‘I see,’ said Aeschelus. ‘You think this is all in place to act like a tether. With our warriors aboard, we cannot move too far away or they will be attacked, and we cannot bring them back while under fire. This is about the Desolator, yes? You have concocted this whole theory on the assumption that there is a battleship out there hunting Imperial vessels.’

‘If you’d allow me–’

‘No, Praxa­medes, you will listen to me.’

Aeschelus stalled his comments, countering his rising anger. It was ill-discipline on the part of his lieutenant, but overly emotional behaviour would not resolve the situation. With another look at the ongoing assault, Aeschelus assured himself that Nem­etus was making good progress even if his other lieutenant was not.

‘You are proceeding from the assumption that the Desolator exists, then creating an interpretation of the facts to fit that view. That is not the way of the lord pri­march and the teachings you know so well.’ Aeschelus could feel frustration emanating from Praxa­medes, but his second-in-command had gone too far this time. ‘You knew I would not approve of this, so have engaged in this operation without my knowledge. If your history did not present against it, I would think that a gross act of insubordination. I know there is no malice in your intent, only…’

Aeschelus let his gaze move to Officer Catriolis, who was trying to attract the attention of Praxa­medes.

‘Your part in this episode is not to be unremarked, Lerok.’

‘Of course, captain. Whatever consequences you deem fit I shall accept.’ She turned and thrust a finger towards one of the augur console screens. ‘Our scans of the stellar debris are detecting a massive spike in energy output.’

‘The escorts returning?’ said Praxa­medes.

Aeschelus looked past his brother Primaris Marine and saw the increasing signature of multiple plasma reactors. Three of them. Not separate ships; they were too close together.

One massive vessel.

Engagement complicated by need to preserve environment. Confident of success.

Nem­etus had not lied to his superior in his assessment, but had perhaps over-simplified. As a fresh eruption of fire from the enemy skulking around the strategium crashed into the Ultramarines, he wondered whether his optimism had been undue. He drew his blade, shaking the last of his dizziness from his senses as he crossed the main floor of the strategium with the Assault Intercessors around him.

‘Fists and blades, brothers,’ he called to his companions, seeing Judiciar Admonius racing past, sword swinging out to behead a green-faced mutant using an upturned portable hololith as a barricade. ‘Crush them at close quarters.’