1st War of Arm Aged Don

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    T h o u g h m a n y i n t h e I m p e r i u m a r e a w a r eo f t h e s e c o n d a n d t h i r d w a r s f o rA r m a g e d d o n , o n l y a s e l e c t f e w h a v e a n yk n o w l e d g e o f t h e f i r s t . A l l o f f i c i a l r e c o r d so f t h e e v e n t w e r e e x p u n g e d f r o m I m p e r i a lf i l e s b y a n A d m i n i s t r a t u m d e s p e r a t e t oc o n t a i n t h e t r u t h : t h a t H u m a n i t y f a c e st h r e a t s m o r e d i r e t h a n t h e a v e r a g eI m p e r i a l c i t i z e n c o u l d p o s s i b l yc o m p r e h e n d . S u c h k n o w l e d g e , i t i s f e a r e d ,w o u l d s u r e l y c a s t t h e s u p e r s t i t i o u s a n dp a r a n o i d w o r l d s o f t h e I m p e r i u m i n t oa n a r c h y a n d r u i n . S u c h i n f o r m a t i o n t h a tc a n b e r e c o v e r e d c o n c e r n i n g t h e e v e n t s o ft h e f i r s t w a r i s o n l y t o b e f o u n d i n t h ed u s t i e s t c o r n e r s o f t h e c r u m b l i n g a r c h i v e sa n d d a t a v a u l t s o f t h e A d e p t u sA d m i n i s t r a t u m , a n d t o p o s s e s s s u c hk n o w l e d g e i s t o i n v i t e t h e r e t r i b u t i o n o ft h e O r d o M a l l e u s .ArmageddonA r m a g e d d o n l i e s s o m e 1 0 , 0 0 0 l i g h ty e a r s t o t h e g a l a c t i c n o r t h - e a s t o f T e r r a ,i n t h e r e g i o n s b o r d e r i n g t h e S e g m e n t u mS o l a r a n d t h e S e g m e n t u m O b s c u r u s .C l a s s i f i e d a h i v e w o r l d b y t h eA d m i n i s t r a t u m , a n d s u b j e c t t o t h eh i g h e s t t i t h e g r a d e s , A r m a g e d d o n i st h e i n d u s t r i a l h u b o f n o t j u s t t h eA r m a g e d d o n s u b - s e c t o r , b u t t h e e n t i r er e g i o n . W o r l d s f o r l i g h t y e a r s a r o u n dr e l y o n t h e i n d u s t r i a l o u t p u t o f t h ei m m e n s e h i v e c i t i e s , a n d f e w w o r l d s ,o t h e r t h a n N e c r o m u n d a , c a n c o m p e t ew i t h i t i n t e r m s o f t h e s h e e r m a g n i t u d eo f g o o d s p r o d u c e d .T h e c o s t o f m i l l e n n i a o f i n d u s t r y i s aw o r l d r e d u c e d t o a b a r r e n w a s t e ,w h e r e f e w c a n p r o s p e r o u t s i d e t h em a s s i v e h i v e c i t i e s . S o r a v a g e d b yo v e r - m i n i n g a n d p o l l u t i o n i s t h es u r f a c e o f A r m a g e d d o n , t h a t n o f o o dc a n b e p r o d u c e d a n d c l e a n a i r i s av a l u e d c o m m o d i t y . T h e i n d u s t r i a lc a r t e l s i m p o r t a s t a g g e r i n g q u a n t i t y o ff o o d s t u f f s e a c h y e a r , a n d t h e n o b l ef a m i l i e s r e a p t h e p r o f i t s o f t h e i re x p l o i t a t i o n o f t e n s o f m i l l i o n s o fw o r k e r s .

    The First War for Armageddonby Imperial scriveners Graham McNeill & Andy Hoare

    U n d e r t h i s r e g i m e m a n y m u t t e r e d o fl i b e r a t i o n , o f c h a l l e n g i n g t h e s t a t u s q u oa n d f i n d i n g j u s t i c e f o r t h e c o u n t l e s ss o u l s b o u n d t o t h e g a r g a n t u a ni n d u s t r i a l m a c h i n e o f A r m a g e d d o n .D e m a g o g u e s w h i s p e r e d w o r d s o fd i s s e n t , a n d s o o n a g e n t p r o v o c a t e u r sc a l l e d o p e n l y f o r r e v o l u t i o n . C i v i l u n r e s tb e c a m e r i f e a n d t h e P l a n e t a r y D e f e n c eF o r c e w a s f o r c e d t o v i o l e n t l y s u p p r e s si t s o w n p e o p l e w i t h a l a r m i n g f r e q u e n c y .A n A d m i n i s t r a t u m c e n s u s o f t h e d a yr e c o r d s t h a t t h i s w a s t h e s t a t e o f t h eh i v e w o r l d o f A r m a g e d d o n a t t h e m i d d l eo f t h e t h i r d c e n t u r y o f t h e 4 1 s tM i l l e n n i u m ; a w o r l d i n t h e t h r o e s o fi n s u r r e c t i o n a n d d i s o r d e r , r i p e f o r t h ea t t e n t i o n s o f t h e R u i n o u s P o w e r s .Darkness GathersT h e B e l l u m C h a o t i c a , p e n n e d i n t h ec e n t u r y f o l l o w i n g t h e w a r b y t h ea n o n y m o u s H e r e t i c A r c h i v i s t o f t h eG e t h s e m a n e R e c l u s i u m s t a t e s t h a t i n4 9 9 . M 4 1 , t h e D a e m o n P r i n c e A n g r o n ,P r i m a r c h o f t h e W o r l d E a t e r s T r a i t o r

    L e g i o n r a i s e d a m i g h t y h o r d e o fm u t a n t s , d a e m o n h o s t s a n d r e n e g a d e s .S u r r o u n d e d b y a h o s t o f s u m m o n e dd a e m o n s a n d a t t e n d e d b y h i s C h o s e nW o r l d E a t e r s b e r z e r k e r s , A n g r o n a n dh i s a r m y v o m i t e d f o r t h f r o m t h e E y e o fT e r r o r . T a k i n g a d v a n t a g e o f t h e d r i f t i n gs p a c e h u l k D e v o u r e r o f S t a r s , A n g r o na n d h i s u n h o l y a r m y c l o s e d o nA r m a g e d d o n .Chaos AttackT h e h u l k e m e r g e d f r o m t h e W a r p i n t h ef u r t h e s t r e a c h e s o f t h e A r m a g e d d o ns y s t e m , a n d w a s i m m e d i a t e l y d e t e c t e db y t h e o u t e r m o s t m o n i t o r i n g s t a t i o n s .A s i t d r i f t e d t h r o u g h t h e o u t e r r e g i o n s ,s y s t e m d e f e n c e c r a f t w e r e s c r a m b l e df r o m t h e S t J o w e n s D o c k n a v a l f a c i l i t ya n d m a d e c o n t a c t w i t h t h e h u l k a s i tp a s s e d t h e w o r l d o f P e l u c i d a r o n t h ef i f t h d a y a f t e r i t s a r r i v a l .T h e s h i p s c r e w s s a w t h e i r d o o m a st h e y c l o s e d w i t h t h e g a r g a n t u a n s p a c eh u l k , b u t n o n e t h e l e s s a t t e m p t e d t o s t a l li t s a p p r o a c h a n d p r o v i d e t h e d e f e n d e r so n A r m a g e d d o n t i m e t o p r e p a r e f o r t h ec o m i n g i n v a s i o n . T h o u s a n d s d i e d i n t h eb a t t l e a g a i n s t t h e D e v o u r e r o f S t a r s ,a n d t h e i r n a m e s a r e e n g r a v e d u p o n t h em a r b l e p i l l a r s o f t h e H a l l o f M a r t y r s o nS t J o w e n s D o c k . B u t t h e a t t a c k w a s n o ti n v a i n , f o r i t b l a s t e d f r e e t h e

