Changes

Despite the best efforts of the Imperials, the Gydisk and Semythis Systems were declared lost while many others were still under attack. At [[Kernak III]], Orks under the world's old enemy Nabrot Stubfingers struck in search of loot. He utilized his captured [[Mechanicum]] cruisers and frigates crewed by [[Blood Axes]] and captured Humans to get close to the orbital defenses, which proved more hesitant to fire upon their former blessed machinery. The Blood Axes bought time by having their Human slaves request security codes and request permission to board. By the time the Mechanicum realized what was happening it was too late, and though the orbital defenses were able to destroy some enemy vessels they were destroyed by the furious impacts of the captured Imperial ships, whose Blood Axes evacuated at the last minute. At the same time, Stubfingers dispatched forces to attack [[Kernak IV]] and destroy its [[House Xiphos]] fortress known as the Xiphon. Ork ships stormed into Kernak IV's orbit, the Greenskins dropping in herds of [[Squiggoth]]s, airborne [[Megafortress]]es, and [[Gorkanaut]]s to crush the House. The Knights fought valiantly but were eventually overwhelmed and the walls of the Xiphon were breached.{{Fn|10b}}

Stubrog meanwhile turned his eyes to Kernak III, using an armada of space hulks and crude vessels just as reinforcements from Ryza were arriving. Catching the Imperials off-guard, destroying the Ryza transports in orbit and wiping out swathes of [[Skitarii]]. Had it not been for the efforts of the [[Legio Crucius]] and anti-air [[Cadian]] regiments the principle landing zone used by the Ryzan forces would have been completely overrun with [[Skarboyz]]. The fighting then raged for many months, with the Legio Crucius and [[Legio Kopides]] dueling [[Mega-Gargant]]s over the ruins of Fane-Shrine 21DF730. It was a testament to the skill of [[Fabricator-General]] [[Ezmeralda Brynlokh]]'s skill that she maintained an ordered defense against two simultaneous Ork attacks, manipulating the Greenskins to often fight each other. However it was not enough, and billions of Orks were present on the planet and they looted large amounts of captured Imperial vehicles. The Orks looters were churning out vehicles at a race that outpaced Kernak III's own supply abilities. With the Greenskin rampage continuing, Brynlokh realized defeat was inevitable and made arrangement for withdrawal. She committed hundreds of Skitarii Macroclades to conduct a rear-guard action during the evacuation, with most going to the [[Kusolst System]] with the intent of regrouping and securing allies for a future counterattack.{{Fn|10b}}

Salvation for Sigma-Ulstari came in the form of the [[Rogue Trader]] [[Eyva Phalomor]]'s [[Vengeance Class Grand Cruiser]] ''[[The Riches He Bestows]]''. With it came the [[Retribution Class Battleship]] ''[[Faithbringer]]'' under [[High Admiral]] [[Herika Ajon]] and [[Indomitus Crusade Fleet Primus]]' Task Force V. However most imposing of all was the arrival of the ''[[Eternal Crusader]]'', flagship of the [[Black Templars]] and commanded by [[High Marshal (Black Templars)|High Marshal]] [[Helbrecht]] himself. The newly arrived Imperial forces wasted no time as the fleet broke up and set for different targets. Several Black Templars warships moved to reinforce other besieged worlds of the System as the rest raced for Sigma-Ulstari and smashed through the cordon of battling Ork and Tyranid ships. In a matter of hours the Imperials had broken through and were now arriving at Sigma-Ulstari itself, landing waves of troop transports with millions of troops, tanks, Knights, and Titans. Many of these landers were lost to marauding Ork aircraft, but many more landed and with them came Black Templars, [[Rift Praetors]], and [[Axes of the Emperor]] [[Drop Pod]]s and gunships which were deployed where the fighting was thickest.{{Fn|12b}}

Vicious battles erupted in the multi-story-tall howdahs of the Orkeosaurses as Helbrecht came face to face with Wurldkilla. In the ensuing deal, the Warboss countered every one of the High Marshal's attacks and a counter-strike snapped one of the Space Marines arms. Wurldkilla next punched Helbrecht in the face, cracking his skull and forcing him to one knee. As Wurldkilla positioned himself for the final blow Helbrecht fired his [[Combi-Melta]] ''[[Duty's Burden]]'' at point-blank, causing the Warboss to drop to the floor in pain and allowing the High Marshal to drive his sword through his head. With his foe finally slain, Helbrecht saw that the other boarding operations had also succeeded in boarding the Orkeosaurus' and stalling the attack.{{Fn|12b}}

*350-350 Battle-Brothers from the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 10th Companies

*5+ [[Librarian]]s & 3+ [[Chaplain]]s

*[[Battle Barge]] ''[[Deep (Battle Barge)|Deep]]''

*[[Strike Cruiser]]s ''[[Fathom (Strike Cruiser)|Fathom]]'' and ''[[League]]''

*250-350 Battle-Brothers from the 1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th, and 10th Companies

*5+ Librarians

*2 [[Strike Cruiser]]s (''[[Aurelios]]'' and ''[[Senekha]]'')

*6 [[Gladius Frigate]]s (''[[Heartlance]]'', ''[[Hoplon]]'', ''[[Judgement (Gladius Class Frigate)|Judgement]]'', ''[[Spear of Wisdom]]'', ''[[Stoikha]]'', ''[[Trident (Gladius Class Frigate)|Trident]]'')

*15-20 [[Techmarine]]s

*400-500 Battle-Brothers from all 10 Companies

*1 Battle Barge (''[[Tlahtoan]]'')

*3 Strike Cruisers (''[[Ataquil]]'', ''[[Khamazotz]]'', ''[[Kizuic]]'')