fruit£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡monster¡¯s¡¡foul¡¡blood¡¡spray¡¡over¡¡his¡¡face¡¡and¡¡fatigues¡¡like¡¡hot¡¡rain¡£
The¡¡creature¡¯s¡¡heavy¡¡blade¡¡clattered¡¡against¡¡the¡¡turret¡¡armour¡¡as¡¡it¡¡fell¡£¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡headless¡¡body
followed¡¡it£»¡¡falling¡¡backwards£»¡¡slipping¡¡over¡¡the¡¡tank¡¯s¡¡track¡¡guards¡¡to¡¡the¡¡red¡¡sand¡¡below¡£
Wulfe¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡move¡¡for¡¡another¡¡second£»¡¡confused¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡somehow¡¡still¡¡alive¡£¡¡He¡¡didn¡¯t
register¡¡the¡¡ork¡¡shells¡¡that¡¡were¡¡whining¡¡past¡¡his¡¡head¡£
There¡¡was¡¡something¡¡powerfully¡¡salty¡¡on¡¡his¡¡lips£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡foul¡¡taste¡¡of¡¡it¡¡snapped¡¡him¡¡back¡¡to
his¡¡senses¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡ork¡¡blood¡£¡¡He¡¡wiped¡¡it¡¡off¡¡with¡¡his¡¡sleeve¡¡and¡¡turned¡£¡¡Looking¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right£»¡¡he¡¡saw
Corporal¡¡Lenck¡¡standing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cupola¡¡of¡¡the¡¡New¡¡Champion£»¡¡his¡¡heavy¡¡stubber¡¡still¡¡pointed¡¡in
Wulfe¡¯s¡¡direction¡£
For¡¡just¡¡the¡¡briefest¡¡moment£»¡¡Wulfe¡¡felt¡¡absolutely¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡Lenck¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡shoot¡¡him¡£
There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡look¡¡of¡¡utter¡¡triumph¡¡in¡¡the¡¡arrogant¡¡corporal¡¯s¡¡eyes¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡end¡¡Wulfe¡¯s¡¡life¡¡with¡¡the
merest¡¡pressure¡¡of¡¡thumb¡¡on¡¡trigger¡£
But¡¡the¡¡lethal¡¡impacts¡¡never¡¡came¡£¡¡After¡¡a¡¡tense¡¡second£»¡¡Lenck¡¡laughed£»¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡stubber¡¡back
on¡¡the¡¡orks¡¡and¡¡continued¡¡firing¡£¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡sickeningly¡¡pleased¡¡with¡¡himself¡£
By¡¡the¡¡frakking¡¡Eye£»¡¡Wulfe¡¡cursed¡£¡¡Now¡¡I¡¯m¡¡in¡¡his¡¡debt¡£¡¡Damn¡¡it¡¡all£¡¡¡Why¡¡did¡¡it¡¡have¡¡to¡¡be
Lenck£¿
49
His¡¡eyes¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡line¡¡of¡¡Lenck¡¯s¡¡tracers¡¡and¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡the¡¡New¡¡Champion¡¡had¡¡cut¡¡a¡¡deep£»
broad¡¡path¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ork¡¡ranks£»¡¡deep¡¡enough¡¡and¡¡wide¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡make¡¡all¡¡the¡¡difference¡¡to¡¡Stromm¡¡and
his¡¡men¡£¡¡The¡¡orks¡¡were¡¡pushing¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡crashed¡¡drop¡ship£»¡¡eager¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡being¡¡slaughtered
under¡¡the¡¡torrent¡¡of¡¡explosive¡¡munitions¡¡and¡¡autocannon¡¡fire¡£¡¡They¡¡left¡¡hundreds¡¡of¡¡their¡¡dead
behind¡¡them¡¡in¡¡great¡¡heaps¡¡of¡¡reeking¡¡meat¡£¡¡Wulfe¡¡looked¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡piled¡¡bodies¡¡and¡¡saw
