XIII Santiago Crusade

[Grey Wolfe]

Hail Brothers Of the Crusade.

 

I have scribed the following record of the XIII Crusade. Although elements are missing from our accounts I am sure in the near future the truth will be fully revealed.

 

I would ask your opinion on this short account and see it worthy for remembrance.

 

 

 

 

13th Black Templar Crusade – The Santiago Crusade

 

Origins

 

In 210.36M Grand Marshall Octavious of the Black Templar’s Space Marine Chapter unleashed a crusade within Ultima Segmentum to reclaim the system of Jagga, which had been under the control of the Orknoid Xeno filth for 6 centuries. Mustering the crusade force at the fleet anchorage of Port Maw, the crusade departed into the warp to begin its long journey. Over 400 Brothers were gathered in full plate and ready for war. The crusade was christened the Jagga Redemption. The fleet never arrived at its destination.

 

However the fleet had not been lost in the warp. During the two week trip within the Immaterium a telepathic communication was received. A distress call using old Imperial codes of which one was identified as ancient Legionnaire Astardes from the times of the Great Crusade. The riddle could not be ignored and Crusade Master Cortes ordered the fleet to jump into real space to investigate the source of the communication.

 

Upon exiting the Immaterium the fleet found themselves in a region of space which has had no recorded cartographic mapping undertaken since M34. They had found themselves within the Gates of Varl. To the navigators distress it was discovered that they could not view the Immaterium. This region of space was somehow cut off from the warp, as if they have entered some null bubble in this sector of the galaxy. With no other option available the Crusade Master ordered the fleet to the nearest system. Maybe the investigation of the mysterious signal could shed light onto this riddle. When the fleet finally arrived in system its scanners detected a virtual treasure trove of abandoned ships of all imaginable origins. Some of the vessels where Imperial in design, some vessels were definitely xeno or pre Imperial human. The scanners even picked up a group of lifeless vessels that where Eldar in origin. However as they arrived closer to the system they were to discover something also had awoken with their arrival. An ancient menace had been alerted to the interlopers and with hungry eyes it and its slaves awoke to feast.

 

The centuries past and the Black Templar’s finally reconciled that the 13th Crusade was lost to the warp. A day of pray followed in the High Marshalls fleet for the souls of their lost brethren to be delivered to the Emperor’s side. With regret the High Marshall wrote the names of each Battle Brother in the book of Heroes maintained by the Master of Sanctity. The Jagga system was to be subsequently retaken by the Blood Angels one century later and then lost again to another waaaargh in two centuries.

 

After more than four centuries the 13th Crusade returned. The current Grand Marshall of the Black Templars High Marshal Helbrecht attempted to reconvene and embrace his lost brethren. Amongst his household their was much rejoicing that the Crusade had survived and returned from the ghosts of time. However at first the 13th crusade did not send out any responses. A lone Thunderhawk from the 13th Crusade Fleet was launched towards the Grand Marshalls flagship. Suspecting some foul xeno or even heretical ploy the Grand Marshall ordered his ship to fire a salvo of turbo lasers across the nose of the Thunderhawk. He received the following message “Sigismunds Secret Is Hidden On The Anvil Of War”.

 

The Grand Marshall gave permission for the Thunderhawk to enter the flight bay. He would be there to embrace his brethren.

 

When the Thunderhawk landed and the ramp was lowered the Grand Marshall saw fellow Black Templar’s, however in their eyes he saw something more. He saw a righteous zeal and intensity that he only recognizes when one of his brothers receives visions of the Emperor before he is inducted into the armour of the Emperors Champion. “Hail Grand Marshall. We are the Brothers of the Cross. Now our Crusade will begin. We must remove the sins of our fathers. The great betrayal unseen. We will bring fire and the strength of our zeal to the servants of the serpent”. After meeting the Crusade Master Cortes the Grand Marshall retreated to his sanctum for seven Terran days. Many of the Marshall’s advisors and close confidants where perplexed by the Marshall’s behavior. What could have been said between the Grand Marshall and his returned deputy that could cause the Black Templar leader to seek isolation to meditate and seek solace? On the seventh day he came back to the war room and ordered the Fleet to head out and leave the 13th Crusade with his blessing. He designated the fleet as the Grand Crusade Santiago. The designation gives the force complete independence unless the Grand Marshall calls all brethren under the banner of Sigismund. His last message to the 13th Crusade was “Seek the truth. Gather the evidence. The day you have it we will be ready”.

 

For 100 years the 13th Crusade has raged. Elements of the Crusade have departed to other sectors on missions that are a mystery to all except this brotherhood. The Crusade has reestablished contact with their Templar brothers and they still retain the honorary designation of the 13th Crusade force. However they have been since called by others as the Dark Templars due to their aloof nature and antagonistic approach to some allies. The numbers of the Crusade have grown from those recorded upon its original departure. The crusade fleet has been heavily recruiting. If not for their exemplary record the Crusade could have been declared Hereticus and purged by the Inquisitors investigating this mystery. And although they will align themselves with Imperial servants at times, any contact with Adeptus Mechanicus forces will usually lead to unexplained aggressive incidents against the red priesthood.

 

For a 100 years the 13th has edge closer and closer to a destiny written in the blood red sands of Mars.