The Commanders - Commander Markus Kane of the Imperial Guard

Commander Markus Kane of the Imperial Guard

Battle Report Wolves V Chaos Marines

Wolves V Chaos Marines

"Big Gun's Never Tire"

The interior of the rhino was deathly silent as the grey hunters strapped themselves in. It was bad luck to break the silence before the rhino left the compound. As they sat in silence the shadowy form of RenJek entered their pod and began strapping himself in as well. Looks of puzzlement crossed the faces of the Hunters but none dared speak.

As the rear door rose into place and sealed shut Lykos grinned widely. "So... Why do we remain silent before the departure exactly?"  Having just been promoted from the Blood Claws, Lykos had still a lot to learn.

His pack brothers groaned and muttered to themselves in reply as Lykos began to laugh to himself.

"You've doomed us all Lykos." Sturm growled in disapproval.

"Oh please Sturm, you know there's no luck. Only what Russ and the Emperor have planned for us."

"Silence, both of you," RenJak commanded. "The Rune Priest, was in a foul mood."

RenJak thumbed a rune on his forearm and the tactical display within the Transport flashed to life, showing a three dismensional image of the city from orbit within the holo-globe. The image zoomed in until it was focused on an area less than one-hundred yards to the South of the Imperial Palace.

"We'll be making for this location," the map showed HAB Buildings and Industrial Units. Markers on the map to the east of their entry point showed the balance of there force's entry location which would provide cover for the Hunters assault.

"We'll will hit the Traitor force hard here and secure this objective point within the ruins."

Thumbing the rune again the globe zoomed in further until the pack was looking at an part destroyed HAB Building that stood 2 stories tall the all around it.

"Once inside the HAB hold the objective until Damage Company arrives."

The internal Vox crackled into life, "30 secs to impact"  The rhino accelerated to break through the blockade, crudely built across the road.

"Weapons ready and prepare yourselves for a impact lads. This is going to hurt." Sergeant Blackfang muttered to his pack.

"Okay, maybe, JUST maybe... Ive doomed us all." Lykos voice sounded worried in the darkness.

Wulf locked his helmet in place and could instantly see through the pitch dark enveloping the pack. He could see Lykos face twisted into a doubtful grimace as he pulled his own helmet on. Sturm, Ulf and the others were doing the same.

Osriks voice rang acorss the vox, uttering prayers to the Emperor, "Emperor preserve us, see us throu-"

"Silence whelp!" RenJek growled loudly cutting off Osriks prayer. "The Emperor can't hear you, nor could he save your arse if he could. You are caught, like the rest of us in the cold, uncaring hands of fate. Today we hunt and today our enemies die, or we die."

Battle Report Mech V Blood Angels

Infiltrator Princeps Rho-Omega 1 observed the red armoured Astartes for a moment before opening a link with her master. {Dominus, Astartes are moving through the city, current path indicates they will pass through one of the sectors we are monitoring. Heraldic symbols match Blood Angels chapter}. {They cannot be allowed to disturb our work.} the Tech Priest replied. {Stop them by any means necessary. Besides the Mechanicus has not forgotten the incident with the Baal Predator STC}

Battle Report Ultramarines V Death Guard V Chaos Space Marines

'Frustrated at foul Chaos magics ruining the accuracy of the Vindicators siege shells Captain Epathus was forced to charge into the mass of Nurgle warp spawn and their loathsome master to let his bike squads attempt an escape with the relic.

Reving up his pre-heresy outrider bike the Ultramarine rode on fearlessly spewing Bolt shells into the mass of spawn before bellowing a fearsome challenge to the Chaos Sorceror.

The heretic reigned in blows from atop his twisted jet bike but they could not pierce the defences of Epathus' ancient armour and stormshield.
The return blow from his enormous thunder hammer lifted the Sorceror from the seat of his jetbike and knocking him back several metres and breaking bones and shattering armour.
The last any one saw the the valiant Captain of the 6th company he was fighting for his life amidst a sea of Chaos spawn.'





'Chunder sat bolt up right. The sounds of the dieing always roused him. The captains strike was enough to unseat him but how would you kill some thing that feels no pain? He watched as the last of his spawn pets had time to devour the relic and swell with power the day was his! He watched as the two vindicates speed off as the spawn ripped apart third.





He walk amongst the dead of the battle and was pleased on the ruin and rot that he had brought to this planet. He stop at the destroyed captains bike. it seem that his pets had gifted him with sweet revenge. All that was left was the offending thunder hammer and arm of the captain sadly the rest of him was no where to be found......'






"Apothecary, what news of Epathus' condition?" enquired Captain Sinon.

