deceptive and explosive shells had almost stripped them of their protective void shields in a single volley。
'Moderati Setanto； charge the plasma generators！ Prepare to fire plasma cannon！'
'Yes； princeps！' replied the weapons officer。
Fierach knew that if they were to defeat this monster they had to quickly knock down the Dies Irae's shields or close with it and
take it down in close quarter battle。 Neither prospect promised to be easy。
Fierach saw the Honoris Causa rock under a volley of gunfire from the enemy Titan； the enormous machine reeling under the
ferocious impacts。 The Warlord staggered； one massive foot slamming down on the salient of the enemy trench system； crushing
two bunkers and a score of men。 One of the Titan's arms slammed into the ground； sending up a tall plume of dust； the other
flailing wildly as Princeps Daekian fought for balance。
Fierach stepped forward to shield the Honoris Causa and raised his weapon arms as Moderati Setanto shouted； 'Plasma cannon
fully charged； princeps！'
'I have you now！' snarled Fierach as he unleashed a torrent of white…hot plasma at the devil machine before him。 The viewscreen
darkened as the bolts struck the Dies Irae； its void shields flaring as they overloaded under the onslaught of the Imperator
Helium's guns。 It was still shielded； but the range was closing。
The Reavers of Battle Group Sword circled to Fierach's right； using their superior speed to flank the enemy Titan。 A flurry of
powerful laser blasts overloaded the void shields of the lead Reaver and even as its crew realised their danger； an incandescent
pulse of energy slashed from the Dies Irae's plasma annihilator and hammered into the command bridge in the head section。
Fierach shouted a denial as he saw a huge explosion rip the head from the Reaver and topple the machine。 Gracefully； the Reaver
collapsed； its artificially generated muscle movements dying with its princeps。 The machine's knees buckled and it smashed into
the ground in a vast cloud of red ash。 The remaining four Reavers scattered as Fierach shouted for more speed。
As though sensing that the Imperator Bellum was the leader of this force； the Dies Irae turned its ponderous upper body to face
Fierach。
This was how it was meant to be。 Man against daemon； flesh； bone and steel against whatever horror animated the daemonic
machine。
The Clavis Regni charged before him； its void shields flaring as enemy heavy tanks and weapon teams added their fire to that of
the Dies Irae。 Impacts hit his own Titan； knocking down another shield； and； as he saw another battle group of enemy Titans
emerge from the smoke with hundreds of tanks following them； Princeps Fierach knew doubt for the first time in many years。
It was not for nothing that this foe had stalked the galaxy with impunity these last ten thousand years。 It was a deadly enemy and
many a vaunted princeps had met his end by its guns。
A volley of cannon fire from the enemy reinforcements slammed into the Clavis Regni and Fierach watched； horrified； as his
brother princeps struggled to hold his Titan upright。 Flames roared from the inferno gun mounted on its arm and suddenly the
weapon exploded； showering the Clavis Regni with superheated fuel。
Moderati Yousen shouted； 'Princeps！ Colonel Leonid requests immediate support。 He reports they are taking heavy casualties！'
Fierach nodded； too busy to respond as he sidestepped a powerful blast from the Dies Irae's defence laser。 He felt； rather than saw；
another of the Reavers go down； the war machine toppled by the horrendous firepower arrayed against them。
One of the enemy Titans lurched towards the Imperator Bellum； shielding it from the fire of the Dies Irae； its monstrous head
swinging ponderously from side to side as it charged。
Fierach stepped forward to meet this new foe； swinging his chainfist at the Titan's head。 The vast motorised saw…blade grazed the
armoured carapace of the enemy machine； sliding clear in a shower of fat orange sparks。 In reply； the monster thrust its own
Graham McNeill ？Storm of Iron？
roaring chainblade at the Imperator Bellum's midsection。 Fierach felt the thunderous impact； the shriek of tearing metal as the
energised blade ripped through the thick armour of his Titan like paper。
Screams filled the internal vox as men below died and Fierach heard Engineer Ulandro yell； 'Princeps！ We have a reactor breach
on level secundus！'
Fierach didn't reply； desperately fending off another blow from the enemy Titan and stepping inside its guard to deliver a mighty
stroke across its neck。 Orange fire blasted from the enemy war machine as the Imperator Bellum's blade sheared through its
armour and tore its head from its body。 Fierach roared in triumph as massive secondary explosions ripped through the falling
Titan。
Smoke boiled throughout the command bridge and furious red warning symbols flashed urgently before Fierach。 The reactor was
going critical； but he knew that Ulandro was the best there was； and if he couldn't prevent an overload； then no one could。
He swung the Imperator Bellum around in time to see the death of the Clavis Regni； its void shields finally collapsing in a
spectacular pyrotechnic display as its generators overloaded and massive explosions whiplashed inside the machine。 The Titan
convulsed as the internal detonations ripped it apart from within and Fierach bellowed in anger to see such a heroic Titan die in
such a manner。
A thunderous impact shocked him from his fury and he turned to see the Dies Irae in all its hellish glory； its leg bastions wreathed
