Robert Rath’s second Warhammer 40,000 short story featuring agents of the Officio Assassinorum, Iron Sight pits a Vindicare assassin against a slippery Genestealer Cult sniper. Having pursued his mark for almost a month, Absolom Raithe has finally tracked down the Jackal Alphus and is closing in, confident of the kill which will see his fifth mission complete and his full status secured. As Raithe chases down the fleeing Alphus, however, he finds the tables turned against him; a long-distance kill isn’t possible, so he’s forced to abandon his usual tactics and take on his enemy up close and personal.
40k Assassinorum stories usually focus on assassins in their element to emphasise their unique strengths, but in this case Raithe is out of his comfort zone and forced to constantly improvise against an enemy every bit as deadly as he is. It’s a smart setup for a lethal cat and mouse chase, exploring Raithe’s tactical decision-making, the wide variety of tools and equipment at his disposal, and how he responds to a target whose skills and temperament are an alien mirror to his own. As the antagonist, far from being just another enemy to be overcome, the Alphus is a compelling, genuinely dangerous presence, full of xenos spite in contrast to Raithe’s calm pragmatism. All together it makes for a pacy, gripping action story, and a fresh and impressively characterful take on a familiar archetype.
Check out my review of Assassinorum: Divine Sanction for more Officio Assassinorum action.
