[Lost Nemesis]

War had wreaked havoc across the Aurora System. On Aurora Prime urban areas that had once been bustling with Imperial citizens were now ruined killing grounds, or just as likely utterly desolated. The vast majority of the civilian population of Aurora Prime fled to the main urban centres, Wrexmaul, Akos Prime and Aurora City in the first days of the war.

The ones who did not put up a brave fight against the various enemies that assaulted them. But without support from either the beleaguered Imperial Guard or the Aurora Combine most swiftly perished.

However the resistance that these civilian defenders put up has allowed the Imperial forces time to regroup.

The Call of the Grantantos

When the first Chaos raiders were spotted in Northern Akos Inquisitor Lord Von Striken put out an urgent request for troops from the Departmentum Munitorium. Help has finally come. The Retribution class Battleship the ’Grantantos’ accompanied by a half a dozen cruisers and escorts made a desperate jump from Turrana across the Gannos sub sector. By some miracle of the Emperor the small fleet made it from Turrana in less than a fortnight. They have brought with them a half dozen regiments, the Morden 45th and 87th, the Elyisian 114th 117th and 346th, and the Cadian 61st. As well as the brave Imperial Guardsmen the Grantantos was also accompanied by several transports of the Adeptus Mechanicus carrying warmachines of the Flame Fist Titan Legion.

These reinforcements were put to immediate good use. Across Southern Akos Imperial Forces launched counter attacks against the rebel forces halting the Chaos Auxillia in their track. Scores of Vlaykries scoured the landscape with hell strike missiles as Reaver Titans strode across the ruins of cities the rebels had called strongholds.

Fall of the Blessed Flame

While the Imperial forces were able to suppress the uprisings on Akos, Carag has been declared all but lost. The punitive attacks by the Black Templars and Aurora Combine have been unable to retake Hythun Prime. Worse yet the Cathedral of the Blessed flame the last bastion of Imperial resistence was taken by xenos invaders.

As the 16th night of siege fell on the Cathedral the air seemed to grow cold, the temperature dropped beneath freezing, bewildering guards used to the tropical heat of Carag. Before more could be made of this phenomenon the air seemed to twist and a great rent was made in existence itself. A moment later scores of dark eldar pured out of the Sphere of Darkness. Within a few hours the defenders of the Cathedral had been butchered, many as they slept.

When dawn came Dark Eldar warriors were still picking over the remains of the Imperial defenders. A few slaves were taken but for the most part the Dark Eldar seemed more intent on plundering the libraries and treasure vaults of the Cathedral.

The ethnocrats of the Hythun Dynasty was enraged by the xenos claiming what they saw as their birthright and denying them the pleasure of killing their enemies. They immediately launched an attack against the Dark Eldat who responded in kind. Skirmishes and battles now rage across Hythun Prime as cultist and dark eldar try to wrest control of the city from the other.


Battle for the Tomb

In Northern Akos a major engagement took place involving a number of the different factions. Crimson Fist Space Marines had been preparing to evacuate the area to make way for a coalition of other Marine Chapters to take their place in holding the northern regions from the Necron threat. During this operation a large force of Chaos Marines headed by member of the Black Legion attacked. The 2nd Company Captain of the Crimson Fists was slain in the fighting but the Crimson Fists were able to pull back in an orderly fashion. Their retreat was helped by the arrival of Eldar and orks. The Chaos Marines were forced to split their forces to drive back these new enemies all the while being careful to commit enough troops to keeping the steady stream of Necron warriors at bay.

The running battles across the ruins of the Necron Tomb lasted several days and in the end the Chaos Marines proved victorious. It remains to be seen what the Eldar response will be.


Operation Mortuary

The activities of the Tau on Aurora Secondus have not gone unnoticed by Chapter Master Pedro Kantor. Determined to act quickly to stem the Tau expansion into the Zeist Sector the Crimson Fist commander has passed command of the Aurora Prime front over to Captain Adonis of the Blood Angels. The Crimson Fists would their fleet across the system and attack Aurora Secondus,

The Tau war fleet put up a spirited attempt to halt the Astartes from making planet fall but were ultimately unsuccessful. A bitter battle ensued between a three Hunter Cadres defending the surface entrances to Habzone Alpha and the Crimson Fists 1st Company. Driven undeground the Tau have made numerous attempts to halt the Space Marine advance. All have so far failed and the Astartes have been able to establish a controlled beachhead on the planet. Their presence on Aurora Secondus has been further bolstered by the 4th company. Within days it is presumed that the 2nd and 3rd companies will join the Aurora Secondus front.


Da Kaptain Strikes

Of some concern to Imperial High Command has been the increased sightings of ork pirate vessels venturing forth from their bases I nthe asteroid fields surrounding the Aurora System. This has led to a corresponding increase of ork raids on Aurora Prime.

Things came to a head when the ‘The Emperor’s Wisdom’ a Gothic Class cruiser was crippled and boarded by an ork Killkroozer.

Ork broadcasts have been intercepted and their leader, an individual known as ‘Da Kaptain’ identified. His base op operations is believed to be some kind of mammoth battleship known as ‘Gork’s Revenge’.

Its present location is unknown but the ‘Grantantos’ is presently moving towards the asteroid fields to conduct a search and destroy operation. The Retribution Class Battleship is accompanied by C/XX defence monitor squadron and the Apollo XXI Cobra class escort squadron.


Battle for Carag

Since the Battle for Aurora Prime began Ork warbands have been making planet fall all across Carag. A number of major engagements by orks of the Blood Axe clan have been fought against the Tyranids that infest the jungles of the continent. The alien swarm has been fought to a stand still. The Tyranids now seem to be using a large number of shock troops, Lictors and Genestealers in an effort to regain the initiative. In addition a large number of Tyranid ’aerial support units’, gargoyles and the mighty Harridans have also been noted to have made a number of raids against the outer defences of Hythun Prime. These egagements have generally been one sided affairs with the Hythun Dynast’s gene soldiers easily able to drive off the xenos attackers.


Ordo Xenos Musters

In Darkspire a conclave of Inquisitors has been convened. The rumour amongst the Imperial High Command is that Inquisitor Lord Von Striken is planning to authorise the opening of the Nethemel Vaults and possible unleash one of the ancient devices stored within.

Whether even the Lord of Darkspire has the authority to countenance such a dangerous plan remains to be see.