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Incursion of Fools

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Incursion of Fools
Date 886.M41
Location Fenris
Outcome Space Wolves victory
Combatants
Space Wolves Ecclesiarchy
Commanders
Great Wolf Logan Grimnar
Wolf Lord Berek Thunderfist
Cardinal Astra Leon ­Chirastes
Strength
Chapter Order of the Wounded Heart
Order of the Fiery Tear
Order of the White Rose
Several Warships
Casualties
Unknown Heavy

The Incursion of Fools[1c], also known as the Fenris Incident[1b], began in 886.M41, when Cardinal Astra Leon ­Chirastes sought to invade the Space Wolves' Homeworld, Fenris.[1c]

History

Spoiler!
This page contains spoilers for: The Helwinter Gate (Novel)

The conflict began, when Chirastes learned of the shaman practices conducted by the Space Wolves. As this went against the Imperial Cult, he sought to learn more of the heresies the Chapter practiced. It was the labor of a lifetime, but Chirastes succeeded and then told others of what he had learned. They were all left shocked by this and asked Chirastes the same thing - why was this tolerated? He agreed, but had no answer to give them. For if minor Heretics are burned for their transgression against the Imperial Cult, then why was Fenris not burned as well? This caused Chirastes to initiate the Ecclesiarchy's protocols when investigating the claims of Heresy and he led a delegate-fleet to Fenris. Normally this would follow with Chirastes landing on Fenris with an entourage to look around the world. If nothing Heretical was found, then they would leave, but the Space Wolves would not allow this. Claims of Heresy led the Chapter to defend their Homeworld and the agents Chirastes sent to Fenris were killed and returned to him. Their message was sent and Chirastes' fleet left, but this was not the end. The incensed Cardinal Astra then sought to invade Fenris instead and gathered a large fleet to him. It was composed of his own Ecclesiarchy warships[1c] and others from the Adepta Sororitas Orders of the Wounded Heart, White Rose and the Fiery Tear.[1a]

With his own warship, the Righteous Flail, serving as its flagship, Chirastes led the fleet in invading Fenris. What followed was three weeks of war, but despite Chirastes warships and armies, they could not overcome the Space Wolves' defenses. As their forces began to be nearly spent, Chirastes and his other commanders realized they could not win. However he refused to simply retreat and instead Chirastes ordered a Sensor-vessel to scan the Space Wolves' comm systems[1a]. He then tasked it with collecting the names of the all the Space Wolves' battlefield commanders and squad leaders that had stopped them from burning Fenris. The fleet nearly destroyed their entire armies and lost several warships for the Sensor-vessel to do so, but it succeeded in gathering a list of names. Once it was done, Chirastes ordered a withdrawal, but vowed they would return to deliver judgement against the Heretical Chapter. His fleet then retreated from Fenris, leaving behind the remnants of their armies on the world and any damaged warship that could not escape. With that, the Incursion of Fools came to an end. For the Space Wolves, it became known as a petty conflict[1c] and though some like Berek Thunderfist earned great renown during the Incursion[1d], it was not a battle that was celebrated by the Chapter[1c]. To the Ecclesiarchy, the Incursion became known as the Fenris Incident and detailed records were created about the battle. These however were thoroughly expunged and then sealed into the most exclusive of vaults. Despite this, it is still spoken of in hushed tones within Ecclesiarchy conclaves and scholae, long after the battle was over. According to official records, Chirastes left the Ecclesiarchy after his defeat and forfeited his position and privileges. In truth, he became obsessed with gaining revenge against the Space Wolves[1b] and vowed to kill those whose names were gathered during the Incursion[1c]. He still had his badge of office and this allowed Chirastes to begin secretly using the Ecclesiarchy's and his own vast resources, to strike back at the Space Wolves from the shadows...[1b]

Sources