Chapter 171: Departure |
"This Chapter Master isn't bad."
Rann, who remained out of sight while listening in on the conversation, offered his assessment.
"He has a trace of Roboute Guilliman's cunning shadow."
Exactly. How could someone be restricted by the very rules they had created themselves?
There were always more solutions than problems.
"..."
The younger generation around him suddenly struggled to maintain their composure.
"Indeed."
"That is right."
Especially now!
They were painfully aware that while they and their Primarch were fighting to the bitter end against the Alpha Legion on Pluto, the other side had been busy holding a coronation ceremony for the Imperium Secundus!
It was utterly infuriating!
If the four lords had not thoroughly reviewed the entire course of the Horus Heresy for these veterans, they would truly believe that Lion El'Jonson and Guilliman were traitors.
The Invincible Iron Guard shared a moment of awkwardness, as did some of the Dark Angels who had followed the Lion across the galaxy.
One side was embarrassed by the massive blunder caused by their Primarch's error in judgment, while the other was embarrassed by the General Cannon that the Lion had gifted to Perturabo.
Many of these Huscarls had been blown to pieces by that very Grand General Cannon.
Furthermore, the Lion had assumed Terra had already fallen at the time, choosing to destroy the traitor legions' homeworlds rather than heading to Terra.
The two legions with the strongest combat strength on paper had performed as if they were sleepwalking throughout the Horus Heresy.
Throughout all of this, only the eight Crimson Paladins remained as perfectly at ease as their Angel.
They had immunity from this historical reckoning.
"It is truly tough on Calgar."
Karna complained softly to Arthur while squeezing cream onto a fruit platter.
He had to agree with Romulus's combat plan against the Tyranids while simultaneously managing the emotions of the Codex-compliant faction within his Chapter, all while fighting a war burdened by the blunders of incompetent allies.
Then, amidst the utter chaos of a fortress world being breached by the Tyranids, he still managed to reorganize a defensive line.
It was crucial to remember that Tyranid activity was always accompanied by the Shadow in the Warp. Even a small fleet could severely disrupt the Astropathic Communication upon which the Imperium relied. To successfully block the main force of Hive Fleet Behemoth outside Macragge under such conditions was already an impressive feat.
"Yes."
Arthur nodded.
The Transmigrators were fortunate, possessing the power to slightly alter the world in accordance with their own ideals.
Because of this, he always harbored respect for warriors like Calgar, who were far more resolute than his 'younger' self, and he never hesitated to share his power with them.
The Ultramarines had always championed the Codex Astartes because they knew better than anyone that it was the final legal shackle restraining the other Space Marine Chapters.
But ten thousand years had slipped by like grains of sand, and most Chapters today had long since cast the Codex aside.
As the influence of the Imperial Cult spread like creeping vines, even the Ultramarines began to harbor ideologies that deified their Genetic Father. In their Sanctums, it was not uncommon to see figures praying before statues of Guilliman and copies of the Codex prior to battle.
Even Calgar himself was no exception.
Whenever a decision reached a stalemate, the Lord of Macragge would walk alone into the Primarch's slumbering chamber. He would close his eyes in meditation beneath the glow of the stasis field, seeking to draw strength from the ideals of "forward-looking wisdom, unyielding will, unwavering purpose, and decisive judgment."
And the Codex Astartes was undoubtedly the physical manifestation of Guilliman's will and wisdom.
Even if Calgar wanted to enact changes, the internal resistance would be immense.
As the veterans continued to mutter among themselves and the New Recruits gradually broke into nervous sweats, the strategy for the war to reclaim the eastern sector of Ultramar was steadily perfected through the conversation between Romulus and Calgar.
Calgar could not help but grimly realize a certain truth—
During this brief exchange, Romulus's superhuman intellect had relied on limited data to complete a preliminary assessment of the situation and formulate a comprehensive series of contingency plans.
Meanwhile, Calgar felt like little more than a tool, constantly feeding information. The carefully prepared statements in his mind, forged through numerous tactical meetings, had been entirely overridden by the strategies Romulus casually tossed out.
The operational plans accounted for every single detail. Through a secure Warp channel, they were continuously fed into the Cogitator arrays of the Bolmina fortress.
These even included immediate tactical maneuvers for the ground forces currently engaging the Tyranid Hive Fleet on the Planet's surface. The moment those orders were relayed into the hands of commanders at all levels, the entire defense force of the Planet began operating with unprecedented coordination.
