Hannibal visibly froze after listening to Saladin's account of Lorgar.
The indistinct faceplate seemed to turn toward Saladin. Though it had no features, it conveyed an unmistakable sense of almost speechless paralysis.
"Uh..."
An exceedingly faint syllable, scarcely seeming to have come from the mouth of the "Eagle of the Rangdan," betrayed a trace of speechlessness deep within his consciousness.
"Well..." Hannibal paused, seemingly taking a moment to reorganize his words. An almost imperceptible oddness crept into his otherwise calm tone.
"You... please yourself."
As a sworn enemy of the Imperium, and as someone who had studied human nature and Astartes psychology in depth, Hannibal could imagine almost instantly how Lorgar would react to Saladin's exposition of his "grand undertaking."
If Lorgar failed to crack Saladin's skull open with his staff, it would only be because Saladin dodged quickly enough.
For a fleeting instant, he even wondered whether his subordinates had gone too far and "poured" something into the Lord of the Yellow Sands that had damaged a few of his logical circuits.
But he quickly suppressed that stray thought.
Whatever unrealistic fantasies Saladin harbored about Lorgar, they would not affect the broader situation as long as he continued down the path of betraying the Imperium and assisting the Rangdan.
An individual's misjudgment could sometimes make an excellent catalyst.
"Second Warmaster Mago will provide tactical coordination and troop support when necessary." Hannibal changed the subject, his voice returning to its customary steadiness.
"Now, regarding the First Legion, have you prepared a corresponding contingency on your end? Lion El'Jonson's threat level warrants particular attention."
"Yes." Saladin's answer was brief and firm. "My Fifth Company, its commander Shirku, and all its elite troops are currently stationed within the interior of the Dark Angels flagship, the Unyielding Truth, under the pretext of providing