Battle of the Alaxxes Nebula
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The Battle of the Alaxxes Nebula was a battle during the Horus Heresy.[1]
Overview
While the Space Wolves were still licking their wounds following unexpectedly heavy losses in the Burning of Prospero, the loyalist Legion was ambushed by a sizable Alpha Legion force. The Space Wolves were sent reeling from the attack. Leman Russ organized an immediate retreat, fleeing to the Alaxxes Nebula. The Alpha Legion was able to pursue the Wolves to the Nebula, and the Sons of Russ found themselves completely surrounded and under siege. Russ sent out a distress signal to his nearby brother Primarch Jaghatai Khan of the White Scars, still mostly unaware of the Heresy. After receiving a message from Horus that Russ was in fact the traitor, the Great Khan was skeptical as to who he should side with, particularly after he hears of the Space Wolves razing of Prospero. Jaghatai Khan decided to not aid Russ, instead setting course for Prospero to find out the truth of this civil war for himself.[2]
Realizing his situation was now hopeless, Russ consigned himself to defeat and locked himself in his private chambers aboard the Hrafnkel. During a conversation with Bjorn Russ came to terms with his past as the Emperor's "Executioner", realizing it had done nothing but brought ruin upon the Space Wolves. First Captain Gunnar Gunnhilt was forced to take command of the Legion, leading a desperate breakout attempt that saw the Wolves facing certain destruction. However at the climax of the battle Russ reappeared at the command, moved by the words of Bjorn and pledging to forge his own path from now on and not simply live as the Emperor's Executioner. Reinvigorated, First Captain Gunn sacrificed himself along with his ship Ragnarok in an attempt to destroy the Alpha Legion Battleship Delta and allow for the Wolves' escape. However though the Delta was destroyed, the Alpha Legion were still able to catch up with the fleeing Space Wolves fleet.[1]
A vicious final battle erupted which saw Leman Russ seemingly battle Alpharius himself disguised as a standard Alpha Legion Terminator. However rescue for the Wolves came from an unexpected source. A Dark Angels Star Fort Chimaera ostensibly loyal to Luther arrived, having heard Russ' distress signal and determining the Wolves were the true loyalists. With the help of the Dark Angels, the loyalists were able to force the Alpha Legion to withdraw. Victorious, it is revealed that the Dark Angels contingent under Captain Ormand was completely unaware of the events of the Heresy or the crisis erupting on Caliban. Russ informed Ormand and the Dark Angels Chapter Master Althalos the sad news of the Heresy, in exchange for men and material. After hearing the news, the Dark Angels commanders led their forces back towards Caliban while Russ decided to set course of Terra.[1]
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