Battle of Yarant
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The Battle of Yarant was a battle of the Horus Heresy.
Overview
After narrowly avoiding destruction in the Battle of the Alaxxes Nebula Leman Russ and his Space Wolves arrived at Terra. After meeting with Malcador the Sigillite and Rogal Dorn, Leman Russ departed Terra and expressed his desire to take the war to Horus.[2]
Russ then departed Terra with his Space Wolves, but his campaign against Horus soon met with disaster. Russ' Legion became besieged on Yarant III by a combined traitor force of Sons of Horus, Alpha Legion, World Eaters, and Thousand Sons led by First Captain Abaddon. Abaddon's forces were also accompanied by traitor Imperial Army. Having been driven from orbit by the traitor armada, remnants of the Space Wolves fleet fled to the outer reaches of the Yarant System. At some point during the battles on Yarant III, Leman Russ himself was badly wounded and fell into a comatose-like state.[1]
Meanwhile, Corvus Corax had assembled the remains of his Raven Guard at the Rosario System and was debating over what actions to take. Some within his Legion wished to go to Terra, while Corax himself wished to remain in Horus' rear and conduct a guerrilla war, believing his legion, still devastated from the Drop Site Massacre, could serve a better purpose in this role. After Marcus Valerius had yet another vision, this time of the plight of the Space Wolves, Corax became determined to lead the Raven Guard to save his brother Legion and set course for Yarant.[1]
After arriving in the Yarant System, Corax was able to link up with scattered remnants of the Space Wolves fleet led by Bjorn. Using surprise and Mor Deythan and Dark Fury squads to eliminate key enemy officers, Corax was able to break the traitor's fleet blockade and reach the besieged Space Wolves final position on Yarant III. There, Corax encountered the wounded Leman Russ, who briefly came out of his comatose state to greet Corax and give the Spear of Russ to Bjorn. With the traitors closing in, Corax ordered his legion save the Raptors escape Yarant while he and Bjorn led a final suicidal charge on the traitor lines.[1]
In a final desperate charge, Corax led a portion of his Raven Guard and the Space Wolves against the traitor lines. They pushed deep through their ranks, forcing Abaddon to commit his Sons of Horus reserves. However seeing the Eye of Horus on the traitors banners reminded Corax of the vanity and arrogance of the Warmaster. Horus still lived and still threatened Terra. Corax came to the understanding that it was not his right to choose when he would die as he was a servant of the Emperor, that was the sort of arrogance that had led Horus to betrayal. Changing his mind, Corax was able to convince a reluctant Bjorn to abandon their last stand and instead evacuate Yarant. The Raptors, particularly the mutated warriors, fell into depression as they would not die this day and end their misery.[1]
After the battle, Leman Russ remained comatose. Corax however parted ways with the Space Wolves, stating that he would continue to resist Horus from the shadows as he marched on Terra.[1]
Sources
- 1: Corax (Anthology) - The Weregeld
- 2: Vengeful Spirit (Novel) - Chapter 6