Necron stirrings in the Hadron Expanse

In the Hadron Expanse, far to the eastern end of the Aleph Sector, the system of Ceti 6539 had been under investigation by the Imperium, specifically the Adeptus Mechanicus for some years. Within the system lay the the planet known as "Bal of Bones". Apparently dormant, the planet was home to an ancient dynasty of necrons, which now hibernated in their massive tomb complexes that were spread across the surface of the world 

The Imperium had bases on the inner planet, but the main archeotech work was taking place on Ceti, orbiting the Ceti sun more distantly than the necron tombworld. Although cold, Ceti was habitable, and the Adeptus Mechanicus had made significant discoveries by 03.021M42. Protected by the armies of the Forge world of "Iron Maiden", the Imperium had no concerns about the status of the operation. Protected by an army and defence lasers the commanders of the expedition felt secure. They were mistaken.

As the Mechanicum dug deeper, they encountered vast chambers under the ground, and a mysterious giant portal that appeared to be inoperative. Suddenly on 0403.021M42 the portal sprung into life, triggered by the clumsy machinations of the humans digging around the protected ruins of the Necron dynasties. A vast necron army swarmed out of the gate, crushing the expedition from within before moving onto the surface and facing the army of the Adeptus Mechanicus.

Moving with unnatural speed the necrons swarmed over the Imperial positions, gradually pushing the Adeptus Mechanicus forces back. The imperial forces called for aid, but there was no force within range to rescue them from their predicament. In just a few days the remaining Mechanicum forces were scattered into the wildernesses of Ceti, while the necrons established their new dominion over the outer worlds. Barely registered in the sector capital at Vastrid, the new necron threat was mostly ignored. Whether this would be to the Imperium's detriment, only time would tell.

Sisters of Battle reclaim Abrax Mines

As 03.021M42 progressed, General Kutuzov was keen to continue his advance south. The reversals in the eastern part of the Abrax mines had been a setback, and despite recent positive strategic gains, the overall commander of the Mordecai campaign was under significant pressure to make progress. It had been years since the invasion of the second planet in the system, and high command were acutely aware that the warzone had bogged down.

To counter the threat of the Death Guard in the east, the Imperial army recieved welcome support from Adeptus Sororitas, who deployed a significant forces to the war against chaos on Mordecai. The Death Guard defended with strong forces, but the Sisters of Battle came well prepared with flamer weaponry. These proved especially effective on the waves of pox walkers that the Death Guard employed to slow the Imperial advance, and death cult assassins moved forward to deal with any remnant threat from the shambling hordes. However, it was the counter assault from the Death Guard terminators the Sisters had to deal with to take back the Abrax mines.

The Death Guard push was determined, and the nurgle devoted ancient astartes proved a difficult foe. Once again however the Adeptus Sororitas forces were well equipped, and multi-meltas proved effective in bringing down the traitor marines. Backed by unswerving faith the Sisters of Battle held their advance positions in the face of determined pressure from the chaos forces, and Kutuzov's army was able to follow up and take back the mines for the Imperium.

As the battle drew to a close Kutuzov could be pleased with another significant imperial victory. The Abrax mines were once again in imperial hands, and his strategic position was favourable. Now the general began marshalling his forces for the next big push.

Death Guard counter attack from the East

Kutuzov's southern advance had left his northern flank around the Abrax mines relatively understrength, but Kutuzov was expecting the Death Guard assault from that direction when it came. In response, the Dark Angels were on hand to deliver a lightning strike against the traitor HQ units. By attacking the elite forces of the enemy the Imperium hoped that the chaos advance would collapse, but the Death Guard defended stubbornly. After hours of hard fighting, the Dark Angels were forced to admit their mission had failed, and they withdrew, bitterly disappointed at how close they had come to halting the chaos assault.

The failure of the Dark Angels was soon felt by the Imperial line, which fell back before the Death Guard assault. By 1202.021M42 the traitor legion had reached the main Abrax complex which the Adeptus Mechanicus were attempting to purify and use for the imperial war effort. The Adeptus Mechanicus forces, though strong, were unable to resist the unrelenting advance of the Death Guard forces. Overwhelmed, the Mechanicum forces fell back, and Kutuzov now faced significant forces on two fronts.

Novgorod Guard push for Kuneus

With the strategic situation still improving for the Imperium the Novgorod Guard continued their advance on the strategic city of Kuneus and the Sathugar mines as 02.021 began. General Kutuzov still hadn't managed to secure the eastern section of the Abrax mines, but Kutuzov was hoping pressure on the southwestern part of the front would allow his astartes forces to strike east shortly afterwards. 

The Novgorod Guard came up against strong daemonic and nurgle forces, facing an apparition of the primarch Mortarian himself, but the imperial army were well equipped and heavy fire from demolishers banished the giant daemonic entity from the battlefield in the early part of the engagement.

The Death Guard did try a counter attack on the imperial right flank, but the slow moving traitor legionaries were cut down by withering fire from the guardsmen as they disembarked from theor rhinos. Elsewhere the chaos forces were unable to stop the imperial army from overrunning their lines and taking key objectives, and by 15.021M42 the Imperium were once again at the outskirts of the city of Kuneus.

World Eaters counter attack at Abrax

The offensive on the ground at Mordecai Secundus should have been entering a new phase following the victory over the chaos fleet, but the power of Astralis was finally beginning to have its effect. Due to the daemon world's proximity, while large armies could not be delivered to Mordecai Secundus without the support of a powerful space fleet, smaller units could. By daemonic ritual and then teleportation, since late 020M42 significant reinforcements had been joining the war on the ground, as roving warbands sought to prove themselves against the hated enemy.

 

The latest of these smaller military formations was a force of World Eater traitor marines. Enthusiastic to shed the blood of their enemies for their bloodthirsty patron deity, the World Eaters smashed into Kutuzov's lines on 1401.021M42, forcing the imperial army back and requiring the intervention of the Hammers of the Emperor as a rapid reaction force. The imperial counter attack did not go well however. The loyalist astartes were able to take back the centre ground in the salient the World Eaters had created, using their terminators to hold the position for some hours.

 

On the flanks however, raptors and beserkers ran amok, brutally tearing apart any enemy they could find, and penetrating deep into the rear areas of the front line, disrupting supply lines and making the ground held by the Hammers' untenable. The loyalist space marines withdrew, and Kutuzov pulled back his line to a more defensible set of positions, while the World Eaters caused carnage amongst any formations that could not retreat in time. Just days later the chaos warband had melted away, no doubt into the wilderness of the lava coated wilderness, and the Imperium was able to regain its ground. The damage to equipment and supplies however was extensive, and it would be many weeks before a decisive push could be resumed.

Astartes create space corridor to Mordecai Secundus

With Kutuzov's army once again on the offensive, the strain on the logistics train from the jump point outside the orbit of Mordecai Tersius, now in Imperial hands, to the warzone on Mordecai Secundus, was becoming extreme. The Imperial war machine devoured equipment, food and lives at an insatiable rate, and the convoys to the inner worlds were always fraught with danger. Having to pass the chaos fleet installation with the baleful glow of the daemon world Astralis forever hanging above them, many crews simply went mad. In addition to this, there was always the constant danger of the chaos fleet making a sortie, scattering or destroying convoys and starving Kutuzov's men.

 

The imperial fleet made sure they adequately protected the convoys, but in early 01.021M42 the clamour for offensive action against the chaos fleet rose to a crescendo, and while the admirals of the imperial navy were unable to do anything meaningful that wouldn't result in a suicide mission against the heavily protected chaos base, the Hammers of the Emperor chapter came up with their own plan. Knowing that their fleet would be too tempting a target, and too much of a threat to go unchallenged, fully half the chapter's fleet strength arrived in the system as 021M42 began. They began their operations by hunting down and destroying raiders in the innermost parts of the Mordecai system, where the enemy would hide amongst the solar flares and radiation belts around the system's star.

 

Eventually the chaos fleet could no longer sit idle at their base, and moved in strength towards the radiation zone near to the star itself. Initially the Hammers' fleet appeared to be unaware of the threat, and the initial action saw a lucky salvo cripple a strike cruiser due to uncontrolled internal fires. The astartes fleet reacted quickly however, seizing upon the difficult conditions of the flare zone and managing to coordinate their efforts on a pair of carnage class cruisers that had wandered out of their assigned fleet position. Between them, three of the Hammers' strike cruisers managed to board and capture one cruiser, and set the other ablaze. The fires ran out of control on the chaos cruiser, eventually leading it to death spiral into the Mordecai star itself.

