Malcador the Sigillite - Malcador, First Lord of Terra: As the Great Crusade drew to a close in the early 31st Millennium, the Imperium had achieved its greatest victory yet during the Ullanor Crusade against a massive Ork empire. After Ullanor was restored to Imperial rule, the Emperor held a great triumph to recognise this high point of the Crusade and to honour all the warriors of the Imperium, mortal and Astartes alike, for their valour.The glory of this triumphant spectacle as so many of the Imperium's scattered military forces gathered in one place for the first time in centuries was to remain in the mind of every Astartes as the climax of the great endeavour they were engaged upon. It would prove to be a bright memory to recall in the dark days of the Horus Heresy after Astartes had turned against Astartes and Primarch against Primarch.During this triumph the Emperor proclaimed that His most beloved son Horus was to be the Imperial Warmaster and the new supreme commander of the Great Crusade's military forces while He announced His own intention to return to Terra to pursue a secret project intended to benefit all Mankind.After the Emperor's declaration, he returned to Terra and the Imperial Palace. The Emperor had much work to do, the exact nature of which He was unwilling to discuss with Horus, the Primarchs or any of his other generals. He drew to him certain advisors, chief among them Malcador the Sigillite and the Fabricator-General of Mars, and issued them new commands.The Emperor also convened the first Council of Terra. Unlike the War Council overseeing the Great Crusade, of which Horus was now the leader as Warmaster, the Council of Terra would attend to the matters of state and the establishment and maintenance of Imperial law across the myriad worlds of the Imperium. In particular, the Council of Terra was to administer the Imperial Tithe. Under its auspices would fall all the civil government of the Imperium.Malcador, the Emperor's most trusted advisor, was named as the First Lord of the Council and would lead it in the Emperor's absence as the Regent of Terra. The Fabricator-General, Chief Custodian of the Legio Custodes Constantin Valdor and the leaders of the astropaths and administrative divisions of the Imperium were appointed to the Council as well. Having established the new governing body of the Imperium, the Emperor then retreated to His private subterranean vaults beneath the Palace to initiate His new secret project. But while the Emperor was locked away in His subterranean factories, political dissension began to foment.In the meantime Horus had set about his new duties with relish. But secretly the Warmaster was dismayed that the Emperor would no longer be fighting at the side of his Astartes. The Primarchs were also appalled at the news of the formation of the Council of Terra.The Emperor's staunchest followers felt they had been let down by their father. They were insulted that they had not been consulted on the formation of this new ruling body and that they had not been offered seats on the new council. Some of the more egotistical Primarchs were outraged. They felt that the Emperor had turned His back on them and given power to petty mortal administrators and the sycophantic Tech-adepts of Mars.