The Forgotten and the Purged

by emperorsjudgement

We follow the events of the Great Crusade before they are denied, deleted, redacted, changed and outright expunged from Imperial history. It is a time before oaths are sworn by Imperial military personnel including the Emperors own mighty sons to never speak of these exploits again. What happened that was so catastrophic that the Emperor of Mankind decreed that they did not occur?

21. The Arithmetic of Faith

Ultio Ultionis walked alone down a vast colonnade sheathed in gold, the walls and ceiling were festooned with it, the floor was the constructed from the finest marble quarried from Terra itself. There were nine monumental statues each side of the colonnade, they were Ultio and his brothers, each massive and lifelike- there were spaces for two more for his brothers when they were found. They stood palms upstretched touching the ceiling as if holding it up, etched upon the ceiling was a stylised representation of the galaxy. Every time Ultio saw it he smiled for to him he and his brothers were holding up the galaxy, to the more melancholy of his brothers such as the Night Haunter, he stated the opposite that they were being held down by it.

The space was so beautiful that a visitor would quite forget where they were, aboard perhaps the largest warship in the entire Imperium of Man, for Ultio was aboard the Imperator Somnium, the personal flagship of the Emperor. It was sixty kilometres long and over thirty kilometres wide, it could lay waste to entire fleets as if they were no more than flies around excrement. Ultio was heading for the Emperors inner sanctum, the meeting to his chagrin was a secret one, one that none of his brothers were aware took place. They were irregular when campaigns allowed, the actions of the World Eaters necessitated this one, for the subject matter of the meetings was never normally goals and results of the war to win the galaxy, the subject matter was always his brothers and other commanders of Expeditionary Fleets, even Leman Russ was blind to these meetings.

Behind each column along the gold clad bulkheads were Legio Custodes standing stock still with Guardian Spears in solid hands, they stood so still that one might mistake them for statues. There were forty in this monumental corridor, but there were five hundred permanently stationed aboard the flagship. Nearing the end of the corridor two monumental doors swung open, standing either side of them were four Legio Custodes Dreadnoughts, all tracked him with their weapons, for the Custodes everyone was a potential target. Ultio entered his father's inner sanctum and it was like stepping into a museum, exquisite exhibits from every age of human history from prehistory to the modern age.

As ever Ultio was unable to study them for blinding golden light stole his attention as it always did, waiting for him were his father, Malcador the Sigilite, Captain-General Constantin Valdor and finally Vendatha. They stood in front of a vast armour glass portal, beyond the portal was the rest of the ship disappearing out in front of them, ending at the prow which ended in a monumental Imperial Eagle. The ship still hung above the dead world of Ghenna, the world had been emptied of Imperial personnel, besides some indigenous flora and fauna the world was empty of life.

'Father' stated Ultio, joining the gathering.

The Emperor looked to his son with great pride. 'Ultio my son, how did the meeting go with Angron.'

'We are both still breathing.' Jested Ultio mirthlessly. 'The Red Angel has accepted the ultimatum.'

'Without bloodshed?' asked Constantin Valdor, with a look of disbelief.

Ultio shook his head. 'No, a champion of the Emperors Judgement fought with a champion of the World Eaters in a blood trial.'

'More fratricide.' Cut in Malcador, turning to the Emperor. 'My Lord this is madness, the fate of a legion wagered on a death match between two Astartes.'

'You have met Angron?' asked Ultio, before his father could reply.

'Of course I have.' Replied the Sigilite with a look of consternation.

'Truly?' asked Ultio. 'For anyone who has spent any time at all with my half deranged brother cannot mistake to notice that Angron is not like the rest of the Primarch's, even the Night Haunter comes across more civilised and that is saying something.

'Angron is a son of the Emperor, the leader of a legion but in his mind he is still a slave fighting for freedom from the yoke of tyranny.' Ultio addressed his father before turning back to the Sigilite. 'I do not mean that as a barb father, but Leman has the truth of it, Angron cannot agree or be cajoled into anything if it doesn't come with some sort of violence or the threat of it. Besides my son Sergeant Riddick wanted to make sure that at least one World Eater died for the crimes committed against humanity and I whole heartedly agree with him in this aspect.'

'Do you think Ultio will hold to the ultimatum?' asked the Emperor.

