Chapter 6.6 Roboute's Imperium

Roboute clicked through the myriad of reports that sat before him on his desk. As per usual, everything was progressing as expected. Efficiency was down a few points, but given the rise in warp storms it was within acceptable parameters.

As per the orders of the Warmaster Sanguinius, Roboute had gathered his forces at Calth, a key world within the Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar. According to the Warmaster the Orks were gathering for another incursion of the Veridian System. Roboute Guilliman and his Thirteenth Legion, the Ultramarines, had been tasked with responding to this anticipated attack when it occurred. Roboute had suggested a preemptive strike, but the response from Sanguinius had been emphatic. The Ultramarines were to hold at Calth until word came of the Ork's invasion, and then to respond as swiftly as he might.

It made sense to Roboute. Sanguinius didn't want to risk this being some kind of feint, as rare as it was for the Orks to perform such a move. The Warmaster had been very generous in his commands, rarely committing a Legion to a fight it could not reasonable complete alone, ordering in support as necessary. This had meant some areas of the Great Crusade had slowed somewhat, but their lack of losses had ensured other areas had progressed faster where the numbers were more favourable.

Regardless, Guilliman was growing increasingly concerned the operation would not be possible in the near future. The warp storms were growing in intensity. He was debating whether to risk departure early, but if they were caught outside the Five Hundred Worlds unable to return it wouldn't matter if they vanquished the Orks. Ultramar would be completely unprotected. His only real option was to follow the instructions of the Warmaster and hope in time a path would be made clear.

A chime sounded to alert Roboute of an incoming call. Putting his work to one side, the Primarch of the Ultramarines answered.

"Yes?"

"My Lord Guilliman. We have reports of a fleet emerging at the edge of the system. It is a lot of ship sir, comparable to our own forces here. We're still confirming the identity of the ships but early estimates suggest they are Legion. We will inform you when we have further confirmation."

"Keep me appraised of the situation," replied Guilliman, shutting off the call.

'Odd,' mused Roboute to himself, 'I wonder who it is. Sanguinius did not inform me of any additional forces for the operation. Theoretical. It could be one of my other brothers seeking aid. My operations at Calth have not been kept quiet. Perhaps it is a need for them to resupply knowing we have the infrastructure for a large logistics action. We'd have to delay any further operations of course if we grant them some of our munitions, foodstuffs and ordinance, but given we cannot immediately deploy there should be no great loss.'

Roboute began to recalculate the supply manifestos, assuming a thirty percent loss to this incoming fleet. He added a local variable to increase that to a maximum of sixty percent if the situation called for it. It would be pushing the limits of the logistics here at Calth but the Thirteenth Legion could still operate at over eighty percent efficiency with such material loss for a short time.

Additional supply lines could be established later to ensure the Ultramarines could operate with impunity when the time came.

If they could conduct any operations at all.

The warp storms had gotten worse over the preceding weeks. This had been coupled with an odd event a few days back. The light of the Astronomican, that beacon sat on Terra which guided all warp travel, had begun to flicker. The flickering had reminded many of a torchlight running low on energy cells, like a device nearing the end of its power source. It had scrambled the already fraught travel within the realm of Ultramar.

There had been reports flooding in from across the Five Hundred Worlds of ships either existing the warp at points that had not been intended, or being lost completely within the immaterium. The percentages were small, only about twenty percent above normal, but this was up from the five percent just a few months prior when only the storms were causing issues. Roboute dreaded to think what would happen if the Astronomican failed completely. Warp travel over any significant distance would be near impossible. He would have to commission an investigation of the Five Hundred Worlds to see if something existed amongst its myriad of planets that could resolve the situation.

The chime came again.

"My Lord, we have confirmation on the fleet."

"Report."

"It's the Iron Tenth my Lord. Lord Manus has asked to speak with you aboard the Fist of Iron."

'Also odd, almost as if summoning me', thought Roboute, "You did offer him all courtesy here on Calth? He and his fleet are welcome to make use of our facilities."

"I did, my Lord, but he asked to speak with you first. He will be holding at the edges of the system until that time."

"Very well…" muttered Roboute, "I will acquiesce to my brother's request. Not sure what he is playing at but we're not in any immediate rush to depart. Have the First Company of the First Chapter gather at their transports. We want to show him due deference but a single Company should be a sufficient display given we're going to HIM rather than the other way around."

"As ordered my Lord."

