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and　reduced　to　nothing　more　than　task　instruction　wafers　to　be　fed　into　worker…servitors。
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
Naicin　knew　Amaethon's　fragile　grip　on　reality　was　slipping；　and　it　was　a　rare　moment　when　he　was　able　to　summon　up　enough
memory　to　interact　with　others。　The　first　flush　of　panic　when　the　invaders　had　attacked　had　galvanised　the　arch　magos　into
remarkable　lucidity；　but　even　that　was　beginning　to　fade。
'The　battle；'　repeated　Amaethon；　a　fragment　of　his　crystal　memory　reacting　to　the　word。　'Yes；　I　remember　now。　They　come　for
what　we　protect　here。　They　must　not　have　it；　Naicin！'
'No；　arch　magos；　they　must　not；'　agreed　Naicin。
'How　could　they　even　know　of　its　existence？'
'I　do　not　know；　master。　But　they　do；　and　we　must　make　plans　in　case　the　citadel's　defences　do　not　hold　the　invaders　at　bay。'
The　flesh　of　Amaethon's　face　bobbed　in　its　amniotic　suspension。　'But　they　must；　Naicin；　this　citadel　was　built　by　the　finest
military　architects　of　the　day；　there　are　none　who　can　breach　its　fastness。'
'I　am　sure　you　are　correct；　arch　magos；　but　nevertheless　we　should　have　a　contingency　plan。　The　Guard　are　but　men。　Flesh；　blood
and　bone。　Organic　and　therefore　weak。　They　cannot　be　relied　upon。'
'Yes；　yes；　you　are　right；'　agreed　Amaethon　dreamily。　'The　flesh　is　weak；　Naicin。　Only　the　machine　is　strong。　We　must　not　allow
the　laboratorium　to　fall　into　enemy　hands。'
'As　ever；　your　words　are　filled　with　wisdom；　arch　magos。　But　even　as　we　speak　the　enemy　drive　towards　the　fastness　of　Tor
Christo；　and　it　is　likely　that　it　will　fall　within　days。'
Amaethon's　flaccid　features　twitched　at　this　news；　his　eyes　fluttering　in　sudden　alarm。
'And　the　tunnel　that　links　us　to　Tor　Christo？　Do　the　enemy　know　of　it？'
'I　do　not　believe　so；　arch　magos；　but　should　the　Christo　fall；　it　is　inevitable　that　they　will　discover　it。'
'They　must　not　be　allowed　to　make　use　of　it！'　trilled　Amaethon。
'I　agree；　that　is　why　I　have　armed　the　demolition　charges　that　will　destroy　it。'
'Have　you　made　Vauban　aware　of　this？'
'No；　arch　magos。'
'Good。　Vauban　would　not　understand　the　necessity　of　such　action。　His　compassion　for　his　men　would　be　our　undoing。'
Amaethon　seemed　to　sigh　and　was　silent　for　some　minutes　before　saying；　'I　am…　not　as　strong　as　once　I　was；　Naicin。　The　burden
I　carry　here　is　great。'
Magos　Naicin　bowed。　'Then　allow　me　to　bear　some　of　that　burden；　arch　magos。　When　the　time　comes　that　the　enemy　approach　the
inner　walls　of　the　citadel；　you　will　be　under　immense　strain　to　hold　the　energy　shield　in　place　as　well　as　maintaining　the　citadel　in
working　order。　Allow　some　of　that　burden　to　fall　upon　my　shoulders。'
Amaethon's　skin　mask　nodded　and　with　an　abrupt　change　of　subject　the　arch　magos　whispered；　'And　what　of　the　astropaths？　Have
you　been　able　to　isolate　the　contagion　that　afflicts　them　and　renders　their　mind…voices　mute？'
Momentarily　taken　aback；　Naicin　paused　before　answering。　'Ah；　regrettably；　no；　but　I　am　confident　the　answer　lies　within　your
logic　stacks。　It　is　just　a　matter　of　time　before　I　am　able　to　restore　their　abilities　and　once　again　send　messages　off…world。'
'Very　good。　It　is　imperative　that　we　summon　aid；　Naicin。　The　magnitude　of　the　consequences　should　we　be　defeated　here　is
beyond　imagination。'
'We　shall　not　be　defeated；'　assured　Magos　Naicin　with　another　bow。
ON　THE　MORNING　of　the　eleventh　day　of　the　siege；　Forrix's　batteries　were　complete　and　the　giant　guns　of　the　Iron　Warriors　were
either　dragged　forwards　by　gangs　of　sweating　slaves　or　rumbled　along　under　their　own　diabolical　power。　Within　minutes　of　the
observers　on　the　walls　of　Tor　Christo　spotting　the　movement　of　the　giant　artillery　pieces；　the　Imperial　Basilisks　began　firing；　the
endless　barrage　of　shells　turning　the　ground　before　the　fortress　into　a　hell　of　fire　and　shrapnel。
But　the　deepened　and　widened　trenches　were　proof　against　all　but　direct　hits；　and　only　two　machines　were　destroyed；　their　crews
and　those　manhandling　them　shredded　by　lethal　steel　splinters。　One　massive　gun；　an　ornate　long…barrelled　howitzer；　was　struck　a
