Editing Helios Angels (section)

==The Great Crusade==
[[File:Helios_16_With_Equipment.jpg|200px|thumb|The color scheme of the Helios Angels.]]
''Our pride made us feel invincible. Humility was a lesson dealt too many times yet never learned.''

'''-Sebastion Rex, Legionary Equerry'''



The first laurels of the [[Great Crusade (Hektor Heresy)|Great Crusade]] fell to the Helios Angels. Moving out as a swift storm, the wings of the Legion brought numerous systems into Compliance. Imperial records have been heavily redacted after the Heresy, with only fragmentary evidence to support theories of the era. However there are signs that nearly half the Segmentum Solar was brought in by the Legion. These victories won immense resources for the nascent Imperium of Mankind. Hektor's likeness was engraved on countless frescoes and statues across the Segmentum, preserved by the Imperium's grateful new citizens. Yet the mark of the First Legion would be more deeply made by the ''Scholae Astartes'' that they established to train new Imperial administrators and Space Marine recruits. 

The Helios Angel made their presence known through conduct and action. Gracious in peaceful Compliance, violent to resisters, and utterly destructive to foes. Serving as a flawless standard to live up to, the Great Crusade benefited mightily due to the image projected by the First Legion. Hektor in particular enjoyed fostering good relations between Marine and Man, having his Marines deal with subjects with the utmost respect. This formal reverence to citizens made newly christened members welcomed, received, and protected. Often times first worlds to join the Imperium would see the First Legion come to their rescue too. Ork Raiders, Eldar Corsairs, and other outside threats came to fear the blue, gold, and red of the Helios. 

Hektor grew greatly proud of his sons, especially in the great names that would shape them; [[Maranthos Egille]], [[Sebastion Rex]], [[Cassandor Honorious]], and [[Daedalus Appius]]. However as the first Century of the Great Crusade came towards its end, the First Legion's star was challenged by new-comers. [[Roman Albrecht]]'s valiant [[Steel Marshals]] showed that they were perhaps even more courageous and noble than the Helios Angels. [[Gaspard Lumey]] and his once-forgotten Fifth Legion achieved the impossible and won the Imperium a thousand sectors in a single year. Through grim resolve and ruthless efficiency, [[Alexandri of Rosskar|Alexandri Ibirien]] and the [[Silver Cataphracts]] became the Emperor's first choice for the most daunting assignments. Although Hektor pushed his even men harder, the vigor that had once accompanied their campaigns could not be recaptured. Some even whispered that the decline of the greatest champions of Imperium meant that the Great Crusade would be a fleeting achievement.

In the following century, Hektor made a series of reforms intended to restore the cutting edge of his Legion. Five '''Ephors''' were appointed with the authority to break up the patterns of patronage and influence-peddling that Hektor feared were eroding the Legion's strength.  Pallas Eugenesis and her gene-wrights were commanded to purify the gene-seed, replicating the best samples and purging mediocrity. New allies were sought, such as the Knights of '''House Drăcul''', a once mighty Household that had resisted the Imperium and been ruined because of it. These pacts would have dire consequences, but they did restore something of the Legion's fortunes. Towards the end of the 900s, the First Legion played the pivotal role in the immense struggle with the Orks of Ullanor and their triumph was crowned by the appointment of Hektor Cincinnatus as Warmaster.

This marked a rebirth of the Angels. A new name was needed to mark this change in fortunes. Due to a peerless attitude towards the Crusade and an ingenious cadre of commanders, the Legion's original gravitas began to return. To signify this, they would rename themselves to the [[Heralds of Hektor]] in honor of the Primarch who had led them so far. The Helios Angels became synonymous in their time with impeccable service and loyalty. Their next form as the Heralds, would earn them an entirely different form of renown.


===Notable Campaigns===
{{See also|Great Crusade (Hektor Heresy)}}

*'''[[The Ullanor War]]'''