    TERRA

    MACKAN

    PROSPERO[destroyed]

    ARMAGGEDONELPHANOR

    CADIA

    EYE OF TERROR

    FENRIS

    ARXcf. The Arx Raid

    MORDIAN

    The First War for Armageddon occurred almost 500 years before the birth ofGhazghkull Thraka; the Ork warlord who waged war upon the hive world notonce, but twice in the last century of the 41st Millennium. ScrivenersAndy Hoare and Graham McNeill have unearthed details of the first of theterrible conflicts unleashed upon the blighted world of Armageddon.

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    p r o p u l s i o n u n i t o f a n a n c i e n t s p a c ev e s s e l t h a t f o r m e d p a r t o f t h e D e v o u r e ro f S t a r s e n o r m o u s b u l k . A s e c t i o n t h es i z e o f a s m a l l c i t y s l o w l y t o r e l o o s ef r o m t h e m a s s o f t h e h u l k , d i s g o r g i n g aw a v e - f r o n t o f p l a s m a f i r e a n di n c i n e r a t i n g t h o u s a n d s o f A n g r o n st r o o p s a s i t s p i r a l l e d a w a y , c a u g h t b yt h e g r a v i t y o f n e a r b y P e l u c i d a r .T h e d r i v e u n i t b r o k e u p i n t h ea t m o s p h e r e , s h e d d i n g a h i d e o u sc o c k t a i l o f f u e l s a n d m i l l e n n i a o f W a r ps p a w n e d t o x i n s . T h e a t m o s p h e r e o fP e l u c i d a r w a s s e e d e d w i t h t o x i c d e a t h ,a n d o n l y t h e h a r d y s u b t e r r a n e a nj u n g l e s o f t h e c a v e r n - w o r l d s u r v i v e d t h ei n i t i a l p o l l u t i o n . T h e i n h a b i t a n t sp e r i s h e d w i t h i n a y e a r , t h e i r m i n d sd e s t r o y e d b y t h e t a i n t o f t h e W a r p , t h e i rb o d i e s p o i s o n e d b y t h e r a d i o a c t i v ew a s t e , a n d P e l u c i d a r r e m a i n sq u a r a n t i n e d t o t h i s d a y .W i t h o u t t h e a n c i e n t d r i v e s e c t i o n ,A n g r o n s s e r v a n t s e v i d e n t l y s t r u g g l e d t oi n f l u e n c e t h e c o u r s e o f t h e v a s t h u l k ,a n d i t s a r r i v a l a t A r m a g e d d o n w a sd e l a y e d b y a t l e a s t a m o n t h . T h es a c r i f i c e o f t h e s y s t e m d e f e n c e c r e w sa n d t h e p e o p l e o f P e l u c i d a r h a d b o u g h tt h e f o r c e s o f A r m a g e d d o n v a l u a b l e t i m et o p r e p a r e f o r t h e i n e v i t a b l e i n v a s i o n .Chaos AscendentD e s p i t e t h e s a c r i f i c e s o f t h e I m p e r i a lN a v y , t h e D e v o u r e r o f S t a r s q u i c k l yo v e r c a m e A r m a g e d d o n s o r b i t a ld e f e n c e s , a n d A n g r o n s f o r c e s w e r e s o o ni n a p o s i t i o n t o b e g i n t h e i r l a n d i n g s .W i t h t h e s p a c e h u l k s a r r i v a l , t r e a c h e r yr e a r e d i t s u g l y h e a d w i t h i n t h e h i v e s o fA r m a g e d d o n , a n d t h e s e d i t i o u s

    e l e m e n t s o f t h e p o p u l a c e w e r e r e v e a l e da s f o l l o w e r s o f t h e D a r k P o w e r s . T h er e c e n t l y u n c o v e r e d m e m o i r s o f L o r dG e n e r a l G u s t a v K a r l s o n I I r e c o r d t h a tn e a r l y h a l f t h e P l a n e t a r y D e f e n c e F o r c et u r n e d o n t h e i r f e l l o w s , t h e i r r a n k ss w o l l e n b y h o r d e s o f c u l t i s t s . K a r l s o n ,C h i e f - o f - S t a f f o f t h e A r m a g e d d o nS e c u n d u s C o m m a n d G u a r d , r e a c t e dw i t h s w i f t a n d u n f o r g i v i n g e f f i c i e n c y ,e l i m i n a t i n g t h o s e u n i t s h e c o u l d n o ta b s o l u t e l y r e l y o n . H i s c o u n t e r p a r t o nA r m a g e d d o n P r i m e w a s s l o w e r t o r e a c ta n d f o u g h t i n v a i n t o r e g a i n c o n t r o l a sa n a r c h y a n d m a y h e m s w e p t t h r o u g ht h e h i v e s o f A r m a g e d d o n P r i m e . W h e r et h e d e f e n d e r s s h o u l d h a v e b e e n a b l e t om o u n t a w e l l - p r e p a r e d d e f e n c e , t h et r e n c h l i n e s a n d b a s t i o n s w e r e t h e s i t eo f v i c i o u s b a t t l e s b e t w e e n e r s t w h i l eb r o t h e r s - i n - a r m s .A n g r o n s f o r c e s m a d e t h e i r p l a n e t f a l l a l lb u t u n c o n t e s t e d , a n d w i t h i n a w e e k ,a l l - o u t w a r r a g e d i n a n d a r o u n d e v e r yh i v e o n A r m a g e d d o n P r i m e , t h e d e a t ht o l l s p i r a l l i n g b e y o n d c o m p r e h e n s i o n .D a e m o n s r a m p a g e d t h r o u g h t h e f a c t o r ya n d h a b d i s t r i c t s w h i l e m u t a n t s a n dr e n e g a d e s u n l e a s h e d t h e i r f e r a l w r a t hu p o n i n n o c e n t c i v i l i a n s . T r a i t o r T i t a nL e g i o n s s t a l k e d t h e A s h W a s t e s , w h e r el o y a l i s t P r i n c e p s f o u g h t a d e s p e r a t er e a r g u a r d a c t i o n . T h e o n l y h o p e f o r t h ed e f e n d e r s w a s t o f a l l b a c k t o w a r d s t h ee q u a t o r i a l j u n g l e s , a n d a t t e m p t t oc o n s o l i d a t e i n A r m a g e d d o n S e c u n d u s .A s t h e l a s t o f t h e I m p e r i a l f o r c e sw i t h d r e w t o w a r d s A r m a g e d d o nS e c u n d u s , t h e y l e f t b e h i n d t h e m a l a n dr u l e d b y t h e d a e m o n i c a n d t h e i n s a n e .M a k e s h i f t a b a t t o i r s w e r e c o n s t r u c t e d ,a n d t h e b l o o d o f A n g r o n s v i c t i m s w a s

