Apocalypse on Melberg!

Operation "Northern Thrust"
The operation to take the northern territories in the Terris Kingdom was always part of Longstride's overall plan for Melberg, but the thrust towards Atlas Prime was taking priority.

Then an unexpected turn of events meant that the scheduled push to Terracon suddenly received immediate attention. Since the defeat of Jeffries' armes in Narmala the Tau had unwittingly passed over an Eldar Webway portal. On the eve of the 23rd a cloaked figure arrived at the Tau forward HQ, bypassing the security around the complex.

The very next day Commander Longstride had agreed with Shadowstrike that the help of the Eldar would be accepted, even though the aliens were opposing their efforts in the Perseus Deeps. The Eldar had assured the Tau that they wanted nothing in return and that they only wished to see the Tau victorious on Melberg. They didn't say why.

On the 27th a hastily prepared attack began, with the Eldar attacking troop formations along the coast while Tau Hunter Cadres penetrated deep into Terris Kingdom. Initially the Imperium fell back rapidly, alarmed at the sudden intervention of the Eldar, but finally an immense battle coalesced out of the confusion around the city of Terracon. Three Space Marine Chapters also came to the aid of the Imperium as they desperately tried to halt the allied alien advance. The Dark Angels massed in strength, bringing more than half their chapter to bear in the north, while the Templars Redemptus and Emerald fists also bore the brunt of the fighting.

The massed forces of the Tau and Eldar converged all around the city and the largest set piece battle of the war so far unfolded around the city. Lord Commander Lenord threw his entire northern defence force into the battle, including the Librian 101st, 57th, 7th and 8th Grenadiers, as well as the Whettis and Terris Kingdom armies. Several thousand armoured vehicles took part in an apocalyptic and devastating tank battle in the plains outside the city.

The Tau were badly mauled in the battle as the Space Marines held the centre ground, but Lenord's armoured thrust, aimed at delivering a fatal blow to the Xenos alliance was suddenly and brutally blunted by massed and manouverable Eldar forces. Hundreds of Jetbikes and othe Eldar vehicles, supported by a mighty and rarely seen Revenant Titan tore into the Imperial armou, destroying more than two thirds of their number. At the same time two Super-Heavy tanks detonated in a shower of debris and fire.

The apocalyptic battle raged for hours with utter carnage on both sides until the Imperial forces were spent. The remaining Marines, mostly Dark Angels, fell back into Terracon, now reduced to rubble, as the Emerald Fists and Templars Redemptus forces tried to assess just how bad their losses had been. Of the Whettis and Terris Kingdom armies there was very little left. The Imperial Guard and PDF forces withdrew north and south, leaving Terracon surrounded as the Tau beseiged the city. Then, just as suddenly as they had arrived, the Eldar left, leaving their broken and twisted remains of their alien equipment littering the battlefield among the hundreds of burning Imperial tanks. The Carnage had also hurt the Tau badly, but now the entire northern half of Melberg was almost in their grasp.


Operation "Xyston"
While the Eldar assisted Shadowstrike in the north, Commander Longstride began the mch awaited assault towards Atlas Prime. He had no Eldar support but was confident he could overcome the forces of General Cunningham in the South. Cunningham however had also received support from the Emerald Fists and Dark Angels chapters and just as the Tau began their assault he launched his own counter-attack.

The eastern front had been so quiet for so long that the Tau hadn't realised just how strong the Imperial forces had become. The battle started with an accurate artillery barrage from the Basilisks of the redeployed 14th AVR regiment. In contrast to the woeful accuracy of the Librian artillery the Basilisks of the 14th AVR took a heavy toll on the Tau hammerheads and crisis suits as they waited in their attack positions.

The battle developed in a confusing and fragmented way along a broad front. Reeling the Tau tried to make good their shaky start to operation Xyston but were all too soon reacting to events rather than shaking them. Crucially the Tau forces deployed to meet the threat of the 7th Coronia Armoured Regiment which threatened to break through their left flank, rather than concentrating their forces towards the trategic objectives in the centre of the front which were weakly defended by the Imperium. By the time they did, belatedly, realise their mistake the Imperial high command had brought in fresh reserves, deployed by drop pod, in the centre of the front running across Coronia.

In the south the Tau faired badly as the 14th AVR massacred thousands of Tau fire warriors using massed Hellhound and Stormtrooper attacks. Already by the end of the first day Operation Xyston was a shambles and the Tau were in retreat. Though taking severe casualties the Imperial forces, aided by Astartes units, had done terrible damage to the armies of Longstride, devastating his Hunter Cadres and eliminating hundreds of Tau skimmer tanks.

Using members of the Officio Assassinorium to confuse and disorient the Tau. The Imperial commander had gained the strategic upper hand and soon began to exploit the weakness in the Tau centre. By dawn on 291007 the Imperial forces had cut a swathe into the Tau lines, broken through and reached the Gulf of Gwendelia. Once again the oilfields of the Coronia peninsular were in Imperial hands and Corunium was in danger of being cut off.

In the north and south the bloody fighting tailed off as both sides tried to consolidate their lines and forces. Though they had lost a huge swathe of territory in the north the Imperium had successfully turned the war in the south into a war of attrition, something the Tau could not afford to let happen. While Longstride tried to shore up his southern front Shadowstrike was already planning the next phase of the war. It would not be just yet however as the Tau no longer had sufficient forces to mount a significant offensive on any front, though fortunately for them, neither did the Imperium. The bloody war on Melberg would go on.

C.H.E.E.S.E. campaign - Key Systems...

SKERA - A New Tau colony?

The Skera system was colonised long ago during the first expansion of humanity. It resides in the Perseus Deeps, far from stable warp lanes and close to strange anomalies in the depths of the dangerous area. Skera has one habitable planet which is very close to Earth in its climate and size, probably du to terraforming. In the distant past the system was lost from the Imperium and its once great cities fell into ruin. Now, during the Tau exapnsion into the Deeps Commander El Shi has found a small medieval level population of humans, nestling close to the ruins of their ancient civilisation.

The Tau have immediately incorporated the planet into their sphere of influence, ruled from Cernunnos. However they have been beset by Eldar and Chaos raids as all races search for the Solar Enslaver. There are clues on the planet as beneath the ground giant and ancient alien caverns signal that once Skera was home to a Necron population. As the Tau excavate these ruins, Eldar and Chaos forces frequently raid from unknown bases in the deep forests of the planet.

Without Melberg, and the subsequent conquest of the Zadoc subsector, the Tau will be hard pressed to expand further into the Deeps, having already added Skera, Manir and Parius to their set of small colonies. With these new bases, Cernunnos is at ful stretch governing, and protecting them, and the existing new colonies of Lucardium and Paratea.

KENDRENEC - Chaos world and location of the trumpet

Kendrenec was once a lush and green world before its collision with an asteroid some 10 millennia ago. The impact was enough to destabilise the planet's orbit, bringing Kendrenec closer to its sun. Ever since the has been a scorched desert, devoid of all life, but still its atmosphere contains oxygen, as it will for a few million more years.

Kendrenec was founded as a penal colony some 300 years ago and soon developed a reputation for harbouring some of the most twisted and evil criminals of the sector. The inmates' lives were usually short and violent, forced to mine the planet for the few minerals it contained. Kendrenec was nonetheless one of the most productive planets per head of population, until two years ago.

Using an uprising by the prisoners to good effect, the Chaos traitor Tragaen (calling himself lord) overthrew the few Adeptus Arbites on the planet and claimed it as his own. The prisoners found themselves no better off than before, and conditions on the planet have deteriorated since the invasion. Lord Tragaen's history can be found elsewhere. The traitor controls a significant fleet and army of plague marines and from Kendrenec has launched several attacks into Imperial territory over the last few years. The planet is considered a major threat and is the source of the warp gate attacks which crippled Aleph 4.

Kendrenec is now too powerful to retake and is a potential launch pad for a black crusade into the sector. However recent abortive assaults by the Iron Warriors and Dark Exterminators have lessened the Chaos threat and reduced the Chaos fleet to a shadow of its former self.

