A WARHAMMER 40,000 NOVEL

TITANICUS
Dan Abnett

It is the 41st millennium. For more than a hundred

centuries the Emperor has sat immobile on the Golden
Throne of Earth. He is the master of mankind by the will
of the gods, and master of a million worlds by the might of
his inexhaustible armies. He is a rotting carcass writhing
invisibly with power from the Dark Age of Technology. He
is the Carrion Lord of the Imperium for whom a thousand
souls are sacrificed every day, so that he may never truly die.
Yet even in his deathless state, the Emperor continues his
eternal vigilance. Mighty battlefleets cross the daemon-infested
miasma of the warp, the only route between distant stars,
their way lit by the Astronomican, the psychic
manifestation of the Emperors will. Vast armies give battle in
his name on uncounted worlds. Greatest amongst his
soldiers are the Adeptus Astartes, the Space Marines,
bio-engineered super-warriors. Their comrades in arms are
legion: the Imperial Guard and countless planetary defence
forces, the ever-vigilant Inquisition and the tech-priests of the
Adeptus Mechanicus to name only a few.
But for all their multitudes, they are barely enough to hold
off the ever-present threat from aliens, heretics,
mutantsand worse.
To be a man in such times is to be one amongst
untold billions. It is to live in the cruellest and most bloody regime
imaginable. These arc the tales of those times. Forget the
power of technology and science, for so much has been forgotten, never to be re-learned. Forget the promise of progress
and understanding, for in the grim dark future there is only
war. There is no peace amongst the stars, only an eternity of
carnage and slaughter, and the laughter
of thirsting gods.

<[exloaded from] Crusius, magos executor fetial, Legio Invicta (110011001101, code compression
zy) [supplementary data modules appended, stream 2] [begins]
Pursuant to proposal of execution K494l03, I have opened negotiative discourse with the Orestean
magi. Access supplementary module 1100, and you will inload a detailed fact audit of the situation on
Orestes. This assessment has been verified by our executer remotes. The Orestean magi have made an
accurate representation concerning the crisis. Aggressive hostiles, including one hundred and seventyfour [one seven four] identified gross war engines of the Primordial Annihilator, have begun prosecution
of Orestes Principal and adjacent subhives, Argentum Hive, the assembly yards at Mount Sigilite, the
finishing silos at Gynex Subhive and Antiura Hive, the Western Prospection and various vassal
communities in the Astrobleme. In consideration of execution K494103, the Orestean magi propose to
extend full refit and overhaul processes to Legio Invicta, without delay, tariff or reimbursement, in
return for prophylactic action. My recommendation, pending your authority, is that we execute.
Notwithstanding the offer of refit, I believe that we are duty-bound to make this execution, and we
would be derelict to ignore the plight of this sacred forge world. I trust the magi probandi will verify the
legality of this, but I believe that this execution supersedes Imperial Order 475:3Ae472 [Macaroth]. I
submit this recommendation, in the name of the Omnissiah, to the wisdom of my trusted seniors, this
day of the Imperium, 223.779.>
<[exloaded from] Kovenicus, magos navis, Legio Invicta (0011101010011101, code compression twa)
[supplementary data modules collated, stream 2] [begins]
I have inloaded your statements, Crusius, and I concur. I have ordered the fleet to stand by, and am
ready to divert and make shift to Orestes if Gearhart assents. I await confirmation of orders.>
<[exloaded from] Bohrman, first princeps, Legio Invicta (111010110110111, code compression cfn)
[supplementary data modules collated, stream 2] [begins]
Documentation re: execution K494103 inloaded and reviewed. I do not believe we have a choice,
legality or no legality. No matter what the Imperial Warmaster demands, we cannot bypass and ignore a
Martian dependency in extremis. We should walk. Why is Gearhart taking so long to consider this?>
<[exloaded from] Lau, commander skitarii, Legio Invicta (44 decimal 8, code compression exk)
[supplementary data modules collated, stream 2] [begins]
Bohrman is correct. Orders be damned! The skitarii stand ready. Execution must begin and Orestes
rescued. I implore my Lord Gearhart to make his decision quickly.>
<[exloaded from] Gearhart, princeps maximus, adept seniorus, bearer of the Seventh Seal of Mars, first
commtator, master of the Manifold, called the Red Fury, blessed of the Deus, Legio Invicta
(111011011011111100, code compression kin) [supplementary data modules collated, stream 2] [begins]
So impatient, you young devils. Steel abides longer than flesh. I have inloaded and finished ray
review. Kovenicus, make shift. Bohrman, wake your MIUs. Lau, data-load your forces.
We will walk upon Orestes.>