The funny thing too, is, that the title of the novel is a bit misleading. Antagonis only plays a role early on in the story. RAther, it refers, I think, to the fact that the events on Antagonis (SPOILER!) become such a driving force for the rest of the events in the story- they drive and shape the individual characters we meet - space Marine and non - in different ways.
Page 8-9
Having to travel to another system, with the implication its a few days or less round trip. Quite probably less than a day round trip (evidence latter suggests this.)And on the day the Wars of Lamentation began in the Phlagia system, on the planet Antagonis...
..
But now, on the very day that the dig site seemed bound to validate his theories, Tennesyn was having to rush off back to Aighe Mortis in the neighbouring Camargus system. Another of his best researchers was being conscripted into the Imperial Guard. It was the third time in a week.
Page 9
It takes a week from the guy's arrival on planet for the planet to fall.. Not at all seeing what waited in the wings, Tennesyn took his leave, and started down the road where the Dragon and the Gorgon waited.
In a week, a world can fall.
Page 10
Population of a Imperial city, non Hive.And here, in the sealed basement of the palace, hiding from the walking corpses that, as far as Toharan could tell, comprised the rest of the city of Lecorb’s population of twelve million..
Page 10
Two 'companies' comprising 30,000 men. IT could be that this is a mistake and it actually means 'regiment' but they rather consistetly use 'companies. in this context. Likewise they do mention 'regiments' as well, which may suggest the regiments are far larger. If we figure 15,000 men per company at least, and 4-6 companies per regiment, that would be between 60-90 thousand troops per regiment. Rather large by infantry standards.Squad Pythios of the Black Dragons Second Company had gone in, working with the Fourth and 25th Companies of the Imperial Guard’s Mortisian Regiment.
..
Between his squad and the thirty thousand Mortisians...
Page 12
Mortisians use laser and stub weaponry.A wall of stubber and las-fire met the onrushing dead..
...
....the massed power of the Imperial Guard unleashed a horizontal rain of projectile and las-fire. T
Page 14
The Mortisians have some vehicles as well. At least one Hellhound, and several chimeras (we learn.) Also note again reference to Mortisian 'companies.'Toharan paused in his run to jump up on the lead vehicle, a Hellhound. Colonel Burston Kervold, heading the joint command of the Fourth and 25th companies, rode standing in the roof hatch, magnoculars around his neck.
Page 17
As I noted, the Mortisian regiments are at least partly mechanised and have some armour. If they are fully mechanised, that would make them one of the biggest mechanised regiments I've known of. Considering they come from a hive world, this is not impossible.Two Chimeras ran into a stream of dead who threw themselves under the APCs’ treads. The corpses piled higher, more and more sucked in beneath the vehicles, blood and bone-shrapnel spraying. Within seconds, the Chimeras had sunk into a quagmire of gore metres deep.
Also literally drowning a chimera in dead bodies and gore to stop it.
Page 20
Las bolt blows a crater in the forehead. If we assume its roughly as 'wide' as a forehead, its at least 5-6 cm across, but probably not much more than 8 cm diameter. At the bare minimum, digging a 2-3 cm diameter crater in a single pulse, nevermind punching through bone, dictates at least single digit kj, but more likely with a bigger 'crater' reaching deeper (multiple pulses) would be at least 15-20 kj. By scorching if we figure somewhere between 2-5 cm diameter at least, it would at least be single digit kj (3-10 kj maybe, depending on exact diamaeter and burn severity) but it also doesn't rule out double digits.On the line fighting to hold back the tide, a conscript flipped backwards and hit the ground hard and dead. His forehead was a scorched crater. He’d been hit with a las-round.
The knockdown effect is interesting, but as noted it may not be due to sheer momentum (or not just that, but explosive vaporization is possible.) The PEP as I've noted in the past can inflict a pain/knockdown effect.
Page 29
Space marines jog at speeds that would be a fast sprint in normal humans (5-6 m/s perhaps at least? Probably less than 10 m/s though.)Handfuls of civilians ran in howling clusters, desperation giving their sprints a speed that was almost that of the Black Dragons jog.
Page 32-33
The Malleus and Grey Knights are supposed to be a 'secret', but like all things in 40K secrecy is variable. Its possible to be 'officially' a secret, and yet still be something unoffiically known, rumoured, etc. Certainly the fact people who work with the Grey Knights or Malleus would be aware of them, and might even talk (This seems to be one reason explaining why people who had dealings with Chaos or the Inquisition was purged, after all..)Only the Grey Knights were supposed to know that there was even such a thing as the Ordo Malleus. He tried to keep his expression neutral.
..
"Don’t insult my intelligence, inquisitor. If you think we haven’t had dealings with your ordo before, then you are too naïve to be much good at your allotted task"
Page 35-36
Again, 2 companies, and 30,000 men total, and this is the majority of the forces deployed to Antagonis. They're either mistaking regiment for company, or they onyl dispatched part of a regiment to garrison the planet. Again it also implies quite large numbers for Mortisian regiments...he guessed that the colonel was asking about the two companies of Mortisian infantry.
..
