‘Then we are agreed; we shall do everything we can to preserve the existence of the orbital palaces, even if that means we must sacrifice our holdings below.’

The hololith projection shimmered and then stopped, fixed as Lowensten was rising to his feet.

‘They voted for this misery?’ Praxa­medes seemed offended by the thought. Aeschelus was disappointed but not surprised.

‘I can see why Sister Aures might have her regrets, but I see nothing here that condemns the Oresteans any more than their original transmission.’

‘The surrender seems more premeditated than I imagined,’ admitted Praxa­medes. ‘A strategic choice rather than a desperate necessity.’

‘I would not venture to assume how the minds of these bureaucrats work, Prax. That might have been what passes for desperation among the higher class here.’

‘I would caution wariness, all the same, brother-captain.’ Praxa­medes removed the crystal and the projection disappeared. ‘It appears that Lowensten is quite happy to make an alliance of convenience.’

‘The xenos scum would have no interest in surrender or negotiation now. What is to be earned by it?’

‘You heard the Imperial commander. He offered unconditional surrender because he had nothing to bargain. Our arrival has shifted the balance of power. Now he has us to offer. I think that if events move against us, captain, that pragmatism will be turned on us as quickly as it was turned on their subjects.’

‘In which case we must make sure we retain the upper hand.’ Aeschelus stepped across the anterium to activate the tactical display. The positions of friendly assets were clearly marked in the hololith with blue runes. The necrons were moving at such speed it was hard to track them, an approximation of their incoming course sketched in red ­trajectories across the orbital plane. ‘The plan is sound. Nem­etus holds the ground. You will command the Ithraca’s Vengeance to threaten another boarding action. I am sure these soulless xenos will think twice before letting the cruiser get that close again. I will reinforce the personnel on the orbital palaces. Whatever the source of the warp effect, the psykers there are best at holding it back. The enemy must be coming for them to complete the total dominance of the world. Between the location’s defences and every ship we have, we should be able to destroy their last capital ship. That will relieve the pressure, just as it did when the first one crashed.’

‘It is a sound strategy, based on what we know.’

‘You have doubts?’