ВЕРНУТЬСЯ В РАЗДЕЛ

The Raptors' first strike. Thunderhawk transporters deploy the strike force's heavier equipment onto Taros.

At 2392998.M41 The Taros Invasion Fleet officially  came  inlo  existance  under the command of Fleet Admiral Kotto, who raised his Hag onboard the Overlord class battlecruiser Righteous Power The six ships of the line, their escort squadrons, and the troop transports began assembling. The holds of the transports were loaded with Imperial Guardmen, artillery pieces, vehicles, tanks, and vast supplies ol fuel, food, ammunition and, most vitally, water. The fleet rendezvoused over the course of three days, each transport and its escorts arriving from different systems and forming up into line astern to create the invasion armada.

Each imperial Guard regiment had been embarked on its assigned transports to a carefully devised timescale, so as to bring all the transports together at the rendezvous point at the same time. As the fleet readied only X Corp was present. The regiments of XI Corp would follow behind as a second wave after the fleet at fought its way in-system, launched the invasion forces and established a secure lodgement area on the surface. Also not yet present was the Legio Ignatum Titan battle-group, but the fleet could not wait for stragglers.

Already waiting at the rendezvous point, and forming the head of the column were the armada's two largest ships, the battlecruiser Righteous Power and the Raptors Chapter battle barge War Talon. These two ships, and their close escorts, would be the first to arrive in the Taros  system.  They would be the spearhead of the invasion force, lighting their way In system towards the objective. The three other cruisers of the line would be following close behind, forming a potent battlegroup in the vanguard of the invasion force. Behind them would come the flotilla of transports, with an escort of light cruisers and frigates for close defence.

Admiral Kotto was in supreme command of all the Imperial fleet aspects of the invasion plan, He did not know what resistance to expect within the Taros system, but, from the formation of his fleet, he was preparing to meet Tau ships in a fleet action and to use his largest ships as a shield for the smaller, vulnerable transports.

At 404998.M41 the astro-tetepathic signal was sent to the bridge of the Righteous Power instructing the fleet to get under way. Ship after ship engaged its main thrusters and began to follow the lead vessels towards Taros. The long planned Invasion had begun...

After three weeks navigating the fickle tides of warp space the Righteous Power disengaged its warp engines and fell back through the mantel of reality, out of the Immaterium. The crew ran to battle-stations as klaxons blared through the decks. Immediately behind the Righteous Power was the War Talon. The vanguard of the invasion had arrived, it found no enemy fleet waiting. Admiral Kotto set course directly for Taros, but sensor readings showed no enemy ships in the vicinity. The Space Marines verified this; their powerful scanners could find no targets. Admiral Kotto's approach was cautious, maintaining his alert status and expecting a surprise attack, but none came.

In the vanguard's wake followed the cruiser-group, the mainstay of Kotto's fighting force. As the Star of Cassiopeia, Black Duke and Hammer of Thrace powered towards their target they were unemployed. The Tau fleet was nowhere to be found. Several of the escort squadrons were detached to begin wider patrolling for enemy vessels, but they found nothing. Maybe the Tau had abandoned the system to its fate, fearing to face the might of the Imperial Navy. Maybe it was a trap. Admiral Kotto proceeded towards Taros with due caution against zero enemy resistance. The invasion transports could approach unhindered.

The excepted fight to gain low orbit and allow the invasion forces to disembark never materialised. The Imperial fleet moved steadily onwards. It seemed there would be no attempt to halt the invasion in space. With each passing minute it became clearer that there was no Tau fleet here. Free from defensive duties the War Talon powered-up and raced ahead, the Raptors commanders keen to begin their planetfall operations. The War Talon and her escort were the first to arrive in low orbit, the rest of the fleet keeping a safe distance until the Space Marines had completed their mission.

For the landings on Taros the Raptors Chapter had pledged its third and sixth companies to the invasion force. Under the command of Captain Orelius, the strike force would also be supported by elements of the Chapter's armoury and fleet, including the power of the battle barge War Talon.

The mission assigned to, and accepted by the Raptors was of critical importance to the landings. They were to make sure that a planetary defence missile silo, the only one identified in a position to threaten the invasion fleet in geo-stationary orbit above the landing zone, was destroyed. The silo, codenamed 'Decima' for the operation, was targeted for destruction.

