The instant the clavigers were out in the open the rebels opened fire. Rough cast solid slugs and a hail of scatter-shot spat out from the opening, most of it missing its target but some slamming into the wardens’ hard shell. One warden staggered as a slug struck his bulky shoulder armour, but in a moment he was continuing in his advance, stepping over the corpse of a fallen rebel to rejoin the line. A second claviger took the brunt of a shotgun blast, the hammer blow almost casting him from his feet. Incredibly, he straightened up and carried on towards the objective, his armour having absorbed the worst of the impact.

Commissar