007.M34
The Pegasus Expedition, lead by Lord-Knight Commander Aleksandr Ivar, arrives in the wild, unsettled Pegasus Gulf. The expedition is composed of thousands of colony ships escorted by two hundred combined regiments of Vostroyan Firstborn and the Royal Juno Grenadiers from the neighbouring Vandal Reach, and a small Mechanicus Exploratory fleet.
008.M34
The Ulyssian system is the first colonized. Ulyssia itself is raised as a grand hive world and serves as the hub of trade and government in the Gulf.
M34-M36
The rest of the Pegasus Gulf is slowly colonized. A handful of indigenous sentient xenos species are exterminated or otherwise driven from the region or into hiding. In anticipation of an incoming Waaagh, Heavensreach is fortified heavily, it’s population centres turned into massive fortress-cities not dissimilar to the Kasrs on Cadia. The Waaagh eventually arrives and breaks itself on Heavensreach’s battlements.
Envoys from nearby Ultramar visit Ulyssia, the rising star of the Eastern Fringe.
A small crusade is conducted to the galactic east of the Gulf to bring the Harvest Cluster subsector into the Imperium. The Cluster is an independent human federation of stars pre-dating the Great Crusade. The Harvest Crusade is unsuccessful, and further attempts are not made.
After more than a century of warfare, the Knight world Tempest is brought into the Imperium.
The Gulf is largely unaffected by the direct conflict of Goge Vandire’s Reign of Blood, but for nearly a century supplies begin to run thin as the core Imperial worlds neglect the outer colonies during the civil wars. Demand for supply forces the hand of the local Mechanicus outpost, and drives them to redouble their efforts and truly establish themselves as a power in the Gulf.
566.M35
Ravenforge is colonized and established as a full fledged forge world, and serves as the manufacture hub in the Pegasus Gulf.
385.M38
The prosperous forge world Ravenforge is abandoned seemingly overnight by the Mechanicus stationed there. The manufactorums and foundry pits go dark and quiet, and all communication and trade from the world ends.
988.M41
A tendril of Hive Fleet Behemoth enters the Pegasus Gulf and ransacks Ulyssia. It is named Splinter Fleet Titan after its abnormal quantity of Alpha class lifeforms. Battlefleet Pegasus quarantines the Ulyssian system and declares Exterminatus on the planet after its population was consumed by the xenos. Splinter Fleet Titan is destroyed.
989.M41
The first outriders from Gargrim’s fleet, lead by Bolgog the Skullkrusha, make landfall on Ulyssia and plunder what they can before moving on. Bolgog’s pirate fleet evades Battlefleet Pegasus for more than a decade while harrying the trading lanes between Persephone and Heavensreach.
992.M41
The stable warp rift at the heart of the Pegasus Gulf, the Hades Gate, begins to fluctuate and spasm with chaotic energy. It re-stabilizes itself within a few weeks.
999.M41
Abbadon’s 13th Black Crusade is making serious headway into the Imperium. Cadia has fallen, and the Imperial Blockade of the Cadian Gate has been breached. The Imperium is diverting resources from all across the galaxy to try to bring the Crusade to a halt.
Hive Fleet Leviathan is continuing to bore through the galactic south towards Holy Terra, and the hundreds of splinter fleets from Kraken and Behemoth are still active in the galactic east.
001.M42
WAAAGH! Gargrim enters the Pegasus Gulf from the galactic west, and pillages several frontier worlds.
The Cadian 117th Whiteshields are redirected from the counter offensive at Mu’gulath Bay to the defence of the Pegasus Gulf.
The Angels of Solace chapter of Space Marines arrive in the Pegasus Gulf.
Early 002.M42
A Fourth Sphere Expansion Expeditionary Fleet arrives from the uu Empire in the galactic north, intent on taking the agri-world Persephone as it’s staging point in the Gulf. Persephone is the gateway to the entire sector from the north, and the Pegasus Gulf’s breadbasket.
The Black Waaagh makes landfall on Persephone and lays waste to the countryside.
The Cadian 117th Whiteshields, and a combined strike force of Dark Angels and Angels of Solace prepare the defences of Persephone’s only Hive City.
Craftworld El’Doryyn mysteriously enters Persephone’s orbit and offers to aid the Imperial defence.
