Myrentas II - Sartosan Attack: The final nail in the Imperial Coffin

The Sartosan Rangers crossed the Ornz by boat in the middle of the night of 0405.007M42. Nearly half the regiment had crossed before they were detected and the mists which are so common in the Ornz valley in the spring saved most of the remainder from death as the Imperial heavy artillery opened up on the UFP troops. Over ten thousand men had managed to cross the river by daybreak and the Tallaxian engineers had bridge the river in a number of places.

The UFP attack came in the marshes in the middle of the Ornz valley and the Sartosan Rangers were the ideal troops for the job. The jungles and forests of Sartosa had conditioned the hardy fighters to difficult terrain and they quickly out manoeuvred the Librian 57th troopers. Sentinels gave the Sartosans close armour support while the Librian heavy tanks floundered in the mud, despite their rough terrain modifications.

The UFP attack came in the marshes in the middle of the Ornz valley and the Sartosan Rangers were the ideal troops for the job. The jungles and forests of Sartosa had conditioned the hardy fighters to difficult terrain and they quickly out manoeuvred the Librian 57th troopers. Sentinels gave the Sartosans close armour support while the Librian heavy tanks floundered in the mud, despite their rough terrain modifications.

The Sartosan performance did owe a lot to the UFP fleet advisors who were instrumental in guiding and aiding the Sartosan officers on the ground, particularly when the Sartosans, new to advanced warfare, struggled to keep pace with the rapidly changing face of the battle.

Even so the Sartosans had succeeded and even the most optimistic of Imperial generals realised the game was up. In the north even the Tau managed a spectacular advance against the Praetorian Guard, inflicting heavy losses. At 5:17pm local time on 0607.007M42 Lord General Lenord declared a full-scale withdrawal and prepared to leave Myrentas II with as many troops as he could. By now the remnants of the Praetorians, Librians and Scyllians were in full retreat, and the fall back risked becoming a rout as the Tau approached from the north and the Tallaxians, Sartosans and Hartak 7th Legion approached from the east. He needed time for his troops to disengage. Time which could be bought by the Blood Martyrs’…

Parataea - Tau Landing encounters hostile Eldar

Commander Whitefire’s Tau battle group faced an uncontested landing on the uninhabited forest planet of Cathasaea and in the weeks that followed the landing the earth caste were successful in setting up a large Tau base, extending the perimeter of their control to fifty kilometres in a few weeks. Much of the forest was cut down and plans began to build a colony on the planet in the same mould as the burgeoning Lucardium colony.

In 05.007M42, as colonists began to arrive on the planet, the Eldarattacked. At first no-one could understand their motives but there werethose in the UFP who had a fair idea. The Eldar had never attacked the Tau in this sector until now, and the attack did not appear to have a specific objective. Although the attack was beaten off by the Tau commander Whitefire, Tau high command responded by reinforcing the colony. Perhaps what the Eldar intended after all?

Either that or the Eldar were trying to prevent the Tau from expanding their Empire. If that were thes case they were unsuccessful as their attack failed and they took heavy casualties. Since then they have not been back and no-one in the Tau high command is sure whether they will return. To them the Eldar are a capricious and unpredictable race who’s motives are often part of an unimaginably complex purpose.

Cathasaea - Eldar and Tyranids attack

On 0505.007M42 the new Imperial garrison on Yuki faced their biggest threat as the tendrils of Hive Fleet Triton appeared on Imperial sensors. At least the listening post was working. The Tyranids landed in strength but were held by a stalwart defence by the Dark Angels in their forward base. While the Librian 4th Mechanised Regiment awaited results of the battle at the forward outposts, the Eldar acted.

In a lightning assault the like of which has become so familiar the Eldar, this time a mix of Pirates and some from a previously unknown Craftworld, assaulted the Imperial garrison on Yuki with the obvious intention of destroying the listening post and allowing the Tyranids to wipe out the defenders. It was a two pronged attack.

One group assaulted the Dark Angels from the flank while many of their number were still finishing off the remnant of the ‘Nid attack, while another attacked the main Imperial garrison and base. The first attack was successful with the Eldar scoring a telling and rare victory against the Adeptus Astartes. The Marines took heavy casualties and were forced to give ground as the fast vehicles of the Eldar outmanoeuvred their opponents. Facing a desperate situation themselves the Imperial garrison was unable to help and the Dark Angels’ base was all but annihilated.

Meanwhile the Imperial garrison itself came under a ferocious assault from Craftworld Eldar, but very quickly things began going wrong for the aliens. The Librian mechanised regiment, having heard of the Eldar weaponry and ferocious charges, sensibly stayed inside their vehicles, firing their multi-lasers and heavy bolters. Supported by heavy Leman Russ tanks and lethal Hellhound flame-tanks the Eldar attack quickly floundered in the face of so much armour. Lacking adequate anti-tank capability the aliens withdrew leaving the Imperial garrison almost unscathed.

The Battle of Myrentas Deeps

The Imperial and Tau fleets had been shadowing each other for several weeks as the ground war ground on in the Ornz valley. Neither commander was eager for a fight but with operation End Game the Tau commander was under orders to make sure the Imperial fleet was kept busy and did not interfere with the four UFP cruisers stationed above the planet.

The Tau commander of the fleet was quite concerned as the Imperium now had a significant force in the system including two battleships and five cruisers. This meant the Tau fleet would have to wait until the moment was favourable, or at least not suicidal, before moving into attack formation. Until then the Tau fleet would have to continue avoiding the Imperial fleet who were desperately trying to get the Tau to engage.

Fortune appeared to be smiling on Commander Cold Sight on 2804.007M42 when the ground attack began. This would be the moment he would have to turn and fight before the Imperial ships moved in to attack the UFP vessels around the planet while they were vulnerable helping the ground war. As the Tau fleet commander prepared his fleet the news came in that the Imperial cruisers Galileo and Imperious were not with the bulk of the fleet.

Rear Admiral Dreyer, commanding from the Bridge of Iron Duke had received intelligence of an unescorted Tau convoy from his picket escort during 2704.007M42 and had dispatched the two cruisers to investigate. Though the intelligence was false the crucial decision meant that two of the Admiral's most powerful cruisers, a Mars class carrier and a Tyrant class cruiser, would be unavailable for the coming battle.

The abrupt appearance of the Tau fleet cruising past his formation took the Imperial commander somewhat by surprise but the Admiral soon had his battle line in formation. Leading the line escorted by the light cruisers Ajax and Achilles was the dictator class Emperor's Wrath, followed by the two Imperial battleships.

The Tau fleet were also in some difficulty as they had not expected such quick detection by the Imperial fleet once they changed course. Commander Cold Sight found his fleet travelling away from the Imperial battle-line and his entire fleet in danger of being encircled. The Tau Kor'O ordered the fleet to come about but the poor manoeuvrability and slow speed of the Tau told early on as Iron Duke and Agamemnon poured fire into the cruiser Deep Fire. Venting atmosphere and burning the Tau Protector lurched out of the line crippled before the Tau fleet had even been able to form up a cohesive attack.

The Tau managed to turn their ships line abreast and were soon firing all their forward batteries at the Imperial fleet with the Pinafore on the right wing and the Ores'Au on the left. Guardian and Bright Hope, the inexperienced class Hero class vessel, made up the central vanguard of the Tau attack.

The Imperial fleet had successfully manoeuvred their battle line around the right flank of the Tau, punishing the Ores'Au with battery fire and lance shots. Meanwhile the Tau missiles seemed remarkably ineffective and unable to find their targets. At the same time Imperial fighters and massed turret fire kept the Mantas at bay.

Ajax and Achilles paid heavily for their forward positioning, both disengaging having taken heavy damage from the Ores’Au and escorting Castellans. As the battle reached a climax Iron Duke had her bridged smashed by railgun fire and was forced to withdraw, but not before the combined weight of her gun batteries and the lances of the Agamemnon had reduced the Bright Hope to a drifting hulk.

By this time the remaining Tau vessels had managed to manoeuvre around to the rear of the remaining Imperial battleship but found their weaponry ineffective against the vessel's powerful void shields. In addition the return fire from the Agamemnon quickly crippled the Ores'Au and she was also forced to withdraw. As the Agamemnon and Emperor's Wrath turned back into formation the remaining Tau cruiser realised the game was up and fled leaving the Imperial fleet as the victor.

