Crusade History
Volume I
The approach of Hive Fleet Behemoth and Hive Fleet Kraken into the Segmentum Ultima has greatly taxed the defenders of the Imperium. Most notably, the Battle of Macragge in 745.M41 where the Ultramarines halted Hive Fleet Behemoth, but reportedly lost 70% of their combat strength. The Ultramarines endure, a testimony to Adeptes Astartes fighting prowess. The Hive Fleets endure as well and are no doubt instinctively preparing for another assault.
In anticipation of this, High Marshal Helbrecht established the Eastern Crusades. In 993.M41, Marshal Siegfried of the Kannas Crusade was tasked with investigating, engaging, and cleansing the western Tau frontiers of the Eastern Fringe in an effort to relieve the mission requirements of the Ultramarine Chapter. Furthermore, Marshal Siegfried was tasked with establishing a chapter keep in the Sagittarius Arm in preparation for continued Tau and Tyranid expansions.
Preparations were made and on 0605993.M41 the Battle Barge Raubvögel and accompanying vessels broke orbit leaving behind a lightly garrisoned chapter keep on Cephian IV. The Eastern Crusades first jump would be to Keplar II, an Imperial world with orbiting Forge facilities. Here the fleet would rendezvous with the Forgeship Haruka before jumping again into the Tau frontier.