Missile base Decima was part of a network of such facilities, built by the Imperium as Taros' main defence against hostile aliens. If left unhindered, the silos could engage the vulnerable troop transports in orbit. The loss of a single transport would cause massive loss of life amongst the Imperial Guards units onboard, and could drastically effect the outcome of the landings or the following campaign. It was a risk that could not be taken, silo Decima must be neutralised before the main Imperial Guard landings could commence.

The target area was to be subjected to a heavy bombardment by 250 rounds from the War Talon's bombardment cannons, but the danger of even a single operational silos surviving, and then scoring a successful hit on a troop transport meant that a unit had to be assigned to making sure no silos were able to fire on the invasion fleet. If the silos were destroyed by the shelling then all well and good,  but there was no guarantee of success unless there were troops on the ground. The underground silos were designed to withstand the heaviest bombardments, even the fearsome weaponry of the War Talon might not be able to destroy the missiles within. High Command deemed Decima to be the single greatest threat to the invasion forces, it fell to the Raptors battle brothers to lead the way and destroy it.

The commanders decided Decima would have to be taken by ground assault. The Raptors would be the first Imperial troops to land on Taros. The third company of the Raptors Chapter, led by Captain Orelius, and later reinforced by the sixth company, would be responsible for this vital mission. Only when Decima was eliminated could the landings start.

The operation was to be a swift surgical strike directly from orbit. There would be no supporting armoured vehicles. The objective was simple, to destroy the missile silos at all costs. Once destroyed, the objective achieved signal would summon the Chapters remaining landing craft to reinforce the ground forces with the sixth company and heavier armour. Once landed the Space Marines would be ready to strike overland or counter-attack enemy moves against the landing zone.

Once his invasion mission now confirmed, Captain Orelius set about gathering all the intelligence he could about the target and its defences. From the High Command's earlier work there was some relevant information to aid the Space Marines' attack.

One of the documents unearthed by Curator Adepts Skel search was a Department Munitorum construction report, almost a thousand years old, and it described the construction of a missile site by a penal labour corp. It gave details of what the site contained. Two underground missile silos, a command bunker, two personnel shelters, enough for a hundred strong silo crew and security staff. External defences works, including a minefield, ditch and razorwire, and an anti-aircraft position, equipped with a hydra turret, as well as other vehicle shelters and stores. Most of these would be below ground, making them very difficult to destroy with  conventional artillery,  even  the   War Talon's bombardment cannons might not reach deep enough. Amongst the data recovered were also three faded vid-slate images of an inspection made by the then Planetary Governor of the site after it came into service. From these images and the construction report, a map could be created of the target.

Attacking the site based on only second hand information was risky. What if the regime or the Таu had upgraded the defences or increased the size or the number of silos? It was not unreasonable to assume that given the planet's renegade status, the Planetary Governor would seek to increase his defences against an outside attack. Captain Orelius needed some first-hand information he could rely on.

Before any of his battle brothers were committed to the assault he would send the available scouts to the surface to reconnoitre the site and relay their findings. His strike force was supported by only one Scout squad. They would be the first to deploy, before any bombardment of the target began. The scouts' mission would be to survey the site from a distance and relay that information back to the War Talon for final adjustments to the attack plan.

On board the War Talon, Orelius and his senior battle brothers prepared for the coming battle. This assault was the sort of mission his brother trained for all their lives, but it still needed detailed planning. Specific refresher training in the use of melta-bombs and demolition charges, as well fire and movement routines and Thunderhawk disembarkation drills were practiced time and again aboard the battle barge.

Orelius was well aware that the initial threat to any planetary assault would be the anti-aircraft defences. These would be high-priority targets, because the loss of a Thunderhawk gunship full of 30 battle brothers could put the whole mission in jeopardy. Before the main force could attack the silos, the Hydra turret would need to be eliminated.

The third battle company, being of standard Codex Astartes organisation, contained two Assault squads trained to use jump packs for deep strike operations from high or low altitude. A single Assault squad would be committed to attack the Hydra emplacement. They would be the first wave, led by Veteran Sergeant Igis and deploying from Thunderhawk gunship at high altitude. Such deployments are usually made from low altitude, to avoid the worst effects of any ground fire, but given the nature of the target, Orelius commanded that the Thunderhawk stay above the maximum known range of the Hydras autocannons. This way, the Thunderhawk carrying the assault squad be totally safe. The risk of brothers being hit whilst in free fall was judged far less than that of a Thunderhawk being destroyed or so badly damaged it would be forced to abandon its mission.

