In the conference chamber of the Andronius, Lucius, captain of the Emperor's Children's 13th Company, stood at the center of the room.
"Lord Commander Vespasian, brother captains."
"I have dangerous news to tell you."
"The Warmaster has betrayed The Emperor."
"What?" Saul Tarvitz, captain of the Tenth Company, strode forward.
"Lucius, do you know what you're saying?"
"Have you forgotten Murder, where the Warmaster led us and crushed the Giant Spider Beast xenos?"
"He cannot have betrayed us."
Lucius smiled faintly. "First, I believe Lord Nimrod was the true deciding factor in that battle."
[My lord, please forgive me for invoking Your name.] He prayed silently in repentance before continuing.
"He was the first to cross the equator, break into the Giant Spider Beasts' nest, and deal with those Thorn Trees."
"Second, I must tell you that most of the warships from four Legions are preparing for orbital bombardment. Their target is the Astartes dispatched to the surface for assault operations."
"Those deemed disloyal to the traitorous gene-Primarchs, those who might disrupt the Warmaster's rebellion."
Tarvitz demanded coldly, "I don't believe you. Do you have proof?"
"Of course. You can investigate." Lucius calmly repeated the Revelation the Black Emperor had planted in his mind.
"I know you and Garro of the Death Guard are sworn brothers. You can ask him which assault forces were assigned to the surface."
"If Bile had not only just healed him, and if his Mechanical Prosthetic did not still need time to adapt, he certainly would have been sent down as well."
"You can also go to Father's flagship and see whether they are preparing an orbital bombardment."
Lucius shrugged. "You'll find that there was no orbital bombardment plan before we made planetfall."
"Then it is obvious that we are within the bombardment zone as