The leader of the Space Marines said； 'Brother…Captain Eshara。 Are you the commanding officer here？'
'Uh； no…' he'd managed。 'Castellan Vauban commands the citadel。 I am Lieutenant Colonel Leonid； his second…in…command。
Where did you come from？'
'Thejustitia Fides； our strike cruiser； was about to make the jump into the Empyrean when the astropaths reported a faint distress
signal emanating from this planet；' explained Captain Eshara。 'The prefix on the signal was of sufficient urgency that I
immediately ordered them to pass it on to the naval base at Hydraphur before turning the ship back to Hydra Cordatus。'
'But what about the enemy vessels in orbit？'
'We narrowly avoided detection by a Chaos warship near the jump point； but once we were clear； I ordered best speed to the
source of the distress signal。 It was a relatively simple matter to evade detection by the cargo hulks in orbit； but to avoid being
spotted by enemy ground troops we flew the Thunderhawks to the mountains some hundred kilometres north of this fastness。
After that； we simply crossed the mountains on foot to reach you。'
Leonid still marvelled at Eshara's casual description of his men's incredible journey across the mountains。 Two days to cross some
of the most inhospitable terrain Leonid had ever seen。 It had taken Guardsman Hawke almost a full day to cross eight kilometres；
never mind a hundred。
Not only that； but less than five hours later； the Space Marines had fought a major battle and emerged triumphant。 The Battle of
the Battery was as much their victory as the Jourans'。
Leonid shivered as he looked up at the grim； black tower before them； hating its bleak austerity and wishing that they did not have
to perform this solemn duty。 But perform it they must。 He lowered his eyes as they approached the doors to the Sepulchre。
Tonsured priests stood at the open portal with their heads bowed。 Smoking censers hung from hooks beside the door； giving off
the heady aroma of Jouran incense。
As the pallbearers entered the Sepulchre； a lone voice sounded from the ranks of the assembled soldiers； '383rd； present arms！'
The sound of two thousand men slamming their heels down on the steps echoed from the mountainsides and the valley resounded
to the deafening salute of rifles firing in perfect unison。
THE BRIEFING CHAMBER was hot； despite the chill of the day； as the citadel's commanding officers filed into the room。 Even
though he was now in command of the Jouran Dragoons； Leonid was not sitting at the head of the meeting table； but in his usual
seat to the right of Vauban's chair。
He watched as the officers of his regiment … his regiment now； the thought had not yet sunk in … entered the briefing chamber；
Graham McNeill ？Storm of Iron？
saluting before they took their seats。 They looked to him for leadership now； and he just hoped he could provide it。
Vauban had been a natural leader who made command look effortless； but the last two days had shown Leonid how difficult it
truly was。 Every day； a hundred decisions had to be made and each one had potentially life…threatening consequences。 Could he
really take charge of the regiment and command the citadel's defences？ He didn't know。
Morgan Kristan and Piet Anders took their usual seats。 Opposite them sat the two leaders of the Imperial Fists detachment：
Brother…Captain Eshara and Librarian Corwin； their polished armour a brilliant yellow。 Leonid felt grateful for their support and
knew he would need to rely on them more than ever over the coming days now that Vauban was gone。 Princeps Daekian and
Magos Naicin were also present； but their placement further down the table was indicative of their status as pariahs to the Jourans。
Major Kristan lifted the bottle of amasec from the tray at the table's centre with his good arm and poured a glass for himself；
Leonid and Anders before also filling the glasses at the empty seats of Vauban and Tedeski。 He offered the two Space Marines a
drink； but both politely refused。 Pointedly； he did not offer a drink to the new commanding officer of the Legio Ignatum or the
representative of the Adeptus Mechanicus。 Piet Anders took out a bundle of thin； twine…bound cheroots； the kind Vauban had
enjoyed； from inside his uniform jacket and offered them around the table。 All the Jouran officers took one in honour of their
former leader； but again the Space Marines declined。
Once the drinks were poured and the cigars lit； Leonid raised his glass； sweeping his eyes around the regimental colours and
shields mounted on the wall。 So many men had garrisoned this place； so many forgotten heroes。 He promised himself that Prestre
