Naval forces of the Expanse
Greetings everyone today we have another fluff report this time talking about the first battle of the Athena Sector in the Horus Heresy and also a prelude to the main campaign with talks about the inital fleet battle and also the loyalist and traitor naval strength. Since im still producing fleets for these armies not alot pictures will pop up but eventually we will see these titanic fleets battles it out. Till that day though pic captures from the web and other things will do as we talk about the First battle and strengths of the Fleets.This is also going to be a larger blog post then most.
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As with many reports and information from the Horus Heresy we can only get a glimpse into both the commanders and exact figures. As we look further into the Athena Conflict as it was soon to be known we try to get a grasp of what both sides commanders where both thinking and also of the consequences they would have.
As we can see in the pic capture above the Athena Expanse is a large amount of space to cover and both defend. Hosting up to a thousand star systems that are known with untold many after this would be a both a boon and a daughting task for the Imperial Defenders. Not only did they have to contend with existing threats in the former of the Cithua Ork Empire and the Argus empire in the galactic north but a host of Pirates and other free smaller empires in the Marshal Lands. Due to the fact the entire expanse and the Athena sector it self was on a war fitting this left the entire loyalist force several benefits and in terms of capital ships a early advantage, including bases of operations, hidden ports and a more imminent knowledge of the local terrain.
Fleet Strength and Numbers
The Athena Expand and its home sector would prove to be a thorn in the traitor side due to its remote location and also due to the strength against them. With the Traitors pushing from the recent battles in the Isstvan system and also for the eventual assault on Port Maw, this left the Traitor commanders with very few resources in the terms ships and instead they had to rely on surprise and their own cunning in order to gain a advantage against the Loyalist .
Traitor Fleet Strength
3822nd Expedition Fleet - Under command of the 282nd Grand Battalion this was the largest traitor known traitor naval force in the Athena Expanse. With its flagship the Iron Warriors Battlebarge the Iron Sword and followed up by 1 squadron of strike cruisers, 2 squadrons of heavy cruisers and numerous squadrons of escorts this would be the greatest in terms of raw strength for the traitors. .
Sons of Horus 20th Independent Task Force - A recently formed task force under command of the 33rd Assault Company. This rapid task force was built with flexibility and speed that would benefits the standard operations of the Sons of Horus tactics. Lead by the Sons of Horus Battle Barge Tyrants Will it would be followed up by a squadron of Vangaurd Strike cruisers and a squadron of fast heavy cruisers with its escorts. Though smaller then most task forces presented here it had a advantage for having some of the most fastest ships in the expanse as well as some of the newest ships to be in space. In addition to the Sons of Horus 33rd legionaries astartes they would also have a few cohorts of Solar Auxilia from Cthonian these elite troopers would help supplement their legion astartes masters.
Rogue Trader Cerabus - A recent turn coat in service to the warmaster and one who would damage loyalist supply lines in the conflict. This former Dagonet naval officer was given his warrenty of trade by none other then the warmaster him self. Used as a long range scout before many Expedition Fleets this gave this Rogue trader a almost 6th sense to sense ambushes and knowing the workings of space. Under his command is the Grand Cruiser Endless Sky, a heavily modified warship for stealth and speed.
Loyalist Fleet Strength
501st Expedition Fleet - Under the command of the 14th Company Luna Wolves this Fleet was considered by some to be the biggest threat to the traitor forces in the expanse. Formed in the earilest days of the Great Crusade this fleet was a mismatch of Imperial Technology and warship extensive modified for use in the legions. Lead by the Desolator battleship Wolves Honour a heavily modfied warship into a battle barge for the fleet. Following this was several cruisers of ancient design including a Cardinal and Hades class, as well as newer designs such as a Luna Class and a Gothic class Cruiser. Also on deatched duty was several light cruisers and escorts attached from
Segmentum command. Also attached was several reserve regiments from the Imperial Army making this a truly deadly force.
