Chapter 6: Moths wings
Dawning her new Empress robes Erda looked at herself in her mother form in the mirror her light bronze skin, smooth features and layers of makeup complemented by the simplistic red and gold robes, selecting the mother form as her public image being a move that in her mind fit the Ecclisiarchies idea of "The God Emperors Wife" but the thought only made her think of the sons she knew were still around in the material realm. Robute Guilliman she knew took after his fathers obsession with logistics and governance, she had heard from one of the priests aboard the ship that he had a reputation for showing members of the clergy the airlock should they keep pestering him to convert over to their insane faith.
Today the Emperors Secret with fleet was on its way to meet with the Macragge's Honour a Gloriana-class battleship that dwarfed the Emperors Secret like a great sword does to a knife, Erda agreed to show up over Macragge to meet with the Primarch of the 13th legion on his ship and to say the astropaths were nervous about communicating that they had the Iron Warriors fleet as escort was an understatement with the head of the choir on the edge of a panic attack when being made to communicate it.
They were allowed to come with on the condition their weapons remained powered down and no one leaves any of the Iron Warrior ships without expressed permission from Robute himself, Erda knowing she would have to make certain sacrifices to ensure she would get to talk to her son about the next of his wayward brothers to be brought back into the fold. Mortarian lord of the Death Guard and unfortunate puppet of the Plague Lord Grandfather Nurgle, she knew that Robute had fought and won against him though the documents most likely written by zealous priests mention a girl that stepped forward and flashed with the Emperors light to save Robute.
Erda sighed to herself as she heard the very loud and angry shout of Perturabo coming from the dining room down the corridor breaking her from her thoughts, she strode out of her room and down the corridor she knew that Perturabo hated it when the Servitors tried to feed him... Actually he just hated being fed the usual mix of Ammino Porridge but Erda couldn't exactly change the Servitors Cawl created.
Walking into the dining room Erda smiled at what she saw 4 highchairs each with one of her sons in them, Vigil a man that during the great crusade was said to have an appetite only matched by his hunger for war was happily eating up the porridge with Erda noting that this was his 3rd bowl practically ignoring Perturabos angered shouts. Aurelius was more careful as usual attempting to instruct the servitor how to feed him a look of held back frustration clear on his tiny features as the Servitor kept doing the same 'aeroplane' routine to try and get him to eat.
Angron was covering his ears being sat right next to Perturabo the former Red Angels poor ear drums most likely being destroyed by the Lord of Irons shouts, Erda moving forward shooed the Servitor away taking the bowl and spoon into her hands. "Do you need me to feed you my son?" Erda asked a question getting Perturabo to bash his now tiny fists against the tray "I CAN FEED MYSELF!" he screamed getting Angron to flinch, "Perturabo," Erda said firmly giving him a stare that actually made his facial expression change to one of apprehension "inside voice please you're scaring your brother" she added getting a wide eyed look from Angron.
"Scare? Scare him?," Perturabo said looking at Angron in confusion "i had to beat him over the head and bind him like a daemon during the-" he continued stopping his hands flying to his mouth, even Vigil stopped eating and looked with Aurelius towards Perturabo "during the what?" Aurelius asked and Erda placed the bowl and spoon on the tray in front of Perturabo.
Her head swivelled towards Aurelius and Vigil "i haven't explained but you're going to get a FULL explanation but first mama needs to talk to your big brother Robute" Erda said as sweetly as she could full well knowing that anything less than actually telling Aurelius and Vigil about the Horus Heresy was useless, "fine," Aurelius said his brow furrowing in the same way he used when talking to one of his old space marines "but i expect you to actually explain mother" he said before gesturing for the Servitor to feed him another mouthful.
The tightening of her jaw got an instantly raised eyebrow from Aurelius with needing to change the subject to distract from the fact that she knew Aurelius let alone Vigil were going to be furious with not only Perturabo but Angron too, she looked to Perturabo her expression turning to that of a soft well practiced smile and she asked something that made Angron hold back a chuckle.
