Libria: Fighting continues

In the southern sector of fighting the Imperial Guard were left to mop up after Hive Fleet Megalogon's attempted assault on Yellowdale was thwarted by a lightning attack led by a force of Inquisitorial troops. However the Librian units, defending their own land, were too aggressive in pursuing their alien foes and the Tyranids retreated back into settlements in the hinterland of Thornvale.

When the Librian 12th regiment attempted to clear a mining facility in the remote region of upper Thornvale, the Tyranids launched a ferocious and savage counter attack. The fighting was bloody but the Librians, hampered by the terrain, were forced to flee after taking havy casualties. The Tyranid threat had not been eliminated from the southern continent.

In the north Hive Fleet Triton was still bottled up in the Acronia Valley, centred around the now abandonned city of Daralon. The Librian commanders decided to attack the aliens here and were partially successful. The strategy they followed was set to become the standard Librian response to the Tyranids. Move into defensible positions and wait to be attacked.

This strategy allowed the Librian Guard to score a tactical victory against the aliens, though at a high cost. Those alien creatures who made it across the intersecting fields of fire butchered all who stood in their way. The battle was further complicated by a random wormhole, created by the Librian scientists in Daralon, which had been allowed to "escape" since the sacking of the city. The alien creatures were even seen making tactical use of the portal to move their troops across the battlefield. It didn't always work out in their favour however.

Daralon remained infested with Tyranids, but by the end of 0903.008M42 the Tyranids had barely a foothold on Libria V.

Cunningham surrounds Corunium

The Tau commanders on Melberg did not have long to celebrate thier victories in the centre of the battlfront as General Cunningham's army group south prepared their long planned operation to surround the battered city of Corunium. The surprising ease with which "the bulge" collapsed in the previous weeks of fighting may have been partially down to the unseen concentration of force being developed in the south.

Overall commander Lenord was aware that the fleet bringing vital surplies to the Imperial forces was only a few weeks away, and to survive until then the oilfields in the south would be vital. With this in mind he attached the Librian 57th and 101st regiments, some of the most veteran units on the planet, to Cunningham's forces, leaving the newly deployed Praetorian 42nd to defend against Shadowstrike in the north.

Cunningham was not surprised when the over-confident Commander Elan Ro launched his own offensive, spearheaded by mobile hunter cadre units, bound for the capital. This was clearly the Tau preliminary assault leading to the main thrust against Atlas Prime, and it ran headlong into the Librian units preparing their own offensive.

Supported by Leman Russ mainn battle tanks, Hellhounds and upgraded lascannon Sentinels, the Librian 57th Grenadiers poured masses of fire into the highly mobile Tau units. At first the battle seemed to be touch and go for both sides, until the Imperial units utilised their anti-tank firepower, downing hammerheads and devilfish, forcing the Tau infantry to bail out of their wrecked skimmers.

At this point the Imperial commander in the thick of the heaviest fighting withdrew his Sentinels, now that the skimmers had been downed, and deployed his Hellhound flame-thrower tanks, massacring the Tau footsoldiers. With his forces in dissarray Elan Ro tried deep striking his Crisis suits, but the Tau veterans threw their lives away in futile attempts to destroy the Librian army. Very soon the Tau were forced to evacuate all the way to the western bank of the river Stridius, leaving a number of units cut off, beseiged inside the ruins of the strategically vital city of Corunium.

As the Imperial warfleet bore down on Melberg the Tau ethereals considered their position. The Imperium had successfully resupplied and were turning Melberg into an increasingly static attritional battle, something the Tau could not live with. If they could not defeat the incoming fleet and take the capital soon, the Melberg campaign would be over. The simple fact was the Imperium didn't have to win, they just had to avoid losing.

Elan Ro squashes bulge

At the same time as Shadowstrike struck the Praetorians in the north, Elan Ro pushed northwards, attacking the southern flank of the Imperial bulge. Though the Tau took heavy casualties and faced stiff resistance against the Librian 57th, the Imperial units were obliged to withdraw and by the end of 0303.008M42 the two Tau forces had met in the small state of Ethis in west Whettis. The encirclement was complete and the front line had been shortened by more than 500 miles.

