Entr’acte Part Four – Smoke and Mirrors

The firebase was carefully concealed on the rocky plateau. Dug-in, trenches linking mortar and heavy weapon emplacements and turrets covering the only viable access route for an attacking force, it was nigh-impenetrable. Its construction would have made even the sternest and most demanding officers proud.  

Outside the command dugout, heavy rain was falling, and the wind made a howling noise. Inside, Master Ciaphas was studying the cartographical maps in minute detail. The latest reports he had received from his forces, and from the PDF regiments regarding the enemy were puzzling. Following Marxus’ decisive defeat of the Eldar advance, and the capture of the Warlock Mel’thion, the forces of Craftworld Rhiadan had been ominously quiet. There had been no other attacks from them, and none of their units had even been sighted. It was as if they had simply vanished. General Bruslk was not perturbed, relishing that he now only had to contend with the Tau, and for once his soldiers were making a decent showing of themselves, having driven the xenos into a pocket from which they should be unable to escape. Once they had been deprived of their taskforce leader, the fight had evidently gone out of them, though they were now stubbornly defending the Ethereal known to be with them. Looking once again at the frontlines, Ciaphas could not shake the feeling in his gut that there were pieces moving; pieces which he could not yet see…

Opening the door, Interrogator-Chaplain Boreaus entered the command post, his black armour glistening with rainwater, his purity seals soaked, despite their wax protection. Looking at his comrade in arms, the grimfaced man allowed himself the briefest of smiles: “He has talked” he stated simply. Interested, Ciaphas ordered the remaining command personnel out, and switched off the servitors manning the different monitor stations. “Tell me, what did he say?” he asked. “It would seem that he knows Adnachiel in person. The Fallen have been instrumental in guiding the xenos to this planet, though it was the idea of the Rhiadan Farseers to bring the Tau to this world as well. The world is more crucial than we give it credit for…Mel’thion divulged that there is a Webway Portal of considerable size on this continent, and when activated, the Eldar will be able to get sufficient reinforcements to annihilate the PDF utterly.” At this Ciaphas frowned, not seeing why this would be of interest to a Fallen Angel. If Demaron Secundus had once been part of the Eldar dominion, then they had long since lost any right to and it now belonged to Him on Terra. That Rhiadan had aspirations of recreating their lost Empire, claiming planets and protecting Exodites where they could be found, was one thing, and certainly explained what they were doing here, but why was Adnachiel involved…?  

Boreaus leant in over the central table, and regarded the map more closely, tracing his index finger across it. “I know not what the Fallen hopes to achieve, though whatever it is, we will oppose him. Never shall we rest till they are all caught and made to repent their sins against the Primarch and the Emperor…” Ciaphas smiled inwardly at the Chaplain’s recital; whenever Boreaus was bothered by something, he would utter such phrases of devotion, and their effect would often be inspirational to those in the vicinity.

Looking at the lines that Boreaus was tracing on the map, Ciaphas tried once more to figure out the Fallen’s scheme. Others of his kind had been sighted across the Amicus Cluster, and not since the 13^th Black Crusade had so many Dark Angels been gathered in one spot, hunting so actively. Their activities had almost been uncovered, and a containment action had been undertaken by Daedalus, which had resulted in the annihilation of a PDF infantry force and their supporting Leman Russ Main Battle Tank; destroyed personally by Daedalus. That had led to the capture of a Commissar who had been “persuaded” to enlighten about the Officio Assassinorum connection, and a sanction in the ruins of the city in the Hadlacon which had seen the death of a Vindicare Assassin and a PDF Armoured Fist company. Though the Eldar had been blamed by the Dark Angels and the PDF alike, Ciaphas knew that they were walking a thin line between loyalty and heresy, but he kept reminding himself that the ends justify the means.

The map which Boreaus was looking at also contained the location of Demaron Secundus’ capital, Mitvon. The primary industry on Demaron was neither technology by the Scions of Mars, nor was it a recruiting world for the Imperial Guard. Its tithe to the Imperium of Man was foodstuffs, which kept the sub-sector’s capital world alive, as it provided some 73% of the necessities for life…Ciaphas paused as he remembered one of the earliest lessons that he had learnt from Grand Master Belial: “War is more than just tanks, guns and men. That is the substance of tactics, but the Grand Strategist must take other things into consideration, namely the factors which are beyond a single engagement and a single battle: logistics” If Demaron fell, it would lead to starvation of the sub-sector, and most likely its loss to the Imperium. Adnachiel did not care if the Eldar or the Tau managed to claim the world. That was beyond him, and he knew that unleashing Exterminatus would not be an option either…the Dark Angels would have to fight for the planet, and waste themselves against the xenos…Damn his soul to the warp!

Ciaphas looked at the Interrogator-Chaplain, his gaze fierce: “What else did Mel’thion say?” he asked. “He stated the same non-sense that they always do…”Your time is at an end mon-keigh, the Damned are coming”…and other such insensible things before the affront that he presented to the Emperor was cleansed”. Ciaphas nodded, as he finally understood. The Webway Portal was activated, and the shadow masters of Rhiadan would be revealed: Ulthwé the Damned were about to step foot on Demaron Secundus…