He thought about the loss of thirty thousand men, and his heart sank. He felt sorry for Dysfield. The man’s entire command, with the exception of the contingent in Lexica, had been wiped out..
Page 36-37
Comment about the suspicion surrounding the tithe of the Black Dragons, and the implied explanation for how they pull it off. Not all the Dragons demonstate mutations (or at least, obvious ones.)Yet when the Chapter (reluctantly) submitted its tithe of genetic material, the samples were always of a purity beyond reproach. They were too good to be true, as suspicious in their own way as the bone-blades.
But the evidence was circumstantial, at best. The Dragons were careful, and had never given the Inquisition proper cause or opportunity to put them to the question. They were also very good at keeping their distance
..
Though he didn’t have any formal proof, he could see how the gene tithe passed the examinations. Toharan showed no sign of mutation at all. Underneath a mane of blond hair, his forehead was unblemished by disfiguring crest. His skin tone was lighter than that of the other Dragons Lettinger had seen. The norm was dark, lending credence to the theory that the Dragons were debased derivations of the Salamanders. But Toharan’s flesh had a glow that was almost human. All the Dragons would have to do to satisfy the tithing demands would be to send in material drawn from Toharan and others like him. He was, Lettinger realised, a very special kind of mutant: the aberrantly pure-born in a world of monsters.
Page 37
3 metre tall Space MArines are considered giants, at least among the Black Dragons. We know that its not unheard of for them to reach that heights (although usually thats with the aid of Terminator armour) but this does seem to put it inot a context. 3 metres is gigantic (akin to 7-8 m in a human), and we might figure 2.5 metres height are 'tall' or 'very tall'. 2 metres (~7 feet) would thus be 'average'.)More than three metres tall, Volos loomed over every other living being in the courtyard. He was so gigantic that he wore custom-made armour and used an oversized jump pack for lift.
Page 40
Seems to be one of those 'old' hives like Necromunda, except it lacks the quality of industry and technological sophistication fo that planet. Its in many ways like a 'feral' hive world... things have clearly degenerated and the places is in decline, and while plenty of tech exists (based on the fact the society still exists in such numbers) the equilibrium is clearly quite precious and catastrophe is never far away.Unlike Antagonis, Aighe Mortis was a dying star of a hive world. The civilization on this planet was like a sun going red and huge before its final collapse. It had swollen to a final, absolute extremity of population density. The growth was so unsustainable that it could only be the precursor to a terminal, lights-out plunge into the wreckage of barbarism. The shallow oceans had long ago been drained and evaporated to make way for more and more ground-swallowing, sky-shrouding manufactoria. But the memory of seas lingered in the atmosphere, turning the faecal-brown and bile-yellow air into a thick sludge that sat in the lungs like pneumonic sputum. To breathe on Aighe Mortis was to drown slowly.
I also hve to wonder what keeps the oceans perpetually evaporated like that. The only thing I can think of, aside from deliberate chemical mumbo-jumbo (whcih would probably have to be maintained, and that's unlikely in this condition') is that the planet radiates so much heat from its industry and population and living and such, that the oceans are kept in a state of perpetual evaporation. The problem with that idea, howver, is that it would almost certainyl require at least the same amount of energy as a mass extinction event (per second) to maintain, and probably more. And noone could technically 'survive' that enviroment to drown on the atmosphere. This does assume the oceans are something like Terra's, but even 1% of Terra's oceans would still be a shitload of energy (and perhaps problematic.) so if that were the case the oceans have to be quite small.
The other itneresting detail is the implications with regard to surface area and population density. They're at the 'limits' of endurable population density (or at least what they can tolerate). Problem is, we don't quite know how much of the surface might be 'inhabited' Its implied that the bulk (at least 2/3) are for manufactoria, - a fact which suggests the entire planet is covered in artifical construction, I might add - so it probably means a third or less is inhabitable. IF we figure at 10% of an earthlike planet's 'land area' ignoring oceans (150 million sq km, works out to 15 million) and assume population density is close to the highest known population density on Earth(by here) we get 10-30 thousand per sq km which works out to between 150 and 450 billion. This is more in line iwth 'typical' hive world estimates, and it suffices as a lower limit but the implication that the populations are considerably greater. If we figure 150 million sq km at 10-30 thousand per sq km you get between 1.5 and 4.5 trillion. If we assume the entire surface was covered by habitation at 30,000 per sq km density, we get 15 trillion. That should suffice as an approximate, order of magnitude' estimate - probable trillions or tens of trillions.
Page 40-41
Age of Apostasy was some 5000 years ago, and now they had mostly tapped out their resources, although in recent times they seem to have uncovered some (minimal) resources by digging deeper. If we figure they tapped out at least 2-5% of the resources in teh crust, we might figure 15-20% (ignoring all the silicon) of the crust may be usualbe (mostly iron and aluminum, but also some other materials.) The Crust masses some 1.5e23 kg, and if 5% of that was consumed (equal to 1-2 km depth of mining, assuming even distribution) would be roughly 1e21-e22 kg over that 5000 year period (2e17-2e18 kg annually.) Even if only 1% of that is the actual value its ludicrously high, we're talking hunderds of billions or possibly trillions of tonnes of material expended anually.The closest thing the world had known to a golden era was in the Age of Apostasy, when its mineral resources had been plenty, and there had been enough space on the surface that the population centres could still boast that they were distinct cities. But the millennia passed, the cities merged into a single disease, and the mineral seams were exhausted. Misery and deprivation were a tide that rose but never ebbed. The last of the wealthy families fled early in M41. When the mining concerns were taken over by desperate, rioting workers, off-world owners decided it was cheaper to cut their losses than face the expense and effort of reclaiming valueless property.
