False Emperor
Solar Segmentum, Nikaea System.
The Shadow of the Throne hovered in high orbit over Nikaea. Nimrod brought Chief Librarian Thomas, Chief Chaplain Pat, and Standard Bearer Jurjur aboard a Stormbird.
He had chosen a Stormbird as their transport not because he meant to join a battle, but because this newborn cosmic star was not yet stable.
The primarch's personal pilot, Nelson, fired up the black Stormbird and flew out from the flight deck, only to see turbid cloud banks shrouding the surface.
Countless bright indicator lights flickered across the cockpit's control panels. Lines on the vector display constantly formed and vanished, sketching out the shattered ground below.
He glanced over the report provided by the Auger Matrix Master. [The atmosphere is mixed with volcanic ash.]
"Winner" pushed the control stick forward, and the black iron bird plunged straight into the brown lightning storm.
From the viewpoint of the "Calamity Priest," Nelson looked down over the continent below as it split apart and then crashed back together.
Shock waves passed through the mantle and roamed wildly.
The atmosphere, stirred by the impact, churned and heaved.
Nelson slammed the throttle to the floor, and the black iron bird accelerated into a dive.
Amid the rumble of thunder, torrents of acid rain poured down.
With the skill of a "Calamity Priest," Nelson piloted the Stormbird, avoiding flashing lightning and the falling acid rain.
Calmly, he received telemetry from the command platform and confirmed the landing plan, until the landing locator rune overlapped with the target point and the Adeptus Custodes controlling the ground took over the flight.
Nimrod stepped down from the deck, his war boots landing on the Black Basalt surface built up by volcanic eruptions.
He followed the cold gaze that had fallen on him and looked over. The