With Guilliman having finalized the Imperium's future policy toward the Necrons, and Vik's appearance as the new Fabricator General delivering the decisive blow, the High Lords could no longer indirectly oppose the Primarchs' orders in any way.
The projections of the assembled High Lords vanished with an impatient wave of Guilliman's hand, and the conference chamber once again fell into silence.
Guilliman slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, and his ramrod-straight body slackened.
Vik watched as the Primarch helplessly covered his face with both massive hands, his full head of white hair trembling with his heavy breaths.
This was a display of weakness the Primarch should not have shown outsiders. As Regent of the Imperium, Guilliman had to maintain an even stronger and more majestic image than the other Primarchs before others at all times. Yet now he looked pained and miserable, like a frustrated middle-aged man.
Vik did not believe this was the Primarch's true nature. In his view, Guilliman's weakness in Vik's presence was merely a method of control.
"You may return to Terra now." Guilliman lowered his hands from his face.
Vik gave the Gear Salute and turned to leave.
Then Guilliman suddenly called after him. "Wait. There is something I wish to ask you."
Vik stopped. His two cold electronic eyes rotated one hundred and eighty degrees with his head to face the Primarch.
"You... no, do most members of the Adeptus Mechanicus whom you represent believe the true Omnissiah is the Lord of Tyran?" Guilliman asked flatly, staring into an empty corner of the conference chamber.
Vik was startled by the sheer bluntness of the question. He had long expected Guilliman might ask something related, but never in his dreams had he imagined it would be so direct—direct in the manner of the Lord