The hall fell deathly silent in an instant. Even the sound of breathing seemed to stop.
Artillery—artillery execution?
That was the ultimate punishment the Imperium reserved for traitors and heretics!
The condemned would be tied to a macro-cannon shell or stuffed directly into the barrel, then blasted out with a single shot.
No bones left behind; even their souls would be shattered by the shockwave!
"This proposal—"
Oil-Guy stroked his chin, the blue light in his mechanical eye flickering several times as though running some sort of calculation.
Then he smiled, and the smile was exceptionally radiant.
"I think it's a good one."
He looked at the 170 deathly pale faces below the platform and announced cheerfully, "Then it's decided."
"Your crimes are too grave. Ordinary executions are no longer enough to punish your evil deeds."
"Following deliberation by Cage Lawrence, the new Governor of Kent Hive City, and the Dawn Warband—"
He paused, and his voice abruptly turned harsh. "All of you vermin are sentenced to public execution!"
"Time: noon, three days from now."
"Location: Central Plaza, Mid Hive, Kent Hive City."
"The citizens of the Hive City will be invited to witness it, as a warning to others!"
"No—no—you can't—I'm an Imperium official—"
Adela slumped in his chair, and his crotch went wet again. This time, there was even more of it.
His eyes were unfocused as he muttered, "The Hissman Family won't let you get away with this—the Adeptus Mechanicus—the Khomo Psionic Family—the Adons Knight Family—"
He suddenly raised his head, his eyes erupting with one final burst of madness. "Cage Lawrence! Do you think you can control Kent Hive City just by killing us?!"
"You're wrong! Dead wrong!!"
He howled, his voice twisted by terror and despair. "The four great powers have operated on Aurelian IV