The Invasion of Gamordal: Operation Steel Veil

The invasion of Gamordal was the latest step in General Veers’ broader strategy to secure the left flank of the Perseus Deeps campaign. Following the capture of Enaloth, the Necron-controlled world of Gamordal represented the next major obstacle in the Imperium’s path to stabilising the region. Veers, a commander known for his calculated precision, initiated Operation Steel Veil to establish Imperial dominance over the region and ensure a firm staging ground for further offensives.

Initial Landings

On 1511.024M42, the Novgorod Guard, reinforced heavily with armoured and cavalry units, commenced the invasion of Gamordal. The Imperial Navy, under the command of Admiral Stark, had scoured the system and reported no Necron naval activity, enabling the Guard to secure a landing site on the South Plateau without serious opposition. Once ground forces were deployed, the Novgorod regiments set their sights on the industrial city of Southrine, home to vital mining facilities critical for supplying the ongoing Imperial war efforts on the world.

The Assault on Southrine

The Necron defenders of Gamordal were formidable, comprising legions of Immortals, Canoptek constructs, and Doom Scythe aerial support. Despite the absence of spaceborne interference, the ground resistance was fierce, and General Veers knew a direct strike on the Necron capital of Gamordal Prime was unfeasible. Instead, he ordered a systematic campaign to weaken the Necron presence by seizing critical resource hubs like Southrine.

The Novgorod cavalry, renowned for their fearless charges and self sacrifice, were the first to engage the enemy. In a bold but reckless maneuver, Colonel Lobanov led his regiment in an attempt to break through the Necron phalanx. Unbeknownst to the Imperials, the Necron force included a C’tan Shard, a fragment of a star god harnessed by the Necrons. As the cavalry approached, the C’tan unleashed a cataclysmic burst of energy that annihilated the regiment, including Colonel Lobanov himself, in moments.

The loss of the cavalry regiment was a devastating blow to the morale of the Novgorod forces. However, the Imperial armoured units responded swiftly. Leman Russ battle tanks and Basilisk artillery unleashed relentless firepower, methodically dismantling the Necron formations. Despite the C’tan’s formidable presence, the sheer weight of fire from the Imperial war machines eventually overpowered it, shattering its corporeal form and forcing its retreat into the Immaterium.

Victory in Southrine

With the destruction of the C’tan shard and the collapse of the Necron defenses, the Novgorod Guard pushed into the heart of Southrine. The mining city fell after several days of brutal urban combat, with the Imperial forces systematically dismantling remaining Necron constructs and silencing the eerie, automated defense systems. By 1611.024M42, Southrine was firmly under Imperial control, and the mining assets were secured for the Imperium.

Strategic Significance

The capture of Southrine provided the Imperium with a vital foothold on Gamordal. The city’s industrial capabilities were swiftly repurposed to support the ongoing campaign, with resource extraction diverted to fuel the Novgorod war machine. Furthermore, the victory demonstrated the adaptability and resilience of the Imperium’s forces against the Necrons’ technological superiority.

However, the campaign for Gamordal had only just begun. General Veers now faced the challenge of advancing toward Gamordal Prime, a stronghold thought to house advanced Necron tomb complexes and heavily fortified defensive positions. Despite the success of Operation Steel Veil, the cost had been significant, and Veers knew the Necrons would not allow another foothold to be taken without unleashing even greater horrors.