'That is hard to say father.' Stated Ultio. 'Even though your son, my brother is a blood crazed lunatic he still believes in the code of honour. But even with that said, everyone here knows that the Butchers Nails are killing him, therefore the effects on his mood and judgement cannot be counted on as the months become years and decades. For now though I am content that in the short to medium term Angron will be no risk to the status quo so long as the list of heretic and xenos creatures hold out.'

'Thankfully there is no end in sight to that list.' Stated Valdor. The five of them laughed, even the Emperor, although his lips never moved. 'Could we at least consider invoking the right of the Occuli Imperator?'

'Do you value your brother Custodes?' asked Ultio.

'Second only to the Emperor himself.' Replied Valdor.

'Then sending them to watch over Angron is not wise.' Stated Ultio. 'The Red Angel would send them back to Terra one piece at a time.'

Malcador looked set to speak but Ultio got in their first. 'You were going to suggest disguising the XX Legion as World Eaters to infiltrate them?'

'That I was.' Replied Malcador.

'For all we know there are infiltrators in their legion as we speak, for all I know the champion Sergeant Riddick slew could have been one of them.' Replied Ultio, he looked upon his father. 'I told you on the surface of Ghenna what occurred on the colonisation vessel, Vendatha was there he witnessed it.'

'I have been apprised of the incident.' Replied the Emperor.

'Then I would ask whom sanctioned the operation?' asked Ultio. 'I would also like to ask what all of my brothers including Angron have asked, who controls them, who sanctions their operations and targets for there is no log of them in the War Council documents for I have looked?'

'You know the answer.' Replied Malcador. 'They are a sub-organisation under the Officio Assassinorum until such a time their Primarch is found.'

'I only ask as you are the Grand Master of Assassins.' Stated Ultio. 'So then was it you who greenlit the killing of my sons?'

'Of course not.' Replied Malcador.

'Then I ask the question again who is running the XX?' this time Ultio look to his father. 'Their actions are secretive to the extreme, their operations are even against fellow legions, we all know that they are the prime suspects for the "accident" which befell the geneseed of the Emperors Children, as well as other countless dark deeds suspected of them having a hand in.'

'They present a face to the Officio Assassinorum that is compliant.' Cut in the Emperor. 'But out of necessity they are given a great deal of latitude to carry out their role, therefore I cannot fully tell you of their full operations for even I do not know. It is most likely the XX your sons and Vendatha encountered aboard the colonisation vessel above Paradise, but to what end only time may tell.'

'What shall I do with the one we took alive?' asked Ultio.

'Have him transferred to this vessel.' Replied the Emperor. 'If it takes the rest of the Astartes life I will have him interrogated by every means necessary to unearth what he knows and who do their loyalties really lie.'

'It shall be done.' Replied Ultio. 'I might be wrong but I think that the actions of Angron and the XX legion are not why this meeting has been called?'

'They have and they have not.' Replied the Emperor. 'For I wish to take this rare opportunity to discuss the state of the Imperium.'

Ultio Ultionis was well aware of the meetings format, it echoed in a way Roboute Guilliman's use of theoreticals, but instead of debating the threat of the xenos or the heretic, these debates postulated the threat from Imperial Commanders themselves up to and including the Emperors own sons.

'You mentioned to the Emperor when on Ghenna in passing of your brothers who are of a constant concern in their methods.' Stated Malcador. 'Whilst you were bringing three-hundred-ninety-three one into compliance and even when you were treating with Angron more concerns have been raised, these are chiefly concerning Magnus, Lorgar and Uvall Jormungand.'

Ultio smiled with genuine amusement. 'The Wolf King brought concerns about Magnus?'

'That he has.' Agreed Malcador. 'Leman Russ thinks Magnus is delving too deep, that his use of warp craft will be his undoing or that he may become corrupted like the Eldar.'

'Leman has again asked for sanction?' asked Ultio looking to the Emperor for the answer.

'Leman Russ calls for the complete dissolution of the Librarius Orders in the entirety of the Legio Astartes.' Replied the Emperor.

'You are seriously entertaining this?' asked Ultio, looking bemused.

'I would hear your thoughts?' asked the Emperor, not giving anything away.

'I know he has an axe to grind with Magnus.' Stated Ultio. 'The Wolf King has always been superstitious of such things, but it is not just the Thousand Sons who rely upon warp craft. My own legion as well as many others utilise it. There are countless species in the galaxy whom use warp craft as their chief form of offense and defence, at best estimates we are only halfway through this crusade, therefore who knows what kind of species we may encounter in the future.'

