But when his old comrade, Master Tigrane of the Dark Angels Space Marine Chapter, arrives to join the festivities and asks to hear the glorious tale told once more, Antigone seems flustered. With the details of his account cast under close scrutiny and with the judgement of the Imperium hanging over him, will his noble reputation remain intact?

    Renegades from the Imperium's dawn stalk the complex, bringing pain and death. But something just as dangerous awaits them: the loyal, but brutal and predatory, Carcharadons.On the prison world of Zartak, darkness has fallen on arbitrators and inmates alike. The Night Lords have come, and with them the shadow of fear and pain. But they are not the only ones with an interest in Zartak. From the void, running on silent, another fleet emerges. Its warriors are grey-clad and white-faced, and their eyes are as black as the Outer Dark – the savage Carcharodon Astra. As these two packs of ancient, merciless predators stalk the shadows of the prison colony, both seeking a single young inmate with unnatural talents, the corridors run red, and both factions will have to fight tooth and claw to leave Zartak alive.A darkened prison, a pack of Night Lords and the Imperium's most predatory Space Marines – what more could you want from a story?

    Into this maelstrom come the Raven Guard 4th Company, the warzone perfectly suited to their lightning-strike methods of combat. Led by Veteran Sergeant Grayvus, their mission is simple - to rescue the planet's last survivors. But in the midst of this nightmare, they receive new orders to locate and destroy a power station. The station is built upon a fault line, and the resulting quake would swallow thousands of tyranids and turn the war in the Imperium's favour. Grayvus and his company must fight their way through genestealers, acid spore mines and a deadly biomorph if they are to succeed and reclaim Idos for the Imperium.

    Here are a dozen action stories from this dark and brooding universe.Contents"Salvation" by Jonathan Green"Into the Maelstrom" by Chris Pramas"Emperor's Grace" by Alex Hammond"The Raven's Claw" by Jonathan Curran"Children of the Emperor" by Barrington J. Bayley"The Black Pearl" by Chris Pramas""Acceptable Losses" by Gav Thorpe"Tenebrae" by Mark Brendan"Ancient Lances" by Alex Hammond"Hell in a Bottle" by Simon Jowett"Unthinking Justice" by Andras Millward"In the Belly of the Beast" by William King

    Equipped by the Ordo Xenos of the Inquisition, Deathwatch Space Marines possess war gear purposely designed for the destruction of all aliens. In the gauntleted fists of these black-armoured warriors does the sanctity of mankind rest, in their hearts the iron will to vanquish every alien predator and wipe them from the face of the galaxy.Deathwatch: Xenos Hunters is one of our classic Direct Exclusive anthologies containing 11 short stories about the Deathwatch Space Marines, and now includes Last Watch by L J Goulding. Machine Spirit by Nick Kyme The Infinite Tableau by Anthony Reynolds Headhunted by Steve Parker Rackinruin by Braden Campbell Weaponsmith by Ben Counter The Vorago Fastness by David Annandale Fearful Symmetries by Rob Sanders A Sanctuary of Wyrms by Peter Fehervari Exhumed by Steve Parker The Alien Hunters by Andy Chambers Last Watch by L J Goulding

    Superhuman warriors stand proud in defiance of inhuman foes, laying waste to the relentless hordes of invaders and forces of chaos. In the remains of their enemies, they are triumphant - they are the space marines.Runes • [Space Wolf / Ragnar Blackmane] • (2011) • Chris WraightThe Rewards of Tolerance • (2011) • Gav ThorpeBlack Dawn • (2011) • C. L. WernerThe Long Games at Carcharias • (2011) • Rob SandersHeart of Rage • [Blood Angels] • (2010) • James SwallowBut Dust in the Wind • [Imperial Fists] • (2011) • Jonathan GreenExhumed • [Deathwatch] • (2011) • Steve ParkerPrimary Instinct • (2011) • Sarah CawkwellSacrifice • [Grey Knights • 2.5] • (2011) • Ben Counter