As it dissipated the aura carved one last vision into the air. A chamfered-cheeked skull, utterly inhuman, looming over everything.

The psychic gleam faded and the astropath fell to his knees, wracked by choking sobs.

‘Ninety light years to Casparill…’ the captain muttered, his gaze fixed on the dishevelled psyker.

‘From our last realspace translation,’ the lieutenant answered on reflex. He caught on to his superior’s intent. ‘We have orders from fleet command, brother-captain. If we fail to meet with the Imperial Navy fleet, it could disrupt an entire battle group offensive.’

‘You saw that,’ Aeschelus waved towards the astropath, ‘and you think we should slink away to a rendezvous, Praxa­medes?’

‘It’s not a personal opinion, brother-captain. It’s the instruction of the Codex Astartes. We’re not under immediate threat and this isn’t a credible call. Our orders were clear.’

‘Not credible?’ Aeschelus helped the astropath to his feet. ‘What was that? Play-acting?’

‘We don’t know if it really was from Casparill, or even if it was a recent event. There’s nothing to suggest the xenos threat will be there when we arrive, or if it was ever there. Fedualis, you need to re-broadcast the vision to Battle Group Command. It is up to them to determine a suitable response.’

‘You will broadcast to Battle Group Command that the Ithraca’s Vengeance is responding to an emergent threat in the Casparill System,’ said Aeschelus, stepping back from Fedualis. The astropath looked from the captain to Praxa­medes and back again.

‘You do not understand, captain. It was a warning, not a call for aid. If it was Casparill, there is nothing to be done. I felt the astropaths’ despair. They were about to die and knew that their world was doomed.’

‘Other worlds may be threatened,’ said Aeschelus. ‘By the time we send word to command and receive new orders, or a different ship is despatched, another Imperial world may have fallen to the xenos. We are Space Marines! This is why we are on crusade, to push back these dark forces!’

Praxa­medes wanted to say that the role of the Adeptus Astartes was far more complex than it had been in previous decades. They were part of a massive offensive, an endeavour involving not just many Chapters but hundreds of Imperial Navy starships and millions of Astra Militarum personnel. The Ithraca’s Vengeance was not the captain’s personal steed, to chase after whatever shadows flickered across the starlight.

He wanted to say that, but knew he could not. Instead, he bowed his acquiescence.

‘I’ll inform the Navigators of our new destination, brother-captain.’

‘Good.’ Aeschelus turned away, focused on Fedualis. ‘Are you ready to broadcast, astropath?’

Fedualis took in a ragged breath and nodded with resignation. Praxa­medes headed towards the strategium and as the doors closed caught the captain’s opening words.