"Good news Captain. I've replaced the augmetic arm he lost on Dropchapel, to the Eldar and I've brought him out of the hypnotic coma. He is not fit for a return to the field yet. Also we have recovered footage from his helmet picter of the battle" explained Apothecary Caius.

"What did it reveal?" asked Sinon.

"After Captain Epathus killed the Chaos Warlord he took out half the swarm of spawn before they took him down. After the battle the enemy leader returned from the grave due to foul magics and began petulantly smashing up the damaged equipment of Squad Aegericus believing it to belong to the Captain. Fortunately one of the recon squads found Epathus, all his equipment and most of Squad Aegericus and their equipment" informed Caius.
Sinon frowned "Prepare my Command Squad. I intend to finish off this Sorceror once and for all".






Skidding into a trench under heavy fire Captain Numitor avoided the barrage of heavy fire coming his way. Unbeknownst to the Ultramarines there was a second Traitor Legion force on Lastrati and this his caught the forces of the 8th Company flat footed.
Casualties had been higher than expected in this region as a result. Holding this area with out reinforcements would be tricky and the Lord Executioner knew it.
"Fall back to Hera-Espandor-Alpha 52" barked Numitor. " Well fight them there on our terms".

The Commanders - Capitan Saulot Gideon - Dark Angels

Capitan Saulot Gideon - Dark Angels

Angeli Tenebris Lastrati: part 1.


"Withdraw from the fire support position Nestor, I want your devastators back at base to be re-outfitted with the new shipment of graviton weaponry and re-deployed against the heavy armoured targets in the city centre. The advantage that the manouverability of the xeno artillery platforms provide will be nullified in those narrow corridors, and they will not expect our forces to be there given the ground we have lost in the lowlands over the past few days. It's the swiftest route for them to secure the foothold they have. It is of to much significance to ignore, the Sons of Medussa will be exposed if we leave the flank open overlong. Sergeant Xaviel will assume your responsibilities in the sector, have him briefed and report to me upon arrival at base before moving out . We have much to discuss." Barked Gideon down the vox to sergeant Nestor of two heads talking squad. The efforts against the Tau incursion into the Metalixus system, a long established place of interest for the Iron Hands and a strong recruitment site for their successor chapter, the Sons of Medusa. The conflict had been slowing of late. A war of attrition finally broken, when the majority of the blue skinned foe had been routed upon a 3 month long campaign to slay the ethereal after Inquisitor Torqmeda Coteaz called in additional support from nearby Imperial forces. Both Gideon's 8th company and the fearsome might of the free blade Pride of Casterly had answered the call. The fabled inquisitor broke the back of the invasion himself, slaying the Xenos commander in single combat with a mighty blow from his daemon hammer, before departing to rendezvous with captain Epathus and his Ultramarines. Master Gideon and his counterpart within the Sons of Medusa, had worked together to sweep the planet of the remaining Tau forces, down to the last stronghold, the city of Pelathor and its surrounding plains. Turning from the console, and making way over to a monitor with geographical survey data, Saulot Gideon began to plan the siege of the Tau stronghold.



As he skimmed through the data readouts, a slight glitch in his mechanical eye gave momentary pause. Sensing he was not alone, he turned slowly to see nought but the empty deck of his command centre. With a murmured sigh, he returned to perusing the readouts. Moments later, his eye focus shifted once again. Slamming the data slate to the console, he wheeled, irritated to see yet again nothing behind him. A sudden draft give birth to chittering barely audible despite his augmented astartes sensory enhancements. He listened closer... What was that? A whisper? Advancing to the door of the command centre, Gideon's bio-metric data field automatically leading the door to l slink open. The corridor ahead was long and gloomy, with small globes of luminescence puncturing the Inky blackness where light had leeked through the ventilation system. Another brief squall brushed past him as he peered into the gloom of the corridor. Weighing up the likelyhood of there actually being anything in the hallway against the importance of the task at hand, Gideon turned to retrace his steps back to the console, where his gaze met a short hooded figure, no taller than an toddler. A moment of silence passed between the two, "you are certain of this?" Gideon probed as the watcher returned his gaze with deafening silence. Gideon nodded, punching encryption signatures into the console as he prepared his box broadcast. "All Elements of the 8th company will withdraw with immediate effect. Priority re-deployment order Foxtrot-Alpha-Lima. Prepare for departure vector 9073787. Target system Lastrati."