    o f f e r e d u p t o t h e B l o o d G o d . T h e l a s tu n i t s t o s t a g g e r f r o m t h e A s h W a s t e sr e p o r t e d t h e l a n d b e h i n d t h e m l i t t e r e dw i t h b o n e s , a n d t h e p o l l u t e d r i v e r sc h o k e d w i t h t h e b l o o d s p i l l e d i n t h en a m e o f K h o r n e .VenerationsA c c o r d i n g t o t h e H e r e t i c A r c h i v i s t ,W a r p s t o r m s o f t e r r i f y i n g m a g n i t u d es u r g e d w i t h p o w e r a r o u n d t h eA r m a g e d d o n s y s t e m a t t h i s t i m e a n dt h e s h e e r s c a l e o f s l a u g h t e r l e n t p o w e rt o A n g r o n a n d t h e d a e m o n s o f h i sh o r d e . B u t s u c h p o w e r i s f l e e t i n g , a n da s t h e W a r p s t o r m s b e g a n t o a b a t e , s ot o o d i d h i s p o w e r d i m i n i s h . U n l e s s t h eD a e m o n P r i m a r c h c o u l d f i n d a w a y o fe s t a b l i s h i n g a p e r m a n e n t l i n k t o t h eI m m a t e r i u m t o d r a w t h e e n e r g yn e c e s s a r y t o s u s t a i n h i s a r m y , a l l h i sp l a n s w o u l d b e u n d o n e .U n a b l e t o c o n t i n u e w i t h o u t t h e s t r e n g t ho f t h e W a r p t o e m p o w e r h i m , A n g r o n sa d v a n c e s t a l l e d a m i d s t t h e d e e p e s tj u n g l e s o f t h e e q u a t o r i a l b e l t . T h eD a e m o n i c P r i m a r c h o r d e r e d t h ec o n s t r u c t i o n o f a h u g e m o n o l i t h ,t h r o u g h w h i c h h i s a r m i e s c o u l d d r a wt h e p o w e r n e e d e d t o s u s t a i n t h e i re x i s t e n c e i n t h e m a t e r i a l u n i v e r s e . T h ec o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e m e g a l i t h i c s t r u c t u r et o o k m a n y w e e k s , a n d t h o u s a n d s d i e di n i t s c o n s t r u c t i o n . T h o u s a n d s m o r ew e r e b u t c h e r e d i n c r u e l c e r e m o n i e s o fc o n s e c r a t i o n , a n d t h e j u n g l e w i t h e r e df o r m i l e s a r o u n d a s t h e c o r r u p t i n gp o w e r o f C h a o s w a s d r a w n i n t o t h ea r c a n e c o n s t r u c t i o n .

    ANGRON, DAEMON PRIMARCH OF THE WORLD EATERS

    Ten thousand years ago, at the very birth of the Imperium, the Warmaster Horus,greatest and most trusted of the Emperors generals, led the rebellion thatplunged the Imperium into the maelstrom of terror known as the Horus Heresy.

    Angron was the first Primarch to join Horus in revolt against the Emperor,believing that his martial virtue was the only way to save Mankind fromdestruction. The World Eaters had always been the most warlike and savage ofthe Space Marine Legions and Angron enthusiastically led them into the worshipof Khorne, the god of war and bloodshed.

    Khorne appealed to Angrons sense of honour and martial pride, and when theHeresy failed and Horus was slain, he and the World Eaters battled across thegalaxy to reach the Eye of Terror and the daemon world Khorne had preparedfor them.

    Twisted and horribly mutated over the centuries, Angron is now a hulking giantwith skin the colour of spilt blood. He continues to serve his Daemonic master,smiting his foes with a mighty Chaos blade of glowing iron etched with runesof doom and destruction.

    Bran Redmow, known as the bloody-handed warrior.

    Angrons Berzerkers slaughter the

    defenders of Hive Volcanus.

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    D i a b o l i c a l e n e r g i e s f l o o d e d t h e C h a o sh o r d e a s d a r k p o w e r p u l s e d t h r o u g ht h e m o n o l i t h , b u t t h e t i m e s p e n t i n i t sc o n s t r u c t i o n h a d d e l a y e d A n g r o n sa d v a n c e b y s e v e r a l w e e k s , a n d t h eI m p e r i a l d e f e n d e r s d i d n o t w a s t e t h eb r i e f r e p r i e v e t h e y h a d b e e n g i v e n .The Imperium Strikes BackA n g r o n s h o r d e e r u p t e d f r o m t h ee q u a t o r i a l j u n g l e s a n d s u r g e d s o u t h ,t h e b u l k o f h i s a r m y s e e k i n g t o e n g a g et h e I m p e r i a l d e f e n d e r s h o l d i n g t h e l i n ea t t h e R i v e r C h a e r o n . B u t t h e d e f e n d e r sh a d u s e d t h e t i m e a f f o r d e d b y A n g r o n sd e l a y w i s e l y . T h e i n v a d e r s f o u n dt h e m s e l v e s f a c i n g w e l l d u g - i n t r o o p s ,r e i n f o r c e d b y t h e r e c e n t l y a r r i v e d S p a c eW o l v e s w h o h a d a n s w e r e dA r m a g e d d o n s c r y f o r h e l p f r o m t h e i rn e a r b y h o m e w o r l d o f F e n r i s .I l l - p r e p a r e d f o r s u c h a s t a l w a r t d e f e n c e ,t h e C h a o s h o r d e s b r o k e a g a i n s t t h ei m p r e g n a b l e d e f e n c e l i n e s a n d w a v ea f t e r w a v e w a s r e p u l s e d . I t i s s a i d t h a ta t t h e b a t t l e s c o n c l u s i o n , t h e m i g h t yC h a e r o n w a s c h o k e d w i t h t h e m u t i l a t e db o d i e s o f m u t a n t s a n d t r a i t o r s . B u t t h ew a r f o r A r m a g e d d o n w a s f a r f r o m o v e r .T o t h e w e s t , A n g r o n h i m s e l f l e d a na t t a c k t o w a r d s I n f e r n u s a n d H e l s r e a c hh i v e s , s m a s h i n g t h e I m p e r i a l d e f e n c e sw i d e o p e n a s h e d i d s o . E n t i r ec o m p a n i e s o f A n g r o n s m o s t i n s a n eW o r l d E a t e r s b e r s e r k e r s r a m p a g e dt h r o u g h t h e r e d o u b t s a n d t r e n c h l i n e sd e f e n d i n g t h e a p p r o a c h t o t h e h i v e s ,a n d A n g r o n p r e p a r e d t o d e l i v e r t h ed e c i s i v e b l o w t o t h e b e l e a g u e r e dd e f e n d e r s .L o g a n G r i m n a r , t h e c o m m a n d e r o f t h eS p a c e W o l v e s h a d o n e l a s t f o r c e t oc o m m i t . T h o u g h n e w t o h i s p o s t a sC h a p t e r M a s t e r , G r i m n a r w a s f a r f r o mi n e x p e r i e n c e d i n c o m b a t i n g t h e s e r v a n t so f C h a o s , a n d u p o n h i s a r r i v a l o nA r m a g e d d o n , h a d i m m e d i a t e l yr e q u e s t e d t h e a i d o f t h e C h a m b e rM i l i t a n t o f t h e O r d o M a l l e u s . G i v e n t h es c a l e o f A n g r o n s i n v a s i o n , a n e n t i r ec o m p a n y o f G r e y K n i g h t T e r m i n a t o r sw a s a s s e m b l e d , a f o r m a t i o n o n l y e v e rc o m m i t t e d t o b a t t l e u n d e r t h e m o s td e s p e r a t e o f c i r c u m s t a n c e s .T h e a c c o u n t o f t h e b a t t l e i t s e l f i s s e a l e dw i t h i n t h e u n b r e a c h a b l e v a u l t s o f t h eO r d o M a l l e u s , b u t i t i s k n o w n t h a t t h eG r e y K n i g h t s t e l e p o r t e d d i r e c t l y i n t o t h em i d s t o f A n g r o n s h o s t . I t i s s a i d t h a t ad o z e n b l o o d t h i r s t e r s a t t e n d e d t h eD a e m o n P r i m a r c h ; f o r m i n g a b o d y g u a r dn o m o r t a l c o u l d h o p e t o d e f e a t

