cultists had survived； and was training a lasgun on him。 He closed his eyes； heard the familiar
cracking retort； and expected it to be the last thing he would ever hear。
Then； he opened his eyes again to find the cultist dead on the floor。
An Ice Warrior stood over the corpse； one whose name Palinev did not know。 “You the scout；
Palinev？” the man grunted； and he nodded blankly。
“Must be something up with your comms；” said the Ice Warrior。 “They’ve been trying to contact
you for the past half hour。 Steele wants you。”
They had lined up beside the Termite； Steele and his handpicked squad： the nine troopers to whom
he would be trusting his life； and more importantly； the success of his assignment。
They stood with their heads bowed in silence； their hats and helmets removed； as a priest laid his
hands upon each of them in turn； and bestowed the blessing of the God…Emperor upon them。 Steele
cursed his enhanced sense of smell； it took all the self…control he had not to choke on the pungent
cloud that billowed from the holy man’s incense burner。
The priest’s arrival had been a surprise to them all。 Steele had known； of course； that the
Ecclesiarchy had a special interest in his mission； but this… For an entire squad to be sanctified like
this was almost unheard of。 Still； the ritual provided a rare moment of calm； of inner peace； despite
the background sounds of gunfire and explosions； and engines and dying from the none…too…distant
war。 Steele had welcomed that and been re…energised by it。
He noted that Pozhar was not quite so appreciative。 The young trooper had been the last of the
squad to arrive； bounding up to an indulgent Gavotski full of energy； and bursting with stories about
what he had been through to get here。 His body was like a coiled spring； his hands twitching with
the desire to get the ceremony done with and get on with the business of finding someone to kill。
19
When Blonsky’s turn came； his chest swelled with pride and a righteous smile pulled at his thin
lips。 Mikhaelev； in contrast； held himself rigid； contained； and betrayed no reaction to his blessing at
all。 Beside him； Anakora reacted to the priest’s touch with a little shudder； and a single tear dripped
from her down…turned eyes。
Then it was done — and； with a final nod and a munificent smile in Steele’s direction； the priest
ambled away。 The colonel took a deep breath as his moment of peace ended and he prepared to get
back down to business。 He nodded at his sergeant； to indicate that it was time — and Gavotski
stepped forward； cleared his throat and addressed the squad。
“You may have heard the name Confessor Wollkenden；” he said。 “You may have heard that he
came here to Cressida a month ago； to minister to its people； to help them resist the corruption of
their world。 You may also have heard that the confessor is one of the finest men the Imperium has
bred。 It is thanks in part to his leadership that the war in the Artemis system was won。”
In fact； Steele hadn’t heard Wollkenden’s name before this morning； and he doubted whether
Gavotski had either。 He had been left in no doubt； however； of the stock placed in him by the
Ecclesiarchy； that they considered him a virtual saint。
“Three days ago；” Gavotski continued； “the confessor was en route to an outlying settlement to
the north of here； intending to make contact with a group of loyalist resisters。 His shuttle came under
fire。 A vox…message from its pilot confirmed that an emergency landing had been made； and that
Confessor Wollkenden was alive。 The message was interrupted。 There has been no word since then。
The area in which the confessor’s ship came down was a forest； until it fell to Chaos forces three
and a half years ago。 Since then； of course； conditions on the ground have changed considerably。
Intelligence is sparse； but we know that there has been a great deal of glacial activity in the area；
which has rendered much of it almost impassable… Almost。” At this； Gavotski gave the Termite a
proud pat。
“Of course； it is possible that Confessor Wollkenden is dead。 Our job； comrades； is to find out
for sure； and； if he is alive； to bring him back。 The Imperial Guard cannot spare the resources for a
full…scale search and rescue at present — and it is felt anyway that a stealthy extraction has more
chance of success。 That is why Colonel Steele and I are taking only one squad through the glaciers；
and it is why each of you has been chosen： because your respective commanders tell us that you are
the best the Valhallan 319th has to offer。”
“Pardon me； sergeant；” said Trooper Borscz； “but are we to understand that Colonel Steele is to
lead this mission？”
“That is correct； soldier；” said Gavotski。 “You have a problem with that？”
“No； sergeant。” In fact； Borscz seemed positively enthused by the idea； and he looked at Steele
with admiration blazing in his deep blue eyes。
The colonel cleared his throat； and said； “There is one thing that Sergeant Gavotski has not yet
mentioned。” It was the first time the troopers had heard his voice； and each of them became visibly
more attentive。 “You are aware；” said Steele； “that Cressida is being evacuated。 What you have not
been told； because this information is strictly need…to…know； is that an Exterminatus order has been
signed。”
Palinev gave an audible gasp； but the others absorbed the news silently； grimly。
“Naval warships are on their way；” said。 Steele。 “Cressida will be virus…bombed from orbit；
completely sterilised。 As a world still rich in mineral resources； it is hoped that some day it can be