Something between a cooperative and a criminal anarchy had risen on Aighe Mortis, giving just enough obeisance to Imperial administrative bodies to achieve a state of mutual tolerance. The mines had tunnelled deeper into the earth, leaving exhausted regions to be remade as sunless habs, and enough new seams were found to jolt the planet’s economy into a semi-functioning state of undeath. By then, the population was such that almost all of Aighe Mortis’s resources were consumed by local needs for material and energy.
Anyhow, this also reflects that worlds ma be 'abandoned' or ignored by the Imperium (or their internal matters will) if they have nothing to offer, and the Imperium will deal with any planetary authority so long as they meet the Imperium's demands.
Also reflects an Asimov-EArthlike need to balance material use and energy for survial - recycling and efficieicny are bywords on a Hive world.
Page 41
Mortis supports itself pretty much like any hive world, massive industry and massive conscription/colonization because it has more people than it needs, producing 'billions' of low quality (but reliable) weapons in the billions....Aighe Mortis kept itself going by exporting two things. One was small arms, churned out in cut-rate but reliable form in the uncountable billions. The other was men. Human existence here was red in tooth and claw. Vicious natural selection was encouraged by gangs that recognised a valuable resource when they saw it, and a steady stream of Guardsmen and mercenaries swarmed from the hive into the rest of the Imperium
What's more, its strongly suggested that the birth rate of the world cannot come close to matching the conscription rates (or the tolerated ones) Considering Earth's birth rates go into the tens of million if not a hundred million or more (per year), that should tell you something about the conscription rate (and can explain the huge size implied of Mortisian regiments.) IT would be consistent with Armageddon's and Necromunda's known tithe rates, at least.
Page 44-45
The guy has been here a week, and as we noted before the problems on Antagonis would start wtihin a week (before he left) Again indicative of him taking far less than a day to arrive at Mortis. Assuming less than 24 hours to arrive, and a ~5-15 LY distance we get at least 1800-5500c travel time. By inter-sector travel that's prtty damn quick (comapred to the hundres to low thousands of Ravenor and Eisenhorn, at least.)"What cave have you been living in?"
..
"I’ve spent the last week shuttling from office to office, napping in waiting rooms. I don’t even know what day it is!"
...
"We’ve had to double the tithe" Bisset explained. "And it’s being resisted. But Sarcannis and Perethea are a mess, and between that and the situation on Antagonis –"
Page 46
discussion of the Experiments to create the Exorcists chapter. It echoes the fluff pertaining to and the speculation/rumours about the Illuminati, so I suppose it could argue they were at least genuinely possible. Anyhow, the 'failures' of the Exorcist project seem to have escaped and become a CSM force, and represent the main Astartes nemesis of the Dragons.He had been a loyal slave of the Emperor, then, and a participant in the project that had led to the founding of the Exorcists. That Adeptus Astartes Chapter was legendary for its incorruptibility. Rumour said that each had a daemon bound within his flesh as part of their initiation, making them immune to any further possession. Nessun had no quarrel with the accuracy of the legend, but he would, if asked, add a small amendment. The immune were those who had been successfully initiated. There had been failures. Many, during the work leading up to the founding. So many that illumination had descended upon Nessun. The failure, he had realised, lay not with the corrupted Space Marines, but in the goal itself. Those newly born daemonic warriors were the truth of the universe.
...
He had gathered his sons to him, and baptised them the Swords of Epiphany.
Page 47
Location of the destination. Important for later. Distance is at least many tens of light years."And our route to Flebis?" Their destination was well to the galactic south of Aighe Mortis, halfway across the Maeror subsector, in the farther reaches of the Segmentum Tempestus.
Page 48
YEt another tall human, this one a Sororitas (Which is a bit new.) Also noted that some Space Marines are 2 metres tall, which depending on how you interpret things, could indicate heights of average (or just short) Space Marines.Volos tried to put his finger on why that was. Certainly, by any measure other than a Space Marine one, she was physically imposing. She was one of the tallest humans Volos had ever seen. At two metres, she was the same height as Toharan.
page 48-49
Implication that some Sisteres may have been at risk of corruption or suspected of it, but whether this actually constitutes a fall (or if there was any truth to the claim, or if it was merely feared and this a preemptive measure) is entirely up to speculation, and depends on how you view the Sisters.She had been Canoness Superior of the Order of the Piercing Thorn. Minoris though the order had been, its members had made their presence felt, melding a learning worthy of the Sisters Dialogous with a commando military philosophy.
..
But then the taint had come. Exactly what its nature was, and how pervasive the corruption of the Piercing Thorn had been, Volos didn’t know.
..
