First Rangdan Xenocide

The First Rangdan Xenocide was the Imperium's first encounter with the Rangdan xenos. With the Imperium's forces led by the recently discovered Primarch, Hectarion Mycenor, the conflict was a series of titanic clashes and expert manoeuvring on both sides, culminating in the final Battle of Veskepine. The Rangdan were seemingly crushed, the Imperium added another xenos race to its list of conquered foes and the Great Crusade continued. However, the Xenocide set the stage for the Emperor's doubts about Gustave Dunant's command capabilites, and lead to his censure.

History
As the 115th Expeditionary Fleet of the Great Crusade pushed further and further north, they were hit hard and out of nowhere by a completely unknown foe in the Finial Sector. The fleet was almost entirely destroyed, with the few, heavy damaged ships escaping and bringing word to the Emperor. The accounts, though mostly sealed or lost, speak of spines and flails and trailing metal tentacles. The Emperor, determining that a powerful retaliatory strike was the best strategy, gave the task to his newly discovered son, Hectarion Mycenor, and the newly-renamed Crimson Lions. Timed to strike at the same time as Hectarion’s strike, the XIth Legion the Ranging Hawks were to launch a lightning strike in their flank. Gustave, though involved in another campaign, was ordered to complete his campaign as quickly as possible and join Hectarion with the Alabaster Order.

Hectarion, keen to have his first campaign be a success and looking to fight alongside all of his sons, gathered his whole legion for the campaign. Keen for glory, the Titan Legio Audax offered their assistance to Hectarion, and a number of Knight Households also answered the call for armoured support, notably Houses Brutii, Ursus and Sarmatis under the banner of the Dominion. The Crimson Lions headed North with great fanfare and eagerness for glory. At the same time, the Ranging Hawks gathered under Legion Master Husayn, using their accustomed speed to move east.

The Crimson Lions moved into the system in battle formation and full force, meeting instant resistance. The Gloriana-class battleship, Lupa Sanguis, proved its worth by carving a bloody path through the Rangdan fleet, Rangdan hardships being blasted to pieces by its broadsides and boarding parties cutting through some of the smaller ships. It was not an easy victory, though, as several smaller vessels were picked off by the Rangdan and several boarding parties were lost, with no signals being able to reach them. The Rangdan pulled back, and Hectarion roared a howl of victory.

The reason for this early victory did not become apparent until later. The XIth Legion, preparing to launch their flank assault from the world of Nomanus, received purported orders from Hectarion to hold back as he waited to muster more troops. Husayn, not willing to disobey a Primarch, complied and the Ranging Hawks waited. Suddenly, a large Rangdan fleet struck, devastating the fleet and targeting the docks from which the Hawks’ ships were resupplying from. The Hawks hit back viciously, saving several of their ships through the forming of defensive packs. The Ranging Hawks were forced to retreat, and the Rangdan pulled back after ravaging the world and docks. It was discovered after the war that these “orders” had been faked by the Rangdan.

Hectarion, furious at the news of the Rangdans’ surprise victory, pushed forward, looking to exploit the separations of the Rangdans’ fleets. His forces were bolstered even more by the arrival of Gustave Dunant and a majority of the Alabaster Order, who detached a large portion of their force to reinforce the Ranging Hawks and aid in the rebuilding of their forces. The Rangdan began a fighting withdrawal, the Crimson Lions reclaiming several worlds. On each world, the Alabaster Order would leave a garrison to defend and rebuild the world, and Hectarion grew frustrated with their slow progress. The Rangdan launched a number of sallies, most notably at the world of Advex-mors where the Titan Legios and Knight Households unleashed their fury against the Rangdans’ Macrobeests and Osseovores. Despite heavy casualties, the Rangdan were forced to retreat. It was at this point that Rangdan reinforcements arrived, and only the tactical skill of Hectarion kept the Crimson Lions from being pincered behind the two forces. As Hectarion regrouped, the Ranging Hawks and the majority of the Alabaster Order made it to the Crimson Lions with Imperial Army reinforcements, and combined they pushed out to meet the Rangdan. Gustave began setting up mobile hospitals to treat the wounded Imperial forces, but Hectarion knew that a decisive strike was needed to defeat the Rangdan.

On the jungle world of Veskepine, the Imperial forces drop pod assaulted the world, with Titans, Knights and over a million Imperial Army troops aiding in the assault. Hectarion himself fought on the front lines, cutting down all Rangdan who swarmed him. Hectarion and Clan Mycenor were at the heart of the battle, with the Rangdan aiming to kill the Primarch and shatter the Imperial morale. As the Crimson Lions were being pushed back, the Ranging Hawks hit from several dispersed locations within the jungles, relieving the pressure off the Lions just long enough for Hectarion to roar a battlecry and lead a counter-charge, breaking through the Rangdan lines. The battle turned slowly, with the Rangdan starting to fall back and eventually chased off-world by the victorious Crimson Lions.

Aftermath
After this, the Rangdan swiftly withdrew north, leaving several worlds infested with Rangdan to preoccupy the Imperial forces. The victory was hailed across the Imperium, a fearsome menace conquered by Hectarion. The Emperor praised his newly found son’s campaign, and the Crimson Lions formed firm bonds with the Legios, Knights and Imperial army regiments who served with them. However, the Emperor was gravely concerned about the XXth’s performance, with Gustave’s focus on support slowing the campaign and his counselling of setting up of field hospitals instead of the final strike jeopardising the crushing of the Rangdan. In the aftermath, the Emperor would meet with Gustave to discuss the issue, setting up the most shameful event in the history of the Alabaster Order.

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