Year 001.M31
Onboard the Astra Urbe, Flagship of the Imperial Star League
In orbit above Terra

The last of the reports had arrived. The Council of Nikea was officially over. Wolfram read through the documented and authorized events of the three days, everything he had access to from his position. And from Wolfram’s view, the Council had ultimately been a massive waste of time, resources, manpower, and energy. It’d left a Primarch crippled, an entire Legion under investigation, and failed to resolve anything on one of the most contentious topics plaguing the Imperium’s internal affairs. Just about the only decisions of any real significance were the order that all Legions of the Astartes were ordered to begin learning the practice of the infamous ‘Braining’ techniques used by the Stargazers, and the declaration of Daena of the Doomsayers as Warmaster. 

Her appointment was just about the only good thing to come out of the whole sordid affair as far was Wolfram was concerned, and this certainly plagued his mood as he marched through his vessel, the grim and sour expression borne on his face making it plainly clear to a passerby that the Primarch was in a state of utter dissatisfaction. Approaching the vessel’s chambers for meetings of the Imperial Star League’s general staff, Wolfram stopped to speak to one of the Astartes standing watch over the entryway.

“This meeting is not to be interrupted for any reason barring an attack on the Sol system itself, understood? If any couriers come bearing news of lesser import, send them to Captain Marko on the bridge. I’ll contact him afterwards to address anything.”

The marine acknowledged this order with a brief nod and affirmation. “Aye, Sir.” and Wolfram returned the gesture as he entered the chambers.

Already assembled were the four members who consisted of Wolfram’s general staff: General Germaine Varr, formerly the Legion Master of the ISL in their days before Wolfram’s discovery, leader of the legion’s ground forces. Admiral Bethar Andaris, leader of the legion’s space forces, a former member of the Parrisan Star Navy, and a man of fiery passion. General Ophiel Santar of the Imperial Army, head of the legion’s attached ground forces and a logistical mastermind. And lastly, Admiral Michael Kyrax of the Imperial Navy, leader of the legion’s attached space forces and an expert fleet strategist.

All four men offered the Primarch a stern salute as he entered, which he returned as he took his place at the meeting table. Punching in some information to a data-slate, Wolfram cleared his throat before speaking.

“Today’s meeting contains information designated as security level occultatum. No one outside this room is authorized to know the full details of what we discuss. If you’ll check your data-slates, you’ll find files containing the reports I’ve been authorized to access from the recent Imperial council, dubbed the Council of Nikea.”

Wolfram paused to give the men time to read over the summary of information provided to them. Generals Varr and Santar shared the occasional glance of stern frustration and concern, while Bethar nearly sent his fist through the table in rage were it not for a single hand place upon his massive shoulder by his counterpart Admiral Kyrax, with Bethar responding to the gesture with a nod and a forceful exhale.

“I can see you understand the grave nature of these reports. While not the worst possible outcome, it both further reinforces my concerns for the future safety of the Imperium, and justifies my decision to not attend the council, and instead focus on protecting and fortifying the Imperium as it stands today. Unfortunately, I fear that alone will not be enough, and that we need to work to anticipate brash action from those we have traditionally worked alongside.”

“I’ll begin by presenting these topics from the least-concerning to the most immediate issue, so that we can clear the matters of lesser importance from our minds as quickly as possible and devote our focus to where it needs to be the most. With that said, the first order of business. My sister Daena of the Doomsayers has been appointed as the Emperor’s Warmaster, designated to continue the conquests and campaigns of the Crusade as my father, the Emperor, returns here to Terra. If there are any of you who would object to this appointment, and would refuse to acknowledge orders from the Warmaster as though they were orders from the Emperor himself, speak up now.”

Not a single man spoke, their faces sharing the same look of solemn stoicism and formality. Wolfram dipped his head in acknowledgement before clearing that point from his data-slate and continuing.