The battle itself was a defeat for the Tau who lost a valuable cruiser and had three other capital ships - battleships - crippled. The Imperium had two light cruisers crippled and the Iron Duke badly damaged but the Tau fleet had taken more damage and had been forced to disengage. However it could have been a lot worse. Analysis showed that while the Tau missiles were far less accurate than usual, the accuracy of the heavy lance vessel Agamemnon was extremely poor, except for the salvo which almost destroyed Deep Fire. Had the battleship's fire been better the Tau vessels may have lost more than just on ship.

Positionally the Imperial fleet had got their tactics right, engaging the Tau abeam, presenting their broadsides while making themselves a difficult target. However the loss of Novem squadron in the opening minutes of the battle was unfortunate - the frigates were nowhere near where they were supposed to be!

The return of the Imperious and Galileo bolstered the Imperial fleet and they began to move in system towards the UFP vessels stationed above Myrentas II.

Opposing Fleets

Imperium

Iron Duke Emperor Class Battleship Crippled
Agamemnon Apocalypse Class Battleship
Emperor’s Wrath Dictator Class Cruiser
Achilles Dauntless Class Light Cruiser Crippled
Ajax Dauntless Class Light Cruiser Crippled
Nexum Squadron Three Sword Class Escorts Destroyed
Vagrim Squadron Three Firestorm Class Escorts Destroyed

Tau

Pinafore Custodian Class Battleship Crippled
Ores’Au Explorer Class Battleship Crippled
Deep Fire Protector Class Cruiser Crippled
Guardian Protector Class Cruiser
Bright Hope Hero Class Cruiser Destroyed
Vre’Aun Messenger Class Escort
- 2 Castellan Class Escorts
­- 3 Castellan Class Escorts Destroyed

Fortress Whiteridge breached by Eldar!

While Pattonson was attacking in the south the Eldar were back in the north, attacking the Chaos fortress of Whiteridge in the second raid in as many weeks. The unexpected attack came as a boon to the Imperial and Coalition forces alike as the aliens tore down the defences and caused havoc inside the city. The Iron Warriors were forced to commit their finest troops to the battle and suffered heavy, perhaps terminal losses. The city of Whiteridge had been made ready for the taking by this second Eldar assault but before anyone could thank them or ask why the mysterious aliens had vanished.

Myrentas II: Allentown Breakout - The squats attack.

Following the aborted landings by Tau forces around the Imperial base at Gethsemane, general Pattonson did not immediately show his hand, choosing to wait until the Blood Martyrs were fully committed to dealing with the Tau threat before launching his assault. This he was confident had occurred on 2804.007M42 and he gave the order to start the second phase of operation End Game.

The overall objective for Pattonson’s elite Hartak 7th legion was to break the Imperial defences wide open and strike North West. The plan had an ambitious timescale, with Gethsemane surrounded in just 10 days. This called for the squat forces to forge ahead, taking around 40 kilometres every day. Even more ambitious were the objectives of the Tallaxian Armoured Brigade, following on behind, who were expected to advance over 800 kilometres in 12 days.

The overall coalition commander knew the required schedule would be tough and that he needed to break through the Librian lines quickly, surrounding them in a lightning encirclement. There was a brief bombardment by the Tallaxian air corps before the land raiders and rhinos of the Hartak 7th Legion rolled forward out of their bridgehead in Allentown.

Initially progress was poor as well placed defensive positions of the Librian 101st regiment took their toll on the Hartak forces, destroying or immobilising the lighter troop transports in the crowded streets of Allentown itself. Pattonson knew that success lay in breaking out of the town and into open country, but twelve hours after the attack had started the advance had stalled in the suburbs. The lightning assault was now massively behind schedule.

Salvation came when the general committed his reserves. Fierce hand-to-hand engagements proved the Guard were no match for the squats at close quarters and the deployment of fifty land raiders brought much needed firepower to the attack. Soon Allentown was littered with the wrecks of Imperial tanks and the majority of the defenders were falling back.

24 hours after the attack had started the Hartak 7th legion were free of the crowded streets and breaking out into the open countryside of the Ornz river valley. However, with 390 kilometres between them and Gethsemane, the squats were already 30km behind where they should have been, though casualties had been light. Now everything depended on the Tallaxian armoured brigade and the success of the Sartosan Rangers in the north.

Intercepted Necron Communication

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IMPERIAL UPDATE

Transmitted: Adept Falsherin
Date: 2304.007.M42
Security Clearance: Vermillion
Ref: GH302/N.19.04.007/A
Received: Imperial Capital, Cerberex monitoring station
Subject: Inquisitor Hathek Communication
Thought for the day: Serve the Emperor today, tomorrow you may be dead

> Message begins :

Intelligence indicates the chaos fleet of the Iron Warriors has been located in the Scallius system. Several thousand troops have reportedly been landed on the planet in the region of the Vernia settlement where previous activity by the Penetrators traitor legion has been recorded.
Several grand companies are reported to have landed along with their indentured slave forces. At this time we do not believe the Iron Warriors to be under the same command as those on Myrentas II.

The leader of the Iron Warriors on Scallius is as yet unknown but he commands a formidable force including three grand companies of marines, over five thousand slave troops and a fleet of at least four capital ships. Such a force would be capable of overwhelming the smaller Imperial worlds in the sector.

The Iron Warriors' landing was contested by ork forces, which were scattered by the overwhelming traitor legion firepower. The chaos forces then increased their territorial control by attacking the tyranids which infest the planet, defeating them and taking a large area of wasteland. The motive behind this attack is as yet undetermined.

The Dark Angels have reported that the new listening post in the Cathasaea system came under attack by eldar forces, apparently appearing from nowhere. The Dark Angels counter assaulted the raiding force and were successful in driving them off, but the damage done to the new installation is considerable. In addition we believe the Dark Angels suffered more
casualties and loss of equipment than they are admitting to. It is worrying that the eldar even knew of the installation's presence and even more concerning that they seem intent on thwarting our plans to clear the Perseus Deeps of threats. We wonder if they are hiding something.

May the Emperor guide you.

> Message ends

LEAKED UFP TRANSCRIPT

+++UFP TRANSCRIPT+++
+++CLASSIFIED+++
+++FEDERAL SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING+++
+++2204.007M42+++

A: Welcome gentlemen, do sit down. Shall we get straight on with it?

A: First item on the agenda - Myrentas II. General , a brief overview?

B: Thankyou 'A'. Operation End Game is about to get underway. The Hartak 7th Legion are fully fuelled and preparing to strike out from the Allentown Bridgehead. The Sartosans are ready to cross the Ornz.

C: And what of the Tau airdrop?

B: Unfortunately after the losses they sustained in the drop the intervention of the Blood Martyrs finished them off. Casualties on the Imperial side were light we hear, but the hunter cadre did manage to destroy a large number of marine vehicles. Reports from our agents suggest the Blood Martyrs made short work of the Tau, deep striking their terminators into the heart of their defended positions.

A: Sounds unpleasant.

C: Hardly distinguishing themselves. Have you spoken with Lightfoot?

B: Not as yet, but he is under no illusion that with the failure of his latest assault the Tau involvement in the future of Myrentas II is now minimal. Myrentas will be a UFP colony.

A: Good to hear , though surely the Tau will demand a base?

C: They can have a base, but we don't want an influx of Tau colonists. Leave them in no doubt who the masters are on Myrentas now.

B: Agreed.

A: And the plans for the final assault on the Imperium? We must keep casualtied to a minimum. Neither Hartak nor Tallax will accept a slaughter.

B: We are confident our forces can break the back of the Imperial defenses in two weeks. The system is blockaded, they cannot resupply. The 7th Legion will brush aside the defenders now the Blood Martyrs have tipped theirhand.

C: Good news . We'll leave it in your capable hands.

A: Good. Then we should move on to item 2. Lucardium has been attacked by Tyranids. Apparently they landed in force near the Tau base itself.

C: Aren't there colonists on Lucardium too?

