Nareth's psychic projection crossed the void, descending upon Terra's Golden Palace. He took his seat in silence.
Leman Russ, who usually targeted Magnus, sat with arms crossed, leaning back in his massive chair.
The cold aura surrounding him, even through his psychic projection, radiated a chill.
He looked around. Through the watery projections, he discerned the angles of the Primarchs' gazes. They deliberately avoided looking in Russ's direction.
Except for Guilliman.
'Indeed, most Primarchs see Russ as an executioner.'
'It was wise not to accept the Emperor's assignment.'
Sanguinius's gaze wandered, as if in thought, until Nareth's projection appeared. Then his eyes found focus.
A perfect smile on his face, he joined Horus, Guilliman, Perturabo, Fulgrim, and Magnus in acknowledging Nareth.
They all knew Nareth had taken Hannibal's body and placed it in a crystal sarcophagus.
This comforted them.
They thought of the empty plinths left under the Hegemon's Tower after the statues on the Square of Heroes were removed and destroyed. The same thought crossed their minds.
'Nareth ensured the empty plinths were not the only remnants of the 2nd Legion!'
In the silence, the sound of the doors opening was exceptionally loud.
The Emperor entered with the Fabricator-General of Mars, Malcador, and Constantin Valdor.
After the salutes, the Emperor spoke gravely.
"Hannibal and his Legion have been punished for their crimes."
"From this day forward, all Imperial departments are to purge all informationn pertaining to the 2nd Legion."
A chill ran through Sanguinius. He swore to himself: 'The second empty plinth under the Hegemon's Tower will not be the only memorial of the Blood Angels!'
He would find a cure for his sons' genetic flaw.
As Sanguinius made this solemn vow, the Emperor rose, drawing the Emperor's Sword.
Flames blazed, enveloping the psychic projections of every Primarch.
"My sons, I require you to swear an oath: never again speak of Hannibal or the 2nd Legion!"
Horus, his expression somber, rose first.
"Father, I swear to you: from this day forward, I will never speak of Hannibal or his Legion!"
Nareth rose. "I swear: from this day forward, I will never again speak of Hannibal or his Legion!"
His left fist struck his chest. He clenched his fist, feeling the blazing flame of ambition. He swore to himself.
'Shadows of Order, you will not be erased like the Faceless.'
'I will lead you to create a new future.'
As he thought, one by one, the Primarchs, at the Emperor's command, swore never to speak of Hannibal or his Legion.
As he sat, he thought of the only Primarch yet to return, Corvus Corax.
'Corax, you will return too late. You will never know of Hannibal or his Legion.'
He had no doubt the Emperor would erase all traces of Hannibal's existence.
Corax, who despised the Terran-born, would not ask his sons.
The Terran-born of the 19th Legion would also obey the Emperor's command and not tell Corax.
They were highly loyal to the Emperor. Otherwise, Arkhas Fal would not have been entrusted with the Shrieking Void.
That relic was one of the Emperor's contingency plans. He would not have entrusted it to Arkhas simply because Corax exiled him.
As he thought, Horus looked around at the Primarchs. Seeing the somber atmosphere, he spoke of good news.
"Father, the 19th Legion has recovered an ancient ship. Fal wishes to offer it to You."
"Martian tech-adepts have studied it. They have identified it as the Charybdis-class large cruiser mentioned in ancient texts."
"Its void shields are exceptionally durable, comparable to a Gloriana's. Its prow-mounted plasma exterminator cannon is an ancient relic, impossible to replicate..."
Horus enthusiastically detailed Arkhas's discovery, naming it the Nicor.
Nareth nodded. The Great Remembrancer had found the future flagship of the Carcharadons.
Though a large cruiser-class battle barge, it was more precious than the relic-class ships the Emperor had given him.
During the Great Crusade, the Imperium recovered countless technological marvels lost in the Old Night.
Some were taken from slain former masters. Others were gifts from willing defectors to the Emperor.
The most precious ships were unique, their construction impossible for the Mechanicum to replicate. The most famous were the Terminus Est, the Nicor, the Divine One, and the Phalanx.
The Dark Sovereign, recovered by the Emperor from Ganymede's permafrost and gifted to Nareth, was also unique and irreplaceable, but it was slightly inferior to ships like the Nicor.
'The Nicor, the Dark Sovereign.' He thought of these two ancient ships, both now under his command.
'Most ancient ships from the Old Night have stronger void shields than their Imperial counterparts, and greater firepower.'
He glanced almost imperceptibly at Lion El'Jonson. The scene of the Dark Sovereign during the Heresy, single-handedly charging into the traitor fleet in Xana's orbit and wreaking havoc, flashed through his mind.
'The Abomination, soon to be separated and given to me by the tech-priests, the Dark Sovereign, and numerous relic-class ships... I've taken quite a few ships from the Lion!'
'If Horus still ambushes him as in my memory, without his relic-class ships, how will he turn the tide against the Night Lords fleet?'
As he thought, the Emperor spoke, pleased.
"This is a noteworthy discovery. Tell Fal I am very pleased with his find. I accept his gift."
"I am giving the Nicor to him, as his flagship."
"I hope he will lead the 19th Legion in bringing more worlds into compliance, and in discovering more precious ancient relics."
The war council ended. Russ's ice-blue eyes swept over the assembly, and then he was the first to leave.
Returning to the Shadow's Sovereignty, Nareth went to the Kingdom of Disorder and extended his spiritual energy, touching the blue orb.
Confirming Arkhas was alone, he pulled him into the realm.
Arkhas knelt on one knee and spoke respectfully.
"My Lord, as You commanded, I offered the Nicor, discovered on the ocean world, as a gift to the Emperor."
Nareth nodded slightly. "Like Dorn, He gave the Nicor to you."
He had Arkhas offer the Nicor not only to emulate Dorn's loyal offering of the Phalanx, but also to demonstrate his loyalty to the Emperor.
He hoped the Emperor would still trust Arkhas, as in his memory, entrusting him with the Shrieking Void when Corax exiled him.
He also thought the Emperor, now gradually turning his attention from the front lines back to Terra, and having his own flagship, would not keep the Nicor.
The "Mentor of Disorder" looked at Arkhas's seamless, sapphire-like spirit, confirming he had digested the "Seafarer" potion through acting during his ocean voyage.
With a thought, the Jokaero began concocting the Sequence 6 "Wind-Blessed" potion, using materials including the Blue-Eyed Sea Eagle.
Moments later, he sent the newly promoted Sequence 6 "Wind-Blessed," Arkhas Fal, back to the Nicor.
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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