"What is that sound?" Horus frowned as the Stormbirds entered their final docking procedures.
"The Authority," I explained. "Not that different form what is keeping you from trying to strangle me!"
I laughed while tapping my collar, there was far more to it and fundamentally different design philosophies, components and science but the principal was the same.
"You underestimate me brother," Horus met me with a confident look. "I have spent time in the presence of our father's Null Maidens but your point is taken, I suppose that this does explain a great deal as to my astropaths' confusion."
"It is a novel technology," I shrugged. "Although I admit that it is a little tedious to use."
"I would like to hear more of it," Horus said as the thud of the ships landing echoed beneath our armored soles.
Something seemed to amuse Horus as we neared disembarked.
"I was mistaken," Horus commented as we descended the ramp.
"How so?" I asked.
His broad, thin-lipped smile curled up to reveal perfect teeth, "You are doubtlessly like the rest of us."
"Fair," I admitted. I had to give the man credit, he was already adapting to my personality. A sharp tongue and trading barbed comments were the way to my heart certainly enough. "My people are fond of ritual, I would not disrespect my own kin by showing you my home so casually."
I had not said a word beyond a general warning actually but it was true that there was a certain rudeness to not rolling out the veritable red carpet when welcoming kin to one's home after a long absence.
It was not surprising that Morygen had reacted the way she had to the news and prepped Reception Deck 16 for the occasion.
Most Imperial ships took a very simple stance towards deployment, most ships had a small number of embarkation decks which could serve just about any purpose with some squinting. The Avalon had approximately twenty-nine Reception Decks, seven Embarkation Decks and a dozen different other sub-designations serving different purposes.
Reception decks were made to appeal to the customs Calengwag, vast chambers designed to receive specific sorts of delegations (which for obvious reasons meant that a number of decks were carefully sealed for the time being). They were made to appeal to the symbolism of Calengwag with ample room for change once there was a better grip on given cultures.
Cthonia was surprisingly easy to research if one put their mind to hunting the few volumes written on the subject (granted a Cthonian scholar had taken the Fear Gorta years to 'acquire').
Cthonian Gang markings were carefully integrated into guild patterns and emblems down the dimly-lit deck before a great wall, a strong secondary feature to the overlaid Imperial Aquilla which dominated everything else with its cyclopean scale over the wall.
"I am impressed," Horus commented, slipping into the harsh gang-tongue experimentally. "Most do not bother to learn of hard Cthonia."
I could hear the ears of the Luna Wolf companies marching alongside us, only my Guildmasters had joined me on the white Stormbird while the others disembarked elsewhere in the great ship.
"I had to do something constructive with my time," I chuckled. "Well, that is not strictly true, father worked me ragged. But I wanted to make the effort."
I had not gotten anything on the Fenris from the singers I had acquired but I was fluent in the customs of Medusa.
Horus gave me an evaluating look before inclining his head minutely as we neared a gate of interlocking Sunbursts and Wolves over moons. "A kind gesture, I fear you will have to be more careful in the future. I do not think that poor Maloghurst can handle it."
"I am, my Primarch," Said Equerry bowed his head from where he walked on the left of Horus.
"I merely jest, Maloghurst," Horus lied with a pleasant smile.
Said spymaster seemed on the verge of giving himself a stroke as his eyes scanned the walls as the gates unwound themselves. I supposed that the man was probably drawing a negative conclusion from the well-meaning gesture. I had predicted that possibility but I was not beyond stubbornness and it was a matter of respect. Thirty Terran years was more than enough time for an appreciation of that custom to etch itself on me. Beyond that actually, I was a cumulative eighty-seven years old if one counted the experiences grafted onto my soul. That much time of one's life was enough time for any home to take root into the soul.
To show understanding of another was respectful as was showing one's own nature. The Emperor's charge forced enough secrecy on us for us to be willing to defer from that custom.
Past the gates awaited a high-vaulted feasting hall with emblems reinforced across its tall pillars and the grand murals of ceilings. At the heart of the chamber was an eclipse, a crescent moon over a sun caught in the wings of a great two-headed bird of prey.
"You know brother," Horus commented as his eyes traced the chamber. "I will need to learn your tongue now, a matter of principle."
Can't have the diplomat getting out-diplomat-ed, as my wife would say. I could all but hear the designs being drawn up behind my brother's interested gave.
"I would welcome you on Calengwag if ever have the time," I smiled. "I could teach you if you like."
I was curious if he would perceive that as weakening his place as the elder or if he would take it in the spirit with which it was offered.
"Only if you allow me to teach you proper Cthonic," He took on a conspiratory tone. "Your tone is a bit stuffy, brother."
I might have flushed if I was mortal but instead I gave a sheepish smile, "We have an accord then."
The chamber entry way we walked down was lined by elements of even Guild, armed and clad for war to match the companies of Luna Wolves which marched behind us. Bronze and cinnabar against ivory and midnight.
