Major Luka and his former Whiteshields were part of that wave. Yedrin had tied his boots and webbing tight. It made him feel secure, as if he were wearing armour.

They were three hundred yards out from landing when a heavy howitzer shell hit the water twenty feet behind them, then another. The sea fountained up and soaked them all.

‘They’re bracketing us,’ Yedrin hissed. Sure enough the next shell landed right next to their port side. The ship listed immediately, and the Cadians clung on as the helmsman struggled to drive them to shore.

The assault craft behind them was not so lucky. It turned turtle.

Yedrin saw the flames and slaughter and it chilled him. Equally chilling was the presence of the brooding Commissar Knoll. As they approached land, the commissar repeated the threat he had given them already, ‘Anyone stopping or retreating on the beaches will be shot.’

Yedrin’s Gorgon disembarked from its landing craft fifty yards from the shore of Creed Beach. It was a short drop for the giant tank. It ploughed bluntly into the water, throwing everyone inside off their feet. A great wave of freezing water splashed down into the open cabin and swilled about, drenching everyone again. There were shouts of alarm that the Gorgon would sink, but its giant tracks found the sea floor and they roared forward as waves slopped over the side.

Yedrin struggled back to his feet. Over the crowd of reeling troopers only one man had remained standing. Commissar Knoll.

The commissar met his gaze with cold contempt. You are no Cadian, his expression seemed to say.

Yedrin had a brief view of tank traps submerged in the water before the Gorgon slammed ashore. Yedrin held on tight as the craft went a little way up the beach before hitting a tank trap and lurching to a stop. For a moment all was smoke and confusion, then the assault ramp slammed down and the troopers paused in shock.

The Gorgon was supposed to carry them right up to the enemy defences, but had instead stranded them here, at the far end of hell.

‘In the name of the Emperor – out!’ Commissar Knoll shouted. He fired his bolt pistol into the air.

Waves smashed a half-sunk Chimera against their Gorgon. There was a screech of metal as the tank started to rip apart. The crews were already struggling to reverse.

Knoll was barking out orders. Yedrin started to the top of the assault ramp. Bodies were already falling before him. He tripped over one, and only just managed to keep his feet.

A shove from behind threw Yedrin off the Gorgon. He fell onto all fours, holding onto his lasrifle, his mouth now full of foul, oily water. He had to get up or he would be trampled into the surf or crushed by the tank being carried on the waves.

The trooper before him lifted a fist and shouted. ‘Forward!’