BattleFleet Athena- Battle Fleet Athena was the local naval force in the sector. Under the command of Grand Admiral Brightwall a veteran of countless battles of the great crusade he would prove to be a hated foe for the traitor fleet element. Under his command was the flagship and pride of the sector The Emporer Class Battleship the Bismarck a stalwart warship that was constructed at the Mars Ship yards. Under this would be 4 squadrons of Heavy Cruisers, 2 squadrons of cruisers and numerous escort and system monitors. Though powerful its own right it would rarly muster togther due to the fact it was also the main defender in the sector and was spread thinly. In addition to this it also contained several elite and locally raised Solar Auxilia from the sectors reserves.
The Battle of Harbringer
The First actual battle of the Horus heresy in the expanse would not be a giant plantary invasion nor ones wrought in the battles of planetary governance, it was the Surprise attack at Harbringer Station. Situated in the Devon Sub sector it was Battlefleet Athena's main fuel and refit center in the sector. Owning to its importance it also help guarded the main transport link into the Sector Captial. The Traitors knowing this would setup a careful surprise attack one that would took months to carefully plan.
This plan would not come from those of the Legion Astartes commanders but from the unexpected corner of a single Rogue Trader. Rogue Trader Cerabus was a cunning opponent and one who believed that in order to gain the greatest advantage against the loyalist was to bleed them dry, misdirect them and then hit them where it hurts. During the war council meeting in which the traitor leadership presented their individual plans it was agreed Cerabus would go ahead and lay the ground work while the others would wait and build up forces to engage the loyalist.
Getting to work Cerabus planned a long campaign not only to build up his own forces but to draw out the sector forces away from the capital. Slipping in to unused warp routes he was able to avoid contact with loyalist patrols and was able to setup his base of operations. Finding a remote system he would setup his base of operations and from here would begin striking agansit lone conveys and small patrols slowing causing supply issues in the sector. Luckly during this he was left no witness and was able to capture several prizes to add to his slow but growing fleet.
Grand Admiral Brightwall was forced to react by deploying several cruiser squadrons onto the borders and convey escort. While this caused issues with the rogue traders plans this would only serve his interest as Battle Fleet was pushed more to its limits. Despite the deployment of these cruisers the fast raiders and turncoat frigates and escorts Carabus was able to get the Loyalist where unable to keep up and often was too late in catching these raiders. With the Battlefleet struggling to keep up Cerabus next plan and that of the traitors was put into motion.
Sneaking past more patrols and again using hidden warp routes Cerabus would then show up in the Devon system. Since his grandcruiser was not identified as the chief pirate and with a legitimate warrent of trade he was allowed safe passage to the refueling depot at Harbringer. Docking at the main docking arm he would then send precision detail about the defenses and the fleet stationed so that when the upcoming assault happen they would have the benefits of exacting knowledge.
It was also here that he would deploy several spies and saboteurs and sneak them into the defense network. Since the defenders always needed experience crewmen and those 'discharged' from the rouge traders ship would be highly skilled the imperial defenders welcomed them with open arms unknowingly clutching a waiting serpent at their throat. While his spies and other assets monitored and gathered data it was here the Cerabus would wait for his true goal. Not only did he want this area secured but he also was waiting for a bigger prize the Sectors Command.
Waiting over a month he bided his time while gathering data. Though he risked every day of being discovered and word of the heresy making it to the sector he knew that to win this war he would have to be patient. It was then that he was rewarded with his prize and the mighty Bismarck and her escorts slipped from warp transit. It was this moment that he sent a coded transmission to waiting the waiting predators to strike.
As the Bismarck and her escorts docked to refuel with the station it was here that the 20th Independent task force would let its presence known. Translating into space they moved slowly towards to station and its defenses. The defenders though had no alarm and was at a lazy defense screen due to the fact this was not uncommon since already other members of the 16th legion operated in the sector. There would be no challenge to these invaders and as they slipped closer into the defenders net it was already too late.
