This week, as the forces of the Imperium reeled from defeat on the battlefield and treachery amongst the population, the invaders prepared to seize one of the key bases supporting the loyalist war effort: Medicae Primus. Constructed 500 years ago as a Biologis hospital and research facility, Medicae Primus has trained the bulk of the planet's medical professionals, as well as acting as a secondary production site for advanced bio-mechanical components. Through the efforts of its Adepts, thousands of Imperial troops have been restored to frontline duty, and many more have never even required medical attention thanks to the physical enhancements it has liberally provided. Although the sprawling facility was well-garrisoned at the outset of the war, the facility itself was not fortified, and as the forces of Chaos advanced across the planet, many of its defenders were stripped away, leaving only an uneasy coalition of Tau, Cadians, and Blood Angels to defend the site.
Knowing that the Imperium would respond with overwhelming force to any threat to Medicae Primus, the forces of Chaos set a trap for the defenders...
Acting as a reconnaissance force at the perimeter, the mercenary Tau, having finally linked up with their Sept world brethren, detected a massive warband of Orks along the perimeter. Calling for backup from nearby forces, the Tau moved into a defensive position and began to mow down their foes despite being massively outnumbered. By the time they began receiving distress calls from their allies and realized no support was inbound, it was too late to withdraw. Nearly the entire Tau line was engulfed by Ork boyz, despite their heroic efforts to stem the green tide with courage and blazing pulse rifles alone.
The initial perimeter alert given by the Tau did not go entirely unanswered. Although the Cadians and 2nd Tau force remained in position at Medicae Primus, the Blood Angels immediately mobilized to support their allies, rushing to the battle in an armored spearhead. They never arrived; a rumbling swarm of Ork vehicles intercepted the Sons of Sanguinius en route, critically delaying the Marines. The battle was a nightmare demolition derby. Looted Wagons and Battlewagons dueled with Predators and Vindicators, while Trukkboyz madly traded fire with Rhino and Razorback transports. The Blood Angels ultimately claimed victory, reducing the Ork vehicles to scrap and halting their advance. Unfortunately their own force was in little better shape; as they prepared to move out with what troops and weaponry they had left, their comms were overwhelmed with a howl of distress signals...
On the outskirts of Medicae Primus, the true attack finally appeared as two forces of Daemons burst from the Warp onto Feorla's surface.
The Cadians, already drawn up in defensive formations in the event of an Orkish breakthrough, initially held despite the appearance of Horrors in the middle of their lines; it seemed the troops of Daemons were leaderless and disorganized. That changed rapidly, as Skarbrand the Exiled, flanked by a pair of Daemon Princes, materialized on the battlefield and began laying waste to everything within reach. The Imperial line crumbled as the fallen Bloodthirster's rage infected the combatants, driving them to acts of suicidal aggression. The famed Cadian discipline collapsed as the entire command squad, supported by a Sentinel and support troopers, rushed one of the Daemon Princes, hammering it with rifle butts and point blank lasfire. Against such a foe there could be only one result, and as their commander fell, so did the Cadians.
The Tau had also formed up defensively, but they too had miscalculated. Expecting a head on charge, they detached their Broadsides and Pathfinders to the edges of their kill zones, and waited to receive a frontal assault. Unfortunately the attack was not head on; the first warning the Tau had was the screams of their Pathfinders dying to bursts of Warp energy. The battle was short but vicious. Pulse- and Missile fire devastated the first wave of Slaaneshi daemons, while Kroot mercenaries held the line against the survivors. It could not be held, however. The last Kroot died futilely writhing in the jaws of a Fiend, while an advancing Greater Daemon simply waded through the volley after volley of fire, buying time for multiple Daemon Princes and Heralds to get into position. Bereft of an escape route and unable to focus fire without Pathfinder support, the Tau's hope, determination, and dying agony were all harvested for the Dark Prince.
Aware of their allies' defeat but too battered to provide assistance, the surviving Blood Angels began the long retreat to friendly territory, vowing revenge on the invaders...
Already the facilities of Medicae Primus are being put to use by their new masters. The transfer of medical treatment and cybernetic enhancement to the invaders is the least of the Imperium's worries. With a captive staff, the corrupting power of Chaos, advanced biotechnology, and thousands of fresh prisoners to experiment upon, there is no telling what horrors will emerge from the desecrated operating rooms and manufactorums...
