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===Imperial Fists Counterattack===
 
===Imperial Fists Counterattack===
The Imperial Fists immediately counterattacked. Some areas of the formation withdrew and reformed, others held firm, while others feigned retreat and then conducted brazen maneuvers to return and attack the Iron Warrior fleet. In the battle that ensued, millions of crew were killed. The Iron Warrior fleet benefited from being more armored than their loyalist counterparts, albeit at the cost of speed. The Imperial Fists vessels d better equipped on the whole owing to their being stationed in the [[Sol System]], which gave them the benefit of regularly being refreshed with the most advanced Imperial technology, including vortex warheads.{{Fn|4}}
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The Imperial Fists immediately counterattacked. Some areas of the formation withdrew and reformed, others held firm, while others feigned retreat and then conducted brazen maneuvers to return and attack the Iron Warrior fleet. In the battle that ensued, millions of crew were killed. The Iron Warrior fleet benefited from being more armored than their loyalist counterparts, albeit at the cost of speed. The Imperial Fists vessels were better equipped on the whole owing to their being stationed in the [[Sol System]], which gave them the benefit of regularly being refreshed with the most advanced Imperial technology, including vortex warheads.{{Fn|4}}
  
As as the battle continued, the Imperial Fists gained the advantage. This was credited to their high readiness, technological edge, and performance of Fleet master Polux who history has recorded as being among the few Astartes who could rival -- or exceed -- the mental abilities of some primarchs. At one point, Polux percieved a weakness in the formation protecting [[Perturabo]]'s flagship 'Iron Blood' and ordered Captain [[Amandus Tyr]] to take a sub-fleet to launch a boarding action to terminate the Primarch.{{Fn|4}} Imperial Fist terminators were able to successfully [[Amandus Tyr|board the vessel and engage Perturabo]], but were killed in the process.{{Fn|3}}  
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As as the battle continued, the Imperial Fists gained the advantage. This was credited to their high readiness, technological edge, and performance of Fleet master Polux who history has recorded as being among the few astartes who could rival -- or exceed -- the mental abilities of some primarchs. At one point, Polux perceived a weakness in the formation protecting [[Perturabo]]'s flagship 'Iron Blood' and ordered Captain [[Amandus Tyr]] to take a sub-fleet to launch a boarding action to terminate the Primarch.{{Fn|4}} Imperial Fist terminators were able to successfully [[Amandus Tyr|board the vessel and engage Perturabo]], but were killed in the process.{{Fn|3}}
  
 
===Imperial Fists Withdrawal===
 
===Imperial Fists Withdrawal===

Revision as of 14:28, 30 October 2015

The Battle at the Phall system
Shadows of treachery cover clean.jpg
The Imperial Fists and the Iron Warriors in battle over the Phall system.
Conflict Horus Heresy
Date M31
Location Phall system
Outcome Draw
Combatants
Ironwarlogo.gif Iron Warriors Impfistslogo.png Imperial Fists, Sol System Astra Militaris, Saturine Fleet Reserves
Commanders
Primarch Perturabo
First Captain Forrix
Captain Berossus
Captain Erasmus Golg(d)
Captain Alexis Polux
Captain Amandus Tyr(d)
Captain Pertinax(d)

The Battle at the Phall System was fought between the Iron Warriors and Imperial Fists early in the Horus Heresy. The engagement resulted in a draw, which is attributed as a major cause for why the Horus Heresy lasted several years rather than months [4].

Background

Rogal Dorn Creates the Retribution Fleet

After intercepting the Eisenstein and learning of Horus's treachery at Isstvan III, Rogal Dorn, Primarch of the Imperial Fists, responded immediately. Dorn divided his legion in two. He would lead the Legion’s veteran companies to Terra to inform the Emperor of the betrayal unfolding. Meanwhile, Dorn ordered Sigismund to lead the remainder of the Legion as a "Retribution Fleet" to the Isstvan system. The Retribution Fleet was to to reinforce the loyalist elements of the Traitor Legions and strike back at Horus.

However, shortly before the Fleet departed from the Phalanx, Sigismund met with Euphrati Keeler, who warned him of the cataclysmic battle to come on Terra. Sigismund decided that his duty was to remain at his primarch's side, despite Dorn's orders, and so requested that command of the fleet be given to someone else.[3a] Dorn acceded, and command of the fleet fell to Captain Yonnad.[3b]

Under Yonnad's command, the Retribution Fleet was composed 1/3 of the Imperial Fists's warriors and vessels, numbering over 500 ships and 30,000 astartes. These forces were augmented by Astra Militaris from the Sol System and elements of the Saturine Reserve Fleet. [4] [1]

