Dante

by Guy Haley

  ‘Can we add to this knowledge ourselves?’ asked Dante. ‘What has Cryptus taught us?’

  Corbulo leaned forwards and tapped on the table once. ‘My main concerns are elsewhere. This xenology is not my area of expertise, but it is self-evident to say that their voidcraft are sufficiently large to allow a number of specialisations to be contained within one body, whereas the same cannot be said of the ground beasts. However, I would not rule out change. Successive tyranid incursions show a growing number of organisms tailored to exploiting the weaknesses of this galaxy’s races – the toxicrenes and psyker beasts among the more recent – and to countering its own shortcomings in the face of our weaponry. We have been exploiting one weakness. The hive mind will compensate for it, of that we can be sure.’

  ‘At the same time, we are witnessing a drop in speciation among the ships,’ said Phaeton. ‘I suspect owing to our targeting of their command-and-control vessels. As a result, it is becoming harder to accurately target nexus ships.’

  ‘They employ camouflage,’ said Ordamael scornfully. No Space Marine would ever hide his colours.

  ‘Yes, and it is very effective,’ said Phaeton.

  ‘Then if they are hiding the higher nodes, we must devise means of telling the ships that contain them apart as a matter of priority,’ said Dante.

  ‘I have had our auspexes recalibrated many times, my lord,’ said Bellerophon. ‘We are no closer to being able to successfully scan the tyranid ships. We can locate the mechanisms they contain, if mechanisms we can call them, but accurately deducing their function still eludes us. This problem continues to vex other armed forces elsewhere in the Imperium.’

  ‘Mephiston,’ Dante called over his shoulder. ‘Can you provide me with better news? You are among the few psykers capable of withstanding the roar of the hive mind. What do you see?’

  Mephiston turned from the spectacle of the burning world. ‘Psychic means could be employed to divine upon which ship the higher nexuses reside, lord commander, if indeed we are witnessing something as simple as camouflage. But it will take time in every battle, and will draw my Librarians from their combat duties. Our astropaths and other mystics cannot withstand the mindscream of the Great Devourer. I am sure you will tell us all that time is the one currency we have little left to spend.’

  ‘Not the only one,’ said Dante. ‘Blood, metal – we run short of all the coin of war, my brothers.’ He dropped the last ruby into the bowl. ‘I have studied the reports of other Chapters and battle groups combating Leviathan. Other splinters do not evince the same level of accelerated evolution. The splinters continue into the Imperium elsewhere. Baal is but one system in their path, but it has become clear to me that the hive mind is actively seeking our destruction.’

  ‘Is such a thing possible?’ said Aphael.

  ‘The evidence is there to see,’ said Dante. ‘We are the primary military asset of the Imperium in this part of the segmentum. We must blunt the attack on Baal for the sake of the wider Imperium. When we are victorious, we might aid other forces elsewhere. We are reorganised, ready to depart this doomed place.’

  Bellerophon nodded an affirmation. ‘It is so. The fleet awaits your command, my lord.’

  ‘We return to the home world. Today.’ Dante raised his golden-masked face and surveyed his commanders. ‘Have no doubt, this will be a difficult war. Our Chapter is at little over three-quarters full strength owing to our recent losses here and at Armageddon. We may make up some of our numbers by elevating those neophytes who are ready. If the implantation of their carapaces takes quickly we might bring our strength back to four-fifths within a month. But though we are depleted, we shall not stand alone.’

  ‘You shall not,’ said Seth. ‘The Flesh Tearers are yours to command, my lord.’

  ‘You have our everlasting thanks, Chapter Master. Seth is not the only one to pledge aid. Before we entered the shadow of the hive mind, I received replies to messages I sent to the Angels Numinous, Angels Sanguine, Flesh Eaters, Exsanguinators, Blood Drinkers and Angels Encarmine. All will send warriors to Baal’s defence. Although some can spare only a few, the Blood Drinkers are sending four full companies and the Angels Encarmine are gathering at Chapter strength. Others of our bloodline have not responded yet, but with Sanguinius’ grace we shall have news of them soon. The Blood Templars, Carmine Swords, Charnel Guard, Brothers of the Red…’ He reeled off the names of a score of Chapters. ‘I calculate a certainty of five thousand Adeptus Astartes to defend Baal, and perhaps as many as fifteen thousand, should they respect their oaths of blood and fellowship as scions of the Great Angel.’

