Razing of Astorgius
The Razing of Astorgius is an ongoing battle of the T'au Empire's efforts to claim the Imperial Cardinal World Astorgius during the Fifth Sphere of Expansion.[1]
Overview
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The T'au Empire initially attempted to peacefully annex the world by sending representatives from each of its Castes to meet with Astorgius' leadership. Their offer was soundly rejected and the representative's heads were sent back to the T'au's nearby fleet. In response, Commander Shadowsun was resolved to make an example of Astorgius' population.[1]
One advantage Shadowsun took solace in, though, was that secretive meetings with the world's middle-ranking laymen had been much more successful; Astorgius was in fact ridden with highly fractious politics and the T'au exploited the fact that each of its families had aspirations, fears, rivals and enemies. Thanks to the Empire's influence, when Shadowsun finally launched an invasion months later, she found that Astorgius was on the brink of civil war. Despite this, however, the Imperial resistance remained strong and her offers of surrender were rejected.[1]
As battle raged a breakthrough came when reports indicated that Astorgius' population fought hard over sites and artefacts of particular religious significance. When these fell or were captured, the T'au learned that acts of individual surrender spiked. When Imperial propaganda boasted that not a single one of Astorgius' cathedra-cities had fallen, Shadowsun knew what her next move would be. In order to finally break the world's spirit, and bring the war to an end, she would topple Astorgius's greatest cathedra-city, Iglesor Magna. However, even when the city's destruction was broadcasted across the world, it simply stiffened the resolve of the Imperial resistance. After seeing this, Shadowsun sadly realized that she had to accept that much more blood would have to be spilled before the T'au Empire could claim Astorgius.[1]
Aftermath
Subsequent sources state Shadowsun was victorious on Astorgius, but otherwise the status of the warzone is unknown.[2]
Sources
- 1: Psychic Awakening: The Greater Good, pgs. 8-11
- 2: Codex: T'au Empire (10th Edition), pg. 23
