Canopy Star had disappeared, and the entire Taiwei system had been rocked by a considerable gravitational disturbance. For several days now, the planets and other celestial bodies throughout the system had been shifting in their orbits and falling into disarray.
By now, Horus's fleet had fled in disgrace from Canopy Star's former orbit to the Mandeville Point outside the system. There, it had joined up with the Emperor's main fleet.
Over the past few days, both the Emperor and Horus had desperately hoped Canopy Star would reappear. The outcome, however, had satisfied neither of them. There was no sign or indication that the planet was about to return.
So, with no other choice, the Emperor ordered Horus to meet with him. He then questioned Horus in detail about everything that had happened, from the moment the Second Expeditionary Fleet under Horus's command arrived in the Taiwei system, through their initial contact and eventual clash, to the all-out battle that followed.
Naturally, the Emperor had some questions for him along the way.
For example, he demanded to know why Horus had antagonized the Star Sector's human forces and the people of Canopy Star to such an extent; why he had deployed ground troops; and what had prompted the many strange decisions and orders during the campaign.
Horus had already prepared a set of answers.
Every word he spoke in his report was true. But he deliberately left out certain details, and naturally claimed that he had only been carrying out the Emperor's orders. He also explained that he hadn't originally intended to use force and had planned to obtain the technology through relatively peaceful means.
But after the Emperor repeatedly pressed him to act, he had been forced to take a risk and seize it by force. He had even had