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choice。 Propriety made harsh demands。 He doubted he could get away with refusing to partake of
the sweetened fruit。 The general had had quite a few glasses of amasec； but his eyes were missing
nothing。 It had crossed Bergen’s mind that the whole event might have been orchestrated to serve a
double purpose。 He didn’t doubt that the general wished to celebrate — deViers was voracious when
it came to attention and respect — but it wouldn’t have surprised him if the old man was also using
the banquet as an opportunity to gauge the mood among his officers and to root out potential
troublemakers。 It was hardly an original method。 One of the divisional commanders would have to
replace the general one day。 Bergen knew that Rennkamp was only too eager to step in and take
over whenever the chance came up。 He wasn’t sure about Killian yet。 When the amasec was flowing
and the room was filled with chatter； it was easy to let one’s guard down； confident that those
around you were likewise swept up in the bonhomie。 Bergen had been careful to sip slowly；
conscious that he would be leading his troops out before dawn。 Now； he was glad of that； certain
that the old general was watching all of them like a hawk。
Warp damn the old bastard； he thought。 Millions of our brother Cadians dead and dying in the
Third War of Armageddon； and here he is throwing dinner parties on a world infested with
greenskins。 What happened to him？ There was a time when I looked up to him； a time when he was
rock…solid。 He’s not the same man； now。 It’s as if some kind of panic or mania has taken over。 I
can’t stand what he’s become。
He stabbed his dessert fork into a slice of bonifruit and； slowly； mechanically； chewed and
swallowed； hardly tasting it at all。
At least tomorrow； he would be out of the general’s shadow again。
* * *
There’s a man who understands this quest； thought General deViers。 Good officer； Gerard Bergen。
Look at him； limiting his drink； careful not to gorge himself； mindful of tomorrow and the pressures
on him。 Not like some of these others。 Damn； but I like this one。 I like him a lot。 Reminds me of
myself。
Commodore Galbraithe’s fine amasec was really working hard on the general。 His head felt as
light as air and there was a very pleasant numbness in his muscles。 He was warm； just a little dizzy；
and supremely satisfied with the way the evening had progressed。
Gruber had returned to his side to lean over and whisper the time to him。 Good old Gruber。 He
did as he was told； no questions asked； and took care of business； even the nasty stuff。
DeViers rose unsteadily to his feet and addressed his guests for the last time that evening。
“Gentlemen；” he said； “my adjutant tells me that the hour is late and； as you know； the 10th
Armoured Division is rolling out tomorrow to secure the first of our waypoints。 Major General
Bergen should be in his bunk； and I dare say the rest of you need more than your share of beauty
sleep； but I have a few words for you before you disperse。”
His guests turned their heads towards him。
“Operation Thunderstorm is off to a fine； auspicious start。 I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your
company this evening and I thank you for helping me to mark this occasion in such a fitting
manner。”
27
His eyes settled for a brief moment on each of them； and he nodded in agreement with his own
words as he said； “We’ve dangerous business ahead。 The filthy orks aren’t about to make it easy for
us。 There’s nothing they love more than a fight； and they’ll come in their millions once they know
men have returned to this place。 Soon； our Major General Bergen here will be giving them their first
taste of Imperial lead in almost forty years； and there’ll be plenty more to follow； by Throne！ We’ll
make the bastards suffer。 It’s time to remind them whose bloody galaxy this is。”
“Hear； hear！” called out one of Killian’s colonels； earning him a broad grin from the general。
Some of the other officers lifted their glasses。
“Yes；” said deViers； “lift your glasses； all of you。 A final toast。”
Around the table； the necks of tall decanters clinked against goblet rims。 Each guest rose from
his seat； some less steadily than others。
DeViers turned to Bishop Augustus。 “Through the counsel of the Emperor’s most holy
Ministorum； may our faith remain strong。”
The bishop nodded sincerely； as if he would personally make it so。
“Ave Imperator；” replied the men around the table。
DeViers turned next to High Commissar Morten and said； “Through the uncompromising
