Mordecai: The Battle for the North Averbrooke-Menoria Corridor

Following the successful Dark Angels breakout from the hives of North Averbrooke and Menoria, Imperial forces under General Kutuzov braced for the inevitable response. The counterattack, as expected, arrived mere weeks later, as a force of Night Lords launched a wave of brutal terror raids along the northern front of the Imperial-held salient north of the Harian Mesa. These raids were swift and deadly, forcing the Imperial Guard to retreat in the face of the psychological and physical onslaught. Kutuzov’s forces, already strained from prior engagements, found themselves stretched thin, and morale began to waver.

In an attempt to stabilise the front, the Adeptus Custodes undertook a series of rapid counter-assaults against the traitorous Night Lords, hoping to force them into a full retreat. But the Night Lords, renowned for their mastery of fear and deception, had laid an elaborate trap. As the Custodes advanced, they were ambushed, taking heavy casualties in a sudden, vicious melee that left even these elite warriors in disarray. By the time Imperial forces managed to re-establish cohesion, the Night Lords had reduced the Imperial corridor between North Averbrooke and Menoria to a narrow strip, with some points shrinking to a mere ten miles in width. The setback struck a severe blow to Imperial momentum and disrupted Kutuzov’s strategic plans.

But the Dark Angels, undeterred by the traitor trap, rapidly redeployed their forces to fortify Menoria’s northern perimeter. Concentrating their strength against the entrenched Death Guard forces of the House of Eschar, they initiated a brutal assault to reclaim lost ground. Fighting was relentless, with Death Guard resistance proving formidable as they weathered Imperial firepower and struck back with foul weaponry. However, the Primaris Marines of the Dark Angels demonstrated unparalleled resilience, withstanding the virulent toxins and ferocious assaults of their foes. The sheer durability and discipline of the Angels of Death began to take a toll on the traitor legion, who were gradually worn down by the determined Astartes offensive.

After days of grinding urban combat, the Death Guard's resistance finally faltered, and the remnants of the House of Eschar were forced to retreat from Menoria Hive altogether. By the end of 10.024M42, the Imperium had secured the entirety of the Menoria urban area, pushing their foes back and restoring a measure of stability to the war-ravaged northern front. This victory afforded Kutuzov a solid, defensible position overlooking the Hamenia region, an expansive, open plain with few features to conceal enemy forces—ideal for further Imperial offensives.

With Menoria secured, Kutuzov now had to consider his next move. His diverse forces—bolstered by Dark Angels, Custodes, and Imperial Guard units—were well-positioned to capitalise on the recent gains, but careful planning would be essential to maintain momentum. In the coming days, he and his commanders would evaluate how best to deploy their forces and strike deeper into enemy territory. For now, the Imperium held the upper hand on Mordecai Primaris, but Kutuzov knew the forces of Chaos would not give ground lightly and that each victory came at a steep cost.