Shadowstrike pushes south

0203.008M42

In the first serious activity in the new year, as the spring thaw began to set in in the north of Melberg, the mysterious Tau commander Shadowstrike launched a limited offensive to pinch out "the bulge" in the front line. The Praetorian 42nd regiment had taken over from the Librian 57th as the major force defending the Imperial centre, and they were anable to halt the Tau as they pushed south from Albor and took Russetica with little resistance.

It looked likely that Shadowstrike would inflict a shattering defeat on the Praetorians and encircle much of the bukge, taking the remaining Imperial territory in Gwendel and Terris Kingdom. However the veteran guard regiment, backed by Ogryn auxilla and Leman Russ units, halted the Tau offensive in Pelagur, keeping a narrow corridor open to the positions in the far west.

"Windy Handle" located

+++Urgent Transmission++++++

My lord,

The Tau have located the "Windy Handle" or Enslaver Actuator, the final piece of the Enslaver. It is located on the Tyranid infested world of Tantalon V, though the alien beasts themsleves are not aware of it. I will update you as soon as I find evidence that the Tau are preparing a force to retrieve this most dangerous artefact.

++++++End Transmission+++

Northern Tyranids halted by 168th

On 2102.008M42 the regiment simply known as "the 168th" successfully fought of a concerted attack by the Tyranids on the northern continent of Libria from laying waste to Daralon. While units in southern Libria continued to fight in sporadic clashes against the Tyranids of Megalodon, the original invaders, an offshoot of Hive Fleet Triton, launched their own assault against the Librian city in the north.

It had become clear that Libria had been invaded by two distinct hive fleets, though it was equally obvious that the two were working together, possibly under the influence of a greater hive conciousness. This was deeply concerning to the Inquisitors on Libria V, and as the Imperial Guard valiantly defended the cities of the outermost of the librian system's inhabited planets, psykers scried for any sign that a full blown invasion of the system was imminent.

El Shi gains 2 clues in the Deeps

+++Urgent Transmission+++
+++El Shi defeats Orks and Tyranids STOP Skaros system secured STOP Tau building outpost STOP Consider Tau in lead in search for remaining piece of Enslaver STOP+++
+++End Transmission+++

Tyranids Swarm on Libria

Battle of Yellowdale

Tyranid forces from Megalodon land on Libra in the centre of Yellowdale, deep into the southern continent. The Imperial Guard of the Praetorian VI, seconded on the planet due to the incursion in the northern regions rushed to the aid of the beleaguered city. After small skirmishes around the city, the Imperial forces pushed the Tyranids back to the outskirts of the city where a major security point became the prime objective of the fighting.

The armoured core of the Praetorian guard set up an offensive to push the Tyranids out the city, and secure the choke point in order to restrict the access to the city from any further encounters. The fight was bloody, and drawn out, with the Imperial forces clearly gaining the upper hand early on in the fight. Massive fire from the Praetorian heavy weaponry and accurate fire from the Leman Russ armour and the Mortar specialists allowed the Guardsmen to strip away the mass swarms of the Hive fleet. This weakened the Tyranid forces to such an extent that when they finally reached close quarters with the Imperial forces, the remaining creatures where easily cleared up. Though the Megalodon masses were able to maintain a hold over the security point for some time, finally the firepower of the Imperials told, and the fleet was pushed out of the city.

Sister Sororitas massacred

Forces of the Ordos Hereticus were called in to remove the fleeing forces of Megalodon after the Xenos were forced out of the City of Yellowdale. The Ordos pursued the alien threat onto the Thornvale in hopes of eradicating the new presence on the southern continent. A simple cleanse mission was declared, with the hope that the Splinter Fleet forces would simply abandon the world after a series of crushing defeats via the might of the Imperial forces. However, all did not go to plan. The Sisters of Battle were caught through numbers and simple weight of blades.

