Federacy invade Hylas

After the successful rebellion which saw the Aleph subsector free itself from Imperial rule the collection of worlds that were to became known as “The Federacy” had largely abjured themselves from the wider events of the sector. Whilst the hawkish Votann of Hartak wanted to continue the struggle and free ever more worlds from the Imperial yoke they were opposed by the other Federal governments who wished to focus on rebuilding their war-scarred societies and strengthening their defences against the ever present threat of an Imperial crusade, a crusade they had no stomach in provoking through further expansion.   

As the Federal worlds rebuilt and prospered and the horrors of war became a distant memory the attitudes of their peoples gradually shifted. The bellicose Leagues of Hartak became ever more difficult to silence and they gained support amongst the fierce Sartosans and proud martial culture of Cerberex. The Tau Empire also began to place ever increasing pressure on the Federal Council, pointing out their continued alliance and military support was contingent on reciprocity. Why should the Tau Empire guarantee the Federacy's independence from the Imperium when they were receiving nothing tangible in return? Behind closed doors ambassadors from the Aeldari also quietly urging the Federacy to action.   

With great reluctance the Federal Council had authorised the Leagues of Hartak to mobilise their fleet in support of the Tau invasion of New Cerberex. Although they hadn't engaged in direct action the fleets presence in the Zadoc subsector had contributed to an overwhelming Alliance naval superiority that discouraged the overstretched Imperial Navy from risking the loss of any more of their ships contesting the invasion.  

Following the Tau win on New Cerberex it was now the Federacy's turn to get its hands dirty once more. Spearheaded with legions from the Leagues of Hartak the Federacy were to provide the primary forces and logistical support for the invasion of Hylas. The Votann of Hartak had built up a formidable and well equipped professional army and were keen to show what it could do.   

Masters of their own icy homeworld the Kȃhls of Hartak immediately saw the opportunity to exploit the sparse defences and patchy sensor net of the world's southern polar region. In secret they would gradually build up a base in the hostile frozen wasteland that their own equipment and tactics were so uniquely well adapted for before striking north in a rapid blitz that would, hopefully, take the Imperium completely unawares.   Hylas had been relatively peaceful for years, following the end of the long and punishing war against the ork menace in 018M42. However, the infrastructure of the world was still recovering, and the populace remained scarred by the brutality of the battle against the greenskins. By 024M42 the Imperial commanders were well aware that Hylas would be the next target for the Tau Empire, and with the imperial fleet still in refit, Sector General lord Baran Price expected it to be sooner rather than later.   

To defend the world Hylas forces were quickly organised and reinforced by Librian Guard, now renamed the 2nd Aleph Wardens regiment as the stain of the fall of Libria was wiped off imperial records. General Van Dorn, a veteran with intimate knowledge of Hylas, was brought out of retirement to deal with the imminent Tau invasion. Defences were prepared around likely drop zones and lines of advance. With nothing else to do, the Imperium waited.   

The first inkling of an invasion wasn't Tau mantas sweeping in from orbit, but the loss of communication with Ice Station 57K in the far south of the world in the frozen wastes south of the Beng plains. Information was slow in coming through, but Van Dorn was aware this was likely a hostile attack so redeployed some of his Aleph Warden forces to Beng itself.   

Further south the imperial patrols posted to the area had suddenly been assaulted by armoured figures quite unlike the Tau, who appeared very at home in the icy terrain, utilising void suits and hardy vehicles running on large wheels, perfect for the snow and ice. This was the Hartak 107th Ice foxes, a regiment of abhumans from the Federacy, which the Librians had faced before many years previously on Myrentas II. The initial skirmishes with patrols almost stymied the Federal plans to cut off communications, but at a critical moment the morale of the Aleph Wardens regiment collapsed, and the units fled in disarray.   

Having dealt with the patrols and established a bridgehead on the world, with the Imperium still unaware that the Federacy were leading the assault and had already invaded Hylas, the Hartak forces pushed on to Benger hoping it would be relatively undefended. Thanks to Van Dorn's awareness however, Benger was fully defended by imperial guard forces, and the tanks of the Aleph Wardens proved to have effective firepower against the Votann forces of Hartak, though their lascannons were woefully inaccurate.   

