The arrival of Imperial envoys from Holy Terra caught the Dark Angels totally off guard. Chapter Master Azrael welcod them at once. Discover more novels at novelFɪre
But the tone soon turned tense.
The Dark Angels, the first Astartes Legion, always claid to have no secrets – yet had more secrets than anyone, and were the most mysterious of all the Space Marine chapters.
Even their successor chapters were highly secretive, seemingly carrying out mysterious missions.
The Imperium used to have no idea what the Dark Angels were up to, but since Rhodes beca a Primarch, everything changed.
Kania, a traveling rogue trader once close to the Dark Angels, leaked so info to Rhodes, who then told the Imperium everything.
What Kania knew, Rhodes knew. What Kania didn't know, Rhodes still knew. Kania didn't even know the term "Fallen Angels."
But Rhodes did, and so did the Imperium. Now, the First Legion had no secrets left at all!
When a group of three-ter-tall, powerful Space Marines arrived at the Rock under the lead of the Custodians, Chapter Master Azrael was shocked.
The Custodians, plus over a hundred towering Astartes, gave off an overwhelming presence – even Azrael felt the pressure. The Custodians' aura was even stranger.
"Dark Angels Chapter Master, I'll now read you the Emperor's decree: The Dark Angels must recall all successor chapters, reform the Legion, undergo the new Astartes upgrades, cease all secret missions, obey Imperial command, and join the coming wars," said Custodian Ultraman.
"The Dark Angels have always been loyal to the Imperium. We have no secrets. I don't know what you an," Azrael replied.
The Dark Angels could not let their secrets be exposed – it could an being declared traitors.
They'd hidden the Fallen well. No one could possibly know.
At this, Custodian Ultraman sighed. As Rhodes had said, the Dark Angels were stubborn to the extre.
Thankfully, all the Custodians and accompanying Space Marines had been upgraded – each stronger than the old Custodians.
"This is a direct order from the Emperor. With Custodians present, you know what that ans. I can also confirm that several Primarchs have returned!" Ultraman said.
"I've heard rumors – a new Primarch nad Rhodes, Lord Roboute Guilliman of Ultramar, a mysterious female Primarch, and a shaful traitor," Azrael replied.
After the Great Rift opened, Imperial communications suffered, but the Dark Angels still had so intel. News of new Primarchs brought joy.
But hearing of the traitor, only hatred burned – if he could, Azrael would have already mobilized to kill him.
"The traitor you speak of was an undercover agent! He sacrificed greatly for the Imperium!
His genetic sons have always served the Imperium," said a Custodian.
Since Magnus returned, over a year had passed. The returning Primarch had contributed greatly, especially against daemonic sorcery.
Many psykers were now being trained, and the Grey Knights had beco even stronger, dealing heavy blows to daemons.
"All he did was destroy the Imperium! His sons serve the Imperium? Which chapter? Why are these traitors still alive?" Azrael demanded.
He couldn't accept that the traitor and his sons still lived – how could the Imperium or the Emperor allow it?
"His genetic sons are the Grey Knights. The old Grey Knights are history. The new Grey Legion is being ford and expanding," a Custodian replied.
Just like Rhodes persuading the Space Wolves, the visit to the Rock wouldn't be smooth.
"Impossible! The Grey Knights' psychic power doesn't match his sons. Horus' gene-sons were never that strong," Azrael denied.
Horus couldn't be the Grey Knights' gene-father!
If anyone, it should be Magnus, or maybe the Emperor.
The Custodians looked at each other, realizing they were on different wavelengths.
"Who is this returned traitor Primarch you're talking about?" Azrael suddenly realized sothing was off.
"Looks like there's been so confusion. You said Horus, but the Primarch we're talking about is Magnus. He went undercover in Chaos, and his return brought new anti-daemon thods," said another Custodian.
Magnus's return was no secret in the Imperium. The Custodians even found it odd – why did the Dark Angels think Horus was the traitor?
"Seems your intel is lacking. The Imperium's dark side has survived because a fallen Primarch returned.
The one who put the Emperor on the Golden Throne ten thousand years ago – Horus, gene-father of the Black Legion, 16th Legion, Luna Wolves," Azrael replied.
He was stunned to discover that besides Magnus, Horus had also returned – and even grown stronger.
"Are you sure? That traitor should be long dead, slain by the Emperor," a Custodian clenched his fist.
"I'm certain. About a year ago, the Red Corsairs' leader Huron Blackheart mysteriously vanished. The Red Corsairs fell apart.
During the ensuing chaos, Horus reappeared, uniting the Red Corsairs under his command, tens of thousands of Chaos Marines obeying him.
Then he clashed fiercely with his eldest son Abaddon. Abaddon was losing, but a powerful new Slaanesh daemon appeared, calling himself the Son of Slaanesh.
The two of them held off Horus. Now Chaos is split between Abaddon's alliance and Horus," Azrael explained.
In the Dark Angels' eyes, Sidonis was just a new mutated Slaanesh daemon, another heresy to be purged.
The situation in the Imperium's dark side was delicate; all human worlds were isolated, and the Dark Angels barely held on.
"Don't worry. Soon, a great crusade will begin. We've allied with the Eldar and can use the webway, which is how we reached you," Ultraman said.
As the first upgraded Custodian, personally chosen by Rhodes and the Emperor, Ultraman knew so secrets – even Horus's.
Horus was revived by the Emperor and Rhodes, and had only betrayed because he was the Warmaster, the Emperor's most trusted Primarch.
"Has the Emperor truly awakened? And have we really allied with those damned Xenos?" Azrael could hardly believe it.
Working openly with Xenos was the greatest sha, far worse than any Dark Angel secret.
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