The Grey Knights were not the only force trying to take advantage of preparations for the invasion of Hexis at Echo Reach. On 0811.018M42 forces of the Emerald Serpent suddenly appeared at the outer tau base of Naitonaito. Fortunately for the tau the fortified base had been preparing for Malkaor’s expedition to join alliance forces at the Lysis system, so the tau were well prepared for the unexpected assault.
The Emerald Serpent attacked with their usual vigour, once again employing the fell forces of nurgle, but the long range firepower of the tau could not be overcome, and the chaos invasion of Echo Reach was driven back, before being cleansed entirely. The action did however change the tau high command’s view of the Hexis campaign. Unwilling to leave Echo Reach poorly defended, the leaders of the fire caste refused to send any forces to aid the alliance in second wave landing at Hexis, leaving the eldar and federal forces alone to accomplish the task. Similarly, following their defeat, the Emerald Serpent were in no condition to lead forces to Hexis, meaning Warsmith Stahl would have to look to his unreliable ork allies to fend off both the alliance, and the enormous imperial force now heading to the Lysis system.
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