The Sisters of Battle set their line near the centre of a series of old Imperial ruins, using a large Adminstratum building as a firing platform. Further back the Seraphim and Sororitas tanks began to develop a holding platform to clear any Xenos who could break through their lines. However, even with heavy bolter fire and cleansing flame, the Sisters were unable to destroy all of the organisms before they hit the battle line. Even though the Sisters of Battle stood firm, they were unable to hold back the swarms, and when the Seraphim were held back from a counter charge due to the appearance of a Tyranid Lictor in the midst of their ranks, the Sisters were lost. Not a single Sister was able to return from the field of battle, massacred to the last by the Tyranids, with the loss of every tank they brought with them as well. Insult was added to the Sisters loss, when in the dying moments of the battle, their last Exorcist to a single, determined, Genestealer. The fields of Thornvale are now held by the forces of Megalodon, and a return to Yellowdale now seems immanent.

HIVE FLEET MEGALODON

Not a true Hive Fleet in and of itself, Megalodon is a splinter fleet from the galactic eastern section of Hive Fleet Leviathan. Believed to have formed after the natural passing of one of Leviathan’s Norm Queens, for some unknown reason the forces of Hive Fleet Megalodon abandoned the main fleet while calving a new Norm Queen. The fleet immediately moved further to the Galactic South East, looking for new hunting grounds while a new Queen was spawned. Shortly after, contact was lost with the large splinter fleet, mostly due to increased attention being focused on the larger forces of Leviathan and the imminent threat the main fleer posed to the Imperium.

Megalodon cut a swathe through the galactic fringes until it vanished over the edge, seemingly having abandoned the Tyranid’s normal endeavours to consume and destroy everything in their path. Megalodon was deemed a curiosity, but nothing more, by the Magos Biologis.

It has only recently become clear as to what had occurred. Hive Fleet Megalodon has returned from the fringes, much further around the Galactic South East than could be expected in such a short time. This new distraction could cost several worlds, or force the Imperium to reduce forces on the Leviathan front in order to contain the new threat.

Megalodon’s first contact in the Aleph sector was with a Tau Fringe force, however, it appears the first true target of the Hive Fleet is Libra V, already the site of a Tyranid invasion.

Tau Locate Ball...

On 2701.008M42 the Tau commander El Shis won a great victory on the Tau system of Skera in the Perseus Deeps following in the footsteps of Longstride's defence of Lucardium after a splinter fleet of tyranids landed on the planet. The Tyranids were quickly rooted out and destroyed, enabling the Tau to continue their repairs of the devastated base and to continue their research into the Necron device known as the Enslaver. The chief scientists of the expedition then came to the conclusion that the "ball" or containment unit had been hidden on the UFP planet of Hartak. Knowing the UFP were still unaware of the device, or at least hoping, the Ethereals gathered on Cernunnos to discuss their strategy. Somehow the Tau needed to come into possession of the artefact, but how? It would take a great deal of dipolmacy, guile and cunning to retrieve the artefact without damaging their profitable relationship with the UFP while if possible keeping theUFP in the dark over their plans. Little did they know that their every move was being watched by the Eldar...

Winter on Melberg

Both sides dug in over the Mellberg winter. The continent, lying across the planet’s northern hemisphere, cooled, bringing snow and storms to the northern countries, while the south enjoyed more tropical conditions. The weather, north of the mountainous central states, prevented strategic battles of manoeuvre, while snow in Terris kingdom brought the fighting to a complete halt.

Digging in meant different things for the Tau and Imperium. Lenord’s troops built elaborate entrenchments with the armour held to the rear. The Tau on the other hand withdrew from the front lines entirely, with sensor spines and drones alerting the alien forces to any movement on the Imperial side. For two weeks very little moved as snow and rain swept across the western half of the continent.

Apart from the odd raid on both sides the war entered a stagnant period. Neither side was strong enough to launch airborne operations, even when the inclement weather permitted. Lenord took time to redeploy his forces. Cunningham’s army, including the Librian 101st and 57th, held the line up to the river Stridius, while Alexander commanded Army Group Centre, which included the armies of Narmala and Whettis, and the remnants of the Terris Kingdom forces.

