On the broadest avenue in Calth's urban district, a thousand warriors of the Iron Hands Legion stood in the middle of the road with their Primarch, Ferrus Manus.
They formed orderly ranks, their armor gleaming with a cold metallic sheen in the sunlight, as solemn and imposing as rows of iron statues.
Their weapons had been polished spotless, and the Legion Insignia on their pauldrons shone in the sun.
The people of Calth cheered from both sides of the street, the sea of people stretching as far as the eye could see.
They waved their flags and shouted the names of the Iron Hands and the Ultramarines, their voices merging into a tremendous roar that echoed above the city.
Children perched on their fathers' shoulders, pointing excitedly at the mighty Interstellar Space Marines, their eyes shining with admiration.
Young women scattered petals into the air, and the colorful petals danced in the sunlight before drifting down like snowflakes onto the shoulders of those steel-clad warriors.
Members of the Ultramarines Legion stood around them, maintaining order.
Although they were not directly participating in the parade, as hosts, they had taken responsibility for security and organization.
They stood ramrod straight between the crowds and the parade route, forming a blue wall of bodies to keep the celebrating crowds from surging onto the route and disrupting the Ritual.
The blue-armored soldiers of Ultramar's Imperialis Militia also stood among the crowds.
Unlike the Interstellar Space Marines officially taking part in the parade, they were working security: checking identification, directing the flow of people, and handling emergencies. These mundane but important duties made up their entire assignment for the day.
Many of them actually wanted to march in the parade formations and receive the people's cheers and salutes, but they also knew that this honor