Editing The 13th Black Crusade (section)

===Icy Deliverance===

It was then that Saint Celestine spoke up, and gave everyone a possible option. Over Greyfax's objections, Celestine suggested that their salvation lay on the surface of Klaisus itself. With nothing else to lose, both Cawl and Marshall Amalrich overrode the angry Inquisitor's complaints, and pledged to follow the Saint to whatever deliverance she saw in her visions.

And so the ''Iron Revenant'' changed course towards the icy moon, and in the process gave the Ark Mechanicus a chance to fire one uncontested broadside on its pursuer. The ''Vengeful Spirit'' took the salvo head on, taken unaware of its prey's sudden change in direction. Shields collapsed and cannons were torn off their housing as the shells and torpedoes struck, but the battleship had survived the Siege of Terra, and had lived through wounds far worse than what the Ark Mechanicus can deal.

The corrupted Gloriana-class struck back with a broadside from its starboard batteries. By this point there was no way that the ''Iron Revenant'' could outrun its pursuer, and retaliated in kind with its own broadsides. They pounded at each other for more than an hour, all the while Klaisus grew closer.

The Despoiler meant to claim the Ark himself, or see it burn in ruin in the moon's upper atmosphere. On his orders traitors boarded assault craft by the score, in preparation for an assault on the floundering Mechanicus warship. As the last of the ''Iron Revenant's'' defensive batteries was silenced, countless Dreadclaws screamed across the void.

Once Cawl was informed of the incoming boarders, Cawl made his move. The ship was doomed, but it had served its purpose, and it was now deep into Klaisus' orbit. While the remaining crew tried to keep Abaddon and his minions busy, Magos, Inquisitor, Living Saint, Sororitas and Black Templars alike streamed into the awaiting transports. These spiraled downward into the howling snowstorms below, escorted by the few fighter craft that the Ark had left.

By the time the Ark finally broke apart and the first Heldrakes streaked down to pursue the fleeing convoy, they had already disappeared beneath the protection of Klaisus' blinding blizzards.