The Vulture Hill Massacre happens just before dawn outside the walls of Hive Persephone. The Imperial Alpha Strike Force is ambushed by thousands of orks hiding in the bayous and outside the valley as they move in to engage the Tau forward camp.
The One Day War is fought in the streets of Hive Persephone. The Imperial defenders, Eldar, and Tau are all driven off world by the Black Waaagh. Gargrim the Black renames Persephone the Kauldron.
Imperial forces in orbit of Persephone scatter as Gargrim’s Waaaghfleet arrives in full. The majority of the Imperial Fleet, including the Astartes strike cruisers, escape towards the sector’s fortress world Heavensreach to recompose themselves.
Late 002.M42
The Imperial Battlecruiser, Resurrection, makes a miscalculated jump to Ulyssia and is struck by meteors carrying dormant Tyranid lifeforms from the Splinter Fleet Titan, previously thought to be exterminated.
The fragmented Tau Expedition Fleet retreats into the dust nebula called The Fingers to hide from Imperial patrols and ork pirate raids. There they establish the Ivory Rock, and make it their main base of operations.
The Big Mek Boltbrainz forms a splinter Waaagh and invades the dead world Ravenforge. His forces pillage the surface of the former forge world and build a massive tractor beam on its moon. The tractor beam pulls ships spat out of the Hades Gate into the planet’s orbit or onto its surface to be salvaged for parts by Boltbrainz’ mekmob.
The Resurrection hears Boltbrainz’ fake distress call and warps to Ravenforge. It is smashed to the surface with no human survivors. Primitive Tyranid lifeforms are introduced to the planet.
Early 003.M42
The Tau Expeditionary Fleet arrives in orbit of Ravenforge to commandeer the orkish salvage operations in order to repair their own fleet and establish a permanent foothold in the Gulf.
Craftworld El’Doryyn mysteriously arrives yet again, with unclear goals. They intend on re-purposing the ork tractor beam to close shut the Hades Gate warp rift.
A small orkish fleet arrives in orbit over Ravenfroge, under command of Bolgog the Skullkrusha to make an example of Boltbrainz.
Tyranid lifeforms arrive on Ravenforge’s moon, and begin rapidly reproducing both there and on the surface of the planet below.
Bolgog’s forces are confronted by a Tyranid horde, lead by the legendary tyrant thought to have died on Ulyssia, the Harbinger. Bolgog retreats from Ravenforge and begins the long journey back to the Kauldron.
The Tau Expeditionary Fleet flees back to their fortress in the Fingers in light of the Tyranid threat.
Tyranid lifeforms eventually consume all life on the moon base, and make further boarding attempts all but impossible.
A noteable Dark Eldar slaveship appears out of the Hades Gate and is smashed into Ravenforge by the haywire tractor beam. Its crashsite reveals a sprawling Necron crypt as it collapses part of the world’s surface in upon itself.
Gargrim the Black and his fleet make Warp jump to Ravenforge to handle Boltbrainz himself. He arrives as the El’Doryyn Eldar stage an attack at the crash zone to sabotage the Necron tomb. A cadre of Boltbrainz’ followers are left behind to try to salvage the crashed slave ship, but are swarmed by Tyranids and Gargrim’s horde. Farseer Ty’rieal himself is present at the fight and confronts a bio-titan with the legendary Thirty at his back. Gargrim murders the Harbinger in combat and escapes with many of his forces aboard their landing craft or the haphazardly repaired slaveship and return to orbit as the area is overrun by Tyranids.
Ravenforge is abandoned to the Tyranids. Bolgog Skullkrusher and the Tankboss Wuzgob remain on Ravenforge searching for the traitor Boltbrainz. Warboss Gorezogg remains with them for a brief period of time before departing after looting one of Boltbrainz’ mek shops.
The mining colony Crucible is drawn into the fluctuations of the Hades Gate, assumed to never be seen again.
Late 003.M42
Civil war erupts between the Knight Households on the surface of Tempest. The Imperial forces on Heavensreach mobilize to intervene.
Over the course of the war, the Orks under command of Gargrim the Black sack Castle Gallant and discover the location of an ancient artefact they called the Hellmouth. This would become a focal point of much interest for the xenos factions in the gulf, as well as the site of several Angels of Solace strikes.
Ultimately, the Loyalists are driven offworld, their supporters scattered to the winds, while the Secessionists crowned themselves kings of a drowned world after the Xenos left after claiming their prizes.
