Betalis Campaign
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The Betalis Campaign was fought between the Imperium and various Eldar forces in 894.M41. It began when the Eldar landed on the Ice World of Betalis III in search for the Exarch Armour of the Phoenix Lord Irillyth.[1a]
Overview
The battle began when Eldar forces from Craftworlds Mymeara and Alaitoc[1a], along with the Harlequins of the Masque of the Winter Sun[2] and the Void Dragons, Sky Raiders and Sunblitz Brotherhood[1a] Corsair warbands entered the Betalis System in search of Irillyth's armour after its location had been verified by Mymeara's Farseers. The Eldar hoped to reactivate the armour and bring the Phoenix Lord to life in order to fight for the safety of the Eldar race once more. Initially smashing through the Imperial Navy orbital defense platforms and patrol craft, the Eldar soon descended upon Betalis III's surface while heavy war engines and reinforcements entered the world through its hidden Webway Nexus. However the Eldar encountered stiff resistance from the Imperial Guard, Space Wolves, Legio Gryphonicus[1a] and House Trainor[4] forces that were moved to reinforce the planet once it came under xenos attack.[1a]
After vicious Imperial resistance that fought the Eldar to a bloody stalemate, the Xenos succeeded in identifying and retrieving Irillyth's Armour and Spirit Stone. Thus the xenos then left as mysteriously and quickly as they had arrived, leaving the Imperial forces confounded. The Imperium for its part interpreted this series of events as a great victory, despite the Ordo Xenos remaining highly suspicious due to their past experiences with the enigmatic Eldar. However soon the grim news arrived that the more sinister Eldar Corsairs had kidnapped large segments of the Human population of Betalis III as they withdrew.[1b][1c]
Other Famous Battles of this Campaign
- Defence of Tormus Delta — Which Bran Redmaw's Great Company took part in.[3a]
- Battle of the Karina Nebula - in the aftermath of the Betalis III Campaign. Bran Redmaw's Great Company fought there.[3b]
Sources
- 1: Imperial Armour Volume Eleven - The Doom of Mymeara:
- 2: White Dwarf 54 (2015) — Parade Ground - Masque of the Winter Sun
- 3: Imperial Armour Volume Two - Second Edition: War Machines of the Adeptus Astartes
- 4: White Dwarf 5 (2014), pg. 22