  ‘That is not all of them,’ said Aphael cautiously.

  ‘I contacted the Lamenters. They responded unfavourably. If they were of a mind to obey our call, they are too depleted to help us,’ said Dante. ‘It is a sign of the bond between the Chapters of the Blood that they are the only ones to say no. While such brotherhood persists, we might prevail.’

  ‘I did not refer to the Lamenters,’ said Aphael.

  Dante turned Sanguinius’ frozen expression of rage upon his second captain. ‘I will not contact the Angels Vermillion. You know my feelings on that matter.’

  ‘They are close! Why not?’ said Aphael.

  ‘Enough!’ said Dante. His voice rose only a little, but it rang from the crystal dome. The others waited quietly; Dante’s temper was infrequently roused, but when a rage came on him, it was terrible to behold. ‘I have received word from the Knights of Blood. They too will come.’

  ‘Renegades,’ said Karlaen. ‘You court disaster speaking with them.’

  ‘I did not contact them. Their aid is unasked for. They offer their help freely. We are in no position to say no.’

  ‘They are renegades by the Ordo Astartes’ order alone,’ said Corbulo. ‘Victims of the Inquisition’s politics.’

  ‘They have just cause in declaring the Knights renegade,’ said Phaeton. ‘They are savages. Renowned for their brutality to foe and friend alike. We have an ample quotient of savages already.’ He eyed Seth meaningfully.

  ‘They are raw in their anger, it is true,’ said Corbulo. ‘But they fight for the Imperium despite their persecution. They have ceased to fight alongside others to prevent… unfortunate incidents.’

  ‘Is it persecution?’ said Phaeton. He was guarding his words carefully. They could not openly mention the flaw in front of Dhrost or Sister Amity Hope.

  ‘Their path could have been ours, if we had been less fortunate,’ said Seth.

  ‘Maybe it still should be,’ said Phaeton coldly.

  ‘I should call you out for those words. I have had enough of your petty slights, captain,’ said Seth. His anger spiked suddenly, and spittle flew from his lips. ‘I lost two hundred battle-brothers fighting for your cause. Perhaps I should have followed the Lamenters’ lead.’

  ‘So we see your true character emerge,’ said Phaeton.

  ‘If you saw my true character, brother, it would be the last thing you saw.’

  Phaeton half rose, hand going to the hilt of his sword. Seth stood, a feral expression narrowing his eyes.

  ‘Gabriel, please!’ Dante said. ‘Captain Phaeton, hold your tongue. It is known to me that not all of the council regard our rapprochement with the Flesh Tearers favourably. Put those feelings behind you. By their sacrifice and their nobility the Flesh Tearers have redeemed themselves five times over, whatever the excesses of their past. I so decree. I will brook no more dissent!’

  Seth bared his teeth, showing his long canines, but relented.

  ‘The more warriors we have, the more likely we are to succeed,’ said Karlaen. ‘We are in a situation where honour must bend to mathematics, Brother-Captain Phaeton. The savagery of the Knights of Blood will be welcome in defence of Baal, and I for one have only the greatest respect for Seth and his Flesh Tearers.’

  ‘Provided their savagery is unleashed only on the enemy. But if we are willing to deal with necrons, then we should overlook any f
ault on the part of our brothers-in-the-blood,’ said Aphael.

  Dante silently dared Aphael to mention the Angels Vermillion again. The second captain was one of the most vocal of their supporters. Dante was grateful he did not. Aphael did not know what High Chaplain Hereon had discovered in their fortress-monastery five centuries ago. He prayed all at the table would remain ignorant of that horror.

  ‘We face a stark choice,’ said Dante. ‘In the galactic south, the Ordo Xenos under the guidance of Inquisitor Kryptmann is employing a scorched earth policy, laying waste to swathes of worlds to halt the xenos advance. This strategy is not working.’ The cartolith zoomed out, depicting the estimated location of the main mass of Leviathan coming up from below the galactic plane, enclosing the heart of the galaxy in its immense talons.

