If events continued on their current course, Horus's next move would be to lure the Imperium's punitive fleet, only to spring a trap at the Isstvan V dropsite and commit a massacre.
The Imperium would dispatch a force led by Ferrus Manus, Primarch of the Iron Hands, along with the Eighteenth Legion Salamanders and the Nineteenth Legion Raven Guard. It would appear to be a battle of seven loyal Legions against four traitors, a seemingly assured victory for the Imperium. In reality, Horus held several cards close to his chest.
While only four traitor Primarchs had revealed themselves, several more lurked in the shadows. The Iron Warriors, the Alpha Legion, the Word Bearers, and the Night Lords were all hidden assets in Horus's arsenal. The true balance of power was not seven against four, but eight traitors against a mere three loyalist Legions.
The only uncertainty Axis could not account for was whether the Primarch of the Second Legion had also turned traitor.
"We will wait for Lion El'Jonson to arrive," Axis said, "The loyalist Space Marines who escaped Isstvan will inform the Lion and the Custodes who the true traitors are."
"I was thinking the same thing. I will be leading the Thousand Sons to confront Horus myself," Magnus declared, his voice tight with resolve. It was difficult to believe Horus had descended into such madness.
"Be ready, Magnus. This war will not be easy," Axis cautioned.
"I understand. I will muster the Legion at once. After the Lion arrives, we shall depart for Holy Terra," Magnus replied.
"I am afraid it will not be that simple," Axis said, "We must travel light. Our Legions will not be able to traverse the Webway."
"Why not?"
Axis gave a helpless shrug. "Because the permission to use the Webway was granted to me alone." He proceeded to explain his pact with the Laughing God. Having the Harlequins retrieve the survivors from Isstvan III was already a significant exception.
To bring Magnus back to Holy Terra through the same means would be another. Axis was already immensely grateful for the Harlequin Troupe's assistance. The Laughing God had indeed granted Axis access to the Webway, but it was strictly for his personal use. The Aeldari deity might turn a blind eye to a few extra individuals as a personal favor, but there was no hope of moving an entire army of hundreds of thousands of Space Marines through its hidden passages.
Magnus sighed. "In that case, my sons and the warriors of the First Legion will have to travel through the Warp."
"Do not worry," Axis reassured him, "I will go to Isstvan V myself. If Horus wants to play games, then I will play along. I am eager to see the look on his face when he sees me."
If Horus wanted a dropsite massacre, Axis would gladly oblige him and see if he was capable of killing him.
Time passed slowly. For half a month, Axis and Magnus waited patiently on Prospero.
Then, a ripple in the fabric of reality announced the arrival of a massive fleet in the Prospero system. A colossal Gloriana Class Battleship led the armada.
It was Lion El'Jonson. The moment the Lion's fleet emerged from the Warp, Axis sensed the presence of Lucifer.
A few hours later, the Lion's fleet took up orbit above Prospero. They did not initiate an attack. Instead, the Primarch descended to the planet's surface in a small transport, accompanied by only a dozen of his personal bodyguards.
"It has been a long time, Lion," Axis said with a smile, greeting the arriving Primarch.
"Axis! Is it really you?" the Lion sighed, "Do you have any idea how absurd the intelligence I received was? Horus claimed that you and Magnus betrayed the Emperor. He said you corrupted Magnus, and that together you destroyed the Webway, grievously wounding our father.
"The Emperor commanded me to put down your rebellion."
Yet, the moment he saw Axis, the Lion knew he had been deceived. The entire journey through the Warp had been suspiciously calm, his fleet arriving at Prospero with an ease that was far from normal. It was clear someone was trying to use him as a weapon.
"He certainly has a lot of nerve," Axis said with a shrug, "If I had truly betrayed the Emperor, you alone would not have been enough to handle me."
"Lion, it is Horus who has betrayed us," Magnus interjected, "He altered the Emperor's commands, but I imagine a mind as wise as yours has already deduced the truth."
"I did suspect something was wrong," the Lion admitted. "If my task had been merely to tie you, Magnus, I would have had no objections. But to face Axis as well? My entire Legion and I would still not be enough to defeat him."
He wasn't confident in his ability to fight Axis, but if the orders had been just to deal with Magnus, the Lion would have likely followed them without question.
His words left Magnus speechless. Excuse me? Am I that weak? he thought, a flicker of irritation rising. Perhaps we should spar. Then you would see just how powerful the psychic arts I have studied over the years truly are.
