Eastern Fringe of the Galaxy, Sotha System.
Great Sage Koriel Zeth stood before the wall-sized observation viewport. The louvers slowly descended, revealing the true face of the void and the crimson storm stretching across the distance.
"Mentor, this is simply unbelievable," Apprentice Magos Cant Polk said.
"The Warp is in turmoil, yet Lord Nimrod's fleet remains unaffected."
She looked up at the clock overhead. "In only three standard hours and sixteen minutes, the fleet completed a Warp jump of fifty-eight light-years."
"Yes!"
"I think there must be something aboard the Shadow of the Throne that allows the fleet to pass through the Warp Storm."
The Shadow of the Throne flashed through Koriel's mind, along with one forbidden area after another that had not been opened to her:
The newly built cathedral, the primarch's war council chamber—
"There are many such places, but the lower decks are the most likely," Koriel said within the newly integrated Thought Space.
Cant froze for a moment. Back when she had still been an apprentice, she had boarded a voidship as a representative and had some understanding of that hive city-like colossal vessel.
"Indeed. The lower decks are usually filthy places where even the dregs unfit to be laborers struggle to survive."
"My lord, the hololithic link has been established." Arsena Dunn's voice broke through their private exchange.
The two turned and walked toward the holographic platform.
A blurry diamond-blue figure flashed into existence out of thin air.
"Lord Nimrod, I am Andralus, Captain of the One Hundred and Ninety-Ninth Company of the Ultramarines."
"It is an honor to speak with you, and I am even more pleased to receive news of you."
"But please forgive my impertinence."
"I forgive you," Nimrod said calmly.
"My lord, Father designated this world a forbidden zone one hundred