  ‘The Adeptus Terra have sanctioned Augetem Ultima across the Red Scar – they will build a wall of bodies to exhaust the fleet, despite the questionable wisdom of providing the tyranids with an endless supply of fresh meat. Cryptus was the first test of that strategy, and it has failed. Without the light of the Astronomicon to guide them, the reinforcements promised to General Dhrost here could not arrive. We can safely assume the same will occur in the systems beyond Cryptus and the Oculus Stars, and that whatever resistance can be mustered in the shieldworlds will quickly collapse. The tyranids may be slowed, but without constant redeployment, impossible through the shadow in the warp, these efforts are doomed to failure. We have seen here, this week, what we as Space Marines might achieve if we choose to lend our might to these system fortifications. The question I have been debating these last hours is therefore this: do we fight the tyranids system by system, or do we marshal the full strength of the Blood Angels and our successors, and make a stand at Baal?’

  Dante stood. The cartolith made a dizzying zoom into the Blood Angels’ home worlds. ‘I fear the first strategy will lead to our slow erosion. As here, we will not stop the tyranids, only slow them, and so our eventual destruction will be inevitable. Contrarily, if we do not attack where we might, we risk allowing Leviathan access to resources that will speed its growth exponentially. Either strategy has its merits – both are risky. I have therefore determined a third way.’ He waved his hand. The cartolith zoomed back out. ‘We shall gather the majority of our warriors at Baal. I shall request that the masters of the fleet-based Chapters assign portions of their strength to mobile strike groups. These will stand ready to deal pinpoint blows to the hive fleets.’

  ‘How will limited strikes slow them, my lord, when outright war has not?’ asked Aphael.

  ‘Missions will be carefully determined. The removal of norncraft clusters, considered reinforcement of Astra Militarum army groups, bolstering the Imperial fleet. Exterminatus, if need be. Diversion, distraction and disruption. We cannot accomplish more. While these actions are ongoing, we and the successors shall fortify Baal and its moons. We shall meet the aliens at the edge of the Baal System in full fleet array, and attempt to split them. By slowing their planetfall we can hope to deal with them piecemeal. The strategy was attempted here by General Dhrost, and would have succeeded but for want of more men. Our armouries are fully stocked. Billions of bolt shells await their targets. The Sanguinor itself told us that there is hope. The Sanguinor spoke!’ he said emphatically. ‘Hope is only candle flame – it must be fanned by action into a blaze.’

  Dante looked around the table of solemn faces. ‘We have blunted their attack here, at Cryptus, but this manner of victory will not be sufficient at Baal. Leviathan has to be crushed. What I suggest has only a slim chance of success. This decision is too great to be made by me alone. I ask the representatives of the council for their opinion. Do we stand on Baal in the manner I propose, do we split ourselves among the shieldworlds, or do we consider the unthinkable and flee?’

  ‘Flee?’ said Ordamael. ‘Never! It is agreed. We shall stand. I speak for the Chaplaincy. The commander’s strategy is sound. Sanguinius’ wings shield us in these desperate hours.’

  ‘I second Ordamael’s approval,’ said Corbulo. ‘The Sanguinary Priests will stand by Commander Dante’s plan.’

  ‘Brother-captains?’ asked Dante. ‘Gabriel?’

  ‘I stand where you stand, lord commander,’ said Seth. ‘There is no need to ask. I am yours to command – by the Blood I swear it so.’ He slammed his fist into his battle-scarred plastron.

  Karlaen looked to the second and seventh captains, and to Bellerophon and Asante. They nodded. ‘We of the captaincy agree,’ said Karlaen.

  ‘And what do you think, Dhrost?’

  The general’s steely eyes glinted with emotion. ‘I lost three million men on Asphodex. I owe my life to your intervention. If you are to concentrate your forces on Baal, billions more will perish, but I do not believe you have another choice. If the Imperial Navy can bring its transports through to the shieldworlds, your presence will have minimal positive effect. If they cannot – and we all agree this is likely – your presence will strengthen the hearts of every woman and man under arms, you will slaughter the xenos by the million… and then you will fall, to the last man. There is no other choice. Thousands of Space Marines together can succeed where hundreds will not. I condemn worlds to their deaths in saying this, but you must do what you suggest.’

