Sigismund looked at Camba Diaz, and Euphrati Keeler holding the Emperor's icon flashed through his mind.
Was he going to defy his Primarch's orders again, even sacrifice those mortal Auxilia to escape?
After his father and the Sigillite confirmed the news of the Warmaster's rebellion brought by Akton Kruze, he had been chosen to command the Punishment Fleet.
Before preparing for departure, he had met Keeler.
Keeler had told him that Horus would come to Terra, that he had to stand fast here, and that his Primarch would need him at the final hour.
The vision Keeler had unleashed showed him another choice: he would die beneath the light of an unknown star, forgotten forever, and the Imperium would perish as well.
Keeler had also told him that if he did not choose death, he would be able to fight without end.
His resolve had wavered. He had asked his father to let him remain at his side and give command of the Punishment Fleet to someone else.
That had been the first time he refused his father's appointment. Was he now going to accept the fate of failing his father's mission once again?
"No!" Sigismund said decisively. With an enraged roar, he swung his blade and knocked aside an incoming sword.
"We must complete Father's mission."
"Sigismund, look around you."
"There are thousands upon thousands of Lucas Krum's Abominable Machines. The Templar Brethren and Terminators can kill one, perhaps even a hundred—"
"But there is no chance we can kill them all."
Sigismund silently surveyed the battlefield. A Templar Brethren struck an Abominable Machine's chassis with his sword, only to be engulfed by overwhelming black flames and burned to ash in an instant.
Another Cataphractii Terminator was sliced into sections by more than a dozen radiation beams.
One yellow