Poor accuracy from the defenders and poor morale in the cold southern settlement rather than overwhelming force or stunning tactics saw the city fall to the Federacy by 1804.024M42. In fact the Hartak force had been over confident, and the commander received criticism from Federal command for rushing into the city and incurring higher casualties than was necessary. On the imperial side there was despondency as yet again the Alliance of the Federacy and Tau had the imperial guard on the defensive, and had defeated an entrenched defensive force.   

To address the immediate situation General Van Dorn appealed for Astartes aid, and the Sky Lords were the first to respond, deploying a company to the world to act as a rapid reaction force. Meanwhile the forces of the Federacy continued to build up their base near the south pole, their supply ships unhindered by the imperial navy, and the imperial defenders on Hylas unable to interfere. A new war for Hylas had begun.  

Tales from the Rifts

Reversals on Mordecai Primaris

Having broken out of their bridgehead on in the North Averbrike hive sprawl and taken a swathe of territory towards the Harian Mesa, the Imperium were under no illusions that they had made a decisive breakthrough. General Kutuzov knew that the forces of chaos would fight tooth and nail against his forces as the loss of the Mordecai System would be a severe blow to Chaos influence in the Perseus Deeps as well as the wider sector. Knowing this, the imperial forces scrambled to create defences and trench lines before their enemy counter attacked, holding a company of Dark Angels in reserve ready to block any move by the Emerald Serpent and their allies.

In the middle of 03.024M42 the counter strike came, and it was far stronger than Kutuzov had feared. Using the arcane and sorcerous powers of the daemonworld "Astralis", the Emerald Serpent had summoned more allies to their cause, as the forces of chaos came together to stop the imperial advance. A large force of Death Guard appeared on the plains south of the Westoria Hive sprawl, and poured over the incomplete imperial defences. The loyalist astartes reacted swiftly, deploying to block the breakthrough. However the intervention of the heavily armoured Terminators of Mortarion teleported from an unseen vessel in low orbit, disrupting the Dark Angels and causing severe casualties to the loyalist astartes. The Dark Angels fought hard, but the plague marines shrugged off wounds that would kill even a superhuman warrior of the imperium, their devotion to their dark patron paying dividends. A festering stench and sickly green fog swept across the battlefield, separating the astartes from the Imperial Guard units. When the fog cleared, the space marines realised the imperial positions had become untenable and requested extraction.

The race was now on to extract Kutuzov's Guard forces from their salient into the Harian wastes, and in the main the majority of the guardsmen made it back to Westosa before the regular chaos army could close the pocket. Much of their heavy equipment was abandoned however, and general Kutuzov soon came under intense pressure from sector general Baran Price to sort out the situation and prepare for a new offensive. The war on Mordecai could not be allowed to devolve into a decades long stalemate.

Worse was to come however. In the Imperial controlled Menoria Hivesprawl, the remnants of Librian, Sycoraxian and other Guard units from the sector had now been amalgamated into a new regimental founding. The Aleph Wardens would be the new name for regiments drawn from the population of worlds across the sector who had now been displaced by xenos and traitor forces. There were large numbers of refugees from these worlds, and Sector Cardinal Valentina Schumadz reasoned it was better to create more regiments of Imperial Guard from these dispossessed, rather than have a refugee crisis further disrupting sector management.

The 1st Aleph Wardens were deployed onto Mordecai Primaris. Well equipped and motivated to fight for the Emperor, they first saw action to the north of the Hive Sprawl, where a mechanised patrol saw off an incursion from a force of Thousand Sons. However, before they could report this news to high command, a much larger force of Thousand Sons supported by dreadnoughts and heavy firepower. The Aleph Wardens fought hard, but were unable to hold on to critical positions, and gradually the Emerald Serpent forces pushed the imperial soldiers back. By the beginning of 04.024M42 the fighting had reached into the Menoria Hive Sprawl itself.

