Killing Ground

A WARHAMMER 40,000 NOVEL

KILLING GROUND

Graham McNeill

To Jimmy, Dave and Pete of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Anglians, and Commissar Chris from the RMP. Thanks for chat and the info. Come back safe, guys.

'Regiments that have served for more than ten years are usually transferred from protracted war zones into armies of conquest. Not only are these the best troops, but they are also the oldest, having fought gallantly for the Emperor for a decade or more. Their reward is to take part in the conquest of a new world. If they are successful the entire regiment earns the highest honour the Imperium can bestow, the gratitude of the Emperor and the right to settle a new planet. All over the Imperium there are worlds that were originally populated in this way. Their people are the hardy descendants of victorious Imperial Guard regiments.'

 Tactica Imperium - Commanders' notes on protracted service.

Sometimes the ghosts of the past won't let you go…

The bar was crowded and the simmering air of resentment that filled its smoky depths was like a current ru

The crude liquor burned his throat and he coughed, wondering for a moment if the sour-faced bastard behind the bar had simply served him a glass of promethium as some kind of sick joke. He slammed the glass down onto the beaten metal bar and looked into the man's yellow eyes, seeking confirmation of his suspicions.

Yes, the man wore a mask of ungrateful resentment etched into his face, just like all the other locals. Ha

Ha

'Another one,' he said, and another measure was duly poured and set before him. Ha

He lifted his head, studying the bar and the drink that sat upon it.

From the pattern of the rivets and the faded markings along its length, Ha

He lifted the drink and again drained it in a single swallow, coughing at its potency.

'Damn, but that's good stuff,' spluttered Ha

Ha

'What are you looking at?' he yelled, his resentment overcoming the deeper desire that gnawed at his sanity.

'I got every right to be here. We beat you. You lost. Deal with it.'

'Here's your drink,' said the barman, slamming an unlabelled blue bottle down beside him, 'and keep your damn cash, I don't want your blood money. Now get out.'

Ha

'Why do you keep coming here?' asked a voice beside Ha

The man wore the same faded brown work tunic as everyone else, but where most others on this dismal world favoured ash-grey storm cloaks, this stranger wore the green and gold double wrapped cloak of the Sons of Salinas.

'I could have you arrested for wearing that,' said Ha

'I'd like to see you try,' said the man. Ha

'What's your name?' asked Ha

'You know my name, I think.'

'I think I do,' said Ha

'Are you pla

Ha

'Very wise,' said the man, 'but you never answered my question. Why do you keep coming to this place? I hear you come in every night and get blind drunk on raquir before insulting everyone and staggering back to your barracks alone.'

'Perhaps I like the company,' snapped Ha

'Are you looking to get killed?' asked the man, leaning close and whispering.

'And if I was, would you be the man to do it?' Ha

'I think you should go. A lot of people here want to kill you,' said the man, 'and I'm not sure I should stop them.'

'Then don't, please.'

The man leaned back with a curious expression on his face. 'Is that it?' he asked. 'Did Barbaden send you here to get killed so he can unleash Kain and her Screaming Eagles?'

'Barbaden?' spat Ha

'No?' asked the man, reaching out and lifting a flap of Ha

Ha

'Are you apologising to me?' interrupted the man, his anger even more plain.

'I'm trying to,' said Ha

He turned on his stool as the tall, stoop-shouldered form of Daron Nisato ducked under the iron girder welded to two wrecked tank chassis that served as a lintel and stepped into the bar with an expression of disappointment. He flicked a piece of floating detritus from the lapels of his enforcer's tunic and looked around the bar until his eyes fixed on Ha

'I thought I'd find you here, lieutenant,' said Nisato.

'What can I say?' replied Ha

'Only bad ones,' said Nisato, and Ha

'You'll never guess who was just here,' said Ha