repentance had come； calling out for others to join her in joyous suicide； so that their souls might
join with the Emperor in glory。 She grabbed Dios by the arm； pulling him towards her； but Solon
smashed his fist into her face； and she disappeared into the crowd once more。
167
Other desperate Imperial citizens； knowing that they had no chance of getting on board the mass
transport and driven mad with despair and terror； hurled themselves to their deaths from the upper
levels of the starport； screaming for the Emperor to draw their souls to Him。 They plummeted down
into the crowds； creating momentary gaps as they crushed those beneath them； before the gaps were
instantly filled with more desperate people； clambering over each other towards the boarding gate。
Solon was nearing the vast gateway that led towards the immense transport ship； and was being
carried along with the crowd down the centre of the vestibule area that angled into the gate。 Those
on the outer edges of the crowd were pressed against the rockcrete walls as they angled inwards； the
weight of bodies behind them surging into the narrowing defile crushing the life out of them。
Someone stumbled in front of Solon； and soon dozens of citizens were pulled down； screaming
and roaring。 Dragging Dios behind him； Solon clambered over the morass of bodies； uncaring of
who he stamped underfoot in his desperation to get to the gates。
A wailing roar rose from the crowd as the immense gates began to close； grinding in from either
side； and Solon pushed on with added fury； smashing people aside as he strove towards the front。
He was only fifteen metres from the gates； and he surged forwards； pulling those in front down
and clambering over them in desperation。 Skyllan Interdiction Forces were screaming out over the
crowd on loudhailers； ordering them back； but no one listened to their words。 The gates continued to
close； the press unbearable； and Solon was pushed back further from the gates； crying in anguish。
Once again； the crowd surged； and more people fell to the ground。 A gap opened up； and Solon
stumbled forwards； pulling Dios behind him； towards the closing gate。
The Skyllan Interdiction soldiers opened fire into the crowd to force them back； laslocks
stabbing into the crowd。 People screamed； but there was nowhere to flee； and the sickening stink of
burnt human flesh caught in the back of Solon’s throat； making him gag。 Soldiers roared； ordering
the crowd back； but it was an impossibility； and again they fired into the crowd； indiscriminately
spraying las…fire into the mass of humanity。
Solon was struck a glancing blow high in the shoulder that spun him around； and he almost fell。
Dios shouted something that was lost in the deafening roar around them and leapt forwards； trying
to pull him to his feet。 Knowing that to fall was to die； Solon grabbed at those around him；
scrabbling for purchase。 Hands punched down at him； trying to dislodge his grip； and boots kicked
him in the ribs； and trampled on his legs。 With a burst of energy； he dragged one man down；
scrambling to his feet as he condemned the man to death； crushed to pulp beneath the surging
crowd。 Five metres。
The gates were grinding closed； but Solon was so close it was painful。 He pressed forward once
more； and made good progress； battling his way towards the gates。 He reached the front just as the
gates slammed shut with a resounding crash。 The sound struck Solon like a death knell； and he
reached forwards and grabbed the bars of the gate； crying out in anguish。
The soldiers on the other side of the gates were backing away； eyeing the crowd nervously。
Hundreds of people threw themselves on the barred gates； clambering up onto support struts；
calling after the soldiers or the last citizens that had made it through。
“Open the gates；” shouted scores of voices。 Those behind； not yet realising that the gates had
been sealed； that all hope had evaporated； continued to press forwards； crushing those at the front
against the thick bars。
“Just take the boy！” roared Solon； his voice hoarse。 One of the soldiers heard him； but shrugged
his shoulders and turned away。
“Squeeze through； Dios；” urged Solon as they were hammered from behind and drove into the
gate with crushing force。 Dios cried out as his small body was pressed against the bars。
“Push through； damn it！” shouted Solon； and Dios squeezed one arm and leg through the narrow
gap between the bars。 He cried out as he got stuck； and looked around frantically for Solon。
“Breathe out； boy；” said Solon。 “You can make it。”
168
Dios exhaled all his breath； and Solon gave him a push。 The boy was stuck tight； and he feared
that his skull or hipbones would break if he pushed any harder； but the alternative was no more
appealing。 Another few minutes in this crush and the boy would be dead anyway。
“Breathe out； Dios！” he shouted again and gave the boy another shove。 Dios cried out in obvious
pain； but then his head passed through the bars and he fell to his knees on the other side。 His head
was bloody； and Solon realised that it was the blood that had saved the boy’s life； for it had probably
