The Calculus of Battle

Warhammer 40,000

By: David Guymer

Narrated by: John Banks, Cliff Chapman, Steve Conlin, Toby Longworth, Luis Soto

Length: 21 mins

Publisher's summary

The beleaguered Astra Militarum defenders of Varasine fight against the alien menace of a tyranid invasion, but their only possible salvation approaches in the form of something almost equally inhuman.

Warleader Kardan Stronos of the Iron Hands, long having studied the xenos threat, now brings his fearless battle brothers to join the war - only he can save Varasine, measuring his Chapter's infallible logic and ruthless strategy against the cost in human lives.

©2014 Games Workshop Limited (P)2014 Games Workshop Limited

it was a short story but it was decent

a look into the iron hands before they turn traitor and how they look at kill and attack algorithms

More Iron Hands is always appreciated

Maybe its that the Iron Hands get shafted in the lore worse than most other founding chapters, but man did I love this EXTREMELY short story. it makes me crave more Iron Hands centered stories that focus on and flesh out the chapter's mindset and inner turmoil. Don't spend a credit on this though, just spend the 3 or so dollars.

where are the rest of the chapters?

I was interested in the story. My only question is why is there only one chapter?

LOVED IT!!

I need more Iron Hands lore in my life. This gave me a better perspective of the chapter than I previously had.

Amazing view of the Iron Hands

One if my absolute favorite short stories. perfectly encompasses how the Iron Hands think. I listen to
it several times a month.

When the Math Is Unacceptable

This being an Iron Hands story (and thanks to its title), we have a pretty good idea of what's in store: a Clan Company Captain reviews the mathematical sensibility of attempting to extract and evacuate an Astra Militarum force from a position overrun by Tyranids, despite the mathematical reasoning of material gain's being rather unfavorable, and yet, despite the chiding of his Company's Magos Logisticar, the extremely experienced Iron Hands commander decides that he will attempt said extraction, regardless of its materiel cost and manpower related logic in the scope of the region's overall campaign against a hive fleet.

I won't spoil the ending of course, but this is the kind of lore (hell, I'll take ANY lore at this point... ) my weak flesh-body craves. The short story explores the true value of human lives, the morality and even sensibility of creating a statistical cost-benefit system that's inherently amoral and also oddly, simplistically binary in its final determinations, and touches on the core of what makes up the culture and mentality of an Iron Hand.

While many in the fandom love the "The Flesh Is Weak" memery and oversimplification of a criminally misunderstood Chapter, this story at least begins the conversation on that assessment's accuracy and cause.

I could write literally thousands of words regarding what I believe to be the hidden complexity and tragedy of my beloved Iron Hands, but I'll spare everyone and state simply, *if you like the Iron Hands or are just generally curious about them, then this is a great, even if very short, story to listen to, as it touches on the central conflicts within the organization's own mentality.*

Definitely recommended, though DON'T USE A CREDIT! Just pay the $4 or whatever it is.

Meh

The combat is cool, and it’s nice to hear about the Tyranids, but the story itself is really empty of any driving force or motivation. Not bad, but won’t be relistening any time soon.

A full credit for a half hour story.

Decent story and a good performance, but I wish I’d noticed how short it is before I bought it.

Only problem is that it’s short

It gives a good example for what the Iron Hands are about and keeps you wanting more. Makes me wish there was a novel version of this.