Inconclusive fleet action at Mordecai

With the logistics and supply situation deteriorating for the Imperium at the Mordecai system the Imperial Navy were increasingly forced to run more convoy missions from the jump point to the Mordecai Secundus battlezone. This stretched the Imperial Fleet and gave them fewer opportunities to keep a sizeable battlegroup ready should the chaos forces venture out from their now blockaded base at Mordecai Docks. It came as no surprise then when the Emerald Serpent sent a significant force from their stronghold to probe imperial defences. They knew that if they could break through the screen, commanded by Admiral Gorshkov, the chaos vessels would wreak havoc amongst the weakly defended convoy lanes the Imperium relied on.

 

Gorshkov's fleet spotted their enemy early on, and through some accurate nova cannon fire quickly gained an advanage, crippling two chaos vessels before the chaos fleet managed to close within range. The Imperium could not rely on this to see off the Emerald Serpent however, and a cagey engagement ensued, as Gorshkov attempted to retain this advantage while the chaos vessels concentrated on pulling the engagement back in their favour. In the end, the imperial admiral was unable to prevent one of his dominator vessels from succumbing to sustained and concentrated fire, and was unwilling to risk his fleet in order to ensure a crushing victory.

 

Following the destruction of the dominator class cruiser, the chaos fleet were now in a tactically inferior position, and Gorshkov positioned his fleet in such a way that if the chaos battlegroup pressed the engagement, they would likely lose badly. Wisely the Emerald Serpent withdrew. The chaos fleet did not lose any vessels and destroyed an imperial cruiser, but they had taken considerable damage. The engagement was effectively a stalemate which neither side could claim to have secured victory. However, Gorshkov had ensured the imperial convoys remained unmolested.