Whatever Setheno had uncovered, she had denounced her order to the Inquisition. She had demanded its extermination.
Page 49
Ah, politics. It can make anyone without normally a drop of power insanely powerful and like everything else is immensely variable. Its all perception based on her personality and reputation (and value, at least to certain organizations), but that doesn't mean its not real. It's mentioned later that she may have the backing of the Ecclesairchy (who would understandably want to capitalize on her and her reputation for their own gain via that support.) but I suspect this may very well reflect some sort of supernatural charisma manifesting as a result of her extreme devotion to the God Emperor. We know Sororitas can do shit like that, after all.She had refused posting to a different order. Instead, she had become the Canoness Errant, a singular position of vaguely defined, but immense, punitive authority. Her power did not exist at the official level. It emerged from an unspoken consensus that, between her unswerving, merciless faith, and her prowess at war, she was too useful to discard and too terrifying to confront.
This serves yet again as a demonstration of how politics and circumstance can dictate the actuality of power levels within the Imperium, whatever things may 'officially' be.
Page 51
6 billion on Antagonis, or at least on one continent. And it is most definitley not a hive world.Volos had a vision of the continental land mass tilting, funnelling its six billion souls into this one narrow passage.
Page 54-55
Again like any hive world, Aighe Mortis tends to provide a significant chunk (in this case, it seems, a majority) of the sector's military force.In the galactic north of the Maeror subsector, the neighbouring systems of Sarcannis and Perethea were in turmoil, ripped apart by the unholy combination of heretical rebellion and ork incursion.
..
The tactical requirements for successful pacification were straightforward; even Tennesyn could see that. All that was needed was brute manpower. Lots of it. In the Maeror subsector, that manpower was first and foremost the Mortisian Guard, and it was being overstretched. Its forces needed replenishing. The founding was necessary.
..
"The problem," Bisset said, "is the drain on the local population."
..
"The drain? On a population of how many billions? And Guardsmen and mercenaries being this planet’s big export? How does that make any sense at all?"
...
"how stable would you say Aighe Mortis’s civilization is?"
"Not very. It’s terminal."
..
"So there’s your answer. A little push is all it takes to upset the equilibrium, and let me tell you that balance is pretty damned delicate in this latrine. One slip and we’re all in the piss. And this isn’t just a tithe we’re talking about. It’s another full founding. The second in a year."
On the other hand, despite being a hive world (Technically) the place is so unstable due to its extreme population and technological decline that its political and cultural stability is fragile.
Two full foundings in a year represents a substnatial drain on the 'billions' of Mortis' civilisation. Just how severe is of course up for debate, but even if it were just 5-10% we'd be talking hundreds of millions if not billions alone (By contrast, near as I can tell, 2.8 million troops were conscripted from America's 100 million population in WW1, and a total of 10 million in World War 2 from around 140 million, although those are absolute rather than realtive numbers, but it shows at least 1% conscription is likely.) Given that Mortis is supposed to be much more densly populated than your average hive, even a 1% tithe rate would be ludicrous (billions of troops, easily.) It would certainly be higher than Armageddon or Necromunda in this case, at least (hundreds of billions implied.)
Also note the peculiar distinction between 'tithe' and 'founding'. I wonder if this is meant to represent the 'regular' recruiting (tithes) as distinct from 'at need' conscription (foundings). Its as good a distinction as any, atlhough it also implies that foundings are quite a bit bigger than tithes as a rule.
Page 55
Again, Mortis is sort of the technological equivalent of a 'feral' world, or perhaps even a death world in some ways, given the hazards of enviroment existing in an underhive. Of course this planet actually sounds worse than Necromunda in that respect, the whole damn thing is basically underhive."Bunch of forsaken primitives here, is what they are, and just lucky enough to be living in what their ancestors built. It’s dog eat dog and daemons take the hindmost."
Page 56
Discussion of the Guard training/creation process. It seems that they don't favor certain kinds of troops because they're already well trained, but because they have certain basic/raw qualities deemed favorable by the guard, which can be refined/honed with training. It also can explain why they would (if they have a choice) recruit from a planet's professional military forces (PDFs, mercs, private armies, etc.) or at least from reserves/militia (if all else fails.) rather than outright conscription."I don’t see how their faith can be so weak," he said. He didn’t simply disapprove. He was confused. The Mortisian regiments were ferocious in the execution of their duty to the Emperor.
"The Guard is the end result of a shaping process," Bisset reminded him. "All we have to start with is rabid raw material."
Of course, despite the obvious shock displayed at the 'quality' thing, its totally within character for the nature of the Guard. Alot of the above assumes that time and circumstance permits the proper training (or even the basic minimum of training') to take advantage of the supposed 'raw material'. If time is short or circumstance severe, that training could be abbreviated or nonexistent.
Page 57
passenger capacity of Aquila.The four corner landing pads each held an Aquila shuttle.
..
The shuttles only had six-passenger capacities..
