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would probably last around an hour before they expired。
Marduk saw that the submersible he had emerged from was drawn up alongside half a dozen
others。
“The explorator and her team’s vessels； presumably；” said Kol Badar； stamping through the
water to Marduk’s side。
A massive doorway yawned behind them； leading further into the Imperial freighter。 With no
other obvious way of proceeding； Marduk led the warriors through its arched expanse。
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They came upon a series of bulkheads； part of the latticework that subdivided the ship into
distinct sections； adding strength to the whole and allowing areas of the ship to be isolated from
each other in the event of hull breach。
Though there was no power within the ship—its plasma core reactors were clearly dead； or at
least dormant—the bulkheads could be accessed manually。 Kol Badar ripped one of them open with
a wrench； half…expecting to be washed away by a flood of water。 Once all the warriors had passed
the bulkhead it was sealed behind them once more； and the next bulkhead opened。 The ship beyond
was dark； but the air was breathable without danger； and Marduk felt certain that this was the way
that the explorator had taken。
He grinned within his helmet。 He could almost feel the presence of the wretched devotee of the
Machine…God。 He had but to reach out to possess her。
“She is here； somewhere；” said Marduk。 “I know it。”
“She’d better be；” growled Kol Badar。
Warily； the warriors of the Host began to move further into the wrecked hulk that was the Flame
of Perdition； weapons at the ready。
They had advanced for over three hours； though in that time that had been forced to retrace their
steps a dozen times as their way was blocked by shattered sections of the ship； or by bulkheads that
led back into the flooded lower sections。
Burias’s mood； previously buoyed by Marduk’s optimism； had slowly soured as the sheer
improbability of finding the explorator within this confusing maze was driven home。 Kol Badar was
right。 The cursed worshipper of the profane Machine…God could be anywhere within the ship； if she
were here at all。 The ship was over two kilometres in length and consisted of almost fifty deck
levels； depending on where within the ship one was located。 In addition； a myriad of air ducts； subfloor
tunnels and inter…deck stowage vaults made the Flame of Perdition a veritable labyrinth； and
despite the fact that perhaps seventy per cent of it was flooded and impassable； it would take a
Herculean effort and incredible luck to locate a single individual within its confines。
“There is no such thing as luck；” Marduk snapped angrily； picking up the vagaries of the icon
bearer’s unfocused thoughts。 This was a test of his faith； the First Acolyte reminded himself； ridding
his thoughts of any shadow of doubt。 The explorator would be delivered to him； it was the will of
the gods。 He had only to open himself up to the powers of the ether； and allow his earthly flesh to be
guided。
“Keep moving；” said Marduk。
Kol Badar and two of his Anointed warriors were leading the advance； walking in single file；
their massive shoulders sometimes scraping along the walls of the narrow； dark corridors。
Terminator armour had been originally constructed with brutal ship…to…ship boarding actions in
mind； where the immense protection its heavy plates provided far outweighed its lack of speed and
manoeuvrability。 Within the flooded hulk； they were the obvious choice to lead the advance。
Khalaxis walked a pace behind them； a blinking auspex held before him； scanning for
movement。 The amount of interference from the ship was playing havoc with its accuracy； limiting
its range to less than fifty metres。 Anything moving within the range of its sweeps would appear as a
blinking icon； but thus far only the other members of the Host had appeared on its blister screen。
Marduk walked with Burias in the centre of the group； along with the hulking form of Darioq…
Grendh’al。 Members of Khalaxis’s coterie surrounded them； and the other two members of the
Anointed brought up the rear。
They moved with well…practiced discipline。 Despite no movement or heat signatures being
picked up by the auspex； individual warriors peeled off to lay fields of over…watch down side
corridors and into darkened rooms。 Those behind moved past the sentinels； which filed back into
line towards the rear。 At the very back of the formation； the Anointed ensured that no enemy was
able to approach unannounced。 The formation was in constant movement； each warrior providing
