News of the Iron Warriors' massive invasion of the Calixis Sector spread across the Milky Way Galaxy within months. Naturally, the Sons of Dorn were the first to act.
Without waiting for the Crimson Tide to summon them, the Executioners Chapter announced that it would honor the mutual assistance pact signed with Evan aboard the Phalanx during the Blade Feast, and came to slaughter... to reinforce the Calixis Sector.
These fanatical Sons of Dorn had shown no restraint after embarking on their Penitent Crusade. Instead, their resolve to execute the Imperium's enemies had only hardened. Rann's brutal methods of warfare had passed through their blood from generation to generation, and now their warships raced from Segmentum Tempestus toward our homeworld.
Gathering around this ancient Chapter, founded during the Third Founding, countless Sons of Dorn formed a force that could not be underestimated.
Our "best" friends, the Lamenters, had also heard of the Crimson Tide's plight and were rushing to our aid with everything they had.
The Mother of Tears pitched and leaped through the tides of the warp. Maturio's orders were to reinforce Brother Evan at any cost. He stood on the bridge with more wounds on his face and a mechanical replacement for his left arm. There were more brothers around him, and fewer, too. Misfortune had not broken these steadfast sons of Sanguinius. The Great Angel's glory shone upon the Lamenters.
But distant help could not quench an immediate fire. Evan first had to deal with the more than two hundred enemy ships bearing down on him.
The Light of the People completed its final evacuation of the planet's population. We had done everything we could, but 2.6 billion ordinary mortals remained on our homeworld. Some were determined to defend their homes to the death; others had been