In the 41st Millennium, on the 303rd day of year 757, General Elbert cautiously maneuvered his fleet towards an out-system translation point, waiting for reinforcements or the first sign of an attack. He ordered one of his frigates to pass by the planet Fornax Alef, aiming to gauge the strength of enemy forces. The report he received was astonishing; the world’s orbital fleet yards were empty and the planet seemed devoid of life.
The once bustling Hive City of Fornax Alef was silent, its streets empty. There was no sign of electromagnetic activity, no power or industry, no motion. The city was dead, and Elbert ordered a spearhead force to land in advance of the reinforcements. The troops found nothing; no bodies, no burial pits. Just empty buildings and a silence that echoed through the deserted city.
Elbert sent extensive reports on this strange occurrence to War Master Slater. Fornax Alef was a vacant world, its population had disappeared without a trace and without explanation. However, on the first day of the year 758, transmissions from Elbert’s Liberation Force ceased.
80 solar days later, due to severe warp storm delays, the Iron Snakes arrived at Fornax Alef. They found no sign of Elbert or his troops. The Iron Snakes scoured the planet, searching for any trace of the Imperial Forces, but found nothing. It seemed the same unexplained fate that had befallen Fornax Alef had now overtaken Elbert and his Liberation Force.
Then, the circumstances changed dramatically. A comet or meteor struck the planet in the polar regions, causing great natural disasters. The impact site became a portal for hordes of demons, who poured out of the devastated Northern ice shelf and congregated around the hive cities. The Iron Snakes, led by Brother Captain Cules, found themselves besieged by these infernal creatures.
In the first month of the year 759, delayed portions of General El’s assault force arrived and immediately deployed to support the Iron Snakes. Despite being outnumbered, the Iron Snakes successfully destroyed the Demonic Army.
The disappearance of Fornax Alef’s population remains a mystery, though some suggest a connection with the warp storm activity. The Imperium eventually recolonized the vacant planet, repopulating its massive empty hives. Still, there are reports of unexplained screams of anguish in the dead of night.
Fast forward to the years 760 to 773, and the focus shifts to the planet Kokia Minus. Infamously known as ‘The World That Refused to Die,’ Kokia Minus saw over 8 million Imperial Guardsmen perish in the liberation campaign.
The Imperial forces, under the command of Generals Kelo and Thogs, had an auspicious start, winning three Hive cities – Hashen, Boquin, and Nazzi. However, Thogs’s erratic behavior led to his replacement by Lord Militant Vicus. The change in command was short-lived, as Vicus and his retinue were killed in an ambush due to faulty intelligence, an event now known as the Saber Bridge Incident.
This multi-part series will continue to delve into the mysteries and battles of the 41st Millennium, exploring the rich lore of Warhammer 40,000. Stay tuned for the next installment.
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