                                

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++




Angeli Tenebris Lastrati: part 2



A thick atmosphere of incense lay heavy in the air of the sanctum. New candles had been established and Baphomet busied himself with preparing the chamber for the conclave to arrive. The gathering would begin soon and the brothers would be arriving shortly, there wasn't enough time to prepare the full ceremony, a fact which irked Baphomet, making him marginally more irritable than usual. With unnerving punctuality, brother Enoch entered the chamber, nodding curtly to Baphomet, before switching his regulars for the robes of ceremony. Baphomet noted that Enoch's eyes looked heavy, and a weight seemed to be heavy on his shoulders, but did not dwell on the matter lest the psyker detect his probing thoughts. "Too late brother chaplain, I sensed your displeasure moments before my arrival and in that moment or minds shared a common concern." Enoch murmured quietly, as if trying to prevent his words from being consumed by the vast audio void that surrounded them in the hall of the black lion, as Baphomet's ceremonial sanctum had come to be known. It was a nickname that suited his nature and he had come to appreciate it during his interrogation work, finding that external infamy aided the process of extracting key information from the foes of the 1st. "Such a burden your gifts must be at times brother, to know every whim and fancy of each of your brothers" Baphomet quipped in retort making no such pretence at conserving the peace of the hall. "However, you are correct, Master Gideons orders carry with them a weight which we must all be ready to face, the ruinous powers walk again in the imperium." He beckoned Enoch over to a large round table set with goblets and candles with ornate candlabra's in the fashion of the great beasts of old Caliban. Before long the pair were joined by a handful of hooded astartes, each in identical robes, all solemn and silent. It wasn't until the company master himself entered the room until each voiced their greetings and assumed their seat at the table. One seat remained empty, a fact which Gideon addresses immediately proceeding the initial acts of the ceremony. Each of the present Part drank deep from the goblet, lit the candle in front of them and spake their name and the oath of the inner circle. The oath that only the most experienced and trusted members of the unforgiven were privy too. "Apologies on behalf of brother Dariel, who was lost to the chapter two days past in the field serving the emperor. May he return to him now and his gene seed serve the chapter again, courage and loyalty. For the lion and the emperor." Each of the assembled repeated the sentiment before resuming the silence to allow Gideon to continue. "Dariel's seat will remain vacant until a suitable candidate is presented and approved, given the nature of our mission, that time may come sooner than we would have liked. I have called the conclave to convey that traitors and agents of chaos have been found wrecking havoc within imperial space. This is an insult that cannot go unanswered. Initial reports suggest elements of Death Guard have been sighted, though by no means should we rule out additional elements of the black legion" Gideon let the final words of his sentence hang in the air so that each of the assembled would digest the subtext before continuing. "Long range Scanning detects imperial presence in the system, including the spear of Calth..." Gideon grimaced and continued. "Captain Epathus and his Ultramarine entourage are greatest in number, though a company of as yet unidentified Space Wolves are also present. We may yet see more arrive owing to the severity of the incursion.


Given our hasty departure, It is possible that Tau forces may follow us to this location. If that transpires, we will show them the error of their ways. Do you all understand what is required?" He met each of their eyes and found complete unity of purpose in each gaze. Gideon drew himself up to full height and gave a salute. "The Lion's Ark is scheduled to arrive in the Lastrati system in 12 standard hours, ensure that the squads are ready for deployment as per your mission briefs. I have prepared the schedules for planetfall personally. There can be no error. For the Lion. For the emperor!" Gideon turned from the table and made for the exit stopping only to kneel before the great monument to the Primarch, a life size statue of Johnson himself. The remaining members of the assembly picked up their data slates and then immediately looked at one another, understanding what needed to be done...

Ultramarines V Death Guard - Battle Report

 

The two Ultramarine vessels approached the planet Lastrati at unusual attack vectors. The larger of the two, the Battle Barge Severian took a standard low orbit pattern but the smaller vessel, the Strike Cruiser Spear of Calth hit the planets atmosphere side on with its prow upturned at a dangerous oblique to both the planet and the other vessel.
Once in low orbit the drop pods and attack craft where launched from the Spear of Calth at the capital city almost side on to the planet rather than the usual angle.
With split second timing the destroyer laser batteries on board the Severian raked deep gouges in the city missing the surface bound forces by inches. 
The deep attack angle allowed the Ultramarines to slam into the planet mere moments after the devastating ordinance crippled enemy resistance.

Attacking under the cover of darkness and the ruination caused by the Severain's ordinance the Ultramarines commit lightning raids upon the Deathguard.

+++ Campaign Update +++++

The City seen its first battle tonight, the Death Guard coming out on top over the Ultramarines 5-2 at the Relic

750 point game of Deathguard against Ultramarines between Stephen Mcleish and Tam Fullard at the Relic Mission which the Ultramarines were ill prepared for.
Ultramarines bikes quickly took control of the Relic and made off with it but there attempts to escape were unsuccessful.
A resilient enemy and woefully inaccurate Vindicator fire allowed the Chaos forces to advance unmolested and when they eventualy hit the Deathguard a plethora of 1s to wound followed. Damn you dice Gods!

