Just a dozen days earlier, Rhodes had already detected movements from the Chaos fleets: a massive Plague Fleet under Typhus's command had swept grandly into Ultramar.
Truly ill-fated! The Ultramar 500 Worlds were invaded during the First Tyranid War, and afterward were frequently harried by Orks.
No sooner had Guilliman awakened than Abaddon sent a Chaos fleet to raid Macragge—Guilliman's domain really is beset by misfortune!
"You're saying Macragge is under attack by a Chaos fleet? Rhodes, you're not joking? I've seen nothing here—Calgar hasn't reported anything either." Guilliman asked, shocked and alarmed.
"I've no reason to lie. Calgar definitely wouldn't have reported it yet because the Plague Fleet hasn't reached Macragge proper—they've just entered the periphery. By the time he gets the news and notifies you, some time will have passed," Rhodes said.
The Imperium's standard communications can't match the speed of Rhodes's transmission methods, and the Imperium's monitoring systems are nowhere near as fast. To counter the Plague War, Rhodes had Tartarus on constant overwatch.
Thus, Rhodes knew the Chaos fleets' every move like the back of his hand. Tartarus's twin eyes could survey the entire galaxy with little trouble—such is the overbearing nature of an ultimate lifeform.
If the Absolute Kingdom existed, Tartarus's eyes could even observe events across countless parallel universes.
"Rhodes! I can't leave Holy Terra right now. Please help me deal with this incident," Guilliman said.
Even if he departed Terra for Macragge immediately, it would take months; by then, the war would already be underway.
And on Terra, he had to manage the Imperium's myriad affairs; as Lord Regent, his workload was immense.
So with his own realm under attack, Rhodes was the fastest possible reinforcement. Their domains were practically adjacent, and Rhodes's territory could even dispatch troops.
"Now that Chancellor Malcador has been resurrected, have him handle some of the work," Rhodes said.
Reviving Malcador greatly eased Guilliman's burden. The old man was a political talent; managing Imperial domestic affairs, he was little inferior to Guilliman—perhaps even more seasoned.
He had over 6,000 years of lived experience, whereas Guilliman, though over 10,000 years old, had actually been awake less than a thousand years—indeed, not even 500.
"Chancellor Malcador has to handle many internal matters, and I have much to do as well. Magnus is involved too. Now that the Senatorum Imperialis is dissolved, all Imperial affairs, large and small, rest on us.
You have no idea how massive this workload is, Rhodes—this is an interstellar empire with over a million Imperial worlds, each with issues that require our attention," Guilliman said.
Honestly, he sometimes envied brothers who could fight at the front: he envied Sanguinius, Vulkan and Lion El'Jonson.
Those brothers could wage war abroad, commanding a fleet—their workload was far lighter than his.
Hearing this, Rhodes rolled his eyes. In the original timeline, Guilliman launched the Indomitus Crusade, doing everything personally—was it because he didn't want to stay on Terra buried under mountains of paperwork?
"I understand. I'll go relieve your worlds. Also use astropathic messages to inform your gene-son Calgar and have him prepare the defenses," Rhodes said.
"Thank you, Rhodes. How are things on your side? Besides the Chaos forces heading for Macragge, are there other large Chaos armies?" Guilliman asked.
As long as Rhodes was willing to act, his domain would be fine. Even if the Daemon Primarch Mortarion came, he would die without a doubt.
"Two Chaos fleets have sallied from the Eye of Terror toward the Imperium—one toward your home, one toward the First Fleet of the Indomitus Crusade, which is mine.
Aside from that, no other large Chaos fleets detected, but many small flotillas are striking other Imperial worlds.
I've already detached forces from the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Crusade Fleets to suppress these Chaos squadrons," Rhodes said.
"What! Rhodes, who commands the main Chaos fleet attacking you?" Guilliman asked.
He had thought only his Ultramar 500 Worlds were under attack; he hadn't expected Rhodes's Indomitus First Fleet to be struck as well!
