Simonius

I've just finished reading Age of Darkness and so I thought I'd weigh in with my take on things. Savage Weapons clearly states that the Dark Angels have attempted to get to Terra but the warp storms have prevented this. Whilst Rules of Engagement doesn't explicitly say the same for the Ultramarines, we could easily assume that it is the same for them - oh, oh, I just remembered; In Battle for the Abyss (which should not otherwise be referenced) doesn't the ship to ship battle disrupt/destroy one of the main warp routes for Terra to Ultramar - which won't help either? Anyway - if Guilliman can't get to the Palace what should he do? Well ones of the things he's famous for - Planning! So IMHO, Guilliman is planning for the defeat of the Emperor as he knows that he can't be there and after Isstvan V, the loyalists are likely to be outnumbered and lose. So what is his plan? Well, to resurrect the Imperium of his Father and defeat Horus and his forces. We see in other AoD stories that he has sent out diplomats and agitators to other worlds that he can reach to pursue the path of the loyal imperium for the future. Meanwhile he works to complete his mighty tome and practice it's tenets with his forces because he realises that the future conflict will not be anything like the Great Crusade, as the opposition will also have space marines this time. The only way he can win for the Imperium for the second time (Imperium Secundus) is if his forces have the discipline and superior tactics to defeat other space marines time and time again. The Codex contains tactics and formations garnered throughout the Crusade from all the other Primarchs (this is referenced somewhere) and presumably their own thoughts on solutions to problems as well, it's not just Guilliman's work - he just brings it altogether into a complete treatise. To ensure it works and makes sense - and mainly because he can't do anything better because of the warp situation he has his (already known for their discipline and tactical nous) marines practice time and again, playing the different forces through many engagements. The last one showes however that the codex is not infallable when a Primarch is present on one side and not the other. The Lion's comment at the end of Savage Weapons is probably an ironic take on Guilliman revealing some or all of his plans to retake the galaxy.

Nice sidestep there Legatus.