[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/oN268Zt.png[/img][/center]

Far enough to be clear of the frenzied ships in its orbit, the [i]Vengeful Spirit[/i] hung in a distant orbit from Coruscant like a grim spectre, waiting. The unyielding titan surveyed the goings-on below it, the frantic traffic of supply freighters, transports, and battle fleets. From his command throne on the [i]Vengeful Spirit[/i]'s bridge, Horus Lupercal watched the motion with agitation. Dozens of auspex readouts and holographic projections danced in front of him in glowing green and blue lumens, and he watched all of them attentively, not missing a single detail. Every detail worried him. This was a planet in chaos, and there was no one left holding its reigns. Horus made up his mind in such little time that it could not have even been called "immediate," it was instinctive. If no one was willing to step up and grab hold of this situation, he would.

Horus stood from his throne, and dozens of eyes from around the cathedral-like bridge snapped to look at him, awaiting his commands. Green-and-black armored Legionnaires at his sides snapped to full attention, but likewise would not move without his word. Horus himself was unarmored for the present moment, instead dressed like a warrior-king of ancient Terra, arrayed in furs and leathers, a mail shirt and a heavy, crimson cloak. The hundred-pound pelt of a coal-black Fenrisian thunderwolf was thrown over his shoulder as a trophy, its yellow glass eyes staring out furiously. It had replaced the snow-white Cthonian direwolf pelt that had previously sat there when his Legion had changed its name and its heraldry. Even out of the Serpent's Scales, Horus was a giant, and towered above even his power-armored Astartes guards.

"[color=9bc2b1][b]Open every wide-range vox channel we have.[/b][/color]" He commanded a nearby attendant. "[color=9bc2b1][b]Here is our message: 'This is [i]Vengeful Spirit[/i] requesting a secure communications link with headquarters command.'[/b][/color]" He sighed, a noise like the rumble of an earthquake. "[color=9bc2b1][b]We need to get our arms around this, quickly. This world may already be doomed.[/b][/color]"