Chaos make gains at Ergura's Fall

The forces of chaos were not acting in unison in the Hecate Gap campaign, but for the moment at least the various factions of the worshippers of the chaos gods recognised the importance of controlling the Hecate Gap. By mid 11.022M42 it was difficult to predict which faction would ultimately prevail, as strong Tau, Imperium and Chaos forces had been committed to the region, and the Orks had landed from the Rifts end of the Gap. For now the activity was going favourably for the worshippers of the dark gods, as the feared tide of Necrons, Orks and Tyranids had not materialised. This at least reduced the risk of a wave of xenos pouring into the Hadron Expanse, threatening the Tau, Imperium and Chaos plans.

The Chaos forces were not content to let the Tau or Imperium gain control of the Gap however, as this would make the exploitation of the valuable Rifts of Hecate much harder for them. Small Death Guard and Thousand Sons forces had already landed at Ergura's Fall and Haven, and as 11.022M42 progressed these forces gradually started to consolidate their power.

The Death Guard on Haven carried out a series of patrols, noting the positions of the Tau forces to the west but concentrating on disrupting the movements of the Imperium further south. One patrol managed to encounter a similar sized squad of Sky Lords, and proceeded to annihilate them in a one sided disaster for the astartes. The Sky Lords must have been unsettled by the appearance of the Death Guard patrol, as one marine even managed to make the basic error of not arming his krak grenade before throwing it at his enemy. All but one of the five man squad were eliminated by the Death Guard, and the Imperium were denied vital intelligence on the movements of Chaos forces on Ergura's Fall.

Later, the Thousand Sons began setting up a base of operations on the world. The Death Guard were content to allow them to do this, but the Dark Eldar perceived an opportunity to disrupt the chaos domination of the Hecate Gap, and take from them valuable sorcerous artefacts. As the Drukhari raid unfolded, several of the xenos race began to suspect this perceived opportunity had been deliberately confected by agents of the chaos god Tzeentch, as the fates seemed to conspire against the Eldar's dark kin. Their fire was inaccurate, and their raid quickly turned into a catastrophe. The Thousand Sons easily brushed aside the Drukhari attack, causing horrendous casualties to the raiders. With nothing to show for their efforts, the Dark Eldar abandoned their attack, allowing the forces of Tzeentch to widen their influence on Ergura's Fall.