The Commanders - Lord Apostle Daemosthenes Boake - Chaos Undivided

Lord Apostle Daemosthenes Boake - Chaos Undivided






Screams rang out, heard over the roar of flames and the staccato of bolter fire. The despairing screams of women, children and men alike, as their world crumbled around them. Armoured boots thundered madly through the streets, the crazed howls and roars of warp-addled superhumans meeting the ears of the doomed.


Lord Apostle Daemosthenes Boake strode calmly past his subordinates as they tortured, brutalised and murdered with zeal anyone that was unfortunate enough to meet their gaze. A gaggle of once normal men, now mutilated, broken and insane, followed Boake closely, stumbling, falling and beating each other in their attempts to get closer to the one voice they wished to hear. The words of the God-Speaker.


Lord Boake fingered the tattered and frayed of an ancient book, and read aloud the words found there, feeling the power held in them flow through his voice and trap the souls of the fools that hung on his every syllable. "This world will be mine", mused Boake, "these people fall to the Ruinous Powers so easily, the gods shall dine well on souls this night!"

The Commanders - Shas'O Fi'rios - Tau Empire

The 13th Arrive...

The command Bridge was a hive of activity, as soon as high orbit was reach, Commander Jekren, took a thunderhawk to the surface with an advanced party.

"Imperial flotilla, this is Severian, actual. Over" came over the ship to ship comms it was a Lord Admiral Tiberius of the Ultramarines.

Guntor shook his head, and voxed to his wolf commander.  "Skald, the 13th have arrived, and looking to speak to someone"

"Guntor put him throught on a secure channel"  Jakren turned to his assembled pack leaders.  "It seems the 13th have arrived, lets see what they have to say."

"Severian, This is Wolf Guard Jekren Skald of the Blackmane Great Company, Commander of the Stormwolf, What is your business in this system?, Over"

"Response to aid was requested against Traitor Legions activity in the Lastrati system with traitor legion Incursion"

" We were passing through the system bound for Fenris, when we also picked up the distress call"
Jekren replied.

"Who is the Commander of the Imperial forces here?" asked the Ultramarines Fleet Commander.

"You are speaking to him, The city's forces here are in disarray, We have word of other ships in High Orbit, but as yet no contact"

"The Emperor favours you this day, Wolfguard Skald, as this conflict is over now. As the Ultramarines have arrived.  Given your lower rank Captain Epathus will assume command of operations."  End of transmition+++++

Jekren gave a low growl into his vox, Turning back to his men, he smiling "I forgot just how much of a pleasure it is to speak to one of the 13th, Seems the war is over brothers and we should pack up,  What say you??

Thorbrand of The Grey Hunters Step forward "Let the pups of Ultramar write there battle plans, they might make the end of the Battle to fill our drinking horns"

"Agreed, for the All father and the Emperor" Jekren returned to the task ahead.

The Commanders - Wolf Guard Jekren Skald - Space Wolves

Wolf Guard Jekren Skald - Space Wolves

Wolf Guard Jekren Skald is the senior wolf on the Strike Cruiser Stormwolf. On returning to Fenris to join his Great Company from the Battle of Kasr Tyrok, where he fought with glory beside Great Wolf Logan Grimnar. A distress signal was picked up in the Segmented Ultima, emanating from the Hive World Lastrati.

Jekren Skald is no stranger to Lastrati having battled the Tyranids there some years before as a Grey Hunter, It was during that Battle that he was ambushed by a lictor, during that brawl he lost an eye in the process, though in true Space Wolf fashion, he had the mandible of the creature that took his eye fashioned into the Rune Sword Felltooth.  This caught the eye of his Wolf Lord Blackmane, and he was inducted into the Wolf Guard.

++ Part Campaign History ++

Pursuit of the Voice (999.M41) - During the campaign the Stormwolf was in attendance, the Dark Angels and Space Wolves great mutual rivalry causes severe disruptions to the Imperial efforts in the defence of the Sentinel Worlds area. Though both forces operate in the same region for several weeks, both refuse to coordinate their actions, harming the ability of the Imperial Guard commanders on the ground to act, for they cannot rely upon the aid of either Chapter. The situation soon changes, as the Dark Angels abruptly leave the area in search of renegade individuals they refuse to identify.