"Can i trust you to feed yourself without making a mess Perty?" Erda purred getting a look of pure horror and offence and the the accusation that he would get his food down his front, "if i say yes will you not ask that question again?" Perturabo groaned reminded of how annoying Fulgrim was both during the great crusade and Horus heresy with Erda being the most likely source of his annoying nature. Erda grinning ear to ear said "you know i am not going to but you may get some relief from it for some time" with Perturabo accepting it and taking the bowl and spoon muttering about how he is thousands of years old.
Erda looked over to Angron who opened his mouth to laugh only for the Servitor to fill his mouth with food, following this she went to the table for her own breakfast as the inquisitor Gallius walked in his tail swishing due to his lack of usual leather coat instead being dressed up wearing a much smarter suit. His fur to Erda's amusement looked thoughtfully washed as if he targeted every little perceived imperfection that may or may not have existed, "bit overboard? We are only visiting my son" Erda said to which Gallius's vertical slit pupils went wide.
"Only visiting your son? This is ROBUTE GUILLIMAN loyal reborn son of the emperor whilst he is quite the contentious figure when spoken in a meeting with other inquisitors but he is the God Emperors son" Gallius said getting a sigh from Erda, "they are the emperors sons too" Erda said gesturing to the primarchs present raising an eyebrow before seeing Gallius deflate like he was a balloon.
"Yes i know but i have only fought against Heretic, Daemons and all sorts of in-between but coming across a loyal son of the emperor is kind of a big deal how are you not freaking out?" Gallius said as Erda took a sip of tea, "i am better at hiding it inquisitor now sit i have something for you" she said waiting for the Felinid to be seated.
"As you know our next target is Mortarian and depowering Nurgle in his own domain is not going to be as straight forward as with Khorne," she said with Gallius nodding as he poured a cup of tea for himself as Erda spoke on "and that's why you and your crew will be benched for this one" making him almost spit the contents he had in his mouth. "Before you get mad," Erda said in a practised calm raising a hand to silence the inquisitor before he could protest "the garden of Nurgle will literally kill you instantly thats why i will be relying on the powers of the Iron Warriors, Grey Knights as well as Robute considering i have read about his defeat of Mortarian with some dare i say 'divine intervention'."
She knew full well that Neoth was not his normal self anymore not so much a god in the literal sense but a warp entity made from a composite soul able to manipulate those in the material realm that laid themselves open to him, the Primarchs whilst not designed to do that could easily conduct either of their psykic might as easy as a lightning rod but if she said that to the priests aboard the ship she would most likely be put on a pyre and set on fire... For the second time in a few thousand years.
"But i do have a ball of yarn for you to chase" Erda said getting a scowl from Gallius "cat jokes?" he asked grins creeping along the primarchs mouths, "nothing to openly offend you i promise but i have noticed an anomaly," Erda said with Gallius leaning in to silently push for details "it seems that someone may of accidentally found the method to resurrect dead primarchs" the admition making Gallius look horrified.
"Right stop it there i only sense one primarch being slightly split and i need you to investigate" Erda said with the inquisitor calming down a bit, "what do you mean by split?" Gallius asked his curiosity starting to peak "this mostly has to do with the supernatural nature of the primarchs as your order can probably tell they have an otherworldliness to them" Erda said with Gallius nodding interest on his features.
"When the Emperor walked out of the gate he was different... More powerful and brought with him the components we needed to create the primarchs souls," Erda explained with the primarchs listening in "encase one of the primarchs were to fall in combat their body could be recreated using the geneseed as a template then after the correct rites are done their souls which no warp spawn can digest are pulled back into their bodies."
Gallius nodded "and what does this have to do with that anomaly you noticed?" he asked with Erda considering her next few words. "It seems that somone among the great enemies ranks was able to recreate a primarchs physical body but the soul is tangled between the two forms one bound to Slaanesh the other free from its taint" Erda said sickened to think that Fulgrim would have been bound to that beast.