Failed Deployment to the Isstvan System

To support Horus, the Gods of Chaos had afflicted the Warp with terrible storms to obstruct the Imperium's response to Isstvan. The storms severely disrupted the Imperial Fist deployment by denying astropaths's ability to navigate and psychically communicate across long distances.[1] The storms were so severe that they destroyed 1/3 of the Retribution Fleet during the attempted navigation to the Isstvan System. Fleet Master Yonnad was killed during the voyage and command over the Fleet was transferred to Captain Alexis Polux, who Yonnad had designated his successor. Although there were more experienced commanders within the Fleet, Polux was considered by Yonnad to have a spark of genius and untapped potential. [4]

Ultimately, the Retribution Fleet was unable to find a way through the warp storms to the Isstvan System. But a break in the Warp Storm was discovered in the Phall System, where the Fleet set up a temporary base of operations in lieu of risking additional warp transit. [4]

Imperial Fists Operations at the Phall System

The Phall System consisted of two habitable agri worlds, Phall I and II. Both were recorded as peaceful, loyal to the Imperium, and lightly populated.[4]

At the Phall system, the Retribution Fleet conducted scouting operations into surrounding space in search of a break in the warp storms that would allow journey to the Isstvan system or communication with the Imperium. After discovering no trace of the inhabitants of Phall I and II, Polux put the Retribution Fleet on a state of high readiness. The Fleet formed into a constantly changing spherical formation on the edge of the system that would allow for effective defensive operations and rapid warp translation if ordered to withdraw or proceed to Isstvan. Crews drilled constantly, commanders developed contingency plans for defending the fleet, the surrounding system was surveyed in detail, and Polux ordered reserve supplies be used to fully repair the vessels under his command. [4]

Battle of the Phall

Prelude

The Loyalist fleet was unaware that after the traitor victory at Isstvan V, Horus ordered the Iron Warriors to intercept them, believing such a large force should not go unmolested.[2]

The Imperial Fists were alerted to an imminent attack when hundreds of psi-amplifying devices detonated across the system. Each machine connected to a brutalized astrophath and released a shock of psychic energy upon being triggered, subjecting the Imperial Fists and their cohorts to painful screams, visions and other psychic affects. However, the event caused no damage and was determined to be a psychic signal of some kind from an unknown sender and to an unknown receiver. [3] [4]

Iron Warriors Attack

Weeks later, the Iron Warriors arrived at the Phall System from the Warp and launched a surprise attack. The vanguard of the Iron Warriors attack was composed of over 100 vessels, followed by hundreds more.[4] Within the first moments, the Battle Barge Hammer of Terra was destroyed, two others crafts of the same type were heavily damaged, and a dozen other smaller craft were torn apart. The Iron Warriors strategy was to plunge themselves into the heart of the Imperial Fists fleet, scatter their formation, and destroy them piecemeal.[1]

However, the spherical formation and high readiness of the Retribution Fleet denied the Iron Warriors a decisive points to target and enabled the Imperial Fists to quickly adapt their posture to defend against the attack. For this reason, history has recorded the Iron Warriors attack on the Retribution Fleet "as a fist punching an orrery of smoke." [4]

Imperial Fists Counterattack

The Imperial Fists immediately counterattacked. Some areas of the formation withdrew and reformed, others held firm, while others feigned retreat and then conducted brazen maneuvers to return and attack the Iron Warrior fleet. In the battle that ensued, millions of crew were killed. The Iron Warrior fleet benefited from being more armored than their loyalist counterparts, albeit at the cost of speed. The Imperial Fists vessels were better equipped on the whole owing to their being stationed in the Sol System, which gave them the benefit of regularly being refreshed with the most advanced Imperial technology, including vortex warheads.[4]

As as the battle continued, the Imperial Fists gained the advantage. This was credited to their high readiness, technological edge, and performance of Fleet master Polux who history has recorded as being among the few astartes who could rival -- or exceed -- the mental abilities of some primarchs. At one point, Polux perceived a weakness in the formation protecting Perturabo's flagship 'Iron Blood' and ordered Captain Amandus Tyr to take a sub-fleet to launch a boarding action to terminate the Primarch.[4] Imperial Fist terminators were able to successfully board the vessel and engage Perturabo, but were killed in the process.[3]

Imperial Fists Withdrawal

However, just as the Retribution Fleet was pressing its advantage, it received urgent orders to return to Terra at once. This was the Fleet's first contact with the Imperium in months.[1] Having no information about the broader events taking place accross the galaxy, the Imperial Fists believed it was possible that Terra may be under attack.[4] Polux Ordered the loyalists disengaged and set course for Terra, sustaining grevious losses in the process. A number of light cruisers were deployed to cover their withdrawal, all of which were lost to the action of Iron Warriors battle barges.[1]

It has been speculated that the Chaos Gods allowed the psychic message through the warp storms which ordered the Imperial Fists to return to Terra to prevent the destruction of the Iron Warrior fleet -- and were aware that the strict discipline of the Imperial Fists would impel them act on the order immediately. [4]

Aftermath

The engagement was not the decisive victory sought by the Iron Warriors, with both the loyalist and traitor fleets suffering significant losses in equal measure. Only 1/3 of the Retribution Fleet survived.[4]

Related Articles

Sources