The crowd erupted into a tidal roar. The Emperor had appointed the Second Primarch as Heir Apparent; the Imperium had an heir.
At the same time, all telepaths on Holy Terra transmitted the message via astrotelepathy to every world in the Sanctum of the Imperium.
This news spread to all: the Emperor had an heir; the Imperium had an Heir Apparent.
"Glory to the Emperor! Glory to the great Heir Apparent, Lord Rhodes!"
"Rejoice, citizens of the Imperium—this moment belongs to all humanity."
The Emperor's Avatar raised his golden sword high, projecting a lance of light into the sky.
The golden light illuminated all Holy Terra and then fell as golden rain. Those touched by the drops felt stronger; minor ailments faded.
It was a form of psychic use—healing minor injuries among the populace and making them feel more comfortable.
"By the Emperor—this is His blessing."
"Thank you for Your grace!" Countless Imperials knelt and began to pray.
The most bewildered were the Ecclesiarchy—the State Church—for they worshiped the One True God: the Emperor Himself. Even the Omnissiah, god of the Mechanicum, in their doctrine had been reduced to one of the Emperor's avatars.
Now the Emperor had named an Heir Apparent. What rank did this heir hold? And it was awkward: other Primarchs were the Emperor's biological sons—His divine offspring.
But Rhodes was not the Emperor's son. He had never called the Emperor "Father."
His sole connection to the Emperor was through his wife—and even she was not truly of the Emperor's blood, but His adopted daughter, like the Sisters of Battle.
Still, Elena held great weight among the Sororitas and even among Imperial women at large. In recent years, in Ecclesiarchy propaganda,
Elena's identity had been revised into the Emperor's lost daughter, no longer a commoner.
Of course, only the Church's upper echelons knew the truth; they even actively downplayed it.
But now the Emperor had declared an heir—how should Lord Rhodes be arranged within the Church? What was his identity in doctrine?
A Son of God? Then would he be a second god? A second deity of the Imperium?
This was complex. Mishandled, it could shake the Church's foundations. The One-God concept underpinned the Ecclesiarchy; the Emperor was the One True God.
If that truth were shaken, all scripture would need to be torn down and rewritten.
Had anyone else said such a thing—or if Rhodes had sought the Heir Apparent— the Church would have denounced him heretic without hesitation!
But this was the Emperor's own proclamation—His edict, the Emperor's will—unalterable.
Thus a thorny problem arose: they had to amend doctrine. And the Ecclesiarchy's classics—well, the upper echelons knew where those had come from.
With the Emperor and many Primarchs returned, they had confirmed the leadership's suspicions: the scriptures they had studied were indeed written by that traitor.
"Your Grace, perhaps we should revise the doctrine. After all, what we study now was written by that heretic," a priest suggested.
Watching the jubilant crowds, he knew the news would soon sweep the Imperium like a storm. If the Church could not provide a reasonable explanation, immense problems would ensue.
"I'm aware. Remember, we serve the Emperor. The Emperor has issued His decree; we need only affirm it.
"We are not altering the classics—save where the One God Himself has said they are flawed. We simply amend that section.
"From today, Lord Rhodes is the Emperor's offspring and the Imperium's heir. We need only proclaim that," the Archbishop decided after a moment.
This Lord Rhodes had decent relations with the Church—because of his wife, and because he had curbed the Mechanicum. Elevating him as a Son of God posed little difficulty and even benefited the Church.
"Understood, Your Grace. I'll convene the High Deacons when I return and have them draft the scriptures," the accompanying priest said.
"That won't be necessary. You're only a priest; the bishops will handle it. After the investiture, I will meet Lord Rhodes personally," the Archbishop said.
If necessary, Rhodes's two sons were also excellent targets to fold into the Church's messaging.
Outside the Church, nobles and some military powers had opinions—but with the Emperor returned and the Primarchs back, even if they were unwilling, they could raise no waves.
Amid the people's cheers, Rhodes waved and then entered the Palace with his wife and two sons.
Inside, he instructed attendants to take his sons to the banquet hall while he and Guilliman went to see the Emperor.
"Did you need to be this dramatic? No heads-up—and suddenly I'm the Heir Apparent and second Emperor. Do the other Primarchs agree?" Rhodes asked.
Though the Emperor had mentioned it—several times—Rhodes had little interest in the second Emperor's seat.
Rather than be Emperor, he'd prefer to develop his own power, transcend this universe, and become a truly multiversal lifeform—that was the priority.
"This was decided by Father, me, and the others. You're the most suitable—because you have heirs," Guilliman said.
Though Rhodes had offered to grant their wives cosmic phantom-beasts or Super-Beast augmentation so they could bear true offspring—
Among all Primarchs, who was qualified to be the second Emperor? Without Rhodes, Sanguinius would have been most suitable, followed by Guilliman.
Now the mantle had fallen on him—would the others accept it?
"Rest assured, Rhodes, they all agree. You're the Imperium's most fitting successor. The Imperium stands where it is thanks to you.
"Without you, humanity might already be extinct.
"And I would have been forced to rise from the Golden Throne; the entire human race would have perished," the Emperor's voice came from afar.
On the Golden Throne, He remained emaciated; Magnus stood at His side.
If Rhodes hadn't brought back the Primarchs one by one—without the FTL drive he provided—without the new gear—without that last defense of Holy Terra—the Palace might have fallen!
By any measure, Rhodes's importance was beyond words. Nearly every Primarch had been saved by him.
Even Vulkan had been rescued because Rhodes prompted the Laughing God to retrieve him.
All the others returned because of Rhodes. Everyone owed him a great debt.
Most importantly, they all knew Rhodes's character: he was no cruel tyrant.
Nor would he sit forever on the Imperial Throne. One day he would pass it to his son. The highest throne of humanity should not be forever occupied by one man.
A dynasty—a family—was more fitting. Moreover, a child of Rhodes and an Eldar goddess would soon be born. How that child would view humanity and the Eldar was a question.
Thus Rhodes had to be firmly anchored to the Imperium—even made its master.
After the Primarchs and the Emperor discussed it, they decided: when the Unyielding Crusade ended,
Rhodes would return to Terra for coronation and officially become the Imperium's second Emperor.
The Emperor Himself could then focus on confronting the Dark King—the greatest threat to all life in the universe.
"In that case—since you've said as much—I won't demur. I accept the post of Heir Apparent," Rhodes said, taking a deep breath and nodding to the Emperor.
"That's more like it. Rhodes, that's the you I know. One more thing: you'll need to discuss new scripture with the Ecclesiarchy," the Emperor said.
It was best for Rhodes, as the party concerned, to handle it. From now on, a portion of humanity's faith would gather upon Rhodes as well.
"I already have the perfect candidate," Rhodes smiled.
For proselytizing and scripture-writing, there was someone more suitable.
Lorgar—who else could fit better?
"Oh? Who?" the Emperor asked.
"Lorgar," Rhodes said.
"???" the Emperor.
"????" Guilliman.
"???" Magnus.