General O’Connor, nominally in charge of the Veraconia defence force, deferred to the Dark Angels who wintered on the Island. Meanwhile, General Auchinleck found himself without a command and was quietly moved to other duties. On the other side of No-man’s-land the Tau did similar.

Swiftstar annihilates Grand Admiral Thok

On 0212.007M42 Grand Admiral Thok led his fleet on a raiding mission against the Tau Empire, targetting the weakly defended Manir system, hoping presumably for an easy plunder. However his fleet, once again without any escort, soon found itself in trouble as Admiral Swiftstar's ships were in the vicinity. Tracking the Chaos ships to the Manir system neither side hesitated to engage after exiting the warp, but it was Swiftstar, with his experience of the Aurelis crossing, who kept his fleet together and soon made the first telling blow.

Thok's ships were spread wide with their Grand cruiser in the middle. Seeing this the Tau closed in on two of the Grand Admiral's vessels, Fafnir and Hati, a hades and slaughter class. As soon as they were in range all three of the Protector class vessels opened fire at the same point, immediately hulking both vessels to the absolute dismay of the Chaos Admiral. The firepower was immense and delivered seconds before a wave of seeker missiles and Manta attack craft finished off the blazing Chais ships. Hati skewed out of line while Fafnir drfited dead in space. hati exploded seconds later.

Following the early loss Admiral Thok barely managed to get a broadside at the Tau ships before they started a wide arc to starboard, away from the remaining three Chaos cruisers. Without escorts to worry them the Tau vessels knew they would be safe as they extended the range. As the Chaos fleet attempted to catch up, Swiftstar calculated, correctly, that before the enemy ships got into range he would have completed his turn. Only the other slaughter class, Skoll, provided any real threat.

Again Thok made an error, sending Skoll to close with the Tau fleet. She got one full volley off, doing some minor damage before the entire Tau fleet turned on her, destroying her utterly. Fenrirsulfr was next, leaving the Jormungandr at the mercy of Admiral swiftstar. She too was badly damaged before the Tau Admiral disengaged and headed back to the Manir base. The fleet of the Chaos renegade from Mordecai had been utterly destroyed and would not threaten Tau possessions in the Perseus Deeps for some time. This action in turn allowed Commander Sunstrike to consider diverting forces to Melberg to assist there.

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

Melberg update

Having recieved reports of the imminent Dark Angels attack commander Shadowstrike decided that he could no longer wait to starve out the defenders in Terracon. As the temperatures in the north fell and the snow began to fall the Tau commander offered terms of surrender to the remnants of Army Group North under Colonel Jeffries. They refused.

The battle developed predictably as the varied forces under Shadowstrike's command gradually fought for each street and building of the city. After taking out the remaining armoured units the Tau were quite happy to bombard each defended construct with massed fire rather than risk Tau lives. Even so the defence remained dogged until 0312.07M42 when the defenders, having heard the Dark Angels were not coming to their rescue, surrendered.

Meanwhile in the South General Cunningham continues the advance south started by the Dark Angels. However commander Longstride ordered his sub-commander Eclipse to stall the Imperial advance. Using hit and run tactics the Tau were able to slow the Imperial Guard troops down.

A large battle developed around the oil depots in south Corona, as each side threw more and more troops into the escalating engagement, neither side willing to withdraw and leave the valuable resource to the enemy. Cunningham was patient, even when Lenord urged him to "get a move on". Ultimately this paid off as the Tau were forced to withdraw having lost the majority of their skimmer tanks to Imperial fire.

One notable change to the Librian Guard was the use of Hunter-killer missiles on their Sentinels, which proved very effective, particularly against devilfish using ambush tactics. Additionally the Librians now went into combat without their Chimeras, fearing the Tau would turn them into burning coffins.

