Determined Novgorod assault takes Tarlius 4

Following operation Restless Thunder the imperium has secured a tenuous foothold on Tarlius IV. However, many fortified areas still remained in chaos hands following their reinforcement by the plaguefleet. 

General Bessas had deployed several Regiments of Novgorod Guard following the capture of the space port on the planet, and on 2704.019M42 he began his offensive against the remaining chaos strongpoints. Expecting forces of the Death Guard, it now transpired that the Emerald Serpent has been deployed in force by the Plaguefleet, rather than the Host of Eschar. 

The Novgorod advanced in measured fashion towards the chaos lines under the cover of a heavy artillery barrage. This appeared to be going well, until a Lord Discordant and champion of chaos threw themselves into the advancing imperial line. Both were cut down, and the Emerald Serpent’s marine force took heavy casualties from imperial artillery and well placed lasgun fire. 

It was while the Novgorod were regaining their composure from initial chaos counter attack, that the real counter attack struck. Tzeentch terminators and Obliterators focussed their attention on the imperial centre, causing disarray in the guard lines, and killing the Colonel in charge of the assault. This was clearly an attempt to decapitate the imperial advance, and it almost worked. However, while the centre and left flank faltered, the Novgorod right flank remained in good order, attacking the Obliterators and terminators from the flank. Supported by their intact artillery the chaos counter attack was successfully blunted by the Novgorod Guard, and although the remaining chaos commanders launched a last desperate assault, the chaos attempt to stop the imperium from taking their last strongpoints had failed. 

By 3004.019M42 the planet was fully secured, and the imperium could make the space port operational. Acting as a temporary fleet base and jumping off point for convoys bound for the Imperium Nihilis, Bessas had secured a supply route through the Cicatrix once more. Convoys still faced a dangerous journey, as Paradorn and Mordecai remained in chaos hands, and there was the ever present threat of re-invasion from the inner worlds of the Tarlius system. However, the imperium had been spared from total collapse, at least for a time.