twenty…three million strong population of the moon had been in shock。 Shock had quickly
descended into panic as rumours spread of an imminent xenos invasion； rumours that were not in
any way refuted by the Administratum。
Groups of the Skyllan Interdiction Force pushed through the crowds； attempting to maintain
order。 They wore their customary white body armour over sky…blue uniforms； and held highpowered
laslocks across their chests。 Snarling； shaggy…coated mastiffs with gleaming mechanical
eye…augments strained at their leashes； sensing the tension in their masters。
An armoured Catalan…class squad vehicle moved slowly along one of the platforms； its white；
high…compound plasteel chassis gleaming beneath the humming strip…lights overhead。 Its flashing
lights and blaring siren urged people out of its path； but its progress was slow； for there was no room
to allow the vehicle through。
The winged emblem of the mercenary force was resplendent across the broad grill on the front
of the heavy vehicle； and a pair of armoured soldiers stood in its dual turret at the rear； swinging the
massive twin…linked heavy bolters left and right。 Their faces were all but obscured by their white
helmets； and black visors hid their eyes from view。
For twenty…five generations； Perdus Skylla had employed the Skyllan Interdiction； an outside
mercenary agency funded by the wealthy mining guild conglomerates。 They served as the military
force protecting the guilds’ assets in lieu of a Planetary Defence Force； while simultaneously acting
as local law enforcement。 Better trained and equipped than most Imperial Guard regiments； the
hiring of the Skyllan Interdiction Forces had allowed the mining guilds to concentrate on their
endeavours without having to draw away any of its skilled workforce to form a PDF。
11
Still； even with the mercenaries present within the tunnel to help restore order； the flow of
humanity was little short of a rout。
One of the long…furred mastiffs let out a long growl； eyes locked on the ceiling。 Seeing nothing；
its master jerked its chain hard； silencing the beast。
A creature of shadow clung to the ceiling of the corridor； virtually undetectable to the naked eye
or the sophisticated targeting matrices built into the helmets of the Skyllan Interdiction Force。 It
moved like a spider； making its way across the ceiling with slow； purposeful movements。 Its lean；
black armoured body disappeared for a second； its menacing form turning as insubstantial as smoke；
only to reappear within the shadow of a grilled turbine further along the roof。
The creature’s skin was inky black； and elegant runes of alien design were cut into its flesh。 The
runes glowed with a cold； inner light。
Turning its gaze downwards； it peered malevolently over the sea of humans with eyes that were
milky white。 It paid particular attention to the armed forces of the Skyllan Interdiction； and its limbs
quivered with barely contained bloodlust。 The blades running up its forearms hummed in
anticipation。
The mastiffs below went into a frenzy of barking as the creature’s scent carried to them； and
their handlers struggled to control the powerful beasts。 The creature disappeared into shadow once
more as eyes scanned the ceilings； straining to pick out what had disturbed the dogs。
The air recycling turbines cut out； abruptly。 The few who registered the sudden change in air
pressure gazed up at the slowing fans in concern。 Without the recycling units； the air in the tunnel
would turn to poison within hours； as all the oxygen was used up and replaced with the toxic carbon
dioxide exhaled by the masses。
Skyllan Interdiction Forces tapped their helmets as their communications went down； as if
jammed by interference。
Then the first of the lights went out。
First； one of the lights faded to darkness； then another。 The strip lights began to fail； one after
another； in both directions； like a wave。 People screamed as darkness engulfed them。 The lights
were going dark faster than a man could run； and within less than a minute every light in sight was
dead。
The darkness was complete； all consuming and as black as the abyssal depths of the oceans
below。 People clutched at one another in panic； unable even to see a hand waving in front their face；
and the crowd surged。 Spotlights on the Skyllan armoured vehicle clicked on； and they wove back
and forth； piercing the darkness like beacons。
People pushed towards the light sources； like moths being drawn to an open flame； and their
panicked faces shone like ghosts in the cold light。 They pressed against the armoured vehicle as if it
was a talisman； those at the front crushed against its armoured sides by those pushing from behind。
Overhead； the nigh…on invisible figure had reappeared； and the runes carved into its flesh glowed
with power。 Still hugging the ceiling in defiance of gravity； it slid a curved； double…bladed punch
dagger from its sheath。 Other blades slid from the back of its hands； jutting forward over its fists like
the talons of a great cat； and a low hiss of anticipation passed its lips as it waited for its dark kin to
arrive in response to its summons。 It did not have to wait long。
A ball of lightning appeared； hanging in mid…air for a fraction of a second before it exploded
outwards； blinding those nearby with the sudden burst of energy and throwing them to the ground。
The crackling energy was gone in an instant； and an impenetrable void was left in its wake。 It was
like an inky black pool of water； though it was vertical and hung in mid…air； a plane of absolute
darkness no thicker than a single molecule。