“Next: The Edict of Tolerance. The original intended topic of discussion for the council. Ultimately, the Emperor’s final verdict resolved nothing. The Edict continues to stand as it has, with the exact same exceptions, limitations, requirements, and allowances. Those who denounced it before continue to do so, as do those who defended it or otherwise followed it as required. Now, there are not many Xeno auxiliaries within the Imperial Star League or our attached Imperial Army and Navy forces given our general distance from fronts involving Xeno first contact, and subsequent lack of recruitment from those worlds. Nonetheless, I feel it pertinent to request that we issue a formal announcement to remind the men and women in our service that the Edict remains law, and any antagonization or attack against Xeno soldiers or voidsmen within our forces will be met with charges ranging from misdemeanor insubordination to high treason depending on the severity of the act in question. If any of you would object, speak now.”

Once again, there was unanimous silence, and Wolfram simply carried on.

“Now, onto the matter of business of the so-called ‘braining’ procedure. For those who are unfamiliar with the term or cannot recall, it is a proposed alternative to the traditional practice of Astartes Dreadnaught internment practices by the Stargazers legion, preserving a dying marine in a similar method, but allowing them to act as an infantryman rather than a large assault walker. It has been decreed that all Legions are ordered to at least send their tech-marines to learn of the process. The ISL will be making full use of this procedure given the tactical advantages and suitability to our deployment tactics, something our forces’ dreadnaughts struggle to meet. However, all Astartes who are administered this procedure will be deployed in a dedicated force unit of their own, lead by one or more Tech-Marines. All Chapters of the ISL will operate ‘Undying Companies’ consisting of the Chapter’s Dreadnaughts, Brain-Astartes, and their Tech-Marine leaders. Germaine, Bethar, do either of you have any objections to this decision?”

Both men shook their heads, and Germaine offered a simple reply. “No, sir. I’ll issue the order as soon as we’re finished here.”

“Good. And that brings us to the first of the two most concerning parts of these reports, and the ones that must remain secret beyond these walls. My sister Eiohsa, leader of the Daughters of Iron and a close ally, has made a grave accusation against our brother Sarghaul and his legion, the Abyssal Lurkers. She claims that the Legion has been engaging in grotesque practices of anatomical modification and change upon not just Imperial Army personnel and members of their own legion, but also recovered casualties of other legions operating in the same theatres of battle. Her reported evidence included both her own observations upon infiltrating the Lurkers’ homeworld, as well as recovering a lost member of her legion who had been subjected to such horrors. In response, the Emperor has ordered the Abyssal Lurkers in their entirety to remain under guard on the world first contact with the Rangdan was made, and members of the Emperor’s Adeptus Custodes have been sent to their world to investigate these claims. Several of my siblings, whether out of camaraderie, hatred, or both have already made predisposed opinions of the verdict, and may react poorly if the outcome falls a certain way.”

Taking the chance to speak, Germaine interjected. “Sir, as unthinkable as it might sound, I don’t see either side backing down should the Adeptus Custodes findings lead to the Emperor ruling in their opponents’ favor. Animosity between legions is nearing a boiling over point, and I fear that this might just lead to that tension breaking. I’d like to formally submit that we once again begin running operational wargames for both War Plan Iron and War Plan Aqua.”

Silence overtook the room as Wolfram eyed Germaine before pondering this request, looking down in thought with a hand resting on his chin. All five men in the room were familiar with both operations mentioned, but had long ago shelved them in a rather naive hope they would remain unnecessary, and debate about their reinduction had been a focal point of staff meetings as tensions between the Legiones Astartes had risen. War Plan Iron was the operating name for strategic deployments and opening moves in a hypothetical Imperial military action against the Daughters of Iron, and War Plan Aqua was the same for the Abyssal Lurkers.

Both plans had been briefly created, alongside equivalents for the other Legions, upon their reunification with their primarch, and were studied until the reunification was deemed a success, and thus the plans were shelved. However, with the increasing risk of outright war between legions, there had been many an argument on reopening the plan files for preparation should the Emperor order action against one or more legions. Every time, the decision had been made that it was not yet time to believe such action would be necessary. Now, Wolfram was cursing himself for his naivety, feeling that it might already be too late to properly prepare for such scenarios.

