Not long afterwards, the situation on Caliban deteriorated when the '''Northwilds [[Arcology]]''' came under assault by a force of apparent [[Plague Zombies|zombies]] from the depths of the planet. Rioting broke out as native Calibanites and the incomer Terrans sought to lodge blame or suspicion for events on each other, and the local defence forces and rebel soldiery became involved, with battle lines and relative loyalties sorely tested. Astelan was present at another meeting of the Caliban commanders called as a result, and was therefore witness - along with Zahariel, Israfael and the [[Lord Cypher]] — when Luther revealed that he had lost faith in Lion El'Jonson. When Israfael broke ranks and moved to attack Luther, Astelan attempted to subdue the Librarian with the butt of his pistol, but was telekinetically flung across the room for his trouble. Surviving the melee that saw Israfael defeated and critically wounded with no further harm, Astelan was then tasked by Luther with arresting all the senior Imperial authorities on the planet, including the commanders of the Army and [[Mechanicum]] forces stationed there. Astelan hesitated for a long moment at obeying such an order, but eventually agreed to carry it out. {{Fn|3d}}

However, on learning that Captain Melian spoke for a group of officers and veterans in his command who were preparing to take militant action against Luther in order for their concerns to be recognised, Astelan agreed to aid them in planning a more legal and bloodless move against the planetary commander. He suggested commandeering a secondary communications spire and sending messages to Terra and the Lion requesting restoration of the original Legion protocols and command structure until the Lion could assay the situation personally, while simply detaining Luther under close arrest. His plan was agreed upon by the conspirators, though not without them slightly warily noting that, under old Legion protocols, Astelan would become the [[Force Commander|force commander]]. Regardless, the plan was carried out; the bulk of the conspirators would head to the spire on a 'live ammunition training exercise', while most of the ringleaders - including Astelan - would confront and arrest Luther. Luther was surprised by Astelan's presence in the delegation that came to seize him, and also by what happened next. Astelan contacted the commander of the Army forces garrisoning the tower — [[Colonel|Marquesa-Colonel]] [[Tylaine]] — and ordered her to proceed with ''their'' previously agreed plan; the Army forces and a company of Dark Angels under the command of Astelan's subordinate, Captain [[Galedan]], suddenly attacked the conspirator's column. Realisation dawning, Luther joined Astelan in turning upon the ringleaders, and with him, slew them all. Most of the conspirators surrendered rather than fight other Space Marines, and the little rebellion was quickly over before it could truly begin. In fact, there were so many prisoners that there wasn't enough space for them all in the dungeons of [[The Rock|Aldurukh]]; Astelan counselled that Luther simply carve out new ones. Luther also questioned why Astelan had allowed the conspiracy to get so far along, rather than just reveal it to him immediately, suspecting that Astelan may have truly wished it to work and only switched sides to curry favour; after all, according to Luther, Astelan's dislike of Caliban and Calibanite ways was "well known". Astelan stated that he considered the Lion a taint, that in his opinion everything had gone wrong in the First Legion since discovering him, and that he would rather serve a more worthy lord...especially one whom he suspected also wished to rid the legion of the Lion. Astelan dared Luther to say that he intended otherwise...and Luther remained silent.{{Fn|4}}

===The Fall of Caliban===

Merir Astelan, as commander of Caliban's planetary defence forces, issued the order - codeword "Starfire" - to open fire upon the fleet of the Lion.{{Fn|2}}

===Post-Heresy===

After the [[Horus Heresy]] and the fall of [[Caliban]], Astelan was sucked through the [[Warp]] and scattered throughout the galaxy like the rest of the Fallen. He would spend the next two hundred years at large from his (then unknown) hunters from the Dark Angels chapter, before ultimately coming to their attention.{{Fn|5a}}

==Sources==

{{Cite}}

**{{Endn|3a}}: Chapter Two

**{{Endn|3b}}: Chapters Eight, Twelve

**{{Endn|3c}}: Chapter Fourteen

**{{Endn|3d}}: Chapter Eighteen

**{{Endn|5a}}: The Tale of Astelan, part one

**{{Endn|5b}}: The Tale of Astelan, part four

{{DEFAULTSORT:Astelan, Merir}}

[[Category:Characters (Fallen Angels)]]

[[Category:Characters (Great Crusade)]]

[[Category:Characters (Horus Heresy)]]

[[de:Merir Astelan]]