    The horizon burned the colour of blood,as though the sky itself was on fire. Thejungles of Armageddon were ablaze,turning the darkness of the night intohateful, orange-lit day. Logan Grimnar,Chapter Master of the Space Wolvesbreathed deeply, tasting the toxins in theair with every breath and running a dirt-and-blood encrusted hand through hismane of unkempt blonde hair. He staredat the crater-marked hell that stretched

    out from the edge of the front line. Thestench of rotting corpses mingled with thereek of burning fuel and his eyes stungfrom the noxious black smoke coilinglazily upwards from burning vehicles theenemy had lost in the fighting.

    Too few, he whispered. Too few.

    His practiced eye surveyed the barrenexpanse of the Ash Wastes on the farbank of the River Chaeron, easily pickingout the hated icons of the Blood Godswaying in the cold northern wind amidstthe enemy camp. Bodies floated in theriver, so many a man might cross withoutwetting his feet, their eyeless skulls turnedup to face the fire-lit sky.

    He marched along the length of thedefensive wall, his dented and scoredTerminator armour groaning as thedamaged fibre-bundle muscles in the leftthigh fought to match his pace. A carelessparry had allowed a daemons axe to bite ahands breadth into his armour. It wasonly one of a dozen wounds he hadsuffered in this campaign thus far, but thearmour had suffered greatly and, thoughthe artificers had done their best, there

    was not the time for the repairs itdeserved. He only hoped the armoursbattle spirit would understand and not failhim at a crucial moment. Grimnar stoppedat an embrasure in the parapet and grippedthe edges of the wall. The parapet wasnearly twenty metres high and sturdilyconstructed by the men and women of theDepartmento Munitorum Engineer Corp.Not nearly as strong or ashigh as hewould have liked, but he knew they were

    lucky to have it at all. The DaemonPrimarchs inexplicable delay in crossingthe equatorial jungles had given them thetime they so desperately needed toregroup and reorganise the demoralisedImperial forces.

    In the distance, nearly a hundredkilometres to the east, Grimnar couldmake out the smoke-wreathed spire ofHive Infernus, the teeming, stinking, man-made mountain called home by overtwelve million people. People he wassworn to defend, but didnt know that he

    would be able to. He shrugged off suchdefeatist thoughts and turned as he hearda calm voice behind him say, LordGrimnar.

    Brother Captain Aurellian, noddedGrimnar to the new arrival. Like him,Aurellian was clad in Terminator armour,its blue-steel surfaces polished andgleaming. The Grey Knight carried a long,wide-bladed pole arm, its edge silver andfilled with intricate scriptwork, too smalleven for the enhanced eyesight of a SpaceMarine to read. Engraved purity seals anddevotional litanies fluttered from the shaft

    LOGAN GRIMNAR, LORD OF THE SPACE WOLVES

    The saga of Logan Grimnar was but two centuries old when he became the WolfLord; Chapter Master of the Space Wolves. The First War for Armageddon wasthe first real test of his abilities as Great Wolf, and his command during the

    conflict is counted his finest hour.The Old Wolf, as he is now known by many of his warriors, is notorious forupholding the interests and rights of his chapter, harbouring a deep distrust ofthe Administratum. Those who know of such things point to its actions at theend of the First War for Armageddon as the cause of his mistrust, but whateverthe truth, few will stand against the Great Wolf, and none will reject the aid ofhis Space Wolves in time of war.

    Grimnar is a giant of a figure, tall even for a Space Marine and he carries theweight of his years with great dignity. Now seven hundred years old, his fangshave grown long and bestial, as do those of every Space Wolf as he ages.Wearing his ancient suit of Terminator armour, and wielding the revered Axe ofMorkai, Grimnar is one of the most feared warriors, and most respected leadersin the Imperium.

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    and every surface of his pristine armourwas decorated with heraldic iconographyand carved idioms.

    Grimnar felt a stab of anger towards theGrey Knight. His weapon was unblooded

    and though he and his warriors hadarrived the night before last, they hadimmersed themselves in prayer instead ofjoining the desperate fighting on the walls.

    When the Adepts of the CultMechanicus have completed theirpreparations, we shall take the fight tothe Fallen One, said Aurellian.

    And how long will that be? snappedGrimnar, our people are dying here,Brother Aurellian. We do not have timeto indulge every whim of your petTechpriests.

    I do not know, shrugged Aurellian,ignoring Grimnars aggressive tone. It willbe for them to say when they are ready.

    The young Chapter Master of the SpaceWolves bunched his fists and said, Everysecond the Adeptus Mechanicus spendschanting doggerel and waving stinkingcensers over their technological witcherycost lives, dont you understand that? Weneed to take the fight to the enemy now!

    I understand it only too well, LordGrimnar, replied Aurellian coolly, but itwill avail us nothing if we attack beforewe are fully prepared. How many morelives will be lost if we fail because weacted in haste?

