The Death of Integrity Read Online Free PDF Page A

composition, three hundred and seventy vessels, of which fifty-three per cent class gamma or lower, twenty-four per cent class beta, eighteen per cent class alpha. Remainder unknown. All best estimates. Certainty impossible.’
    ‘That,’ Galt pointed at a part of the hologram. ‘That is an Imperial warship, heavy cruiser, Avenger-class?’
    ‘Indeed, brother-captain. One of several.’ Clastrin said in his twin voices, his ordinary reserve swept aside by excitement at the hulk. ‘All ages, many patterns.’
    ‘A rich prize then, when we are victorious,’ said Mastrik, a broad grin across his face. ‘We had best send a message to your friends on Mars, Forgemaster, so they may pick the carcass clean.’
    ‘Archeotech is valuable to all who live under the Emperor’s protection, brother. I urge you to curb your flippancy. Respect is the appropriate response to this gift from the Omnissiah.’
    Galt turned slightly, his gaze moving from the windows to the chartdesk holo.
    ‘The core? What lies at its centre?’
    ‘Unknown,’ replied the serf.
    ‘There is a great deal of stellar interference, First Captain,’ said Clastrin. ‘Our augurs do not function well in this close proximity to a star of Jorso’s class. We have detected several large, unstable sources of radioactivity within the hulk also, and these further cloud the eyes of Novum in Honourum . Deep augur scans are impossible.’
    ‘Any indication of the xenos threat? Where do they lair?’
    ‘None, First Captain, not by machine means, at least. It is impossible to say at this time.’
    ‘Epistolary Ranial? What does the Librarium say?’
    ‘It is as the request maintained, First Captain. Psychic activity is indicative of genestealer infestation.’
    ‘That is a very large hulk, Brother-Epistolary,’ said Galt.
    ‘And there are a great many genestealers aboard it, brother-captain’ said Ranial drily.
    ‘We shall have to see then, what our cousins say,’ said Galt. ‘Any news on their fleet?’
    ‘None, lord captain,’ spoke the chief augur-serf. ‘We cannot pinpoint them against this background of interference, but I expect contact soon.’
    The clanging of power armour boots on deck-plating rang out as Captain Aresti hurried onto the bridge. He wore his armour, the bone-and-blue quartered heraldry of the Novamarines still scarred from their last battle. His tattooed face was bare, his helmet tucked under his arm.
    ‘My apologies, brothers.’
    ‘You are experiencing difficulty, I take it?’ said Galt. ‘ Corvo’s Hammer bleeds; I thought the main drive repaired.’
    Aresti shook his head. ‘We are down to only one containment unit, brother-captain. Two destroyed and one damaged. The one the Forgemaster repaired ruptured as we exited the empyrean. We were fortunate that it held so long.’
    ‘The damage is great First Captain,’ said Clastrin. ‘My Techmarines labour through all the watches. I myself will attend and personally implore the machine-spirits within to hold fast to life, but I fear Corvo’s Hammer will not survive another voyage through the immaterium. The vessel requires full dry dock facilities if it is to recover.’
    ‘And they are in short supply here,’ said Ranial.
    Mastrik gave a gentle laugh. ‘That they are, brother.’
    ‘The potential loss of a strike cruiser is no matter for levity, brothers!’ protested Clastrin. His artful electronic voice strained with annoyance.
    ‘My apologies,’ said Mastrik. ‘‘All is but dust in motion’,’ he added, quoting the script of Corvo. ‘And yet I think you will no doubt find a way to keep the dust of Corvo’s Hammer together a little while longer. Perhaps our new friends will aid you?’
    ‘Where are they?’ asked Aresti. ‘Our deep augurs are beyond use. Corvo’s Hammer is as good as blind.’
    Galt shook his head, and lifted his pendant to his lips. He kissed the jet icon absent-mindedly, and let it fall.
    ‘If they were working, you’d still be as blind