Catechism Of Hate by Gav Thorpe Read Free Book Online Page A

Titans. The dull thump of each immense footfall could be heard more clearly, and silhouettes resolved into more detail, as the Warlords came closer.
    Each was a humanoid metallic beast, hunched over beneath an armoured carapace of adamantium and plasteel. Two gigantic weapons were mounted upon the back of each Titan and hung from hardpoints either side of chamfered bodies where a man's arms would be. Triangular banners hung from these arm weapons, flapping and swaying with every stride, and another standard was slung on thick chains between the legs of each Titan.
    The machine on the left, Victorix, was armed with two multiple rockets launchers atop its carapace, each rocket held within the gigantic cylinders containing several dozen warheads capable of obliterating entire companies of infantry and smashing armoured vehicles. Victorix's right arm was a squat, thick weapon surrounded by coiled pipes and bundles of cables: a plasma cannon powerful enough to level buildings. Its left was a multibarrelled gatler that could spew forth a stream of titanium-tipped shells each several times larger than a Space Marine.
    On the right, Dominatus Rex sported two such gatling cannons on its broad back. Beneath the crenellated carapace were slung two long-barrelled laser weapons that had been brought up into a locked position either side of the Titan's head-shaped cockpit. Known as volcano cannons, the fifteen-metre-long guns were designed to destroy enemy super-heavy machines, but would be equally useful searing through the massed broods of a tyranid swarm or vaporising the larger bio-constructs Styxia's defenders might expect to face.
    Taller than the building on which Cassius stood, the Titans towered over Cordus Via. As well as the huge battle honour flags, each Warlord was strung with streamers and banners carrying the markings of the Cult Mechanicus. More than just weapons of war, these were idols of the Machine-God, wrought in sacred forge-factories to obliterate the enemies of Mars and its adepts.
    Cassius had fought alongside Titans before, but had never encountered one of the metal beasts at such close hand. The thudding of their steps was loud even above the incessant sound of the cataract, every mighty tread causing the ground to shudder slightly, and with each stride came a symphony of growls, whines, hisses and clanking. By the light of their own lamps, the red-and-black livery of the Legio Fortitudis was plain to see, painted in broad stripes across the upper carapace turrets and the armoured plates protecting the Titans' lower legs. Cog devices and half-skulls in bright metals marked the hard-angled surfaces of their bodies, gleaming in the reflected glow of the searchlights.
    'Princeps Jasyn of the Legio Fortitudis.' The announcement was made over the strategic frequency chosen by General Arka for the disparate Imperial forces, the voice quiet, almost a whisper. Victorix raised its gatling cannon in salute, kill banner sweeping over a row of empty grain silos, its shadow passing across the tactical squad standing guard on the gantries around them.
    'Princeps Perthion, pleased to make your acquaintance, Chaplain.' Perthion's voice was deeper, tainted with a hollow ring that reminded Cassius of the artificial voice boxes used by his Chapter's Dreadnoughts.
    'Your presence is welcome,' replied Cassius.
    'We are honoured to assist the Adeptus Astartes of the Ultramarines,' said Jasyn. 'Where would you like us to fight?'
    Cassius had been considering this matter for some time, and in discussion with Dacia as they had made their way to the tenement block, had formulated a plan.
    'I would have Dominatus Rex positioned on the highway, a kilometre to the west,' said the Chaplain. 'We have no weapons capable of covering the far side of the gorge to the north, but that will present little problem to you.'
    'Understood, Chaplain,' said Perthion. 'I will protect your flank from encirclement.'
    'And Victorix?' asked Jasyn. There was