Hands of the Emperor

The Horus Heresy #Short Story

by Rob Sanders

There are no more loyal servants of the Master of Mankind than his own Custodian Guard... except, of course, for his appointed praetorians, the stalwart legionaries of the Imperial Fists. When Shield-Captain Enobar Stentonox is assigned to watch over the Palace, it is only a matter of hours before a full alert is sounded - secure airspace has been breached, by none other than their well-intentioned Space Marine allies. With neither side willing to accept responsibility for the mistake, tensions rise and a new battle begins in the skies over Terra.

Read it because
A giant floating city could crash into the Imperial Palace on Terra! This is a tense and unique tale, pitting loyalist against loyalist in a time where they should be sticking together. Can they stop bickering in time to stop the Palace's destruction? Read on to find out.

Genres: 40k, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Audiobook

36 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 30, 2015

About the author

Rob Sanders is the author of twelve novels, as well as numerous anthologised short stories, novellas, audio dramas, computer games and comics. His fiction has won national writing competitions, been featured on the BBC and appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list. His poetry has been short listed in national contests. He lives off the beaten track in the small city of Lincoln, UK.

Reviews

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 5 out of 5]

When an orbital plate is moving above the Imperial Palace threatening its security because of a lack of communication between Adeptus Astartes and Custodian Guard, paranoia rises and a misunderstanding between stubborn Imperial Fists and the appointed praetorians of the Master of Mankind quickly escalates to open conflict and maybe worst.

An high-tension thrilling Horus Heresy e-short by Rob Sanders that really entertains you from the start to the end... And beyond.

[RatGrrrl · Rating 5 out of 5]

April 2024 Re-Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order Omnibus XV Scale and Stone (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy saga and extras.

I'm sorry, but this is just good clean fun and highlights the ludicrousness of the Imperium, and with great writing to boot!

The Imperial Fists move forward with unapproved works within the aerospace of the Imperial Palace without communicating with the Custodes...which goes down about as well as you might think.

I love to have my heart broken and stamped on by big ceramite boots, but I also love to have a laugh and remember that Warhammer 40K and the previous millennia's setting, particularly regarding the Imperium, is one parodying authoritarianism, conservatism, fascism, and colonialism. This is a perfect example of lampooning authoritarian states and the dangers of ego and unchecked machismo.

Two forces who's entire being right now is the defence of Terra and the Emperor of Mankind ready to murder each other over acting before a work order has been ratified. Just perfect comedy done with the super serious wry straight face of the Horus Heresy. What's not to love? The fun twist in the tail is very cool too.

I don't see this topping the list of anyone's favourites, but it's definitely one of the most fun and a truly marvellous example of straightmanning your own farcical premise, which is the absolute heart of what Warhammer is!

Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 28 Horus Heresy novels, 15 novellas (including 1 repeat), 96 short stories/ audio dramas (including 6 repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 13 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels and a short story...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.

[Lanfear · Rating 3 out of 5]

Muy buen relato de la legio custodes con un final muy parecido al de Valdor. En cierto sentido Belisarius se parece un poco a Valdor, al ser tan atrevido y astuto.
Este relato nos muestra como la legio custodes está en alerta máxima preparando las defensas de terra para recibir al architraidor. Mientras el capitán del escudo revisa los preparativos se produce un malentendido entre los custodes y los puños imperiales que está a punto de terminar en una tragedia aún mayor.
Creo que estoy contento como va desarrollando todo hasta ahora, voy leyendo a cuentagotas como poco a poco llega el momento de que los traidores lleguen a Terra. Leyendo los relatos y novelas cortas de todas las legiones y situaciones paralelas, me estoy haciendo una idea, una imagen general de la herejía que muestra todos los puntos de vista y enriquece mucho la ambientación.

[Gamer Gamersson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Custodes and Imperial Fists are almost thrown at each other's throats due to a bureaucratic mishap. It would be funny if it didn't intend to be serious, and it could be interesting if it didn't intend to be so damn ridiculous. Effective, for what it is, but I personally don't like what it is at all.

[Regan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love all the Custodes parts, hate all the Imperial Fists parts, they're so damn annoying.

[Troy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collected In war without end anthology.

[Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice to see the Golden Bannana boys again and to get a snapshot of their toils during the HH.

[Ross Cudmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

The atmosphere on Terra is tense. There is not nearly enough time to complete every task before the traitor forces arrive, and the hierarchy is unclear and messy.

The Custodian Guard are the protectors of the Emperor. The Imperial Fists have been tasked with preparing Terra for the oncoming siege. These goals seem aligned, but that does not mean there is agreement on how to achieve it.

The Custodes and Imperial Fists come to blows as orders are given and paranoia and stubbornness hold sway.

A little silly, a little funny, but also some intense action.

Lore note, the Imperial Fist Captain in this story is Demetrius Katafalque who reappears in "Praetorian of Dorn" and who later becomes Chapter Master of the Excoriators.

[Hanz Löwe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another offering from Rob Sanders, author of Redemption Corps, and that should say it all.

A Custodian is the most fiercely loyal warrior to the Emperor, would he dare, even for a moment, to compare himself to the Emperor?

Would Dorn, known for his mastery of defence and siegecraft, allow a airship to orbit above the palace, especially as Polux in Unremembered Empire put it, "“Effective sabotage could knock it from orbit, and drop every megatonne of its metal bulk on this city”. Even his man understands this, why wouldn't he?

Why would the orbital plate open fire on the Custodes, a known ally, instead of letting them land and negotiate? Is this how Space Marines in M31 greet their allies?

I could go on, but it'll take days for me to finish. What I'll say is, Sanders obviously did not think it through, like Redemption Corps, this story is reeked of plot holes. If Sanders wish to write better stories in the future, he needs to spend more time on the drawing board and not writing down every ideas that come out from his behind.