Battle of Kasr Tyrok (999.M41) - The Dark Angels and the Space Wolves set aside their ancient vendetta as Supreme Grand Master Azrael and Great Wolf Logan Grimnar come to a mutual, but temporary, understanding. Both Chapters take to the field together, in the defence of Kasr Tyrok upon the world of Cadia against a substantial force of Chaos mutants. The combined force of Dark Angels and Space Wolves smashed into the rear of the mutant mob, cutting them down without mercy, as each Chapter sought to outdo the other in their skill at arms. As the last few mutants were dispatched, the rival Space Marines' friendly banter soon turned to insults. Victory had been achieved, but the Sons of the Lion and the Sons of Russ parted ways, their long-time rivalry rearing its ugly head once again




The Battle of Lastrati (999.M41) -

The Commanders - Brother Capitan Gideon - Blood Angels

Brother Capitan Gideon - Blood Angels 

Born on Baal secundus to the red sands clan . He is one of the most stoic, deadly and compassionate members of his clan there has ever been. He proved these points during his initiation trials, to become one with the ADEPTUS ASTARTES he was welcomed into the brotherhood of the Blood Angels. He was placed under the command of the legendary Cpt Tycho, and fought at the orkopalypse where the green hoard were obliterated.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

As Captain Epathus stepped from the disembarkation ramp of his Thunderhawk transporter the lavish nature of the embarkation deck of the Blood Angel's strike cruiser struck him as a stark contrast to the more utilitarian ones of his Chapter.
Murals hung on every wall, gilt edges were common place and marble statues of long dead heroes welcomed him on board.
Standing in front of a Sanguinary Guard squad, as motionless as the statues and resplendent in their burnished gold armour was Sergeant Gideon.
Noble of bearing and handsome of face he cut a formidable figure. Every edge of his armour and weapons had seen the hand of master craftsmen in its long history. Gideon and Epathus had became close after the slaughter of a giant Ork hoard alongside Battle Brothers of the Salamanders and Dark Angels Chapters.
Gideon stepped forward and saluted the Ultramarine Captain "Captain Epathus, I am pleased to welcome you aboard. We have much to discuss".

The Commanders - Tech Priest Dominus Archimedes Galvani - Mechanicus

Tech Priest Dominus Archimedes Galvani - Mechanicus

Tech Priest Dominus Archimedes Galvani entered the bridge. With but a thought he instantly accessed the data of the planet below and surrounding space. The master of the augary almost looked embarrassed if such a thing was possible. He reported in binaric cant {Atmospherics still prevent a focussed augary on exact position of other forces Dominus Galvani}. The Tech Priest regarded the map of the city for a moment {the data must not be lost} "an old fashioned approach perhaps" he whispered before opening up a link with Infiltrator Princeps Rho-Omega 1. {What is the will of the Omnissiah Dominus?}. {Take the Skitarii down to these coordinates and scout the area, the data must be recovered at all costs, eliminate any who would stand in our way}.

CITY MAP

+++++ MAP UPDATE +++++

AFTER WEEKS OF RECON THE CITY MAP HAS BEEN UPDATED.

(SOME AMAZING WORK)

The Commanders - Capitan Brutus Epathus - Master of Rites Ultramarine 6th Company

CAPITAN BRUTUS EPATHUS - MASTER OF RITES - ULTRAMARINE 6TH COMPANY

"Spear of Calth, this is Severian, actual. Over", came the voice over the ship to ship vox.

"Severian, this is Spear of Calth, actual", replied Captain Epathus from his command position On board the Ultramarine's Strike Cruiser. "Sensorium arrays indicate we will be at your position in 6 standard hours, Captain. Courage and Honour!"

"Courage and Honour" came the reply.



Stepping off from the disembarkation ramp of his Thunderhawk transporter onto the gridded floor of embarkation bay 4 in step with his trusted second, Sergeant Decius, a veteran of several centuries of battle, came Captain Brutus Epathus, Master of the Rites of the Ultramarine Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes cut in imposing sight.

His artifier wrought power armour hung with medals of honour, slung over his shoulder was his weapon of choice an ancient Thunder Hammer that had seen battle during the great crusade and his laterally crested helmet was clutched under the crook of his other arm.
Waiting to greet him standing infront of an honour guard made up of 1st company veterans was Lord Executioner Numitor and the Master of Relics, Sinon.
All three Captains banged their fists into their chest plates three times in the old Terran custom that only the Ultramarines still used as a greeting.
"Brothers, we have much to discuss."

The three Ultramarines Captains stood around the command hub on board the Serverian, one of the Chapter's Battle Barges. Around them were many servitors, command staff and trusted veterans.
After a tense few moments frowning at a data slate Captain Sinon of the 9th Company spoke "Our Astropaths indicate that Dark Angels and Space Wolves have already landed on the planet and that Blood Angels are a few days from the system. Lord Admiral Tiberius predicts that we are around 18 standard days from the target. Which means well have to fight a war and tidy up the mistakes they make before we arrive".
"Then we had better make sure we get this one right first time Brothers" added Captain Numitor.
A wry smile crossed Epathus' lips "Do not worry Brothers a plan is forming. Remember what Sicarius and Ixiom did at Hybraxus 4?"