 

Meanwhile the astartes battle barge managed to weather a hail of fire from the rest of the chaos fleet, but the action itself was marked by poor accuracy and uncoordinated fire, exacerbated by the intra fleet communications difficulties caused by the close proximity of the star. Eventually the chaos acheron class vessel was heavily damaged, and as the three strike cruisers formed up with the fleet flagship, the chaos fleet, led by their own battleship, declined any further action. The chaos fleet melted away into the confusion of solar activity, and the Space Marines claimed a minor victory.

 

Minor as the success was, the defeat of the chaos fleet in the inner system allowed the armies on the ground at Mordecai Secundus to be supplied with much less danger to the supply vessels. This allowed Kutuzov and his allies to plan in earnest the next offensive. The chaos warlords on the ground however had other plans.

 

Fleet action losses:

 

Imperium: 2 strike cruisers destroyed plus escorts

Chaos: 1 carnage class cruiser destroyed, one captured, 1 Acheron class crippled

Tau defend new gains from opportunist ork attack

It wasn't long before other forces in the Hadron Expanse attempted to take advantage of the new expansion by the Tau Empire. It may have been coincidental, or simply blind luck that led to a shambolic ork fleet arriving in the Echo Reach system just days after most of the Tau military forces had embarked on their invasion of Awarath, but the timing seemed deliberate.

 

The attack on Echo Reach's outer worlds by the orks was predictably barbaric and violent, but the Tau had left behind a strong defensive force, centred around kroot auxilliaries and Remora stealth drones. These forces proved ideally suited for dealing with the greenskin threat, and following a set of brutal battles, the orks were swiftly cleansed from the system. The tau had fought off the threat and confirmed themselves as now the most powerful faction in the Hadron Expanse.

Malkaor heads Arawath assault, captures Percival

For many months the Tau had been preparing for their next expansion of their Hadron Expansion Sphere. During 018-020M42 the Tau expansion had been a moderate success. The Empire had established a strong colony and military base at Echo Reach, acquired a number of other systems and taken Hussaria from the Imperium. The Alliance of the Tau, Eldar and Federacy had weakened since 018M42, and while the Aeldari pursued their own aims, the Tau became the driving force behind the expansion and conquest in the Hadron Expanse, as internal pressures and lack of resources forced the Federacy to scale back their participation in the expansion of their territory.

Malkaor was given overall command of all forces in the Hadron Expanse during 019M42, and he had learnt from previous expeditions. The war on Hussaria had been bloody and protracted, and the foothold on Boltarean against chaos had resulted in the strengthening of chaos defences, making further gains more difficult. Keen to avoid such long and drawn out conflicts, since mid 019M42 Malkaor had been planning the next phase of operations against the Imperium using the tau military doctrine of overwhelming force and surprise. Awarath was his target, as this was not only a key system in the line of Tau expansion, but it was also general Percival's sector HQ.

The invasion of Awarath took place as 021M42 began, with a massive tau battlefleet arriving in the system. Caught by surprise the Imperial battlefleet was unable to prevent the tau from landing a significant force on Awarath Prime, but general Percival had not been completely unaware of the threat from the Tau. Defending his HQ was a large force of imperial guard, as well as super heavy vehicles and a mighty Reaver Titan. In addition, as soon as the invasion began, space marine forces converged in order to defend the seat of Imperial power in the Expanse.

The assault by the tau was particularly brutal and decisive. Using Mantas to deliver kroot directly into the enemy trench lines threw the imperial defence into disarray, while overwhelming tau firepower was directed at the Reaver titan. The Blood Angels chapter responded by charging into the fray, but were soon bogged down in fighting stealth teams that stubbornly refused to die, blunting the impact of the astartes intervention. Seeing that General Percival was directing the battle from well behind his lines, Malkoar sent in his elite crisis suit drop teams, managing eventually to capture the imperial general and spirit him away from the battlefield.

Without Percival the command of the confused battle now passed to the astartes, with the Space Wolves attempting to deploy their forces via Thunderhawk into the heart of Malkaor's firebase. Disrupting this formation was key to throwing back the tau forces, but the Thunderhawk was soon shot down by massed firepower. Despite this, the Space Wolves managed to teleport their elite terminators into the heart of Malkaor's headquarters, with their librarian reaching Malkaor and severely wounding him.

By this time however it was too late. The astartes teleport action was too weak to disrupt the tau formations, and despite losing Malkaor's guiding hand, the tau had brought down the mighty Reaver titan, dealt with the astartes counter attack and broken the back of imperial resistance. Percival's HQ was overrun, and other hunter cadres were simultaneously establishing strongpoints all over the world. A few imperial forces managed to flee into the wilderness regions of the planet, and the space marines who remained were able to withdraw their forces. The Imperial system however had been totally overwhelmed in less than 24 hours, and as the tau fleet set up a defensive ring around Awarath Prime, the imperium were forced to leave the system. Now the tau began the process of rapidly securing their gains, as a multitude of Earth Caste vessels entered behind the war fleet, turning the system into a new stronghold colony for the tau empire.

The Imperium were in no shape to counter attack. With Percival now in the custody of the tau empire, the fleets withdrew to Dnatha and Vanir, desperately signaling to Sector Commander Titus Luthor that more forces were necessary. They had been saying for months that the weakening of forces in the Hadron Expanse to prosecute the war on Mordecai would have inevitable consequences, and they had been proved right.

Mordecai Secundus: Kutuzov pushes into mining complex

At the end of 020M42 the new momentum for Imperial forces continued to build. Enjoying fresh supplies and new troop deployments, general Kutuzov was able to push forward his front lines, aiming to recapture the Abrax mines from the traitors. Still relatively intact, the mines remained the essential strategic assets of the world. Initially slated as objectives as far back as 10.019M42, the Imperium had not managed to permanently secure them. Gone were the hopes of a swift conquest of the world, now even Kutuzov freely admitted the capture of just the second planet of the Mordecai system would take years. The whole system potentially decades, but eventually the Imperium would prevail. How could it not?

In response to the latest offensive against the Abrax complex, the traitor forces summoned a host of Slaaneshi daemons in the path of the Novgorod Hussars. The Greater daemons were dealt with by the imperial tanks, but the battle soon descended into a swirling melee of daemonettes and cavalry. The support of hellhound flametanks proved invaluable, annihilating many of the warp spawned abominations and allowing the loyalist horsemen to banish the remaining daemons back to the warp.

The success against the daemon horde allowed the slow but steady advance into the mining complex to continue, and by early 01.021M42 the imperium had won back more than half of the important mines. Concerns over the exposure of the imperial forces to daemonic influence was raised and constantly monitored, but it was assumed that none of the participants in the battle would live long enough to carry any taint off world anyway.

Hadron Expanse recent actions

 

Mordecai: Imperium retake Fort Diligence

Following the establishment of a front line at Abrax lake on Mordecai Secundus, the next logical step for Kutuzov was to retake the ruined complex of Fort Diligence. Standing on a vital strip of hardened basalt between multiple lava lakes, the complex was vital to the taking of the Abrax mines, and no meaningful assault on the mining area could take place until it had been secured. Unfortunately for the Imperium the move on Diligence was also obvious to the chaos forces, and the Emerald Serpent had already moved strong forces to its location. Worse, since the loss of the Nexus Arrangement, the Emerald Serpent was once again being directly influenced by Magnus the Red himself, as he used the power of Astralis to project manifestations of himself in multiple locations, heading up armies across the subsector. Kutuzov expected such a manifestation at Fort Diligence, and he was not disappointed.

Mass artillery fire signalled the start of the Novgorod infantry assault across the barren plains in front of the fortification complex, as shells rained down on the chaos positions for several hours. As the barrage rose to a crescendo, the powers of the warp launched a daemonic strike on the imperial batteries, but by then the Novogorod had already begun their relentless advance. On the left flank the Novgorod easily dealt with the lesser daemons and cultists opposing them, but on the right, larger daemonic warp entities stalled the infantry advance. The artillery kept firing however, frustrating Magnus and forcing him to move personally against them. This however left his own forces without his aid as the grinding infantry advance of the imperial fguard slowly began to crumble the resistance on their right. Eventually, slowly, the daemons were brought down, leaving Magnus alone and unsupported against the imperial army.

The daemon primarch, frustrated once more fled back to his daemon hold on Astralis, with its portal to the Planet of the Sorcerers. Without the Emerald Serpent daemonic entities to lead them, the remaining cultist army was easily brushed aside by superior imperial guard forces, and by 1612.020M42 Fort Diligence was once more in Imperial hands. General Kutuzov began once more planning the assault on the Abrax mining complex.