The tactical changes and Cunningham's orders did delay the Imperial advance and Army Group South only managed to advance a hundred miles before the offensive hit the Tau second line. However, Cunningham had delivered a much needed victory for the beleagured Guard forces, proving that the Space Marines were not the only troops able to beat the Tau on Melberg...

Bloodbath in space!

On 0112.007M42 the Dark Angels engaged the Tau in one of the most bloody space battles in Tau history. At the end of the battle three new cruisers and two battleships had been destroyed, while the Dark Angels themselves were reduced to two light cruisers and an escort.

The Tau fleet, made up largely of Coldsight's newer vessels, was well aware that the Dark Angels had entered Melberg space and attempted to form up into their most formidable "box" formation. However the Dark Angels were not falling for this. The chapter master had sent five strike cruisers and some fifteen escort vessels, knowing that manoeuvrability would pay dividends in a clash against the Tau.

As the Tau formed into their protective box, the Dark Angels split their fleet into three divisions, the largest of the three working their way around to the rear of Coldsight's ships.The first shots came as the Tau fleet began a lazy turn to the left, heading towards the second cluster of space marine vessels. The Tau poured all their firepower into this squadron, forcing the escorts to flee and the light cruisers to disengage, one limping out of the battle badly damaged.This was to be the high water mark for the Tau.

Coldsight had hoped, rather than truly believed, that the asteroid field on his right flank would be an obstacle for the space marines, but the remaining three cruisers and host of attendant escorts navigated through them with ease, catching the Tau fleet from behind. Swarms of mantas and barracudas duelled with thunderhawk gunships as the Marine fleet fended off Tau ordnance attacks. However in the end the slow and ponderous vessels of the Tau began to succumb to the firepower of the space marine fleet.

Pinafore, the Custodian class which had withstood so much and gained such a reputation steered violently to the left as it burned, before vaporising everything within 5 miles in a huge plasma drive overload. As the Dark Angels closed in for the kill, this would be a taste of things to come.The details of the next few minutes of the battle remain unclear, but the Dark Angels fleet suddenly realised, too late, that the Tau had slowed and they were within just a few tens of miles of the badly mauled fleet. Rather than overshoot and risk being annihilated themselves the space marines closed to point blank range before opening fire with all their weaponry.Then the Tau logic became evident.

One by one the Tau vessels detonated as their plasma drives went critical.Bright Hope and Diligence exploded spectacularly, destroying most of the Dark Angels' escorts. The region of space around the crippled Tau fleet then disappeared in a flash of light as a Tau warp drive detonated... As the fireball expanded and cooled all that was left was one lone Dark Angels escort, speeding away from the carnage!

Later the debris field was searched and the Explorer class battleship found out of action but intact. She was boarded and all the remaining Tau crew killed by the returning Dark Angels strike cruisers. However, the Imperial Vessels soon found that Commander Shadowstrikes fleet had not been engage din the battle and the balance of power had still not been tipped totally in favour of the Imperium. The losses the Tau had suffered ensured that for now the Dark Angels had secured a bloody and costly victory over the aliens.

Dark Angels massacre Tau in the south

On 2411.007M42 the Dark Angels, having learned from previous encounters with the Tau, launched their latest operation, with the blessings of overall commander Lord Commander Lenord. The operation was to be limited in nature, intending to reopen the way to the Corona peninsular where the all important oilfields of Melberg lay.

It may have been intended as a limited attack, but the Dark Angels fell upon the Tau defenders with amazing ferocity, seeking out individual units and desroying them without mercy. It was clear as the Tau attempted to counter attack with their hunter cadres, that the Dark Angels had modified their tacics and chosen their equipment well. Each squad was now equippied with a lascannon, which put paid to Hammerhead and Devlifish attacks. Additionally the Space Marines utilised their scout and assault units well, bringing close assault to the Tau where they least wanted it.

Supporting the assault units were a number of recently refitted predators, equipped with lascannons to deal with Tau skimmers and crisis suits and sponson heavy bolters, which ripped Tau fire warriors to shreds. The Tau had no chance and despite some ferocious firefights the Dark Angels secured a badly needed victory. Later that day two companies were deployed to the snowbound city of Pelisium in Veraconia, after intelligence predicted that a Tau air assault was likely as soon as the blizzards lifted. Lenord would not be caught out again as he was at Coravus.

