Defender of the Imperium Omnibus, page 103
‘Formation! Form… alt!’ came Malliant’s crackling voice. ‘Formation…’
The captain’s voice cut out as the ork walkers opened up, heavy ordnance toted on stumpy arms sending shells slamming into the centre of the taskforce.
‘Malliant? Captain Malliant… Come in!’ shouted Bannick. Useless. ‘Lieutenant Verlannick?’ He called out to the second-in-command. No reply there either. That left him in command of the depleted company.
The echelon began to break up as the tank squadrons spun tracks, frantically trying to avoid the walkers. Battle cannons barked flame and smoke as turrets rotated, tracking the threat. Shells shattered with fiery bangs against the thick ork armour, but the walkers did not slow.
‘All squadrons! Lieutenant Bannick! I am in command! Full reverse! Full reverse!’ shouted Bannick. ‘Form up on me! Single line! Bring fire to bear…’ he consulted his tac display, picking out the walker with what seemed the heaviest guns. ‘Point niner-five-zero!’
Hearing his voice, the company began to exhibit some degree of order, forming a wall. They were down to six tanks. Bannick narrowed his eyes. The second company appeared to be doing the same, tanks inching backwards, loosing shots as they went.
He shouted into the horn, internal vox. ‘Patinallo, aim for the…’
He never finished his order. A three-barrelled cannon on a bright yellow walker flashed fire. A second later Bannick’s universe became featureless white, shuddering with noise.
He felt himself fall, then felt nothing.
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A BLACK LIBRARY PUBLICATION
Sector 13 published in 2005,
Death or Glory published in 2006,
Duty Calls published in 2007,
Cain’s Last Stand published in 2008,
Traitor’s Gambit published in 2009,
This omnibus edition first published in Great Britain in 2010.
This eBook edition published in 2019 by Black Library, Games Workshop Ltd, Willow Road, Nottingham, NG7 2WS, UK.
Produced by Games Workshop in Nottingham.
Cover illustration by Clint Langley.
Ciaphas Cain: Defender of the Imperium © Copyright Games Workshop Limited 2019. Ciaphas Cain: Defender of the Imperium, GW, Games Workshop, Black Library, The Horus Heresy, The Horus Heresy Eye logo, Space Marine, 40K, Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000, the ‘Aquila’ Double-headed Eagle logo, and all associated logos, illustrations, images, names, creatures, races, vehicles, locations, weapons, characters, and the distinctive likenesses thereof, are either ® or TM, and/or © Games Workshop Limited, variably registered around the world.
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ISBN: 978-1-78999-725-5
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