Page 57-58
Which might just suggest a guard bionic (although admittely one that is probably rather high quality, given the guy also warrants juvenat work and has decades of Guard service.) is strong neough to 'throw' a full grown human, although that does not neccesarily mean 'lift and throw' it could just mean a hard shove, or it might just be exaggeration.They reached the Aquila. It was full, and it was starting to lift off the pad, but there was just enough authority in Bisset’s uniform to make the pilot hesitate another few seconds. Bisset grabbed Tennesyn with his bionic arm and threw him into the open passenger bay.
Page 58
'independent' merchant. Wehther this implies he's a smuggler and thus 'unofficial' (unlicesnsed, perhaps) we don't know...Tennesyn managed to find a merchant willing to make a run to Antagonis. He was an independent runner of small arms, a supplier to mercenaries..
Page 59
'strategic' rather than 'tactical' orbital bombardemnts." We could gain some time with strategic orbital bombardments"
Page 61
'billions' on Antagonis again (although they're all zombies by now.)The lord of Antagonis regrouped.
...
"But no matter how formidable you and your brother warriors are, what good will that do against billions?"
Page 61
They mention sterilizing tha planet via exterminatus, but not specifying the method. The other (and main) interesting bit is the perspective of the Black Dragons. The novel does a hefty job of trying to portray them in the 'heroic defenders of humanity' role, in the same vein as Uriel Ventris in the Ultramarine novels (Nightbringer and Warriors of Ultramar come to mind.) And its not just pride or honour, they exhibit care and concern for the citizens as well, even as individuals. The tragic thing is, this becomes a point of division in the Chapter (largely because of the meddling of Inquisitor dumbass up there.)"There is nothing left but to retreat to orbit, and there Inquisitor Lettinger," he bowed to the hooded man, "can give the order to sterilise the planet, ensuring the archenemy’s victory is a pyrrhic one."
"And so, under my watch, I must see the Emperor lose another world?" Vritras demanded.
"It is hardly a strategic–"
..
"With every clod that is washed away, the Imperium is lessened, and we are all diminished. I will not let that happen without being certain I did everything that was possible, and more, to prevent it."
Page 62
a scholarly sororitas. This is a real change of pace"...there is something deep at work here. If we are to combat it, we need to know the precise nature of our enemy. I need a specimen.."
I actually like her in this novel quite a bit. She reminds me alot of Miriya, but more like Aescarion, utterly devoted to her God and the Imperial cult, yet not so blinkered by that faith that she is ignorant or lacks common sense. Page 65-66
Discussion of the Cursed foundings, and hints at the fates. The 'bad luck' clearly refers to the Lamenters (who are cursed.), whilst Excommunication clearyl refers to the Flame Falcons. Either way it was hinted that all the 'cursed' foundings could not recruit, which is rather doubtful, since we know the Fire Hawks could, and the Lamenters can (the curse doesn't affect their recruiting, it just makes them killed in absurd circumstnaces.) Regardless of whether or not they can recruit or not, it can still be said that only the black Dragons seem to be flourishing.Lettinger sighed, wondering if the Imperium would ever be done with the nightmares triggered by the 21st Founding. So much had gone wrong with so many Chapters that should never have been created. Rebellion, excommunication, luck that would make a daemon weep with sympathy – four millennia spent trying to undo the results brought on by the hubris of the Adeptus Mechanicus genetors who thought they could improve on the Emperor’s original genetic work. It was, perhaps, a saving grace that the gene flaws made further recruitment impossible. The cursed Chapters couldn’t replenish their ranks. One fallen Space Marine at a time, they were dying out.
Except the Black Dragons. Isolated from other Chapters, despised by some, their home world unknown, they were still strong. They still inducted neophytes.
Page 67
If Lettinger actually believes that he's even more blinkered than is usual for a monodominant (which he admitted to being in the book), or he simply doesn't have much experience with the politics of the Inquisition."I understand your anger. But do you, I wonder, understand why there is a cloud over the Dragons? The Inquisition is not capricious. It doesn’t persecute for the sheer joy of it. We do have rather a lot to keep ourselves busy, you know."
Page 73
It seems the Mortisians have need of pilots of some kind, either raised with the regiment, or seconded to it some poitn after the fact. What they are piloting (as of yet) we don't know, but its at least capable of reconnaisance. Even odder we learn they have a 'starship'.". Brother Keryon reports, and Colonel Dysfield’s pilots confirm, that there are pockets of resistance within the mass of the enemy."
Page 75-76
space Marine (assault marine really) flamer literally cremating bodies - high MJ/lwo GJ. It can't have a very bulky fuel source, since we learn the dude can throw it away later (and in any case there's the jump pack, although one could speculate he was tapping from that I suppose.) Either way its anyone's guess how they make the flamethrowers cremate shit (besides magic, of course.)As Volos opened up with his flamer and incinerated the front ranks of the dead...
..
...as he reduced another phalanx of the dead to smouldering bone and ash, he used the momentary breathing space the gap created...
Page 78
And yet its very real and very possible (even fairly common) for such to happen in the Imperium. Power is rarely 'absolute' or 'real', but its all very much relative, depending on capabilities, politics, etc. A Guardsman or even Space Marine forces with greater military power than the Inquisitor can, at least temproarily, gain more power, although the consequences afterwards may or may not be severe, for example.The guard was more frightened of Setheno than he was of Lettinger.