Stromm¡¯s¡¡infantrymen¡¡fighting¡¡valiantly¡¡with¡¡their¡¡backs¡¡to¡¡the¡¡crashed¡¡ship¡¯s¡¡hull¡£¡¡Not¡¡smart£»¡¡he
thought£»¡¡to¡¡get¡¡yourself¡¡grounded¡¡like¡¡that¡¡without¡¡an¡¡exit¡¡strategy¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡only¡¡by¡¡sheer¡¡luck£»¡¡or
perhaps¡¡the¡¡machinations¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Divine¡¡Emperor£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Gunheads¡¡had¡¡found¡¡Stromm¡¯s¡¡lot¡¡in¡¡time¡£
If¡¡Lieutenant¡¡van¡¡Droi¡¡had¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡the¡¡colonel¡¯s¡¡faint¡¡vox¡transmissions¡¡any¡¡later£»¡¡the¡¡Gunheads
would¡¡have¡¡found¡¡only¡¡dead¡¡men¡¡and¡¡scavengers¡£
Wulfe¡¡had¡¡said¡¡it¡¡before£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡said¡¡it¡¡to¡¡himself¡¡again¡¡now£»¡¡he¡¡wouldn¡¯t¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a
footslogger¡¡for¡¡all¡¡the¡¡gold¡¡on¡¡Agripinaa¡£¡¡What¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡madness¡¡made¡¡men¡¡march¡¡to¡¡battle¡¡without
at¡¡least¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡millimetres¡¡of¡¡solid¡¡armour¡¡between¡¡them¡¡and¡¡the¡¡foe£¿¡¡Little¡¡wonder¡¡that¡¡the¡¡life
of¡¡an¡¡infantryman¡¡was¡¡so¡¡short¡£¡¡One¡¡way¡¡or¡¡another£»¡¡most¡¡died¡¡within¡¡their¡¡first¡¡six¡¡months¡¡of
combat¡¡duty¡£¡¡The¡¡average¡¡for¡¡tankers¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡double¡£¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡some¡¡men¡¡resented¡¡that£»¡¡but¡¡it
was¡¡tanks¡¡and¡¡their¡¡crews¡¡that¡¡drew¡¡most¡¡fire¡¡on¡¡the¡¡battlefield¡£
Through¡¡the¡¡veils¡¡of¡¡churning¡¡smoke¡¡and¡¡dust£»¡¡Wulfe¡¡spotted¡¡a¡¡man¡¡that¡¡could¡¡only¡¡have¡¡been
Colonel¡¡Stromm¡£¡¡His¡¡poise£»¡¡his¡¡movements£»¡¡everything¡¡about¡¡him¡¡radiated¡¡strength¡¡and¡¡leadership¡£
He¡¡and¡¡the¡¡men¡¡immediately¡¡around¡¡him¡¡were¡¡fighting¡¡desperately¡¡against¡¡those¡¡orks¡¡that¡¡were¡¡still
pressing¡¡in¡¡from¡¡the¡¡far¡¡side£»¡¡protected¡¡from¡¡the¡¡tank¡¡fire¡¡by¡¡the¡¡very¡¡men¡¡they¡¡were¡¡so¡¡eager¡¡to¡¡kill¡£
At¡¡a¡¡glance£»¡¡Wulfe¡¡judged¡¡that¡¡there¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡much¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡company¡¯s¡¡worth¡¡of¡¡men¡¡left
standing£º¡¡two¡¡hundred£»¡¡maybe¡¡three¡£¡¡The¡¡number¡¡was¡¡dropping¡¡even¡¡as¡¡he¡¡watched¡£¡¡The¡¡orks¡¡kept
up¡¡a¡¡constant¡¡pressure£»¡¡clambering¡¡over¡¡banks¡¡of¡¡their¡¡dead¡¡to¡¡fire¡¡clumsily¡made¡¡pistols¡¡and
stubbers£»¡¡or¡¡to¡¡charge¡¡forward¡¡with¡¡blades¡¡raised¡¡high¡£¡¡The¡¡sand¡¡under¡¡the¡¡carpet¡¡of¡¡dead¡¡men¡¡and
orks¡¡had¡¡turned¡¡into¡¡a¡¡blood¡sodden¡¡quagmire¡£
Wulfe¡¡dropped¡¡down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡turret¡¡and¡¡nudged¡¡the¡¡vox¡selector¡¡switch¡¡to¡¡F¡¡channel£»¡¡band¡¡six¡£