The Assault squad was to land as close to their target as possible, rapidly overcome any resistance and set melta-charges on the Hydra turret. The time the Assault squad jumped from their Thunderhawk would be designated as Z hour. All other timing for the operation would be taken with Z hour as the base. The scouts would launch in drop pods at Z hour -105 and land at Z hour -102, giving them 53 minutes after landing to get in position, observe the target and report back their findings.

The second wave was scheludel to attack at Z hour +6, giving Veteran Sergeant Igis and his 9 Space Marines just 6 minutes to knockout the AA turret.

The second wave would consist of the main strike forces, two Thunderhawk gunships each carrying two Tactical squads and a Devastator squad, designated as Strike Forces B and C. The Thunderhawks would land their cargoes inside the battery perimeter. The squads would then disembark to attack the missile silos themselves. A third Thunderhawk would land just behind them carrying Captain Orelius and his Command squad along with other vital support, Apothecary, Techmarines etc, and a reserve force of 3rd company's remaining 2 Tactical squads. This was designated as Strike Force D. These reserve units had a flexible role, to reinforce either of the attacks should they meet with stiff resistance. If all went to plan they would not be needed for the main assault and could be saved to establish a secure perimeter on the ground after the silos were destroyed. The final squad of his company, the second Assault squad, was to remain on the War Talon to deploy with 6th company.

The plan for Strike Forces В and С was simple. The two Tactical squads would advance on the silos under dedicated covering fire from their supporting Devastator squads. Once close enough they would set the demolition charges on the silo rooves. They world then fall back to a safe distance and the squad sergeant would detonate the charges, collapsing the silo roof to prevent missile launch. Their primary objective complete, 3rd company would then sweep through the rest of the silo site, eliminate any resistance and secure a perimeter before reinforcements and vehicles from 6th company landed. In all, it was estimated the entire operation would take just 30 minutes from Z hour to all objectives being complete and secure.

With the vanguard of the invasion fleet now approaching Taros, the War Talon quickly manoeuvred into its bombardment position in a geo-stationary low orbit. Its target location already locked in, the bombardment cannons and lance turrets prepared to open fire as the planet's rotation slowly brought the target area into the battle barge's line of fire. If the gun crew's mission was successful then the subsequent attack would be a simple mopping-up operation. With luck, the demolition charges would not be needed at all, and the War Talon's big guns would knock out the missile silos with direct hits. This was unlikely though, over such long distances destroying a small, armoured target would be difficult and confirmation would still be needed on the ground.

Whilst the gunners prepared, the flight decks and launch bays of the War Talon were a mass of activity. Thunderhawk gunships prepped for take-off, fuel tanks full, every system checked and double-checked. Four Raptors Thunderhawks stood ready to begin the invasion of Taros.

The first invasion forces to land. Raptors scouts land in the desert ahead of the main attack. Their mission was to report on the missile silo's defences and then observe the orbital bombardment.

Each individual Space Marine was also prepared for battle. His power armour suit was calibrated for desert environments, 99% efficient water recycling and maximum heat dissipation. Bolters and heavy weapons were test fired on the ship's range before being issued. Extra ammunition, grenades, knives, chainswords and bolt pistols were handed out to the files of armoured battle brothers. Lastly, each Tactical squad was issued two bulky demolition charges, and the squad sergeants were given the detonators.

Before embarkation, the entire of third company stood shoulder to shoulder in ranks as Captain Orelius addressed his brothers. He advised them that they would bring the Emperors justice to those that chosen to turn away from his divine light. Theirs was the honour of striking the first blow. In life or death each brother would do the Chapter great honour this day. Then they all knelt before their company Chaplain as he led them in the ritual pre-battle prayers.

The company rose as one as the War Talon's bombardment cannons opened fire, the concussion reverberating through the decks. The first shells to fall upon Taros itself would presage the beginning of the invasion. The Raptors Space Marines efficiently filed into position within their Thunderhawk gunships to await launch.

Before the bombardment started, operations had already begun. The Scout squad in their drop pod had already launched. The pod made planetfall safely and the scouts moved out across the sun-scorched surface, disguised by their cameleoline cloaks and carry heavy surveillance equipment as well as their sniper rifles.