 

Aeldari secure Nexus Arrangement

The search for the Nexus Arrangement had gone unnoticed by the forces of chaos, and it had been by Aeldari design. Through their manipulation of the warp their powerful psychic energies had been concentrated on shielding all knowledge of the necron artefact from prying eyes, although they had been unable to deflect the Imperium, and the Necrons were bound to uncover what they were up to. Not until 1012.020M42 did Magnus the Red become aware of the eldar plans, and the deliberate psychic deception angered the daemon primarch. Yet, there was still an opportunity. Through his unrivalled mastery of the empyrean, Magnus and his sorcerers' had seen through the alien veils with which they had attempted to shroud their true intent, and their plans were now transparent to him.

Acting swiftly the daemon prince personally led a force of Thousand Sons across space and time, straight to the system of Cruthynia, breaking the very fabric of realspace and crashing upon the Ynnari and Harlequin forces on the surface of the barren world, supported by Ahriman and the Changeling himself. It was Magnus however, who was deceived. Magnus' pride had allowed him to believe he had uncovered the eldar plans all by himself and through his intellect, but it was a deflection. The Aeldari knew that when the Nexus Arrangement was unearthed, its mere presence would send a ripple through the warp, attracting the forces of chaos. Now, they had lured Magnus into a trap of their choosing, and in the battle that followed, despite losing their commander, the Thousand Sons, Magnus and Ahriman were all thrown back into the warp, the spirit of Magnus once again ejected from the mortal realm to brood angrily on the planet of the sorcerer's, and it's mirror, the daemon world Astralis.

With the chaos forces distracted, the Ynnari carefully unearthed the ancient necron artefact and managed to steal it away into the webway before the necrons or Imperium had time to stop them. The Arrangement was safe in Aeldari hands, and the Ynnari now revealed to their Craftworld and Harlequin allies what use they would have for it. The pursuit of the necron device had not merely been to deny its use to the enemy, but for a greater purpose. There were still two necron devices needed by Yvraine, and the Arrangement now gave her followers the means to extract it, without the world upon which it stood immediately falling into the warp.

Skirmishes across the Hadron Expanse

While the Imperium and Aeldari battled the elements and the slowly awakening Necron forces on Cruthynia, the other factions active in the Hadron Expanse were not idle. The Death Guard, taking advantage of the much weakened forces of general Konev on Hexis, launched a major raid from their base on the planet's major moon. Devoid of natural atmosphere, the moon provided a secure base of operations for the Death Guard, and for months they had been laying the foundations of a significant military installation. Now the space port was complete, offensive operations against the planet below could begin. Attacking without warning, the plague marines moved relentlessly against Konev's forces, and the Adeptus Custodes, still in place on Hexis until they could be reassigned to a more valuable warzone, were unable to prevent the traitor forces from ransacking Konev's already meagre supplies. Having stripped the complex bare, the Death Guard returned to the moon,. With the Imperium unable to counter the chaos military build up, it seemed inevitable that the the traitor legions would attack the main planet in force at some point in the future.

The Drukhari meanwhile, freed from their obligations to the Ynnari and the Alliance, decided it was time once more to make the Hadron Expanse a profitable venture. Having secured a number of bases in the webway close to the subsector, the dark eldar struct first against the Tau Empire, which had been largely inactive for over a year. Believing this to be a sign of weakness, the forces of Commoragh were somewhat taken by surprise when their raiding force was met by a swift response from Malkaor's hunter cadres. Far from inactive, the Tau had been building up their strength, and Echo Reach was now a military installation of some significance. Clearly the Tau were planning something big, and soon. The Drukhari managed to extricate themselves from the precipitous situation, but not before they had suffered serious casualties for next to no gain.

Carchardons surprise eldar, but are counter attacked at Cruthynia

Following the defeat of the Guard forces at the northern tomb city of Cruthynia Prime, designated Ankht from translations by imperial scholars, the Ordo Xenos sent an urgent message to all imperial forces in the region. The Nexus Arrangement was found. It resided underneath the city and the order was given to take and hold Ankht at all costs.

Reacting quickly, and realising the Imperial Guard were in no position to undertake a new offensive, the Carcharadon chapter of space marines took it upon themselves to take and hold the city, dropping directly from orbit after having detected aeldari forces in an unusually vulnerable position within the ruins. Led by harlequin forces, it was clear the xenos knew where the Arrangement was, and were working to retrieve it.

The initial drop by the space marines was devastating. An uncharacteristic lapse of judgement by the aeldari had left their forces exposed to attack, and the Carcharadons struck without mercy. The battle was over almost in the first few minutes, as the eldar force was slaughtered. Having taken the position however, the astartes now had to hold it.

The response was not long in coming. Recovering from their initial surprise the eldar knew the counter attack had to be undertaken immediately, before the Hammers of the Emperor could reinforce the positions now occupied by the Carcharadons. This time the harlequin force made no mistakes, although the stubbornness of the astartes guaranteed a bloody melee as they were reluctant to yield their hard won ground. Accepting casualties, for the cause was vital, the aeldari pushed on regardless, and by 1012.020M42 the Carcharadon positions had been completely overrun, with almost half a company of marines wiped out. The eldar suffered heavy casualties as well, but were now within reach of securing the Nexus Arrangement. Having located it, they now only had to escape out of the city back to the webway.

Percival's task force arrives at Cruthynia

After several months, the task force sent by general Percival to investigate the ruins of Cruthynia for the suspected powerful necron artefact known as the Nexus Arrangement, finally arrived in system. The fleet consisted of an imperial naval battlegroup, and established that there were no threats from spacefaring assets in the system, and proceeded without incident to the newly established base in the northern polar regions of Cruthynia Prime that the astartes had created for them.

The Hammers of the Emperor, unlike the Carcharadons, were more than willing to aid and work with the imperial guard who now began disembarking two regiments onto the planet. They were however, not above showing their contempt and disappointment at the paltry forces Percival had chosen to allocate to the endeavour.

Once the base had been secured and hardened against attack, the Novgorod Guard began offensive operations on 0712.020M42, moving south into an unexplored regions of the ruined necron city. Many of the guardsmen were visibly disturbed by the absolute silence of the world, save for a light breeze that would occasionally disturb the dust of the long dead world. Their resolve was bolstered however by the presence of the inquisitor Ivan Dostoevsky, who had come on the mission to uncover the secrets of the necrons and ensure they did not fall into the wrong hands. 

The silence was broken as soon as the guard moved cautiously into the larger of the tomb complexes that dotted the ancient city. Eldar forces suddenly appeared on both flanks, with the screeching of howling banshees audible for miles, while Wraith constructs appeared from nowhere to engage the slowly advancing infantry. The inquisitor handled the situation well, and at first the imperial guard held their ground and even managed to push further forward, especially on their right flank. On the left however, facing the awesome power of the Wraithguard, the Novgorod infantry suffered horrendous casualties and the entire flank collapsed. 

Dostoevsky intervened personally, identifying the enemy autarch, and launching himself at the enemy leader. However the skills of the aeldari outmatched him and the inquisitor was slain without uncovering the secrets he desired. After this the Novgorod resistance remained stubborn, but eventually with their inquisitor lost and no way to continue into the city, the battered guard army withdrew back to their bases in the polar regions. Meanwhile the eldar grew ever closer to discovering the Nexus Arrangement. It was here, underneath this tomb city, and they were determined not to be thwarted by the Imperium just as they had located their prize.

Novgorod Guard launch new offensive on Mordecai

On Mordecai Secundus the follow up to the Hammers of the Emperor victory against the Dark Mechanicus was a new offensive in the eastern portion of the imperial sector, once again targeting the all important Abrax and Sathugar mine complexes, pushing east towards the lava seas of the Kuneun Traps.

Lead by the Novgorod Hussars, general Kutuzov's army pushed implacably forward, meeting the bulk of the Dark Mechanicus forces on the outskirts of the now ruined mining complex. Fighting was intense, with the Hussars beginning the operation with a devastating artillery bombardment. Supported by valkyries providing close air support, the Hussars softened up the heretek forces before delivering a precisely timed cavalry charge, sweeping the enemy from the field.

By 1012.020M42 the imperial offensive had once again resumed its slow but relentless advance against the forces of chaos, reaching the outer reaches of the mines proper, and taking the northern shores of Abrax lava lake.

