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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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edited Lufgt Hurons name to Lugft Huron
[[Image:MinoTerm.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Minotaurs]] [[Space Marine Sergeant|Sergeant]] [[Zelaos]], promoted to [[Space Marine Captain|Brevet-Captain]] for his role in the Battle of Optera.{{Fn|2d}} ]]
With the Executioners rather unreliable and his own forces stretched thin,{{Fn|1f}} Astral Claws Master [[Lufgt Lugft Huron]] again turned to the Lamenters to defend the Pale Stars. At this point, the Lamenters were still a powerful force, but had been depleted due to the constant warfare. The Imperial command recognized this as a chance to finally eliminate the Chapter as a combatant in the civil war. Acting on this idea, the Minotaurs assembled their forces for a large-scale attack, waiting for a good opportunity. When the loyalists discovered the Lamenters' [[Battle Barge]] ''[[Daughter of Tempests]]'' in the [[Optera system]] in 908.M41, the Minotaurs thus attacked in force. They crippled the ''Daughter of Tempests''' engines, and the Lamenters, unwilling to abandon their main ship, were thus forced to concentrate all their forces to defend it instead of retreating as they would usually do. The following battle, fought both in the void and on [[Optera V]] itself, was ruthless and ended with the near-destruction of the Lamenters; the survivors were forced to surrender.{{Fn|1g}}
===Anarchy and Imperial victory===
By 909.M41, the Maelstrom Zone was largely loyalist-dominated. The Astral Claws under Lufgt Lugft Huron had mostly retreated, focusing on the defence of the [[Badab Sector]]. The Pale Stars were still contested, but secessionist power there was greatly reduced, and the loyalists could once again begin to not just raid but actually mine the local worlds themselves. The Executioners, however, remained at large and attacked Imperial forces across the Pale Stars. For instance, they raided the Kyro system and fought a tank duel against the Minotaurs on the moon [[Uzeal]] in the [[Crows World system]].{{Fn|1h}} They also clashed with the loyalist [[Red Scorpions]] in the area.{{Fn|2a}} In 911.M41, however, the Executioners and Astral Claws clashed in the so-called "[[Red Hour]]", breaking apart the secessionist alliance. From this point on, the Executioners attacked both Imperials as well as Huron's followers across the Maelstrom Zone.{{Fn|2b}}
By 912.M41, the Badab Sector had become the only remaining secessionist stronghold, yet the Pale Stars - ravaged by both sides - were threatening to fall into anarchy and civil strife. Order was barely upheld by the [[Inquisition]] and a few [[Astra Militarum]] garrisons. At the same time, raids by various pirates, renegades (some of whom were former secessionists), and Xenos increased. Thus, loyalist forces designated Crows World as the staging point for Imperial hunter-killer operations to seek out and reduce the activity of disparate anti-Imperial elements across the Maelstrom Zone. These operations were entrusted to elements of the [[Imperial Navy]], [[Carcharadons]], [[Exorcists]], and [[Sons of Medusa]]. Meanwhile, the [[Salamanders]] were able to finally convince the Executioners to honourably surrender, finally ending the Badab War's campaign for the Pale Stars.{{Fn|2c}}
