Flicking levers and turning dials； the Rapture’s engines roared as they made ready for flight； and
Baranov ran through a hasty diagnostics check。 “Are you in？” he called out over his shoulder。 “Go；”
came the roared reply； and Baranov heard the sound of weapons fire。 “Hold on；” he shouted； and he
gunned the engines。 The Rapture lifted from the deck； and her landing gear folded up beneath her as
she turned on the spot； aiming towards the gaping docking bay doors and the refuge of space
beyond。 Weapon fire struck the hull； and Baranov swore as he saw a flashing damage report register
on one of his pict screens。 Then he slammed the two propulsion levers flat to the console； and the
Rapture filled the dock with the flames of her engines。 The rogue trader vessel speared out through
the gaping bay doors； shooting free of the eldar vessel that had so nearly claimed his life and soul。
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CHAPTER TWENTY…ONE
Solon pushed through the bustling crowds with growing desperation and fierceness； shoving people
brutally out his way； ignoring their curses and cries of anger as he fought his way towards gate D5；
one of more than fifty that was still taking passengers。 He dragged Dios through the press；
determined not to release his grip on the boy now that they were so close。
They had seen the mass transport from some two kilometres distance as it descended through the
atmosphere； hundreds of massive retro engines roaring to slow its vertical descent。 The storms that
had raged over the moon had been rolling away to the south for the past six hours； and for the first
time in almost three months Solon had seen the stars overhead from horizon to horizon。
The angry red glow of the Eye of Terror dominated the sky； a circular corona of hellish light that
peered down on Perdus Skylla with evil intent； gloating over its fate。
Flashes of light sparked in the heavens； like a hundred stars being born and dying again
instantly； and it took Solon some time to realise what the flashes were。
“An Imperial armada is fighting for us； Dios；” he had said in awe when realisation had finally
come to him； and he marvelled at the spectacle； trying to imagine the colossal battle raging
overhead。
It had taken them almost four days to close towards the Phorcys starport； and they had met
thousands of refugees； joining their convoys as they gravitated towards their last hope of salvation。
Burning streaks of fire could be seen in the distance as hundreds of alien spores descended on the
ice world； each one filled with xenos warriors intent on slaughter； and Solon knew that the final
death of the world drew near。
With grim determination he pushed on through the crowd； elbowing his way forward； struggling
along with more than a hundred thousand other desperate souls to pass through gate D5 and secure a
berth upon the last of the mass transports。
It was like a form of hell； with so many thousands of people straining to push into the narrow
defile leading to the boarding gate； and the stink of humanity was heavy。 People screamed as the
breath was crushed from their lungs by the press； and others cried out as they fell； to be trampled to
death underfoot。
Women wailed as children were swept away from them in the surging crowd； and thousands of
voices rose； yelling out in desperation to loved ones lost in the press。 Other voices lifted desperate
pleas to the Emperor； crying out for aid； for salvation； for forgiveness。
Wild…eyed priests had climbed up radial spires along with gaggles of frenzied supporters； and
they raved and screamed their sermons over the heads of the crowds that rippled like a living sea
beneath them。
A form of mass hysteria and mania gripped the flood of humanity； and fights broke out in
isolated pockets of madness within the sea of bodies； with men clubbing each other to the ground；
their faces twisted in rage and fear； only to be trampled en masse as the crowds surged back and
forth。
A woman that had scratched a bloody aquila into her forehead screamed that the time of
repentance had come； calling out for others to join her in joyous suicide； so that their souls might
join with the Emperor in glory。 She grabbed Dios by the arm； pulling him towards her； but Solon
smashed his fist into her face； and she disappeared into the crowd once more。
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Other desperate Imperial citizens； knowing that they had no chance of getting on board the mass
transport and driven mad with despair and terror； hurled themselves to their deaths from the upper
levels of the starport； screaming for the Emperor to draw their souls to Him。 They plummeted down
