Gaunt's Ghosts 11.5 - The Iron Star by Warhammer 40K

Author:Warhammer 40K [Warhammer 40K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-02-09T01:04:51+00:00

12

The etogaur uttered a bark of disbelief. He took a step backwards, blood squirting from his wrist stump and his dismembered hand. He stared at Gaunt through the eye-slits of his dirty gold mask, awaiting the finishing stroke. Gaunt aimed his sword at the etogaur, tip first. “Run,” he said. “Run and tell them. The Ghosts of Tanith have come, and they will kill you all.” The etogaur began to howl. He turned and stumbled away into the smoke, bleating out his distress and his terror. Gaunt allowed himself a smile. He could feel tears of blood on his face. Turning, he saw a Ghost nearby, beset by two Blood Pact troopers. He hurled himself into the brawl, and severed the spine of one of the Archenemy warriors with his sword. The beleaguered Ghost used the advantage to lance the other Blood Pact marauder with his bayonet. “Are you in one piece?” Gaunt asked as the Ghost yanked his blade out of the corpse. “I’m all right, sir,” the Ghost replied. Gaunt realised that it was Beltayn, his adjutant. “Good to see you, Bel. How’re you holding up?” “This is a pretty bad fix, sir, isn’t it?” said Beltayn. His face was ash-white. “I’ll be fine, Bel.” “I think, sir…” “What?” “Something’s awry.” Gaunt laughed and gestured at the smoke, flames and corpses around them. “You figured that out all by yourself, did you?” Beltayn shook his head. “I mean, I’ve heard things on the vox,” he said. “We’ve broken their spirit here, but it sounds like they’ve got reinforcements moving in on our flank.” “More Blood Pact?” “No, sir. From the vox-bursts, it sounds like the Sons of Sek.” Gaunt felt a chill. The Blood Pact were daemons enough. Their cohorts had been raised by the Archon with the specific intention of matching the Imperial Guard in the Sabbat Worlds theatre. Anakwanar Sek was the Archon’s most fearsome lieutenant commander. Inspired by the example of the Blood Pact, Sek had developed his own elite force. Gaunt had seen the Sons at work on… where was it… Gereon, that was it, Gereon. The Sons of Sek had appeared to be even more formidable than the Blood Pact. The Sons had an appetite for atrocity. The Ghosts had yet to enjoy the dubious pleasure of meeting them in full combat. “Where’s Rawne?” asked Gaunt. “I don’t know, sir,” Beltayn replied. “Baskevyl, then? Daur? Kolea?” “I can’t get them on the vox.” “Get me Corbec, at least!” Beltayn looked at him oddly. “What?” asked Gaunt. “Colonel Corbec, sir… he’s been dead these last five years.” Gaunt paused. “Of course he has. Of course he has…” “Sir?” “Bel, we have to get this bridge secured before nightfall.” Beltayn looked up at the smoke cover overhead. “And when will that be, do you think?” “I don’t know. We just have to get the bridge secured.” “I don’t even know where the bridge is anymore,” said Beltayn. 13

“It’s over that way,” Gaunt replied, gesturing over his left shoulder.

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