The Throne of Shadow's Sovereignty arrived in the Sol System. Before Nareth could even depart for Mars, he received a summons from Malcador.
After landing at the Eternity Gate starport, he made his way to the Imperial Palace on Terra.
As Nareth entered the grand administrative hall, he immediately noticed two figures awaiting him: Malcador, robed in grey and leaning on his staff crowned with the Imperial Aquila, and beside him, a red-robed Tech-priest.
"Nareth," said Malcador, "welcome. You acted swiftly when you perceived the crisis of Osiris' rebellion. Your intervention spared the Thirteenth Legion from total annihilation."
"I want to know, what is the situation in Osiris now?"
"Regent, my Legion has ended the xenos atrocities on Osiris," Nareth replied calmly.
"Eleven star systems have returned to Imperial rule. At the request of the newly freed human governments, I have granted them the protection of the Imperium."
"I trust your Legion to restore order there," Malcador said with satisfaction.
He gestured toward the Tech-priest. "Allow me to introduce Magos Envoy Ruben of Mars, who brings the petition of the Fabricator-General."
Nareth turned his gaze to Ruben.
'What demand could Mars possibly bring this time?'
"Envoy Ruben greets you," said the Magos. By Mechanicum standards, he bore relatively few augmentations, retaining his flesh voice for diplomatic ease.
"Blessed of the Omnissiah, you who restored the holy Template," Ruben intoned reverently, placing that title above all others.
"Primarch of the Shadows of Order, Monarch of Vostroya, Purifier of the Orks…"
His voice rose and fell in the formal cadence of High Gothic as he recited Nareth's titles before concluding, "Lord Nareth."
"Envoy, I am pleased to meet you," Nareth replied, waiting for the Magos to make his request.
"The Forge World of Incaladion is ravaged by civil war; it urgently needs your intervention."
Nareth's eyes narrowed slightly. Incaladion.
'I recall that the Fourth Legion nearly bled itself dry in that campaign. Later, when Perturabo was found, he judged their effort insufficient and purged eleven commanders.'
He thought of Lucius, the Forge World he had once visited. 'Every Forge World is a fortress of iron. The Emperor has chosen his Pegasus again, and I am to break this one.'
When Ruben saw Nareth remain silent, he quickly added, "The Skitarii Guard will march under your command."
"No need," Nareth answered flatly. He remembered the historical record: the reclamation of Incaladion had been carried out by the Fourth Legion, the Martian Skitarii, and the Legio Mortis, yet the world had credited Mars alone and forgotten the Iron Warriors who had died in its trenches.
'When Horus rebelled, both the Legio Fureans and the Knight House Mordred had sided with Mars, joining the traitors without hesitation.'
'The Fourth Legion fought there for two years, in 842 and 843, suffering immense losses, only to be forgotten, just as their father Perturabo was always ignored.'
'I cannot reject the Emperor's and Malcador's order to subdue Incaladion, but I will ensure the cost brings proper reward.'
'If I alone liberate the world, then its notoriously xenophobic population, along with the Legio Fureans and Mordred Knights, will owe their gratitude and loyalty to one master, me.'
With that realization, Nareth decided to turn the burden laid upon him into opportunity. He would not merely pacify Incaladion, he would claim it.
'In the Ultima Segmentum, I already control the Catachan and eleven systems of Osiris Cluster. Soon, Posul and others will join them. To sustain such holdings, I need a Forge World to supply them.'
'The Preceptor-General of Incaladion is dead, the world crippled by fifty years of civil war; this is the perfect moment.'
'It is weak, divided, and ready to be taken.'
His eyes gleamed. Controlling a Forge World was no small feat, even a weakened one. Mars would not stand idly by.
But the timing was perfect. The Emperor's order gave him a legitimate reason to intervene.
Incaladion's xenophobic nature would ensure that, once liberated, it would resist any outside authority, except the one who saved it.
Nareth smiled slightly and spoke, to the surprise of both the Regent and the Magos:
"My Legion will quell Incaladion's civil war."
Ruben's face brightened instantly. No need for Martian intervention.
"Lord Nareth," he said with delight, "your reputation precedes you. To see you now, I find it fully deserved."
Malcador also smiled. "Nareth, your father will be pleased to hear this news."
"Lord Nareth," Ruben added courteously, "permit me to remind you, your new Gloriana-class battleship has been completed and awaits your inspection."
"Thank you," said Nareth. "That is precisely why I came to the Sol System."
He returned to the Throne of Shadow's Sovereignty.
En route to Mars, he gave orders to Arsena, "The Emperor has assigned me command of the Incaladion campaign."
"Aside from the First and Seventh Chapter in the Ultima Segmentum, and the Eleventh with me to receive the Gloriana, dispatch the Fifth to join the war."
"Send word to the Legio Gryphonicus."
To ensure Incaladion's loyalty would be directed solely toward him, he could rely only on trusted allies.
The Dark Fire, closely tied to Horus' Lords of Destruction, was still being reintegrated and excluded from this campaign.
The Legio Astorum was chosen by him to march with his legion in the First Randan War.
Nareth hoped to reserve the Graian Crown and the Legio Astraman for the Second.
Given the Legion's future operations, he chose to summon the Legio Gryphonicus.
"Yes, my lord." The primarch's aide left to relay his orders.
When the Throne of Shadow's Sovereignty docked at Mars' orbital port, Nareth disembarked to find Adams waiting.
"My lord," Adams greeted him, uncharacteristically excited, as he was to command the second Legion to receive a Gloriana-class warship.
"Adams," said Nareth, "this is the honor you have earned."
A red-robed Magos approached, his vox-filtered voice echoing with synthetic harmonics.
"Asset // Gloriana-class battleship // Length: 24.17 kilometers // Mass: 134.52 megatons.
Per treaty obligation, Mars now transfers ownership to Primarch Nareth. Confirm receipt."
"I confirm," Nareth replied. Then to Adams: "Take command of your ship, my Death Lord."
"Yes, my lord." Adams and his warband began the formal transfer.
Fourteen days later, the Throne of Shadow's Sovereignty and Adams' newly christened The Black Mercy departed together, heading for Incaladion.
Ultima Segmentum, Forge World Incaladion
The stars flared with bursts of light as the fabric of the void tore open.
From those radiant rifts, ships poured into realspace, first dozens, then hundreds, a tide of iron and fire, heralding the coming of the Storm and the Hammer once again.
.....
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