Kryptos

The Horus Heresy #Short Story

by Graham McNeill

Bloodied but unbowed, the Raven Guard and the Iron Hands fight on. In the wake of the Dropsite Massacre, the shattered Legions are still prepared to bring the fight to Warmaster Horus and his traitorous allies. On the doomed forge world of Cavor Sarta, two veteran warriors of the Imperium strike deep into the heart of Dark Mechanicum territory. With bolter and blade ready to cut down any who cross their path, they will seek out the enemy's most valued the mysterious Kryptos.

Read it because
The mysterious Kryptos appears in other tales, and this is your chance to find out just how the brave warriors of the Shattered Legions came to use it… and the price they paid.

Genres: Science Fiction, 40k, Short Stories, Fiction, Fantasy, Audiobook, Military Science Fiction

16 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 13, 2012

About the author

Hailing from Scotland, Graham McNeill narrowly escaped a career in surveying to work for Games Workshop as a games designer. He has a strong following with his novels Nightbringer, Warriors of Ultramar, Dead Sky, Black Sun and Storm of Iron.

Reviews

[Chris Bowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kryptos is a standout short story in the Horus Heresy series. This is not only for its introduction of two of the best characters in the series (Nykona Sharrokin and Sabik Wayland) but its terrific plot, environments and combat. There's no hyperbole.

Re-read as preparation for Sons of the Selenar.

[Dylan Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A extremely fun short following 2 warriors of the Raven Guard and Iron Hands, following the Dropsite Massacre. It's weird that it still feels completely relevant, despite being over 20 books into the series!
The short is awesome, we get to see more of the Iron Hands(they have been popular lately!) and we get to see our first look at Nykona Sharrowkyn. Sharrowkyn is an interesting character, and within a few sentences you could tell he stands above the average Space Marine. The differences between the IH and RG played well together, and I really would have liked to see this short as a novella, or at least a little longer!

Great stuff from McNeill, yet again!

[Troy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Collected in legacies of betrayal book.

[RatGrrrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

April 2024 Re-Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order Omnibus XII The Truth of Iron (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus series and extras

I really wasn't very partial to this a month or so ago when I first heard it, but, be it familiarity allowing me to see the quality of the prose, it hitting different in this context, and/ or my mercurial brain and emotions that change with the aether tides, I enjoyed this a lot more this time.

Previously, it was a low three, which I'm bumping to a low four. I get what McNeill is going for in this odd couple Shattered Legions tale that also serves to show how far system dominance of the Traitors has gone and how far along the Dark Mechanicus is with its forbidden works and potential Daemon Engines, which it does a decent job of, more strongly with the latter, as far as I'm concerned. I really did enjoy McNeill's actual writing and description a whole lot more this time without focusing as much on the unfolding story. The prose is rich and filled with bleak beauty.

I think the only thing I really want more of is a greater reason to care about what they are doing and more significant emotional friction and ultimate connection between the battle cousins (and myself). There is a risk with short stories like this of introducing and dealing with a threat (or at least gaining one step towards doing so) in such a short space of time that the new threat feels weightless. Honestly, a companion piece or even the opening of this story being the two legionaries discussing, possibly arguing about the real horrific impact of the Kryptos, rather than the efficient, if clinical overview of what Kryptos is would really elevate this story.

Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 21.41 Horus Heresy novels, 12 novellas, 64 short stories/ audio dramas (including at least 2 repeats), as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 13 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.

***

Initial Review 3/5

February 2024 Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order - Omnibus IV Shattersong (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy saga and extras.

A Raven Guard and Iron Hand on a mission to take out a Dark Mechanicus operation.

This is definitely going to be a your mileage may vary situation because the writing is good and the concepts are great, but it's somehow simultaneously dry and sporadically cheesy in a way that doesn't work for McNeill in the same way as his wild references during the razing of Tizca.

For once, I don't really have much more to say and I'm not planning to return to add to this short review.

Good short story is good, but it's just not the specific flavours of the ingredients that get me excited.

Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 10 Horus Heresy novels, 12 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the 2 Betrayal at Calth novellas and the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 5 Primarchs novels, 3 Primarchs short stories/ audio, dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.

