Horus was the first to figure it out.
"I understand now."
"Alpharius wants to keep the Imperium mired in chaos and war, providing a steady supply of 'fuel' for the Golden Throne."
"Neither a powerful Imperium nor one reduced to a servant of Chaos can provide that 'fuel.'"
"Whenever either the Imperium or Chaos gains the upper hand, they immediately help the other side."
"So that's why those scum keep the Imperium trapped in chaos and war!" Captain Dakan said angrily.
"I don't understand," Admiral Spire said.
He glanced at the Inquisitor and the Astra Militarum colonel beside him.
"Perhaps this is presumptuous of me, and blasphemous even given our current positions."
"Why do they want the Emperor to become a god? I don't mean that I think our great Emperor is inferior to those evil gods."
"Because only a human 'god' can protect humanity from the gods of the Warp."
Those words from Bona silenced everyone present.
Only after a long while did Horus ask a question.
"Even if all humanity dies?"
Bona answered.
"Even if the price is every human life."
"Then we'll crush them. Who the hell does Alpharius think he is?" Horus said angrily.
"At the very least, that isn't something we should be considering right now."
Bona cut Horus off, then looked at everyone.
"Every second, Imperial citizens are being slaughtered by xenos and heretics. We have no time to waste here."
"Horus and I will now lead the expeditionary fleet out on campaign."
"Captain Dakan, Admiral Spire, Colonel Sakot, I hope you will do everything in your power to aid the surrounding systems."
After Cadia shattered, a terrifying scar cut across the Milky Way, and it was still expanding.
Known as the Great Rift, or the "Cicatrix Maledictum," it had split the Imperium