The Zadoc Subsector - 2009_024M42

By 09.024M42, the conflict in the Zadoc Subsector had reached a critical juncture, drawing the focused attention of Imperial High Command. The situation had become increasingly dire, as the Imperium struggled to hold on to Hylas, the last bastion of Imperial control in the subsector. The encroaching forces of the separatist Federacy, in alliance with the Tau Empire, were threatening to overwhelm the beleaguered Imperial defenders. With resources stretched thin and the ability to send large reinforcements limited by the fractured state of the Imperium Nihilis, especially the ongoing resource needs in the Mordecai war against chaos, a strategic decision was made to call upon the Adeptus Astartes for aid.

Astartes Intervention

In response to this urgent request, several Space Marine Chapters were deployed to the Zadoc Subsector. Rather than conducting a direct assault on Hylas, the Dark Angels Chapter—known for their cold, calculating strategies—opted to target key assets in the surrounding region to weaken the Tau-Federacy alliance and disrupt their supply lines.

The first phase of the Dark Angels' intervention saw them launch lightning-fast assaults on two critical Tau outposts:

• Andar Station: A strategically vital space station that had served as a staging ground for Tau operations in the region. The Dark Angels overwhelmed the station’s defenders with ruthless efficiency, seizing control in a matter of hours.
• Waystation 233: Another Tau-controlled installation, vital for the supply routes to the front lines. The Space Marines’ attack was swift and decisive, and within days, the Imperium had gained control of this critical asset.

The success of these operations disrupted the Tau’s plans, but the Dark Angels' actions were not without consequence.

The Eldar Reaction

The raids carried out by the Dark Angels did not go unnoticed by other factions in the region. The Aeldari of the Mabb Nebula, the so-called Shadow Worlds, watched with growing concern as the Imperium encroached upon territories close to their own. The Aeldari have long been known for their manipulative and elusive nature, and this situation proved no different.

Seemingly preferring the Tau’s presence as a buffer against the mon-keigh (humans), the Aeldari launched a surprise raid on Waystation 233, swiftly removing the newly established Imperial presence. The speed and precision of the Eldar attack left little doubt about their intentions. This move strongly suggested that the Aeldari viewed the Tau as less of a threat to their interests than the Imperium, raising suspicions of an ongoing, albeit informal, alliance between the Tau Empire and the Aeldari.

The Struggle for Caitlen Station

Meanwhile, the Federal Forces of Hartak, a key element of the Federacy's military power, sought once more to secure a foothold on Caitlen Station, a vast and strategic space installation whose control could sway the balance of power in the entire subsector. However, they faced an unexpected and increasingly deadly foe: the Tyranids.

The bio-horrors of the Tyranid Hive Fleets had already infested much of Caitlen Station, controlling over half of the installation. Despite their efforts, the Federacy’s forces were driven back once again by the ravenous xenos, suffering significant losses in the process. The presence of the Tyranids on Caitlen Station complicated the situation for all factions, turning the installation into a deadly no-man’s land where even seasoned troops feared to tread.

Summary

By the end of 09.024M42, the situation in the Zadoc Subsector had only grown more complex. The intervention of the Adeptus Astartes had temporarily bolstered Imperial efforts, but the raid by the Aeldari on Waystation 233 hinted at dangerous new dynamics. The possibility of a Tau-Aeldari alliance loomed large, while the presence of the Tyranids on Caitlen Station continued to pose a significant threat to any attempt at securing the subsector.

Imperial High Command faced difficult decisions in the months to come. The strategic value of the Zadoc Subsector could not be overstated, yet the presence of multiple xenos factions, the rebellious Federacy, and the growing threat of Chaos meant that the Imperium’s grip on this part of the galaxy was growing increasingly tenuous. Whether the Imperium would manage to retain Hylas or lose its last foothold in the subsector would depend on the decisions made in the coming campaigns.

Welcome to the Aleph Sector

Welcome to the Aleph Sector 40k (universe) campaign. This is a sector wide "pick up and play" campaign which is largely narrative, but now has a number of specific theatres to cater for different campaign styles.