Eldar discover location of the "ball"

+++Agent 57 Communication+++
+++2411.007M42+++
+++Subject: Eldar activity+++
The Eldar of the Saim Hann craftworld and another, as yet still unidentified origin have continued their relentless search for the Solar Enslaver. In their latest move the Tau found themselves under major assault as a large Eldar force emerged from the webway and slaughtered thousands. The attack seemed random at first but as the Tau defended their colonists a small force assaulted and destroyed the Tau science facility, leaving with several artifacts and most of the Tau research. The Tau have backups of their data, but it is now certain the Eldar have finally out the peices of the puzzle together regarding the containment unit or "ball". They have ascertained the device is located on the UFP world of Hartak.

It is my belief they will strike the UFP next.It will be intriguing to see how they attempt this. It is almost certain the UFP are unaware of what they posses, but removing the ball will be difficult for the Eldar. Hartak is a fortress ice world of several million hardy squats, who will not simply allow the Eldar to carry out excavations on their homeworld. Perhaps they will try to approach the UFP directly and negotiate for the artefact, but the UFP's primary obligation is to the Tau, who have been the target of the Eldar in recent activity. Perhaps they will try a stealth mission. Agent 43 is in position to keep us updated. I ask once again if now would be a prudent time to inform our allies of the Enslaver device?
+++Message Ends+++

+++EA High Command Communication+++
+++2411.007M42+++
+++Subject: Re:Eldar activity+++
Update appreciated. On no account inform the UFP of what they possess. They are allies but will try to use the device. We cannot risk Tallaxian scientists meddling with Necron devices. They are not yet experienced enough in the ways of the galaxy.
+++Message Ends+++

C.H.E.E.S.E. Tau under pressure

+++Agent 57 Communication+++
+++1711.007M42+++
+++Subject: Eldar activity+++
The Tau on Skera and Parius have come under attack from Eldar forces in two raids in the space of a week. The first hit the colony of Parius very hard, wiping out a Tau garrison before withdrawing. Commander Hawkeye's deputy was killed ant the Tau commander was distraught at the news. Hawkeye at the time was in transit between Parius and Skera, after several raids on that system had led El Shi to call for aid. Hawkeye landed with a small contingent and defeated the Eldar raiders who had lain waste to the colony. Hawkeye deliberately used Kroot "bait" to draw the Eldar into a carefully placed trap before ambushing the alien raiders. Skera was saved and Hawkeye returned to the smashed ruins on parius. However it seems the Tau are more concerned with colonisation now, their interest in the Solar Enslaver apparently secondary to their conquest of the Deeps.
+++Message Ends+++

Melberg Update

Cunningham’s “big push”
After more than a week with little more than sporadic fighting, general Cunningham prepared for his “big push”. Following his victory near Corunium the general, with Lenord’s consent, planned to use his strategic reserve in a narrow thrust towards the city, then fanning out to push the Tau away from the city. To help in this the Ultramarines chapter sent two companies, while the newly arrived “Emperor’s Justice” heavy tank division prepared to meet the Tau in battle for the first time.

The Imperial reserves were not brought in from another system. Instead Mellberg had begun to produce its own armour and equipment, under the close supervision of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Mellberg already had a large industry and produced Leman Russ for the sector, but the new Baneblades took longer to get right. Cunningham new that his new vehicles were not going to be mechanically reliable, at least for a few weeks.

Meanwhile Imperial intelligence scouted out the Tau defences. All along the front lines sentry towers and gun emplacements, all remotely controlled, kept vigil around the city. Any flanking move would be immediately detectable. For that reason Cunningham ordered a direct assault, a straight, unsubtle and overwhelming concentration of force directed at the city. He hoped to give the Tau a stark and impossible choice. Commit to a battle of attrition or flee Corunium.

