Jump to content

Retribution Fleet


rendingon1+

Recommended Posts

Wasn't the Retribution Fleet meant to relieve the beleaguered loyalists on Isstvan III? At that point Horus would not, in theory, have been dug in and would be engaged in ground operations meaning that the Fleet, with the Fists and the Imperial Army making planetfall or boarding actions, would be facing a partially defanged traitor fleet of (presumably) similar size.

Wasn't the Retribution Fleet meant to relieve the beleaguered loyalists on Isstvan III? At that point Horus would not, in theory, have been dug in and would be engaged in ground operations meaning that the Fleet, with the Fists and the Imperial Army making planetfall or boarding actions, would be facing a partially defanged traitor fleet of (presumably) similar size.

The only mention about Retribution Fleet I found so far is in the HH2 and it states that:

The bulk of Dorn's own Imperial Fists would see to the defences of Terra and deal with disquieting reports of rebellion on Mars itself, though a strike fleet of the Imperial Fists had been despatched to investigate Garro's report, contact with them had been lost

 

Well, sending 40000 guys and almost half of the fleet to "investigate" is rather poor explentation IMO. I think that Retribution Fleet (nomen omen) wasn't sent as a "rescue mision" for one major reson (my theory). Dorn didn't knew there would be any survivors. In "Flight of the Eisenstein"  he only sees recording of orbital (virus) bombardment unleashed on Istvaan III and he assumed there would be no survivors. Besides even 40 000 IF wouldn't be a match for 3-4 legions no matter how unprepared (and being Led by Horus I think they wouldn't be suprised like some Orks). 

Dorn states exactly what the Retribution Fleet was for:
 

He glanced at his first captain. ‘Sigismund, my strong right arm, you will take direct command of the rest of our Legion and its war fleet. You will execute a return voyage to the Isstvan system under the auspice of a combat deployment and consider yourself to be entering hostile territory. The journey back will be difficult. Warp storms still rage in that sector and you will find the passage challenging. Go there, first captain, support our kinsmen loyal to the Emperor and learn what is occurring on those worlds.’
 
‘If the Warmaster has turned his back on Terra, what are my orders?’ Sigismund asked, ashen-faced.
 
Dorn’s countenance became rigid. ‘Tell him his brother Rogal will have him answer for it.’

 

The primarch nodded. ‘Understand my position. Despite all the evidence you bring me, I cannot be certain of this until I see it through the eyes of an Imperial Fist. I do not call you liars, brothers, but I must see all sides of this, consider every possibility.’

 
Investigate, and possibly deliver a message, not engage 4 Legions unsupported. 30-40,000 prepared, wary Space Marines is a serious, serious force, a completely different proposition from the surprised and betrayed elements of the Traitor Legions. They should have been able to get in and out of the system.
 
At the same time, he was preparing a task force of what he believed to be 7 Loyal Legions. That was the force he intended to fight 4 Legions. If everything had gone according to plan, the Retribution Fleet would presumably have joined up with Loyalist Legions for the battle of Isstvan V.

Reconnaissance in force, go to the Isstvan system investigate the situation and make a decision based upon that. Better to send a larger taskforce which can potentially tip the balance in the loyalists favour than send a small force which cannot intervene in any meaningful way... 

 

What I never quite understood was the blind obedience to an order sent by Dorn, whom was unaware of the exact battle conditions at the time of the order which led to the loss of a large percentage of the taskforce...  

 

Wasn't the Retribution Fleet meant to relieve the beleaguered loyalists on Isstvan III? At that point Horus would not, in theory, have been dug in and would be engaged in ground operations meaning that the Fleet, with the Fists and the Imperial Army making planetfall or boarding actions, would be facing a partially defanged traitor fleet of (presumably) similar size.

The only mention about Retribution Fleet I found so far is in the HH2 and it states that:

The bulk of Dorn's own Imperial Fists would see to the defences of Terra and deal with disquieting reports of rebellion on Mars itself, though a strike fleet of the Imperial Fists had been despatched to investigate Garro's report, contact with them had been lost

 

Well, sending 40000 guys and almost half of the fleet to "investigate" is rather poor explentation IMO. I think that Retribution Fleet (nomen omen) wasn't sent as a "rescue mision" for one major reson (my theory). Dorn didn't knew there would be any survivors. In "Flight of the Eisenstein"  he only sees recording of orbital (virus) bombardment unleashed on Istvaan III and he assumed there would be no survivors. Besides even 40 000 IF wouldn't be a match for 3-4 legions no matter how unprepared (and being Led by Horus I think they wouldn't be suprised like some Orks). 

 

The fate of the Retribution Fleet is explained in The Crimson Fist story, aka The Battle of Phall which is detailed in HH3.

No, Dorn sent the fleet to investigate Istvaan III, and scout the system for the incoming Legions heading for Istvaan V - at least that's what I assume.

Sadly, due to warp shenanigans, the Retribution fleet was ambushed at Phall by the Iron Warriors and damaged. Alexis Polux (The Crimson Fist) assumed command and conducted a masterful defence, one that apparnetly would have resulted in Perturabo's death, before a signal recalling the fleet to Terra came through.

Chosing loyalty over wiping out the primarch of a traitor legion, Polux had the fleet break off to return to Terra as per their orders - and the Iron Warriors harassed the retreating Fists the whole way.

 

...yeah, the timeline is a bit muddy...

No, Dorn sent the fleet to investigate Istvaan III, and scout the system for the incoming Legions heading for Istvaan V - at least that's what I assume.

 

Sadly, due to warp shenanigans, the Retribution fleet was ambushed at Phall by the Iron Warriors and damaged. Alexis Polux (The Crimson Fist) assumed command and conducted a masterful defence, one that apparnetly would have resulted in Perturabo's death, before a signal recalling the fleet to Terra came through.

 

Chosing loyalty over wiping out the primarch of a traitor legion, Polux had the fleet break off to return to Terra as per their orders - and the Iron Warriors harassed the retreating Fists the whole way.

 

...yeah, the timeline is a bit muddy...

 

They were stuck for a year

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.