Isaia Bendikt
Isaia Bendikt is a Cadian General, who survived the death of the Fortress World, during the 13th Black Crusade[1a].
History
Prior to Cadia's fall, Bendikt was a Major in the Cadian 101st Armoured Regiment and served in Warmaster Ryse's Deucalion Crusade. During the Crusade, he led the 10st into becoming Cadia's most decorated tank Regiments. Bendikt himself was twice awarded the Valorous Unit Citation and shared with his tank crew six Steel Crosses, four Steel Aquila and the Order of the Eagle’s Claw. Despite his high achievements though, Bendikt was shocked to hear that Ursarkar E. Creed had become a General, even though their Guardsmen careers had begun at the same time. Once he was able to get over his jealousy of Creed's accomplishment, Bendikt began to study the General's tactics and followed Creed's career through memos and regiment dispatches. Later when an increase of Chaos activity in the Cadian Gate, led the Imperium to call a muster of its forces to Cadia, Bendikt was among the forces that Warmaster Ryse to the Fortress World. As he waited aboard the Warmaster flagship, Fidelitas Vector, for their chance to land, Bendikt had a chance to meet with Creed and congratulated him on becoming General. He was surprised, when Creed knew who he was and then listed the Major's honours he had earned in the Crusade. Their conversation soon ended but, not before Creed claimed that Cadian High Command was underestimating the Chaos threat they faced and it would be up to Guardsmen like Bendikt and him to keep the Cadian Gate safe.[1b]
Bendikt and the 101st were then deployed to Cadia, but they were not sent to Kasr Tyrok with the majority of the muster's Imperial forces. Instead they were dispatched, without their tanks, to the remote mountain base Observation Post 9983[1c]. Once their Valkyries dropped them off at the base, the Regiment had no way of leaving the Observation Post and the base's caretaker had no answers for them as to what they were supposed to do there. This began the start of Bendikt's frustration, and it greatly increased once the Battle for Tyrok Fields began[1d], which was the start of the 13th Black Crusade. A full scale invasion by the forces of Chaos soon followed, and though they could listen to the Imperial forces comms, the 101st was unable to contact anyone. Their predicament lasted several despairing months, which included watching Bendikt's hometown Kasr Halig be destroyed, until Creed suddenly appeared at the Observation Post[1e]. He was now Lord Castellan of Cadia and explained that he had placed the 101st and several other Regiments in these mountain bases, so they could serve as a hidden army that could be unleashed when the time was right. Creed stated that time was now, as Cadia had weathered the Chaos invasion and he would soon lead a counter-attack against the invaders. With that Creed activated the Observation Post, which included opening rooms filled with tanks for the 101st and the appearance of roads they could drive down the mountain with. Creed then said he was needed elsewhere, but before he left the Lord Castellan promoted Bendikt to General, as well as the command of several other armoured Regiments. Once Creed left, Bendikt let the shock of his promotion wash over him and then ordered the 101st to prepare themselves. Once Creed then later gave the signal for the counter-attack to begin, Bendikt led the 101st to battle[1f]. Unfortunately the counter-attack would fail, after Abaddon the Despoiler gave the order to send the remains of his Blackstone Fortress plunging into Cadia's surface. This set of a chain of events that doomed the Fortress World and the Imperial forces were ordered to evacuate before Cadia exploded. In the mass panic and confusion that followed, Bendikt was able to get all of the 101st safely evacuated and they joined the Imperial fleet, as it began its escape from the Cadian System.[1a]
Bendikt continues to serve in the subsequent Imperial defense of Segmentum Obscurus, though he slays Praetorian Guard General Reginald Monstella de Barka in an honour duel after the latter insults the honour of Cadians.[2a] Though wounded, he is able to make it to Potence to lead the defenses against Scourged forces.[2b]
Afterwards, he continues to lead a campaign of Cadian survivors including the 101st against the Heretic fortress on Malouri dubbed Traitor Rock. Rather than the decades-long siege envisioned by the Departmento Munitorum, he is confident he can capture the fortress in less than 50 days.[3a] In the subsequent battle on Malouri, Isia Bendikt is able to kill the Traitor commander Lord Marshal Molzhauer in a duel.[3b] Bendikt and the Cadian 101st then took part against Scourged forces on Cinnabar's Folly[4a] and Telken's Rest in search of the lost Cadian 8th.[4b]