After much internal debate, Wolfram looked up and delivered his decision. “Submission accepted, Germaine. Begin updating and running up-to-date revisions of War Plans Iron and Aqua. As well as Steel, Ostrum, Sapphire, and Bronze. I don’t trust them to behave should the verdict fall a certain way, and I intend to be as prepared as possible for any eventuality.”

“If there are no objections or further suggestions, that brings us to the last matter of attention. The battle between my siblings Augor and Eiohsa. Following the duel, I received correspondence that seems to contradict the official declaration of a ‘draw’ and it is clear that the battle has left Eiohsa in a far from ideal condition, to say the least. Given the origin point of this conflict, and the repeated antagonistic history between the two legions, as well as the DoI and the Machine Cult, I greatly fear this is the beginning of wider bursts of conflict, and given the size of both sides, this could spread as a wider security concern for the Imperium. As such, alongside those previously ordered to be activated, I’m authorizing the reactivation of War Plans Rust and Sand. In addition, Preservation Plan Alpha is now in full effect.”

This last line led to multiple shared looks and sideways glances between the general staff. Preservation Plan Alpha was the internal operation plan in the ISL for the prioritization of the defense of the Segmentum Solar, to the detriment of all else if necessary. It included contingencies for both external threats too grave to defeat in reactive engagements, as well as internal civil conflict. To all four men, the fact that their Primarch would order them to begin active preparation for such an eventuality showed just how dire he felt the situation truly was.

“I sincerely hope I’m being overly cautious in these decisions, and that my concerns prove unfounded. But I cannot take any chances and risk the safety of the heart of the Imperium on the assumption that those who have been at each other's throats for decades will suddenly decide that open conflict is a step too far. Once he has returned from the Council, I will be submitting what I’ve decided here to the Emperor, ideally in person, and hope that he will understand my concern and authorize some of the larger plans and organizational procedures I’ve been developing. Our next meeting will be convened after that. You are dismissed.”

Wolfram watched as the four others stood and offered salutes before departing from the chambers. A deep exhale left him as the door shut behind the last of them. Wolfram fell back in his chair and ran his hands over his face in exasperation. This entire ordeal was a greater drain on his mental and emotional psyche than anything else had ever been, and he genuinely feared for the safety and future of the Imperium.

A single fist thudded against the surface of the meeting table as Wolfram sat forward again. There were an insane number of potential dividing lines, factions, and possible points of first conflict in this scenario, and trying to prepare for all of them was going to run Wolfram and his forces ragged. There was no way about it, the moving parts were simply too complex to cover all at once. And not helping in the slightest was the seeming complete apathy from the Emperor. The man seemed almost completely oblivious to the signs that his most senior leaders were practically begging to rip each other to shreds at the first opportunity. Wolfram knew he and his father needed to have a long discussion about such issues, but he feared this would never happen. Discussion with the Emperor was rare, especially in private. And few were often given more than lip service to their concerns when granted such an opportunity. But nonetheless, Wolfram needed to try. The Imperium itself might depend on it.

And then there was the matter of Eiohsa. By what he had received, the fight had utterly shattered her. And as much as he was concerned for his sister’s well-being, his more immediate concern was that one of the largest and most divisive subfactions of the Imperium was now suffering from compromised leadership. The last thing Wolfram’s plans needed was a conflict of opportunism between Saravata and someone trying to take advantage of this nightmare. Ultimately there was not much he could do about such a situation in the current moment, so he set it aside for now.

What mattered at the first and foremost moment was preparing for the Emperor’s arrival from Nikea, congratulating Daena on her appointment as Warmaster, and reviewing and submitting recent after action reports, logistical orders, and other campaign procedures. These oncoming times would likely be the most important of his life, and Wolfram wanted his focus entirely on them as soon as possible. Departing from the meeting chambers and dismissing the guards on watch, he quickly returned to his quarters for a brief period of rest, readying himself for what was to come.