Marneus Calgar, Chapter Master of the Ultramarines, had just rounded the long corridor with his Victrix Guard and a cadre of veterans when the boisterous, unrestrained laughter of Logan Grimnar reached his ears. Recalling the cryptic message sent by his Primarch, the usually stoic Chapter Master felt a strange twitch in his expression.
No one could have predicted such a turn of events for the Sons of Russ.
Coming into possession of a Gloriana-class battleship for free?
Such a thing was beyond the wildest imaginings of any Imperial commander.
"Logan. Lord Guilliman has already informed me of your... discovery. I truly never expected your Chapter to stumble upon such fortune," Calgar said as he approached.
The relationship between the Space Wolves and the Ultramarines was generally cordial, a professional respect shared between Calgar and Grimnar. However, seeing the Great Wolf arrive at the helm of a vessel that was a perfect mirror of his own flagship gave Calgar the distinct, unsettling feeling that his very home had been inexplicably plagiarized.
"Calgar, I'm here today to deliver a gift," Logan said, gesturing toward the Thunderhawk Transporters behind him.
Inside the yawning maws of the cargo bays sat rows upon rows of carefully secured gene-seed canisters. Calgar stared at the sheer volume of genetic material, momentarily stunned.
While Guilliman had mentioned that Logan would be delivering items to Ultramar, the message had lacked specifics. Seeing this mountain of gene-seed left even the Lord Macragge at a loss.
"Logan, what is the meaning of this?"
"Gene-seed, obviously. I cannot divulge the specific circumstances, but you would be wise to have your Apothecaries subject them to the most rigorous screening."
As he spoke, Logan signaled his Wolf Guard to begin offloading several ornate reliquaries from the Thunderhawk he had personally arrived in.
"These are also to be handed over to you."
Doubt clouded Calgar's blocky, square-jawed features. Gene-seed? Relics? None of this made sense.
"May I?" Calgar asked, lifting one of the reliquaries and glancing at Logan.
"My brother, be my guest," Logan replied, a look of eager anticipation crossing his weathered face.
Calgar pressed down on the reliquary's seals and gave them a sharp twist. With a soft hiss of escaping pressure, the rectangular casing unfolded. Inside lay an Astartes helm of deep, solid red.
"This is...?"
In the corner of the case sat a plaque etched with High Gothic script. As Calgar read the words, his pupils constricted in shock.
"The Helm of Censure?!"
Recorded within that red helm were the entire pedagogical findings of Sergeant Thiel. His theories had once been branded borderline heretical by the Chapter, leading to his severe censure. Yet, when the Great Heresy erupted, his research into the optimal methods of combatting fellow Astartes, the 'Theoreticals and Practicals' of brother-on-brother warfare, had turned the tide for the Ultramarines and the Loyalist cause. It remained an unsurpassed tactical treasure.
Calgar spun around to his Victrix Guard. A Bladeguard Veteran immediately understood the unspoken command, turning and vanishing into the corridor at a dead run.
Logan remained unbothered. He knew exactly where the warrior was going: the Sanctum of Relics.
Calgar moved to the other six cases, unlocking them in rapid succession. As each lid opened, his expression shifted from confusion to sheer horror.
"The Soldier's Blade, the Sanctic Halo, the Standard of Macragge Inviolate, the Armour of Konor, the Vengeance of Ultramar, and the Tarentian Cloak?!"
Calgar could not remember the last time he had been so thoroughly rattled since his ascension to the Adeptus Astartes.
"By Guilliman... who has infiltrated the Macragge's Honour and plundered the primary reliquary? Logan, tell me! Where did you truly find these?"
These Chapter relics were supposed to be under eternal vigil within the stasis-vaults of his own flagship. Logan watched Calgar's twisted expression and let out a booming laugh.
"Hahahaha! My brother, whatever happens, do not lose your footing. Do not let go of your celebrated composure."
"Are you mocking me?" Calgar snapped, his irritation rising as Logan doubled over with mirth at his expense.
Logan realized he might be pushing his luck. He reached out and clapped a heavy hand on Calgar's shoulder.
"By the Emperor, I'm not mocking you. I'm merely warning you to keep your wits about you. There's a bigger surprise coming."
The Bladeguard Veteran who had departed earlier skidded back into the hangar. Upon seeing the array of relics laid out on the floor, he nearly tripped over his own feet in shock. Calgar hoisted him up by his gorget.
"Don't tell me the Sanctum of Relics has been picked clean!"
The Veteran stammered, looking between his master and the deployed reliquaries in a daze. "My Lord... every relic in the Sanctum is accounted for. Nothing is missing."
Calgar pushed him aside in a fury, pointing at the items in the crates. "Then explain to me what these are!"
Utterly bewildered, the Veteran leaned in for a closer inspection. "My Lord... they are our relics."
"And yet you tell me the Sanctum is full?!"
Logan grabbed the fuming Calgar and hauled him into the privacy of the Thunderhawk's cargo bay, away from prying eyes. There, he revealed the truth behind the duplicate ship and its contents. Outside, the gathered Ultramarines could hear muffled bursts of Calgar's incredulous shouting.
Finally, Calgar emerged from the Thunderhawk, looking profoundly dazed. He turned to his Victrix Guard.
"Take these items to the Sanctum of Relics. Have the rest of the men secure that gene-seed. I want the Apothecarion to verify every single tithe-canister immediately."
Logan strode alongside Calgar, pausing to bark an order back to the rest of the Wolves. "Once you've offloaded the cargo, return to the Wrath of Fenris!"
Logan then followed Calgar and the Victrix Guard deep into the fortress-monastery. When they reached the Sanctum, Calgar rubbed his eyes repeatedly, convinced he was hallucinating.
"By the Throne... it is all real."
Every primary relic of the Chapter now existed in duplicate. One set sat in the transport cases; the other remained humming behind the stasis-fields of the vault. Calgar curiously picked up both Sanctic Halos, comparing them inch by inch. Even the battle-scars and microscopic scratches were identical. Upon activation, both projected a flawless conversion field.
"Well, Calgar? Do you believe me now?"
Calgar nodded numbly. Seeing the confirmation, Logan rubbed his chin.
"So, it's true then? The Macragge's Honour really did have nearly five thousand units of gene-seed in its reserves?"
"Hmm? What was that?" Calgar asked, still preoccupied.
Logan simply patted his shoulder and turned to leave with a flourish of his wolf-pelt cloak.
"Nothing. I'm taking the pack to hunt some traitors. The wolves are hungry for fresh trophies."
"May the courage of Russ and the Emperor's light go with you," Calgar managed to call out as Logan departed.
Then, a daring, perhaps even reckless, thought began to take root in the Chapter Master's mind.
"The Soldier's Blade paired with the Sanctic Halo, worn with the Armour of Konor and the Vengeance of Ultramar... oh, and the Tarentian Cloak. Perhaps having the relics in duplicate isn't such a bad thing after all."
"My Lord, did you say something?" a Victrix Guard asked with feigned curiosity. Internally, the guard was in full agreement. Perhaps if the Chapter Master wore two sets of relics, he might finally stop getting so catastrophically injured in every major engagement.