Aboard the Andronius, in the conference room, Lucius, Captain of the 13th Company of the Emperor's Children, stood at the center.
"Lord Commander Vespasian, fellow captains."
"I have dangerous news for you."
"The Warmaster has betrayed the Emperor."
"What?" Solomon Tarvitz, Captain of the 10th Company, stepped forward.
"Lucius, do you know what you're saying?"
"Have you forgotten Murder? The Warmaster led us to victory against the Megarachnids!"
"He cannot have betrayed us."
Lucius smiled. "First, I believe Lord Nareth was the deciding factor in that battle."
'Forgive me, my Lord, for mentioning Your name.' He silently prayed in repentance, then continued.
"He was the first to cross the equator. He struck into the heart of the spiders' lair and destroyed those thorn-trees."
"Second, I will tell you that most of the warships of the four Legions are preparing for an orbital bombardment. The target is the Astartes who have been sent to the surface for the assault."
"Those deemed disloyal to their gene-fathers, who would sabotage the Warmaster's rebellion."
Tarvitz's voice was cold. "I don't believe you. Do you have proof?"
"Of course. You can investigate." Lucius said calmly, following the revelation the Black Emperor had implanted in his mind.
"I know you and Garro of the Death Guard are brothers in honor. You can ask him which assault squads have been sent to the surface."
"If he hadn't just been healed by Bile, and was still adjusting to his bionics, he would have been sent down himself."
"You can also go to our father's flagship and see if they are preparing for an orbital bombardment."
Lucius shrugged. "You will find there is no orbital bombardment planned before our landing."
"So, clearly, we are also within the bombardment zone."
"I can also tell you that the bombardment will include virus bombs, loaded with the Life-Eater virus."
"The Life-Eater virus? It can destroy all life." Tarvitz's eyes widened.
"How could our father allow this?"
Lucius shook his head. "Our father has changed since he drew that blade. He is no longer the proud Phoenix, but a fallen, dull bird."
"Do I need to remind you to visit our Chief Apothecary Fabius Bile's laboratory, to see his blasphemous experiments?"
"Or shall we cut Eidolon open and see what he has become?"
"Father tried to kill me." Vespasian spoke for the first time.
"What?" Tarvitz stared at him, incredulous.
"I am certain." Vespasian's voice was low.
"Akurduana arrived in time and stopped him."
"But he agreed that our father had intended to kill me. At least at that moment."
"Why?" Tarvitz pressed.
Vespasian recalled that hideous painting, the cold gleam of the blade.
"Because I refused to undergo the modifications to become as perfect as he wished."
"I also refused to let my warriors use Bile's drugs."
"For that?" Tarvitz asked, incredulous.
Vespasian nodded. "I am willing to believe Lucius."
"Because Father, Eidolon, and Bile are dragging the Emperor's Children into the abyss."
"I have decided to leave with Lucius, to go to Terra, to report to the Emperor and the Regent."
Tarvitz was silent for a moment. His gaze swept over the captains behind Vespasian, standing firm.
He thought of Lord Commander Eidolon's transformation and had to accept Lucius's words.
"I need time to investigate. To confirm what you say is true."
Lucius remembered the Black Emperor's command. "You have time, of course. But investigate discreetly."
"We will act before the drop order is given. We will break away from the fleet."
"We will pre-start our engines and set course for the Mandeville point." Vespasian emphasized.
"I will send a warning to all ships. Then we will separate from the fleet."
Tarvitz felt his two hearts sink. "I understand."
He strode from the room. Vespasian watched him go, then asked Lucius.
"Will Akurduana not be joining us?"
"He still wants to save our father and the Legion." Lucius shrugged.
"I don't think he can succeed." Vespasian shook his head.
Akurduana, at his urging, had tried to counsel their father. It had failed.
Even Fulgrim's most beloved son could not persuade him to turn from the abyss.
He walked with Lucius into the gallery that ran the length of the Andronius's spine.
Vespasian stopped before a statue and said to Lucius.
"Do you know why our father liked to use this ship as his secondary flagship?"
"Because of the statues?" Lucius guessed.
"He found inspiration here, from the fallen heroes of the Legion. This ship once belonged to the man this statue depicts."
"His name was Illios. He was a great warrior. Before we found our father, he fought alongside him against the hostile tribes on Chemos."
"Together with our father, he transformed our homeworld from a hell of death and suffering into a beautiful world of culture and learning."
Vespasian gazed at the lifelike statue. "I respected him greatly. I am honored to have inherited his ship."
"Now, we will carry the Legion's honored soul. We will take the honor our father has abandoned."
"I will rebuild the Legion. I will restore the Emperor's Children's glory."
Lucius watched Vespasian's declarative speech, shaking his head slightly.
'Vespasian, you still don't understand.'
'There is nothing to be proud of being a son of the False Emperor. Only the Black Emperor is the true god.'
'He is the only one we should serve.'
As Vespasian and Lucius spoke, Tarvitz opened a comm channel to Garro.
"Nathaniel."
"Solomon, it is good to hear your voice." Garro replied.
"Likewise." Tarvitz pressed. "Tell me, which Death Guard units have been sent to the surface?"
"Solomon, I'm sorry, but I haven't recovered yet. The Apothecary says I'm not fit for combat. You won't see me on the surface." Garro said, his voice heavy with frustration. As a Line-Captain, a title granted by the Emperor, missing the battle was a bitter blow.
"You will win many more battle honors in the future." Tarvitz consoled him.
"Now, tell me quickly. Which units have been sent to the ground?"
"This is important."
....
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