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that regard,' said Cassius. 'We are the Ultramarines, the Emperor's chosen.'
     

CHAPTER III
     
    SITUATED AT THE confluence of several fast-flowing rivers, Cordus Via was predominantly a long arc of the highway supported by spire-like struts that thrust up from the floor of the plains. It formed an intersection of several smaller elevated roadways that stretched hundreds of kilometres to the north and south, linking the mega-farms with the arterial route. The bulk of the settlement was made up of storage towers, a refuelling depot and thick-timbered accommodation blocks for passing convoy teamsters.
    Just a hundred metres west of the waystation, three rivers joined at a mighty cataract, plunging some two hundred metres down a gorge. The roar of descending water sent constant vibrations through the settlement, an oppressive noise that blotted out all other sound.
    The lead elements of Cassius's force, three tactical squads led by Sergeants Dacia, Heletis and Octanus, had made planetfall less than thirty minutes after the Chaplain's conference with General Arka. They had reported the site empty of inhabitants, though over the following hours, three columns of refugees passed through while the task force's Thunderhawks had shuttled more forces from orbit. Questioning the fleeing farmers, the Ultramarines learned that the isolated farmsteads in the low hills to the west had been attacked by scattered tyranid broods some twenty hours earlier. The refugees had managed to fend off or escape the initial assaults for a short time, before abandoning their farms to head to Plains Fall.
    Cassius's gunship arrived just as dusk was settling. The last Thunderhawk run was being completed, another of the strike cruiser's three gunships touching down beside the Chaplain's transport on the wide, black surface of the main highway. A devastator squad disembarked, their heavy weapons in hand, and were met by Sergeant Dacia - as the most senior sergeant in the force, he had been marshalling the defence in Cassius's absence.
    Dacia's blue and white armour was covered with litany parchments and purity seals, testament to many battle honours. Along with his squad from the First Company, Dacia had been amongst a new generation of Space Marines promoted from the other companies to serve as veterans after the heavy casualties suffered against Hive Fleet Behemoth. They wore standard power armour for this engagement; the highly valued Tactical Dreadnought suits so closely associated with the First Company were in short supply too and had been taken with the Chapter Master for hive city-fighting in the Vortengard systems. The shortage of Terminator armour was a constant reminder to the veterans of the sacrifices made by their predecessors, and Cassius expected his First Company squad to be exemplars to the rest of his command.
    Dacia acknowledged Cassius's arrival by raising his storm bolter in salute. The setting sun glinted from the weapon's gold casing as the sergeant lifted it to the brow of his white helm. Cassius responded to the gesture, bringing a fist up to his chest. As did all Chaplains, Cassius wore the black livery of purity, only his left shoulder pad remaining blue to signify his allegiance. Atop a golden crux terminatus badge - a legacy from Cassius's days in the First Company - the Chaplain bore the Ultramarines symbol fashioned from snow white stone, hewn from the same quarry as the majestic pillars and halls of the Chapter's fortress-monastery on Macragge. The symbol was riveted to the left pauldron by bolts made from shards of the crozius arcanum wielded by the previous Master of Sanctity, Agai Paulus, who had fallen in battle against foul xenos warriors in the Halo Stars.
    The Chaplain considered Paulus's fate a noble one, and was resigned to his own death at the hands of the tyranids some day in the future. A day long to come, he was sure. Styxia would not be his last war.
    Cassius had been in constant contact with his