Sweeping conflict between Chaos and the Imperium in the Perseus Deeps is an ongoing and apparently endless struggle between the warriors of the Emperor and their hated traitors. The campaign theatre supports all 40k universe games including 40k, Kill Team, Battlefleet Gothic, AI and Epic. The main "campaign system" allows players to simply find an opponent, play the game then record the results with the GM - this generates "points", which the overall faction commander (or the GM if there isn't one), can spend on territory, strategic raids, fortifications or anything else feasible within the campaign. The larger the game - the more points, but the better your faction is doing gives you a bonus to your win. The Perseus Deeps is the main theatre of war in the sector, as it is close to the Cicatrix Maledictum and is key to the control of the sector.

More information on the "system" can be found here (you don't need to know any of this at all, but the GM (Duncan) works with faction commanders to make best use of their wins, and acts as an advisor, warning against strategically "unwise" moves - though is often ignored!)

In the Perseus Deeps and Zadoc subsectors the Tau, Imperium, Necrons, Orks and Chaos forces are battling one another for control over the region as the Tau launch their Perseus and Zadoc expansion sphere campaigns.

Meanwhile in the Hadron Expanse, the Tyranids, Orks and Necrons are seeking to pour through the Hecate Gap - a passageway through a set of warp storms that once sealed them off from the rest of the sector - while the imperium, chaos and Tau forces try to stop them, and the eldar try to seal off the region once and for all.

The whole map is however "live" and players who want to get into the narrative can drive their own plots and perhaps even trigger the next major theatre of war. Any and all games from matched play to one off narratives can be played - its as much as you personally want to make of it.

More information 

The Imperium

The Forces of Chaos

The Tau & Federacy

The Orks

The Necrons

The Tyranids

The Aeldari and Drukhari

And if you want background - there is a ton on this blog to delve into. The campaign has been running now since 2001, and the blog since 2006. In this campaign - there really is only war...

For a "current state" of the campaign check back to this blog. Autumn 2024 starts here: The Aleph Sector 09.024M42

The Aleph Sector - 09.024M42

### Detailed Strategic Report: Aleph Sector in 024M42

**Sector Overview:**

The year is 024M42, and the Aleph Sector stands at a critical juncture in the Era Indomitus. The Great Rift, also known as the Cicatrix Maledictum, has split the galaxy in two, casting the Aleph Sector into a state of constant conflict. Situated within the Ultima Segmentum, the sector occupies a strategic location astride the Cicatrix Maledictum. Thanks to the ancient relics of the Necron race, the Aleph Sector hosts two stable warp channels—crucial corridors that connect the Imperium Sanctus with the Imperium Nihilis. The control and security of these channels are of paramount importance, as they represent some of the few reliable means of communication and travel between the sundered halves of the Imperium.

**Sector Leadership and Political Divisions:**

The Aleph Sector is under the command of Sector Commander Cardinal Valentina Schumadz, a figure who must navigate the complex and often contradictory demands of war, faith, and survival. The sector is divided into several subsectors, each with its own strategic significance and challenges:

- **Vastrid Subsector (Imperium Sanctus):** Remains under firm Imperial control. It is a key stronghold and staging ground for Imperial operations within the sector, providing vital resources and reinforcements.

- **Valitane Subsector (Imperium Sanctus):** Also under Imperial control, Valitane serves as a bastion of faith and loyalty to the Emperor, anchoring the sector’s defenses against the encroaching threats from the Great Rift.

- **Aleph Subsector (Imperium Sanctus):** Now lost to the secessionist Federacy, an independent faction allied with the Tau Empire. This loss represents a significant blow to the Imperium’s control in the region, with the Federacy using the subsector as a base for further expansion.

- **Enceladus Subsector (Galactic Rim):** Dominated by Chaos forces and Ork warbands. The Imperium’s presence here has been largely eradicated, and the subsector serves as a hotbed for raids and incursions into neighbouring regions.

- **Zadoc Subsector (Imperium Nihilis):** Once an Imperial Stronghold all the Imperial Systems save one, Hylas, have fallen to chaos, the Tau Empire or the Tyranid Menace

- **Perseus Deeps (Imperium Nihilis):** Bastien, Parthenope and other systems have been retaken by the Imperial Crusade, the war on Mordecai continues to suck in resources from around the sector on both sides.

**Primary Warzones:**

1. **The Perseus Deeps:**

   - **Strategic Importance:** The Perseus Deeps is the most significant conflict zone within the Aleph Sector, where the forces of Chaos and the Imperium clash in a brutal and ongoing struggle. This region’s control is vital for both sides, as it offers access to key warp routes and resources.