The journey was not longer or arduous. Roboute ensure his armour was perfectly polished and everything ceremonial or symbolic to his comradeship with Ferrus was in place. A small chest with a handful of trinkets had been quickly gathered as a gift for his brother to take with them since the Primarchs had not seen each other since Terra and Roboute had more than enough time and resources to organize it.

Stepping forth onto the decking of the Fist of Iron, Roboute noticed that the usually solemn Astartes of the Iron Hands were even more grim than usual. At the mention of gifts the First Captain of the Tenth Legion took away chest for examination, which Guilliman felt a bit of an exaggeration given this was a gift from a Primarch. His anger rose a little, but his diplomacy won out and he kept his smile broad despite the annoyance behind his eyes.

Finally, after his guard had been dismissed along with their escort, he entered the private chambers of Ferrus Manus. His brother stood there, arms folded, impenetrable scowl on his face before the desk Roboute had commissioned for Ferrus many years ago. Guilliman had commissioned many such desks for various brothers, most of which had accepted the offering but few used them except when Roboute was visiting, he suspected. It was a pity, the desks were ergonomically designed for each Primarch to enhance their talents for peak efficiency. Still, it was the thought that counted.

"Brother!" said Roboute, smiling widely, reaching for Ferrus' hand to clasp it in greeting, "It is good to see you again."

Ferrus did not move to accept the outstretched hand, his frosty expression not adjusting one muscle. Taken aback, Roboute withdrew the offer of greeting, his face falling from the pleasant smile to something more neutral.

"Tell me, Guilliman," said Ferrus in a tone that could cut steel, "Have you spoken with our brother Jaghatai recently? Or any of our other brothers?"

"No," said Roboute, shaking his head, "I haven't spoken with any of our kin since the last communication from the Warmaster ordering me to muster here at Calth. Why?"

"Can you prove this?"

"Well… if this is important to you then… yes," replied Guilliman with some surprise as to the interrogation, "I can provide logs of all my ships as to their movements here on Calth. I can provide logs of outgoing communications. But why brother? Has something happened to the War Hawk?"

Ferrus paced around the edges of the room for a moment, clearly trying to arrange his thoughts in to coherent pattern. Roboute remained silent, observing, attempting to form any kind of theoretical that could explain his brother's unusual behaviour. None of them were good.

"Sanguinius is likely dead," said Ferrus finally, his voice flat and without expressiveness, "Killed by the Sixteenth Legion at Isstvan."

After a long pause, with confusion crinkling the Primarch's face, Roboute finally replied with a bewildered and disbelieving, "What?!"

"There is more," continued Ferrus, "We have evidence that indicates when Fulgrim brought his forces to punish the Sixteenth for their actions, Jaghatai and his Legion surrounded the Emperor's Children and annihilated them. We suspect Fulgrim lives, but the evidence suggests he has fled to Terra to warn our Father of this betrayal."

Roboute moved to a chair at the other corner of the room and sat down, his head clasped in his hands. Sanguinius dead? A brother he considered one of the closest to. A good man, a kind man. One who embodied the very best of the Emperor himself. The one probably the most deserving of Warmaster if Guilliman was being honest with himself. And betrayal?

"I need to form a Theoretical as to why… why Jaghatai would do this?" murmured Roboute, "Such action would be suicide. Even if he had some disagreement with Sanguinius, to have him murdered in cold blood… he surely knows he cannot win a war against all of us?"

"That was my thoughts as well," replied Ferrus turning a cold gaze on to the Lord of the Ultramarines, "We know the Sixteenth are involved with this treachery, but Jaghatai would not risk acting alone. It is likely he has allies amongst our brothers…"

"Yes… that is a logical theoretical…" began Guilliman, "Wait. You imply that *I* might be in league with this treason?!"

"I cannot trust anyone, perhaps save Fulgrim," said Ferrus darkly, "Your evidence might exonerate you but I will need to examine it thoroughly to ensure it has not been tampered with. Should I find any falsehoods in your evidence my fleet will ensure that you cannot leave here to coordinate with any others, even at the cost of my Legion."

"How DARE YOU!" exploded Roboute, rising from his seat with swift and pointing an accusatory finger at his brother, "You DARE suggest that I, Roboute Guilliman, would be aparty to a plot to kill the Warmaster, to kill SANGUINIUS, one of my MOST BELOVED brothers?! One of my DAUNTLESS FEW that I regard MOST HIGHLY?! Ferrus you too are one I value highly but what you suggest is the GRAVEST INSULT to ME!"