Necrons defeated by Astartes at Cruthynia

On Cruthynia the fight for the Nexus Arrangement continued into 12.020M42, with the Hammers of the Emperor astartes chapter once again launching an expedition onto the surface of Cruthynia. So far, every imperial attempt to establish a permanent base on the world had been resisted, so after a number of scans the Hammers analysed where the eldar had assaulted imperial forces in previous attempts, and ascertained that there was one area eldar activity had not been previously detected. Here, amongst the ruins of a long dead necron city, the Hammers made their initial scouting landfall.

Very quickly however, the astartes realised the necrons were far from long dead, as the armies of the Silent King reacted rapidly to the interlopers. An entire necron army, undetected from space, was in position and made a move directly onto the space marine landing grounds. 

The Hammers of the Emperor were prepared for such an eventuality however, as the scans had suggested that the area was too quiet, and the main strike force was called in to deal with the necron army. Dropping in via thunderhawk the elite forces of mankind landed right in the midst of the necron force, decapitating the leadership of the ancient xenos in one stroke. The necrons did not give up easily however, and converged on the newly arrived warriors of humanity. Gradually however, with unwavering stubborness and unyielding devotion to duty, the Hammers carved their way through the necrons, until only a pile of shattered mechanical detritus remained, before phasing out. Finally the Imperium had established a bridgehead on the world.

Confusing encounters on LV-426

As their journeys across the perilous landscape of LV-426 continued, the various factions marched ever onwards. Unbeknownst to any of the commanders leading their forces, each path was leading them into direct confrontation with one of the other patrols. As they neared the intersecting pathways, the great intellect rescinded the shadow that was clouding detection to one side of each confrontation. With enough notice to detect their foes, each of the still hidden factions began to make an ad-hoc ambush site, ready to deliver a swift and crushing blow.

Making their way through a swampy region of Hell, the forces of the Thousand Sons known as The Jade Fangs waded through waist high water, their landraider crushing both vegetation and animal life too slow to move avoid it’s treads. Without warning, gunfire blasted through the undergrowth and tore into the sides of the vehicles as Grand Master Corvendus gave the signal to attack. The Precision, Grey Knights, Daemon Hunters rejoiced at the sight. But their excitement was short lived. All of their weapons fire had passed through the transports and enemy units without effect. It was at this point that the veil that was hiding the true locations of the Thousand Sons was lifted and without warning attacked the now exposed positions of the Grey Knights. The battle was a fury of psychic might, deadly laser fire and brutal close combat, but by the end, the Grey Knights were in retreat. Satisfied that their forces could continue without interruption, Phosis T’Arr ordered the advance.

Northward on the continent, the forces of the The Rhana Dandra darted across the desolated landscape of LV-426. Hastily making their way towards their target, it was only the briefest warnings that forewarned the Aeldari as the forces of Blast-pit Brides unleashed their attack. Moving with preternatural speeds, the two Eldar forces delivered blow after devastating blow. As the two forces drew blood against one another, the ever present darkness of Hell began to cloud the Drukhari Wyches’ minds and one they began to fall. Before long, the Dark Eldar withdrew, the survivors licking their wounds, searching for easier prey.

One of the more unusual conflicts happened towards the south. For the better part of the day, the forces of the Dark Angels had been following signal anomalies that alluded to their prey. They were sorely mistaken. After surrounding the encampment where the signals were coming from, Aziraphael issued his command and the Dark Angels charged in, stoicism etched on their faces. After bursting through ruins and kicking down doors, the Space Marines gazed upon an empty site. Before consulting the machine spirit of the sensor equipment, with the traditional knock against a hard surface, the hand held detectors lit up with movement blips. A sizable force for Genestealer Cultist who were Definitely not the RA swarmed the Dark Angels and a bloody melee eschewed. Victory, if it could be called that, was claimed by the Emperor’s finest, but from the toll it had taken, it was pyrrhic at best.

As the mortals vied for the upper hand against their adversaries, Neferkara The Collector marched through a canyon in the rocky region towards the east, searching for his latest addition. As he guided his force through gale force winds, the tempest itself revealed his next task. Further ahead, sound carrying on the wind, the Necrons of the Mor'khaten's Will prepared for their ambush. Little did they know, however, that Neferkara was already moving to counter their ploy. Using sacrificial warriors, the Necrons of The Forbidden Archives sprung their kin’s trap, baiting Mor'khaten to show his hand. And that he did. From positions that no longer remained safe, the warriors of Neferkara clashed with Mor'khaten's until Mor'khaten was forced to retreat back to a nearby tomb complex to plot out his next move. With the warriors already beginning to reanimate, Neferkara continued down the howling canyon.

The last of the ambushes was from the Hammers of the Emperor. Using the still ripe corpses of the Genestealer cult slain earlier, the Space Marines set an ambush for a sizable force of roving tyranids. With a kill zone erected, it didn’t take long for Hive Fleet R'lyeh’s organisms to locate the site and began to explore the area. When a sufficient amount of xenos had entered the killing fields, the Hammers unleashed devastation upon the world of Hell. What would normally have been used to overrun a small town was deployed by the marines to remove all traces of the xenos from sight. After an engagement that could have been counted in seconds, the forces of the Hive Fleet R'lyeh’s were slain to a man. Fortunately for the xenos, the organism leading them, designated “Clive” by the marines was able to relay a message to others of the fleet, warning them of what happened.

The only force with an uninterrupted journey was the Last Gasp of the Emperors Children. Whatever intellect was shaping the conflict across LV-426 had seen fit to allow them to travel without issue. They arrived at their waypoint ahead of schedule. Waiting, for the next indication of where to go.

Kutuzov returns to the offensive

Conditions on Mordecai Secundus had improved sufficiently by 11.020M42 for General Kutuzov to once again consider offensive actions. The first priority was the salient the chaos forces had driven into his lines, now occupied by forces of the Dark Mechanicus who were busy fortifying their new positions.

 

In order to disrupt the enemy progress, Kutuzov planned an envelopment, and the Hammers of the Emperor would provide the force that would spearhead the attack and cut off the salient from the rest of the chaos lines. The Imperial Guard would then mop up the pocket once the Dark mechanicus and cult forces were isolated.

 

The astartes led the way using the power of a land raider crusader. Driving into the heart of the Dark Mechanicus positions from an unexpected direction, the chaos force was thrown into confusion. Charging out with melta weapons and thunder hammers, the battle became a focal point, drawing in forces from the salient and weakening the pocket. By the time the Hammers withdrew from the battlefield the damage had been done. the chaos pocket had been pinched out and Kutuzov's follow up with an Imperial Guard advance spelled doom for the remaining forces inside the isolated enclave. By 2411.020M42 the Imperium had straightened their line and prepared to fight once more for the Abrax mines complex.

Hexis: genestealers surround Konev

In 11.020M42 the imperial forces on Hexis faced a new insidious threat from the tyranid menace on the planet. It was already known that hive fleet R'Lyeh had been using its hive mind to conduct asymmetric warfare, especially in the establishment of genestealer cults within dissident imperial forces. Having lost the strategic ground between Praxis and Menthoteph, the next threat to Konev's forces appeared when an entire regiment of guard deployed in the northern ruins of Praxis suddenly revolted, tearing itself apart as the genestealer cult that had been left to fester revealed its presence.

 

Before Konev had time to react, a force of crusading Adeptus Custodes took it upon themselves to quell the uprising, but were taken off guard by the number and ferocity of the cultists. A savage fight in the ruins ended with the Custodes abandoning their attempt to quash the rebellion, leaving Konev with no alternative but to draw a new defence line agains the rampaging irregular army. In late 11.020M42 the imperial sector on Hexis had been split into three parts, and Konev requested immediate reinforcement, otherwise there was a real risk of the Imperium losing the war on Hexis. Should the world fall to the tyranids, necrons or even chaos, then the inevitable fallout would be the compromise of the Imperial position in the entire Hadron Expanse. Winning the war wasn't the priority, but not losing it was.

Imperial Fists ambushed at Cruthynia

Events continued to go against the Imperium on Cruthynia as 11.020M42 progressed. With General Percival's task force still nowhere in sight, the individual astartes forces did their best to establish bridgeheads on the main world of the system, a dusty barren plain dotted with ancient necron ruins. However, the astartes forces were unused to working together, and this once again cost the Imperium as the Imperial Fists came under attack by Aeldari forces.

