Crusade raid Lucardium

With the loss of Libria III, the crusade found themselves on the defensive. Vorushko had managed to secure several new Imperial Guard regiments, including the Death Korps of Krieg and Darrantine Guard. However, the crusade lacked resources. Libria V, their only solid hold in the Libria system lacked the necessary production facilites to support the war effort. In early 017M42 Vorushko authorised a risky raid on Lucardium by her Adeptus Machanicus allies, in order to secure vital resources.

The raid fell upon the garrison once led by the legendary commander Longstride. The tau, surprised by the sudden assault put up a determined fight, but the Mechanicum constructs proved effective at withstanding the withering Xenos fire. The crusade force were able to establish a bridgehead for 24 hours, long enough to secure a significant amount of raw materials, teleported into the waiting conveyer craft in orbit. The tau fleet responded, but by the time of their arrival the Adeptus Mechanicus had left, and Vorushko had struck a blow against the Alliance supply chain as well as bolstering her own position in the ongoing war.

Libria I: Novgorod advance on Davey

With the Minotaurs having left Libria I to exact their revenge on the Necrons, early 01.017M42 allowed the loyalists to recover from the loss of the central cities on Libria I. Most of Zhukov's forces were concentrated on the northern front, so rather than immediately return southward Zhukov continued to apply pressure to the crusade forces in the north, launching a Novgorod offensive against the city of Davey. Defended by Death Korps regiments, the city of Davey was pounded by Novgorod artillery before the loyalist guardsment carried out a textbook imperial frontal assault against the settlement.

The Death Korps defended ably, and the ground between the two armies was soon a chewed up mass of shell holes, broken equipment and bodies, but gradually the Novgorod inched forward. Over the course of two weeks the Death Korps were ground down and forced back, although their line never broke. By 0801.017M42 all of Davey had been captured by the loyalist force, and the offensive was officially closed down. It was only a small advance, but the advance threatened to isolate Slater in the far north, and provided the loyalist forces with a much needed moral boost.

Perseus Deeps: Hemera uprising & Vlokarion Raids

Towards the end of 016M42 the Persues Deeps began to once again experience significant flare ups of violence. Mid month, the Minotaurs made good on their revenge against the Necrons, appearing above Hemera on 1512.016M42 and launching a savage drop assault against the Necrons of the Charnovokh dynasty. Damage done, the Minotaurs returned to their ships and presumably back to their base of operations between Libria and the Deeps. Honour for the Necron interference on Libria I had been exacted.

On Hemera, the governor was forced to call for aid as once again a previously unknown genestealer cult overthrew the mayor of a major settlement and slew much of the loyal population. The Space Wolves responded to the call but underestimated the strength of the cult and were unable to shift the genestealers after hours of fighting. Depleted of ammunition and suffering unacceptable losses, the Space Wolves withdrew, leaving Hemera with a settlement fully in the hands of the Cult. This was a major concern, as many psychics began warning of an imminent invasion of the Deeps by Hive Fleet Nemesis. However on Tyranic timescales "imminent" could mean months, years, or decades.

The Dark Eldar raider Vlokarion was also active in the Perseus Deeps in late 12.016M42. It appeared that the Dark Eldar lord had timed his new raids to coincide with the emergent threat of the genestealers, enabling him to take advantage of weakened foes. His raids on Skera and Corticant were successful, as his dark eldar forces defeated the Charnovokh Necrons and Adeptus Mechanicus forces respectively.