in flames。 He snarled； pushing the Imperator Bellum forwards as he saw yet more warning runes wink into life on the reactor
panel。
Engineer Ulandro was fighting a losing battle to contain the reactor breach； and as Fierach heard the desperate； pleading screams
of the Imperial Guard soldiers over the vox； he knew he had made an unforgivable tactical decision。
By indulging his lust for vengeance on the Legio Mortis； he had deserted his brother soldiers； and Fierach was filled with shame。
The Reavers of Battle Group Sword had defeated the supporting enemy Titans； but only two remained standing； flames billowing
from their weapon mounts and twisted carapaces。
He had doomed them all。
The Clams Regni was gone； but the Honoris Causa still stood； trading shots with the Dies Irae in an unequal battle that could have
but one outcome。
Fierach opened a channel to Princeps Daekian as he marched resolutely towards the firefight。
'Daekian！ Pull back eastwards； reinforce the Jouran units。'
'Princeps？' queried a breathless Daekian。
'Do it； damn your eyes！ Take what's left of Sword and try and salvage something from this disaster！'
'Yes； princeps；' acknowledged Daekian。
Fierach saw the reactor breach was getting steadily worse and felt a fatal sluggishness to the lmperator Bellum's movements。 The
god…machine was dying； but he would not allow such a mighty warrior to walk the road to hell alone and turned his Titan to face
the towering form of the Dies Irae。
Death awaited him and he welcomed it。
Suddenly calm； Fierach said； 'Daekian； I ask only one thing of you。 Avenge us。'
LEONID'S SQUAD HUDDLED in the dust； glittering with the sheen of spilt engine fuel； and kept their heads down as the constant
thump of heavy weapon fire blasted from the enemy trenches。
Despite shouted promises over the vox…net； their Titan support had yet to materialise。 The Chimera rocked with the Shockwaves
of nearby explosions and Leonid had to shout to be heard over the noise of battle。
'Corde！ Any news on those Titans？'
Guardsman Corde shook his head furiously as another blast shook their refuge and Leonid knew that it was only a matter of time
before the Chimera was blown to bits。
The entire squad； or at least what was left of it； was filled with the same indignant fury as Leonid； and even the normally placid
Guardsman Corde was hell…bent on getting to grips with the enemy。
But； courageous as they were； it would be almost impossible for them to charge across such open ground。 They would be heroes；
but not even heroes could take a missile and survive； no matter how brave they were。 Leonid knew that they had to do something
and realised that this was a time when he had to earn the rank badge on his shoulder boards。 This was the time when； as a leader；
he had to do just that。 Lead。
His mind made up Leonid turned to face Ellard and shouted； 'Sergeant； gather the men。 We're going forward！'
The sergeant looked for a moment as though he hadn't heard Leonid； then nodded sharply and started shouting at the men；
gathering them into position。 Leonid snatched the handset of the vox unit carried on Corde's back and opened a channel to the
units under his command。
'All units； this is Lieutenant Colonel Leonid。 We are attacking the traitor trench line。 Be ready and remember； the Emperor expects
every man to do his best！ Leonid out。'
He dropped the vox and locked eyes with Ellard。
'Ready； sergeant？'
Ellard nodded。 'As I'll ever be； sir。 You？'
Leonid grinned。 'I guess we're about to find out。'
He reached out to shake Ellard's hand； saying； 'Good luck； sergeant。'
'You too； sir。'
Leonid hefted his rifle and； after taking a deep breath to slow his pounding heart； burst from cover with a roar of hatred。 His
command squad rose and followed their leader's example； charging forwards with a howling battle cry。
Gunfire reached out to them； instantly cutting a swathe of Guardsmen down and scattering the rest。
Graham McNeill ？Storm of Iron？
'Spread out！ Spread out！' yelled Leonid。
They fired their lasguns and grenade launchers； but the range was too great。
Despite the tiny impact Leonid's command squad had on the traitor line； the effect on the Imperial troops was electric。
The embers of a fierce； wounded pride and a towering sense of outrage were stoked amongst his soldiers。 The men of the Jouran
Dragoons rose and followed their courageous commanding officer。
Leonid and Ellard charged forwards together； their boots throwing up great clouds of ash behind them。 The squad followed at their
heels； incoherent yells of anger and fear carrying them through the fire。
Hot adrenaline dumped into Leonid's system。 As he fired his rifle； he was engulfed by a wash of emotions。 Mad exuberance
gripped him； a wild sense of danger and excitement。 His fear was swept away and he laughed with the sheer vitality he possessed。
The sky above had never seemed quite so red； nor his eyes so preternaturally sharp。 He could make out the faces of the enemy
before him in graphic detail。
He felt like he was charging in slow motion； bullets and lasfire flashing past him like bright streamers； and he turned to yell
encouragement at the men behind him。 Explosions burst around him； but he ran on； invincible。
New strength filled his limbs and he surged ahead of the others。
Firing from the hip； the noise was incredible。 He heard wild howling。 His own？
Something jerked his sleeve。 Sharp red pain blossomed up his arm； but he didn't care。
He was riding a wave of courage and insanity。
A terrible roaring； ripping sound dopplered in and out and he saw the din kicked up in spurts before him。 The line of fire kinked
right and tore amongst the squad beside him。 Four men were pitched backwar