into the crowds； creating momentary gaps as they crushed those beneath them； before the gaps were
instantly filled with more desperate people； clambering over each other towards the boarding gate。
Solon was nearing the vast gateway that led towards the immense transport ship； and was being
carried along with the crowd down the centre of the vestibule area that angled into the gate。 Those
on the outer edges of the crowd were pressed against the rockcrete walls as they angled inwards； the
weight of bodies behind them surging into the narrowing defile crushing the life out of them。
Someone stumbled in front of Solon； and soon dozens of citizens were pulled down； screaming
and roaring。 Dragging Dios behind him； Solon clambered over the morass of bodies； uncaring of
who he stamped underfoot in his desperation to get to the gates。
A wailing roar rose from the crowd as the immense gates began to close； grinding in from either
side； and Solon pushed on with added fury； smashing people aside as he strove towards the front。
He was only fifteen metres from the gates； and he surged forwards； pulling those in front down
and clambering over them in desperation。 Skyllan Interdiction Forces were screaming out over the
crowd on loudhailers； ordering them back； but no one listened to their words。 The gates continued to
close； the press unbearable； and Solon was pushed back further from the gates； crying in anguish。
Once again； the crowd surged； and more people fell to the ground。 A gap opened up； and Solon
stumbled forwards； pulling Dios behind him； towards the closing gate。
The Skyllan Interdiction soldiers opened fire into the crowd to force them back； laslocks
stabbing into the crowd。 People screamed； but there was nowhere to flee； and the sickening stink of
burnt human flesh caught in the back of Solon’s throat； making him gag。 Soldiers roared； ordering
the crowd back； but it was an impossibility； and again they fired into the crowd； indiscriminately
spraying las…fire into the mass of humanity。
Solon was struck a glancing blow high in the shoulder that spun him around； and he almost fell。
Dios shouted something that was lost in the deafening roar around them and leapt forwards； trying
to pull him to his feet。 Knowing that to fall was to die； Solon grabbed at those around him；
scrabbling for purchase。 Hands punched down at him； trying to dislodge his grip； and boots kicked
him in the ribs； and trampled on his legs。 With a burst of energy； he dragged one man down；
scrambling to his feet as he condemned the man to death； crushed to pulp beneath the surging
crowd。 Five metres。
The gates were grinding closed； but Solon was so close it was painful。 He pressed forward once
more； and made good progress； battling his way towards the gates。 He reached the front just as the
gates slammed shut with a resounding crash。 The sound struck Solon like a death knell； and he
reached forwards and grabbed the bars of the gate； crying out in anguish。
The soldiers on the other side of the gates were backing away； eyeing the crowd nervously。
Hundreds of people threw themselves on the barred gates； clambering up onto support struts；
calling after the soldiers or the last citizens that had made it through。
“Open the gates；” shouted scores of voices。 Those behind； not yet realising that the gates had
been sealed； that all hope had evaporated； continued to press forwards； crushing those at the front
against the thick bars。
“Just take the boy！” roared Solon； his voice hoarse。 One of the soldiers heard him； but shrugged
his shoulders and turned away。
“Squeeze through； Dios；” urged Solon as they were hammered from behind and drove into the
gate with crushing force。 Dios cried out as his small body was pressed against the bars。
“Push through； damn it！” shouted Solon； and Dios squeezed one arm and leg through the narrow
gap between the bars。 He cried out as he got stuck； and looked around frantically for Solon。
“Breathe out； boy；” said Solon。 “You can make it。”
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Dios exhaled all his breath； and Solon gave him a push。 The boy was stuck tight； and he feared
that his skull or hipbones would break if he pushed any harder； but the alternative was no more
appealing。 Another few minutes in this crush and the boy would be dead anyway。
“Breathe out； Dios！” he shouted again and gave the boy another shove。 Dios cried out in obvious
pain； but then his head passed through the bars and he fell to his knees on the other side。 His head
was bloody； and Solon realised that it was the blood that had saved the boy’s life； for it had probably
made the bars more slippery。
Dios pic