However, the Kel Sandros Eldar have placed the Trumpet, part of the Solar Enslaver, deep within the fortress world's capital, a haven of Chaotic forces and Traitor Marines. Many have left to join the Moonface Catechism, but the city of Kel'Ahir is still heavily guarded and fortified. Only the Eldar know that it also harbours part of the most powerful weapons in the galaxy.

Longstride's call to Arms - Melberg

To my Brothers and Sisters of the Fire Caste, The planet of Melberg has been the focus of a significant Tau military build-up, and now we are ready to launch Operation Xyston; an attack east towards the Imperial capital city, Atlas Prime. This strike will see our forces clash with the Imperium of Man on a scale never before seen in the campaign. Our victory here will consolidate the foothold on Melberg, deal a crippling blow to the Imperial war-effort, and ensure the ultimate triumph of the Greater Good. Commander Longstride.

Friday Night - Apocalypse!

Melberg: Army Group North surrenders

Narmala Airlift

Over one thousand planes took off on the first day of the airlift, transporting over 500 tonnes of supplies on 1210.007M42. It was as if the entire Imperial Navy, fighters, bombers, transports and troop carriers had all sortied together in one giant wave, which wasn’t far from the truth. The bold act, sending up practically the entire force, caught the Tau completely by surprise. Most of their air crews were resting when the airlift began at dawn, and even by the end of the first day the Tau had only mounted a piecemeal response.

32 Imperial aircraft were shot down on 1210.007M42 out of over a thousand. However the next day things began to change. Realising the Imperium did not intend to abandon Army Group North to its fate the Tau high command attempted to take the initiative, throwing up a wall of Barracudas in the path of the supply convoy. It still wasn’t enough. By the end of the second day the Imperium had lost 57 more aircraft but another 718 tonnes of supplies had got through.

In a final gambit the Tau air caste put up their entire force, including those defending the fleet, determined to destroy the Imperial Navy once and for all. Fully two thousand craft swirled above the skies of Narmala on the 13th and 14th, with carnage over the plains. On this day the battle was bloody. Only 23% of Marauders, and 34% of Valkyries got through with their cargo and only 312 tonnes of supplies were delivered to the troops in the pocket.

However, despite shooting down 318 aircraft the Tau also suffered losses, losing over 300 of their planes. Neither side could hope to sustain such casualties and on the 15th only a small night convoy of transport aircraft delivered 60 tonnes.

It was now obvious that the Imperium could not hope to supply the trapped men indefinitely, but they had bought them some time. The Blood Ravens had landed in the pocket, their Thunderhawks left unmolested as the air battle raged around them. The Adeptus Astartes would now be able to carve a supply route into Terris Kingdom and Whettis, if only they could destroy the Hunter Cadres holding the narrow strip of land which separated Army Group North from the rest of the Imperial Command.

Meanwhile the air supply train continued, gradually increasing back up to the levels seen in previous days. Then, on the 20th, the Tau launched one final attack on the Imperial Navy.

This attack took the Imperial Navy by surprise and centred on the Airfields around Terracon. Despite barve and heroic efforts the Tau air caste massed co-ordinated assaults on the Imperium and by the end of 2210.007M42 the Imperial Navy had lost over two thirds of their strength. No more supplies got through and on 2710.007M42 General Jeffries met with Commander Longstride where he offered the surrender of Army Group North. Longstride accepted and over 100,000 men were led into captivity.

C.H.E.E.S.E. Campaign

+++Agent 57 Communication+++

+++2310.007M42+++

+++Subject: Perseus Deeps Activity+++

My lords, the situation in the Perseus Deeps is becoming desperate. Already the Eldar, from the Saim Hann craftworld and another, as et unidentified group, have discovered the location of part of the device. I am certain of it. What they plan to do is uncertain but agents who have infiltrated their ranks (no mean feat) have discovered that they are massing in the webway, destined for Kendrenec, the Chaos fortress.

Additionally a number of races have encountered the Tyranids in their investigations, and few, save the Eldar, have bested them. It is the Tau however who, after the Eldar, are making more discoveries.

The Tau now have foothold bases in the Manir system, having defeated a Blood Ravens scoutin force. They also hold the Parius system, the enigmatic commander Hawkeye having seen of Chaos and Eldar threats. Now we see the Eldar attacking their one time allies. On Skera the situation is less clear cut as El Shi and another Tau Shas'O have been in action against both the Death Guard traitor Chapter and the mysterious Eldar. Something of note must exist on that planet, but what?

As ever I will keep you informed. If the Tau were to harness the power of the Solar Enslaver I fear for the delicate balance of power in the sector, even against the might of the old foe. We might find Tau natural allies, but I still harbour misgivings over their expansionist policies, even though they have been checked in the Aleph sector by the UFP, the one force taking no interest in the Deeps! Perhaps our agents should contact them and warn them?
+++Message Ends+++

Librian V - Acronia Valley Cleansed

On 2210.007M42 the Blood Ravens landed on Libria V to rapturous applause. Three companies then advanced through the debse swampy vegetation in the Acronia valley, systematically wiping out all Tyranid creatures they came across. At one point they were assaulted by some of Hive Fleet Triton's most powerful creatures, but the marines took them down in close combat after using lascannon wielding dreadnoughts to obliterate a winged Hive Tyrant. In one day, with minimal losses, the Acronia valley was cleansed.

Libria V - Hive Fleet Triton's latest target - Map

C.H.E.E.S.E. Update

Coravus falls. Army Group North surrounded

Unfortunately for Tau planners the Navy didn't show up. Anti-aircraft defences were bolstered and air raid procedures introduced in the North, but the Imperial Navy kept its planes in their concrete bunkers. Not only were the Imperial forces already running low on fuel they knew that the Tau were trying to achieve air supremecy for something special. Imperial planners decided they would need all their airborne defenders when that "something special" materialised.

On 1010.007M42 it did, but not in the way Imperial high command had anticipated. In the end, when the airdrop came, it came in low, and quietly from the sea. Rushing in from the North West, barely ten metres above the waves of the Great Melberg Ocean, fifty Mantas and over two hundred Barracudas unleashed a storm of firepower on the shoreline of Coravus, the Capital of the Isle of Cor.

The Tau had caught the Imperial defenders completely by surprise, having dropped from orbit on the other side of the planet and flying several thousand miles at wavetop height. This feat required extra fuel for the Mantas to carry, reducing the amount of troop carrying capability available, but the Cadres that landed quickly secured a beachhead.

These troops were followed by reinforcements carried by Orcas and soon the western portion of the city was under Tau control. Then, the Cora Defence Force under General Brooke launched a counter attack. Units of The Defence force attacked the Tau forces as they fanned out across the city. The firefight became an extended and confused affair with a great deal of inconclusive fire exchanged between the two forces. However by the end of the day the Tau had managed to partially encircle Brooke's men in the city and he was forced to abandon it to the Tau.

Meanwhile Jeffries' army charged towards the northern coast, attempting to secure the Hanibus straits before the Tau could. The hope was a forlorn one though, as when the first elements of Army Group North arrived, they could see Tau forces securing the port of Dechanel on the southern shore of the Isle of Cor. Infiltrating stealth units had sabotaged the docks during the night and low flying mantas delivered fire warriors to mop up once daybreak arrived. The port of Dechanel, Jeffries' last supply point, had been cut off.

The next few days allowed the Tau to mop up the remaining resistance within the confines of the Isle of Cor. The army of the Islanders, some 200,000 in total, surrendered when it found itself surrounded and unable to form a coherent defence. Now, Army Group North was surrounded in northern Narmala, and out of supply. The Imperial Navy, which had so far not intervened while the Tau took Cor from the air, now planned an airborne armada to resupply the trapped half a million men and their equipment, preparing them for their breakout.

Fleets Clash in Perseus Deeps

While the various powers increased their investigations into the CHEESE device it was inevitable that their fleets would collide. The first such action took place on 0610.007M42 as two Imperial cruisers from the Vastrid subsector, carrying the 223rd Vastridian Guard to aid Inquisitor Huron in his investigations, accompanied by a Dark Angels strike cruiser, were ambushed by three Chaos cruisers while navigating the Perseus run.

