Vengeful Spirit, Wolf-God Council Chamber.
Horus Lupercal sprang from The Throne as the communications channel looped the accusations of Vespasian, lord commander of the Emperor's Children.
"Warmaster—Mortarion and Angron—our father Fulgrim has betrayed us—"
"Every Warrior in the first-wave assault force is a purge target—shells carrying virus bomb warheads—"
Lucius, captain of the Emperor's Children's 13th Company, and Saul Tarvitz, captain of the Tenth Company, joined the communications channel in succession.
"Maloghurst."
The Primarch's Attendants stepped out of the shadows. "Warmaster."
"I want you to find out what happened immediately."
"Also, broadcast my speech across all channels. Drown out the voices of the Imperium's traitors."
Maloghurst rapidly issued orders through the communicator, then reported.
"It is ready. You may make your declaration now."
"Soldiers of the Imperium, I am the Warmaster," Horus said in a low voice.
"I am angered by the accusations of Vespasian and the others. Am I not the war master appointed by The Emperor, commanding all the Warriors of the Master of Mankind?"
"I have exhausted myself in thought and effort. Have I ever violated the Imperial Truth?"
He said coldly, "I know the loyal soldiers of the Imperium are filled with doubts over these baseless accusations. I was once the same, believing that my order to deploy squads into battle based on the situation on Isstvan had been misunderstood."
"But now I know the reason. Vespasian, Lucius, and Saul Tarvitz have colluded with the War Singers of Isstvan III."
"In the name of the Warmaster, I declare them traitors to the Imperium!"
Horus looked at Maloghurst. Once he saw the Primarch's Attendants nod in response, he continued.
"Their warships have been marked as hostile. All nearby Imperial warships are to plot interception routes at once and carry out merciless orbital strikes."
"At the same time,