  ‘Sister Amity?’

  ‘I go where the Emperor sends me, my lord. You are the sons of the Emperor’s most holy offspring, the Great Angel. Sanguinius’ soul works through you, and the Emperor works through him. If you have decided to fight for your home, that is what the Emperor demands, and you cannot deny His will.’

  Dante inclined his head in respect. The Adepta Sororitas and Adeptus Astartes did not always see eye to eye on the matter of the Emperor’s divinity, but he respected their prowess in battle.

  ‘I thank you for your advice, my brothers, my guests. Make all ships ready for immediate departure. Once we are through the Aegis Diamondo, we will make all speed for Baal.’

  ‘By Sanguinius’ blood, so be it,’ the Blood Angels and Seth responded.

  Behind his golden mask, Dante worried. In the face of such single-minded destruction, hope could not be enough.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  SECOND BIRTH

  456.M40

  Baal Secundus to Baal transfer

  Baal System

  The sky chariot shook. The vibrations were so intense Luis’ vision blurred. Metal creaked from every quarter, punctuated by hollow bangs. The roar of the engines hurt his ears. The aspirants gripped their passenger restraint cages for dear life. Malafael and Rugon flew with them, and their comportment could not have been more different. They stood away from the few seats in the sky chariot – Thunderhawk, Luis corrected himself – chatting with one another. Their conversation was inaudible, either lost to the roar of the jets or projected helm to helm, but he could see they were talking, completely at ease. They were unaffected by the great pressure that pushed at Luis as the craft accelerated out of Baal Secundus’ reach. His weight increased, until he was crushed by his own body, pinned to his seat. Black spots whirled around his vision.

  He made himself examine his surroundings, to immerse himself in its detail, where he could hide from fear. The black spots became a tunnel. He could not breathe. Something huge and malevolent was pressing the air from his chest.

  The Blood Angels swayed with the jolting movement of the gunship; their feet were unmoving, locked to the deck by their armour somehow. Luis moved his eyes painfully around the compartment, searching for other things to occupy his mind. There were a handful of seats in the ship, and although all of them had the massive restraint cradles like the one he was clinging to, he thought that the Space Marines rarely used them. There were only nine seats, but space within the hold for twenty, maybe thirty of the giant armoured warriors if they stood shoulder to shoulder. While he thought, he calmed his breathing. Watch, he told himself. Do not fear. To his left, Lorenz had his eyes screwed shut. Ristan muttered prayers under his breath. The
re were nine aspirants in their ship, one for each seat. Sixty-three had been chosen. Others rode in other ships. Six ships all told. Two moons, one planet. These facts kept him calm as he felt consciousness slip away. He could not prevent the final closure of the black tunnel crowding his vision, and he passed out.

  He was unconscious only for moments. The pressure ceased. Aside from a faint tremor in the craft, it now ran silent. He was as light as air and a little queasy for it. He lifted his arm and marvelled at the weightless sensation. The other boys were laughing and flapping their hands around. Malafael turned from his conversation. His vox-grille clicked on.

  ‘Be calm, aspirants. We are outside the gravity well you have known your entire lives. This sensation will shortly cease.’

  ‘We are in the void!’ said Lorenz.

  ‘You are in the void,’ said Malafael indulgently. ‘Enjoy the novelty of it. Quietly.’ His vox clicked off, and he turned back to his private conversation with the Sanguinary Priest.

  Unable to contain their excitement, the successful aspirants talked in whispers for the two hours of weightlessness, smiling as they let their arms float around their heads, until, without warning, a loud rumble shook the cabin and Luis experienced the pressure again.

  ‘We are entering the Arx Angelicum approach vector, my lords,’ said a voice over the craft’s internal vox. ‘Aspirants, prepare yourselves.’

  ‘If you thought the ride up hard on your bones,’ said Rugon, his smile audible in his words. ‘Then you will think this a nightmare. I advise you to hold on tight.’

  Luis’ stomach flipped. More noises sounded outside. The ship tilted and he lifted, banging himself against the restraint cage.

  ‘Grip your cages!’ said Malafael. ‘Your bruises will be lessened. Keep your mouths shut, or you might bite off your tongues.’