A: Yes, but it appears that commander Longstride has learned from his mistakes on Myrentas and the Tyranid assault was halted at the walls of the Tau base compound. Reports indicate that Tau casualties are light and theTyranid menace was unable to breach the Tau defences.

C: Excellent.

B: So they don't need our help on this one?
***Sound of laughter***

A: No it looks like they have the situation under control. The tyranid hive fleet is still in orbit so the sector commander is sending the newly arrived Tau vessels to intercept them.

C: That will be a decisive action!

A: Indeed! Anyway gentlemen, I'm afraid my time is short. We should briefly cover item 3?

***Murmurs of approval***

A: Good. It appears the eldar have intervened once more.

C: Oh?

B: Yes, they attacked the Iron Warrior defences on the north side of Whiteridge and the damage was severe.

C: This is excellent news! Though rather worrying. Are the eldar helping us or not? Is it the same eldar we have had dealings with before?

A: Unknown. Though reports would incidcate... Not. We must investigate and ascertain their motives, but for now the damage to Whiteridge's fortifications can only be seen as a blessing.

C: I agree. The last item on the agenda?

A: Yes. Our attempts to isolate Ravitane are bearing fruit. Following the fortuitous attacks by the eldar and the slow Imperial response the govenor is threatening to declare a general strike. In addition the system'sproximity to our worlds has made it difficult for the planet to trade with the other members of the Imperium.

C: Especially when that cargo is intercepted by our, "pirates".

***Sounds of laughter***

A: Indeed! Though we must ensure they never find out their true identity. The next stage is to offer Ravitane trade and arms contracts so it can defend itself. We just need to make sure the Blood Martyrs are keptoccupied to prevent their intervention.

C: Excellent. Within a year I see another addition to our federation!

B: Good news gentlemen. Is that all for today?

A: Yes, I wish you all a pleasant week. Until next time...

+++TRANSCRIPT ENDS+++

IRON WARRIORS COMMUNICATION

+++++ INTERCEPTED COMMUNICATION +++++

UNKNOWN VOICE: Commander Gallowfen, we have received word that the Iron Warriors surrounding Kendrenec are planning an offensive.

GALLOWFEN: The fools! They'll bring the Imperium and Eldar crashing down on their heads. Who leads them?

UNKNOWN: The one known as 'Cowboy'.

GALLOWFEN: By the dark gods! He'll ruin all our plans.

UNKNOWN: But commander, he claims to never have been beaten on the battlefield.

GALLOWFEN: Hah! That's before he came to this sector.

UNKNOWN: What are your orders commander?

GALLOWFEN: He is not, I repeat NOT, allowed near Myrentas II.

UNKNOWN: But should the Imperium drive out the UFP and control the planet, you will need reinforcements.

GALLOWFEN: Never! The defenses are in place, the war-forges in our mountain citadel are operational, the Obsidian Blade air strike force is unbeatable. I have mobilised all the troops at my disposal. The Imperium shall never drive us out!

+++++ COMMUNICATION ENDS +++++

Aleph Sector: Subsector bulletin

Transmitted: Adept Falsherin
Date: 1904.007.M42
Security Clearance: Vermillion
Ref: GH302/N.19.04.007/A
Received: Imperial Capital, Cerberex monitoring station
Subject: Lord Commander's Eyes Only
Thought for the day: Only in Death does Duty End

> Message begins :

My lord,

As per your instructions I have compiled a short report detailing our current committments in the Aleph sector and issues of concern.

Operation Caterwaul
So far our actions in the Perseus deeps have led to the successful insertion of Imperial bases in the Cathasaea but protracted fighting continues on Myrentas II against the coalition of the Tau and UFP. Resources are running low on the planet and we estimate it will fall in three weeks with no further reinforcement.

Reports indicate Lucardium has now become a Tau base, there is serious fighting between orks, chaos forces and the Tyranid menace on Scalius, presumably from the same fleet which destroyed Lucardium. Libria is on high alert.

Protogonus
The system has been cleansed of Tau forces. No further action required.

Hellheim
Our monitoring station on Einmyrria has detected a massive buildup of Tau forces on and around Cernunnos. They appear to have no interest in our base or the chaos world of Donar, but are reinforcing thier position. A vast base has been recorded, similar to those documented elsewhere.

Ravitane
After much bloodshed the Eldar have been removed from the planet though sporadic raids continue. The govenor is demanding compensation.

Aurelis Deeps
Serious fleet actions reported between the chaotic Norsefire empire and Tau forces. No action required at this time.

Adeptus Astartes
Currently we can count on the support of the Blood Martyrs. The Dark Angels appear to be following their own agenda.

Political
Inquisitors Hathek and Huron recommend electing a new Cardinal before central rule in the sector becomes untenable. Vornax and Ravitane have become increasingly rebellious and the later is threatening to default on its tithes unless it is compensated. The whereabouts of Inquisitor Xanthus is unknown. Banderossa is becoming increasingly lawless. We are concerned these three planets may be vulnerable to UFP insurgency.

Other Threats
Curious anomalies have been reported in the barren system of Hortensius system. Inquisitor Hathek has requested further information

http://thenotoriousblogofjtb.blogspot.com/2007/03/hortensius-system-scanning-anomaly.html

> message ends

Operation End Game

The first action in operation End Game saw the Tau hunter cadres move against the trapped Librian 57th regiment in the small town of Blatherwycke just a few miles east of Allentown. Against the under strength and poorly equipped Librians the Tau threw in their finest troops in an effort to impress the UFP. In that they were marginally successful. The Librian 57th put up a brave fight for a few hours but inevitably capitulated in the face of overwhelming firepower. Over three thousand prisoners were taken along with several hundred tanks and other vehicles.

Pleased with their initial success the Tau launched the second phase of their part of operation End Game, the air drop of several hundred Tau into battle around Gethsemane using Orcas. Initially the Tau had thirteen dropships for the assault but were restricted to twelve as one developed engine trouble. This was not the only operational setback.

The plan originally called for the Tau drop to be made at night or at dawn to maximize surprise, but the spring weather led to widespread fog forming in the Ornz valley. Eventually commander Lightfoot conceded that landing at night in fog was too risky and rescheduled the attack to occur in daylight despite protests from several of his subordinates.

Twelve Orcas, escorted by twenty barracudas and four tiger-sharks, left the Tau zone of occupation bound for Gethsemane. Flying low across the southern plains of the Ornz river valley it was hoped they would evade detection long enough to achieve the mission.

The Imperial defenders were finally alerted to the Tau presence by the Blood Martyrs, who immediately launched a thunderhawk gunship to intercept. It was joined by two wings of lightnings and a squadron of thunderbolts and battle was joined just a few miles from the intended drop zone.

In the ensuing aerial dogfight it became clear that the lumbering Orcas were vulnerable, and despite the efforts of the barracudas seven craft were shot down before they reached the drop zone, killing all on board. Two more were severely damaged and only three managed to get their full compliment of troops safely to the drop zone.

While the Imperial fighters concentrated on the Orcas the barracudas inflicted heavy damage on them, shooting down no less than nine lightnings and four thunderbolts. In addition the Blood Martyrs' thunderhawk was forced to make an emergency landing after taking heavy damage.

The Tau suffered too, losing seven of their fighters and three more receiving heavy damage. On the return trip two more were shot down before the Imperial fighters ran out of fuel.

The bloody aerial battle had cost the Imperium dearly, with more than a third of their total strength having been lost in the action, and in defending (unsuccessfully) radar stations in the north from chaos attack. On the positive side for the Imperium, the Tau only managed to drop in the region of one hundred troops, far less than the coalition had hoped.

A fateful decision was then made by commander Lenord. Though unaware the Hartak 7th Legion was about to launch their spring offensive, the general accepted the Blood Martyrs offer to clear the Tau from Gethsemane and did not change his defensive positions along the Ornz. When the Hartak 7th legion attacked they would find the defenders ready and waiting. The airdrop diversion had failed, though the Blood Martyrs' hand had been tipped early on. The UFP assault could now be sure they would not meet marines in the first day of the attack

Next games:

Librian 101st Regiment vs. Hartak 7th Legion*
Blood Martyrs vs. Tau**
Scyllian 8th Regiment vs. Sartosan Rangers***

*Blitz mission, Hartak 7th attacking
**Cleanse - Tau not allowed any vehicles.
***Recon in a swamp! Whole table difficult ground

Myrentas II Spring offensive

Myrentas II - Tau/UFP battle plan...

