktheyknowaboutthematall,'Isaid,havinghadlongenoughtoconsiderthematterto be fairly certain by now thatmy initial conclusion had been correct. 'They'd bemoving a lotmorecarefullyiftheydid.'

'Wouldn'twhoevershottheonewefoundearlierhavetoldthem?'Jurgenasked,andIshookmyhead,forgettingforthemomentthathecouldn'thaveseenthegestureinthedarkevenifhehadn'tbeenseveralpacesaheadofme.

'Theywouldiftheymadeitback,'Isaid,havingthoughtaboutthistoo,'butIdon'tthinktheydid.We only found one dead 'stealer, and they tend to hunt in packs. Look what happened to theTerminators.' If they'd been able to overwhelm such formidable warriors by sheer weight ofnumbers,arelativelyunprotectedorkwouldhavehadvirtuallynochance.

'Makessense,'Jurgenagreed.'Ifoneortwowentmissingoutofallthatlot,noone'dnotice.''Isupposenot,'Isaid.IfareconpatrolofGuardsmendisappeared,theentiregarrisonwouldbe

onalertwithinhours, andassiduouseffortsmade toeither find themordetermine their fate.But

greenskinscomeandgoonawhim,caring littleornothingforanyof theothers,andunless thegenestealers'preyhadbeensentoutonaspecificerrandbyanobfurtherupthefoodchain[139],itwas indeedprobable that theirabsencehadgoneunremarked.Allofwhichmerelyconfirmed thedisquieting conclusion I'd already come to: the brood mind had a reason to keep the invadersignorantof itspresenceaboard thespacehulk.TryasImight, though, I justcouldn'tconceiveofwhat that might be; and when I found out, I was going to wish devoutly that I'd remained inignorance.

TWENTY-ONE

DESPITESEVERALCLOSEcallswithwanderinggreenskins,weeventuallymadeittothefarsideof their enclavewithout serious incident; and Imust say I felt a strong senseof relief as the lastlingering glow of its luminators faded into the darkness at our backs. True, we were forfeitingwhateverprotectionfromthegenestealerswe'dbeenderivingfromitsproximity,buteverystepwenow took brought us closer to our goal. We were still some appreciable distance from theRedeemer-classwreckwe'dfirstboarded,whichmeantIwashavingtofindourwaypurelybyluckandby instinct.Butmyoldunderhiver's affinity for environments like this seemedas reliable asever,andIwasfairlyconfidentthatanothercoupleofkilometreswouldbringustotheareaI'dseenmagnifiedinthehololithontheRevenant'sbridge.Briefasthatglimpsehadbeen,whatnowfeltlikea lifetimeago, Iwassure thatoncewe reached thearea itdelineated I'dbeable to recallenoughdetail to accelerate our progress considerably, so I pressed on as quickly as seemed prudent, asanxioustoreachitasyoumightexpect.

Iwasstillmorethanawareofthedangerfromgenestealers,ofcourse,andkeptmyearsopenforanytell-talescrabblinginthedarkness,butthefurtherwegotfromthegreenskinsthemoremyspiritsrose.Attheveryleast,itmeantwecouldconcentrateononethreatatatime.

'We'll have to go back, sir,' Jurgen said, from a few metres in front, sounding no morediscouragedthanifhewaslettingmeknowthatmymorningtannawasgoingtobeafewminuteslate.'It'sadeadend.'

'Frak,'Isaid,feelingly.We'dbeenmakinggoodprogressoverthelasthalfhourorso,havinghitonarelativelyunobstructedpassageway,butwe'dpassedfewsideturningswhichlookedpassable,andnoneatallinthelasttenminutes.Tothebestofmyrecollection,retracingourstepstoapointwhere we could branch off with a reasonable chance of finding a parallel route would take usuncomfortablyclosetotheorksagain,nottomentionlosingrathermoretimethanIfeltwecouldafford.

Iwasabouttoturnaway,whenafaint,regularpatternflickeredintoviewinthecircleoflightcastbyJurgen'sluminator,allbutobscuredbythepatinaofrustandaccumulatedfilthadheringtothe metal wall in front of us. I moved closer and raised a hand to brush the worst of it away,renderingmyglovealmostasdisreputableasmymuch-abusedheadgear in theprocess. 'Canyouholdthatlightsteady?'

'Of course, sir,' Jurgen replied, leaning a little closer to seewhat Iwas doing and bringing astrongblastofhisuniquearomawithhim.Preoccupied, Ibarelynoticed, tracing thefaintGothicletteringmyeffortshadmademarginallymorelegible.'Whatdoesitsay?'

'Emergency bulkhead,' I picked out laboriously, in what had once been authoritative capitals,followedbyaseriesoflettersandnumbers,presumablyidentifyingthesectionofthevesselwhichlaybeyond.'Itmusthavebeentrippedbywhateverhappenedtotheshipthisoncewas.'

'LiketheHandofVengeance,'Jurgensaid,nodoubtrememberingthethickslabofmetalwhichhadslid intoplace tosealoff thedecompressingsectionwe'dbeentrappedinwhenour transportshiphadtakenahitoffPerlia.Ishuddered,thesamerecollectionstrikingme.'Canwegetitopen,then?'

'Wecantry,'Ireplied,alittledubiously.We'dmanhandledplentyofobstructinghatchesopenon

ourunintendedhikethroughthebowelsofthespacehulkalready,butthisoneseemedheavierandmore obdurate than most. I glanced around the litter of debris surrounding us. 'We'll needsomethingtoleveritopen,though.'

Fortunatelywefoundametalbarsomethreemetresinlength,whichseemedstoutenough,afterafewminutesofforaging,andIhefteditexperimentally.'Thisoughttodo,'Iconcluded,returningtotheobstacle,whichJurgenhelpfullyilluminatedforme.

Iexaminedtheslabofmetalcarefully,searchingforasuitablespot.Therewasnosignofajoindownthemiddle,whichmeantitmusthavemovedasasinglepiece.Notencouraging.Itransferredmyattentiontothenearestedge,Findingonlythenarrowestofgrooveswherethebulkheadmetthewall.Itmustretractintothissidethen,whichwouldmeanleveringitfromtheother.

'Frak,' I said vehemently, discovering exactly the same thing after a cursory inspection on theothersideofthecorridor.'Itmusthavecomedownfromtheceiling.'

'Wewon'tbeshiftingthat,then,'Jurgensaidgloomily.Eventhoughthesamethoughthadoccurredtome,Ishookmyhead.Thesenseofdisappointment

whichhadwashedovermewasabruptlypushedasidebya surgeof anger, almost childish in itspetulance,afactIcanonlyattributetothehungerandexhaustionI'dbeenkeepingatbayforsometimenowbywillpoweralone.IwasdamnedifIwasgoingtoletalumpofscrapmetalgetthebetterofmenowwe'dcomesoclosetoourgoal.'Waitamoment,'Isaid,myvoicesoundingsurprisinglylevelunderthecircumstances.'Let'snotgiveupjustyet.'

Iexaminedoursurroundingsinmoredetail,myeyeshavinglongsinceadjustedtotheleveloflight supplied by the Guard-issue luminator. It goes without saying, of course, that the deckingunderourfeethadchangedinnumerabletimessincewesetoutonourinterminablehikethroughthebowelsoftheSpawnofDamnation,fromsolidmetaltomeshgratingandbackagain,occasionallyvariedbywayofcarpeting,theoddslabofwoodand,once,whatseemeduncomfortablylikebone[140].Nowwewerestandingonceagainonmetalmesh,suspendedafewcentimetresaboveagullyrunningbeneaththefloor,throughwhichcablingandpipeworkrantomechanismsEmperorknewwhere,andwhichhadnodoubtceasedtofunctiongenerationsbefore.

Ibentdownandtuggedhopefullyatthesectionofmeshclosesttothebulkhead;findingitsealedimmovably into place by the rust of centuries, I gave up the subtle approach and freed itwith acoupleofswipesofmychainsword.Theadamantiumteethrippedthroughthevenerablemetalworkwithin seconds, with a shower of sparks and a shriek which set my teeth on edge. After a fewanxious moments, in which hordes of genestealers and curious orks failed to erupt from theshadows, I sheathed the weapon again, marvelling at my folly, which I can only attribute to thefatiguewhichwas still threatening to overwhelmme [141] . The utility gullywas too shallow tosqueezethrough,ofcourse,butIfoundwhatIwaslookingfor,andsmiled;thethickmetalslabwasresting in a groove cut into the floor, running from onewall to the other, lined by the decayedremnantsofsomeflexiblesheetmaterial,nodoubtintendedtoensureanairtightseal.Therottingmaterialhadleftagap,intowhichIwasabletothrusttheendofthebar,andafterafewmomentsofhopefulmanipulation,Ifeltitcatchagainsttheundersideoftheloweredbulkhead.

'So far, sogood,' I said,and the furrowingof Jurgen's foreheaddislodgedsomeof thegrimeadheringtoit.(Although,tobefair,Ican'thavelookedmuchcleanermyselfbythispoint.)

'We'llnevershiftthatwithjustthetwous,'hesaidreasonably,illustratingthepointbyleaninghisentireweighton theraisedendof thepole.Beyondafaint,protestingcreakfromtheedgeof themeshdeckplatenowactingasafulcrum,hiseffortshadnodiscernibleeffectwhatsoever.

'Iknow,'Isaid,leadingthewaybacktothedebris-chokedsidepassagewhereI'dfoundthebar.Partoftheceilinghadgivenwayhere,Emperoraloneknewhowlongago,andtherewereplentyofpiecesofsheetmetal,cablingandgeneralclutterleftlyingbeneathit.Nothingshortofthearrivalof

a'stealerswarmoranorkhordewouldhavepersuadedmetoriskenteringsoobviousadeathtrap,but enough of the detritus was close enough to the main corridor to lay hold of without muchdangertolifeandlimb,andwe'dsoonaccumulatedacollectionwhichwouldhavenettedusasmallfortuneifwe'dbeenabletogetittoadownhivetradingpostsomewhere.

A fewmoremoments of perspiration and profanitywere enough to transfer our hoard to thebarrierblockingourprogress,andIloopedsomeoftheelectricalcableI'dscavengedaroundthetopofthebar,knottingitassecurelyasIcould,beforerepeatingtheoperationatrightanglestothefirst.Thatlefttwoloopscrossingoneanother,hangingfromtheend,andIlostnotimeinwedginga flat sheet ofmetal into them, creating a short, but relatively stable, platform.After that, itwassimplyamatterofwedging the largest chunkofdebrisunder the juttingpole, to create ahigherfulcrum than before, and beginning to load the rest of the scrap onto the high end. I was justbeginningtodoubtthatitwouldworkafterallwhen,withaheart-stoppinggroan,thewholethingshifted several centimetres, and I tensed, on the verge of leaping for my life. After an anxioussecond or two I became convinced that it wasn't going to collapse, and, somewhat nervously,resumedpilingdebrisontothemakeshiftcounterweight.

'It'sworking,sir!'Jurgensaid,unmistakablypleased,despitehishabituallackofexcitement.Butthatwasfine;Iwasanxiousenoughforthepairofus.

'Last piece,' I said,wondering if Iwasgoing tohave togoback formoreballast, but the lastlumpofscrapwasenough.Withanothershriekofancientmetalagainstmetal,thewholemesstilted,raisingthethickmetalslabblockingourwayabouthalfametreabovethedeckplates.

'It'sopen,'Jurgentoldme,asthoughImightsomehowhavefailedtonotice,andducked,toshinethebeamofhislaminatorthroughthegap.Thebulkheadturnedouttobearoundthirtycentimetresthick,andImarvelledatourgoodfortune inbeingable toshift itatall;hadI realisedquitehowgreatitsmasswas,Isuspect,Iwouldn'thavebotheredevenmakingtheattempt.Jurgensniffedtheairbeyond it suspiciously. 'It smells abit,' he reported, asoblivious as ever to the irony, 'but it'sbreathable.'

'Good,'Isaid,droppingtocrawlunderthesuspendedslabofmetalinmyturn.ImustadmittoastrongsenseofapprehensionasIpassedbeneathit,butasIstoodandsurveyedoursurroundings,thatwasreplacedbyarushofelatedrelief.We'dovercometheobstacleafterall,andalthoughdoingsohadcostusafairamountof time, itwasstill far less thanwe'dhavesquanderedretracingourstepsandlookingforanalternativeroute.Tosaynothingoftheriskofrunningintotheorks.

The passagewayherewas just as clear and uncluttered as it had been on the other side of thebulkhead,andIbreathedasilentsighofrelief.ItseemedI'dmadetherightdecisionafterall.AsIinhaledagain,InoticedafainttangintheairIcouldn'tquiteidentify,butwhichmademypalmsitchnevertheless.Suddenly,althoughnothinghadchanged,theshadowssurroundingusseemeddeeper,morethreatening,andIurgedJurgenintomotionagain.'Comeon,'Isaid.'Thesoonerwe'reoutofherethebetter.'

IFANYTHING,HOWEVER,mysenseofuneasegreweverstrongeraswepressedon,despitethefactthatweseemedtobemakinggoodprogress.IstartedtohearthemuffledscrabblingsoundsI'dlearned to associate with prowling genestealers again, and urged Jurgen to halt on severaloccasions while I tried to pinpoint the source. Every time I did, though, the sinister susurrationeitherfadedawayentirely,orechoedsomuchthatIfoundmyselfunabletonarrowitdown.IntheendIjustdeterminedtoproceedascautiouslyaspossible,andtrustmyinstinctstowarnusofanyambushup ahead.Butwhenan attackdid come, itwas in a form it hadneveroccurred tome toexpect.

'There's an open space up ahead,' I told Jurgen, as quietly as I could, after another nerve-shreddinghalf-hourorsohadpassed.Theechoesofourfootfallsandtheaircurrentsagainstmyfacefeltdifferent,andtheodd,faintlyacidictangintheairseemedalittlestrongernow.

