"I sense a destructive force approaching."
"We have already committed everything, Librarian. If you still feel we need to call for support with these defenses in place, then we must send more troops from the Reconnaissance Force to confirm exactly what the enemy is."
The conversation between Hiber, Chapter Master of the Salamanders, and the Librarian was "rather heated," as they were repairing their personal equipment in the forge.
"I gave you full authority. You shouldn't be coming to me." Hiber had only recently put the Librarian in temporary command of the defenses.
After all, he had been commanding for far too long and needed a break to repair his own equipment.
"I insist," the Librarian said.
"Understood. I'll be as quick as I can."
The Librarian slowly boarded a craft and departed. No one could doubt the loyalty of Vulkan's sons. This was the Forge Chalice, one of the nine treasures left by the Salamanders' Primarch. It should have been on Nocturne.
Every Chapter had committed everything to this battle. When it came to whether the Emperor could return, the Sons of the Fire Dragon were among the warriors with the firmest faith in him. That faith came from their Primarch: they believed Vulkan's immortality had been granted by the Emperor, and that the Emperor was immortal.
Nocturne's defenses had been reduced to a desperately weak state. Only Vulkan's Eye-one of the nine treasures, a planetary laser defense weapon-remained to protect the Chapter's Monastery.
The Librarian was in little better shape than Chapter Master Hiber.
Just look at the Chapters Guilliman had assigned them. How was anyone supposed to lead troops like these?
The Silver Skulls Chapter, the Flesh Tearers Chapter, the Executioners Chapter, the Skull Bearers Chapter...
Once they started fighting, no one could rein them in.
The