Hellsreach - Aaron Dembski-Bowden [105]
‘I’ve found him,’ Tyro said, leading the pilot to the gathered commanders.
‘Captain Helius reporting,’ the pilot saluted Sarren. ‘Commander Jenzen died two nights ago, sir.’
Third in line, after Jenzen and Barasath? They were lucky to have any flyers left.
‘A pleasure, captain.’
‘As you say, sir.’
Sarren nodded, returning the aquila salute with his wounded arm still aching like a jungle wildfire. A morning breeze, chilling and unwelcome, gusted across the stretch of the Hel’s Highway. The Baneblade’s hull blocked most of the wind, but not enough as far as Sarren was concerned. Throne, he was tired of aching all over.
‘Remaining forces?’
‘Three airstrips, though it looks like the Gamma Road will fall today; it’s been besieged for days now. At last count, we had twenty-six Lightnings remaining. Only seven Thunderbolts. Gamma Road is already being evacuated and the fighters are landing on the Vancia Chi Avenue.’
Sarren made a grumbling noise. He still lamented the loss of Barasath and the majority of his air power, even after all this time.
‘Intentions?’
‘Currently, no change from Jenzen’s orders. Provide air support for embattled Titan forces and armour battalions. The enemy are still showing next to no offensive capacity in the air. It’s reasonable to suggest that, this far in, they’ve simply got nothing left.’
‘Was that a barb, captain?’
Helius saluted again. ‘By no means, sir.’
Sarren smiled, the indulgent grin ruined by weariness. ‘If it was, it’s forgiven. Barasath was right, and he sold his life at great cost to give us an edge in the air. The beasts have thrown up nothing but a handful of scrap-fighters since the siege began, and I’ve already noted on the campaign record – as well as Barsath’s personal file – that he made the right call.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘I’m sorry to hear about Jenzen. She was an asset we’ll greatly miss: solid, reliable, steady.’
And she had been. Commander Carylin Jenzen, for better or worse, had been a by-the-book flyer, dependable and constant, if rather uninspired. Under her, the city’s air forces had maintained a campaign of reliable defensive support for over a month. The Crone of Invigilata herself had commended Jenzen’s endeavours in recent weeks.
‘Sir–’ Helius began.
Here it comes… Sarren thought.
‘I had hoped to discuss the possibility of a more aggressive tactical pattern.’
Yes. Yes, of course you had hoped to discuss that.
‘In good time. For now, the docks.’
Sarren nodded back to the gathered officers. Cyria Tyro and Captain Helius joined them, standing next to one another. Major Ryken scowled at the pilot, and Sarren resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Bloody Throne, Ryken. Now is hardly the time for schoolyard jealousy.
‘We did not lose the docks,’ one of the Astartes argued, his vox-voice laden with resonant calm. Colonel Sarren had not met Sergeant V’reth of the Salamanders before this morning. He knew from vox-traffic that the green-armoured warriors had deployed close to the remaining civilian shelters and their valour was directly responsible for a great many lives spared.
But it seemed his tactical outlook varied wildly from the colonel’s.
‘I’m not sure I understand, sir,’ Sarren offered.
V’reth’s armour was dented and scratched, but remained pristine in comparison to the wreckage worn by the Reclusiarch at his side. A golden-eyed helm glared down at the human officers.
‘I am merely stating, Colonel Sarren, that we did not lose the docks. The enemy is beaten. The seaborne invasion was denied, for the city still stands. The invaders lie dead at the docks.’
This was and wasn’t true, from the way Sarren looked at it. The disparity was the reason the colonel had called this gathering.
‘Allow me to amend my appraisal. The docks are gone. As an industrial factor in Armageddon’s collective output, Helsreach no longer exists. We’re receiving reports now of ninety-one per cent harm to the city’s refinery infrastructure, taking into account the loss of the offshore oil platforms.’
The soldiers shared uncomfortable