Hierax
Hierax was a Captain of the Ultramarines Legion's 22nd Chapter and commanded its Second Destroyer Company during the Great Crusade.[1a]
Born on Terra, Hierax was his Chapter's most senior Captain when Chapter Master Machon Phalaris was killed in battle against the orks of Thoas.[1a] As a result, it was expected that Hierax would take command, according to the Chapter's traditions. To his Chapter's shock, however, the Legion's Primarch, Roboute Guilliman, bypassed Hierax and instead promoted[1b] Captain Eleon Iasus of the 166th Company.[1a] This was done deliberately, as the Primarch hoped that by giving an outsider the command of the 22nd, Iasus would bring Hierax's non-standard Chapter into line with the wider culture of the Ultramarines Legion.[1b]
This decision did not sit well with Hierax or his Chapter[1b], but over the following battles of the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy, it was proven that Guilliman had made the right choice. Under Iasus' influence and decisions, the 22nd Chapter was reshaped into a weapon the Primarch was not ashamed to unleash in battle and the trust between Hierax and Iasus ran deep. They both valued each other's skills and in the matters of strategy, Iasus always consulted Hierax for his judgement, with the Captain having absolute faith that any decision Iasus then made was the correct one.[2]
As the Horus Heresy neared its end, Hierax was among his Legion's forces that Guilliman led to Terra, in the hope that they would reach the world before it was invaded by the Warmaster's forces. However, the Ultramarines had to pass through the Carchera System to do so and were forced to fight the Iron Warriors of Warsmith Khrossus who had seized control of the System.[2]
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