Secret War: Warhammer 40,000 by Ben Agar (reading eggs books TXT) 📖

were still fighting. Around us, hundreds of more mercs and Magistratum enforcers ran to take the building—giving the assassins a very respectable berth as they passed.

Much to my non-existent surprise, the enemy had fortified the stairways leading to the top of the building. According to the vox, every staircase had three sandbag walls set on them, and behind each were at least six enemy mercs, then placed at the top wall were two heavy stubber emplacements. Not just that, but they'd also fortified the balconies, allowing dozens of more enemies to lay fire onto our flank as we tried in vain to advance. The casualties were mounting and mounting, and we hadn't even taken the first bloody staircase yet! Good news, though, Garrakson and Torris was alive as well as Arlathan and the Mimic.

I was torn a bit about the latter's survival; as much as it deserved death, it being killed by the enemy would prevent me the pleasure of personally ending its worthless existence. Well, its existence was far from worthless I'd say It was far more useful than I'll ever be, in fact.

Not just that, but Brutis' force still hadn't broken through his resistance, and the casualties for them were staggering. The Olinthre-thing had sent a detachment back to aide them. Hopefully, they can catch the enemy from behind, but they'd be ready for such a tactic if they had any kind of communication.

Those last eight words were each dripping with sarcasm, by the way.

I sighed, then hissed through in pain as the merc made another fumble, and he mumbled an apology. The merc had said he was once a corpsman for the Dalvian 5th, and even for a corpsman, his medical skills were terrible.

Better than mine, of course, but still bad.

The first assassin to die was the one Darrance fought, the one I suspected I'd injured with my kick. She'd been slowing for a while now, and it was evident right from the start his skill exceeded hers, not by a large margin, but enough that even if she weren't injured, Darrance's victory would've been assured.

Much to my heartache, he gave her a very undignified end. His power scimitar cut cleanly through her slender torso as well as her arms. Her body...parts flew for a good few metres before finally slopping onto the marble floor.

Darrance didn't even spare the poor assassin a glance before he moved on to help Castella, but she never needed it. Darrance was midway there when Castella cut off one of the assassin's hands, and as she reeled back, crying out in agony, Castella stabbed her through the heart.

Castella tore out her blade, and as the assassin fell flat on her face, she turned to face the approaching Darrance.

"I'm fine, I've got it," she said as she deactivated her blades and sheathed them.

Darrance slid to a stop and grinned. "As I could see. They were the best I've seen in a long time, quite the challenge." He said this as he tapped the dying assassin with the tip of his boot. "I am genuinely surprised the apprentice survived as long against them as he did."

"That is because you constantly underestimate him, and I suspect them of the infamous and elite Moritat Reapers," said Castella. "I am not surprised at their presence; we are dealing with the Inquisition here."

"Done," said the merc, and he stepped away. "Excuse me; I've gotta rejoin my squad."

I nodded my thanks and carefully began to slip my bodyglove back onto my torso, hissing and growling at the pain it caused me.

"Oh, harden up, apprentice," said Darrance as he and Castella approached.

My attention snapped at him, my jaw clenched, but the anger quickly abated as I saw his grin. The bastard was baiting me.

"You did well, Attelus," said Castella. "To hold them off for so long."

I grinned and shrugged and instantly regretted it. "Well, after dealing with near-invincible daemons, those two were pretty low on the food chain."

"They came this close to killing you, apprentice," pointed out Darrance as he raised his hand, his finger and thumb held a millimetre barely apart.

Again I shrugged and again regretted it.

"Details," I said while starting to slip my now very damaged flak jacket on, then swallowed a couple of painkiller capsules medicae Harsin had given me many hours ago. I'd been trying to avoid taking them; they clouded the mind. I wanted to keep a clear head, but frig, I hurt like hell, hurt all over.

Castella smiled and shook her head. "How fares the advance?" she asked.

"Bad," I answered bluntly. "Very frigging bad," and reported what I'd heard.

"That is bad," said Darrance. "What do you propose we do?"

I raised an eyebrow, surprised he'd even deign to ask me.

"I don't know, help in any way we can, I guess," I said. "Don't know how much we can help, though. It's frigging hell on that staircase."

"The enemy will bleed us dry at this rate!" Darrance snarled.

I said nothing, just watched as a squad of mercs ran by, hauling a heavy stubber implacement. One was a woman who had her visor up, and she wasn't bad looking at all. She caught me looking and gave me a smile which made me turn away fast.

Castella grinned and shook her head. "We could try something, something as risky as shit."

"What?" demanded Darrance gruffly.

She glanced at him and pulled out a grappling gun from a larger pouch on her belt. "We could try the outside route."

I frowned and shared a glance with Darrance.

"You're right," said Darrance. "It is as risky as shit. But I would also call that an understatement."

"Do you have any better ideas, Mr all high and mighty?" said Castella but with good humour.

Darrance grimaced, folded his arms and looked away.

"How many stories will we be able to ascend?" I asked.

"Four, maybe five," said Castella.

Then an idea hit me. "No, I've got something better," I said.

Both Castella and Darrance gave me confused looks.

I grinned and pulled out the schemata data slate, "the elevator shafts."

