'But you are still asking me to take the Ajax into a warpstorm.’ Strake countered. 'I realise that the Araken Anomaly appears to be changing in nature - burning itself out - but to pilot a ship into such a spatial storm, to brave the warping gravitational effects and the Emperor alone knows what other warp-born horrors, even with an Astartes strike cruiser, is to invite disaster.’

'How long until the warpstorm dissipates entirely?' Melchor asked. 'Can it be calculated?'

'It does not matter how long. Too long. Now that their prize is within reach, the Chaos forces will not delay any longer.’ Thule railed.

'Magos Thule.’ Iron-Father Gdolkin said calmly, having been unusually quiet as the tech-priest revealed more of what he knew to the Iron Hands. 'If you might give us a few minutes alone?'

‘What?' the tech-priest said, startled. '1 suppose, if you must, but I would remind you all that this mission is under my command!'

Gdolkin said nothing else more, merely waited as Thule at last turned on his heel and left the captain's strategium chamber, following by his silent attendant adepts and skull-servitor.

'This is lunacy.’ Iron-Captain Strake said, once the bulkhead door had sealed again behind the tech-priest.

‘We are going to Crucible.’ Gdolkin said, a hint of excitement in his voice.

'I sense a change in you, Gdolkin.’ Melchor said. 'What has caused this dramatic change in attitude?'

‘The Tomb of the Ironclad. You heard the priest mention it?'

'Yes.’ Melchor replied, 'but what of it?'

'Brother-Librarian, 1 would have thought that you, part of whose role within the Chapter is to record the great deeds of our clan and our Chapter, would know of the legend, even if other brothers might not.’

'Recording the deeds of our Chapter is not my only role, as well you know, Iron-Father. As guardian of the souls of those warriors under your command you certainly have a more extensive knowledge of the legends of our Chapter, particularly perhaps the more apocryphal ones.’

‘You are right, Melchor.’ Gdolkin agreed, nodding. 'Tell me, do you recall what happened to our blessed primarch Ferrus Manus at the end of the Horus Heresy, ten thousand years ago?

'Of course I do, Gdolkin. Every initiate knows the tale, as do many of the common folk of Medusa.’

'Humour me.’ Gdolkin said, with no suggestion of humour in his voice.

'According to the Scriptorium of Iron, Great Ferrus spearheaded the assault on Istvaan V against the traitor Horus and his treacherous allies but those forces that should have backed up the initial attack themselves turned traitor. It was a dark day for our Chapter indeed. Ferrus Manus and his warriors were outnumbered. After the terrible and bloody battle his body was never recovered.’

Gdolkin could sense the anger rising in Melchor at his recollection of the events of those fateful times.