[Warhammer 40K - The Horus Heresy 04] - The Flight of the Eisenstein by James Swallow

Author:James Swallow [James Swallow]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Military Fiction, Science Fiction, Warhammer 40K
ISBN: 9781844164592
Publisher: The Black Library
Published: 2007-02-24T23:00:00+00:00

SOLUN DECIUS WATCHED his commander stuff a fold of papers into a belt pouch and turn away, as if he wasn’t ready to look the Astartes in the eye. ‘Decius,’ he managed. ‘Report.’

‘Resistance was encountered,’ he growled. ‘I… We dealt with the remainder of Grulgor’s men. They made an attempt to reach the landing bay. We suffered some casualties as they were repelled.’ Decius’s face became a grimace. ‘It was a slaughter.’

Garro eyed him. ‘They would have done the same to us, if we had given them the opportunity. Why else do you think that Typhon placed both Grulgor and me aboard this ship, if not to have my command terminated when the moment came?’

Decius wanted to snap out the angry reply boiling in his thoughts, to say that maybe that was true, but perhaps it was only Garro who had been on the target list. He stared angrily at the deck. What exasperated him more than anything was that he had not been given the choice! His fate was tied to the battle-captain’s now, whatever happened. Yes, perhaps this might have been what Decius would have chosen had he been given the opportunity, but the sheer fact he had not made him rebel against it!

His mentor read the emotion on his face. ‘Speak plainly, lad.’

‘What would you have me say?’ Decius retorted hotly.

‘The truth. If not here and now, then you may never get another chance,’ Garro replied, keeping his tone level. ‘I would have you speak your mind, Solum.’

There was a long pause as Decius worked to frame his resentment. ‘I put down three men wearing my own colours back there,’ he said, jerking his head at the corridor and the ship beyond, ‘not xenos or mutants, but Death Guard, my brother Astartes!’

‘Those men ceased to be our brethren the instant they chose Horus’s path over the Emperor’s.’ Garro sighed. ‘I share the pain of this, Solun, more than you can know, but they have become traitors—’

‘Traitors?’ The curse exploded from him. ‘Who are you to decide that, Battle-Captain Garro? What authority do you have to make such a determination, sir? You are not Warmaster, not a primarch, not even a first captain! Yet you make this choice for all of us!’ Garro watched without responding. Decius knew that daring to take such a tone with a senior officer was worth punishment and censure, but still he raged on. ‘What… what if it is we who are the traitors, captain? Horus will no doubt paint us as such when he learns of what you have done.’

‘You have seen what I have seen,’ said his commander evenly. ‘Tarvitz, Grulgor, the kill orders from Eidolon and Typhon… If there is an explanation that would undo all of that, that would make this all go away, I would give much to know it.’

Decius advanced a step. ‘There is something you fail to consider. Ask yourself this, my lord: What if Horus is right?’

He had barely uttered the question when the combat alert sirens began to wail.

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