Talasa Secundus is an Imperial Hive World and a War World located in the Talasa System of the Realm of Ultramar in the Ultima Sector. It is the most heavily populated world in the Talasa System, home to many hive cities. During the 13th Black Crusade, Talasa Secundus was one of the many worlds of Ultramar that were invaded by the Chaos forces under the command of the Warmaster of Chaos Abaddon the Despoiler.
The planet was again assaulted during the Plague Wars of the Era Indomitus, this time by the Heretic Astartes of the Death Guard. The Chapters of the Silver Templars and the Novamarines engaged in a fierce battle to liberate the world from the mortal and Daemonic servants of Nurgle.
History[]
Siege of Talasa Secundus[]
As the first phase of the Indomitus Crusade came to an end following the Battle of Raukos some 12 standard years after the birth of the Great Rift, new Chapters consisting entirely of Primaris Space Marines were founded. The majority of these new Chapters were created from the gene-seed of the Ultramarines, the most stable and enduring Astartes genetic material available.
Many of these new Chapters, including the Silver Templars, were placed in control of worlds recently freed by the Imperium during the Indomitus Crusade.
The warriors who would become the Silver Templars were forged in the fury of battle. They served with honour and distinction at the side of their primarch during the Indomitus Crusade, battling Daemon and xenos alike.
Having cleansed the world of Novaris in the Realm of Ultramar from the taint of the Flawless Host, they were granted that vast world as their Chapter planet, and they were given the task of defending this region of space from the many enemies of Mankind.
They settled quickly on Novaris, establishing their fortress-monastery and replacing their losses from the battle-hardened populace of their newly claimed world.
It would not be long, however, before their beloved primarch called for their services once more. In Roboute Guilliman's absence from Ultramar, the Heretic Astartes of the Death Guard and their Nurglish Daemon allies had invaded in force during what became known as the Plague Wars, devastating several worlds and penetrating as far as Macragge. The Silver Templars did not hesitate when word reached them, dispatching three full companies of their most experienced warriors to assist their brothers and liberate Ultramar.
All three companies fought bravely at the side of their parent Chapter, distinguishing themselves in battle against Daemon hordes and Death Guard warriors alike. It was to be the campaign undertaken by the 3rd Companyto Talasa Secundus, however, that solidified the Silver Templars' reputation for fearlessness and bravery in the face of overwhelming odds and devastating losses.
Siege Begins[]
Silver Templars Primaris Marines in combat.
Led by Captain Petricias, the 3rd Company of the Silver Templars arrived in the Realm of Ultramar to join a small force of Ultramarines Successor Chapters in the defence of the Hive World of Talasa Secundus in the Talasa System. Control of the task force had been given to Captain Aurelius Lobos of the Novamarines' 5th Company, the most experienced of the Space Marine commanders who served as the campaign's Force Commander.
By the time the Imperial forces reached the surface, Talasa Secundus was already succumbing to the devastating diseases and viral bombardments unleashed by the Death Guard forces. Much of the Human population was infected with foul contagion, coughing their lungs out into the dirt.
The fortunate died swiftly, the rest found their souls corrupted by Nurgle's taint and were transformed into boil-encrusted, shambling Poxwalkers. The walking dead surged across the surface of the planet, harrying the Space Marines as the Death Guard forces used the distraction to land their Plague Marines unopposed.
As they fought running battles with hordes of Poxwalkers, the Space Marines formed defensive lines around the hive cities and dug in, preparing for the inevitable Plague Marine assault. For solar weeks the Space Marines held their lines.
The Silver Templars battled back-to-back with their Novamarines allies, fighting day and night to hold back the press of Death Guard warriors. Assailed on both sides by Poxwalkers and heavily armed Plague Marines, the Space Marines eventually began to falter. Sensing weakness, the Death Guard made their final push.
Death Guard Assault[]
The Silver Templars in combat against the enemies of the Emperor.
In tightly organised infantry formations, the Death Guard swarmed over the Space Marine defenders, reaping a terrible toll on the Imperial lines, their bloated bodies absorbing bolter rounds as they marched forward. The two armies clashed in furious hand-to-hand combat. The Primaris Space Marines were greatly outnumbered, but fought with great skill, picking out opposing champions and besting hulking Plague Marines in brutal duels. Still the Death Guard came on, climbing over the dead and dying to reach their enemies.
Marching amidst his putrid troops was the hulking form of a Death Guard Lord of Contagion. Wherever this giant warrior stepped, the life around him withered and rotted as Nurgle's blessings worked their putrid magic.
Captain Petricias knew that he had to act in order to avoid a crushing defeat. Only the death of the Lord of Contagion would halt the Death Guard's advance. He would have to engage this mighty enemy in single combat.
Meanwhile, the Novamarines under Captain Lobos were being swamped by Daemons and Plague Marines. Lobos, seeing that the line would soon break, ordered the Space Marines to fall back to the hive city and regroup until reinforcements arrived. Amongst the Silver Templars, however, these calls fell on deaf ears.
Petricias had made his decision. He blocked out the enraged bellows of the Novamarines captain, his mind utterly focussed on slaying his chosen target. He ordered his troops to clear a path. The Silver Templars fought with a frighteningly cold precision. They exchanged few words, moving as one to cut through the enemy lines until they were surrounded on all sides by hordes of Plague Marines.
Dozens of Silver Templars fell, but eventually they cleared a route to the enemy commander. Petricias wasted no time with words, charging directly towards the scythe-wielding Death Guard Lord. The duel between the two warriors was epic, with the Silver Templars captain suffering terrible wounds that would have killed a lesser man.
Despite his injuries, Petricias' superior combat skills still showed, and with a final swing, he cut down the Death Guard Lord. With their chain of command disrupted, the Death Guard assault began to grind to a shuddering halt. The Space Marines pursued the faltering warriors of Nurgle as they retreated, putting hundreds of them to the sword and chasing them from the planet's surface.
Seeds of Discord[]
The Silver Templars had carried the day, but the event had driven a wedge between the Swords of Novaris and their Novamarines allies. The Silver Templars' attack had left gaps in the Space Marine lines and the Novamarines had been surrounded and nearly overwhelmed by hordes of advancing Plague Marines.
Captain Lobos had lost fully half of his warriors after the Silver Templars charged from their positions. He did not mask his fury at the Silver Templars' failure to obey direct orders. Captain Lobos grieved at the devastating losses his warriors had suffered and vowed never to forgive or forget the disobedient and reckless behaviour of the Silver Templars.
Captain Petricias refused to admit to any error, coldly pointing out that the death of the enemy commander had surely saved the day, and that losses were always acceptable in the pursuit of victory. This argument did little to calm Lobos, who, at the conclusion of the conflict, left the planet in disgust. Despite both Chapters being scions of Roboute Guilliman, a bitter enmity would linger between many members of the two Chapters from then on.
Sources[]
- 'Gathering Storm - Part III - Rise of the Primarch (7th Edition), "Chapter 1: A Realm at War - Map of the Realm of Ultramar"
- Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition), pg. 25
- Warhammer 40,000: Silver Templars (8th Edition), pp. 19-23