Operation End Game, coined by a UFP military streategy was the plan to annihilate the Imperium on Myrentas II and score a major vistory for the Tau/UFP alliance in the sector. The plan would utilise the strengths of their forces, while minimising the risks and covering for the inherrent weaknesses of the forces which faced the Imperium across the Ornz river.

Commander Lightfoot, of the Tau expeditionary force new well the problems the coalition faced on Myrentas II as did his counterpart in the UFP high command, General Gerd S Pattonson of the Hartak 7th Legion. At the beginning of 04.007M42 the situation on the planet had become a tense stalemate. The UFP had recently stabilised the front line along the river Ornz after Tau defeats and had trapped two divisions of Imperial Guard on the wrong side of the river. The Guardsman by this time were running short of fuel and ammunition and a plan to supply them from air was rejected by Major-General Lenord.

To the north the chaos fortress city of Whiteridge remained a thorn in the side of the coalition and Imperuim alike, but satisfied at recent small gains against the Iron Warriors, the coalition leaders decided to strike hard and fast against the Imperium before turning their attention to the chaos forces.

In space the situation was an equally tense standoff. With the arrival of Kor'Vattra Kor'O Auymun at Cernunnos, three protectors were allowed to leave the Tau base and join the Pinnafore at Myrentas. Along with the UFP Tallaxian cruiser squadron the forces in the system were significant, seven cruisers and a battleship. The Imperium meanwhile had but four cruisers but boasted the power of Iron Duka and Agamemnon and the result was a tense and nervey game of cat and mouse. In addition the UFP Mars class were kept in orbit around Myrentas giving the coalition marginal air superiority on the surface.

The generals met to discuss the planned spring offensive in a villa south of the coalition city of Nairnville. Far from the wartorn Rockwell and out of range from Imperial bombing raids. A number of plans were discussed and finally the finishing touches to End Game were made. At the time Lightfoot and Pattonson were unaware of Lenord's planning on the west of the river. The Tau involvement in End Game would be significant, but it is clear from the notes made the UFP now considered the Hartak 7th legion as the key offensive element in any coalition offensive. Behind closed doors the UFP were privately giving the Tau one last chance at making good their battle tactics, or the coalition would forever be led by the UFP. Tau forces would
begin phase I of the offensive on the Imperial front by first using hunter cadres to pressurise the trapped Imperial Guard east of Allentown, before annihilating them completely. Meanwhile in an audacious and flamboyant airborne operation, several cadres would be dropped just to the south of Gethsemane, the Imperial HQ, far to the west of the Ornz river.

The airborne drop would in fact be a feint, with the tau only required to fight for the city until phase II began. The spectacular airdrop by Tau forces would force Lenord to respond, drawing forces away from the front from the east and north to counter the threat of his landing area being overrun and weakening the front line along the river. At this point phase II would begin.

Once UFP intelligence was satisfied the feint had worked, the Hartak 7th legion would blitz its way across the river at Allentown and charge north west, encircling the defenders and cutting them off from their base - under attack from the Tau - at Gethsemane. Simultaneously the light forces of the Sartosan Rangers would cross the Ornz opposite the area of marchy ground between the Scyllian 8th and Librian 101st regiments. Using the rangers in this terrain would give the UFP forces an advantage, as the rangers were specialists in combat in such terrain, unlike the defenders who relied heaviliy on tank support. This attack would seek to pin the Librians and
Scyllians, preventing their quick withdrawal and redeployment.

Once the Hartak Legion and Sartosans were engaged with the Imperial Guard the squat forces were to creat a corridor from Allentown towards the north west. Through this the fast moving armoured elements of the Tallaxian armoured divisions would pour, sowing confusion and destruction to the rear of the Imperial defenders. Cut in two Major-General Lenord would be forced to accept surrender terms or be annihilated.

The End Game strategy played to the strengths of coalition forces but had a number of problems which Lightfoot and Pattonson were acutely aware of.

1) The Tau airdrop, key to the plan, only had thirteen Orcas available to carry Tau forces into combat as all available mantas were being jealously guarded by Pinnafore and her consorts, lest they engage the Imperial battlegroup. With this enough Tau forces, without the support of their skimmer tanks, would have to pin down the bulk of the Imperial garrison at Gethsemane and draw off forces from the front line. In addition the Orcas would be vulnerable to fighter interception and would have to be escorted all the way. With this in mind the attack was planned as a dawn attack.

2) While the coalition high command were reasonably confident on their intelligence regarding the Imperial Guard, there was no way of knowing the whereabouts of the Blood Martyrs - the space marine chapter which had caused so much damage to Tau attacks. If the marines were redeployed rapidly and in strength, the UFP blitzkrieg may falter.

3) The entire plan relied on a swift and decisive breakthrough attack. If victory did not come quickly and casualties were high, both commanders knew that their respective governments did not have the political will to sustain the level of death their forces were experiencing fighting for a small pirate world. The Tau were already looking for other options in the Perseus Deeps, while the UFP, while keen on liberating the occupants of Whiteridge and Rockwell, were not keen on spending too many Tallaxian and Hartak lives in the process... The coalition generals knew this offensive would be their last on Myrentas II




Myrentas II - Imperial battle plan...

The Imperium too were less than happy with the situation on Myrentas II and Lord Commander Xertes was keen that Major-General Lenord get on with it and bring matters to a close - without requesting ever more men and equipment. Even so Lenord's position wasn't rosy. He had less than two-thirds the fighting men and machines he'd had at the beginning of the campaign and sorely regretted the earlier meat grinder missions against the chaos forces in Whiteridge. Lenord could count on two regiments of Scyllians and two Librian, with an under strength (and unreliable) Praetorian regiment in reserve. In addition two companies of Blood Martyrs were nominally at his disposal, but the veteran commander found them more inclined to follow
their own judgement than his directives...

The Imperial Navy had given to him four fighter wings, barely enough to contain the Tau and Chaos bombing raids and both men and machine had become dangerously over stretched in recent weeks. Although he didn't admit it Lenord had already decided not to defend his army from Chaos bombing raids and to hold his fighters in reserve to face the larger coalition threat.

Fuel had become the most precious and scarce resource now in the Imperial sector. But 04.007M42 only armoured tanks were allowed fuel, with even chimera mounted guardsmen forced to walk on foot. A fact which infuriated several commanders of the Librian regiment, who continued to fuel their chimeras in blatant contravention of Lenord's order. Morale among the Guard was dropping and desertion to the coalition was rife.

Despite these problems Lenord still planned a major offensive for the spring once the snow and ice had cleared from the lowlands. Although less ambitious than the coalition plan, which Lenord was oblivious of, the offensive still constituted a major advance. The Major-General's plan centered around the marshland midway down the Ornz river, separating the two major Guard defensive lines. He knew full well that they constituted a holw in his lines which could be easily exploited by the technologically advanced Tau and their UFP allies. It had happened before in the autumn. With this in mind Lenord planned to shut this door into his defences once
and for all.

The plan was simple. Using what amphibious craft he had available the Scyllian 8th regiment, supported by the Imperial Navy, would secure a beachead on the eastern bank of the river just to the north of the marshy ground. Then, using what armour they had the Scyllians would move outward and southward, securing the area opposite the marshland and establishing a perimeter. To prevent rapid redeployment a massive Imperial bombardment from the Librians would pin the defenders to the river.

Knowing the UFP and Tau tactics Lenord expected this phase of the operation to go well, with minimal casualties. The coalition forces would not stand and fight, preferring to withdraw to prepare for a lightning counter assault of such ferocity so as to destroy the Imperial bridgehead. It to was this phase of the operation Major-General Lenord gave great thought.

The Major General requested the aid of the Blood Martyrs in this task, to fend off aggressive counter assaults on the bridgehead while engineers constructed defences and built supply bridges across the river. Once that was complete the bridgehead could be considered secure and the offensive continue. The Blood Martyrs agreed to the plan. Both sides waited as the appointed hour of their attacks arrived...

