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eldar’s　face；　“but　they　break　easily　enough　once　you　get　a　hold　of　them。”　Marduk　shook　blood；　brain
matter　and　shards　of　skull　across　the　floor。
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CHAPTER　NINE
Ikorus　Baranov　was　an　optimist。　When　he　first　heard　of　the　plight　of　the　worlds　being　evacuated　in
the　face　of　the　tyranid　menace；　he　had　smiled。
Hundreds　of　inhabited　worlds　were　being　abandoned。　Countless　millions　had　already　perished；
either　consumed　to　feed　the　insatiable　hunger　of　the　xenos　hive　fleet；　or　utterly　destroyed　by　the
zealous　policy　of　Exterminatus　employed　by　the　Imperium。　Any　world　not　fully　evacuated　before
the　tyranid　ground　invasion　began　was　stricken　from　the　Imperial　records　and　bombarded　from　high
orbit。　Already　a　score　of　colonised　planets　had　been　put　to　the　sword；　every　living　thing—tyranid；
human；　animal；　vegetable—utterly　consumed　in　purifying　flame。
Baranov　cared　nothing　for　the　millions　of　destroyed　lives。　He　saw　the　positive　flip…side　of　every
ill　turn；　and　while　others　regarded　this　time　as　one　of　terror　and　darkness；　he　saw　it　as　a　time　to
make　himself　filthy　rich。
His　ship；　the　Rapture；　was　docked　at　landing　zone　CXVI；　a　privately…owned　docking　pad　of　the
Phorcys　starport。　Only　those　wealthy　few　with　the　required　access　privileges　were　allowed　entrance
onto　this　private　dock。
Baranov　had　heard　that　the　regular　docks　were　overrun　with　tens　of　thousands　of　frantic　guild
workers　and　their　families；　desperate　to　secure　passage　off…world。　In　contrast　to　that　mayhem；
landing　zone　CXVI　was　a　veritable　Utopia　of　peace　and　tranquillity。
The　private　lounge　adjacent　to　the　dock　was　opulently　decorated　with　extravagant　off…world
flora；　for　it　had　been　designed　to　mimic　a　fecund；　semi…tropical　rainforest。　Paths　of　fine　gravel　wove
through　the　undergrowth；　and　ferns　and　broad…leafed　plants　grew　up　overhead；　hiding　the　strip　lights
in　the　high　domed　ceiling。　A　waterfall　crashed　down　over　rocks　imported　from　a　distant　feral　world；
creating　a　mist　of　warm　water　vapour　in　the　air；　and　butterflies；　with　wingspans　as　wide　as　a　man’s
forearm　is　long；　bobbed　lazily　through　the　air。
Baranov　shook　his　head　in　amazement　and　envy。　Perdus　Skylla　was　a　desolate　wasteland　of
frozen；　wind…swept　plains；　the　crude　worker　class　living　beneath　the　ice；　and　yet　there　were　those
with　enough　wealth　to　create　an　oasis　of　life　like　this　in　its　midst。
The　pursuit　of　wealth　had　dominated　Ikorus　Baranov’s　life；　and　he　liked　to　think　that　he　had
achieved　much　from　his　humble　beginnings；　but　it　was　at　times　like　these　that　he　was　reminded　that
his　wealth　was　not　so　great。　This　was　the　wealth　that　he　desired。　He　wanted　to　be　able　to　build　a　subtropical
rainforest　in　the　middle　of　an　ice…locked　ocean　world　just　because　he　could。　Of　course　he
didn’t　literally　want　to　build　a　rainforest—he　found　this　place　with　its　high　humidity　and　crawling
things　quite　unsettling—but　he　wanted　the　wealth　to　be　able　to　do　so　at　a　whim　had　he　desired　it。
These　were　the　people　to　lift　him　to　that　stage　of　wealth。
There　were　thirty…two　men　here；　most　with　young；　surgically　enhanced　women　clinging　to　their
arms　like　leeches。　Some　were　accompanied　by　older　women；　fierce　beasts　that　clearly　dominated
their　husbands　or　lovers；　but　they　were　few　in　comparison　to　the　glittering　array　of　nubile　young
women；　bedecked　in　fine　jewels　and　headdresses。
Baranov　smirked。　Clearly　many　of　these　high…ranking　guild　officials　had　chosen　to　bring　their
courtesans　along　with　them　rather　than　their　wives。　If　he　had　not　been　a　callous　man　he　might　have
been　offended　by　how　easily　these　men　cast　off　their　wives；　abandoning　them　to　their　fate　while
they　fled　for　safety。　A　few　had　brought　both　wife　and　courtesan　with　them；　but　that　was　rare。　The
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price　that　Baranov　was　charging　for　a　berth　on　his　ship　was　nothing　short　of　extortionate；　even　for
this　upper　echelon　of　the　truly　elite。
“Lords　and　ladies；”　began　Baranov；　his　voice　silken；　“may　I　please　have　your　attention。”
The　group　was　gathered　upon　a　decked　clearing　in　the　middle　of　the　rainforest　facade；　seated　on
