In the hours before dawn, a sizable Necron force advanced to outflank Mechanicus troops defending the Xintorgo, the capital city of Myopolis.

“Do you see them? Do they not make your heart beat faster? Does your pride in humanity swell? Lo, there stand the Imperial Knights in all their heraldry. Their majesty proves the nobility of the Imperium, the glory of our Emperor.”

“I will follow them into battle and see their wrath fall upon the hated xenos.“—Lt. Jon Paulus, tactical liaison with the Myopolis PDF (killed in action 30 minutes later)

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IMPERIAL VOXCAST (6 301 746.M41)—A major Necron attack on the mining world of Myopolis was defeated after Mechanicus troops counterattacked and outflanked the xenos.

Today’s xeno  assault was aimed directly at Myopolis’ capital city, Xintorgo, which recently was reinforced by an influx of Skitarii from the Forge World of Helios and six Imperial Guard Regiments from Belliose III.

“A mix of xeno infantry, armor, and fast-moving skimmers attacked before dawn with the intent of advancing upon Xintorgo,” announced Major Vilt Brennus, public information officer for the Myopolis Planetary Defense Force.

“The Necrons were challenged by the 113th Skitarii Legion, supported by a lance of Imperial Knights from House Fenris.”

The xenos attempted to outflank the Mechanicus force, whose west flank was anchored in some ancient ruins about 200 kilometers northeast of Xintorgo,  Brennus said.

“Necron warriors, supported by Tomb Blade skimmers and several large tanks [Classification: Doomsday Arks] used a series of sand dunes to obscure their movement west and  behind the Skitarii’s flank.”

The 113th Legion’s Commander, a Tech-Priest Dominus named Voxel Prime-77, opted to allow the xenos to advance largely unchallenged. Tactical algorithms  indicated the xenos would need hours to make good on their threat.

Meanwhile, the Mechanicus dedicated a sizable force to attack the Necron’s east flank. After a heavy bombardment by a squadron of Onager Dunecrawlers, the attack was spearheaded by a mix of mechanized infantry, a squadron of Amiger Velverins, and scores of Kataphron Breachers.

The Iimperial counterattack targeted the Necron left flank. Here, Sicaran Infiltrators charge Necron warriors defended a large mesa surrounded by bamboo.

“The Mechanicus force advanced quickly,” Brennus said. “While the Amigers of House Fenris drew enemy fire by moving directly at the xenos, a half dozen Skorpius Duneriders turned the Necron’s flank and disembarked a cohort of Sicarian Infiltrators.”

‘The  elite Infiltrators stormed the enemy position, quickly wiping out the xenos to the last warrior.”

The xenos responded aggressively, military authorities admit. A squad of Necron snipers teleported  onto the flank of the Skitarii advance and began picking off Mechanicus troops. They were quickly driven off by a dozen advancing Kataphron Breachers armed with heavy arc rifles.

On the Imperial’s west flank, the Knights of House Fenris began to advance but quickly found themselves confronted by the approach of enemy armored vehicles. The Knights, supported by the Onagers, soon were trading fire with Doomsday Arks and Triarch Stalkers.

Course of the battle: 1. Necrons seek to turn Imperial flank. 2. Imperials counterattack on opposing flank, destroying xenos’ troops in wooded mesa region. 3. Imperial gun line destroys Triach Stalker threat in center. 4. Sicaran infiltrators break through Necron line and attack reserves. 5. After disembarking Infiltrators, Skorpius Duneriders race into Necron rear. 6. Imperial Knights advance and destroy Doomsday Arks, Infantry column, and xeno warllord. Necrons withdraw.

“Hits were scored by both sides, but while unable to advance under fire from front and left, the Imperial Knights held their ground and distracted the heaviest xeno weapons from interfering with our advance on the east flank,” Brennus said.

This heavy fighting proved key to the Imperial victory, the officer added.

“After our Infiltrators wiped out the xeno’s east flank, they re-embarked on their Duneriders and began driving behind xeno lines.”

Racing across the desert, the Infiltrators and Breachers were witness to a successful volley by the Imperial Knights, whose use of Thermal Cannons destroyed the Triarch Stalkers that dominated the xeno’s center.

“Their destruction allowed our breakthrough to continue west, striking at a logistical center behind enemy lines, driving away several reserve enemy units, and ultimately moving behind the xenos’ west flank,” Brennus said.

Click here to read the conclusion of this battle.

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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.