Chapter 206: The Terran Delegation |
Macragge - Hera Fortress
Not long after the war in the Ultramar Segmentum concluded, the Imperial Navy fleets from other sectors submitted their requests for departure. Across the stars, countless other embattled systems desperately needed their assistance.
Next were the defenders of the Great Rift, who needed to return to their sector as quickly as possible to guard against Ork and Chaos incursions.
Following them were the Black Templars. After completing this grand expedition, they halted at a Shrine World in the eastern reaches of the sector. There, they constructed a recruitment keep to serve as an eternal testament to their monumental crusade.
Afterward, the Expeditionary Fleet swiftly disbanded. They carried their intact gene-seeds across various sectors, distributing them among their respective Successor Chapters.
Aside from the Nemesis and Carcharodons Chapters, which continuously operated around the Chapter flagships, and the Ultramarines alongside their Successor Chapters natively stationed in the Ultramar Segmentum...
...the many Space Marine Chapters that had rushed to reinforce the region now left only their stationed representatives behind in Ultramar.
This was the reality of Warhammer 40k. The Imperium fought endless wars, never granting its warriors a moment to catch their breath.
Romulus could not make them stay. The expedition had ended, yet astropathic distress signals from across the galaxy continued to drift into the astropathic sanctums of every vessel like falling snow. These elite, highly mobile forces had to press on to their next battlefield.
The Astropaths listened to the cries for help from distant worlds, while the Adeptus Astartes sifted through the countless pleas, deciding which were worthy of response and which had to be abandoned.
However, the investigation delegation from Terra had yet to leave. First, acting on behalf of Terra, they commended those who had performed meritoriously in the campaign. Then, they respectfully invited the Primarch to attend a council, as both sides needed to reach a systematic consensus on several resolutions.
Romulus had originally intended to ignore them. But after leaving them to wait for a while, the delegation's unbothered composure ultimately made him change his mind.
He was currently walking toward the grand council chamber within the Hera Fortress.
The Hera Fortress today looked entirely different from its usual state. A far heavier, more solemn atmosphere permeated the air.
The Ultramar Auxilia that normally garrisoned the area were nowhere to be seen, replaced instead by squads of unfamiliar guards.
They wore pitch-black, full-body carapace armor over dark robes. Their wargear was staggeringly exquisite, and every military officer was equipped with a power sword.
Romulus recognized the members of this guard detail at a single glance.
The Lucifer Blacks. Since the Unification Wars, they had fought for the Imperium as a mortal auxiliary force. Now, they were stationed on Terra alongside the Palatine Sentinels and the Katandan Wardens.
They were the elite guard defending humanity's Throne World and the Imperium's highest governing body on Terra. For them to take over the security of the Hera Fortress undoubtedly symbolized Terra's supreme authority enveloping Macragge once again.
Hmm...
Romulus glanced at the Invictus Guard stationed not far away, and then at the lasguns of the Lucifer Blacks, which had their power packs removed.
Due to essential security protocols, no faction was permitted to equip readied ranged lethal weapons within the Hera Fortress.
Like a cage.
"Greetings, Primarch."
The Lucifer Blacks saluted in perfect unison. Their demeanor was solemn and restrained. Compared to the sheer fanaticism of the ordinary citizens of Ultramar, these strictly trained guards appeared much more composed.
Romulus's eyes flickered slightly.
He knew that during their garrison on Terra, the Lucifer Blacks were directly under the command of the Adeptus Custodes. The most exceptional among them would even be selected as covert operatives, assisting those golden guardians in monitoring the slightest disturbances across the Imperium.
At least in theory, they were the tentacles of the Custodes reaching out across the galaxy.
Of course, considering the sheer absurdity of the War of the Beast—where an Ork Attack Moon loomed right over Terra and the Imperial Fists fought to the bitter end while the Custodes remained entirely invisible—this theoretical function...
Hmm...
...was debatable at best.
"Greetings, brave warriors."
His gentle response caused these guards, renowned for their ironclad discipline, to involuntarily straighten their backs. Underneath their helmets, their faces could hardly conceal their excitement.
To them, receiving a personal greeting from a Primarch was an immense honor.
Something that had not happened in ten thousand years.
Romulus passed through the heavily guarded archway, slowly lifting his head as his gaze swept across the magnificent dome of the grand hall.
The representatives from Terra had already lined up neatly before the council chamber, waiting solemnly for the Primarch's arrival.
The delegation's formal invitation had explicitly outlined several key topics:
Would this Primarch, who shared such deep ties with the Ultramarines, restructure the political landscape of Greater Ultramar? Would the four Primarchs travel to Holy Terra to seek an audience with the Emperor? And there was a slew of pressing post-war matters to address. Every single issue concerned the future trajectory of the Imperium.
The members of the Terran delegation included: Itu Hamertalion, representative of the Adeptus Administratum; Violetta Roscavler, representative of the Departmento Munitorum; Kadak Mir, special envoy of the Navis Nobilite; Eos Redirra, representative of the Imperial Cult; and Aglaia Hesikioed, representative of the Inquisition.
And—
His gaze landed on a towering warrior gleaming in gold. Even though Rameses had already acquired Guilliman's complete data, this Custodian representative was just as tall as Romulus, who had only recently begun his secondary growth phase.
The Adeptus Custodes representative, Navradaran.
Sure enough, wherever the Lucifer Blacks were, the Custodes were practically guaranteed to follow.
Romulus felt the roster looked somewhat familiar. He narrowed his eyes, forming a general assessment of the group's composition.
"Greetings to you, Lord Romulus. I am Custodian Inspector Navradaran, and I have come of my own volition."
Noticing the stares of the representatives behind him, Navradaran could not help but ask,
"May I ask where the other three Primarchs are?"
He was one of the few Custodians who had left the Imperial Palace even before the Indomitus Crusade.
He admired the willpower of mortals and frequently taught his friend, Shield-Captain Valerian, that mortals were not merely a source of annoyance. It was precisely because of the fearless sacrifices and devotion of these men and women that the Imperium endured.
For this very reason, he had frequently operated beyond Terra long before Guilliman awoke. He maintained close ties with the Ordo Xenos of the Inquisition, paying extra attention to any xenos threats that might potentially spill over to the Throne World.
As information regarding this Custodian flashed through his mind, Romulus immediately offered a warm response.
Proactive individuals like him were a rarity among the Custodes, practically an ultra-rare breed.
"They do not involve themselves in political affairs. I have full authority over the relevant negotiations."
The moment his words fell, a subtle murmur of unrest rippled through the delegation.
No one had expected the bond between these four Primarchs to be so incredibly tight-knit.
Yes, tight-knit.
The crowd instinctively looked toward Romulus.
Though he appeared to be standing alone, the fact that the others had completely surrendered this power to him signified absolute trust.
As for the possibility of him ditching the other three to attend the meeting on his own, that was completely out of the question. After all, the entire upper echelon of the Ultramar Segmentum knew the Terran delegation planned to meet with the Primarchs; it was no secret.
"I understand."
Navradaran bowed slightly and took the initiative to step aside.
The delegation and their entourage quickly parted, clearing the path to the resplendent, empty grand council chamber for Romulus.
"Please enter, my lord."
It seemed Terra did possess some genuine sincerity after all.
Romulus silently approved. At the very least, their willingness to put on this superficial display of respect meant they genuinely wanted to negotiate.
He strode forward.
Meanwhile, amid the crowd, the Adeptus Administratum representative, Itu Hamertalion, stared at that broad back, an undeniably complex expression flashing across his face.