recolonised。 Until that day—”
Gavotski finished the thought for him。 “The Chaos forces may have won this battle；” he said；
“but they will not live long to enjoy their spoils。”
“All of which；” said Steele； “means that we have a deadline。 I was told this morning； in no
uncertain terms； that the virus bombing would take place in forty…eight hours’ time； whether we； or
indeed Confessor Wollkenden； were still on Cressida or not。 A little over three hours has passed
since then。
20
“Gentlemen and lady； I suggest we get the Termite loaded up。 The chrono is already ticking。”
21
CHAPTER FOUR
Time to Destruction of Cressida： 44。49。09
“You should not have come back。”
The passenger compartment was raucous with the roar of the Termite’s engine and with the
chatter of ten Ice Warriors； packed together in the confined space； getting to know one another；
assessing each other’s strengths。 Still； Blonsky’s voice cut across the noise； and brought the chatter
to a halt。
“You should not have come back；” he said again； and his angular face was set into a stony
scowl； his dark green eyes piercing his victim。
Pozhar had been telling the tale of how he had found himself behind enemy lines； and of his
heroic return — although privately； Gavotski thought he might have exaggerated some of his more
remarkable feats。 The young trooper was cut off in mid…flow； and he didn’t know what to say； he
just gaped at his accuser。
“Your chances of survival were minimal；” said Blonsky； “and if you had been killed it would
have been by a shot to the back： a senseless death； and a dishonourable one in the Emperor’s eyes。
He had carried you to the enemy’s heart。 Instead of thinking of your own survival； you should have
used your chance to strike at that heart。”
“But… but I did survive；” said Pozhar。 “I survived； and I brought back some civilians； and…
and some vital information about troop movements in the underhive。” He stole a sidelong glance at
Steele； presumably to see if he agreed with Blonsky’s assessment。 The colonel’s expression；
however； remained neutral。
“I don’t think it’s helpful to talk about what might have been；” Gavotski said。 “As Trooper
Pozhar has proved； his situation wasn’t hopeless。 He was able to come back to us； to fight another
day in the Emperor’s service。”
Emboldened by the sergeant’s support； Pozhar rounded on Blonsky； and said； “Anyway； how
long do you think I’d have lasted； surrounded by traitors； if I’d started shooting？ How many do you
think I’d have taken down？ Five？ Six？ I killed three times that many before morning rations； and I’ll
do the same tomorrow； and the next day。 That’s how I serve the Emperor！ How about you； Trooper
Blonsky？ How many kills have you claimed today？ Do you really want to talk about whose life is
the more valuable？”
Blonsky’s stare didn’t waver。 “You should not have come back；” he repeated with the
unshakeable conviction of a witch hunter。
The Termite gave a judder； and Grayle； seated at the controls； called back over his shoulder；
“We’ve just left the hive； sir。 No sighting of the enemy as yet。”
“How do we stand on that escort？” asked Gavotski。
“Looks like we can expert two Chimeras to meet us；” said Grayle。 “Still waiting for a vox from
Ursa Platoon to see if we can make it three。”
“You clap eyes on the enemy； Grayle；” said Barreski； “you just point me in their direction。 I’ll
show them we don’t need bodyguards！” He was stationed at one of the six hull…mounted flamers；
squinting along its barrel； making minute adjustments to its sights。 His enthusiasm was appreciated；
but Gavotski knew that the Termite was not built for combat。 It didn’t have the firepower。 That was
why they had left the hive by an eastern gate； from a zone relatively untouched by the battle to the
north。 For the first leg of their journey； they would be travelling above ground； and they hoped to
22
avoid the battle altogether。 Due to pressure of time； however； they couldn’t give it as wide a berth as
they would have liked。
“If we do come under attack；” said Borscz； “I would rather get out there and trust to the strength
of my own two hands than suffocate or freeze to death in this tin can。” He did look uncomfortable；
his massive frame sandwiched between Barreski and Anakora。 However； as one of the first troopers
into the Termite； Borscz appeared to have chosen his seat purposely to avoid having to man a
flamer。
“You would agree with me； I think； my friend；” he continued； leaning forward to give Palinev an
overly familiar pat on the shoulder。 The force of the blow almost knocked the smaller； slighter man
to the floor。 “As a scout； you must rely on your own abilities to stay silent and hidden； yes？ Not
much use to you inside a great clunking machine。”
“You are joking； right？” said Barreski。 “Without machines； our ancestors would never have won
the Great War。 It was machines like this one that turned the tide； and allowed them to drive the
filthy orks from our world。”
“The machines would have been little use；” Borscz countered； “without good； strong men inside
them。 It is not in the machines that our ancestors found the will to defeat the invaders； Trooper
Barreski； but rather in their own beating hearts。”
Anakora played little part in the conversation。 She had introduced herself to the others； given
accurate but short answers to their questions about her war record； but that was all。 She was acutely
aware that they were all here because of their proven expertise in their fields。 She had no right to sit
among them。
Few Valhallan women served in the Im