Nem­etus pounded forward, snapping off another shot from his plasma pistol as he closed, his suit telling him that Exelloria converged from the right. One of the necrons went down, its crippled body seeming to evaporate, consumed by jade light from within.

‘The bodies are disappearing!’ Brother Velecht exclaimed, referring to the skimmer-creatures.

The remaining necrons charged to meet the oncoming Space Marines. A silver-edged blade that faded in and out of sight lashed down towards Nem­etus, who raised his shield at the last moment. He felt the impact jarring his arm, but the flare of power from the storm shield kept the xenos blade at bay. He responded in kind, sweeping up with his power sword, its tip finding metallic flesh between the two forelegs of his target. A cry from Exelloria nearly distracted Nem­etus but he kept moving. He dodged past the next phasing blade swing to drag his weapon along the torso of his foe, severing it completely about the waist.

Like the others it turned to nothing as it fell, a crackle of emerald power consuming its parts before they hit the ground.

‘Show no relent!’ roared Exelloria.

Turning, Nem­etus saw Exelloria surrounded by a quartet of Intercessors, their bolt rifles driving back a tripodal foe with incessant fire. The Chaplain was down on one knee. A short distance away was his hand, clutching his crozius arcanum, neatly severed just below the elbow. Blood seeped from the wounded limb, drying on the black of the Chaplain’s armour, staining his blue loincloth.

‘Brothers! Coordinated fire.’ Nem­etus fired another blast of plasma into the aliens. ‘Suppress and destroy!’

The last xenos succumbed to the weight of fire, its shifting, regenerating metal flesh unable to cope with the number of hits tearing chunks from it. With what seemed like a snarled threat the alien disappeared in a crackle of power, leaving a ripple of energy on the ground in its wake.

Quiet reigned after the brief violence, but there was no time for relief or celebration. Sustained gunfire still sounded from the other side of the compound. Nem­etus sought out Gaihalius.

‘Any other readings, brother?’

‘Multiple life signals, some strong, others weak. Xenos signatures detected across the north-east sector. Intermingled.’

‘Sergeant Vayoz,’ Nem­etus voxed the squad leader of the outriders. ‘Status report.’

When it activated the vox reply carried the growl of the outrider’s combat bike.

‘The enemy have breached the main wall, brother-lieutenant. Massed infantry, unsupported at present. Defenders falling back. If they give up too much ground, they’ll be overrun. We are moving in to support.’

‘Understood. We will rendezvous as quickly as we can.’

The Primaris Marines had started a sweep of the surrounding area but Nem­etus called them back with a regroup command. The lieutenant checked the telemetry. Three warriors missing, disintegrated by the xenos beams. Exelloria was on his feet again, his crozius retrieved from his severed hand.