In today’s installment of our multi-part series, we dive headlong into the turbulent galaxy of Warhammer 40,000, where we will focus on a subset of events involving the Ultramarines, one of the most ancient and revered Space Marine chapters. They are the hope of humanity, fighting to safeguard the Imperium from countless threats. Today, our tale is weaved around two significant characters: Uriel Ventris and Judd Clausel, also known as Panus.
The story unfolds on the planet of Selenas. Here, a guerilla campaign has taken root, birthed by the brutality of the Imperial Governor. The campaign draws strength from the forbidden zone, once a thriving town and the birthplace of many of its leaders, now ravaged and left to ruins.
This forbidden zone was where the Ultramarines first landed, after being possessed by the pser. The chaos that ensued was bloody – the possessed Ultramarines, now the Unfleshed, launched a horrific killing spree. However, thanks to Uriel Ventris and the Grey Knights, the Unfleshed were finally killed, and the Ultramarines returned to their home world, Mcra.
Uriel and Panus, having completed their death oath successfully, were welcomed back home. But their homecoming was not without complications. The Chief Librarian subjected them to rigorous interrogation and tests to ensure they were free of Chaos taint. Uriel, once cleared, was reinstated as the Captain of the Ultramarines’ Fourth Company. He was tasked with defending Pavonis from Tau invaders.
Panus, however, grappled with his unusual regenerative capabilities, a result of his bionic arm that had become infused with Necron living metal, Necrodermis. As a consequence, he faced demotion and was subjected to a hundred solar days of isolation from the Chapter. Once his time was served, he too was reinstated as a Battle Brother of the Fourth Company and rejoined Uriel.
The plot thickens as Warsmith Honsou, consumed by hatred for Ventris and the Ultramarines, devises a plan to annihilate them. He used a stolen Mechanicus virus to turn Tarsis Ultra, a world protected by the Ultramarines, into a dead world. He assembled an invasion force consisting of his Iron Warrior Warband, Chaos Cultists, Traitor Marines, and more, all with the singular objective of destroying the Ultramarines.
Honsou’s plan didn’t stop there. He discovered and boarded a Star Fort hidden in uncharted space in the Ultramar sub-sector. This fort housed a powerful captive – the Demon Prince M’kar. Aligning with Honsou, M’kar transformed the Star Fort into a Chaos Abomination, linked to the warp, and summoned a massive demon Army to attack the realm of Ultramar.
Meanwhile, Honsou managed to acquire a clone of Uriel Ventris known as ‘the Newborn.’ This psychic and physical clone knew the Ultramar defense protocols, which Honsou used to attack the Star Fort and then the entire realm of Ultramar.
The war spread across several Ultramar Worlds, ultimately leading to a confrontation between Uriel, the Newborn, and Honsou on Uriel’s birthplace, Cal. Uriel managed to kill the Newborn and defeat Honsou’s larger force thanks to the appearance of spectral Guardian Warriors.
In the end, Uriel and his fellow Warriors survived and headed to Tasar, where M’kar and his demon Army were close to overrunning Chapter Master Calgar and his dwindling forces. In the final battle for the world, Uriel tossed the powerful anti-demonic Blade of Ventanas to Calgar, who used it to annihilate M’kar completely.
Despite the victory, the realm of Ultramar needed six months of mopping up operations before being declared free of chaos. Ominously, the body of Warsmith Honsou was never recovered from the ruins of the tomb, leaving an air of uncertainty hanging over the Ultramarines as they prepared to face their next challenge in the 999th year of the 41st Millennium.
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