If so, Rhodes couldn't be spared to reinforce Macragge—this would likely require Sanguinius, or Vulkan, or Rogal Dorn.
"Mortarion is attacking me, leading a Plague Fleet. A small fry; I can handle him—don't worry," Rhodes said nonchalantly.
His bait-and-switch plan had worked; Chaos now believed that the ones with the First Crusade Fleet were the true bodies of himself and Elena.
"Don't take it lightly, Rhodes. In the last assault, Chaos likely gained gigantification abilities. If Mortarion has them too…
Then be careful. If necessary, you don't need to reinforce Macragge. I'll notify Sanguinius or Rogal Dorn to make the trip," Guilliman said.
"No need. Leave it to me. Have them lead the remaining fleets to continue the Crusade," Rhodes said.
These two Chaos fleets meant heaps of system coins—he couldn't waste them. Rhodes intended to annihilate both main fleets.
Over with First Fleet, Barbarue and Zarab playing the roles of himself and Elena could handle one Mortarion with little trouble.
If they couldn't hold, he could remotely dispatch the Angel Zog for support.
In this Plague War, Nurgle wouldn't be the only one moving—other Chaos powers were itching as well.
First, Rhodes was certain Khorne would act. With Sanguinius resurrected, Khorne's obsession with the Great Angel rivaled the Aeldari god Khaine's—
Perhaps even surpassed it. The Blood Angels as a whole were Khorne's favored target. Sanguinius could handle his side; if he couldn't, the Great Angel would naturally request aid.
Then have Rogal Dorn stealthily join him—two Primarchs together. Since Khorne cannot enter realspace, his Greater Daemons, Daemon Princes, and chosen champions wouldn't be able to take Baal.
As for Tzeentch, Rhodes couldn't guess his schemes!
Magnus had returned to the Imperium, and he had been well and truly played by the Emperor and Rhodes. With his vengeful nature, he would not let it go.
"Do you plan to split from Elena? If so, I'll depart now for Macragge," Guilliman said.
This war's burden couldn't be placed entirely on Rhodes; the Primarchs weren't freeloaders.
"Don't worry. Sit tight on Terra. I'll split my forces—leave it to me. Those two Plague Fleets are mine. If I spot other Chaos fleets, I'll notify you immediately." Rhodes cut the link.
After ending the call with Rhodes, Guilliman sighed, then immediately entered the noosphere and contacted his Chapter's Chief Librarian Tigurius, informing him that a Plague Fleet was about to assault Macragge.
"Rest assured, great gene-father—we will prepare at once. We already have several Dreadnoughts capable of gigantification, and with Calgar now able to enlarge as well, even if a fallen Primarch arrives, we have confidence to defeat him," Tigurius pledged.
"Do not grow complacent. Last time, a single Khornate chosen left Calgar unable to care for himself. It's now certain Chaos has mastered gigantification.
I've already notified Rhodes—he'll reinforce you," Guilliman said.
"I understand, gene-father. Hold firm on Holy Terra—we will defend Macragge with our lives."
Guilliman nodded and ended the call with his gene-son. Sanguinius was likely to be targeted by Khorne, so the only ones who could be spared were Vulkan and Rogal Dorn.
He did not intend for Rhodes to shoulder the entire burden alone.
Rogal Dorn was on Crusade and didn't get along with him, and Guilliman didn't want to ask him. That left the Lord of Fire.
Given Vulkan's character, once he knew, he would not hesitate to lead his Chapter to the rescue.
And indeed, as Guilliman expected, upon receiving his call for aid,
Vulkan agreed without a second thought, pounding his chest and promising that as long as he lived, Macragge would not fall.
So long as even one of his sons lived, the citizens of Macragge would not suffer the depredations of Chaos.
The Salamanders' Third Fleet, under Vulkan's command, swung about and set course for Macragge.
After ending the call with Guilliman, Rhodes began strategic deployments for the two fronts.