Our fleet emerged at the outskirts of the Meridian system in a flare of purple light and exotic Warp radiation, and immediately I began observing the massive changes that had occurred since my last visit.

Entire constellations of space forts, extensive minefields, detection auguries and FTL communication arrays, three fortified moons and a decent sized space fleet of a couple Navy cruisers and hundreds of PDF corvettes guarded the Hive World, while the world itself had grown in population and industry at least ten times. Someone had been very industrious in the past century, to achieve these results in such a hostile galaxy.

There was also an Ambition_Class_Cruiser of the Vhane Trader Dynasty, being repaired in dock by a Mechanicus shipyard called Flying Angel.

The New_Dawn's prow was mangled pretty bad, possibly a result of a collision or more likely a daring ram.

However, my interest was currently focused on the Governor's spire, and the Governor herself, Elena Derosa. My lover hadn't aged well, and was undergoing rejuvenation by an Adept called Sanistasia_Minst, with Ludvaius and my daughter Octavia observing the operation from a glass cubicle.

Dozens of Biologis techpriests and their aides were helping as well, even taking care to maintain hospital-level quarantine and cleanliness, by wearing sterile gowns and gloves.

"Lord Ludvaius, there's a large fleet emerging from Warp, led by a Blackstone Fortress!" the micro-bead alerted the Blood Angel bodyguard, mere seconds after the auguries had time to register my fleet's presence.

The Veteran Astartes simply glanced in my direction, then smiled. "Stand down, that's the Black Lament of the Lamenters Chapter." he ordered in a satisfied tone, before closing his eyes. 'You have returned, Pef Lancefire?' he asked in is mind, certain I would respond.

'It took me a while, my friend. Nurgle was trying to keep me for himself.' I answered with a snort, then teleported beside him in the observation room.

"Dad?" a shy voice asked her eyes widened. A second later, Octavia jumped to hug me and started wailing and sobbing.

"It's okay Octavia, everything will be well." I whispered and patted her platinum hair. Octavia was at least a hundred years old as well, but she had my genes and took care of herself. Anyone else might look at her and give her at most 30 years of age.

"Mom, she delayed the treatment for too long... Always hoping you'd return to us one day." my daughter explained between sobs.

I sighed inward and glared for a second at Ludvaius, mentally scolding him for letting things go so wrong.

However, before he could reply a flare of light and a golden glow announced the arrival of a certain Angel in disguise.

The Primarch simply nodded towards Ludvaius, before looking down at the ongoing procedure of rejuvenation. "Governor Derosa is much too weak for rejuvenation. She will die in a decade anyway." he concluded in a dispassionate voice, making Octavia sob even harder.

Ludvaius blinked with his good eye, then shook his head. "Which one are you? Because I know you're not Sanguinius reborn. Dorn or Russ, maybe?" the Astartes wondered with a slightly astonished voice.

I sighed audibly and leaned over to pat him shoulder in support. "This is sealed, under my authority. Octavia, it's time to meet your other family on board my fortress." I explained before teleporting her among her Blank siblings on the Black Lament and ordering Captain Chyron to prepare a neural indoctrination chair for the new Blank.

If I was to leave Octavia as the next Governor of Meridian, she would need a stronger mind and more knowledge. And in a single week, my daughter would receive the same initial training as the Silent Sisters or the neophyte Lamenters gained via the training chairs. From weapons and tactics to history and biology, even knowledge of economics and basic technology or xeno races, plus extensive mental hardening and psychological repair, the Astartes Codex had it all.

Of course, Octavia was not an Astartes, so she wouldn't absorb everything with the same ease, but the neural training would be more than enough for ruling a single system and controlling herself as well.

"I can help that Adept and give the Governor a few more decades." Ferrus Manus proposed in a level voice.

I glanced down and measured the operating table while interfacing with the local Manifold to extract the relevant information. Not that I doubted this Angel, but he wasn't Sanguinius or Magnus, giants with Alpha plus psyker powers. His skills were more technical in nature, probably better than a Fabricator General in certain aspects. If I wanted Elena transformed into a combat cyborg, Ferrus Manus would be my first pick for the job.

