On Corticant general Veers was wary about further forays into the eldar territory around Bymarsh and Blackhollow for fear of further sudden incursions by the Ynnari. He did not want to risk a significant portion of his elite forces being cut off surrounded and reduced by a foe that had proved extremely adept at appearing from nowhere and savaging his armies. The Hammers of the Emperor however decided Veers was being too cautious. The only way to exit this situation on Corticant was to defeat the eldar in the field, then systematically find and eliminate all webway portals. Once this was achieved, Corticant would finally be safe.
The astartes had also been watching the eldar zone, knowing the Ynnari were small in number and could not be relied upon to be available in every crisis situation. Seeing that the only forces in Bymarsh were Craftworld forces, the Hammers of the Emperor launched another offensive on 1605.020M42.
As predicted, the Craftworld eldar used their mobile jetbike forces to ambush the apparently vulnerable column of impulsors, but the aeldari forces were caught off guard by the speed of the astartes counter attack. Intercessors pile out and quickly gained the centre of the battlefield just south of the settlement, opening fire on the eldar command units and night spinners who had closed too quickly with their foe. The eldar attempted to strike back, charging the marine line, but were met with fierce determination from the Primaris marines who refused to give ground. It was clear the imperial force had engineered this engagement to favour their durability, taking away the aeldari speed, and the eldar commander began to retreat. This act seemed to dishearten the warhost of Ul'Staer, whose resolve then seemed to falter. The astartes hunted the eldar commander down, killing him, and were on course for a crushing victory. Suddenly however, a troupe of harlequins entered the fray, taking down the Hammer's captain after he had narrowly escaped death from an exploding tank. Dazed from the blast, the captain of the space marines was cut down by the elite of the aeldari, but the harlequins soon suffered the same fate as their brethren, as the Hammers of the Emperor eliminated the entire eldar warhost.
Saddened by the loss of their captain, the Hammers of the Emperor had nonetheless recaptured Bymarsh, and only Blackhollow now remained an eldar stronghold. The astartes implored general Veers for one last mighty push to draw out the eldar forces and finish them once and for all. Veers now had to decide. Would he risk it all on one final effort?
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