*A soul manifests among the highest tiers of the Keystone Command Center, looking upon a massive Astartes. Covered in yellow Saturine Plate, bearing the Imperial Fist of Dorn's sons. The soul watches. Observes. And remembers for the future.* Several days after the events of [[Alexander Kopal's Betrayal]] and the shattering of Bellatoris, Lucien Baxa stood around the holo-map lying at the center of the Keystone - Hive Adamas' Bastion. Full tactical information was not complete, and probably never would be, but he attempted to bring order the chaos of the past orbital cycles around Solarae, a star of medium and the system's namesake. The Serpent's Eye was operating still on low power, with communication scant after the psychic blast of Bellatoris knocking much of the wide range communication systems across the system offline. A series of failsafe relay's were delivering messages to Prima Gemma but it took three days for the first arrive to the Keystone. They were not positive. Still standing, the Eye and opened and several fleets of unknown loyalty had entered the system. Additionally, multiple minor channels through the Seraphim Asteroid belt had temporary enlarged allowing a further collection of fleets into the system. Quickly after, several of the sister planets to Prima Gemma had stopped sending messages all together. Other's gave updates of bolstered defenses by those who still swore loyalty to the Imperium. All in all, this is what was understood of the myriad forces that now called Solarae home. But each entry raised more questions than answers and many more iterations of how to defend Prima Gemma. | | Force | Notes | | :-: | :----------------------------------------------------------: | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------: | | 1 | Alpha Legion | Thought to have direct involvement in the opening of the Serpent's Eye. | | 2 | Alpha Legion | 121st Operative Cell - Potentially to have been stationed inside of Solarae prior to the Heresy breaking out. Trust has not yet been given to their commander. | | 3 | Emperor's Children | Identified simply as *His Harbringers*. Point of origin is unclear but drop pods of third legion were detected entering orbit in the past 48 Terran hours. | | 4 | Imperial Fists | Lucien Baxa's own chapter. Made up of various elements from several Imperial Fist Companies. At full strength but stretched thin across the Solarae System. | | 5 | Iron Warriors | Vorrek Gorm - “The Architect of Ash” - Large quantities of Phosphex canisters recorded during initial landing. | | 6 | Iron Warriors | Further signs of significant Iron Warrior presence in system. | | 7 | Mechanicum | Garbled Machine-Cant received. Unclear details at this time. | | 8 | Mechanicum | 44th Legio Cybernetica Cohort led by the Archmagos-Archimandrite, Ursa Carnifex.<br><br>Thought to be the point of origin for Alexander Kopal's ability to take away system control of Hive Alexandrite from its loyalist governor. | | 9 | Militia | 5-3 Geno Chiliad mechanized division have been sent in response to messages received of the 7-3's involvement at Bellatoris. | | 10 | Militia | The Balmorran Blackguard | | 11 | Night Lords | 103rd Company - Under the command of Captain Vrandin Maksym. | | 12 | Salamanders | Transporters of the much sought "Blue Ribbon" | | 13 | Salamanders and Solar Auxilia | Salamanders - 164th Independent Company, XVIII Legion <br> <br>Solar Auxilia - 519th Cohort, “The Sunborn”<br><br>Reported as seen in Bellatoris, origin of strength given the tragedy there raises questions of true loyalty and identity. | | 14 | Solar Auxilia | The 77th Chimeric Dragoons | | 15 | Thousand Sons | Led by Kahun Mehtu, Magister of the Ibis Cult | | 16 | White Scars | Rapid strike force. Largely unknown at this time. | | 17 | World Eaters | 47th Company “The Crimson Maw” - Seen most recently led by Kharest Vhalor “The Muted Hound” | | 18 | Sons of Horus | Unknown at this time. | | 19 | Iron Warriors | The 262 line company under the 19th grand company. Potentially part of the original Serpent's Eye Garrison, but true origin is unclear at this time. | | 20 | Blood Angels | Largely unknown at this time. Showing signs of severe aggression out of character of past legion experiences. | | 21 | Word Bearers | MIxed heraldry of Iron Warrior and Word Bearers. Origin and biography unclear. | | 22 | Iron Hands with Sallies or Mech Allies later in the campaign | A combined force led by the Iron Hand Korrus Varron, along with Salamander Champion Amfell Jurr and Magos Lho Drax | | 23 | Thousand Sons | Degraded signals received. Pending further addendum post decryption. | | 24 | Blood Angels | 298th Company - Waylaid by the events of Bellatoris. Led by an Archien who predates Sanguinius' discovery. | | 25 | Raven Guard | Survivors of Istvaan V - led by Allax Veil. Loyalty unclear for how could those loyal to the Emperor truly escape such a disaster? | | 26 | Salamanders | It is unclear who leads this force, but a banner belonging to the Salamander Legion has been seen raised upon one of the minor spires of the surrounding hives. | | 27 | Iron Hands | Heavy Armor Element. Leadership unknown. | | 28 | Dark Angels | Fourth-marshall (Siege breaker)-Osmadiel Varis, Terran veteran, Ironwing, Order of the Broken Claws. | | 29 | Space Wolves | Jarl Magni Drekkenbane leading the 10th Great Company | | 30 | Dark Angels | As all things with the 1st, layers of secrets prevent the full scope of the force to be known. | Thirty. Thirty forces mixing together into the cauldron that the Solarae System had turned into. Thirty and still growing. As he tried to grasp the totality of what him and his Astartes faced, more fleets were being detected entering the system. Considering the totality of forces rarely seen during the Great Crusade, only now did he truly understand the chaos that much of the Imperium must be experiencing. He questioned if he would ever get a chance to know the full tally of military might being brought down upon his forces on Prima Gemma. Were he and his men alone, facing down this deluge? Only time would tell. ![[bfg-cover.jpg]]