¡°Colonel¡¡Stromm£»¡±¡¡he¡¡voxed£»¡¡¡°you¡¡have¡¡your¡¡corridor£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡won¡¯t¡¡hold¡¡for¡¡long¡£¡±
Stromm¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡waste¡¡time¡¡offering¡¡thanks¡£¡¡Instead£»¡¡he¡¡answered£»¡¡¡°Understood£»¡¡armour¡£¡¡We¡¯ll
make¡¡our¡¡push¡£¡¡Give¡¡us¡¡all¡¡the¡¡cover¡¡you¡¡can¡£¡¡Stromm£»¡¡out¡£¡±
Wulfe¡¡contacted¡¡Lenck¡¡and¡¡Siemens¡¡briefly¡¡and¡¡passed¡¡this¡¡on¡£¡¡For¡¡an¡¡instant£»¡¡he¡¡considered
thanking¡¡Lenck£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡forget¡¡the¡¡look¡¡in¡¡the¡¡man¡¯s¡¡eyes¡£¡¡He¡¡decided¡¡that¡¡they¡¡would¡¡talk
about¡¡it¡¡later£»¡¡providing¡¡they¡¡both¡¡lived¡¡through¡¡this¡£¡¡He¡¡scrambled¡¡back¡¡up¡¡into¡¡his¡¡cupola£»¡¡intent¡¡on
doing¡¡whatever¡¡he¡¡could¡¡to¡¡help¡¡Stromm¡¯s¡¡men¡£¡¡He¡¡sa¡¡troopers
moving¡¡out¡¡from¡¡the¡¡colonel¡¯s¡¡side£»¡¡swiftly¡¡taking¡¡up¡¡positions¡¡that¡¡would¡¡allow¡¡them¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡the
passage¡¡open¡¡for¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡possible¡£¡¡They¡¡moved¡¡as¡¡one£»¡¡firing¡¡clean£»¡¡disciplined¡¡hellgun¡¡bursts¡¡for
maximum¡¡effect£»¡¡and¡¡Wulfe¡¡found¡¡he¡¡was¡¡profoundly¡¡impressed¡£¡¡The¡¡Kasrkin¡¡were¡¡a¡¡special¡¡breed¡£
He¡¡wondered¡¡what¡¡it¡¡took¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡so¡¡cool¡headed£»¡¡surrounded¡¡by¡¡all¡¡that¡¡death¡¡and¡¡horror£»¡¡by
alien¡¡savages¡¡that¡¡outweighed¡¡you¡¡three¡¡or¡¡four¡¡times¡£¡¡He¡¡marvelled¡¡at¡¡their¡¡calm¡¡efficiency¡£
Like¡¡tankers£»¡¡the¡¡Kasrkin¡¡drew¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡level¡¡of¡¡resentment¡¡from¡¡standard¡¡infantrymen¡£¡¡They
received¡¡special¡¡training¡¡and¡¡superior¡¡kit£»¡¡and¡¡commanders¡¡tended¡¡not¡¡to¡¡waste¡¡them¡¡in¡¡wars¡¡of
attrition¡¡when¡¡there¡¡were¡¡other¡¡options¡¡available¡£¡¡Right¡¡now£»¡¡however£»¡¡that¡¡training¡¡and¡¡equipment
was¡¡being¡¡employed¡¡to¡¡save¡¡lives¡£
Wulfe¡¡wondered¡¡how¡¡any¡¡soldier¡¡could¡¡resent¡¡that¡£
With¡¡the¡¡corridor¡¡momentarily¡¡secured£»¡¡the¡¡remnants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡embattled¡¡infantry¡¡began¡¡pouring
out£»¡¡desperately¡¡making¡¡for¡¡the¡¡cover¡¡of¡¡Sword¡¡Squadron¡¯s¡¡tanks¡£¡¡As¡¡they¡¡ran£»¡¡some¡¡stopped¡¡and
turned£»¡¡dropping¡¡to¡¡one¡¡knee¡¡to¡¡fire¡¡back¡¡at¡¡the¡¡pursuing¡¡orks¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡men¡¡behind¡¡had¡¡overtaken
them£»¡¡they¡¡rose¡¡again¡¡and¡¡ran¡¡while¡¡someone¡¡else¡¡covered¡¡the¡¡rear¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡as¡¡well¡executed¡¡a
staggered¡¡retreat¡¡as¡¡Wulfe¡¡had¡¡seen¡£
While¡¡Sword¡¡Squadron¡¯s¡¡secondary¡¡weapons¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡blaze¡¡and¡¡stutter£»¡¡helping¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡the