"I see.. Where do you want me to go?" Gallius said trying to get Erda to focus more on their conversation, "your support will pretty much be non-existent so i see fit to grant you 3 10th of the Iron Warriors legion to assist you as-" Erda said before being interrupted by a tiny hand smacking against plastic. "YOU WILL NOT LET A!-A-A! A WITCH HUNTER LEAD MY LEGION MOTHER!," Perturabo roared proving it not being a particularly good morning for him he continued on "YOU HAVE DRESSED ME IN A KARFING DIAPER! COOED AT ME LIKE I AM A CHILD NOW THIS!?" he continued on with Aurelius louding telling Perturabo to shut up and let Erda finish.
Erda split off her maiden form that quickly glided towards Perturabo getting the tiny primarch to flinch, the look on Erda's faces was one like hardened stone and she spoke "Perturabo," she said firmly "I am not your father, I actually trust you in fact I trust all of you not to betray me so consider this a trust exercise."
Perturabos was curious as to what she had to say next "I said that the Iron Warriors would SUPPORT him not be lead by him," she continued both bodies in sync saying the same sentence addressing both the primarch and inquisitor "Perturabo you shall lead your Iron Warriors once more" she added the maiden dissolving fading away before Erda rose.
The ship rocked as it emerged from the warp the thunder booms of the rest of the fleet coming out giving the Emperors Secret shudders, "what of our legions then?" Vigil asked as the Servitor tending to him cleaned up his face. "That my son will be discussed when we have a moment with Cawl, Gallius is my Legio Reformatio decree ready?" she asked with Gallius nodding "the scribes have written it out exactly according to your word" he answered getting a smile from Erda.
Aboard the Macragge's honour Robute Guilliman sat in his meditation chamber looking over the latest reports from the current 4th Tyrannic war front lines, he hated that he had to abandon the front line leaving the main bulk of the war effort to a council of chapter masters and generals hand picked by himself.
Yet the idea that his biological mother some how alive and now proclaiming herself as Empress of the imperium? Iron warriors in toe? What was her plan? Thoughts of all possible outcomes ran through his head the endless recurrence of theoretical and practical playing in his head was bringing him no peace.
The door to the chamber chimed and letting all emotion wash from his face Robute looked to the door and thumbed a button to open the door, a servo skull hovered to deliver a message "Honourable Primarch Robute Guilliman to the bridge please, Empress Erda and her fleet have arrived please grace the bridge with your presence" the skull said in a grated augmented voice before floating off.
Standing up Robute returned his gauntlets to his hands and stomped out of his meditation chamber letting the door shut behind him, despite being a primarch his physiology requiring minimal in terms of sleep he still had restless nights over the questions he had after discerning if what she claims is true.
Why was he created? What was going to happen with the Lion? What about all of his brothers? And something that Robute doubted would get a straight answer, did the Emperor ever love his sons? A true paternal affection even if it was for a fleeting moment.
Upon entering the bridge officers and priests stood to attention the captain loudly proclaiming "PRIMARCH ON DECK!" getting the whole bridge to stand to attention before getting back to work as Robute slumped into the control throne, a hologram of the fleet was up 1 heavily modified ship transmitting the name Emperors Secret was in the very centre of the fleet flanked on all sides by a mixture of Inquisitorial supply ships, Grey Knight barges and what caught Robutes attention seeing that it was true the entire Iron Warrior fleet trailing behind them.
"Whats the Iron Warriors weapon status?" Robute asked with the scanner officer lead looking to him "powered down as ordered my lord only one shuttle leaving the Emperors Secret are we good to let it in?" he asked, Robute nodded with the scanner office lead nodding to the head comms officer dialling in the vox code to let their guests know they are allowed in.
Robute stood stretching "a very comfy throne yet I barely get to make use of it with all this walking" Robute said in jest none of the crew picking up on the joke only a singular tech priest making a suggestion to allow others to do tasks like greeting guests on his behalf, "no I.. I am going to go greet the guests" Robute said with a sigh walking out.
Still those questions echoed in his head was this guest real or was it some imposter, a pair of custodians stood at the entrance way to the hangar ready to stand by the Primarch with Robute being slightly calmed by their presence knowing that if Erda was truly who she said she was would have the unwavering servants of his father with them to verify.
