Battle of Sixty-Three Nineteen
From Lexicanum
The Battle of Sixty-Three Nineteen was a compliance action that took place in the 203rd year of the Great Crusade. It saw the world codified as Sixty-Three Nineteen (63-19) brought into the bosom of the Imperium and is chiefly known for its ironic juxtaposition to the last battle of the Horus Heresy.
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Prelude
The 63rd Expeditionary Fleet entered the system of 63-19 by accident, forced off course by a warp-storm. Discovering a system of nine planets orbiting a yellow sun, they were contacted by members of a Human society based on the third planet. The leader of this society entitled himself 'the Emperor of Mankind' and claimed to be the predestined ruler of all scattered humanity. He invited the members of the 63rd Expedition Fleet to treat and pay fealty to him.1
Accordingly, the Warmaster Horus, commander of the 63rd Fleet, sent his favoured subordinate, Captain Hastur Sejanus and his Glory squad to entreat with the supposed Emperor of Mankind. Negotiations, whilst initially proceeding smoothly, irrevocably broke down when Sejanus suggested that there might in fact be another Emperor. Sejanus and all his men were murdered as a result, taken by surprise during the diplomatic parley. Despite his intense grief at Sejanus' death, Horus did not order an immediate retaliatory assault (although he did order the mobilisation of an Astartes speartip unit); instead he authorised a second attempted negotiation. This mission was led by Maloghurst, Horus' Equerry, but had no greater success than the first - Maloghurst's ship was shot down over 63-19 and he and all his men were presumed lost. A great fleet of over 600 warships shortly afterwards rose up out of 63-19's atmosphere, the challenge made clear. The Warmaster's response was immediate.1
Battle
The naval battle is not recorded in detail, but suffice to say that the 63rd fleet engaged that of 63-19, and ultimately prevailed. Intense weapons fire and exploding starships were recorded as occurring with frequency above the ground battle.
That ground battle was commanded by First Captain Ezekyle Abaddon, and he led not only Astartes, but Titans also. A half-dozen Titans provided ground support, engaging the defensive batteries of 63-19's capital, Abaddon's target. Assault-craft provided close-air support, this combination of firepower allowing the waves of Luna Wolves to close and penetrate the capital's defences. Abaddon tasked several companies with specific objectives: 5th Company was to take the Regency, 2nd the lower town. The Imperial Palace was assaulted by - at least - the 1st and 10th companies. 10th Company, under Captain Garviel Loken was the first company to breach the Palace, his 1st Squad under Sergeant Jubal gaining a gated stairway. Loken supervised the entry of his leading company elements before pushing inwards himself. Having gained entry to the Palace before his First Captain, Abaddon now playfully challenged Loken to reach the false Emperor before him as well.1
Loken soon caught up with his 2nd squad, under Sergeant Nero Vipus, to find them stymied at a corridor intersection, pinned down and having taken casualties from a well-placed automated sentry-weapon. Loken took it out personally, before leading the squad onwards...straight into an ambush. A unit of the Invisibles, the stealth-armoured elite warriors of the false Emperor, inflicted several casualties on 2nd squad - including wounding Sergeant Vipus - before the endurance and heavier firepower of the Astartes won through. After pushing onwards some distance ahead of his men, Loken - apparently only by good fortune - found himself indeed apparently reaching the personage of the false Emperor before his First Captain, although only shortly ahead of a squad from Abaddon's 1st Company, that of Catulan Reaver squad under Captain Kalus Ekaddon. The false Emperor then offered to surrender to the Imperial forces, but only to the overall commander, not to either of the subordinate Captains. Ekaddon had this request transmitted to the fleet, and the inhabitants of the throne room settled into an uneasy watchfulness. Suddenly, Loken perceived the situation to be a trap designed to assassinate the Warmaster and at this realisation came under assault from the supposed false Emperor. Ekaddon swiftly killed the man, but all the Astartes present were immediately assaulted by the real false Emperor, who revealed himself and struck with deadly force. He almost succeeded in killing or neutralising Loken, Ekaddon and the other members of Catulan squad, and was only stopped in his effort when the Warmaster Horus teleported directly into the chamber and slew the false Emperor with a single pistol-shot. With the death of the false Emperor, the main part of the battle was considered concluded.1
Aftermath
Main resistance to the Imperial attackers collapsed almost overnight after the termination of the false Emperor, although some elements of his military continued to fight, waging guerilla war from several areas of 63-19 and on three other worlds in the system. These were expunged by the Byzant Janizars Imperial Army regiment over some months, with the Luna Wolves 10th Company eliminating the last holdouts in the Whisperhead Mountains. Governorship of the world was given to General Rakris of the Byzant Janizars. Adapting the cities and infrastructure of the world to Imperial standards was given over to Peeter Egon Momus. This was the first world that Remembrancers of the 63rd Expedition made record of.1
No record of 63-19 exists after this date, and it is unknown whether it exists as a world of the Imperium in M.41.
Consequences
- As a result of the death of Hastur Sejanus, a vacancy appeared in the Mournival. This position was subsequently filled by Garviel Loken.
- A second result of the death of Sejanus, Horus' favourite 'son', allowed for an emotional chink in his armour later able to be exploited by First Chaplain Erebus of the Word Bearers Legion upon Davin.
- Maloghurst was discovered alive, some time after his disappearance, and while he was eventually able to return to his duties, his wounds - being so severe and having gone untreated for so long - had made permanent mark upon his form, not only with scars but with the unnatural contortion of his limbs and body. This made his epithet of 'Maloghust the Twisted' darkly suitable.