 

Highly organised and using the webway to conduct precision strikes, the harlequin forces allied to the Ynnari cause had already struck at installations being set up by the Sisters of Battle and the Carcharadon space marine chapter. Unaware of the extent of the webway portals on Cruthynia Prime, the Imperial Fists now found themselves ambushed by a strong force of agile xenos as they tried to establish a perimeter. Soon surrounded, the newest space marine base became untenable within days of its establishement, and by 1511.020M42 the latest foray into the necron tomb complexes by an imperial force had to be abandoned. Meanwhile, the Ynarri were getting ever closer to uncovering the mystery of the Nexus Arrangement.

Battles rage on the Hell planet.

With their resources gathered, the forces upon LV-426 began their arduous journey towards their respective destinations. Each of the forces had heard a different message and as such, their treks across the planet were carved. For many, the landing sites and directions may have seemed to be chosen at random, or perhaps convenience. But for those who’s mind could grasp such an intricate flow of movement, something more sinister was afoot.

The first of the two forces to clash were the Jade Fangs of the Thousand Sons and Dark Angel’s 5th Company. After recently looting a Tomb belonging to Mor'khaten's Will, the Dark Angel’s commander Aziraphael spotted the Thousand Sons approaching them. After a brief discussion as to the combat effectiveness of the Space Marines under his command, the Captain ordered the attack. As the Jade Fangs approached the location of the Necron Tomb complex, they saw that it had already been plundered by the Emperor’s lapdogs. Not wanting to miss out on a chance to destroy the Dark Angels, the Thousand Sons met them in battle. A fierce battle that could only be created when Astartes fight took place. Bolter rounds were thrown, daemons summoned and will fought against will. Though the Thousand Sons were able to bring reinforcements from the Warp, it was no enough to stop the relentless attack from the Dark Angels, and after a lightning fast engagement, the Dark Angels withdrew the victor.

Elsewhere on the continent, the fighting was equally harsh for the Ynnari. As they delicately moved their way through the dense jungles of Hell, the forces of the Aldari new that their was an issue as their psyker noticed a shadow in the warp. Before Athairnos the Wanderer was able to warn their fellow Eldar, they were assailed by the tyanids of Hive Fleet R'lyeh. A fierce battle took place, but the Eldar were able to use their significant speed advantage to destroy the Hive Tyrant and throw the remaining tyranid forces into disarray.

After furiously defending their resources from the Ynnari, the Necrons of The Forbidden Archives made their ponderous journey towards a location towards the Northern mountain ranges. With the will of their overlord commanding the steady pace, they kept their eyes pealed for the telltale signs of an incoming attack. What they did not expect, however, was the unconventional hit and run tactics of the Dark Eldar. Arriving, riding the screaming winds of Hell, the Drukhari Wyches of the Blast-pit Brides leaped into battle fro seemingly out of nowhere. Attacked, shot, and butchered, the forces of the Necrons were slowly whittled down. Only after their battle-lust was sated did the forces of the Blast-pit Brides recede out of range of the Necron weaponry. With the automatons already beginning to reassemble themselves, the Overlord Neferkara The Collector pressed ever onward.

Both enjoying the success of a previous engagement, Hammers of the Emperor and the Genestealer Cult were Definitely not the RA detected each other a moment too late. With the geology of the planet making readings from scanners “unreliable” at best, it was little surprise when the two columns met each other without prior warning. Fortunately for the Space Marines, the Emperor was looking down upon them, and they were able to sieze the initative. With a methodical assault that bordered on clinical butchering, the Genestealers were slaughtered. With the sounds of bolters giving the Emperor’s Mercy to the remaining Genestealer survivors, Brother Captain Herman took stock of his forces supplies, and continued their arduous march.

With the Dark Angels’ presence disturbing the forces of Mor'khaten's Will from their slumber, the forces of the Necrons took stock of their surroundings. Much had changed since they were last awake. The Planet was certainly different, but it mattered not. The insects that had spawned during their long sleep would be dealt with. Unleashing a small force from their underground tomb complex, the forces of the Mor'khaten arose from hidden tomb entrances. One such entrance was located near a resting group of Grey Knights. After ritually cleansing their weapons and armour from the previous attack, the Grey Knights known as The Precision detected the Necrons emerging from their tomb. Initially, the fight lent in the Gray Knight’s favour, but as the destroyed soldiers of Mor'khaten's Will began to reassemble themselves, they realised that their duty lay elsewhere. Instead of allowing themselves to be bogged down in a prolonged engagement, the Grey Knights withdrew. Their true quarry still to be found.

With the other on the planet engaged in fighting, the Last Gasp of the Emperors Children found their journey unimpeded. Where others found peril and conflict, the Traitor Marines found their march almost facile. Something was watching over the marines of the Last Gasp. Something was waiting for them to succeed.

Eldar strike back on Cruthynia

By 11.020M42 the main Imperial task force being send to Cruthynia had still not materialised. Bureaucratic delays, warp storms and lack of transport ships had delayed the Imperial Guard and mechanicus elements of the planned invasion force, and many in the Imperial hierarchy began to become frustrated with the lack of progress on something which really needed a swift response.

 

Faster moving forces continued to reach the system, with the addition of Carcharadon and Sisters of Battle task forces as 11.020M42 progressed. Both these forces however did not work well with others, and pursued their own agendas when arriving in system. The Aeldari took advantage of this, first roundly defeating the Carcharadons in a sudden and unexpected assault, leading with Harlequin elements. The astartes attempted to reinforce their position utilising their drop capacity from orbit, but the speed and versatility of the Harlequin force rendered this counter assault impotent, and the space marines were forced to withdraw from Cruthynia Prime, abandoning the base they had constructed.

 

The Sisters of Battle were not informed by the Carcharadons of the Aedlari and Harlequin threat, so the eldar attack on them some days later came as a complete surprise. The Carcharadons were the only force with any intelligence on the Harlequin force, and the lack of communication between the Imperium's various task forces, led to a second defeat on Cruthynia Prime. With their bases swiftly assaulted whenever they arrived, the Imperium were forced back into space, unable to search any of the ruins for the Nexus Arrangement. Meanwhile, as the majority of the necrons still remained in hibernation, the Aeldari were slowly working out the subtle clues that would lead them to where the ancient artefact rested.

Konev boxed in at Hexis

On the barren plains of Hexis the menace of the Tyranids had not been in any way defeated by Konev's imperial forces as 11.020M42 began. Constant draining of imperial resources had ensured that the Imperium's ability to go on any meaningful offensives had been curtailed, as more and more forces were allocated to General Percival's expedition to Cruthynia.

 

The Tyranids themselves, lacking significant biomass to enlarge their forces also had limited opportunities to move forward, and lacking a hive fleet were unable to leave the planet let alone the system. Hive fleet R'Lyeh had planned to take the necron device in order to use it to translocate to a system with greater resources and create a fleet of bioships, but the interventions of the Ynnari had scuppered their plans. Now they resorted to instinct, launching an attack on Imperial forces on the strategic plains between Praxis and Menthoteph. Their aims were unclear, but the hive needed to feed.

 

The xenos biowarriors fell upon the imperial guard defending Konev's northern battle line, a vulnerable corridor between his forces in the north and those in the south. The sudden assault took the guard forces by surprise, and after a protracted battle Konev's infantry were swept aside. The tyranids made their way into the eastern districts of Praxis, cutting imperial forces in two and threatening to surround Konev's HQ. In private, Konev's aides began to suggest that a withdrawal from the worthless planet may now be the more profitable course of action. Against this however, was the real risk that leaving would only strengthen the xenos threat, allowing them to gain enough strength to become a real threat to the region. The battles would need to continue.

Battles of “Hell” begin

The harsh landscape of the world was unforgiving and cruel. Despite the advanced technologies and divinations of the various races, many of the forces found themselves without all of the supplies they had originally intended to bring. Whether due to the freak storms that dashed aircraft from the Sky, or freak Warp anomalies that shunted reality and dislocated items and units, all the factions vying for victory upon this world came to the same conclusion: supplies must be gathered and resources collected if we are to survive on this Hellish world.

As the Jade Fangs of the Thousand Sons prepared one of their profane rituals to summon forth equipment and units from the aether, they were ambushed by a patrol of Space Marines bearing the markings of the Hammers of the Emperor. With little chance to safely disconnect themselves from the ritual, the marines attacked without mercy and cut down the traitor legion where it stood.

Elsewhere across the main continent of Hell, other forces of the Imperium fought bloody battles with the relentless tides of Mor'khaten's Will. Upon finding a hidden tomb complex entrance using their auspex from the Dark Age of Technology, the warriors of the Dark Angel’s 5th company engaged in a running battle as plundered the entrance to the tomb for secrets. Whatever their true agenda was, it was near impossible to tell, the Astartes seemed pleased with results.