   - **Imperial Command:** General Veers and General Kutuzov lead the Imperial crusade efforts. General Kutuzov is particularly focused on the war for Mordecai, where Imperial forces are locked in a grinding war within the hive cities of Mordecai Primaris. The protracted nature of this conflict has drained resources and manpower, leading to a stalemate.

   - **Xenos Threat:** On the eastern fringe of the Perseus Deeps, the Tau Empire, alongside Imperial forces, is attempting to carve out portions of the Necron Harakhty Dynasty’s empire. This complex, multi-front war adds to the sector's instability, as both the Tau and Imperium seek to exploit Necron weaknesses while fending off each other’s advances.

2. **The Zadoc Subsector:**

   - **Strategic Importance:** The Zadoc Subsector is a remote but crucial part of the Aleph Sector, far from the main Imperial hub worlds. The loss of this subsector would significantly weaken the Imperium’s position within the Imperium Nihilis, making its defense a priority despite its distance from Terra.

   - **Current Conflicts:** The last remaining Imperial outpost on Hylas is under severe pressure from Tau forces. The Tau Empire is aggressively expanding in this region, not only targeting Imperial holdings but also clashing with Ork forces in the Mabb Nebula. Additionally, the Tau continue their incursion into the Chaos-held world of Zadoc, a move that threatens to destabilize the entire subsector.

 

3. **The Hadron Expanse:**

   - **Strategic Importance:** The Hadron Expanse, located in the far eastern part of the Aleph Sector, is a highly contested region due to the presence of the Hecate Gap. This stable warp passage between the Rifts of Hecate and the Hadron Expanse is a critical route for all factions in the area, including the Imperium, Orks, Eldar, and Tau.

   - **Tyranid Threat:** The most pressing danger in the Hadron Expanse is the ongoing Tyranid invasion. The Tyranids are relentlessly pushing to dominate the Hecate Gap, and if successful, they would threaten multiple worlds in the region. The Imperium, along with other factions, faces the very real possibility of annihilation if the Tyranid swarm is not contained.

**Conclusion:**

The Aleph Sector in 024M42 is a microcosm of the greater struggle engulfing the galaxy during the Era Indomitus. With the Imperium beset on all sides by Chaos, secessionists, and xenos, the sector’s future is uncertain. Sector Commander Cardinal Valentina Schumadz faces the daunting task of holding the Imperium's fractured territories together while fending off threats that could spell the end of Imperial rule in the region. As war rages in the Perseus Deeps, the Zadoc Subsector, and the Hadron Expanse, the fate of the Aleph Sector hangs in the balance.

Sky Lords intervene on Hylas

Following the Space Wolf raids against the Federacy the Sky Lords responded to the request for aid at Hylas. By 07.024M42 the Alliance, led by Hartak forces had established a bridgehead in the far south of the world and were moving on the southern settlements of Desmond and Finlay. The astartes raid had slowed the Federal advance, giving the imperial forces time to build defensive lines along the only feasible route to the capital Eden's landing, but by late 07.024M42 the squats were once again advancing north.

The Sky Lords took an aggressive stance, rolling into Desmond in their heavily armoured land raiders, but they had severely underestimated the Hartak forces. Expecting mostly infantry and light vehicles the Sky Lords were wholly unprepared for the sudden appearance of a giant mining drill burrowing upwards into the armoured column. Pandemonium followed and although the asatartes terminators were able to cut down many of the Hartak infantry, the entire armoured column was destroyed, forcing the Sky Lords first company to evacuate Desmond.

By the end of 07.024M42 the Federacy had secured Desmond and Finlay looked likely to be indefensible. The war paused as a cold winter struck the southern hemisphere, but soon the battle for West Hallen and the approaches to Collingwood would begin in earnest.

Brutal fighting on Caitlen Station

+++ Subject: *After-Action Report on Caitlen Station Engagements*

++++ Report Filed By: **Captain Rhaegar Lysander**, Hammers of the Emperor Chapter  

++++ Date: *09.024M42*  

++++ Location: *Caitlen Station, Zadoc Subsector*

---

++++ Summary:

Caitlen Station, abandoned for several decades after the withdrawal of the Imperial presence in 977.M41, became a focal point of conflict during the rekindled Zadoc Subsector War in 024.M42. The station, a colossal spaceborne fortress once used as a forward operating base for Imperial fleets, was discovered to be infested with the xenos species known as Tyranids, specifically elements from Hive Fleet R’Lyeh. Initial attempts to secure the station were met with fierce resistance, and further conflict arose when forces from the Leagues of Votann, the Squats of Hartak, re-entered the fray. By 042.M42, much of the station lay under Tyranid control, with both Astartes and Votann forces in disarray.

