‘He gave up some of his advantage to negate an even bigger advantage of the enemy.’ Praxa­medes lifted a hand to the gunnery officer. ‘Pay attention, all of you. Prepare for split fire. Helm. Ready for new heading, hard turn to starboard.’

The lieutenant watched the necron ships slowing as they approached the asteroids. He thought about the rest of the account of Cothyria marsh. The part he had chosen to keep to himself. The Illyrians had been defeated, but Guilliman also lost half his patrol in the battle. The lord pri­march admitted in his reflections that had the enemy dismounted before pursuing, his plan would have failed.

Like the young pri­march and Nem­etus, Praxa­medes had come to a point where he had nothing to lose. Preservation of future opportunity was no longer a reasonable objective.

They either escaped or they did not. There would be no second chances.

Barque, Star of Natarun-4: Slowing. Enemy has entered celestial debris.

Barque, Star of Natarun-1: Slowing. Enemy has made a mistake.

Barque, Star of Natarun-4: Desperation.

Barque, Star of Natarun-3: Slowing. Detecting high-density obstacle field.

Barque, Star of Natarun-4: Enemy course unchanged. Enemy sustaining damage from impacts.

Barque, Star of Natarun-1: Enemy is stupid. Partial acceleration. Close range for weapons fire.

Barque, Star of Natarun-3: Enemy is clearing path for us. Targeting weapons at engines.

Barque, Star of Natarun-4: Targeting weapons at engines.

Barque, Star of Natarun-1: Energy pulse – enemy flank thrusters activating.

Barque, Star of Natarun-3: Enemy taking more damage, turning into debris field.

Barque, Star of Natarun-4: Weapons have range. Target locked.

Barque, Star of Natarun-1: Enemy arresting speed, incoming targeting lock.

Barque, Star of Natarun-4: Enemy weapons signature increasing.

Barque, Star of Natarun-1: Enemy turn accelerating rapidly. Massed weapons coming to bear.

Barque, Star of Natarun-3: Enemy is preparing to open fire. We are compromised.

Barque, Star of Natarun-1: Disloyalty will not be tolerated! Formation protocols active. Pursuit command protocol override.

Barque, Star of Natarun-3: Evasive manoeuvres required.

Barque, Star of Natarun-4: Evasive manoeuvres required.

Barque, Star of Natarun-1: Evasive manoeuvres required.

Barque, Star of Natarun-3: Insufficient clear space. Evasion compromised.

Barque, Star of Natarun-4: Target lock. Cannot manoeuvre to evade.

Barque, Star of Natarun-1: Break formation.

Barque, Star of Natarun-3: Insufficient room to bre– Target firing.

Barque, Star of Natarun-1: Aversion protocols inactive. Pursuit command active.

Barque, Star of Natarun-4: Energy weapons dischar–

Barque, Star of Natarun-1: Barque 4 lost. Incomin–

Barque, Star of Natarun-3: Protocol direction to engage. Opening fire. Target–

Fire-dampening fog filled the strategium, forcing the deck officers to don their rebreather masks and anti-flare goggles. Still encased in their armour, Praxa­medes and Exelloria herded the astropaths into the sanctuary of the anterium, their charges choking and spluttering until the door sealed behind them.

‘Warp engines on line,’ Praxa­medes commanded, activating the console within the secondary chamber. ‘To my terminal. Activate Geller fields.’

‘Affirmative, lieutenant commander,’ Oloris replied over the intervox.

‘Now?’ coughed Fedualis.