V2 Chapter 129: The Salamanders' Decision
Several hours later, Menazoid Epsilon's low orbit was thick with vessel signatures.
Delavere's fleet was pressing in from the far side of the planet. By the ranging officers' estimates, they would soon reach a position from which they could directly support ground insertion operations.
But the good news for Duvette was that the ground forces had already secured the most important step.
In a coordinated advance by the 112th Combined Battle Group and the Tanith light infantry regiments, Imperial forces had broken through the defensive lines the cultists had established in the rocky lowland valleys.
The Chaos traitors fell back position by position through old shrine complexes, rock face fire points, and improvised trenches. They could not slow the 112th Combat Group's advance.
In the end, a reconnaissance element found the entrance to the ruins at the far end of a canyon.
It was a massive metal gate set directly into the rock face. Most of it was buried under collapsed stone and Chaos altars, and the cultists had built temporary fire positions across the exterior.
The terrain in front of the gate was narrow, sheer cliff walls on both sides, with no room for heavy armoured units to deploy in any number at once.
That was welcome news. As long as the entrance and the canyon approach held, no amount of numerical pressure would let the enemy push straight through.
Duvette confirmed the surface imagery from the Resolute's bridge and gave his orders immediately.
"Get Kleist and the Eisenmark Armoured Regiment forward." He said. "The Fury of Balhaut goes in front of the ruins entrance. It only needs to hold that gate."
The communications officer relayed the order to the surface without delay.
"Order Dylan to hold the canyon approach, Elias to cover the flank fire positions." Duvette continued. "Gaunt and his three Tanith light infantry regiments set up a skirmish line in the outer perimeter, covering approach routes and intercepting any units that try to come around."
Evan stood alongside him, logging the orders and transmitting them to each formation.
"All other units continue clearing the surrounding cultist concentrations." Duvette looked at the hololithic terrain map. "Don't let the Chaos traitors interfere with the entrance defence line."
The surface vox channel came back quickly.
"This is Kleist." The armoured regiment commander's voice came through. "Eisenmark Armoured Regiment advancing. The Fury of Balhaut will reach the entrance position in twenty minutes."
On the hololithic display, the vast super-heavy tank was moving through the canyon under armoured escort. Its tracks ground over rubble and bodies. The main gun traversed slowly. The hull still carried the scored marks of Balhaut.
Dylan and Elias's forces began contracting toward the canyon approach. The three Tanith regiments spread out across the surrounding high ground, low valleys, and rocky scrubland, digging temporary fighting positions and placing observation posts and sniper positions throughout.
As long as this line held, Delavere's ground forces could land successfully and still find themselves unable to reach the ruins entrance.
At that moment, the bridge augury officer looked up.
"Delavere's fleet is adjusting attitude."
Villent crossed to the star chart, his expression settling into something harder.
On the hololithic display, Delavere's Lunar-class cruiser was coming around in a slow turn. Its prow was angling toward the Resolute's position. Torpedo tubes were opening one by one. The three light cruisers and the escort screen were spreading into formation.
At the same time, the broadside macro-cannon batteries of Delavere's fleet moved into firing attitude. Lance weapon mounts began to preheat.
They had trained their guns on Duvette and Villent.
The bridge officers said nothing, but every one of them understood what this meant.
Villent looked at the star chart coldly. "They are threatening us."
Duvette made a contemptuous sound.
"Let them."
He looked at the markers representing Delavere's fleet, his expression untroubled.
Both sides were still at the level of a strategic standoff. Delavere had the Warmaster's orders; Duvette had two Lord Inquisitors' authorisations. Each could claim to be executing a lawful directive.
But if Delavere fired first, everything would change.
At that point, Villent's fleet could return fire, and the ground forces could disarm whatever Delavere put on the surface. Given the actual difference in fleet strength and ground troop numbers, Delavere could not sustain a real fight. Duvette was confident the other man understood this.
While the tension on the bridge continued to build, Vakur walked over.
The Salamanders veteran sergeant did not speak immediately. He stood in front of Duvette, red lenses looking directly at him, the two Salamander warriors behind him equally silent.
Duvette turned. "Has Captain Shen reached a decision?"
"He has."
Vakur's voice came from beneath his helmet.
"Fourth Company will not take part in this internal expedition conflict. Delavere holds the Warmaster's orders. You hold two Lord Inquisitors' authorisations. We do not have sufficient grounds to commit to either side."
Duvette let out a quiet breath when he heard it.
He had not wanted the Salamanders drawn into this in the first place. With the forces he had to hand, a Salamanders company's position made no material difference either way, but he had no wish to make enemies of them regardless.
