ground its torso towards him； the white…hot barrel of its plasma weapon aimed directly at him。
'Evasive manoeuvres！' he bellowed； even as he knew it would be too late。
The Honoris Causa lurched sideways as the plasma bolt fired。
Princeps Daekian ost。
The shot impacted on the Warlord's volcano cannon； instantaneously vaporising the weapon in a seething ball of plasma。 The
explosion ripped up the Titan's arm； the adamantium structure flashing molten in a heartbeat。
Daekian screamed in agony； convulsing as the flashback from his arm's destruction flared along the mind impulse link。 Blood
streamed from his nose and ears； but he kept true to his course； striding towards the hazy outline of the Dies Irae through the
smoke filling the command bridge。
He reached the walls at the same instant as the Dies Irae； the raised ground inside Vincare bastion bringing him level with his
foe's head。 The Pax Imperator circled around to his right； its carapace running with plasma fire and limping as its leg joints trailed
streamers of white sparks。
Daekian lashed out with the Honoris Causa's one remaining arm； his battle claw slamming against the Dies Irae's chest。 The
massive Titan rocked back under the powerful blow； swinging its arm against the lip of the bastion and smashing through the
rockcrete and hammering into the Honoris Causa's upper leg。
Daekian felt the leg crack and heard the screams over the vox from the engineering decks。 He had moments at best。
He swiped again at his gigantic foe； ripping the armour plating away from the Dies Irae's belly as it pummelled his wounded flank
with its arms。 It lurched backwards； attempting to protect its now vulnerable reactor。
The horrendously damaged Pax Imperator charged into the fight； its chain fist ripping through the upper bastions of the Dies hae；
its blade shrieking as it tore downwards towards the war machine's bridge。
The Dies Irae's barbed tail swung and pulverised the knee joint of the Pax Imperator； shaking loose its chain fist and staggering
the mighty god…machine。
Daekian watched the Dies hae turn and hammer the barrel of its plasma annihilator into the bridge of the Pax Imperator and fire at
point…blank range。
The upper half of the Reaver vanished in a searing blast； enveloping the two battling Titans ains of the
Pax Imperator crashed over the walls of the bastion into the ditch； huge plumes of black smoke trailing from its burning hulk。
But its death had given Daekian the opening he needed。
He rammed his battle claw against the heat…softened midsection of the Dies Irae's reactor chamber； through the wound first
opened by Princeps Fierach。 He roared as he punched through into his foe's guts； gripping its nuclear heart in his iron grip and
crushing it with all his might。
HONSOU WATCHED THE battle between the enormous war machines through the drifting haze of smoke； willing the majestic form
of the Dies Irae to smash its inferior foes to scrap metal。 He sheltered in the lee of the breach； his armour dusty and bloodstained。
His frustration grew with every explosion above him。 They could not force the breach like this。
He watched as the leviathans struggled on the far bastion； their battle shaking the ground as though a powerful earthquake gripped
the world。 'Forrix！' he yelled over the din of shells exploding at the crest of the breach。 'One way or another； this battle will soon
be over。 It is time to withdraw！'
Forrix shook his head； sneering。 'I should have known your cowardice would finally come to the fore！ We stay and take this
breach。'
Honsou felt his anger flare and gripped Forrix's armour； shouting。 'We have to go！ The attack has lost its momentum and the
enemy will be regrouping behind the walls。 We only reinforce failure if we stay。 There will be another time！'
For a second； Honsou thought Forrix was about to rebuke him again； but the fury drained from his eyes and he nodded； turning
without a word and scrambling down the breach。
Honsou followed him and the Iron Warriors retreated from the walls； falling back to the ditch in disciplined groups。 As he
clambered over an iron…bar…studded chunk of rockcrete； the day was lit by a terrible brightness。 The sky was bleached of colour
and everything before him was bathed in the blinding light of a star。
Graham McNeill ？Storm of Iron？
The Dies Irae was enveloped in a dazzling ball of incandescent fire； huge sprays of plasma gouting from its belly。 The enemy
Titan with the burning white eyes had its fist buried in its guts； tearing and destroying the magnificent daemon machine。 Locked
together； the two Titans wrestled to escape each other's grip； the ground heaving with their battle。
As Honsou watched； a terrible groaning rent the air as the two machines rocked past their combined centre of gravity and slowly
began to fall towards them into the ditch。
'Run！' he shouted； all thought of a disciplined retreat forgotten in the face of this new danger。 He sprinted past the ravelin and leapt
up the rubble slopes of the ditch as the two war machines slammed into the outer face of the curtain wall between Vincare bastion
and the gate。 Their massive bodies scraped down its face； trailing flaming sheets of burning plasma and ripping another great tear
in the walls。
Honsou scrambled over the lip of the ditch； desperate to reach the safety of the earthworks。 Forrix ran alongside him； his new
bionics enhancing his speed； despite the Terminator armour he wore。
The two Titans slammed into the ground； the impact throwing Honsou from his feet and hurling him forward。 He smashed into the
top of the earthwork； rolling over its top as a river of plasma spilled from the ruptured reactors of the Titans。
