them at once。 Their more numerous enemies were also providing them with cover； and more than
one traitor fired into the skirmish； aiming for an Ice Warrior but striking an ally instead。 Palinev
didn’t share that problem。
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A traitor landed a punch to Gavotski’s chin； sending him reeling； so Palinev blew a hole in his
head before he could press his advantage。 He picked off another figure on the periphery of the battle
before anyone knew he was there； and another two while they were trying to find him in the
confusion。 And then； when the traitors did start to fire back at him； las…beams blasting chunks from
the stonework by his head； at least he knew that four or five of them were no longer focused upon
his comrades。
He shouldered open the door beside him； and leapt into another apartment complex； even as a
frag grenade rolled into the space he had just vacated。 The explosion tore the door from its hinges；
followed him down the corridor； and almost lifted him off his feet。
He paused at a window； fired six more shots from a fresh angle； claimed another kill。 Then
Palinev was running again before he could be pinned down。
From the next window； he saw that the melee was thinning out； the odds becoming more even。
Some of the traitors were starting to disengage； to realise that they would be better off gaining some
distance and using their guns。
Barreski charged two of them。 They set their bayonets to greet him — but the gauntlet he was
wearing on his right arm crackled with energy； and with one well…timed swipe he knocked the
weapons right out of their hands。
He drove his gauntlet into a traitor’s stomach； doubling him up with pain； causing him to cough
up blood as he crumpled。 The other traitor grappled with him； tried to wrest the gauntlet from him；
but Barreski gripped him by the front of his flak jacket and tossed him almost casually over his
shoulder。 The traitor described a graceless arc； his arms and legs flailing； and slammed into the side
of a building。
Pozhar was dragged clear of the others； thrown against a balcony rail； a ten…storey drop behind
him。 With his injured arm； he couldn’t draw his lasgun in time。 Two traitors shoulder…charged him；
trying to force him over。 Palinev fired at them； and managed to strike one between the shoulder
blades； taking him down。
His heart leapt into his mouth as Pozhar toppled backwards； flipping over the railing； but
somehow managing to take his remaining attacker with him。 Palinev leapt out of his window； and
raced across the street； fearing that he was already too late； only too well aware that he had no cover
out here； but knowing that the rest of his squad were tied up with their own problems。 He was
Pozhar’s only hope。
His sudden appearance took the traitors by surprise — and like Palinev’s comrades； most of
them had their hands full。 He reached the railing； and found Pozhar clinging one…handed to the edge
of the road beneath it； the traitor hanging from his waist； still trying to drag him down。
It would be a tough shot。 Palinev took the time to steady his aim； tried to forget the imminent
danger to himself。 His las…beam struck the Traitor Guardsman in the face； and he lost his hold on
Pozhar and fell with a bloodcurdling scream。
And Palinev turned to find a knife…wielding traitor barrelling towards him； just in time to
sidestep and to fling the man over his shoulder； to join his comrade below。
For the longest time； Gavotski hadn’t known where he was； hadn’t seen any comrades beyond
Colonel Steele to his immediate left and Blonsky to his right； hadn’t known how many Traitor
Guardsmen were still standing； hadn’t been able to see a way out of this for himself or for any of
them。
All he could do was keep fighting； keep swinging his lasgun； keep slashing with his knife； keep
dodging the blows that were aimed at him in return。 Gavotski prided himself that he was still a
strong man； almost as strong as he had been in his youth； and the reactions of his opponents as he
struck at them confirmed this in the most satisfying way。 With every traitor that fell； landing in a
growing pile at the sergeant’s feet； it became harder for the next one to reach him。
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And then； to his surprise； there was nobody left。 He regained his bearings； and saw that they had
done it； they had broken through the cordon — that； although there would certainly be yet more foes
searching for the Ice Warriors； perhaps already coming up behind them； the way ahead was clear for
the moment； and Gavotski yelled out for the others to follow him as he took it。
Once again； they sprinted through the streets； and Gavotski prickled with fresh hope； knowing
that each step was taking them closer to their goal。
It couldn’t last。 He knew that。 But it ended sooner than he had hoped。
As before； it was Steele who heard the incoming platoon first； who tried to find a way around it。
This time； however； his options were more limited by the Traitor Guardsmen； the remnants of the
first platoon； still pursuing them。
They found themselves outside a censorium； and Gavotski was disheartened when Steele turned
and led his squad inside the building。 They clambered over upturned filing cabinets； and kicked up
the ashes that were all that remained of hundreds of thousands of Imperial documents。 A few of the
Ice Warriors took up sniping positions in the frames of the shattered ground floor windows； but
Gavotski followed Palinev and Blonsky up a flight of stairs in search of a better vantage point
above。
He looked out onto the street again； and saw that two squads of traitors had just turned into it；
