Gregorius Skekkir
Gregorius Skekkir was an Imperial Fists Centurion, who took part in the Horus Heresy's Battle of Pluto.[1]
Biography
He served under Captain Vendraal, whose Cruiser, the Spear of Verria, was out on a deep void patrol, when the Battle began. By the time Vendraal returned to Pluto, the Imperium's fleets in the region had been scattered by the Alpha Legion's warships and the Traitors had seized Pluto's fortified moon, Hydra. Despite Hydra now being defended by an Alpha Legion fleet, the Captain ordered his forces to prepare to board the moon and had the Spear rush the fleet. As it began to be torn apart, Skekkir and Vendraal's forces were launched towards Hydra, while the Captain remained on the Cruiser with a skeleton crew. Skekkir and the Imperial Fists successfully reached the moon, before the Spear was destroyed. Skekkir had command and he separated the Imperial Fists and sent them to reinforce vital points on the moon. The Centurion would lead a force to Hydra's plasma reactor, which was being targeted by the Alpha Legion Harrowmaster Indar Vollinus.[1]
Skekkir's forces reached the reactor before Vollinus, but this came at a heavy cost. Their rapid progress took a toll and only a dozen of his Imperial Fists remained. They were soon attacked by Vollinus's strike team, but despite being outnumbered, the Alpha Legion was not able to completely kill the Imperial Fists. Time after time, the Loyalists pushed the Traitors back and dozens of the Alpha Legion were killed in each attack. Hours later, though, only Skekkir and three other Imperial Fists still lived. The Alpha Legion's Primarch Alpharius himself then arrived, however, and easily killed the Centurion and the remaining Imperial Fists. Their defense had delayed the Alpha Legion long enough, however, for the Phalanx to arrive at the moon. Fresh reinforcements arrived under the Primarch Rogal Dorn's command, who led them in scouring Hydra of the Alpha Legion.[1]
Few records of Skekkir and his forces' valiant deeds at the reactor survived the calamitous days that followed. Only their names remain, in the Imperial Fists' Temple of Oaths where they are etched in gold. They now serve as a constant reminder of the valor of those who, loyal to their oaths, stood against the darkness of the Horus Heresy.[1]
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Community: Play Out Famous Battles From the Horus Heresy With These Epic Free Campaign Packs (Posted on 06/09/2021) - The Battle of Pluto: Hydra's Devastation PDF, pgs. 4-5 (last accessed 06 September 2021)