There is not a exact time when the first strike cruiser opened up, nor for the first sensor blimp of dreadclaws was launched. In utter shock and confusion it was then that the traitors opened up on the unshielded and slow warships of the Battlefleet Athena. The only known fact was that the Lunar Class Cruiser Defiance to War would be the first loyalist ship to die, its internal reactor sabtoaged while macro batteries from Tyrant Will would cripple it. This scene would play out through out and with the loyalist command unable to fathom what to do in this few minutes more and more ships would turn alight.
In addition to this only a few ships at this time would be unscathed for now, including the flagship Bismarck and a 14th Company strike cruiser currently docked at the station. It was here Admiral Brightwall was given true credit as a Imperial commander, grasping the tactical situation and what was unfolding he had only one idea and that was survival. Knowning that his forces had relative short time to make there escape while boarding craft filled with Legion Astartes baring down on him he ordered all ships to make best speed and escape. As he gave the order he looked to a figure in his command Strategium a lone figure who had remained quite during the entire engagement.
" So Captain while my men try to escape what do you make of your brothers attacking us ?" turning to him and a silent nod to his life guard 10 Solar Auxuilla pointed there volkite chargers at this figure. The air grew more tense as the figure still did not speak, the Admiral though still remain calmed and seemingly still not unnerved " Then let me ask this Captain what is your loyality ? is it still to the Emporer or are you part of this treachery ? " it was here that the figure finally spoke " My loyalty is as it always has been to the Emporer and his dream, whatever maddness that has taken over my brothers I am not part of it". The Admiral nodded and looked backed to the screen " Well then Captain Soban I hope that you and your honour guard will see us through this till we can make good are escape? " The Captain nodded just as he locked in his helm " I promise none of these curs will make it here that I swear " with that he trode off to his honor guard to plan the ships defenses.
Despite how the Admiral looked underneath his nerves where almost shot, not only was he being attacked by Rogue elements of the Warmasters own he talked down to a legion astartes. On any other day he would of risked censure or even worst death but it seemed like him the commander of the 14th company was shocked at the events happening. Despite this shock years of warfare still instilled a discipline and after heating the captain leave he would begin commanding his remaining fleets escape.
While the bismarck and the rest of the fleet tried to break through the traitor onslaught for the defenders there was a critical battle that was to be played. Captain Soban and his honour guard would begin mustering the Solar Auxilia for the boarding action. Despite the Solar Auxilia cohorts being some of the best in the Imperium arsenal none where ready for what should of been impossible instance they would have to face the Angels of the Death the Legion Astartes in combat. As units gathered at their assigned defense points gripping their lassrifles in death grips knowing most if not all faced certain death.
Death did follow, just as smoked cleared from the breaching charges and melta charges bolter and other weapons roared to life. Each shot that echoed would cast down more and more of the defenders into a bloody mist, there armor failing to reply the explosive roads. As the defender was slowly being routed over the vox channels you could hear the screams of the dead, like in arms locker 339 " THEY HAVE US OVER RUN FALL BACK FALL BA.....". From the Strategium Admiral Brightwall could only look on as his veterans units where being cut down and butchered by the onslaught of the Sons of Horus. He knew that his units whre doing damage to the attackers but he knew that his unaugmented human troopers could do little but slow them down it was then he saw a single icon blinked on the scanner one he didn't think he would see again, a single Wolf's head, the symbol of the Ancient Luna Wolves Legion.
It was at this time captain soban and his 20 terminators began the counter attack at the tip of the enemy assault. It was said but those Auxilia that bore witness to this event saw a savagery unleashed by the loyalist Astartes as they pushed back killing in a way that seemed unnatural. like a combat that shouldn't be It was through this savagery and the power of their legendary armor that they pushed the traitors back to the airlock. Though no Auxilia would witness it piccapture from fallen marines would record both the Captain of the 33rd company and that of the 14th company would meet, the death of one another only avoided when a bulkhead collapsed separating the combatants.
