Silberman
Silberman was a Princeps in the Legio Astorum Titan Legion, who commanded the Warlord Titan Fortunata Imperiatrix during the Horus Heresy.[1a]
History
During the Horus Heresy, Silberman was beloved by Fortunata Imperiatrix's Moderatus crew of Toal, Hazan and Warden,[1a] who all referred to their Princeps as Father Silberman.[1a][1b][1d] They would all be part of the Legio Astorum detachment that the Princeps Force Leader Kowley led in the Battle of Tallarn. However disaster struck, when Silberman was killed after being shot in the head by a Sniper, as the Princeps was outside of the Imperiatrix. His crew not only mourned his loss, but also that Silberman had not died in battle, like the Princeps had always wanted to.[1a] Silberman's skull then became one of the items that was traditionally taken from each of Imperiatrix's past Princeps and placed within the Warlord Titan. These relics were all touched by Imperiatrix's current Princeps, as part of the ritual needed to awaken the war machine. This role fell to the newly graduated Princeps Marnoc, who had to fill the hole his beloved predecessor had left with the Fortunata Imperiatrix's crew. The young Princeps would begin forming a bond with Toal, Hazan and Warden, as the Imperiatrix once more stood beside the other Legio Astorum Titans of Kowley's command.[1b]
As Legio Astorum's Titans aided in defending the Tallarn city of Rogsburg, Fortunata Imperiatrix's Moderatus crew desired to take revenge for Silberman's death.[1b] However despite the number of Traitors they slew when Rogsburg was attacked, the Imperials defending the city were overwhelmed. Marnoc escaped before the Warlord Titan was destroyed,[1c] but he later came to the aid of recently arrived Ultramarines from space, who were securing a dropsite for additional Imperial reinforcements to descend upon. The Space Marines had come under attack from a group of Legio Mortis Chaos Titans and though the Imperiatrix faced certain death, its Moderatus crew agreed with Marnoc's decision to help the Ultramarines. Thanks to their efforts, the Space Marines were saved and the additional reinforcements arrived to aid in destroying the Traitors and the retaking of Rogsburg. However it came at a heavy cost, as the Imperiatrix was destroyed in the battle and only Marnoc and a mortally wounded Hazan managed to survive its death. As the Princeps carried the Moderatus from the Warlord's wreckage though, Hazan said, "Thank you, father," before he died from his injuries.[1d]