Ripples appeared across its surface； as if a pebble had been tossed into its centre； and whining
shapes sped from the rent in real space； hurtling up the access corridor at tremendous speed。 They
screamed overhead； slicing like knives through the darkness。 Blades cut through flesh； and hot blood
splattered into the faces of hundreds of people； who screamed in terror。 Many threw themselves to
12
the ground in fear and were trampled to death by their brothers； sisters and wives in their panic to
escape。 However； with no lights； and with the tunnel packed from wall to wall with terrified people；
there was nowhere to run。
The spotlights atop the armoured Skyllan Interdiction vehicle turned frantically； trying to lock
onto the enemies that screamed past them； but they could only hold the speeding shapes in the light
for a fraction of a second。 A shape dropped from the ceiling； landing lightly atop the vehicle； and the
troopers saw a shadowy blur in the rough outline of a humanoid figure perched on the roof of the
armoured car before the spotlights were shattered。
The panicked troopers manning the turret…mounted heavy bolters opened fire into the darkness；
and muzzle flare lit the area。
A sleek black shape hurtled past； and the mercenaries chased it with high…explosive rounds。
They hit nothing but the walls and pillars of the tunnel； ripping away head…sized chunks of
rockcrete。
The troopers’ mastiffs had erupted into frantic barking and were fighting at their chains。 Their
masters turned around on the spot； laslocks held to shoulders as they struggled to sight the enemy。
Dark shapes were zooming through the tunnel； but the troopers’ targeting systems were unable to
lock onto the targets。
There was a blur of movement and one of the troopers was sliced open from groin to throat。 He
squeezed the trigger of his weapon as he fell； blasting into the crowd of surging people； cutting
several of them down。
People screamed and ran as the sounds of gunfire echoed deafeningly； fighting each other in
their desperation to get to safety。 The other troopers turned left and right； trying desperately to hold
their targets in sight。 A shape screamed overhead； and a trooper’s head was severed from its body。
The shape was a hundred metres further up the tunnel before the head hit the ground。
Streams of tiny bladed splinters spat out of the darkness towards the mercenaries manning the
turret of the armoured vehicle。 The razor…sharp shards sliced through their armour and flesh； and
blood sprayed out across their pristine white armour。
Their gun silenced； the darkness was once more complete。 Screams of terror and pain
accompanied the speeding shapes； invisible in the darkness； as they cut through the air。 There was a
sudden gust of displaced air as another high…speed carriage screamed along the tracks in the middle
of the tunnel； the lights from within the automated； servitor…controlled conveyance shining brightly；
sending shadows dancing。
Tall…helmeted figures were visible in the flash of light； dragging people kicking and screaming
back into the darkness。
A beam of pure darkness stabbed into the high…speed transport； rocking it。 The beam tore
through the fore…carriage； cutting through the engine block； seats and half a dozen occupants before
passing through the roof； leaving a scorched black ring on the ceiling of the tunnel。
Two more searing beams struck it； and the front carriage was knocked off the rails。 With the
squealing of protesting metal； it slammed into the side…barriers； tearing through them in a shower of
sparks。 Striking the raised platform at speed； the conveyance tilted up on its nose； and the second
and third carriages buckled behind it and rolled onto their sides。
The whole machine flipped onto its side and smashed over the platform’s edge； tearing the
barrier fully away and smashing through the surging masses。 Hundreds were crushed as the
carriages flipped across the platform to the sickening sound of metal being wrenched out of shape
and scraping across the hard platform surface。 It slammed into the tunnel wall； crushing more people
between its bulk and the rockcrete walls； and finally came to rest。 Electricity discharged across
mined metal wheels and sparked from the rails that had been half…ripped from the floor。
In the wake of the mayhem and silhouetted against the sparks； more black figures advanced
through the press of bodies； smashing people to the ground with sharp blows before dragging their
semi…conscious bodies back into the darkness。
13
Mastiffs yelped as they were torn to shreds by concentrated bursts of deadly fire。 A blurred
shape； little more than a vague； hazy outline； moved like quicksilver through the press of humanity；
slicing and cutting； and the last of the Skyllan Indictment Forces were slaughtered without holding
any of the enemy in their sights long enough to fire upon them。
A trio of shapes； in tight formation and moving impossibly fast； veered around the wreckage of
the mined rail conveyance； banking over the heads of the terrified masses as they screamed towards
the rear of the Catalan…class armoured vehicle。 It was peppered with spitting gunfire and detonated
as its fuel tanks ruptured； exploding in a blinding fireball that hurled the vehicle across the seething
platform。
The three sleek shapes sped through the inferno unscathed and gunned their engines； hurtling
once more up the tunnel into the darkness； travelling hundreds of metres in seconds。
The blades of the turbine fans began to spin once more； and the strip lights flickered falteringly
before humming back into life。 The carnage un