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The planet [[Sotha]] was discovered by exploration fleets from [[Ultramar]] during the [[Great Crusade]]. After its discovery, it was planned to colonize it but these plans were put on hold; instead, a small agri-colony was established together with a survey expedition of archaeologists and xenoculturists. One company of the [[Ultramarines]] [[Space Marine Legion|Legion]], the [[199th Company (Ultramarines Legion)|199th]], was assigned permanently to Sotha as a protective detail.{{Fn|1a}}
After the start of [[Horus Heresy]], [[Primarch]] [[Roboute Guilliman]] himself assigned the loyalist [[Warsmith]] [[Barabas Dantioch]] of the [[Iron Warriors]] to direct and oversee exploration of the Pharos beacon machine in order to use it to benefit Ultramar and Imperium Secundus. Later, [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Alexis Polux]] of the [[Imperial Fists]] volunteered to help Dantioch{{Fn|1b}}, for despite their respective Legions' animosity they developed a strong comradeship.{{Cite thisMarker End}}
Unbeknownst to Dantioch, Polux, or 199th company's commander, Captain Adallus, a blind spot near a local [[Mandeville Point]] was designated as the rendezvous for [[Night Lords]] fleet elements during the [[Thramas Crusade]]. After their fleet was scattered following their defeat by the [[Dark Angels]], several vessels (including the ''[[Umber Prince]]'', ''[[Dominus Noctem]]'' and ''[[Shadow Blow]]'') used this rendezvous point to regroup and repair battle damage. At the time of the Pharos' activation, only ''Umber Prince'' under command of Claw-master [[Gendor Skraivok]] of the [[45th Company (Night Lords)|45th Company]] remained on station, but some time later a Night Lords fleet translated into the Sothan System. This fleet was commanded by Captain [[Krukesh]] of [[103rd Company (Night Lords)|103rd Company]], a member of the [[Kyroptera]]. Witnessing the activation of the beacon, Krukesh decided to invade the system in order to secure it and determine its function.{{Fn|2}}