Calgar had more faith than ever in his primarch. To see him living and breathing among them brought a sense of wonder he had never thought to experience as a Space Marine. It had, to some extent, reinvigorated the sense of his own humanity.

But the actions of some people in the face of the primarch’s return meant he had less faith than ever in his fellow man. Humanity’s short-sightedness and selfishness disgusted him.

Guilliman stood, banishing Calgar’s train of thought.

‘My lords, my generals, my countrymen,’ said the primarch. ‘Fellow Imperial citizens, fellow warriors of many worlds, I bid you welcome to this conclave today, at the heart of Ultramar.’

Guilliman’s voice rang strong and clear off the stone of the hall. To every man and woman present in the assembly, it was as if he spoke to them personally. Guilliman commanded attention like no other could. His words invited no disagreement. He was forceful and strong, while appearing the epitome of reason.

Marneus Calgar was among the most powerful men in all the Imperium, and yet awe entered him as he imagined a time when eighteen of these beings had travelled the stars. Being in a room with more than one must have struck men dumb.

‘I have summoned you here to discuss the cleansing of Ultramar of my brother’s forces,’ the primarch said. ‘The Indomitus Crusade is done. As of now, a portion of the fleets that constituted it have returned here for a time. I have come to your aid. When I depart, this realm will be better defended, better organised and more resilient than it has been for many generations.’

Calgar felt the remarks were directed at him.

‘I am saddened that those worlds attacked or overrun within our sphere of influence remain without help while the war grinds on here, seemingly without resolution,’ Guilliman continued. He gave the assembly a grave stare. Each person there felt their failings exposed by his regard, and none more so than Marneus Calgar. Failure was a new sensation to him, but he was becoming intimate with it. Under the gaze of the primarch he realised that his failures stretched far into back time. The realisation robbed the glory from all his successes.

‘In the days of the Great Crusade, the worlds and realms associated with each Legion provided a solid base for their operations, and a link to the greater whole of the Imperium. Most were paragons to be aspired to by other worlds, models of good governance and a promise of the peace that would come to compliant worlds. Ultramar was the very best. It was rightly lauded the length and breadth of the galaxy for its fairness – a just place, where every citizen could live free of harm.’

Guilliman got up from his chair and unrolled a star map upon the table. He smoothed it gently with his armoured hands, and stared at it a moment.