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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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By the closing years of [[M41]], Cadia still remained in Imperial hands. However the world stood alone and was under siege from vast Chaos forces, its moons reduced to barren wastelands and the Villklas and Andur defensive lines overrun. The Cadian High Command was forced to relocate to the far side of the planet as Imperial forces took up positions around Kasr Gallan, awaiting the final push by the Forces of Chaos. The other vital front in the war, the Agripinaa Sector, still remained in Imperial hands but was still under massive attack from Chaos forces and its populace risked starvation with the loss of [[Agri World]]s such as Yayor, Ulthor, and Dentor. The Imperial Navy sought to rectify this by fighting to hold space lanes around the Cadian Gate in actions that would have Admiral Quarren hailed a hero. The Dark Angels meanwhile continued to wage a spirited defense of the ruins of their ancient homeworld of [[Caliban]], and were even rumored to have captured the elusive Voice of the Emperor.<sup>10</sup>
== Secondary Invasions ==
{{main|Second Siege of Perlia}}
Although the majority of the 13th Black Crusade was fought near the Cadian Gate, the general chaos of the incursion allowed several splinter fleets to break off from the forces spilling from the Eye of Terror, and wreak havoc much farther afield<sup>11</sup>.
One such splinter fleet, under the command of [[Warmaster]] [[Varan the Undefeatable]], made for the planet [[Perlia]], Varan having learned of the existence of the [[Shadowlight]], an immensely powerful [[xenos]] artifact that could awaken the powers of latent [[psyker]]s. Varan likely came to the planet on the orders of Abaddon, having pledged to retrieve the artifact<sup>11</sup>.
The artifact was being kept in a [[Mechanicus]] shrine under the joint control of the Mechanicus and the [[Ordo Xenos]], but the planet as a whole was woefully undefended. However, at the center of the Imperial forces were the faculty of the [[Schola Progenium]], whicn included battle-hardened veterans from the [[Imperial Navy]], the [[Imperial Guard|Guard]], the [[Celestian]]s of the [[Adepta Sororitas]], and, last but not least, the celebrated Hero of the Imperium, [[Commissar]] [[Ciaphas Cain]]. These veterans were able to muster the citizens of Perlia into a halfway competent [[PDF]], and drilled their own students into a surprisingly effective fighting force, in conjunction with the Mechanicus and Inquisitorial soldiery at the shrine. During the final defense of the shrine, Cain and his aide, [[Ferik Jurgen]], defeated Varan in hand-to-hand combat, and his force was annihilated by the surprise appearance of a [[Necron]] scouting force. The Imperial forces were able to evacuate before the Necrons arrived<sup>11</sup>.
==Forces==
*<sup>9</sup> http://web.archive.org/web/20040214195525/http://www.eyeofterror.com/us/newsletter/newsletter8.htm
*<sup>10</sup> http://web.archive.org/web/20040214115649/http://www.eyeofterror.com/us/newsletter/newsletterX.htm
*<sup>11</sup>[[Cain's Last Stand (Novel)]] by [[Sandy Mitchell]]
