The powerful defenses of Mygor are put to the test as the Death Guard begin their attack.

“The presence of Typhus on the battlefield cannot be understated. His presence boosts the effectiveness of his troops and leaves our soldiers quivering in their boots. He has plagued the Imperium for millennia. Is there no one who can rid this pestilent heretic and traitor?”—High Marshal Mikhail Botha, supreme commander of Imperial forces on Dozaria

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Continued from Part 1 . . . 

Dozaria defenses crack

The war news was less positive hundreds of light years to the galactic north, where Imperial defenders of the war-torn Dozaria System were warned that the dreaded Terminus Est, flagship of the Death Guard traitor Typhus, was heading their way. (Typhus returns to Corvus Cluster)

The Terminus Est subsequently arrived in the Dozaria System on 6 397.745.M41 and, joining with existing Chaos warships skulking around the edge of the system, quickly engaged Imperial warships orbiting the planet.

Casualties were high for both fleets, but the traitors enjoyed a slight advantage in numbers—and also employed powerful heretical witchcraft that eventually turned the battle against our forces.

Ultimately, the defeated remnants of the Imperial fleet were forced to withdraw from the system to avoid destruction. (Chaos fleet drives Imperials from Dozaria)

The arrival of Typhus to the war has led to dramatic changes in the fortunes of the traitor invasion force. A renewed sense of aggression swept through the traitor armies, who soon began new assaults on Imperial defenses across the planet.

The most serious attack was led by Typhus himself. On 6 454 745.M41, he led a million cultists and 300 traitor Astartes against the city of Mygor in one of the largest and most vicious battles of the seven-year war.

The fighting raged for weeks, with the Death Guard advancing only 6.7 kilometers along a front of 26 kilometers wide. Enemy casualties were estimated at 320,000, while Imperial casualties were approximately 215,000.  (Death Guard breach Mygor defenses)

Although this outcome would appear a serious failure by Chaos forces, Imperial authorities were worried. With Typhus’ arrival, thousands of troop transports have been delivering fresh enemy troops to the planet, raising the possibility that enemy losses already had been replaced.

What’s more, Typhus managed to enter the outer suburbs of the Mygor, and he has been trying to exploit his position—through both frontal assaults and infiltration—to get the Death Guard into the city proper. One such assault occurred on 6 483 745.M41, when the traitor leader led 50 Death Guard Astartes, supported by 5,000 maddened cultists in an attack on Imperial troops in a devastated neighborhood of the city suburbs.

The defenders had no problem throwing back the cultists, but an assault by the traitor Space Marines smashed through a portion of the Imperial line, threatening to get behind the  loyalist guardsmen and triggering a general withdrawal. (Typhus enters Mygor suburbs)

The Death Guard were unable to exploit this victory as Imperial reinforcements arrived to bolster the lines, but a smaller Death Guard force, led by the traitor Ghaz Tak found a weak spot in the Imperial defenses and threatened to lead the Death Guard into the city proper. (Death Guard press Mygor defenders)

If that were to happen, say Imperial authorities, it would be a disaster. The close quarters of urban fighting  favor of the Death Guard, as it would limit the ability of Imperial troops to utilize their best assets: heavy guns,  armor, and air power. What’s more, if the enemy was successful in capturing the city, it would shatter a key anchor of the Imperial defenses.

There is significant fighting on Hegira but, thankfully for the beleaguered Imperial defenders, much of the fighting is occurring amongst the orks themselves.

Orks remain divided on Hegira

The stalemate on Dar Sai is understandable. The lack of offensive operations by the orks on Hegira is almost laughable, if not for the severity of the strategic balance on the mining moon.

Only a few years ago, it appeared that Hegira would fall as a massive ork army conquered vast regions of Hegira and appeared unstoppable. But then, without warning, the greenskin attacks began to falter. What eventually became apparent is that the iron-clad rule of the ork warlord, Rumlar, had faltered, and the highly aggressive orks began fighting amongst themselves to assume control of the fractious greenskin army.

That’s not to say ork attacks against Imperial troops has stopped entirely. Several battles involving combatants of 100,000 or more have been reported, but the only details known to the general public involve successful military actions published by the Commissariat to boost Imperial morale.

One small campaign of note took place to the southeast of Hegira’s capital, Susa City, where a warband of 30,000 orks attempted to force their way past a series of Imperial bastions that guarded the southern flank of the city.

An artist’s rendering of the death of Nuzsnik Grimspitta by the company champion, Verelus Alco, of the Knights of Altair.

Over a period of months, the orks managed to capture two bastions (with immense casualties) and threatened two more, but progress of the orks appeared stymied by the stout Imperial defenses. (Orks threaten Susa City from southeast)

A smaller, yet consequential action involved a contingent of the Knights of Altair Space Marine Chapter that targeted and killed a dangerous ork warlord that sought to bring a sizable number of ork tribes under his banner.

On 3 079 745.M41, two Assault Squads of the 4th Company of Knights, supported by two Stormtalon gunships, descended upon the encampment of the ork warlord Nuzsnik Grimspitta, self-proclaimed “Savage Mecha-Butcha of Zyphonar Two.”

This warlord, more than three meters tall and weighing 455 kilograms (approximately 1,200 pounds), had dominated most of the ork warbands to the west of Susa City, the besieged capital of Hegira. For this reason, High Command marked him as high-priority target for Imperial troops. (Rumors of the Underhive (6 129 745.M41))

The only other news of note were repeated reports that a massive and mysterious aerial phenomenon was expanding near the ork-held Barad Mine, causing extreme lightning storms, glowing clouds, and eerie sounds that may be the consequence of warp energies leaking from a tear in reality and threatening the entire moon. (Rumors of the Underhive (6 129 745.M41))

Necron attack on Melinoe Naval Base

Of some interest—and concern—almost nothing has been heard about the ongoing Necron invasion of Myopolis. Recent years saw hundreds of thousands of Imperial Guard, along with contingents from several Space Marine chapters, join the fight—a fact that drew sectors-wide public attention.

But nothing of the planet was reported by Imperial authorities this year.

The Imperium was more than happy, however, to report a glorious naval victory over the cybernetic xenos.

On 6 061 745.M41, authorities reported that a fleet of 16 Necron ships, including one enemy battleship and three cruisers, launched an attack against the orbiting naval base. This facility was strategically important as it supplies Imperial warships patrolling the quarantine zone that surrounds known Necron-controlled worlds.

Thankfully, a full fleet commanded by Rear Admiral Augustus Zyphros was resupplying at the base at the time, so a vigorous defense was possible.

Despite the powerful technology of the Necrons, Zyphros fought a brilliant battle, managing to maneuver behind the xenos’ capital ships and maul the enemy. The Necrons, for the first time in years, were forced to retreat in total defeat. (Necrons launch attack on Melinoe Naval Base)

Click here to read Part 3 of this Strategic Update.

Click here to return to Part 1 of this Update.

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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.