Baytov paused. If the words were unpleasant for him, he did not let on. ‘I understand the concern that many of you have. But I expect no more dissent. Lord Militant Warmund has confided to me that at the current rate of loss the last Cadian regiments under his command will have been wiped out within seven years.’

He paused to let that fact sink in. Minka could not imagine the Imperium surviving without the Cadians.

‘To replenish and revitalise, this is the purpose of the recruitment drive. To keep the finest regiments within the Imperium up to full fighting strength. I have spoken to General Bendikt and he assures me that only the very best have been selected for the Whiteshields. Throne-willing, they will soon be going into battle. Those that survive and show the requisite abilities – only they will be joining our ranks. And when they do, I expect you to welcome them.’

The silence that greeted his words was complete. Theirs was a mindset of service and sacrifice. If that was what Baytov ordered, then – like all things – they would honour his command.

Thirteen

THIRTEEN

The Imperial siege camp was a city of millions, geared to war. Beneath the blackened landscape were storage chambers, subways, munition trams, troop conveyance pipes, mine heads, Termite loading bays and rows of yawning assembly chambers with dimly lit troop pipes leading towards the front. It was a gridwork of camps and barracks linked by underground networks all funnelling towards the causeway that pointed to Tor Tartarus.

As the moment for the grand assault drew near, the whole landscape seemed to be seething with activity. Bendikt’s staff had started work on this attack long before they had even arrived on planet. Neighbouring forge worlds had to be enlisted for aid, the proud reputation of Cadia exploited to facilitate emptying prisons and penal facilities. His team had worked round the clock to bring all this to fruition and now everything was to be thrown at the bastion.

But now he was on the planet, Bendikt worked hard getting to grips with all the aspects of supply and command necessary for victory. There were excavations to be completed, the finalisation of the great siege moles, the stockpiling of ordnance, the requisitioning of troops, and the logistical problems that millions of hungry mouths on a war-ravaged planet presented. For months, agri worlds that had not seen an Imperial tithe-ship for a hundred years suddenly found Astra Militarum units landing in force to accompany the Munitorum assessors who had a heavy tax to impose.

In order to finalise the causeway, Bendikt had accelerated the quarrying threefold by transferring some of the local regiments to the command of the labour corps. This move had caused a minor ruckus among the respective Astra Militarum commanders. A few regiments had refused, and he had the entire officer corps of each of the transgressing units transferred straight to the penal legions.