"Epathus, when we arrive in the Lastrati system let me speak to the other Chapters. The Dark Angels do not like you and Numitor has all the tact of a Carnifex" suggested Captain Sinon, Master of the Relics as the pair strode through the corridors of the Severian.
"That was just a misunderstanding" countered the other.
"You put their Chapter Master and two of their Captains in to the Apothicarion. One of them, Gideon is on the planet we are heading to".
"Is it my fault Dark Angels do not know how to duck? When a Thunder Hammer swings at your head you duck!" grinned Epathus.
"Has Chief Librarian Tigurius finished with the Inquisitors after the incidents with the Traitor Legions?" asked Sinon changing the subject.
"Not as far as I know.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Chaplain Varro Scrippa strode into the arming deck armed with his crozius arcanum raised "Brothers, it is time to make glorious war in the name of the Emperor of Mankind. May death be brought to his enemies. May they know our name and fear us. For we are their doom".
He paused a few moments to let the mood build before bellowing in his clear, deep voice "The Company Captains have chosen me to lead the vanguard. I will not fail you. We are to land at co-ordinates hera-espandor-alpha-44 and secure the location by any means necessary. The most vile of foes stalk this world. We will make them see the error of their ways with the holy boltgun and chainsword. For the Primarch and the Emperor. For Maccragge!"

---------------------------------------------

The two Ultramarine vessels approached the planet Lastrati at unusual attack vectors. The larger of the two, the Battle Barge Severian took a standard low orbit pattern but the smaller vessel, the Strike Cruiser Spear of Calth hit the planets atmosphere side on with its prow upturned at a dangerous oblique to both the planet and the other vessel.
Once in low orbit the drop pods and attack craft where launched from the Spear of Calth at the capital city almost side on to the planet rather than the usual angle.
With split second timing the destroyer laser batteries on board the Severian raked deep gouges in the city missing the surface bound forces by inches.
The deep attack angle allowed the Ultramarines to slam into the planet mere moments after the devastating ordinance crippled enemy resistance.

"Serverain, this is Scrippa. Hera-Espandor-Alpha 53 has been brought to compliance. Hera-Espandor-Alpha 44 has been pacified. Sergeant Decius reports no resistance" spoke the Ultramarines Chaplain into the vox system. "Sergeant Octavian will have Hera-Espandor- Alpha 55 taken within the hour. Have Pentanus on alert code 2 for Hera-Espandor-Alpha 67. Over".
"Scrippa, this is Severian, actual. Recieved. Relief forces will be readied for insertion" came the crackled response.

The Commanders - Commander Demaratus - Dark Angels

Commander Demaratus - Dark Angels

The Commanders - Lord Chunder the Unlogable - Death Guard

Lord Chunder the Unlogable - Death Guard 

The Purging of Lastrati

The First Purging of Lastrati

Ecclesiarch at the beginning of 36th Millennium, and also Master of the Administratum, he engineered the ascension of the degenerate Ecclesiarch Paulis III. Shortly after, Vandire topples Paulis and assumes the mantle of both High Lord of the Administratum and Ecclesiarch. Vandire's Reign of Blood begins. Almost 14 billion are slaughtered by the Divine Army during the Purge of Lastrati. TheDaughters of the Emperor from San Leor are coopted into becoming Vandire's personal bodyguard, and are renamed the Brides of the Emperor. The Reign of Blood culminates in the Siege of the Ecclesiarchal Palace, at the height of which High Lord Vandire is executed by Alicia Dominica, the leader of the Brides of the Emperor.


The Second Purging of Lastrati 

Occurred in 543.M36, as a part of the Athalor Crusade, under the command of Marshal Gervhart of the Black Templars Space Marine Chapter. During Lastrati's tumultuous past a sect known as the Divine Army had gained control of the unremarkable Hive World of Lastrati, located in the Ultima Segmentum. The Divine Army preached a doctrine of intolerance of those with even the slightest deviation from what their leaders viewed as the physical attributes of the perfect human being. They created genetically-tailored viruses that targetted particular traits, eradicating whole swathes of the population. When Imperial contact was re-established with this remote planet, only 2.5 million inhabitants were left of a world that had once boasted a population of 14 billion.

