Unification Wars (Hektor Heresy)

This article is about a battle in the /tg/ Heresy project, a fan re-working of the Warhammer 40k universe.

Pacification of the Merican Hives

First deployment of the Space Marines. Hektor Conathos leads the Sacred Band of three hundred Astartes. This formation was intended to have one squad from each of what would become the Legiones Astartes, but the First Squad was withdrawn and replaced by another ten Marines bearing Hektor's own gene-seed (in addition to Eleventh Squad). Among the more glorious contingents of the Sacred Band, Nikomedes of the Seventh Squad was the only Lieutenant to be drawn from outside Hektor's own gene-sons while the "Tempest Knights" of the Twenty-Sixth Squad were so successful that they were diverted south to spearhead attacks on Brasilia.

Others developed their doctrine. Eighteenth Squad demonstrated a cool resolve in the firing line. The Fourth Squad, the nameless Sixth Squad, and the battered Twelfth Squad took on the assault role. Eighth Squad showed an impressive tactical acumen. Tenth Squad and the "Imperial Riders" of the Twenty-Fifth Squad were fast attack. The snipers of Nineteenth Squad guarded their battle brothers from afar, while the "Tarnished Ten" in the Twentieth Squad ranged ahead as headhunters. Second Squad and Twenty-Eighth Squad specialised in heavy weapons. Twenty-Fourth Squad, though obscure, developed the foundations of the mechanized warfare doctrines that would become so important to the Legiones Astartes.

Three squads came into ill-repute. Fifth Squad were tragically slain by Thunder Warriors. Sixteenth Squad suffered from excessive adrenaline and took heavy losses. Twenty-Fourth Squad made callous use of civilians.

Sa'Afrik Liberation

The Sa'afrik Liberation saw the first combat deployment of the IVth Legion as a fighting force in its own right. The Legion was used as a spearhead of shock troops, mounting direct annihilation assaults on the enemy forces, both in open battle and against fortified positions, and able to carry the attack despite their then relatively small numbers by sheer courage and the fury of the violence they could unleash.

Pacification of the Boetian Lowlands

Boeotia was an area of Terra mentioned in ancient Imperial records as having held out against full Unification for a considerable time. While the government of Boeotia tacitly recognised the Emperor's dominance over the rest of Terra, the ruling monarchy of Boeotia used all manner of diplomacy in order to avoid losing power. In a show of great patience and benevolence, the Emperor allowed the ruling dynasty of Boeotia -- the Yeselti -- to carry on in a semi-autonomous state for over 150 standard years, with the intention that they would integrate themselves into the government of Imperial Terra at their own speed and with as much dignity as possible. Instead, House Yeselti clung to their independence until the Imperial Army was forced to invade the province and the nascent Iron Rangers Space Marine Legion was ordered to crush the rebellious state.

The campaign to seize the Boeotian citadel took around six weeks. In their final stages of resistance, the rebel defenders mined a massive refinery complex, the detonation of which by the Imperial invaders resulted in a blaze that put out enough carcinogenic smoke and soot that the entire area was covered in deadly murk. Unprotected humans had to wear full-body protection gear as a result. The fall of the citadel was said to resemble a city made into a bonfire, lighting a sky darker than Old Night itself.

After six weeks and the loss of the refinery fields - both seen as critical errors - the Imperial Army commander was removed from command and control of the campaign assigned to the Iron Rangers for a quick finish, which was accomplished on less then half a week by the Legion forces.

First Pacification of Luna

The First Pacification of Luna was the first operation mounted by elements of the Legiones Astanes beyond the skies of Terra. At the time the Wars of Unity were still raging across the surface of Mankind's birth world. The forces of Cardinal Tang still held a number of fortress zones, the empire of Nathan Dume still held on, and several other uncompliant enclaves were yet to fall.