Written for the Black Library Weekender III, this Uriel Ventris story directly follows on in the minutes after Codex (a story written for the 25 Years of 40k Anthology) and follows the Ultramarines as they attempt to extract rescued captives from the hands of the orks. Set on the worl of Sycorax, it’s a world overrun with orks, but never fear, the Ultramarines are here…

Except it doesn’t quite work out that way, and the Ultramarines are suddenly on the back foot when they face a situation I’ve not often put them in before. Losing. In the previous books, the boys in blue have always triumphed. At great cost, yes, but they’ve always seen the enemy off. Not this time, as Captain Fabian is in full retreat (maybe even dead…) and Uriel and his fellows are trapped with only a forsaken mountain for refuge.

The ending to this story is intended as a direct lead-in to The Swords of Calth, and the enigmatic, ‘King Under the Mountain’ question posed at the end of the story will finally be answered…