Defenders of Ultramar (Graphic Novel)

Defenders of Ultramar

Defenders of Ultramar is a Graphic Novel which involves the Ultramarines 4th Company sometime towards the end of Uriel Ventris' exile. The story follows Sergeant Learchus as he takes command of the 4th Company, readying to induct new recruits. Events unfold where Lord Calgar tasks Learchus and the 4th to take the Vae Victus and re-establish contact with the frigate Guilliman's Honour, which turns out to have been felled by Orks upon the planet Espandor who are now scavenging her parts for their own soulless machines. As the story unfolds, it is found that a Orks are up to something of greater risk to the Imperium.

Plot

Chapter One

Hopeful Space Marine Aspirants are shown coming to an end of a great trek and race through the Crown Mountains of Hera, Macragge, ending at the Fortress of Hera. This being their final trial before their true training begins. Sergeant Learchus Abantes, Chaplain Judd Clausel and Apothecary Selenus of the 4th Company meet them upon their return and debate whether any are worthy enough for inclusion within the ranks of the 4th Company. Clausel asserts that the ones who helped each other are weak whilst Learchus counters with the fact that they need battle brothers who will stand with each other through thick and thin. Learchus then takes his leave to meet with the Chapter Master, Marneus Calgar to discuss how goes the Company's recruitment of replacements and the status of the Astartes spirit after Tarsis Ultra and the subsequent exile of their Captain Uriel Ventris. They then talk further of how Learchus has handled the company during this troubled time, as Acting Captain, a role which he is apprehensivce of growing used to as his complaints of Ventris actions were those that caused the laters Death Oath, and Learchus does not wish to be seen as advancing in position.

Calgar then gives Learchus and the 4th a mission. Contact with the Gladius class frigate Guilliman's Honour has been lost whilst it was on patrol in the Northern Marches of Ultramar. The 4th and the Vae Victus are to travel to this region and investigate. Firstly however, Learchus is ordered to the Temple of Correction to make obeisance to the Primarch and ask guidance in the coming mission. He also pleads that he is unworthy of command and asks to be granted humility to act with Courage and Honour in his new found role. Markus Cornelian, an ex-Calth PDF trooper on Macragge as part of a pilgrimage over hears Learchus and after informing him that he saved his life 40 years ago at Persephone Gate on Calth during a Dark Eldar attack, he helps him to see that he is worthy as it is his duty to lead the 4th, just as he felt it was his duty to come to the Primarch and give thanks for his life. Learchus then thanks Cornelian and takes his leave.

The Vae Victus is seen breaking orbit and Learchus and Master of the Fleet, Lord Admiral Lazlo Tiberius are talking of how their respective forces have long been in states of repair and need some respite from inactivity and a good battle. They then have a brief discussion of how the Company could belong to Learchus permanently if Ventris does not return. Approaching the orbit of Espandor, nine days later, Philotas, one of the deck officers, alerts the Lord Admiral and Sergeant that he has found the missing frigate upon the surface of the planet. Upon cleaning up the signal they discover that Orks are salvaging and scrapping her for their own means. Learchus then proceeds to rally the 4th and launches a drop pod assualt.

Chapter Two

The Ultramarines charge into battle from their drop pods, slaughtering the Orks. They make their way to the downed frigate where Selenus can retrieve the geneseed of their fallen brothers. Clausel then advises Learchus that they should retreat from battle, as per the Codex, allowing Orbital Bombardment to finish off the Orks. Tiberius then launches the Orbital Torpedoes and retrieval Thunderhawks before attending to Ork Kill Kroozers homing in on an intercept course. Before the torpedoes make impact the Ultramarines retreat into a cave, taking cover. They proceed deeper in, approaching a light further along the tunnel. The Company then finds a Gargant being constructed by another horde of Orks, who promptly attack and outnumber them. The Ultramarines retreat out of the cave to the Thunderhawks which have now arrived in the wake of the Orbital Bombardment. The 4th Company then proceed to the Planetary Capital, as the Vae Victus is still engaged in space combat. Arriving at the capital, Herapolis, Learchus promptly informs Saul Gallow, Governor of Espandor that his world is under threat and that they need to mobilise the PDF reserves and proceed to lure all the Orks to one place, the walls of Herapolis.

Chapter Three

The Ultramarines set about ambushing the Orks, drawing them towards Herapolis. However issues arise over the fact that the settlements in between the Orks and Herapolis, the city of Corinth in particular, will face destruction unless the Ultramarines buy its people time to retreat. The 4th Company move into Corinth, sending the local PDF to protect the refugee column and proceed to blow the bridges spanning the river which Corinth stands upon to block the Orks advance. The Orks charge across the final two bridges, one gaurded by the Dreadnought Brother Barkus who kills a Killa Kan and succumbs to a Ork explosive just prior to the bridge detonating. The rest of 4th Company then retreats from the last bridge, blowing it and impeding Ork progress. They make their way back to Herapolis to await the final assault, with Ork elements in pursuit. The Ultramarines man the walls, only to finally catch sight of the finally mobile Ork Gargant

Chapter Four

The Orks approach and Chaplain Clausel gives a final sermon to rally the PDF's spirits and morale. The Orks then commence their assault managing to get some ladders up onto the walls, whilst the Gargant destroys the main doors of the city, creating a breach. The Gargant draws close to the tops of the battlements, spraying machine gun fire on to the defenders. Learchus and Clausel then lead a squad onto the to top of the Gargant and proceed to infiltrate, planting explosives and retreatng. They leap onto the roof of a nearby building, however before Learchus can leap the Ork Warboss appears and challenges Learchus to a duel. Learchus has trouble and is about to be felled before Clausel intervenes, Together they defeat the Warboss and throw his body off the Gargant into the teeming Ork hordes below. They then proceed to strike forth from the city, with the Gargant destroyed and slaughter the retreating Orks whilst the Thunderhawks strafe the horde. With the battle said and done, Learchus informs Gallow that he and the PDF can hunt the survivors, whereupon the 4th takes their leave and returns to Macragge. Calgar greets them upon arrival, whereupon he informs Learchus that there have been developments during their deployment. Learchus is puzzled by this and asks why, only to be informed that his Captain, Uriel Ventris has returned from his Death Oath.