Then, sir, you are a base and low-born-'

'Equerry Eshkerrus,' Loken said. 'None of us like Torgad-don much, except when he is speaking the truth. Right now, I like him a great deal.'

That's enough, Garviel,' Horns said quietly. 'Enough, all of you. Sit down, equerry. My Luna Wolves speak harshly because they are dismayed at this situation. An Imperial defeat. Companies lost. An implacable foe. This saddens me, and it will sadden the Emperor too, when he hears of it'

Horus rose. 'My report to him will say this. Captain Frame was right to assault this world, for it is clearly a nest of xenos filth. We applaud his courage. Master August was right to support the captain, even though it meant he spent the bulk of his military formation. Lord Commander Eidolon was right to engage, without support, for to do otherwise would have been cowardly when lives were at stake. I would also like to thank all those commanders who rerouted here to offer assistance. From this point on, we will handle it'

'How will you handle it, lord?' Eshkerrus asked boldly.

'Will you attack?' asked August.

"We will consider our options and inform you presently. That's all.'

The officers filed out of the strategium, along with Sedi-rae, Marr, Moy, Goshen, Targost and Qruze, leaving the Warmaster alone with the Moumival.

Once they were alone, Homs looked at the four of them. Thank you, friends. Well played.'

Loken was fast learning both how the Warmaster liked to employ the Mournival as a political weapon, and what a masterful political animal the Warmaster was. Aximand had quietly briefed Loken on what would be required of him just before they boarded the shuttle on the Vengeful Spirit. The situation here is a mess, and the commander believes that mess has in part been

caused by incompetence and mistakes at command level. He wants all the officers reprimanded, rebuked so hard they smart with shame, but... if he's going to pull the 140th Expedition back together again and make it viable, he needs their admiration, their respect and their unswerving loyalty. None of which he will have if he marches in and starts throwing his weight around.’

'So the Moumival does the rebuking for him?'

'Just so,' Aximand had smiled. The Luna Wolves are feared anyway, so let them fear us. Let them hate us. We'll be the mouthpiece of discontent and rancour. All accusations must come from us. Play the part, speak as bluntly and critically as you like. Make them squirm in discomfort. They'll get the message, but at the same time, the Warmaster will be seen as a benign conciliator.'

We're his war dogs?'

'So he doesn't have to growl himself. Exactly. He wants us to give them hell, a dressing down they'll remember and learn from. That allows him to seem the peacemaker. To remain beloved, adored, a voice of reason and calm. By the end, if we do things properly, they'll all feel suitably admonished, and simultaneously they'll all love the War-master for showing mercy and calling us off. Everyone thinks the Warmaster's keenest talent is as a warrior. No one expects him to be a consummate politician. Watch him and leam, Garvi. Learn why the Emperor chose him as his proxy.’

'Well played indeed.’ Homs said to the Moumival with a smile. 'Garviel, that last comment was deliriously barbed. Eshkerrus was quite incandescent.’

Loken nodded. 'From the moment I laid eyes on him, he struck me as man eager to cover his arse. He knew mistakes had been made.’

"Yes, he did.’ Horus said. 'Just don't expect to find many friends amongst the Emperor's Children for a while. They are a proud bunch.’

Loken shrugged. 'I have all the friends I need, sir.’ he said.

'August, Eshkerrus and a dozen others may, of course, be formally cautioned and charged with incompetence once this is done.’ Horns said lightly, 'but only once this is done. Now, morale is crucial. Now we have a war to design.’

IT WAS ABOUT half an hour later when August summoned them to the bridge. A sudden and unexpected hole had appeared in the shield-storms of One Forty Twenty, an abrupt break in the fury, and quite close to the supposed landing vectors of the Emperor's Children.

'At last.’ said August, 'a gap in that storm.’

'Would that I had Astartes to drop into it.’ Eshkerrus muttered to himself.

'But you don't, do you?' Aximand remarked snidely. Eshkerrus glowered at Little Horns.

'Let's go in.’ Torgaddon urged the Warmaster. 'Another hole might be a long time coming.’

The storm might close in again.’ Horus said, pointing to the radiating cyclonics on the lith.

'You want this world, don't you?' said Torgaddon. 'Let me take the speartip down.’ The lots had already been drawn. The speartip was to be Torgaddon's company, along with the companies of Sedirae, Moy and Targost.

'Orbital bombardment.’ Horus said, repeating what had already been decided as the best course of action.

'Men might yet live.’ Torgaddon said.

The Warmaster stepped aside, and spoke quietly, in Cfhonic, to the Mournival.

'If I authorise this, I echo August and Eidolon, and I've just had you take them to task for that very brand of rash mistake.’

'This is different.’ Torgaddon replied. 'They went in blind, wave after wave. I'd not advocate duplicating that stupidity, but that break in the weather... it's the first they've detected in months.’

'If there are brothers still alive down there.’ Little Horus said, 'they deserve one last chance to be found.’

'I'll go in.’ said Torgaddon. 'See what I can find. Any sign that the weather is changing, I'll pull the speartip straight back out and we can open up the fleet batteries.’

'I still wonder about the music.’ the Warmaster said. 'Anything on that?'

'The translators are still working.’ Abaddon replied.

Horus looked at Torgaddon. 'I admire your compassion, Tarik, but the answer is a firm no. I'm not going to repeat the errors that have already been made and pour men into-'

'Lord?' August had come over to them again, and held out a data-slate.

Horus took it and read it.

'Is this confirmed?'

Yes, Warmaster.’

Horus regarded the Mournival. 'The Master of Vox has detected trace vox traffic on the surface, in the area of the storm break. It does not respond or recognise our signals, but it is active. Imperial. It looks like squad to squad, or brother to brother transmissions.’

'There are men still alive.’ said Abaddon. He seemed genuinely relieved. 'Great Terra and the Emperor! There are men still alive down there.’

Torgaddon stared at the Warmaster steadily and said nothing. He'd already said it.

Very well.’ said Horus to Torgaddon. 'Go.’

8*8

THE DROP-PODS were arranged down the length of the Vengeful Spirit's fifth embarkation deck in their launch racks, and the warriors of the speartip were locking themselves into place. Lid doors, like armoured petals, were closing around them, so the drop-pods resembled toughened, black seed cases ready for autumn. Klaxons sounded, and the firing coils of the launchers were beginning to charge. They made a harsh, rising whine and a stink of ozone smouldered like incense in the deck air.

The Warmaster stood at the side of the vast deck space, watching the hurried preparations, his arms folded across his chest.

'Climate update?' he snapped.

'No change in the weather break, my lord.’ Mal-oghurst replied, consulting his slate.

'How long's it been now?' Horns asked.

'Eighty-nine minutes.’

They've done a good job pulling this together in such a short time.’ Horus said. 'Ezekyle, commend the unit officers, please. Make it known I'm proud of them.’

Abaddon nodded. He held the papers of four oaths of moment in his armoured hands. 'Aximand?' he suggested.

Little Horus stepped forwards.

'Ezekyle?' Loken said. 'Could I?'