Changes

|Commanders1 =[[File:Imperial Eagle.jpg|20px]] [[Lord Commander]] [[Roboute Guilliman]]<br>[[File:Machina Opus.png|20px]] [[Archmagos]] [[Belisarius Cawl]]<br>[[File:FleetSymbol.jpg|20px]] [[Fleetmaster]] [[Isaiah Khestrin]]<br>[[File:FleetSymbol.jpg|20px]] [[Fleetmaster]] [[Cassandra VanLeskus]] (KIA)<br>[[File:FleetSymbol.jpg|20px]] [[Groupmaster]] [[Eloise Athagey]] (POW)<br>[[File:FleetSymbol.jpg|20px]] [[Groupmaster]] [[Marran]] (MIA)<br>[[File:FleetSymbol.jpg|20px]] [[Groupmaster]] [[Vikraen]]{{Fn|9c}}<br>[[File:Inquisiton.png|20px]] [[Inquisitor]] [[Draxus]] (AWOL)<br>[[File:White Consuls symbol.jpg|20px]] [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Vitrian Messinius]][[File:Martyred lady.png|20px]][[Ephrael Stern]]<br>[[File:BlackTemplarssymbol.png|20px]] [[Marshal (Black Templars)|Marshal]] [[Reikert Arnulf]] (MIA)<br>[[File:BlackTemplarssymbol.png|20px]] [[Marshal (Black Templars)|Marshal]] [[Kurtz (Black Templars)|Kurtz]]{{Fn|1c}}<br>[[File:Ultramarinessymbol.png|20px]] [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Galeron]]{{Fn|6}}<br>[[File:IFsymbol.png|20px]] [[Space Marine Lieutenant|Lieutenant]] [[Horgek Stornvor]] (MIA)<br>[[File:Argent Shroud.png|20px]] [[Canoness]] [[Gracia Emmanuelle]] (KIA)<br>[[File:Machina Opus.png|20px]] [[Magos]] [[Einvahld Veridian]]<br>[[File:Machina Opus.png|20px]] [[Magos]] [[Ghelf]] (KIA)<br>[[File:Machina Opus.png|20px]] [[Magos]] [[Behzt Oradi]] (KIA)|Commanders2 =[[File:SzarekhanSymbol.jpg|20px]] [[Silent King]] [[Szarekh]]{{Fn|8}}<br>[[File:Ankh triarch.png|20px]] [[Hapthatra the Radiant]]<br>[[File:Ankh triarch.png|20px]] [[Cryptek|Illuminor]] [[Szeras]]<br>[[File:Sautekh Emblem.jpg|20px]] [[Orikan the Diviner]]{{Fn|8}}<br>[[File:Nihilakh Emblem.jpg|20px]] [[Phaeron]] [[Shemvokh]] (WIA)<br>[[File:Thokt Icon.png|20px]] [[Phaeron]] [[Nektarrik]]{{Fn|9d}}<br>[[File:Ankh triarch.png|20px]] [[Phaeron]] [[Vordreska]]<br>[[File:SzarekhanSymbol.jpg|20px]] [[Necron Overlord|Overlord]] [[Neshkafar]]<br>[[File:Ankh triarch.png|20px]] Overlord [[Khutmecc]]{{Fn|9d}}<br>[[File:Ankh triarch.png|20px]] [[Necron Lord|Lord]] [[Karifar Lakshmet]]<br>[[File:Ankh triarch.png|20px]] [[Necron Lord|Lord]] [[Khepra'nek]]{{Fn|6}}<br>[[File:Sautekh Emblem.jpg|20px]] Lord [[Menhotok]]{{Fn|6}}<br>[[File:Ankh triarch.png|20px]] [[Nemesor]] [[Uthmek]]{{Fn|9c}}

Shortly after his [[Terran Crusade|Return to Terra]], the reborn [[Roboute Guilliman]] learned of the beginnings of what would become the [[Necron]] [[Pariah Nexus]]. Advised by [[Belisarius Cawl]] as to the scale of the threat, Guilliman decided to first investigate the extent of the Necron network and then launch an expedition to destroy it. A great council of war including representatives from all major Imperial factions was held aboard the ''[[Dawn of Fire (Battleship)|Dawn of Fire]]'' where Guilliman outlined his strategy.{{Fn|11a}} During the council Guilliman declared that [[Battle Group Kallides]] was dispatched to first conduct a reconaissancereconnaissance-in-force of the [[Nephilim Sector]] and investigate the threat. Commanded by [[Groupmaster]] [[Kaspar Marius Todoric Marran]], the Imperial forces consisted of [[Imperial Guard]], [[Imperial Navy]], [[Mechanicum]], [[House Terryn]], [[House Mortan]], [[Ultramarines]], [[Black Templars]], [[Sisters of Battle]], and [[Legio Castigatum]]. Also present were [[Ordo Xenos]] detachments under [[Lord Inquisitor]] [[Kyria Draxus]]. Once this force had assessed the situation in the sector, Guilliman would personally lead [[Fleet Primus]] with support from [[Fleet Tertius]] to destroy the Pariah Nexus. A great council Cawl outlined how destroying the Necron "keystone" [[Cadian Pylon|Pylon]] at [[Mesmoch]] in the [[Zeidos System]] would severely disrupt the network. Unknown to most of war including representatives from all major Imperial factions was held aboard the Imperials, Cawl''s true target was [[Dawn of Fire (Battleship)|Dawn of FirePlanet 7/2]]'' where Guilliman outlined his strategy, with the attack on Mesmoch meant as a diversion to draw away the Necrons.{{Fn|11a11b}}

