"Guilliman! Dorn has very likely guessed something, but you must keep your mouth shut. What happened with Magnus is an Imperial secret." After Rogal Dorn left, the Emperor turned to Guilliman and spoke.
Guilliman sighed at that. It was a thorny matter—mainly not because of himself.
"Father, I think he may already suspect something. We're fine, but Magnus's eyes have already given everything away," Guilliman said.
Dorn was extremely sharp; he had caught that fleeting evasiveness in Magnus's eyes.
"I know. But with Dorn's temperament, he won't speak of it—and Magnus will keep his silence as well," the Emperor replied.
"Magnus actually isn't the problem. At worst he'll get beaten up again—he's had enough beatings as it is.
The real difficulty is Horus. News of Horus's return is no longer a secret within the Imperium—especially among the upper echelons," said Guilliman.
In recent years, the Imperium had constantly propagated that when Horus was sent to that world for so-called treatment back then, he had already been possessed by the Four. The one who launched the rebellion wasn't the Imperium's Warmaster Horus, who had always been loyal.
Ordinary Imperial citizens, of course, had no idea Chaos even existed; and it happened ten thousand years ago. As long as the Emperor, His Angels, and the grandees of the Ecclesiarchy spoke, which commoner would dare say otherwise? But once Dorn returned, he would, like the Lion, erupt in fury at Horus.
"Let them resolve it themselves. I believe Horus will handle it," the Emperor said.
Horus had already passed the most difficult hurdle. If he couldn't pass Dorn's, then he wouldn't be the son the Emperor had set his hopes on.
Back then, the first Primarch the Emperor recovered wasn't actually Horus, but Alpharius—kept in secret and personally groomed. Horus was publicly named the First Found, to use that status to cultivate him. Among all the Primarchs, Horus was a natural leader. He was the Emperor's designated Warmaster.
Just as Guilliman is the Lord Regent of the Imperium. But as for the Warmaster's seat—without sufficient strength, you can't sit in it. The only one who can withstand the Four head-on right now is Rhodes.
To be Warmaster you don't need to be the strongest; the Emperor's sons have returned. With them working under Rhodes, Rhodes need only issue orders and command. His primary task is to withstand the pressure of the Four and avoid corruption.
"Rhodes, thank you for the campaign against the Necrons. Go home and rest well. In three months, Phase One of the Indomitable Crusade officially begins," the Emperor said.
This war had been six years in the making. It was time. Everything was ready; to delay further would only deepen the isolation between those worlds and the Imperium.
"No problem. I can depart at any time," Rhodes nodded.
Per their plan, Phase One of the Indomitable Crusade would last fifteen years, and after those fifteen years, Stark would be twenty. By then Rhodes could prepare an Astartes Legion for him.
His two half-Aeldari children would be around ten as well.
After the three discussed the expedition's specifics a while longer, Rhodes returned to his palace to be with his long-unseen wife Elena and their son Stark.
Husband and wife reunited, naturally there was intimate communion. This time, Elena would also serve as Rhodes's adjutant, accompanying him to lead First Fleet into the crusade.
…
Dorn's return sent shockwaves through the Imperium—good ones in every respect—because Imperial morale rose again.
For a full three months, vast Imperial fleets concentrated at Holy Terra. The reconstituted Legions sent great numbers of Space Marines and mortal auxiliaries.
Just Rhodes's geneline alone had reached a staggering eight hundred thousand at its cap. His Legion also sent three hundred thousand more warriors as reinforcement. The Blood Angels, Imperial Fists, White Scars, Space Wolves, Iron Hands, Raven Guard, and the newly founded Deathwatch all dispatched forces of varying size—from several tens of thousands to well over a hundred thousand.
The Astartes mustered had reached two million, not far off the Great Crusade's scale.
Meanwhile, Elena's gene-daughters—the Sisters of Battle—massed a full five million, and would march with Rhodes.
Mortal troops—the Imperial Navy and Astra Militarum—were beyond counting, impossible to tally precisely, but certainly over ten billion.
In addition there were innumerable battle barges, cruisers, destroyers, battleships, and carriers assembled.
