The Ultramarines' Five Hundred Worlds are the brightest jewels of the Imperium, known for their order, prosperity, and high living standards. Even during the Horus Heresy, when loyalist forces were scattered across the galaxy, Roboute Guilliman envisioned using these worlds as a stronghold against Chaos. He, alongside Lion El'Jonson of the Dark Angels and Sanguinius of the Blood Angels, nearly established a Second Empire. However, before their plans could take shape, they learned that the Emperor was still alive. The idea was abandoned, and records of this endeavor were sealed away.
Nevertheless, this event underscored the immense potential of the Five Hundred Worlds. It was a testament to Guilliman's confidence—a realm that could not afford to fall.
A Fractured Imperium
With Guilliman's return, some loyal planetary governors and rogue traders have traveled to Macragge to pledge their support. Others, however, are either paralyzed by crises or unwilling to acknowledge the authority of a long-lost Primarch.
For many, the Emperor and the Primarchs have become mere legends. The Imperium has changed drastically over ten millennia. The once-loathed Ecclesiarchy now sits at the pinnacle of power, the Adeptus Mechanicus has become increasingly dogmatic, and the High Lords of Terra have grown entrenched and inefficient.
The Fall of Cadia further exposed the Imperium's vulnerabilities—its bloated bureaucracy, fractured governance, and parasitic aristocracy. Countless factions have burrowed deep into the Imperium, exploiting it for personal gain, caring little for its survival.
Many planetary governors and nobles have ruled their domains for centuries, growing arrogant and possessive of their power. They see Guilliman's return as a threat—a challenge to the authority they believe is rightfully theirs. They hesitate to obey, fearing that his reforms will strip them of wealth and influence.
Yet, Guilliman does not have the luxury of patience. He must first consolidate his support among those still loyal before tackling the Imperium's deeper rot.
Rebuilding the Foundations
His first priority is to transform the Five Hundred Worlds into an unshakable stronghold—a model for the rest of the Imperium. To do this, he must:
Restructure the population to enable efficient recruitment and training.
Revamp the economic system to maximize productivity and ensure that resources flow into military and industrial development.
Streamline the bloated bureaucracy by reducing corrupt and inefficient noble influence.
Reform education to foster an independent research structure free from Mechanicus control.
Enhance military preparedness to support his coming crusade against Chaos and xenos threats.
While the Adeptus Mechanicus remains a key ally, Guilliman knows he cannot rely solely on them. Their devotion to the Machine God makes them unpredictable—should the Emperor return and declare Guilliman a traitor, many within the Mechanicus would undoubtedly side against him.
Thus, he must establish his own scientific institutions, ensuring that human knowledge is preserved, studied, and advanced outside the constraints of Mechanicus dogma.
The Limits of Power
Despite being a Primarch—genetically engineered to be superior in mind, body, and leadership—Guilliman is not omniscient. The sheer scale of the Imperium makes absolute control impossible.
Warp travel and astropathic communication are unreliable, limiting centralized command.
Artificial intelligence—a potential solution—poses a greater threat in this universe than it did in his original timeline. The daemons of Chaos can corrupt machine spirits, turning entire armies against humanity.
For these reasons, the Imperium's decentralized governance is a necessary evil—each world must retain a degree of autonomy under its planetary governor.
The Role of Rogue Traders
Among Guilliman's most important allies are the Rogue Traders—dynastic merchants and explorers granted the right to navigate beyond Imperial borders, engage in xenos trade, and expand humanity's reach.
Since the Great Crusade, they have played a pivotal role in the Imperium's economy and exploration. Some Rogue Trader houses control vast networks spanning entire sectors, accumulating tremendous influence and unimaginable wealth.
Their importance cannot be overstated:
They salvage lost technology and shipwrecks.
They explore uncharted space, seeking relics of the Dark Age of Technology.
They engage in trade even in xenos territories, ensuring a steady influx of resources.
They provide the Imperium with significant tax revenues, supporting the vast bureaucracy and military forces.
The Imperial Navy may enforce the Emperor's will, but the Rogue Traders operate where even the Navy dares not go.
If Guilliman hopes to fund his reforms, he must secure their cooperation.
A Call for Change
Seated in a grand hall, Guilliman faces a gathering of planetary governors and Rogue Traders, all dressed in opulent garments—symbols of their power and status.
Their pledges of loyalty leave him unmoved. Words are cheap. What he requires is action.
Rapping his fingers against the table's polished surface, he speaks with measured authority:
"I need a parliament—a council that will aid in implementing policy and reform. Who among you is willing to serve me?"
He scans the room, his ice-blue gaze assessing the uncertain expressions of those before him.
This new council will be the mechanism through which he will reshape the Five Hundred Worlds. Every planet must undergo systematic transformation—no longer left to decay under the misrule of self-serving aristocrats.
This will make him enemies. The High Lords of Terra, the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Imperial nobility, and merchant guilds will all oppose him—his reforms threaten centuries of entrenched privilege.
But inaction is not an option.
"The powers of Chaos are ascendant," Guilliman continues, his voice edged with grim resolve. "The Imperium has been torn apart by the Great Rift. Nearly half of our territories languish in darkness, unprotected and ravaged by daemons and xenos."
"You have all witnessed firsthand the state of the High Lords of Terra—corrupt, indecisive, and blind to the Imperium's suffering. You know how stagnant and archaic the Adeptus Mechanicus has become."
"If we do not act now, if we do not change, the dream of the Emperor will die with us—and humanity will perish."
Silence hangs heavy over the chamber. Many of the governors and traders shift uneasily, glancing at one another, weighing their options.
Some are skeptical. Others fear reprisal. But among them, a few see the truth in Guilliman's words.
Their decision will shape the fate of the Five Hundred Worlds—and perhaps, the Imperium itself.
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