fleet. If the Space Wolves could deal with this threat, then they would have time to figure out the rest.
'The Iron Priest reports that we have enough power for the Nova cannon, my lord,' shouted the ship's guide with unabashed enthusiasm.
'Excellent,' said Berek, smiling. We'll only have time for one shot with it before they close. Horgrim, have my Thunderhawk wait.’
The Fist of Russ shuddered as the spirits of the Nova cannon drew all available power. Berek watched the lights dim across the bridge, growing dark in the wolfs' heads. He could see the glow from the engines of the escorts and Thunderhawk gunships streaking around his ship like the auroras of Fenris. Russ was with them. 'Fire!' he ordered.
The beam exploded out from the prow of the Fist of Russ. It felt as if the legendary Firewolf itself had opened its maw and unleashed the fury of every volcano on Fenris as one.
'Lord Berek, the spirits of the Nova cannon have drawn too much power in their zeal,' said the voice of the Iron Priest.
Warning runes glared red across the bridge. The hull of the Fist of Russ roared. Berek clenched his teeth and raised his power fist.
The beam struck home against the Chaos cruiser, spearing it through and erupting from the other side to continue tearing through space. The holographic display showed the blast continuing unabated, glancing another distant cruiser, but all eyes on the bridge focused on the main target. The enemy ship shivered, and was replaced for an instant by a new sun in the
Hyades system. As the light faded, there was nothing left.
Cheers came from the officers and crew of the Fist of Russ. Several men pumped their fists and more than a few threw back their heads to howl.
Berek shouted, 'Let's go and show those treacherous spawn how warriors of Fenris fight! To the Thunder-hawks!'
The surviving members of the Wolfblade and Gabriella had arrived at the shuttle hangar in the heart of the Imperial palace. Once they had passed the ogryns, they had fought through minimal opposition, just a few planetary defence forces holding to a misguided loyalty to the now-dead Cadmus.
Torin activated the locks to the hangar doors. The inside of the hangar was stacked with supplies and a few servitors went about their duties. The House Belis-arius shuttle sat, remarkably unscathed, in the centre of the hangar. Her hatches were closed, indicating that the crew was on board and that they had taken the proper defensive stance. The lights on the shuttle activated as the Space Wolves and Gabriella entered. Russ be praised, thought Ragnar.
They had barely taken three steps when the speakers on the shuttle crackled to life. 'Lady Gabriella, Wolf-blade, behind you!'
'What? Who would dare,' asked Haegr, apparently forgetful of the traitors, xenos and Chaos Space Marines on Hyades.
Clad in glittering blue and gold armour, nine Chaos Space Marines had entered the open hangar
doors. Each one wore his own heraldry, but each of them had the symbol of Tzeentch emblazoned upon his power armour. The power of the Chaos god infected the warriors, causing their armour to glow with faint tongues of fire. Ragnar could feel the hate of ten thousand years burning in them. Every one was a potential match for a Wolfblade. One among them wore a glittering cape and had a tall spiked helm. A blue flame wrapped itself around his left gauntlet.
The Chaos Marine sorcerer gestured, raising the blue flame towards the ceiling. A voice came from the fire itself.
'We would dare.'
The silky mocking voice echoed in Ragnar's soul. He'd know that voice anywhere. It was Madox, the same Chaos Marine who had assaulted Fenris, the mastermind behind the theft of the Spear of Russ and the one who had nearly killed Ragnar's best friend, Sven.
'Madox,' shouted Ragnar.
'As always, Ragnar Blackmane, it is good to be recognised. Alas, I shall not have the luxury of killing you personally, but we must all make some sacrifices.'
The Chaos Marines aimed their bolters at the Space Wolves. Gabriella dived for cover behind some supply crates, holding onto her lasgun. Ragnar felt his blood run cold for an instant, but he was shocked out of any hesitation by his battle-brother, Haegr.
Haegr shouted, 'Hah! They didn't account for you and Ragnar, Torin. There are barely enough of them for me.' Then the giant bellowed and charged.
Torin readied his bolter and growled softly.
For once, Ragnar agreed with Haegr; all they could do was fight. 'For Fenris,' he yelled, and joined Haegr's charge.
FIFTEEN
Escape to Fenris
Nine Chaos Space Marines, including a sorcerer, confronted Ragnar, Torin and Haegr in the shuttle hangar. The crew of the shuttle had activated their ship's systems in preparation for launch, but the Space Wolves wouldn't be able to board unless they stopped the Chaos Space Marines first.
Haegr charged the enemy with a tremendous roar. Though hardened from thousands of years of combat, even the Chaos Space Marines appeared taken aback by the giant Space Wolfs charge. For a moment, they hesitated as Haegr closed with them.