Where the newly awakened Necrons of Mor'khaten's Will were found to be easy pickings for the Dark Angels, the same could not be said for the already reanimated Necrons of The Forbidden Archives, when they met the Ynnari in a chance encounter. The Rhana Dandra forces of the Aeldari were caught by surprise when their foe, thought eons dead re-emerged. Though a close battle was wages between the two forces, the sheer unwillingness to lay dead prevented the Ynnari from continuing the fight and withdrew to safer ground.

Perhaps the most startling of engagements within the initial conflict of LV-426 was between the Splinter Fleet of Hive Fleet R’Lyeh and the Genestealer Cult of The Four-Wheeled Emperor. Though to an outsider, these forces would appear to be cut from the same cloth, the actions that each faction took could not be further from the truth. With a ferocity that bordered on the maniacal, the two tyranid factions stuck each other until only the forces of Genestealer Cult remained. Their bloodlust sated for the moment; they began the gruelling task of tearing into the biomass of the dead tyranids.

The last engagement during the first few hours of the Crusade was made when the Grey Knights known as The Precision were slogging through the quagmire of one of the planets many swaps. So focused on hunting the foul legions of the warp, that they were caught unaware as the raiders of Blast-Pit Brides descended. Unleashing razor-sharp blades and using cruel instruments of death, the Drukhari Wyches were unimpeded by the quagmire as they danced from tree to tree, cutting at the blessed forces of the Imperium. Only when their lust for pain had been sated, did the Drukhari forces withdraw, leaving behind bloody ruins that were once noble Astartes.

Whilst many factions fought furiously to survive, the Emperors Children known as The Last Gasp came across no other competing forces. Whether this was the will of Slaanesh, or some more insidious influence, it was impossible to tell…

Journey to “hell”

The planet’s official designation by Imperial Scholars was LV-426. To the various factions landing upon the surface, its name was Hell. LV-426 was a world, previously inhabited by Humans but was cut off by Warp Storms during the Age of Strife. Now, with the emergence of the Cicatrix Maledictum, has the planet become accessible once again. Initial scans of the planet would reveal little to no signs of intelligent life. Large seismic activity and freak super-storms ravaged the landscape. It was a planet of little respite, and even less joy.In late 020.M42, a call was received by several differing races of the galaxy. Some heard a cry for help. Others, a warning to stay away. But a very select few, heard of the promise of a great relic of a lost age. The signal was picked up by no fewer than 11 factions. Imperial, Heretical and Xenos factions all received the information and began to make all haste towards Hell. 

The first to arrive on the planet was The Jade Fangs of the Thousand Son’s Emerald Serpent Cult, making planet fall through the breaches separating the Warp from Reality. Second to arrive were The Rhana Dandra of the Aeldari, accessing the planet by hidden, long forgotten Webway portals. Third, was the Dark Angel’s 5th Company aboard the Strike Cruiser Unyielding, flying through the storm covered atmosphere by the skill of their Thunder Hawk pilots. Next, were the Necron of The Forbidden Archives from the Nephrekh Dynasty. Whilst some believe that they had always been on the planet and simply arose from a Tomb beneath the surface, others speculate that the withdrawal of the Warp Storm was merely the heralding of their arrival. 

Fifth to arrive in Realspace was Definitely not the RA, but instead a cult of Genestealers, followers of The Four Wheeled Emperor, piloting a small warp-traveling craft emerged within the system. Whether they had been drawn here by the will of the Hive Mind, or simply arrived by chance, it was impossible to say. Following the translation from the Warp of Dark Angel’s 5th Company was another Strike Cruiser, this time bearing the marks of the Hammers of the Emperor. With their ability to change their tactics almost overnight, it has been impossible to determine whom this Space Marine Chapter’s original Sire was. Despite being both from the Imperium, the two Space Marine Chapters eyed each other up with suspicion, as each believed only they should have known about this planet’s existence. 

Seventh to make themselves known on the Planet were the Necrons of Mor'khaten's Will, a subsect of the Heqetokh Dynasty. With two Necron factions making themselves known on the planet, the question of what relics could be hidden away, begins to emerge. Eighth to arrive on LV-426 were the Blast-pit Brides of the Drukhari Wyches. Using a set of Webway portals, unused in eons, the Dark Eldar screamed onto the planet, ready to butcher and enslave all those in their path. 

Ninth to arrive on the planet was a sect of the Emperor’s Children know simply as The Last Gasp. Using a profane ritual, they arrived on the planet’s surface without warning, ready to please their Dark Master. With the Thousand Son’s and the Aeldari finding an interest with the planet of LV-426, it should have been no surprise that not long after, the Grey Knights appears above the planet. Using cloaking technology thought lost during the Dark Age of Technology, The precision deployed to the planet, ready to deal out The Emperor’s Wrath. Last to arrive was a force, the few without psychic powers knew was coming. A shadow across the warp was the only tell-tale sign of the approach of a splinter fleet of Hive Fleet R'lyeh. What had drawn them to the planet was unknown. Was it the Genestealers, or something else, that had drawn them closer?

With all the different factions now on the planet, the first objective was to secure supplies…

Necrons reanimate on Cruthynia

While general Percival's imperial task force remained en route to the system of Cruthynia, the astartes, with their faster ships and flexible formations, had already begun starting to investigate the system. In mid 10.020M42 the Imperial Fists and Space Wolves chapters each arrived at company strength, intending to establish forward bases on the two major worlds of the system nearest the largest tomb complexes. The Imperial Fists moved to Cruthynia Prime, while the Space Wolves attempted a recon mission on Cruthynia Secundus.

 

Both astartes chapters were taken by surprise by unexpectedly strong resistance in the form of necron armies. Instead of finding the tomb worlds in hibernation, it came as a shock to find the lords of the Ha'Tek and Heqetokh dynasties fully awake and in command of significant armed forces. Already the necron dynasties had begun rebuilding their former domains and work was moving at pace to bring the tomb worlds back to their original strength.

 

The Imperial Fists attempted to hold on to a perimeter in a protracted engagement against the necrons on Cruthynia Prime, but after a long struggle even the masters of seigecraft were unable to hold their positions against superior xenos forces. With their incomplete base untenable, the astartes were forced to withdraw. The recon mission by the Space Wolves faced a similar fate, as their attempt to investigate the largest tomb complex was prevented by a strong necron army. Unable to even get close to the now re-activated tombs, the Space Wolves were also forced to abandon their mission and return to their fleet vessels after taking heavy casualties.

 

The news of a fully awakened necron threat threw Percival's task force into dismay. Concerns over the strength and makeup of the force were raised, and the fleet paused while fresh troops and equipment were added to the expedition. The question now was whether the necron threat could even be contained at Cruthynia, let alone the Imperium's ability to find and hold onto the Nexus Arrangement.

Skarreth dynasty hunts the Nexus Arrangement

Neferkara The Collector gazed in disdain at the vermin swarming amidst the once proud ruins of his people. They belonged to one of the many opportunistic young species that had risen up to lay claim to the galaxy in the Necrontyrs absence, but these had chosen to replace much of their biological flesh with machine components. Neferkara mused that such an inadequate attempt at imitation of his own race could be considered a form of flattery, as if this species recognised the superiority of the Necrons and hoped that in aping them they might attain some small measure of their purity and greatness. It did not matter. They arrogantly presumed to take what was not theirs. They would be destroyed and their deaths would serve as a lesson to the rest of their kind.

The Magos of the Adeptus Mechanicus had been cautious at first in probing the outer chambers of the massive tomb complex, wary of awakening the slumbering legions of Necrons that undoubtedly lay within. As they pushed ever further into the ruins they began to realise that the stasis fields and canoptek workers that would have maintained the buried city had failed many millennia past leaving the sleeping Necrons helpless to the ravages of time and neglect. Eagerly they began looting the sealed chambers and pawing over the bounty of xenos artefacts and knowledge that was now theirs for the taking.

When their doom finally appeared it came not from within the complex as they had initially expected, but from its outskirts. Phalanxes of Necron warriors marched in from the south, but their movements were erratic and disjointed. They appeared to flicker in and out of reality as if somehow out of phase with the material universe, sometimes walking through solid objects or appearing suddenly closer if the onlooker glanced away or blinked for but an instant.