====Battle of the The Mesmoch PylonDeception====The trigger for war came when a assault on the [[Zeidos System]] was conducted by [[Vanguard Space Marine|VanguardFleet Primus]] strike force of Ultramarines made planetfall on under [[MesmochFleetmaster]] in the [[Zeidos SystemIsaiah Khestrin]]. On Mesmoch, the Ultramarines discovered a towering as [[Cadian Pylon|PylonFleet Tertius]] wrought from [[BlackstoneBattle Group Iolus]] which was several miles in circumference. The assault upon the Mesmoch Pylon went poorly from the start. under Fleetmaster [[Warp DriveVanLeskus]] failures and stilled crews meant that only two-thirds of [[Groupmaster]] [[Eloise Athagey]] moved towards the requested warships and troop transports reached Marran's mustering point in time[[Paradyce System]]. Formations of Necron warships swept from the void VanLeskus was able to oppose the Imperial attack. Many Imperial ships were destroyed by the time Marran's forces reached Mesmoch, either by the quickly destroy a Necron warships or orbital defenses. Imperial carriers disgorged waves of infantry onto Mesmoch's surface. The Ultramarines. Black Templars, [[Cruiser]] through sheer numbers and land [[DeathwatchSisters of Battle]] led of the attack, establishing beachheads to [[Order of the north Argent Shroud]] under [[Canoness]] [[Gracia Emmanuelle]] and east of the Pylon. Six entire Imperial Guard [[RegimentFrateris Militia]] under [[Shanni Saintsgift]] upon [[Paradyce II]]s followed while .{{Fn|11c}}{{Fn|11d}} Taking heavy losses to the Necrons, the [[Warlord TitanEcclesiarchy]] ''Deus Redemptor'' was landed from orbittroops were able to mitigate some of the effects of the Pariah Nexus through sheer faith and zeal.{{Fn|1a11d}}

Despite the headway made by Imperial forces at Paradyce, Cawl's diversion had paid off and thus a massive fleet of Necron reinforcements arrived. Athagey ordered a desperate retreat as she sought to personally engage the Necron Pylon Ship to buy the fleet time.{{Fn|11e}} Just as Fleetmaster VanLeskus' own flagship ''[[Precept Magnificat]]'' is about to be destroyed by the superior Necron fleet Athagay arrives and rammed her own vessel ''[[Saint Aster]]'' into the Pylon Ship. This allows for a fraction of the Imperium fleet to escape as on the ground the Sisters and Frateris Militia fought to the end against the Necrons.{{Fn|11g}}{{Fn|11i}} On Mesmoch, an Ultramarines [[Vanguard Space Marine|Vanguard]] force discovered the towering [[Cadian Pylon|Pylon]] wrought from [[Blackstone]] which was several miles in circumference as Guilliman ordered the world be subject to [[Exterminatus]]. The assault upon the Mesmoch Pylon went poorly from the start. [[Warp Drive]] failures and stilled crews meant that only two-thirds of the requested warships and troop transports reached Groupmaster Marran's mustering point in time. Many Imperial ships were destroyed by the time Marran's forces reached Mesmoch, either by the Necron warships or orbital defenses. Imperial carriers disgorged waves of infantry onto Mesmoch's surface. The Ultramarines. Black Templars, and [[Deathwatch]] led the attack, establishing beachheads to the north and east of the Pylon. Six entire Imperial Guard [[Regiment]]s followed while the [[Warlord Titan]] ''Deus Redemptor'' was landed from orbit.