    Grimnar felt his anger ebb as the senseof the Grey Knights words penetratedthe haze of his anger and frustration.Thus far they had been spared the fullhorror of the Daemon Primarchs attack,but the defeats his army had suffered onthe banks of the Chaeron would surelygain his attention soon. And the Emperorhelp them all when that happened.

    Do what you must then, but be ready toattack when the beast comes at us.

    You are sure he will attack here?

    Grimnar nodded as he looked along thelength of the wall and trench line beforeit, seeing the bone-weary troopers whomanned its firing step and guns. Theywore defeat and exhaustion like a shroud.

    He nodded slowly. I would.

    ******************Dirt and hard-packed earth rained downfrom the latest impacts of high explosive

    shells as Sergeant Kohler pressed hishands against his ears and squeezed hiseyes shut. He kept his mouth open toavoid the pressure wave bursting hiseardrums as hed been taught and prayed

    for this nightmare to end. The groundheaved with shell impacts and the airburned with acrid propellant fumes. Hesmelt blood and the stench of voidedbowels and bladders and gagged, pressinghis back against the earth of his squadsdugout in the trench line. Men ran insanewith terror, strobing silhouettes against thebright flare of explosions before beingsnatched away in storms of fire and steel.Kohler spat dirt and blood.

    He reached down and gripped his lasguntightly, knuckles white. Kohler held the

    weapon close, clutching it to his muddyflak vest like a protective talisman, and ittook him long seconds to realise that theshelling had stopped. As the ringing inhis ears faded, screams and desperate criesfor medics replaced the shriek ofincoming artillery, the sudden absence ofthunderous noise as surprising as the factthat he was still alive. The momentaryelation at his survival faded as heremembered that the only reason it wouldstop would be an imminent attack.Sergeant Kohler surged to his feet,shouting, Everybody up! Get up! Get up!Theyre coming again!

    Dazed and terrified soldiers reluctantlyrose from their dugouts, their eyeshaunted by the carnage and horrors they

    had seen in this war. Things so terriblethat many would never sleep again, evenwere they to live through this nightmare.Kohler chivvied his squad members ontothe trenchs firing step, yellingencouragement at anyone who passed by.Mangled bodies and severed limbs litteredthe iron duckboards of the trench andfoot-deep holes were filled with blood.Kohler slung his lasgun and pressed hisface to the trench periscope, extending itsvision port over the lip of their defence.Rolling banks of grey-flecked smokefilled the viewer, jerked and snatched bygunfire. He could hear a swelling roar ofhatred and a rumbling vibration throughthe ground. Chunks of earth and dustrattled around him, falling from the lipof the trench as something immense drew

    closer. Then the smoke parted and Kohlerfelt his knees sag as he saw Angronshorde in horrifying clarity.

    Blood red daemons, with thick manes ofgore-streaked fur, loped alongside men intattered and bloody uniforms. Thesoldiers bodies were twisted by mutationand crude symbols had been painted overtheir insignia, but it was clear that theyhad once been Imperial Guardsmen. Menthey would have called brother not solong ago. A gargantuan, clanking machinepreceded them, brass and crimson and

    adorned with skulls. Huge, spiked wheels each larger than a battle tank churnedthe ground and crushed all before it. Onits back, a huge, black cauldron belchedchoking red smoke, the hissing of white

    The daemons of Khorne attack.

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    hot metal and a huge bow wave ofinfernal heat preceding the war enginesadvance.

    Kohler turned to his soldiers and shouted,All guns open fire! Fire at will!

    The Imperial line erupted in a storm oflasbolts and heavy weapon blasts, and thefront of the Chaos horde was instantlyscythed down. Volley after volleyhammered the Chaos troops, but Kohlercould see that it wouldnt matter, therewere simply too many to kill. The warmachine loomed as large as a hive spire,the deafening hissing of the thing itcarried on its back overshadowing all butthe loudest weapons. Kohler ducked downbelow the lip of the trench, ejecting aspent power cartridge from his lasgun and

    fumbling for another. He heard whatsounded like a huge, sucking breathfollowed by a roaring like the howl ofsome ancient monster. The top of thetrench disintegrated, turned molten underthe fire of the war engine. Magma-hotdaemonic ichor spewed from the hissingcauldron, destroying everything it touchedbefore vaporising into the ether. Scores ofbodies fell into the trench, their upperhalves burned away and the remains oftheir uniforms ablaze. Burned human meatand sizzling fat filled Kohlers nostrilsand he dropped to his knees, retching atits foul stench.

    As he gagged on the ashen remains of hisfellow soldiers, he heard a thunderousdetonation as the war engine activated theburied mines placed in their hundredsbefore the trenches. Secondary explosionswithin the stricken war machine hurledburning liquid all across the battlefield,splashing down in molten sheets. The

    earth rocked as it toppled, slamming intothe ground with teeth-loosening force.Kohler fell into a pool of steamingblood. Screams and screeches of agonyfilled the air and Kohler felt hatred likehe had never known flood his heart. Herose to his feet and shouldered his lasgun,pumping shot after shot into the reelingChaos forces. The minefield had haltedthem in their tracks and the survivorsmilled in shell-shocked confusion at itsedge. Scores fell to the fire of theImperial Guard and Kohler laughed inhysterical release. They could do it. Theycould win this battle!

    But then the sky darkened and roilingblack clouds, shot through with bloodred lightning billowed from the Chaoshorde and a bellowing roar that froze themarrow in Kohlers bones echoed acrossthe battlefield. The beat of powerfulwings parted the clouds and Kohler had abarely perceived vision of a vast redfigure crashing down to earth with anear-splitting boom. The creature landedheavily, thrusting out its slab-muscledchest and spreading its powerful armswide as it roared its challenge. It carried abroad-bladed sword of dark iron,unnatural sigils blazing with unholy light.Kohler sobbed as the enormous creaturestrode into the minefield, joined by a

    group of hulking monsters from hisdarkest nightmares. Armoured in brass andcovered in filthy, blood-matted fur theycarried pulsing, red axes and lashing,barbed whips. Kohler dropped his lasgunand wept in terror, curling into a foetalball and waiting for death as the monstersapproached, the crash of brass-shodhooves sounding like the death of worlds.

    Then Kohler screamed as he felt tonguesof lightning lash his body, jerkingspasmodically as the fire scorched hisflesh. He rolled onto his back, feeling his

    hair burn and tried to make sense of whathe saw before him. Flickering arcs of blueenergy leapt and danced above the glassyslag of the trench top, making the airtaste electric. Then with a crack ofdisplaced air the lightning vanished and inits place stood perhaps a hundred warriorsin suits of burnished blue-steel Terminatorarmour.

