"Have those secret agents of yours still failed to find the fugitives?" Rogal Dorn made no effort to conceal his disdain for them.
Though he never doubted Malcador's loyalty, he placed no trust in those operatives.
They obeyed only the Sigillite's commands, engaging in covert operations that were neither submitted for his prior approval nor summarized for him in post-mission debriefs.
To Dorn, they represented a potential variable of instability within his carefully constructed defensive framework.
Dorn knew that even when motivated by the best intentions for the Imperium, such unchecked actions could lead to catastrophic consequences.
He observed that as the betrayal of Horus deepened, the Sigillite's covert maneuvers grew increasingly frequent.
Servants of the Praetorian of Terra and agents of the Sigillite had already clashed on the shadow front over a hundred times, thousands had died in silence.
None of them were recorded; none were considered loyal warriors of the Emperor.
"The fugitives' trail went cold the moment they crossed the threshold of Khangba Marwu's archway," Malcador spoke in a low, raspy tone from beneath his cowl. "Yasu Nagasena is currently hunting them down."
Dorn frowned, about to press further, when Malcador's eyes glowed.
"Nemo Zhi-Meng is here."
Dorn turned to see the Choirmaster of the Astropaths entering through the gate.
He crossed his arms and rumbled."Well, look who it is, the esteemed Lord Nemo Zhi-Meng, finally deigning to leave the City of Sight."
"I have lost thirteen hundred Astropaths, and five hundred more hover on the brink of death."
"Millions have already perished on Terra, and that number is rising by hundreds every passing minute," Dorn said, his tone softening slightly.
"Though they hold less value to the Imperium than Astropaths, you have yet to bring us any useful information."
"I bring confirmed news, though it is news you will not wish to hear."
Hearing the sorrow in Nemo Zhi-Meng's voice, Dorn felt a chill run down his spine.
"Whatever it is, I need information."
"Ferrus Manus was killed by Fulgrim. Vulkan and Corvus Corax are missing..."
"Ferrus, was he rushing to his death?" Dorn snarled.
"The Emperor placed me in command, and I ordered him to follow my orders strictly!"
Nemo Zhi-Meng watched the roaring Primarch warily, but also heard the grief in his roar, and more than that, the terrible burden pressing on him, and the fear for the future.
Malcador stepped to Dorn's side, his voice low and firm.
"Dorn, we have not lost yet."
"Of course we will not lose."
Nemo Zhi-Meng felt the trembling mountain settle, turning cold and hard once more.
"Is there anything else?"
Mo Zhi-Ming shook his head. "I have lost my finest Astropaths."
He looked toward Malcador. "And even if we find him, he will be of no help to us."
"The secret in Kai Zulane's mind must not be known by anyone," Malcador said.
"That would lose us this war."
Dorn stared at Malcador. "Tell me, what is in his head?"
Malcador shook his head. "Dorn, trust me."
"I will ensure that what is in his mind is known to no one."
Dorn's glare struck like a sledgehammer against both the Sigillite and the Master of the Astra Telepathica.
"I do not know what is in his head," Nemo Zhi-Meng said frankly.
"I can only confirm that it is dangerous."
Dorn fixed his gaze on Malcador, 'He must know something.'
'Damn it, more secrets.'
He clenched his fists, wanting nothing more than to strike the Regent.
Dorn frowned, recalling the limited information his servants had gathered: Kai Zulane had long served Guilliman, until the Argo was destroyed for unknown reasons.
That had not only caused heavy losses to the Astropathic House Castana, but also made the Ultramarines question the Astropaths.
'The Argo's destruction must be'connected to Kai Zulane, he may even have caused it.
'Could it be warp-spawn?
'But... how? Every Astropath is soul-bound to the Emperor, they should not be capable of such things.'
Dorn irritably pushed aside thoughts he could not fully grasp or understand.
"Damn it, Malcador, if he is truly that dangerous, your agents had better move quickly."
"Don't let him fall into enemy hands."
He added grimly, "They might intend to deliver him straight to Horus."
"I know. I promise you, I will find him," Malcador said, gripping the staff entrusted to him by his master, speaking solemnly.
Dorn's brow relaxed; he forced his mind back to the current matters.
"Then, we must make good use of all the strength we have now to win this war."
"Do you have a plan?" Malcador asked.
Dorn nodded. "Given our limited forces, we can only establish defensive lines at key worlds that the rebels must pass through on their way to Terra."
"Paramar, Beta-Garmon, and Lorin Alpha are the three most critical worlds."
Malcador nodded. "When Horus advances on Terra, he will not bypass these fortresses to leave his rear exposed."
He looked at Dorn approvingly. "Your father was right to entrust the defense of Terra to you."
"I will hold Terra," Dorn said. "Until Nareth, Lion, Guilliman, and Sanguinius return."
"Before that, we must draw out the dagger pointed at Terra's back."
"Cthonia," Malcador said.
Cthonia lay only a few light-years from the Sol System. If the traitors controlled it, they could bypass the fortress worlds north of the Segmentum Solar, mass their forces, and strike directly at Terra.
"Cthonia will become our arsenal, producing war machines and elite warriors for us without cease."
"Do we have enough strength to take it?" Malcador asked.
"I will deploy the 9th and 14th Battalions, along with part of the 13th Great Company of the Space Wolves."
"Three brotherhoods of Custodes will fight alongside them," Malcador said.
"They will also need an excellent commander."
"Evander Garrius once fought alongside the Luna Wolves, he knows the Sons of Horus better than anyone."
Malcador knew that Garrius had fallen out of favor with Dorn.
Dorn no longer used the familiar name, addressing his son by his surname.
He would not place Garrius in any defensive line in the Sol System, nor in command of the three critical fortress worlds, but Cthonia, important yet not decisive, was the perfect stage for him.
Moreover, Garrius was desperate to regain his trust.
'This is Garrius's last chance to win back Dorn's trust.'
Two hours later, Lord-Castellan Evander Garrius received the news, he rose, clenching his right fist.
Though his father had not even summoned him, his heart pounded at the opportunity.
"All Huscarls of the 456th Company, assemble immediately."
"In the name of the Emperor and our Primarch, we march on Cthonia to bring judgment upon the homeworld of the Arch-Traitor!"
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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