---

+++ *Engagement Timeline:*

++++ **07.24M42 - Initial Reconnaissance and Bridgehead Establishment:**

After the successful establishment of bridgeheads in the Zadoc system, the Hammers of the Emperor Astartes Chapter made the decision to reclaim Caitlen Station, a strategically vital platform capable of supporting further war efforts across the subsector. Initial scans showed the station to be devoid of human life, with its systems inactive. However, early reports from recon squads indicated the presence of biomass signatures consistent with Tyranid infestation.

The *Hammers of the Emperor* dispatched three companies—led by Captain Rhaegar Lysander—to investigate the station’s depths. Upon boarding, resistance was immediate and ferocious. Brood creatures and Lictor-class organisms ambushed the initial strike force in the primary docking bays, triggering brutal corridor combat. The presence of Hive Fleet R’Lyeh was confirmed, but the Tyranid forces displayed an unusual tenacity, suggesting a higher degree of synaptic control deep within the station.

++++ **07.024M42 - Defeat of the Hartak Squats:**

Simultaneously, the Squats of Hartak—who had previously contested the Astartes during the early stages of the Zadoc War—were tracked attempting to establish a foothold near the station's engineering sectors. The Hammers of the Emperor launched a decisive strike that broke the back of the Votann forces, forcing them to retreat from the sector. While victorious, the victory was pyrrhic. Shortly after the Hartak defeat, Hive Fleet R’Lyeh surged, launching counterattacks through the labyrinthine station’s maintenance shafts, grinding the Astartes advance to a halt.

++++ **08.024M42 - Stalemate and the Arrival of the Sky Lords Chapter:**

By early 042M42, the Tyranid presence had expanded throughout Caitlen Station. The Hammers of the Emperor, entrenched in the upper tiers, held a stalemate against relentless Tyranid waves. Swarms of Genestealers and Hormagaunts harried their forces, and several key sectors were lost.

The Sky Lords Chapter, arriving as reinforcements, launched a bold flanking action, attempting to breach the station from the far opposite side. Their entry was swift and methodical, but it was soon discovered that the Hartak Squats had regrouped and were also attempting to reclaim their lost holdings within the station.

++++ **09.024M42 - The Battle of the Dual Incursion:**

The Sky Lords’ boarding parties encountered the Hartak forces in the transit halls of the lower levels, sparking intense close-quarters combat. Both sides, desperate to control Caitlen Station’s critical command sectors, fought a pitched battle through the reactor conduits and ammunition storages. As these two forces were locked in combat, the Tyranid infestation erupted once more.

The sheer numbers of the Hive Fleet overwhelmed both Astartes and Votann forces. Gargoyle flocks and Carnifex shock troops stormed through the warring factions, breaking their lines and scattering survivors. The Sky Lords’ command squad was wiped out, and only a few survivors from both the Astartes and Hartak forces managed to fall back to the remaining defensible points of the station.

++++ **Current Situation - 09.024M42:**

As of the time of this report, the Tyranid infestation has claimed much of Caitlen Station. Both the Hammers of the Emperor and Sky Lords have been forced to withdraw to isolated strongpoints near the station's central spine. The Hive Fleet’s bioforms now control approximately 75% of the station, with the remaining forces scattered and isolated. Attempts to regroup and launch counter-assaults have been severely hampered by the Tyranid synaptic network that has taken root deep within the station’s substructure.

Preliminary analysis suggests that a full-scale purge of Caitlen Station may now be required, potentially involving Exterminatus protocols should the infestation prove impossible to contain.

---

+++ *Tactical Analysis:*

 - **Hive Fleet R’Lyeh’s Tactics:** The Tyranids of Hive Fleet R’Lyeh have demonstrated remarkable adaptability in the station's environment. They have utilized the narrow corridors and confined spaces of Caitlen Station to devastating effect, cutting off Astartes and Hartak forces from coordinated attacks. Their use of ambush tactics, particularly Lictors and other stealth organisms, has resulted in significant casualties to forward reconnaissance teams.

