Entire planets, sub-stations and more within the system had been overrun by the savage race. Defences had been demolished, Colonies and outposts razed to the ground, the asteroid-sized mining operations torn asunder – like a green wave, the Orks had flooded through and around every obstacle in their way. But for all their destruction, they were moving slowly – their vessels were being used primarily to crash into their next targets, and then a new vessel was required. This had meant that whilst inexorable, the planets that were currently on the far side of the system had a short while before they would find themselves targets. On these far-flung planets, and in the shadowy refuges of the ruined worlds, followers of the God Emperor were hoping their prayers would one day be answered, and that His Angels would be sent to save them from the green destructive plague.

Reeling from the shock of the lost time, the Obsidian Heart was barely able to respond in time to an attack launched by the surprised but ever ready for battle Orks. Barrages of devastating short range cannon fire punched holes clear through the hull, scattering debris and unfortunate crew out into the vastness of space. This lightning attack left the vessel adrift, no power and no hope for repair. At the captain’s command, the Marines abandoned the battle barge, swiftly evacuating their personnel and supplies were possible, to the landers that were rapidly being prepped for departure. Amongst the supplies being gathered were the holy relic destined for delivery, the Marines still putting their mission first as they moved to escape the impending destruction of the Obsidian Heart. As quickly as possible, the Thunderhawks left their launch bays and ferried the remains of the Crusade towards the nearest planet, a green world designated Sable VII.

Still taking heavy fire from Ork attacks, the Thunderhawk gunship landed ablaze and was severely damaged in the once holy city of Eton Reach. 

The Astra Primaris lead by their Unnumbered Sons’ Captain Augustus Gladius, took matters into his own hands, using the strategies of that of their gene-father Rogal Dorn, taught to them in stasis, enacted a plan in fortifying themselves with the gothic ruins of the city of Eton Reach, and let the savages come to them while they wait for reinforcements.

For what seemed like endless waves of greenskin attacks, the Space Marines now stood, fighting off assault after assault of feral Xenos who were using their savage weapons and brute firepower to try and wipe out these warriors of the Imperium. 

Outnumbered several times over, their bolter rounds quickly depleted, and the purple glow of their plasma cells for their plasma fuelled weapons all but drained, the Marines had to resort to fighting in brutal hand to hand combat using their field combat knives, chainswords, and powerswords roaring and crackling with energy with every impact made with only the defence of their Mark X power armour to protect them.

After days of battle, with no answer to their distress calls, no sign of reinforcements, and with countless battle brothers lost. Only half the units that arrived in their thunderhawks still stood fighting alongside their Captain. 

During the fierce battle heroes of the company and their brave acts inspired their battle brothers to keep fighting, including; Sargent Franz Lorentz of the 4th Assault Intercessors whose Power Sword had ended the lives of numerous Orks, Battle Brother Niko Tempust of the 1st Intercessors who had single handedly taken down an Ork Nob with his field combat knife, and Lieutenant Ferrus, a decorated soldier with terminator honors who held off a squad of greenskins single handedly on the Northern side of the crashed Thunderhawk protecting the relic on board. 

With the Ork Waaagh numbers starting to overwhelm the marines, a hum of activity was heard on the comms communication had finally been reached and finally answered by the other Thunderhawk Gunships. The rest of the company had found them and were on their way. With reinforcements finally arriving in their darkest hour. Two Thunderhawk gunships, ablaze with damaged they had sustained in their journey planetside, joined their brothers on the battlefield, burning through the teal blue atmosphere of the planet, flanking the Ork mobs on either side. Just as the Greenskins had begin their latest assault. 

Without any warning from the upper atmosphere, a burning light shot through the sky like a spear from the heavens, tearing through the clouds. A homing beacon, hummed as it darted through the air, spiking into the ground in front of Captain Gadius with pinpoint accuracy. 

A unit of battle hardened Terminators teleporting onto the beacon, Covered in yellow and markings of a black fist on a field of white, The Imperial Fists Chapter had reached the sector and had come to their aid. Tearing through the remaining greenskins with their storm bolter fire, carving through waves of Orks with their powerswords and crushing blows of Thunderhammers. The Orks had finally been wiped out, unable to take on the sheer extra number of marines joining the standoff. 

With the battle over, It was time for the company apothecary and his servo skulls to now scoured the battlefield for the gene seed of their fallen brothers.

With the relic safely secured with the arrival of the Imperial Fist 3rd Company coming to their call for assistance and clearing out the remaining Ork threat from around the ruined city of Etor Reach. Captain Gladius was Informed by their Imperial Fist brothers that their company of unnumbered sons were thought lost in the Warp to the twisted powers of Chaos. 

With lack of communication and with the Imperial Psykers on Holy Terra unable to locate them within the galaxy, they were marked in the Imperial records as lost.

In their absence a new replacement sword for the Templars had been forged back on Holy Terra, and safely delivered in time for Templar’s crusade by another company of marines. The Unnumbered Sons’ mission was ruled a failure and a great discrace to their company. Covered in the green blood of the Orks, their Mark X armour heavily battered and damaged, their next move was to take pennance for their sins.

With the threat of the Xenos still high in the system. Captain Gladius and his remaining company of Unnumbered Sons were sanctioned by the High Lords of Terra and by the Imperial Regent to found a new Chapter monastery on Sable VII at the site of the battle of Eton Reach, their first orders were issued; protect the Sable sector and the holy relic in their possession and for it to be their namesake; 

The Black Swords had been forged.