The hangar itself was alive as tech-adepts and tech-priests rushed around getting out what the considered only the most sacred of oils, perfumes and fuel to give to their guests whilst both space marines and imperial guard soldiers stood to attention in a line. Robute himself with his custodian guards stood at an open end seeing the golden shuttle woosh itself into the hangar almost as silent as the dead touching down as gently as a leaf to the floor.
Whilst not as technically skilled like his brothers Vulkan, Ferrus or even Perturabo he could still tell that this shuttle was indeed a real shuttle from Terra herself due to the golden double headed eagle that sat upon its front the ramp beneath her belly opening up.
The air began to feel tense around Robute he could sense the custodians around him gripping their guardian spears ready to pounce if it was an imposter that stepped off that ramp.
The first to step down the ramp was a pair of custodians that scanned the room seeing the golden guardians that stood by Robutes side a silent nod shared between guards, with a single raised hand only then did she step out a middle aged woman clad in red and golden robes her smooth bronze skin without even a spec of damage save a faded scar upon her throat and black hair that cascaded past her shoulder and down her back.
She walked with a refined grace as if she practised the same walk for hundreds or even thousands of years, following behind her was 20 angelic servitors each with numbers 1-20 on their shoulders with Robute immediately being able to recognize the handiwork of Cawl, taking note to control his temper next time he talks to him as not to throttle the information out of him as to why he gave her those servitors.
Though 4 of the servitors marked 2, 11, 4 and 12 held in their arms infants no older than 2 years of age by Robutes estimate all dressed in simple white onesies but something was off, one of the infants a green eyed boy of who's head bored fresh scars stared at him for the briefest moment before burying his head in his servitors chest as if not seeing Robute means granted him invisibility from the primarch. Another a skinny boy with olive skin and eyes that glowed blue with an almost otherworldly light smiled a toothy grin and waved to him getting a small smile from Robute in turn making the boy giggle.
Behind them was the usual inquisitorial representatives he had come to expect along with Grey Knights and curiously an Iron Warrior the first captain Kydromor Forrix not walking in chains but beside the Grey Knights as if they had known each other for years.
Once Erda reached Robute she curtsied "a most excellent ship you have my son I hope you're proud of it" she proclaimed in a smooth voice that was practically dripping with honesty not even a bit of lies Robute could detect.
"You know how to make an entrance… mother" Robute said in response giving the word some entertainment but it was clear that on Erda's face she could detect that he felt uncomfortable saying it, "you can just call me Erda until you're ready to call me that" she said giving Robute some relief as he turned with Erda and her party followed the giant.
As they walked crew on the ship that were not servitors just stared if they were space marines but often normal human members of the crew got on their knees in prayer with Robute sighing in annoyance, Erda held her tongue knowing that their shared public images must be maintained at least until they get to where they can speak in private.
The meeting chamber was simple with a large throne at the head of the room for the Ultramarines primarch sat on with 2 empty thrones of equal size next to it one baring the symbol of the Blood Angels the other of the Dark Angels, Erda pinged out her awareness and could sense an Ultramarine behind every pillar that lined the room each armed and the attentiveness of patient hunters sat in their minds as they waited to jump in if their primarch required it.
"So" Robute said his voice starting to boom with the politicians tone he was famous for, Erda held her tongue expecting questions and accusations like to fall out of his mouth like bullets from a machine gun something the Robute was more than happy to do.
"YOU HAVE THE ABSOLUTE STONES TO PROCLAIM YOURSELF EMPRESS! YOU CLAIM TO BE MY MOTHER! YOU CLAIM TO BE MY FATHERS WIFE!" Robute shouted a noise that would have shaken the walls if they were made of other materials that were weaker, "i claim to be your BIOLOGICAL mother Robute i was there with your father i literally gave BIRTH to your biological form" Erda said knowing it's not strictly true that she pushed each primarch out of her vagina but were removed from her womb and put into the external gestation capsules after the first 9 weeks of pregnancy.
"I will never replace the woman that originally raised you my son, i know she did her best but i shall easily prove that i am who i say i am," Erda said gesturing for the 2nd and 11th Servitor to step forward, Erda gestured to the infants "Aurelius, Vigil say hello to your at the moment big brother Robute Guilliman of the Ultramarines legion" Erda said with Robute's hand going to his own mouth after hearing the names being spoken.