Lastrati had become a place of pilgrimage, and for centuries, the faithful had come to bear witness to such spectacles as the Hill of Heretics and the Plain of Purity. Marshal Gervhart and the Black Templars of the Athalor Crusade had come to Lastrati to take heart from the planet's potent displays of faith from the past, but were horrified by what they found. The Quintarchs of Lastrati had turned to barbaric blood rituals and human sacrifices in search of genetic perfection. At first the Space Marines were welcomed as examples of genetic supremacy, but the more the Black Templars saw, the more they realised that the rituals of the people of Lastrati had too much in common with the heretical cult worship of the Ruinous Powers. Marshal Gervhart ordered the planet cleansed of its degenerate inhabitants before continuing the Crusade. After four standard years of fighting, the warriors of Marshal Gervhart forced the remaining forces of Lastrati back into the Plain of Purity where they made their last stand before the Black Templars at the Hill of Heretics. The army was destroyed, the Black Templars showing no mercy and accepting no surrender. Those deemed free from taint were allowed to live - an act of mercy that was to have repercussion for Marshal Gervhart in later years.

Marshal Gervhart - Gervhart was the leader who initiated the Second Purging of Lastrati in 543.M36, as a part of the Athalor Crusade. He was also a fearsome warrior and master tactician, and was a keen student of history, second only to the Chapter's archivists in his knowledge and understanding of the ancient days of the Imperium. He had studied the ways of war of every Marshal since the time ofSigismund and was well versed in the most arcane weapons and wargear. Gervhart was one of a rare few individuals who had the honour of treading the holy soil of Holy Terra, leading a pilgrimage of warriors through the teeming multitudes to the very gates of the Emperor's Imperial Palace where he conducted them in a month-long vigil to seek the Master of Mankind's blessing before setting out on the Athalor Crusade. Upon the carven outer wall of the Palace were many ancient bas-reliefs of the long-forgotten battles and ancient conflicts, which Marshal Gervhart studied intently, finding many images of what appeared to be warriors of the Black Templars in battle. One of the mightiest figures carried a crackling staff of office and Gervhart vowed to craft a new weapon in its fashion. Leaving Terra with his obeisance made, Gervhart did indeed forge such a weapon, a mighty Power Maul, and adapted his fighting style so that he could wield it together with his Combat Shield. The Hive World of Lastrati, located in the Ultima Segmentum, had become a place of pilgrimage, and for centuries, the faithful had come to bear witness to such spectacles as the Hill of Heretics and the Plain of Purity. Marshal Gervhart and the Black Templars of the Athalor Crusade had come to Lastrati to take heart from the planet's potent displays of faith from the past, but were horrified by what they found. The Quintarchs of Lastrati had turned to barbaric blood rituals and human sacrifices in search of genetic perfection. At first the Space Marines were welcomed as examples of genetic supremacy, but the more the Black Templars saw, the more they realised that the rituals of the people of Lastrati had too much in common with the heretical cult worship of the Ruinous Powers. Marshal Gervhart ordered the planet cleansed of its degenerate inhabitants before continuing the Crusade. After four standard years of fighting, the warriors of Marshal Gervhart forced the remaining forces of Lastrati back into the Plain of Purity where they made their last stand before the Black Templars at the Hill of Heretics. The army was destroyed, the Black Templars showing no mercy and accepting no surrender. Those deemed free from taint were allowed to live -- an act of mercy that was to have a terrible repercussion for Marshal Gervhart in later years. The infamous Gervhart Repeal of the 36th Millennium was the only time a High Marshal has repealed the promotion of a Marshal to that rank. Though his name is now synonymous with the Repeal of M36, Gervhart's power maul remains one of the Black Templars most revered relics.

Second Purging of Lastrati (543.M36) — During the so-called Second Purging of Lastrati, the Storm Giants' 1st Company is sent to support Marshal Gervhart and his Black Templars as they purge the planet of Lastrati upon discovering the purity cult, called the Divine Army, had turned to blood rituals in worship of the Blood God Khorne. As this event occurred before the Storm Giants' Founding, the Imperial records are either in error as to which Chapter participated in the event or the Storm Giants are an older Chapter than the records of the Administratumsuggest.

Hive Worlds

"New to the hive my noble sir? No, don’t take me amiss! I’m here to help you, see? Outworlder are we? I can tell of course, not just the accent you understand, or the dress. Not used to the crowds are we sir? Getting buffeted and pushed along like that? Confused? Lost? Why if I hadn’t found you you’d be dipped and clipped in the blink of a scarab’s eye! You’ll feel better out of the press, come along, this isn’t a safe level you know?! What a fine specimen you are sir, if you don’t mind me saying… ‘long of limb and clean of skin’ as we say in the inhumation business… this way sir, down here, just one more stairwell… I know some friends of mine that will take to you right off, well, parts of you anyway..."— Vargo "Redjack" Heit, Hive Sibellus Viscerator