MORE FLEET CLASHES

2003.007M42

Another two Tau fleets set off from Tau space last week with the intentionof breaking through the Aurelis in a series of short warp "hops" toreinforce the Tau colonies of Cernunnos and Lucardium in the Aleph Sector.Each fleet was large, consisting of a Custodian and at least four frontline cruisers, either Protectors or Hero class vessels.

The first swung tothe galactic south, attempting the longest route to the Persues Deeps viathe Norsefire empire and around Protogonus, a journey of more than threemonths but one which circumvented much of the Imperial Forces.The second fleet attempted a direct breakthrough, around the Aurelis deepsand straight to Cernunnos. While only taking a month or so to traverse the journey would be fraught with danger, as the Tau ships would be jumping back into real space well inside Imperial territory, at one point comingless than a light year from Ciprex III.

Kor'O'Vesh Myanar

The first fleet consisted mostly of new Tau vessels and only a couple ofthe older designs. Taking the long way round the fleet did not expect to encounter any Imperial resistence as it crossed the boundary of Tau spaceand entered the dark foreboding region known as the Aurelis Deeps.

However the predations of the chaotic Norsefire Empire were expected. They arrived on the fourth day.The Tau fleet dropped out of the warp in a system containing a Cepheid variable star which produced a prodigious amount of coronal mass ejections, solar flares and radiation bursts. These blinded sensors and made ordnance trips hazardous, the perfect environment for an ambush.

It was the flagship of the Tau fleet which first noticed the prowling hadesclass cruiser as it closed on the Tau position. Quickly the admiral of thefleet gave orders for the fleet to reform, and slowly the scattered elements of the Tau armada formed up into a unified whole.By contrast the chaos fleet came at the Tau peacemeal and were badly mauled, with no less than three capital ships succumbing to the massedrailgun and ion cannon fire in spectacular detonations. The rest of the chaos fleet was reduced to wreckage before the Tau, undamaged, once moremade the jump into the warp. The chaos battleship, ever at the edge of Tau sensor range, never gave battle.

Kor'Vattra Myonshi'Tal

The second Tau fleet heard via interstellar radio of their comrades' success against the chaos fleet, a success which would carve out a safepassage through the Aurelis Deeps for all Tau shipping with the addition ofWaystations to the area following the battle. However the Kor'Vattra Myonshi'Tal was a very different fleet, made up of older vessels and led by a venerable Explorer class battleship.

Their more direct route quickly saw them come into conflict with their most bitter foe, the Dark Angels chapter of the space marines.The dark Angels were thought to only have one of their fleets in the sector but this battle demonstrated otherwise!

The Tau fleet had kept together asthey exited the warp some twelve light years from Cerberex in the uninhabited system merely designated Aleph K5PP7A0*. The Dark Angels were waiting. The second fleet of the mighty Adeptus Arbites chapter fell upon the Tauwith ruthless efficiency, rendering many ships' weapons inert long before they were in range.

Once again radiation bursts interfered with communications and the battle was a confused and close quarters bludgeoning match as the two fleets closed to ridiculous distances. The two formations literally flew through each other, the marine Battlebarge missed the Heroclass Yel'di by less than three kilometres, less than the length of the ship.

The damage to the Tau fleet was considerable with over half their capital ships crippled or effectively out of action. However the marines paid a heavy price for this, losing more than nine escort class vessels and many space marine veterans, each hard to replace. With the marine fleet behind them and lacking the manoeuvrability or firepower to effectively continue the fight, the Tau disengaged as one behind the curtain of plasma which marked the scene of the battle.

The result was inconclusive. Although severely damaged every Tau capital ship survived and several days later made it successfully into dock at Cernunnos. The Dark Angels' plan to prevent the Tau from reaching their forward bases had failed.

*Aleph - subsector, K5 - spectral clas of star, P/B/M Singular, Binary ormultiple stars. P7, planets 7, A0 - alphabetical classification

MAJOR FLEET ACTION IN THE AURELIS DEEPS

Another major fleet action between Tau and Chaos forces has occurred in the dim and dark systems of the Aurelis Deeps, as the Tau attempt to reinforce their positions in the Aleph sector. Unable to make long warp jumps the Tau fleet once again re-entered real space in the territory of the Norsefire Empire. The Tau ships, some older, obselete classes had to spend several hours recharging their jump engines and were ambushed by a large force of chaos cruisers and a Despoiler class battleship.

The battle itself was intense, with the Tau fleet staying in close formation but unable to do much damage against the fast moving chaos ships. However after four hours of gruelling fighting the Tau had lost one merchant class and had all but one of their other ships crippled and forced to disengage. The chaos fleet was also forced to disengaged after two ships were hulked and another exploded. In the end this was a Tau victory but once again the battered remains of the Korvattra was forced to withdraw for Tau space.

This is the second time the Tau have failed to penetrate the Aurelis Deeps to reinforce commander Lightfoot. The Tau must defeat the chaos forces or face the long trek round to the galactic north.

ELDAR RETURN TO RAVITANE

Just a week after the eldar were removed from the planet of Ravitane, a new pirate raiding force, apparently unrelated to the first, slipped silently into the Ravitane syste. The aliens landed on the devastated island of Selimac, looting, pillaging and slaughtering with wanton abandon. The Blood Martyrs, readying their thunderhawks to leave the planet were caught off guard - the eldar pirate ships having slipped passed Torment in orbit around the planet. Hastily the fourth company put together an improvised attack but were hampered by the dense and ruinous terrain of the city itself, and the company was forced to withdraw taking heavy losses.

The eldar held the main military base of Selimac for two more days before fleeing in the face of overwhelming odds. To protect the populace the govenor of Ravitane has demanded that the Blood Martyrs station a company on the planet permanently, a demand refused by the chapter. However, in an attempt to placate the govenor three companies of Imperial Guard, due for deployment into the Perseus Deeps are to be redirected to Ravitane. This leaves operation Caterwaul seriously undermanned and Lord General Militant Xertes is under pressure to call off the late Cardinal's ambitious plans.

PENETRATORS DEFEAT ORK ATTACK ON VERNIA

The Vernia settlement marked a deep thrusting salient into ork held territory on the morning of 0303.007M42 and the warlord ork clans came together to mount a three pronged attack on the lightly defended chaos settlement. The orks thought they would get an easy victory, but as they charged through the ruined streets of the settlement the cultists who were fleeing before them revealed a whole company of Penetrators set up in defensive positions, just to the south west of the main square. The orks charged headlong into the killing fields and a massacre ensued, with a major warboss losing his life. The ork attack was stopped and now the greenskins are in full retreat on Scalius, with their backs to the dark side of the world...

DARK ELDAR SAVAGED BY HIVE FLEET TRITON

On the west side of Scalius in the deep ravines of the Callestus rocky expanse, a raiding Dark Eldar force were caught off guard by Tyranid forces while they were raiding outlying settlements close to the Tyranid front line. The massed guants and warriors, supported by hordes of geneastealers fell upon the raiders as they collected slaves from the Callestus settlement of Moor. The Dark Eldar mounted a spirited counter attack but luck wasn't on their side as more of the 'Nids appeared from the west. Those who could fled through the webway back to Commoragh while the rest were slaughter by the ravening alien horde. Moor fell and the Hive fleet is once again back on the march on Scalius.

BLOOD MARTYRS ENCOUNTER TYRANID MENACE

An action has been reported on the distant and remote planet of Amoss in the region of the Melberg system, far to the galactic east of the Aleph subsector. Whether or not the aliens are part of one of the existing hive fleets or an entirely new splinter fleet is unknown, but the planet's population of some 400,000 sent a plea for aid last week. A plea answered by the Blood Martyrs.

The tyranid infestation was caught before it could take hold, and the forces of the Adeptus Astartes easily fended of the swarms of Tyranid creatures which rushed towards the planet's main settlement. Assault cannons proved to be more than a match for the aliens' thick carapaces, while the Blood Martyrs assault troops dispelled many a myth that Tyranids could not be taken in hand-to-hand combat.

