Ah-hotep stopped, fearful that her anger-fuelled tirade might breach even the secure vault’s silencing protocols. She felt better for the outburst, and armed with the righteousness of what was to come she quit the chamber and dismissed her cortical doppelganger. Now her state of mind was prepared. Every humiliation, every dismissive word, every forced translocation and arrogant summons would be answered. Flexing clawed hands, her spine-tail twitching as she made her way back to the control chamber, Ah-hotep no longer felt impatient for justice. Now she savoured the anticipation of revenge.

Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

On his way back to the Ithraca’s Vengeance, after concluding the council with Lowensten, Aeschelus was surprised to find Sister-Chatelain Aures waiting for him in the airlock vestibule.

‘Captain, I need to speak with you,’ the Adepta Sororitas official said quietly, directing a look at the red-coated soldiers that had followed the Ultramarines’ honour guard back from the audience. ‘Just a moment of your time, if you please.’

‘Of course,’ the captain replied. He turned to the Orestean planetary troopers. ‘You are a credit to your world and you honour me with your guard. We are on the eve of fresh battle and I would not keep you from your preparations. You are dismissed.’

The platoon officer looked nonplussed for a few seconds and Aeschelus wondered if he was going to refuse the order.

‘The honour is ours, Captain Aeschelus. To have the warriors of Ultramar at our side gives us all courage, even as this infernal curse of the xenos beats down upon us.’

‘Remain strong and true to each other,’ Aeschelus told them. ‘A few more hours, maybe days, and we will know victory.’

Assurance seemed to work a wonder on their mood. Presenting their rifles in salute, the Oresteans departed with smiles and stiffer backs.

‘Is that true, captain?’ said Aures. ‘You expect to destroy the necrons within days?’

‘I would not lie,’ said Aeschelus. He looked along the gallery, past the Imperial commander’s ancestors, and saw that the honour guard had exited. ‘Do you desire to come aboard?’

‘No, that will not be necessary.’ Aures produced a sapphire-blue data crystal from a pouch at her belt and offered it to the Space Marine. ‘You cannot trust the Imperial commander. I did not agree with his decision to offer surrender but I am bound by my oaths to the Sisterhood to support his family and position. I think he may still be trying to broker with the aliens.’

‘And this is proof?’ said Praxa­medes, stepping closer.

Aures darted him an accusing look before glancing at the other blue-armoured giants waiting nearby.

‘Primaris Marines have very good hearing, Sister,’ said Praxa­medes. ‘There’s not a warrior present that did not hear what you said.’

Aures looked unsettled, surrounded by the bulky warriors.