The War of Stone and Iron: The battle for Gregland

Warsmith Lycurgus Stahl had received disturbing news, First Captain Darneth Lysander of the Imperial Fists had returned to the Aleph Sector, once again with the 3rd Company of the Imperial Fists. Worse, they had snuck into the Tarlius system and deployed at full strength on Gregland, formerly Tarlius III, fortifying around the defence lasers and spaceport. For Stahl, this would not stand and the Iron Warriors with take their iron to the stone of the Imperial Fists. The Iron Warriors diverted some their fleet from Minos to Tarlius and escorted the heavy landers carrying fresh troops. For days the defence lasers on Gregland traded fire with Stahl's ships, but without any Imperial fleet support there could be only one outcome - on the early morning of 0505.18M42 heavy landers deployed the Iron Warrior forces just outside the fortified spaceport.

The Imperial Fists deployed in their positions, an Aegis Defence line the mark that the Iron Warriors must not cross. Quickly in the gloom the Iron Warriors made their makeshift fortifications in the ruins opposite, with armoured divisions moving up soon after. Despite deploying at Company strength, the Imperial Fists had been unable to deploy much in the way of heavy armour and so, only a handful of Dreadnoughts along with a Deredeo provided armour support. In contrast, the Iron Warriors had deployed daemonic Decimators, Predators and Land Raiders, flanked by Rhinos, all filled with the madmen of the Forlorn. Stahl finally deployed himself, stepping from the Land Raider he elected to direct the fire of the predators and Havocs.   The Legionne Astartes of Stahl's Iron Warriors were outnumbered by Adeptus Astartes of the Imperial Fists, but they more than made up for this with armour and mortal slaves. 

Identifying the Dreadnoughts to be a danger, a Helldrake deployed from high-orbit and screeched across the battlefield blazing into one Dreadnoughts and engaging the other as the Land Raiders, Rhinos and Cultists all surged forward. The Daemon Prince swooped alongside and obfuscated the Land Raider from targetting augers as Rhinos deployed smoke against counterfire. The Iron Warriors opened fire, destroying a Dreadnought and injuring another.  Recognising the danger the Helldrake presented to the Imperial Fists defence, they directed the mass of their fire at it, bringing it down amongst their line with explosive results, causing further casualties to the fists. 

Bolter fire erupted from the Imperial Fist line, as Lysanders men engaged in bolter drill. The berserkers of the Forlorn,the Daemon Prince and cultist horde charged, many were cut down but not nearly enough as the entire line erupted into bloody melee. From his command position with the Havocs, Lygcurgus Stahl calmly directed the Charybdis Thorakitai to take key strategic positions throughout the area, preparing for future battles and fortifications, all the while the Imperial Fists fought for their lives. The Havocs laughed as they took shots of opportunity against the Imperial Fists, not caring if they hit the expendable mortals or Forlorn.  The Imperial Fists were pushed back. For two hours the melee raged until the bloodied Imperial Fists took  the defence line back and the last Berzerker cut down. However the carnage had given the time the Iron Warriors needed, bringing in even more reinforcements, it was clear the day was won and the planet lost. More than three quarters of the Imperial Fists 3rd Company had been cut down in the fighting, which had only recently been rebuilt from it's disastrous loss at Bastien four years ago, which was also at Stahl's hands. Despite the clear loss, Lysander refused to give ground, charging and crushing the skull of the Daemon Prince then out beyond the defence line, determined to avenge the loss of the 3rd Company. The heavy armour in the Iron Warriors, moved forward to meet him, cutting down the company ancient and the 3rd company banner, methodically closing their grip on the Imperial Fists. The Sorcerer Nicator met Lysanders charge with magics and blade, dodging the slower, grieving warrior and driving his Force sword directly into the Captains primary heart. Moments before Lysanders soul was torn from his body the Strike Cruiser Dorns Justita Fides teleported the near death Captain away.
The day nearing it's end the Imperial Fists surviving Astartes refused to give ground and were gunned down mercilessly by the laughing Iron Warriors. The Techmarine, the last surviving Imperial Fist, was cut down protecting the fallen Deredeo.

The defences of the Space Port overrun and the utter annihilation of the Imperial Fists left Gregland helpless. It was said in the coming days Warsmith Stahl would hurl the newly installed planetary Governor, the one that named the planet, from the highest building as a warning to any who dared defy him. As a last act of venom, Stahl broadcast that Tarlius III was to be known as “Darnath's Folly”, an insult to Darnath Lysander who still lived despite the Sorcerer Nicator's blade.

 - Mike Durrant