The three Chaos ships were clearly part of Lord Traegen's fleet, rather than those of Grand Admiral Thok at Mordecai which was a worrying development. The encounter itself saw the Dark Angels cruiser seriously damaged and the Invincible reduced to little more than a hulk. The Intrepid, carrying the Vastridian 223rd was obliged to withdraw, fleeing back to Port Canuck just on the edge of the Deeps.

On the Chaos side the heavy cruiser Plagueclaw, badly led and apparentley inexperienced, was crippled by a bombing run which took out her bridge. After that her manouevring deteriorated and she was blown up by fire from the three Imperial vessels. This was the only Imperial success and it was bittersweet as the shockwave from the vessel's detonation was responsible for the loss of Invincible.

The result of the engagement was significant, as with bases on Kendrenec and Mordecai the Chaos forces had now effectively sealed off the Perseus run, preventing forces from reaching the remaining loyalist planets in the Aleph subector. By the end of the month this had led to the capitulation of Banderossa and Pirinar to the UFP. It also impeded the investigations into the Solar Enslaver, as the Imperium could not now penetrate the southern and eastern portions of the vast area.

C.H.E.E.S.E Campaign intensifies

+++Agent 57 Communication+++

+++1010.007M42+++

+++Subject: Perseus Deeps Activity+++

It is with some trepidation that I report that the situation in the Perseus Deeps is deteriorating. The various powers in the sector are sending ever larger forces in their efforts to obtain the Solar Enslaver. What they will do with it should they find the device does not bear thinking about.

The Tau:The Tau have been by far the most organised in their investigations, searching each system in turn, spreading out with four small fleets under Fastblade, Hawkeye, El Shi and another as yet unidentified Shas'O. These forces have been searching the systems closest to the Aleph Expansion sphere though Fastblade has yet to encounter enemy forces. El Shi, having defended his position on Skera from marauding Chaos marines this week came under attack from the Blood Martyrs chapter. However the Tau noticed the Imperial landing zone and launched their own devastating attack. What few marines escaped were forced to flee to their strike cruiser which was pursued out of the system by the Tau.

Commander Hawkeye on Parius was once again attacked by Chaos marines, this time the Penetrators whose presence is always a portent of bad thigs to come. In the ruins of Kath'A dor, an ancient and abandonned Imperial city, the Tau defeated the traitor marines and continued their search of the ruins.

Meanwhile in the Manir system the Dark Angels uncovered another Tau investigation force apparently intent on excavating the ruins of Dargore, an ancient Necron tomb system. The Dark Angels sent a small force to dissuade them but succumbed to accurate Tau fire and were forced to withdraw. The Tau investigations continue in this region of the deeps and several Waystations have already been setup.

The Eldar:The old race has finally shown its hand in two fierce engagements in the Cerelium and Arastos systems. On the planet of Cerelium itdelf amongst the decaying ruins of an old human settlement two chapters of Space Marines, as yet unidentified were apparently investigating strange readings emmanating from the planet's core. However one they landed a lage force of Eldar from at least two separate craftworlds appeared as if from nowhere and launched a ferocious attack. Once again the Imperial forces were obliged to withdraw from the system without uncovering the mystery of the emmanations.

On the Arastos system the Eldar encountered the Sons of Chaos and defeated them. It seems the Eldar are intent on preventing any investigation of this barren system.

The Necrons:The Necrons have been awakened on the Imperial outpost of Enosh where the Silurian Guard had landed after the local governor had reported strange sightings on the planet. Unfortunately this heralded the awakening of the Necrons on that world and all contact was lost during a viscious battle between hordes of the metal warriors and the Imperial defenders. I shall attempt to regain contact with agent 34 but I am not hopeful.

I will as ever continue my observations, but it is becoming increasingly difficult as each race becomes more suspicious. It may lead to our operations being uncovered. We must not allow any of these races to discover our agents and our dealings in the Perseus Deeps.
+++Message Ends+++

Quicksword killed by Templars Redemptus

On 2909.007M42 the Tau learned that the Blood Martyrs were not the only Space Marines on Melberg. The little known Templars Redemptus chapter were also active on the planet having landed some three days earlier. Unlike the Blood Martyrs they did not discuss their plans nor general strategy as a whole with the Imperium and Lord General Lenord. It appeared that they had their own agenda, so when they chose to strike it came as much as a shock to the Imperium as it did to the Tau.

The first the Tau knew of the attack on their base in Kearnos, in central Gwendel, was the distinctive sound of Thunderhawks roaring overhead. The Templars Redemptus quickly established a perimeter around the Tau base which was packed full of supplies and was the main communications hub of Quicksword's Hunter Cadres. In fact on this day, Quicksword was there in person.

Speculation continues as to the motives behind the attack. The nature of the strike suggests either an attempt to gain valuable intelligence or a surgical assassination attempt on the Tau commander Quicksword. The later would seem more likely though why the Marines would go to such lengths to assassinate the least capable Tau commander is a point of much contention. Some suggest Tau agents gave away Quicksword's position in an attempt to remove him "for the greater good".

In any case the Templars were successful. Striking hard and fast the Marines used the terrain against the aliens, advancing their elite assault units under cover. While the Tau were able to blast away at the Marine vehicles the genetically engineered warriors closed with the Tau with ease. In addition one Hammerhead in particular proved singularly inept, failing to damage the Templar's Predator Destructor tank in a duel which should have been woefully one sided.

The Marines managed to get close to the Tau without taking too many casualties and then charged. The Tau stood no chance and any who were met in hand to hand combat were cut down by the super humans. In a desperate attempt to halt the Marines Quicksword himself charged into the fray, only to be brutally scythed in two by a power fist of the command squad's veteran sergeant.

The Tau were obliged to withdraw to regroup, allowing the Templars enough time to steal valuable information, maps and supplies, loaded into the holds of their Thunderhawks before lifting off, vainly pursued by the Tau air caste's Barracudas. A victory for the Imperium had been achieved and embarrassment caused to the Tau Empire, but not everyone in the Tau fire caste was in mourning for the loss of Quicksword.

C.H.E.E.S.E Campaign begins

+++Agent 57 Communication+++
+++0110.007M42+++
+++Subject: Perseus Deeps Activity+++

The various competing powers of the Sector have begun their forays into the Deeps in search of the Enslaver. It is as I anticipated. the Tau are sending out small scouting groups led by maybe one capital ship, carrying on board a half dozen Hunter Cadres each. Every system they visit they set up a small waystation, no doubt earmarking systems for further colonisation.
The Tau were unfortunate to clash with the newly rejuvenated Sons of Chaos Marines who themselves are roaming the Deeps in search of the artefact of power. Both the forces of El'Shis and Commander Hawkeye, sent out from Cernunnos just this week were in action, in the Skera and Parius systems respectively. Commander Hawkeye's Tau were able to see of the Chaos Marines and spent a considerable time searching the Ancient ruins on the planet's surface. El Shis was less fortunate and both his Cadre and the Chaos Marines withdrew from the Skera system, eying each other warily from a safe distance.

Meanwhile in the far North-East of the Deeps, towards the Valitane subsector, the Penetrators were encountered once more. It seems that wherever there is intrigue and secret goings on this Legion is present. They landed on Vorielle shortly after the Templars Redemptus and were able to remove the Imperial forces before beginning what looked like extensive excavations. I can only assume they too are searching for the Enslaver.

As ever I will continue to monitor the situation closely. Reports from my juniors indicate increasing necron, Dark Eldar and Eldar activity. Indeed it may be the case that the Eldar have already clashed with the Tau which in itself would be an intriguing development. It would seem the Eldar have no wish for any of the races of the Aleph sector to gain access to the terrible power of the C.H.E.E.S.E.

+++Message Ends+++

Melberg - Namivus falls to Longstride

Commander Longstride quickly reinforced Shadowstrike’s victory by assaulting the city of Namivus, the capital of the now cut off state of Narmala. This city had been taken in the initial drop but lost to General Taves’ when Quicksword’s forces were annihilated. Lacking sufficient time to build defences the sudden retreat north by the Imperium meant the city was ripe for the picking.

