"Close combat!" Kor drew the Combat Knife at his waist, a short blade forged from titanium alloy. In the T'au armoury, it was more a symbol than a weapon, embodying the unyielding will of the fire warriors.
"Charge!"
Fifty fire warriors let out their final battle cry and charged at the golden wall of death.
The outcome of this battle was never in doubt.
The fire warriors' Combat Knives struck the Adeptus Custodes' Power Armour like branches striking stone, leaving only a few shallow white marks. Every sweep of the Custodes' Guardian Spears, however, claimed a life.
Kor led the charge. He thrust his Combat Knife at the gap in a Shield Guard's faceplate, the only weakness he could find.
The instant the tip touched the faceplate, a golden hand caught it lightly between its fingers.
Kor looked up and saw the eyes beneath the Shield Guard's helmet. There was no anger in them, no contempt, only a calm indifference, as though he were examining an insect.
Crack.
With a gentle squeeze of the Shield Guard's fingers, the Combat Knife's blade crumbled like a biscuit.
Then the butt of the Guardian Spear lashed out like lightning and slammed into Kor's chest. The tremendous force hurled him bodily into the corridor wall with the dull crunch of shattering bones.
Kor slid to the floor, blue blood pouring from his mouth. His chestplate had caved in, and at least five of his ribs were broken. Yet he still tried to stand, his fading eyes fixed desperately ahead.
He saw his soldiers fall, one after another.
The young fire warrior named Khaine used the last of his strength to detonate the Photon Grenade in his hand just before a spear pierced his abdomen. The white glare of the explosion swallowed him and the