Now over four meters tall, clad in red-gold power armor, Rhodes stood before the Emperor to swear the oath of crusade.
Deep within the Imperial Palace on Holy Terra, the Golden Throne's radiance bathed the grand hall, lending a layer of sanctity to the impending ceremony.
Tens of thousands of Imperial high officials, Space Marines, Sisters commanders, mortal auxilia, and Navy representatives gathered, solemnly awaiting the advent of Humanity's Master.
What an honor: the Emperor Himself would deliver their farewell address, that they might hear the Emperor's teachings.
These officers of the mortal auxilia had never dared dream they would one day behold the Emperor.
Rhodes and Elena stood at the fore.
The air was taut with tension and expectation. As somber bells tolled, the Emperor's avatar appeared slowly before the Golden Throne. His gaze was like a beacon, sweeping across every person present, as if seeing through their souls. His voice was deep and powerful, echoing through the vast hall.
At the sight of the colossal golden giant before them, all the mortals fell to their knees, crying "Long live the Emperor!"
Outwardly, the giantized avatar served better; thus the Emperor's public face was always His towering incarnation. The gaunt, withered form was known only to the Custodes and the Primarchs.
"Children of the Imperium, today we stand at a turning point in history," the Emperor's avatar thundered.
"Ten millennia ago, our Imperium endured darkness and division. Today, we stand united once more, to fight for the future of mankind!"
His words stirred everyone present; countless fists clenched, eyes lit with resolve.
The Emperor continued: "The Indomitable Crusade is not merely a military operation. It is our declaration of war upon the forces of Chaos—upon the xenos!
It is our pledge to the future! We will reclaim lost worlds, save the oppressed, and restore the Imperium's glory!"
As His speech crested, the hall's fervor reached a peak. All the mortal officers burst into thunderous applause—this was the Emperor's teaching!
"Rhodes," the Emperor's voice was steady and commanding, "You bear the hope of the Imperium of Man. Your courage and wisdom will lead us to victory.
Phase One of the Indomitable Crusade will be commanded by you in person. Are you ready, the Imperium's new Warmaster?"
Rhodes, in red-gold power armor, his towering form over four meters tall awe-inspiring under the lights, replied, "For the Emperor. For the Imperium. I will give all I have to lead the Indomitable Crusade and reclaim humanity's rightful honor!"
The steps had to be taken; the more stirring his words, the higher the morale of the mortal armies. So Rhodes put on a heartfelt performance.
He instilled unrivaled confidence in the commanders of the mortal host.
"To follow you, great Warmaster—to follow you into the crusade and annihilate all enemies of mankind," a mortal auxilia general said to Rhodes.
Rhodes nodded, then turned to face all the warriors in the hall. His voice rang out like a great bell: "Soldiers of the Indomitable Crusade! Today we march. For the Emperor, for the Imperium, for the future of mankind! Our enemies may be strong, but our will is stronger! We will know no fear! We go ever forward!"
As his words fell, the hall erupted in deafening cheers.
Rhodes raised his hand again for silence. "Go forth, my warriors! May the Emperor's light guide your path; may your courage and loyalty forge new legends!"
"Go—Imperium's champions!"
At the Emperor's command, Rhodes led the Indomitable Crusade's vanguard fleet slowly out of Holy Terra's orbit.
Countless warships formed a magnificent array in the void, like a shining river of stars. Each vessel carried the Imperium's hope and resolve; every warrior held fast to faith in the future.
Aboard Rhodes's flagship, the Unyielding Oath—refit from a Pedan mothership, with Imperial stylings added and its size roughly doubled—Elena stood at his side. It would serve as Rhodes's flagship throughout this crusade.
Besides Rhodes's First Fleet, Dorn led the Second Fleet and over a hundred Imperial battle barges in tow.
Sanguinius commanded the Third Fleet, at the helm of a Pedan mothership supplied by Rhodes.
There was also the Fourth Fleet, led by the Lord of the Fire Dragons, equipped with three Gloriana-class battleships.
The four fleets launched Phase One of the Indomitable Crusade. The objective in this phase: purge all forces of Chaos, xenos, and rebellion within the Imperium Sanctum.