>>96794938
Next Mal leaves the EC zone to visit the Death Guard zone. It is an entire zone of trenches with almost no elevated fortifications unlike all the other zones. Underneath the zone networks of tunnels have been dug by Mortation's command, just in case the loyalists virus bomb them. As Mal steps into a gun emplacement to survey the Urgall Depression Mortarion appears behind him and confronts him. Mal is shocked and has no idea what to expect but Mortarion blurts out that they are using the Davinites powers too much. Mal explains how they are necessary to enable secret communications and disrupt warp travel. Mortarion tells Mal that he won't allow Horus to become a tyrant, and he tells Mal to reject the Davinites and remove them. Mortarion sees Mal as the string puller responsible for them in Horus' shadow. He threatens Mal that there is nothing he won't do if Mal continues to use them. When Mortarion leaves Mal gazes at the stars and wishes for Ferrus to arrive soon.

Next we follow Ferrus and his commanders onboard the Ferrum. Rather than say Horus they use the term Principal Traitor. Ferrus tells how he has taken command of all forces in the area and sent word back to Terra to which Dorn has agreed on behalf of The Emperor. They all watch a holo projection of Isstvan V and Ferrus wonders why Horus is waiting there. Castrmen Orth realises he is expecting their assault and says it to Ferrus to which Ferrus agrees. They use the holo to look at the Urgall Depression and know Horus wants them to attack. They predict that Horus will attack them in the back once they begin their assault and that is why none of the traitor legion fleets are at Isstvan V. When Ferrus asks what his commanders propose to do as a solution, mass bombardment is offered by Ruuman but shot down by Belog as they would have to go down to root out the marines anyway. Orth says to attack as swift as possible, end the fight on the ground and then turn around to fight whatever is behind them.