Major Stevrous Stark

Stevrous Stark is an up-and-coming commander in the 728th Cadian Regiment, a well-regarded unit currently deployed in the Sculptor System of the Corvus Cluster.

In 735.M41, the regiment was deployed to the mining moon of Hegira, orbiting the second gas giant of the Sculptor System, to help defend against an ork invasion. But the 2nd Company, under Stark’s command, was sent to the nearby agri-moon of Dar Sai to help Planetary Defense Force (PDF) troops deal with what was thought to be a minor incursion by Tau warriors.

Upon arrival, however, Stark discovered that Tau forces were considerably larger than Imperial civilian leaders had indicated. In fact, he quickly was drawn into open warfare as this larger-than-anticipated Tau force began to build a military base in the isolated Hanui Valley and later pushed its way south, east, and west across the moon’s largest continent.

Although Stark won this first engagement against the xenos, he soon was forced to withdraw as the full scope of the xeno presence was realized.

For the next seven years, Stark has played a crucial role in defending Dar Sai, as the combat effectiveness of the PDF has proven substandard. As a result, Stark has fought in every major battle of what has turned out to be a full-scale, if struggling Tau invasion’

Due to his experience with an independent command, as he has frequently served as ad hoc commander of numerous Imperial Guard/PDF operations, he was promoted to the rank of major in mid-743.M41.

Currently, he is a brigade commander—technically accorded a general’s rank in the Dar Sai PDF—that seeks to stop a Tau advance on the strategically important port city of Malifax.

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.

VALUYKI CAMPAIGN (722.M41)—Stark’s first military campaign with the 728th took him to the Valuyki System, home of a several small Exodite colonies orbiting a red dwarf. The regiment made an uncontested landing outside the largest colony, but the colony—and all others in the system—were deserted. Not a single xeno was found.

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.

WAAAGH! GORGRUK (732.M41)—During the defense of Hive Lyantor, the 728th launched a counterattack that shatterd the ork horde of Warbass Gorgruk and crushed the ork leader under a Lemon Russ tank track. The victory cost the regiment half its armored vehicles.

As part of a command rotation to determine if he was capable of higher rank, Stark was given command of a platoon of tanks. When his superior officer was killed in the fighting, he assumes command of the entire tank company and lead the attack that shattered the ork horde. After this, Stark was promoted to captain and given campaign of the 2nd Company, whose commander had been killed during the fighting.

For additional information of Stark’s military career, examine the Categories section to the right and click on the Dar Sai Campaign. Stark was involved in most of the major military actions of this campaign, as he continues to do so to this day.

To see more of Eduardo Garcia Lope’s paintwork, click here.

To see more of The-Goo-Goblin’s artwork, click here.

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The Corvus Cluster is a Warhammer 40K blog documenting our gaming adventures in the fantastical sci-fi universe of Games Workshop.