would have concealed anything from the naked eye； and the blinding swirl of ice； snow and fog was
such that all but the most sophisticated sensor arrays were rendered useless。 Still； Marduk was
taking no chances as he elbowed his way cautiously forwards； edging nearer to the Imperial bastion。
He could see the dark shadow of the structure rising before him； though even his advanced autosensors
and magnifier auspexes had difficulty piercing the blinding gale。 It was built into a massive
pinnacle of rock that pierced the thick ice； the first geological landmark that the Word Bearers had
thus far seen on Perdus Skylla。 Marduk snarled up at the hateful silhouette of the fortress。 It had
been constructed in the form of an immense aquila； the two…headed eagle that was the symbol of the
Imperium and the Emperor’s rule。
It rose some three hundred and fifty metres above the ice plains； the highest point on all of
Perdus Skylla。 If the weather had been clearer； it could have been seen for kilometres all around； an
immense structure that dominated the landscape。 Doubtless it had been built to remind the populace
of Perdus Skylla of the Emperor’s authority； to cow the people it loomed over and never let them
forget who it was that ruled their lives。
To the ignorant people of Perdus Skylla it might have been a symbol of reverence； but to
Marduk it represented all that he hated about the Imperium； all that he desired to see toppled。
What sort of empire would allow a lifeless corpse to be venerated as a god； and let pompous
fools and bureaucrats dictate how a galaxy was to be run？ For the millionth time； he cursed the holy
warmaster for being laid low by the trickery of the enemy。 Had Horus overthrown the Emperor； the
galaxy would never have fallen into stagnation and torpor。 The Great Crusade would still be
underway； wiping all xenos and non…believers from the universe。 Humanity would be united in faith。
Marduk froze； pushing himself flat to the ground as his keen auto…senses flashed a warning
before his eyes。 The massive gates of the bastion began to open； folding in upon themselves and
sliding into a hidden recess within the rock。 Four armoured vehicles emerged； the sound of their
engines lost in the howling wind。
They were non…standard template vehicles protected by thick plates of white…painted armour。
Marduk’s targeting arrays locked onto the foremost vehicle； and a flood of data streamed in front of
his eyes。 A heavy weapons sponson unfolded from behind the main engine block； sliding forward
and locking into place； and the weapon panned left and right。 They were light vehicles； roughly the
size of Rhino APCs； and they were clearly built for traversing the ice flows； with heavy； thick tracks
at the rear and a single upwards flaring ski as broad as the tank at the front。
If it came to it； they would easily be neutralised by his Land Raiders； but he had no wish for the
enemy to know； prematurely； that they were under attack。
The vehicles moved up the steep ramp of ice and snow that led from within the bastion； heavy
weapons turrets rotating with precise； mechanical movements。
They turned to the north…west； and soon disappeared into the storm。
“Do not engage；” said Marduk。
“Acknowledged；” came Kol Badar’s response； his voice blurred by static。
Resuming his advance； Marduk elbowed his way closer to the enemy fortification。
39
The aquila fortress reared up above him； its twin heads glaring out into the darkness。 Despite his
anger； disdain and disgust as he thought of what could have been； should have been； it gave him
perverse pleasure to see how far the Imperium had fallen。 This world was evidence of its failings。 It
was being abandoned； as was the entire sub…system； in the face of a xenos threat。 He shook his head
in mockery at such weakness。
The long； insulated barrels of defence lasers rose up behind the aquila structure； angled towards
the heavens。 He knew that the vast power source for the formidable weapons would be located deep
within the rock below。 They were weapons of awesome potency； though useless against an enemy
that had already landed。
Marduk advanced a further two hundred metres； assailed by the relentless wind and biting ice。
The brutal environmental conditions did not concern him。 His archaic power armour； a bastard
hybrid of marks IV； V and VI； was capable of withstanding far more demanding situations。
Within fifty metres of the enemy structure； Marduk hunkered down to assess the defences of the
bastion。 Snow began to settle on his power armour； so that he was almost completely concealed。
