War for the Khaldun Sector
The War for the Khaldun Sector began after the Asuryani Craftworld Riellen invaded the Imperium's Khaldun Sector in late M41.[1]
History
They did so in order to re-capture or destroy the Aeldari technology that was taken from the Exodite Worlds Kathlan and Avalath, which Riellen had originally colonized. Though the Imperium had always known of their existence, since Adeptus Mechanicus colonists from Mars and the Legio Pallidus Mors had discovered the Khaldun Sector, a peace treaty had been signed with the Craftworld, which acknowledged Riellen's sovereignty over the worlds. This was done so that the Mechanicus' colonists could focus on other threats within Khaldun, as they sought to claim the Sector for the Imperium. This was later successfully done, but the Mechanicus always desired to claim the treasures they believed the two Exodite Worlds contained. Also the High Monarchs who ruled Khaldun's Knight Worlds had not forgotten the many wars they had waged against the Xenos. Matters came to a head several centuries later, when the Drukhari raided the Sector's Mining World Zembrie and then escaped before they suffered any retribution. Outrage soon spread across Khaldun, due to the atrocities they committed and the sector's population wanted revenge. However their anger fell upon the Craftworld Riellen, who the Sector believed was behind the attack. This perceived betrayal destroyed the peace treaty and the Imperium performed an Exterminatus on Kathlan, while Avalath's population was slaughtered. However, the Imperium was unaware that the two Exodite Worlds had each requested help from Riellen before they were attacked. Though their pleas were received, Riellen did not act until one hundred and twenty years later, when the Craftworld suddenly began the War for the Khaldun Sector.[1]
Riellen soon carried out a series of swift and ferocious strikes against the sector and Ilnor became the first of Khaldun's worlds to be conquered. This was because it contained a Mechanicus base that held the Aeldari technology which was taken from Kathlan and Avalath. By claiming the world from the Imperium, the Craftworld was able to begin carrying out its goal of preventing the Mechanicus from learning any secrets from their species' captured technology. However, it would take years for Riellen to reclaim or destroy all of the technology that was taken from the destroyed Exodite Worlds. This led the Craftworld to continue its attacks against Khaldun, in order to prevent the Imperium from stopping Ilnor's purge and six months later, Riellen had claimed eighty percent of the Sector. By then, only Celetin and the Legio Pallidus Mors' Forgeworld of Tolkhan remained free of the invaders, with Khaldun's other worlds either having already fallen to the Craftworld or still resisting its attacks. Eight years later and the Sector was still besieged, as Riellen continued carrying out hit-and-run tactics to buy time for their efforts on Ilnor to succeed. This was still years from completion, though, and by then, the Imperium had been constantly sending reinforcements into Khaldun to combat the Craftworld. Among them were the entire might of the Harbingers Chapter and the second Titan Legion that was being built by Tolkhan. Due to the efforts of the Imperium's forces, four of Khaldun's systems were able to be liberated, though several efforts to free Ilnor ended in failure. These attempts had been carried out at the request of the Mechanicus, but due to the large presence Riellen maintained to defend the world, the Imperium's failed attacks had suffered heavy losses each time.[1]
Battle for Eryx
Besides their efforts on Ilnor, the Imperium also began trying to free the Eryx System from Craftworld Riellen as well. Though the Imperium has not yet claimed full control of the System, it has already sent an enormous amount of forces to claim a bridgehead on Eryx itself. In order to continue doing so, armed transport convoys were constantly sent into the Eryx System. The Pegasus Transport Arca Novem was part of one such convoy, but when it exited the Warp into the system, the Novem found itself alone. Instead of appearing close to Eryx with the rest of its convoy, the transport was now far from the target and its Captain, Verimoth, gave the order to rush towards the world. However, as it neared Eryx, the Novem was attacked and shot down by one of Riellen's Nightwing patrol wings. As the uncontrollable transport entered the world's atmosphere, though, the Novem command crew member Secunavis Uly Zendret was able to restore power to its anti-grav drive. This allowed the transport to slow its descent and when the Novem finally crash landed, the impact was greatly lessened. This allowed more of its crew and passengers to survive the crash, but the transport had fallen into the Gulf of Valdex, which was held by Riellen's forces. This was unfortunately to the north of the Imperium's beachhead on Eryx's Kern Peninsula.[1]
The Craftworld's forces soon began advancing upon the crashed transport, and its survivors prepared to meet their foes. They were not only fighting for their own survival, but also for the safety of the Legio Pallidus Mors' Emperor Titan Praes Vindicta as well. The Imperial Titan and its escorting Knights and Adeptus Mechanicus forces had been meant to take part in the fighting to claim Eryx for the Imperium, but the Arca Novem's crash landing had left the Vindicta trapped within the transport. The Riellen Farseer Tilwen was aware the Emperor Titan was aboard the Novem and led the Craftworld's forces to destroy the transport, as he knew the loss of the Vindicta would be a grievous blow to the Imperium. As Riellen's attack on the Novem began, the commanders of the Imperial forces fighting on Eryx made frantic preparations to save the transport from being destroyed. Though Tilwen sent constant suicide attacks against it, however, the Novem's defenders, who were led by the Knight Baron Jaromar and the Maghi Stilich and Aclys, were able to fend off the Craftworld. Eventually the Imperial forces sent to save the transport began closing in on the Novem and this caused Riellen's forces to escape from the coming threat. While the Novem had been left badly damaged by the attacks, its surviving defenders emerged to greet their rescuers. This massive buildup of the Imperium's forces then went on the offensive in order to drive the Craftworld from Eryx's Hederien Plateau. However, while the Praes Vindicta also survived the battle, the Emperor Titan would need six months of repair work before it could be deployed into the War for the Khaldun Sector again.[1]
Sources
- 1: Firepower Issue 3, pgs. 67-72 - Crash and Burn