'I couldn't agree more.' Replied the Emperor. 'Which is why I have told Leman Russ under no uncertain terms that I will not entertain the idea of decreeing the abandoning of the Librarius.

'What does cause for concern is the amount of time Magnus spends staring into the abyss, I am concerned of the risk of him being corrupted and challenging the throne, after all he is second only to me in psychic might, he is even more powerful than Malcador. We are concerned what path Magnus will take if he continues staring into the infinite.'

'Magnus is one of your most loyal sons.' Replied Ultio. 'The only way I foresee the Crimson King turning from your light is if you force him to, warp craft to Magnus is like breathing to the rest of us, if you command him not to, you know and I know that he will keep breathing but in secret. Which would force you to unleash Leman or me. The work of psykers is distasteful to the Wolf King as well as the likes of Angron and Mortarion but the work of Magnus and the Librarius of all legions is vital work, only we few know just how vital.

'It is has to be said that the Red Cyclops has been staring into the abyss for over a century, I know you forbid the truth to be known to any of my brothers including Magnus, but do you think that Magnus has stared for so long and delved so deep and not seen the malevolence that resides their or has not been approached? Need I point out that my dear brother used to have two eyes.

'I hope you also do not forget the steps I have taken if Magnus and his sons turn rogue, for I have an entire Great Order of Warlocked, sum fifteen thousand Battle-Librarians at my disposal and that isn't counting the rest attached to the remainder of my twenty Great Orders –my Warlocked Great Order alone outnumbers the Thousand Sons by five thousand.'

'That is a fair assessment.' Put in Valdor. 'You are still oathed to destroy the Thousand Sons if they turn from the Emperor?'

'My dear Constantin Valdor.' Smiled Ultio, with no warmth whatsoever. 'I am oathed to destroy any force in the galaxy known to man both foreign and domestic, up to an including my brothers as well as the Legio Custodes if any quarter threatens my father. Lest you forget that I am even oathed to make war upon the Emperor of Mankind if he turns from mankind, does that answer your question?'

'Completely.' Replied Valdor, with a wry smile.

'Magnus still conquers worlds in the name of the Imperium, you are right his loyalty seems unbreakable' Cut in the Emperor, ignoring the previous comments. 'For now this fact alone will have to suffice to sooth concerns of your brothers, for the Thousand Sons render perfect compliances, which is more than can be said of Lorgar and his Bearers of the Word.'

'Now we come to it.' Cut in Ultio. 'The Arithmetic of Faith.'

'Lorgar worships your father as a God.' Put in Malcador.

Ultio harrumphed. 'Are we really going to have this conversation?'

'Lorgar whips worlds into a religious fervour.' Replied Malcador. 'The Word Bearers either convert worlds to the belief in the Emperor as a God or commit atrocities against the ones who don't, the actions of the Urizen are in direct contravention of the Imperial Truth. Not only that the Word Bearers compliances pale in comparison to any other Astartes legion, even the Thousand Sons have racked up more worlds won and they are a tenth of the size of the Word Bearers.'

'Enough Sigilite!' barked Ultio, his frustration boiling over he levelled his gaze squarely at his father. 'You wish to sanction Lorgar?'

'You are oathed to destroy threats to the Imperium of Man both foreign and domestic.' Stated the Emperor, letting Ultio's own words form the argument.

'If you do this you will make a mockery of your rule.' Growled Ultio. 'You will make yourself a hypocrite, nothing more than a King of lies!'

Constantin and Vendatha were so taken aback by that they reached for their weapons, Ultio rounded on them. 'Do not dare think to bring up your weapons for I will cut you down where you stand!'

'Then quantify your remark!' countered Valdor through gritted teeth, their ingrained loyalty to the Emperor was a great thing to ignore.

'I cannot be the only one on this deck on this ship even who sees the hypocrisy if you sanction the Urizen!' roared Ultio, taking several paces towards the vast armoured portal before turning back. 'What are you to the Mechanicus of Mars?'

'That is different.' Replied the Emperor.

'No it is not.' Countered Ultio. 'To the Mechanicus you are their Omnissiah, you are their Machine-God returned to them as prophesized, you allowed yourself to be paraded to the cartels of Mars in order to curry favour and swing their loyalties to you and your Great Crusade.

'I cannot argue that the act was not a just one but you claim not to be a God to Lorgar but claim to be one to the Mechanicus, what is this if not hypocrisy. If you sanction Lorgar, like Magnus he will not be stopped he will look for someone or something to worship. Plus do you think the Mechanicus will not question if you are their God if you deny to be Lorgar's? Think of the schism it could cause, your lies could cause a civil war with Mars or force Lorgar to delve into places where we have sought to keep all of humanity away from. You know I am right.'

