Crimson Dawn by C Z Dunn

Author:C Z Dunn
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Publisher: Black Library
Published: 2014-03-28T16:00:00+00:00

Ten

Resistance

The burning of the massacre sites by Riegler and Captain Kranon had another unintended and unforeseen consequence.

Fanned by the winds blowing through the dense, dry jungle the blazes soon spread to engulf not only trees and undergrowth but also the settlements nestled within. Panicked Umidians caught in the path of the inferno hurriedly abandoned their aerial towns and villages, sacrificing their homes and possessions in a bid to save their lives.

Instead of salvation they found only the waiting bolters of the Crimson Sabres.

Either still befuddled by the glamour placed upon them or disregarding the spilling of innocent blood, Draznicht, Barkman and several other of the more belligerent captains of the Chapter requisitioned the Crimson Sabres entire complement of flamer weapons. Commending the younger Kranon and the Scout captain for their ingenuity, their peers soon had entire island chains and landmasses ablaze, butchering the burned and choking populace the instant they staggered out of the jungle. Thousands died in the flames. Thousands more died at the blades and bolters of the Space Marines.

Tenth Company had rotated back into the action within a single day cycle of returning to the fleet, though Riegler had exercised prudence by staying out of First Company’s way while they redeployed, only ordering his Scouts to muster on the hangar deck once all of Draznicht’s Terminators were planetside. Aronsh had regained consciousness a few hours after Chyre’s assault and though Riegler would have preferred to leave the boy aboard the Red Honour to recuperate, the psychosis overcoming First Company and the rest of the Chapter meant it was safer to patch up the young Scout and keep him alongside his battle-brothers.

‘How’s the arm, Aronsh?’ asked Mannon quietly as Alpha Squad stalked through the thick brush. The Chief Librarian had been true to his word and attached himself to Riegler’s squad for its return to Umidia. His presence had already proved invaluable as his psyker talents had warned them more than once of nearby Umidians and allowed them to change course to prevent the unnecessary spilling of blood. The slaughter of innocent civilians was not their concern; the banishment of the daemon behind the trickery was their only goal.

‘The pain has subsided but I still can’t move it freely. Looks like Wedsoe gets to hang onto the heavy bolter for a while longer, Master Librarian.’ The novice Scout, like the others in Alpha Squad, wore a rebreather that muffled his words. Though the main fires raged on the other side of the planet, the air was thick with the stench of burning vegetation intermingled with hints of charred flesh and the chemical tang of promethium. Riegler and Mannon’s transhuman physiology allowed them to filter out the acrid scent unaided, but the fledgling Space Marines transformations were not yet that advanced.

‘And when the time comes, I’m certain Scout-Brother Wedsoe will make good use of it,’ said Riegler, moving up from his position at the tail of the small group marching single-file through the brush. ‘Take the rear, Aronsh. I would like to speak with the Chief Librarian.

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