vigilance of our tireless commissars； may our hearts never falter。”
Morten tilted his head in acknowledgement。
“Ave Imperator。”
The general gestured at each of the tech…priests in turn with his glass。 “Through the wisdom and
scientific mastery of the Adeptus Mechanicus； may our guns blaze fierce and our engines never
stall。”
“Ave Imperator；” said the officers； but the tech…priests replied “Ave Omnissiah！” and deViers
heard Bishop Augustus mutter a quiet curse under his breath。
“Throne above；” the general went on； “even the Navy is doing its part！”
Some of the colonels and majors grunted in brief disapproval。
“Come now； you men；” chided deViers； still smiling。 “Commodore Galbraithe sends us his best
liquor and has promised me a Vulcan close…support wing once our hangars are finished。 I won’t
exclude him from my toast。”
“May we not also raise our glasses to Major General Bergen？” asked High Commissar Morten。
He turned to face Bergen down the length of the table and said； “The very best of luck to you； sir； in
your coming assault on Karavassa。 The orks will crumble before you and the might of your glorious
tanks。”
“Hear； hear！” agreed the other officers noisily。
“Thank you； high commissar；” said Bergen。 “I’m confident my division will more than live up to
the general’s expectations。”
Bishop Augustus raised his glass in Bergen’s direction and said； “May the Light of all mankind
watch over you and your men； major general； and grant you victory in His Name。 You go with the
blessings of His Most Holy Ministorum。”
“The Emperor protects！” said deViers sharply； irked that the high commissar had seen fit to
hijack his toast。
“The Emperor protects！” chorused the guests； and together； excepting the tech…priests as always；
they drained their glasses。 At a sign from Gruber； the general’s servants emerged from the side
corridor again to withdraw the chairs from around the table； signalling an end to the general’s soiree。
As the guests started filing out of the room’s broad double…doors； each saluting him as they went；
deViers heard Tech…Magos Sennesdiar addressing Major General Bergen。
“I miscalculated the probability of your attendance tonight； major general；” said the magos。 “Are
your preparations complete？ May I assume that your enginseers are performing optimally？”
28
“They are；” answered Bergen。 “As for my attendance； the general insisted。 Perhaps he sought to
distract my mind。 Time to think is not always a welcome commodity the day before deployment。”
“Epinephrine；” said Tech…Adept Armadron。
“I’m sorry； adept？” said Bergen。
“And norepinephrine；” said Tech…Adept Xephous。 “Armadron is correct。 Troopers under study
showed greatly increased levels of both hormones prior to engagement with the enemy。 Sections of
the brain may be excised to inhibit this； major general。 Our skitarii legions do not experience the
problem。”
Bishop Augustus was hovering nearby。 Overhearing them； he interjected acidly； “That must be a
great comfort to them。”
Tech…Magos Sennesdiar turned his cowled head to face the Ministorum man。 “Their comfort is
irrelevant； priest。 Their efficiency is not。”
General deViers saw the bishop’s face flush and moved quickly to intervene。 Before the bishop
could respond and escalate matters； he gripped the bishop’s hand in his。 “I was greatly honoured by
your attendance tonight； your grace。 I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did。 Remember； if there’s
anything you need from me； you may contact my adjutant； Gruber； directly。 He’ll alert me to
anything that requires my attention。”
Bishop Augustus gaped for a moment； and then； his tone still edged with displeasure； said；
“Most kind； general。 I won’t forget。 And congratulations once again on such a fine banquet。 I shall
look forward to your next； providing the guest list is a little more… exclusive。”
Throwing a last contemptuous look at the tech…priests； the bishop lifted the hem of his robe from
the floor and stalked out of the room。 A string of officers moved up to salute the general and thank
him。 Without further discourse； the tech…priests took this opportunity to leave。
As the other officers moved off； deViers decided to pull Bergen aside just as he was about to
depart。
Standing together； he found his eyes level with the younger man’s。 Like the general； Bergen was
taller than most Cadians。 He was of a heavier； more muscular build than the general； too； but then；
he was forty years younger。 Rejuvenat treatments could only do so much。 Face to face like this；
deViers noted how much smoother and tighter Bergen’s skin was。 Sometimes； when the general was
awoken in the earl