Kingdom of Disorder, Fourth Layer.
Flamini, Chapter Master of the Sixth, knelt in the black mist, respectfully reporting to the Black Emperor.
"My Lord, the World Eaters have arrived in my domain. I have met with them and welcomed them."
"They number forty-nine thousand, led by Captain Mago of the 18th Company, along with Captain Kourage of the 21st and Captain Keptra of the 37th..."
Nareth heard the name Ehrlen among them. In his memory, this World Eater Captain was originally slated to lead his warriors in the landing on Isstvan III, where he would face Angron's betrayal.
He would charge at the descending Angron in a fury, only to be overwhelmed and brutally dismembered by dozens of his own Legion.
He gathered his thoughts. 'I didn't expect to actually gain one-third of the World Eaters.'
'On Isstvan III, nearly twenty thousand World Eaters were supposed to land.'
'Now, forty-nine thousand are under my control. This is clearly the result of my "corroding" the Butcher's Nails and gene-seed in the sixth layer of the Kingdom of Disorder.'
He thought of Captain Dreger of the 9th Company and others, and the accelerated recruits Gahlan Surlak had trained.
And even Lok, the First of the War Hounds, who commanded the Dreadnoughts, had joined their cause.
'Angron, Khorne, I'd say, when it comes to dividing the World Eaters three ways, who got the biggest share?'
'That would be me!'
Nareth nodded, satisfied. His "corrosion" of Chief Apothecary Gahlan had finally paid off.
"They will be a vital force in helping you defend the Coronid New Zone."
"Angron's betrayal will fuel their rage, which they will vent on the attacking rebels."
"Indeed, my Lord. With their aid, I can hold back the rebels' assault." Flamini looked at the Black Emperor with awe.
He had never imagined, nor foreseen, that the Black Emperor could bring the World Eaters to their side.
Forty-nine thousand warriors, even more than his own Sixth Chapter's thirty-six thousand one hundred and fifty.
As Flamini pondered, a sparkling psychic crystal fell into his palm.
He infused it with psychic energy and read its contents. "The Codex Alpha?"
"Correct. It is a record of the Thousand Sons' experience fighting the Wolves." Nareth's voice was deep.
"I have sent it to all parts of the Legion, for training purposes."
"You must fully absorb the experience of Astartes fighting Astartes, to prepare for the coming conflict."
"The Thousand Sons..." Flamini was taken aback.
He thought of Hathor Maat, the Chief Librarian of the Thousand Sons. 'Could he also have received a prophetic revelation, and turned from darkness to follow my Lord?'
'My Lord is a true god. Even if he hadn't, if my Lord wished it, He would obtain it.'
"By Your will." Flamini bowed and was swallowed by the mist.
After returning Flamini to reality, ethereal prayers reached Nareth's ears.
He extended his spirituality, touching the pulsing orb, and drew Lucius, Captain of the 13th Company of the Emperor's Children, into the Kingdom of Disorder.
"My Lord." Lucius knelt in the mist, reporting.
"Following Your divine command, I gave the warning in time."
"Vespasian and Solomon left with me, along with a number of Emperor's Children who followed us. Total: twenty-four thousand nine hundred and thirty."
Nareth's eyes gleamed. He remembered that on Isstvan III, the Emperor's Children had suffered the heaviest purge, about one-quarter to one-third of their strength.
'The Emperor's Children now number one hundred and fifteen thousand. Lucius has taken over one-fifth. Add Akurduana's ten thousand.'
'Hmm... I've also gained three-tenths of the Emperor's Children.'
Lucius continued. "Solomon also convinced his oath-brother, Captain Garro of the Death Guard."
"His Great Company, seven thousand four hundred and ten warriors, followed him."
Nareth was surprised. He hadn't expected this windfall.
Upon questioning, Lucius recounted the story.
'Hmm, because Solomon Tarvitz also warned Garro in time.'
'He didn't have to flee as desperately as in my memory. Captain Ignatius Grulgor of the 2nd Company didn't have time to board the Frigate Eisenstein either.
'Seven thousand four hundred and ten, nearly half of the 7th Great Company.'
The Death Guard now numbered close to one hundred thousand. The entire Legion had only seven Great Companies.
The Captain of the 7th Great Company had been personally granted the title of Line-Captain by the Emperor, before Mortarion's return, when the 14th Legion was still the Dusk Raiders.
The 7th Great Company's status in the Death Guard was second only to the 1st.
'Hmm... Garro's original flight was so rushed that, even with his high standing in the 7th Company, he didn't have time to rally his troops.'
'Now, I also have a chance to gain him.'
As Nareth's eyes gleamed, Lucius continued.
"The Sons of Horus did not heed my warning."
"They were persuaded by Horus."
Nareth nodded. Because of his intervention, Sejanus had died later. After Horus's fall, the Mournival had become a sham, so there had been no new appointments.
He had taken Orios, so they hadn't witnessed the Warmaster's massacre of that federation, and therefore hadn't been as alert.
Garviel Loken hadn't gotten close to Horus. He and Torgaddon's reverence for their father had led them to ignore Vespasian's warning.
'I wonder if Loken will be as lucky as in my memory, to survive the hell of Isstvan III.'
'But... since Samus exists, Loken's death is certain.'
He knew Samus was the daemon born from Loken's death-echo in the Warp.
He gathered his thoughts. 'The World Eaters, Emperor's Children, and Death Guard now total eighty-one thousand three hundred and forty, more than I expected.'
'Having gained Vespasian, Nathaniel, and the others, it feels like I'm the biggest beneficiary of Isstvan III!'
'Hmm... I have more forces than Dorn can muster.'
Dorn, with all his efforts, could only send Sigismund and Camba Diaz, with four Imperial Fists companies and thirty Custodes sent by Malcador, to the Schism of Mars, to retrieve valuable assets.
Nareth spoke. "You will record all the evidence and accusations you have gathered and hand them over to Iacton Qruze. He will lead the Remembrancers to see Dorn and Malcador, to report Horus's betrayal."
He knew that while Nathaniel Garro had made his legendary escape, reaching Dorn, the Lord of the Imperial Fists had not believed the Warmaster had turned traitor.
It was Qruze who ultimately convinced him.
It was a Son of Horus accusing his own father that had finally persuaded Dorn.
'Qruze, this time, no one will dismiss you as a windbag. You will be questioned repeatedly. Every word you speak will be weighed and considered by Dorn and Malcador.'
"Upon reaching the Sol System, your task will be to proceed to Mars and assist Archmagos Arkhan Land in salvaging the Forge World's assets."
"You must emphasize to Vespasian and Garro the importance of the Mark IV production lines and the stockpiled armor."
"If we are to win this war, we must save Mars's vital assets."
"By Your will." Lucius bowed.
....
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