Disaster at the Blood Star

**This article, Disaster at the Blood Star, was written by Emperors Potato, Lord of Dawi and Spuds. It may be linked to any page without asking for the author's permission.**

## Campaign

### Outcome

Pyrrhic Imperial Victory

"*The bloody sun watches us, Marchise. We cannot be found wanting.*"
—Aengius D'Fife, Eve of the War
The **Disaster at the Blood Star** was an Imperial campaign conducted by the Red Crusaders Space Marine Chapter in the Blood Star System from 970-975.M41, against an invading Khornate Daemon warhost.

## Background

Marchise had not been the same since the Red War. The Beastmaker, the blade of the Khornate monster who had wounded him before began taking its toll, plunging Marchise deeper into blood lust. He and his friend Aengius would have their last campaign together at the Blood Star. It was a system with a blood red sun that was said to be cursed by chaos. The system provided vital materials for the rest of Sanctus, and thus when it came under attack by the forces of Khorne it was a high priority to be defended. As a sign of good will to his friend Aengius allowed Marchise to take control of the campaign, not yet seeing the signs of Marchise slow madness. Marchise began making more and more rash decisions leading to many brave marines deaths. Aengius found the Khornate forces gathering in large numbers, and he and Marchise led a grand assault there to break the daemon horde. It was a disaster. Marchise finally snapped, and unable to distinguish between friend and foe cut down his own brothers. Aengius met him in a mighty duel, and won. Marchise was slain. Aengius took the fall for the extreme losses suffered in the campaign to preserve the peoples belief in Marchise as a hero.

## The Campaign

* **Disaster at The Blood Star (970-975.M41)** - Marchise Crimson and Aengius D'fife both ventured out on a vital campaign. There was a system known for The Blood Star System. Its sun was blood red and shone a dark light across the system, known to awaken rage and bloodlust into those it touched. A giant Khornate invasion struck Imperial settlements in the system, and as it was a system full of vital resources such as vast orbital mining rigs, its loss could hurt the supply flow to Sanctus. Aengius and Marchise were entrusted to securing it, along with Guardsmen who would handle the grind of the siege of the worlds of the system. Marchise was excited, after his many wars his hate for Khornate foes burned as bright as the Red Sun. With a sizable force Marchise and Aengius set out. Aengius, as a courtesy put Marchise in charge of the campaign. But he noticed some changed. Marchise had been growing more rash and aggressive since the Red War, and it began to show in his campaign.

He led frequent aggressive assaults, some quite foolhardy. Most victorious, but at too great a cost of Space Marine lives. Aengius approached him as a friend and tried to talk to him about his strategy. Marchise rebuked him, and led his next attack. The battle of the Blood Field. A giant khornate horde was gathering in a field, on the planet Veks and Marchise attacked it with a large amount of men. It was a slaughter on both ends. Marchise men won, but very few were left. Strategically, a complete failure. Aengius confronted him once more, relieving him of his duties leading the campaign. The two friends argued. A very rare occurrence.

Aengius found a chance to redeem the campaign. The last of the Khornates gathered en masse on a world called Ripture, and a decisive blow could take them out. Drop Pods descended, backing up Imperial Guard. The battle was turning in the marines favor quickly. Until a great tragedy struck. As the battle raged harder and harder and blood began to boil, more and more atrocious things committed by the Khornates, Marchise snapped, beastmaker taking its toll. As he led his squad deep into enemy territory, he lost his ability to distinguish between friend and foe and lashed out at his own men, his great skills taking out his squad. Aengius was horrified, but had seen it coming, and knew he was the only marine there who could take down Marchise. He approached him with hammers in hand, and the former friends clashed. Aengius was filled with great sorrow that that cursed Khorne blade had damaged his friend so. The battle was terrible and brutal, and anything but quick. It neared its end, Aengius was severely wounded, unable to take on Marchise who had been empowered with rage in comparison to Aengius sorrow. As Marchise came to behead him Aengius blocked the blow with his power armored wrist, which stopped Marchise in his tracks. Aengius was wearing the gauntlet of Yokim. Seeing this Marchise was horrified, starting to realize his deeds. Aengius took advantage of this. With Exalion he smashed Marchise leg to bring him to his knees, and with Vindicator he tore into the site of Marchise face, turning it to nothing but gore. Aengius fell to his knees as Marchise collapsed to the floor. He had killed his last friend, and was very wounded. The battle was won by Red Crusaders, and soon the war. Aengius returned to leading the chapter with many new scars. But none knew of Marchise betrayal, for Aengius was unable to damage Marchise memory like that. He took the fall for the campaign and Marchise poor strategies, saying Marchise died in glorious combat. Only Morganus and Mortigar could see through the lie.

## Effect

The Red Crusaders took great losses in this campaign due to the rising madness of Marchise Crimson. Once a great hero, the effects of his duels and the cursed weapon the Beastmaker from the Red War assaulted his conscience and sent him into madness. The guardsmen forces did well in their campaign, and had many successful battles as the marines struggled. At the moment of Marchise dark turning on Ripture, one of the last great heroes of the Red Crusaders was slain. Brother battled brother as the two great friends, Aengius and Marchise met each other in combat on the red fields. At great loss only did Aengius win. As he choose to take the fall for the tragedy and death in the campaign it damaged his own reputation, but Aengius believed it was worth it to preserve good memory of his friend. He recovered Marchise body and had it buried with honors. The Blood Star System was once more secured, and its vital supplies began to flow through Sanctus once more.