Rogue Trader Marcus Antonius Polo Polaris arrives in the Gulf, drawn by war profiteering and the promise of valuable archeo-tech. His fleet rescues many Imperial Guard loyalists from the floodwaters of Tempestus, and incidentally builds a mercenary army. Chief amongst these mercenaries is Captain Haab, who bears a terrible grudge against the Xenos on Tempestus.
Battlegroup Achilles enters the Pegasus Gulf from the Galactic West, arriving from the neighbouring Vandal Reach to lend aid. They stabilize several worlds in the lower Iron Cluster, before making landfall on Sprawl. Nineteen regiments of infantry, sixteen tank regiments, twelve artillery regiments, and half of the battlegroup’s fleet vanish. The few survivors of the battlegroup muster in the colonies of the Iron Cluster and bide their time.
The mining colony of Crucible is spat out of the Hades Gate, and balances between this reality and the next on the edge of a knife. Documented and undocumented missing ships are found by their hundreds on the dead surface of the planet, seemingly aged hundreds of years.
At his father’s deathbed, Argus Bairo is promoted to Inquisitor at a shockingly young age. In response to the troubling instability of the Hades Gate and the reappearance of Crucible, his first command is to request aid from the Grey Knights.
004.M42
Bolgog and Wuzgob confront and kill Boltbrainz after nearly a year of searching the ashen surface of Ravenforge, amidst ongoing hostilities between the awakening Necron Dynasty of Merenrakha and the ravenous Tyranids. They depart for the Kauldron immediately.
The Merenrakha Dynasty awakens all over the northern Gulf, mostly among the dead worlds and helpless colonies in the Homestead Marches. Journey is particularly lively.
Gargrim the Black transports Castle Gallant from Tempest to the Kauldron. The fortress hovers over the massive, sprawling ork city, and is renamed the Black Krown.
005.M42
An Ork civil war erupts between Badskagg and Garagrim. Koggarath takes the initiative to declare a Waaagh!, ordering a massive assault upon the Homestead Marches. Imperial forces muster around Royalta, hoping to defend the de facto capital and trading centre of the Marches. Drawn to the conflict are numerous factions, including a contingent of Ultramarines keen on stabilizing the region, and Chaos reavers from the Hades Gate.
Large swatches of the Homestead Marches are annihilated by the Waaagh! Royalta itself is churned to ruin by conflict between the greenskins, Eldar, Chaos cultists, and Imperial defenders. High Seer Ty’rieal of Craftworld El’Doryyn makes several disturbing discoveries amongst the ruins of Royalta, and is nearly destroyed by the devotees of Nurgle.
At the final hour, the green tide is stemmed by Space Marines from the Imperial Praetorians chapter, summoned to help quell instability in the Gulf. Gargrim the Black is slain in single combat with a Praetorian dreadnought named Tsa’Kona Videxus.
Both the Tau commander Shas’O Xo’ha and the Rogue Trader Marcus Polaris are able to gain footholds in the Homestead Marches. These become small rocks of stability in a sea of conflict.
As the news of war amongst the Homestead Marches reaches Heavensreach, the Imperium of Man comes to realize that they are a hair’s breadth away from losing control of the entire Pegasus Gulf. In response, Murmillo-Pontifex Lord General Militant Theodorus Odoacer, governor of Heavensreach, declares an Imperial crusade. With warp communication still heavily disrupted, numerous frigates and courier ships are sent out beyond the Gulf, seeking aid from the wider Imperium.
Early 006.M42
The Black Waaagh! consumes itself in civil war caused by the power vacuum left by Gargrim’s death The Kauldron is bombed into nuclear wasteland and Castle Gallant is blasted from the sky. The entire northern marches engage in ork on ork warfare as dozens of petty chieftains declare sovereignty over their various claims. The Black Waaagh! is officially broken, and while the survivors still infest the entirety of the Gulf, they are not the superpower they once were, and are divided in their goals, armies, and territory.
Chasing rumours and whispers, Rogue Trader Marcus Polaris discovers the Aeternitas Colony, an abandoned space station drifting in interstellar space. He is soon followed by numerous factions who seek to control its secrets.
At the core of the station, the Rogue Trader discovers coordinates to a massive artificial world hidden in the Dark Zone, an uncharted and ill-fated region of space. Captain Haab dubs the planet the Black Reef.