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cover for his brethren before moving on； and though their progress was slow； they moved
inexorably deeper into the hulk。 It was standard practice in unknown； tight confines such as these；
and centuries of drilled combat doctrine ensured that everyone knew his place。
The air within the ship was perfectly still； like the inside of a mausoleum； and the silence was
oppressive。 The darkness was all consuming； and with the utter absence of any form of light； even
the enhanced vision of the Word Bearers was impaired。 Their footsteps echoed painfully loudly
along the empty corridors； and Marduk ground his sharp teeth in frustration； drawing blood。 In the
desolate silence of the hulk； sound travelled easily； and their quarry may already have heard their
advance and moved deeper into the freighter。
The line of warriors emerged from a branching corridor into a room that might once have been a
thriving workshop。 Piles of mechanics and engine parts were strewn across the grilled； uneven
flooring； and heavy machinery that would have taken a dozen power…lifter equipped servitors to
shift lay overturned； like the discarded toys of an infant。
Half a dozen dark； uninviting corridors led from the room； as well as at least four closed；
powered doors。 Warriors had taken up position at each entrance； auto…sensors straining to locate any
threat。
“Which way？” asked Kol Badar。
The Coryphaus’s tone conveyed the warlord’s thoughts clearly； without need for words； that this
was a hopeless venture； but Marduk ignored his inference and paused； calming his breathing and
closing his eyes。
He had entered this half…trance a dozen times already within the ship； searching for any residual
warp…trace that might suggest the explorator had come this way； but so far had found nothing。 The
soul of every living creature in the universe was a flaring beacon within the warp—those individuals
who manifested latent psychic powers burning the most fiercely—and to those schooled in the
occult teachings of the Word Bearer’s priesthood； it was possible to perceive this soul glow in the
material realm； sensing it even at distance。
Marduk strained to pick up anything； and had almost resigned himself to failure once more when
he felt…
something。 It was very faint； like the fading heat image that surrounded a body an hour dead； but
it was definitely there。 His eyes snapped open。
“There；” he said； pointing towards one of the corridors。
Without a word； the Word Bearers continued deeper into the Flame of Perdition。
Somewhere in the distance there was an echoing clang。 It was impossible to gauge the distance
of the sound； but to Marduk he felt it was confirmation of the whereabouts of the explorator。
“Quickly；” he urged。
The Anointed were leading the way； their combi…bolters tracking for movement。 Khalaxis’s auspex
throbbed with its steady light。
The remainder of the warriors followed single…file； weapons held at the ready。
They had been moving within the Flame of Perdition for over an hour； time enough to have
walked its length twice over had their path not been so circuitous and slow。 No further sound had
been heard other than that one； distant echo； but Marduk was confident that his quarry was near。
The First Acolyte was lost in his thoughts when it happened。
A sheet metal wall panel punched inwards； crumpling like synth…board； and a blurred； dark
shape leapt from the gaping hole in the wall。 A clawed limb smashed into a warrior brother’s
helmet； crumpling it like paper； and hot blood spurted； splashing across the wall。
Marduk saw a blur of limbs； an exoskeleton of dark chitin； and another warrior brother was
dead； claws tearing an arm from its socket and punching through a breastplate。
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In the tight confines of the corridor； all was suddenly chaos； with warriors shouting and bolters
barking。
The warrior in front of Marduk staggered backwards as the xenos creature turned its attention
towards him； claws flashing。 In an instant； his hand was severed at the wrist by the flashing claws；
the bolt pistol in his hand still firing as it hit the ground； and Marduk stared into the venomous eyes
of the deadly killer。
The creature was bipedal and hunched； its four arms hanging low from its armoured carapace；
and its hypnotic eyes； glinting yellow slashes； set deep into a wide； pallid face。 Marduk found
himself ensnared by the power in those golden orbs； and for a second he was frozen in place； staring
dumbly at the alien。
It pulled the disarmed warrior into a tight embrace； and its jaws closed around the Word
Bearer’s helmet。
Bolter fire struck the xenos creature from behind and a high…pitched； inhuman scream w