Arminka Lesk
Arminka[2i] Lesk, who goes by Minka, is a Sergeant of the Cadian 101st Regiment, who survived the destruction of the planet Cadia during the 13th Black Crusade.[1b]
History
When Cadia was invaded, Lesk was a Whiteshield assigned to the Imperial forces defending her hometown Kasr Myrak.[2a] However once the Kasr's defenses were breached, the forces of Chaos invaded in a never ending tide that overran its Imperial defenders.[2b] Soon Kasr Myrak was turned into ruins and Lesk was among six hundred Imperial survivors that came under the command of Captain Rath Sturm. Hordes of Cultists and Traitor Guard still hunted for the survivors however and from their hidden base, Sturm led Lesk and the others in hunting for supplies and killing any of the invaders when they could. This came to an end, when their base was discovered and attacked by the invaders. They fought bravely, but the survivors were outnumbered and Sturm was forced to order a retreat. The forces of Chaos now had their scent however and the dwindling survivors were forced to repeatedly run for their lives[2c]. Eventually only Lesk, twenty four others still lived, and they were cornered with no chance of escape. As they were attacked though, a massive explosion occurred and completely leveled, Kasr Myrak. Lesk, Captain Sturm and the Guardsman Taavi were able to pull themselves from the rubble, but only they remained alive. Though they did not know it[2d], Abaddon the Despoiler had just killed Cadia by sending the remains of his Blackstone Fortress plunging into the Fortress World's surface. Its impact had begun Cadia's destruction and the Imperial forces began to evacuate the Fortress World.[2e]
Lesk and the others knew nothing about this, and though the Chaos forces hunting them were dead, they were unsure of what to do next. Their decision was made for them though, when the dead suddenly rose and attacked the trio. As they began to be swarmed, Guardsmen Taavi fell beneath the dead's claws and Lesk and Sturm were forced to jump into a river to escape[2d]. Though they manage to evade the dead, Daemons began to appear everywhere, as they emerged from the river. Seeing this, a wounded Sturm accepted that they were going to die and asked Lesk to stop helping him walk. She refused to surrender however and forced Sturm to continue moving, as the Daemons fell upon anyone they came across. When Daemon hounds found their scent and began tracking them, a desperate Lesk looked around for a place for them to hide. Luckily she spotted a ship nearby and happily told Sturm they were going to survive after all. When they reached the ship however, Lesk could find no way to get aboard it and was soon forced to place Sturm next her, as the hounds closed in on them[2f]. As the Daemons attacked though, Lesk suddenly saw a winged angel and a bright light flooded the area. A tide of power then enveloped Lesk and she felt as if she has become the angel. As the Daemons snarled, Lesk yelled, In the name of the God-Emperor of Mankind and then fell to her knees. When she opened her eyes, the light was gone and so were the Daemons. Lesk then felt her faith fill her, as Captain Sturm pulled her to her feet. Their salvation then arrived in the form of the Space Wolf Skarp-Hedin, who entered the ship near them. Though he refused at first, they convinced Skarp-Hedin to allow them aboard and they all escaped the Cadian System aboard the Strike Cruiser[2g] Stiklestad.[2h]
Due to a Warp mishap though, the Strike Cruiser emerged into the Chaos invaded Agripinaa System and then joined Admiral d'Armitage's forces in the Battle of Faith's Anchorage[2h]. In the battle's aftermath, the Space Wolves transported Sturm and Lesk to Admiral d'Armitage's flagship, Grand Alliance[2i], and both later journeyed to Terra aboard the Emperor Class Battleship Pax Imperialis[2j]. Sometime afterwards, Sturm was promoted to Colonel and before the needs of the Imperium separated them, he gifted a Combat Knife to Lesk, who had since become a Guardsman.[3]
Images
Source
- 1: Cadian Honour (Novel)
- 2: Cadia Stands (Novel)
- 3: The Battle for Hive Markgraaf (Short Story)
- 4: Warhammer Community: Minka Lesk Charges From Page to Plastic With a Stunning Black Library Miniature (posted 8/3/2023) (last accessed 8/3/2023)
