When the hull of Solus Prime, as vast as a small moon, blotted out the sun of Macragge, planetary defence sirens screamed across the world.
No one knew if the gargantuan warship that had suddenly appeared was friend or foe.
Soon they noticed it seemed to bear a massive Imperial Aquila on its hull, suggesting it was not an enemy.
Among those present, only Guilliman, Sanguinius, and the Son of Axis wore grave expressions. They were familiar with such a vessel, for the Son of Axis possessed an identical, though slightly smaller, warship of his own.
"Is that... Is that Solus Prime?" the Son of Axis said aloud in shock, "How is this possible? Why would it be deployd now?"
Solus Prime had been his father's flagship. As his son, he was only permitted to utilize some of its resources. The vessel had been an immense help to him, even using its advanced systems to construct for him a celestial-class battleship. But that ship was merely a replica, its functions far inferior to the original.
At best, it could contend with the war moons of the Rangdan xenos. The machine spirit housed within his copy, a creation of the Adeptus Mechanicus, was a pale imitation of the one in Solus Prime, which his father and mother had awakened personally.
The appearance of this colossal warship above Macragge could only mean one thing: his father had likely returned. Only his father could command such a vessel. Not even the Emperor possessed the authority to do so.
The other two Primarchs exchanged a look.
"Axis has returned."
"Indeed," Guilliman said, "We can finally get an intelligence report from Holy Terra. But… what are we to do about our Imperium Secundus?"
Damn it all, he thought. Why couldn't you have come sooner? Why today of all days? To arrive precisely on the day he announced the founding of a new empire placed him in a terribly awkward position. It was beyond frustrating.
As things stood, it would be easy to brand him a traitor for this act, unless the worst-case scenario he had feared had truly come to pass.
"Lord Regent, shall we open fire?" an Ultramarines Captain asked, approaching Guilliman's side.
"Lower your weapons," Guilliman commanded, shaking his head, "They are not the enemy. It is the Golden Legion." He then strode to the communications center and opened a planetary vox channel.
"Axis, is that you? Have you returned to the Imperium?"
He and Axis had never actually met in person, having only communicated a few times psychically.
"My son is about to be crowned Emperor? I had to come and celebrate! Isn't that right, Guilliman? You've actually gone and founded a Second Empire?" The voice of Axis boomed through the projector.
Standing behind him was a woman with a waterfall of golden hair.
"Let me see my son! Where is he?" Kasha said, her face alight with excitement.
"Father, and… and Mother, you have both returned. This is truly wonderful," the son tried to explain, "But please, allow me to clarify. This Imperium Secundus is not what you think. We have not betrayed Grandfather."
The situation was intensely awkward. Superlatively, excruciatingly awkward for him and for Guilliman.
"My son! Your parents are here!" Axis interrupted, cutting him off completel, "and we have even thought of a name for you. You shall be called Kratos. I chose it myself."
"Thank you for the name, Father. I like the name very much, but now is not the time for this," Kratos pleaded, desperate to explain, "Father, Uncle Guilliman, Uncle Sanguinius, and I are all loyal to Grandfather. We have no intention of betraying him. We established this Imperium Secundus only to preserve the flickering flame of humanity."
If this went badly, the three of them could easily be branded as traitors. Founding a breakaway empire was no small matter.
"Don't worry, I know," Axis said with a chuckle, "The Emperor knows as well. He does not blame you. You acted to preserve the Imperium of Man and protect its people. However, this Imperium Secundus can now be officially abolished."
The Emperor had known about Imperium Secundus for some time. But he had never imagined that this version would be founded by Guilliman and Sanguinius, with Lion El'Jonson replaced by Axis's own son, who was now about to be crowned Emperor. Axis had sent the Lion to the front lines to fight the Rangda, never expecting his son to somehow end up as the Emperor of Imperium Secundus, a position originally slated for Sanguinius.
No, that wasn't right. In the original timeline, an Emperor had never been chosen, and Sanguinius had merely served as Lord Regent. But Kratos was different from Sanguinius. He was of the Emperor's true bloodline, which was why Guilliman had arranged a coronation ceremony.
