'By the Fire Wolf itself,' said Haegr, reaching down and grabbing Ragnar's arm, 'you managed not to kill yourself, lad.'
'That should discourage them from entering the tunnel, and I suspect the lower part of the ladder melted,' said Ragnar.
'Do you think you got any of them?' asked Haegr.
'No, I was trying to stop them pursuing us,' said Ragnar.
They had climbed up the ladder into an empty corridor, fitting Varnus's description of the unused mine monitoring station. In Imperial Gothic, a sign on a metal door at the hall's end declared it to be a security station. The three Space Wolves exchanged glances, gathered their prisoners, one each, and made their way forwards.
Haegr placed his Dark Angel on the ground, roared, and threw himself against the security door. The door groaned, but didn't budge.
'Haegr…' said Torin.
But there was no stopping the massive Space Wolf. He took his hammer and pounded the door, again and again. The booming strikes resounded in the hall. After several blows, Haegr threw down his hammer and charged the door once more. This time the enormous girth of the Space Wolf was too much for the door and it collapsed beneath Haegr, falling into the room.
'There,' declared Haegr. 'Now Torin, what were you going to say?'
Torin clapped his large battle-brother on the shoulder. 'I was going to say something unimportant about knowing the House Belisarius security override codes.'
Ragnar laughed and then his battle-brothers joined him. 'It was much more impressive Haegr's way'
'Indeed.’ said Torin, 'and after that clamour, we know that our enemies are truly unconscious, but, perhaps I can use the security codes on these vid-screens.’
Haegr and Ragnar carried their unconscious prisoners into the room, laying them apart and keeping a watchful eye on them, while Torin worked on the command centre's controls.
The security station had several vid-screens, but based on the signs and indicators, Ragnar could tell that it was more for monitoring the unused sections of the mines than for city security. Still, Torin stood in front of one of the vid-screens and gave the codes, performing the required ritual to activate the machine-spirits within the security monitors.
Amazingly, half of the screens flickered to life. At first, they showed only darkened images of the mines. Then, with a few gestures, Torin moved dials and changed indicators and views of the city filled the screens.
'Torin, you did it,' said Ragnar. Are you sure you aren't part Iron Priest?'
Torin didn't answer, pointing to the screens instead.
The activated vid-screens showed the ongoing battle.^ On one large screen, a dramatic encounter drew the attention of the Space Wolves. A Dark Angels Dreadnought strode through the streets of Lethe. Three Imperial Guard Sentinels closed on it, each one carrying deadly saws and blades, designed for cutting through the jungles of Hyades, but now put to deadly
use on the battlefield. A twin-linked lascannon from the Dreadnought made short work of one Sentinel, while the others covered the Dark Angels war machine in promethium fire. The Dreadnought disappeared in a cloud of smoke for only a moment, before striding out to smash one of the Sentinels with its massive power fist, shattering it as if it was a child's toy.
Other screens showed the defence guns firing at Thunderhawk gunships and drop-pods. Ragnar also saw the people of Hyades fighting back as best they could. The entire populace used makeshift weapons, along with flamers, grenades and lasguns to defend themselves. Ragnar was impressed with the raw courage, and he saw that the Dark Angels were not unscathed.
'People fight hardest protecting their homes. It's true even here,' said Ragnar.
'One of the smartest things you've ever said.’ said Torin. 'We need to find out why the Dark Angels attacked, and that means waking these men up.'
They won't tell us willingly. Maybe they think we're Chaos-tainted,' said Ragnar.
'What is this bunker?' he asked Torin. 'It seems more to be than an old mine security room.'
'It appears to be a secondary command post. Commander Cadmus probably has a couple of backups hidden throughout Lethe.'
Ragnar found a communications station. Messages flashed across the screen. One in particular caught his attention. It read 'Dark Angels escaping, Wolfblade in pursuit on the street. Quadrant three, sector five north, target on Markham'.
'Can we see quadrant three, sector five?' asked Ragnar.
'Give me a moment.' Torin fiddled with the dials and levers. 'Yes, this screen.’ he said.
A message flashed across the screen: Bombardment imminent'.
Cadmus was going to kill both sets of Space Marines.
SEVEN
Betrayal
The Dark Angels had surprised Lieutenant Markham and the Space Wolves with their sudden attack and withdrawal. Markham's team had given pursuit, only to be ambushed a second time. They suffered three casualties, but the lieutenant didn't have time to tend to them, as the enemy was close. He and his men had followed the Dark Angels through an access hatch back into the streets of Lethe.
The city of Lethe was in a state of pure carnage. Down the street, a squad of men fired their lasguns at an unseen foe in the ruins of a habitation complex. The night breezes had a caustic tinge and particles of ash floated in the air. Explosions punctuated the night, bright flashes of light followed by
booming sounds as if a hundred storms were competing to make the loudest thunder.
In the light from burning buildings, Markham saw three Dark Angels crossing the street, seeking cover provided by the sparking rubble of what might have been a manufactorum due to its many wires and bits of twisted machinery. The Wolfblades accompanying him howled. 'We'll take care of this,' one of them ordered. 'Head to the wall.'
Just as the Space Wolves charged, Markham's vox buzzed. This is Commander Cadmus. Belay that order. Stay with the Space Wolves and keep your vox ready for further orders.'
'Yes, sir.’ replied Markham, leading his men after the Space Wolves.
The lieutenant was a hard man, a veteran of countless wars. In his time, he had seen massive green-skinned orks tear the guts out of living men with their teeth. He had seen violent act upon violent act, and he had committed more than his fair share of them too, but he knew that he and the PDF would be no match for the Dark Angels and little help to the Space Wolves in a fight. Nevertheless, he would perform his duty.
The Space Wolves engaged the Dark Angels in the middle of a cratered street, 'Wait for a clear shot,' Markham ordered his men as he watched the genetically altered warriors attack each other with chainswords and bolt pistols.
'Lieutenant, I thank you for your fine service.’ said Cadmus over the vox.
Markham felt his heart leap into his throat. Both groups of Space Marines fought hard, exchanging
bolter fire and blows that would have left squads of guardsmen dead. 'Disengage.’ Markham yelled to the Space Wolves and the men around him.
If the Wolfblade heard him, they paid him no heed. They were lost in battle. Markham heard an eerie whistling noise. He dived towards a shallow crater in the street, even as his brain told him that he, the Space Wolves, the Dark Angels, and his men were all about to die.
Ragnar, Torin and Haegr watched the vid-screen in the old command post, while the message 'Bombardment imminent' scrolled across the screen. The Dark Angels still lay unmoving on the ground. Ragnar kept a close eye on them; they were Space Marines and would recover soon. On the grainy vid-screen, Space Wolves were fighting Dark Angels in the city streets, guard units close behind them.
'It's the rest of the Wolfblade.’ said Haegr as a Space Wolf knocked a Dark Angel to the ground. And isn't that Markham?'