Portents

‘Is it acceptable for me to smoke in here?’ The sniper asked the question and waved a packet of lho-sticks around. Argentius turned a thoughtful gaze on the human. ‘I have never understood why anybody would indulge in a pastime that polluted their lungs and invariably contributes to their early death,’ he replied in the fullness of time, ‘but please feel free to kill yourself.’

‘The Imperium is an administrative nightmare, Chapter Master,’ she replied. ‘So many planets, so many citizens, so many wars. It is difficult to hold all of the leashes at any one time. Occasionally, something pressing captures the attention of those at a more… senior level.’

Death was the absolute right of every battle-brother who took to the field.