Early Service

Born on the fortress world of Cadia in 701.M41, Stark spent his early years living with relatives, as his parents—both renown Cadian officers—were killed during the Corinth Crusade against WAAAGH!  Skagor.

At the age of seven, Stark was enlisted into the Schola Progenium, an Imperial organization responsible for the upbringing, education, and training of orphans, predominantly those of officers and nobles who have died in the service of the Imperium,

Graduating in the top third of his class at one of Cadia’s numerous military academies, Stark spent two years as a provisional officer in the Cadian Youth Army, Those years were spent on campaign, as his platoon was assigned as a reserve unit in the Gamble Suppression (719-20.M41), an 18-month campaign to put down rebellion in the Gamble System.

During the campaign, Stark’s “white shields”—untried military cadets—were given the opportunity to “blood themselves” against the rebels, and the fledgling officer earned several commendations for bravery in battle.

At the end of the campaign, Stark was commissioned a lieutenant and assigned to the 728th Cadian Regiment before its deployment to the Corvus Cluster.

Arriving on Valuyki to remove the taint of xeno scum, the guardsmen of the 728th Cadian Regiment found that the Exodite colonies had been abandoned.

THE OBROA REBELLION (725.M41)—After a decade of civil unrest, the corrupt planetary government of Obroa III found itself facing an open revolt that threatened to overthrow Imperial rule. The 728th Cadian Regiment was one of six Imperial Guard Regiments sent to quell the rebellion.

During the bitter, street-by-street fighting in the planet’s capital, Stark’s company was ambushed and suffered heavy losses. As the reserve platoon (due to Stark’s youth and inexperience), his unit was the only full-strength platoon left to charge the enemy and turn the tide of the battle.

Leading from the front, Stark charged, only to spot a gap in the rebel’s line and direct his troops through the gap and behind rebel forces. Unnerved to find Imperial troops rolling up their flank, the rebels retreated, and the battalion was saved. For this action, Stark was awarded the “The Eagle Ordinary,” awarded to guardsmen for acts of valor beyond what is required (but not considered extraordinary).

Tracking down Genestealers and their infected supporters, guardsmen on Ulubris VI were forced to wear protective suits to protect themselves from the toxic air of the underhive. In the darkness, xeno supporters were adept at ambushes and placing deadly traps, and the regiment suffered unexpected losses.

GENESTEALERS OF ULUBRIS (726.M41)—About a year after the Obroa Rebellion, the 728th was deployed to the Ulubris System to deal with a xeno infestation in the hive cities of Ulubris VI.

Local PDF troops and Arbites enforcers had reported that xenos, allegedly similar to the creatures known as “Ymgarl Genestealers,” had infected Imperial citizens with xeno DNA, creating grotesque hybrids that formed dangerous cults. Their numbers had grown so large that Arbites Enforcers and even PDF troops could not venture safely into the lower levels of hive cities.

When Imperial Guard troops attempted to force their way into these “no man’s zones,” they initially made significant progress, wiping out any pockets of resistance that faced them. But, over time, the infected resorted to guerilla tactics, and the 728th found itself dealing with ambushes, hit-and-run attacks, sabotage, and hidden bombs that caused small but consistent casualties.

Fighting eventually petered out, and the planetary government declared victory over the xeno infestation. Stark, who had seen the abominations and depravity of the xeno-infected citizenry, did not agree. He questioned whether the infected simply had retreated into the labyrinth of ruins beneath the underhive, and the cultists would rebuild their numbers in the years ahead.

The accuracy of his prediction would be proven in 745.M41 with the arrival of Fleet Behemoth.

THE WAYSTONN MASSACRE (729.M41)—The 728th was sent to the industrial world of Waystoon to deal with an attack by the Blood Wolves, a heretical and traitorous war band of fallen Astartes that had seized a small city in the planet’s southern hemisphere.

Although uncertain of the reasons for the traitors’ raid—or the reason the traitors stayed long enough for Imperial reinforcements to arrive—the regimental commander, Colonel August Klein, launched an attack against the Astartes with support from the 2nd Waystonn Armored Battalion.

Fierce fighting followed, with Imperial forces eventually forced to halt their attack due to rising casualties. Stark was tasked with a reconnaissance mission into the enemy-held city, where he learned that the traitors were conducting a ritual that would open a portal to the Warp and allow daemons to cross into realspace. Unchecked, the arrival of daemons could have Waystonn overwhelmed and turned into a Daemon World.

Thankfully, Stark was able to lead a attack that—while suffering 90-percent casualties—managed to interrupt the summoning ritual. Soon after, the Blood Wolves abandoned the planet, escaping before a small void ship that fought its way past the system’s small defense fleet that attempted to intercept.