..
A canoness was conducting what was, in effect, an inquisition, while the inquisitor was barred from the scene. Setheno had as little business studying the corpse as he had the absolute right and duty to do so. Yet she commanded, and all obeyed. If anyone else had been on the other side of the door, Lettinger would have ordered and witnessed her immediate execution. That even contemplating such a course of action made him break out in a cold sweat was a testament to her power. The being in that room was will incarnate. Though Lettinger’s rational mind rose in outrage at the slight to his real authority, his every instinct recoiled from the mere thought of moving against Setheno’s wishes.
I do find it rather amusing that even the big bad Monodominant is terrified of the big bad Sister. I bet she could even make the Grey Knights pee their power armor.
Page 80
Again curious scholarly practices. She has knowledge of the creation of wards of some kind, for containment and protective purposes.Setheno had first had to sanctify the surgery with prayer, and then prepare a network of wards across the stone of the floor and walls, on the door, and around the table. She hoped they would be enough.
Page 86
Again the flamer does not seem to have a backpack fuel source, or be linked to the jump pack in any obvious way (dangerous if it expldoed like that.) Indeed it seemed a fairly self contained weapon, which makes the cremation even more over the top.Volos dropped the flamer and threw himself to the side as the promethium reservoir exploded.
Page 91
Size of a daemon-worm construct composed of the bodies of the inhabitants of Antagonis. AGain, daemonic creatures/constructs seem to rely on the raw matter of realspace rather than making imaginary matter from the warp. Probably has something to do with the stability it gives ('anchoring' for lack of a better word, the creature to normal space.)He saw Lexica give shattering birth to a monstrous worm. It was fifty metres long, wider than Toharan was tall, and writhing with eye-mouths and roiling flesh.
Page 92
This becomes a fairly significant plot poitn later, as the poor guy is suffering guilt for his failure to save the girl. Foundation for a tragedy I suspect, but I admire it too because it demonstrates that, at least for some if not many of the Dragons, the desire to protect the inhabitatns of the planet is based on an actual desire to protect, rather than simply 'honour' or glory or silly shit.Toharan remembered looking at Bethshea during the flight from Lecorb, and seeing in the girl the reason for an otherwise senseless mission. His battle-brothers and the Guard had been sacrificed, but she had been a small portion of the Imperium and its future that had been saved, and so the sacrifices had not been in vain.
Page 95
Implying that the Mortisians have bolter 'rifles'. For a regiment from a backward regressed hive of techno-barbarians who produce low-quality weapons, they're exceedingly well armed and equipped (eg the vehicles and shit.)Dysfield and Setheno had organised the remaining Mortisians into a fire team under the landing pad platform. All the lasrifles and bolter rifles but Setheno’s suddenly fell silent as the worm looked at the men. It did not need to touch to feed or spread its taint. Its gaze, when met by a human, was enough
Page 95
Implying that the hellstrike missiles (however many is fired 2 or 4 is my guess.) If we figure that's the fireball diameter encompassing them, the total energy content might be gigajoules (or tons) of TNT, over however many missiles. Figure tens or hundreds of kilos of TNT at least per Hellstrike warhead.The worm was consumed by the justice of Hellstrike missiles. Its shrieks reached a height of pain pure enough to cut crystal, and then they cut off, and there was only the roar of flame
Page 105-106
First a 'Mortisian' Dictator class cruiser. It may imply its the regiments, but we know that can't be the case because the IG isn't in control of vehicles (breaks the separation between Guard and Army to prevent rebellion.) Alternatley its either part of the Mortisian PDF (somehow) seconded to the Navy or Guard's use, or it is part of some sort of Navy detachment headquartered at the hive world. The latter is probably more likely, to be honest.It was Lettinger who ordered the Exterminatus, but only after being commanded to do so by Setheno. He had the formal authority. She had the will and the experience. And it was the Black Dragons who carried out the order. They had the cyclonic torpedoes.
..
The primary occulus showed the planet at zero magnification. The worm writhed across the entire northern landmass. To Volos, even at a size that changed tectonic behaviour, the worm seemed more than ever like a disease.
..
The Exterminatus began with an assist from the Mortisian Dictator-class cruiser, Archon Voltinius. It was the least bit of justice that could be granted to the decimated companies. The bombardment began with mass drivers sent in a cluster near the worm’s head. Into that grouping, the Immolation Maw then fired the cyclonic torpedoes.
Secondly, a dictator class cruiser has mass drivers for planetary bombardment, blasting a hole in the crust to allow Cyclonics to penetrate. On the low end this means that one mass driver broadside is perhaps as destructive or more so than torpedoes (at least in terms of KE.) Assuming a 100-2000 ton torpedo and 20-800 km/s velocity (Various sources) we can get anywhere from 2e13 per torp (1e14 J for 6 shot salvo.) whilst on the far end you get 6e17 J per torpedo, which is 3.6e18 J).