one from each end。 Steele’s senses had saved the Ice Warriors again； warning them that they were
surrounded。
It took the traitors a moment to work out where their prey had disappeared to。 By the time they
had； almost half of them were dead。 Gavotski leaned out of his window； pumping out las…beam after
las…beam on full auto as the remaining traitors scattered； feeling a momentary catharsis with each
one that fell。 It was not enough； though； to quell the searing frustration inside him。
The last thing the Ice Warriors had wanted was a siege situation。 The last thing they could afford
was to be trapped。
A traitor ventured into view with a frag grenade in his hand。 Gavotski fired at him before he
could hurl it； and his beam was joined by two more from the windows below him。 A second later；
another traitor tried the same stunt； but Palinev and Blonsky made just as short work of him。
This was getting them nowhere。 The traitors had time on their side。 Word of the Ice Warriors’
presence would have spread； and for every traitor they felled there could be no doubt that ten more
were on their way to replace him。 They needed a way out； and they needed it fast。
No sooner had Gavotski formed that thought than the whole of the censorium trembled with a
powerful explosion； showering him with mortar from the ceiling； almost knocking him off his feet。
For a second； he feared that a traitor had somehow； unseen by him； run the gauntlet of the Ice
Warriors’ las…fire and managed to lob a frag grenade into the building。 But then Steele’s voice
drifted up to him：
“Everybody；” yelled the colonel； “down here！”
They raced down ten flights of a winding metal staircase； which rang and shook with the impacts of
eight pairs of boots。
It had been Mikhaelev who had offered up the demolition charge。 Barreski had helped him set it
up in the censorium’s basement； standing the cylindrical shell on its end to focus its explosive power
downwards。 Grayle’s ears still rang with the force of the blast； but it had achieved the desired
results。
A hole had been blown through the building’s foundations — and； peering into it； Grayle had
been pleased to see the remains of a top…floor apartment。 The Ice Warriors had dropped into the
room one by one； looking for a way down； and now at last they burst out onto the street of the hive
level below。
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They were greeted by las…fire。 The traitors； having just worked out where their foes had gone；
were crowding the balconies above them。 Steele kept his squad moving； steering clear of open
squares； hugging the walls of buildings； making sharp turns beneath archways and bridges。
The strategy proved successful。 The fire from above dropped off； the traitors finding it hard to
track the fugitives below them； impossible to target them when they did。 Some of them； frustrated；
were swarming down ladders； just trying to get closer； but making themselves easy pickings for the
Ice Warriors’ guns。
They were gaining ground； putting their foes behind them； closing in on the Ice Palace； and for a
moment Grayle thought they might actually make it。 But then； the deep…throated roar of an engine
heralded the onset of a new peril。
Steele must have heard the bike coming — but it was too fast； there had been no chance of
avoiding it。 It shot out from a narrow alleyway； squat and black； its twin…linked bolters spitting out
death metal。
Even ridden by a cultist or a traitor； it would have presented a significant threat to the Ice
Warriors。 But the rider of this bike was no mere traitor。 His eyes were dead； his face criss…crossed
with badly stitched scars； and his features warped so that his lips were forever twisted into a
disdainful leer。 The rider’s muscular frame was made even bulkier； more imposing； by a suit of jetblack
power armour — and that armour had been daubed with red Chaos sigils； and bristled with
spikes on which had been impaled a number of cracked； blank…eyed skulls。
A Chaos Space Marine！
He was standing in his broad saddle； leaning eagerly over his handlebars； slashing at the air with
a chattering chainsword。 Grayle found himself running at full pelt； almost before Steele had given
the order to do so； with Gavotski； Blonsky and Pozhar beside him。
He hesitated as he reached the nearest corner； glanced back； and saw that Palinev had actually
run at the oncoming monster。 The Chaos Space Marine swiped at the scout with his chainsword。
Palinev twisted nimbly and avoided the blow by a hair’s breadth。 It was one of the bravest things
Grayle had seen； albeit somewhat undermined by the terrified expression on Palinev’s face。 It
seemed he had put a little too much trust in his own speed and agility； hadn’t expected the sword to
cut quite as close as it had。
He slipped around behind the bike and was gone； haring up the alleyway from which it had
emerged。 The Chaos Space Marine tried to wrestle his vehicle around on its axis； to follow； but only
succeeded in unseating himself — as Palinev had no doubt hoped he would。 He fell hard on his
shoulder； and the bike veered off into a wall； but its rider was back on his feet in a second。
Grayle didn’t wait to see what he did next； who he would go after。 Whichever of the Ice
Warriors drew the short straw； he would probably end up dead — and the only chance the rest of
them had was to be long gone before that happened。 So； Grayle and Pozhar ran one way； Gavotski
and Blonsky the other； and Grayle was so worried about what might be closing behind him that he
almost didn’t see what was waiting ahead。
He was rushed by two traitors； one from each side。 He sidestepped the first； and greeted t