The Bucephalus, the Emperor's flagship in the early days of the Great Crusade.
The magnificent golden warship stood in the void, a giant fashioned from gold and marble. A spread-winged eagle rose from its prow, while its hull was covered by a vast city of statues and war temples.
The hull and wings gradually narrowed into a spear-like point, while the engine arrays emitted a cold blue glow.
Imperium officials and officers welcomed their master—the Emperor—aboard.
There was another being they welcomed as well: Nimrod, the second Primarch to return.
The gun batteries lining the keel erupted with dazzling light, and eleven salvos illuminated the entire Vostonia System.
Chancellor Malcador dispatched the Remembrancers, not yet officially recognized by the Imperium, to record this glorious moment with cameras, Data Slates, or paper.
"811.M30, the Emperor recovered the Eleventh Primarch on Vostonia..."
The scribes were more rigorous, recording it with care.
"9133811.M30, the Emperor recovered the Eleventh Primarch on Vosconia. He was the second Primarch to return to the Imperium."
The first digit of the Imperial calendar quantified the accuracy of the time. Zero represented Terra, the standard reference point.
Nine was the final grade, used for regions that had not previously adopted the Imperial calendar.
The second through fourth digits divided a planet's orbital period, or one stellar year, into one thousand equal portions, 001–000, to mark when an event occurred.
The Eleventh Primarch's official return date was: the 811th year of the thirtieth millennium, the 133rd stellar thousandth-year, with the greatest possible discrepancy from Terran time.
Nimrod followed behind the Old Man in Yellow. Behind him came Howard Ward, Bukayo of House Arshavin, Thierry Vieira, Szczesny, Rawlslev, and the others.
Considering that the Emperor did not like Psykers, he had not allowed Malena or Arsena to accompany them.
The Emperor