Asuryata Harlequins likewise discover a mass of corrupted wraithbone in another part of the station. Their attempts to release the trapped souls are disrupted by the Grey Knights. Battle between these factions soon sets the Aeternitas Colony on a collision course for the Black Reef.
Just as planned.
Late 006.M42
The Rogue Trader, Marcus Polaris, rushes to secure the Black Reef, but sets off a tidal wave of violence as numerous factions begin to battle for control of the artificial world. The Aeternitas Colony smashes into the planet, unleashing a Daemon incursion.
What strange humans are left upon the colony rise up in revolt against the Imperials who claim dominion over them. To quell the uprising, and bring stability to this technological marvel, a motley Imperial fleet arrives carrying numerous Imperial Guard regiments and Knight House Vymair.
Ork mercenaries turn against their masters, while Eldar arrive to combat the Daemons. Soon the forces of chaos arrive to encourage the birth of their gods, while a Tyranid splinter fleet is drawn to the incredible psychic energies. The violence only strengthens the Daemons, who begin to threaten the entire world.
Captain Haab becomes uncontrollable in his obsession to destroy the xenos that bested him on Tempestus. His armies break contact with Marcus Polaris, and disappear into the void.
With the risk of Daemonic incursion running high, Inquisitrix Selena Arrives to take command of the situation. She immediately comes into conflict with Inquisitor Argus, who resists her authority.
A final, apocalyptic battle begins to prevent the Daemons from manifesting upon the doomed planet. Amongst Titans and creatures of epic proportion, Field Marshal Macher holds the line and sacrifices thousands of his men to buy time for Inquisitrix Selena to declare exterminatus. However, it is already too late to stop the Daemons from breaking into reality, and many escape into the Dark Zone.
Early 007.M42
Domilcus Station, a major trading station orbiting Heavensreach, goes silent. Investigating teams find the stations largely abandoned, before being set upon by genestealer cults. Vicious fighting breaks out, attracting the attention of pirates, xenos, and inquisition alike. A sudden appearance of the Necrons brings the fighting to an end, as the silent metal creatures disappear with an artifact.
Inquisitor Selena officializes an agreement between Imperial forces and the Corsairs of Janriss Voidstrider.
Ravenforge explodes into violence as the Merenrakha Dynasty’s mind control experiment comes to an end. Slaves from across the Pegasus Gulf regain consciousness and attempt to escape, including massive numbers of Tyranids from Hive Fleet Behemoth.
Numerous forces race to Ravenforge to try and control the situation. The most vital struggle occurs on the planet’s moon, where Imperial forces aim to weaken the world’s defences for the impending crusade. Similarly, the Necrons and a number of Chaos and Xenos factions attempt to control the moon’s massive tractor cannon, while the Tyranids struggle to break free. The Imperials are successful, and the cannon is destroyed, paving the way for an assault.
Late 007.M42
The Imperial Crusade gains momentum. As fleets and armies begin to arrive from outside the Pegasus Gulf, the muster begins in earnest. Domilcus Station again comes alive with the refitting and rearming of warships. Imperial citizens flood to the station, alongside subversive elements.
Down below upon Heavensreach, system Governor Lord General Militant Theodorus promotes Field Marshall Macher of the Death Korp of Krieg to Lord General of the Crusade. Imperial fleets soon begin departing for all sectors of the Gulf. The Crusade begins in earnest.
Early 008.M42
Violence erupts across Domilcus Station as the Imperial Citizenry is pushed to the breaking point by abysmal working conditions. Rioting takes the station by storm and martial law is declared. During this time, the Orange Bastard makes his first appearance, terrorizing the underdecks and waging a private war against both Arbites and Military Police. Sensing blood in the water, other factions see their chance and enter the fray. When the dust settles, the Arbites reign supreme, and law and order is returned to the station.
The Crusade is fought bitterly, with great casualties on both sides. At long last, the Imperium finds a foothold, and smashes the heretic and the alien alike. However, despite major gains in the short term, Imperial forces across Ulyssia are unable to contain the Tyranid threat, and the Tau sheltered in The Ivory Rock are horrified to discover a living fleet bearing down on them. Worse still, the great warp storms across the Gulf continue to stir and boil, becoming ever more destructive.