Cincere Tempestas Chapter 26

The man thrashed under his boot, biting and clawing in a rabid frenzy. His nails broke upon the ceramite but he cared not, the mortal twisted and writhed in a futile attempt to draw blood, his eyes weeping blood and sorcerous flames running over his arms. Ulysses grimaced in disgust at the mindless frenzy and increased the pressure of his foot. A second later there was the crunch of ribs breaking and the man's chest collapsed, emitting a faint gasp as he died. Ulysses sneered at the mortal and wiped his boot clean and then lifted his head. All around him the base of the Ashen Knights was falling silent, the fierce battle winding up with short bursts of firepower. Everywhere he looked Intercessors, Hellblasters and Aggressors, Inceptors and Reivers were rooting out surviving mortals, cutting them down without remorse.

The battle had sprung up from nowhere, the madness falling from the skies as flickering wisps of fire. The base had been coated in the taint and any of the chattels touched by it had gone insane. They had thrown themselves at each other and their former masters with rabid fervour, seeking only to kill and maim. Thankfully the Primaris had proved immune to the taint and had fought back, culling their own servants in droves. Ulysses had hastily donned his armour and joined them in the fray, coating his Crozius with the blood of the fallen.

The Master of Sanctity had overseen the clearing of the base; it had been a swift and brutal cull that had left no mortals alive. Sadly the same could not be said for the internment camps beyond the base. The heaving masses of infected people had thrown their bodies at the razorwire and ripped it down, killing many of their own in the process. The Ashen Knights had imprisoned a quarter of a million civilians in those pens and now they were all loose and infected by the foul insanity of Chaos. Strangely they had not approached the Ashen Knight's base, instead haring off into the city, drawn away by something greater. Ulysses was secretly glad, he knew any Primaris Marines was a match for five-score men but even he doubted they could survive against an enemy that outnumbered them eight hundred to one.

Ulysses wondered where they had gone for a moment, then answered his own question. On the horizon the mighty column of flame was breaking up, shattering into numerous smaller embers. It had been that infernal blaze that had spread the taint over the eastern city, dropping wisps of flame to infect any it touched. Ulysses instinctively knew that this abomination of Chaos was contagious, it would spread from person to person with the merest touch.

Ulysses had faced Chaos before, he had confronted the tides of insanity and he knew well its horrifying power. His Chaplaincy training told him that no mortal sorcerer, not even a Traitor Marine could channel such might. No, this nightmare could only be born from Daemonic strength, the rawest, foulest wellspring of Chaos. Such entities had been the bane of entire planets and the doom of Astartes Chapters, there could be no doubt that the Ashen Knights now faced their sternest challenge.

Ulysses spent a moment assessing the threat before him and determined that with armoured and aerial support the Ashen Knights could hunt down the frothing madmen filling this city. Yet the Traitor Marines were a different matter, they had to be behind this madness and they would not hesitate to exploit it. If they had indeed summoned forth Daemons then the coming battle would be dire beyond measure. Ulysses was not accustomed to doubt or hesitation but he did not like the odds. The outcome of the battle was uncertain and the scope of the enemy's power was unknown. There was no doubt that the Ashen Knights would fight bravely and well but if the situation was as bad as he suspected, then they might well be facing the prospect of defeat.

Ulysses instantly determined that he needed to speak to his Lord-Marshall and he set forth at once, seeking out Achilles. Swiftly Ulysses made his way through the base, seeing the Ashen Knights clearing away the piles of the dead. The Primaris Marines looked stunned by the sudden turn of events, their armour glowing gore-red in the light of the diabolical flames. Ulysses was in a rush but his duty required him to pause and speak to them, offering reassurance and steeling their spines for the travails ahead. He could see in their eyes that they were bewildered by events but he assumed an unyielding bearing and his stern deportment stiffened their resolve.

Eventually he came to the Crusader Queen and here he found Lord-Marshall Achilles, wiping the blood of the tainted from Despoiler. Practici Elikos was with him, having a harder time cleansing gore from a clogged chainsword but looking no less determined to fight. Ulysses strode up to the pair and called out, "Lord-Marshall, the base is secured. The chattels were infected but we slew them all."

Achilles sheathed his sword and inquired, "What about the rest?"

Ulysses glumly replied, "We cut down many of the infected but the majority fled into the city. I assume that they are being drawn away by a darker power; the enemy is amassing in numbers beyond counting."

"Very well," Achilles stated, "We shall hold here."

Ulysses blinked in surprise and said, "But surely we must strike first. We should hunt down those wretched degenerates, we must reduce their numbers before they can amass their full might."

Achilles faced the Master of Sanctity and explained, "That is redundant, this world is lost we are withdrawing back to orbit."

Elikos butted in, sounding shocked, "But the war is not over."

Achilles was grim as he said, "This situation has already gone too far, the filth of Chaos has manifested fully and I smell the stench of the Daemonic upon this world. This planet is unclean and so it must be purged. The unholy must be burnt out with extreme prejudice; no trace can be allowed to remain."

Ulysses knew all too well what that involved and he whispered, "The Exterminatus."