The Imperium was now on the back foot on Mordecai Primaris despite its strategic logistical advantages. High command would now have to rethink its strategy towards winning the war, because it had become clear this was where the forces of chaos would make its final stand.

Fighting on Enaloth intensifies

In the ongoing campaign to extend Imperial dominion into the Perseus Deeps, General Veers spearheaded efforts to conquer the necron tombworld of Enaloth. Despite initial setbacks, including the withdrawal of the Black Templars from the Tomb complex of Khamet, Imperial forces persevered, ultimately achieving significant gains in their conquest of the world.

A bridgehead had been established on Enaloth prior to General Veers' renewed offensive. Tasked with securing the Tomb complex of Khamet, the Black Templars encountered unexpectedly fierce resistance from the entrenched necron forces. Forced to retreat in the face of overwhelming opposition, the Templars regrouped, their resolve undiminished despite the setback.

However, the high command on Bastien were determined to press on with the offensive despite the astartes setback. Reinforcements from the Lycannon Guard bolstered Imperial ranks, enabling a renewed assault on the Tomb of Khamet. In a brutal engagement involving an entire regiment and armoured support elements, the Imperial Guard forces overwhelmed the necron defenders, seizing control of more than half of the tomb complexes on Enaloth and securing a decisive foothold within the Tomb of Khamet itself.

As Veers' latest campaign in the Perseus Deeps continued to unfold, general Veers remained resolute in his determination to extend the Emperor's dominion into the darkest reaches of the region, intent on removing the dual Xenos threats of the Necron and the Tau. He had good reason to be confident in victory, as more and more reinforcements flooded in from the Vastrid subsector, although the inevitable conflict with the Tau and Federacy began to concern a number of his staff. For now the necron domains within the Perseus Deeps seemed open to quick conquest. 

All of New Cerberex's population and infrastructure was now firmly under Tau control, but the continued Dark Angels presence at Mount Bone rankled the Tau high command. Although the Dark Angels were effectively contained within their mountain fortress they represented a point of vulnerability should the Imperium ever try to regain the world. The fire cast commanders also wished to report their total victory to the Ethereal council. A previous attempt to capture the mountain had ended it catastrophic casualties for little gain so the Tau proceeded with caution.

They began by probing the outer defences with small reconnaissance cadres, seeking week points in the defences but the mountain was surrounded with a web of sensor nets and one after another the scouting forces were ambushed by ravenwing or devastated by teleporting terminator attacks from the deathwing who were guided to their positions with pin point accuracy.

The Tau did identify one location where the defences might be breached and committed a linebreaker cadre to exploiting the weakness. Just such a tactic had worked well in New Feducia and the Tau hoped that success could be replicated here. As the heavy battlesuits closed on the mountain they were met with an aggressive counter attack. The attack stalled in its tracks as the battlesuits engaged, wary about closing the distance and determined to exploit their advantage in fire power. Fighting raged and casualties mounted on both sides but eventually the battlesuits were forced to withdraw. Both sides had sustained heavy losses but the aggressive response had kept the Tau from pressing forward to claim the key positions they would require to breach the fortress.

Disheartened the Tau commanders analysed the data that had been gathered with much sacrifice. The fortress itself was a subterranean stronghold, immune to even orbital battleship bombardment, and its key position and surrounding sensor web made any approach impossible to conceal. Taking the mountain would require prolonged attractional warfare of a kind that was anathema to the Tau philosophy of war. All analysis lead to the same conclusion, that the military benefit of taking the mountain was simply not worth the cost. Faced with this unpalatable conclusion the Tau moved to a strategy of containment and refocused their resources to future conquests.

Aleph Sector 024M42 - current warzones

Last Stand on Lodax Secondus

In the Rifts of Hecate, out on the edges of the Imperium where the Aleph Sector met the Eastern Fringe, the planet of Lodax Secondus stood as in the front line against the encroaching tides of chaos and xenos horrors. Yet, on this fateful day, the defenders of the Imperium faced their greatest trial yet.