Once in position, the squad set up their equipment and began beaming a secure transmission back to the War Talon's operations room. Initial intelligence was correct, the sight contained two silos and an AA turret, but the outer ring of defences had been improved with the addition of turret gun emplacements. These heavy weapons might be a major threat to landed Thunderhawks, so. as Captain Orelius watched the relays aboard the War Talon, he made some adjustments to his plans.

Strike Force В was to abandoned its target silo and instead use their heavy weapons to engage and destroy the turret emplacements. The three reserve Tactical squads would take over Strike Force B's part of the mission. This left Orelius with no flexible reserve on the ground to counter unexpected enemy moves. So he quickly contacted Captain Kaedes of sixth company. Kaedes' company was already on standby to reinforce the assault. Instead of waiting for third company to secure the landing zone, Orelius requested two Tactical squads immediately prepare for a drop pod launch and standby  should  he  need   reinforcing  at short notice.

Last-minute adjustments to the plan complete. Orelius boarded his own Thunderhawk, the ramp closing behind him. The planning was over, now it was time to fight.

Down on the surface the Scout squads watched from a safe distance as the orbital bombardment began to impact on the surface. Huge clouds of smoke and dust were thrown up in the desert as the flashes of lance beams and great explosions rent Taros' surface. It lasted exactly 30 minutes, as an area for 5 kilometres around the site was smothered in heavy explosions. What damage had actually been done to the silo site was impossible to tell through the thick dust.

Onboard the War Talon the four Thunderhawks received clearance to launch. Rocket engines blasted into life as one after the other the gunships sped from the launch bay and headed for the surface. The first Thunderhawk to pass through the heat of atmospheric entry was that carrying Strike Force A. Inside, ten heavily armed assault troops, each with a jump pack, chainsword, holstered bolt pistol and a bandolier of melta-bombs, stood ready. Following instructions from the cockpit each brother awaited in silence for the order to jump.

Its nose still red hot from the stress of atmospheric entry, the forward hold's rear ramp was lower, blasting all inside with a rush of air. The first squad members stepped forwards to the edge, each powering up his jump pack systems. When the order to jump was received through their helmet-comms there was no hesitation - two by two the assault troops stepped over the edge into the void.

Instantly each Space Marine was flicked into the Thunderhawk's slipstream, the torrent of fast moving air created by the gunship's own forward motion. The impact of the wall of air was severe, and each man fought to avoid being flipped and tumbled uncontrollably by it. As the forces of gravity pulled the assault troops downwards, their jump pack motors began to work. At a mere 100 metres above the ground, the thrusters ignited to slow the plunging descent. The braking power of the jump pack exerting huge gravitational pressure on the troopers, pressure that could crush a normal man, but protected within his power armour and by his genetically enhanced physique each assault troopers could overcome the lethal Gs, orientate himself to the landing zone, and control the direction of his descent Using the jump packs thruster controls he could guide himself directly onto the target to a safe landing. From jump to planetfall, the descent took no more than sixty seconds.

As Strike Force A hit the ground they came under sustained fire from the Hydra emplacement. Explosive autocannon rounds began to kick up the dust and tracers flashed past the assault troops. Unable to hit its attackers in the sky, the AA gunners had waited, and now laid down a hail of shells all four barrels of the quad-mount thundering. Despite the heavy orbital shelling, it seemed most of the defences had remained intact, as had the silos. The area was scarred with smoking impact craters, but the bombardment had scored no direct hits. The craters would be vital cover for following the assault, Veteran Sergeant Igis found himself in one such crater. On landing two of his squad had already been seriously wounded. There was no time to waste, the crater offered cover, but his assault troops must silence that gun before the other Thunderhawks arrived. Gathering the men immediately around him, Sergeant Igis ordered them to move forwards, before launching himself over the crater rim. The heavy fire was intense, the big autocannons barking as its grazing fire flashed across the desert. As the Assault Marines rushed forwards several more were hit, the force of the rounds knocking each man clean off his feet. Sergeant Igis was first to arrive at the target, dodging through the fire, bolt pistol in one hand, melta-bomb in the other. In one mighty power armoured leap he cleared the emplacement parapet, ducked under the red-hot gun barrels and rolled to the base of the turret. He was quickly joined by two of his men. Igis activated his melta-bombs and slapped the magnetic disk to the turret. "Six seconds!" he warned over the comm, as the others placed their charges and rolled away.