    ******************Brother Captain Aurellian blinked rapidly,feeling the knot of tension in his gutrelax as his body adjusted after the mass

    teleportation of his Grey Knights. He

    stood on the lip of a snaking trench,filled with weeping and terrifiedGuardsmen. Ahead, he could see thesmoking remains of a smashed daemonengine and the explosion wreathedbattlefield. And striding across the crateredwasteland came Angron, Daemon Primarchof the World Eaters, the Fallen One. Adozen of the Blood Gods most favoureddaemons surrounded Angron, and Aurelliangripped his Nemesis weapon tightly,knowing that this battle would decide thefate of the world. With a pulse ofthought he ordered his warriors toadvance as Angron raised his sword inmock salute.

    Aurellian marched forwards, the GreyKnights following in disciplined groups,

    their Nemesis weapons held before them.Waves of bloodlust broke against them,but their souls were hardened to resistsuch petty evils and not a man amongstthem faltered in his stride. A slaveringdaemon leapt into the air, its powerfulwings carrying it across the battlefield ina heartbeat. It landed before Aurellian,thick ropes of bloody saliva droolingfrom its jaws. It swung its giant axe in adisembowelling stroke, but he swept uphis force halberd, blocking the blow in ahalo of bright energy. He spun hisweapon and rammed the blade into the

    daemons belly and tore upwards, ripping ascreech of pain from its jaws. Black lightspilled from the wound as Aurellianpulled his weapon free and beheaded themonster with one psychically chargedblow.

    The daemons substance vanished, dispersedlike smoke in the wind and Angronbellowed in amusement, his skin splittingand orange flames blossoming from hisveins. The Daemon Primarchs bestial facerippled in the heat haze, and Aurelliancould feel Angrons hunger to fight them.

    The knights of the corpse god, raspedthe Daemon Primarch in recognition, thevoice rumbling like a slow-movingavalanche. I shall enjoy feeding you yourentrails.

    Aurellian did not reply. He had no wishto speak with a daemon; its words wereall falsehoods and its very presencehateful to him.

    Thousands of throats gave voice to a roarof bloodlust as Angron and hisBloodthirsters stamped forwards, minesdetonating harmlessly against theirHolding the River Chaeron

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    daemonic armour. Through the thunder ofexplosions, the daemons crashed into thethin Grey Knight line, axes flashing andwhips snapping. Aurellian saw half adozen of his warriors cut down instantly,shorn in two by shrieking daemonweapons. He tore his gaze away from thebattle around him as a pair ofBloodthirsters charged him and his squad.He widened his stance and braced hisweapon on the ground, shouting, GreyKnights, hold! as the first Bloodthirstersmashed into them. Its whip lashed out,shearing through a Terminators armourand cleaving him from collarbone topelvis. Aurellian lunged, jabbing his bladeat the monsters head. Its axe smashedaside his blow and a brass hoof thunderedinto his breastplate, buckling the ceramite

    and shattering the bone shield of hischest cavity.

    Aurellian collapsed to his knees, fightingfor breath as another of his brothers fell,ripped apart by Angron, the piecesswallowed whole. Everywhere he looked,his warriors were falling, unable to matchthe unimaginable ferocity of these avatarsof the Blood God. Though they foughtbravely, with faith and nobility, it was nomatch for the primal savagery of theirdaemonic foes. But it was not a battlewithout cost for Angron and his daemons.

    Fully half his retinue were little morethan screeching shadows, their physicalvessels put asunder by the righteous wrathof the Grey Knights. Aurellian pushedhimself to his feet wincing as he felt thatone of his lungs was pierced. Angronswung his black sword in wide arcs,killing with every stroke and his glowingmusculature rippled with power. Aurelliansaw that the Daemons closest to Angrontowered above his Terminators, drawingtheir strength from the well of theDaemon Primarch.

    He staggered towards Angron, using hisforce halberd to steady himself as hisbreath wheezed in his chest. The GreyKnights closed on their leader, forming animpenetrable shield wall around him asthey fought their way towards Angron.The Daemon Primarch saw his foeapproach and reared up to his full height,bellowing a furious challenge. Lessermortals might quail before this monster,but Aurellian and the Grey Knights hadbeen steeled to face the worst horrors ofChaos without flinching. Less than two-dozen of them were still alive, but they

    were almost there. Daemons pressed in all

    around them, attacking in a frenzy of axeblows and lashing whips. More GreyKnights fell, their blood mingling on thecratered earth as Angron and Aurellianfinally came face to face. At someunheard command, the Bloodthirsterspulled back, hissing with barely-restrainedbattle lust.

    Time slowed and the world held itsbreath as man and monster faced oneanother. One, a devoted and loyal servantof the divine Emperor of Mankind, theother the basest traitor who had trampledon his oaths of loyalty and embracedultimate evil.

    You cannot win, Aurellian, hissedAngron, planting his sword in the groundbefore him.

    Aurellian spun his force halberd, assuminga relaxed fighting stance and pointed theblade at the Daemon Primarchs heart.

    You underestimate me, traitor.

    Perhaps, but I was one of yourEmperors chosen and I cannot bedefeated. You know this, Aurellian; I cansee it plain as day. Why must you fightand die here for a rotted corpse on aplanet you have never seen?

    Because I must, said Aurellian simply,thrusting his weapon towards Angron.

    The Daemon Primarch laughed and battedaway the force weapon, scalding steamhissing from his iron skin. His clawedwings pounded the air as he fought,swirling dust and smoke around the

    combatants. Aurellian blocked a blow meantto remove his head, feeling the jarringimpact numb his arm to the elbow, andducked the reverse stroke. He spun insideAngrons guard and slashed his blade acrosshis foes flank, drawing a bellow of painand a wash of hot, black blood.

    Angron smashed a club-like fist down onAurellians shoulder, driving him to theground and tearing his helmet from hishead. Lights exploded before Aurellianseyes, but he saw the blow that would killhim arcing towards his head and threw uphis weapon to block it. Angrons swordsheared through the haft of his forcehalberd and hacked through his arm in ashower of sparks and blood. The GreyKnight tumbled backwards, blood pouringfrom his arm, but miraculously still alive.Aurellian climbed to his feet, his armourtorn open in a dozen places, but hisstance still defiant. Blood was floodingfrom his body, too much for even the

    Larraman cells to halt. He could see hismen were fighting bravely, but werefalling one by one. Before long theywould all be dead. That they may die wasunimportant, but they must not fail intheir duty.

    Brothers! Defensive circle! shoutedAurellian, though it sent hot spikes ofpain through his chest. The few survivingGrey Knights fought their way towardshim, forming a circle about their woundedleader.

    Aurellian focussed all his hatred of the

    Fallen One until it was an incandescent

    Brother Captain Aurellian fights for his life.

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    power that burned within him andthreatened to consume his flesh unlessreleased. His battle-brothers felt the powerbuilding within him and, understanding thefinality of such powerful psychic energy,began doing likewise.

    Angron roared, clearly sensing the build-up of their power, but either did not careor, in his arrogance, believed himself toopowerful to be harmed by it. He chargedtowards Aurellian, bellowing in fury.Aurellian felt the power of his fellowwarriors pulse through him and released itin a fiery corona of psychic energy. Hescreamed as the colossal forces wrackedhis shattered body, feeling the lifeenergies of three of his battle brothersfade as the power consumed them. TheBloodthirsters screeched in rage as thepower of the Grey Knights faith hitthem like a tidal wave, two bursting apartin an explosion of black ichor.

