Legio Laniaskara - Legion History: When the hosts of the Great Crusade came upon the Forge World of Valia-Maximal, having enjoyed a period of relative peace in the expansion of the nascent Imperium in neighbouring regions, they found a world resistant to the notion of subservience.Located to the galactic east of Graia, the magi of Valia-Maximal, at the time of its rediscovery, laid claim to over two dozen systems, their efforts turned towards the expansion of their territory.Having long fought against the predations of the Hydrinoxis Conclave, a since-extinct empire founded by a union between Mankind and xenos, Valia-Maximal desired no external rulers.Though diplomatic channels were quickly established between the two sides, the rulers of Valia-Maximal believed that a show of strength would do much to solidify their position within such negotiations.In this they proved woefully ignorant as to the scale of military might the Imperium possessed. War was joined between the 114th Expeditionary Fleet and the Forge World of Valia-Maximal when, in an effort to expel the Imperium from its territory, a fleet sent forth from the Forge World initiated hostilities.The war that followed proved a humbling experience for the lords of Valia-Maximal, who had sorely underestimated the determination of their foe. Led by Astartes warriors of the Raven Guard Legion, the 114th Expeditionary Fleet transitioned into the Valia-Maximal System, falling upon the Forge World with brutal efficiency.To combat the Legio Laniaskara, the wardens of Valia-Maximal, the Titans of the Legio Astraman were deployed in what was to be the first major conflict the Legio Astraman would participate in following the incorporation of Graia into the Imperium.In the solar weeks following landfall, the defenders of Valia-Maximal were steadily pushed back, leading the world's leader to, when presented with evidence of the impending Imperial conquest, reopen diplomatic channels in an effort to forge a peaceful outcome.Such an agreement was achieved even as battle raged upon the Forge World and Valia-Maximal bowed to the demands of Mars following assurances as to the survival and continued welfare of the Forge World and its populace.Though peace had been achieved, the dissemination of this knowledge to ground forces proved inadequate, resulting in the death of hundreds of thousands of personnel and the fall of several prominent forge cities to the guns of Legio Astraman before all hostilities ceased.This singular act, though born not from ill-will but ignorance, cemented Graia as a hated name amongst the people of Valia-Maximal, a grudge that would be revisited solar decades later.Though resistant to the coming of the Imperium, the years following Imperial Compliance proved lucrative for Valia-Maximal. Of considerable interest to the ancient Mechanicum was the Forge World's production of hardened alloys, created via treatment of certain elements with a unique blend of gases and liquids extracted from the vast, caustic seas of Valia-Maximal.Such alloys proved highly resistant to both corrosion and plasma damage, allowing the production of war machines capable of extended deployment upon worlds deadly to natural life.With the aid of Mars, the production of such alloys was vastly increased and Valia-Maximal entered a new period of prosperity, one in which it closely guarded its secrets lest another acquired the knowledge of the process.