walls。 Hundreds of warriors were arrayed against them； but Honsou faced them all without fear； killing with preternatural skill。
Iron Warriors fanned out from the Titan's shoulder bastions； slaughtering the defenders and hurling them back。 The noise was
tremendous as the ramparts became slick with blood and entrails。 Each time the Iron Warriors came close to breaking through the
defenders' lines； the Imperial Fists would lead a desperate counterattack and push them back and hold the line together。 Honsou
killed another Guardsman and risked a glance to where Forrix led his warriors。 Here too； the Iron Warriors were confronted with
the incredible tenacity and stubborn defiance of the citadel's defenders。
They were holding； but only just； and Honsou saw they were close to breaking。
Honsou blocked a blow aimed at his neck and disembowelled his attacker as a monstrous； black shadow； darker than the blackest
night fell across the walls。 For the briefest second； the fighting slowed as heads craned upwards to see what new devilment had
been unleashed。
With a thunder that cracked the walls； the Warsmith crashed down on the rampart； the newborn darkness of powerful wings
spread behind him。 Guardsmen around him dropped； vomiting blood and convulsing。 His arms swept out； his taloned hand and
mighty axe killing everything within reach。 The darkness enfolding the Warsmith's head billowed and spat bolts of dark light that
dissolved everything it struck。
Screams of terror spread along the walls and horrified soldiers turned and fled before this diabolical apparition。 The Warsmith
reared up to his full height； his armour stretching and swelling； the keening faces bound within his armour straining and wailing a
banshee's choir。
Shaking off his amazement； Honsou bellowed； 'We have them now！'
He charged after the fleeing mass of soldiers； hacking them down with his sword。 The Imperial front line collapsed and not even
the Imperial Fists could halt the rout。
He could see Forrix slaughtering fleeing Guardsmen by the dozen。 A terrific crash echoed from below； and Honsou knew the
citadel's inner gate had fallen。 The Warsmith took to the air once more as the carnage on the walls continued； casting his pall of
corruption and change throughout the ramparts。
Honsou kicked down the iron door to one of the giant towers that flanked the gate and dived through； firing as he rolled。 The
soldiers within the tower screamed in terror as he rose to his feet。 They were no threat； but he killed them anyway。
He swiftly made his way down the stairs； his blood afire and singing with the promise of victory。
'Iron Warriors！ With me！ The citadel is ours！'
FORRIX THUNDERED DOWN the stairs of the tower； firing as he went。 The stair spiralled downwards to the left； bolter shells
whining and ricocheting from the walls。 On two levels there were defensible landings； but the furious assault of the Iron Warriors
could not be stopped。 Forrix and his Terminators smashed each one aside with ease。
Even as he killed； he marvelled at the appearance of the Warsmith。 Their leader stood at the very cusp of daemon…hood； the
changes wracking his body becoming more manifest。 Surely his final ascension was at hand？ Forrix had sensed a terrible urgency
to the Warsmith； and knew that he was fighting to hold his form coherent。 One wrong move now and the Warsmith could just as
easily explode into the thrashing riot of anatomies of a Chaos spawn； doomed for an eternal life of mindless mutation。
The base of the tower levelled into a wide killing zone； but it had been designed to defend against attacks from outside； not inside；
and the defenders had nothing to shelter behind。 Las…fire raked the walls beside Forrix。 He swept his combi…bolter around the
room； slaughtering Guardsmen with every pull of the trigger。
Graham McNeill ？Storm of Iron？
Terminators spilled down after him； their horned helmets carved in the masks of snarling beasts of prey。 The image was not
inappropriate； thought Forrix。 Narrow doors led from the tower； too small to allow a Terminator through； but Forrix slammed his
power fist into the stonework； shattering the lintel and punching his way through。 The Terminators followed him outside into the
citadel's interior。
Forrix grinned as he watched the Warsmith swooping high above the battlefield。 The wings at his back were becoming more
substantial and his form rippled and blurred； as though in a constant state of flux。 Across the ruined gateway； he could see Honsou
leading his warriors from the opposite tower； hacking down a mob of fleeing Guardsmen。
Ahead； across a wide cobbled esplanade； he could make out a cluster of ruined buildings； their windows gaping like blackened；
empty eyesockets。 Human soldiers； Vindicators； Dreadnoughts and Defilers poured through the blazing remains of the gate；
gunning their engines as they spread out to avoid the return fire coming from the ruins。
Amidst the flames； sporadic volleys of las…fire pierced the night； but it was disorganised and undirected。 Smoke billowed in thick；
black plumes from the ruins and Forrix heard the crash of massive power claws tearing at the curtain wall behind him as the two