The tension was palpable as the Imperial forces, battered and weary, prepared to make their last stand. The Tyranid horde, a relentless tide of chitin and claws, surged against the crumbling fortifications, threatening to engulf all in its path.

Amidst the chaos, a glimmer of hope shone through the darkness. Commissar McGuffin, bearer of vital intelligence regarding the dreaded Hive Fleet Poseidon, was the Imperium's last hope for survival. With his information in hand, the Imperium rallied to ensure his safe extraction from the doomed world, as Admiral Sommerville's fleet was only hours away.

Even the Iron Warriors, sworn enemies of the Imperium, set aside their ancient grudges in the face of the greater threat. Together, Imperial and traitor alike stood united against the xenos menace, their determination unwavering in the face of imminent annihilation.

As endless waves of Tyranids crashed against the bulwarks of the Imperial defences, Commissar McGuffin made a desperate dash to the extraction point. The Deathwing and Iron Warriors Chosen fought with grim resolve, holding the line against the relentless onslaught.

During the carnage, the Dark Angels Chapter Master emerged as if from nowehere, with some identifying his as the Primarch of legend himself, charging into the fray. With lethal precision, he pursued the monstrous Tyranid beasts, slaying them one by one in a dance of death. Whether this was the mighty Lion El Johnson or these were just the fever dreams of exhausted guardsmen remains an unresolved mystery. Either way the powerful space marine was seen charging into the Tyranid hive swarm with aggressive savagery. Yet, in the heart of the battle, the supreme augmented soldier of humanity faced his ultimate challenge: the dreaded Swarm Lord, embodiment of the Tyranid hive mind. In a clash of titans, the Dark Angel commander fought valiantly, but in the end, he fell before the monstrous might of his foe. No body was ever recovered however, so whether this account is true, or a heroic myth cannot be verified.

As desperation reached its zenith, salvation descended from the heavens as Admiral Sommerville arrived: the Mastodon, a behemoth of war, crashed down from orbit, blocking the path of the onrushing Tyranids and protecting McGuffin at all costs. With a thunderous roar, it trampled the weakened Swarm Lord beneath its colossal treads.

Now the Genestealer cults, vile servants of the Tyranid menace, swarmed the extraction point, their numbers seemingly endless. Only through the heroic sacrifice of countless lives did the Imperium hold fast against the relentless tide of xenos horrors.

In the end, amidst the ruins of Lodax Secondus, Commissar McGuffin emerged unharmed, his precious cargo of intelligence intact. Though victory came at a great cost, the defenders of the Imperium had held the line against the encroaching darkness, ensuring that hope endured even in the face of inevitable doom. As the Tyranids consumed the planet in their ravenous hunger, the sacrifice of those who fought and fell would be remembered.

Novgorod Guard expand bridgehead on Enaloth

Situated to the galactic north of the Mordecai system, the system of Enaloth had emerged as a pivotal battleground in the struggle for dominance within the Perseus Deeps as 024M42 began. The Imperial forces, led by the experienced and now long serving General Veers, recognised the strategic significance of Enaloth in their broader campaign against the encroaching forces of Chaos and the Tau Empire. With the new pathway through the Cicatrix Maledictum secured, the Imperium sought to expand its dominion into the galactic east, and Enaloth, with its necron-infested tombs, stood as a formidable barrier to their ambitions.

In late 023M42, the Imperium had made landfall on Enaloth, securing a precarious foothold amidst the ancient ruins and desolate landscapes that covered the planet's surface. Gradually, they fortified their landing zone, preparing  themselves conscientiously for the inevitable confrontation with the awakened Necrons.

As General Kutuzov ground out a brutal campaign against the forces of Chaos in the Mordecai system, the Novgorod Guard now spearheaded the Imperial offensive on Enaloth. With their usual implacable resolve, they launched a relentless assault against the Necron defences, their artillery fire and ranks of Leman Russ tanks forming an impenetrable wall against the advancing xenos.

