Tau attack thwarted at Dnatha

On Dnatha the Tau forces led by Commander Malkaor prepared to take advantage of the strategic situation the Imperium now found themselves in by launching a rapid invasion of the inner worlds, including Dnatha Prime, the heart of the Imperial presence in the system with a population of several million.

 

Malkaor's troops landed without facing much in the way of resistance, bolstering the Tau belief that with the collapse of the Foramen Interdictum imperial forces on the wrong side of the rift were close to collapse. Over confident, the Tau high command did not commit their full force to the invasion, keeping several units of crisis suits in reserve in case pockets of resistance flared up.

 

The Imperium however were feigning weakness. As the Tau landed they were walking into a carefully laid trap organised by the Hammers of the Emperor. Suddenly a column of astartes impulsors surged into view, making straight for the tau positions. The space marine surgical strike was delivered with accuracy and devastating firepower, concentrated at the heart of the Tau positions. The Tau, used to having the edge on manouverability, found their positions overrun and their headquarters eliminated. Malkaor did now commit his reserves in an attempt to halt the advance of the space marines, but this was far too late. The Imperium, listening in to the Tau communications, determined the Tau were about to pull out, and rather than risk astartes casualties, the space marines for once let the xenos go, while the Tau were left to ponder how such an easy invasion had gone so wrong.