Editing The Tales of the Emperasque: Part Ten (section)

==Terra orbit, aboard the Neverending==
At nearly the same moment, high above, the Neverending was entering its orbital slot. The first thing Guilliman did when he saw the anarchy on the hives below was page the Palace, asking to speak to the Emperor at once.

“The Emperor is in conference with the Senate of the High Lords, Lord Guilliman, but we can get you patched through to the Hall of the Throne. One moment,” the dispatcher said. A moment later, the line clicked, and a holographic image of the Custodes appeared.

“Yes?” a voice asked. Apparently the line didn’t have visual. “This is Commodore Rodes. To whom am I speaking?”

“This is Lord Guilliman of the Ultramarines, and I’m trying to get ahold of the Emperor. It’s somewhat urgent,” Guilliman said, his voice clearly betraying his irritation.

“Ah, of course, Lord Guilliman, the Emperor told us to expect you. He says to bring all of the ground units you may have left to Hive Lucresti as fast as possible, the situation may not be contained much longer without immediate reinforcement.”

“What situation?” Guilliman asked, his temper flaring. “We just got here.”

“Riots, Lord Guilliman, massive riots that are burning entire hives to cinders. Small armies of PDF and Arbites have already been lost,” Romes said gravely. “Worse, some of the rioters are suspected to bear the taint of Chaos.”

Guilliman was shocked. He shot a look over his shoulder at Corax, who seemed equally floored. “How is that even possible? What’s happened here?”

“At first, the people seemed to be merely upset that something like what happened to the Emperor could actually have occurred, my Lord, but now it looks like there’s some sort of sorcerous conspiracy brewing in a few of the wealthier hives.” A loud noise interrupted the Commodore’s voice for a few seconds. “The Emperor asks that you land your ground units at the site he has specified immediately, Lord Guilliman. I’ll be happy to explain further, but the PDF, Sororitas, and Arbites forces down there need assistance desperately.”

Guilliman closed his eyes and inhaled heavily, then sighed shortly. “Very well. We will dispatch our ground units to the location you specify.” The board in front of him lit up with the coordinates the Emperor desired, and Guilliman gestured to the Neverending’s Captain. The man nodded and began paging the loaders and dropship crews. Guilliman returned his attention to the vox. “Commodore, please inform the Emperor that we are on the way.”