The Battle of Travix Secundus
Travix Secundus is a major agri world which helps supply the hive world of Armageddon as well as many other planets. This was to be the Lions’ first major conflict. A mere two years after the chapter had been declared combat ready, Travix Secundus was invaded by the forces of the Chaos Lord Thruk. The initial defences thrown together by the PDF was quickly swept aside by the overwhelming power of Thruk’s forces. As Thruk’s forces pushed on towards the major population centre where the battered remains of the PDF had retreated to and fortified, his rear forces came under a sudden attack by a relief force of the Celestial Lions’ 8th company. The company had been returning to their homeworld and had stopped off in the system to replenish its supplies and pick up some extra to return back to their homeworld when they had received a panicked distress call from one of Travix’s astropaths.
Using their high manoeuvrability of their bikes, land speeders and jump packs, the Celestial Lions conducted hard hitting hit and run attacks against Thruk’s forces, decimating portions of his rear echelons with each attack. Just before Thruk reached the outskirts of the PDF defences, the constant harassment of his forces drove Thruk into a blind rage. Instead of pressing his advantage and obliterating the PDF and the city they defended, Thruk turned his entire force around to make battle with the Celestial Lions. Over the next week, the 8th company eluded Thruk’s forces while managing to wreak havoc upon weak points in the line. That week bought enough time for Imperial reinforcements to arrive in the system. Regiments of Guard were quickly deployed to bolster the PDF’s defences while the Imperial Navy commenced bombing runs against Thruk’s forces.
Despite this, Thruk still concentrated on the Celestial Lions. His casualties mounted and over the next few days, the Celestial Lions managed to shift their position so that they were between the chaos forces and the bolstered defences of the PDF. At this point the Celestial Lions pulled back, drawing Thruk onto the guns of the Imperium’s forces. What little forces he now had left were quickly wiped out by the defenders. Thus, the Lions played a pivotal part in the destruction of a notorious Chaos Lord.