Vauban would not go unremembered。
'To Castellan Prestre Vauban；' toasted Leonid； raising his glass。
'Castellan Vauban；' repeated the officers； draining their amasec in a single gulp。
Leonid took a draw on the cheroot； coughing as the acrid smoke caught in his throat。 A few chuckles greeted his discomfort。 They
all knew he disapproved of such vices。
'Gentlemen；' began Leonid； grimacing in distaste at the smoking cheroot。 'It has been over three weeks since this siege began； and
though it has been hard and we have seen good friends fall； we've given these Chaos scum a bloody nose they'll not forget。
Regardless of the eventual outcome of this battle； I want you all to know that you have done all that honour demands and I am
proud to have fought beside you。'
Indicating the Space Marine on his immediate left； Leonid continued。 'Captain Eshara informs me that the Imperium is now aware
of our plight； and that relief is en route to us even as we speak。 Captain Eshara expects aid to arrive within—'
'Fifteen to twenty days at the most；' said Eshara； his voice clipped and regal。 'Fortunately； there is an Adeptus Mechanicus
astrotelepath way…station less than twenty light years from where we picked up your distress call and naval vessels are within easy
reach。 The alert code we encrypted in the communique will ensure swift reaction。'
Smiles broke out across the table and hands were shaken in congratulation as Leonid pressed on。 Aid is on its way； but in order to
maintain discipline I do not want that fact to become common knowledge。 When the soldiers ask； tell them only that we are
expecting to be relieved； but not when。 Make no mistake； the enemy will now be more determined than ever to avenge their defeat
in the battery。'
'Your castellan is correct；' said Librarian Corwin； leaning forward and steepling his fingers before him。 His face was still drawn
and pale from the effort of shielding the Jourans from the Chaotic energies of the war machines。
'The guns you destroyed in the battery were more than simple weapons of war； they were imbued with terrifying daemonic
entities； conjured into the machines with the blood of innocents and diabolical pacts made with the Ruinous Powers。 The
destruction unleashed in the battery will have caused many of those pacts to be broken and the Iron Warriors will need blood to
restore them。 Our blood。'
'You know a great deal about the Iron Warriors； sir。 Is there anything you can tell us that will help us fight them？' asked Piet
Anders。
Corwin nodded； saying； 'The Iron Warriors are amongst the most terrible foes the Imperium has ever seen。 Once； ten thousand
years ago； they were counted amongst the Emperor's most favoured sons； his best and bravest fighters； but they became bitter and
twisted as the long wars of the Great Crusade continued； their own desires taking precedence over their duty to the Emperor。
When the Great Betrayer； whose cursed name I will not speak； rebelled against our lord and master； the Iron Warriors renounced
their oaths of loyalty and joined him in war against the Emperor。 Much of the truth of these days has been lost； but what is true is
that the Iron Warriors desecrated the holy soil of Terra； using skills honed by constant warfare to breach the walls designed by our
holy Primarch； Rogal Dorn。 The biggest mistake you can make is to underestimate the Iron Warriors。 Yes； they have suffered a
grievous blow with the loss of their daemon engines； but they will find other ways of striking back at us。 And we must be ready
for them。'
'Librarian Corwin is correct；' stated Leonid。 'We must do everything we can to be ready for when they come at us again。' He
pushed back his chair and stubbed out the cheroot； rising to circle the table with long paces。
We need to get the parapets repaired so we can put men behind them again。 We need to remount the guns on the walls as I have no
doubt that they are digging fresh trenches towards us even now and I want them hammered every second of every day and every
night。'
'I am not sure if we have the ammunition stockpiles to maintain such levels of expenditure； Colonel Leonid；' pointed out Magos
Naicin。
Leonid didn't bother to mask his contempt for the magos。 'Naicin； when I want your input I shall ask for it。 Understand this： the
more powder we burn now； the less blood my men will shed when the final assault comes。'
Turning from the magos； he said； 'I want the platoons in each battalion divided into shifts； six hours on the walls； six hours off。
The men are exhausted and I want the soldiers manning the ramparts to be at their best。