Battle of Solace
The Battle of Solace was a battle shortly before the Thirteenth Black Crusade.[1]
The battle saw a Chaos fleet under Abaddon the Despoiler invade the Crythe Cluster in preparation for his coming Black Crusade. The Chaos armada consisted of the Vengeful Spirit and 7 supporting Cruisers as well as the Night Lords Battle Barge Hunter’s Premonition and Strike Cruiser Covenant of Blood. This held nearly 2,000 Chaos Space Marines, millions of Lost and the Damned, and nearly a dozen Chaos Titans which were unleashed upon the Penal World of Solace.[1a]
Over Solace, the Imperium's Battlefleet Solace under Lord Admiral Valiance Arventaur led the defense from the Avenger Class Grand Cruiser Sword of the God-Emperor. However the massive vessel was crippled when it was boarded by Night Lords of The Exalted, and Lord Admiral Arventaur was killed by Talos Valcoran's squad after the bridge was overrun. Meanwhile, the Sword of the God-Emperor was shattered under a concentrated assault by the Vengeful Spirit, Hunter's Premonition and Covenant of Blood. During the battle, the Covenant of Blood conducted a daring coronus dive which nearly broke the vessel but finally broke apart the Sword of the God-Emperor and saw The Exalted succeed in gaining the favour of Abaddon.[1a]
After the destruction of the Sword of the God-Emperor the Imperial fleet was scattered, with few vessels escaping Chaos pursuit. The Chaos fleet then invaded Solace and freed millions of depraved prisoners to use as fodder for the coming Black Crusade.[1b]