As the traitors fled after the Loyalist counter attack the battered flagship at just entered escape distance. Awash in flame and with fewer of her escorts with her The Bismarck limped to the warp transit point out of system. Despite the surprise attack what remained of the loyalist was putting up a stubborn ordered withdraw, destroying 2 strikes cruisers and several escorts that tried to pursue. As the loyalist finally withdrawn from the combat area the Traitors had their prize the station at Harbringer and several captured ships, with the loyalist in full retreat. Despite this victory though the loyalist command structure still existed and the 501st Expedition fleet was unaccounted for, this would haunt the traitors later on in the conflict but for now they had their staging ground.
What would come next is the invasion of the capital by another force of Traitors, the Iron IV and the brutal siege is a story for next time.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As with many reports and information from the Horus Heresy we can only get a glimpse into both the commanders and exact figures. As we look further into the Athena Conflict as it was soon to be known we try to get a grasp of what both sides commanders where both thinking and also of the consequences they would have.
Fleet Strength and Numbers
The Athena Expand and its home sector would prove to be a thorn in the traitor side due to its remote location and also due to the strength against them. With the Traitors pushing from the recent battles in the Isstvan system and also for the eventual assault on Port Maw, this left the Traitor commanders with very few resources in the terms ships and instead they had to rely on surprise and their own cunning in order to gain a advantage against the Loyalist .
Traitor Fleet Strength
3822nd Expedition Fleet - Under command of the 282nd Grand Battalion this was the largest traitor known traitor naval force in the Athena Expanse. With its flagship the Iron Warriors Battlebarge the Iron Sword and followed up by 1 squadron of strike cruisers, 2 squadrons of heavy cruisers and numerous squadrons of escorts this would be the greatest in terms of raw strength for the traitors. .
Sons of Horus 20th Independent Task Force - A recently formed task force under command of the 33rd Assault Company. This rapid task force was built with flexibility and speed that would benefits the standard operations of the Sons of Horus tactics. Lead by the Sons of Horus Battle Barge Tyrants Will it would be followed up by a squadron of Vangaurd Strike cruisers and a squadron of fast heavy cruisers with its escorts. Though smaller then most task forces presented here it had a advantage for having some of the most fastest ships in the expanse as well as some of the newest ships to be in space. In addition to the Sons of Horus 33rd legionaries astartes they would also have a few cohorts of Solar Auxilia from Cthonian these elite troopers would help supplement their legion astartes masters.
Rogue Trader Cerabus - A recent turn coat in service to the warmaster and one who would damage loyalist supply lines in the conflict. This former Dagonet naval officer was given his warrenty of trade by none other then the warmaster him self. Used as a long range scout before many Expedition Fleets this gave this Rogue trader a almost 6th sense to sense ambushes and knowing the workings of space. Under his command is the Grand Cruiser Endless Sky, a heavily modified warship for stealth and speed.
Loyalist Fleet Strength
501st Expedition Fleet - Under the command of the 14th Company Luna Wolves this Fleet was considered by some to be the biggest threat to the traitor forces in the expanse. Formed in the earilest days of the Great Crusade this fleet was a mismatch of Imperial Technology and warship extensive modified for use in the legions. Lead by the Desolator battleship Wolves Honour a heavily modfied warship into a battle barge for the fleet. Following this was several cruisers of ancient design including a Cardinal and Hades class, as well as newer designs such as a Luna Class and a Gothic class Cruiser. Also on deatched duty was several light cruisers and escorts attached from
Segmentum command. Also attached was several reserve regiments from the Imperial Army making this a truly deadly force.
BattleFleet Athena- Battle Fleet Athena was the local naval force in the sector. Under the command of Grand Admiral Brightwall a veteran of countless battles of the great crusade he would prove to be a hated foe for the traitor fleet element. Under his command was the flagship and pride of the sector The Emporer Class Battleship the Bismarck a stalwart warship that was constructed at the Mars Ship yards. Under this would be 4 squadrons of Heavy Cruisers, 2 squadrons of cruisers and numerous escort and system monitors. Though powerful its own right it would rarly muster togther due to the fact it was also the main defender in the sector and was spread thinly. In addition to this it also contained several elite and locally raised Solar Auxilia from the sectors reserves.
