Colonid Sector, Rock of Ghana.
The cathedral of the Furious Abyss.
Zadkiel, Chapter Master of the "Scions of the Quill," stood upon an obsidian pulpit, surrounded by thirty-three Word Bearers.
Branded on their cultist robes was the legion emblem of the "Shadow of Order."
The armor wrapped beneath had been painted black, with a huge scarlet quill branded across the chest.
They stood in order: three on the left, eleven in the middle, nineteen on the right.
On the left were Zadkiel's trusted men: Chapter Master Belanos, Chaplain Ixalon, and the ambitious adjutant Reskil.
"The Emperor's enlightened new age has no place for faith. The short-sighted Imperium denies the existence of truth."
"He is wrong."
The Scions of the Quill shouted in unison, "As you have said."
"Golden Lorgar is wrong as well."
"The four gods of Colchis are all illusions." Zadkiel brought his hands together and gave an inverted salute.
"Only the Black Emperor is true."
"All that Lorgar said is false!" The Scions of the Quill copied Zadkiel's movements.
"Only the Black Emperor is true!"
Zadkiel looked down over the dais as his faithful chanted the truth again and again.
He whipped his head around and looked toward the figure emerging from the dim shadows.
Helmsmaster Sarkolov bowed. "My lord, Navigator Essimia has detected a fleet translating into the real world."
"No word from Flamini?"
"No, my lord. For that reason, the Navigator believes it is an enemy fleet."
"I understand." Zadkiel looked down at the congregation below and spread his arms.
"The appointed hour has come. It is time to write our chapter."
His gaze swept over them one by one. "The moment has come to prove that you have understood the truth."
"Write the chapter of truth!" the Scions of the Quill shouted as one, retreating