‘You, Lord Marneus Calgar,’ said Guilliman, looking to the Ultramarines Chapter Master, ‘will continue to rule the central worlds, with the exception of those in the systems of Konor, Veridia and Espandor, which shall fall under the remit of the first tetrarch. In this way, Ultramar will be divided into five parts.’

Guilliman’s support of him was sincere enough, but Calgar saw a scolding behind it.

At that moment, the emissary from Occluda spoke up. He was angered, both by his planet being passed over for the tetrarchy and because it should be reincorporated in the first place.

‘My lord, what do you mean, that many of the warriors will be Primaris Space Marines?’ he asked.

A glance from the primarch had him hurriedly sitting down.

‘My concerns that a single Chapter could not protect the Five Hundred worlds remain valid,’ said Guilliman. ‘I have therefore decided to station eight new Chapters of Space Marines – created recently at Raukos – within the bounds of Greater Ultramar. Along with the Ultramarines, and the Scythes of the Emperor, whose territories fall within the fourth tetra, there will be henceforth ten full Chapters to defend this realm.’

This provoked a noisy reaction. Guilliman ignored it, and carried on.

‘Work will be immediately undertaken to rebuild the Scythes of the Emperor with Primaris Space Marines. They will have responsibility for protection of what is currently the Sotharan League. Here, at Callimachus, we shall base the Avenging Sons Chapter, and at Howsbridge the Praetors of Ultramar shall have their home–’

The murmuring broke out into audible protests.

‘You would have your own Legion?’ said a female diplomat. ‘My lord, what is your intention?’

‘You say I have a Legion,’ said Guilliman, his tone dangerously low, ‘when I myself expressly forbid their formation or use?’

The woman had a choice to either sit down or to press forward. Bravely, she chose the latter. ‘Your nine divisions of the Unnumbered Sons were said to be a Legion.’

‘They were not,’ said Guilliman. ‘We deal with semantics. The Unnumbered Sons were organised into Chapters, as are the new defenders of Ultramar.’ He swept his steely gaze across the crowd again. ‘Listen to me. My intention is to save your lives, and the Imperium. Put aside your selfish concerns. Negate the disappointment I have felt in common humanity since awakening. Show me that my hopes for our species were not unfounded. Impress me with your wisdom.’

‘What about the Imperial governors?’ said another diplomat. ‘What will happen to those of worlds who take tetrarchs?’

‘Some of them are loyal,’ added another. ‘They willingly rejoined the Five Hundred Worlds, and now you will remove them and replace them with Adeptus Astartes?’

Chatter from among the human contingent in the room swelled in volume. The Space Marines remained silent.