Horus Heresy/Heartwarming

From Galaxy In Flames

• Garro Nathaniel the loyalist Death Guard shooting down the fighters pursuing Tarvitz the last loyal Emperor's child, willing to risk death to protect him because of his love and faith in his sworn brother of another legion.
• Sinderman defiantly broadcasting a sermon of Peace and Tolerance through the War Fleet of The 63rd Expedition, pleading for the Love and Kindness left in humanity, stubbornly defying Horus' megalomania, not to mention the seemingly-hopeless Grimdark of the 40K universe.
• The arguments between Garro and Varren in Legion of One and how Cerberus is convinced to stand down, despite being driven utterly insane by months of fighting and the events of Isstvan III. "The Emperor Protects."
• The Outcast Dead features possibly the nicest depiction of the Emperor seen thus far, although that must be taken relatively. He only interacts with Kai Zulane, a thoroughly traumatised and frightened astropath, and tries to comfort him. He also makes a first in admitting weakness in that he can't know everything or do anything he likes. For the first time ever, the Emperor seemed less like a distant amoral psychic god, and more like a human being capable of relating to others.
• In Know No Fear, the anonymous narrator pauses for a moment to explain the other meaning of the "Mark" of Calth.

Secondly, the "mark" of Calth refers to the solar radiation burns suffered by many of the combatants, principally the human (specifically non-transhuman) troops. The last of these veterans to die, many years later, still refuse graft repair and wear the mark proudly.

• The final conversation of Ultramarine Ventanus and Skitarii Arook in Know No Fear. Two warriors from two very different cultures, who had just won a desperate battle against the treacherous foe. Two men who are about to part ways, knowing they will never see each other again.

Venantus: We march for Macragge.
Arook: We stand for Mars. *pause* It means the same thing.