The Skitarii wasted no time and immediately launched an attack, recognising that their sacrifice was necessary to enable the senior magos to escape with their trove of relics and data. They struck hard and the first ranks of Necrons fell, only to claw their way back up moments later as severed limbs and heads squirmed across the ground and reattached themselves. At the head of the alien attackers rode a mighty lord upon a bizarre chariot composed of black marble inlaid with gold and gemstones. Each time he raised his scythe another Skitarii was cut down. Suddenly the massed ranks of Necrons vanished as if they had never been there, leaving the Skitarii momentarily alone. The reprieve was short lived as the horde of xenos blinked into existence again behind them and unleashed a fusillade of gauss fire that disintegrated armoured warriors and ripped the heart of the Skitarii ranks.

Confusion reigned but the xenos seemed more interested in pursuing their own agenda than finishing off their foe. Warriors began retrieving the artefacts that had been taken, ignoring incoming fire and attempts to dismember them with power axes, heedless of their losses and in seem cases literally walking through the Skitarii as if they weren't there. With a thrum of power the ancient gateway in the centre of the complex reignited, responding to the orders of its true masters and massed ranks of xenos began the march through the activated doleman gate.

Only one task remained. Neferkara charged his command barge into the heart of the remaining human warriors and cut down their leader in single combat. Once he returned to the Forbidden Archives with the priceless relics and artefacts he had liberated he would have his slaves engrave a fantastic mural depicting this triumph and exalting his name so that all might gaze upon it and know of his glory.

The Aleph Sector 10.020M42

Lying in the Ultima Segmentum, straddling the Cicatrix Maledictum near the Eastern Fringe, the Aleph Sector is a critical location close to the Tau Empire and Ultramar. It is 020M42, and the imperium is beset by enemies on all sides.

 

For millennia the Aleph Sector was but a backwater in imperial affairs. Before the coming of the great rift the High Lords of Terra barely gave the sector a thought, allowing an entire subsector to secede from the Imperium and ally itself to the Tau Empire. But with the coming of the Cicatrix, all that changed…

 

The Aleph Sector today stands astride the Cicatrix Maledictum, with the Perseus Deeps, Zadoc subsector and the Hadron Expanse now in the Imperium Nihilis. Wars have raged over the stable passages known as "foramen" through the great rift, created by the ancient arcane necron artefacts simply known as "devices". Only one of passageways remains however, as the Ynnari have taken all but one of the devices, plunging the imperium on the wrong side of the rift into new desparation. Lead by sector commander Titus Luthor however, the Imperium are rebuilding their strength in the Imperium Nihilis, while the inquisition search for new ways to reconnect the Empire of Mankind.

 

Warzones

 

Warzone: Mordecai - Perseus Deeps

The main warzone in the Aleph Sector is the ongoing bitter war between the forces of chaos, led by the Emerald Serpent from their daemon world of Astralis, and the Imperium. Mordecai, with its three major worlds is the site of a theatre scale war, as the armies of the imperium - led by General Kutuzov - try to expand their bridgehead on the magma plains of Mordecai Secundus. The outer planet, Mordecai Tersius, has already fallen to the imperium, but the system remains contested and the fortress world of Mordecai Primaris seems almost impregnable.

 

Warzone: The Hadron Expanse

At the Eastern Fringe of the Aleph Sector the Hadron Expanse is newly rediscovered territory for the imperium. As vast as the rest of the sector itself, the warp storms that once raged between the Expanse and the Aleph Sector were blown calm by the coming of the rift. Here the Imperium seeks to expand its territories, but so does the Tau Empire, in loose alliance with the Aeldari of the Kel Sandros Craftworld. In the Expanse however the once proud necron dynasties are waking up, and as well as territory there are other things to be found in the Expanse.

 

Cruthynia

One such artefact is the necron Nexus Arrangement. So far only the ynnari, imperium and necron factions are aware of this powerful artefact, which is strong enough to cut whole systems off from the warp. Such power would be devastating in the wrong hands, and the Ynnari are focussed on securing it before it falls into the hands of the barbarian races. It is a race against time however, as more and more forces flock to the Cruthynia system.

 

Hexis

Hexis, a barren ancient necron tombworld was once the site of a Necron device. Although this has now been stolen by the Ynnari and the strategic importance of the system is now much reduced, the bitter "forgotten war" between the forces of chaos, necrons, imperium, ork, eldar and tyranid forces continues, as the world still has secrets to give up.

 

Other minor warzones exist in the Hadron Expanse as no faction is dominant across the region. The tau are seeking to increase their territory, along with their Federacy allies. Chaos, ork and necron forces are seeking to do the same, and the imperial general Percival must simultaneously deal with all these threats while supplying forces to search for necron artefacts of great significance. Meanwhile sector commander Luthor continues to strip forces away from him to bolster the ongoing titanic struggle at Mordecai.

Dark Angels join hunt at Cruthynia

The White Scars were not the only force of astartes in the Cruthynia system. Having responded to a general astartes coded astropathic signal, a company of Dark Angels had travelled to the system. It wasn't a large force, comprising of only a strike cruiser and a handful of escorts, but a company of the emperor's finest represented a significant concentration of power to be added to the White Scars. The Imperium's forces were slowly mustering at Cruthynia, as Percival's task force finally disembarked from Arawath. The hunt fo the Nexus Arrangement was now in full swing.

 

The Dark Angels were drawn to the site of the previous battle between the Ynnari and the necrons. Landing in force the astartes set up a perimeter around one of the tomb complexes, as their tech marines led the investigation into the underground dormant alien facility. Just hours later, a necron army appeared, immediately attacking the interlopers. The lords of the Ha'Tek dynasty now realised their system was infested with the lesser races as well as their ancient foes, and the insult was deeply felt by the overlords of the necron race, despite their soulless existence.

 

A fierce and drawn out battle erupted amongst the ruins of the necron empire, as the Dark Angels fought stubbornly, taking the battle to their enemy and engaging them at close range. Casualties mounted on both sides, but neither force was willing to break off from the engagement. All the while the astartes tech priests continued to investigate the ancient ruins, finding vital clues to the location and nature of the artefact the races of the Aleph Sector were now searching for in earnest. Outside, the necrons were eventually overwhelmed, as the stubborness of the space marines proved too much for the limited reanimated forces of the necron race. The lords of Ha'Tek withdrew their forces, staring in silent rage as the human cattle race desectrated their sacred places.

Necrons awaken on Cruthynia

It was only a matter of time before the necrons awoke on Cruthynia. The Ynnari, aided by their aeldari allies, had been investigating the system for some time, determined to ascertain the location of the Nexus Arrangement before the other races of the Aleph Sector. Such an artefact of power could not be allowed to fall into the wrong hands, but their investigations had probed deeper and deeper into the underground tombs of the main planet, Cruthynia Prime. Once an important tombworld of the Ha'Tek dynasty, the Ynarri's presence did not go unnoticed for long.

 

Even the aeldari could not entirely protect themselves from the ever watchful automated systems of the necrons. In early 10.020M42, one investigation group unwittingly tripped these ancient monitoring systems. Across the planet, ancient reanimation systems began to enact aeons old algorythms, and the tomb worlds armies began returning to full wakefulness. On Cruthynia, the lord of the Ha'Tek dynasty awoke to the unwanted presence of their ancient foe on their world. Outraged by this, as soon as enough warriors had been mobilised, an army was sent to deal with the interlopers. The Ynnari protecting the expedition into the tombs was soon attacked by an organised and effective force of warriors and their war machines. Despite a spirited defence the aeldari were steadily pushed away from the tombs, and risked encirclement. The Ynarri expedition was abandoned as the investigating team fled back to the webway portal, followed by the battered remnants of the Ynarri army. For now th necrons had reclaimed their worlds, but as more warriors woke up, the Lords of Cruthynia realised the intentions of the Ynarri, and began searching for the Nexus Arrangement themselves.

White Scars follow clues to the Nexus Arrangement

By 10.020M42 the Imperium had finally given a name to the system which they now suspected was the location of the powerful necron artefact known as the "Nexus Arrangement". Designated Cruthynia, a task force was being assembled by General Percival at Awarath. The plan was for this force to be sent to establish an Imperial presense in the system in order for Imperial agents to uncover the secrets of the ancient aliens. Due to Imperial bureaucracy however, this initiative would take time, and the White Scars went ahead to continue monitoring the system intending to disrupt any other forces from establishing a foothold and finding the Arrangement first.