Axis's words immediately eased the suffocating tension in the room.
"Axis," Guilliman began, "is our father and Holy Terra safe?" His primary concern was for the Emperor's well-being.
"That's not a conversation for the vox. Kasha and I will come down to the surface to speak with you," Axis replied, nodding to his son, Guilliman, and Sanguinius before cutting the transmission.
He then took the hand of a visibly impatient Kasha, and together they boarded a lander, descending towards the surface of Macragge. Throughout the flight, Kasha was a bundle of nerves and excitement. Axis held onto her hands tightly. They needed to do this the right way.
This would be the first time she would meet her son.
When they landed, the three were already there to greet them. The crowds in the grand plaza, who had gathered for the coronation of the new Emperor, had been instructed to disperse.
The citizens of Macragge were left bewildered. They had been summoned to attend the coronation, only for the ceremony to be cancelled just as it was about to begin. For many of them, however, this was a quiet relief. The Emperor they truly recognized was not this sudden heir of a forgotten bloodline, but Lord Guilliman, who was also a son of the Emperor. The common populace did not distinguish between a true descendant and a son Primarch.
As Axis and Kasha disembarked, Kratos ran forward with a look of pure joy, but Kasha swept in and held him in a tight hug first.
"Ah, Mother!" Kratos said, a bit flustered but returning the embrace, "You have awakened from the curse of the Chaos Gods? When I was on Holy Terra, I often visited your chambers to be by your side."
"While I was unconscious, I could sense two familiar presences," Kasha said, her eyes shining, "One was your father's. I did not know the other, but now I see it must have been you."
Axis stepped forward and wrapped his arms around them both, pulling his wife and son into a group hug. He noted that his son was half a head taller than him. He channelled his Ki, his form instantly growing to over three metres tall, which made the embrace feel more fitting.
"Father! Mother!" Kratos's voice was thick with emotion, tears welling in his eyes. "I can hardly believe this is real. I dreamed countless times of this moment, of our family being reunited."
This was the day he had anticipated above all others, a reunion with his mother and father.
"Me too. I was quite startled when I first learned of your existence," Axis said, then shot a teasing glance at Guilliman, "To be honest, I'm just glad I didn't end up as this fellow's stepfather."
"Ahem," Guilliman coughed, "Some things are better left unsaid, Axis. And I am equally glad you did not become my adoptive father."
He shuddered to think what might have happened if Lady Euten had genuinely acted that way. It was fortunate that it was all just a curse from the Ruinous Powers and that Axis had not been swayed by his adoptive mother's beauty. Otherwise, Guilliman truly would have gained an unwanted father figure.
He was quite shook when he first heard how his mother acted around Axis. Oh the sleepless nights.
"Father, you should not speak of her that way. Lady Euten was very good to me. She was the one who accompanied me throughout my childhood," Kratos said.
He knew quite a bit of the history between the two. The thought of his father becoming Guilliman's adoptive father, while he himself called Guilliman 'uncle,' sent a chill down his spine.
It was a good thing his father had been so composed back then.
After conversing for a while longer, Guilliman and Sanguinius led Axis into the Fortress of Hera.
"Axis, let's put the reunions aside for now," Sanguinius said, his tone urgent, "Tell us of the situation on Holy Terra. And Horus, why would he launch a great rebellion?"
"It began like this," Axis started.
He explained how Horus had been corrupted and had turned against the Emperor. He then detailed how Horus swayed Fulgrim, Mortarion, the 11th Primarch, Alpharius, Lorgar, and Konrad Curze to his cause. "War broke out on Isstvan III and V. The Salamanders, Raven Guard, and Iron Hands were mauled, but if the other Legions can return to reinforce Terra, this rebellion can still be suppressed."
"Horus, of all people," Guilliman murmured, finding it hard to believe, "To think he could be seduced by Chaos."
"By the way," Axis asked, "Jaghatai Khan departed for your location half a year before I did. Has he arrived?"
Axis had dispatched the Khan long before the battles of Isstvan V had even begun.
"Jaghatai?" Guilliman replied, a frown creasing his brow, "I have not seen him. Perhaps he is still lost in the Warp."
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ps?