Archibalda Tansk was an Imperial Navy Admiral, who took part in the Indomitus Crusade.[1]
She served in Task Force XI's Argovon Campaign, which saw them do battle the Necron. During the Campaign, Tansk led the Imperial forces charged with saving Hishrea from the Xenos. The world was deemed to be less important than the other worlds at risk in the embattled Argovon System and the Admiral was given one of the smallest command forces as a result. Despite this, the fighting there was no less arduous for Tansk's forces, as the Necron were being reinforced by two Dolmen Gates on the world. However, despite suffering heavy losses at the Xenos' hands, as well as by Hishrea's cold environment, the Admiral's forces toppled the Gates. Their victory, signaled their ascent in the battle for Hishrea, which also saw the Admiral provide proof to the Task Force, that the Eldar were active on the world. Shortly afterwards, though, a large Necron fleet arrived in the world's orbit, which greatly outnumbered Tansk's own fleet.[1]
Now faced with being overwhelmed, Tansk ordered an evacuation of Hishrea, of not only her own forces, but its population as well. It was the hardest decision the Admiral made in her 60 years of service, do to the Imperial forces that gave their lives to the battle, and those that would need to be abandoned as well. Adding to her remorse, was the fact that many of Hishrea's population refused to abandoned their home. Though Tansk desperately wanted to fight and die beside them to defend their world, she knew her duty came first. It was with a heavy heart, that she left Hishrea when the evacuation was ended and the world was left to suffer at the Necron's hands. The Admiral would then take her surviving forces to Argovon and greatly aided the Task Force in fighting the Necron there. However Task Force XI's high command derided Tansk's abandonment of her duties on Hishrea and she was later executed for for negligence, incompetence and cowardice. This was to the dismay of the Historitor Alfus Rekorik Smigh, who was charged with compiling a detailed history of the Argovon Campaign. After researching her actions, Smigh lamented her execution as a grave mistake that was a loss to the Imperium. He attempted to restore Tansk's reputation, by stating in his report that had she not evacuated Hishrea, her forces would have been slaughtered. The Admiral would also not have been able to aid the Task Force efforts to reclaim Argovon. Though Smigh knew he risked being chastised for his efforts, the Historitor claimed Tansk should not have been executed and that the Imperium needed individuals of her caliber now more than ever.[1]
See Also
Source
- 1: White Dwarf 458, pgs. 21-25 - Flashpoint: Argovon Campaign
