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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
→Secondary Invasions
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 which 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==