glancing　impact　by　a　shell　bursting　directly　overhead。　Imbued　with　the　bound　energy　of　a　daemon　from　the　warp；　the　war　machine
screamed　in　lunatic　fury；　breaking　free　of　its　sorcerous　bindings　and　running　amok　in　the　communication　trench；　crushing　the　four
score　slaves　who　pulled　it　and　the　guards　who　watched　over　it。
It　took　the　combined　efforts　of　Jharek　Kelmaur；　seven　of　his　cabal　sorcerers　and　the　souls　of　a　hundred　slaves　to　placate　the
daemon；　but　soon；　the　gun　was　in　its　prepared　position　before　the　walls　of　Tor　Christo。
The　gunners　on　the　walls　attempted　to　shift　their　fire　to　the　two　batteries；　realising　that　the　chances　of　damaging　the　war　machines
traversing　the　trenches　were　slim；　but　Forrix　had　placed　his　batteries　well　and　the　Basilisks　could　not　land　their　shells　so　close　to
the　promontory。
It　took　another　three　deafening　hours　before　Forrix　was　happy　with　the　placement　of　his　guns　and　the　slaves　shackled　the
daemonic　war　machines　to　the　steel　plates　laid　on　the　floor　of　the　batteries。
At　last；　several　hours　after　the　sun　had　passed　its　zenith；　Forrix　gave　the　order　to　fire。
THE　FIRST　SHELLS　smashed　into　the　south…eastern　face　of　Kane　bastion；　throwing　the　men　stationed　on　its　walls　to　the　ground。　The
rockcrete　cracked　under　the　impact；　fist…sized　chunks　of　grey　rubble　blasted　skyward　in　a　cloud　of　choking　dust。　It　was　followed
seconds　later　by　a　volley　from　the　second　battery；　smashing　into　the　opposite　face　of　the　bastion。
This　second　volley　was　aimed　high；　blasting　the　top　of　the　firing　step　clear　in　a　storm　of　stone　fragments　that　scythed　men　down
by　the　dozen。
Blood　and　screams　filled　the　air。　Medics　rushed　to　the　aid　of　the　wounded　as　their　comrades　dragged　screaming　soldiers　from　the
walls　to　the　courtyard　below。　Barely　a　minute　had　passed　when　yet　more　shells　slammed　into　the　walls　of　the　Kane　bastion；
shaking　it　to　its　very　foundations。
The　noise　was　unbelievable。　Major　Tedeski　knew　that　he　would　never　forget　the　sheer；　skull…pounding　volume　of　the　enemy
Graham　McNeill　？Storm　of　Iron？
bombardment。　Each　battery　took　it　in　turns　to　fire；　the　massive　guns　hurling　explosive　projectiles　at　his　walls　with　incredible
force。　The　stocky　major　had　changed　from　his　normal　dress　uniform　and　simply　wore　the　standard　issue　sky　blue　jacket　of　the
regiment；　the　one　empty　sleeve　tucked　inside。　A　flinching　Captain　Poulsen　stood　behind　Tedeski；　his　face　twitching　with　every
crack　of　shell　on　stone。
Tedeski　watched　the　corner　gun　tower　crumble　from　the　walls；　carrying　a　dozen　men　screaming　to　their　deaths　on　the　rocks
below。
'Upon　my　soul；　it's　bad；'　he　muttered。
'Sir？'　enquired　Poulsen。
'Nothing；'　said　Tedeski；　scanning　the　walls。　'I　want　those　men　off　the　walls。　Leave　platoons　one　and　five　on　the　parapet　and　order
all　the　others　to　withdraw。'
Poulsen　relayed　his　commanding　officer's　order；　grateful　to　have　something　to　distract　him　from　the　thunderous　shelling。　Tedeski
watched　as　the　command　filtered　through　to　the　walls；　seeing　the　relief　on　the　faces　of　the　men　ordered　to　withdraw　and　the　fear　of
those　who　remained。　The　ground　shook　again　as　more　shells　impacted　and　Tedeski　swore　as　an　entire　section　of　the　southern　wall
cracked　and　crumbled　to　the　base。　Though　the　firing　step　was　taking　a　punishing　barrage；　it　would　be　some　time　before　the　enemy
guns　had　pounded　enough　of　the　walls　to　form　a　practicable　breach　and　brought　down　enough　rubble　for　attacking　troops　to　climb。
Stone　splinters　ripped　through　the　bodies　of　the　men　who　remained　on　the　walls；　tearing　them　to　bloody　rags；　but　Tedeski　knew
that　he　couldn't　leave　the　walls　totally　unmanned　for　fear　that　an　escalade　was　underway。　There　was　every　chance　he　was
consigning　these　men　to　die；　and　the　guilt　of　their　deaths　tasted　like　ashes　in　his　mouth。
Suddenly；　he　set　off　towards　the　walls；　climbing　the　dusty；　fragment…strewn　steps　that　led　from　the　courtyard　to　the　parapet。
'Sir？'　shouted　Poulsen；　'Where　are　you　going？'
'To　stand　on　the　walls　with　my　men；'　snapped　the　irascible　major。
Years　of　ingrained　obedience　kicked　in　and；　without　thinking；　Poulsen　trotted　up　the　steps　after　Tedeski　before　his　conscious　brain
t