The Legend and Lore of St. Klaus Hertzman

St. Klaus Hertzman was a low born Forge worker born in the Gothic sector, the exact planet of origin lost to myth and legend with each Forge World of the Sector claiming to have created such an individual. Legend also tells of how he came to be involved in the Angevin Crusade, some telling of being press ganged while others claiming him to have been chosen by an Imperial Captain after witnessing his skills in a shuttle. The truth likely rests somewhere in the middle and is often seen by religious scholars as being of no consequence to the acts that saw his rise to sainthood.

The first documented mention of St. Hertzman appears as an emerging ace stationed upon the Archon of Discipline, a Lunar class cruiser where he was stationed. At the time of his accommodation, he had been credited with twenty kills versus the Xenos races that harried the Crusade. He would continue on to receive promotions and more kills until he had become the Air Group’s Commander and carry with him an astounding two hundred and fifteen kills. He was still yet to perform the one true act of faith and devotion that would make him legend.

It was during the closing actions of the Crusade that somehow had seen St. Klaus Hertzman assigned as pilot for General St. Drusus himself. While transporting the General, St. Hertzman was traveling through the asteroid belt in the Pasatonis System, a place that had long made the Imperium suffer from its variable gravity wells and other celestial hazards. Just as he brought his Aquila Lander into the system, he was beset from behind by the crystalline fighters of a Xenos race. Outnumbered twenty-four to one, through faith in the God-Emperor and skill Hertzman managed to emerge from the belt damaged but alive. It still is regarded as the most fighters ever destroyed by a single Aquila Lander.

St. Hertzman would go on to captaining a carrier, an honor bestowed on him by his mentor and friend, St. Drusus against the wishes of the Imperial Navy. After worship of him spread upon his death across Imperial warships hosting spacecraft, the Ecclesiarchy uplifted him as a Saint. An annual race is still held in the Pasatonis system, located in the Drusus Marches, celebrating the Aquila Lander, Betty Flemings, St. Hertzman’s personal lander and the man himself. The race traces the pattern by which St. Hertzman followed and may only be flown in an Aquila Lander. For participants, it is sometimes seen as a religious pilgrimage while the substantial purse and prestige attracts all kinds. It is also due to this race the popularity of Aquila racing throughout the Sector and even into the Expanse. Festivities also include voidsmen showing off their own craft and in no other place in the Sector can you find more able pilots.