Rather than encircle the city, as Shadowstrike suggested, Longstride planned a quick and devastating assault, utilising his cadres’ speed and mobility. His attack bagan on 2509.007M42 and immediately yielded results. From across the Namin river hundreds of pathfinders lit up the hastily completed Imperial bunkers and nearly all were destroyed by devastatingly accurate Railgun fire in the first minutes of the attack.
Following the loss of their main defensive positions the Imperial defenders, part of the Narmala and Terris Kingdom Alliance under General Alexander, called for support. That support came in the form of General Jeffries’ and what was left of Army Group Centre.

The Librians counter-attacked ferociously, scoring some success with their Hellhound flame tanks on the unprotected fire warriors and kroot of Longstrides initial advance. These were both quickly withdrawn once the Hellhounds appeared and Hammerheads made short work of the Imperial tanks.

By the time that General Jeffries could deploy his main battle tanks and stormtrooper units the battle was as good as lost. The Narmalan defenders had abandoned the second line of defences and the Tau had crossed the river in force. Such was the momentum of the Tau attack that they simply brushed aside all resistance as they first encircled, then assaulted the city of Namivus.

On 2809.007M42 the Librians held just the extreme northern portion of the city. Cut off from the Terris Kingdom armies and Army group north under Alexander they were obliged to retreat to maintain their coherency and prevent Longstride from an all out breakthrough. In the event the Tau commander was quite content to hold the city and withdrew from the field, ready for the next strike.

The new Tau tactics continued to bear fruit, striking hard and fast at the Imperium before withdrawing. Now Sunstrike prepared for a new operation, conceptualised by the new Shas’O Shadowstrike. An operation which would shatter Imperial resistance in the north west and see the Isle of Cora fall to the Tau Empire.

First, and most importantly the Tau would launch a massive air campaign, using their entire fleet of aircraft launched from their carriers in orbit. This attack would be designed to smash the Imperial navy irrevocably, paving the way for a massive airdrop on Coravus. This would cut the isolated defenders in Cora and Namivus into three unsupplied groups. Capitulation would be inevitable.

The end on Cerberex

Battle of St.Owen’s Basilica
The bloody battle of St.Owen's Basilica, which developed on 1209.007M42 signalled the end of Imperial resistance in Gulan and on Cerberex as a whole. General Kluge, in command of Army Group East, had held on tenaciously to the city despite numerous assaults since the first day of the Chaos invasion. The city was a thorn in Moonface's side and lack of progress in taking it had frustrated the Chaos general.

By 09.007M42 Moonface realised that with the rapid expansion of UFP controlled land coupled with the arrival of the UFP fleet, the capture of the planet's second major city had become the priority, and he diverted several legions from the war in the south to attack the Imperial stronghold. Led by Newo the Slaughterer the Chaos armies once again launched themselves against the forces defending Gulan. Well dug in and expecting attack the initial Chaos assault was a slaughteras tens of thousands of cultists died running at the Imperial trenches. However this was a diversion. A bloody one, but a diversion none-the-less. Moonface had identified the Basilica of St. Owen, on the west of the city, as a key strategic strongpoint. If it were taken the forces of Chaos could disable the cities defence shield and would also have access to a number of missile silos. The results would be disasterous.
It took Kluge almost a day to realise that he was being outflanked and by the time the first reinforcements arrived the Chaos vanguard had reached the Basilica.

Already a fierce duel had erupted around the entrance to the ornate building, with the wreck of a Chaos Land Raider burning furiously before the Imperial defenders. Chaos bikers moved around the Basilica's flanks, only to be ambushed by a Basilisk, used in direct fire mode as an assault gun. Despite the destruction wrought on the traitor forces they could not be stopped, and the Chaos marines which held the Basilica were able to access the defence shield and activate Gulan's missiles before they could be removed. Kluge had realised the danger too late and the trio of dark columns of smoke indicated that the missiled had been detonated. Gulan was now open to the enemy and a massive rain of artillery fire reduced the city to rubble in scant hours. Finally the Imperial resolve cracked and hordes of dedicated followers of Chaos swept into the city.

Meanwhile Kluge withdrew, allowing Chaos to take the remains of the city of Gulan. It was a devastating blow to the Imperium. Even so Newo the Slaughterer had lost many men taking the Basilica, including all but one of the squad of terminators he had been assigned. The damage was enough to earn Moonface's contempt, rather than his praise.

Imperial Collapse
The city of Gulan had held out since the initial invasion, despite hardships and crumbling defences the defenders had stood firm. Now that the city was lost the Imperial government moved again, this time to Grasx. The mood in the Imperial high command was at an all time low, with forces on the retreat on all fronts. Nowhere had their been an Imperial victory in the last month and it seemed like only a matter of time before the city of Grasx fell.

Imperial logisticians actually estimated it would take the UFP no more than three weeks to take the final Imperial city based on current fuel and ammunition stocks. With the loss of the Imperial fleet in the Aleph subsector, there would be no mass evacuation either.

Secretly, and without the approval of the high command, certain factions began negotiations with the UFP, particularly those under the command of the embattled Army Group South. General Von Paulus was particularly anxious to end the slaughter and on 2409.007M42 he found himself surrounded by the Hartak 8th legion. Despite orders to the contrary, he and Army Group South surrendered to the UFP on 2509.007M42, handing 400,000 troops and their equipment over to the UFP.

This also led to the swift collapse of the southern defensive line and before the day was out the logisticians had proved that the loss would inevitably hasten the end for the Imperial forces on Cerberex. In a desperate attempt to make his lines shorter Lord General Voss pulled Army Group North under Von Schlieffen and Army Group Centre under Model back some thousand miles towards the UFP front lines. This led to Model’s army becoming trapped between the planet's two seas, and only a brilliant escape plan saved his forces. Meanwhile the Great Villain Plain fell to the enemy forces who met roughly half way between the two great seas of Cerberex.

The Vennetta Heights fell next as UFP and Chaos forces closed the door on General Guderain’s Army Group West. This time there was no escape and his armies were wiped out, chiefly by Chaos forces while the UFP desperately tried to negotiate a surrender.

By 1610.007M42 the Imperial sector had shrunk to a tiny stronghold around Grasx and to the north. To the west Model fought tenaciously against the Chaos hordes while in the South the UFP gained on average 20 miles a day.

Meanwhile the Imperial forces ran short of food, water, oil and ammunition. On 2310.007M42 Govenor and Monarch Iyanen Serbellant ended the madness. He surrendered all his forces to the UFP high command. This effectively left General Voss with just a few thousand loyal Imperial Guard. A few units fought on vainly and were destroyed but most also surrendered to the UFP. Some collapsed completely, their coherency destroyed.

Following the final surrender of the Imperium on Cerberex there was heering on Tallax and Hartak as UFP units entered Grasx. There was no cheering within they populous of the city however as the fiercely loyal citizens looked on in despair as Squat Land Raiders and Tallaxian vehicles rumbled through the streets followed by thousands of jubilant worker peasants who saw the UFP as their saviours.

The UFP then braced itself for the onslaught of Chaos. They fully expected an all out assault on the now extended UFP lines. But it never came. Something odd was going on in the Chaos sector. UFP intelligence reported the Chaos forces digging in, constructing vast trench lines behind their front lines. Building bunkers, minefields and defences up to three hundred miles deep, denying the UFP their mobile battle. But they did not attack.

The Catechism leaves
In fact the Chaos forces, having defeated the Imperium on Cerberex, at least in part, had achieved their objectives. The Chaos overlord, Moonface, had uccessfully invaded the Imperial capital, something other warlords said could not be done. He had proved his worthiness and consolidated his hold over the Chaos forces in the sector. Further loss of life, or rather further loss of his war assets, would serve no purpose. The newly created Moonface Catechism began preparing to leave the planet, planning their next campaign of conquest.

This must have come as a bitter disappointment to those who had rebelled on Cerberex or had designs on a new order on the planet. Now their chief sponsor and provider was leaving, taking his best troops with him and leaving the remaining Chaos forces facing the UFP with old beaten up equipment. Many thought the UFP would quickly overwhelm them.

Then emerged a new leader, known only as Ashurman the Wise. No-one knows where he came from but he soon proved to be a canny and knowledgeable strategist. Identifying that the Chaos forces still had numbers and ammunition, even if they were lacking in ability and equipment, the wizened old Chaos Warlock made plans for the defence of the newly created Chaos Realm on Cerberex.

