The stronghold of the ordos in Eltath lay in the Gaelen district. It had once been a gaol and courthouse, but its thick walls and private cells had long since been converted to Inquisitorial use. Fazekiel, Baskevyl and Domor were left waiting in the main atrium, a cold, marble vault. They sat together on high-backed chairs beside the main staircase.
‘This is where they used to bring prisoners in,’ said Fazekiel, ‘you know, for trial.’
‘Stop trying to cheer me up,’ said Domor.
After an hour, Onabel came to fetch them, and led them to a long, wood-panelled bureau where Inquisitor Laksheema was waiting.
Three chairs had been set out in front of her heavy desk. Laksheema gestured to them, but did not look up from the data-slate she was reading. Several dozen more, along with paper books and info tiles, covered her desk. Colonel Grae of the intelligence service stood by the window, sipping a thimble-cup of caffeine.
They took their seats.
Laksheema looked up and smiled. It was disconcerting, because only her flesh-mouth smiled. Her eyes, gold augmetic and fleshless, could not.
‘Thank you for your attendance,’ she said.
‘I didn’t think it was optional, ma’am,’ said Domor.
Grae chuckled.
‘We have been supplied, at last, with a copy of Gaunt’s mission report,’ said Laksheema. ‘The Astra Militarum was kind enough to share.’
‘Now the report has been delivered to the Urdeshic Palace, and lies in the hands of the beloved warmaster, protocol permitted it,’ said Grae.
‘So we are now aware of all additional particulars,’ said Laksheema. ‘The matters you were reluctant to discuss yesterday, Major Baskevyl.’
Baskevyl felt his tension begin to mount.
‘We have begun reviewing the materials you handed to us,’ Laksheema said. ‘Well, Versenginseer Etruin is conducting the actual review. It will take months–’
‘Versenginseer?’ said Baskevyl. ‘You said that before. I thought I had misheard. You mean “enginseer”?’
‘I spoke precisely, major,’ she said. ‘Etruin’s specialty is reverse-engineering. The deconstruction, and thus comprehension, of enemy technologies and materials. As I was saying, it will take months, if not years. But we have focused our immediate attention on the stone tiles that you discovered so memorably.’
‘We would have interviewed you in due course,’ said Grae. ‘You, and every member of the squad present at the discovery, and everyone else who came in contact with the materials. Just ongoing data-gathering in the months to come. But you collated the materials, Commissar Fazekiel, and you two – Major Baskevyl and Captain… Domor – you were in command when the disruption was discovered.’
‘That’s right, sir,’ said Baskevyl.
‘Even on cursory examination,’ said Laksheema, ‘Etruin assesses there to be great worth in the materials, collectively. Who knows what wars we may win and what victories we may achieve thanks to their secrets. Time will tell.’
She looked very pointedly at Baskevyl.
‘The stone tiles seem to be key,’ she said. ‘And it would appear that the Archenemy thinks so too. Wouldn’t you say, major?’
Fazekiel saw Baskevyl’s unease.
‘You’re being remarkably forthcoming, ma’am,’ she said.
Laksheema pursed her lips, an expression Baskevyl read as ‘puzzled’.
‘Well, commissar,’ she said, ‘circumstances have changed somewhat overnight, haven’t they?’
‘Have they?’ asked Domor.
‘I’ll be honest,’ said the inquisitor, ‘given what I’ve read in the mission report, the interviews with all three of you should have been conducted individually, in less… comfortable surroundings, and with rather greater persuasion.’
‘Charming,’ said Domor.
‘Do not test me, captain,’ said Laksheema. ‘That ship has not yet sailed altogether. But, due to circumstances, I find I am obliged to offer a greater level of cooperation, be less territorial. Colonel Grae is present to oversee that cooperation. And you three are now, of course, entitled to greater levels of confidence. You can be read in. So can any members of your regiment at company and particular grade or higher. That’s correct, isn’t it, colonel?’
‘It is, ma’am inquisitor,’ said Grae. ‘As of midnight-thirty last night, the clearance rating of the Tanith First at company and particular level was raised by default to cobalt.’
‘Cobalt,’ said Laksheema. ‘Which is a shame for me, because I felt I was likely to get a great deal more out of you all if I was permitted to function at a standard, basic level. Especially you, I think, captain.’
She smiled her non-smile at Domor.
‘You think you’d acquire more and better information from us through enhanced interrogation than through… what?’ said Fazekiel. ‘Our honest cooperation?’
Laksheema shrugged. ‘Probably not. Cooperation is always the most effective. It’s just a matter of trust, and I suppose I must trust you now you’re cobalt cleared.’
‘Wait,’ said Baskevyl. ‘I’m sorry. Could you start again?’
‘From where, major?’ asked Laksheema.
‘The start?’ suggested Domor.
‘The point at which we could be suddenly read in at upper echelon level,’ said Baskevyl.
‘Oh dear,’ said Laksheema. ‘I don’t understand what you don’t understand.’
‘Is this… is this part of the enhanced interrogation?’ asked Domor, shifting uncomfortably in his chair.
‘Shhhh, Shoggy,’ said Fazekiel.
‘I’m just all confused,’ he said.
‘Inquisitor,’ said Grae. ‘I believe they don’t actually know.’
‘Really?’ said Laksheema, exasperated.
‘Know what?’ Fazekiel asked.
‘Last night, Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt received promotion to the rank of militant commander, and your regiment automatically becomes marked out for special status, with commensurate clearance.’
There was a long pause.
‘He’s a what now?’ asked Domor.
‘Are you going to say anything?’ asked Rawne.
Gaunt took a deep breath and let it out. He stood facing the window of the small room in the hab block they’d cleared as his billet. Rawne stood by the door.
‘It’s done,’ said Gaunt. ‘I can’t change it.’
‘She, uhm… she was protecting the boy, of course. Her skills were not, I suppose, the right ones for urban war. She should have left it to us.’
‘She was not one to be told,’ said Gaunt.
‘I suppose so.’
‘Others died?’
‘Seven others, sir. Some Helixid nearby too.’
‘I’ll see the list of names.’
‘Yes, sir.’
Rawne paused.
‘Criid, she wanted to explain it all herself. She was there when… She was there. And Curth, she wanted to break it to you. I decided it should come from me. I wanted to inform you straight away, but that was a moment down there in the yard and it felt wrong to ruin it. I’m sorry I had to kill your mood so soon after.’
Gaunt looked at him.
‘It’s fine. It’s sad. It’s fine. It’s a life lost. Something to mourn. And I’ll miss her. I will. But, in truth…’
‘Sir?’
‘That was a moment down there. To see the Ghosts uplifted like that. To see a celebration. We get so few.’
‘There’ll be more, sir,’ said Rawne. ‘I think Blenner wants a feast. I think he said a feast. Or a series of feasts.’
Gaunt laughed dryly.
‘The truth, Eli,’ he said, ‘I’m glad for the Ghosts. I’m glad this cheers them. And vindicates them too, for all the years of courage and sacrifice. We are now a regiment of esteem, with special status, and that comes with benefits. But I am not as overjoyed by this day as I might have been. As I expected to be. It has come with other issues attached.’