The Tau meanwhile were not oblivious to the massive build up around the city. They waited patiently, and quietly removed most of their forces from the ruins. Commander Eclipse, recently posted to the Corunium sector, planned to allow the Imperial armoured columns into the city. Once they were enmeshed in the ruins and rubble he would attack, ambushing the Imperial force and cutting its supply lines. The one thing Eclipse couldn’t know was that the Space Marines would also be taking part.

By now the Ethereals were becoming concerned at the cost of Tau lives to take Mellberg. Over one hundred thousand Tau had died and projections estimated another 200,000 would be killed taking the planet. Even so Sunstrike pleaded that the cost was worth it, as a secure base on Mellberg would be the ideal launch pad for the next expansion into the Zadoc subsector. Without it, the going would be hard, even if the plans for the “C’Tau’pult” came to fruition.

On the eve of 1611.007M42, some four and a half months after the initial invasion, two armies prepared for the attack on Corunium, which had been in Tau hands since the second day of the invasion. Victory of the Imperium would put the Tau on the back foot, with the valleys of Genundis open to Imperial advances. Should they lose, the Tau would surely sweep down from the mountains behind the city and burst into the coastal plains, trapping the Imperial Army Group Centre (or rather its remnants following the defeat of Jeffries).

Corunium retaken
The attack began well with a massive bombardment of the city, followed by the rapid progress of the Librian 57th and 101st regiments, including the new Baneblade super-heavy tanks delivered so recently. The Tau defenders ignored the lumbering giants, prefering to attack the faster moving tanks of the Imperial guard. At the same time the Ultramarines, led by Marneus Calgar himself, swept into the northern and eastern sectors of Corunium, easily displacing the Tau.

Tau air superiority made life hard for the Imperium, particularly for the Basilisk batteries of the Librian and PDF regiments, whose accuracy was as woeful as their reputation demanded. Nearly all the Basilisks taking part were put out of action by marauding Baracudas, but by midday on the 17th the Imperium had almost retalen Corunium and were sweeping west towards the river Stridius.

The Tau then launched their counter attack, bringing elite Crisis suit units into the battle. However Commander Shas'Ite was rather hesitant to use the elite Tau warriors in risky drops behind the front line, and this in the end cost the Tau dearly. Though the reinforcements slowed the Imperial advance, and contributed to the demise of some of Marneus Calgar's finest Terminators, the Imperial advance maintained its momentum, with its rear intact. Had the Tau dropped their troops behind the Imperial lead elements they would have found the Imperial defences relatively light. General Cunningham had gambled and won.

By 2111.007M42 the Ultramarines had reached, and crossed the Stridius, driving an almighty wedge into the Tau front line. Racing behind were the Whettis and Coronia armoured divisions while the Librian regiments encircled the city of Corunium and push the Tau back. At midnight on the 22nd the two pincers met. Corunium was cut off.

The city officially fell two hours later when the remaining Tau who could not escape surrendered. Thousands were taken prisoner and Imperial propaganda made much of the fact that they had retaken a city the Tau had held for nearly six months. However, their celebrations were to be short lived.

Dark Angels push North
While Cunningham made good gains in the south the Dark Angels, now up to the strength of almost half their chapter, launched their offensive aimed at cutting off the besieging Tau army around Corunium. Their advance was swift at first until hit-and-run tactics by lead elements of Shadowstrike's and Elan Ro's Tau forces slowed the Space Marines.

The tactics used by the Tau prevented the Dark Angels from bringing their full weight against the Tau, allowing the aliens to build up forces and automated defences which further held up the advance. While less than a third of the way to the coast the Space Marine advance bogged down and the attack was called off. Several towns and villages had been recaptured but the strategic situation in the north remained the same, with Terracon slowly starving to death as its food and fuel ran out. The Dark Angels were furious at the Tau tactics, calling them dishonourable and cowardly. It made no difference. It had become clear the Tau would not come out and fight the Astartes unless absolutely necessary.

