his hand； shielding it from the wind and lit a candle for the men of Battalion A； as he had done every day for the last six days since
Tor Christo had fallen。
Leonid kept a respectful distance from his commanding officer； awaiting the completion of his ministrations to the dead； and
Vauban was grateful for his officer's understanding。
The grim tower known as the Sepulchre stood on the north…western slopes of the mountains； high above the citadel。 Constructed
of smooth； black marble； veined with threads of gold； it was a tall； hollow tube； some thirty metres in diameter and a hundred
high。 Its inner walls were studded with hundreds of ossuaries containing the bleached bones of every man who had borne the title
of castellan。 It had been a great comfort to Vauban to imagine that one day he too would have a place of honour amongst the
immortal dead； but he knew that was nothing but a dream。 In all likelihood； he would end his days as a desiccated corpse
somewhere below in the citadel； murdered by this infernal foe。 The thought of his bones scoured clean by the dust storms of this
planet filled him with great melancholy。
The entire floor was a polished disc of solid brass； its surface etched with intricate traceries and swirling lines that looped
gracefully across its surface； weaving and intersecting in a beguiling dance。 It looked like a puzzle where the solution； if there
even was one； was forever elusive。 Vauban knew it was possible to happily lose several hours trying to untangle the design with
your eyes； but he had long ago decided that it was a mystery he would never solve。
He rose from his knees； wincing as his joints cracked painfully。 War was a young man's game and he was too old to bear the
horrors being placed before him。 He bowed towards the Emperor's graven image and whispered； 'Lord Emperor； give me the
strength to do your bidding。 I am but a man； with a man's courage； and need your holy wisdom to guide me in this； our time of
need。'
The statue remained silent and the commander of Hydra Cordatus turned on his heel； marching towards the door to the outer
chambers of the Sepulchre。
Vauban thought he had known anguish as he had watched the scenes of destruction at Jericho Falls and on the plains when the
Iron Warriors had tricked the gunners at Tor Christo into shelling their own men。
But with the fall of Tor Christo and the death of nearly seven thousand men； he knew the true depths of misery。 So many dead；
and the battle not yet over。
He nodded to Leonid as he passed； his second…in…command closing the door to the candlelit house of the dead。 The outer
chambers of the Sepulchre were light and airily constructed； as though the architects had understood that the human mind could
absorb only so much grief； and that there were times when it was good to rejoice in the immortality of the spirit。
Bright glow…globes； set behind arched windows of stained glass； threw gold and azure light across the marble…flagged floor。
Vauban paused to admire the handiwork of artists dead these last ten millennia。 Scenes of battle were played out above him
alongside images of the Emperor ascending to his throne and feats of bravery of long…dead Space Marine heroes。
'Beautiful； aren't they？' whispered Vauban。
'Yes； sir； they are；' affirmed Leonid。
'Sad then； that they will be destroyed。'
'Sir？'
Vauban returned his gaze to his second…in…command with a sad smile。 'I think our enemies would as soon see this place reduced to
dust； don't you； Mikhail？'
'Possibly；' conceded Leonid； bitterly。 'But as long as we are not betrayed by one man's lust for glory； or anomer's cowardice； we
shall make them pay for every metre they advance。'
Vauban could understand Leonid's venom。 Princeps Fierach had doomed nearly two thousand men to death when his Titans had
abandoned the Jourans to hunt the corrupted Imperator Titan。 Those Titans that had survived the battle had wisely retreated to
their armoured hangars for repairs； their crews confined to barracks while the Legio's judiciary sought to apportion blame for the
debacle。 Fierach's death made it that much easier for them； giving them a conveniently dead scapegoat。 Princeps Daekian；
commander of the Warlord Titan Honoris Causa had come before the senior officers of the Jouran Dragoons in full dress uniform；
offering his sorrow and a formal apology on behalf of the Legio Ignatum。
For the sake of unity； Vauban had accepted the apology； but the words tasted bitter。 Leonid had shown no such restraint； walking
up and striking Daekian。 Vauban had been ready for the worst kind of reaction； but Princeps Daekian had merely nodded and said；