Though the Tyranid menace on Amoss has been eliminated, the Blood Martyrs did lose some valuable equipment in the defence of the colony's spaceport, proving once again that Tyranid beasts can easily penetrate even the thickest armour. Inquisition forces are now on the planet attempting to ascertain the extent and origin of this latest Tyranid incursion.

ALEPH SECTOR MAP

The full sector in all its glory...

CHAOS FORCES IN THE ALEPH SECTOR

The Iron Warriors
Though the Iron Warriors are present in the subsector their largest strength has not been encountered for sometime. Instead splinter groups, often those left behind on Aleph 4, have sprung up in the Perseus Deeps. The most notable is in Whiteridge on Myrentas II where the self styled "warsmith" Gallowfen holds out against the combined force of the Imperium and Tau Empire. Recently however all sides have gone on the defensive, with air raids the only signs of conflict on the planet.

Lord Tragean's hordes
Lord Tragean still holds sway over the largest chaos force in the sector. Based on the fortress planet of Kendrenec he sits lord over several billion souls and commands an army of millions. Since the fleet took serious damage in the invasion of Hartak a few years ago the lord of Kendrenec has not ventured forth from his fortress home. Both the UFP and Imperium maintain standing convoys and listening posts however, ever on the lookout for a sudden breakout of the most despotic regime in the region.

The Penetrators
The Penetrators appear to be everywhere in small numbers, but their most recent activity has been centred on the planet of Scalius where they are defending two ruined towns from Tyranids and Orks. Why they are doing this is a mystery to the Imperium and Tau alike. Penetrators marines have also been sighted on Myrentas II in league with the Warsmith Gallowfen.

"Norsefire" Empire
Though known aboput for years the Imperium has done nothing about the mysterious Norsfire empire, a tzeentch based coven of worlds in the Aurelius Deep. Situated between the Imperium and the Tau Empire, the Norsefire stars have been very low on the Imperium's list of priorities, particularly since their not insignificant fleet intercepted and severely damaged a Tau fleet en-route to Myrentas II over the weekend, destroying one protector class cruiser and crippling every other vessel, forcing them to turn back for Tau space.

There are four key systems in the empire, with a total population of just under one billion souls. Odin is a former penal colony, who's inhabitants turned to chaos during the 38th millenium. Thor is a mining world and the notional capital of the chaos empire. Freyr provides food for the other chaos planets and is the least corrupted of all the worlds while Loki has no habitable planets but is home to the vast naval dockyards required to maintain the Norsefire fleet which includes at least six capital vessels.

The Aurelius deeps are notoriously difficult to navigate, even while in the empyrean. Electromagnetic fields and dust confuse sensors and scatter the psychic light of the astronomican. Very few mortals can successfully run a passage through the Aurelius deeps. The Norsefire fleet occasionally raids other vessels which get to close but until now they have not appeared in strength. Despite attacking the Tau the Imperium have describe this event as "worrying".

DARK ANGELS ENCOUNTER ELDAR ON CATHASAEA

The Dark Angels base on Uriah in the Cathasaea system came under attack last week by forces of the eldar Xenos. Quite why the eldar attacked is as yet unknown but it has dispelled the hope that only the orks maintained forces in the Cathasaea system. The fighting was exceptionally bloody and many marines were killed before the lightning eldar assault came to an end. The action will delay the pacification of the system and puts at risk the overall objective.

Meanwhile the Imperial forces on Yuki did not encounter any alien forces as they expanded their "airhead" on the rocky world. The diameter of Imperial controlled Yuki is now some two hundred miles and work has already begun to establish the permanent base and listening post in the remote system.

AIR RAIDS ON MYRENTAS II CONTINUE

The air war on Myrentas II continues with further Tau bombing raids on Imperial positions over the weekend. Several lightnings and thunderbolts were shot down by Barracudas as the lumbering Tiger sharks attacked armoured columns up and down the Ornz river. Several of the Tau bombers were shot down or badly damaged and very little damage was actually inflicted on Imperial ground forces 9one baneblade destroyed and a Leman Russ damaged). However the cost in Imperial fighters in this war of attrition may tip the balance in favour of the Tau. So far the aliens are winning by wearing down the Imperial Navy and their pilots. How long can the fighter pilots hold out?

TYRANIDS HALTED ON SCALIUS

Bitter fighting around the ruined settlement of Zachos on Scalius saw the tyranid menace of Hive Fleet Triton halted once again by forces of the Penetrators traitor legion. Despite suffering heavy casualties the massed swarms of tyranid creatures were halted in the city's ruins by a dogged defence by the chaos marines and their indentured human slaves. The situation on the planet is now chaotic and unclear, with chaos, ork and tyranid forces vying for control, while the Necrons will not allow anyone to trespass on their tombs on the dark side but show no inclination to advance onto the light side.

ELDAR ABANDON RAVITANE

For six months now eldar forces have been ravaging the island city of Selimac on Ravitane, killing and torturing the population with wanton abandon. The reasons unclear, but they seemed determined to provoke an Imperial reaction, such has been the savagery of their actions. Finally this week the Imperium replied, with the Blood Martyrs storming the city after a massive bombardment which reduced much of the city to rubble.The marines then invaded by air and sea, thunderhawks delivering their cargo of troops and vehicles in a steady stream. This was the long awaited operatio Moritorium.

In the city centre the eldar made their stand and the fighting was bloody, both sides taking extreme casualties. Teleporting Blood Martyrs from the 1st company of terminators caused much of the damage, but they also took horrendous casualties in the close in fighting.Though the Blood Martyrs were unable to breakthrough the eldar defences, the aliens quickly realised that the Imperium, now with its foot in the door on Selimac, would easily win the war of attrition. After several hours of viscious fighting the eldar withdrew, leaving a scarred and tortured city populous wondering why it had taken the Imperium so long to help them...

PERSEUS DEEPS COLOUR CODED MAP

LIGHT BLUE: IMPERIAL

DARK BLUE: UFP

YELLOW: TAU

BROWN: TYRANID

GREEN: ORK

RED: CHAOS

PURPLE: DARK ELDAR

CATHASAEA LANDING HALTED

Imperial Guard landings (notably the Librian 24th regiment) on the third planet of Cathasaea, named Yuki, were suspended yesterday as a vigorous ork counter attack stopped the Imperial Guard from expanding their bridgehead. The Cathasaea system, in the Perseus Deeps, is made up of three habitable worlds, Hraxis, Uriah and Yuki. Uriah is now the site of a Dark Angels base and the orks have been largely vanquished here. However the second phase of the operation has identified a large ork presence on Yuki which may be problematic. The overall commander of the pacification of Cathasaea has requested reinforcements to continue the advance.

THE TYRANID MENACE

+++ SECRET INQUISITORIAL COMMUNIQUE REGARDING HIVE "ARMADA" MIRANDA +++

The Tyranids in the Aleph Sector are code named "Miranda" but consist not of one but many individual hive fleet splinters. The most voracious and largest of recent years was Hive fleet Morph, before its eventual destruction over Orvicare. However, this was not before it had lain waste to at least seven Imperial worlds.

Recently the Inquisition has identified three separate hive fleets now known to be active in the Aleph Sector. This treatise will describe them and determine the threat posed by each.

HIVE FLEET PROMETHEUS
Little is known about this hive fleet splinter, though sightings have placed the tyranid menace drifting in the southern reagion of the sector, in the Aurelius Deeps. Fighting between the Imperium and this splinter fleet has been sporadic, with the Dark Angels having made a number of assaults on the tyranid presence south of the Aleph subsector. The threat level posed by the splinter fleet at present is low.

HIVE FLEET MEGALADON
Even less is known about this splinter fleet but sightings have been made of large tyranid vessels, not associated with other tyranid hive entities, to the galactic east, close to the Tau empire. Threat level very low.

HIVE FLEET TRITON
This fleet is the most active of all the Tyranids in the sector, recently laying waste to the planet of Tantalon V in the Perseus Deeps. Elements of the fleet were defeated on Einmyrria but the penetration of the Hive's tendrils seems large. Scalius, an ork planet in the Deeps has now been infested by the creatures, though in recent actions it seems that the orks are defending themselves well against the alien menace. In addition it appears the tyranids blundered across a Necron tomb, where they were given a bloody nose by the defenders.

