Obscurus Campaign

### Outcome

Borders of the Heavensphere stabilised, Mezoa is absorbed into the Heavensphere, the Kalium Gate is destroyed, the Phalanx is crippled

The **Obscurus Campaign** was the Separatist campaign to secure the independence of the Heavensphere in Segmentum Obscurus by the Sky Reavers. The overall campaign contained several different fronts as the Sky Reavers launched multiple war fleets to divide Imperial attention. The World Shakers and Warriors of Peace constituted the many of the loyalist Legiones Astartes present in the theatre, though the Warriors of Peace remained solely to garrison key worlds and left offensive campaigns to the World Shakers.

The conflict was eventually temporarily paused through a ceasefire as both sides fought against the Khrave, but a cold war remained following the conclusion.

## **Background**

Isolated far away from the other realms of the Separatists, the Heavensphere was surrounded by the Imperium. Due to the segmentum management by the Jade General and his manoeuvring, the Heavensphere was tightly curtailed and missing the industrial capabilities of the Dominion of Mycenae or the Skandran Empire. Aato Vayrynen remained undaunted, in some way almost relishing the challenge that such a position put his Legion in, and in keeping with his temperament he believed speed was the key. For months, the Grand Council met and planned a daring series of campaigns, with seven different fronts identified. The Sky Reavers, unlike some of their Separatist brethren, were no diplomats or administrators, and so beyond the borders of their realm they stood little chance of swaying governors to their side through words alone. Therefore, the Grand Council decided to bank gaining support on a display of the Imperium's weakness and the strength of the Heavensphere.

The main opponent for the Separatists in Obscurus was clear from a very early stage, as the World Shakers' homeworld of Kyojino-rakuen was relatively close to the Heavensphere. Though the World Shakers were no match in terms of speed for the Sky Reavers, the heavy warships and armoured fists could smash the Separatists in an inexorable advance if given time to gain momentum. The region also contained many fiercely independent forgeworlds whose armed forces and forges would greatly bolster either side. The forgeworlds of Lucius and Mezoa alongside their respective Knight and Titan forces both were positioned to play crucial roles in any upcoming war, either as boons to the cause of separatism or major balwarks to expansion.

The simplest and most fundamental front would be the general defence of the Heavensphere and the Maaparatiisi System in particular. While all of the other campaigns were for expansion, the home front would be solely defensive. This did not mean the defence would be passive, as that was not in the Sky Reavers' nature, as the Legion would need to cover a large tract of space and so would be constantly on the move to counter any incursions. The linchpin of this front would be the Phalanx, the greatest battleship in the Imperium and a seemly impregnable mobile station from which to launch counterstrikes. On the offensive, many new war fleets were organised and targets divided up amongst the captains of the XIVth, ready to strike as soon as separation was declared.