The First actual battle of the Horus heresy in the expanse would not be a giant plantary invasion nor ones wrought in the battles of planetary governance, it was the Surprise attack at Harbringer Station. Situated in the Devon Sub sector it was Battlefleet Athena's main fuel and refit center in the sector. Owning to its importance it also help guarded the main transport link into the Sector Captial. The Traitors knowing this would setup a careful surprise attack one that would took months to carefully plan.
This plan would not come from those of the Legion Astartes commanders but from the unexpected corner of a single Rogue Trader. Rogue Trader Cerabus was a cunning opponent and one who believed that in order to gain the greatest advantage against the loyalist was to bleed them dry, misdirect them and then hit them where it hurts. During the war council meeting in which the traitor leadership presented their individual plans it was agreed Cerabus would go ahead and lay the ground work while the others would wait and build up forces to engage the loyalist.
Getting to work Cerabus planned a long campaign not only to build up his own forces but to draw out the sector forces away from the capital. Slipping in to unused warp routes he was able to avoid contact with loyalist patrols and was able to setup his base of operations. Finding a remote system he would setup his base of operations and from here would begin striking agansit lone conveys and small patrols slowing causing supply issues in the sector. Luckly during this he was left no witness and was able to capture several prizes to add to his slow but growing fleet.
Grand Admiral Brightwall was forced to react by deploying several cruiser squadrons onto the borders and convey escort. While this caused issues with the rogue traders plans this would only serve his interest as Battle Fleet was pushed more to its limits. Despite the deployment of these cruisers the fast raiders and turncoat frigates and escorts Carabus was able to get the Loyalist where unable to keep up and often was too late in catching these raiders. With the Battlefleet struggling to keep up Cerabus next plan and that of the traitors was put into motion.
Sneaking past more patrols and again using hidden warp routes Cerabus would then show up in the Devon system. Since his grandcruiser was not identified as the chief pirate and with a legitimate warrent of trade he was allowed safe passage to the refueling depot at Harbringer. Docking at the main docking arm he would then send precision detail about the defenses and the fleet stationed so that when the upcoming assault happen they would have the benefits of exacting knowledge.
It was also here that he would deploy several spies and saboteurs and sneak them into the defense network. Since the defenders always needed experience crewmen and those 'discharged' from the rouge traders ship would be highly skilled the imperial defenders welcomed them with open arms unknowingly clutching a waiting serpent at their throat. While his spies and other assets monitored and gathered data it was here the Cerabus would wait for his true goal. Not only did he want this area secured but he also was waiting for a bigger prize the Sectors Command.
Waiting over a month he bided his time while gathering data. Though he risked every day of being discovered and word of the heresy making it to the sector he knew that to win this war he would have to be patient. It was then that he was rewarded with his prize and the mighty Bismarck and her escorts slipped from warp transit. It was this moment that he sent a coded transmission to waiting the waiting predators to strike.
As the Bismarck and her escorts docked to refuel with the station it was here that the 20th Independent task force would let its presence known. Translating into space they moved slowly towards to station and its defenses. The defenders though had no alarm and was at a lazy defense screen due to the fact this was not uncommon since already other members of the 16th legion operated in the sector. There would be no challenge to these invaders and as they slipped closer into the defenders net it was already too late.
There is not a exact time when the first strike cruiser opened up, nor for the first sensor blimp of dreadclaws was launched. In utter shock and confusion it was then that the traitors opened up on the unshielded and slow warships of the Battlefleet Athena. The only known fact was that the Lunar Class Cruiser Defiance to War would be the first loyalist ship to die, its internal reactor sabtoaged while macro batteries from Tyrant Will would cripple it. This scene would play out through out and with the loyalist command unable to fathom what to do in this few minutes more and more ships would turn alight.