cane　high…backed　chairs。　The　hum　of　conversation　died　as　the　gathered　social　elite　turned　to　regard
Baranov。　Baranov　saw　fear　in　their　eyes；　which　was　understandable　for　their　world　was　being
abandoned　in　the　face　of　an　alien　menace　that　would　destroy　and　kill　everything　in　its　path。　But　even
so；　they　regarded　him　with　considerable　distaste；　as　if　he　were　common　vermin　that　had　somehow
infiltrated　into　their　elite　company。
Baranov　suppressed　a　grin。　In　truth　he　was　vermin；　but　he　was　vermin　that　was　about　to　get
seriously　wealthy。
He　gave　a　mock　bow；　waving　his　hand　in　a　flourish。　He　was　a　short　man　of　middling　build；　and
he　wore　a　long…tailed　coat　of　regal　blue　with　overly　prominent　gold　buttons。　His　hair　was　pulled
back　in　a　ponytail　that　hung　down　his　back；　and　his　fingers　were　bedecked　with　rings。　He　knew　that
to　these　rich　guilders　who　were　born　to　their　wealth；　he　looked　like　a　rogue　or　a　pirate；　an　individual
who　had　some　wealth　but　not　the　class　to　know　what　to　do　with　it；　but　he　didn’t　give　a　damn　what
they　thought　of　him。　Right　now；　he　was　their　only　ticket　off　this　cursed　world；　and　he　fully　intended
to　milk　that　for　all　it　was　worth。
“Thank　you　for　your　patience；　my　esteemed　friends；”　said　Baranov。　“My　ship；　the　Rapture；　is
refuelled　and　provisioned；　and　is　now　ready　for　embarkation。”
“About　time；”　stated　one　of　the　guilders；　a　scowling；　porcine　individual　pawing　at　a　girl　who
looked　little　more　than　a　child；　though　she　was　clearly　his　mistress。　Other　men　muttered　and　huffed
impatiently。　These　people　were　not　used　to　having　to　wait　for　anything。
“I　regret　to　have　kept　you　waiting；　noble　lords；　but　I　assure　you　that　the　Rapture　is　now　ready　to
receive　your　esteemed　selves。　She　is　a　humble　craft；　but　I　trust　that　you　will　find　her　suitable　for
your　use。”
“Get　on　with　it；　man；”　snapped　another　man；　an　imposingly　tall　individual　with　a　hooked　nose。
“I　shall　forestall　you　no　longer；　my　lords；”　said　Baranov；　holding　up　a　hand。　“However；”　he
added　with　a　rakish　grin；　“there　is　just　the　small　matter　of　my　compensation。”
With　a　snap　of　his　fingers；　four　of　Baranov’s　crewmen　stepped　out　of　the　shadows　of　the　foliage
to　join　him。　Two　of　them　guided　a　container　forward；　which　hovered　just　above　the　ground；　held
aloft　by　anti…grav　technology。　They　were　rough　sorts；　and　Baranov　saw　the　noses　of　the　lords　and
ladies　crinkle　as　they　stared　disdainfully　at　them。　He　grinned　again。
One　of　the　crew；　sat　down　at　a　desk　facing　the　nobles；　a　data…slate　and　stylus　in　his　hands。　An
immense　brute　with　a　shaved　head　took　his　place　behind　him；　standing　with　his　thick　arms　folded
across　his　chest。
“If　you　would　be　so　kind　as　to　make　your　monies　ready；　my　associates　will　collect　your　dues；”
he　said。　“Step　forward　if　you　will；　and　make　a　line　behind　Lord　Palantus。　This　will　be　as　quick　and
painless　as　possible；　and　we　shall　all　be　on　our　way　shortly。”
The　nobles　shuffled　into　line；　huffing　and　muttering；　angry　at　being　treated　like　commoners。　The
first　in　line；　Lord　Palantus；　Prime　Magnate　of　Antithon　Guild；　stepped　forward　and　slid　a　slim　handcase
onto　the　desk。
“Name？”　said　the　seated　crewman；　tapping　at　the　data…slate。
“Oh；　for　the　love　of　the　Emperor；”　said　Lord　Palantus；　outraged　at　having　to　commune　with　such
a　lowborn　cur。　The　seated　man　looked　up　at　him；　eyebrows　raised。
“Get　on　with　it；　Antithon；”　muttered　one　of　the　other　nobles。
“Palantus；”　the　lord　spat；　glaring　down　at　the　man　before　him　as　if　he　were　a　bug　that　he　had　just
found　in　his　food。
“Open　it；”　said　the　seated　man；　indicating　the　hand…case　with　the　tip　of　his　stylus。
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“You　are　going　to　check　it’s　all　there；　Baranov？”　asked　the　noble　imperiously。　“I　am　a　noble　of
Antithon　Guild；　and　my　word　is　my　honour。　It　is　all　there；　as　agreed。”
“My　dear　lord；　of　course　I　trust　your　esteemed　word；”　said　Baranov　smoothly；　“but　please；
indulge　my　men。　They　are　unused　to　dealing　with　such　luminaries。　Please；　open　it。”
The　prime　magnate　huffed　and　folded　his　arms；　looking　away。　He　nodded　to　his　mistress　at　his
side。　She　clicked　the　release　nodules　of　the　case　with　her　thumbs　and　i