Indeed； a human could have stood five metres away and not have seen him； blinded by the gale and
the fog。
His gleaming； black； reflective eyepieces panned upwards； targeters locking onto autocannon
turrets and demolisher cannons built into the sides of the rock face。 Had the weather been less
severe； the static defences would have taken a heavy toll on the Host as it approached。 Such a thing
was unacceptable； for Marduk had brought less than thirty warrior brothers with him on the mission
to Perdus Skylla。
In ideal circumstances； he would have descended upon the moon with the entire Host； and the
taking of the bastion would have been a simple thing。 However； with the size of the Imperial
blockade in the sub…system such an endeavour would have been folly； for the Infidus Diabolus
would have been annihilated long before it reached the moon’s atmosphere。 As such； he had chosen
to lead just a small strike force onto the surface of the moon； and slipped unseen through the
Imperial cordon。
It was not the way that he would have liked to have achieved victory； for Marduk； like Kol
Badar； would have been more pleased to have laid waste the Imperial world； to unleash the full
force of the Host and leave nothing but corpses and edifices to the great gods behind。 Victory here
was important； however； and the manner in which it was achieved； less so。
Pushing his extraneous thoughts aside； Marduk turned his attention to the task at hand。
Two twin…linked autocannon turrets guarded the approach to the bastion gates； and they panned
back and forth across the open ground before them。 Each was restricted to a ninety…degree firing arc；
though the arcs of the two turrets； and the others nearby； were overlapping； ensuring that no enemy
could approach the bastion from any angle without coming under fire。 Heavier siege cannons
protruded from the rock face above the gates； but they were of less interest to Marduk； for he was
below their arc of trajectory。 They were designed to fire upon enemy two hundred metres and
further out； not at a foe already at the base of the bastion。 Still； he opened up a visual feed with Kol
Badar； allowing the Coryphaus to see what he did； so that the war leader was aware of what he
would be riding into once the gates were breached。
“Brother Namar…sin；” said Kol Badar in a growled response to the visual feed。 “Move your
coterie into position and target the turrets。 Fire on the First Acolyte’s command。”
“So it shall be； Coryphaus；” came the response。 Somewhere behind Marduk； invisible even to
his augmented sight； the Havoc Space Marines of Namar…sin’s coterie would be targeting the
autocannons with their ancient heavy weapons。
Marduk again looked up； peering through the blinding ice storm。
“Come on； Burias；” he hissed in impatience。
40
Two hundred and fifty metres up； Burias scaled the vertical rock face； hauling himself up hand over
hand。
Kol Badar had identified one last possible escape route from the bastion； and it was the icon
bearer’s duty to close it off。
He had allowed the change to come over him； bringing the daemon Drak’shal to the fore； and
great horns rose from his head。 Hellfire burnt within his eyes； and his teeth were bared； exposing a
double row of serrated shark…like teeth。 Impossibly； his darkly handsome； immaculate features could
still be seen beneath the image of the daemon； as if both beings were coexisting in the same space。
Bunching his leg muscles； Burias pushed off from rock face； leaping upwards。 He grabbed a
rocky overhang with one hand； and for a second he hung there over the vertical drop。 The ground
could not be seen below； lost in the swirling storm； though the glow of lascannons could be dimly
discerned。 Hauling himself over the edge； the heat of his breath clouded the air around him； and
feral eyes locked onto the hateful shape of the giant aquila that reared above him。 He dug his taloned
hands into stone carved in the form of feathers and continued his ascent。
Up above； roughly a hundred metres away； the twin eagle heads of the colossal stone aquila
glared out across the landscape； one facing east； and the other west。 A bright light shone like a
lighthouse from the eye of the right eagle head； while the eye of the left head was dark and blind。
Burias ascended towards the shining eye； his talons easily finding handholds between the
massive carved feathers。 He ascended the sheer exterior of the immense statue； swiftly； barely
pausing as he climbed； like a dark stain upon the noble eagle’s body。 The wind howled around him；
buffeting him and threatening to rip him loose； and ice and snow dr