Captain Leal sat in his designated seat, his squad members taking formation behind and beside him. The space marines stood perfectly still in their massive power suits, silent, like intimidating grey statues as voices bounced around the open chamber. The red light from Leal's optics flickered ever so subtly from the slits in his helmet as he listened to what was said. In response to the Captain of the Black Dragons, Lattore gave an acknowledging nod. Any battle brother, especially a captain of another chapter was due immediate respect when speaking, but a more fulfilling response was yet to be given. 

As soon as the declared new emperor opened the floor, a banter began. Although communication was desparately needed to unify the broken shards of the Imperium, Lattore questioned whether or not it was the wisest move their prospective leader could have made at this meeting to begin with unstructured verbal free for all. It wasn't long before Enyo's declaration of distrust left a broken window of akward silence, and Leal saw the need to stand up and take the reigns of this spiraling chaos. 

The captain rose and stepped forward, the action itself a request for the floor. The very sight of a space marine struck a nostalgic chord with any human present, strangely moving them to silence. The Adeptus Astartes had never been officially involved in government, and for good reason, yet it was they who had come to its' rescue more than once in the past when tyranny had claimed it and driven it wayward from the Emperor's will. Space marines were designed for war, but they were also superhuman, and designed to be good at everything, even if that meant serving as part of a council. 

At last, Leal spoke, "Citizens of the Imperium, Lord Astamov, gathered allies. Be warned, I will speak plainly. I see here amongst this council a desperate cry for order. Our new imperium has no chance of launching a successful expansion crusade if we do not first establish order amongst ourselves. Lord Gregori Astamov, I must begin with you. There is much debate over whether or not you embody any essence of the Emperor. Yet, your devotion, intelligence, and aptitude for leadership are undeniably necessary for reunification under a single banner, that of the Imperium of Man. Your bravery and determination are an inspiration worthy of recognition and perhaps loyalty. But I cannot call you my emperor. No mortal man is capable of the tasks which He alone had done for us. He is deeply mourned by us all, and his title can never be shared. 

Even though the true Emperor may never return, we yet remain, and we, as humans, are his legacy. It was been said in the Tome of Truths Foretold that "Without the Emperor there is nothing and we would have no purpose," but I say no to this, for the Emperor himself had a duty. We must fight and die for him, yes, butfight and die for what HE fought for. ... It was for us. And as long as we remember that, The Emperor did not fail his species. ...But I digress. 

I propose that we call you Highlord Astamov, and that you appoint a new Senatorum Imperialis. A single man is too easy a target for the forces of chaos to influence, but a council is far more resistant. We must avoid another Goge Vandire or any wayward self-proclaimed emperor seizing power and driving the Imperium into collapse. In this room we have representatives of the Imperial Guard, Inquisition, and the Ecclisiarchy. Let us establish our roles. As for the Adeptus Astartes, our duty is to serve mankind, not to rule it. Thus, and I believe I speak for Captain Tyro as well when I say, we will continue to follow the Codex Astartes and look to the lord Commander Militant of the Imperial Guard and any 'Lord Solar' he should appoint for the duration of any crusade in this new Imperium. That is as it was and should continue to be. I expect that any and all other human systems or fleets we encounter are to be unified under our common flag and incorporated peacefully if at all possible. Thus shall we grow. 

"Captain Tyro." Leal could feel the concern burning within his comrad and other kin in the room. The depth of his voice belied the burden he was so tired of carrying. "I too share your concerns about the dangers of the warp. Not a moment passes that I nor any of my chapter may waiver in our vigilance against these relics. It is for this reason, as it is for all of us, that I feel we are in such need of the services of the Inquisition. I implore Highlord Astamov to continue it, as it was in the time before the emperor's passing. We Relictors will submit to psychic screening and any tests of our purity of heart as deemed necessary. However, I would like the opportunity to argue the case for the weapons we Relictors have used in battle. They are tools for the Imperium, yet each one is capable of turning the tide of a battle in an instant. Their value must be taken into consideration." Leal stopped himself. It was a battle for a later time. "Forgive me." 

Leal hadn't really addressed the xenos in the room, since his focus was strictly on human affairs. As far as Astartes chapters, the Relictors were primarily focused on fighting warp entities and daemon. Perhaps the new Highlord would relegate relations with outsiders to an ordo of the Inquisition or to another government branch entirely. Either way, Leal was hoping to soon get back to glorious battle to promote the late Emperor's vision for mankind. 

"We Relictors above all else understand our duty, and it has not changed. I ask each of you, do you know yours?" Leal let that thought sink in and bring focus as he awaited a response from Gregori.