Chaos gain control of Boltarean

After the initial invasion of Boltarean, the Emerald Serpent faced new opposition in the form of the Crusade, as the Adeptus Mechanicus finally showed their hand in the fighting. Accompanying the Crusade Mechanicum was a small contingent of none other than the Carcharadon Astra. It had been thought that the most brutal of Vorushko's "hounds" had been lost in the Noctis Aeterna, but here was living proof that the astartes had returned and rejoined the Inquisitor's side.

The Emerald Serpent however were not overawed by the return of the astartes chapter, and the initial assault by the Crusade was an abject failure. Facing certain slaughter and being surrounded by both mortal and daemonic forces, the Crusade quickly abandoned the landing, having grossly underestimated the size of the chaos force now in possession of the main planet. Meanwhile, a small Crusade outpost was installed on an outer world, a foothold from which later strikes may be launched.

The eldar too finally intervened as Magnus and the Emerald Serpent built up their base on the barren world of Boltarean, and came ever closer to uncovering the secret of the Necron device that lay beneath the surface. Alarmed, the Kel Sandros Craftworld called upon its allies to investigate, but Magnus had been listening. He called in his own allies, and instead of arriving in secret on Boltar 3, the eldar emerged from the webway to face an angry and violent Word Bearer warband. Brutal fighting erupted at the gateway, and the eldar were forced to withdraw. Magnus was making sure no one interfered with his plans for Boltarean.