The Imperium in Ruins
In the wake of Lord Commander Koorland’s demise, the High Lords of Terra found themselves paralyzed by indecision. As the coreworlds of Segmentum Solar succumbed to a renewed wave of Ork attacks, the majority of Battlefleet Solar was annihilated by a Greenskin fleet of Space Hulks.
A New Leader Emerges
Chapter Master Maximus Thane of the Fists Exemplar decided to take decisive action, gathering key individuals around himself, including Grand Master of Assassins Drakan Vangorich and Fabricator-General Kubik. Together, they conspired to launch a third push on Ullanor, aiming to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Rebuilding the Imperial Fists
Thane’s plan involved reestablishing the Imperial Fists, which had been wiped out with Koorland’s death. The Chapter’s of the Last Wall contributed a portion of their remaining strength, and soon 1,000 Battle-Brothers in Imperial Fists armor stood ready. Thane took their place as the new Chapter Master, keeping the destruction of the original Imperial Fists a secret.
Unconventional Tactics
The third Imperial offensive on Ullanor employed unconventional tactics. Using Mechanicum technology, Thane redirected a wave of asteroids into the world, devastating the planet and its orbital defenses. The bulk of Imperial troops landed aboard the modified rock 44 Thoosa, wiping out much of Ullanor’s capital of Gorkogrod.
The Battle for Ullanor
The Imperial invaders operated in five attack groups, each with a specific objective. Thane led the main strike force, comprising the new Imperial Fists and Sisters of Silence. The battle was fierce, with the Orks putting up a desperate fight. However, the Imperial forces managed to penetrate the Palace and fight their way to the central throneroom.
The Beast of Beasts
Thane and his companions were confronted by one of the Six Beast Warbosses, speculated to be “The Beast of Beasts.” After a desperate battle, the ritual on the final captured Ork Psyker succeeded in wiping out the Greenskins within the Gargant-Palace. The head of The Beast of Beasts exploded, saving Thane from certain death.
Aftermath
The final effort on Ullanor marked the collapse of the Beast’s Waaagh, but thousands of systems remained under threat. Thane and his new Imperial Fists returned to Terra, setting the stage for the Fourth Founding of Space Marines. However, the most immediate effect of the war was The Beheading, a coup launched by Vangorich that eliminated the incompetent High Lords.
A New Era
Vangorich ruled the Imperium as a tyrant for the next hundred years, refortifying Terra and founding new Space Marine chapters. However, as he began to go mad, Thane was forced to lead a coalition of Space Marine Chapters to put him down. The Imperium underwent significant reforms, including the creation of the Ordo Xenos and Ordo Malleus, and the abolition of the position of Lord Commander of the Imperium.
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