"I did not believe the War Hawk so foolish either, but the evidence is clear," replied Ferrus calmly, "It is no insult, Guilliman. I just do not know who I can trust right now. I do not believe you would join such a venture, but your evidence will prove it. The fact you offered it freely speaks to your innocence."

"Innocent I am, brother!" said Guilliman emphatically, "You will have all the data you require. But I would ask you too provide evidence of your claims. If we are to trust each other in this confusing time we must be candid and completely open with each other."

"You shall have it," agreed Ferrus, "Once the veracity of our claims is confirmed, assuming there are no concerns, we will need to devise a plan to end this treachery once and for all. I had been making for Terra, however the various storms have blown us off course. This has been made even more difficult with the problems we have been having with the Astronomican."

"So you have seen this too?" asked Roboute with some concern, "If the beacon is… for want of a better word… weakening, the theoreticals suggests something is happening on Terra to cause this disruption."

"Quite," replied Ferrus, "Getting to Terra should be our highest concern. However we risk dashing ourselves against the rocks within the warp if attempt to travel unguided for such a long distance. It seems if these storms have been purposefully put in our way to impede our travel."

"Perhaps they have…" muttered Guilliman, pausing to consider his brother's words, "Theoretical. Jaghatai would not engage in this action alone. Thus for a Practical he must have allies. The subsequent Theoretical begs, who are these allies? Parallel Theoretical, these warp storms are being deliberately formed to prevent our travel to Terra. Combined Theoretical. Who has the ability to make warp storms and would be willing to make common cause with Jaghatai?"

"Magnus…" growled Ferrus.

"It is just a Theoretical," reminded Roboute, "I would have thought even this would be beyond Magnus' extraordinary abilities, but perhaps he has found some way to enhance his powers. The common thread that linked Jaghatai and Magnus would be… Nikaea."

"You believe this is some kind of vengeance for the Emperor's Edicts at Nikaea?" asked Ferrus.

"It is the most logical Theoretical," replied Guilliman, pacing back and forth, "And from there we can extrapolate other theoretical allies for Jaghatai, and allies for ourselves. Leman Russ I could never see doing anything against the Emperor's will, but he was also in support of the Edicts. We can likely count him as a friend. Also Mortarion has had no love psykers. We might well find an ally in him as well. We should probably be wary of the Lion and Conrad Kurze until proven otherwise, I remember them sending delegations in favour of Magnus' position."

"I remember you yourself send a positive delegation," reminded Ferrus, "You implicate yourself through your own Theoretical."

"Well… yes. But I will prove my innocence soon enough," mumbled a disgruntled Roboute, "And besides, I did this at Sanguinius' request."

"And as you say, the Warmaster Sanguinius was also in favour at Nikaea," continued Ferrus, "Though perhaps he was killed because the traitors believed he would not go along with their plans."

"Do we have a better working Theoretical?" asked Roboute, an edge of terseness in his voice.

"Not yet. But I do not intend to trust any of our brothers until evidence is verified," replied Ferrus, "But I do think it is likely Magnus is part of this scheme at the very least. We will need to map out these warp storms before our departure and try to plan a path to Terra."

"Indeed," agreed Guilliman, "Once we are satisfied enough to trust each other we should pool our resources and combine our fleets. You are free to refuel and resupply here at Calth as soon as you are comfortable to do so. I will dispatch some of my Legion across the Five Hundred Worlds to see what tools and devices we might find to aid our passage through the warp should the Astronomican fail completely. Without it, we will be unable to navigate around the Five Hundred Worlds, let alone reach Terra."

"I would send some of my most effective Iron Fathers with those units," said Ferrus, his tone somewhat more relaxed, "I cannot say any of us have any expertise in the kinds of technology needed to traverse the warp in such a fashion but if it exists within your worlds we must make use of it. We must reach Terra with all haste."

"Then by your leave, brother, I shall depart," concluded Roboute, "We are about to face the greatest danger the Imperium has ever known. However they have made one fatal flaw."

"Oh?" asked Ferrus, "And what would that be?"

"All bar one of my Dauntless Few are likely alive and with us," replied Guilliman, "Even worse for our enemies, I have one of them here with me right now. All we need is Leman, and likely Rogal, and then whomever stands against us will be no match for us. If this is the way things are, I could not ask for a better ally than you in this fight, Ferrus. Glory to the Imperium, and victory to the loyal sons of the Emperor."