Chaos expand Praxis domination

By mid 02.019M42 the central section of Praxis, though fortified, was becoming surrounded by imperial forces. The Grey Knights had taken the surface levels in the east and south of the city and underground imperial forces were beginning to fortify the catacombs. Realising the risk of encirclement, small chaos forces began probing the imperial defences close to the centre of Praxis in order to stop the imperium from surrounding the vital location. 

The main actions were led by the World Eaters, who began by infiltrating the subterranean levels of the city with cultists backed up by traitor astartes. In the main underground complex they came into contact with the Dark Angels who put up a stubborn defence. However the Loyalist Astartes, often referring to the cultists as “potatoes”, underestimated the chaos forces and were eventually surrounded and defeated after a protracted skirmish that lasted hours. 

Meanwhile on the surface the Death Guard, leading a horde of poxwalkers fell upon an unsuspecting Skitarii force who were consolidating imperial defences around the central region, in preparation for a later assault on the chaos fortress. Shocked by the sheer number of the plague infected, and unable to stand before the power of the few traitor astartes driving their host forward, the adeptus Mechanicus force was driven back, yielding the north of Praxis centre to the traitors. Now only the Sky Lords held the western quarter, holding open a narrow supply route between the forces in southern Praxis and the imperial lines to the north. 

The World Eaters quickly used their success in the catacombs to surprise the astartes, who were caught from behind by cultists and traitor marines. A furious fight erupted in the city streets and underground vaults of the city, with the traitors overcoming the Sky Lords defences and pushing the imperium out of the city centre. By 1702.019M42 the imperium has lost the underground catacombs and the west of central Praxis, cutting off Konev’s forces in the court of the city. Chaos has reestablished dominance over the city and the device chamber, and the Loyalist positions in the city were becoming perilous.