Siege of Talasa Secundus
The Siege of Talasa Secundus was a battle of the Plague Wars.[1]
Overview
The siege began when Death Guard forces invaded the world of Talasa Secundus in Ultramar. An Ultramarines Successor Chapter task force under Captain Lobos of the Novamarines 5th Company was deployed to defend the Hive World, and included the newly christened Silver Templars 3rd Company under Captain Petricias. By the time the Imperials arrived, the world was already succumbing to Virus Bombs unleashed by the Death Guard. Most of the Human population became infected, and after their deaths were transformed into foul Poxwalkers. These undead were used by the Death Guard to harry Imperial defenders as their core Plague Marine force made their landing. As they fought running battles with the Poxwalkers, the Space Marines formed defensive lines around the hive cities and dug-in, preparing for the Death Guard assault. For weeks they held their lines and fought day and night against the Death Guard. However, they eventually began to falter; sensing weakness, the Death Guard made their final push.[1]
In tightly organised formations, the Death Guard swarmed over the Space Marine line and reaped a terrible toll on the defenders. Despite being heavily outnumbered the Space Marines fought well and slew a number of Plague Marines in brutal duels. In the end however they were overwhelmed, and the Death Guard Lord of Contagion strode forth. Silver Templars Captain Petricias engaged the Lord of Contagion in a duel while Novamarines Captain Lobos ordered a fall back to the Hive to regroup. However, Petricias ignored the order and ordered his troops to clear a path. Dozens of Silver Templars fell, but they cleared a road to the enemy that allowed Petricias to engage the Lord of Contagion in a vicious duel. Petricias' superior combat skills were showed and in a final swing cut down the Death Guard Lord. With the chain of command disrupted, the Space Marines were able to launch a final push to defeat the Death Guard assault.[1]
The Silver Templars had won the day, but the event drove a wedge between the Chapter and the Novamarines, for their attack had seen their allies nearly overwhelmed by a Death Guard attack. The Novamarines had lost nearly half their warriors as a result, and Captain Lobos raged at Petricias who for his part refused to admit any error. At the conclusion of the conflict the Novamarines left in disgust and tensions between the two chapters exist to this day.[1]
Sources
- 1: Silver Templars (Sourcebook), pgs. 20-23
