Eldar strike back on Cruthynia

By 11.020M42 the main Imperial task force being send to Cruthynia had still not materialised. Bureaucratic delays, warp storms and lack of transport ships had delayed the Imperial Guard and mechanicus elements of the planned invasion force, and many in the Imperial hierarchy began to become frustrated with the lack of progress on something which really needed a swift response.

 

Faster moving forces continued to reach the system, with the addition of Carcharadon and Sisters of Battle task forces as 11.020M42 progressed. Both these forces however did not work well with others, and pursued their own agendas when arriving in system. The Aeldari took advantage of this, first roundly defeating the Carcharadons in a sudden and unexpected assault, leading with Harlequin elements. The astartes attempted to reinforce their position utilising their drop capacity from orbit, but the speed and versatility of the Harlequin force rendered this counter assault impotent, and the space marines were forced to withdraw from Cruthynia Prime, abandoning the base they had constructed.

 

The Sisters of Battle were not informed by the Carcharadons of the Aedlari and Harlequin threat, so the eldar attack on them some days later came as a complete surprise. The Carcharadons were the only force with any intelligence on the Harlequin force, and the lack of communication between the Imperium's various task forces, led to a second defeat on Cruthynia Prime. With their bases swiftly assaulted whenever they arrived, the Imperium were forced back into space, unable to search any of the ruins for the Nexus Arrangement. Meanwhile, as the majority of the necrons still remained in hibernation, the Aeldari were slowly working out the subtle clues that would lead them to where the ancient artefact rested.