The Necrons, not content to allow the armies of humanity to simply take their world, launched a counter attack against the Imperial invaders, their mechanical forms marching directly into the teeth of massed Imperial firepower. Yet, despite their resilience, they faltered in the face of the Imperial Guard's steadfast defence, as their ranks were decimated by charges from the specialist Novgorod cavalry units.

By early 03.024M42, the tide of battle had turned decisively in favour of the Imperium. Fully half of Enaloth lay under Imperial control, and the progression of the campaign was precisely on General Veers' pre-invasion schedule. However, the struggle for Enaloth was far from over. The Necrons, ancient and undying, remained a formidable foe, their wrath unquenched by the loss of territory. As the Imperium pressed forward, their resolve would be tested, as  the battles ahead would be fought not only in the desolate tombs of Enaloth but in the very heart of darkness itself.

Mordecai Primaris: Breakout from Westosa

By early 023M42 the Imperium had established two footholds on the world of Mordecai Primaris. Having built up supplies in early 02.024M42 General Kutuzov was coming under pressure to make progress, and despite his reservations about the task ahead, he recognised he had to deliver victory soon otherwise the morale of the army would start to diminish.

The stage was set in the desolate wastelands east of Westosa, where General Kutuzov devised a daring plan to strike out towards the Menoria Hive Sprawl via the strategic Harian Mesa. His vision: a lightning advance that would shatter the defenses of the chaos forces between Westosa and Menoria, securing a vital foothold in the ongoing struggle for dominance.

However, fate had other plans, for awaiting Kutuzov and his Novgorod Guard was a formidable force of the Death Guard, known ominously as the House of Eschar. Like a dark and diseased spectre, they blocked the path to Menoria, their ranks bolstered by the taint of Chaos and the stench of decay.

The clash that ensued was brutal, with both forces engaging in close quarters fighting. A fierce battle erupted as both sides unleashed the full fury of war upon one another. The ground trembled beneath the thunderous advance of Leman Russ battle tanks, stalwart symbols of Imperial might, their adamantine hulls proving resilient against the weaponry of the Death Guard.

Yet, for all their might, the Novgorod Guard faced challenges of their own. The accuracy of their Vanquisher tanks faltered, their shots falling short against the corrupted armour of the Death Guard. On the front lines, Novgorod cavalry charged valiantly, only to be met with unyielding resistance as the Death Guard weathered the storm of their assaults with grim resolve.

In a fateful turn of events, Kutuzov's meticulously laid plans were disrupted by a devastating teleport strike from Death Guard Terminators. Like avatars of death, they materialized behind Imperial lines, their merciless advance laying waste to Imperial artillery and sowing chaos amidst the ranks.

As the battle raged on, both sides endured heavy casualties, their forces depleted and their resolve tested to its limits. Yet, in the crucible of conflict, Kutuzov's superior numbers and logistical advantage proved decisive. Despite the toll exacted by the battle, the Harian Mesa fell under Imperial control, a hard-won strategic victory in the face of overwhelming adversity, although at great cost in manpower and resources.

The campaign was far from over however. As the dust settled and the echoes of battle faded, General Kutuzov knew that another offensive would be needed to reach the second imperial foothold at Menoria Hive. The struggle for dominance in the war-torn Mordecai system continued unabated, each victory and defeat shaping the fate of the campaign and the course of the sector's history.

Tau suffer setback on Gamador

Amidst the desolate ruins of Gamador, the Tau Empire sought to expand its influence on the ancient tomb world and the wider region of the Perseus Deeps. However, what they encountered was far beyond their expectations, as the slumbering Necrons rose from their age-old rest to repel the invaders. 

Having easily established a foothold on Gamador, the Tau envisioned swift conquest, yet the Necrons, guardians of the planet's ancient secrets, were not prepared to relinquish their domain without a fight. Awakened by the encroaching Tau, the ancient xenos stirred from their dormancy, their metallic forms emerging from the depths of the tomb world to confront the intruders.

