The battle planet Virgin and the Macragge's Honour, which had already turned around, clung tightly to the rear of the Three Sacred Prayers, pursuing the fleeing Word Bearers.
When the rebels besieged Amatara, they had possessed two Gloriana-class Battleships, two Abyssal Fury-class battleships, and hundreds of warships of every kind. Now, however, only this final flagship remained.
Those battleships, cruisers, and transport vessels had all become trapped prey. Even if they were still barely holding on, once the Ultramarines dealt with the true threat, cleaning them up would be a simple matter.
Marius Gage received good news from the boarding party aboard the Law of Truth. The boarding force led by Captain Mesaro had already killed every Word Bearer and mortal servant aboard that Gloriana-class Battleship.
Adamantium power armor displayed overwhelming dominance in the cramped confines of a warship. The strongest firepower the enemy could deploy was Dreadnoughts, and even they proved helpless against adamantium armor.
In other words, that warship was already in the XIII Legion's grasp.
The Chapter Master immediately ordered the main force to continue the pursuit, while the fleet's hospital ships descended at once to Amatara's surface to treat the wounded.
From space, the planet was a devastated ruin, scarred everywhere by enormous bombardment craters and burning ground. Four thousand Astartes and their mortal auxiliary forces had held off the combined armies of the Word Bearers and World Eaters. Even Gage felt profound despair at the sight.
He repeatedly considered his own abilities and limits, yet he could only guarantee that the enemy would take this world over his corpse—not that he could hold it to the end.
Yet Orfeo had held out until Guilliman's reinforcements arrived. Gage only hoped Amatara's regent was still alive. He deserved the most glorious triumphal ceremony.
Gravity lash-cables disrupted the