Battle of Tarlius: Prelude

At the end of 03.018M42 the war on Tarlius intensified with massive battles occuring across the system. By now, Warsmith Stahl had completed his fortifications on the outer two worlds and was watching with some dismay at the failure of his Chaos "brethren" to inflict a decisive blow on the Imperium. He identified the Grey Knights' base on Tarlius 1 a key target for assault, but even with his fleet and manpower the other forces of chaos were unwilling to aid him, given they were still bogged down in wars of attrition on Tarlius II and III. Stahl needed more men.

Stahl however had contacts. Ever since his humiliating defeat at Calliden the Warsmith had known of the necrons and their plans for the sector. Following the coming of the Cicatrix the Harakhty Dynasty had been shattered, and now Stahl decided to send an olive branch to his enemies. Contacting the emissaries of the Harakhty and Charnovokh dynasties, one of his messengers finally met a receptive ear in the necron court. The necrons were aware of the wars in the Foramen, but lacked the manpower to intervene. Here however there was an opportunity. In exchange for their aid to Warsmith Stahl's campaign, the Necrons merely requested that they be allowed to retrieve something from Tarlius II. His extra forces secured, Stahl began planning the major assault on the heavily defended Imperial base on Tarlius I.

The eldar of the Kel Sandros interpreted the skeins of fate with dismay. Stahl would probably achieve his goal and the Tarlius system would be added to the chaos empire, cutting off the Imperium from their bases in the Perseus Deeps, and almost certainly setting in motion a wave of chaos assaults on all the worlds in the Imperium Nihilis. Worse, the Necrons were interfering, which could only mean they had something to gain. Farseer Tarquil once again readied his warhost. They would go to battle, this time alongside the Mon'Keigh.

The Crusade had expected such an assault on the base at Tarlius I, and Cybixx and Vorushko had reinforced the base itself with Vostroyan Guard and Cybixx's Adeptus Mechanicus forces. More however would be needed, so the Grey Knights sent a distress call as far as they could. With barely hours to spare before imminent invasion, the Legio Ultima agreed to lend one Reaver titan. Only one, but its power was immense. All sides prepared for war.