Battle of Karnaks Deep

**This article, Battle of Karnaks Deep, was written by Primaris Hive Tyrant, and Emperors Potato, Lord of Dawi and Spuds. It may be linked to any page without asking for the author's permission.**

## Campaign

### Outcome

Imperial Victory

"*We have our differences, brother! But the traitors surround us and only united can we win! Let us burn the heretics!* "
—1st Drake Lord to 9th Grail Knight Bohemond
The Event known as the Battle of Karnaks Deep was a brutal battle fought on the land known as Karnaks Deep. It took place in '''15.M42'''. The Battle was between a Chaos Warband named ''End of all Hope ''and the two Loyalist Chapters, the Iron Drakes and the Red Crusaders. This battle was close to being a devastating defeat, due to the near constant arguments between the Iron Drakes and Red Crusaders chapters over the divinity of the Emperor. These arguments hurt their war effort, as they began to interrupt war meetings with raging arguments, and their unification lessened. It led to large losses on both sides, even though the campaign ended in victory.

## History

The Iron Drakes and the Red Crusaders were both stationed on the planet Karnaks Deep. The two Chapters were never good friends and the reason for that was, that the Red Crusaders believed, that the Imperator is a God. But the Iron Drakes don’t share this opinion and this makes them Heretics in some of the other Chapters. And some of the discussions escalated and the two Chapters were split.

During this time the Chaos Warband, the aptly named ''End of all Hope '' took them by surprise and overwhelmed the outer defences. Now under siege, the Chapters had different ideas for responding and neither gave in. When the Traitors attacked, the defenders were unprepared. The Red Crusaders went with their plan and met them in battle, believing the best way to save the civilians was to slay the enemy before they could reach them. In the meantime, the Iron Drakes went forth and tried to evacuate the civilians.

The Red Crusaders fought the attackers in a brutal battle and fiercely drove them back. They managed to hold back and eliminate the first few attacks, but then they started to suffer casualties. Slowly, they were driven back and had to regroup, while the Chaos Warband gained foothold on the planet.

The Iron Drakes managed to evacuate the most part of the civilisation, but the Traitors realised what they were doing. While the Crusaders were regrouping the Warband attacked the Drakes. They were met with a fierce and defiant defence. At first the Drakes did not falter, but they still had to evacuate the civilians. Their vow to protect the innocent became their downfall. Saving the rest of the population, they were overwhelmed and cut off. Both Chapters were trapped on the planet, with the enemy outnumbering and overpowering them.

The Iron Drakes were hunted down and overpowered, but the Red Crusaders came to their salvation. The Crusaders, now regrouped and refreshed they overwhelmed the enemy-hunting party. Now being able to breath again, the Chapter hid and thought of a plan to get of the planet or call for reinforcements. In addition to coming to a resolution to their arguments, that it could be saved for a better time and that only together, united with one goal and plan could they triumph over the Chaos forces. But the Chaos Warband found them fast.

The Iron Drakes set the enemies on fire and met them in brutal melee combat. They drove the attention to themselves and gave the Crusaders the opening to take the Traitors by surprise. They ambushed the Leader of the attackers and killed all his soldiers. The Warlord fled, but he ran into the Iron Drakes hands. Now being trapped he was killed.

The enemies were leaderless and the civilians, those that escaped that is, managed to get reinforcements. The Warband was hunted down and exterminated by the victorious imperial forces. Both Chapters suffered losses, but in the End they claimed victory for the Imperium.