Catechism Of Hate by Gav Thorpe

kilometres east along the Minoran Gradient? You'll be under the protection of our big guns at the city wall, plus I can move more of the Legio Fortitudis to support your defence.'
    'That will also be unnecessary, general. The Ultramarines will halt the advance at Cordus Via.'
    Cassius passed through the gate of the depot and glanced up at the devastators atop the silos to his left. He had noted the highly effective fire rained down by the squad during the last attack and resolved to mention the deed in his evening rites later.
    'Chaplain Cassius, as much as I respect your skill and experience, I think it would be unwise for your force to remain in its current position. Your position will be defensively untenable within eighteen hours at the most. There is no shame in moving to a more secure position, and to stay at Cordus Via would be suicide.'
    'Do not trouble yourself with the fate of my warriors, general, that is my concern alone,' snapped Cassius. 'I am not in the habit of throwing away the lives of Ultramarines, no matter what you might think of my stubbornness. When I arrived, you correctly identified Cordus Via as the lynchpin in your defensive strategy, and so it remains. We will not lightly surrender the advantages we have here.'
    'Apologies, Chaplain, I did not mean any offence.'
    'I am no more concerned with taking offence than I am with making a precipitous withdrawal, general. The Ultramarines have arrived at Styxia to ensure its protection, and that is what we will do, in the manner I best see fit. Unless you have anything else to tell me, I would prefer not to engage in further debate on the subject.'
    'Of course, you are in command of your forces, not I,' said Arka. 'I will keep you informed as the situation develops. Arka out.'
    The comm cut abruptly, static hissing in Cassius's ear for a moment before the connection was severed completely. The Chaplain grunted in irritation; he did not have the time or the inclination to deal with Arka's sensibilities. He was one of the best Imperial Guard commanders Cassius had known, but even bearing that in mind, he was still only human.
    THE TYRANIDS CAME again in strength after nightfall, and as in the previous night the fire of rockets and blaze of lasers split the dark skies. Unlike the first assault, the wave of tyranids did not come as one in a large horde, but instead advanced along the line of the rivers and highway in smaller broods, perhaps seeking to avoid detection. Such a ruse was pointless; the sensoria of the Titans could pick up the encroaching aliens several kilometres distant, and each brood was destroyed in turn as it came into range of the Warlords' weapons.
    Cassius was moving from squad to squad around the perimeter, ensuring not only that every warrior was alert, but also repeating his mantra that Cordus Via would not fall. As yet, the Ultramarines had not fired a shot in the latest battle, but there was no excuse for laxity; the vigil of the Titans was not perfect.
    On the roof of a warehouse overlooking the cataract, the Chaplain met with Sergeant Dacia. His veterans waited in darkness, their eye lenses glowing in the gloom as they peered out across the starlit spume of the waterfall.
    'All is in order, sergeant?' said Cassius, stopping beside Dacia as he stood at the ledge bordering the flat roof.
    'So far, Brother-Chaplain,' replied Dacia. 'Sergeant Octanus and his squad are mounting a patrol five hundred metres upriver, in case any lictors have passed the Titans.'
    'And the spirits of your men, they are strong?'
    Dacia looked at his squad, arranged like immobile statues gazing westwards along the roof's edge, bolters, plasma guns and heavy bolter held at the ready.
    'We are patient, brother,' said the sergeant. 'The enemy will come again, and we will be ready for them. There is no need to be hasty in our reprisal.'
    Cassius sensed a slight rebuke in the sergeant's tone, his words hiding some other meaning.
    'You believe that we should have