It was Ashurman who instigated the construction of the defences, reasoning that the UFP’s greatest asset was mobility. Take that away and they would be forced to enter into attritional warfare. Something the UFP were never inclined to do. While the Catechism left by an assembled warfleet the UFP didn't dare to challenge, Ashurman had ensured that the war on Cerberex would continue for several years, if not decades.

Stand Off in the Trenches
The UFP allowed the Catechism to leave. Intelligence suggested they were leaving the Aleph subsector so there was no need to intervene. On the planet the UFP general staff looked carefully at the new data in front of them. Many days of arguing and debating finally concluded that no strategy could win the planet quickly without an abhorrent cost in UFP lives. The war would go on, but slowly.

The UFP noe controlled the capital and the space around the planet. The subsector was now firmly closed to the Imperium and Federal Space was established on 2610.007M42. A new Empire was finally born. On Cerberex itself the border between the New Chaos Realm, as styled by Ashurman, and New Cerberex, as named by the UFP, became a no mans land where no-one ventured. Occasionally both sides would launch limited assaults on each other, airstrikes or limited offensives, but neither side could wear the other down. In the following years the planet would become more like a military training ground for the UFP, a live fire exersize area where new pilots and troopers could learn their trade.

Grand Admiral Thok shows himself in the Perseus Deeps

+++Breaking News+++
+++Inconclusive battle between Grand Admiral Thok's Chaos Renegades and the Imperial Fleet of the Vastrid Subsector ends with the distruction of the cruisers Corageous and Valiant. Glorious sees off Chaos vessels. Niddhog destroyed, Hati hulked. +++

Shadowstrike annihilates Taves

The mysterious and capricious Shas’O Shadowstrike launched a devastating assault on the Imperial lines after landing several more Hunter Cadres on the planet. There was nothing Lord Commander Lenord could do about the build up of forces, since the Tau fleet had total superiority in the Melberg system, so the Imperial Generals could only watch and await developments. Once again the Imperium was already on the defensive before the battle had been joined in earnest.

Shadowstrike used several ruses to disguise the main assault, attacking with small units towards the west coast and even launching limited diversionary air assaults east against Cornonian territory. In the end however the attack was preditable as the Hunter Cadres burst out of their salient near the Whettis border and struck out towards Narmala.

Within a few hours of the initial assault it became clear that Shadowstrike had changed the Tau strategy. Rather than attacking in a coherent fashion the Tau were delivering hammerblows to the Imperial lines before retreating. In some sectors there was no front line at all, with Imperial gnerals reporting Tau units in all directions. The confusion suddely put the Tau, with their advanced communications and fast moving equipment, at a massive advantage.

By the end of the firs day Lenord realised that his opponent had successfully cut a path between the armies of Taves, in Gwendel, and those of Cunningham in Whettis. Worse news was to follow. Most of the Librian 101st found itself surrounded as the 14th AVR collapsed on their eastern flank, losing much of their armoured vehicles.

Suddenly the focus shifted to a general withdrawal. Shadowstrike was concentrating not on territory and front lines, but on isolating Imperial units then annihilating them. This new tactic was devastating and the Imperium reeled at the ferocious assaults. Where the conditions were unfavourable, the Tau simpl melted away, refusing to give battle unless the odds were stacked in their favour.

The tactics achieved results as Army group North under Cunningham was forced to retreat into Whettis and Terris Kingdom. Meanwhile in the west General Taves and Jeffries narrowly managed to escape with their armies intact, abandonning Gwendel altogether and retreating to the border with Narmala. By the end of 2209.007M42 the Tau reached the northern coast, cutting the Imperial forces neatly in two. With one brilliant offensive the situation on Melberg had changed out of all recognition.

New Content

Current campaign status now in quick view on the right...

Sector Update

Campaign note

Incidentally even though Cerberex and Melberg are nominally "map" campaigns - don't be afraid to suggest a themed "operation" - such as airdops, sabotage missions and the like... I can easily fit them in eg:

Sabotage game or "kill team" against a city might make it unable to give supply for a game/length of time...Bombing missions in AI might do the same...

The Tau on Melberg may want to change thier strategy to one of "destroy enemy forces" rather than gain ground... This might mean that instead of planning a map move each victory gives you a number of territories - maybe double the usual but chosen by the loser instead of the victor - representing the retreat to shorten the defences...Or, the game gets no territories but the next game 1) limits the Imperium to 1 territory if they win and 2) doubles the gains of the Tau... If they win.

Libria: The Massacre of Acronia Valley

On 0709.007M42 there was no great concern in the Librian system over the recent encounters with Tyranid creatures on Libria V. Each time they had attacked the Librian PDF, numbering around 300,000 on the outermost planet, had easily responded to and dealt with the threat, though the images of butchered civilians was not going down well with the public. Even the shadow in the warp being reported by Adeptus Primaris psykers and the Adeptus Astra Telepathicas was considered an annoyance rather than a serious threat.

However this attitude changed on 0809.007M42 when scounting forces of the Librian 22nd Home Regiment reported massive activity to the north east of Daralon, in the broad and remote Acronia Valley. General Riddick, commander of all Imperial forces on Libria V, sent close to a third of his forces to the 75 mile long valley, with the intention of destroying the alien threat once and for all.

The Librian troops were surprised then to find that the Acronia valley was devoid of Tyranid activity when they arrived in the mid afternoon. In fact the valley was peaceful, though more than a few guardsmen noticed the strange sulphurous smell coupled with the rapid overgrowth of the natural Flora. Had they known Tyranids, hey would have left.

A screech from the sky alerted the Librian troopers to the danger, but before they could react to the sight of a winged hive tyrant flying above them the sky was filled with thousands of similarly winged Tyranid Warriors. The commander opened fire immediately but it was too late. Seconds later genestealers burst from the tangled undergrowth, surprising the Librians who had just seconds to try to figure out how they infiltrated their lines.

The battle of Acronia valley quickly became a one-sided massacre, as the winged warriors finished off what the genestealers had started. Even the destruction of a winged Hive tyrant was of little benefit, as lumbering monstrous Carnifexes crashed through the vegitation and bludgeoned their way through flesh and armour alike.

By the end of the day all contact had been lost with the Librian 22nd and the other troops in the Valley. The last sounds over the vox-net were anguished screams as more beasts tore through the Imperial lines. Shock at Imperial HQ in the Capital of Libria V was soon joined by terror as Daralon reported the sky filled with spores. Two ours later the town could not be raised on the vox-net. General Riddick sent a message ack to Librian HQ, requesting immediate reinforcement and assistance. The minor irritation had become a battle of life and death.

Cerberex: Moonface eases pressure

On the recently quiet western front between the Chaos forces of Moonface and the UFP, the federation forces finally launched their major offensive against the city of Calormain, in the heart of Chaos territory. In the vanguard of the attack was the inxperienced but highly motivated Tallaxian 8th Armoured Division, who launched th main armoured thrust while the Hartak legions rested from their trials against the Imperium.

The inexperience of the Talaxians cost the UFP dearly as the UFP troops were caught in an ambush as they advanced, to the frustration of the UFP high command. Worse still their fire proved poor in the battle, with their brand new Vanquisher tanks proving paticularly ineffective. The Chaos forces, led by one of Moonface's veteran lieutenants, fell upon the unprepared UFP troops.

The battle was bloody and the UFP were forced to withdraw. Fortunately for the Tallaxians their commanders proved tactically adept, even if their forces could not match this with combat ability. In addition the overconfidence of some of the Chaos units caused them to be badly mauled as they followed the Tallaxian retreat. The Chaos forces had acheived a much needed victory atgainst their primary foe on Cerberex, but in the end it proved to be no more than a tactical one, and the UFP lines were not broken.

While the UFP and Chaos forces bludgeoned each other in the east the Imperial high command was in turmoil. Generals argued and morale plummeted. Many Imperial observers now realised that in all likelihood the planet would be lost.