'That is your right and privilege； Lieutenant Colonel Leonid； and I bear you no ill…will。'
Princeps Daekian had then drawn his curved sabre； stepping forward to offer it； hilt first； to Leonid。
'But know this： the Legio Ignatum stands ready to fight at your side and we will not fail you again。 I swear by my blade that it
shall be so。'
Vauban had been stunned。 For an officer of the Legio to offer his sword to another was a declaration that should he fail in his
sworn duty； he was willing to be killed by his own blade； and have the gods of battle mock him for all eternity。
Leonid had stared at the blade for several seconds。 In such circumstances it was customary for an officer and a gentleman to
Graham McNeill ？Storm of Iron？
refuse to accept the sword； indicating that the gesture was enough。 But Leonid had taken the sword and thrust it through his
officer's sash before returning to his seat。 Vauban had been disappointed； but not surprised。 Leonid's battalion had been badly
mauled in the battle and he was determined to extract a blood price for his men's deaths。
Leonid wore the sword still； and Vauban knew that when word of this incident had reached the ears of the common soldiers； his
popularity had soared within the ranks。
'I am proud of you； Mikhail；' said Vauban suddenly。 'You have a quality that I do not： you have the ability to empathise with the
men in your command on every level。 From the formality of the officers' mess to the gutter…talk of the barracks。'
'Thank you； sir；' beamed Leonid； pleased with his commander's sentiment。
'I am a competent and experienced leader；' continued Vauban； 'but I have never enjoyed the love of my soldiers。 I have always told
myself that it is not necessary for my men to love me； only that they obey。 Your men love and respect you； and； better； they trust
you not to lead them into harm's way without good reason。'
The two officers left the Sepulchre； pulling their uniform jackets tighter about themselves as they stepped into the whipping wind
that blew stiffly across the high peaks of the mountains。 A thousand steps led downhill between eroded statues of faded Imperial
heroes； and an honour guard of fifteen soldiers awaited to escort them back to the citadel。
Both officers stared in trepidation at the blasted plain before the citadel； feeling a gut…twisting sense of despair at the sight that met
their eyes。 Pillars of smoke curled skyward from countless forges and campfires as the enemy soldiers broke their fast this
morning。 The plain was a mass of men and machines； supply depots and digging parties。
In the days after the fall of Tor Christo； the main east/west parallel had been extended westwards to the base of the rocky
promontory； and two zigzagging saps were being driven towards the citadel。 The first was aimed at the salient angle of the Primus
Ravelin； while the second was on a course for Vincare bastion's left flank。
'We're not slowing them down enough；' said Vauban needlessly。
'No；' agreed Leonid； 'But we are slowing them。'
'Yes； but we need to stop them；' said Vauban； lifting his eyes to the blackened form of the Imperator Titan standing immobile at
the foot of Tor Christo； still swarming with men attempting to buttress it firmly and allow it to fire without collapsing。 Behind it；
huge gangs； thousands strong； had spent the last six days heaving and sweating to carry massive siege mortars and howitzers up
the rocky slopes to the forward edge of Tor Christo's promontory。 From there they would be able to lob their shells with impunity
within the walls of the Vincare bastion and place breaching batteries to shoot over the glacis； targeting the main curtain wall with
direct fire。
They were still some days away from completion； but when they were ready the carnage they would inflict on the garrison was
sure to be horrific。
'By the Emperor； Mikhail； it will go badly for us once those guns are brought to bear。'
Leonid followed Vauban's stare and said； 'Have you thought any more about my idea for Guardsman Hawke？'
Guardsman Hawke； still trapped in the mountains； was proving invaluable to the artillerymen of the citadel。 His daily reports of
where the main work parties were gathering had forced the invaders to dig extra approach trenches to ensure that they were able to
reach the front line alive； slowing the advance。 Vauban's admiration for this lowly soldier had grown daily； as he had reported the
enemy's movements； dispositions and apparent numbers in minute detail； allowing them to get a clearer understanding of the
enemy's capabilities and direct their artillery fire