'Thehangar?'myaideasked,andIshookmyhead.'Fraid not.We're still a good couple of hours from that. Probably a hold.' I'm no expert on

starship construction, of course, but I'd travelled on enough of them over the years to be fairlycertainthatthewreckwewerecurrentlypickingourwaythroughwasabulkcargohaulerofsomekind-oratleastithadbeen,beforesomecatastrophehadoverwhelmedit,leavingitmaroonedinthewarpuntil thecapriciouscurrentsof thathellishrealmhadwashed itupagainst theSpawnofDamnation.Thesoundsinthedarkaroundusweregrowinglouderandmorenumerousnow,andIdrew my weapons again, tension winding tighter in the pit of my stomach. For a moment IconsideredorderingJurgentoextinguishtheluminator,butthe'stealersseemedtohavenouseforlight, so I didn't suppose itwould attract their attention anymore than the sound and scent of uswould[142].

AsI'veremarkedbefore,I'vegenerallyfoundithelpfultobeabletoseeanythingtryingtokillme.

'You'reright,sir,'Jurgentoldme,afewmomentslater,thebeamofhisluminatorpickingoutanopendoorinoneofthewallsofthecorridor.Aswepassedit thepervasivesmellgrewstronger,andIglancedthroughtheportal,regrettingtheimpulseatonce;thespacebeyondwasvast,andthefloor sopackedwith the inert bodies of genestealers, their four arms curledprotectively aroundtheirthoraxes,thatnotamillimetreofmetalwasvisible.

'Aretheydead?'Jurgenasked,andIshookmyhead,tooshockedtospeakforamoment.'No,' Iwhisperedat last,backingaway fearfully,expecting thewholenest to rouseand tearus

apart at anymoment. I'd hadmerely the briefest of glimpses, but theremust have been at least athousandoftheabominablecreaturesinthere,probablymoreifIcouldbebotheredwithaproperheadcount.'Justdormant.'ItrieddesperatelytorememberthefilesGrieshadshownme.'Theoneswhoattackedusbeforemusthavebeenrevivedtoprotecttheothers[143].'

Whichmeantwewereinaveryuncomfortablepositionindeed.Iglancedroundagain,alertforanysignofmovement,andwithdrewtothefarsideofthecorridor.Wehadtogoon,therewasnoquestionofthat,butthethoughtofthosemonstrositiesatourbackswasaterrifyingone.

'Doweturnround?'Jurgenasked,andIshookmyheadslowly.'No,' I said. The chances of running into an active 'stealer or two would be just as great

whichever direction we took, and at least the hangar was a definite objective, as opposed towanderingaroundinthedarkwaitingtobetorntopieces.

'Very good, sir,' my aide replied, his matter-of-fact demeanour as obscurely heartening as itusually was in a crisis, and I felt a measure of confidence beginning to return. After all, thepurestrainsbehinduswerealldormant,sounlesswedidsomethingcatastrophicallystupidtorousethem...

Thedistinctivehisssss...crack!ofabolterroundimpactingafewfeettomyleft,blowingafist-sizedholeinthemetalwallbesideme,galvanisedmeintoaction,andIbroughtmylaspistolupinthedirectionithadcomefrom,returningfireinstinctivelyasIdivedforcover.Jurgenrespondedtoo,thebeamofhisluminatorpickingoutthedistinctivelumpenprofileofanorkashebroughthislasgunonaim.Thegreenskinduckedbackbehindastanchion,aslas-boltspepperedthemetalworkaroundhim,andIbegantopickoutothershapesmovingintheshadowsbeyond.

'Pullback,'Iordered,tryingtogetanestimateoftheirnumbers.Thiswashardlythebestplacetostartafirefight,asIstronglysuspectedthegenestealerswouldberathercrankyonfirstwaking,andweweremakingaconsiderableamountofnoisebetweenusalready.

'Rightyouare,sir,'Jurgenagreed,withatraceofreluctance,eagerasanyValhallantobekillingorks, but this was hardly the time or place to indulge him. There seemed to be a dozen or sogreenskinslurkinginthedarknessaheadofus,andacouplemoreofthembegantoshootaswell,thoughfortunatelywithnomoreluckthanthefirstonewasalreadyhaving.'They'retryingtokeepourheadsdown.'

'Andthey'resucceeding,'Isaidtestily,asacoupleofheavyslugsricochetedfromtheedgeoftheshrinetotheOmnissiahatopthetoollockerbehindwhichI'dfoundrefuge.

'Getting ready to charge, most likely,' Jurgen reminded me, a tactic we'd become more thanfamiliarwithonourPerlianodyssey,andInoddedgrimly.

'Wait until they move,' I told him, unnecessarily, given how conversant he was with the besttacticstouseagainstthecreatures,andhenoddedtoo,flickingthefireselectorofhislasguntofullauto.

Withoutanyfurtherwarning,astaccatorhythmofmetal-soledbootsbeganringingoffthedeckplates,andasmallknotofgreenskinscharged,brandishingthecrudeaxessomanyofthemtendtofavourinclosecombat.Astheyboredownonourposition,asenseofforebodingwashedoverme;somethingwasdefinitelynotrightaboutthis.(Apartfromtheobviouspointofanenragedmoboforkswanting to hack us to shreds, of course.) Then the hairs on the back ofmy neck began toprickle,asrealisationdawned:thegreenskinswererunningtowardsusincompletesilence,noneofthemhavingmadeasoundsincetheskirmishbegan.OneveryotheroccasionI'dencounteredthem,they'dbellowedwarcries, threatsandexhortations tooneanotherevenbeforecombatwas joined,not to mention yelling their lungs out for as long as it continued, and they remained in anyconditiontodoso.

'Don'tletthemgetnearyou!'Iyelled,asifJurgenhadbeenplanningtoofferthemtannaandaflorn cake, and he opened up at the same instant I did, spitting a fusillade of las-bolts down thecorridor.Therewasnopointinworryingaboutthegenestealersintheholdnow;thebroodmindalready knew precisely where we were, a deduction confirmed an instant later by a barelyperceptible shifting in the shadowsbehind theorkswithguns.Expecting to see somethingof thekind, I recognised it at once for what it was: a purestrain 'stealer, observing the actions of itsimplantedpuppetswithdispassionateinterest.

'Grenade!'Jurgenyelled,lobbinganotherofthefragchargesdownthecorridor,whereitlandedjustaheadofthecharginggreenskinsneatasyouplease.Bothofusturnedtorunasitdetonated,theconcussion echoing in the confined space like an Earthshaker firing, and the pressure waveslammed into our backs aswe took to our heels. The onrushing orks faltered, the leading onesshreddedbythehailofshrapnel,andthosebehindeithersufficientlyincommodedbyitorimpededbytheresultingmesstoallowustoopenupaleadIhopedwouldprovesufficient.

'Therewasagenestealerwiththem,'Ipanted,prayingthatitwouldbepreventedfrompursuingusimmediatelybythetangleofperforatedorksblockingthepassage.Westoodareasonablechanceof stayingaheadof the lumberinggreenskins forawhile,until theirgreaterendurancestarted totell,butIwasundernoillusionsaboutbeingabletooutrunapurestrain.

Jurgen nodded. 'Saw it too,' he confirmed, before another bolt detonated uncomfortably closebehind us; the phenomenal resilience of the orkswas already allowing at least some of them torecoverfromtheexplosion.

Webothturned,directinganotherhailofunaimedlas-boltsbackintheirgeneraldirection,withthevaguehopeofputtingthemevenmoreofftheiraimthanusual,andforasecondtheairinmylungs seemed to freeze solid. Most of the las-bolts were impacting on the thorax of anothergenestealer,which had just entered the corridor from the cargo hold. It wasmoving sluggishly,ratherthanwiththeblindingspeedandagilityIusuallyassociatedwiththecreatures,andwentdown

withoutevenanattemptatseekingcover,butIknewwewouldn'tbesoluckyagain.Evenoverthesoundsofcombat,and theringingofourbootheelson thedeckplates, Iwasbeginning toheararustling,faintatfirst,likethewindinaforest,graduallyrisingtoamutedroar,whichremindedmeuncomfortablyofthetidalborewhichhadalmostsweptmetomydeathonRikenbach.(AndtakenthefeetoutfromunderthehereticDreadnoughtI'dbeenrunningawayfromatthetime,luckilyforme; I'd eventually washed up half-drowned on a sandspit, while our Hydra battery chewed it topiecesbeforeitmanagedtogetupagain[144].)

'The whole nest's reviving [145] !' I shouted, finding I could run a little faster after all. Thedistinctiveclick-scratchoftalonsonmetalechoedallaroundus,andIriskedaquickglanceback,regrettingitatonce.Thepursuing 'stealersweren't just racingalongthefloorof thepassageway,theyweremoving just as fast along the ceiling and thewalls, their claws ripping purchase evenfromapparentlysmoothsurfaces.Theresultingfast-movingconstrictionin thedimensionsof thecorridor, beyond which more purestrains and a few implanted orks could be intermittentlyglimpsed,madeitlookeduncannilyasthoughJurgenandIwerebeingswallowed-animpressionIfound about as comforting as you might expect. The creatures were still moving a little moresluggishlythanusual,true,buttheyweregainingnevertheless,andIfoundmyselftryingtoestimatejusthowlongitwasgoingtobebeforeIfeltclawsinthebackofmyneck.TheonlyresultIcouldcomeupwithwasnotnearlylongenough,whichwashardlyhelpful.Thesidepassageswepassedwere choked with debris, and attempting to find refuge in any of them would be futile, simplyslowingusdownenoughforthehorrorsinpursuittocatchupevenmorequickly.

Asthebreathbegantorasp inmythroat,madeevenworsebythedustourheadlongdashwasraisingfromthemetalmeshatourfeet,Isentafewlas-boltsintothedarknessatourbacksentirelyat random. The chances of an effective hitwereminimal, true, but Iwas almost bound to strikesomethingamongsodenseaconcentrationofxenosflesh,andevenatokenefforttofendthemofffostered the comforting illusion that theremight still be someaction I could take to avoid a fatewhichnowseemedinevitable.

Then,justaseverythingseemedlost,Ifeltasuddenflareofhoperisewithinme,asthebeamofJurgen's luminator pickedout the rust-pitted surface of the bulkheadwe'd so laboriously leveredopen,nomorethanacoupleofhundredmetresaheadofus.Ifwecouldonlybuyourselvesafewmoreprecioussecondstoreachit,beforetheonrushinghordereachedusinstead...

Iriskedanotherglancebehind,tofindthattheswarmhadclosedthedistancemorerapidlythaneven my most pessimistic estimate; the recently roused genestealers were clearly feeling rathermore chipper now, probably at the prospect of breakfast.We'd never evenmake it as far as thebarrieratthisrate,letalonemanagetowrigglethroughthenarrowgapbeneathit,beforewewereoverwhelmed.

Therecentlykindledflameofhopegutteredandsubsided,butIrefusedtoletitbeextinguishedentirely.'Jurgen!'Ibellowed,overtherisingnoisebehindus,andforabrief,hallucinatorymoment,tastedseawateragain.'Anygrenadesleft?'

'Acouple,sir,'Jurgensaid,rummagingthroughhiscollectionofpouches.'Fragorkrak?''Frag!'Ishouted,hopinghewouldn'ttakeitforstress-inducedprofanity.'Rightyouare,sir,'myaideresponded,imperturbableasever,andproducedonewiththeairof

havingperformedasuccessfulconjuringtrick.Inasingledeftmovement,heprimedandlobbeditoverhisshoulder,notbotheringtolookorcarewhereitlanded.Intruth,neitherdidI.Iheardthecasing clatter resonantly against the metal mesh of the deck, felt my shoulder muscles tenseinstinctively for the shockof detonation, andhoped to theThrone thatwe'dbeout of its areaofeffectbythetimethehailofshrapnelwasreleased.AsecondortwolaterIwaspunchedhardinthebackbyalarge,hotfist,andriskedaglancebehindus,beingrewardedwithaconfusedimpression

of thrashing limbsand tails receding furtherwith each footstep I took.Therewasno time to seemore,aswe'dreachedthebulkheadatlast,and,praisetheEmperor,itwasstillprecariouslyraisedbyourmakeshiftlever.

Hearing the renewed skitter of fast-approaching claws, I lost no time in scrabbling under thethickmetalslab,whileJurgendidhisbesttodiscouragetheswarmwithafinalburstofhislasgunthroughthefiringslitthegapcreated.

'Throughyoucome,sir,'hesaidencouragingly,grabbingmyforearmandyankingmetherestof theway, like a recalcitrant cork from a bottle. I half-slid into the utility conduit, where we'dremovedthecoveringmesh,beforerecoveringmybalance,barkingmyshinpainfullyontheedgeofthenextsectionofdeckplatingasIdidso.

'Thank you, Jurgen,' I said, turning to swipe the blade of my chainsword at the excessivelyclawedarmgropingthroughthegapafterme.Thelimbpartedandfellintothechannelbeneaththedeck plates, but if I knew 'stealers thatwasn't going to be enough to discourage its owner fromfollowing,letaloneitsbroodmates,soIturned,andseveredthelengthofpipeholdingthebulkheadupwithasinglestrokeofthewhirlingblade.Thethickslabofmetalfellwithgratifyingspeed,anda thudwhichmade the deck plates shudder beneath our feet, crushing the first purestrainswhichweretryingtofollowusintheprocess.Acoupleofheads,anassortmentoflimbsandagenerousdollopofmashedtorsoslithereddownintothegullyinthewakeofthearmI'dcutoff,makinganunholymessofmybootsastheydidso.

'Thatought tohold 'em,' Jurgensaid, anunmistakablenoteof satisfactionsuffusinghisvoice,andInodded,drawingdeepdraughtsofthefoetidairintomylungstoslowmyhammeringheart.The narrowness of our escape finally sank in, and I sat on the pile of scrap we'd used as acounterweight a littlemoreheavily than I'd intended, heedless of thedamage itwasdoing tomygreatcoat.RightnowIcouldhardlylookmuchmoredishevelledthanIalreadydidinanycase.

