THE XHORIK WARS: Factions

M31: Horus Heresy - The Xhorik Campaign

Loyalist

Space Marine Legions: White Scars, The Brotherhood of the Wind

Brotherhood of the Wind marine in MK IV power armor with ornate markings and weaponry designating veteran status.

After assisting in the conquest of the Xhorik System during the Great Crusade, The White Scars legion had left a small garrison behind. The Brotherhood of the Wind had steadily seen their strength depleted over decades of near-constant exploration and conquest. Their reported purpose was to help organize the military forces of the planet into the Imperial Expeditionary Fleets, but in truth they were working to replenish the Brotherhood's reduced strength through recruitment from the Kozar military forces, where they had found a kindred fighting spirit amongst the drop regiments. When civil war broke out on Xhorik Prime at the onset of the Heresy, the Brotherhood of the Wind found themselves desperately fighting against the superior forces of the Death Guard Legion, who were reinforced with a full battle company of World Eaters and the massive military might of the Federation of Unimund, consisting of the richest and largest military Houses of the planet. Unable to compete in pitched battles, the Brotherhood fought a delaying campaign of hit and run strikes and feints in an attempt to occupy the Traitors until reinforcements could arrive. After months of fighting, the Brotherhood was forced to withdraw from Kozar and to take refuge in the Eastern Wastes, hiding in terrain too rugged and desolate for the mechanized Traitor armies to search thoroughly.

Space Marine Legions: Blood Angels

Arrived after the campaign for Xhorik Prime.
From where and why?

Space Marine Legions: Imperial Fists

Legionnaire in Tartaros pattern terminator armor with combi-bolter and power fist.

The Imperial Fists had a single cruiser in the Xhorik system with one company of Astartes during the conflict. With very limited numbers and no planetary foothold, they were unable to deploy their favored style of warfare of building fortifications. Instead, they utilized their unparalleled expertise with teleportation technology. During the campaign for Xhorik Prime, they carefully chose key engagements to insert small numbers of terminator-armor-clad veterans where their impact could turn the outcome.

Imperialis Auxilia: Xhorik 87th Drop Troops, The Firebirds

Member of 4th Squad, 3rd Company of the Xhorik 87th Drop Troopers. Demolitions expert armed with Antax pattern lascarbine and demo charge. Equipped with grav chute and enclosed helmet for harsh environment drops.

The nation of Kozar in the north of Xhorik Prime had developed a specialty for drop troop military tactics due to the extremely rugged terrain being unsuitable for large mechanized formations. For generations, they were the strongest member of an alliance of smaller nations that fought a series of wars against their great rival, the Federation of Unimund. After the Xhorik system was brought into the Imperium of Man, the fighting forces of the planets were incorporated into expedition fleets. Recognizing the unique skillset of the Kozar army, the Imperial commanders organized a number of regiments dedicated to drop tactics, including the Xhorik 87th Drop Troops Regiment, The Firebirds. They utilize flying transports and deploy via grav chute to strike at vulnerable positions of key strategic importance behind enemy lines. They do not have the heavy armor or firepower to hold against a dedicated enemy counterattack and need to be relieved promptly or be overwhelmed. With mobility unrivaled by any Imperial forces outside the Adeptus Astartes Legions, they found themselves naturally supporting the White Scars Legion in campaigns during the Great Crusade, often fighting far ahead of the front lines. When the Horus Heresy came to the Xhorik system, the 87th was called upon to return home to participate in the liberation of their home planet, Xhorik Prime, from the Traitor armies as part of Operation Downfall.

Imperialis Auxilia: Halovox 450th Armored Regiment

Traitor

Space Marine Legions: Death Guard