Editing Imperium Secundus

*''It's Guilliman, What do you think he's doing? He's building an Empire!'' - [[Malcador the Sigillite]]

==Formation==
'''Imperium Secundus''' - (from the self referential book: "Unremembered Empire") was [[Roboute Guilliman]]'s attempt at building his own [[Imperium]] of Man when he ''(incorrectly)'' believed that the Emperor lay defeated and that the rest of the Imperium was ashes during the [[Horus Heresy]].

The [[Word Bearers]] assault on Calth created a ''Ruinstorm'' which spread across the galaxy, garbling communications and restricting travel. The 500 worlds of the [[Ultramarines]] [[First Founding|Legion]] had no means of determining whether the rest of the Imperium stood or not during this period of war. 

Thus the analytical mind of the [[Primarch]] Guilliman resolved that according to the ''Theoretical'' destruction of the rest of the Imperium, he would enact his ''Practical'' solution and build his own.

As it required moving the power-base of his "new" Imperium and its institutions to [[Macragge]], he knew that this situation could potentially be construed as an act of treachery. Thus, [[skub|he maintained]] it would only be a temporary measure where if the Emperor and Terra were found to be intact he would be the first to lend his aid in their defence.

He also [[skub|insisted]] that he would not be it's ruler, as he was very aware that to both split from the true imperium and to position himself as head of the splinter government would make him appear as a tyrant who was only interested in power. Thus to prove his point he would wait until such time as a worthy brother Primarch arrived on Macragge and make them the Regent-Emperor instead.

However, a number of events call into question Guilliman's / the Ultramarines sincerity:

===Misrepresentation===
'''Warsmith Dantioch''' of the [[Iron Warriors]] was lured into the service of Guilliman on the promise that his skills would be put to good use fortifying the Imperial Palace in the inevitable [[Siege of Terra]], it seems Dantioch never got that far and was assigned a position on '''Sotha''', and possibly post-heresy his soldiers were [[Silver Skulls|just absorbed into the Ultramarines]] rather than making any meaningful contribution.

This is not entirely unforgivable though, as the 500 Worlds were cut-off from Terra, so Dantioch might never have been able to get back. Plus as a Loyalist, Dantioch and his men would have been mistrusted, therefore being absorbed into Ultramarines would have been as wise a choice as any.

===Mustering Forces to Himself===
What Guilliman found on '''Sotha''' was a pre-Imperial device that acted similarly to the [[Astronomican]]: Called the '''Pharos'''. 

Instead of a psychic lighthouse like the Astronomican, the Pharos shone like a lantern and illuminated targeted worlds in the Warp, allowing safe passage to them even through thick warp storms. Guilliman ordered that the Pharos be shone on Macragge so that lost loyalists fleets could find their way to him though the '''Ruinstorm'''

This did have the intended effect, as beaten stragglers from the broken legions of the [[Iron Hands]], [[Salamanders]] and [[Raven Guard]] found their way to Macragge. Badly beaten, and with their own primarchs [[Ferrus Manus|dead]], or [[Vulkan|assumed dead]], they swore allegiance to Guilliman until such time as the Emperor could be aided.

In addition, the Pharos caused the [[Imperial Fists]] Retribution Fleet, notable for being the largest fleet available to the Imperium, fresh from the '''Battle of Phall''' to arrive at Macragge.
...AND the '''entire''' [[Blood Angels]] Legion ''(except for about eleven men left on [[Baal]], the "Lost Sons")'' from the '''Battle of Signus''' turned up on Guilliman's doorstep too. 

Both the Blood Angels and Imperial Fists were actually looking for Terra, so it could definitely be said that all these arrivals would starve Terra of valuable resources and actually hinder the war effort. 
In fact this was ''explicitly'' stated to [[Lorgar]] by the '''Fateweaver''' prior to the battle at Calth, that if Guilliman died, then Horus would have no chance at the Siege of Terra.

In fact, if Guilliman had just shone the Pharos at Terra, the war could possibly gone the other way as Terra received the intended reinforcements.

===Empire Building / Desire for Power===
Guilliman was renowned for Empire-Building, and his attempt at usurping the Imperium was actually anticipated by both the [[Emperor]] and [[Malcador the Sigillite]]. They discuss the matter together and are thankful that [[Lion El'Jonson]] takes his own initiative to resolve the matter.

Now the Lion [[skub|may, or may not]] have had his own agenda, as he had attempted to gain military power himself earlier in the war but at least argued that it was to the Imperium's benefit and to be of service to his father. 

Here, the Lion was very clear on the issue with his brother Guilliman, seeing his brother's new Imperium as an threat equally as grave as [[Horus]] to the kingdom that [[Emperor|his Father]] had built. 

When the Lion arrived on Macragge, the issue of who should be the ruler did come up, but neither the Lion and Roboute came to blows with one another over the matter and unanimously elected that [[Sanguinius]] take the position of '''Regent''' when his fleet arrived. So at least both brothers could be described as sincere on this one.