Dracul Campaign

Alongside several other Chapters (most notably the Red Scorpions and White Scars), the **White Kestrels** fought on the jagged hellscape of the planet Dracul. A death world composed of dusty plains and craggy rock formations, not to mention carnivorous humanoid tribes, the planet was a battle-ground between the World-Eaters, who seeked to tether the cannibalistic populace to their will, and the Orks of WAAAGH! Ribkrakka (led by warlord Morgug Ribkrakka), who were there to uncover the mystical secrets of the to kill everyone.

Finally, several T'au warbands had also joined the fray, hoping to claim a new world for the Greater Good. The White Kestrel's operated closely with the White Scars, sweeping across the plains and running Ork forces to the ground. At the battle known as Morgug's End, the Kestrel's scaled the ramshackle barricades put up by the Greenskin's, silencing their heavy artillery to allow the White Scar's to speed ride unchecked into the fortress. In the ensuing chaos, Morlander Crowe took the head of Ork Warboss Morgug Ribkrakka, breaking the Ork's morale and sending them fleeing into the horizon. However, Crowe decided to give the grisly trophy to his White Scar brethren, an out of place act for the proud warrior. It cemented the bond even further between the two chapters. The White Kestrel's now diverted their attention to the Chaos forces on Dracul. Now they joined the Red Scorpions in the ferocious fighting upon the Bleachbone mountain range. The Kestrel's extreme climbing skills proved invaluable to the vicious combat, and many heroes were formed on those perilous cliffs. However, in an incident known simply as Honourfall, the Kestrel's and the Scorpions came to blows over their differences of opinion regarding the Codex Astartes. Both sides suffered casualties, and neither will speak of the incident, instead avoiding each other, should another oppurtunity for bloodshed arise.

Eventually, the Khornate forces retreated from the planet, but the T'au had established a strong foothold on the planet. The White Scars joined the White Kestrel's again, being the last two chapters that had not been recalled from the meatgrinder that was Dracul. The Astartes tried to conserve their outnumbered forces, and make strategic, decisive strikes, severing T'au supply lines and isolating forces. However, the Kestrel's bold and hot-headed nature proved to be their undoing. Morlander Crowe became impatient, hungry to sacrifice tactical precision and get at the Xenos enemy. As the White Scars collected intelligence for another deadly lightning raid, the Kestrel's mobilised without consulting their allies. They charged with their entire force (Three full companies - the 6th, 1st, and 3rd) at dawn, aiming to storm the large T'au encampment at Mordao Gully - the alien's base of command. But the Xenos were disciplined and efficient; they readied themselves in the blink of an eye. Suddenly, as the Astartes drew closer across the sandy plain, they were faced with row upon row of T'au guns. It was catastrophic.

With several officers shot in the first volley of fire, communication ceased. Half of the Kestrel force continued toward the enemy walls: half wheeled around and attempted to retreat. The White Scars, who had noticed their allies mistake, had hastily attempted to aid the hundreds of Space Marine bikers sweeping out after their brethren. Many ploughed into the retreating Astartes, crashing in splinters of bone and metal.Those agile enough to swerve through the returning Kestrel's were mostly pulverised by the triumphant T'au, or simply turned back, seeing no hope for their brothers. Of the ragged band of White Scars and White Kestrel's who reached the T'au fortifications alive, many were killed in the heaving melee that began. The T'au casualties were astronomical; the Astartes even worse. The Kestrel's,caught in open war on flat ground, could not use their unique skills, and the White Scars had no way to use their normal hit and run tactics, trapped as they were. It was only the sacrifice of White Kestrel Hellblaster Squad Caresse that saved the total annihilation of the Imperial forces; the brave men deliberately supercharged their plasma guns, disintegrating a chunk of the T'au and buying time for a wing of Stormtalon Gunships to reach the battle. These performed a bombastic strafing run, covering the Space Marines escape. Both Chapters suffered terrible losses, and Dracul was lost to the T'au.