In addition to this only a few ships at this time would be unscathed for now, including the flagship Bismarck and a 14th Company strike cruiser currently docked at the station. It was here Admiral Brightwall was given true credit as a Imperial commander, grasping the tactical situation and what was unfolding he had only one idea and that was survival. Knowning that his forces had relative short time to make there escape while boarding craft filled with Legion Astartes baring down on him he ordered all ships to make best speed and escape. As he gave the order he looked to a figure in his command Strategium a lone figure who had remained quite during the entire engagement.
" So Captain while my men try to escape what do you make of your brothers attacking us ?" turning to him and a silent nod to his life guard 10 Solar Auxuilla pointed there volkite chargers at this figure. The air grew more tense as the figure still did not speak, the Admiral though still remain calmed and seemingly still not unnerved " Then let me ask this Captain what is your loyality ? is it still to the Emporer or are you part of this treachery ? " it was here that the figure finally spoke " My loyalty is as it always has been to the Emporer and his dream, whatever maddness that has taken over my brothers I am not part of it". The Admiral nodded and looked backed to the screen " Well then Captain Soban I hope that you and your honour guard will see us through this till we can make good are escape? " The Captain nodded just as he locked in his helm " I promise none of these curs will make it here that I swear " with that he trode off to his honor guard to plan the ships defenses.
Despite how the Admiral looked underneath his nerves where almost shot, not only was he being attacked by Rogue elements of the Warmasters own he talked down to a legion astartes. On any other day he would of risked censure or even worst death but it seemed like him the commander of the 14th company was shocked at the events happening. Despite this shock years of warfare still instilled a discipline and after heating the captain leave he would begin commanding his remaining fleets escape.
While the bismarck and the rest of the fleet tried to break through the traitor onslaught for the defenders there was a critical battle that was to be played. Captain Soban and his honour guard would begin mustering the Solar Auxilia for the boarding action. Despite the Solar Auxilia cohorts being some of the best in the Imperium arsenal none where ready for what should of been impossible instance they would have to face the Angels of the Death the Legion Astartes in combat. As units gathered at their assigned defense points gripping their lassrifles in death grips knowing most if not all faced certain death.
Death did follow, just as smoked cleared from the breaching charges and melta charges bolter and other weapons roared to life. Each shot that echoed would cast down more and more of the defenders into a bloody mist, there armor failing to reply the explosive roads. As the defender was slowly being routed over the vox channels you could hear the screams of the dead, like in arms locker 339 " THEY HAVE US OVER RUN FALL BACK FALL BA.....". From the Strategium Admiral Brightwall could only look on as his veterans units where being cut down and butchered by the onslaught of the Sons of Horus. He knew that his units whre doing damage to the attackers but he knew that his unaugmented human troopers could do little but slow them down it was then he saw a single icon blinked on the scanner one he didn't think he would see again, a single Wolf's head, the symbol of the Ancient Luna Wolves Legion.
It was at this time captain soban and his 20 terminators began the counter attack at the tip of the enemy assault. It was said but those Auxilia that bore witness to this event saw a savagery unleashed by the loyalist Astartes as they pushed back killing in a way that seemed unnatural. like a combat that shouldn't be It was through this savagery and the power of their legendary armor that they pushed the traitors back to the airlock. Though no Auxilia would witness it piccapture from fallen marines would record both the Captain of the 33rd company and that of the 14th company would meet, the death of one another only avoided when a bulkhead collapsed separating the combatants.
As the traitors fled after the Loyalist counter attack the battered flagship at just entered escape distance. Awash in flame and with fewer of her escorts with her The Bismarck limped to the warp transit point out of system. Despite the surprise attack what remained of the loyalist was putting up a stubborn ordered withdraw, destroying 2 strikes cruisers and several escorts that tried to pursue. As the loyalist finally withdrawn from the combat area the Traitors had their prize the station at Harbringer and several captured ships, with the loyalist in full retreat. Despite this victory though the loyalist command structure still existed and the 501st Expedition fleet was unaccounted for, this would haunt the traitors later on in the conflict but for now they had their staging ground.
What would come next is the invasion of the capital by another force of Traitors, the Iron IV and the brutal siege is a story for next time.
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