Qile's thunderous declaration was profoundly stirring.
Even legion commanders such as Luther and Bjorn, who had originally cared little about the situation on Terra, felt a shared sense of righteous indignation.
Although they had known that political turmoil seemed to have erupted on Terra, with the Human Imperium at war with the Ork Empire, they had had no time to investigate those complicated internal struggles.
As the helmsmen of their legions in the primarchs' absence, their attitudes represented the positions of their entire legions and their respective domains.
Whether by law or by sentiment, the Astartes Legions that had already been granted their own domains should not have actively intervened in Terra's affairs.
Before the truth was known, silence and neutrality were the safest choices.
But now, things were different.
Luther and the others realized that this was no longer a mere internal conflict on Terra, but a matter concerning the stability of the Imperium's foundations and the rise or decline of its prosperity.
"The Ecclesiarchy under Alfreda," Qile continued, exposing the degeneration of Terra's Ecclesiarchy, "places greater emphasis on religious fanaticism and 'purity' than the original Ecclesiarchy did. She demands that all believers 'voluntarily' pay a religious tax in addition to the Imperial tithe."
Her voice carried heavy sarcasm. "For the vast majority of Imperial worlds, the tithe is already an enormous burden. This so-called religious tax is, in essence, merely another form of exploitation."
The religious tax could take any form of material: food, weapons, minerals, population. So long as the Ecclesiarchy needed it, believers were expected to offer up their wealth.
"Heavy taxation has triggered a chain reaction. Worlds that could still catch their breath after paying the tithe are now being visited by tax collectors representing the Ecclesiarchy. Many worlds can no longer bear the burden."