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The '''''Sisypheum''''' was an [[Iron Hands]] [[Strike Cruiser]] that played a crucial role at the outbreak of the [[Horus Heresy]], evacuating loyalist Legionnaires from the surface of [[Istvaan V]] before escaping and beginning a series of raids and strike operations against the Traitor Legions and their [[Primarch]]s.{{Fn|2}}
== Overview ==The ''Sisypheum'' was a highly modified Strike Cruiser. Compact and deadly, the vessel was up-armoured and fitted with a black, non-reflective hull that had been repaired and upgraded by its crew and the expertise of the Iron Hands Legionnaires themselves. It contained a laboratorium in the upper levels where Iron Father [[Frater Thamatica]], Ironwrought of the Morlock veterans, conducted dangerous high energy experiments with advanced technology, in order to try and give the Loyalists an edge.{{Fn|2}}
The Vessel was commanded by [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Ulrach Branthan]] of the 65th [[Clan Company]]. Command passed to his [[Equerry]] , [[Cadmus Tyro]] , as Ulrach was mortally wounded and held in a Stasis field in the Apothacarion.{{Fn|2}}
==History===== Istvaan V and Subsequent actions ===
The ''Sisypheum'' escaped the betrayal at [[Isstvan V]], but was crucially able to evacuate a number of personnel off-planet recovering a large contingent of Morlocks and Iron Hands, along with the [[Raven Guard]] Legionnaire [[Nykona Sharrowkyn]] and [[Atesh Tarsa]], an [[Apothecary]] of the [[Salamanders]] Legion.{{Fn|2}}
The [[Death Guard]], [[Sons of Horus]], [[Word Bearers]] and [[Iron Warriors]] had all taken their best shot at destroying the ''Sisypheum'' at Isstvan V, but it had eluded them all enough to escape when the net was closing in. A [[Night Lords]] vessel had come closest to ending its defiance, but employing subtle tactics no one would have expected from an Iron Hands captain, the ''Sisypheum'' managed to outmanoeuvre the VIII Legion’s ship ''[[Tenebraxis]]''. Its rear quarters raked with fire, leaving it wallowing and defenceless, the ''Tenebraxis'' was then boarded by kill teams of Iron Hands from the ''Sisypheum'' who took the fight to the enemy in their shadowed halls and darkened companionways, stripping it of anything potentially useful for refitting and repair work. Leaving the stricken ship burning in the ice floes of the Isstvan cometary belt, the ''Sisypheum'' fled the system. Using supplies and equipment liberated from the ''Tenebraxis'' the ship's Company was able to repair most of the battle damage and ensure they had adequate supplies.{{Fn|2}}
It escaped the clutches of the [[Traitor Legion]]s and began a hit and run campaign against the rear areas of Traitor Space, intercepting convoys and picking off individual naval ships and Traitor Legion ships. It began a campaign of intelligence gathering and surgical strikes and managed through the exploits of two members of its compliment - Nykona Sharrowkyn and [[Iron Father]] [[Sabik Wayland]].{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|2}}
Using the ''Sisypheum'' as a base of operations, Sabik and Nykona were sent to secure and extract a [[Kryptos]]. They were successful and thereby the loyalists began to decode Traitor Communications.{{Fn|1}}
Once again the pair were inserted on to [[Hydra Cordatus]] by the ship's smaller craft, to intercept the meeting of the Traitor Primarchs, and after a failed assassination attempt on [[Fulgrim]] they returned to the ''Sisypheum''. The decision was then made to intercede in the Traitors plans, taking the Ship to the dead [[Eldar]] world of [[Iydris]].{{Fn|2}}
En route to Iydris, One of Frater Thamatica's experiments went dreadfully wrong and compromised the vessel, exposing the ship to the sensors of both the Iron Warriors' and Emperor's Childrens' fleets. The two Primarchs argued over the course of action and the III Legion boarded the vessel; not to be outdone by his brother, [[Perturabo]] teleported directly across with the members of his bodyguard and his command [[Trident]]. The ship was dangerously unstable and only a last minute intervention by Thamatica prevented the ship's core from exploding. Sensing something was wrong, Perturabo evacuated and the Emperors Children followed. Suddenly due to Thamatica's actions, the ''Sisypheum'' underwent an incredible acceleration and cut directly through an Emperor's Children vessel, destroying it utterly and managing to escape from the traitor legions.{{Fn|2}}
Later, the ''Sisypheum'' under [[Cadmus Tyro]] allied with [[Shadrak Meduson]] in raiding an [[Alpha Legion]] outpost. However, when it was revealed that Meduson had in fact been [[Alpharius]] in disguise and the entire battle was a manipulation, Tyro and his forces fled.{{Fn|3}}
===Luna===
By the time of the [[Siege of Terra]], the ''Sisypheum'' and its crew had reached the [[Sol System]]. During the final stages of the [[Solar War]], the vessel was badly damaged destroying the [[Word Bearers]] [[Battleship]] ''[[Covenant of Truth]]''. Shortly after, they received a distress signal on [[Luna]] from the [[Selenar]] Gene-Witch [[Ta'lab Vita-37]]. Ta'lab sought to safeguard the ancient gene artifact known as the [[Magna Mater]] from incoming traitor forces.{{Fn|3}} The crew of the ''Sisypheum'' undertook a suicidal raid to acquire the important artifact, infiltrating traitor-occupied Luna and meeting up with Ta'lab. During the fighting, [[Dark Mechanicum]] forces managed to call for [[Sons of Horus]] reinforcements.{{Fn|4b}} Faced with [[Justaerin]], the crew of the ''Sisypheum'' gave their lives one by one in order to secure the Magna Mater.{{Fn|4c}} In the end, only [[Sabik Wayland]] and [[Nykona Sharrowkyn]] remained alive and they only escaped thanks to the mysterious intervention of the ''[[Photep]]'', the flagship of [[Magnus the Red]]. After escaping, a badly wounded Wayland dropped Sharrowkyn and the Magna Mater at an abandoned coaling station while he steered the ''Sisypheum'' into the void to draw off pursuing traitor vessels. Aboard the coaling station and with the Magna Mater, Sharrowkyn only had the [[Psyber-Eagle]] [[Garuda]] for company and put himself into suspended animation.{{Fn|4d}}
*[[Garuda]] - [[Psyber-Eagle]] of [[Ulrach Branthan]]{{Fn|4e}}
==Related ArticlesSee also==*[[Known Vessels of the Iron Hands]]
*[[List of Strike Cruisers]]
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Angel Exterminatus (Novel)]],{{Cite This}}
*{{Endn|3}}: [[The Seventh Serpent (Novella)]],{{Cite this}}
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Sons of the Selenar (Novella)]]:
**{{Endn|4a}}: Chapters 1-3
**{{Endn|4b}}: Chapter 5
**{{Endn|4c}}: Chapters 8-9
**{{Endn|4d}}: Chapters 10-11
**{{Endn|4e}}: ''Dramatis Personae''
[[Category:Fleet (Space Marines)Cruisers]]
[[Category:The Horus Heresy]]
[[Category:Vessels (Iron Hands]][[Category:Naval Vessels)]]
