The Founding of the Second Imperium

During the grand era of the Great Crusade, Guilliman and his two remaining angelic brothers had rarely met. They fought on different battlefields, each wiping out the Imperium’s enemies.

The lord of the Five Hundred Worlds rarely left his own territory. Stationed in the far east of the Imperium, he learned of events elsewhere mostly through reports.

Everyone knew that the Angel had been especially close to that Wolf Lord, Horus. As a result, the Blood Angels Legion had usually been more inclined to cooperate with the Luna Wolves.

As for Lion El’Jonson, lord of the mighty First Legion, he had always carried out the Emperor’s orders in unknown and shadowed star regions. His achievements had been buried away, leaving the world only with a string of notices stating: information deleted.

But now, amid such turbulent times, all unfamiliarity and distance had vanished. For brothers to reunite was already the greatest fortune.

Guilliman and Sanguinius embraced one another, after which the latter turned to embrace Lion El’Jonson beside them.

"Your Legion seems to have suffered some misfortune, my brother. The last intelligence we received on the Blood Angels Legion came from the Signus system. You lost contact there, and only reestablished it with us today."

Sanguinius nodded and began to speak. Guilliman heard the deeply buried pain and sorrow in his voice, and his own mood darkened as well.

"On the primary world of the Signus system, we encountered a bloody battle and betrayal. Those enemies were beings beyond comprehension. Perhaps they could be called Warp daemons."

The Angel turned and pointed at his troops. This Blood Angels force was no longer numerous enough to be called a Legion, yet it was all that remained of the Blood Angels’ strength.

Guilliman did not press further. Sanguinius had clearly stated his position, and he did not wish to speak of it. Everyone understood that the Blood Angels had also encountered those malicious entities within the Warp.

"Lion, Guilliman, I came here after seeing the Warp beacon you released. Do you have a way to return to Terra with me? Our father is under siege by the traitors. He is on Terra, and Horus the Archtraitor will stop at nothing to cast him down from the throne."

There was something impossible to refuse in Sanguinius’s voice. It was the Angel’s plea; even the most cold-hearted being would be moved by it.

It was a charm unlike anyone else’s. He did not even need to say much. Simply standing there was enough to earn everyone’s trust and reverence.

"We want to return and aid Father as well, but the Warp storm created by the traitor Lorgar has cut off everything. The Five Hundred Worlds have been plagued by it for years."

Lion said, "Yes. I also followed that Warp beacon here. No one can leave this place and return to Terra, so Guilliman and I have been gathering our strength here. Once the Warp storm subsides temporarily, we can immediately lead our recovered Legions to destroy every traitor."

Sanguinius blinked, his gaze shifting between Lion and Guilliman. He sensed a strange understanding between the two.

He had always thought the Lion was a mysterious and solitary man, one who never kept pace with his other brothers.

The brothers differed in temperament, values, and even experiences. They held different ideals and rarely reached complete agreement.

Only after sensing their resolute attitudes did Sanguinius’s suspicion gradually fade. He did not know whether the two had deliberately found excuses because they did not want to return to Terra, or whether they truly could not return. Now, the latter seemed more likely.

"That is the case. To ensure that the human Imperium does not perish and that its spirit endures, Lion and I have decided to create a duplicate and backup of the Imperium within the Five Hundred Worlds. You may call it—the Second Imperium."

Once Guilliman truly spoke those words, he could no longer suppress the excitement and unease in his heart. He did not know whether this most holy of brothers would support his decision, or fly into a rage the instant he heard that name.

"The Second Imperium…"

The Angel silently considered the phrase. To be honest, upon hearing those words, he instinctively became wary. He immediately questioned Guilliman and Lion’s allegiances, because such blasphemous words were not something a loyal primarch should utter.

Was someone capable of saying such things truly any different from the traitor Horus?

Yet Sanguinius’s political wisdom naturally would not allow him to ask such a foolish question. He merely listened quietly, signaling for Guilliman to continue explaining his so-called Second Imperium.

The three spoke as they walked, and before they knew it, they had reached the fortress gate of Hera’s fortress. Passing through the figures of the Victrix Guard, Guilliman led Sanguinius and Lion into the hall containing seats for every primarch.

Much like Lion’s reaction when he had first seen this sight, the Angel was moved as he sat in the chair marked IX. This special chair had been carefully designed to let him rest his wings comfortably.

Among all the primarchs, only Sanguinius possessed a magnificent pair of feathered wings. Guilliman had remembered that and thoughtfully made adjustments for his brother.

But after a glance around, Sanguinius discovered that besides the seats belonging to his primarch brothers, there was also a chair sized for an ordinary human.

It had been placed beside the chair marked XIII, right next to Guilliman.

Before Sanguinius could ask, Guilliman rested his hand on the chair’s back and explained with a smile.

"It belongs to a dear friend of mine, a Perpetual from the past. He witnessed humanity when it was still in its cradle, and he witnessed how humanity ventured into the sea of stars. He is a comrade who shares my ideals, and he is equally qualified to have a seat of his own here."

"His name is Lox. Unfortunately, he is currently racing through the dark galaxy to save humanity’s fate. If he returns, I would be delighted to introduce you to him. I believe the two of you will become friends who recognize one another’s worth."

Guilliman’s lavish praise surprised Sanguinius. He valued a mere mortal so highly and treated him with almost the courtesy due a brother, even when he was not here.

This truly seemed to be an extraordinary individual, like Malcador the Sigillite at the Emperor’s side, deeply trusted and beloved.

The Angel wore an understanding expression. He was naturally skilled at social interaction, and Sanguinius’s personal charm made him invincible in conversation. Of course, he would not say anything to offend this brother of his.

"I look forward to meeting that day, and meeting your mortal friend."

The primarchs’ discussion was blocked by the superbly soundproofed doors. Outside, their accompanying officers conversed quietly among themselves.

Redloss, Grand Master of the Dreadwing of the Dark Angels Legion; Azkaellon, commander of the Blood Angels guard; Valantus Dolor, one of Ultramar’s Four Tetrarchs; and Glorod, leader of the Victrix Guard—these tall, powerfully built warriors, whose martial strength surpassed that of the entire Legion, awaited the outcome of the meeting.

"Lord Sanguinius is a true angel. Other than my gene-father, this is the first time someone has made me feel such incomparable holiness," said the Tetrarch, his tone full of praise.

Azkaellon, the stern-faced Blood Angels commander, smiled as he accepted his cousin’s praise. He neither demurred nor softened it. Yes, his primarch deserved every word of praise and every honor.

"Forgive my bluntness, but Lord Sanguinius possesses a temperament similar to that of the great Emperor. It is said that each person sees the Emperor as the image they most wish to see in their heart, and Lord Sanguinius’s face seems to possess a similar ability to change."

"Different faces for a thousand people—Lord Sanguinius does this better than any other primarch. He is the most transcendent among them and should rightfully bear greater responsibilities."

Inside the room, Guilliman once again recounted, with great feeling, what he had told Lion before. The primarchs each sat in their own chairs until Sanguinius rose and began pacing back and forth, troubled by worry and thought.

"Lion, do you support this decision as well?" Sanguinius sought the opinion of his other brother.

The Lion nodded. He and Guilliman had once discussed who should assume the role upon the supreme throne. Roboute stubbornly refused to crown himself, while Lion himself had no interest whatsoever in anything beyond war.

Sanguinius’s arrival had undoubtedly provided the finest choice. He was the best candidate for the position of regent.