233
edits
Changes
From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
m
no edit summary
In the face of an Ork invasion on Kentaur, in order to save his own career, Dercius left Gaunt's father and his unit behind, to be slaughtered by the invading Orks. Dercius later took the younger Gaunt under his wing, sponsoring his adoption by the [[Schola Progenium]]. He never told Gaunt the truth about his father's death, which remained a carefully classified secret.
Gaunt did not discover the truth for many years; while serving as a commissar cadet in the Hyrkan regiments, Gaunt encountered a young psyker on [[Darendara]] who (among other things) foresaw his rise to command the "[[Tanith First and Only|Ghosts]]", as well as revealing to him the truth about Kentaur. Four years later, on [[Khedd 1173]], Gaunt - now a full commissar with the Hyrkan 8th - confronted Dercius in front of his men and prepared to punish his "uncle" for his cowardice. In a brief chainsword duel, the severely-wounded Gaunt ran his blade through Dercius' chest, killing him.
Because he had been executed for cowardice by a fully-trained Commissar - even if it was technically for personal reasons - Dercius' family was also punished as a result. His son, the future Colonel Flense, was stripped of his noble titles, had his lands taken from him, and was forced to advance through the ranks of the Imperial Guard from the bottom up. Seventeen years later, attempting to avenge his father's death, Flense was also killed in a duel with Gaunt.