The more direct way is by blasting craters. We can presume there's t least one 'battery' (by Rogue Trader RPG defintiions) which would be dozens of guns (conservatively we'll assume Mass Drivers entirely, even though most broadsides ar emixed.) Dictators of course are the carrier cruiser variants, and thus pack less firepower than other cruisers. The poitn of the bombardment is to weaken the crust and allow the torpedoes to penetrate, which suggests it blastas away a substantial (majority) of the crust. Figure at least 10-20 km deep at least, which suggests a 20-40 km diameter at a minimum. That would roughl correspond to bombarding the region near the worm's 'head' which is continent sized (Given the length/width ratio implied before its head is probably is 1/5 to 1/10th the length.) we're talking tens of kilometres easily if the crater is comparable to the snake's head (likely) Figure 24-100 shots, which would be betwen 1.8-3 km radius for the craters, which implies (depending on kinetic and/or explosive effects) megatons (single to double digit explosive - higher for kinetic) to gigatons (for kinetic) of enegy per crater. If we're talkign 20 km radius crater, its 3.5-5.5 km radius which is again megaton for explosive (tens to hundreds) to gigatons (tens or hundreds quite possible) for kinetic. And that's all per shot.
If we go all out and figure it blasted craters through the crust to the magma (40 km radius) its 7-11 km radius per shot. which is hundreds to thousands of megatons (for explosives) and hundreds or thousands of gigatons (potentially) for impact. Broadly I'm thinking of these as very rough order of magnitude estimates, and indications that fireower even for a 'carrier' cruiser is still megaton/gigaton range broadsides, at least.
I'ts also suggesting it fires of a single (short) barrage followed by the torpedoes. Clearly the mass drivers are at least as fast as the torpedoes, if not quite a bit more faster (indicative perhaps of high hundreds/lo thousands of km/s at LEAST.)
Page 106
Yet another peculiar sort of cyclonic Exterminatus bombardment, which seems to be the 40K version of genesis. I won't raed 'supernova kinetic energy' too literally, as if that wer true the planet would be nothing but plasma, whilst its quite evident (now and later) that the planet is intact and most assuredly not vapour or plasma. In actuality it seems ot be some sort of weaponized terraforming/geoforming that relies on fucking up crust and mantle both. The energy content, however, could be comparable to sterilization (mentioned before) or a nova/CME/Flare (which WOULD be roughly consistent with those effects.)In the past, Volos had heard human enthusiasts describe the work of the torpedoes as beautiful. Those men were idiots, he had always thought, mighty war boosters who had managed to avoid combat and its inconveniences themselves. But now, he could see a kind of beauty in the work of the torpedoes. It was the beauty of inexorable, unforgiving judgement, and of absolute power. These bombs killed by reshaping worlds.
The artistry of annihilation began with a magnesium-white flare at the site of the strike. The burst was a sudden blossom, a flower from the heart of a sun. The torpedoes blasted through the planetary crust weakened by the Voltinius’s bombs, and drove the mantle into the fury of the storm. Its kinetic energy turned supernova-worthy, the mantle discovered a heat beyond molten, beyond incandescence. Rock became gas. The surface of the planet twisted and flowed like clouds. Mountain ranges new and old became the arms of a hurricane. Antagonis was new again, returned to its infancy. Volos saw the worm consumed by a crust that veered wildly between solid and liquid, mountain and valley. When the terrible dance of the continental plates ended, so had everything else on Antagonis. There was no life. There was no hope. There was no point.
PAge 106-107
The 'doubtworm' the plague that infected Antagonis with 'zombies' is described. Its not so much zombie shit as it is a sort of possession.. hive mind possession by my observation."And doubtworm is…?"
"A parasitical form of daemonic possession."
"So the walking dead…"
...
"They were suffering the early onset of possession. The larval stage of the worm."
..
"In the larval stage, the victims’ higher thought processes are dulled, but they are aware of what is happening to them. They sense their damnation, and are focussed on it, not on those as yet untouched by the plague. But the people you rescued were fully possessed, and the others attacked them in a final, desperate act of faith before they succumbed."
"An entire planet possessed in a week?" Volos said. ‘How is that possible?"
..
"It is possible because of human weakness. The parasite both feeds on doubt and spreads it. It is during the larval stage that it is most contagious, as that is when its effects are visible. Remember, this is no airborne virus. It is a thing of the warp, and leaps from mind to mind. For almost any human, to see a fellow fall prey to the worm is to feel vulnerable, and thus to be vulnerable. Then, during the pupal stage, the mind of the victim is active again, but only as the puppet to the daemon. During this phase, the worm will work to arrange its propagation to other worlds"
..
"The pupal period lasts until the disguise is either no longer needed or is discovered. The final stage,’ Setheno gestured at the hololith display of the shattered planet, ‘is final."
The interesting thing is that its implied that possessing a whole world in a week is unnaturally fast by 'conventional' possession means. It reminds me alot of those Nurgle bacterial daemon-plagues in alot of ways, and sort of like genestealers with their desire to 'expand'. It also closely resembles a more malignant form of the Hydra from the Inquisiton War, and similar such things.
