The Opening Volley

Chapter 1, cont'd

It remains unclear whether the scattering of the Imperial relief fleet was the result of Daemonic power being brought to bear, Xenos technology, or simple bad luck, but the results were disastrous. Two separate Imperial Guard armies and a Battle Company's worth of Red Templar were the only ground formations able to make planetfall, and only in limited numbers. Dozens of small fleet engagements were being fought throughout the Ogrys system, preventing all but the quick and lucky from reaching the planet. Even more worrying was the absence of vessels from the Salamanders, Dark Angels, and Blood Angels, all of whom had promised support and whose forces were nowhere to be seen.

On the ground, the situation deteriorated further. Imperial landing craft came under sustained attack from Necron AA and aerial forces. Establishing a beachhead was almost impossible until Eldar counterbattery fire silenced the Necron positions. Imperial forces attempted to mass around the partially leveled hive city of Jegara, which held the Invaders' ironically named Fortress Monastery, the "Palace of Peace," at its center, but were unable to secure the shattered metropolis. On one flank an uneasy coalition of Tau and Orks were alternately looting and fortifying positions, while the city center was overrun by Daemons and soulless Necron war machines.

Here the Imperium made its first mistake. An advance force of Red Templar chose to stand its ground in the face of a Necron scouting attack rather than support the struggling Imperial Guard landing zone near their position. The Marines fought bravely, but were cut down. Meanwhile, their Guard allies were attacked by Orkish marauders and suffered heavy losses before they were able to disengage under cover or rapidly set-up artillery positions. The second Guard contingent, Reaper Squadron Epsilon, found themselves in a strange situation; cut off from their allies, they brokered an uneasy truce with Eldar ground forces near their drop site. The Eldar began clearing a path through the center of the city, only to be stymied by a Tau Cadre. The Guard, still distrustful of their new "allies" sought to fortify positions and gather supplies from the ruins. This proved more dangerous than anticipated; numerous packs of roving Daemons were reported, and one recon column was completely destroyed.

Although the Imperium now had a presence on the ravaged planet, it was a tenuous one at best...


Gun batteries overrun. Second Orkish assault wave imminent. We can hold them here, but not for long. Wait 90 seconds, then fire on my coordinates!

- last transmission of 2nd Lt. Walther Kruptman, 261st Death Corps of Krieg, on special assignment to Ogrys System Relief Task Force

All too easy.
-Graffiti carved into the armor of the Emperor's Champion of the Red Templars upon its recovery two days after the 5th Crusade Column's annihilation. 

Their grav tanks were fast and nimble, even more so than our own Hammerheads and Devilfish. Not fast or nimble enough to dodge a rail shot, though. Now if only we knew why they were here...

-Commander Flamereach, in the aftermath of his first inconclusive battle with Eldar.

."Shhh... I won't hurt you." It kept saying that over and over again.When it ripped open our Chimera. When it tore Jenk's face off. When it melted Farley and Kriven. When it speared Orlov... "Shhh... I won't hurt you..."

-from the after action report of Sgt. Arenas, Squad Bravo, one of only four survivors of Reconnaissance Column 5.