Jeffries Regains initiative

Following the Blood Martyrs' defeat Lord Commander Lenord was anxious to regain the initiative against the Tau forces in Coronia. Using what little fuel reserves he had left he ordered Colonel Jeffries to assault the forces of Shadowstrike in a bid to regain a bridgehead across the river Ornz, knowing that Shadowstrike's forces were relatively green and recovering from a recent bloody battle against Taves on the western front.

Jefries moved his forces forward cautiously, and Shadowstrike let him cross the river. Once half his troops were across leaving the other half on the west bank, the Tau commander attacked. What followed was a deeply confusing encounter with many units cut off and no real front line. Jeffries however had planned for such an eventuality, dividing his regiments into small battle contingents.

The fiercest fighting occurred around the town of Delinium, which received a hash pounding. Here the Tau forces were unable to give ground as the town guarded a crucial crossroads, and it was here that Jeffries poured in his main battle frces, intending to destroy as much of the Tau as he could.

The battle raged for almost a day and the result was conclusive. Accurate artillery fire surprised the Tau and destroyed their Hammerheads while Hellhound flame tanks were brutally effecive at removing Shadowstrike's forces from cover. Jeffries' forces also suffered, notably the front line stormtroopers who suffered a the hands of stealth suits. One unit fough bravely for the central town facory, but were destroyed by the Tau combined arms attacks.

By the end of 0909.07M42 Shadowstrike realised he could not hold the Imperial Guard and withdrew to safer defences. The Imperium had once again established a bridgehead over the river Stridius and were within striking distance of both Gwendelia and Corunium. While the Tau high command began an extensive review of their Melberg strategy, Colonel Lenord was promoted to General by a very satisfied Lenord, replacing General Cunningham who was redeployed to "other duties".

Longstride defeats Blood Martyrs!

Fuel, or lack of it, occupied Lord Commander Lenord's mind in 09.007M42 and it was the Blood Martyrs who offered a solution. If Corunium could be taken quickly and decisively then resistance in the West Coronia Peninsular would collapse. This would yield the vital oilfields to the Imperium and force the Tau back into Genundis. Bottled up it would only be a matter of time before the Ethereals called a halt to the entire campaign, or so the theory went. With the plan settled the Blood Martyrs prepared their lightning strike on the city of Corunium, while Lenord planned a diversionary attack towards the river Stridius.

The attack, in the event, did not go according to plan for the Blood Martyrs. The landing, by Thunderhawk, went as planned, and the marines thought they had taken the Tau by surprise, but once again they had failed to understand Tau military philosophy. Commander Longstride had willingly yielded the city, which in itself was of no strategic consequence. Then, while the Blood Martyrs were bottled up in the narrow streets of Corunium, Longstride gathered his personal Guard around him and waited.

Tau intelligence was good, identifying the Marine breakout route. Then Longstride attacked. Longstride's personal Guard included veteran Crisis Suit operators, as well as Hammerhead and Broadside support. When battle was joined the heavy railgiuns made light work of the Blood Martyr's heavy support units, destroying their Predators and Vindicators with ease. Even the Marine Rhinos, racing towards their foe, were easy meat for the versatile Crisis Suits, and soon the Blood Martyrs found themselves in serious trouble.

Only Chaplain Ceralon of the 4th company saved Astartes pride. He personaly led his assault squad against the Tau, cutting down three Broadside teams, a unit of kroot, a Crisis Suit team and Commander Longstride himself before massed frepower killed him and his unit. Only a third of the Marines which went in to Corunium returned, fleeing north. The sight of the Blood Martyrs defeated and fleeing broke Imperial morale and by 0809.007M42 the Tau commander had forced the Imperials back across the Stridius and back to the borders of Whettis and Gwendel, despite the knock on the head he received in personal combat with the Marine Chaplain.

Quicksword annihilated! Tau in retreat!

Shadowstrike takes Gwendelia

Only scant weeks after having defeated Sunshield's cadres and relieving the siege of Gwendelia, Colonel Jeffries was once again called in to defend Mellberg's second city. This time the newcomer, commander Shadowstrike, led his forces into the city. Shadowstrike succeeded where Sunshield failed by using pathfinders who infiltrated into the city overnight. In the assault that followed the Tau weaponry was guided to its targets with unerring accuracy, wiping out much of the Imperial front line before it had a chance to react. Shadowstrike followed up this initial success with an all out attack led by crisi suit teams and stealth suits. The fighting in the city then became bloody and desperate with units of Librian stormtroopers forced to flee before the Tau advance. Shadowstrike lost much materiel but by the end of 2608.007M42 the city of Gwendelia had fallen after three months of holing out.

Taves breaks Tau northern front

On the northern front Colonel Taves prepared to take the city of Narmala after weeks of planning. The assault that followed, preceded by a massive Balisilk bombardment, was extremely aggressive and saw the 14th AVR charge into the ruined streets with almost reckless abandon. However the gamble paid off. Stormtroopers mounted in Chimeras threw themselves into the attac, closing and destroying Tau hardware at close range. This tactic, coined "suicide squad" attacks, though brutal, succeeded in shaking the confidence of the Tau commanders who were unfamiliar with this form of disregard for life. The Tau withdrew from Narmala but Taves wasn't through. Rather than consolidating his victory the Colonel ordered a general pursuit. The armoured vehicles of the 14th AVR broke through the retreating Tau lines and the retreat soon became a rout as the disorganised forces of Commander Quicksword collapsed or surrendered.

Taves had scored a massive strategic victory and the Tau did not stop until they reached the Genidius border. Indeed the Colonel was only stopped when his troops and vehicles could no longer keep up with the Tau flight. As Colonel Taves paused for breath on the brink of destroying the Tau altogether, he received news from Atlas Prime that Lord Commander Lenord had promoted him general.

Jeffries approaches Genundis

Following up this success Colonel Jeffries was ordered to take the initiative on Taves' left flank. Immediately the veteran Colonel organised the Librian 41st regiment and began to advance on Genundis, bearing west to protect the now vulnerable flank of General Taves. Commander Longstride was soon on hand to slow the Librians, but the ferocious counter attacks by Longstride's hunter cadres were beaten off by the recently introduced heavy weapons squads and Sentinel Squadrons. Improved artillery fire from the Imperial regiment also helped, as did more accurate fire from the 41st's main battle tanks. It seemed that Jeffries' drilling of the troops had worked well and now it was commander Longstride who had to rethink his tactics.

Overall by the end of 08.007M42 the Tau invasion of Melberg stood on the edge of the Abyss. Despite overwhelming superiority in space the Tau could not seem to realise their potential on the ground. If the Imperial advance on Genundis could not be halted, the entire campaign on Mellberg would have to be abandonned.

Necrons awaken...

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Children Of Steel advance

The Chaos forces on Cerberex did not waste any time following their victory at Rideau. Under a week later the forces known as the Children Of Steel massed against the defenders near the Great South River. Not wishing togive the ground without a fight Field Marshall Model deployed AVR units in the traitor Guards' path in order to slow their advance. The plan did not succeed.

The Children Of Steel, now experienced and less naive did not immediately attack as they had done at Gulan, throwing away the lives of their soldiers. This time the Infantry halted while their plentifulself-propelled artillery pounded the mechanised infantry regiments of the AVR, holding their rough riders back for a ferocious counter assault should the armoured units attack.

Pounded by Bailisk fire and harassed by deep striking special weapons squads the AVR and PDF units were forced to retreat before they could get stuck into the main line of Chaos infantry. After a week of murderous fighting the Children Of Steel had reached the UFP trenches and sealed the South River Gap. However their advance had been cautious and slow, allowing the faster mechanised Imperial Army to withdraw in good order. Depsitesuffering more horrendous casualties at least Model could be relieved that no units had found themselves trapped in the pocket.

Melberg Convoy ambush fails

Continuing heavy losses on Melberg forced the Tau high command to make a decision: Resupply the campaign of withdraw from the planet. Sunstrike made his case to the ethereals and they agreed with his judgement, Melberg must be reinforced and taken. It was key to the whole Zadoc expansion campaign.

With this in mind the Tau knew they would have to resupply the planet with fresh troops and supplies. Although the Kor'Or'Vesh now had superiority in the system, the Tau knew that the Warspite and a great many escorts werestill at large and patrolling Melberg space.