"Indeed," Achilles confirmed, "Just as with Colchis, the lingering presence of Chaos will endure. I will not suffer the enemy to claim another world; no purgation is too extreme. The Iconoclast is dispatching Overlord gunships to retrieve us, the second that the last Ashen Knight embarks she will launch a payload of virus bombs. This planet shall be swept clean."

Elikos looked unsure and said, "Is that truly necessary? The taint cannot have spread beyond this one city, perhaps a limited bombardment could…"

"No," Achilles interrupted, "The chances of the taint surviving are too great to risk, left unchecked it could overrun this whole sector. I have no wish to watch another world burn but it is necessary, the God-Emperor decrees that it is better to lose one world than a hundred. Harden your hearts and put the cost of victory from your mind, the God-Emperor's will must be obeyed."

Ulysses lowered his head and said, "I too harboured hopes of defeating Chaos here, but that hour is past. We shall remove ourselves from this location and…"

At that moment an Intercessor ran up to the commanders and presented a short bow before crying, "My lords, I have urgent news!"

Achilles' head snapped around and he snapped, "Well don't just stand there, spit it out."

The Intercessor drew in a breath and exclaimed, "Orbital scans reveal another force in the field. It is the Storm Heralds, they have advanced into the path of the enemy. They seek to engage the foe head-on!"

Ulysses' jaw fell under his helm and he spat, "What?! Where are they?"

The Intercessor explained, "They have seized the main bridge over the river and confront the bulk of the enemy force. They have drawn a line between the two halves of the city and seek to deny the foe's advance, while an evacuation of the civilians is underway."

Ulysses was stunned by that announcement but it was Achilles who snorted, "What sort of idiocy is this? What can they possibly hope to accomplish with such futile bravado?"

Elikos agreed, "This is a tactical error they cannot deny the spread of Chaos, those civilians won't get very far before they are overrun. The Storm Heralds fight for a cause already lost, they will die for nothing save hollow pride."

Achilles shook his head and declared, "If they wish to throw their lives away so pointlessly then we shall let them. We will withdraw and leave them to their folly."

Ulysses couldn't believe what he was hearing and from his lips spilled the word, "No!"

Achilles' head snapped around and he barked, "What was that?"

Ulysses drew in a breath and he exclaimed, "We cannot withdraw, not now we have seen the battle set out before us. We must stay and fight to the bitter end!"

Elikos sounded befuddled as he spluttered, "But you just said…"

"The situation has changed," Ulysses snapped, "The Storm Heralds are making a stand and we must do the same."

Unfortunately Achilles did not sound convinced as he declaimed, "This world is lost, it is irredeemably corrupt. The enemy has summoned Chaos itself and the correct strategic move is to cut the Imperium's losses and save our own forces for the next battle."

Yet Ulysses would not be dissuaded and declared, "This is not about strategy, this is about principle. Those old Astartes have chosen to stay and fight, they are setting a yardstick of courage and honour and it is one we cannot ignore. We thought them weak, we held them to be renegades but they have passed the test, in this hour it is they not we who stands true and stalwart. Strange as they are, they fight for the God-Emperor and none can find them wanting. The same test now lies before the Ashen Knights and we must rise to the challenge or be forever condemned as cowards!"

Achilles shook his head and said, "The Primaris are not beholden to the measure of the old Astartes, we do not waste time with tired doctrines and pointless moralising. We get the job done, that is who we are."

Ulysses was pleading now as he stated, "I know our hearts all too well, we Ashen Knights are aggressive and unforgiving by nature. It is our greatest strength but it is also our weakness, a flaw that would drag us down into infamy if we allow it. We must balance our destructive side with humility, temperance and faith. At this moment it is we who are judged and if we falter then we shall begin a slide into sin from which there shall be no return. Our acts this day will define us evermore."

Achilles was silent for a long moment and his gaze was far away as Ulysses held his breath. Then he whispered, "By the Throne… you're right."

Elikos started in surprise and said, "Excuse me?"

Achilles opened his vox and cried, "Brethren, the God-Emperor calls the Ashen Knights to war! Gather your arms and prepare for battle and find me a Repulsor, the Crusader Queen is too slow in an urban environment."

Ulysses bowed his head and said, "What is your intent?"

Achilles answered, "We shall not let the Storm Heralds stand alone, we shall ride forth and give battle to the foe. Victory or death await but either way none shall find the Ashen Knights wanting."

Ulysses bowed his head and said, "I would be honoured to ride alongside you Lord-Marshall."

Achilles smiled coldly and said "It is I who would be honoured, you reminded me of my duty. You reminded me that one day I must stand before the God-Emperor and justify my deeds in life. How could I ever explain to Him that the Ashen Knights forsook noble warriors to die alone?"

Ulysses saluted with the sign of the Aquila and said, "To war then, Imperator Vult!"

Achilles saluted back and ordered, "For the God-Emperor, to your vehicles."

Ulysses turned and strode away, Elikos followed him and the Practici said, "I have never heard you speak thus, what inspired you so?"

Ulysses grinned savagely and replied, "Let the Storm Heralds stand while the Ashen Knights run away… it will be a cold day in hell before I suffer such a thing to pass!"