orks¡¡at¡¡bay£»¡¡Wulfe¡¡saw¡¡Colonel¡¡Stromm¡¡run¡¡down¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡the¡¡corridor£»¡¡a¡¡wiry¡looking¡¡comms50
officer¡¡at¡¡his¡¡side¡£¡¡The¡¡comms¡officer¡¡was¡¡carrying¡¡a¡¡regimental¡¡banner¡¡of¡¡bright¡¡crimson¡¡and¡¡gold
that¡¡rippled¡¡and¡¡waved¡¡above¡¡his¡¡head¡¡as¡¡he¡¡ran¡£¡¡It¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡glorious¡¡but¡¡for¡¡all¡¡the¡¡bullet
holes¡¡in¡¡it¡£¡¡Wulfe¡¡noticed£»¡¡too£»¡¡that¡¡Stromm¡¯s¡¡right¡¡arm¡¡had¡¡been¡¡strapped¡¡to¡¡his¡¡body¡£¡¡It¡¡was
probably¡¡broken£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡he¡¡moved¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡tanks¡¡with¡¡as¡¡much¡¡speed¡¡as¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡others£»
slowing¡¡only¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡and¡¡fire¡¡blazing¡¡hellpistol¡¡shots¡¡back¡¡at¡¡his¡¡howling¡¡pursuers¡£
With¡¡men¡¡pouring¡¡out£»¡¡racing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡relative¡¡safety¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡tanks£»¡¡it¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡long¡¡before¡¡only
the¡¡Kasrkin¡¡storm¡¡troopers¡¡were¡¡left£»¡¡holding¡¡the¡¡line¡¡until¡¡the¡¡last¡¡man¡¡was¡¡clear¡£¡¡The¡¡orks¡¡vented
their¡¡full¡¡fury¡¡and¡¡rage¡¡on¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡some¡¡inevitably¡¡went¡¡down£»¡¡though¡¡they¡¡fought¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bitter
end¡¡through¡¡wounds¡¡that¡¡would¡¡have¡¡killed¡¡lesser¡¡men¡¡outright¡£
S¡¡all¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡support¡¡they¡¡could¡¡manage¡£¡¡Most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Kasrkin¡¡made¡¡it
out£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡by¡¡much¡£¡¡As¡¡they¡¡raced¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡cover¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tanks£»¡¡Wulfe¡¡ordered¡¡his¡¡squadron¡¡to
keep¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡up¡¡but¡¡prepare¡¡to¡¡fall¡¡back¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡contacted¡¡Colonel¡¡Stromm¡£
¡°You¡¡have¡¡wounded¡¡men¡¡in¡¡your¡¡group£»¡¡sir¡£¡¡Get¡¡them¡¡up¡¡onto¡¡the¡¡tanks¡£¡¡Use¡¡the¡¡track¡guards
and¡¡the¡¡rear¡¡decking£»¡¡but¡¡stay¡¡clear¡¡of¡¡the¡¡engine¡¡louvres¡¡and¡¡the¡¡radiator¡£¡¡We¡¡can¡¡carry¡¡them¡¡out¡¡of
here¡¡and¡¡still¡¡cover¡¡the¡¡retreat¡£¡¡Those¡¡on¡¡foot¡¡will¡¡have¡¡to¡¡run¡£¡¡What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡say£¿¡±
Stromm¡¡began¡¡barking¡¡out¡¡orders¡¡immediately£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡track¡guards¡¡of¡¡the¡¡three¡¡tanks¡¡were
soon¡¡crowded¡¡with¡¡men¡¡in¡¡blood¡soaked¡¡Guard¡issue¡¡fatigues¡£¡¡Wulfe¡¡would¡¡have¡¡helped¡¡them¡¡up£»
but¡¡his¡¡continued¡¡fire¡¡was¡¡needed¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡orks¡¡at¡¡bay¡£
