"Asterion Moloc" was merely an inherited title.
Moloc had no will of his own. He carried out the High Lords' orders without reservation and was even regarded by other Chapters as "the Imperium's cold-blooded hound."
And the task he was to carry out now was also one assigned by the High Lords—a mission to establish their authority.
"Checkpoint 789 has already let people through?"
"The traitors are already at the door, and someone inside opened the gate for them. They should all be killed!" Moloc's expression was severe. His face looked as though he kept everyone at arm's length, as if someone had removed the parts of their brains responsible for regulating emotion.
The merciless order left his mouth. To him, the people guarding the checkpoint were no different from ants, and he sentenced them to death with ease.
The Minotaurs Chapter's warships approached the checkpoint, while other warships belonging to the High Lords came forward to meet them.
As one of the Chapters stirring up trouble, their task was to severely undermine Malcador's authority.
The Imperium was not Malcador's domain alone. It was a domain shared by the High Lords.
They also wanted to see just how far Malcador was willing to go.
No matter what happened, however—
Malcador faced an exceptionally difficult political situation, along with the despair-inducing political legacy the Imperium had left him.
Aboard the Empress-class cruiser, Malcador had been constantly absorbing the current state of the entire Imperium.
From the wars facing the Imperium to the steadily rising rate of rebellion.
The situation confronting the Imperium left even Malcador unsure where to begin.
The only resources he could make use of were the Chapter Astartes at hand.
The Astartes Chapters, whom The Emperor had once tried his utmost to suppress, had now become the Imperium's