He could afford to stand against Delavere and Heldane. He could not afford to push the Salamanders to the opposite side as well.
"I respect your decision." Duvette gave a nod.
Vakur continued. "To prevent the coming conflict from affecting the Entropy's Song, Captain Shen has requested that we temporarily reclaim the relic and withdraw our vessel from your fleet formation."
The bridge was quiet for a moment.
Duvette did not hesitate.
He reached down, unclipped the Entropy's Song from his hip, and held it out to Vakur.
"Agreed."
Vakur had apparently not expected him to do it that cleanly.
The Salamanders veteran sergeant was silent for a moment, then extended both hands and took the Entropy's Song. He confirmed the relic's condition with a brief inspection and passed it to a battle-brother behind him for sealing.
Then Vakur turned back and rendered a formal military salute to Duvette.
"The Salamanders do not wish to see loyal sons of the Emperor in conflict with one another." He said. "A commander with compassion and humanity, in particular, should not waste himself in this kind of struggle."
He paused.
"We ask that you show restraint."
Duvette allowed himself a small smile.
"I'll do my best."
Vakur said nothing more.
He led his squad off the bridge and to the Thunderhawk bay. Within a short time, the Salamanders' Thunderhawk had lifted clear of the Resolute and returned to their strike cruiser.
A moment later, the vessel representing the Salamanders' forces disengaged slowly from Duvette's fleet formation.
The strike cruiser did not leave the system. It withdrew to the outer high orbit of Menazoid Epsilon, clear of both fleets' fire control corridors, and held position in silence to observe. Perhaps when things became uncontrollable they would intervene.
Duvette watched the Salamanders' marker move away on the star chart without much expression.
Villent said quietly, "They've stepped out."
"At least they haven't stepped to the other side." Duvette said. "That's enough."
Shortly after the Salamanders' vessel disengaged, Delavere's fleet moved.
"Transport vessels releasing landing craft!"
"Multiple heat source clusters descending toward the surface!"
"High volume."
The augury officer reported in quick succession. On the hololithic display, large numbers of small markers detached from Delavere's fleet and began falling toward the planet in a dense spread.
Villent watched the drop-craft, his eyes narrowing. "He's starting his insertion."
Duvette looked at the star chart without answering immediately.
Delavere had clearly registered that the Salamanders were no longer part of the equation. Or perhaps in his assessment, with the most dangerous Astartes company out of the formation, he could move freely, force the situation into confusion, and get his people down near the ruins.
Duvette simply let out a short, contemptuous laugh.
Villent turned to look at him.
"What now?"
Duvette looked at Evan.
"Notify all ground forces. Contract the line back toward the ruins entrance."
Evan gave an immediate nod.
Duvette continued. "Kleist holds the entrance. Dylan and Elias hold the canyon. Gaunt and the three Tanith regiments maintain the outer perimeter watch. All other forces complete current clearance operations and withdraw to the second defence line in order of priority."
"Understood." Evan said.
"Tell them not to be alarmed when they encounter Delavere's ground forces." Duvette looked at the landing craft markers still descending on the chart. "If the other side doesn't fire, we don't fire first either. We will block their advance, but we don't open up unless they shoot first."
Evan looked up to confirm.
"Recording as priority?"
"Record everything." Duvette said. "Every channel, every fire source, every identification signal. All of it preserved."
"Yes, sir."
Evan turned and relayed the orders to the bridge communications section.
Villent stood to the side, watching the Delavere force markers continuing to drop toward the surface. They were splitting into several streams: one group descending toward the high ground outside the canyon, another moving toward the outer edge of Duvette's perimeter watch line.
Duvette turned to Villent.
"The advantage is ours right now. There's no need to rush."
Villent looked at him and was quiet for several seconds.
"You genuinely think Delavere will hold his forces back from firing first?"
"Delavere might." Duvette said. "But not every man he brought with him will show the same restraint."
Not long after those words, a new report came in from the ground vox channel.
"This is the Tanith command link."
Gaunt's voice came through the channel. Wind and distant gunfire sounded in the background.
"Imperial-identified targets approaching the western watch line. They are not responding on the coordination channel, and their formation is deviating from Delavere's main insertion route."
Several bridge officers looked at the hololithic display simultaneously.
A cluster of landing craft markers bearing Gantine noble troop identifications were moving toward the outer position held by the three Tanith regiments.
Duvette stared at those markers, and a considering expression crossed his face.
"Keep recording."
He said.
"Tell Gaunt to watch their movement carefully. Be ready for a feint."