Editing Battle of the Alaxxes Nebula (section)

==Overview==

As the bulk of the Space Wolves Legion departed [[Prospero]] to (metaphorically and literally) lick their wounds after the battle, they were ambushed by an Alpha Legion fleet as the Horus Heresy began to gain momentum.

Even though the bulk of two Legions naval forces were involved, similar to the [[Battle of Phall]], this was not an especially massive void campaign. Even at its height, the Space Wolves could only muster around 60 capital ships, and around 240 escorts and smaller strike craft, and were mostly up-gunned frigates built for long range independent operations, and many were certainly deployed elsewhere prior to Prospero. Though their flagship the Hrafnkel was considered to be one of the largest ships to be built using the Gloriana frame.

As with everything related to the Alpha Legion, the strength of their fleet remained a relative unknown, but were noted to have been lacking in heavy capital ships when compared to other Legions, with their smaller vessels having a focus on speed and range, but came equipped with a variety of strange and forbidden technologies. Even so, the Alpha Legion assets in the battle were able to outnumber the Space Wolves at least two-to-one.

Against such odds, Russ realised that his fleet was drastically outmatched and beat an immediate retreat to the nearby Alaxxes Nebula where his fleet would not be cut to pieces in short order. He then began attempting to figure out what the hell was going on and who was on whose side.

Russ called up [[Jaghatai Khan]] in an attempt to get the White Scars' fleet to come to his aid, but the Khan was suspicious, having recently received a message from Horus that the Wolves had gone rogue and rebelled. Rather than intervene on either side, the Scars set out to find the truth for themselves.

With no other friendly forces around, Russ fell into despair, believing that defeat was imminent, and retreated to his chambers to ponder things. With his primarch in an emo mood, First Captain Gunnar Gunnhilt took command and decided to attempt a desperate breakout maneuver. Gunnhilt's maneuver partially succeeded, though at the cost of his own life and that of his vessel, the ''Ragnarok''. As the battle heightened, Russ reappeared, having suppressed his inner demons regarding his past actions. Despite Russ's leadership, the Alpha Legion fleet surrounded the Space Wolves as they began their final stand.

During the conflict, a spy had infiltrated the Space Wolves fleet to determine their loyalties. This spy was captured and identified himself as Captain Ormand of the [[Dark Angels]], and was taken to Russ, but their discussion were kept short as the ''Hrafnkel'' had been boarded by the Alpha Legion directly from their flagship the ''Alpha''. Russ was convinced that his brother [[Alpharius]] was among the boarding party, and had marked him out as a non-descript member of a Terminator squad, and began fighting his way towards him in an attempt to engage him in a challenge. Observing the melee, Captain Ormand had remained in contact with his own allies the whole time. When those allies requested an update, the Captain answered with a single word: "Loyal".

In response, a Dark Angels fleet of Dominus-class Cruisers headed by a [[Ramilies-class Star-Fort]], sufficient to take on either side entered into the conflict and began firing on the ''Alpha'', triggering the boarding parties to retreat via teleportation, preventing any duel between Russ and his target.

With the momentum completely shifted in the other direction, the Alpha Legion fleet were forced to withdraw.