Burning plasma flooded the ditch； incinerating the corpses that filled it in an instant。 The Primus Ravelin was destroyed； crushed
beneath thousands of tonnes of armaplas and ceramite。 Huge flames and geysers of magma…hot steam ripped along the ditch；
vitrifying the rocks throughout its length。
Razor sharp chunks of white…hot debris rained down inside the citadel； one shard from the Honoris Causa's bridge section
hammering through a section of ramparts less than five metres from Castellan Leonid。
Both war machines thrashed weakly in the molten soup that filled the ditch； grappling to the last as the searing fires consumed
them。
The first attack had failed。
FIVE
CASTELLAN LEONID POURED himself a glass of amasec and drained his glass in a single swallow。 He set down the glass on his
desk and sat on the edge of his bed； his entire body aching。 He winced as stitches from a dozen shallow cuts pulled tight across his
arms and legs； rubbing his temples in an attempt to ease the pain of the last few days。
Such a miracle was beyond his powers。 He poured himself another glass； looking through the armoured loophole in the tower's
wall。 A dim glow still radiated from the dying plasma fires in the ditch where the two Titans had fallen and he raised his glass to
the light。 'Here's to you； Princeps Daekian。 May the Emperor watch over your soul。'
He drank the fiery spirit and briefly considered pouring another。 He decided against it； knowing he had much to organise before
morning。 He rubbed a calloused hand through his hair when a knock came at his door。
'Come in。'
Brother…Captain Eshara ducked his head as he entered the room； pulling up a sturdy chair from beside Leonid's desk and sitting
opposite the citadel's castellan。
The pair sat in a companionable silence before Eshara said； 'Your men fought bravely today。 They are a credit to Joura； and your
kin would be proud of you all。'
Seeing Leonid's sadness； he added； 'I was grieved to hear of Major Anders's death。'
Leonid nodded； remembering the awful sight of an Iron Warrior casually butchering his brave friend in the Primus Ravelin。
'As did yours； captain。 We all feel Brother Corwin's loss。'
Eshara's face was lined with sorrow； 'I do not pretend to understand what happened in that bastion； but I believe he gave his life to
save us all。'
'As do I；' replied Leonid。
Reports of the battle in the Mori bastion were confused to say the least。 The infirmary building was awash with soldier's ravings；
telling of a giant warrior killing everything in the bastion by his voice alone and a whirlwind that fed on blood。 Luckily； Leonid
had been able to scotch these wild tales before they had reached the remainder of the garrison。
'Tomorrow will be the last day will it not？' asked Leonid。
Eshara didn't answer and Leonid thought he was avoiding the question； but the Space Marine had merely been considering his
answer。
'If we do not pull back to the citadel's inner wall； then； yes； it will be。 We have less than four thousand men； virtually no heavy
guns and three breaches。 The wall is too long and we cannot hold everywhere at once。 We will make it a thankless； bloody battle
for our enemies； but； ultimately； the citadel will fall。'
'Then we will give up the outer wall and fall back to the inner citadel。 The wall there is unbroken and； despite its irregular
coverage； we still have the protection of the energy shield。'
Eshara nodded。 'Aye。 The sacrifice made by Princeps Daekian has bought us some time to regroup； and it would be best if we
begin now。'
'I will issue the orders immediately；' stated Leonid pouring himself a last glass of amasec and taking out his vial of detox pills。
He swallowed one and shook his head at the dreadful taste； placing the vial on the desk。
'I have observed your men taking these pills as well；' noted Eshara。 'Might I enquire as to what they are？'
'What； the detox pills？ Oh； of course； you do not need these do you？ Well； I don't suppose any of us will need them any more
really。'
Eshara looked puzzled and said； 'Need them for what？'
'Well； it's the air here；' explained Leonid； waving his hand around him； 'It's poisonous。 The Magos Biologis of the Adeptus
Graham McNeill ？Storm of Iron？
Mechanicus provide these pills to keep the men from getting sick from the toxins in the air。'
Eshara leaned closer and lifted the vial。 He shook out a handful of pills and took what seemed； to Leonid； an unnecessarily deep
breath。
'Castellan Leonid； are you aware of an organ unique to the physiology of the Space Marines known as the neuroglottis？'
Leonid shook his head as Eshara continued。 'It is situated at the back of the throat and is capable of analysing the chemical content
of anything we ingest or breathe。 If need be； it can shift the pattern of my breathing to divert my trachea to a genetically altered
lung better able to process the toxins in any given atmosphere。'
Eshara replaced the vial on Leonid's desk and said； 'I am afraid you have been misled； my friend； because I can assure you that the
air on this planet is quite harmless。 Unpleasant to breathe； yes； but poisonous？ Most definitely not。'
LEONID LET HIS anger grow with each step that took him towards the Machine Temple； situated deep beneath the citadel。 He
clutched the vial of detox pills in his left hand； his laspistol in his right； as he made his way along the antiseptic corridors that led
to the lair of Arch Magos Amaethon。 Captain Eshara was beside him and his honour guard of carapace…armoured Guardsmen
marched in step behind him。
Now he knew why Hawke had not sickened and