¡°Sword¡¡One£»¡¡Sword¡¡Two£»¡±¡¡he¡¡voxed¡¡to¡¡Siemens¡¡and¡¡Lenck£»¡¡¡°fall¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Hammer¡¯s¡¡position¡£
Keep¡¡your¡¡fire¡¡up¡¡as¡¡we¡¡move£»¡¡but¡¡no¡¡main¡¡guns¡¡until¡¡van¡¡Droi¡¡gives¡¡the¡¡word¡£¡¡We¡¡don¡¯t¡¡want¡¡to
scatter¡¡them¡£¡±
A¡¡short¡¡series¡¡of¡¡acknowledgements¡¡followed¡¡and£»¡¡slowly£»¡¡steadily£»¡¡Sword¡¡Squadron¡¡began¡¡to
roll¡¡backwards¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡then¡¡that¡¡Frontline¡¡Crusader¡¯s¡¡engine¡¡sputtered¡¡and¡¡died¡£¡¡Wulfe¡¡could¡¡hear
Corporal¡¡Siemens¡¡swearing¡¡over¡¡the¡¡vox¡£¡¡The¡¡panic¡¡in¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡all¡¡too¡¡clear¡£¡¡¡°Oh£»¡¡Throne£¡
We¡¯ve¡¡stalled¡£¡¡Come¡¡in£»¡¡Sword¡¡Leader¡£¡¡Frontline¡¡Crusader¡¡is¡¡in¡¡big¡¡trouble£¡¡±
From¡¡his¡¡cupola£»¡¡Wulfe¡¡saw¡¡Siemens¡¡slamming¡¡his¡¡fists¡¡on¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡his¡¡turret¡£¡¡The¡¡wounded
men¡¡perched¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Frontline¡¡Crusader¡¯s¡¡track¡¡guards¡¡were¡¡looking¡¡agitated¡£¡¡The¡¡orks¡¡coming
forward¡¡immediately¡¡angled¡¡straight¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡crippled¡¡tank¡£
Some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wounded¡¡leapt¡¡off¡¡and¡¡started¡¡limping¡¡through¡¡the¡¡sand£»¡¡clearly¡¡unwilling¡¡to¡¡gamble
on¡¡the¡¡engine¡¡restarting¡£¡¡Others¡¡stayed¡¡put£»¡¡bravely¡¡pouring¡¡las¡fire¡¡down¡¡at¡¡the¡¡oncoming¡¡enemy¡£
That¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡last¡¡long¡£¡¡Wulfe¡¡saw¡¡them¡¡struck¡¡by¡¡wild¡¡sprays¡¡of¡¡enemy¡¡fire¡£¡¡The¡¡wounded¡¡Cadians
fell¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tank£»¡¡as¡¡lifeless¡¡as¡¡rag¡¡dolls¡£
Wulfe¡¡barked¡¡orders¡¡over¡¡to¡¡Lenck£»¡¡and¡¡both¡¡the¡¡New¡¡Champion¡¡and¡¡Last¡¡Rites¡¡II¡¡turned¡¡their
weapons¡¡left£»¡¡desperate¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡Corporal¡¡Siemens¡¡some¡¡time¡£
Wulfe¡¡knew¡¡Siemens¡¡needed¡¡more¡¡than¡¡time¡£¡¡He¡¡needed¡¡a¡¡bloody¡¡miracle¡£
None¡¡was¡¡forthcoming¡£
While¡¡the¡¡stubbers¡¡and¡¡bolters¡¡were¡¡busy¡¡raking¡¡the¡¡charging¡¡greenskins£»¡¡three¡¡orks¡¡with¡¡rockets
strapped¡¡to¡¡their¡¡backs¡¡suddenly¡¡careened¡¡upwards¡¡on¡¡trails¡¡of¡¡blue¡¡fire£»¡¡landing¡¡just¡¡metres¡¡away
from¡¡the¡¡Frontline¡¡Crusader¡¯s¡¡armoured¡¡flanks¡£
Wulfe¡¡barely¡¡had¡¡time¡¡to¡¡register¡¡the¡¡thick£»¡¡cylindrical¡¡weapons¡¡the¡¡orks¡¡were¡¡carrying£»¡¡before
they¡¡were¡¡put¡¡to¡¡murderous¡¡use¡£¡¡The¡¡moment¡¡they¡¡landed£»¡¡each¡¡of¡¡the¡¡orks¡¡raised¡¡its¡¡tube¡¡to¡¡its
shoulder£»¡¡took¡¡aim¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crippled¡¡tank£»¡¡and¡¡fired¡£
Three¡¡explosions¡¡sounded¡¡in¡¡rapid¡¡succession£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡cloud¡¡of¡¡dust¡¡and¡¡fire¡¡erupted¡¡into¡¡the¡¡air£»
