The stars bleed with the silent screams of countless worlds and lurking at the edge of the Ghoul Stars, a grim sentinel stands watch against the darkness. Welcome back to our multi-part series delving into the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Today, we’re plunging into the tumultuous history of the Fortress world of Oras, a lone beacon against the onslaught of the Hive Fleets.
In the year 998 of the 41st Millennium, Hive Fleet Molok, a monstrous high fleet, carved its path through the Ghoul Stars, rippling into the galactic north. Its vanguard tendril first cast its ominous shadow over the Agri-world of Jolof some sixty-six years prior, triggering a desperate scramble among the Adeptus Mechanicus who had just unearthed fragments of a lost Standard Template Construct (STC) data core.
The world spaceport became a battleground, trench-lines choked with the bodies of the valiant Agathon Katan Jungle Fighters, Kak Moloff and Morian Iron Guard regiments. Their resolute defence bought the Mechanicus the precious time they needed to escape with their invaluable STC discovery.
Fast forward to the fall of Carak Prime, a tragedy etched in the annals of the 41st Millennium. The Ninth Vostroyan Firstborn Regiment, the ‘Old Iras’, met their end amidst the ruins of the main Hive City. They held out for 18 gruelling solar months against a Tyranid swarm that stretched from the city’s walls to the far horizon, a sea of chitin and death.
The Old Iras, facing the grim reality of their inevitable demise, chose to go out in a blaze of defiance. Only when the majority of the Tyranid swarm had swarmed into the city did the regiment detonate its nucleonic stack, incinerating the Hive City, its defenders, and an estimated 85% of the Tyranid swarm. The few surviving Tyranid organisms eventually starved to death, marking the first defeat of a splinter fleet of Hive Fleet Molok.
As we venture further into the 41st Millennium, we encounter Hive Fleet Oidia, encountered and mostly destroyed in the year 998.M. However, splinter fleets and remnants continue to cause havoc in the southern regions of the Ultima Segmentum.
In the year 999.M, the dormant Hive Fleet Hydra was discovered by the Eldar of The Poisoned Fang Cabal on the fringes of the Galaxy’s Eastern spiral arm. Their attempt to capture specimens backfired horrendously, with the awakened Tyranids mutilating every Eldar that dared to set foot inside the living ships.
The Hydra, roused prematurely from its slumber, accelerated its advance into the galaxy, leaving behind the devastated Eldar fleet. And so, the galaxy continues to reel under the onslaught of the Tyranids, from the newly emerged Hive Fleet Grindle to the relentless advance of Hive Fleet Proteus in the Segmentum Tempestus.
In the late 41st Millennium, Hive Fleet Humanes clashed with the Hunter Cadres of the T’au Empire, led by Commander Shadan. Soon after, the planet of Kitab came under attack by a splinter of Hive Fleet Humanes. The Raven Watch Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes responded, their storm talon ‘Talon of Johannes’ piercing the planet’s atmosphere.
Brother Chris, an Ironclad Dreadnought, was deployed to confront the encroaching Tyranid forces. His Terminator Squad, Foran, managed to destroy a primary synapse node before retreating.
These are but whispers of the countless battles waged in the grim darkness of the far future. The galaxy is assailed on all fronts, from Hive Fleet Chimera, once thought to be a splinter of Hive Fleet Behemoth, to the recently discovered Hive Fleet Harbinger that consumed the Imperial Forge World of Archry.
Our journey through the 41st Millennium continues in our next installment, where we’ll delve deeper into the shadowy threats that loom over the galaxy. Until then, keep your bolters ready and your faith in the Emperor strong. For in the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war.
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