World Eaters push on Sathugar mines

On Mordecai Secundus the ongoing war between the Imperium and the forces of chaos had lapsed into another attritional stalemate with little in the way of sweeping offensives by 04.022M42. The Imperial position was strong, though the forces of chaos, led at least de facto by the Emerald Serpent, had the superior logistics thanks to the presence of the daemon world of Astralis. In mid 04.022M42 the World Eaters arrived once more, keen to create havoc and destruction, though less intent on changing the strategic situation in favour of the chaos coalition on the planet, and more intent on causing destruction to the Black Templars who they had followed to the world.

The Templars took position upon their arrival in the Central Sector of the Mordecai Secundus front, nominally to defend against any incursion against the Sathugar mines, but more importantly to establish a base of operations from where they could conduct offensive operations against their hated ancient foes in the form of traitor astartes. They got their chance relatively swiftly, as the World Eaters wasted no time in preparation and launched an immediate aggressive attack on the front lines, barrelling through the imperial defences and heading straight for the newly arrived loyalist marines.

The result was carnage, as the World Eaters caught the Black Templars of guard, massacring a company and forcing the loyalists to abandon their base and retreat back to their strike cruiser. The strategic situation however was little changed. The forces of chaos had managed to breach Kutuzov's lines, but in their haste to get to grips with their hated enemy the traitors were now over-exposed and under supplied. Kutuzov met with his war council and hastily prepared a counter attack.