cloaking¡¡the¡¡Frontline¡¡Crusader¡¡from¡¡view¡£
¡°Siemens£¡¡±¡¡shouted¡¡Wulfe¡¡over¡¡the¡¡vox¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡answer¡£¡¡He¡¡immediately¡¡turned¡¡his
stubber¡¡on¡¡the¡¡orks¡¡responsible£»¡¡turning¡¡two¡¡of¡¡them¡¡into¡¡hunks¡¡of¡¡dead¡¡meat¡¡where¡¡they¡¡stood¡£
Aiming¡¡at¡¡the¡¡third£»¡¡his¡¡shells¡¡struck¡¡the¡¡red¡¡rocket¡¡on¡¡its¡¡back£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡detonated£»¡¡scattering¡¡tiny¡¡burnt
pieces¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ork¡¡in¡¡every¡¡direction¡£
As¡¡the¡¡cloak¡¡of¡¡dust¡¡and¡¡sand¡¡around¡¡the¡¡Frontline¡¡Crusader¡¡showered¡¡back¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the
ground£»¡¡Wulfe¡¡saw¡¡Siemens¡¯¡¡body¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡still¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cupola£»¡¡slumped¡¡forward¡£¡¡His¡¡flesh¡¡was¡¡black¡£
51
His¡¡clothes£»¡¡hair¡¡and¡¡skin¡¡were¡¡still¡¡burning¡£¡¡One¡¡charred¡¡and¡¡lifeless¡¡arm¡¡was¡¡draped¡¡over¡¡the¡¡barrel
of¡¡his¡¡heavy¡¡stubber¡£
There¡¡were¡¡holes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡tank¡¯s¡¡armour£»¡¡too¡£¡¡Wulfe¡¡could¡¡see¡¡twin¡¡gaping¡¡wounds¡¡where¡¡the
plating¡¡looked¡¡like¡¡it¡¡had¡¡melted¡¡straight¡¡through¡£¡¡Red¡¡flames¡¡were¡¡boiling¡¡up¡¡out¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡out
of¡¡the¡¡hatches¡¡the¡¡crew¡¡had¡¡tried¡¡frantically¡¡to¡¡open¡¡in¡¡their¡¡last¡¡moments¡£
Four¡¡men£»¡¡men¡¡Wulfe¡¡had¡¡known£»¡¡dead¡£¡¡Rage¡¡lit¡¡inside¡¡him¡¡like¡¡dry¡¡tinder¡£¡¡He¡¡turned¡¡his
stubber¡¡back¡¡on¡¡the¡¡advancing¡¡horde¡¡with¡¡a¡¡vengeance¡£
¡°Throne¡¡curse¡¡you¡¡and¡¡your¡¡entire¡¡stinking¡¡race£»¡±¡¡he¡¡yelled¡¡at¡¡them¡£
¡°What¡¡are¡¡you¡¡doing£»¡¡Wulfe£¿¡±¡¡a¡¡gruff¡¡voice¡¡demanded¡¡over¡¡the¡¡vox¡link¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Lieutenant¡¡van
Droi¡¡speaking¡¡on¡¡the¡¡company¡¡command¡¡channel¡£
¡°It¡¯s¡¡the¡¡Frontline¡¡Crusader£»¡¡sir£»¡±¡¡replied¡¡Wulfe£»¡¡breaking¡¡only¡¡momentarily¡¡from¡¡his¡¡revenge¡£
¡°She¡¯s¡¡been¡¡brewed¡¡up¡£¡±
¡°I¡¡can¡¡see¡¡that£»¡¡damn¡¡it£»¡±¡¡growled¡¡van¡¡Droi¡£¡¡¡°Keep¡¡falling¡¡back¡£¡¡Spear¡¡Squadron¡¡is¡¡in¡¡position¡£
It¡¯s¡¡time¡¡we¡¡put¡¡a¡¡lid¡¡on¡¡this¡£¡±
Wulfe¡¡gritted¡¡his¡¡teeth¡£¡¡Siemens¡¡had¡¡been¡¡all¡¡right£»¡¡not¡¡a¡¡friend¡¡exactly£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡fellow¡¡tanker£»¡¡a
Cadian¡¡brother¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡few¡¡left¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡with¡¡the¡¡company¡¡since¡¡before¡¡Palmeros¡£
He¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡deserve¡¡to¡¡be¡¡cooked¡¡in¡¡his¡¡crate¡¡like¡¡that¡£¡¡Wulfe¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡want¡¡to¡¡think¡¡about¡¡what¡¡it¡¡had
been¡¡like¡¡for¡¡the¡¡crew¡¡inside£»¡¡struggling¡¡to¡¡free¡¡themselves¡¡while¡¡t