+++++++<<Record Log: 147219b---Interrogation Log: Subject: Sergeant James Boyde, 12th Mechanized Ullidian Rifles - Baker Company - 4th Platoon - 2nd Squad---Crime: Desertion---36994M41 Battle of Hive Haverus Industrial Sector, lone survivor>>+++++++

+++Access Requested...+++

Authorization Inquisition Override >>> Ordo Xenos Seal Recognized >>> Inquisitor Rathe

+++Access Granted+++

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--/++ Recording Initiated ++\--

Interogating Officer: Commissar Hark

Hark: Sergeant Boyde you are ordered to answer all questions here truthfully and accurately. The truthseer devices in this room will measure your responses and failure to comply with my questions will be deemed treason and you will be subjected to summary execution, do you understand? +
Boyde: Ye... Yes Commissar, I understand. +

--< Heart-rate raised, blood pressure heightened, subject anxious >--

Hark: Good. Now tell me Sergeant, in full account, what happened to your strike group at Hive Haverus? +
Boyde: We... we’d been under siege for a month, but is was no normal siege Sir. The Xenos, they were keeping us penned in, there were no guns at the walls, or artillery raining down, but anyone who attempted to leave the city would be set upon. They hit us with lightning raids from fast vehicles and before we could send reinforcements they’d have destroyed our forces and disappeared again. We just... we just weren’t quick enough Sir, and they never came close enough for the cities defenses to be any use... we weren't doing any damage to them at all... +
Hark: Continue Sergeant +
Boyde: Well Sir.. well you see our commanders they decided that the only way to break the siege would be to start launching counter attacks, moving out of our walls in force. Thats where we came in Sir. My squad along with 1st squad were attached to to 403rd Armoured Division to give their tanks infantry support. The 403rd were to be the core of the counter attack. Our force was tasked with retaking the heavily damaged industrial block 3 clicks north of the city walls. We moved out of the walls and got to the edges of the industrial block unscathed but... but thats when... thats when they came Sir +

--< Heart-rate increasing, subject becoming increasingly stressed, 98.7% probability of being truthful, subject experiencing symptoms of having suffered traumatic event >--

Hark: But thats what you wanted isn’t it Sergeant? To draw them out so you could hit them with imperial armour? +
Boyde: Yes.. of course Commissar but wh-... what followed... my men... +
Hark: Pull yourself together Sergeant +
Boyde: Yes Sir, I deployed my squad into a building to give fire support from its roof, all around me Leman Russ Tanks were in position ready to unleash hell, and 1st squad remained in their transport ready to deploy rapidly to anywhere they might be needed. But then they came... They got the drop on us, their flying tanks cut through the air like blades, huge but sleek heavy infantry crossed open ground with high powered weapons. Before we knew it Commander Travis was gone, his battle tank cut down like it was made of paper, and there was more, the relic tank, the Executioner Tempertis took heavy damage too, one of its tracks seared clean from its housing. In the confusion Captain Anderson took over, but we’d been shaken Sir. Guardsman Astar from my own squad was cut down too, enemy infantry had taken up position in a building across from us. He was only a young man Sir, and they cut him down like a dog... Then we returned fire. We gave them everything, and they started to drop, I saw at least two fall from the building straight away, but they looked different from the other Xenos +
Hark: Different? +
Boyde: Yes Sir, the rest of the Xenos were sleek and nimble, but the ones in the building were bulkier, with long square rifles, is that importan-... +
Hark: Continue with your account +
Boyde: Well Sir... the rest of the battle was brief.. by the Emperor it was brief. They moved fast and bold in their tanks across open ground, our guns hit them with enough fire to blow a hole though a mountain but they had some sort of shields... +

--< All indicators show rising levels of fear in the subject >--

Boyde: More of my men were going down, couldn’t tell if they were alive or dead, our tanks were taking massive fire, so much weapons fire... couldn’t see clearly... just flames from wrecked battle tanks, flashes of cannons and rifles, then... then I saw what happened to 1st Squad, Emperor Protect their souls... they were pouring out of their chimera... I could see fire and smoke coming from inside. They were exposed and in the open, a Xenos tank swooped down next to them but a vanquisher shell found it. It exploded but took some of 1st Squad with it... good men Sir, I’ve served with many of them for years. Then it got worse, I think-... I think only two battle tanks remained, my squad were all but gone, only four of us were left. Another of those Xenos tanks was bearing down on 1st Squad but even our heavy bolter could do nothing to help them, and then these teleporting Xeno freaks jumped in front of them too. Sergeant Maye pushed a valiant charge bu-.. but they were in the open, they never had a chance... We were few now, Harrow and Patrick fell, tiny bladed disks were imbedded in their flesh, their throats cut open. The Xenos were all over us, we were forced out of the building briefly from weight of fire, Guardsman Combes was now operating the heavy bolter alone, we were the only two left. I saw Captain Andersons tank ruined, only one Vanquisher remained, badly damaged. Then Combes got it too, cut to ribbons... +

--< Anger levels rising, fear level rising, 97.2% probability of honesty >--

Hark: So, your men dead and only one tank remaining and outnumbered, so tell me Sergeant, how is it that you are here? +
Boyde: Wha-... what do you mean Sir? +
Hark: I mean Sergeant how is it you did not share the fate of your men? +
Boyde: C-Commissar mercy please +
Hark: And why would you need mercy Sergeant?
Boyde: Sir all was lost... Th-there was nothing to gain by staying, my pistol against all those Xenos, Sir there was no choice I-I ran... +
Hark: Then you are guilty of desertion, abandoning your post and cowardice, I sentence you to death +
Boyde: Commissar Ple-...

--<Gunshot recorded, analysis reveals 99.8% probability of laspistol shot, Sergeant Boyde lifesigns terminated>--

--/++ Recording Ends ++\--