Adam gazed at the planet shining brilliantly on the holographic tactical map.
Macragge. A world both desolate and beautiful. Its surface was dominated by magnificent, soaring mountain ranges, with the vast majority of its populace residing in the lower elevations at the foot of these peaks. Even so, it remained one of the most habitable worlds in the Imperium of Man.
Holy Terra? Forget it.
His thoughts drifted back to a short while ago.
After bidding farewell to Chapter Master Huron on Badab Primaris, the Custodes Adam left behind did more than just stabilize the traumatized planet. Under the guise of oversight, they facilitated a War Council backed by the Custodian Guard to begin coordinating the defense of the entire Maelstrom Zone. The battered Astral Claws Chapter finally had a chance to breathe.
Once he saw everything moving onto the right track and showing a rare sign of prosperity, Adam immediately summoned the Morning Wood. Carrying the core members of his team, they made a direct jump into the heart of the Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar.
Now, they had arrived.
The lighting on the bridge was soft, simulating the circadian rhythms of a terrestrial environment. Just then, steady footsteps approached from his side.
Clad in a crisp Inquisitorial trench coat, Sibyl stepped forward to stand beside Adam. Her deep gaze was likewise fixed on the magnificent planet, a look of solemnity lingering between her brows.
"Lord Adam," she spoke, her voice clear and calm. "We have transmitted several identification codes to the Ultramarines that carry high-level clearance within the Imperium. They have preliminarily stood down from combat alert and have officially invited us to a starport berth to meet with their Chapter Master."
"I see." Adam nodded, his expression peaceful. "As expected of the Ultramarines; they still maintain decent diplomatic etiquette. That's a good sign."
This was within his expectations, and it certainly saved a lot of potential trouble. Had it been any other First Founding Chapter—especially the Space Wolves or Dark Angels—Adam might have found things much harder to handle.
Sibyl remained silent for a moment before asking the question that had been circling her mind for some time: "You... have made the final decision to awaken Lord Guilliman, haven't you?"
There was no doubt in her tone, only a sense of near-unreal trance.
A Primarch.
In an Imperium that had grown increasingly decayed over ten thousand years, they were legends who belonged in epics and scriptures—the mythical sons of the Emperor. They were shrouded in layer upon layer of glory added by posterity, seemingly unreachable.
And now, a son of the Emperor would walk among them? Even for an Inquisitor, the impact was overwhelming.
"Furthermore, once you do this, you will be stepping completely out of the shadows and onto the front stage," Sibyl added, her concern deepening. "To the abominations in the Warp peeking into reality, and to the many factions within the shadows of the Imperium, you will become... unmistakable. Will this negatively affect your future 'ascension' plans?"
Hearing this, a faint smile played on Adam's lips.
"My reasons are actually quite sufficient," he explained. "First, I need a heavyweight individual combatant."
While Guilliman's dueling record among the Primarchs was often the subject of criticism, he was still a Primarch; his baseline power was undeniable. Since obtaining that "Contract" and sensing that the Dark Gods behind the veil had already reacted, Adam was no longer willing to passively wait for "fixed events" (like the War of the World Engine) to unfold.
"Second, the changes I've brought to the Imperium are already many, and they will only increase," Adam continued, refocusing his gaze on Macragge. "From Mars to the Maelstrom, and to all those Imperial worlds... this massive administrative burden is not something one person or a small group can properly organize and integrate. Lord Guilliman's expertise in governance, reconstruction, and institutional innovation is unparalleled, even among the Primarchs."
The Codex Astartes jokes aside, Guilliman's administrative and logistical capabilities were beyond reproach.
During this period, under the leadership of Archmagos Sapientia and with the cooperation of the Custodian Hexamiliad, "Eternity Gate" facilities had been secretly established on numerous key planets. Once this efficient wormhole transport system was officially activated, the military, economic, and political impact would be revolutionary.
Adam knew he couldn't manage a transformation of this scale and nature alone. It clearly required an Imperial Regent who possessed both supreme authority and practical wisdom to lead the project.
"As for your last question, perhaps there is no need for excessive worry." Adam looked at Sibyl and shook his head. "From another perspective, the successfully returned Primarch, Roboute Guilliman himself, will become the most dazzling focus in the entire galaxy."
"He will naturally attract the vast majority of malice and scrutiny from the Warp."
"Perhaps, he will instead become the most effective decoy, allowing me to continue advancing the necessary work."
After all, the secret of "ascending via reality-anchoring" was simply too absurd. Even the few who had witnessed Adam's growth didn't truly know where his limits lay.
Sibyl listened quietly, the doubt in her eyes gradually replaced by contemplation.
"I understand, Lord Adam." Finally, she gave a slight nod. "Then we shall proceed as planned to the Macragge starport."
As their conversation ended, the pure white hull of the Morning Wood glided through the void like a ghost, heading toward the magnificent starport suspended above the planet Macragge.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Within the command hub of the starport, Calgar was staring at the constantly refreshing data streams. His face was as hard as rock, but his eyes, fixed on the tactical holograms, were filled with a commander's characteristic prudence.
The unknown visitor, despite holding a dizzying array of high-level authorization codes from various key Imperial departments, was a complete enigma.
The augur scans from the Macragge starport were full of contradictions and anomalies. The characteristics of the ship's hull materials could not be categorized; the principles of the propulsion system were indecipherable; and the estimated structural strength was so high it made Calgar suspect the machine spirit was having a seizure. Its demonstrated maneuverability far exceeded any Imperial vessel of its class.
As a Chapter Master responsible for the safety of the Five Hundred Worlds, Calgar could not allow such a massive unknown variable to enter the core defense perimeter of Macragge without substantial vetting.
His response was swift and thorough. Through the vox channels, Calgar issued a strictly worded directive to the Morning Wood:
[Given the current circumstances, your party is requested to dispatch a delegation via shuttle to the designated area of the starport for preliminary contact, to state your intent, and to complete necessary identity verification procedures.]
[Until these steps are completed, the Morning Wood must remain at a safe distance.]
The intent behind this arrangement was simple. Allowing a small delegation to visit showed the Ultramarines' openness to contact, but more importantly, the risks were kept strictly under control.
As for whether the other party would use this contact to launch a boarding assault? Thinking of this, the corner of Calgar's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
If the enemy were truly so naive as to try a direct assault on the Ultramarines' home turf, it would undoubtedly be a very short battle. He would be more than happy to use his own Power Gauntlets to personally bring such stupidity to an end.
Developments seemed to align with Calgar's expectations. The other party clearly accepted the arrangement; a shuttle detached from the mothership and began its approach toward the starport's designated berth.