 

Upon reaching the system the astartes force discovered that a small Tau mission had already arrived, and was in the process of constructing a forward base. Whether or not the Tau knew the importance of the system was unknown, but the White Scars did not wait to find out. Landing on the outer world, the space marines immediately attacked the Tau, using their superior speed and flexibility of forces to launch a swift assault. Noticing a slight opening in the enemy deployment, the bike mounted enhanced humans delivered a reckless charge. This action resulted in heavy losses for the White Scars as the entire Tau hunter cadre responded to the threat, but the close range fighting also significantly disrupted the Tau firing line, buying time for the rest of the White Scars force to close and get to grips with the xenos army. Off balance the Tau were overwhelmed, and the survivors of the action were scattered. The White Scars burned the Tau base to the ground, eliminating their presence for the system, while the space marine naval vessels searched for any tau vessels in the vicinity. Finding none, the astartes declared the system "clean", although they knew by now that the aeldari were still active in the system, and suspected that beneath the barren landscapes of the worlds of Cruthynia, necron forces slumbered in their hibernation.

Necrons claim Haknur Plateau on Hexis

On Hexis as 020M42 progressed, general Konev gradually found his command withering away. As the importance of the system had declined, his superior, general Percival, continued to strip forces away from the Hexis front. Some in Percival's staff argued for full withdrawal, but the Adeptus Mechanicus resisted strongly. They still had ongoing work analysing the ruins of Praxis and Menthoteph, and did not want the system abandonned. Many of the Novgorod staff, keenly aware of the sacrifices the men under Konev's command had already made, simply refused to consider a withdrawl on ideological grounds.

The weakened state of the Imperial defenders resulted in the necrons overwhelming the limited defences on the Haknur plateau, and Konev had to organise a hasty counter attack to retake the hills overlooking the Akrash pass. The Novogorod armour led the way with the cavalry, specially modified for the harsh conditions on the planet, following on behind. Sighting their enemy the imperial armour opened fire causing mass casualties, followed by a full cavalry charge. the guard expected to simply overrun the necron positions, but the ancient unliving xenos would not stay dead. Constantly renimating, the necron warriors mired the imperial assault into a war of attrition, hampering the Hussar's ability to take key objectives. Repeated assaults on the first Haknur ridge and eventually Konev decided the position did not warrant the continual loss of his forces. The necrons secured the Haknur plateau, bringing into question the feasibility of the imperial hold at Akrash Pass.

Sisters of Battle cripple chaos forces.

On Mordecai in late 09.020M42 the Sisters of Battle were once again able to deliver a crippling blow to the forces of chaos as the Emerald Serpent tried once again to force the breach in Kutusov's lines. The result was similar to the last attempt, as the Sisters of Battle once again reacted with a fierce counter attack of their own, hammering the chaos forces with their Exorcists and delivering their close combat specialists with Rhino transports. The result was another bloody defeat for the chaos forces, who had not expected the Imperium to expect the same move twice. Overthinking the situation once again, the lords of Tzeentch had fallen for their own elaborate plan and counter plan, while the Imperium simply reacted to actual events, rather than imagined enemy strategies.

 

The blow to chaos forces was significant, as while the strategic situation had remained in the traitor's favour, they had failed to make the most of it. Kutuzov still had a significant bridgehead on Mordecai Secundus, and by 0110.020M42 the strategic situation had changed. A third Space Station in the Perseus Deeps, this time at Parthenope, now meant the Imperial war effort had a much stronger supply situation. Bastien, Parthenope and Mordecai Tersius now provided a stable self sufficient supply network, capable of meeting the needs of Kutuzov's crusade force. With fresh reinforcements, munitions and food building up daily, the time for the Imperium to go on the offensive once more was now at hand.

Dark Eldar raid driven off by Ecclessiarchy

While the majority of the Sisters of Battle sent to the Aleph Sector were deployed on Mordecai, one element travelled to the Hadron Expanse to reinforce General Percival. Their skills were soon needed, as the Dark Eldar, presumably acting under the coordination of Archon Lord Vlokarion, began conducting systematic raids of Imperial systems. In truth, this was in order to distract the Imperium from the ongoing hunt for the Nexus Arrangement, but the unexpected arrival of the Adeptus Sororitas upset the Archon's plans entirely.

 

In late 09.020M42 one Dark Eldar attack on Awarath was met by a fierce counter move by the Sisters of Battle. The Repentia once again delivered a brutal strike, ravaging the left flank of the Drukhari force that had deployed to defend their raiders. Overwhelming firepower and faith helped the Sororitas to take out the xenos transports one by one, and the agility of the Drakhari apparently deserted one squad, who died to a man while trying to disembark from a destroyed Venom. The embarrassing event only added insult to injury as the Drukhari first lost their fighting cohesion, which then became a general rout to their webway portal, with the Sisters of Battle in hot pursuit.

 

Worse still for Vlokarion, his raiders had left behind crucial evidence of their plans. On the dead body of their leader, the Imperium were able to obtain vital intelligence, uncovering the fact that the Nexus Arrangement was indeed on the unclassified system where the Adeptus Mechanicus suspected. Taking this news to General Percival and the Inquisition, the Imperium began laying plans for a full scale invasion of the system. Whether they would be able to get their in time before the Ynnari discovered the artefact for themselves, remained unknown.

Sisters of Battle hold the line

Having breached Kutuzov's line in the south, the forces of chaos moved swiftly to expand the breach. The Dark Mechanicus had forced the break, but the Emerald Serpent now moved in force against the Imperial lines. Using their elite forces the Thousand Sons legion intended to pick off Kutuzov's reserves allowing their regular troops to move up and encircle the entirety of the Imperial left flank. This move would isolate fully one third of the Imperial forces and, it was hoped, bring to an end the Imperial invasion of Mordecai Secundus.

 

Kutuzov however had new allies. The Ecclesiarchy, declaring the war on Mordecai a crusade, had sent their own force of Adeptus Sororitas to the system, and this new elite force was ready in reserve for just such a move by the Emerald Serpent. As the Thousand Sons and their daemonic and beast allies moved forward, they were soon halted and forced to defend against a spirited counter attack from the Emperor's faithful. The chaos force defended themselves around a firebase of preditors and rubric marines, while the more mobile daemonic and tzangor forces spread out to meet the Sororitas attack. Initially the Excorcist artillery failed to have much impact on the traitor forces, but the Sisters of Battle moved forward in their Immolators, disembarked at point blank range and tore the chaos front line to shreds. Many of the faithful sisters fell, but the Repentia sacrificed themselves in the noble duty of the Emperor.

 

The disruption of this near suicidal attack gave the imperial force time to find their range, and now the Seraphim and Exorcists were able to draw line of sight to the chaos fire base, silencing the traitor predators and allowing the rest of the Sisters to take up critical positions on the battlefield. The Emerald Serpent responded by delivering a precision teleport drop by their terminators, but this was too little too late. The imperial counter attack had secured vital objectives and now gave Kutuzov's army a critical defensive advantage. The Emerald Serpent retreated to their start lines and the chaos breakthrough was prevented.

Drukhari ambush Mechanicus in Hadron Expanse

While the war between the Imperium and Chaos continued in the Perseus Deeps, the Adeptus Mechanicus were continuing their efforts to locate and acquire necron technology in the Hadron Expanse. General Pervical, overall commander of the Expanse, had given authority for the Mechaniucum to continue their missions in the region, and provided them with additional naval and ground support, but in reality Percival had little option. The Adeptus Mechanicus remained a law unto themselves, and their failure to locate the Nexus Arrangement had led them instead to track the movements of the Aeldari, who they believed had now located the mysterious object.

 

This intelligence tracking led the Mechanicum to the system classified only as 4e/65/78/75/73 on star charts. The system contained a number of apparently barren but inhabitable worlds, one of which showed signs of a previous civilisation. Here the Adeptus Mechanicus landed, set up a base, and began exploring the ruins. Perhaps here was the location of the Nexus Arrangement, as Aeldari vessel activity had been tracked to this system.

 

Little did the Mechanicum know that they had been themselves tracked by the Drukhari of Vlokarion. Behind the Imperial fleet, a Dark Eldar cruiser, cloaked by its mimic engine, had recorded the Imperial landings and were planning their own ambush. Vlokarion coveted the Nexus Arrangement for himself, but for now was "allied" with Yvraine so that the Aeldari could possess the artefact. He could not risk his plans being upset by the sudden arrival of the Imperium on the scene, and took action.

 

The Drukhari attack on the Adeptus Mechanicus started with swift raids, but soon devolved into a bloody slogfest which saw casualties mount on both sides. The Drukhari commander was alarmed, but Vlokarion was uncaring. So long as the Imperium were driven off the cost was sufficient. The battle continued for days before the Mechanicum decided to stubbornly resist was too expensive, and the agents of the Omnissiah withdrew from the world. They remained in system however, watching for any activity, still unaware they were themselves being watched.