As an Astartes warrior stands as a powerful example of Imperial authority, Tau sympathizers in the Garrus Colony are impressed into a new penal battalion.
Garrus: Xeno collaborators still active
Despite re-education efforts on the world of Garrus, recently recovered from Tau control, there appears to be an active group of xeno supporters seeking to undermine the restoration of Imperial authority.
This heretical cult, for want of a better term, are documenting the severe Imperial response to xeno supporters that previously controlled the planetary government. Video-picts of prisoners undergoing intense interrogation, as well as prisoners working in re-education labor camps, have been distributed to undermine the citizenry’s confidence in Imperial rule.
The newly established Adeptus Administratum, supported by the Ecclesiarchy and Adeptus Arbites, are aggressively hunting down the heretics. While always skeptical when local administrators claim to be in control of the situation, there is currently no evidence that the Ordo Xenos needs to divert resources to the threat.
Ork forces continue to press the Imperial defenses on Iconia.
Iconia: Growing ork threat
Although the threat is ostensibly contained. the ork infestation on Iconia is putting considerable pressure on the Imperial military assets confronting the greenskin menace.
The latest ork attack managed to seize a paltry 160,000 square kilometers of the planet, but any loss of Imperial-controlled land to filthy xenos is an affront to the Emperor. It also reveals that the assurances of planetary officials as to the military situation is suspect.
Still, at the moment, the military situation appears reasonably stable. But, given the reproductive rate of the greenskin species, the military resources of the orks will grow quickly. As long as much of our military forces are dedicated to the Damocles Gulf Crusade, the balance of power on Iconia will eventually favor the xenos.
At this time,however, no specific action by the Ordo Xenos appears necessary.
The Necrons are a serious threat to the security of the Corvus Cluster
Myopolis: Deathwatch intervention?
Strategium assessment has determined that Necron forces on Myopolis continue to increase in numbers.
The arrival of the Knights of Altair’s 1st and 2nd Companies to the fighting was a welcome reinforcement to Imperial forces, the Astartes recently suffered a serious defeat that threatens the planet’s capital city. Intervention appears necessary.
Since the first Necron attack some years ago, at least 23 new regimental-sized military formations have been identified, and larger and more sophisticated xeno weaponry has been introduced to the battlefield. This expansion of xeno power must be stunted.
Recommendation: Inquisition team should be sent to Myopolis to determine strategic targets for a Deathwatch insertion team. Can xeno commanders be assassinated? Is it possible to destroy underground hibernation chambers where deactivated xeno warriors are being “awakened?” Are there xeno manufactorums that can be sabotaged?
The highest priority should be assigned to this.
Addendum: [Recommendation accepted. Myopolis is now classified an Alpha-3 Threat. Assign a team to Acolyte Lion Hin, and send her to find a way to improve our Imperial response to the Necron threat. Send Calculus Logi Gallianius to the team. He’s a bit odd, but he is highly efficient in analyzing massive amounts of data.—Serillian]
Although local officials assumed this pict was of severely deformed mutants, the creatures moving through this desert canyon clearly match the physical characteristics of a Genestealer.
Morkai: Genestealer Cult suspected
Evidence suggests the presence of Genestealer Cult on desert world of Morkai. Investigation continues as to the extent the xeno cult is playing a role in the ongoing “mutant rebellion.”
Planetary officials are falling short in responding to threat, and more direct involvement by Ordo Xenos may be necessary.
Addendum: [Orders for more direct involvement already approved. See File 83673/834.74.w,]
A pict of a small Tau patrol captured by an Imperial scanner drone.
Tau Incursions: Xenos meet stiff resistance
Among the more positive news of this report is that the Tau-inspired rebellion on Trantor III has suffered reverses in the past two years.
This industrial planet, seduced by Tau water caste emissaries, rebelled in 738.M41, but Loyalist troops managed to retain control of two hive cities on the planet.
Over the years, 14 Imperial Guard regiments, along with the Raven Guard’s 3rd Company, have joined the battle, and one rebel-held hive city has been recaptured.. After a two-year campaign, Imperial forces have managed to advance on Hive City Hera Prime, and siege operations will soon begin to retake the city.
Alas, the Raven Guard detachment left the campaign last year, claiming that greater threats required their presence. Although that was a blow to the Imperial crusade to cleanse the planet of xeno filth, senior Guard officials are confident that the initiative remains with the Imperium.
At the same time, the beleaguered defensive force on Dar Sai have managed to hold back repeated Tau attacks, and the xenos have failed to make significant progress in their attempt to conquer the agri-moon.
Given that the Damocles Gulf Crusade is likely to occupy the Tau Empire for the immediate future, no xeno reinforcements are expected. Therefore, no Inquisitorial action is needed at this time.
Vinea: Grot population disturbing
Although diminutive this smaller greenskin species can prove a dangerous threat if encountered in numbers.,
Despite several military campaigns, planetary officials on Vinea report they have been unable to exterminate a grot infestation that has plagued the world for the past six years.
There have been no sign of orks on the planet, but the smaller greenskin subspecies has proliferated, spreading across the planet by occupying less-desirable ecosystems.
For example, the grots occupy significant areas of remote forests, mountain ranges, polar regions, and the underhives of various hive cities. The Planetary Defense Force (PDF) claim that they have contained the greenskin threat, but local assets report that grot numbers have grown from the tens of thousands to more than million.
What’s more, xeno biologis express concern that a sizable greenskin population, even if limited to the smaller less-dangerous subspecies, could establish the gestalt psychic field notable among the ork species—a phenomenon that could attract the grots’ larger cousins to the planet.
It may be necessary to intervene with the planetary government to elicit more aggressive military operations against this infestation.
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TheGM: Some final thoughts. I’m very tempted to challenge the Gaffer to a grot vs. PDF battle on Vinia. The Gaffer has a small grot mechanized force (why?), so it’s time to put it on the tabletop.
Also, I see some interesting Deathwatch or Enforcer skirmishes against a growing occurrence of Genestealer Cult activity. I didn’t even realize that so many outbreaks of xeno cults were taking place. Good thing I did this report, or I might never have realized how timely this news is. Spoiler Alert: According to the official 40K timeline, Hive Fleet Bohemoth makes its appearance in 745.M41.
That’s only four and one-half months away! Thank goodness I’ve been painting an army (my ninth) for several months. And I just bought a sizable bunch of new boxes of little critters.
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The Corvus Cluster is a Warhammer 40K blog documenting our gaming adventures in the fantastical sci-fi universe of Games Workshop.
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Categories: Inquisition
THE CORVUS CLUSTER 