'Forawhile,'Iagreed,asafaintraspingbeganbehindthebulkhead,andIbelatedlyrealisedthatcreaturescapableofrippingTerminatorarmourapartweren'tlikelytobeheldbackforverylongbyamerefewcentimetresofsteel.Iregainedmyfeet,havinggotenoughofmybreathbacktostartrunningagainifIhadto.'Comeon.'Istartedtoleadthewaydownthetunnel.

'Won't that take us straight back to the orks?' Jurgen asked, falling in at my shoulder, and Inodded.

'Ihopeso,'Itoldhim,ignoringthefamiliarexpressionofpuzzlementfallingacrosshisfeatureslikeawaningmoon.'Rightnow,theylooklikethebestchancewe'vegot.'

TWENTY-TWO

THOUGHWEWEREretracingourstepsexactly,itseemedtotakefarlesstimetogetbacktotheenclaveof theorks than ithaddone tocover thesamedistance in theoppositedirection.Partly, Isuppose,thatmusthavebeenduetoourfamiliaritywiththeterrain;headingawayfromitwe'dbeencheckingforunexpectedhazardsthewholeway,whereasnowwewereabletoplaceourfeetwithconfidence,certainweweren'tabouttobepitchedthroughsomeweakenedsectionofflooringtothedeckbelow,likethedamagedCATwe'dgotintothismessinthefirstplacebyattemptingtorecover.Mainly,however,Ithinkitwasduetousknowingalltoowellwhatwewereheadingtowards.

Aswepassed the tunnelmouths I'd consideredgoingback to in searchof analternative routewhenwe'dfirstfoundourwayblockedbythebulkhead,IhadtoexertallthewillpowerIpossessednot to turnaside in thehopeofbeingable tobypass thegenestealernestandattempt to reach thehangar again. The only thing that stoppedmewas the realisation that it would be impossible toevadethecreaturesnow.Thebroodmindhadbecomeawareofourpresence,andIwascertainthatthemalignantmass of the creatureswe'd stumbled acrosswouldbediffusing itself though everycorridor,ductandpassagewaybythistime,effectivelyisolatingusfromourgoal,whilehuntingusdowndeckbydeck.Ouronlychance,slenderasitwas,wouldbetogiveitsomethingelsetothinkabout-whichiswheretheorkscamein.

SeeingtheimplantedonesamongtheswarmhadprettymuchconfirmedthedeductionI'dmadeaboutthebroodmind'sreasonsforleavingthegreatmassoftheminignoranceofthepresenceofgenestealers aboard the Spawn ofDamnation.The first few it had takenwould have left it in nodoubtofthesingle-mindedviciousnessofthespecies,andthatanyattempttoconfrontsomanyofthemdirectlywouldhaveleftthe'stealersinpoorshapetocontinuespreadingtheirblightthroughthegalaxy,ifanyhadsurvivedatall.Farbettertocontinuelurkingintheshadows,pickingoffafewof the interlopers here and there, until the greenskins'warhostwas thoroughly infiltrated and itsability to fight off the swarmhad been critically compromised. In themeantime, itwould get toinvade Serendipita by proxy, through implanted and hybridised orks, who would spread thegenestealertaintwherevertheywent,nodoubttakingasmanyofthepurestrainsastheycouldalongfor the ride.Andwhile theygotonwith that, theorkhordewouldbegiving thedefendersof thesystemmore thanenough to thinkabout,allowing the 'stealers tostartpolluting thegenepoolofSerendipita'shumaninhabitantsunnoticedandunopposed.

TheonlywayIcouldseetopreventthat,and,moreimportantly,savemyownskin,wastoturnthe brood mind's own tactics against it. Something easier said than done, of course, but myinstinctiveaffinityforenclosedspacesandremainingorientatedwithinthemhadgivenmethegermofan idea.Afairlynebulousone, it's true, theonlypart Iwascertainaboutbeingagreatdealofrunning, but it was better than nothing. Thus it was, far too soon for comfort, I found myselfskulkingthroughthelitcorridorsofthesectiontheorkshadcolonisedagain,hopingwewereintherightareaandthatwewouldn'tcomeacrosstoomanyoftheinhabitantsbeforewewereready.

However, itseemedthattheEmperorwaswithusoncemore,thecreatures'habitualbellicosityand flatulence combining to produce more than enough audible warning of their presence forJurgen and I to find concealment in time to escape notice. Before too longwe found ourselveslooking out for the second time over the vast metal cavern which their relentless energy and

destructivenesshadwrenchedfromthefabricofthespacehulk.Fortunately,mysenseofdirectionhadn'tletmedown,andwe'darrivedmoreorlesswhereI'd

hoped we would, overlooking the smoke-shrouded section where the mekboyz toiled, creatingweaponsandammunitiontolaywastetoSerendipita.EvenatthisdistanceIcouldfeeltheheatfromtheroaringforges,andhear theclankof tools fromthedecksbelowuswheregangsofgretchinriggerswerescavengingfreshrawmaterialforthefurnaces.Betweenthemurkandtheheathazeitwashardtomakeoutmuchdetail,butthelittleIcouldwasmorethanenough.

Almost immediatelybelowuswasanareadevotedto theconstructionofbattlewagons:mobileweaponplatformsbristlingwithweapons,which I recognised fromPerlia.No twowerealike,ofcourse, but I'd faced them often enough to know how hard they could be to knock out withoutarmoursupport,andhopedTorvenandKregeenwouldbeabletoscrapeupafairnumberoftanksbetweenthem.Therewereplentyofsmallertrucksaboutaswell,armedtoo,ofcourse,butforthemomentatleastbeingusedtoshiftsuppliesaboutfromoneendofthecaverntotheother.(AndforallIknew,theorkishmindsetbeingwhatitwas,backagain,justforthefunofchargingaroundatlife-threatening speeds.) In the middle distance was a latticework of scaffolding, where theminusculefiguresofinnumerablegretchinwereswarmingoveravastpileofscrap,whichlookedalarmingly like a half-completed gargant; but that, at least, would be a problem for later, andpreferablysomebodyelse.

'Thoselooklikepromethiumtanks,' Isaid,nudgingJurgenandpointingtoaclusterofdomedcylindersontheperipheryofthevehicleassemblyarea.'Canyoureadtheglyphs?'

Myaidenoddedandsquintedalittle,tryingtobringthecrudelydaubedsymbolsonthesidesofthe tank into focus through thesmoke-stainedair. 'Looks likeawarning,'hesaidat last. 'Fire,orburn,andzogoff[146].'

'Excellent,'Isaid,myguessconfirmed.'Doyouthinkyoucanhititfromhere?''Ireckonso,'Jurgensaid,peeringthroughthesightsofhislasgun. 'It'salongshot,butatleast

there'snowindagetoworryabout.'Hesteadiedhisbreathing,liningtheshotupcarefully,andfiredonce.Istrainedmyeyes,butthe

distanceandtheobscuringmurkweretoogreat,andIcouldseenosignof the impact. 'Bit to theleft.'Herepeatedtheprocess,tonoapparenteffect,thentriedathirdtime.Iwasjustonthepointofgiving up and trying to find an alternative target, whenmy aide grunted with satisfaction. 'Thatoughttodoit.'

'Didyouhitthetank?'Iasked,stillwaitingforsomekindofvisibleeffectwithasenseofvaguedisappointment. I suppose I was hoping for something like the inferno which had engulfed therefuellingstationinProsperityWells[147],althoughthathadbeensparkedbyakrakroundfromarocketlauncherratherthanthefeeblepunchofalasgunfiredfromfarbeyonditsnormaleffectiverange.

Jurgenshookhishead.'Thetank?'heechoed,lookingpuzzled,althoughthatwasnothingnew.'Iwasshootingattheoutletvalve.'Squintinginthedirectionoftheblockycylinders,Iwasjustabletomakeoutsomeminuteprotmsionswhereaclusterofpipesjoinedtheassembly.Itmayhavebeenmy imagination, but the haze seemed a little thicker there, and I thought I could make out theshimmerofliquidgushingfromthenearestone,toformanevergrowingpool.

'Thatwouldworkmuchbetter,'Iassuredhim,marvelling,notforthefirsttime,athisstandardofmarksmanship.Tohitsosmallatargetatthisrangewouldhaveinvolvedafairdegreeofluckaswell,ofcourse,butIwasn'tgoingtoturnupmynoseatthateither.'Welldone.'

'You'rewelcome, sir,' Jurgen said, allowing a faint air of satisfaction to enter his voice, thennoddedjudiciously.'Justgiveitanothermomenttoletthefumesbuild.'Hesighteddownthelasgunagain.'Onlyneedsalittlespark...'

Hesqueezedthetrigger,andIstaredatthefueldump,hopefulanticipationnarrowingmyeyes.Wheretheshothit,Ihadnoidea,butthelas-boltmusthavestruckmetal,producingthesparkJurgenhadwished for.For thebriefest of instantsnothing seemed tohappen, then abright orange flareblossomedfromnowhere,racingthroughtheairasitexpanded,toengulftheentirecomplex.

'Good shot!' I started to say, theneverythingwasdrownedoutbya thunderclapwhich leftmyears ringing, the sound rebounding and redoubling in the confined space. A lake of liquid firepoured through the assembly area,washing over the newly completed battlewagons, immolatingorksandgretchinbythehundredintheprocess.Acoupleoftrucksonthefringesofthemekboyz'compound turned and raced away, trying to outrun the spreading flames; onemade it to safety,while the otherwas overtaken and engulfed, its own fuel combusting in aminiature echo of themainfireball,allbutlostinthegeneralconflagration.

'Thatwentwell,'Jurgensaid,soundingdistinctlypleasedwithhimself,overtherollingboomofasuccessionofsecondaryexplosions,astheammunitionaboardtheburningbattlewagonsbegantocook off. I found myself wondering where the main munitions dumps were, and whether we'dperhapsoverdoneitalittle.I'dbeenhopingtogettheorks'attention,notwipethemoutentirely.

Well, that wasn't going to happen, of course. Despite the vista of destruction spreading outbeneathourfeet,thegreaterpartofthegreenskins'colonyhadbeenleftuntouched.Tearingmyeyesfrom the inferno we'd unleashed, I was gratified to see them charging around in even greaterdisarray than usual, while bellowing nobz [148] attempted to restore order with about as muchsuccessasyoumightexpect.Thewarbosswe'dseenbeforewasforginghiswaythroughthemillingthrong, cracking heads and roaring at anything unfortunate enough to cross his path, and I gaveJurgenanudge.Thiswastoogoodanopportunitytomiss. 'Isn'tthattheoneyouwantedtotakeacrackatthelasttime?'Iasked.

'Lookslikeit,'Jurgenagreed,takingthehintandliningupanothershot.Itwastoomuchtohopethat he'd be able to drop the leader of the host from here (although given the devastation he'dalreadymanaged towreakwith justa few las-rounds Iwouldn'thavebeenall thatsurprised ifhetookthebrutecleanlybetweentheeyes),butIhadanotherobjectiveinmindinanycase.'Frak.Justwingedhim.'

Thewarbosslookedup,snarling,asJurgen'slas-boltimpactedontheleftshoulderplateofhisarmour, adding another barely visible dent to the impressive collection already decorating it, toglarefurioushatredinourdirection.WhichwaspreciselywhatI'dhopedfor.Isteppedtotheverybrinkofthevertiginousdropattheendoftheabbreviatedcorridor,heedlessofthesuffocatingheatrisingfromtheinfernobelow,andflourishedmychainsword,lockinggazesovertheinterveningdistance.ItwasagestureIknewnogreenskinwouldbeabletointerpretinanymannerotherthanachallenge,andIwasright;withabellowofrage,inaudibleovertheroaringoftheflames,andthecacophonouscollapseofthepartiallycompletedgargantasthesupportingscaffoldsoftenedinthefurnace heat, he began running in our direction, skirting the inferno as closely as he could.Hisbodyguardcamewithhim,ofcourse,and, true to themobmentalitywhichseemed togovernallthesecreatures'actions,everyotherorkinthevicinitytrailedalongbehind.Evenfromthisdistance,andoverthedeafeningclamourofthedestructionwe'dunleashed,Icouldheartherisingcommunalshoutof''WAAAAAAGGHHHHHH!''whichbetokenedtheirunleashedbloodlust.

'Timeweweregoing,' I said,estimatinghow long itwould take for them to reachus.Severalminutes, at least, but they wouldn't be expecting us to hang about either. As they climbed theinterveninglevelsthey'dbefanningoutthroughthemtoo,hopingtogetaheadandcutusoff.Whichmight even haveworked, if there hadn't been a swarm of genestealers on our heels already, nodoubthopingtorepeatthetrickintheotherdirection.

Forwantofanybetteridea,Ihurriedbackinthedirectionofthebranchingcorridorswhichhad

attractedmy attentiononourway in, hoping the genestealerswouldn't have advanced that far bynow.Iwasfairlysurethey'dcontinuetoavoidtheorkishenclave,aspenetratingitsperimeterwouldrevealtheirpresence,effectivelyfrakkinguptheirplantousethegreenskinsfortheirownends;buttheorksmustbespreadingouttoobynow,maddenedbyblood-lustandthedesireforrevenge,andwith any luck the two groups would encounter one another before either caught up with us. Ofcourse that raised the interesting question of how we were going to slip through a minor warwithoutbeingcaughtinthecrossfire,butI'dworryaboutthatwhenthetimecame.

Intheevent,however,itwasn'tthe 'stealersortheorkswhichfoundusfirst.Wewerestillwellinsidetheilluminatedareawhenapatteringofrunningfeetonthedeckplatesbehindussnatchedatmyattention,andIwhirled round to find thecorridorchokedwithgretchin,charging towardsuswithshrillsquealsofmalevolentglee,urgedonbytheroaringbulkoftheirorkishoverseer.Justour luck: theymusthavebeenforagingin thispartof thewreckwhenweblewupthefueldump,noticedthecommotion,andgotcaughtupinthegeneralbloodlust.

