Open Secrets

Lord General Spiro did not appreciate his place at the strategium. As the highest ranking Army officer, it was his right and honour to have a place of equal importance. At the moment, however, he couldn't help but feel like he was caught in the middle of an envelopment.

To his right was Lord Aato Vayrynen. The blond giant was waving an emphatic hand as he gestured at the hololithic display at the centre of the strategium. To Spiro's left, Lord Morrigar's scarred face remained impassive above folded arms. The argument had been going on for the last ten minutes.

The hologram detailed their enemy. An Ork WAAAGH! had coalesced a few decades after Warboss Krunk-Klaw had beaten the Orks of Gamma-Sugma IV into submission. Now the system warlord was threatening seventeen recently compliance worlds. The WAAAGH! occupied a unique threat level. It was weak enough not to require the Emperor's personal attention, but did require two of his sons to engage. While Morrigar's presence had been given since the Riven had secured a majority of these worlds, the reinforcement of the Sky Reavers had been due more to happenstance than anything else. Lord Vayrynen had been on his way to a new front when rerouted to this campaign.

The silver-haired general cursed his luck.

"-flanking assaults will deny the xenos the battles they seek and will wear down their morale!" Lord Vayrynen declared, the second time he had made this point.

Lord Morrigar shook his head. "These embellished manoeuvres will allow the Orks to push through and sack the new worlds under our care."

"My fleet elements won't give them the chance. Even if a few Ork transports slip through, the damage they will cause will be negligible or will waste more of their strength on pointless destruction. In either case, either they waste their material strength or their morale strength. We profit."

The real problem, General Spiro thought, was that the two Primarchs were equal in command.

There was a technical hierarchy among the Emperor's sons. One had to be careful not to speak of it aloud, but it was an open secret among the Great Crusade's high command that the Primarchs had an unofficial system based on how long they had fought in the Great Crusade, the number of Compliances they had, and, worst of all, how 'favoured' they were by the Emperor.

Here, Morrigar was twelve years senior to Vayrynen, but Vayrynen had achieved more Compliances. Neither were considered to be high in the Emperor's favour. A complete deadlock in prestige and power.

Vayrynen threw his arms out wide as he launched into his next tirade. Spiro did not if he was capable of standing still. "It's not as if you care about potential collateral damage. I've reviewed your campaigns. You'll use any tactic to achieve victory."

"As I should," Morrigar growled. "I have achieved victory in this sector, and I will not let a younger, reckless brother to waste that victory because he does not understand the necessity of security cordons."

The lord general hid a wince. He knew what Morrigar's real objection was. He would not allow the Riven's reputation to suffer a single slight to their accomplishments. The method of accomplishments didn't matter to them, but they were adamant on securing a lasting victory among the worlds they sowed Compliance. It didn't help that the Riven were often considered an afterthought compared to the more prestigious legions. Their method was both thorough and ugly. They did not generate heroes or the fanfare other legions did, and moved slower than the rest. The Sky Reavers were proof of that as their string of victories had earned them not a small amount of propagandic praise.

The scarred giant continued. "Given the inexperience of you and your legion, the Reavers will focus on air su-"

"Inexperience!" Vayrynen raged. "My Reavers have more victories to their name than your Riven."

"And how many rebellions have sprung in their wake?"

*Fortune favours the bold.* The lord general stiffened his spine and anchored his stance. "My lords?"

Both Primarchs whirled their ire towards him. Spiro could recall early in his career how a shell had landed a scant two hundred metres from him, and how the concussive force had flattened his temporary battlefield shelter, nearly killing him.

That had been less intense than the sheer force crashing into him now.

He channelled the full authority and dignity of a command earned over a hundred battles as he gritted out, "I have a suggestion to resolve this impasse."

"Let's hear it," Aato called out, noticeably cooling his temper. Spiro was annoyed that the relief was palpable. Morrigar said nothing but waited patiently, though it was less brooding now and more sombre. That too eased the tension billowing against the veteran officer.

"Perhaps it would be in the best interests to allow each of you to exploit your advantages in different fields, my lords. We can divide the planet in two, and allow both of you to... have an opportunity to test the efficacy of your respective strategies."

A pause lingered after the short suggestion. Spiro wondered if he had come too close to voicing the obvious rivalry. As much as it was an open secret among the martial aristocracy of the Great Crusade, few generals and admirals would dare to voice the obvious. It made one a target for the Primarchs, and it was easier to pretend all was well with the Great Crusade if Army command never acknowledged the raucous.

"Dividing our forces is dangerous," Morrigar countered. His voice was soft, however. It was a tone of reflection, not challenge.

"It would also divide the Orks' attention," Aato pointed out. "And, if the campaign boundaries are set, you won't have to worry about your precious reputation being besmirched by fleeing Orks running into your Compliance zones."

Spiro held his breath.

After a long moment, Morrigar nodded. "A necessary price for an important lesson."