Months slipped by amid the boundless sea of stars and tense preparations for war.
The hunt for the traitor Saladin and his Second Legion had gradually evolved from its initial chaos and fury into a vast net, woven jointly by several loyal Legions and cast across the galaxy.
The Word Bearers, War Hounds, Night Lords, Dark Angels, and Space Wolves—these five deadly Legions formed the spearhead and backbone of the immense hunt.
Their Fleets prowled the star clusters where the traitors might be hiding like wolves scenting blood, patient and deadly.
As the hunt's chief advocate and steadfast executor, Lorgar knew that courage and the forces already at hand might not be enough to guarantee a killing blow against Saladin's uncanny, unpredictable psychic sea of sand and the lingering Rangdan scourge, leaving no threat behind.
He needed greater strength, an advantage beyond dispute, to ensure that when the traitor finally revealed himself, he would meet utter destruction, with no doubt as to the outcome.
To that end, Lorgar demonstrated his abilities as a Legion commander and strategist.
Rather than announce his intentions, he sent a redeployment order to a distant star cluster through encrypted astropathic communications and warp routes.
Before long, a major Word Bearers Fleet previously engaged in other expeditionary operations broke away from its original front. After a swift, covert voyage, it quietly joined the main expeditionary force under Lorgar's personal command.
This redeployment brought the number of Word Bearers Space Marines directly under Lorgar's command and ready to enter the decisive battle at any moment to a staggering 180,000.
Yet these 180,000 Space Marines were merely the visible tip of the iceberg of forces Lorgar could muster.
Only a handful of those at the heart of the Legion's power and secrets knew that the true influence and