'I'lltakethebigone!'Ishouted,placingacoupleoflas-boltsfrommypistolinthecentreoftheork'schest,which,givenhowmuchhetoweredoverthegrotz[149]washardlyadifficulttestofmymarksmanship.Hestaggered,butrallied,andwouldprobablyhavechargedmeifithadn'tbeenforthemillingmassof smaller greenskins clustered aroundhis feet. Jurgen thinned themout nicelywithacoupleofburstsfromhislasgun,leavingtheresttodecidetheyweremorescaredofusthanthe ork, and scatter squealing. Finding the way unexpectedly clear, the ork began to chargeforwards,aclubthethicknessofmyforearmraisedtostrike;butIwasreadyforhim,andduckedunderit,theedgeofmychainswordchewingthroughhistorsoinarisinghorizontalcut.Bellowinginsurpriseandoutrage, thehulkinggreenskin tried to turn foranothergo,before the realisationthat he'd been almost bisected finally sank in, and he toppled to the deck plates, staring instupefactionathiswidelydistributedentrails.

'Thatwaseasy,'Jurgenremarked,andInodded,flickingthespeedsettingofthechainswordbacktoidle.IsuspectedI'dbeneedingitalotmoreinthenextfewhours,ifImanagedtolastthatlong,anddidn'twanttofindthepowerpackdepletedwhenIdid.

'Bettermakethemostofit,'Iadvised.'Thingsaregoingtogetabittrickierfromnowon.'Inthatexpectation,Iwasfarfromdisappointed.Bythetimewe'dreachedtherelativesanctuary

ofthedarkenedcorridorsagain,we'dseenoffanotherhalf-dozenorks,intwosandthrees[150],thefirstfewofthemobhuntingustomakeitintotheseupperlevels.ButIknewtherewereboundtobemore,hardontheirheels,andIbegantowonderaboutthewisdomofthecourseofactionI'dbegun.

Well, itwas too lateforsecond thoughts,ofcourse.Bynowwewerealmostat thefirstof theside tunnels I'dbeenmaking for,and Ipickedupmypacea little, conscious that thegenestealerswould almost certainly have ripped their way through the bulkhead by this time, and could beskittering towardsus fromoutof thedarknessas fastas theirsix limbscouldcarry them. If theyhadn'talreadygotthisfar,andwerenowlurkinginambush,ofcourse,orothersoftheirkindhadn'tfound their way here by another route. I listened carefully, alert for any hint of scuttling in thegloomaroundus,butwhatIcouldhearoverthehammeringofmyheartwastoofaintanddiffusetopinpoint.

Nopointworrying then, I toldmyself,beforeabarelyperceptiblechange in thequalityof thedarknessenfoldingusstartedticklingattheedgeofmyawareness.'Killtheluminator,'IinstructedJurgen.Responsive as ever to orders he complied immediately, and I realised at once that Iwasright.Therewasafaintglowbehindus,growinginintensitymomentbymoment,andasIstrainedmyearsIwasabletomakeouttheirregulardrummingofalargenumberoffast-movingfeet.Amomentlateritwasjoinedbythetimbreofgutturalvoices,quarrelsomelyraised,whichdispelledanypossibledoubt theremighthavebeenaboutwho theybelonged to. 'Thisway!And try tostay

quiet.'Thelastadmonitionmaynothavebeenstrictlynecessary,Isuppose,astheoncomingorkswould

almostcertainlyhavedrownedoutanynoisewemightbemakingwiththeirinterminablebickering,but it never hurt to be careful. Besides, I hadn't forgotten that the genestealers were somewherearoundtoo,andwereprobablylisteningoutforuswithjustasmuchenergyandinterestasIwasforthem.FortunatelyI'dmemorisedthepositionofthecrosscorridorwe'dbeenaimingforbeforeourluminatorwentout,andafewstridesweresufficienttotakemethere;mynoseenabledmetofixJurgen's location just as easily, and guide him in the right direction too, so that by the time thediffuse glow behind us separated into a score of distinct light sources, the pair of us werecomfortablyensconcedbehindalargelumpofrustafewmetresintothepassageway,whichlookedasthoughithadoncebeenapumpofsomekind.Fromtherewehadagoodviewofthecorridorwe'd just left, so I hunkered down, my laspistol at the ready, and peered round the defunctmechanism,hopingtoseeenoughtogetanestimateofthesizeofthegroupbehindus.

In theevent, Iwas toseeagreatdealmore than that.As theorksapproached the junction,andJurgenand I steadiedourweapons,preparing todropanywhichsplitoff from themainbody toexploreourrefuge,thelightaroundusgrewbrighterwitheverystepcloserthegreenskinstook.Asyet,althoughtheyweremorethanaudible,thepursuingorkshadstilltobecomevisible;thepumpbehindwhichJurgenandIwerelurkingwasonthesideofthepassagewaytheywereapproachingfrom,sotheviewwehadofthemaincorridorwasuptowardsthegenestealernestwe'dstumbledacrosswhatfeltlikealifetimeago,butwhichmychronographstubbornlyinsistedhadbeenbarelyanhourandahalf.

Icentredthejunctionofthetwopassagewaysinmysights,andblinked,thinkingforamomentthatfatigueandstresshadfinallycaughtupwithme.Theshadowswereshrinkinganddeepeningastheluminator-bearinggreenskinsapproached,butonehadappearedtoripple,movinginthewrongdirection,beforesettlingagain,somewhereinatangleofpipeworkdependingfromtheceiling.

Mybreathfroze.'Stealer,'Iwhispered,almostinaudibly,notdaringtoraisemyvoiceanylouderincasethechitinousobscenityheardme.'Inthemainpassage.'

'I make it three,' Jurgen responded, equally sotto voce, an instant after I spotted the others,clinging to the wall beside a ventilator grille a little above eye level, and lurking in the utilitychannelbeneaththemeshdeckplate.Thenmoreshadowsrippled,andawholeswarmofthemwassuddenlythere,blockingthepassagewayentirely, justas thevanguardof theorkscamepoundingintoviewfromtheotherdirection.

Isupposehumansinthatpositionmighthavehesitated,paralysedforamomentbysurpriseorindecision, but both xenos breeds were governed by an instinctive aggression which generallyserved them well in such encounters. With a bone-rattling yell of 'WAAAAAGGHHH!' thegreenskins surged forwards, firing their crude bolters and swinging their axe blades, and thepurestrainsflowedtomeetthem,meetingfirearmwithmandible,edgedsteelwithclaw.Bloodandichor flowed, neither side willing or capable of giving quarter, each equally determined toannihilatetheother.

'Come on,' I instructed, leaving them to it and hurrying down the passageway as quickly as Icouldwithoutbreakinganankleonsomeunseenobstruction.Afterbarkingmyshinsonpiecesofscraplitteringtheplaceacoupleoftimes,ItoldJurgentorekindletheluminator;afterall,theorkswere using them too, andwouldn't be able to tell us from allies at a distance, and Iwas alreadyconvincedthe'stealerswouldbeabletofindusjustaseasilywhetherwewereusingoneornot.Thenoise of the skirmish behind us was drowning out any warning my ears might have given ofpurestrainslurkinginambush,so,likeitornot,wehadnooptionotherthanrelyingonourvisioninanycase.

'Sounds like they're all at it,' Jurgenobserved, soundingnomore concerned than if he'd beeninformingmethatrainwasexpectedbyevening,andInoddedinagreement.Sporadicshootingandorkishwarcriescouldbeheardechoingdowntheshaftsfromeverydirectionnow,anditbecameclear tomethatperhapswewouldn't findawayoutafterall.Mygift for remainingorientated inenvironments like thisstill seemedas reliableasever,but itappeared thewayback to thehangarwasnowblockedbytwohordesofinimicalxenoformshell-bentonknockingtheproverbialnineshadesoutofoneanother.Iftherewasanythingatallpositiveaboutthesituation,Isupposed,itwasthatthegreenskinswerenowwellandtrulyawareofthegenestealerpresence,whichmeantneitherwouldhavemuchtimeorattentiontospareforlaunchinganattackonSerendipitaanytimesoon.ThismayhavebeengravyfortheSerendipitans,butwasn'tmuchhelptome.

'Let'strythisway,'Isaid,spottinglightsmovingupahead,andturningasidedownapassagewaywhichlooked,ifanything,evenmoredecrepitanddangerousthantheonewe'djustleft.Aflickerofmotion caught the corner of my eye, and I turned, bringing up my chainsword instinctively,poweringtheteethuptocombatspeed.Yetagain,myduellist'sreflexessavedmylife,asthebladeslicedcleanlythroughthearmofagenestealermillimetresfromclosingitsclawsaroundmyhead,andIpivotedoutofthewayofitsrush,decapitatingitneatlyonthebackswing.AsitfellIlookedaroundformore,butthisoneseemedtohavebeenalone,muchtomyrelief.

Anyrespitecouldonlybetemporary,however;Ihadnodoubtthatthebroodmindwasawareofourlocationnow,andwouldbesendingmoreofthecreaturesafterus.Allwecoulddowaskeepmoving,andhopetheorkswerekeepingtherestofthe'stealersinthevicinityoccupied.AtwhichpointIbecameawareof thelights in thedistanceagain,followingusdownthesidepassagewe'dtaken.Itseemedthey'dnoticedusatthesametimewe'dseenthem.

'Keepmoving,'Isaidurgently.'Asfastaspossible.''Rightyouare,sir,'Jurgensaid,suitingtheactiontothewordandbreakingintoanungainlytrot.

Itseemedwe'dpassedintoyetanothersectionofthehulk,ingreaterdisrepairthantheoldfreighterandwhatevervessel theorkshadbeencannibalisinghadbeen.Thecorridorwasnarrow,and thefloor plates badly corroded. The ubiquitous dust being kicked up bymy hurrying footstepswasstainedbrownwith rusthere, and flakesof the stuff cameoff thewalls every timemy shouldersbrushedagainst them.Loopsofcablehung like junglevines fromtheceiling,where thebracketsholdingtheminplacehadworkedloose,orfallenawayentirely,andforamomentIfoundmyselfwonderingifwecouldsomehowemulateMira'strickwiththepowerlinesbackontheRevenant,butthegeneratorswhichusedtofeedthemhadceasedtofunctioncenturiesago,ifnotmillennia,andeveniftheyhadn'tI'dprobablyjusthaveendedupelectrocutingmyselfinanycase.

'It's a dead end,' Jurgen called, flashinghis luminator round a rubble-choked chamber,which,judgingbythecontrollecternsandtheglass-fronteddialssetintothewalls,hadprobablyoncebeenamonitoringchapelfortheship'spowercore.TherewasnootherwayoutthatIcouldsee,andIexpressedmydisappointmentinseveralshortphrasesIthinkitbestnottorecordforposterity.'Canwegobackthewaywecame?'

'Ifweclear theorksoutof thewayfirst,' Isaid, indicatingthebrighteningglowsomewayoffdownthepassageway.

Jurgentookcoverbehindachunkoffallenceiling,hislasgunaimedatthenarrowentrance.'Notaproblem,'heassuredme.

'Gladtohearit,'Isaid,hopinghewasn'tbeingoverlyoptimistic.Itsoundedlikeafair-sizedmobtome,and,althoughtheycouldonlyenterthechamberoneatatime,I'dfoughtgreenskinstoooftentobesanguineaboutourabilitytodropthemallastheycamein.I'dseenorksshruggingofflasgunwoundswhichwouldhavekilledor incapacitatedaman,and itwouldonly takea fewof themtorushusinsoconfinedaspacebeforewewereoverwhelmed.'Gotanygrenadesleft?'

'Sorry,sir,'Jurgenshookhisheaddolefully.'We'veusedthelastone[151].''Ohwell,'Isaid,tryingtosoundcasual.'Can'tbehelped.We'lljusthavetodothebestwecan.'I

poppedoffafewspeculativelas-boltsdownthepassageway,hopingtodelayourpursuers,orgoadthemintodoingsomethingrash,butallIreceivedformypainswasanansweringflurryofbolterrounds, which punched holes in the metal walls surrounding us with a ripple of overlappingdetonationswhichmademyearsring.Thatsparkedanotheridea,andIscurriedovertothewalls,examining the damage. If themetal was thin enough, I might be able to cut us an exit withmychainsword,whileJurgenkeptthegreenskinsatbay.

Thehopewasaforlornone,though;abriefinspectionwasenoughtoconvincemeI'dneverbeable to slice through it in time, even if the teeth ofmyweapondidn't break in the attempt.Whatreallymademedecideagainsttrying,however,wastheflickerofmovementIglimpsedthroughthenearesthole.Isprangbackreflexively,asaclawagoodthirtycentimetreslongpokedthroughtheapertureandwriggledaroundexperimentally.Afteramomentitwithdrew,thenreappearedagain,alongwith its fourcompanions,punching through themetalas though itwerecardboard.Slowlytheydrewtogetherasthe'stealerbeyondthewallcloseditsfist,themetalcrumplinglikethefoilofarationpack,thenwithdrew,rippingawayanentirehandful,toleaveaholeroughlythesizeofmyhead.

'The 'stealers are coming through thewalls!' I warned Jurgen, as amouthwith far toomanyfangssnappedat thegap, just failing toforce itswayinside. I firedmylaspistolat it frompoint-blankrange,anditwithdrewinasprayoffoul-smellingichor,buttherespitewasonlyshort-lived.Themetal of thewall began to buckle and tear in several other places, andwith a thrill of purehorrorIrealisedtherewasanentiregroupofthemonstrositiesrippingtheirwaythroughtous.

'Theorksaren'tgettingoutofourwayeither,'myaideresponded,phlegmaticasever,sendingaburstof automatic firedown thecorridor ashe spoke.Anotherburstofbolts responded,hissingoverourheads, to impactagainst thewall.The 'stealers reeledfromthemultipledetonations,butrallied quickly, renewing their attack on theweakenedbarrier; at this rate they'd be through in amatterofseconds.

I backed away another couple of paces, swinging my chainsword in a defensive pattern, andwaitingforatargetofopportunityformylaspistol.I'donlyhavetimeforoneortwoshots,andIintendedtomakethemcount.

