"Iron Warriors?"
Atop the high walls of Moneta Fortress overlooking the spaceport landing pads, Alexis Pollux—towering almost like a scaled-down primarch—stared at the brightest star in the night sky and spoke in utter disbelief.
Beside him, Macragge's field commander, Auguston, felt a trace of discomfort. Though this Astartes was considered tall and powerfully built even among the Ultramarines, a feeling called frustration was spreading through him.
Within the Ultramarines Legion, he had always looked down upon his battle-brothers in every setting, save for the primarch.
Yet before this absurdly massive Imperial Fist, Auguston felt self-conscious about his own size for the first time.
Pollux... what exactly did the Imperial Fists eat to grow this large?
Even clad in Mark II Terminator armor, Auguston still stood a head shorter than Pollux.
Several important aides and officers from the city guard stood attentively nearby. They had just completed their work reports and were now quietly awaiting the two men's instructions.
Roboute Guilliman had personally ordered Auguston and Pollux to work together to improve Macragge's orbital defense network and prevent any danger from arising again.
After inspecting Moneta Fortress's defenses, Pollux had fallen into thought as he stared at the sole twinkling star in the sky.
By order of the primarch, certain classified Ultramarines information had been partially opened to Pollux, including information concerning that star, hundreds or thousands of light-years away.
Sotha, and the mysterious Pharos device.
The technological creation on that distant star had illuminated Macragge, guiding the loyalists to the Macragge system.
"This is a great achievement, Auguston. You found a way to guide Warp navigation besides the Astronomican. There is nothing wrong with that." Pollux turned his massive body and fixed his gaze upon Auguston's eyes.
"But you have allowed an Iron Warrior to hold the lifeline of this