Imperium plan operation Restless Thunder

Operation Restless Thunder was planned by the Imperium to reestablish a presence in the Foramen Interdictum. The loss of Destino had caused critical supply issues in the Imperium Nihilis, leaving the armies in the Perseus Deeps and Hadron Expanse woefully short of equipment and ammunition. The operation, to be led by General Martinus Bessas, a personal friend of the sector commander. Lord Maximus knew the urgency of breaking through the Foramen, not least for his own survival as commander of the imperium in the sector. 

The operation would combine space and ground operations in an attack on Tarlius from the imperial side. Launching from Vastrid, the imperial fleet under Admiral Stark was given overall command of naval operations, while on the ground, Bessas would be responsible for the ground assault. 

Operation Restless

The operation in space coordinated the actions of three battlegroups and a division. Admiral Hughes was kept in charge of actions at Mordecai, but to some, the appointment of Stark to overall operations at Tarlius indicated Maximus and his entourage were seeking to gain tighter control of imperial operations sector wide. 

Stark appointed his battlegroup and that of Hector to protect the flanks of the imperial invasion. Meanwhile, a division of cruisers would blockade the jump areas of the system, while Admiral Gorshkov would lead the assault on the target, the space port at Tarlius IV. 

Stark had three main objectives, which would often prove contradictory and challenging to complete at the same time. First, to destroy the enemy fleet and force the enemy away from the target world. Second to land as many of the attacking forces on Tarlius IV, to exploit the bridgehead which would hopefully be secured by operation Thunder, and to avoid taking heavy losses. The competing objectives would in the end prove to be beyond the Admiral’s capability to deliver. 

Operation Thunder

To secure the bridgehead on Tarlius IV, with its vital space port and facilities, the imperium could count on the support of astartes forces. The Imperial Fists diverted from their reinforcement of Mordecai in order to aid the new operation at Tarlius, but knew that they would only be able to secure the spaceport. The Fists began preparing for their assault, expecting strong resistance from the Emerald Serpent. Defences were scanned, but it appeared the Iron Warriors were keeping their forces on Tarlius Prime, along with Stahl’s main battle fleet. 

Both operations would need to succeed in order to establish a presence in Tarlius, and eventually force a passage through the Foramen. 

The Imperium order of battle 

Operation Restless 

• Overall command: Admiral Stark 
• Battlegroup Gorshkov 
• Battlegroups Stark and Hector (flank protection)
• Chatfield division (blockade)

Operation Thunder 

• Overall command: Martinus Bessas
• Imperial Fists 4th company 
• 12 Novgorod Regiments: 10 Infantry 2 Cavalry supported by irregular formations of the faithful
• 2 Last of Sycorax Super Heavy Regiments 
• 4 Reserve Librian Regiments 

Chaos order of Battle

• Plaguefleet of Eschar
• Iron Warriors Perseus Fleet

Tarlius IV

Emerald Serpent: 

• Thousand Sons. Unknown strength 
• Daemonic allies 
• 6 Darrantine Regiments 

Host of Eschar 

• Brotherhood of Suppuration
• 4th colony Poxmongers