The atmosphere in the Captain's quarters had gone a little stagnant.
Vulkan could barely bring himself to look at the scene projected on the screen. The Lord of the Fire Drakes might as well have carved the words "The Emperor above" into his face, especially when he saw the living Ossuary appear.
Leman Russ, on the other hand, had been laughing nonstop, and even let out a piercing guffaw when the climax arrived.
Fulgrim looked at him in displeasure. "What are you laughing at?"
"The Captain's finally gone mad!" the Fenrisian shouted. "I told you! How could anyone stay in this dump of ours for long without going insane? He—"
Sanguinius pressed a hand down on him, his face dark. "Watch your words, Russ."
"It's not like I'm wrong. This place of ours really is pretty run-down."
At that, Fulgrim was finally no longer the only one staring at him with disapproval—almost everyone began looking at him that way, even Vulkan.
Roboute Guilliman coughed, intending to steer the topic back in the right direction. As he did so, he kept reminding himself of one thing: next time, when discussing serious business, remember to kick Russ out. He would always make the atmosphere extremely strange.
But someone beat him to it.
Corax shook his head and said, "I can roughly guess what he intends to do, but will that Evil God really respond? To such an obvious ploy?"
"It will," Sanguinius answered quietly. "Khorne does not conceal Its aims, nor does It lie or use overly insidious schemes. Perhaps that is Its only virtue."
"Isn't that three? Brother, your math—uh." Russ got half a sentence out, then obediently raised a hand and covered his mouth.
Sanguinius sighed.
"...In any case, though I do not know why the Captain wants to do