Catechism Of Hate by Gav Thorpe Page A

withdrawn from Cordus Via, brother-sergeant?' Cassius asked.
    'If you had consulted me, that would have been my appraisal, Brother-Chaplain. The site itself is of no value other than its location. Abandoning it brings no dishonour if by doing so we continue to fight effectively. Now it is too late.'
    'I do not understand your reticence, sergeant.' Cassius noticed that Dacia had not looked at him yet during their exchange. The Chaplain laid a hand on the sergeant's shoulder pad, and applied enough pressure to make the Space Marine turn. 'Be forthcoming in your reservations.'
    'Our enemy knows what we know, brother,' said Dacia, his voice barely a whisper. Cassius could see nothing of the Space Marine's expression, but his voice was earnest. 'They will have us trapped here soon enough and will exterminate us at their leisure.'
    Cassius frowned inside his helm.
    'To hear you speak so, one would think we are already overwhelmed.'
    'I have been thinking about the riddle their latest attack poses. What is to be gained by their attempt at subterfuge? It is quite obvious that our defence is not hampered by the fall of night. Why then, would they come at us with dregs, sending their forces forward in broods small enough to be easily despatched? They have tested us with a full assault and not found us wanting; there is no logic, no matter how alien, that suggests this desultory effort will be successful.'
    The Chaplain pondered what the sergeant said, his frown deepening further, though now with consternation rather than anger.
    'The enemy are keeping us occupied,' said Cassius, and Dacia nodded. 'Why have you only now brought this to my attention?'
    'The answer has only just occurred to me also, Brother-Chaplain. As you were on your way here, I thought it better to speak to you in person rather than broadcast the fact over the vox-net.'
    Turning away, Cassius took a few paces, his boots thumping loudly on the boards of the rooftop. He did not waste time chastising himself for his oversight, but focused immediately on a resolution. Before any was forthcoming, Dacia spoke again.
    'There is also another reason for the piecemeal assault, brother,' said the sergeant, glancing back to the west. A blossom of fire spread across the farmlands, its glow shining over the desolated fields. 'It is a waste of the Titans' firepower to strike down only a dozen foes with each shot.'
    'They expend our resources with their lives,' said Cassius, following the statement to its conclusion. 'While the princeps waste missiles and gatler rounds on termagants, tyranid warriors and carnifexes wait for their supplies to be exhausted.'
    Cassius's first instinct was to order the Titans to cease firing, in order to conserve their ammunition. He ignored the impulse, because if the Titans curtailed their attacks, it would fall to the Ultramarines to take up the fight and their supplies would be depleted instead.
    'It is a confounding situation, sergeant,' Cassius confessed, reaching no firm conclusion. 'At best, the Titans grant us more time, holding the mass attack at bay. While they still fire, the waiting horde is kept at arm's reach.'
    'Yet every passing minute sees it more likely that our Imperial Guard allies to the north and south will be overrun, brother. We will be attacked on three fronts, and we will not be able to hold Cordus Via. Should we begin to withdraw, I would stake my honour that the tyranids will know it and come at us hard, harrying us all of the way back to Attan Terminus.'
    'We will not be so easily trapped!' snarled Cassius, his anger directed at himself for being too stubborn to foresee this outcome. 'Extend the cordon by five hundred metres and have the Rhinos and Razorbacks brought to the access ramp. I must speak with General Arka.'
    Cassius strode away without waiting for Dacia's reply or the inevitable questions the Chaplain's orders prompted. He opened up a vox link to the command headquarters and as Cassius reached street level Colonel