Dan Abnett - First and Only

Varl handed the rifle to Larkin. There was no question who should carry it. The weight of a gun in his hands again seemed to calm the old sniper. He licked his almost lip-less mouth, which cut the leather of his face like a knife-slash. He'd been complaining incessantly since they had set out, unwilling to be part of a vendetta strike.

'If they catch us, we'll be for the firing squad! This ain't right!'

Corbec had been firm, fully aware of how daring the mission was. 'We're in a regimental feud, Larks,' he had said simply, 'an honour thing. They killed Lonegin, Freul and Colhn. You think what they did to Feygor, and what they might be doing to the major. The commissar's asked us to avenge the blood-wrong, and I for one am happy to oblige.'

Corbec hadn't mentioned that he'd only selected Larkin because of his fine stealth abilities, nor had he made clear Gaunt's real reason for the raid: distraction, misdirection – and,

like the Jantine, to promote the notion that was really happening aboard the Absalom was a mindless soldier's feud.

Now, checking the long gun, Larkin seemed to relax. His only eloquence was with a firearm. If he was going to break ship-law, then best do it full-measure, with a gun in his hands. And they all knew he was the best shot in the regiment.

They edged on into the Jantine barrack area. From down one long cross-hallway came the sounds of singing and carousing, from another, the dash of shock-poles in a training vault.

'How far do we go with this?' Mkoll whispered.

Corbec shrugged. They killed three, wounded two. We should match that at least.'

He also had an urge to discover Rawne's fate, and rescue him if they could. But he suspected the major was already long dead.

Mkoll, the commander of the scout platoon, was the best stealther they had. With Baru at his side, the pair melted into the hall shadows and swept ahead.

The other three waited. There seemed to be something sporadic and ill-at-ease in the distant rhythm of the ship's engines as they vibrated the deck. I hope we're not running into some fething Warp-madness, Corbec mused, then lightened up as he realised that it may be Gaunt's work. He'd said he was going to distract and upset the captain.

Baru came back to them. 'We've hit lucky, really lucky,' he hissed. 'You'd better see.'

Mkoll was waiting in cover in an archway around the next bend. Ahead was a lighted hatchway.

'Infirmary,' he whispered. 'I went up close to the door. They've got Rawne in there.'

'How many Jantine?'

Two troopers, an officer – a colonel – and someone else. Robed. I don't like the look of him at all…'

A scream suddenly cut the air, sobbing down into a whimper. The five Ghosts stiffened. It had been Rawne's voice.

SIXTEEN

The Navy trooper kicked Caffran's fallen body hard and then swung his shotgun round to finish him. Weapon violation sirens were sounding shrilly in the close air of the Munitorium store. The trooper pumped the loader-grip and then was smashed sideways into the packing cartons to his left by a massive fist.

Bragg lifted the crumpled form of the dazed trooper and threw him ten metres down the vault-way. He landed hard, broken.

'Brinny! Brinny boy!' Bragg called anxiously over the siren. Milo raised himself up from under the artificer. The shot had exploded the vista-plate, just missing him. 'I'm okay,' he said.

Bragg got the dazed Caffran to his feet as Brin slid the tile from the artificer slot.

'Go!' he said, 'Go!'

In under a minute, they had rejoined Dorden, helping him to push his laden trolley back out of the vault. By then, Munitorium officials and navy troopers wejre rushing in through the cage.

Dorden was a master of nerve. 'Thank Feth you're here!' he bellowed, his voice cracking. 'There are Jantine in there, madmen! They attacked us! Your man engaged them, but I think they got him. Quickly! Quickly now!'

Most of the detail moved past at a run, racking weapons. One stayed, eyeing the Ghost party cautiously.

'You'll have to wait. We're going to check this.'

Dorden strode forward, steely-calm now and held up his data-slate to show the man.

'Does this mean anything to you? A direct authorisation from your captain? I've got a man dying back in my infirmary! I need these supplies! Do you want a death on your hands, because by Feth you're—'

The trooper waved them on, and hurried after his comrades.

'I thought this place was meant to be secure,' Dorden spat at the Munitorium official as they pushed past him towards the exit.

They slammed the cart into a lift and slumped back against the walls as it began to rise.

'Did you get it?' Dorden asked, after a few deep breaths.

Milo nodded. Think so.'

Caffran looked at the elderly doctor with a wide-eyed grin. ''There are Jantine in there, madmen! They attacked us! Your man engaged them, but I think they got him. Quickly!' ' What the feth was that all about?'

'Inspired, I'd say,' Bragg said.

'Back home, I was a doctor… and also secretary of the County Pryze Citizens' Players. My Prince Teygoth was highly regarded.'

Their relieved laughter began to fill the lift.

SEVENTEEN

Corbec's revenge squad was about to move when the deck vox-casters started to relay the scream of a weapons violation alert. The dull choral wails echoed down the hallway and ''Alert'' runes began to blink above all of the archways.

The colonel pulled his men into cover as figures strode out of the infirmary, looking around. Squads of Jantine guards came up from both sides, milling around as vox-checks tried to ascertain the nature of the incident.

Corbec saw Flense and Brochuss, the Jantine senior officers, and another man, a hugely tall and grotesque figure in shimmering, smoke-like robes who filled him with dread.

'Weapons discharge on the Munitorium deck!' a Jantine trooper with a vox-caster on his back reported. 'The Navy details are closing to contain it… Sir, the channels are alive with cross-reports. They're blaming it on the Jantine! They say we conducted a feud strike on Tanith-scum in the supply vaults!'

Flense cursed. 'Gaunt! The devil's trying to match our game!' He turned to his men. 'Brochuss! Secure the deck! Security detail with me!'

'I'll stay and finish my work,' the robed figure said in a deep, liquid tone that quite chilled Corbec. As the various menВ moved off to comply with orders, the robed figure stopped Flense with a hand to his shoulder. Or rather, what seemed more like a long-fingered claw rather than a hand, Corbec noticed with a shudder.

'This isn't good, Flense,' the figure breathed at the suddenly trembling colonel. 'Use violence against a soldier like Gaunt and you can be assured he will use it back. And you seem to have underestimated his political abilities. I fear he has outplayed you. And if he has, you should fear for yourself Flense shook himself free and hurried away. 'I'll deal with it!' he snarled defensively over his shoulder. The robed figure watched him leave and then withdrew into the infirmary.

'What do we do?' Varl hissed. 'Tell me we go back now,' Larkin whispered urgently. Another scream issued from the chamber beyond. 'What do you think?' Corbec asked.

EIGHTEEN

Sirens wailed in the normally tranquil strategium. Grasticus shifted in his cot-throne, wanding screens to him and cursing at the information he was reading.

Gaunt and Zoren exchanged glances. I hope this confusion is the confusion we planned, Gaunt thought.

Grasticus rose up on his elbows and bawled at the quaking Lekulanzi. 'Weapons fire on the Munitorium deck! My data says it's Jantine feuders!'

'Are any of mine hurt?' Gaunt asked, pushing forward, urgent. 'I told you the Jantine were out for blood—'