made the bars more slippery。
Dios picked himself up； and looked through the bars at Solon； his face fearful。
“Go！” screamed Solon； pointing behind Dios； where the lucky ones who had managed to pass
through the gates were streaming into the expansive open holds of the mass transport； being herded
by soldiers。
Dios turned and looked towards the ship； and then back at Solon。 Solon saw that his face was an
even more unhealthy shade of blue； and his eyes still burned with feverish light。
“Go； Dios！” Solon roared。 The press behind him was intolerable； and he clambered up the bars；
stamping on faces behind him。
“Go！” shouted Solon again； and the boy gave him one last look before he turned and ran towards
the waiting mass transport。
Solon remained clinging to the bars until he saw Dios board the ship safely； and the transport’s
massive bay doors were locked and closed behind him。 He felt strangely numb； and impossibly
weary。 The crowds were dissipating； wandering aimlessly； staring around with hollow eyes。 Some
sat down； numb with shock； while others gathered in small groups to pray。 Others set about looting
and destroying anything that they could； while some merely lay down on the ground to wait for the
end。
Solon walked through the crowd； feeling hollow and empty。 He took comfort in the fact that he
had got Dios to safety； though he knew it was but a displacement of the guilt he harboured for not
having been able to save his son。
He avoided the frenzied priests screaming of the end times； though hundreds flocked to hear
their impassioned； doom…laden sermons。
With no real destination in mind； Solon wandered through the spaceport； seeing misery； fear and
resignation everywhere he looked。 After perhaps an hour he found himself at the windows of a
viewing station； and watched the mass transport rise from its dock； as the flower…petal segments of
the dome overhead parted to the heavens。
Solon watched the mass transport as it lifted up and rose from the dome； and he breathed out
deeply； content in the knowledge that Dios was safely aboard。
He had no way of knowing that the boy had been infected by a genestealer and was； even now；
taking that taint further into the heart of the Imperium。
Solon found a place that overlooked the ice flows； and settled down to watch the world die。
“Enemy fighters launched；” croaked the daemon…servitor； and Kol Badar glared at the pict screens
that showed the flock of Fury interceptors and Starhawk bombers being disgorged by the closing
Imperial Dictator…class cruiser。 Sword frigates and destroyers were moving towards the Infidus
Diabolus in a flanking formation； and the Coryphaus slammed his fist down on the pict screen。 The
plasglass screen shattered； its image distorting as hundreds of spider…web cracks appeared across its
surface。
The eldar ship was slipping out of range of the Infidus Diabolus’s batteries； and Kol Badar
reluctantly ordered the Word Bearers’ ship to pull off its pursuit； and to swing around to face the
new threats。 He watched with angry eyes as the eldar vessel darted away； taking the whoreson
bastard Marduk with it。 He would have felt much more comfortable knowing that the First Acolyte
was dead； but he would have to content himself with the fact that the eldar had probably already
killed him。
169
“Launch Thunderhawks and Stormbirds to intercept the enemy fighters；” said Kol Badar； “and
come to new heading； CV19。 This is not a fight we can win。”
Ikorus Baranov threw the Rapture into a spiral as a formation of Imperial attack craft screamed past
the front of the shuttle； their forward…mounted lascannons stabbing through the darkness。
The boxy shapes of larger assault craft the colour of congealed blood roared into view； battle
cannons blasting at the swiftly moving formations of Imperial ships。 As Baranov hauled on his
controls； he saw several of the Fury interceptors explode beneath the barrage while those caught on
the edge of the detonations spun crazily； wing thrusters destroyed。
Larger vessels that resembled immense birds of prey swept through the chaotic space battle；
weapons flashing； and more of the interceptors were destroyed。 The birds of prey were slower than
the darting Furies； however； and as Baranov threw the Rapture to starboard to avoid a flurry of
lascannon fire； he saw one of them explode in a fireball as numerous strafing runs from the smaller
fighters peppered its dark red hull。
Behind the streaking； smaller ships； Baranov saw the distinctive； heavily armoured prow of an
Imperial cruiser in the distance； a flotilla of frigates and destroyers fanning out to its sides。
Swearing； Baranov dragged on the controls of his labouring ship； and an immense shape hove into
view。
This ship was far closer than the Imperial vessels； and its deep red hull was powerful and
bristling with weaponry and launch bays。 It lurched as it turned to face the Imperial battle group；
and Baranov dragged on his controls； not wanting to be caught between them when they began
firing。
“There；” said Marduk； stabbing a finger towar