I was granted the honor of traveling to Terra aboard the Macragge's Honour.
I briefly went down to the surface, marched through the regiment to the accompaniment of a military band, and received the regimental commander's salute.
When he heard that I had met the Primarch in person, the regimental chaplain looked ready to faint and showered me with every blessing he could think of, declaring what a glorious honor it was.
I heard that while I was meeting the Primarch, the war had ended with the Orks burned to the last.
In order to get to Terra quickly, no fewer than seven Space Marine Chapters had combed the entire planet as though turning it inside out and killed them all...
After being run ragged for an entire day, I boarded a Thunderhawk, returned to the Macragge's Honour, and attended another victory banquet.
There was so much truly delicious food.
I learned one thing: Marines loved drinking just as much as they loved good food.
Even the Primarch joined in, and for three hours we kept pouring and drinking. Then I was given quarters reserved for honored guests, but...
Why...?
"Heh heh..."
Why was Adriana, nearly half undressed, clinging to my arm and rubbing her body against me?
"When we get to Terra, you'll meet my father. I'll introduce you to him, Radian."
When I asked what was going on, she said the Primarch knew she was Radian's lover and had allowed her to board with me.
Uh...
My lover... Well, she was, but...
In practice, I had been forced into becoming her lover, and she was a terrifying woman who had executed fifty Guardsmen at once.
Still, she really was beautiful.
Going by the illustrations with that distinctly Warhammer 40K brand of Yankee sensibility, every woman looked like the sort who would chew through a fragrant Ork-meat steak for breakfast.
Adriana looked like an even mix of a Hispanic beauty and a Russian beauty.
"Heh heh heh... Radian, you see, I came here on purpose because I didn't want a political marriage. I said I would find my own man.
And truly... I chose well. Please take good care of me from now on, husband."
Emperor of Terra.
Please save me.
The Navigators of the Macragge's Honour could clearly feel that Warp travel had become far more comfortable these days.
Not only the Macragge's Honour, but the Warp passage of the entire Indomitus Fleet had become exceptionally smooth.
Attacks by the beasts dwelling in the Warp had practically disappeared, temporal distortions had lessened, and the holy light of the Astronomican shone ever more brilliantly.
[The radiance of His Majesty the Emperor shines more beautifully, and His servants shall travel more safely. This is truly His Majesty the Emperor's blessing.]
Navigators were deeply devout.
Ever beholding His light, they praised the one who guided millions of ships through the Warp by thought alone.
[Guide us with Your light. Drive away danger with Your will. Watch over us with Your faith.]
[Praise His Majesty the Immortal Emperor. Tremble before His majesty. We shall walk forever in His shadow.]
[My mind stands within the throne. My soul has been shattered and made whole again! What glory, that my soul is connected to Him.]
Tens of thousands of psykers attached to the Indomitus Fleet sang hymns through their psychic power.
Even the psykers used as batteries, lying comatose as they maintained the Gellar fields, unconsciously heard the hymns and recited them in turn through psychic power.
The psychic strength and stability of the fleet's psykers grew greater, and radiant light enveloped the fleet.
Warp creatures gathered around that intense light, but the fierce radiance devoured the darkness, cleansing them and returning them to the primordial order.
The entire Warp trembled.
Intense will and hope.
Before faith and salvation, the clinging masses of emotion could not hide their displeasure.
Imperial vessels normally traveled by driving back the Warp's evil energies with choirs of psykers singing hymns.
But such powerful positive feedback born of hope and the desire for salvation was rare.
The Warp-space through which the Indomitus Fleet passed became as pristine as it had been at the beginning, then began to change into something else.
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