An Outing

"...He went to Macragge?"

Mortarion's scythe haft gnawed into the ground as he labored for breath, leaning against the massive blade.

The thick mist around him had long since formed its own domain, corroding the severed limbs crawling across the ground.

Wheezing sounds came from beneath Mortarion's gas mask.

"Guilliman isn't there... he went to the wrong place..."

The Pale Lord's whisper pierced the mist. Karras, resting beside him, laughed.

"You finally acknowledge Macragge, Death?"

Mortarion's hazy gaze pierced the fog and fell upon the Eldar struggling in the mud in the distance.

"The Death Guard are with me... he needs other forces."

The primarch lowered his head, as though calculating something. After seven breaths, Mortarion spoke again.

"My brothers... they should be returning soon... I felt the Emperor's summons..."

Karras gave an awkward laugh.

"The gears of fate began turning after his return?"

"No."

Mortarion shook his head. He stood upon the Garden territory he had seized.

"Everything began with the decline of the Corruption Sky—this will tell those False Gods that their Death has arrived."

But... but he still could not erase Him completely... Mortarion could only settle for the next best thing and ensure Nurgle's continued decline.

"How does that sound?"

Hades said, looking at Calgar across from him. The Ultramarine wore finely crafted armor, his expression reserved.

He still was not used to speaking to a "god" as an equal.

Hades understood. He had been the same at first. When he had spoken with Mortarion back then, he had nearly broken his neck just trying to see the primarch's chin.

"You wish to go to Terra in order to..."

Calgar carefully chose his words. "Oversee Terra's governmental operations?"

Hades smiled, though there was a trace of exhaustion in it.

"I'm going to seize power."

He