Sigismund's Seconds
Sigismund's Seconds was the name given to the various Imperial forces that gathered under the command of the Emperor's Champion Sigismund, near the end of the Horus Heresy's Siege of Terra.[1b]
History
This was after the Imperial Palace's Sanctum Imperialis sealed its doors and left those Imperials outside of its walls to face the overwhelming numbers of Warmaster Horus' Traitor forces. Those who rallied to Emperor's Champion's command, however, became a formidable army and were able defeat the Traitors they came across. Sigismund though was drive to slay the Traitors' officers and champions, in single combat and sought them out. When he saw a Traitor horde that was commanded by one, the Emperor's Champion required his Seconds to stay back and not involve themselves, as he rushed to strike down his targets. Once the officer or champion lay dead at his feet, the Traitors' forces would attack Sigismund, but by then his Seconds were already rushing to his aid. Their arrival would catch the Traitors off-guard and this would allow the Emperor's Champion and Seconds to destroy them.[1b]
Sigismund would use this tactic against the Sons of Horus Captain Selgar Dorgaddon's 10th Company,[1b] as the Traitors were about to attack the mostly civilian Imperials that Euphrati Keeler led. Before Dorgaddon could strike first and kill Keeler, however, the Emperor's Champion quickly killed the Captain[1a] and then fought the 10th Company until his Seconds arrived and launched a surprise attack. Once this occurred, the 10th were easily overwhelmed by Sigismund's forces and the Company's cohesion came apart. Those that still lived attempted to retreat, but they were hunted down by the Seconds and by the end of the battle, the Sons of Horus' 10th Company was destroyed. Afterwards, Sigismund would talk with Keeler and agreed to use his strength and those of his Seconds, to defend her group of Imperials as they sought safety.[1b]
Known Forces
- Imperial Fists[1b]
- Legionaries from other Space Marine Legions[1b]
- Imperial Army troopers from at least fourteen Regiments[1b]