    Angron roared in pain and Aurellianwatched as the furnace glow of his bodydiminished. The Daemon Primarchdropped to his knees, thick blooddrooling from his slack features. TheGrey Knight next to Aurellian fell, hisbody little more than a shrivelled sack ofbones within his armour. As Aurellianwatched, Angrons form grew less solid,less real, as though his hold on the

    material realm was slipping. Even as heformed the thought, the DaemonPrimarchs flesh began re-knitting as hisiron will held his form solid. Aurellianknew he would never get a better chancethan this and lurched forward, grippinghis force halberd by its splintered haftlike a sword. Angron lifted his bestialface in time to see Aurellian lift up hissword and drive it deep within his chest.Fat red sparks flew as the blade plungedinto the Daemon Primarchs body, and hisroar of pain split the earth apart all

    around him. Aurellian drew upon thedepths of his courage and unleashed hislast reserves of strength and faith throughthe force weapon in a blazing spear ofpurity.

    He rejoiced as he felt Angrons substancedissolving and knew that he had defeatedthe monster. He pushed the blade deeperand grunted in sudden pain as Angronssword plunged into his belly and toreupwards, ripping through his heart andlungs. He coughed blood, spattering thedaemons burning features and feeling his

    own killing power ravaging him through

    Angrons blade. The Daemon Primarchsneered mockingly.

    If we are to die, we will die together,Aurellian. I will be reborn in the Warp,but your spirit-flesh will be devoured by

    daemons for all eternity, and you willknow an immortality of agony

    So be it! shouted Aurellian, and fulfilledhis duty.

    ******************Logan Grimnar watched the ten GreyKnights kneel in prayer around the fallenbody of their captain and bowed his headin respect. The battlefield was eerily quiet,the daemons having vanished like morningmist upon the destruction of Angronsphysical form and the traitors, cultists andmutants falling back in disarray. A shaftof golden sunlight broke through theoppressive cloud layer and Grimnar felt asudden surge of optimism as he watchedhis Space Wolves mount up in theirRhinos to begin the pursuit anddestruction of the enemy. Mud-and-blood-caked Guardsmen began clambering dazedlyfrom their trenches, their faces lined withexhaustion and fear. A soldier, drenched inblood and black ichor from head to foot,staggered from the trench and dropped,weeping, to his haunches.

    They won, he sobbed in relief, I cantbelieve they did it

    Grimnar looked down at the man, seeinghis sergeants stripes through the blood onhis upper arm. The name Kohler wasstitched above it.

    Aye, he said slowly. They destroyed theBeast. But at what cost?

    The sergeant looked up, uncomprehendingas the Chapter Master of the SpaceWolves continued.

    A noble warrior of the Emperor fell thisday, Sergeant Kohler, and you will neversee a greater display of heroism, saidGrimnar. Remember what you have seenhere today.

    I will, nodded Kohler, but Logan Grimnarhad already turned and marched away.

    The Imperium VictoriusW i t h t h e i r l e a d e r d e a d , t h e C h a o sh o r d e s f e l l i n t o d i s o r d e r . T h e r e m n a n t so f t h e f o r c e r e p u l s e d a t t h e R i v e rC h a e r o n r e t r e a t e d c o m p l e t e l y a s t h e yw e r e c o u n t e r - a t t a c k e d b y t h e S p a c eW o l v e s . P u r s u e d a c r o s s t h e A s h W a s t e sb y t h e c o m b i n e d f o r c e s o f t h e S p a c eM a r i n e s a n d t h e m e c h a n i s e d I m p e r i a lG u a r d S t e e l L e g i o n s , t h o u s a n d s o fc u l t i s t s , m u t a n t s a n d t r a i t o r s w e r es l a u g h t e r e d w i t h o u t m e r c y . B e r e f t o ft h e i r d a e m o n i c a l l i e s , t h o s e i n v a d e r sw h o d i d n o t f a l l a s t h e y c r o s s e d t h ep o l l u t e d w a s t e s w e r e o v e r t a k e n a tM i n o s B r i d g e . N o q u a r t e r w a s o f f e r e da n d t h e i r b o d i e s w e r e c a s t i n t o t h e r i v e rM i n o s a n d t h e i r c o r p s e s s e t a l i g h t ,t u r n i n g i t i n t o a f u n e r a l p y r e v i s i b l e f o rh u n d r e d s o f m i l e s i n a l l d i r e c t i o n s . T h er e m a i n s o f t h e i n v a d e r s d r i f t e d w e s t , t of a l l w i t h i n t h e p u t r i d d e p t h s o f t h eP l a g u e M a r s h e s , w h i c h r e m a i n s ar e g i o n o f p a l p a b l e e v i l a n d c o r r u p t i o n t ot h i s d a y .T h e I m p e r i u m h a d p r e v a i l e d , t h o u g hv i r t u a l l y a l l o f A r m a g e d d o n P r i m e si n d u s t r i a l i n f r a s t r u c t u r e h a d b e e nd e s t r o y e d a n d t h e d e a t h t o l l w a sb e y o n d m e a s u r e . T h o u g h A n g r o n sf o r c e s w e r e v a n q u i s h e d , h i s m o n o l i t hs t i l l s t o o d , a b e a c o n o f i n v i o l a b l e e v i l i nt h e h e a r t o f t h e e q u a t o r i a l j u n g l e a n di t s m a l i g n i n f l u e n c e i s a s s t r o n g t o d a ya s e v e r i t w a s .The last of the traitors are overtaken at Minos Bridge.

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    Final BetrayalW i t h A n g r o n a n d h i s h o r d e s d e f e a t e d ,t h e A d m i n i s t r a t u m r u t h l e s s l ys u p p r e s s e d a l l i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n gt h e i n v a s i o n . T o a l l o w t h e t r u t h o f w h a th a d o c c u r r e d o n A r m a g e d d o n t o b ed i s c o v e r e d w o u l d b e t o c o n f i r m t h e v e r yw o r s t f e a r s o f t h e s u p e r s t i t i o u s p e o p l e so f t h e I m p e r i u m . B e t t e r t h e y b e k e p t i ni g n o r a n c e , t h e A d e p t s r e a s o n e d , t h a n b ef o r c e d t o f a c e t h e r e a l i s a t i o n t h a tM a n k i n d f a c e d s u c h a d i a b o l i c t h r e a t .T h e p u r g e o f t h e r e c o r d s b e g a n , b u t n oa m o u n t o f h i s t o r i c a l r e v i s i o n c o u l de r a s e t h e e n o r m i t y o f t h e e v e n t s o fA n g r o n s i n v a s i o n f r o m t h e s u r v i v o r s .A n y o t h e r w o r l d w o u l d h a v e b e e n p u tt o d e a t h b y t h e r i t e s o f E x t e r m i n a t u sw i t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n . B u t A r m a g e d d o nw a s f a r t o o i m p o r t a n t t o t h eI m p e r i u m s i n d u s t r i a l m a c h i n e t o b es a c r i f i c e d i n s u c h a w a y .I n s t e a d , t h e A d m i n i s t r a t u m a n d t h eI n q u i s i t i o n s e t i n m o t i o n a p l a n t h a tw o u l d a l l o w t h e p l a n e t s i n d u s t r i a lc a p a c i t y t o r e c o v e r , w i t h o u t t h e t r u t h o ft h e c o n f l i c t b e c o m i n g k n o w n . E v e r ym a n , w o m a n a n d c h i l d w h o h a d f o u g h ta g a i n s t A n g r o n s h o r d e w a s r o u n d e d u p