Admiral Coldsight decided that all transport vessels bound for Melberg would have to do so in convoy as the threat from the Imperial fleet remained an unknown. The first to arrive, a flotilla of ten vessels, was escorted by two Protector class cruisers and two Castellan escorts. Coldsight had been right, the Imperial fleet was waiting for them near the jump point.

Rear Admiral Phillpots aboard the Warspite had spread his fleet of fifteen escorts and one Dominator cruiser around the vicinity of the expected jump arrival of the Tau fleet. With this formation he hoped one group of escorts would find the Tau fleet, form up with the rest of the destroyer flotilla and attack in strength, the Warspite providing long range support with her Nova Cannon. All that mattered now was how accurate his psykers had been in determining the point in real space where the Tau would appear. Phillpotts positioned his flagship behind a gas cloud and waited.

The Tau appeared right on target. In fact, they appeared so close to the Warspite herself that the Imperial cruiser was taken by surprise. Frantically the crew of the Dominator class cruiser tried to steer her away from the approaching Tau as two Protectors bore down on her.
With her escorts to too far away to help the Warspite quickly became a victim as the two Tau cruisers poured railgun fire into her. She was a blazing wreck in minutes without inflicting a telling blow to either of her attackers. Seconds later the ship exploded, killing all but two of her crew.

The remaining escorts did what they could to disrupt the convoy of men and materiel to Melberg. However in doing so they suffered grevious losses. Every ship in the escort flotilla, eight Swords, six Firestorms and two Cobras, was either heavily damaged or destroyed. In turn the Tau lost five of their ten transports.

Despite these losses the Tau were able to reinforce Melberg with a substantial amount of troops and equipment. Of the transports destroyed only 8% of passengers and crew were rescued, but every Fire Warrior was crucial to the war effort. The Imperial fleet now had to concede that it would be unable to mount similar raids on Tau relief convoys.

Cunningham thwarts Longstride and approaches Corunium

Meanwhile in the South of Cerberex General Cunningham was aware of a large troop build up by the Tau, despite their attempts to disguise it. The commander of the Western army group quickly planned an attack through the town of Bridgewater, aiming to thwart the Tau offensive and widen the corridor tothe embattled city of Gwendelia.

The attack began with the Librian 4th and 101st attacking in strength, supported for the first time by the super-heavy tanks of the 8th Valitane Armoured regiment. These behemoths, three in total, added much needed punchto the Imperial attack but in the end proved less pivotal than expected.

The Baneblade unfortunately broke down before reaching the front while the unit's remaining two super heavies took the fight to the enemy. Both were successful in destroying enemy formations but the Stormsword took heavydamage and was eventually immobilised while trying to sweep the town of defenders.

It was the Librian 101st Grenadiers who turned the tide of the battle,rushing forward and engaging the Tau in close combat. This action serious ruffled the Xenos who often fled rather than fact the stormtroopers in combat.

In Bridgewater Longstride and Quicksword, fresh from the northern campaign, fought in person, side by side. Of their fate little is known to the Imperium but fragmentary evidence suggested that Longstride at least wastaken down in the ruins of the town.

On 2008.007M42 the final Tau pockets of resistance were mopped up and the Imperial forces began widening their corridor to the capital of Gwendel. Realising the time to withdraw had come the Tau pulled back rather than pointlessly holding on to strategically non-vital ground.

Cerberex - Feducia falls, Chaos advance on Gulan

The Hartak 9th legion prepared for their assault on Feducia with an intenseartillery bombardment followed by Air Strikes by the Tallaxian Navy AirForce (TNAF). The city itself was reduced to rubble and many of the inhabitants fled rather than face the constant air raids and destruction of their homes. Weeks after the attacks on the capital began, and having consolidated their bridgehead over the river Otter, the 9th legion began to move cautiously into the ruins. At first they met little resistance and many began to believe the Imperium had abandonned the capital to take up more defensible positions on the farside of the Sea of Aeron. They were wrong. Once the squats had penetrated deep into the urban morass of twisted rubble the Imperium attacked.

The Blood Martyrs had taken up defensive positions in the ruins, correctly predicting the most likely path of advance of the squat army. Though tough and hard to beat the squats were nothing if not predictable. An intense firefight broke out aroud the Basilica Ordenatus, an ancient structure dedicated to the veneration of the Emperor and His worship. From their positions in the carved ruins Blood Martyrs terminators poured fire onto the invading squats. The Hartak 9th legion, to their credit, did not waver in the face of the new enemy and immediately began inflicting losses on the Adeptus Astartes.

Marine vehicles were soon turned into burning wrecks as the Squats accelerated their charge into Feducia. The Blood Martyrs lost a Vindicator and Whirlwind early on and were soon facing a horde of squats disembarking from their transports, covered as ever by Land Raider lascannon and heavybolter fire.The Squats knew that their precious heavy tanks would be vulnerable in the city and kept them at arms length, preferring to rid the city of its defenders by engaging in vicious hand-to-hand combat.

It was here that the Squats lost a number of key assets, including the commander of the 9th Legion who fled the battle after his squad was all but wiped out by a counter charge by the Blood Martyrs' Chaplain and assault squad. In the end however the firepower of the UFP told and the Blood Martyrs'company commander realised that fighting on would be a waste of lives. He withdrew his remaining forces from the city, setting the settlement ablazeas the Space marines fell back across the Sea of Aeron.

By the evening of1508.008M42 the city was in UFP hands. Few noticed the cowelled figures robed ion black as they removed the representation of the world from the hands of the statue in Feducia main square...

As Model's Army Group Centre retreated across the Frank river following their loss of the Cerberex Capital, Army Group East under General Kluge faced a renewed assault from the Chaos forces towards Gulan. Moonface had become alarmed at the seemingly unstoppable advance of the UFP and became ever more frustrated at his Generals' lack of success.

Urging them ever onward the next attack came through the strategically important crossroads town of Vandergrim, a small but significant settlement some five hundred miles south of Gulan. The Chaos generals intended to wipe out Imperial resistance and sweep round to the east of the Imperial city.The Chaos marines fell upon the town with their usual speed and brutality. However the Librian 8th had implemented the changes requested by Kluge and now included far more tank killing heavy weapons.

These proved their worth almost immediately as the lead Land Raider exploded in a fireball of metal, dust and smoke. More fire poured from the defenders who had occupied the ruins of Vandergrim which had been pounded to rubble by the Chaos artillery and airforce. Marines fell to massed firepower unleashed from Hellhounds, Basilisk artillery, Demolisher tanks and armoured fist squads, but it wasn't enough. The Chaos troopers weathered the storm and closed with their enemy, cutting down Imperial Guardsman in brutal close combat attacks.

Finally Chaos bikers breached the defenders' flanks and Kulge ordered a general withdrawal from the town. The forces of Moonface had paid heavily for their gains, and the overall strategic objective to outflank Gulan had not been acheived. Even so the traitor army had closed to within one hundred miles of the planet's second city and the populous prepared for its desperate defence.

Melberg: Tau halt Imperial advance

Commander Shadowstrike, appointed to "advise" Sunstrike after his less than successful prosecution of the Melberg campaign quickly intervened in the north in order to stabilise the front which had been collapsing under repeated assaults from Taves' Northern army group. Shadowstrike wasted no time in getting his troops to the front and immediately organised an attack with his counterpart, Quicksword.

Taves was expecting the counter-attack and his troops put up a fierce defence of their hard won gains. Casualties quickly mounted and several battalions of tanks were wiped out. The Tau suffered too and bothcommanders thought about abandoning the assault.

The fighting eventually pivoted on the town of Blackwater, a small industrial centre south of Namivus. Here bloody fighting erupted with the Tau committing in strength. The firefight degenerated into a confused meleeand for the first time in the war significant hand-to-hand combat actions were fought. The result was carnage. By the end of 1708.007M42 the Imperial Guard forces were spent and Taves was obliged to withdraw.

The orderly retreat of the 14th AVR left the way open for Shadowstrike to relieve the beleagured and besieged Tau forces in Namivus. For now the Imperial Guard advance had been checked, but at such a high priceLongstride and Sunstrike wondered how long the Tau Empire would accept such high casualties.