Never-the-less Hive fleet Triton poses an immediate risk to Imperial concerns in the area, notably the densely populated system of Libria. I recommend increasing defences in the area and watching carefully for the next move of this very dangerous hive fleet. Threat level moderate-high.

Myrentas II: Allentown retaken in bloody fighting

On 1702.007M42 the small settlement of Allentown changed hands for the third time as units from the Hartak 7th legion stormed the town, taking the bridge and trapping 8,000 Imperial Guard on the east side of the river Ornz. If the squats expected an easy fight they were sorely mistaken however, as the Librian defenders put up a ferocious defence of the town, using the rubble as cover and deploying their heavy guns effectively. As such casualties were high, with 3,000 dead or wounded on the Imperial side, and over 2000 squats killed or taken out of action.

The Hartak 7th legion, though delivering results, are suffering some of their highest casualties in recent years. How long before the have to be withdrawn? Meanwhile the Librian 57th regiment are cut off east of the river. If they cannot breakout or be rescued the Imperial force on Myrentas II will be seriously compromised.

NEW LINKS

To the right there are now links to the Sheffield University Wargames website and a new blog - the Aleph Sector Fiction blog. If you have a short story about the Aleph Sector submit it to me and I'll post it. The first story is up...

MYRENTAS II 1202.007M42

IMPERIAL FLEET DEFEATS NEW CHAOS THREAT

A new threat has been identified in the Perseus deeps. The Agamemnon task force, led by the giant apocalypse class vessel sighted then engaged a renegade fleet of five cruisers on 1102.007M42. In the ensuing battle the Renown was hulked, but the victory was Imperial, with three chaos cruisers destroyed and two more crippled. The Agamemnon's guns were the decisive factor in this victory, the most triumphant naval event for the Imperium in recent years...

MYRENTAS II UPDATE 1102.007M42

IRON WARRIORS LAUNCH BOMBING RAIDS

In a surprising development the Iron Warriors in Whiteridge (or "fort Whiteridge" as it has become) have launched a series of air raids against inmperial and tau targets. Supported by Helldrake fighters a single Hell Talon bomber destroyed an oil refinery just north of Gethsemane in the imperial pocket. The bomber was damaged however and several chaos fighters were shot down by Thunderbolts and Lightnings.
Meanwhile a similar raid on a Tau airbase near Rockwell saw several Tau Baracudas shot down by the agile Helldrake fighters. Though limited, the chaos air threat has now proved to be very real.

PRAETORIANS BREAK THROUGH AT ALLENTOWN
In a protracted and bloody action the Praetorian 42nd regiment have managed to break through the Tau defensive lines at Allentown, retaking the town and its vital bridge across the Ornz. The regiment followed this up with the destruction of several Huntre Cadres, allowing the Librian 4th armoured brigade to begin a breakout across the river. It is reported that commander Longstride has been replaced as Tau commander by the more defensively minded Commander Lightfoot. With the Tau falling back on the Imperial front his appointment may be significant, indicating a shift in tactics on the part of the Tau.

UFP HARTAK LEGION BREACH CHAOS DEFENCES
The Hartak 7th legion, recently disembarked from their transports were immediately thrown into heavy fighting on the northern front of the Tau sector on Myrentas II. In bloody fighting the squats of the crask legion managed to breach the Iron Warriors' formidable defences and pushed the chaos armies back. The squats took the first redoubt situatued on Hemeln hill, east of Whiteridge and are presumably preparing for a further attack into the Whiteridge defences.

IMPERIAL AND TAU FLEETS CLASH
In the Myrentas II system the fleets of the Imperium and the Tau empire have clashed once again in an action that allowed the UFP task force to land unmolested on the planet. The Tau fleet took heavy damage in the fighting, losing three protector class cruisers hulked or destroyed, while the Imperium lost just the dauntless light cruiser Achilles and the venerable Warspite. Iron Duke received only minor damage while the two Blood Martyrs cruisers were forced to disengage after taking heavy damage. Despite the reduced losses the Imperial fleet was obliged to surrender the battlefield to the tau after it became clear the Tau had the better tactical position. This enabled the two Tau cruiser hulks to be taken in tow and returned to Cernunnos for repairs.

TAU DISASTER ON MYRENTAS II

Losing precious supplies commander Longstride acted quickly to end the war against the Imperium on Myrentas II. Realising the key was the HQ in Gethsemane he planned a lightning assault to capture the imperial base, it’s supplies and the vital airstrip, bypassing the new defensive line by swinging around them in a northward thrust, before diving south east onto the settlement of Gethsemane.

On 0302.007M42 the battle began. Employing twenty hunter cadres with limited air support commander Longstride’s forces struck out northward into the Scyllian defences. The imperial guardsmen were forced to pull back and in the first hours of the attack the tau made significant gains. However as the tau pushed forward the arable land around Gethsemane favoured the defenders as every hedgerow and copse became a fortified position.

The hunter cadres began taking casualties as they ran into concealed gun positions and tanks, hidden by the terrain. Hammerheads and Devilfish had no reply to the well hidden Demolisher tanks and Basilisk batteries and soon the wrecks of tau vehicles littered the battlefield. Longstride’s battle plan was falling apart.

Lord commander Lenord sensed a great victory was at hand and ordered the Librian 101st to strike northward towards Allentown. Bursting forth from their trenches under a massive artillery bombardment seven thousand men supported by tanks and armoured transports poured into the tau left flank. The aliens were soon reeling under the ferocity of the Librian attack and fell back towards the bridgehead. At Allentown the tau lost hundreds of troops and crisis suits in a desperate last stand, realising that to lose the bridge would see Longstride’s forces west of the Ornz encircled.

It was an uneven battle. Using Valkyries to drop storm troopers behind the tau lines the Librians overwhelmed the garrison at Allentown and raced north, joining up with the Scyllians early on 0502007.M42. Two days after the attack on Gethsemane had begun it had failed, leaving 1800 tau dead and a similar number captured. Over a hundred armoured skimmers had been lost and the remaining pockets of resistance west of the river were quickly mopped up, despite some daring rescue missions by the tau air cadre.

Longstride was seriously affected by the defeat. As the tau retreated the tau ethereals considered his replacement, while welcoming UFP reinforcements in the shape of the crack Hartak 7th legion, the Sartosan rangers and the Tallaxian engineer corps. First however these troops would have to get past the imperial fleet. Meanwhile the tau were firmly on the defensive on Myrentas II.

Blood Martyrs launch operation Last Hope

Last Hope really was aptly named. With supplies dwindling following the successful tau prosecution of the space war, the situation in the imperial guard sector on Myrentas II was becoming desperate. On 0302.007M42 the Blood Martyrs chapter agreed to a daring raid on the tau supply dumps, vulnerable since the alien assault across the Ornz the previous week.

Three thunderhawks and as many transporters crossed the river, evading tau air forces, landing close to thousands of tonnes of badly needed supplies. Tau forces were quickly overwhelmed and a perimeter set up around the dump. The marines held onto the territory tong enough for twenty Arvus lighters to liberate enough supplies to keep the imperial army going for weeks, while the tau were forced to pull back several hunter cadres to respond to the attack.
This allowed several thousand men of the Librian 101st to escape from the Allentown pocket, and when the tau reinforcements arrived the supplies, and the Blood Martyrs had already left, leaving a trail of destroyed hammerheads, devilfish and tau battle suits.

Longstride’s Gethsemane gambit

Losing precious supplies commander Longstride acted quickly to end the war against the Imperium on Myrentas II. Realising the key was the HQ in Gethsemane he planned a lightning assault to capture the imperial base, it’s supplies and the vital airstrip, bypassing the new defensive line by swinging around them in a northward thrust, before diving south east onto the settlement of Gethsemane.

Perseus Deeps activity increases

Scallius

Scallius saw bitter fighting between the Penetrators traitor legion and ork warbands on 0302.007M42 as the marines fought for a hold on the planet. Meanwhile the 13th company of the Space Wolves, pursuing the Penetrators in their quest for information on Abaddon the despoiler, were caught by surprise by the lead elements of a tyranid swarm. The new target for the tyranids following the destruction of Lucardium became clear as thousands of alien warriors descended on the planet. By the end of the day the Penetrators were also embroiled in battles with the tyranid vanguard.

