But not the enemy at the gatehouses. Though everything behind them inexplicably stuttered, the tripodal necron commander and its immediate entourage crashed through the gates and into the terminal building, beams and blades filling the hall with a fluctuating jade light. The Bladeguard were there to meet them as Eradicator melta rifles turned onrushing tripodal constructs into puddles of quivering slag. Troopers fired from both sides, positioned at gantries where once merchants had haggled for cargo loads. Las-beams by the score pelted the necron force, red slashes that ricocheted from polished metal skins.

‘Judiciar, with me,’ shouted Nem­etus, heading for the necron that ­towered over even the Primaris Marines. ‘Brothers, clear a path!’

The Bladeguard bashed and hacked at the stamping machine-things, creating an opening for the lieutenant and the Judiciar. Side by side they hurled themselves at the giant creature, power sword and greatsword trying to sweep its legs from under it. A glittering blade swung down, crashing against Nem­etus’ shield, nearly knocking him from his feet. He stumbled back, the shield falling from his arm, bisected by the impossible sword. Wordless, Admonius swung his weapon up, crashing its snarling edge into the underside of the monster’s torso. Sparks exploded, showering across the black armour of the Judiciar, leaving a deep welt in the artificial flesh of his foe.

Tossing aside the remnants of his storm shield, Nem­etus took up his sword two-handed and leapt back to the attack. Behind him he felt other necrons closing in, clattering and screeching blows against the shields of the Bladeguard. He could not assume that the greater army would remain in disarray forever; the time to strike was now.

Bright stars in the firmament of battle.

To light the way for others. To be the beacon of hope.

A claw-limb rose, slashing out to rip his pauldron from his right shoulder, spinning him sideways. He almost fell into the barrels of another xenos’ cannon, cutting it in half with a sweep of his sword even as its deadly green glow swelled in brightness. Following up his sweep, he smashed his elbow into the necron construct, sending it stumbling backwards on its three legs. Garios was upon it in the next heartbeat, his blade cleaving it in half, the pieces scattered to the floor.

Amazed, Nem­etus watched the pieces slowly spinning to a stop. They had not phased out.

‘They die!’ he roared, coming at the xenos leader from behind. He lashed his blade at a leg, hacking deep into the joint at the hip. A green-edged weapon swung back towards him, forcing him to retreat a step. Shifting its weight, the necron stumbled. Its cannon thrummed into life and moments later erupted with a fluctuating beam of emerald power.

The blast struck Admonius.

Taken aback, the lieutenant watched the black armoured body fall, the head and a semicircle of the torso neatly removed.