The column ford into two segnts. The advance elent: four Chiras running point. The main body: the remaining Chiras mixed with cargo haulers carrying the thousand infantry, with the three chanicus repair vehicles embedded in the formation.
Kian rode in the command Chira, managing the operation from inside.
The command variant was the right tool for this. Limited weaponry, but every cubic centitre of internal space given over to electronics — vox equipnt for unit-to-unit communication, a vehicle-mounted auspex for forward threat detection, internal storage containing planetary maps and a gravitational positioning system. Using all of it, Kian could manage his force the way a strategist manages a tactical display — unit positions, terrain overlays, communication channels to every squad with a handset.
He was working the map, plotting the route, when Antonius's voice ca through the helt vox.
"You're routing around the direct path. Why? You're adding hours to the march."
Kian kept working the map.
"Antonius — the force has one voice. Mine. I don't explain my decisions to you."
A pause. Then, with controlled irritation: "You'll regret this, Voss."
"I'm the Chapter Master."
He cut the channel and raised the lead vehicle.
"Front elent — confirm road surface condition ahead."
"Sir — heavy vehicle track marks throughout. Road has seen significant recent traffic."
"Good. Hold speed, maintain vigilance. Our threat list includes both rebels and our own people."
The routing logic was straightforward: stay on the PDF supply lines. Heavy track marks ant regular traffic, which ant the road had been recently used and was unlikely to be freshly mined. Going cross-country in rebel territory invited both enemy improvised devices and the kind of attention from other PDF units that Kian had personally demonstrated was dangerous.
The column wound forward on the longer but safer path. When PDF checkpoints appeared, the procedure was consistent: present the movent docunts, offer five bags of grain, advance. Two more checkpoints after the first, sa result each ti. No shooting.
By evening they had reached the forward edge of the active PDF advance — the point where the controlled territory ended and the contested ground began.
Kian ordered a halt in a flat cultivated field. The Chiras ford a defensive periter, vehicles and personnel inside. He ordered food out — tinned guana-at, quality bread, a asured allocation of amasec. The soldiers ate well.
Antonius appeared.
"We're a hundred kilotres from the objective. Our night systems are superior to anything the rebels field. Night movent gives us the advantage. Why are you stopping?"
Kian fixed him with a flat look.
"One voice. Mine. Get out of my sight."
"Voss — you will regret this."
"I'm the Chapter Master."
Antonius left with the energy of a man who was cataloguing grievances for later presentation.
Kian's reasoning was sound and he didn't feel obligated to share it. The auspex systems were good, yes. But darkness was darkness — in rebel territory it ant roadside devices that sensors might miss, guerrilla ambushes positioned to exploit limited visibility, and a dozen other complications that cost lives rather than ti. His soldiers were his investnt. He wanted them rested and at full capacity for whatever ca next.
Day two. The advance resud, but slowly.
Kian's solution to the ordnance problem: Big Kae ran three kilotres ahead of the column at all tis, his chanical legs' ground vibration sensors and active detection capability sweeping the road and verges. Clear signal — column advances three kilotres. Kae moves forward again. Stop, scan, advance. Repeat.
The pace was geological. The last hundred kilotres took most of the day.
It worked. Big Kae flagged multiple roadside devices during the advance. The explosive content was crude — but devices asured in hundreds of kilograms of low-grade explosive were not sothing armoured vehicles survived intact. Each one was destroyed in place: the heavy reactive suits advanced, the autocannon grenade launchers put two or three high-explosive rounds on target, and the road opened again after the crater was assessed.
Big Kae's voice ca over the vox, unhurried.
"Boss — stopping. Three kilotres ahead, significant ground vibration. Footstep signature. Count exceeds four thousand."
[End of Chapter 226]
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