"Those are just their first names but what of their legions?" Robute said his shout muffled down to a curious expression with tone to match, "Thunder Dragoons we built them to utilize heavy mobile armour tactics and the Obsidian Revenants space marines made to survive even the most radioactive and inhospitable climates" Erda said gesturing to Aurelius then Vigil as she explained.
Robutes face softened "and what brings you here then? You requested my help now you have my ear" Robute said with him and Erda locking eye to eye, "your brothers," Erda said gesturing for the other 2 to be brought forward and Robute leaned forward in his seat "right here is Perturabo of the Iron Warriors and Angron of the World Eaters both reborn and redeemed" Erda proclaimed to Robute being puzzled when at his expression.
Robute was holding his lips tightly but not in an expression of suppressed rage or frustration it only dawned on Erda what he was holding back when a deep laugh bellowed from his throat, "SHUT IT BLUEBERRY!" Perturabo screamed and Angron took in a sharp inhalation of breath and nuzzled into his servitor as an attempt to self sooth the genuine anger building up in him.
"PERTURABO! AND ANGRON! SMALL BABIES!" Robute managed out as he laughed almost falling forward off his throne before clearing his throat a show of amusement on his face, "now why have you brought them here? And how long will they remain in that form?" Robute asked doing a double take when Erda said "forever" the very thought of a primarch being reduced to such a form amusing as it was it almost seemed nightmarish to him to be stuck like that.
"This is your fate too 'perfect son'!" Angron said annoyed the feeling of anger no that of the butchers nails biting down but more of genuine annoyance at being called a baby especially by Robute, "boys no fighting" Erda said sternly in a maternal tone that echoed among the room though just like when the emperor spoke to them multiple names rang out but it was different.
In each of their minds rang terms like "my child" or "my charge" as well as surprisingly their names something that came from the emperors lips but never was among those echoes. The primarch's relaxed as if a calming wave washed over them as Erda confessed "yes to become a child once more is your fate my son, you will still get to run the 13th legion and rule the realm of Ultramar as you see fit but you will do so under my protection" Erda said.
"So.. when will that happen?" Robute said as Erda nodded to Gallius the inquisitor striding forward holding out a scroll with Erda's seal plastered, the half felinid cleared his throat as he broke the seal and opened the document reading it aloud.
"Under the decree of both Empress Erda and the Emperor himself the ban on legion formations for the founding chapters as well as the restrictions enforced by the codex Astarties are here by lifted, any successor chapter that wishes to return to their parent legion must be welcomed with the chapter master remaining in their position of power but taking orders from their Primarch, first captain or highest ranking officer" Gallius rattled on getting a raised eyebrow from Robute. "Further more," Gallius continued "any chapters that wish to maintain independence from their parent legion are hence fourth restricted from access to legion designated resources outside of joint operations and pacts of trade approved of by mutual agreements, those chapters are also still under the rules enforced by the codex astartes to maintain their normalcy" Gallius finished rolling up the scroll before handing it to Robute with a bow so deep Erda assumed it was because of his abhuman DNA.
"That was… nice incredibly stupid considering the numerous people that would be more than happy to rebel over a move like tha-" Robute said as Erda raised a finger to interject, "all those that would of rebelled have either been made compliant or have been assassinated" Erda explained her tone still calm and maternal sending a shiver down the primarch's spine.
"I see, so now you haven't answered my question though 'mother'," Robute said emphasising the word getting a taste for it as whilst calling Erda mother taste slightly fowl he knew that she wasn't trying to replace Tarasha but simply continue on. "That we can decide after we rescue your brother ok? Since you defeated him I doubt that bloated pile of rot is going to be too happy with him" Erda said showing her hatred for the plague father.
Robute nodded accepting this answer before standing clapping his metal gauntlets together "then we have much to discuss Empress, though I may need to get into contact with an ally to give us additional aid but we may need to do something in exchange" Robute said, Erda nodded as the two were reunited.