Welcome back, lore devotees! Today, we continue our journey through the tumultuous times of the 41st Millennium, focusing on the valiant efforts of the Imperium against the relentless onslaught of the Tau.
Among the defenders of the Imperium, Marus Calgar, and his Space Marines held a reputation that struck fear in the hearts of their enemies. Calgar, in an astutely strategic move, dispatched the legendary Second Company of Ultramarines to the Zeiss sector. Their mission? To hold the line against the Tau, creating a fortification through which these interstellar invaders couldn't dare to pass.
Calgar, ever the pragmatic leader, also sought reinforcements from other chapters. On arrival in the Ze sector, the Ultramarines found a mixed bag of desolate worlds and heavily fortified planets, ready to repel the lightning raids of the Tau.
In an audacious move, Captain Sarius led an assault on the Forge World of Pronus 5, halting the Tau's advance. Not only did this bold action stem the tide of the enemy, but it also pushed them back. Sarius, in a brilliant display of strategic ingenuity, utilised Tau tactics, employing rapid, lightning strikes against their weaker positions. This decisively stabilised the more fortified areas, causing the Tau expansion to slow, then halt under the might of the Imperium.
The Ultramarines were not alone in their heroic efforts, as they were soon joined by numerous other chapters, including the Crimson Fists. Despite the advanced technology of the Tau, they stood no chance against the combined might of the Adeptus Astartes. The Tau's fortresses, their shipyards, and weapon factories were heavily damaged or outright destroyed by the Space Marines' relentless assault.
Eventually, the Tau retreated, leaving the last bastion of Aura in the Ze sector to the Imperium. The Space Marines had won, but a counter-strike into Tau-held space wasn't sanctioned as the Astartes were needed elsewhere in the galaxy to defend against the forces of Chaos, especially during the height of the 13th Black Crusade.
Now, let's switch gears to the end of the 41st Millennium, in the era ominously known as the Time of Omens. It was then that the Cornate Lord Tara "The Terrible" and his warband, the Blood Hounds, invaded the Leonot system. In a bloody frenzy, they unleashed chaos on the industrial world of LNO 4, turning its inhabitants into murderous killers.
Into this madness, Captain Julius and 30 Crimson Fists were deployed. These veteran brothers and Tech Marines systematically destabilised the thermal macro reactors that regulated the operation of the planet-sized tank manufacturer. Despite being hunted by their Cornate enemies, they fought only when necessary, ensuring each strike hit its mark.
Six months later, two-thirds of the chapter's strike group engaged in a final, furious battle, and were evacuated on the strike cruiser Storm Raven. The victory was short-lived, as a destabilized reactor detonated, triggering a cataclysmic chain reaction that wiped out 86% of the planet's life.
The Adeptus Mechanicus landed easily on the surface, finishing off the remnants of the Chaos worshippers and claiming the Subterranean Riches of this world for themselves. However, after the appearance of the Great Rift, they had to return once again to their native system for its defence.
History seemed doomed to repeat itself when the world of Ren suffered a demonic incursion during the warp storms that followed the birth of the Rift. The Crimson Fists, led by Pedro Cantor, were besieged on their homeworld by the legions of demon Prince Arur. When the Indomitus Crusade arrived on Ren's World, Arur's demonic legions were shattered.
The Crimson Fists were astounded by the return of Roboute Guilliman, but they were even more grateful for the arrival of the Primaris Space Marines bearing their own heraldry. These genetically engineered warriors, closer to the Primarch Rogal Dorn than any who had ever existed, were the creations of Belisarius Cawl, using warriors from Terra who were only a few generations removed from the Imperial Fists.
Thus ended another chapter in the annals of the 41st Millennium, filled with blood, valor, and sacrifice. But remember, in the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war! Stay tuned for our next deep dive into the lore of Warhammer 40,000.
Leave a Reply