The Black Library debut for Nicholas Wolf, 40k short story Reborn explores a little of what might happen if an Astra Militarum regiment forsook its oaths to the Emperor, and where that might lead. For Acting-Captain Petrov of the 224th Kelbran Janissaries, the knowledge that his regiment has been abandoned by its commanders and left to die is too much to bear. When he snaps and kills his commissar, he turns his back on the Emperor and takes his first steps on a new path, driven by a determination to survive long enough to return home and see his son.
It’s an interesting premise, and while it perhaps takes the easy road by leaning into the obvious progression for its characters (rather than exploring the grey area between the Imperium and Chaos) there’s a certain satisfaction in watching Petrov change and struggle to reconcile his beliefs with what’s happening to him. This particular path to damnation is a little contrived and could have done with a little less crammed-in exposition and a bit more of the bigger picture for the Janissaries as a whole, but it’s bleakly enjoyable nonetheless. As a debut it definitely nails the 40k tone, and makes for an solid (if not groundbreaking) standalone story.