Titans of the Legio Mortis ripped it down； eager to be part of the slaughter。
The smoke parted and the high…pitched blasts of Vulcan bolter fire ripped up the esplanade in a line towards the gate。 Three
Vindicators exploded and a Dreadnought toppled； thrashing its arms in frenzy as it tried to right itself。
Forrix charged across the courtyard as he caught sight of the Warhound he had marked for himself earlier。 The beast darted
through the smoke； pausing only long enough to draw a bead on the charging Iron Warriors。 But in the open； its gunfire was
nowhere near as effective as it had been in the breach。
'Spread out！' yelled Forrix as he gathered his Terminators to him and set off towards the Warhounds。
'You escaped me once； beast； but this time I have you；' he promised his prey。
'MARK YOUR TARGETS！' yelled Leonid as volleys of las…fire lashed the Iron Warriors charging from burning building to burning
building。 Smoke filled every street。 None of their attackers were falling； and Leonid knew they must make every shot count。 The
Warhound Defensor Fidei walked backwards behind his men as they fell back from this assault； firing into the mass of the enemy
as they pursued the Jourans。
Through gaps in the smoke pouring from shelled buildings； he could see massive chunks of rockcrete being torn from the wall by
the Titan siege towers； and knew they had only minutes until these gargantuan war machines joined the battle。 Tanks and
grotesque； multi…limbed constructs； with turrets adorned with hateful runes； poured through the smashed gate； and fear was visible
in every bloodied face。
Brother…Captain Eshara had regrouped the survivors of his company； thirty Space Marines； and fought alongside him； firing his
bolter with every grudging step backwards。
Suddenly； a dozen of the Iron Warriors' damnable red clad soldiery charged through the smoke to their side。 Shots from crude
rifles felled five of his men before they could react。 Leonid knelt； jamming his rifle to his shoulder and opening up on full auto；
spraying the smoke…filled street with bright lasbolts。 Three enemy soldiers dropped and Eshara killed another four with deadly
accurate bolter fire。 The remainder drew a bead on Leonid； but before they could shoot； the ground rocked and a massive
adamantium foot slammed down； crushing them to death。
The Jure Divinu sprayed the building across from Leonid with turbo laser fire and he saw six enemy soldiers tumble from it；
burning debris crashing down as its already unstable structure finally gave way。
From the smoke； Leonid saw a warrior in Terminator armour charging straight for the Jure Divinu； bright hunger etched on his
face。 His dead features spoke of ancient malice and bitter hatred。
Leonid had no time to think。 Eshara grabbed his arm and hustled him back through the burning ruins towards the northern wall of
the citadel。 Space Marines ran alongside them； the men of the Guard having already passed through the Valedictor Gate and
descended into the caverns。
Built flush against the flank of the mountain with two armoured blockhouses to either side of it； the Valedictor Gate was intended
to bar the route into the underground caverns； but with Naicin's betrayal in the Machine Temple； it remained treacherously open。
Explosions ripped through the buildings behind Leonid and smashed him to the ground。
Eshara dragged him to his feet as the thirty Imperial Fists formed a semi…circle around the Valedictor Gate； facing outwards。
The Space Marine captain lowered his dented and blackened helm level with Leonid's and said； 'Castellan； you must get below
and destroy the gene…seed。'
'How？' gasped Leonid breathlessly。 'The Machine Temple's gone； there's no way to do it。'
Eshara gripped his arm tighter。 'Do what you must； find flamer units； plasma gunners； anything； but do not let even a scrap of
gene…seed fall into the enemy's hands。 It is better that it all be destroyed than have the foe claim it。 Do you understand？'
'We will need time to destroy it all； my friend。 Can you hold them here for long enough？' asked Leonid； fully aware of the price
that time would be bought with。
The two warriors locked eyes then shook hands in the warrior's grip； wrist to wrist。
'We will hold them for long enough；' nodded Eshara as he dropped his empty bolter and drew both his power swords。
Leonid said； 'Good luck； Brother…Captain Eshara。'
'And to you； Castellan Leonid。'
Without another word； Leonid turned and sprinted through the Valedictor Gate。
FORRIX WATCHED THE beast stagger as a shell from a Vindicator burst against its leg。 The Warhound lurched； its weapon mount
shearing off as it slammed into a ruined building。 They had it now； backed into a corner and stripped of its protection。
There was another Warhound nearby； but the billowing smoke and thump of explosions obscured its whereabouts。
'It is time for a reckoning； beast！' he yelled as he crashed forward。 More gunfire hammered the armoured carapace of the
Graham McNeill ？Storm of Iron？
Warhound； its legs buckling under the weight of fire。 The pilot's comp