    b y t r o o p s d r a f t e d i n f r o m o t h e rw a r z o n e s , s t e r i l i s e d a n d r e l o c a t e d t oe n o r m o u s f o r c e d - l a b o u r c a m p s s i t u a t e df a r t o t h e s o u t h o f A r m a g e d d o nS e c u n d u s . M i l l i o n s w e r e f o r c e d t o l i v eo u t t h e r e m a i n d e r o f t h e i r l i v e s i ns l a v e r y , p r o d u c i n g t h e r a w m a t e r i a l sw i t h w h i c h t h e w o r l d t h e y h a d g i v e ne v e r y t h i n g t o d e f e n d w o u l d b e r e b u i l t .W i t h t h e H i v e c i t i e s a l l b u t e m p t y , a n do n l y t h e h i g h e s t a n d m i g h t i e s te x e m p t e d f r o m t h e c u l l , t h eA d m i n i s t r a t u m r e l o c a t e d m i l l i o n s o fw o r k e r s f r o m f a r - a w a y s e c t o r s t oA r m a g e d d o n t o r e p l a c e t h o s e w h o h a dl o o k e d u p o n t h e f a c e o f C h a o s a n dl i v e d .O n l y o n e m a n d a r e d p r o t e s t a g a i n s tt h i s u l t i m a t e s a n c t i o n , t h i s m o s tc r a v e n o f b e t r a y a l s . L o g a n G r i m n a r ,G r e a t W o l f o f t h e S p a c e W o l f C h a p t e rm a d e h i s o p p o s i t i o n p l a i n , a n d ,p r i v a t e l y , m a n y a g r e e d w i t h h i m .T h o u g h h e c o u l d n o t s w a y t h e f a c e l e s sa d e p t s o f t h e A d m i n i s t r a t u m , h e h a sn e v e r f o r g i v e n t h e m , n o r h a s h e e v e rf o r g o t t e n t h e s a c r i f i c e o f t h o s e w h of o u g h t b y h i s s i d e d u r i n g t h e d a r k e s td a y s o f t h e F i r s t W a r f o r A r m a g e d d o n .

    Angrons Hordefile ref. Krr44/993/11-193/2Wsource: Ord Mal archiveinput: Armag/first war3837.M40

    Extracted from the suppressed memoirsof Lord-General Gustav Karlson. II

    COMPILERS NOTE: Imperial scholarsoften refer to the constituent elements ofan invading host as Cohorts. A Cohortis generally said to consist of between1,000 and 5,000 men: the equivalent of anImperial Guard regiment in manpowerbut far inferior in terms of supportingunits.

    WORLD EATERS COMPANIESAngrons Chosen1 CompanyThe Warband of Kossolax

    the Foresworn1 CompanyLord Skchalicks Elite 1 CompanyThe Skull Takers ofHans Khoren1 Company

    MUTANT COHORTS (Invaders)Jakobs Kin 17 CohortThe Unsanctified 2 CohortsThe Children of Garnacea 31 CohortsKith of Nihil 4 CohortsTuskgors Tribe12 CohortsThe Mentes III Migration 10 CohortsSyrcnsks Reavers 18 CohortsThe Stigmatus Covenent 11 CohortsOther groupsest 55-65 Cohorts

    DAEMONHOST COVENSInner Circle est 20 CohortsSanctum Guard 4 CohortsDaemonhosts[SUPPRESSED]

    TRAITOR TITAN LEGIONSLegio Vulcanum II LegioLegio Mortis Demi-Legio

    CULTS (Civilian groups that turnedtraitor at the outset of the war)The Eight Ways 2 CohortsThe True Creed 4 CohortsThe Cult of Noyade12 CohortsChildren of Quietus 19 Cohorts

    The Justified Ancients 1 CohortOther groups est 40-50 Cohorts

    TRAITOR GUARD (Native units thatturned traitor at the outset of the war)Arm. Command Guard 2 CoysArm. Hive Militia80 RgtsArm. Steel Legion 13 RgtsArm. Ash Waste Militia 3 Rgts

    COMPILERS NOTE: In addition tothese conventional formations, Angronsummoned countless numbers of[SUPPRESSED]: a situation that madestrategic planning near to impossible in

    many theatres.

    BROTHER CAPTAIN AURELLIAN OF THE GREY KNIGHTS

    Recruited from the Feral World of Posul, it was clear that Aurellian was destinedfor greatness at an early age. His skill at arms was exceptional, and he had takenmany a foes head in battle and eaten their flesh before his thirteenth year. The

    sepulchral fortress monastery of the Mortifactors Chapter of Space Marines orbitsPosul and draws its recruits from the planets fiercest warriors, and when theTime of Choosing came, there was little doubt among the tribes that the youngAurellian would be taken by the warriors from the sky. But as the Chaplains ofthe Mortifactors prepared Aurellian for the journey back to their fortress, agroup of silver-armoured warriors appeared from thin air and demanded they beallowed to take the youth. The Chaplains of the Mortifactors refused andattacked the newcomers, but the silver armoured warriors had powers beyond thatof the Chaplains and slew them. They took the youth to Titan where he quicklydistinguished himself in all aspects of his training, particularly with his mentalfortitude and prodigious psychic potential.

    Aurellian quickly completed his training, fighting alongside the legendary BrotherCaptain Pelega during the Godjera Incursion and distinguishing himself at the

    Battle for the Kuroniak Basilica. On Prioran IV Aurellian was elevated to therank of Justicar after slaying the Warp Seer of Argento, who prophesised hisdeath. Centuries of devoted service followed, and Aurellian slew many daemonsand saved uncounted lives as he smote the followers of the Ruinous Powers.Aurellian rose to become a Brother Captain entrusted with the command of anentire company of Grey Knights and the safety of Segmentum Solar. Thus, whena desperate plea for aid came from Logan Grimnar on Armageddon, Aurellian andhis warriors were swift to respond. Departing on the fastest ship the AdeptusMechanicus could provide, the Seer of Argentos final words echoed inAurellians mind, and on the world named for the end of days, you shall facethe Warrior Son of he you obey, and great will be the lamentation, for deathwill be your gift to the galaxy.

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