Disaster strikes the Stygian sector

 

With the creation of the great rift and the launching of the indomitus crusade the nature of the Stygian wars changed.  The inevitable arrival of an indomitus crusade group saw the Alpha Legion and the emerging Stygian Empire to go on what appeared as the strategic defensive.  Brutal raids were still carried out but the Stygian Empire began to prepare a defense in depth desperately churning out new soldiers and weapons.

The allied Dark mechanicus in particular worked feverishly to bring squadron after squadron of daemon engines into exsistance.   The imperial forces began to launch counteroffensive that while very bloody seemed successful.

The imperial offensives were then aided by the arrival of battle group Forthrax of Fleet Quartus of the indomitus crusade.  Led by group master admiral Kilmer, and fresh off a string of victories in the Ysmar sub sector a bold new offensive was launched.

The imperial forces pierced the outer defense zone of the Stygian empire with surprising ease.  Then intelligence arrived that pinpointed Lord Magwar and the Alpha legion command structure of the Stygian empire not on a fortified planet but hidden in an extremely large asteroid base in the vexilla asteroid belt.  Despite’s numerous calls for caution Kelmer believed the intel completely as it fit with the subterfuge and reputation of the Alpha Legion.  Believing time was of the essence he launched an all out assault.

The entire battle group fell into an ambush between the combined Stygian and Alpha Legion fleet and a fleet of Night Lords who had come for slaughter and plunder.  Numerous boarding craft hidden amongst the asteroids saw a slew of boarding actions commence as the battle commenced.  Admiral Kelmer was killed and a third of the imperial ships lost before Chapter Master DuGal of the Void Talons was able to withdraw the rest of the Imperial fleet.  Thus ended the battle known as Kelmer’s Folly.  Imperial forces under pressure from the Stygian and Alpha legion fleets pulled back to regroup.  Battle group Forthrax was then sent to aid other more promising fronts.  It was a short time later recalled to take part in the disaster in the Malak system.

With the destruction of Fleet Quartus and the Murder-Curse of Angron, a tide of destruction rained down upon the Imperial worlds of the Stygian sector and all the surrounding sectors.  Khornate warband s visited death and destruction to over a hundred worlds.  The strategic implications were gigantic and Imperial forces redeployed to try and counter the bloody rampage unleashed all plans for any kind of offensive against the Stygian empire forgotten.

In the face of the Imperial disaster, the Stygian empire and the Alpha Legion struck.  All the newly raised forces and equipment for a defense of the Stygian empire was now being used in a massive offensive.  Some of the attacks being led by captured Imperial vessels from Kelmer’s Folly.  Some khornate warband s have also arrived to aid in the offensive.  The imperials in the Stygian Sector are now on the defensive and desperately attempting to slow the tide.