Ciaphas Cain: Choose Your Enemies

– Given the relative ease with which communications can be monitored, and the fact that most codes can be broken with sufficient effort, there is still a place in the military for the dissemination of sensitive information by courier where time permits.

– Unless you count the vast number of shuttle movements undertaken by Traffic Control on a normal working day before the eldar invasion, of course, although Thromp, like most of the minor nobility, seems a little hazy about the realities of everyday life.

– Not to mention the considerable amount of money they’d been offered.

– No probably about it. Conspiracies unravel by identifying one member of them and seeing who else they talk to.

– Possibly an exaggeration, but not by much.

– Probably Eagle or Darkstar classes, although nothing large enough to identify survived the ensuing explosion.

– Or, to be more accurate, the largest and most heavily armed one, since the vessel commanding the enemy fleet was never positively identified.

– Possibly because it’s not that easy to take a farseer by surprise.

– Or not: see my previous footnote.

– An effect he often had on ladies of a certain age, and – despite the studied disingenuousness – of which he was well aware. And one he wasn’t above taking advantage of if he wanted a favour, either.

– Or pitched him into it.

– Preferably by persuading them to ‘retire’ or ‘spend more time in academic pursuits,’ but other, more permanent options are available for the ones who fail to see reason.

– An improvised sign of allegiance often adopted by Slaaneshi cultists in open rebellion against the Imperial authorities.

– And failing.

– More like definitely.

– Presumably a misinterpretation of the recovery of the casualties’ spirit stones.

– In the short term, anyway.

– Not exactly. More like set aside for the time being.

– I’ve always wondered what these are supposed to be the rest of the time.

– An Imperial Guard euphemism for mercy killing.

– Clambering over it and swearing, more like, if I know him.

– Less of a risk than it sounds; anyone serving in the governor’s personal guard would have been recruited from the cream of the planetary defence force, and be among the most experienced and disciplined soldiers in the Ironfound System.