{{Fn|1a}}  Necron phalanxes marched out to oppose the attack as the Imperial [[Battleship]] ''[[Triumph (Battleship)|Triumph]]'' unleashed an orbital bombardment on the Pylon itself. Despite a massive [[Lance]] attack, the pylon was undamaged due to [[Quantum Shielding]]. Ground attack thus became the only option to destroy the Pylon, but while the Space Marines had carved a path within a half-mile of the Pylon's base, the Imperial Guard were faltering due to its effects. The Necrons struck with [[Monolith]]s and [[Doomsday Ark]]s at this weak point in the Imperial attack and damaged the ''Deus Redemptor''. Only the Space Marines were able to prevent the defeat from becoming a full rout. Squad by squad they staged a fighting retreat, providing rearguard cover as Imperial forces limped back to their extraction zones. The Deathwatch Kill Teams [[Amaeus]] and [[Thannyr]] died to the last holding the Necrons back. A fercoious ferocious counterattack led by [[Marshal]] [[Ghehart]] of the Black Templars repulsed the Necron forces seeking to finish off the ''Deus Redemptor'' and saw horrible casualties on both sides. Evacuating Imperial transports were mauled by [[Doom Scythe]]s and [[Tomb Blade]]s. The attack on the Pylon had been a humiliating defeat.{{Fn|1a}} By now, a massive fleet of Necron warships under [[Triarch]] and [[Szarekh]]'s proxy [[Hapthatra the Radiant]] swept from the void to oppose the Imperial attack on Mesmoch, drawn by the Imperial deception.{{Fn|11e}} Speaking through Hapthatra, Szarekh demanded the Imperial surrender and proclaimed the galaxy as the Necron's domain. Guilliman unsurprisingly refused the Necron demands and ordered a fighting withdrawal aiming to keep the xenos occupied while Cawl completed his mission at Planet 7/2.{{Fn|11g}} It soon became apparent that the Necrons intended to capture, not destroy, the Imperials in hopes of perhaps gaining Guilliman. Ordering the evacuation of the ''Dawn of Fire'', Guilliman stayed on board with a force of [[Custodes]] under [[Colquan]] to draw the Necron's attention.{{Fn|11h}} The ''Dawn of Fire'' was quickly disabled by the Necrons, who boarded the vessel with troops as Guilliman and his entourage finally begin to attempt to withdraw. [[Cato Sicarius]], commander of the [[Victrix Guard]], is able to destroy a [[Necron Lord]] to clear a path for Guilliman to flee as a gateway opens, revealing the Silent King Szarekh personally. Guilliman drew the [[Emperor's Sword]] and prepared for a fight, but was foiled by [[Illian Natase]], who closed the portal and allowed the group to escape as the ''Dawn of Fire'' is destroyed.{{Fn|11i}}{{Fn|11j}} Meanwhile, Cawl oversaw the true Imperial objective: accompanying [[White Consuls]] Captain [[Vitrian Messinius]] and 426 recently-christened White Consuls [[Greyshield]]s to Planet 7/2 with [[Cameleoline]] masked [[Drop Pod]]s. Dropping undetected to the surface, even the Space Marines were effected by the properties of the Nexus but nonetheless were able to move towards the central Necron control pyramid.{{Fn|11d}} Fighting their way inside the pyramid against swarms of [[Canoptek Construct]]s, Cawl personally interfaced with the pyramid in a bid to shut down the local pylon network and flood it with dataphages.{{Fn|11f}} Cawl was eventually successful in completing his task as the Space Marines took heavy casualties, but the the pariah veil lifted across Imperial forces in the region.{{Fn|11i}} Cawl revealed that the pyramid was actually a [[Pharos]] device, and used it to teleport himself and the surviving Space Marines to their nearby [[Strike Cruiser]]. Cawl's mission had been successful in disrupting the Nexus, but the losses to the Imperials at Mesmoch and Paradyce had been devastating.{{Fn|11j}}