02.024M42 marked a turning point in the Tau campaign for the world, as the first signs of significant Necron resistance manifested with devastating clarity. A Tau patrol, tasked with exploring the supposedly uninhabited Necron ruins, encountered an unexpected and sizeable Necron force, rather than the occasional Tomb Sentinel. In a swift and brutal assault, the Necrons overwhelmed the advanced Tau patrol, their advanced technology and resilience proving too much for the invaders.

For hours, the sands of Gamador bore witness to the ferocious battle that ensued. Tau warriors clashed with the ancient xenos, their firepower pitted against the implacable might of the Necron legions. Despite valiant efforts and the successful elimination of the enemy commander, the Tau suffered heavy casualties in the face of the relentless Necron onslaught.

As the engagement wore on, it became evident to the Tau high command that the conquest of Gamador by the Tau Empire would not be a straightforward endeavour. The Necrons, ancient and undying, stood as a formidable barrier to Tau expansion, and in the aftermath of this latest encounter, the Tau were forced to reassess their strategy, recognizing the stubborn nature of their adversaries and the challenges that lay ahead. The conflict for Gamador had only just begun, and the Tau Empire would need to muster all its strength and cunning if it hoped to emerge triumphant in the face of the ancient and implacable Necrons.

Phyrrho Zeta Consumed

By 02.042M42 the growth of tyranid attacks from hive fleet Poseiden continued unabated. Despite the Imperium defeating wave after wave of the Xenos at their forward bases, on the other worlds of the Rifts of Hecate the tyranids were eagerly turning biomass into legions of monstrous creatures evolved to overwhelm any foe.

On Phyrrho Zeta, the clash between Tyranids and Necrons reverberated across the desolate landscape, as the relentless advance of the bioengineered horrors overwhelmed the ancient legions of metallic warriors. Amidst the ruins of the necron civilization, the Tyranids surged forth with ravenous hunger, their bioforms tearing through the defences of the Necron tombs.

In the heart of the conflict, a titanic confrontation unfolded as the Necron Overlord, led his undying warriors against the swarming Tyranid horde. Arcs of energy clashed with cascades of acidic venom, illuminating the battlefield in a surreal display of cosmic warfare. Despite their mastery of arcane technology, the Necrons found themselves outmatched by the sheer ferocity and overwhelming numbers of their bioengineered adversaries.

As the last echoes of the Necron resistance faded into oblivion, the Tyranids surged forth, their insatiable hunger driving them ever onward. Phyrrho Zeta was consumed by the voracious swarm and now the tendrils of the hive fleet extended towards the Webway, threatening to invade the arcane corridors of the Aeldari civilisation.

On the shadowed world of Lodax Secundus, the Dark Eldar watched with growing horror as the Tyranid threat loomed ever closer to the fringes of their domain. From the twisted spires of their labyrinthine city, the sinister denizens of Commorragh momentarily set aside their ancient vendettas to face this common enemy.

As the first tendrils of the hive fleet breached the boundaries of the Webway, the Dark Eldar were forced to take action. They unleashed a tide of nightmarish horrors upon the encroaching Tyranids, their cruel blades cutting through chitinous armor with merciless precision. The battle was bloody, with many drukhari lives lost to the xenos creatures, but the webway had for now at least been protected from a catastrophic incursion by hive fleet Poseidon.

New Cerberex falls to the Tau

The siege of New Feducia on New Cerberex had dragged on for what felt like an eternity. The once-proud city now lay in ruins, its spires shattered, its streets littered with rubble and the detritus of war. The air was thick with smoke and the acrid stench of burning debris, a constant reminder of the ceaseless bombardment that had ravaged the city.

For the Tau, encircling New Feducia had become a matter of strategic importance. They sought to weaken the Imperial defences, to break their spirit and claim the city as their own. Their relentless barrage had reduced much of the city to rubble, but the defenders held fast, their resolve unyielding even in the face of overwhelming odds.

On the outskirts of the city, the Imperial Guard launched counter-bombardments, their artillery thundering defiance against the Tau positions. It was a desperate bid to push back the encroaching enemy, to buy precious time for the beleaguered defenders within the city walls.