Thenaflickerofmotioncaughtmyattentionagain,half-hiddenbytheshadowsatroughlytheheightofmyshins,andIwhippedroundtofaceit,bringingthepistoltobear.Myfingerbegantotightenonthetrigger.

'Commissar!Isthatyou?'Thevoiceinmycomm-beadwasattenuatedandhazedwithstatic,andforamomentIwastootakenabacktorespond.'Thepictlinkisconsiderablydegraded.'

'Drumon?'Islackenedthepressureonthetrigger,justintimetoavoidblowingaholeinaCAT,almost identical to theonewe'd foundshortlybeforeBlainhadgone to report to theEmperor. Ittrundledoutfrombehindasaggingconsole,whichhadconcealeditfromviewwhenJurgenandIfirst entered the room. 'Where are you?' I fired a couple of las-bolts at a genestealerwhich hadrippedaholeinthewallwhileIwasspeaking,sufficienttopokeitsheadandshouldersthrough,andwhichwasreachingouttograbme.Itdropped,mostofitsheadnowmissing,todanglegrotesquely,halfwaythroughtheaperture,likeabadlymountedtrophy.

'AboardtheRevenant,'theTechmarinereplied,soundingfaintlysurprised.'Wethoughtyouweredead.'

'I soonwill be,' I replied,with a degree of brusqueness, cutting at another 'stealer,which hadburst through thewall as though emerging from some nightmare chrysalis. It retreated, leakingfluid from its thorax, and prepared to charge again. 'The hulk's crawling with 'stealers and

greenskins.'Asiftoemphasisethepoint,Jurgenfiredagain,elicitingabellowoforkishrage,andabandonedhisposttojoinme.'We'reboxedinbetweenthem.'

'Sorry,sir,'Jurgenreported,yankingtheluminatorfromthebarrelofhislasgunanddroppingitunceremoniously to the deck, where it rolled around, casting grotesque shadows across themonstershemmingusin.Hedrewhisbayonetandsnappedit intoplacewherethelighthadbeen.'I'mcompletelydry.'

'Holdyourposition,'Drumonadvised,andcutthelink.'LikeI'vegotanychoice!'Isnarled,duckingunderascythingblowfromtherallying'stealer,and

layingitopenfromthoraxtoheadbeforeitcouldrecover itsbalance.Itdropped,andI turnedtofacethenext,snappingoffashotatthefirstorktoenterthechamberasIdidso.Hestaggered,thenrecovered,andbegan tocharge,hisclumsyaxe raised forakillingblow,while thegenestealer Iwasfacinglunged,toofastformetocounter...

Thensomethingseizedme,crushedmeandtoremeinsideout.Foratimeless,blindinginstantIlostallsenseofwho,whatandwhereIwas,overwhelmedbymorepainandterrorthanIknewitwaspossibletoexperience.ThenIfeltanotherwrench,likethatofastarship'stransitionfromthewarpbacktoreal-space,andfell,feelingcoldmetalbeneathmyface.

'Commissar.Areyouwell?'ItwasDrumon'svoiceagain,butrealthistime,notissuingfromthetiny transceiver inmyear. I blinkedmyblurryvision as clear as I could, and felt huge ceramitegauntletsliftingmetomyfeet.

'I'll let you know,' I said, wondering vaguely why gretchin were hammering spikes into mytemples,andnoonewasdoinganythingaboutit.'Wherearethe'stealers?'

'And theorks,' Jurgenadded, lookingaboutashealthyas I felt,which is to saynotnoticeablydifferentfromhisusualdemeanour.

'BackontheSpawnofDamnation,'Drumonsaid,asthoughthatshouldhavebeenobvious.'Then where the hell are we?' I asked, trying to focus on our surroundings. We were in an

echoingmetalchamber,litbyfunctioningluminators.Arcanemechanismswereeverywhere,beingtendedbysolemnly-chantingtech-adepts,andtheairwasthickwithincenseandozone.EverythingIlookedatmademyheadacheworse,soIgaveuptryingtomakesenseofit.

'AboardtheRevenant,'Drumonsaid,inthesametoneofvoice.Heindicatedtheautomatonwe'dstumbled across, which for some reason was still with us, and pottering around the echoingchamberatrandom.'FortunatelytheCAT'steleporthomerwasstillfunctioning,sowewereabletobringyoubackalongwithit.'

'Youmeanyoucouldjusthaveteleportedtheonewewenttofetchbackaboardanytimeyoufeltlikeit?'Iasked,feelingfoolishandangryinroughlyequalmeasure.

TheTechmarineshookhishead.'Itwasdeactivated,'heremindedme.'Soitwas.'AndifI'dknownthenwhatIknewnow,I'dhavecheerfullyleftittorot.Iglancedat

the doorway, as another towering Figure strode through it with a nod of greeting. 'ApothecarySholer.Apleasuretoseeyou.'

'I imagine so,' Sholer said. 'An unprotected teleportation can have unpleasant effects on thesystem.'

'Indeeditcan,'Iagreed.'But,allthingsconsidered,adecidedimprovementonthealternative.'

TWENTY-THREE

I SPENT THE best part of a week under Sholer's care, recuperating from the effects of beingyankedthroughthefringesofthewarpbythescruffofmyneck[152],andfeelingvaguelyresentfulthat Iwassuffering theworsthangoverofmy lifewithouthavinghad the funwhichshouldhaveprecededit.Jurgen,tomysurprise,seemednonetheworsefortheexperience,recoveringinlittlemorethanaday[153],andbusiedhimselfasusualwithfendingoffunwelcomevisitorsandsortingouttheadministrativetriviaIfelttoogroggytodealwith.SomethingsIcouldn'tavoid,ofcourse,Gries among them, and I filled my time between sleeping and gradually diminishing bouts ofnauseawith compiling as complete a report as I could of our wanderings aboard the Spawn ofDamnation,andtheunpleasantsurprisesI'dfoundthere.

Feeling I ought to make a show of taking my position of Imperial Guard liaison officerseriously,IgotJurgentoforwardcopiesofmyevasionsandexcusestoTorven,whopassedthemtoDuqueandKregeeninturn,andallthreepassedtheinformationdownthelineoftheirrespectivecommands;theinevitableupshotofwhichwasthatrumourandexaggerationsoonbegantooutpacethefactualsummaries,sobythetimeIwasupandaboutagainpracticallyeveryoneinthesystemwasconvincedI'dseenoffagreenskininvasion,andaswarmofgenestealers,prettymuchsingle-handed.

'It'snowonderthegovernorwantstoseeyou,'Drumontoldme,onhislastvisittomyquartersaboardtheRevenant.Nowthattheimmediatecrisiswasover,andIwasfeelingalotmorelikemyoldself,I'dlostnotimeinarrangingmytransfertotheImperialGuardgarrisononSerendipita.I'dhadmorethanenoughofspacecraftforthetimebeing,andjustwantedtobesomewhereawayfrommetal corridors and shadows thatmight turnout to harbour a genestealer or two.True, itwouldhavetobeaveryfoolish'stealerindeedtotryboardinganAstartesstrikecruiser,buteverytimeIglancedoutofaviewport,theominousmassofthespacehulkcouldbeseenloomingoverus,andthefurtherIcouldgetfromitthebettersofarasIwasconcerned.'Youseemtobetheonlymaninthesystemmorehonouredthanheis.'

'Solongashedoesn'twanttochallengemetoaduel,'Ijested,surprised,andalittletouched,thathe'dbotheredtocomeandseemeoff.

Drumonsmiledfaintly. 'Smallfearofthat,'hesaid. 'Thewaythelocalsaretalkingaboutyou,Ithinkhewouldrathertakeonthebrother-captainifhehadagrievance.'

Jurgen fell into step behind us, hefting my kitbag along with his own, as we made our waythrough the corridors towards the hangar bay where our shuttle was waiting. As befitted theimpressionofmodestyIendeavouredtocultivate,I'daskedforanImperialGuardAquilatocollectmy aide and I, rather than putting the Reclaimers to the inconvenience of dispatching aThunderhawk -whichmeant I'd be able to sleep in peace, or catch up on some reading,withouthaving to don the clumsy ear-defenders.As I'd saved him the bother of fending off a greenskininvasion,andthesimultaneousinfiltrationofthesystembyraveninggenestealers,Torvenhadbeenmorethanhappytoindulgemywhim,andIhavetoadmittofeelingawarmglowatthesightofthesturdylittleutilitycraftnestledinbetweentheThunderhawkslikeafledglingamongadultraptors.

At first, however, I barely noticed it, being too astonished at the sight of an honour guard ofReclaimers,theirfreshlyburnishedarmourresplendentinthelightfromtheoverheadluminators,

linedupbetweenthedoorwayandtheloweredboardingrampoftheAquila.Grieshimselfwasattheirhead,andhetookapaceforwardsasDrumonandIdrewabreastofhisposition.

'Commissar.Yourassistancehasbeenappreciated,'hesaid, inclininghishead to lookdownatme.SomehowheseemedtohavegottheimpressionthatI'dbeenkeepingthegenestealersbusyonpurpose,buyingthetimefortheboardingpartytofightitswaybacktotheThunderhawkwiththedataYaffelhadmanaged to salvage from theRedeemer's cogitator core, and Iwouldn'thave feltcomfortabledisabusinghim.

'The honour's all mine,' I told him, truthfully enough. 'Is the situation aboard the hulk stableenoughtoresumesalvageoperations?'

'Notyet.'Heshookhisheadregretfully.'Buttheconflictbetweentheorksandthegenestealersisdiminishingslowly,alongwith theirnumbers.When reinforcementsarrive,weshouldbeable tocleansethekeyareasatleast.'

'I'msure themagoswillbedelighted tohear it,' Isaid. 'Aswill thegovernor,whenI report tohim.'

Idon'tmindadmittingtofeelingaflickerofapprehensionasJurgenandIclimbedtheboardingramp.EventhoughIknewMirahadlefttheRevenantaboardthegovernor'sshuttle,alongwiththeparasitesshe'dbeenherding,partofmestillexpectedher toturnupat thelastminute,asshehaddonebefore,readytodisturbmyhard-wonequilibriumagain.Shedidn't,ofcourse,andItookmyseatwithafaintsighofrelief,finallydaringtohopeI'dseenthelastofher,andwonderingwhythatthoughtcamewithafaintpangofregret.Despiteeverything,lifewithheraroundhadbeenfarfromdull,Ihadtoconcedethatatleast.

IfeltnosuchambivalenceaboutmylastsightoftheSpawnofDamnation,though,biddingthecursed vessel a hearty good riddance as it gradually diminished to a speck, and finally vanishedcompletelyamongthestars.

MYFIRSTSIGHTofSerendipitawas every bit as spectacular as I'd been led to expect, the lushblue-greenglobesilhouettedagainstthemottledochrehuesofthegasgiantaroundwhichitorbited,whiletheringsystemlaidaglitteringdiamondpathwaybeneaththeAquila'skeel.Icouldn'ttellyouhow long I simply stared out of the viewport, while theworld grew large enough to eclipse itsprimary,thenoccultitentirely,graduallygrowingtofillmyfieldofvision.EventuallyallIcouldsee was the curve of a horizon, and the sprawl of a continent, encroaching on a cloud-fleckedocean; then the land expanded to encompass the whole viewport, its mottled surface slowlyresolving into forests, plains and signs of habitation. Towns and cities became visible, roadsappearedlinkingthem,andtheregularoutlinesoffieldboundariesbegansegmentingwhat, fromhigherup,hadseemedtobenothingmorethanpatchesoffoliage.

'That must be it,' Jurgen said, pointing to an expanse of parkland in the distance, its artfullynaturallandscapebetrayingthehandofhumanintervention.Beforelonghewasprovedcorrect,bythe appearance of a palace, set on the shores of a lakewhichmight once have been real beforesomeone decided to tidy it up a bit round the edges. It was low, andwell proportioned, as suchbuildingsgo,constructedofsomelocalstoneofafaintlypinkishhue,whichechoedthecoloursofthegasgiantaboutwhichthewholeworldorbited.Thepilotbroughtusdownneatlyonalandingpadfringedwiththesamematerial,whichpartlyobscuredthemoreutilitarianrockcretenecessarytosupporttheweightofashuttle,andborderedwithflowerbedsstuffedwithsomelocalvarietyofflora.

'Andthismustbethegovernor,'Iagreed,astheboardingrampdescendedandadistinguished-looking fellow in a formal robe, his neatly curledwaist-lengthbeard embellishedwith a bowof

yellowsilk,steppedforwardstomeetus.Thestyleherewasevidentlyinformal.Ifhehadhouseholdtroopsorbodyguardswithhim,theyweretuckedsomewherediscreetlyoutofsight.

'CommissarCain?'heenquired,asiftheremightbesomedoubtastomyidentity,andInoddedonce,inacknowledgement.

'GovernorMetrelle.Mycomplimentsonyourgarden-arealtonictothespiritaftersolonginspace.'

Themansmiled faintly. 'I'm thegovernor'smajordomo,commissar.HisExcellency iswaitingfor you in the tea garden. If you'd care towalk thisway?'He turned and began leading thewayacrossaneatlyclippedlawntowardsatopiaryarchinahead-highhedge.

'IfIwalkedthatway,'Jurgenmuttered,inavoiceIdevoutlyhopedwasinaudible,'I'dbesingingsoprano.'

Ourguide stoppedby thegap in the foliageandmotionedus through. 'CommissarCain,yourExcellency,and...'hisgazerestedonJurgenforamoment,whilehisbrowfurrowedwiththeeffortofattemptingtoformulateanadequatedescription,'anotherperson.'

'My aide, Gunner Jurgen,' I said, stepping through the arch. Beyond was a pleasant formalgarden, scattered with comfortable chairs and small tables, at the largest of which sat a young-lookingmanofathleticbuildwithachinyoucouldhaveusedtochiselgranite.Hestood,smiling,andshookmefirmlybythehand.

'Ofcourse.Yourindispensablerightarm.'TotheastonishmentofbothofusheshookJurgen'shandtoo,wipinghisownsurreptitiouslyonthelegofhiscrispwhitetrousersashereturnedtohischair.'I'veheardalotaboutyou.'

