+++ 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*
No comments:
Post a Comment