In the midst of this chaos, Commander Staunch Heart stood at the head of a crack force of Battlesuits, their sleek forms cutting through the smoke-choked skies like avenging angels. Their mission was clear: breach the Tau lines, clear the city of enemy forces, and secure Governor Rudolfus.

Federal Intelligence agents had whispered of Rudolfus's potential defection, of his susceptibility to persuasion, particularly from his brother Leopold, a staunch advocate of the Tau cause. It was a risky gambit, but in war, desperate times called for desperate measures.

As the days stretched into weeks, the Imperium found itself reduced to a ragtag assembly of Librian and Cerberex guardsmen, their numbers dwindling with each passing skirmish. The small Dark Angels force stationed at Mount Bone could do little to intervene, their numbers insufficient to turn the tide of battle.

And so, amidst the ruins of New Feducia, the stage was set for a final showdown. The Tau prepared to launch their assault, while the Imperium, battered but unbroken, braced itself for the inevitable onslaught. In the shadow of looming spires and amidst the wreckage of war, the fate of New Feducia hung in the balance, a city teetering on the edge of oblivion, awaiting the decisive stroke that would determine its destiny, which came on 2701.024M42.

Commander Staunch Heart stood at the forefront of the Tau advance, her spirit unwavering amidst the chaos of war. With each passing day, the city's defences weakened, reduced to rubble under the relentless assault. But within the smoke and fire, hope still flickered, a beacon for those who dared to resist the Tau's advance.

Imperial Librians and Cerberex defenders, ragged and weary, held their ground against the Tau onslaught. Leman Russ demolishers roared defiance, their cannons thundering in the face of the enemy. Yet, for every victory won, a dozen more challenges emerged, as Tau Tiger Sharks streaked across the sky, their lethal payloads wreaking havoc among the Imperial ranks.

As the battle raged on, the Tau's elite Crisis and Stealth Suits emerged from the shadows, striking at the heart of the Imperial defenses. Stormtroopers fell beneath the hail of fire, their valiant efforts unable to stem the tide of green-armoured warriors pressing relentlessly forward.

But amidst the chaos and bloodshed, a glimmer of hope emerged. A small band of Imperial heavy weapons teams, holed up in a ruined building, fought with a determination born of desperation. Their sacrifice bought precious moments, but it wasn't enough. The Tau Riptide Battlesuit dominated the streets of the capital, routing many of the rapidly conscripted defenders and shattering Imperial morale.

As the Tau pushed on towards the heart of the city, amidst the ruins of the command bunker Commander Staunch Heart led her Crisis team in the pre-planned daring assault. With every step, they faced death, but with every blow, they struck back with a ferocity that defied all reason. Theirs was a mission of sacrifice, a mission that would be remembered for generations to come.

And as the smoke cleared and the echoes of battle faded, New Feducia stood liberated, a testament to the valour of those who fought and fell in its defense. The Tau victory was hard-won, their losses heavy, but Governor Rudolphus had been captured alive.

With the dust settling over the ruins of New Feducia, the Tau Empire were satisfied with their victory, yet the shadows of conflict lingered. The Dark Angels' monastery, perched atop Mount Bone, remained a bastion of defiance, a constant reminder of the Imperium's resilience.

This astartes presence would need to be dealt with, but the costly assault on the capital of New Cerberex had yielded more than just territory. Through persuasion and coercion, the Cerberex noblemen and Governor Rudolfus had been swayed to the Tau cause. Their allegiance ensured the compliance of the populace, alleviating the need for a large occupying force. The Tau's grip on New Cerberex tightened, securing the planet for their expanding empire.

As the Tau turned their gaze towards the Mabb Nebula, the conquest of Hylas beckoned. With the lessons learned from New Feducia, they strategized their next move, plotting the expansion of their influence across the stars.

Yet, even as the Tau celebrated their triumph, whispers of dissent echoed through the windswept ruins. In the heart of Mount Bone, the Dark Angels watched and waited, their resolve unshaken, their determination unyielding. For in the grim darkness of the 41st millennium, the fires of war burned eternal, and the struggle for dominance raged on, unfettered by the passing of time.