Page 109-110
She mentions resisting would lead to the Chapter as a whole being investigated, so having the company under scrutiny is beter than the entire Chapter. When questioned on her reasons, she basically says that her sole purpose is to do what is best for the Emperor, and thats where her loyalty is. I like that, because its not the mindless, reactionary conviction of the Monodominat Lettinger, but its a more reasoned, yet equally deep and implacable. She's not using her own prejudices and preconceptions to dictate matters, but judges solely on what she perceives (or believes) is where the truth and 'good' ultimately lies."You know that I am not without influence. "
..
" My influence is of a more… informal nature."
..
..I can have the inquiry limited to your company and the Antagonis action. Inquisitor Lettinger is a Monodominant and he is young, and so the cooler, more senior heads in the ordo will be open to mechanisms that will keep him from going too far, too quickly."
..
"That doesn’t mean he will succeed. Particularly if my presence here adds the Ecclesiarchy’s imprimatur to the proceedings."
We also get more clarification of her power adn role. Its more indirect and subtle, which again underscores the fact she has no blatantly outlines powers or authority, but it stems entirely from her personality and charisma, and perhaps her connection to the Ecclesiarchy (hinted at here.)
Still, the fact that she can, via politics, manipuilate even the Inquisition (or at least the more practical senior Malleus types) is impressive.
Page 111-112
Why Space Marines are supposedly resistant to the doubtworm."Because of the nature of doubtworm. However complex an organism it becomes, and however sophisticated it appears to be once it makes use of its human host, it is, at its most basic level, very simple. Its attacks are narrowly targeted, but effective. It exploits the nature of faith, and one very specific doubt. The worm’s message to its victims is that the Emperor does not exist."
..
"..remember that to have faith in something is, by definition, to lack proof. Faith is a spiritual wager, not a certainty. To believe is to open the door for doubt. To believe is not to know, and the vast majority of humans, especially civilians, never have any direct knowledge of the Emperor. Thus, they can doubt. You are Adeptus Astartes, and are therefore immune to this attack."
..
"You have faith in each other, in your captain, in the Chapter, in the all-knowing wisdom of the God-Emperor. But you do not need faith in his existence. You know he exists. Your own being is proof of his. He is not just your Emperor. He is your ultimate progenitor. Even the Traitor Legions are incapable of this doubt. They would have nothing to betray, otherwise."
Page 117
Setheno has her own ship, which is similar to a Cobra class. So some cobras are (Again) roughly a kilometre long (2/3 the length of the Cobras from Rogue Trader.) Strike cruiser 4x the 'size' (length? Mass?) of a Cobra. Given FFG lengths (4+ km) or masses (tens of megatons) either is possible.They rested at high anchor and in close parallel. Canoness Setheno’s ship, which was also about to lose its owner, was of a manufacture that Lettinger didn’t recognise. He suspected it was a Mechanicus-modified variant of the Cobra-class destroyer. Just less than a kilometre long, it was about the right size for a Cobra, but it was much sleeker. It was a grey, merciless stiletto of a craft, its profile so narrow, its colours so muted and light-absorbing, that it was hard, even this close, to see it clearly against the stars. Lettinger had no such difficulty with the Maw. Over four times the size of the Clarity, the strike cruiser was an ugly, brutal, clawed fist, its outgrowths of flying buttresses and weapon turrets a reflection of the deformed warriors who made it home. It was a ship with a very high degree of long-term self-sufficiency.
Setheno being able to get the Admech to modify a ship for her (or that she is even able to OBTAIN a ship for her own use) is pretty freaking impressive.
Also strike cruisers (like all Space Marine vessels) optimzied for self sufficiency and independent operation.
Page 120-121
He left 'a week ago' and had spent a week on Aighe Mortis, which suggests that he spent far less than a day in the warp, round trip. Assuming 8-12 hours one way over ~5-10 LY we're looking at 3600-11000c at least... Tennesyn explained that it was he who had sought passage to Antagonis. ‘I really didn’t know anything this serious had happened,’ he said, gesturing at the transformed planet. "I was only just here, and–"
"When was that?" one of the Space Marines interrupted.
"A week ago."
..
"There was no plague when you left?"
...
"Plague?" Tennesyn asked. "No, there was nothing wrong at all."
Page 122
A space Marine with a sense of humor is always nice to see, especially when he is willing to show it to 'mere' humans."Congratulations, Scholar Tennesyn," Vritras said, and there was a welcome shade of humour in his tone. "You have just avoided execution."
Page 124
Bits and pieces from a longer passage, it reflects that there is an inherent division of sorts amidst the Black Dragons. Those 'untainted' face a sort of discrimination over those who do have it, and this will have consequences down the line. Its actually rather tragic, as Lettingers manipulations and Tohoran's guilt over the failures at Antagonis (failure to save the girl, in particular) are driving him to seek some sort of redemption, leading him to a metaphroical quest for 'purity' to save teh Dragons and restore them in the eyes of other Chapters and the Inquisition. When in reality he wants absolution for what he sees as personal failures, and is seeking that through trying to 'save' the Chapter."Truth be told, it’s sometimes hard not to feel a bit…"
"Resentful?" Toharan suggested.
...
Then he nodded. The gesture was almost imperceptible.
"Excluded?" Toharan said.
..
"Am I any the less a Black Dragon because my bones are all inside my skin? I would kill anyone who dares aver I am."
