Sa'al Kova

A veteran of the legion since the time of the Silver Wings, Sa’al quickly gained a reputation as a stubborn, if brash leader of men, his record knowing nothing but stubborn victory after stubborn victory, never taking a step back or accepting such within his squad. Though he was offered promotion time and time again, Sa’al stubbornly refused, stating each time that his squad was all he needed, a laugh upon his lips each time.

As with all the XIVth, Sa’al was overjoyed when Bartosz  was finally found, flocking to his lord with tears of joy in his eyes, bending the knee and swearing fealty to his gene-father without a moment's hesitation. He continued to crusade for his liege, his stubbornness continuing to bring him renown, until finally, it brought him close to ruination.

The world of Falherth was encountered by a small crusade fleet, a single squad of Palatine Wings on board, led by Sergeant Kova. Similar to the great Hive Worlds of the Imperium, Falherth had, unbeknownst to the legion, been infected and enslaved by a parasitic xenos species, turning the human population into little more than their meat puppets, used to breed and provide vessels for their new masters.

As always, the XIVth launched their compliance action with words, not weapons, securing permission to land upon the planet and speak directly to the world's leadership. For a time, the talks went smoothly, Sa’al having no idea about the parasites that were truly speaking to him as he spearheaded the diplomatic negotiations. The first indication they had that something was wrong was when their own Imperial Army support raised their weapons, not to point at those of Falherth, but instead at the Palatine Wings themselves.

In an instant, battle erupted, the twenty Astartes breaking free from the trap, igniting their jump-packs as they attempted to reach their dropships. The infection had spread deep within the fleet however, and soon it became clear that the entire Expeditionary Fleet had been compromised, only the Astartes themselves immune to this unseen invader.

For weeks, the twenty fought and ran from the world turn against them, broadcasting a distress message when they could, slowly being whittled down until they stood as just three, Sa’al and his remaining brothers bring cornered, preparing to sell their lives dearly. Soon, only Sa’al remained. After hours of endless fighting his armour was covered in blood, his weapons long since emptied and discarded, leaving him with naught but his fists. The swarm was never ending though, Sa’al roaring the blessings of his primarch and Emperor feeling his voice straining at the endless use it had seen.

A howl of engines stole his last cry of defiance, scores of jetbikes streaking past, the lances of the Svetovid  clearing the enemy from around Sa’al in an instant, streaking into the distance as their engines were replaced with the thunder of hooves, Sa’al turning to see Bartosz at the head of his Perun  charging towards him, seeking to finish the survivors of the Svetovid’s charge. Before they reached him, Sa’al had slipped into merciful unconsciousness.

Eventually waking, Sa’al was a broken man his squad dead due to his mistake of not identifying the foe sooner, his pride and victorious streak broken entirely in his mind. His entire self-worth was shattered by the events that had taken place, the sergeant now unsure of his place within the legion, a state he likely would have remained in, had Bartosz himself not intervened. Soon, the Primarch revealed that though Sa’al had suffered a grave defeat, it was only from such loss that a warrior’s worth was truly measured. In that moment, Sa’al was a sergeant no more, his old protests forgotten as Bartosz himself presented him with the standard of the XIVth, the Palatine Aquila that the Emperor himself had gifted the Legion in the ancient days of the Proxima rebellion.

From this day forth, Sa’al would bear the Aquila with a pride rarely seen outside of the Svetovid. As was fitting for something touched by the hand of the Emperor himself, the Proxima Aquila was more than a simple symbol, mounting a compact but deadly power generator, akin to that of a Thunder Hammer. With the weapon in hand, Sa’al would forever stay by his lord’s side, one of the few not of the Triglav to gain such a permanent honour, before death finally came at the hands of the traitors at the Massacre of Istvaan V.