Three of the Chaos warriors swung their bolters at Haegr. Ragnar heard shrieks come from the Chaos bolter rounds as they burned through the air, smashing into the Space Wolf. Ragnar heard the crack of power armour, yet Haegr had reached full speed and the force of the shots wouldn't slow him. Three more of the Thousand Sons commenced firing on Haegr.
Perhaps the real reason for their hesitation was that they hadn't decided how best to kill the giant Space Marine.
Looking at the Thousand Sons, Ragnar did not see them as much as feel the emotions they radiated. Their ornate gold and lapis lazuli armour evoked racial memories of the most ancient of humanity's gods with its ancient shapes and markings. Daemonic forms twisted and melted on the polished surfaces of the metal. Ragnar saw the hate burn inside them as they mercilessly fired at Haegr.
Ragnar knew this foe was a full-fledged sorcerer; not as powerful as Madox, but truly an enemy to be reckoned with. Ragnar and Torin didn't wait. The last two members of the Wolfblade drew their weapons and charged. Ragnar's runeblade glowed as he closed with the enemy. Torin thumbed the activation rune on his blade.
The sorcerer gestured at his attackers. Ragnar saw a flash, and a bolt of dark energy lifted him into the air and threw him backwards as if he was merely a child's toy. Instinctively, he twisted and came down in a crouch. Torin was not as agile as his battle-brother and landed hard on his shoulder.
The shuttle's engines roared as they started up. The defence forces of House Belisarius appeared as the shuttle's ramp lowered. The men held lasguns at the ready, but they didn't fire at the Chaos Space Marines. Haegr was almost in the midst of the enemy, and they wouldn't chance shooting one of their own. Gabriella saw the ramp open and made a dash towards the shuttle, from her cover behind a crate.
Haegr had reached the Chaos Space Marines. 'You face the mighty Haegr,' he shouted, swinging his hammer into the large helm of a Thousand Son. The hammer struck with a loud echoing boom, and the Chaos Marine crashed backwards. Flickering flames escaped from the hammer-sized hole in the Chaos Marine's armour. The creatures facing them were dead spirits haunting the shells of their ancient armour.
Ragnar howled and charged at the sorcerer. The Chaos Marines levelled their bolters at him. Their shots struck with deadly accuracy, but Ragnar broke off his straight-line charge to roll, and then leap, making himself a moving target. Ragnar was powerful, but his reflexes had always been his greatest physical asset.
Torin braced himself and opened fire with his bolter, drawing the enemy's attention. Shot after shot struck the enemy squad. Unfortunately, their arcane armour held, but Ragnar knew that Torin had bought him just enough of a respite. He would be in their ranks in a second.
The sorcerer intoned a phrase in a strange tongue and another bolt of dark magic raced from his hands. Ragnar dodged to his left, but the bolt followed him. The Space Wolf howled in pain as the arcane energy threw him back into a pile of crates, knocking him off his feet. Spots danced in front of his eyes and pain came from each place a bolter round had struck him. He clutched a refuelling line as he tried to pull himself to his feet.
Torin tried to duck the return fire from the Thousand Sons, but they had numbers. Possessing a skill that matched the Space Wolves, they blasted Torin. Haegr had three fighting him. Although they could not match the giant Space Wolfs strength or his skill with the hammer, they were still formidable adversaries. Haegr was breathing heavily and the hammer was swinging slowly and wildly. He was being pushed back, and the enemy were gaining the advantage.
Anger raged within Ragnar's heart. The wolf in his soul howled and he joined in chorus; his pack needed him. He threw himself at the sorcerer and the Thousand Sons. This time, Ragnar reached the sorcerer and thrust his blade through the Thousand Sons helm, breaking through ancient ceramite and arcane protections to jut out of the back of the Chaos Space Marine's helmet.
Ragnar roared and took his blade to the next Chaos Marine. The ancient warrior raised his bolter in an attempt to parry, but Ragnar sliced through the gun. Ghostly smoke came from the ruined bolter. On the down stroke, Ragnar brought Up his other arm and levelled his foe with two point-blank bolt pistol shots.
Then, a mighty blow cracked Ragnar on the back of the head, dropping him to the ground.
The sorcerer's other guard stood over Ragnar and fired his bolter into the Space Wolfs back. Ragnar heard his armour's backpack crack and felt the shot through his spine. Ragnar's genetically altered hearts pounded as his enhanced physique raced to repair the damage.
Ragnar rolled from his stomach to his wounded back and kicked up into the Thousand Son. The Chaos Marine fell back, nearly losing his balance. Somehow, Ragnar got back to his feet and brought his sword up into his foe's abdomen.