Death Spectres - Notable Campaigns: Vern IV Offensive (140.M40) - In 140.M40 Vern IV was the scene of a conflict between the Death Spectres, the Drukhari Kabal of the Envenomed Thorn and the Void Dragons Aeldari Corsair warband.Macharian Crusade (392-399.M41) - The Death Spectres took part in the Macharian Crusade, which was a monumental, seven-year-long Imperial Crusade fought between 392.M41 and 399.M41, led by Lord Commander Solar Macharius, the Imperium's greatest Astra Militarum commander of all time and a recognised tactical and strategic genius on a par with the primarchs themselves. This crusade took place on the far western edge of the galaxy within the Segmentum Pacificus, reaching as far as the border of the galaxy with intergalactic space and even reaching into the unknown regions of the Halo Zone. The furthest extent of this crusade reached just beyond the edge of the Segmentum Pacificus, where not even the blessed light of the Astronomican could penetrate the dark void. Most Imperial savants agree that Macharius was the most successful and brilliant Imperial Warmaster since the Arch-traitor Horus. Nearly a thousand worlds were brought back into the Imperial fold in only seven standard years of fighting, yet upon his death the newly-won territories erupted into the civil war known as the Macharian Heresy as Macharius' various generals vied for control, fighting over the spoils as degenerate warlords.Achilus Crusade (777.M41 - ???) - The Death Spectres deployed forces in service to the Achilus Crusade to retake the Jericho Reach for the Imperium.Evacuation of the Xin-Cyn Research Station (Unknown Date.M41) - The world of Xin-Cyn was home to an Adeptus Mechanicus Research Station when it was attacked by a tendril of Hive Fleet Dagon. Two squads of Death Spectres Space Marines landed on Xin-Cyn and helped to evacuate the magi stationed there before retreating from the doomed planet.Lazar Blockade (857-859.M41) - Five Space Marine Chapters, including the Death Spectres, Howling Griffons and the Silver Skulls, blockaded the Lazar System to purge the Necrons from its planets in vengeance for the damage suffered by the Silver Skulls' 4th Company. The Space Marines overwhelmed and obliterated the main Tomb World, however secondary bases throughout the system suddenly came to life. Rather than withdraw, the Silver Skulls dug in for a grueling campaign. The nomadic Necron Overlord Anrakyr the Traveller arrived in the embattled Lazar System and immediately joined his forces to those defending against the Silver Skulls' and other Space Marines' onslaught. Necron victory was finally assured at the Battle of Dreadpeak, when Anrakyr's Pyrrhian Eternals spearheaded an assault on the Silver Skulls' downed battle barge Argent Hammer. Though the Space Marines battled hard against the veterans of Pyrrhia, their efforts were undone when Anrakyr seized control over the Battle Barge's still-functioning weapon batteries and turned their fury on the Imperial defenders. With their Chapter Master slain and their forces in disarray, the Silver Skulls were forced to withdraw their blockade of Lazar -- though they took great care to ensure that word of their defeat did not spread. His duty done, Anrakyr took ship and headed out into the galaxy once more to aid the Necron cause.Ghoul Stars Crusade (990-998.M41) - The Ghoul Stars Crusade was the very first Crusade launched by High Marshal Helbrecht in 990.M41 after he attained his rank as the Black Templars' new High Marshal. This was a dangerous decision as no Imperial expedition had ever returned from the desolate region of space known as the Ghoul Stars. The Black Templars were intent on finally vanquishing the hostile alien species known only as the "Cythor Fiends" of the Ghoul Stars. The battles were bloody but decisive, and after eight Terran years the xenos population was all but destroyed, and the Black Templars began to push in towards the aliens' homeworld, a gas giant designated 9836-18 Grave Core. Upon reaching the Cythor Fiends' core star systems, they were found to be eerily empty. 9836-18 Grave Core served as the capital world of the Cythor Fiends' civilisation. It is unknown by what name the planet was called by the Cythor Fiends. 9836-18 Grave Core is the Imperial designation, with the number signifying it was the eighteenth world conquered during the Ghoul Stars Crusade. Grave Core was a mid-sized gas giant which appeared blue from high orbit. Its atmosphere was toxic and extremely cold, unfit for most intelligent species. Grave Core was regarded by the Cythor Fiends as their primary homeworld in the region. The xenos had erected platforms in the world's atmosphere that supported their great crystal fortress-cities. The Astartes of the Death Spectres Chapter who accompanied the Black Templars in the Crusade hinted that they had once also assaulted Grave Core, just as the Black Templars now did, but had also found it deserted by the xenos. The Black Templars had expected the Cythor Fiends to make their last stand of the Ghoul Stars Crusade there, but the entire species had already apparently fled the planet. Furious, the Black Templars attempted to destroy the world by unleashing an Exterminatus action, but failed even at that as the world seemed to be able to resist any form of damage through unknown means. As an alternative, the Black Templars then destroyed the Cythor Fiends' orbital platforms and tried to ignite the world's atmosphere by bombarding it with their armada. This took an unnaturally long time, and the Death Spectres' Captain Naroosh remarked that whatever the Imperials did to the gas giant, it would not matter in the long run, as the Cythor Fiends always returned to reclaim the worlds of their realm. No trace of the aliens was ever found, but before a proper investigation could be launched, a desperate call for help came from the besieged Hive World of Armageddon. The Third War for Armageddon had begun, and no more time or effort could be reserved for the mystery of the Cythor Fiends.Hive Fleet Jormungandr (995.M41) - The tendrils of Hive Fleet Jormungandr began to brush against the northeastern boundaries of the Imperium. The Death Spectres and Honoured Sons Chapters led the Imperial counterattack against this arm of the Great Devourer.13th Black Crusade (ca. 999.M41) - The Death Spectres participated in the Siege of Lelithar and the defence of the Cadian Sector against the 13th Black Crusade. The Death Spectres fielded 6 companies against the forces of Chaos in this campaign.