Courage and Honour

Gaetan had heard tales of priests who claimed that angels of the Emperor watched over them from on high, but he hadn't taken such stories literally.

He turned to his acolytes and pointed to the chancel roof.

'Do you see that?' he asked.

NINE

Uriel stalked the length of the Thunderhawk, his metabolism moving into readiness for combat once more. His armour monitored his heart rate, blood flow and oxygen levels, ensuring his entire body was optimally primed for the business of killing. Learchus moved along the fuselage, checking that every warrior was equipped with a full load of ammunition and had observed the correct pre-battle rituals. His warriors had fought well against the kroot, but if Uriel's suspicions were correct, they would soon be in battle with more technologically advanced foes.

Chaplain Clausel stood by the assault ramp, feet planted firmly on the deck and his crozius arcanum held lightly at his side. The towering warrior-priest recited the catechisms of battle, his booming voice cutting cleanly through the roaring of the Thunderhawk's engines. Dried blood coated his skull-faced helmet, and, though rough thermals from the mountains caused the gunship to buck alarmingly, he neither held to the ready line nor the walls to keep steady.

They were ten minutes out from Lake Masura, flying low and keeping hard to the mountain's flanks. Flying like this cost precious fuel, but it was the only way to avoid detection by enemy countermeasures. As yet, there was no response from the governor or Lortuen Perjed, despite repeated attempts to reach them. Presumably, the jamming technology the tau employed at Deep Canyon Six was being used to keep the governor in the dark as to the presence of aliens on his world.

Uriel hoped he would not find out the hard way.

Lord Winterbourne's Aquila lander was already en route back to Brandon Gate, despite the colonel's bluster that he was fit enough to fly into battle with the Ultramarines. After a brief, but one-sided, discussion, Uriel had convinced him of the need to evacuate his wounded, and to return to his regiment and oversee its mobilisation. Harkus had been placed within the Aquila, and Winterbourne promised that the bloodied Techmarine would be taken to Fortress Idaeus as soon as they landed.

Uriel cleaned the congealed blood of the kroot he had slain from his sword, knowing that soon it would probably be coated in the vital fluids of another living being. Learchus marched down the length of the gunship, and took his seat opposite Uriel. The sergeant's face was serious and drawn, dried blood caking one side. He drew his weapon, a sword similar in design to Uriel's, and began reciting a prayer to honour its war-spirit.

Uriel let him finish before speaking. 'This will be a tough fight, sergeant.'

'I expect so,' agreed Learchus. 'Any word on support from Brandon Gate?'

'Ancient Peleus was all set to prep the other Thunderhawks, but he will need his warriors in place to defend the city if this is the first stage of an attack. In any case, they would not reach us in time.'

'So we are on our own for this one?'

'We are,' said Uriel, 'but we're not going in on a full engage and destroy mission.'

'We are not?' asked Learchus.

'No, we're going in to retrieve the governor and get out.'

Learchus rubbed a gauntlet over his chin. 'We are only a few squads and a gunship, potentially going up against an enemy of unknown strength and deployment that may be dug in at a fortified location. I hope you have a plan?'

'I do. We make a single pass in the Thunderhawk to ascertain what we can of any enemy presence in and around the Shonai dwelling. Then we execute a hot landing at the weakest point of their perimeter. If they have taken refuge within the building, we do a standard room by room clearance, killing any tau we find.'

'It is a sound plan, but if there are hostages, they may be caught in the crossfire.'

'Our priority is to retrieve the governor,' said Uriel, 'nothing more.'

'Understood,' said Learchus, checking their time to arrival. 'Five minutes out,' he said.

'Are the men ready?' asked Uriel.

'Yes,' said Learchus, sheathing his sword and laying his bolter across his lap. 'They were ready the moment they boarded the gunship.'

'Good. They are a credit to you, Learchus. The entire company is a credit to you.'

'Thank you, captain,' said Learchus, a familiar shadow passing over his features. 'I promised I would look after the men of the company while you were… away.'

'And you have done a grand job,' said Uriel. 'I could not have wished for finer recruits to be raised to the 4th. Captain Idaeus would have been proud.'

Learchus nodded stiffly, and Uriel leaned forward. 'We have a few minutes until Lake Masura, and we need to clear the air between us before we go into battle.'

'What do you mean?' asked Learchus, his blue eyes wary.

'The fact that I am here troubles you, that much is obvious,' said Uriel, 'as does the fact that I am captain again. Part of you wishes I had not returned.'

'That is ridiculous,' snapped Learchus. 'You completed your Death Oath and returned to Macragge with your honour restored. There is nothing else to say.'

'I think there is,' pressed Uriel. 'You feel no bitterness at my return?'

'None.'

'Are you sure?'

'I am sure.'

Uriel leaned back in the shaped metal chair and paused before saying, 'I wish Pasanius were here.'

Surprised at Uriel's change of tack, Learchus nodded slowly. 'His strength would be of great value in the coming fight.'

'It would, but that is not what I mean,' said Uriel.

'Then what do you mean?' asked Learchus, clearly exasperated.

'I mean that I wish he were here, but I understand that it is right he is not.'

'He broke the Codes of Rectitude and is being punished for that.'

'He broke those codes by lying, Learchus,' said Uriel, 'as you are lying to me now.'

Learchus's face flushed. Uriel saw his jaw tighten as anger rose within him, only to be swiftly quelled.

'What am I lying about, captain?' demanded Learchus.

'About your ambitions.'

'What ambitions?'

Uriel leaned forwards, resting his forearms on his knees. 'I know you led the 4th Company to Espandor in my absence. I know of the battles you fought there, the victory of Corinth Bridge and the defence of Herapolis. You destroyed a gargant, a war machine with the power to level cities, and you saved that world from the orks. You led our company to Espandor a sergeant, but in your heart you returned as a captain. Tell me I'm wrong.'

'You are not wrong,' snarled Learchus. 'Am I to be dishonoured now for having ambition?'

'Of course not. A warrior must always test himself, seeking new foes and new challenges against which to fight. Without ambition, we would never achieve anything of greatness. A Space Marine needs ambition, it is what drives him to be the very best he can be. You have been a loyal sergeant and a proud warrior of the 4th, but this company is mine to lead.'

Learchus looked down at the deck, and to Uriel, he seemed to shrink a little in his armour.

'You were gone so long,' said Learchus eventually. 'Everyone believed you were dead. Even I had begun to lose hope that you would ever return to the Chapter.'

'But I did,' said Uriel. 'I am captain once more, and you must accept that.'

'I rebuilt the 4th, I trained it and I fought as its commander,' said Learchus. 'I grieved for the dead and carved their names on the wall of the Temple of Correction. I earned the right to lead it.'

'And in time you will receive a captaincy, of that I am certain.'