When the Spear of Titans emerged at the Mandeville Point, alarms sounded throughout the Salamanders fleet guarding Nocturne.
Prometheus, the moon beside Nocturne, housed an enormous naval base, the Salamanders' largest ship repository.
Within the base, countless Salamanders warriors and Chapter recruits bustled about their duties.
Though some time had passed since the return of the Men of Iron, the Milky Way was vast. Even with Titan-Class Ships appearing in the Ultima Segmentum more than once, only a handful of people across the Imperium had ever seen one.
Some Salamanders warriors who had taken part in the relief efforts in the Segmentum Pacificus or the reinforcements sent to the Pariah Nexus might already have encountered allies of this kind—the Men of Iron—and their immense Mechanicus Fleet.
But to most, the existence of the Men of Iron remained as distant and elusive as a tale from history.
Confronted by a terrifying giant ship whose design differed radically from Imperial Ships, the Salamanders displayed exceptional combat readiness.
When Vulkan's face appeared on every ship's communications display, the entire region fell silent.
Tu'Shan stared in disbelief at the figure on the display, a man he had only ever seen in statues, his voice trembling slightly.
"Primarch?!"
Vulkan gave them a gentle smile.
"I have returned, my Progeny. I have found new hope. Go to Hesiod City on Nocturne. I will be waiting for you there."
After ending the transmission, Vulkan followed a Servitor aboard a Transport Aircraft.
Inside the cabin, two Castellans crouched in a corner, guarding an enormous tank.
Through the glass viewing port in its side, he could see that it was filled with a strange liquid that gave off a soft glow.
Vulkan recognized its contents: at least several tonnes of Panacea.
When he had been injured aboard the Spear