Shas’Ite recaptures Corunium
Despite having lost the city of Corunium and been pushed back into Gwendel, Commander Shas'Ite was already making plans to recapture all the lost territory. The Imperium meanwhile were celebrating a great victory, however nothing could actually have been further from the truth. Rather than accepting a slaughter in the city, the Tau commanders had withdrawn, citing battlefield conditions as "unfavourable". Then, while the Imperial General raced east and north across strategically unimportant territory, Shas'Ite husbanded his forces ready for a swift counterstrike.

The attack came so soon after the city had fallen the Ultramarines and Imperial Guard were caught completely by surprise. On the right flank the Ultramarines were kept in contact by a smaller Tau force, preventing the Space Marines from disengaging while the Tau pushed there main thrust across the river Stridius against the Librian armoured and mechanised units. Here the fighting was more furious than any seen on Mellberg to date. This time the Tau pressed home their attack apparently disregarding casualties, and before long the Imperial lines began to crack. Hundreds of armoured vehicles lay burning across the Coronia plains. Almost half were Tau but the Alien attak had smashed a fifty mile hole in the Imperial front line.

The Tau now found the going very easy as the Imperial armies had not expected the sudedn counter move. Corunium lay completely undefended and by 2211.007M42 the city once again lay in Tau hands as the Imperial and PDF forces south of the city raced back eat in an attempt to avoid the obvious cut off manouvre down to the south coast. Meanwhile a Dark angels company was rushed in to hold the line to the south to prevent yet another Imperial collapse.

Elan Ro Defeats Cunningham and retakes oilfieds
With the Dark Angels in place south of Corunium the Oilfields of the Coronia peninsular ought to have been safe, but before the Astartes had chance to organise their defences the cadres of Elan Ro followed up Shas'Ite as he consolidated his hold on Corunium. Longstridepoured more forces into the gap in the lines and turned his armies south, all the while conducting spoiling actions to keep the Imperial defenders pinned on their front lines. Another encirclement trap was about to be sprung.

The only hope for the Imperial defenders lay at Jacob's Creek, a small town to the south towards the Southern Sea. Here the battered remnants of the recently victorious Librian 57th joined forces with the Dark Angels to repel and slow the Tau advance. Elan Ro's mechanised army then appeared across the horizon.

A bloody and intense firefight then erupted with the Imperial tanks bearing the brunt of the desctruction. The Space Marines defended doggedly but they could not destroy the Tau vehicles quick enough. Once again poor artillery fire from the Librians cost the army dearly, and investigations into the apparent failure of Librian Basilisk began in ernest. The Space Marines faired little better as the Tau tanks simply shrugged of lascannon and plasma fire.

As the Tau closed their lethal close range firepower tore into the Marines and destroyed most of the remaining Imperial Tanks. Jacob's Creek began to become a funeral pyre as Elan Ro's skimmers glided, scorched, through the black oily smoke. The Tau commander didn't stay long, immediately continuing the advance while human "Gue'vesa" stayed to take prisoners. The Dark Angels immediately contacted GHQ to inform them that the Tau had broken through, but they were far too late. By the time the orders reached the remaining 50,000 troops in the Coronia pocket, the Tau were in sight of the Southern Sea.

On 2411.007M42 the remnants of Army group Centre surrendered. The oilfields of Coronia nad the city of Corunium had been in Imperial hands for less than a week. It was a devastating blow to Imperial morale. Infuriated the Dark Angels decided to take action and fully half their fleet set off for the Mellberg system...

Eldar discover "Trumpet"

+++Agent 57 Communication+++

+++0711.007M42+++

+++Subject: URGENT: Eldar discover element of Enslaver+++

My lords. It has happened. The Eldar have discovered and taken the "trumpet" part of the Solar Enslaver following a decisive action on Kendrenec. It appears the fortress world is no longer as strong without the Moonface Catechism. I fear the Saim Hann Craftworld and their unknown Eldar allies will soon have acquired the "ball" too. What they will do with the entire device is unknown, but it is unlikely to be benign...

+++Message Ends+++