After seizing a sizable portion of territory on Morkai, mutant rebels have spent the past two years tightening their political hold on occupied towns and villages. Those who did not submit saw their homes burned to the ground before being driven into the desert to die.

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Pause in fighting is no comfort on Morkai

For two years, the desert world of Morkai has enjoyed a respite from a dangerous mutant rebellion, as rebel leaders struggled to regroup after seizing sizable territory in previous years.

Alas, Imperial authorities have not made the most of this time. Efforts to expand the Planetary Defense Force (PDF) have been stymied by massive corruption, and political leaders have dawdled in the face of a rebel effort to turn the planet’s oppressed mutant population to their cause.

One of many small observation posts circling the rebel-held ruins of Ungolath. As can be seen, this camp’s perimeter defenses remain unfinished. a common problem due to massive corruption in the PDF and Administratum.

One military decision that has met with some success was the creation of military outposts surrounding rebel territory, a bid to stymie rebel raiding parties and provide advance warning of future rebel military attacks.

One of those outposts was attacked on 6 354 744.M41 by a rebel force. The Imperial garrison suffered heavy casualties but managed to hold back the rebels until reinforcements arrived.

Later in the year, the Ordo Xenos found evidence that the mutant rebels were a more serious threat than originally believed. An Imperial agent working under the guidance of Inquisitor Georgene Serillian found evidence that a Genestealer Cult was operating on the planet—and it  has appeared to have gained a foothold, if not control, of the rebel hierarchy.

As if the planetary government didn’t have enough to worry about, a major gang war has broken out between Underhive gangs in the capital hive city. Fueled by a mix of bad blood and a desire to expand their territories, the Steroid Boyz and Fem-Girls are engaged in an increasingly violent exchange.

Space Marines of the Knights of Altair chapter disembark from their drop pods in the midst of a Necron formation.

Necrons press Myopolis defenses

The Imperial defenses on Myopolis have managed to slow significant territorial gains by their Necron invaders, but authorities are not happy with a condition they describe as “holding on by our fingernails.”

The year began with a small, but welcome victory. North of the capital of Xintorgo, the xenos had positioned what troops call a “Necron Pylon,” an extremely effective anti-air weapons system that was causing significant losses in Imperial aircraft and forcing military leaders to suspend aircraft deployments in the area.

This situation gave the xenos air superiority, and a force of Astartes from the Knights of Altair chapter were called upon to launch a behind-enemy-lines attack. Landing in drop pods, the Knights attacked the Necron force garrisoning the pylon, fought their way to it, and destroyed it with krak grenades.

A Necron gauss flayer, a powerful weapon capable of bringing down an armored Astartes.

A few months later, after an appeal by the Adeptus Mechanicus for reinforcements, a larger contingent of Knights arrived under the personal command of High Marshal Adrias Ioculus.

The chapter master was determined to strike at the enemy as quickly as possible. Within days, he had studied the latest intelligence on enemy troop deployments and selected a relatively isolated Necron force to attack.

Despite Ioculus’ success in driving the Necrons off the world of Tophet, the Necron commander, Agamunzu, had studied the high marshal’s earlier battles, and the xeno overlord met the Astartes attack with a unique new formation. This compact deployment, with multiple points of crossfire, stymied the Knights’ attack.

The end result was an unusual defeat for Ioculus, who was outraged by the need to withdraw to avoid heavy casualties.

Eager for revenge for his repulse, Ioculus immediately looked for more favorable conditions to re-engage with the Necrons. When the Necrons began to press Imperial lines six weeks later, he prepared an ambush, attacking a xeno column from all directions, and won a decisive victory.

The year ended with another small, but significant engagement. On 6 914 744.M41, an Imperial shuttle attempted to land in the hive city of Xintorgo with data crystals offering useful military information about the Necrons menacing the planet. Alas, it was shot down by a xeno fighter aircraft.

A squad of Skitarii were rushed to the crash site in hopes of recovering the data crystals. Although some crystals were rescued, a force of Necrons arrived and forced the Mechanicus troops to abandon their effort to collect the rest.

Imperial authorities are alarmed by the degree that Genestealer Cults have spread across several sectors.

Growing concerns of xeno taint

The previously mentioned discovery of Genestealer Cult activity on Morkai is but one of many disturbing reports of a xeno taint spreading among Imperial worlds.

This year, the Ordo Xenos became aware of this disturbing trend as it received an increasing number of reports of heretical cults with members marked by mutations, including ridged foreheads, purplish skin, and additional appendages.

Such reports on Belliose III, a key military and administrative center in the Corvus Cluster, led to an Inquisition-led screening of senior Imperial officials. To the horror of Inquisitor Serillian,, more than 150 officials failed genetic purity tests and were arrested for xeno taint. Since then, Adeptus Arbites raids of these officials’ extended families have resulted in additional arrests.

The icon of the Cult of the Voidborn hints at its Genestealer roots.

Meanwhile, a raid on the world of Sabado also discovered many cultists afflicted with similar mutations. Halfway across the Cluster,  the Cult of the Voidborn, once considered crushed on the world of Bengolarrea, appears to be active once again.

The latest report of xeno cult activity arrived at the end of the year, after the Imperial cruiser Stellar Storm answered a distress beacon broadcasting from an isolated research station in the Talgor System. A landing party found the station infested by a Genestealer Cult and reported the presence of a pure-bred Genestealer.

Retreating from the station with heavy losses, the Stellar Storm destroyed the infestation by orbital bombardment.

Click here to read Part 4 of our Strategic Update.

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The Corvus Cluster is a Warhammer 40K blog documenting our gaming adventures in the fantastical universe of Games Workshop.