Heavy fighting at Palantir

The war in the Hadron Expanse outside of the Lysis system raged on in 11.019M42, with General Percival's army finally getting the upper hand against the alliance forces. First, new Novgorod forces were deployed to the system, and immediately made an impact, devastating the Tau forces on Bree, and securing the planet's spaceport and defences for the Imperium once more. The increased Imperial Guard presence in the system allowed the Hammers of the Emperor to take up a more reactive position, never staying still long enough for the Tau forces to bring them to battle. This paid dividends at first, and the astartes began plans to attack Dale, the last alliance held world. However they were about to fall into a trap.

As soon as the space marines made landfall on Dale, they did not find the tau waiting for them. Instead they were ambushed by the Kel Sandros eldar, whose intervention for a second time showed their resolution to the alliance cause. In previous engagements, the astartes had brushed aside the xenos raiders, but this time the aeldari attacked with precision and ferocity. The landing force was soon on the defensive, and several squads of the Hammers of the Emperor were wiped out as the Imperium frantically raced to re-embark their invasion force. Dale remained in the hands of the alliance, and the ever changing fortunes of both sides at Palantir continued to frustrate either side's attempts to bring the campaign to a conclusion.