With four slashes of my sword, I took out the double doors and carefully looked up the shaft. Finding it eerily empty and devoid of any sound besides the creaking of cables

According to the schemata, none of the elevators on the ground floor ascended straight to the tenth; the highest was the ninth. The only one situated on the fourth floor had access to either take the stairs or another elevator from there. It may've been impractical in normal times, but during a siege like this, a bloody good idea.

The right elevator was stopped about six stories up and left, further up, although I couldn't see it from this angle.

I hissed through clenched teeth and pulled my head back. Perhaps on second thought, this wasn't a good idea. If Edracian could see the future, surely he'd expect us to try this and even if he couldn't.

I turned to Castella and Darrance. "I actually don't know about this," I said.

Darrance smiled and furrowed his brow in bemusement. "Really? You suspect a trap, I assume? When has that stopped you in this yet?"

"Well, what do you propose we do once we climb up there?" I said. "Wipeout every single enemy merc from the ninth floor downward? We're good, but not that good."

"No," said Castella. "We only need to climb to the fourth floor, then fight our way to the elevator leading to the tenth and climb up from there, straight to Edracian himself."

"Assuming he's even on the tenth in the first place! And doing that will surely alert them of our plan, and then we'd have guns up the top shooting down on us as we climbed," I said if they didn't know this already.

Castella's mouth twitched. "After you put it that way."

We heard the many and heavy footfalls approaching us from far down the corridor, and with weapons raised, we turned.

Emerging from around a corner about twenty metres away was Brutis Bones, still in his power armour which was more beaten and battered than before. Wesley and Hayden were on his flanks, and following were dozens of damaged, weary-looking Hammers.

"Ah!" said Brutis, smiling, though it held no warmth. "You three sulking in the shadows, hiding away from the front line. I can't honestly say I'm surprised."

I smiled back and shook my head.

"Good to see you finally fought your way here," I said, wanting to add, 'I was worried we'd all die of old age before you finally managed it,' but wisely didn't.

But Brutis' smile turned genuine instantly seeing my jab. "And thus we thank the Emperor for the blessing of juvenant treatments. What are you doing?"

"We think we can ascend the elevator shaft to gain access to the upper floors," said Darrance. "You do know of the situation, I assume?"

Brutis nodded, approached us and gazed up the shaft. "It's a plan, I suppose," he said. "I could lend a few of mine to come with you. I wouldn't risk it myself with my armour. I'll advance with the main force. Hayden, I'll assume you'll go to?"

As impassive as ever, Hayden only nodded and slung his rifle over his shoulder.

"I'd like to go as well," said Wesley.

Brutis glanced at the Throne Agent. "Are you sure you are in the right condition?"

He gave us a withering glare as he said that.

"Yeah, I'm sure, boss," said Wesley. "Don't worry about me."

Brutis pursed his lips and shrugged his huge shoulders. "Alright, as you wish! Right! Selg, Verenth! You and your men are gonna climb, everyone else, with me!"

Castella, Darrance and I stepped aside to allow Brutis and his men to pass. I did a quick headcount as they did; there were only around sixty or so; I wasn't sure how much that'd help the primary offence.

Ten were left with us, one I recognised as the tall, skinny tattooed Hammer who'd organised the defence in the Manufactorum earlier.

The Hammer looked down his nose at me, clenched his jaw and said nothing.

"Well!" said Wesley clapping his hands and rubbing them together enthusiastically. "What's the plan?"

"According to the schemata," I said. "There's an elevator on the fourth floor that goes straight up to the tenth. We wish to climb to the fourth floor, fight our way to that elevator, then climb up to the tenth from there."

Wesley sniggered and shook his head. "Insane, insane," he said. "Give me the schemata."

I shrugged and handed him the data slate.

He studied it for what seemed an age but must've only been a few minutes before shaking his head.

"I've got a better idea," he said. "Anyone here got any tech experience?"

"I do," said Hayden.

"Oh, thank the God-Emperor," said Wesley. "We are blessed this day!"

I furrowed my brow. "The many...The many who've died this day might say otherwise," I said sadly.

Wesley's eyes widened, then he nodded in sympathy. 'Maybe so," he said. "Maybe so."

"What is this, 'better idea' you spoke of?" said Darrance impatiently.

The Throne Agent's cheery demeanour suddenly returned. "Ah yes! Sorry! It looks like the controls for the elevator activation is located on the ninth floor; here," as he said this, he held up the data slate and pointed to its location on the schemata, "if we could fight our way to it..."

"We can reactivate them," I interrupted. "Allowing our forces another avenue to advance."

Wesley grinned and pointed at me.

"Well, enough chat," said the skinny Hammer as he racked the slide of his autopistol. "We've got one hell of a frigging climb. Let's get this done with."

The corner of my mouth twitched; we were lucky it was on the ninth and not the tenth floor. Which just seemed strange to me.

I just wished Karmen wasn't busy, or else she may've been able to scout in her incorporeal form.

Wesley clenched his false teeth and tossed me the data slate, which I caught neatly. "Not yet, Verenth," he said. "It could easily be trapped, I suggest..."

"I'll do it," said Hayden as he pulled out a grappling hook gun from a holster on his hip. "I'll go first; check for traps."

"But you're the tech expert," said Wesley. "If