Venerable Sergeant Callus Hekarn

Chaplain primus, initiate of the promethean cult, Brother of the eternal flame, Bearer of the prophecies and forge-kindler.

KILLED IN ACTION 013.M31 - Polar Defences

Biography

Leader of the 18th Legion forces on Semita IV. Succeeded by Sergeant Rhy'Kar
A Nocturnean veteran, Hekarn was quickly appointed to the Chaplain order after the council of Nikea. Inducted into the Promethean cult' as a result, his duty was to forge the very spirit of his legion and guide his brothers through the fires of war as the great crusade reached it zenith. It was his duty to help steel the hearts of his legion brothers and harness their rage as they descended on the black sands of Istvaan V and prepared to slay legion kin for the first time. He walked at the head of his company, crozius and shield aloft, leading his company in its battle chants. Right into the jaws of the Urgall Depression and the traitor betrayal.
Greviously wounded, rescued from the dropsite massacre by his devoted legionaries , he spent nearly two years in Sus-An coma. Rebuilt and returned to service, he found the galaxy even further aflame and embraced the increasing esotericism of Dracos and his disciples.
After years of fierce fighting ever coreward, following the loyalist retreats, Hekarn arrived in the Semita system to raise new legion recruits and help fortify the planet, following the prophecies and half whispered secrets that had led him and his men so far across the galaxy.

Phase 1 - Installation Delta - KILLED IN ACTION

Having broken through loyalist lines earlier in the battle, the Word bearers cabal continued its push towards the centre of installation Delta. Their advance was slowed by a series of rituals enacted after the slaughter of PDF troops and base personnel.
This lull in the advance allowed time for a hasty counter attack by Salamanders forces, the 18th legion arriving too late to stop the manifestation of neverborn , but catching the freshly spawned daemons before they could fully coalesce, driving them back into the warp.
Dragon's breath met warpfire and a bloody clash ensued in the defensive works of the polar defences.
Observers note in particular the effectiveness of psycanik powers in banishing the neverborn, however as this was one of the earliest manifestations of daemons on the planet, the warp entities do not seem to have been fully matured.
This banishment and the engagement with the Word Bearers was not without cost, initial reports indicate that the leader of the Salamanders warband was killed in action holding the line against the neverborn, struck down by a large specimen of extraplanar xenoform.
The loyalists ultimately carried the day, inflicting heavy losses on the traitor sons of Lorgar and blunting their advance. Having cleared the field and cleansed the enemy dead with ritual fire, the salamanders withdrew, carrying the body of their chaplain upon his dragonscale shield.

Addendum

Unconfirmed reports indicate that an astartes warrior matching the late chaplain's description was part of a Salamander's assult in the rad wastes. See Biomonitor report, D45-H1 By Magos Biologis Maximilian Generatus Kappa-Ohmn for sector command's investigation into this sighting.

Legionary C-Hekarn, 576789900 – Service Record (Notable)

990.M30 – He is inducted as a full Battle Brother, 145th assault company. 6 months later, he is awarded the Silver Drakes Tooth for valour.
995.M30 – After the death of his company sergeant, he takes charge of the remnants of his demi-company, encircled by greenskins on the death world of Appraxis. They fight for a further two weeks without relief.
996.M30 – Elevated to senior sergeant, he is inducted into the greater mysteries of the Promethean cult.
001.M31 – The chaplain edict is given, He is one of the first chosen for the role. Transferred to 154th expeditionary fleet, 30th line company.
006.M31 – He sings Nocturnean battle hymns over the company vox as his dropship heads for the surface of Istvaan V
006.M31 – He Kills his first Astartes, a death guard. He later sees his Gene father embattled on all side and exhorts his men to break through to him.
008.M31 – He awakes from Sus-An Coma onboard the strike cruiser Iron Repentance, having undergone signifcant augmetisation and grafts.
011.M31 – His warband, part of the disciples of the flame, head coreward following the loyalist retreat towards terra.
012.M31 – Arrives in the Semita system to bolster the garrison and raise new inductees for the 18th legion. Leads aspirant selection and training of Semita IV.
013.M31 - Killed in Action, styming an attack by neverborn and Word bearers units. His body and panoply dragged from the field by his followers, location unknown.

Related Historical Events

• Loyalist Victory
  18th Legion Counter Attack