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| COMMIT TO: Inquisition
Record 1555 624-2000
CROSS FILE: Inquisition of the Vindicators INPUT DATE: 3746914.M36 |
AUTHOR: Inquisitor
Ryjak
TRANSMITTER: Astropath Secundus Ariel RECEIVER: Astropath Prime Joshua |
| SUBJECT: Crusade of Vindication | THOUGHT: Every Chapter has a beginning... |
In 998.M35, the High Lords of Terra declared a crusade against the heretics in Endurteil Sector, who had recently come to power after the mysterious death of Governor Jukal of Rhinterveld threw the region into turmoil. A power vacuum was created, and many high-ranking officials made their grabs for power. Without Jukal's steady handed justice and enforcement through Jukal's 101st Jaguar Battle Fleet, members of the Administratium proceeded to turn the region to their own motives. Soon, they had several systems under their influence, and proceeded into open rebellion against his most Holy Emperor.
Prior attempts to pacify the region had failed. Assassins failed to complete their missions, often disappearing without a trace. The 234th Necromundan Battle Fleet was dispatched to the region, only to become scattered in the warp, and appear individually throughout the region; easy pickings for the rebel force. The Dark Angels, whose Monastery fortress known as the Rock, was within easy jump distance of the region, but rejected instructions to pacify the region, stating there forces were already committed to the Emperor's will in other actions. The High Lords saw no other alternative than to declare a Crusade.
Several chapters answered the call. Most prominent in the force were the Ultramarines, who contributed the 3rd Battle Company and 5th Reserve Company to the Crusade, along with the Battle Barge Retribution, Strike Cruisers Requiem and Revelry, and several support frigates. The Black Templars and White Scars also made significant contributions. The Black Templars committed 30 Marines from their 1st Company in Strike Cruiser Bastion, along with parts of their 8th Armored Division and 10th Recon Division. The White Scars came with Strike Cruiser Fulguration and part of their 3rd Airborne Division. Other Chapters included the White Consols, Novamarines, Brazen Claws, and White Panthers. Fully 2/3 of the Crusading force could trace its ancestry to Roboute Guilliman.
On 3304998.M35, the Crusaders mustered over Ander's World, and Ultramarine Captain Mikal Korovus was declared Arch-Crusader of the assembled forces. After an hour of prayer and meditation, Captain Korovus declared the beginning of the Crusade of Vindication.
The Crusaders entered the Endurteil Sector. The Warp scattered the fleets throughout the region, just as the 234th Necromundan Battle Fleet had been 5 years previous. Korovus used this to his advantage, and instructed the various forces to pacify the systems they crossed en-rout to Rhinterveld, the central system of the Endurteil Sector. Each force of Crusaders fought valiantly, and brought the greater glory of the Emperor to many rebellious peoples. Many returned to the Emperor's Light after their military forces were expertly crushed and rebellious leaders publicly executed. Many praised the Crusaders as liberators from tyranny.
The Fleshtearers lead a particularly viscous crusade. Many times they would descend on a liberated planet and proceed to massacre many surrendered civilians. When asked to explain their actions by Captain Korovus, they merely replied that all heretics that turned from the Emperor's love must face retribution. Unable to directly face the Fleshtearer's acting commander, Korovus was forced to wait until the fleets mustered over Rhinterveld.
On 5882999.M35, the Fleshtearer force warped into the Crimson Nova system, named for the red supergiant star predicted to explode within the next millennia. There they found Chaos raiders terrorizing the system. Outnumbered, the Fleshtearers bore down on their enemy. They flashed through the raiders, and both sides suffered losses from the initial pass. The Fleshtearer fleet dove towards the sun, trying to pull the raiders after them and away from the few sparsely populated worlds. The Chaos Raiders gave chase, struggling to catch up. Then disaster struck.
The Fleshtearer cruiser's third engine nacelle mysteriously exploded while still beyond the Chaos fleets reach. This catastrophic explosion took two other engines down as well. The Chaos raiders swarmed over the stricken ship, like wolves after prey. They disabled the ship, and proceeded to board her, to claim the vessel as their own.
The rest of what happened is still a mystery to this day. Somehow the Fleshtearers were able to keep the traitor marines from overwhelming the ship. Somehow the vessels stayed clamped together as they plunged into the supergiant. Legend says that the Fleshtearers used meltabombs to fuse the ships together, and actually carried the battle to the Renegade's ship, preventing it from changing course, but there is no proof, other than accounts of the scientists on the systems research station, who witnessed the battle.
On 3304000.M36, exactly two years after the beginning of the Crusade of Vindication, the Marines mustered over Rhinterveld. Captain Mikal Korovus honored all those that died, and gave special praise to the Fleshtearers dedication and sacrifice. After a day of prayer and remembrance, the combined fleet descended upon Rhinterveld V, the largest populated planet of the Sector.
After establishing space superiority, the Crusaders executed a series of strategical bombardments. Many defenders surrendered under the onslaught. After a 10 hour ground war, where many defenders jumped out of tanks and fortifications, begging to be spared, the White Scars secured the Capitol of Brinwald. The war and Crusade effectively ended when the Black Templar Terminators teleported into the High Priest's Temple, and executed the heretical leaders of the rebellion.
If you need to contact me Lord, send your transmission to Inquisitor Ryjak
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