Within the turret the gun crew knew what to expect, and heard the metallic clang of the melta-charge being fixed outside The commander threw open the hatch and leapt clear as the melta-charges detonated in sequence, a triple explosion that turned the Hydra turret into an inferno. Molten metal sprayed the compartment within, killing the remaining crew before igniting the ammunition store Fragments of the gun turret were thrown high into the air as it was ripped apart from the inside. Igis and men rolled away, their power armour pepper with flames and shrapnel but most of the lethal blast clearing them. The first part of the mission was complete. In all, three assault brothers had be seriously wounded in the headlong attack. The others who had been hit were not seriously wounded, each had been saved by the adamantium shell of his armour, they would continue the fight.

Now the distant sound of Thunderhawk jets could be heard growing louder, the silo's security platoon, who had survived the orbital bombardment in their underground shelter, began to emerge. At first they faced little fire, only the bolt pistol rounds of Igis survivors, who were now clustered around the brightly burning wreckage of the AA turret. Then, as the triple jet roar grew closer, heavy bolter fire began to sweep the area. It was a deluge of fire raining from above as the Thunderhawks raced in, slowed, hydraulic landing gear lowered and the aircraft flared back its nose before touching down. The ramp was already opening, crashing down to reveal the Space Marines within. The Tactical squads rushed down the ramp and into the battle, boltguns levelled at the hip, bolter rounds slashing across the silo compound.

The Planetary Defence Force security squads had seen enough. Several broke rather than face the wrath of the infamous Space Marines. As explosive rounds detonated all around them they sort cover or fled. The Tactical squads advanced steadily upon their targets, whilst the Devastator squads took up their firing positions. Only seconds after landing, the Thunderhawk behind them powered skywards again, leaving a thickening pall of dust swirling in its wake.

Underground, in the silo command bunker, the controllers were frantically trying to arm and prepare the missiles for launch. News from the battle above was confused and unclear. It was a race against time. The command bunker had a clear target, the War Talon stationed in low orbit above, but could they get their missiles launched before the silos were destroyed?

Overcoming resistance on the ground was simple enough. The security platoon had offered little fight after the first uneven exchanges of fire. The attacking Tactical squads had little to fear from lasgun fire. The perimeter turret emplacements were a different matter. These weapons were sighted to defend the base against a ground attack, but they could also sweep the silo site with fire. Captain Orelius had diverted Strike Force В to engage them, hoping to use the Devastator's heavy weapons to destroy the well-armoured guns. They were now engaged in a heavy exchange of fire.

Meanwhile, against only light resistance, Strike Force С had reached its target silo. Having cut through the encircling razorwire with their combat knives, the squads were planting and fusing demolition charges. The first silo was doomed. The second silo was holding out due to the fire of the turret emplacements, but as the Devastator squad began to win the engagement, destroying the turrets with krak missiles and lascannon hits, the assault units were closing-in on it, too.

The desert shook to the sound of the first silo being destroyed. The shaped explosions of the demolition charges splintered the reinforced plastcrete silo roofs, causing it to collapse. The missile launcher tube within with choked with rubble. Any attempt to launch now would be a catastrophe, causing the missile to explode inside. Realising they had the lost the race, the command bunker crew abandoned their posts and fled. Soon the Raptors Space Marines would be blasting in the bunker doors and sweeping the interior with boltgun fire. The command crew fled rather than face certain death.

Target Decima had been taken. The second silo was destroyed soon after the first. The last remanents of resistance surrendered or fled. It had been frantic battle but Raptors casualties had been light. One dead, five serious wounded, twelve lightly wounded. Captain Orelius surveyed the smoke blackened scene; the dead lying scattered in the sand were they had fallen, his Space Marines moving quickly into new positions to defend the site's perimeter. Upon hearing each squad report in and declare their area of the perimeter secure, he contacted the War Talon with instructions to launch sixth company.