"There's no need, Primarch. We'll take her with us and just ask Isha for healing." I decided after considering the options of a moment.

Due to her Warp domain over all life, the Eldar Goddess was possibly an even better biomancer than the Emperor himself, and she should be grateful once I managed to rescue her.

"You're placing a lot of hope on a xeno psyker, Pef Lancefire. And even if she does help, there are risks." Ferrus Manus answered in a gruff tone, possibly not very pleased with my rebuttal, or the trust I placed in a hated xeno god.

"I hope I'm invited as well, my lords. Keeping watch over a Hive World gets boring after a century." Ludvaius interjected in a hopeful tone.

There were subtle undercurrents in his voice, like unhappiness at being forgotten for so long, or having his efforts at managing the reconstruction of Meridian being hidden under the guise of a simple bodyguard with a big hammer.

Ludvaius had certainly played a bit part in the growth of this Hive World, copying my own methods in the Fringe and advising Elena on various policies and deals.

Unlike other Astartes, my old friend had been at my side for a century of civilization building at Illevar and Retribution as well as helping me repair technology or trade with the Mechanicus. His work was visible clearly to my better mind, and if I were to examine all that Elena did to strengthen Meridian, I was certain most of the ideas and results were his unrewarded effort.

So, I just nodded in acceptance. Ludvaius was mine, and that was it. Sanguinius could even ask the Emperor for the return of his son, but I knew what the reply would be. "He's doing my work."

"You did a great job here, Sergeant Ludvaius. I will need your service in the Fringe, for the next expansion phase. Meanwhile, tell me about this Elucia_Vhane and her personal medic." I said in a lighter voice.

"...Lady Vhane's a lot like you, Lord Pef. When you were younger and a bit too rash. Crazy courage, even to the point of ramming an Ork Kroozer for a desperate victory. Furthermore, she has a private voidborn regiment and even several techpriests in her crew. If she wasn't over 500 years old, I'd say she'd be a perfect wife for you." the Blood Angel explained with a snort, his timbre showing amusement and amazement.

I smiled at that, since an endorsement from Ludvaius was worth a planet or more.

"You could go and repair her cruiser, Lord Ferrus. We'll be here for at least a week." I said with a glance towards the golden armored Angel.

The dead Primarch measured me for a minute, then vanished in a flash of golden light.

"I would say Ferrus Manus is certainly dead, but miracles stopped impressing me after the Emperor returned. And I know you had a hand in that, Lord Pef." my old bodyguard muttered with a deep sigh.

Obviously, Ludvaius was mostly correct, but I doubted the Emperor wanted to story public. Especially the part about a certain Eldar death god providing aid in his return.

"I should not talk about the resurrection of the Emperor, my friend. Instead, I can show you what he gave me." I replied in a teasing voice, then opened my Null Box to reveal the signed Warrant and my new Rosette.

The Blood Angel examined the office badge and the scroll with a giant grin, then patted my shoulder in approval.

"And like always, you forget to mention your new stature. You're almost a real Astartes now!" Ludvaius quipped while measuring my new height and bulk. He was still head taller than me, but at least I wasn't a midget compared to him. Not anymore.

"That too. Ladies love it." I declared proudly, making Ludvaius laugh out loud.

"Only you, Lord Pef. So, we're going to see Isha next?" he wondered in a more restrained tone.

"Uhm. She's been captured by a Necron Lord during the assault on Nurgle, and the Emperor tasked me with her rescue. So I said yes, since a goddess might be useful." I explained with a cheerful smile.

Ludvaius snorted and then nodded. "I see. Like the old days, huh?"

"Well, it's going to be tricky. Anyways, let's go meet Lady Vhane first. I could use another Rogue Trader in my camp, and I need to reward her help with Elena. You can watch, if you want." I declared with smirk.

The Blood Angel sighed "I forgot about that part of the old days..."