At the end of the flanking columns was Morygen and the remainder of the Round, representing the major forces of the fleet as well as my councilors.
Caice stood to her right in his black armor with a wide, close-eyed smile on his face. He spoke for both the Spirit-Eaters and (unofficially) the Fear Gorta. He had taken to the formal ranks with amusement but given that I held the oaths of Order's council, there was little room to dispute my decision.
Sect-Master Igreyne of the Seeker Auxilia stood to Morygen's left. Like all of the Sect-Masters of the Auxilia, Igreyne was a woman although that characteristic was lost under the layers of crimson-striped Powered Armor and her own hard features. She spoke for the mortal components of the Guilds in the fleet reflected by the seven-hued medallion hanging from her throat suspended by the many-hued cords of her knotwork necklace. The Aquillas branded over he cheeks reflected her oaths to the Imperium.
Arch-Magistrix Kagu'Tsuchi of the Mechanicum was second to the right. Her form was one of the taller forms present among the Round, a spindly form of red robes reach a head over even the Astartes present. Her only visible trait was human face that emerged from the robes too far from her shoulders, the face of a maiden in the full spring of her life perfectly etched in lines of gold and bronze matched with polished opals for eyes. She was the representative for the Mechanicum forces present among the fleet (her own sway within the cult raising its size considerably) and my personal… proof-reader.
It continued like that, second to the left was Chief Navigator Megaera Bolas. High Astropath Kerukeion, Fleet-Master Ningishzida, Princeps Amarok and Lord-Elect Tamuzen all stood along the flanks of the augmented Seeker.
"I am not familiar with those augmentations," Horus whispered under his breath as we neared them. Quiet enough that his expression did not shift and no one else would have heard.
I did not need to know what he meant.
"A necessity for the fleet," I offered.
He referred to the psykers among the Round.
The High Astropath of the fleet wore a long cloak over a sheath that left his arms exposed, he had opted to maintain an elderly appearance and wore his weathered for well. Kerukeion's shaven head was crowned ten horns of golden-sheathed steel no more than an inch in height from his pale head matched by two thin strips grafted beneath his blinded eyes and jutting from his chin over a kindly expression. His arms were bared to show six long receptors rising along their near-skeletal lengths matched by four more rising squarely from his back. The set of augmentations were matched by the tall staff he held himself against.
Where he was a stooped shape against Megaera's straight frame despite her being no taller than five feet in height. Her platinum mane was interspersed was peaked by two great horns reaching a half-foot from her brow and framing the golden plate that dominated her brow like an ornate forehead plate rounded over where her third eye rested. Her flowing gown only hinted at the lengthy set of interlocking golden plates running down her entire neck and torso before vanishing into her wide skirts of emerald. The woman's natural and augmented beauty was somewhat reduced by the sever frown on her face as the slight wrinkling of her lips. She stood with proper poise, but my eyes could see the tensing of someone wanting to cross their arms.
It gave the psykers a strange sort of otherworldly beauty in my own opinion, the mystic and the satyr.
At least that had been my hope, it had taken months to properly see to the few thousand psykers among the fleet and many were still awaiting augmentation before assuming their duties.
Morygen stepped forward as we came to a stop before them and bowed formally before us.
"Morygen of house Ailbe," I walked between them and pointed down to her. "Horus of the Imperial Household, also called the Lupercal. It is my honor by tie of blood and oath to acquaint both of you."
"An honor, brother of my beloved." Morygen's accent had none of the flowing accent of Calengwag, she had spent decades before the Imperium came to Terra to copy the accent that had been imprinted into my mind. There was no hint of anything other than pure certainty as she looked up to meet his eyes squarely. "I offer you welcome to my hearth."
"Madame," Horus smiled and in what I was beginning to suspect was typical fashion, fell to one knee before the kneeling woman and offered his own smile. "No, sister. The honor is all mine. I would not be so crass as to ask you to bow nor for my brother to offer me such ritual. I must instead extend my warmest thanks for your greeting and the honor you both pay me."
I extended a hand down to both, "With formality seen to, there is no need for anymore bowing."
Morygen took my hand as did Horus, the man had an eye for seeing the script of a scene. This was not the welcome which I intended to offer to the many of the others, there was too much give and take in it especially for such proud beings as Primarchs. Horus saw that there was no slight intended but I did not expect that sort of self-awareness from the others.
Once that formalities were seen to, we set about introducing our inner circles publicly one by one. Equerries, councilors Astartes and mortal alike, units present and so on.
The feast came after, course after course of meals prepared for the occasion while speeches were given by various figures of well wishes and boasts for the coming years of collaboration between the Second and the Sixteenth.
It was the first week of many as the weeks grinded on, both of public scale and more private gatherings as private where the three of us ate quiet meals in small chambers. I enjoyed those the most as they allowed for more informal speech between the three of us, time for Morygen to adopt her informal mannerisms and for Horus to thoroughly win us over.
It was during one such feast that we received reports from one of the scouting fleets.