The Raptors sixth company arrived in a flight of Thunderhawk gunship and transporters, setting down inside the silo site perimeter to unload men, vehicles and fresh ammunition supplies. They had run the same operation countless times in the past. Quickly, smoothly and without a hitch the Space Marines prepared for the invasion following behind them. They had cleared the way with a ruthless efficiency only the Adeptus Astartes could provide. Even as the custodians of the strike forces' vehicles climbed aboard their charges and awoke the Machine Spirits within to life; the Taros Invasion Fleet was moving into orbit.

Captains Orelius and Kaedes await new orders. Their task now was to sit tight, and should any enemy force threaten to attack the landing site, launch a fast, armoured, counter-attack into them. They had cleared the way for the Imperial Guard transports, now they must act as a security shield around the landing zone.

The mission objective complete signal from Capatin Orelius was the cue for the first invasion tranports to move into low orbit and begin their own landings. The first Imperial Guard troops to land on enemy territory on Taros were to be infantry companies of the 17th Tallarn regiment. Many felt the elite   Storm   Trooper   companies, specially trained to spearhead the invasion, should be deployed, but this faction  in   De   Stael's   staff  was overruled. Lord Marshal De Stael wanted a rapid build-up, more men, more heavy weapons, more vehicles and tanks. A Storm Trooper company offered good infantry but could not provide the heavier equipment. General Barim-Abas of the 17th felt that his men had the experience, (raining and equipment to perform the mission admirably.

The original plan had required enough landing craft to put down three entire Imperial Guard regiments in the first wave. Fleet Admiral Kotto had been unable to supply the vast numbers of landing craft required to fulfil that plan. Instead the fleet had enough landing craft for just over one regiment. The other would have to wait their turns.

Onboard the sister transports, Imperius Javalin, Gauntlet, and Anvil, in excess of 10,000 men of 17th Tallarn regiment were being transfered from their berths to the landing craft. As well as men came vehicles, equipment and supplies. The men destined for the first wave were equipped with full combat loads; armour, grenades, extra ammunition, rations   and   water supplies had been issued to the leading infantry companies. The men filed into the bellies of the big landing craft, packed in shoulder to shoulder in darkness. The last man onboard from each company was the company commander. On landing he would also be the first man off. At the back of each assault company was a Commissar, bringing up the rear to force any malingerers out of the landing craft and into battle.

Whilst the three transports moved into low orbit the fleet's escort ships took up patrol stations, and the larger cruisers piquetted the surrounding space to defend the waiting transports against sudden attack. The Righteous Power herself stayed in low orbit with the lead transports, ready to provide orbital bombardment. Aboard several of the landing craft were Imperial Navy shore parties, led by Navy officers from the Righteous Power. They were there to act as liason between the Imperial Guard and the fleet, and as fire control teams should resistance be strong enough for the Righteous Power's guns to be needed. Also onboard the battlecruiser was Lord Marshal De Stael, in place to oversee landing operations until he could transfer his headquarters to the surface.

After a bumpy descent through the atmosphere it seemed De Stael had chosen his southern landing ground well. In the deserts of Taros' Aestus there was no resistance. The landing craft, each packed with men and materials, were not fired on When the great loading doors opened and the ramps fell, crashing into the desert sand, the men of the Tallarn 17th marched out into scorching temperatures and bright sunlight to find there was no battle. The enemy was nowhere to be seen. As the landings proceeded not a shot was fired. File by file the lead companies of Imperial Guardsmen marched down the ramps and into the savage, dry heat of Taros. With their officers shouting orders the disembarkation was orderly and quick. Immediately    upon    landing    the companies began to move forwards to begin forming a defensive perimeter Following the lead infantry came the first tanks. One after another, Leman Russ rumbled down the ramps and followed the men to form strong points in the new perimeter De Stael listened to the reports from the surface of an unopposed landing So far so good, but the enemy might already be reacting and mustering a counter-attack force. He needed to seize this opportunity and reinforce as rapidly as possible; he didn't know how long it might last. Company by company the 17th Tallarn landed, disembarked and marched away from the landing zone. Once unloaded, the landing craft blasted off and returned to dock with the other transports now moving into  low orbit to  begin the process again. The 89th Tallarn would be the next regiment to land. The transports repeated the process of the 17th. The invasion force had its foothold, now they need the extra forces and extra supplies to make it stick.

