Cybixx aids Ultramarines in defence of Destino

Despite the Crusade being involved in open war with Hathek’s “loyalists” in the Vandrax system, Vorushko and her allies were still fiercely loyal to the Imperium. In late 10.017M42 Archmagos Dominus Cybixx informed Inquisitor Vorushko, now making her way to the Foramen war zone from the Hadron Expanse, that Hathek had been taxing Titus Luthor’s forces to the point where both the Destino and Tarlius system’s were becoming vulnerable to external threats. Cybixx had already used his knowledge of the Foramen to swiftly deploy and prevent the Iron Warriors from consolidating their hold on Tarlius, but now turned his attention to Destino. Taking a considerable risk, Cybixx returned from Tarlius then immediately embarked on a new mission, hearing that the Ultramarines had engaged the Necrons on Destino 1. 

The Ultramarines learned of the necron victory over the Imperial guard force on the innermost planet of the Destine system and despatched much of their strength to counter the alien threat. The Ultramarines assault went well, with the Charnovokh defeated and sent into full retreat, but this left the outer systems vulnerable to the Federal Battlegroup. Realising this, General Elliott of the Federal Task force immediately seized on the opportunity and landed in strength on the outermost terrestrial world of the system. However, by this time Cybixx battlegroup arrived. Faced with a superior Mechanism fleet the Federal vessels were obliged to withdraw or risk critical damage to their task force, but warned their troops on the ground to dig in and expect immediate attack.

The attack duly came, led by Cybixx himself, but the Librians, supported by the Tallaxian Air Force which gave valuable spotting information, were prepared. The Federally had an elaborate agent network within the Imperium, and they knew Cybixx’s preferred methods and strategies. Immediately the battle robots came under concentrated fire, and the lighter mechanics ground forces took terrible punishment from Liberian small arms fire. The Mechanics still managed to put up a hail of fire themselves however, with the Knight in their army performing a critical role dealing with Liberian armour. Soon the Liberians had lost their entire tank compliment, but almost managed to break the Mechanicus assault by instigating a well timed air drop of elite Tallaxian stormtroopers. The federal force fought hard, inflicting serious harm on the Mechanics, but eventually Cybixx himself and the Knight were the difference between the two armies. 

By 2310.017M42 the Federal force had run out of heavy weapons and armour to deal with the giant walker, and soon found themselves in full retreat. Most were rescued by the Tallaxian Air Force who managed to airlift the remaining Librians and rejoin the fleet, but were forced to abandon their equipment and remaining tanks. Cybixx, the job done, did not waste any time consolidating his position. By now the Loyalist fleet were aware of the battle on the planet and would be moving to investigate. Unsure how the Destino fleet would react to the Crusade presence, Cybixx left for Vandrax. He had prevented the Federally from gaining a foothold and potentially helped the Loyalist cause, but if Vorushko’s plan should fail, then better for the Imperium to control the Foramen Minors than the heretical Federacy and their Tau allies. Meanwhile the morale in the Federal Battlegroup reached a new low, as the Alliance considered their response to yet another failure.