'Allexaggerated,I'msure,'Isaid,slippingeasilyintothemodestheroroutine.Therewerefourplacesettingsatthetable,Inoticed,althoughnootherguestsseemedtobehereyet.

'Notintheleast,'awarmcontraltovoicesaid,andmyspineturnedtoice.I'dhaverecogniseditanywhere,evenbeforeJurgensaid'Goodafternoon,miss,'andIturnedtoseeMirasmilingatmethroughthegapinthehedge.

IliketothinkIralliedquickly,respondingwithaformalinclinationofthehead,andreturnedthesmile,asnoncommittallyaspossible.Ihadnoideawhatshewasdoinghere,andthoughtitbesttobidemytimeuntilIsawhowthelandlay.

Metrellesmiledathertoo,inthefaintlysimple-mindedfashionofamanbesottedwithamemberoftheoppositesex,andnotquitesurewhattodoaboutit.'Mybetrothedisagreatadmirerofyours,commissar.Youseemtohavemadequiteanimpressiononherwhileyouweretravellingtogether.'

'Howgratifying,'Irepliedautomatically,beforethefullimportofhiswordssankin,andIraisedaneyebrowatMira.'Betrothed?'

'Since lastnight.'Shesmiledat thegovernor inamannerI rememberedall toowell.Thensheturnedtomyaide.'Jurgen,IwonderifIcouldimposeonyouforaminute?ImanagedtogetholdofsomeofthatValhallandrinkyou'rebothsofondof,butourkitchenstaffarealittleunsureofthecorrectmethodofinfusion.'

'Youmanagedtogetsometanna?'Iasked,thefullextentofthegovernor'swealthandinfluencestartingtobecomecleartome.ItwasallIcoulddotomaintainasmallpersonalsupplyofthestuff,withtheaccessmypositiongavemetothevastresourcesoftheMunitorum.EmperoraloneknewhowMetrellehadmanagedit,atjustafewdays'notice,orhowmuchithadcosthim.

Henodded.'Mirasaidyou'dappreciateit,'hesaid.'Ifyourservantsdon't frak itup,' Jurgensaid,obliviousasever to thenicetiesofnon-military

protocol,butourhostsdidn'tseemtotakeitamiss.Mirawasusedtohim,afterall,andIwasprettysureMetrellewouldgoalongwithwhateverseemedtosuither.'I'dbettergoandshowthemhowit'sdone.'

'Thankyou,'Mira said, and smiled at the governor again, seeming as gooey as an eclair in aheatwave.'Wouldyoumindpointinghimintherightdirection,dearest?'

'Ofcourse.'Metrelleheavedhimselfoutofthegardenchair,andledJurgenthroughthearchway.Hisvoicediminishedinthedistance.'Justdownhere,pastthetoadpondandacrossthecourtyard...'

'Iknowwhatyou'regoingtosay,'Mirasaid,switchingoffthesimperandwatchingmethroughnarrowedeyes,'butwhatdidyouexpect?Youwentgaddingofftothatdriftingmausoleumandleteveryonethinkyouweredead.'

'And why bother fighting for a throne back home when there's one here you can just helpyourselftowithasmileandaquickproposal?'Iadded.

'Precisely.'Miranodded,lookingmorearistocraticthanever,evenifshewasstillspillingoutofhergownlikeajoygirldesperateforcustom.'Viridia'sgoingtobeacompletemessforyearsafterallthefighting,andit'salotmorecomfortablehere.Besides,Metty'squitesweetreally.Icoulddoalotworse.'

Ismiled,feelingarushofreliefsostrongitleftmebreathless.'ThenIsupposecongratulationsareinorder,'Isaid.Mirawatchedmenarrowly,siftingmywordsforanyhintofsarcasm.'I take it you're not going to make a scene, then?' she asked at length, sounding vaguely

disappointed.'No,' I saidgravely, trying to lookas though Iwasholdingmyemotions incheck,and firmly

suppressingtheimpulsetostartdoinghandspringsroundthegarden.'Iwon'tspoilitforyou.Bestmanwon,andallthat.'

Herexpressionsoftenedagain,soIassumedI'dgotawaywithit.'That'sverysweetofyou,'shesaid,althoughshemusthaveknownmebetter thanthatbynow.

'Andspeakingofthebestman,I'vegotalittlefavourtoask...''Byallmeans,'Isaid,distractedbythemingledodoursofJurgenandfreshlybrewedtanna.He

andthegovernorwerereturning,withasmallcomettailofretainers,allbearingtrays.Thingsweredefinitelylookingup.

'CanyoufindsomeexcusetofrakoffbacktoCoronusbeforethewedding?'Miraasked.'You'renotexactlylowprofilearoundhere,andIdon'twanttobeupstagedonmybigday,doI?'

'Consideritdone,'Iagreed.Intruth,I'dalreadymadeupmymindtoleaveassoonasIcould,theideaoflivingonaplanetunderMira'scapriciousandpudgythumbbeingfartoouncomfortabletocontemplate. I raised the tea bowl Jurgen had passed tome in a toast to the happy couple. 'TheEmperorprotects.'

Well,He'ddefinitelycomethroughformetoday;itwasonlypolitetosaythankyou.

[Onwhichnoteofuncharacteristicpiety,thisportionoftheCainArchivefinallymeanderstoanend.]

AppendixCHAPTERONE

1WhichindicatesthatthisportionofhismemoirswascomposedsometimebeforehegotroundtorecountingtheInteritusPrimeincident:atypicalexampleofhiscavalierapproachtochronology.

2InhisaccountofhisescapefromthenecrontombworldCainreferstothevesselasabattle-barge,whichishardlylikely,giventhatthesehugecraftareonlyemployedwhereasignificantproportionofanAstartesChapter'sassetsneedtobetransportedbetweenwarzones.It'squitepossible,however,that,giventheirrarity,hesimplybelievedittobeagenerictermforanySpaceMarinevessel.

3Heis,ofcourse,jokinghere-orsoIsincerelyhope.

4TherehaveindeedbeenreportsofnecronwarriorsapparentlysurvivingonworldswhichhavebeensubjecttodecreesofExterminatus.Although,giventheirapparentmasteryofthewarp,it'sequallypossiblethatthe''survivors''merelyarrivedthroughanundetectedportaldeepbelowthesurfaceafterthefirestormsabated.

5Atypicallyvaguestatement:thereseemtohavebeenaroundfortyorfiftyintotal,farfewerthanafull-strengthcompany,butstillmorethansufficienttodealwiththekindofcivilinsurrectionsweepingtheViridiaSystem.

6Thelocalnameforlawenforcers.

7MelmothisclearlylabouringunderthesamemisapprehensionasCainhere.

CHAPTERTWO8Presumablybecause''captain''isaSpaceMarinerank,andtoconferitonaserf,eveninadifferentcontext,mightleadtoconfusion.

9Agenerictermforalllightwarshipsincapableofwarptravel.

10Ashedoessoofteninthecourseofhismemoirs,Cainisclearlycompressingeventsherefordramaticeffect;evenatmaximumacceleration,theThunderhawkwouldhavetakenseveralhours,orpossiblylonger,toreachViridiafromtheRevenant'sclosestviablepointofre-entrytothematerium.

11Clearlyanexaggeration,astheThunderhawkwouldhavebeenpastfartooquickly,andattoogreatanaltitude,tobeabletomakeoutfacialexpressionsontheground.

12TheImperialGuardtermfortheirequivalentofaSpaceMarinecombatsquad.

CHAPTERTHREE13ThoughCaindoesn'tsaysoexplicitly,nodoubtexpectinghisreaderstobesufficientlyaufaitwithmattersmilitarytorecogniseit,thisisalmostcertainlysomeformofurbancamouflagepattern

suitedtooperationsinFidelis.

14Quiteunderstandably,asmostofCain'scolleagueswouldatleasthavehadthemanarrested,pendinganinvestigation,andmanywouldsimplyhaveshothimonthespotwithouteventheformalityofanenquiry.

15Apparentlyinanunderhive,althoughonwhichworldremainsamystery.

CHAPTERFOUR16Whichmeanshemusthavedrawnhislaspistol,althoughhedoesn'tbothertomentionthefact.

17Non-commissionedofficers.

18Theartilleryunithewasassignedtoattheoutsetofhiscareer.

19ConventionalpracticewouldbeforTerminatorstobedeployedindedicatedsquads,equippedwitheitherrangedorclose-combatweaponry.It'sunclearfromwhatCainsaysherewhetherthisisinfactthecase,andtwofullsquadsweresentin,orwhethertheReclaimershadcombinedelementsofbothinasingleunit,astheyalsoappeartodolaterinhisaccount.Ifthelatter,thiswouldbeextremelyunusual.

CHAPTERFIVE20Whichofhisownweaponshestowedtodothiswecanonlyspeculate.

CHAPTERSIX21Manyofthehybridsprobablyhadtheabilitytodothisaswell,butbynowthebroodmindhadevidentlyconcludedthatCainwouldbelesseasymeatthanthePDFtroopers,anddeployedthemostformidableofitsassetsaccordingly.

22Isuspectalittleexaggerationmaybecreepinginhere,asclosecombatagainstacreatureasformidableasapurestraingenestealerishardlylikelytoleaveenoughtimefordefiantspeeches.

23ImperialGuardregulationsarefirmonthispoint,prescribingexecutionasthepenaltyforlosingaweapon,unlessitwasanunavoidableconsequenceofactioninthefield.WhichprobablyaccountsformostGuardtroopers'tendencytocarrytheirseverywherewhenonduty,eventothelatrines.

24CainmightwellhaveencounteredpurestrainsonKeffia,althoughtheshortaccountofhisactivitiesthereonlymentionshybrids.Hemayalsohaveseentheminoneofthesporadiccleansingactionsagainstthetyranidsplinterfleetsinwhichhewasinvolvedpriortothisjuncture.

25Aformoftyranidcarnifex,sonamedforthesounditmakeswhilespittingaballofbio-plasma.

26Clearlytheresultofairbeingionisedbythedischargeofaturbolaser.

27SincetheywouldprobablyhaveteleportedbacktotheRevenantattheconclusionoftheirmission,

thiswouldn'thaveconcernedthemovermuch.

28ThoseofuswhohavehadmuchtodowiththeAstartes,andfoundthemrathermoreconcernedwiththetraditionsoftheirChaptersthaneffectivecooperation,mayfindthesesentimentsringingalittlehollow...

CHAPTERSEVEN29Likemanyseasonedtravellers,Cainusesthetermtorefertolawenforcersingeneral,ratherthanactualmembersoftheAdeptusArbites.Aspreviouslymentioned,theywereknownas''Guardians''onViridia.

30TheironyofthisstatementseemstohaveeludedCainentirely,thoughnot,Isuspect,mostofmyreaders.

31Probablytomakesurehewasn'tpushedoutoftheloopentirely.

32AValhallanbeverage,whichCaindevelopedatasteforshortlyafterhisfirstpostingtoaregimentfromthatworld.Why,Ihavenoidea.

33Hewas,ofcourse,oneofthefirstViridianstobescreenedanddeclaredfreeofthexenostaint.Otherwisehe'dhardlystillhavebeenbreathing,letalonegivenaccesstooneofthemostsecurefacilitiesontheplanet.

34Notstrictlytrue,asshewastheyoungestofthreesiblings,butshewastheonlyonepresentinFidelisatthetime.

35Or,togiveititsofficialtitle,TheEmergencyMartialLawRegulationsandProvisionsfortheSafeguardingofCivilianPopulationsinAreasUndertheProtectionofHisDivineMajesty'sImperialGuardandAlliedForces(CCXXXVIthrevisededition,759.M40).

36Thevastmajority,certainly.Most,ifnotall,havetheirowntraditionsandsecrets,sometimestoadegreewhichwouldseempositivelyhereticalinlessdevotedservantsoftheEmperor.

37Fromwhichwecaninferthatthey'deitherremovedtheirhelmets,andCainhadseenthemonsomeotheroccasion,orherecognisedthepersonalheraldryontheirarmour;probablythelatter.

38Not,Isuspect,ananalogytheTechmarinewouldhaveappreciated.

39It'sactuallynotthatsurprising,asthegenestealercultwouldhavebeenfewinnumber-tostartwith,andnodoubtconcentratedonexpandingitsinfluenceplanetside,wheremostoftheinstitutionsitwishedtosubvertwerebased.Mostoftheactiverebelsintheoffworldhabswouldhavebeensimpledupesofthebroodmind,ratherthanmembersofit.

40Thebeltofcometarydebriswhichmarksthenominalboundaryofastellarsystem.

41Traditionally,spacehulksaregiventheirnamesbytheInquisitionconclaveresponsibleforthesectorinwhichtheyfirstappear,and,asCainpointsout,theydotendtowardsthemelodramatic.

CHAPTEREIGHT42WhichseemstoindicatethatCainwasnevermadeawareoftheexistenceofMira'ssiblings,somethingmostpeoplewouldhavethoughttomentionatsomepointunderthecircumstances:asmall,buttelling,confirmationofherself-absorption.

43MostViridianhistoriesofthewarcredithimwithpullingtheshatteredremnantsofthePDFbackintoacrediblefightingforcealmostsingle-handed,andplayingadecisivepartinfinallyriddingtheplanetofthegenestealertaint,butweobviouslyhavetoallowforafairamountofbiasandlocalchauvinismintheseaccounts.TheImperialGuardrecordssimplystatethathewasaneffectivemediatorbetweenthemandthePDF,whichmightcharitablybeinterpretedasgrudgingapproval.

44Probablynot,infact,giventheaverageViridian'stenaciousfaithintheGoldenThrone,although1supposethereweretheinevitableexceptions.

45Infacttheywereprobablymoreinterestedinsearchingforbuildingmaterialsthanitemsofvalue.

46Assooften,Cain'shabitualcynicismwheremembersoftheEcclesiarchyareconcernedmayhaveledhimtomissthepoint.GiventhedevoutnatureofsomanyViridians,it'sentirelypossiblethatthelabourershesawwererepairingthetempleforspiritualratherthanpragmaticreasons.

