Ben Counter - Galaxy in Flames

Then what's the point of throwing your life away hunting down Ezekyle and Little Horus?' demanded Vipus.

We only have one goal on Isstvan III, Nero, and that's to hurt the Warmaster. If we can kill the last of the Mournival then the Warmaster's plans suffer. Nothing else matters,’

'You said we were supposed to be holding die traitors here while the Emperor sent the other Legions to save us. Is that not true any more? Are we on our own?'

Loken shook his head and retrieved his sword from where he had propped it against the wall. 'I don't know, Nero. Maybe the Emperor has sent the Legions to rescue us, maybe he hasn't, but we have to assume that we're on our own. I'm not going to fight with nothing but blind hope to keep me going. I'm going to make a stand.'

'And that's what I want to do,’ said Vipus, 'at my friend's side.'

'No, you need to stay here,’ said Loken. 'Your stand must be made here. Every minute you keep the traitors here is another minute for the Emperor to bring the Warmaster to justice. This killing is Mournival business, Nero. Do you understand?'

'Frankly, no,’ said Nero, 'but I will do as you ask and stay here,’

Loken smiled. 'Don't mourn me yet, Nero. Tarik and I may yet prevail,’

You'd better,’ said Vipus. 'The Luna Wolves need you,’

Loken felt humbled by Nero's words and embraced his oldest friend. He dearly wished he could tell him that there was yet hope and that he expected to return alive from this mission.

'Garviel,’ said a familiar voice from the entrance to the dome.

Loken and Nero released each other from their brotherly embrace and saw Saul Tarvitz, framed in the wan light of the auditorium's entrance. 'Saul,’ said Loken.

'It's time,’ said Tarvitz. 'We're ready to create the diversion you requested,’

Loken nodded and smiled at the two brave warriors, men he had fought through hell for and would do so a hundred times more. The honour they did him just by being his friends made his chest swell with pride. 'Captain Loken,’ said Tarvitz formally. 'It may be that this is the last time we will meet,’

'I do not think,’ replied Loken, 'there is any "maybe" about it,’ Then I will wish you all speed, Garviel,’ 'All speed, Saul,’ said Loken, offering his hand to Tarvitz. 'For the Emperor,’ 'For the Emperor,’ echoed Tarvitz. With his farewells said, Loken made his way from the auditorium, leaving Tarvitz and Vipus to organ­ise the defences for the next attack.

Surviving tactical maps indicated that the Mackaran Basilica lay to the north of their position and as he made his way towards the point he had selected as the best place to leave the palace he found Torgaddon waiting for him. You saw Vipus?' asked Torgaddon. 'I did,’ nodded Loken. 'He wanted to come with us,’ Torgaddon shook his head. 'This is Mournival business,’ That's what I told him,’

Both warriors took deep breaths as the enormity of what they were about to attempt swept over them once again.

'Ready?' asked Loken.

'No,’ said Torgaddon. 'You?'

'No.'

Torgaddon chuckled as he turned to the tunnel that led from the palace.

'Aren't we a pair?' he said and Loken followed him into the darkness.

For good or ill, the final battle for Isstvan III was upon them.

'You dare return to me in failure?' bellowed Horus, and the bridge of the Vengeful Spirit shook with the fury of his voice. His face twisted in anger at the wondrous figure standing before him, strugВ­gling to comprehend the scale of this latest setback.

'Do you even understand what I am trying to do here?' raged Horus. 'What I have started at Isstvan will consume the whole galaxy, and if it is flawed from the outset then the Emperor will break us!'

Fulgrim appeared uncowed by his anger, his brother's features betraying an insouciance quite out of character for the primarch of the Emperor's Children. Though he had but recently arrived on his flagship, Pride of the Emperor, Fulgrim looked as magnificent as ever.

His exquisite armour was a work of art in purple and gold, bearing many new embellishments and

finery with a flowing, fur-lined cape swathing his body. More than ever, Horus thought Fulgrim looked less like a warrior and more like a rake or libertine. His brother's long white hair was pulled back in an elaborate pattern of plaits and his pale cheeks were lightly marked with what appeared to be the beginnings of tattoos.

'Ferrus Manus is a dull fool who would not listen to reason,’ said Fulgrim. 'Even the mention of the Mechanicum's pledge did not-'

You swore to me that you could sway him! The Iron Hands were essential to my plans. I planned Isstvan III with your assurance that Ferrus Manus would join us. Now I find that I have yet another enemy to contend with. A great many of our Astartes will die because of this, Fulgrim,’

'What would you have had me do, Warmaster?' smiled Fulgrim, and Horus wondered where this new, sly mocking tone had come from. 'His will was stronger than I anticipated,’

'Or you simply had an inflated opinion of your own abilities,’

'Would you have me kill our brother, Warmaster?' asked Fulgrim.

'Perhaps I will,’ replied Horus unmoved. 'It would be better than leaving him to roam free to destroy our plans. As it is he could reach the Emperor or one of the other primarchs and bring them all down on our heads before we are ready,’

Then if you are quite finished with me, I shall return to my Legion,’ said Fulgrim, turning away.

Horus felt his choler rise at Fulgrim's infuriating tone and said, 'No, you will not. I have another task for you. I am sending you to Isstvan V. With all that has happened, the Emperor's response is likely to arrive more quickly than anticipated and we must be prepared for it. Take a detail of Emperor's ChilВ­dren to the alien fortresses there and prepare it for the final phase of the Isstvan operation.'

Fulgrim recoiled in disgust. 'You would consign me to a role little better than a castellan, as some prosaic housekeeper making it ready for your grand entrance? Why not send for Perturabo? This kind of thing is more to his liking.'

'Perturabo has his own role to play,' said Horus. 'Even now he prepares to lay waste to his home world in my name. We shall be hearing more of our bitter brother very soon. Have no fear of that.'

'Then give this task to Mortarion. His grimy foot­sloggers will relish such an opportunity to muddy their hands for you!' spat Fulgrim. 'My Legion was the chosen of the Emperor in the years when he still deserved our service. I am the most glorious of his heroes and the right hand of this new Crusade. This is… this is a betrayal of the very principles for which I chose to join you, Horus!'

'Betrayal?' said Horus, his voice low and dangerВ­ous. 'A strong word, Fulgrim. Betrayal is what the Emperor forced upon us when he abandoned the galaxy to pursue his quest for godhood and gave over the conquests of our Crusade to scriveners and bureaucrats. Is that the charge you would level

at me now, to my face, here on the bridge of my own ship?'

Fulgrim took a step back, his anger fading, but his eyes alight with the excitement of the confrontaВ­tion. 'Perhaps I do, Horus. Perhaps someone needs to tell you a few home truths now that your preВ­cious Mournival is no more.'

That sword,’ said Horus, indicating the venom-sheened weapon that hung low at Fulgrim's waist. 'I gave you that blade as a symbol of my trust in you, Fulgrim. We alone know the true power that lies within it. That weapon almost killed me and yet I gave it away. Do you think I would give such a weapon to one I do not trust?'