'Every stratagem you come up with involves doing nothing.' Pressed Valdor, surging towards Ultio. 'Some Emperors Judge you…'

Constantin Valdor did not get a chance to finish his sentence for Ultio struck him with the back of his hand, the blow came so quick that no one had a chance to react. Valdor was flung across the deck and against the armoured portal with such force that cracked glass patterns splayed out like a lightning strike.

Valdor struck the deck in an armoured heap, Malcador took a frightened step back and Vendatha levelled his guardian spear at Ultio's heart, the Emperor did not react.

'I did not make pacts which rendered half of my brothers a potential liability.' Growled Ultio, ignoring the weapon and Vendatha holding it.

'You swore not to speak of this.' Cut in the Emperor, the facet of his face changing to that of an angry warlord.

'If you do not wish me to speak of it then do not sanction Lorgar.' Countered Ultio, he regarded Valdor as he got to his feet. 'As I said on the surface of Ghenna, we are playing with broken pieces if you put too much weight on said pieces they will break or worse injure their wielder. Doing nothing is the lesser of two evils.

'Your assessment of Uvall Jormungand?' asked the Emperor, choosing to skip over the previous interchange between Valdor and Ultio.

'The Bloodied Visage are an entirely unknown quantity.' Stated Ultio. 'I like the rest of the Imperium can only deduce reports of compliant worlds won by Uvall and his sons. My sons have spent time with every legion save for the Bloodied visage. Earlier in the crusade the nearest Emperors Judgement forces seek to broker contact with them but they vanish before we can get near.

'Now with the Bloodied Visage flung Throne knows where no one knows where they are or what they are up to for Explorator and Rogue Trader fleets happen upon dead worlds or surrendering terrified lost strands of humanity. I know we have not always seen eye to eye and I do not normally pay heed to rumour and conjecture but are the rumours of Uvall's finding true?'

'The rumours are true.' Replied the Emperor. 'I found Uvall's home world Caede with Lorgar, we made planetfall where I assumed would be the seat of governance, but little did I know that Uvall Jormungand had left the surface running under obscurement boarding the Fidelis Lex and ordering the adepts sequestered aboard to teleport Lorgar and Lorgar alone back to orbit.

'I was left on the planet's surface with my honour guard of Custodes while I granted leave for Lorgar, Uvall and their combined legions to quit the system, to this day I have not seen my son face to face. It is as if he is still lost to me like my two remaining scattered sons.'

Silence followed the Emperors admission, broken after a few moments by Ultio. 'You did not deem this as strange?'

'Strange?' echoed the Emperor, his facetted face turning dark. 'Of course but no stranger than Angron being attacked by Eldar when he landed on Nuceria then being rendering him incapacitated allowing him to be captured and turned into a slave or speaking to Magnus in his gestation capsule sequestered in the labs beneath the Imperial Palace or Lorgar and the Night Haunted expecting my coming or the truth behind the metal arms of Ferrus Manus.'

'Fair enough.' Replied Ultio, conceding the point. 'But I cannot offer an opinion of the state of the Bloodied Visage legion, their size, disposition or intention.'

'Nor can we.' Admitted the Emperor. 'But that may be about to change for Uvall Jormungand as requested aide in a campaign of compliance.'

Ultio's head darted back as if he had been punched in the chin. 'Truly?'

'Truly.' Replied the Emperor.

'Have the Bloodied Visage requested the assistance of the Word Bearers?' asked Ultio, knowing full what a strong bond the two Primarch's had even before his father's revelation.

'No.' replied the Emperor. 'Uvall has asked for you personally.'

Ultio's face darkened tilting his head to the side, he had never even met his estranged brother, Ultio said as much to the Emperor. 'Why in the name of Terra would he ask for me?'

The Emperor shrugged an action that chilled Ultio to his very core for the Emperor had never done before in their company. 'I don't know but I want you to find out.'

'Where are the Bloodied Visage?'

'It is close to THE storm.' Replied the Emperor, a look of concern flashed across his face. 'But to Uvall it would merely look like a warp storm like any other, I will send you the coordinates and Uvall's report.

'Do you think he knows?' asked Ultio Ultionis, tentatively. 'Do you think he knows what is in the storm?'