47Intendedtoreducethesoundoftheverticalthrusters,whichwouldalwaysbeloudestattakeoffandlanding,andcontaintheworstofanexplosionintheeventofanaccident.

48AfaintlyderisivenicknameforacolytesoftheMachine-God,commonamongImperialGuardsmen,apparentlyderivedfromthecogwheelsymboloftheircalling.

49FromSoylensViridiansfortheMachine-Spirit,apopulistworkintendedtomakesomeoftheprinciplesbywhichtheAdeptusMechanicusoperatescomprehensibletothevastmajorityofuswithlittleunderstandingorinterestintechnotheology:anodoubtlaudableaim,whichitsignallyfailstoachieve,beingtooabstruseforthelayreader,andtoosimplisticforeventhelowliesttech-priest.Itsauthor,unsurprisingly,wasMagosYaffel,oneofthehandfulofpeopleactuallytohavereadit.

CHAPTERNINE50Itwasalsopossible,ofcourse,thatCain'ssuspicionsabouthertrueagewerecorrect,andthatthiswasn'tthefirstoccasiononwhichshe'dboardedastarship.

51ImustsayIfindthatalltooplausible:Cainpossessedconsiderablepersonalcharmandwasperfectlywillingtouseittogetwhateverhewantedfrompeople.Aparticularkindofwomanwouldbeextremelysusceptibletothat,especiallyifshewasn'toverlybrighttobeginwith.

52WhichprobablyindicatesthatthisportionofhismemoirswascompiledbeforethetyranidincursionsandtheBlackCrusadeweretodraghimbacktoreluctantactiveserviceintheclosingyearsofthe41stmillennium.

53Astartesdo,ofcourse,eat,althoughmostofthemseemtoregarddoingsomerelyasprovidingfuelfortheirenhancedmetabolisms,takinglittlemorepleasureintheactthanmembersofthe

AdeptusMechanicusdo.TherealreasonfortheReclaimers'reluctancetoinvitetheirgueststojointhemwasprobablythatsuchgatheringsaregenerallyregardedasprovidingspiritualaswellasphysicalsustenance,beingaccompaniedbyprayerstotheEmperorandtheChapter'sprimarch,andreadingsfromtheirownmartiallitanies.Doingsointhepresenceofoutsiders,andtherebyrevealingsomeoftheirChapter'smostsacredmysteriestonon-initiates,would,ofcourse,beanathematothem.

54Whichwouldhave,anddid,takeyears.

55Probablystaticcling.Iusedtohaveadresslikethat,butitwasneverquitethesameafterafirefightwithsomehrud;andconcealingaweaponwhilewearingitwasalwaysextremelyuncomfortable,soIneverbotheredtofindareplacement.

CHAPTERTEN56Notwithoutreason:almostadecadewastopassbeforetheOrdoXenosfeltabletodeclareViridiafreeoftaintwithanydegreeofcertainty,andthelocalauthoritiesremainvigilantforanysignofarenewedoutbreaktothisday.

57Apeculiarformofrecreation,practisedinsomeformonmanyworlds,inwhichpeopleattempttobalanceonaplankbeingsweptalongbywavesorwatercurrentsforaslongaspossiblewithoutfallingoff.Sincetheyinevitablydo,theappealofthepastimeescapesme.

58ThoughCainisclearlyexaggeratingalittlehere,he'squiterightintheessenceofhisassertion:ifthere'sanAstartesChapterwhichdoesn'tregarditstrainingareasashallowedgroundI'veyettohearofit,andgrantingaccesstoanoutsiderisanhonourseldomconferred.

59Infacthewasagreatdealbetterthanthat,beingoneofthefinestswordsmenI'veeverencountered,whichinmylineofworkisquitesomething.

60Ifanything,TechmarinestendtoberegardedassomewhateccentricatbestbymostChapters,whichaffordsthemafairamountoflatitudeintheirbehaviour.Infact,judgingbyCain'saccount,Drumonseemstobemoreacceptedasanequalbyhisbattle-brothersthanwouldnormallybethecase,perhapsbecauseoftheReclaimers'unusuallystrongtiestotheAdeptusMechanicus.

CHAPTERELEVEN61Hardlysurprising,sincetheywereprobablyaspirantstomembershipoftheReclaimerswho'dnarrowlyfailedtherigorousselectionprocess.

62ClearlymorethanthetwoCainmentionsseeinginthehangarbayearlierinhisnarrative;perhapstheyweredockedelsewhere,orsimplyengagedonotherdutiesontheoccasionsheembarkedanddisembarked.

63DamageControlTeam,atermalsoinusebytheImperialNavy.

64Valhallanshaveanintenseloathingforthisparticularxenosbreed,datingbacktotheunsuccessfulorkinvasionoftheirhomeworld,andwillengagethemwithscarcelylessferocitythanthegreenskinsthemselves.Butwithrathermoretacticalsense.

65Butprobablynotinquitethoseterms.

66Somethingofanexaggeration:orksareconsiderablymorerobustthanhumans,butnotquitetothatextent.

CHAPTERTWELVE67Cainisspeakingwithsomeauthorityhere,ashehadconsiderableexperienceofcapturedorkweaponryonPerlia.

68Hardlysurprising,astheywerebeingcontestedbyaSpaceMarinecaptainandhiscommandsquad,aswellasthearmedcrewmenCainhadpreviouslynoted.

69Oneofthegreenskins'principaldeities,apieceofxenologicaltriviahe'dpresumablypickedupduringhishecticsojournonPerliaafewyearsbefore.

70Or,morelikely,draggedintothewarpinthewakeoftheRevenant,tobepreyeduponbywhateverdaemonshappenedtobearoundatthetime.

71Anorkishwordforfirearmsingeneral.Theyhavenothingmorespecificintheirvocabulary,and,likemanynounsreferringtopiecesofwargear,itappearstobeacorruptedGothicloanword.

72Giventhatthemaincauseofperturbationinahandholdingapistolonaimistheheartbeat,whichaffectstheentirebody,Cain'sapparentlyunshakableconvictionthathisaugmeticfingersincreasedhisaccuracywithsuchweaponsmayhavebeenpsychologicalratherthanphysiologicalinorigin.

73WhichprobablyaccountedforatleastsomeofthegunfireCainnotedearlier,orkshavingafairlybasicwayofresolvingmostarguments.

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN74It'sunclearherewhetherCainisbeingliteral,ormerelymakingaflippantreferencetoMira'suseofherhuntingexpertise.ManySpaceMarineChaptersdoindeeddisplaythebodiesoftheirdefeatedenemies,butgiventheirprofusiontendtoberathermoreselectiveaboutit.

75Atraditionalartisan'sbenedictionwhileassessingarepairjob;itsoriginnowlost,althoughsomescholarsspeculatethatit'sasymboliccommunionwiththeirmaterials,infusingthemselveswiththeiressencebeforecommencingwork.Atanyevent,thetraditionpersiststhroughouttheImperium.

76Orksunusuallyskilledatinfiltrationandsabotage.

77AccordingtothelogoftheRevenanthewasfendingoffanattackingorkwithhismechadendritesandaconvenientchairatthemomentthevesselenteredthewarp.

78Orremarkablygoodjudgement,giventheprogressofCain'ssubsequentcareer.

79AsisCain'satthispoint.ItseemsquiteastonishingthatheshouldmisswhatMirawassoclearlydrivingat.Inhisdefence,however,itmustbepointedoutthathisexperienceofwomenpriortothis

particularliaisonhadbeenrathermorebroadthandeep,sotospeak,andthathe'dhadverylittlecontactwiththenobilityofthelmperium,solackedacontextforherdynasticambitions.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN80TheexactratioofmaletofemaleNavigatorscontractedoutbytheNavisNobiliteisamatterknownonlytothem,althoughbothsexesseemequallyablepractitionersoftheirarcanecraft,andwecaninferthatonlythemostskilfulwouldbeaccordedthehonourofservingaboardavesseloftheAdeptusAstartes.

81Apromethiumrefiningfacilityintheupperatmosphereoftheoutermostgasgiant,withapopulationofaroundthirtythousand.

82Cainappearstobereferringheretotheprimaryworld,ratherthanthesystemwithwhich,inaccordancewithImperialtradition,itsharedaname.

83Accommodatinglargervesselswouldbeonesuchoccasion,ofcourse,butcombiningthetwobayswouldalsoallowwhattheNavyrefertoasthrough-deckoperation,allowingfightersandshuttlestoarriveatoneendanddepartfromtheother,reducingthetimerequiredtorearmandre-equipthemduringcombat.Somewhathazardous,withthehangaropentovacuum,ofcourse,butSpaceMarinesandtheirvassalstendtobeabitblaseaboutthatkindofthing.

84Whichimpliesthatbothsetsofdoorswerebeingleftopen,toexpeditethedisembarkationofthepassengers:notthesafestthingtodo,but,aspreviouslynoted,SpaceMarinestendnottobetooconcernedatthepossibilityofexposuretovacuum.

85UnlikelyasthismaysoundSekaraisn'texaggerating.AccordingtoMott,mysavant,suchprotostarsarehardlyuncommoninthegalaxy,althoughit'sextremelyunusualtofindonecircledbyevenonehabitableworld,letalonethemultiplicityofthemdescribedinthisaccount.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN86TheusualImperialGuardabbreviationforcommander-in-chief.

87AnImperialNavyofficerofsomerenownintheDamoclesGulf.AlthoughheandCainwerebothinvolvedintheAdumbriaincidentof937.M41,there'snoevidencethattheyevermetfacetoface.

88Itseemsthattherewereonlythree,anarbitratorseniorisandtwoassistants,noneofwhomwereonSerendipitaitselfwhentheGovernor'sshuttlewasdispatched.

89Orperhapsnot.Theconfigurationoftheinternalspaceswouldbeunlikelytochangemuchoverthecenturies,otherthantheoccasionalstructuralcollapseasoverstressedmaterialsfinallygaveway.

90Or,probably,withinit.SpaceMarineunitstendtooperateautonomouslyforyears,evendecades,atatime,andofficersofGries'srankandstatuswouldhavelittleopportunityorinclinationtorefermatterstoahigherlevelofthecommandchain.

91Hardlyflatteringtoseeinquisitorsamongthelist,butconsideringtheoneCainhadthemosttodo

withapartfrommyselfwasKillian,aRadicalrenegademass-murderer,andbarkingmadtoboot,Ican'tsayI'mallthatsurprised.

92Aslangtermcommontomanyhivecommunities,referringtothosebothliterallyandfigurativelyatthebottomofthesocialheap,whoscrabbleaprecariousexistenceoutofwhattheycansalvageofthedetritusfallingfromthehigherlevels.Cainalludesrepeatedlytoanearlylifespentinanunderhive,butasyethisworldoforiginremainsobscure.

93Apopularformoftheatreonseveralworldsinthesector,inwhichalargecastofcharacterscontinuallymisunderstandoneanothertocomediceffect.They'regenerallysetinanaristocraticmilieu,allowingthegeneralpopulaceabitofharmlessamusementattheexpenseofastratumofsocietythat'sbarelyawareoftheirexistenceinanycase,andculminateinsomedramaticcontrivancetobringeveryonetogetheratthesametime.Forobviousreasonsaballisafrequentchoiceofthelazierplaywrights,hencethename.

94OnViridia,nottomentionmanyotherworldswhereaperiodofserviceinthePDFisconsideredanacceptablewayofkeepingyoungmembersofthenobilityrelativelyharmlesslyoccupied,therathermoreflamboyantthanpracticaluniformsoftheunitssofavouredareaperenniallypopularsubjectforsuchpackaging.Whyanyconfectionerwouldconsidertheirwaresenhancedbysuchimageswecanonlyspeculate,butthehopeofsellingafewboxestorichidiotswouldbemyguess.

95Aclearreferencetohisinvolvementinthedefenceofthesectoragainstthetyranidhivefleetsattheturnofthemillennium,thedetailsofwhich,thoughfascinating,neednotdetainusatthisjuncture.

CHAPTERSIXTEEN96DespiteCain'shighlysubjectivecharacterisationofherasbothruthlessandselfish,there'snoevidenceatallthatMiraintendeddeposingherfatherbyforceofarms.Hisearlierassertionthatshewasintentmerelyonstrengtheningherpositionagainstrivalclaimantswhenthegovernorshipeventuallyfellvacantseemsfarmorelikely.

97Bywhichhemeantthattheobjecttheauspexwasscanningwasdenseenoughtoregisterstrongly,andwasthereforeprobablynotanaturalphenomenon.

98AnotherquotationfromSoylensViridiensfortheMachine-Spirit.

99Inactualfactitwasonlyfourorfivekilometresacrossinanydirection,butthat'squitebigenoughunderthecircumstances.

100AraredirectreferencetoCain'sownfamilyhistory,although,asnotedelsewhere,anythinghesaysinthisregardmustbetreatedwithconsiderablecaution.Manyofthesefragmentsofinformationareclearlycontradictory,particularlythosewhichoccurinhisreportedconversationswithothers.

101InfactCATshavebeeninservicewiththeAstartesandtheAdeptusMechanicusforcenturies,ifnotmillennia.FewSpaceMarineChaptersmakemuchuseofthem,however,preferringtorelyontheexpertiseoftheirscoutsundermostcircumstances,whiletheMechanicusfindsthemoreversatileservitorbettersuitedformostpracticalpurposes.Nevertheless,theconstructionandmodificationofCATsremainsapopularpastimeforaconsiderablenumberoftech-priests,whoclaimtofindthe

activitymeditativelycalmingandbeneficialinadvancingtheirunderstandingoftheblessingsoftheMachine-God,sothatit'sararevisittoaMechanicusshrinewhichisn'tlikelytobeinterruptedbytheerraticprogressofoneormoreoftheseambulatorydevices.Despitethesepiousassertions,andthoughtrueservantsoftheOmnissiahwouldvigorouslydenythefact,tooutsiderstheyseemlesslikerecreationalconstructionprojectsthanpets.

