Son of the True Liberator (7)
Angron couldn't help but feel trepidation on meeting Sanguinius for the first time. Ever since Perturabo's departure to Segmentum Pacificus to help Corax accommodate into his role as a Primarch and his role within the Great Crusade, the progress of the XIIth Legion had slowed down, mostly due to their efforts on applying the lessons they've learned from his brother's region into bringing conquered planets into Compliance and ensuring their utmost loyalty via the garrison training they've received from Perturabo's Iron Warriors.
To this day, Angron couldn't help but be angry at the utter mockery that his brother had received for, what? Bringing peace and order within the conquered worlds that the Imperium sought to incorporate into its ever-growing empire? How dare those other legions mock his brother's efforts just because they couldn't even be bothered to garrison their conquered worlds and leave it to the neurotic bureaucrats that they've left decimated when they first arrived!
Angron even had to calm himself down when the burgeoning bureaucrats that his creator had dared tried to initiate an Imperial Tithe to a system he'd barely finished conducting a military campaign upon! Without his father, he'd be sure that those within the quickly-lumbering government that his creator had implemented would run their mouth to him and ruin his efforts.
Nevertheless, the three years of garrison duty and restoring order was quickly making its mark upon his legion and to his overall goals as his legion were a massive contributing effort to the recovery of the planets that he and his brother Perturabo had conquered in their time collaborating with one another as his World Eaters begun to tap into the potential that his father had within his hands with his sons running about throughout the planets and systems they're under: building massive housing complexes and industries whilst remaining relatively undamaging to the planet's overall ecosystem.
Unlike Hive Worlds that only serves as a way to house people by untold billions and not much else, his rebuilt planets has the capacity to become self-efficient whilst maintaining the ability of providing an impressive tithe that they could give both to the Imperium and to his home system. Yes, he managed to cultivate alliances and agreements with the re-developed systems and planets to ensure a close-connection with his home planet and the planets he'd managed to give tribute to the Imperium.
And yes, the system he's implementing is similar to that of Roboute's 500 Realm but on a much smaller scale. Given that his version relies on the good will and proper cooperation of the planets and system he'd rebuilt, unlike his brother's realm which is highly bureaucratic and inter-connected, he could hope that his system would work out just as well as his brother's realm.
In any case, he focused his mind as he saw the personal Thunderhawk of his brother, with the aircraft adorned with the symbols and number of his legion, land several meters away from him. Angron's trepidation arose further as he saw brother leave his Thunderhawk; white-golden wings dominating his entire figure as he's accompanied by his own Astartes.
And although he couldn't figure out why exactly he's feeling apprehension from his brother, he nonetheless moved forward to greet him; a warm smile plastered on his face with his arm stretched out in greeting.
"Greetings, brother. My name's Angron Stronglic. You can call me Angron." He started as he saw his brother's face morph into a smile as he clasped his arm to his, warmth emanating from his features.
"And I too, brother." His brother returned as the two Primarchs gave each other a look before suddenly hugging each other, brotherly warmth pouring out between the two of them as the Space Marines around them gave them a wide berth whilst Remembrances around them records the first meeting between the two brothers.
After a while, the two separated with Angron's contentment mixing with Sanguinius' own as they fixed their postures.
"I have only meet two of our brothers but so far, you're the most approachable one I've met." Angron's comment sprouted a barking laugh from his brother as Sanguinius give him an amused look.
"Oh? And who are these brothers of ours that you've only met so far?" Sanguinius questioned as Angron hummed, the two of them walking near the edge of the cliff, the view giving them a clear look of the capital planet that they're about to bring into Imperial Compliance.
"Corvus Corax and Perturabo." Sanguinius hummed at Angron's answer as the Space Marines that are accompanying them approached them, though still giving them space to react in case any unscrupulous attackers might take advantage of their position.
"I've yet to meet Corax and the first meeting that I had with Perturabo was more than... unfavorable, to say the least." Sanguinius' words formed a frown upon Angron's face, a look that his brother noticed yet he remained silent as he let Angron sort out his emotions.
"And why is that, brother? Why has Perturabo earned such mockery, amongst the other legions and most damningly; the greater Imperium?" Angron asked as his brother's serene face morphed into a neutral look, his gaze prevailing the planet capital.
"...it's because of how he conducts his warfare, brother." Sanguinius' answer rendered Angron silent as his brother continued, "Out of everyone within the Legions, Perturabo's losses dwarfs any of the Astartes Legions combined. It doesn't help that when Perturabo first met his legion, the vile things he did to ensure that his Legion would be more military capable were reprehensive. The Legiones Astartes are the Emperor's Spear: the tip of the Imperium's arsenal and to see Perturabo bend that spear and tip into an inflexible weapon is just... disheartening."
Angron could only look at his brother before he shook his head, his gaze turning to the planetary capital, "...I could understand why you'd think that. Hell, that was my first reaction when I met Perturabo at his battle-barge. But then, I fought alongside him and he too by my side."
Sanguinius remained silent as he continued, a fond expression forming on his face, "We worked together for three years, you know? Blistering our way into the Ultima Segmentum. At first, our Legions did not work along with each other. I even feared that the legions would even be fighting with each other for that's how tense it was during the early months. Then, we learned. Our Legion learned much from them and they from us. Safe to say that by the time that our creator recalled Perturabo to Terra to accompany Corax for his first campaign in Segmentum Pacificus, I could definitely say that our Legions are closer than ever."
Here, Angron turned his gaze to look at Sanguinius with such intensity that he saw him move back just a bit, "So no, brother. I hate to see Perturabo's efforts be seen as mockery by the rest of the Legiones and I want to help him turn his reputation around, especially if the one that were to dispel that reputation would be the one that's beloved by everyone."
Sanguinius remained silent, his eyes piercing his own as Angron remain rooted at place though not before long as Sanguinius bellowed out a great laugh, causing many within the Space Marines, many of them being Blood Angels, to look at Sanguinius with surprise, if what his ability is telling him.
"I can't fault you for that, brother!" Sanguinius joyously remarked as he stretched his arm to Angron, "Let us prove ourselves into the battlefield first then I shall help you into removing the stain that has marked our brother's reputation." His booming voice roared as Angron felt himself smile, accepting the hand that was offered to him whilst the entire legion roared their approval.
Unbeknownst to them both and to the rest of the Space Marines surrounding him, Steven was giving Sanguinius a narrowed look, suspicions etched upon his eyes.
Sanguinius... Humble, polite, very charismatic and beloved by all. By all accounts; the Imperium's perfect poster child. Truly, the Remembrancers is doing a good job on spreading that picture of him throughout the entire galaxy.
But here's the thing about people like him: either they've suffered under immense trauma or they're hiding something.
And I fear the latter, especially for someone as powerful and as beloved as Sanguinius.
An supposed archived conversation between Angron Stronglic, Primarch of the World Eaters and Steven Stronglic, Father of Angron; the True Liberator.