Ultima Segmentum.
The 125th Expeditionary Fleet roared out of the Warp and entered the borders of the Olympia System.
On the bridge of the Iron Blood, the Warsmiths and captains gathered around the holographic strategium table.
The holographic display showed Olympia and its moons. Stepped mountain ranges covered the surface, twisted by crustal activity into broken lines.
Thousands of lakes lay scattered between the valleys like patches of green-blue.
Perturabo focused on the data labels marking points across the planet. He stared at the pre-action markers with near-mad intensity, yet he still noticed the Blade of the Spear of his Trident approaching from behind.
"Frix, how is the progress?"
"By your orders, seven grand companies have assembled on the Flight Decks of the Iron Blood, Great Megara, Vengeance of Pultros, and Iron Tyrant."
"The latest intelligence I received is that Governor Damekos died three months ago. In the weeks that followed, disputes arose over the succession."
"Small-scale wars have broken out between four cities. When Tsug's fleet was ordered to recruit new troops, it discovered that the homeworld had no central authority capable of communication. Our supply demands were rejected."
Forrix restrained the urge to directly question his father's plan. Any dissent against the Lord of Iron would be punished severely.
Especially now, after more than a century of endless war against xenos on the Imperium's western frontier, with no glory of compliance to be gained, all of his father's patience had been worn away.
He had long been furious, desperate to release the frustration forced upon him by being kept from the main battlefield and denied any accumulation of honor.
The reason Forrix had retained his place in the Trident was that he always obeyed orders.
Cautioning his father indirectly by merely stating the current situation was already the