Harsh conditions on Hexis

The situation on Hexis by the end of 11.018M42 was difficult for all factions. Much of the planet was unoccupied, covered in shifting sands and blasted by howling winds around the equator. Further north and south the environment was less severe, but even near the ruined mega cities of Praxis and Menthoteph, temperatures swung daily from searingly hot to far below freezing. The atmosphere of Hexis, thin and dry, was unable to hold on to the heat generated by fifteen hours of sweltering sunlight, and in the long night the temperature would drop so low that the air commonly froze out all its water vapour as frost. 

During the day temperatures reaching 55C baked the invaders, but the air was so dry that respiratory difficulties affected most of not all unprotected troops. At least with no native flora or fauna the risk of infection from indigenous species was zero. Even the ground itself was hostile to the invaders. Lacking ground water the surface consisted of uneven and punishing sand crystals, or extremely hard igneous rock. Both surfaces punished vehicles and men alike. 

The imperium had created a hydronic base and airstrip to the north of Praxis, out of range enemy artillery and able to support regular troop and equipment shipments. Water had to be shipped in, as there were no local supplies. The chaos base centred around the shifting sands and Stahl’s device, and in many ways was larger and better defended than the imperial base. Ork and reaver gangs regularly covered the base in dust from their vehicles careering around in manic sand races, while the base itself was accompanied by the wailing and moaning of thousands of indentured slaves who kept the base running. Every day hundreds would die of exhaustion and neglect, but their callous chaos overlords regarded their plight with indifference, so long as the base kept running. 

Conditions in the smaller federal base were better, but the main alliance base had by the end of 11.018M42 fallen to chaos and been corrupted by the ruinous powers. The second base in the city of Hexis was made up of more temporary structures, utilising what shelter and space the ruins of the Hakhor district could provide. This mostly consisted of a small strip, capable of accepting shuttles and orca transports, and dispersed temporary garrison buildings. Tau and federal technology enabled the alliance to make the most of the planet’s scant resources and the eldar webway portal allowed the xenos to come and go as they pleased. Despite this, the 50,000 or so alliance troops had to live under the constant threat of attack or bombardment, and air cover sorties were run almost constantly by the federal and tau air forces. 

Air superiority lay with the alliance, despite their having the smallest ground force on Hexis. Chaos did not have an organised fleet in the system and could only reinforce sporadically, while although admiral Barham had some aerial capability, he needed most of his attack craft for the protection of the fleet. The alliance, with a heavily air oriented fleet and the webway portal, were able to spare federal and tau aircraft for patrols while eldar strike wings could react at a moment’s notice. For now the skies over Hexis belonged to the alliance.