Battle for The Abyss by Ben Counter Page B

and gut its innards. For the orca is a mighty beast, and this was the only way to be sure of its demise.’
    ‘We will hail them,’ Cestus affirmed, noting the savagery that played across Brynngar’s features with unease. ‘I won’t commit us to a fight over nothing.’
    ‘Admiral,’ the Ultramarine added, turning to Kaminska.
    ‘Helms-mate Kant, open up a channel to the vessel at once,’ she said.
    Kant did as ordered and indicated his readiness to his commander.
    Kaminska nodded to Cestus.
    ‘This is Captain Cestus of the Ultramarines Seventh Chapter. In the name of the Emperor of Mankind, I am ordering you to state your designation and business in this subsector.’
    Static-fringed silence was the only reply.
    ‘I repeat: this is Captain Cestus of the Ultramarines Seventh Chapter. Respond,’ he barked into the bridge vox.
    More silence.
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    Ben Counter – Battle for the Abyss
    ‘Why do they not answer?’ asked Antiges, his fists tightly clenched. ‘They are Legionaries, like us. Since when did the sons of Lorgar fail to acknowledge the Ultramarines?’
    ‘I don’t know. Perhaps their long-range vox is out.’ Cestus was reaching for answers, trying to deny what he had known in his heart ever since Vangelis, that something was wrong, terribly, terribly wrong.
    ‘Signal one of the frigates to make approach,’ Cestus ordered after a brief silence, eyes fixed on the viewscreen like every other soul on the bridge. ‘I don’t want to come in with our cruisers,’ he reasoned. ‘It might be perceived as a threat.’
    Kaminska relayed the order in curt fashion and the Fearless closed on the unknown vessel.
    ‘I shall follow them in,’ said Mhotep from a second viewscreen on the bridge. ‘I have half a regiment of Prospero Spireguard standing by to board.’
    ‘Very well, captain, but keep your distance,’ Cestus warned.
    ‘As you wish.’ The viewscreen went blank as Mhotep took active command of the Waning Moon .
    A tactical array abruptly activated, depicting the closing vessels that were virtually lost from sight in the viewport. The Word Bearers ship was a red icon on the display surrounded by sensor readings of the approaching frigates, little more than green blips in its presence.
    ‘This reeks,’ snarled Brynngar, who had begun prowling the bridge with impatience, ‘and my nose never lies.’
    Cestus kept his eyes on the tactical array.
    Macragge. The image of his Macragge, seen as part of the astropathic warning in the reactor core, came to mind once more.
    How were the fates of this vessel and his home world entwined?
    The Word Bearers were his brothers; surely they had nothing to do with the destruction of the Fist of Macragge ? Such a thing was unconscionable.
    Cestus would have his answers soon enough.
    The Fearless had reached its destination.

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    Ben Counter – Battle for the Abyss
    FIVE
    A line is drawn
    Silver Three down
    Open book

    ‘YOUR ORDERS, CAPTAIN?’ came the vox from the ordnance deck.
    Zadkiel sat back on his throne. The feeling of power was intoxicating. The battleship was his to command, like an extension of his body, as if the torpedo tubes and gun turrets were his hands.
    He could simply spread his fingers and will destruction on the enemy.
    ‘Hold,’ said Zadkiel.
    The central viewscreen showed the closing vessels: a frigate with a strike cruiser in its wake. The frigate did not interest the Word Bearer captain, but the cruiser was an entirely different prospect: fast, well-armed and designed for precision attacks and boarding actions. It was painted in the livery of the Thousand Sons.
    ‘Magnus’s brood,’ said Zadkiel, idly. Astride his command throne, he glanced at a supplementary screen that depicted a tactical readout of the ship. The Furious Abyss ’s archive had identified it as the Waning Moon . It had many battle honours, and had followed the Thousand Sons Legion across half the galaxy prosecuting the Great Crusade. ‘I have always admired their