A Hive World is the most populous type of Imperial planet, of which there are approximately 32,380 currently catalogued by the Administratum in the Imperium of Man. The populations of these planets are so great that the people live in huge urban arcologies called hive cities, truly immense, self-contained, many-layered structures that reach high into the sky, each housing billions of individuals. Hive Worlds often provide much-needed industrial labour, their manufactoria producing mountains of war materiel and other goods to meet the Imperial tithe's demands. Most Hive Worlds started out as relatively hospitable places to live but have become severely polluted, the areas outside the hives reduced to ash wastes or radioactive desert by the never-ceasing industry of the great cities. Equally dangerous can be the hives themselves. The crime-ridden, poverty-stricken areas, almost always found in the most polluted and decrepit lower levels of the under-hive, are home to violent gangs, criminals and assorted scum as well as mutants and heretical cults who hide there from the authorities. It has been said that the sacrifice of over a million Imperial soldiers is worth "one day's Hive World production" in weapons and armour.

Perhaps even more valuable is what at first glance seems to be a byproduct of the monolithic hive city's design. The population of any given world approximately doubles every 100 years. With each hive housing between 10 to 100 billion people and 5 to 20 hives per planet, the sheer number of Imperial citizens on a Hive World is staggering. And each of those citizens is a potential soldier for the Emperor's already uncountably vast armies. Hives manufacture far more than mere steel and silica; they are vast factories for the most useful possible resource, people. Almost every recruit into the Imperial Guard from a Hive World will already know how to handle a weapon. Hive Worlds also serve to populate newly discovered planets. Imperial citizens are gathered from various Hive Worlds (willingly or unwillingly) by the Administratum and shipped off to distant colonies first discovered by the Adeptus Mechanicus' Explorator fleets.

In common with most other Imperial worlds, Hive Worlds are often based on a very obvious class system, with a ruling noble class and a bureaucratic middle class, although with populations so tightly packed there always develops a lower working class that often fuels violent street gangs. As can be expected, the upper classes are situated in the affluent upper areas of the hive cities, whilst the middle classes are situated in the middle areas,and the working classes are packed together in the lower areas. The very bottom sections of a hive city, the Underhive, are often areas where the underclasses and criminals are sent to be forgotten about and anarchy rules.

Some extensively developed Hive Worlds do not even consist of various enclosed arcologies surrounded by wasteland, jungle, ice, or plains. These Hive Worlds are completely urbanised and stacked with hundreds of layers of arcologies, covering the entirety of the planet, effectively becoming an ecumenopolis. Terra is an example of this type of "Super Hive World".
Riot, Revolt and Calamity

That any civilisation is “three missed meals away from anarchy” is an adage that has held true since long before the Imperium and applies doubly in the case of a Hive World. In any given Hive, millions must live together in jostling proximity, utterly dependant on a complex and gargantuan infrastructure for the mere basics of daily life such as food, power, light and even clean air. If widespread rioting, unrest or serious disorder is allowed to ferment, it is possible that the threads binding the hive together may be broken and millions may suffer as a result. It is said by some that this is one reason why the phenomena of the “underhive” is allowed to exist in some form or another on most Hive Worlds, as a vital sinkhole for the city’s malice, sin and discord.

Despite unceasing vigilance and totalitarian control, catastrophic unrest does sometimes occur in even the most tightly ordered of hives, and the history of the Calixis Sector is littered with such calamities: Fenksworld’sinfamous Tyburn food-tax riots saw Volg’s population almost double inside a year (before natural attrition reduced it again in the following few months), while the two-decade long period of petty revolts and near civil anarchy caused by the misrule of House Koba on Malfi left near a billion dead and saw the final ruination of what had been one of the most powerful noble families in the sector. In more recent times even the mighty and prosperous Hive Sibellus has not proved to be immune. When heavy-handed Magistratum tactics stirred up a hornet’s nest of trouble during what came to be known as the “Reinholt Blackouts”, open warfare broke out between the Magistratum and criminal gangs, spilling over from the slums and no-go zones into the hive’s infrastructure. Power was cut to several dozen middle-hive districts for days—fear and anarchy took hold and tens of thousands died, with whole regions gutted by raging fires. Many sections of the hive, damaged by the blackouts, remain as burnt-out ruins, collapsing into the underhive; they are now the haunt of dregs and worse. Also as a consequence of the rioting and thanks to their loss of face and perceived failure, the Sibellus Magistratum has become even more brutal in the execution of their duties.

The Battle of Lastrati

The Battle of Lastrati - Hive World

Situated in the south of the Segmentum Ultima System 

The City is Dominated by the Ancient Palace of Peace, with the Starport to the North.