Cathasaea

While the Imperium struggled on Myrentas II the Dark Angels, now free of their hated cardinal decided to enter into the struggle in the Perseus Deeps, brushing aside ork warbands and setting up a forward base on Cathasaea.

Myrentas II 3001.007M42

BACKGROUND: Librian Imperial Guard

The Librian 4th

The 4th’s history reaches back to the original conquest of Libria I, the largest planet in its solar system. Made up of troops who have all been through the many stages of training, [+++ imperial note: childhood mental conditioning, 5 years in youth patrol, 5 years in off world brigades, similar to our conscripts+++] they are well armoured and equipped.

The 4th are organised uniquely in two ways. The first is their inclusion of exterminator tanks, three of which were gifted to the regiment after their participation in the ork invasion of Ryza. The second difference is their inclusion of Adeptus Sororitas units. [+++ this is an arrangement that the commanders were not entirely pleased with, however several inquisitors have noted the advancement of the Librians’ Law above the Holy Emperor, and so the Sisters of Saint Sybil have been sent to attempt to both watch the Librian government and simultaneously re-educate the population in the ways of true faith+++].

The Librian 101st

Later regiments, recruited more recently, are more similar to the usual imperial guard regiments found throughout the galaxy. However a number of differences can be noted.

Firstly, as with all Librian regiments the troops are highly motivated and educated and have no need of imperial commisars, something which briefly changed on Myrentas II before Inquisitor Hathek stepped in to overturn the order.

Secondly the Librian army are highly trained in the use of “combined arms” tactics, combining armour, infantry, artillery and air power. Each Librian regiment has access to at least on armoured brigade and wherever the Librian infantry are the tanks are not far away.

Thirdly Librian regiments numbered greater than 52 are grenadier regiments with access to far more stormtrooper regiments than usual. These are either deployed as infiltrators ahead of the main force or en masse, employed as mechanised battalions.

The 101st saw it’s first major action on Myrentas II in late 007.M42 when it was pitted against both the iron warriors and the tau. It faired badly at first due to it’s inexperience but eventually accquited itself well in the face of overwhelming odds.

Librian Infantry Regiment Doctrines
Stormtroopers
Grenadiers
Iron Discipline
Techmarines
Armoured Fist Squads

Librian Mechanised Regiment Doctrines
Stormtroopers
Grenadiers
Iron Discipline
Mechanised
Techmarines

Tau breach Lenord Line

The tau were not slow to learn from their first failed assault across the river where the static imperial defences put up stiff resistance. Patiently the tau ran a number of reconaissance missions, feeling for weaknesses in the imperial line.

On 2801.007M42, two weeks after the first attack on the imperial lines the tau launched their second attack across the river. This time the operation began with concerted bombing raids by tiger sharks against the southern half of the Lenord Line, defended by the Librian 101st. The objective was not to destroy the bunkers and static emplacements but to eliminate as many enemy vehicles as possible. Trucks, tanks and mobile guns were turned into wrecks as the tau aircraft bombed up and down the line of defences. This seriously hampered the 101st’s ability to manouvre and paved the way for phase two of the operation.

At dawn fifteen hunter cadres led the assault across the Orns on a narrow spearhead, aiming for the lightly defended marshland which was the only weakness in the Lenord line. Unhappily for the defenders this area of boggy ground also represented the boundary between the librian 101st and the Scyllian 4th regiment. Communication was poor between the two forces and the tau easily broke through, penetrating over forty kilometres.

Once the bridgehead had been secured the tau poured more cadres into it, breaking out to the north and south. Lord commander Lenord finally realised the tau strategy as a diversionary assault against the defenders around Allentown pinned the 101st down at the front line, allowing the tau breakthrough units to encircle the Librians, who none-the-less put up stiff resistance.

In the north there was no diversionary attack and the Scyllians withdrew once the trap became apparent. However this allowed the tau to widen their bridgehead and by the end of 2901.007M42 a seventy mile gap in the imperial line had been forced open, and the tau were only 25km from the main imperial base at Gethsemane. Though the tau advance halted late in the day the imperial position was now dire, with the Librians fighting to avoid encirclement and the Scyllians racing south to try to plug the gap in the imperial line.

Tau assault on Whiteridge fails

Another tau attack on the chaos city of Whiteridge has ended in failure as commander Longstride's troops faced stiff opposition from the chaos defenders. The Iron Warriors inflicted another heavy defeat on the tau as the hunter cadres came up against the chaos defences. A formidable defensive perimeter now rings the city and there are reports that the Penetrators legion of chaos marines are also present on the planet. Unless the stalemate is broken by a new offensive, Myrentas II risks turning into a quagmire similar to those seen on Hartak and Aleph 4.

Protogonus Evacuated

In a daring fleet action the tau have evacuated the small base of Protogonus, presumably to reinforce the cadres locked in battle on Myrentas II. Two protector class ships accompanied by a Custodian capital ship attempted to breakout of the imperial blockade after picking up several thousand tau warriors. However in the battle which followed the imperial cruisers Warspite, Endeavour and Sir Robert engaged the tau, destroying the custodian class vessel Ores'Au in a viscious battle which saw both Sir Robert and Endeavour lost. Sir Robert exploded while Endeavour drifted into a warp rift while disabled. It is unlikely the cruiser will be seen again.
Despite the loss of the Ores'Au the imperial fleet took more damage, and the mission to evacuate the tau base was partially successful. Commander Longstride will be reinforced by several hunter cadres, providing the tau ships can successfully bypass the Iron Duke and her consorts, known to be patrolling the deeps...

CARDINAL SHERIDEN ASSASSINATED!

Cardinal Sheriden has been assassinated by agents of chaos on Saturday. Apparently he was attacked in his country residence on Cerberex in the early hours of the morning. 32 guards were also slaughtered in what has been discribed by Cerberex authorities as a "horrendous attack". As yet the perpetrators have not been identified though survivors report the presence of traitor marines. The capital Feducia is on high alert and a state of emergency has been declared on the planet. Lord Commander Xertes has taken over government of the C.A.S.S. until further notice.

TAU ATTACK REPULSED

The Tau attack on the Imperial sector of Myrentas II finally came on 1401.007M42 with a massive assault across the Ornz river codenamed 'operation Freedom'. Initially progress was swift and the Tau easily swept aside the light defences on the riverbank itself. However the Imperial guard commander always knew the river was no real defence against the highly mobile Tau hunter-cadres and instead formed a line of bunkers some way back from the river's edge where the ground was open.The Tau moved into this pre-prepared killing ground and the bunker emplacements withstood the assault long enough for the Librian armour to move in and pound the attacking Tau, for once caught without cover. Trapped between the bunker emplacements and the river the Tau were forced to withdraw.

IMPERIAL ASSAULT ON WHITERIDGE FAILS

The second major assault on Whiteridge by Imperial forces saw a different plan used. Using the cover of darkness the Imperial armour of the Librian 101st advanced up the western side of the city while artillery pounded the chaos positions. Then at dawn a huge infantry assault was launched at the centre of the chaos line by the Librian 57th. Simultaneously the 101st attacked fornm the west, hoping the outflanking manouvre would break the chaos defences by splitting their forces.The battle raged for over a day but the chaos defences held. Over the preceeding few weeks the chaos forces had created enormous barriers to tanks anw were easlit able to fend of the combined attack using slave conscripts to plug the gaps in their lines. Casualties on both sides were high, with an estimated 5000 killed on the chaos side. However almost all these losses were slave conscripts. Meanwhile the imperial guard lost over 6000 men killed or wounded and half their tanks.

TAU AND IRON WARRIORS CLASH IN DESERT

Tau and chaos forces met for the first time in an escalating confused engagement in the deserts north of the mountains on Myrentas II. It appears both sides were scouting the area for possible strategic gain when they blundered into one another. The Tau faired worse taking crippling casualties before the chaos marines withdrew before the Tau air caste could intervene.