This subconsciously reminded Calgar of his Genetic Father—the legendary master tactician currently resting aboard the Samothrace.
"Excellent. The Expeditionary Fleet will proceed with operations according to this strategy. Should any decisions require adjustment along the way, I will communicate with you immediately."
Pausing his thoughts for a second to ensure nothing had been overlooked, Romulus let out a breath and spoke.
"Thank you for your generous assistance, my lord!"
Calgar felt more than a little ashamed.
At first, the smooth operation of the Tyranid defense line had made Calgar believe that the meeting between the Ultramarines and the Expeditionary Fleet would take place at a grand ceremony held on Macragge.
After all, the other party had warned them of the Tyranid Hive Fleet's invasion scale, provided tactical guidance while even taking the Codex into consideration, and sent Librarians to assist with vital long-distance communication. The war had been progressing smoothly and steadily improving.
Yet the battle had devolved into its current state, requiring the Expeditionary Fleet to swoop in and put out the fires.
"I commend you for your steadfast defense, Chapter Master Calgar."
Romulus shook his head. Having witnessed the sheer absurdity of the Imperium, his only expectation for it now was that it be just a little bit better than before.
He could not find any fault with Calgar's series of countermeasures, nor was this war the time to point fingers and assign blame.
In the original timeline, although the Ultramarines successfully repelled the assault of Hive Fleet Behemoth, they had been decimated with barely a tenth of their forces remaining, and their elite First Company had been completely annihilated.
Furthermore, the eastern sector of Ultramar had been entirely ruined. The faster splinter fleets of the Swarm had even breached Talsar. With a second Hive Fleet destined to arrive a century later, the entire Realm of Ultramar would be left in a state of utter devastation.
But now, the eastern sector's defensive line was secure, resistance forces on various Planets were putting up a fierce fight, and thanks to their understanding of the Tyranid Hive Fleet, the various Chapters had not suffered excessive casualties during the initial rout.
Compared to that tragic alternate reality, even though the Wings of Dawn were still not entirely satisfied with the current outcome, it was a vast improvement.
But considering this was the Imperium, it would have to do.
Rameses, who was currently maintaining the Spells, made a hand gesture.
"By the way, Chapter Master Calgar."
Romulus, who had been about to bid farewell, spoke up with a reminder as if he had suddenly remembered something.
"According to our intelligence, the Swarm has devoured a world inhabited by feral Aeldari. You must be extremely cautious of any entirely new psychic units the enemy might deploy. The relevant biological profiles have already been transmitted."
He had sent over the detailed profiles of various brain-bugs.
These species, specifically engineered by mimicking the Galaxy's methods of psychic application, suffered from massive flaws in their physical structures, but in exchange, they gained unparalleled psychic power.
If an Adeptus Astartes with slightly lower psychic resistance were to approach these Organisms, their nervous system would be instantly scorched.
"Understood."
Calgar nodded solemnly.
His conversation with Romulus had significantly elevated his level of trust in this 'Primarch.' After all, the man's meticulous thinking and attention to detail instilled a profound sense of security.
"Farewell."
Romulus bid him goodbye.
Calgar clearly had not expected this sudden parting. He froze for a moment before quickly replying,
"...Farewell, my lord!"
Farewell. In this profound and dark universe, how many people truly had the chance to meet again?
The psychic communication channel closed. Romulus scanned the crowd, who had silently returned to their quiet contemplation at some unknown point.
They were looking at him with eyes brimming with expectation.
"Life is the Emperor's currency; please use it well."
This Imperial proverb was widely circulated, yet regrettably, those who truly understood its meaning were exceedingly rare.
Often, it wasn't that humanity did not know right from wrong. It was just that, when faced with this massive, bloated Imperium, many found their hands completely tied.
For humanity to return to the right path, it would likely require a civil war that engulfed the entire Galaxy.
That was why, right here on this very ship, the presence of the four vibrant 'Primarchs'—their strength, their character—served as a tangible inspiration to every Imperial citizen present.
This held true even if their currently magnificent fleet was but a drop in the ocean compared to the vastness of the entire Imperium.
—
Within an unnamed star system, the fleet departed, splitting into two distinct halves amidst the void.
One half headed straight for Bolmina, while the other half made a direct beeline for the Calth sector.