102Ifnotmoreso:thiswouldirrevocablycontaminatethegene-seedcarriedbythehost'sprogenoidglands,passingonthetainttoanylaterrecruitsimplantedwithit.

103AnImperialGuardtermfortheaccidentalfiringofaweapon.

104AformoffestivalentertainmentpopularonanumberofworldsintheEasternArm,inwhichincidentsfromthelivesofthesaintsortheEmperoraremingledwiththecrudestkindofknockabouthumour.Farfrombeingconsideredsacrilegious,thesearegenerallyregardedwithindulgentapprovalbytheEcclesiarchy,onthegroundsthatthey'rebringingthewordoftheEmperortothemasses,andafewflatulencejokesisasmallpricetopayforactuallybeinglistenedtoforonce.

105Ironically,despitehisambivalencetowardsher,CainstillseemstoconsiderMiramoreofficerthancivilianatthispoint-unlesshe'sdeferringtoherdiplomaticcredentials.

CHAPTERSEVENTEEN106Cain'sexperienceofdamagedshipswasgenerallyasaresultofcombat,ofcourse,sohemaywellhavebeenpicturingthekindofstructuraldamageinflictedbytorpedoesorlancebatteries,whichwouldhaveindeedmadeitdifficultforthetech-priesttogetaround.

107AsCainpointsoutatseveralpointsinthecourseofhismemoirs,Jurgen,thougheffectivelysecondedtotheCommissariat,andthereforeoutsidetheImperialGuardcommandstructure,wastechnicallystillaservingGuardsman,andsubjecttoitsrulesofconduct.Inhisusualforthrightfashion,Jurgentendedtodealwiththiscontradictionbyignoringitcompletely,exceptwhentherewasclearlysomethingtobegainedfromdecidingonewayortheother,whichhedidonacase-by-casebasis.

108It'shardtobesurefromCain'svaguedescription,butit'spossiblethatthesewereportablecogitatorcores,intendedtodownloadthedatafromthevenerablearchivesaboardthederelictpriortoattemptingtosalvagethesystemphysically.Thatway,theinformationwouldsurvive,evenifthemechanismsthemselvesprovedtoofragiletoremoveintact.

109SincetheCodexAstartesspecifiesanupperlimitoftenmentoaSpaceMarinesquad,includingTerminators,wecaninferthateithertwosmallersquadswerepresent,orasingleonehadbeenreinforcedbyattachedspecialistsofsomekind.SincethemostlikelyindividualtohavebeenaccordedthehonourofapersonalsuitofTerminatorarmourwouldhavebeenaLibrarian,whowouldundoubtedlyhavereactedtoJurgen'spresenceinanoticeablefashion,wecanbereasonablyconfidentthattheformeralternativewasthecase;whichtiesinwithCain'searlierdescriptionofaspecialisedassaultsquadworkinginconcertwitharegularformationofTerminators.If,ofcourse,hishabituallyvagueestimateoftheirnumberscanbereliedon.

110Aroundaquarterofanhour,accordingtotheofficialmissionlogs.

111SomethinghemayhavewitnessedforhimselfduringthebattleforthefloatinghivesofKosnar.

112Morelikelytheenginehadbeenthrottledback,allowingthegunshiptocoast,whilethepilotcorrecteditsattitudeinpreparationfordocking.

113Quite.TheprobabilityofthegenestealersintheViridiaSystemhavingoriginatedsomewhereotherthantheSpawnofDamnationisintheorderof0.35%,accordingtomysavantMott,whohasaconsiderableaptitudeforthiskindofstatisticalanalysis.Oranyotherkind,cometothat,whichiswhyhe'sbeenbarredfrominnumerablegamingestablishments,particularlywhenaccompaniedbyCain.

114Theycan'ttoleratevacuumindefinitely,likesomeofthevoid-adaptedcreaturesofthetyranidhivemind,buttheycancertainlyremainconsciousanddangerousforconsiderablylongerthananunprotectedhumanwould;soevendepressurisingasectionofashiporvoidstationharbouringthemmaynotbeenoughtosubduethementirely.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN115Infacttheywereprobablyagreatdealmoreancientthanthat;accordingtothesurvivingrecords,theRedeemer-classheavycruiserwasfirstcommissionedduringthelifetimeoftheEmperor,andusedextensivelyinthegreatcrusadespredatingtheHorusHeresy.Alongwithsomuchelse,thesecretsoftheirconstructionwerelostinthecourseofthecenturiesfollowingthatcataclysmicupheaval,andalthoughtheycontinuedtoservewiththeImperialFleet,theinevitablelosseswereneverabletobereplaced.ThelastknownexamplewasdestroyedbyrenegadesattemptingtoforcepassagethroughtheCadianGateearlyinM35.

116AflippantreferencetotheliturgicalchantsandvotiveincensegenerallyemployedbytheEcclesiarchy.

117Orperhapsnotquitesoremarkable,consideringtherelativerarityoftheoccasionsonwhichithadbothpoppedoutofthewarpinanImperialstellarsystem,andsomeonehadbeenonhandtotakeauspexreadings.IfanyonehadtriedtoboarditbeforetheReclaimers,theyleftnorecordoftheattempt;notevenintherathermorecomprehensivearchivesmaintainedbytheOrdoXenos.

118Anothertypicallyvaguestatement,althoughstudyofthedeckplanswouldseemtoindicateeithertwoorthree,dependingonwhetheryoucountedtheexitfromthehangarbayornot.

119Notquite;thoughphenomenallytough,evencomparedtoconventionalSpaceMarinearmour,Terminatorsuitsarejustasvulnerabletoaluckyshotasanythingelse.Which,giventhatthey'realsoemployedbytheTraitorLegions,isprobablyjustaswell.

120ThoughCainseemsunawareofit,thiswasalmostcertainlyBlain'sblood,thatofAstartesbeingmodifiedtocoagulateinstantlyonexposuretoairinordertosealwoundswhichwouldincapacitateanormalmanwithoutimpairingtheirfightingability.ThattheTerminatorhadlostenoughofittoleakoutofhissuitwouldindicateseveretrauma,evenbySpaceMarinestandards.

121Or,perhaps,byJurgen'sproximity:althoughhispeculiaranti-psychictalenthadyettoberevealed,sometimelateronGravalax,itcouldwellhavebeendisruptingthebroodmind,isolating

anddisorientatinganyofthegenestealersincautiousenoughtoventurecloseenoughtohimtobecomeaffected.

122ThathewasevidentlymonitoringtheconditionoftheotherAstartesintheboardingpartycanbetakenasafairlyreliableindicatorthathewasinoverallchargeofit;unless,asthedefactoartificerresponsiblefortheirmaintenance,hewasmoreconcernedwiththeconditionoftheTerminatorsuitsthantheirwearers.

123Iftrue,oneorbothweaponsmusthavebeendamagedinsomeway,inorderforthelas-bolttobesowidelydiffused,insteadofpenetratingmoredeeplyoverasmallersurfacearea.Unless,ofcourse,he'sresortingtohyperboleagain.

CHAPTERNINETEEN124Smallutensils,withabowlroughlythesizeofathumbnail,traditionallyusedtomeasureouttheinfusion.AmongValhallans,theconsumptionofthisbeverage,towhichCain'slongassociationwithregimentsfromthatworldlefthiminexplicablypartial,hasacquiredagreatdealofcustomandetiquette,asbafflingtooutsidersastheappealofthedrinkitself.

125TheusualAstartesdesignationforthetwin-barrelledvariantCainnoticedbefore;presumablyhepickedthisupinconversationatsomepoint,probablywithDrumon.

126Thiskindoffluctuationinthelocalgravityfieldisapparentlycommonaboardspacehulks,andfarfromunknownonthelargernavalvesselsandcharterships,particularlywhenthey'vebeencobbledtogetherfromsalvagedhulls:it'sapparentlyduetothemisalignmentofoverlappinggravitygenerators,somethingwhichisalmostinevitablewhenasmanyvesselsascommonlymakeupaspacehulkhavebeenrandomlythrowntogether.

127Adebatablepoint.Some,otherwiseindistinguishablefromhumansatacasualglance,seemtohaveinheritedallthearcanesensesoftheabominationswhichpollutedthegenesoftheirforebears,whileothers,muchclosertopurestrainsinappearance,donot.Aswithsomuchelsewheregeneticsisconcerned,randomchanceappearstoplayamajorpartinthedistributionofthesecharacteristics.

128Orpossiblyozonefromtheelectricaldischarge.

129Atorrentofliquidfallingintothesump,orlowestlevels,fromhigherupinahive;somelastforyears,orevendecades.Giventheenclosednatureofanunderhive,theechoestheyraisecanbequiteliterallydeafeningifappropriateprecautionsaren'ttaken.

130Aconsequenceoftheconstituentvesselshairingbeenbroughttogetherbythewarpcurrents,sothattheirphysicalstructureshadbecomeintermingledratherthancoterminous;astateofaffairsrenderedpermanentbythehulk'speriodicsojournsintherealuniverse.

CHAPTERTWENTY131Anorkishword,referringtothegreenskins'equivalentoftech-priests,althoughtheirritesareasprimitiveastherestoftheirculture.Insteadofpropitiatingthemachine-spiritswhichservethem,inthemanneroftheAdeptusMechanicus,themekboyzappeartoterrorisethemintoacquiescence.

132Actually,fororks,therearenoothernecessitiestospeakof.

133Thisinstinct,whichhasbeenobservedmanytimesoverthemillennia,isundoubtedlyreal,anddeeplyingrained.Although,sinceorksareperfectlycapableofconstructingnavigablestarships,thequestionofwhytheyshouldcontinuetotrusttheirfatetotheuncertaindriftingofaspacehulkremainsunanswered.Whateverthereason,however,theyremainoneofthemostcommonxenosbreedstobefoundinfestingspacehulks,secondonlytogenestealersinfrequencyofsighting,andthereismuchanecdotalevidencethatafewevenmanagetoexertamodicumofcontroloverthecourseofthehulkstheyoccupyoncetheyre-enterthematerium.

134Whichfororksaremoreorlessindistinguishable.

135LikemanyValhallans,Jurgenwasabletoreadorkishglyphs,aculturallegacyofthefailedgreenskininvasionofhishomeworldseveralgenerationsbefore.Tothisday,nativesofthatworldretainaparticulardetestationfororks,andastrongtraditionofknowingthewaysoftheenemy,thebettertoconfoundthem,persists.

136Anorkishworddenotingstatus,oneofthemanyphrasesCainappearstohavepickedupduringhisactivitiesonPerlia,orfromsubsequentencounterswiththecreatures.

137TheorkishwarbossCainbestedinsinglecombatonPerlia,effectivelybreakingthebackoftheinvasionintheprocess.

138Orkishwarriorsorfootsoldiers;alsousedasagenericsuffixtoindicateagroupwithmorespecialisedabilities,likemekboyz(ibid.),weirdboyz(thenearestgreenskinequivalenttosanctionedpsykers),painboyz(roughlyanalogoustomedicaeorchirurgeons,althoughtheirministrationsareonlysoughtbymostorksunderthedirestofcircumstances),andsoon.Largelysynonymouswithgitz,whichisoftenappliedtoanygroupofboyzwhichdoesn'tincludethespeaker.

139Notnecessarilyametaphorinthecaseoforks.

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE140Possiblyfromaneldarvessel,oralong-deceasedtyranidleviathan.

141Hemusthavebeenalmostcompletelyexhaustedbythispointtotakesuchanuncharacteristicallyrecklesscourseofaction;althoughhedoesatleastseemtohaveretainedsufficientsensenottotrycuttingthroughthebulkheaddirectly,whichwouldhavetakenaconsiderableamountoftimeandnoiseevenifhischainbladehadbeenabletopenetrateit.

142ThoughCainerrsinthespecificshere,heiscorrectintheessentials:likemosttyranidorganisms,thesensesoftheaveragegenestealer(iftherecanbesaidtobesuchathing,giventheastonishingmutabilityofallsuchcreatures)areextremelyacute.Althoughtheydoindeedusevisionaswellastheirothersenses,theirsightisbynomeanslimitedtothevisiblespectrum,extendingwellintotheinfraredandtheultraviolet.

143Orfromadifferentnest;similarhibernaculawouldhavebeendistributedthroughoutthehulk,

allowingthebroodmindtosurvivethelossofagrouportwo.

144ThoughHydrasareintendedprimarilyforairdefence,mostImperialGuardcommandersarewellawareofthedamagetheirquad-mountedautocannoncandotoaheavilyarmouredtargetordispersedinfantryformation,andaren'tslowtotakeadvantageofthefactwhentheopportunitypresentsitself.

145Asubstantialproportionofit,atanyrate;thenumberofgenestealersCaindescribescouldhardlyhavefittedintosonarrowamazeofcorridorsallatonce.

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO146Anorkishword,whichtranslatesroughlyas''goaway'',butwhichmayalsomean,''leaveitalone'',or''1doubtyourveracity'',accordingtocontext.Clearlythesecondofthethreemeaningsisintendedhere.

147ThetownshiponPerliawhereCain'scelebratedMarchofLiberationbegan.ItwassubsequentlyrenamedCainstead,tohismingledamusementandembarrassment;evenaftertakingupresidenceonthatworld,asatutoratthescholaprogeniumtherefollowinghisretirement,hecontinuedtorefertotheplacebyitsoriginalname.

148Orksinapositionofauthority.

149Theusualorkishwordfortheirsmallercousins.

150Clearlynotaliteralhalf-dozen,then...

151PresumablyinoneoftheminorfirefightsCainglossedoverafewpagesago.

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE152Theactualmechanismsofteleportationarealittlemorecomplexthanthat,involvingthelinkageoftwodiscretephysicalpointsthroughapreciselyfocussedGellerfield,butCain'stypicallyforthrightdescriptioniscloseenoughformostpurposes.

153Possiblybecausehispeculiargiftcushionedhimfromtheworsteffectsofexposuretothewarp,althoughCainwouldhavehadnowayofknowingthatatthetime.