Aettius Vasta
Aettius Vasta was an Ultramarines Consul-Praetor, who took part in the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy.[1]
History
He was stationed on the Ultramar world Armatura, when it was attacked by the Heresy's Shadow Crusade. As the World Eaters and Word Bearers invaded, Vasta led the Imperial defenses in the Decalian District. It was a key area that guarded the approaches to the Ultramarines' planetary headquarters on Armatura. They were then attacked by the World Eaters and were able to keep the traitors back. This changed, though, when the Traitor Legion's Red Hand Destroyer Squads entered the fray. Their deadly weaponry began to push the Imperials back and they soon suffered another blow. This occurred when the Legio Lysanda Titans that had been aiding them, withdrew to combat the traitorous Legio Audax elsewhere.[1]
The loss of the Titans' support allowed the World Eaters to begin overwhelming Vasta's forces. To prevent their defeat, the Consul-Praetor ordered his Ultramarines to immediately entrench further into the Decalian District. In order to do so, however, the Highborn Wardens Solar Auxilia and the Legion's Evocati remained behind, so the bulk of the Ultramarines could withdraw. They succeeded, but Vasta's defense was ultimately ended, when Jump Pack-equipped Red Hand Destroyer Squads, fired their weaponry on the Ultramarines' position. Though it killed their fellow World Eaters as well, the Red Hand's attack allowed the Traitor Legion to overrun the Imperials. Vasta would be among the last to die and fell after his power armour had been hacked open in a dozen places.[1]
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Community: Plug in your Butchers’ Nails and Destroy the Loyalists in this Horus Heresy Exemplary Battle (Posted on 07/12/2021) - The Battle of Armatura PDF, pgs. 3-5 (Last accessed on 7 December 2021)
