Drazus Jate
Drazus Jate was a former Harrowmaster of the Serpent's Teeth Alpha Legion Warband.[1]
History
Though Abaddon the Despoiler's 13th Black Crusade marched upon Terra, after the Great Rift's creation, Jate did not have his Warband join it. Despite the Black Legion's success on Cadia, the Harrowmaster and the Serpent's Teeth believed Abaddon's latest efforts to topple the Imperium would ultimately fail, like they always did. Instead Jate focused on leading his Warband and this caused him to invade the Imperial world Pendata, in order to steal its resources for the Serpent's Teeth. With their Cult allies, the Warband was able to nearly overthrow the Imperium's rule there, even as the Astra Militarum and the Pendata Bluecoats PDF tried to defend the world. Just as the Serpent's Teeth and its Cults were overwhelming the last of the Imperuim's resistance, however, the Silver Templars suddenly came to Pendata's aid. While they did not know it, this was the Warband's first encounter with the newly unleashed Primaris Space Marines and the might of the Indomitus Crusade.[1]
Soon afterwards, Captain Krozier Va'kai, who commanded the Serpent's Teeth's flagship Whisper, warned Jate that the Silver Templars had begun deploying their forces to Pendata. Upon hearing this, the Harrowmaster ordered the Warband's Eighth and Ninth Fang squadrons to fire captured Hydra Flak Tanks at the approaching Silver Templars' transports. While several were destroyed, the Chapter's forces soon landed amidst the on-going battle and wiped out both of the Serpent's Teeth's squadrons. The Silver Templars then separated into squads and began searching for the Warband's forces. Sergeant Bedaris Hyrus' squadron found the Harrowmaster and his high ranking cohort Solomon Akurra and ordered his squad to charge at them. However the two had planted Melta Bombs, which exploded when contact was made upon them. This destroyed the legs of most of Hyrus' squadron leaving only the Sergeant and the Silver Templar Jesar to attack the two Serpent's Teeth. Hyrus would fight the Harrowmaster, but was soon overwhelmed by the more skilled Jate. However the Harrowmaster began toying with the Sergeant and after Akurra had killed Jesar, he then severely wounded Hyrus. This angered the Harrowmaster, but Akurra criticized Jate for drawing out the fight and wasting time they did not have. Akurra then claimed he would kill the Sergeant, if the Harrowmaster did not and Jate did so, before Hyrus could reach a bolter. The two Serpent's Teeth then began to argue and Akura stated that the Harrowmaster needed to give the order to retreat. He warned that the Silver Templars, were not like ordinary Space Marines and were a foe the Warband did not understand. They had already been able to destroy two of the Warband's squadrons and Akurra implored Jate to evaciate, before the Chapter destroyed the Serpent's Teeth's forces.[1]
This remarks angered Jate, who then asked Akura if he needed to be reminded that it was the Harrowmaster commanded the Serpent's Teeth. Akkura, however, told Jate that he only ruled the Warband because its members had voted him into power. And, Akkura continued, they could also vote to take the Harrowmaster's position away from him if need be. Akkura then asked Jate to order the retreat once again, lest they risk being destroyed by the Silver Templars. Even if the Harrowmaster chose not to and the Serpent's Teeth somehow did survive the battle, Akkura warned it was likely that Jate would still lose his title. The Harrowmaster refused to listen to Akkura, and claimed he would definitely lose his power, should the Warband escape without the resources they needed. In the eyes of the Serpent's Teeth, such a loss would make Jate appear to be timid and would soon lead to him being disposed of by the Warband. Instead the Harrowmaster ordered the Serpent's Teeth to continue their attack and assured Akkura that they could still prevail over the Silver Templars. Shortly afterwards, they were attacked by more of the Primaris Space Marines and took cover. As they fought back, Jate was protected by an Iron Halo, which he had taken from a Genesis Chapter Captain he had slain in a duel. However its conversion field soon gave out and the Harrowmaster was killed, after a bolt round destroyed his skull.[1]
Sources
- 1: Renegades: Harrowmaster (Novel), Catching Death's Eye