[Garry · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable short story. Set in the aftermath of the Isstvan V dropsite massacre two legionaries, a Raven Guard Nykona Sharrowkyn and Weyland an Iron Hand infiltrate the warzone on the forge world of Cavor Sarta with the aim of capturing the mysterious Kryptos, the means by which the traitors are encoding their messages.

Short and full of action with vivid descriptions of a Mechanicum forge world this is a good story. The characters Nykona Sharrowkyn and Weyland go on to play their part in the novel Angel Exterminatus.

[Stephan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most Space marine stories it is a fair bit over the top of combat prowess, courage and skill. But unlike a lot of them there's also some very fun dialogue and the characters, though grim and hateful and whatnot they are still just sarcastic and cynical enough to actually be interesting.
Two Space marines of two different legions try to infiltrate and liberate an encryption-servitor from a forge world, held by the traitor legions. A lot of sneaking, some action and a very big boom!

[Gabe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun stealth and action short story. Nothing to write home about but definitely worth the read. I'd love to read more stories involving both of the main characters, their dynamic is what really made this piece work imo.

[Marsha Altman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uh, I read this one because it was on the Fulgrim path in the flowchart and it's setting up some stuff in the next book but I didn't know who these characters were. This series doesn't introduce characters, per se. It just drops them in.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raven Guard Nykona Sharrowkyn and Iron Hand Sabik Wayland infiltrate a forge temple on a traitor held world. They successfully kidnap a kryptos, which is a sort of demented cypher servitor used by traitor forces. Decent characterization of two I expect we’ll see again.

[Christopher Groves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story / novella. The subject matter is one I enjoyed (post Isstvaan V coordination w/ the Raven Guard & Iron Hands) but this was super freaking short.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a nice short story, goes back to the survivors of the Dop-Site Massacre and their campaign against the forces of Horus. Worth the read.

[TuralyonW3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't leave much of an impression; the best part was the buddy dialogue showing different philosophies of Raven Guard and Iron Hands in combat (gotta love the cranky Iron Hands).

[Matt Argueta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid short story post Fulgrim. Curious to see if Sharrowkyn and Wayland play more prominent roles in larger stories to come

[Thomas Langley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was one of the only Graham shorts ive just enjoyed. Probably because there wasn't a single women in it for Graham to ruin.

[Gamer Gamersson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad, but painfully corny. There's some cool descriptions throughout that makes short story somewhat worth reading, but it's mostly not notable and very cheesy.

[Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable little short, far too short thought which is a trend with these scenes. I really enjoyed getting to see Sharrowkyn again and Wayland and him were fun to see interacting.

[Ceasar Navarro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short story, enjoyed the banter between the different legions aswell as how you can clearly see the difference in personality between them.

[Ross Cudmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfectly fine if not a bit trite short story that introduces two survivors of Isstvan V, who are working together against the Dark Mechanicum. These two characters appear again in a number of stories like "Angel Exterminatus" "The Seventh Serpent" and "The Sons of Selenar". So for a completionist I can understand wanting to read this story.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Regrettably a large number of the Iron Hands/Shattered Legion stories boil down to the same archetype of story: the Shattered Legion guerilla force is hopelessly outnumbered when they chance upon something that can help them eek out a slight advantage in the wake of the colossus threat generated by the Traitor Legions. Despite overwhelming odds-by the Emperor-they manage to survive and to continue to harass the Traitors for another day.
"Fan-favorite" Nykona Sharrowkyn is developed further with these works and there's a fun back-and-forth of differing Legion philosophy.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun and interesting short story consisting of two lovable opposites working together. A cliché found in a plethora of stories, but an always enjoyable one for sure. And definitely not the only cliché found either (love me a “I’m in” moment) but honestly I find it coming off as done on purpose rather than lack of skill. It’s an homage to the “rag tag team” working together that just works. And it’s short. So why the hell not?

[Tony Deady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Really liked it, undercover foray into enemy territory to seek this mysterious prize.
I liked how our two heroes both wanting to stick it to the traitors, both not liking the fact that they must hold their vengence in check to complete the mission.
Another great short from the master of Mechanicum writing.
Well worth picking up and adding to the collection, very happy with it.

[Christian]

Too short for four bucks. I thought I was gonna get some Dropsite Massacre action but not here. Could have been more developed into a WW2 style 'Where Eagles Dare' kinda caper.

[Periklis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, action-packed short story. One of McNeill's best writings...