"Axis, you claim Horus has begun a great rebellion. What proof do you have?" the Lion asked, his expression serious.
Horus was their father's most trusted son, granted more honors and a higher station than even himself, the Primarch of the First Legion. He could not condemn him based on one side of the story alone.
"I have witnesses, Lion," Axis replied, waving a hand, "On Isstvan III, Horus, Fulgrim, Mortarion, and the Eleventh Primarch purged their Legions of loyalist sons. Some of them managed to escape, and I brought them here to Prospero. They are the proof of Horus's rebellion."
At his gesture, over a hundred loyalist Space Marines who had escaped the atrocity on Isstvan III stepped forward to stand before the Lion.
"Lord of the First Legion, Lion of the Imperium," one of them announced, stepping forward, "I am Nathaniel Garro of the Death Guard's Seventh Company. I can attest that Horus and the other Primarchs have launched a great rebellion. I have detailed evidence of their treason." Garro presented a data-slate to Lion El'Jonson. It was the evidence they had carried from Isstvan III at great cost, the irrefutable proof of Horus's betrayal.
The Lion examined the visual data meticulously.
His face hardened as the truth of what had transpired became clear. Horus, Fulgrim, Mortarion, and the Eleventh Primarch had betrayed the Emperor.
"Damn them!" he roared, his voice shaking with uncontrollable fury, "Those damned traitors! They tried to use me! I will not spare a single one of them. Axis, let us take our Legions to the Isstvan system now. I will kill those four myself!" He had come dangerously close to becoming either Horus's executioner or another soul lost to Axis's fists.
"Of course. I will go to Isstvan with you, and I will make certain that Horus regrets this day," Axis agreed, "But before that, we must make a trip to Holy Terra. Horus used his cabal of Librarians and a host of chaos sorcerers to destroy the Webway on Terra. It was the same one the Emperor showed us."
Once Magnus reached Holy Terra, the most critical problem could be solved.
The Lion nodded in agreement.
But as they spoke, a magnificent golden battle barge tore through the veil of the Immaterium and entered orbit above Prospero.
The contingent from Holy Terra had arrived.
A transport descended, and from it emerged the Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes, Constantin Valdor.
"Lion El'Jonson," Valdor demanded, his voice sharp, "where is the Wolf King, Leman Russ? Why did he not arrive with you? And why do you consort with these traitors?"
Valdor's force had initially been dispatched with orders to bring both Axis and Magnus back to Terra. En route, however, they had received a new command from Warmaster Horus. The Emperor had allegedly discovered the truth: Axis had been corrupted by Chaos and, with Magnus, had destroyed the Webway gate.
The order to apprehend them was changed to a command for their immediate execution. Horus had informed them that Lion El'Jonson was en route to assist in quelling the rebellion.
"Use your head, Valdor," Axis said, his tone dismissive, "Others may not know my strength, but you do. Would the Emperor truly issue such a foolish order? And if he had, what would be the meaning of you arriving in a mere transport? Are you here to commit suicide?"
"Hmph. That remains to be seen, Axis," Valdor replied coldly, "I want to hear it from you. Did you truly betray the Emperor?" The Captain-General held no great affection for Axis, who had once wounded the Master of Mankind.
Axis rolled his eyes but said nothing more, seeing the Custodian was still filled with animosity.
"Lord Valdor!" Captain Garro interjected quickl,. "It was not Lord Axis who betrayed the Imperium, but Horus! He is the one who has turned to Chaos!" He then presented the data-slate to the Captain-General.
Valdor took the evidence and watched the logs, his brow furrowed in concentration. When he finished, his expression was grim.
"It seems we were indeed manipulated by Horus. We are fortunate that you loyal Space Marines brought this information to us in time." He turned to Axis.
"I apologize for my previous conduct. We must return to Holy Terra at once. The Emperor has said that only with Magnus at his side is there hope of repairing the Webway."
The most important task now was to get Magnus back to Holy Terra so he could work with the Emperor to fix the catastrophic damage.
"That is not a problem," Axis said, "But you mentioned that Leman Russ was also coming here?"
So, his dear old father was coming after all. Why had he not appeared?
"The Emperor commanded Leman Russ to accompany us and bring you and Magnus back," Valdor confirmed. "However, for reasons I do not know, it seems he has not arrived."
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