  - **Votann Interference:** The presence of Hartak forces complicated the Hammers of the Emperor’s operations significantly. While these abhumans were initially defeated, their reappearance during the Sky Lords’ attack created an opening for the Tyranids to strike from the shadows. This conflict delayed the Astartes from consolidating control over key sectors, allowing the xenos to gain critical ground.

  - **Sky Lords’ Tactical Missteps:** The Sky Lords Chapter’s decision to launch their assault on the station without fully coordinating with the Hammers of the Emperor led to unnecessary friction. The divided efforts allowed the Tyranids to exploit the resulting chaos, causing substantial losses to both Astartes forces.

---

+++ *Recommendations:*

1. **Immediate Reinforcement:** A significant force of Imperial Guard and Mechanicus support is required to stem the tide of the Tyranid infestation. If left unchecked, Hive Fleet R’Lyeh may be able to utilize the station as a staging ground for further incursions into the Zadoc Subsector.

2. **Orbital Strike Considerations:** If the infestation spreads further into Caitlen Station’s structural core, orbital bombardments may be necessary. Consultation with the Inquisition is recommended to determine the station's long-term strategic viability.

3. **Full Exterminatus Preparation:** Should the Tyranid infestation become irredeemable, a full-scale Exterminatus may be required. While the station's significance as a strategic asset is considerable, the potential risk of Hive Fleet R’Lyeh utilizing it as a bio-manufacturing site outweighs its value. Involving the Ordo Xenos is advised to assess whether a targeted strike can cripple the hive structures growing within the station.

---

**Conclusion:**

Caitlen Station has devolved into a dangerous and contested zone, dominated primarily by the Tyranid forces of Hive Fleet R’Lyeh. The failure to fully secure the station early on, combined with the unexpected re-entry of the Hartak Votann forces, has left Imperial control fractured. Without decisive action, the Tyranid infestation will continue to grow unchecked, threatening not only the station but the broader war efforts in the Zadoc subsector.

**Actionable Intelligence Required:** Further scans of Caitlen Station’s deeper structures are necessary to locate synaptic nodes or a potential Hive Tyrant. A targeted kill team strike could sever the fleet’s command capabilities, offering a final opportunity to reclaim the station before more extreme measures are needed.

**End of Report.**  

*Captain Rhaegar Lysander*  

*Hammers of the Emperor Chapter*

Setbacks at Mordecai

By 07.024M42 its all going a bit wrong for Kutuzov. Death Guard defeat Novgorod around North Averbrike, seeding the area with noxious ground hugging spores slowing the imperial advance. Meanwhile the Angels of Vengeance fail to disrupt a tzeentch ritual which turns much of the Menoria Hive sprawl into a chaotic shifting miasma, again making any hope of breakout more challenging.

in the middle of 024M42 the Imperial campaign on Mordecai Primaris was beginning to bog down. By 07.024M42 the chaos defenders had radically changed their strategy and this had immediate negative effects on Kutuzov's advance. The Imperium were now stuck in two landing zones, controlling most of North Averbrike and Menoria Hive, but unable to effect a breakout across the wastes between the cities. The wastelands of Mordecai Primaris, while easy to traverse for the Imperial armies, were full of secret caches and tunnels, and provided the imperial armies with almost no cover from roving chaos air strikes. The Imperium still had a strategic logistical advantage, but without any air bases as yet on the ground, the time delay to scramble fighters added to the difficulty for Kutuzov's soldiers, who sat in defended positions within the cities. The campaign was going nowhere.

To make matters worse, small patrols by Kutuzov to secure the immediate perimeters around the hives suffered serious setbacks between 07.024M42 and 09.024M42. At North  Averbrike, the Novgorod Guard were defeated by the Death Guard of the House of Eschar, who the proceeded to seed the entire area with noxious ground hugging spores. further slowing any imperial advance.

In Menoria Hive Sprawl the disciples of the Changer of Ways undertook a ritual, despite being interrupted by the Angels of Vengeance, turning much of the outskirts of the city into a reality defying shifting miasma of unnatural constructs and hidden dangers. Advancing here was also seriously impaired. Back at Imperial HQ on Bastien, General Kutuzov was once again coming under serious pressure to deliver results, as the campaign dragged on into its sixth year.