Chapter 267: Probing
For the first time, Hades felt the value of Malcador.
Standing before someone who did not understand psykers, yet firmly believed in the Imperium, the title Malcador had bestowed upon him—Head of the Imperium's Silent Sisterhood—was, at last, proving its worth.
Malcador, you're not such a bad guy after all! Hades thought with a blink, then spoke aloud, requesting a private conversation with Guilliman.
Of course, Guilliman agreed. Among the Lord of Macragge's countless contingency plans, such a situation was already accounted for.
Soon, the Ultramarines escorted the Death Guard who had accompanied Hades into a side chamber to wait.
Watching them file out, Hades quietly considered his next words.
First—he must not say the wrong word. He had no wish to repeat that time when a single slip had dragged the entire Death Guard into the abyss. Even if it meant he might have succeeded in staying with the Ultramarines.
Second—he could not press too hard. Without absolute proof, he could never convince Guilliman entirely.
He could, of course, simply walk away. But Hades feared that would leave a wound that would continue to fester, poisoning the Ultramarines. That was not what he wanted.
His plan was to first give Guilliman a warning, then personally go down to Absyrtus and see the truth for himself. If the world was as tainted as he suspected, then he would show Guilliman a glimpse of the warp's foulest gifts.
Now that the room was empty, Guilliman sat across from Hades. Gone was the soaring orator—he now wore a curious smile, wishing to learn what had prompted this sudden request for privacy.
Hades spoke deliberately:
"My lord, do you know why I am here?"
Guilliman was briefly silent. Hades knew this meant the Primarch's vast mental engine was running at full capacity.
"In the Imperium's surveys, this world was assessed as highly advanced. One Legion alone might not suffice to bring it fully into compliance."
Guilliman gave a small smile, as though easing what could have been an awkward moment.
"But if you mean why you are here, then I imagine it is because my brother still refuses to meet me face to face."
In a sense… not untrue, Hades thought.
But that wasn't where he wanted Guilliman's mind to go. Hades' expression hardened, and he continued:
"Lord Guilliman, your inference is correct, but the matter runs deeper still. The Imperium has appointed me as Head of the Imperium's Silent Sisterhood. That is the role I will serve in this joint campaign."
Guilliman's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"The Sister of Silences will be involved in this compliance?"
During the Great Crusade, when particularly dangerous psychic species were encountered, the Sister of Silences often fought alongside the Legions.
Hades thought to himself: Why on Terra would he equate me directly with the Sisters?
Outwardly, he maintained his stern composure:
"If necessary, of course they will join the effort. Absyrtus still requires thorough evaluation. The Imperium will never, under any circumstance, relax its vigilance toward psykers."
Guilliman hesitated. He was thinking, weighing carefully. At last, he cautiously posed his question:
"The people here did use psychic powers, yes. But they have sworn to renounce such practices. After I read aloud the Imperial Truth, Absyrtus' queen herself shattered the kingdom's greatest altar, and with her people, swore the oath."
"Their armies are disbanded. Pamphlets of the Imperial Truth have been distributed. They are, in earnest, striving to integrate into the Imperium."
Hades looked at Guilliman.
"My lord Guilliman, forgive my bluntness—but the armies they disbanded, what kind of forces were they?"
"A few companies equipped with heavy vehicles, large numbers of light infantry, and an aerial contingent capable of covering the entire capital," Guilliman replied.
"Then…"
Hades spoke slowly.
"Would such an army truly require the Imperium to dispatch two Legions?"
Guilliman's gaze sharpened at once. He had thought about that question. Yet after repeated Ultramarine reconnaissance sweeps, no hidden armies had been discovered.
The queen of Absyrtus had explained it thus—
They were a rebuilt civilization. Their former society had collapsed in civil strife. But that old civilization had left them a relatively stable star domain, which allowed Absyrtus to endure.
Presented with ample evidence, Guilliman had accepted this explanation.
He opened his mouth, ready to explain this to Hades—only for Hades to cut in first:
"My lord, perhaps you are not familiar with psykers. They excel at flowery words, at deceit and concealment. That was never their true army."
"But we found no other forces," Guilliman said firmly. "The Ultramarines searched every corner with diligence. There was no suspicious presence."
"My lord, you must not judge psyker strategy by conventional military thought. The conditions under which they win battles are utterly unlike ours."
"A sorcerer requires no war engines that can be detected. With a single book, with a fragment of ritual bone, they can unleash their might."
Hades' voice was measured, deliberate.
"Perhaps you should allow me to investigate. I—and the Death Guard—remain adept at dealing with psykers."
Guilliman inclined his head. Faced with Hades' reasonable, well-founded request, he could hardly refuse. The Head of the Imperium's Silent Sisterhood's warning had indeed stirred unease within him.
But Guilliman's tone shifted:
"Very well. But I have my own condition."
"We are in the critical stage of negotiation. Unless you have absolute proof, you must not disrupt civilian life, nor commit slaughter of the innocent. This is a civilization that has shown good faith. Even if some small faction rises in rebellion, that is a variable to be expected."
Guilliman had his own considerations. The Lord of Macragge knew well that his brothers were not ordinary men. Their prejudices could lead them to terrible deeds, after all, he had already witnessed the Night Lords' atrocities.
He would not permit his brothers, driven by vague suspicions, to inflict unbearable disaster upon a civilization.
He would support actions that were just and reasonable—but not allow atrocities.
Hades rose calmly to his feet and bowed.
"Understood, my lord Guilliman. Allow me to confer further with our Primarch. But until then, I urge you to keep your forces vigilant."
"When it comes to psykers, one can never be too cautious."
Then he turned and strode out of the gilded hall.
. . . . . .
Aboard the Endurance, within its dimly lit command chamber.
Hades silently issued redeployment orders while examining the maps provided by the Ultramarines. Beside him, Mortarion paced restlessly, cursing under his breath from time to time.
"This is a nation ruled by psykers! Does Guilliman not understand what that means?!"
"Calm yourself, Mortarion. We still need to investigate before we can pass final judgment."
Hades spoke slowly.
"We must see where this civilization has rotted, so that the Death Guard may rightly grant them death."
"From the very moment they tried to bargain with us, I knew this world deserved an Exterminatus!"
"Well, you're being a bit too extreme," Hades said mildly. "But soon enough we'll know whether this civilization truly deserves such extremity."
Then he added, almost as an afterthought:
"Oh, and Mortarion—if Guilliman comes to negotiate with you later, don't be so blunt. Otherwise, the Death Guard will find it much harder to act."
"He doesn't truly grasp the horror of psykers. Words alone cannot convey it. He still clings to the hope that all humans can be treated the same."
Mortarion let out a harsh, mocking laugh.
"I will! If lies are the price I must pay to take the heads of sorcerers, then I will wield deception better than any witch ever could!"
Hades clapped his hands together, then looked over the redeployment roster. "Good. Guilliman asked us not to alarm the populace unnecessarily, and there's no need for the entire First Company to reveal itself in a single reconnaissance. For this mission, part of the Seventh, a detachment of the Blank, and myself—that will be enough."
"I'm coming as well," Mortarion said flatly.
Hades gave him a helpless look.
"If you leave, Garro and Vorx will have to shoulder command of the Legion in our absence."
"From the beginning, that was one of their duties," Mortarion replied coldly.
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