Tau Forces investigate Triton

In 08.007M42, following several raids on Lucardium and an attempted invasion of Paratea, the Tau high command, with Sunstrike's blessing, sent a small force into the Persues Deeps, tasked with investigating the Tyranid threat. The force consisted of one contingent under Shas'O Fastblade, transported into the Deeps aboard the newly refitted Kais Ka, a warship of the Protector class. Their first task was to investigate the mysterious loss of contact with the outpost on Raconis in the Denara system, a small and insignificant planet far from Imperial control. It was added as a possession of the Tau Empire as a listening post, serving as an early warning station for Parataea, Lucardium and Cernunnos. The station had not responded to communication for over a week when Shas'O Fastblade arrived in system.

The following report by the commander of the task force was intercepted by a UFP listening post on 1408.007M42

The Kais’Ka entered orbit at time index 4455.092. I immediately attempted to regain contact with the Raconis base but was unsuccessful. Long range scans registered gaseous anomalies in the planet’s atmosphere with elevated levels of methane suggesting a Tyranid infestation. However the planet’s surface still remained lsh and green. Needing to know more I launched one Manta Borne Hunter Cadre.

The Base on Raconis was found to be completely destroyed. No trace of the operators was found. At 4455.099 Shas’El O’Rymnir reported strange readings from the countryside around the base and we prepared for an attack. Soon we were beset by Tyranid warriors and their smaller gaunt organisms. Fortunately I had studied the lessons of Lucardium and Paratea and was able to use our superior firepower to good effect.

Railgun submunitions are particularly effective at eliminating the smaller Tyranid creatures, while the Railgun main shot is ideal at taking down their larger beasts.
My Fire Warriors fought well, filled with the knowledge of the value of their work. Casualties were very light, though most of Shas’ui O’nanka’s Devilfish squad had to sacrifice itself in order to prevent a breakthrough by genestealers we were unable to destroy. O’nanka is extremely pleased and satisfied at the manner of his squad’s death.

Once again a winged hive tyrant was noted, leading the smaller creatures, but this proved no match for the plasma rifles and missiles launched by our crisis suits. Only the Zoanthropes caused us much difficulty and we almost lost one of our Hammerheads.

Once the Tyranids had been wiped out we found their genetic code compatible with that of the “Triton” hive fleet described by the Imperium and implicated in the raids on Lucardium and Parataea. However there are some deviances, which leads me to believe this may be an offshoot swarm. I now intend to move deeper into the Perseus cloud to gain further insight into the Tyranid menace, for the greater good.

Melberg: Quicksword defeated by Taves

Colonel Taves, now in command of Army Group West, fighting along side the Narmala and Terris Kingdom Alliance, continued his push towards the Sea of Marma, finally reaching it on 1108.007M42. He quickly became known for his agressive tactica, particularly in the way his AVR regiments utilised their stormtrooper squads. Often these Chimeras were seen charging across the battlefield to engage the Tau Crisis Suits and vehicles before they could withdraw.

Unsurprisingly losses among the mechanised infantry were high in 008M42, but morale remained high as the armies of the Imperium pushed the Tau back towards the ocean. Quicksword, commanding the Tau, reposnded with a series of counter attacks and an increased use of Hammerhead tanks. However the unerring accuracy of the AVR Basilik artillery and Leman Russ battle tanks inflicted monstrous losses on the aliens, particularly to their armoured fighting capability. The wrecks of Hammerheads and Devilfish littered the ground on the Eastern Plains, picking out the route of Taves' advance.

Facing such losses Quicksword withdrew south, giving ground rather than face annihilation, though this meant that by the middle of 008M42 Narmala had become beseiged. Conversations began in the Tau high command over the worth of the city and the merits of a breakout or evacuation. Longstride's invasion of Melberg was now seriously falling apart, and questions of strategy began to surface all the way back on Tau itself.

Children Of Steel close the South River Gap

The Chaos forces on Cerberex did not waste any time following their victory at Rideau. Under a week later the forces known as the Children Of Steel massed against the defenders near the Great South River. Not wishing to give the ground without a fight Field Marshall Model deployed AVR units in the traitor Guards’ path in order to slow their advance. The plan did not succeed.

The Children Of Steel, now experienced and less naïve did not immediately attack as they had done at Gulan, throwing away the lives of their soldiers. This time the Infantry halted while their plentiful self-propelled artillery pounded the mechanised infantry regiments of the AVR, holding their rough riders back for a ferocious counter assault should the armoured units attack.

Pounded by Bailisk fire and harassed by deep striking special weapons squads the AVR and PDF units were forced to retreat before they could get stuck into the main line of Chaos infantry. After a week of murderous fighting the Children Of Steel had reached the UFP trenches and sealed the South River Gap. However their advance had been cautious and slow, allowing the faster mechanised Imperial Army to withdraw in good order. Depsite suffering more horrendous casualties at least Model could be relieved that no units had found themselves trapped in the pocket.

Cerberex - Imperium in retreat

Imperium in full retreat
At the start of 008M42 the Imperium was in full retreat on all fronts. In the west the UFP were breaking out and heading for Vennetta and the glaciers of the southern pole, while in the north the hard won gains across the river Otter were being eroded by a rejuvenated Hartak 9th Legion which benefited from the UFP's air supremecy.

Things were little better for Army Group Centre on the eastern front where intelligence noted an increase in activity near Rideau. An attack here linking the two Chaos zones of control would put the Army Group under severe pressure. The mood at Imperial HQ was grim.

Lester retaken by Hartak 9th Legion
The first major setback came as the Cerberex PDF and AVR units stationed in and around the hard won city of Lester were steadily pushed back by the forces of the UFP. At the same time a flanking attack across the river Otter and towards Feducia prevented the Imperium from reinforcing the town with fresh troops. XI corps, consisting all of Von Rundstedt's mobile reserve - three divisions including the Librian 4th mechanised - was transferred to the east to face the increasing threat of a Chaos breakthrough towards Rideau.

Meanwhile the fighting around Lester was bitter and intense, and the Imperial defenders managed to inflict significant material losses on the Hartak 9th Legion, but they would not be stopped. On 2808.007M42 the town's garrison surrendered. 40,000 prisoners were taken as well as tanks and artillery pieces. Further east the armoured units of the Hartak divisions had broken through the Cerberex PDF and were heading for the capital. Their explotation left them less than 300 miles from Feducia by 0208.007M42 and forced the Imperial High Command to move their HQ to the relative safety of Grasx. Meanwhile the Blood Martyrs' 5th company deployed around the city, ready to make its first impression on the war on Ceberex in the defence of the capital.

Iron Warriors take Rideau
Worse was to follow for the Imperium as the Iron Warriors loyal to Moonface struck out against Rideau in an obvious encricling move to join up with "The Cowboy" and his forces in Calormain. The attack was preceded by a massive artillery bombardment from the Iron Warriors' artillery battalions and followed up with a lightning armoured dash across the open plains of central Cerberex.

XI corps, recently deployed, was thrown into the defence of Rideau, counter-attacking furiously around the city. Taken somewhat by surprise by the ferocity of the counter-assault the Chaos attack was momentarily caught off balance and stalled, with both sides taking heavy casualties. Soon the area around the town was littered with the wreckage of tanks and armoured personell carriers.

By the end of 0108.007M42 it became apparent to General Von Rundstedt that the majority of the losses had been inflicted on XI corps by the Iron Warriors and the counter attack had failed. The aggressive tactics used had spent his mobile reserve and very soon reports came in that Rideau had fallen and the Iron Warriors were breaking out towards the north. It was only a matter of time before the defenders on the East bank of the Caeralon Sea became encircled.

Von Rundstedt's part in the Cerberex campaign was over. He was given a choice by the Commissariat, face a court martial or "resign" with honour. A single laspistol shot resounding around Imperial HQ indicated his decision to take the latter. Field Marshall Model, a veteran campaigner, took over the command of Army Group Centre and imediatley pulled back into a defensive formation, digging in where possible and abandonning the salient towards the Great South River. Now all hope rested on Model being able to halt the advances of the UFP and Chaos forces that seemed to have independently decided to finish off the Imperium first before turning on each other.