Battle of Velekshar
The Battle of Velekshar was a battle fought by the Legiones Astartes during the Great Crusade.[1]
Overview
A lifeless system of gas giants circling a red star, Velekshar was home to the Ork-infested Kaldrak Cluster, itself near a stable Warp route. Imperial authorities needed the Warp routes stable, so it fell to the 7521st Castigation Fleet under Night Lords 19th Chapter Regent Balthasar Sul to clear the region of Greenskins. A unit of Iron Warriors was also attached to the Fleet under Warsmith Vosh. The two were not easy comrades, and reports arose that Sul treated the Iron Warriors with disdain while Vosh barely recognized Sul's authority.[1]
Upon exiting the Warp towards their destination, the fleet was seemingly ambushed by a massive Space Hulk that existed Warp space right on top of them. The hulk tore through the Night Lords and Iron Warriors fleet and it became apparent that it was piloted by the Orks themselves. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Sul and the Night Lords fled and left the Iron Warriors to fend for themselves. Sul reasoned that they were many times outnumbered, and the Night Lords best weapon, terror, was useless against the Greenskins.[1]
Meanwhile, the Iron Warriors fought on to repel Ork boarders. The Iron Warriors put up a vicious fight, killing tens of thousands of Orks in the halls of their ships over the next several hours. However, sheer greenskin numbers were taking their toll, and one by one each Iron Warriors ship was overwhelmed. The Night Lords used the distraction provided by the Iron Warriors to launch a series of hit-and-run raids on the Ork fleet, eventually managing to turn on the Space Hulk's rear and board a landing party. For the next five months, the Night Lords waged a patient guerrilla war against the Orks on the Space Hulk and in the greater system at large, frustrating the battle-hungry greenskins until discord ripped their horde apart from the inside.[1]
Eventually, a force of Imperial Fists, Ultramarines, and Imperial Army arrived and cleaned up the remains. Sul for his part claimed that his strategy had worked without flaw, and showed no regret for sacrificing the Iron Warriors.[1]
Related Articles
Sources
- 1: The Horus Heresy Book Two - Massacre, pgs. 112-113