Whilst the regiments of X Corp began  the  long  process  of transfering everything from orbit to the landing zones the Raptors Chapter had already completed its landings. The entire of third and sixth companies and all their vehicles   were   in   position surrounding     Decima     silo. Captains Orelius and Kaedes placed themselves next the task force's Damocles Rhino and listened to the incoming reports. The invasion was progressing as planned. No enemy contact had been reported - yet.

As it turned out, the Raptors assault on Decima was the only combat on the first day of the Taros invasion. It seemed the enemy had been caught by surprise by the landings and had no forces positioned for an immediate counter-attack. The second day might see the excepted attack materialise, but the longer the enemy left it, the stronger the Impenum's forces would become, and the harder it would become to remove them.

Days went by and nothing was seen of the enemy. The 17th Tallarn regiment, now dug-in behind sand-bagged positions, their artillery batteries located. Leman Russes half buried in tank scrapes in the sand, was ordered to begin reconnaissance operations. Their Sentinel companies and selected Infantry squads were to launch long range patrols out into the surrounding desert to see if they could find any evidence of enemy activity or build-up. The main effort was to be concentrated northwards, the direction the eventual advance would come. As well as reporting enemy sightings, the patrols would also provide useful information about the terrain the regiments faced and routes of advance.

Meanwhile, behind the 17th's front lines the landing zone was a hive of activity. Landing craft were continually touching down or taking off. Sentinel powerlifters were stomping to and fro carrying ammunition crates and fuel drums. Trojans were dragging fuel and water bowsers between the ships and the supply dumps. Through all this marched columns of men, mostly Tallarn infantry Storm Troopers platoons, heavily laden with their own fighting kit, or wretched Departmento labour squads, dressed in rags and carrying shovels and picks. Tanks and Chimera squadrons rumbled through the desert in neat lines. De Stael's build-up was now in full flow.

On day four, the first of the Munitorum labour corps was landed and immediately set to work constructing an aircraft landing field. The first of the Imperial Navy fighter squadrons, the 386th, was awaiting onboard the Hammer of Thrace for an airbase and supplies to be put in place before they could transfer to the surface. This was a priority task. The addition of an Imperial Navy Fighter squadron would add greatly to the invasion force's reconnaissance assets. Able to range far and wide over the desert they could seek out enemy forces at far greater ranges than the Sentinels or Armoured Fist squads already operating in the surrounding desert.

For De Stael the landing was a triumph of organisation. The feared Таu counter-attack had never come. The force build-up was going well. Of course there were problems to be solved. Congestion in the landing zone, men or landing craft becoming lost or arriving at the wrong location. Already water supplies were a problem, but the tanker Empress of Svedeg was now in orbit and unloading 1,000 tonnes of water a day. At this rate it would still take twenty days to fully unload. The men on the ground needed more, and transporting water was taking up more space in the landing craft than expected, slowing the whole landing process down. There was a shortage of powerlifters for unloading, and De Stael, requisitioned many from the Tallarn regiments on the perimeter to aid at the landing zone. The knock-on effect of this was that the Tallarn regiments had to use their own manpower to move supplies to the front. Guardsmen were used as pack animals to carry shells to the artillery guns or water cans to the trenches. Platoons given supply duty laboured in the hot sun carrying crate after crate. In the first week it became the most hated of duties, but whilst the enemy couldn't attack this inefficient use of combat manpower was not a problem for 4621st Army.

Supplies of all kinds were now pouring onto Taros. Fuel, food, medical supplies,   communications equipment, sandbags (by the thousand), replacement vehicles, feed for rough rider squadrons, tents - small, medium and large, powercells of all kinds, spare track links, spades, pickaxes, jerrycans by the pallet load, razorwire by the mile, mines, fuses, right down to boxes of shiny new medals. The supply depots grew and grew, everything being carefully recorded logged and stored. Despite valiant attempts to impose order the landing zone was in chaos. One Storm Trooper соmpany requested new vox-casters, but on opening the crates found they had been delivered brand new horse saddles!

The landing operation was vast, but even with his first three regiments now in position De Stael was in no hurry to start offensive operations on the ground. The more men and supplies he got in place the better his ultimate chance of success. In all it took nearly two weeks to move everything down to the planet surface. It was two weeks of intense unloadinq activity; two weeks in which the enemy made no sign of attacking. For the men on the front line it was two weeks of waiting. The men started referring to the Taros invasion as 'the Clerk's war', both a comment on De Stael's nickname and the fact that the supply clerks were the busiest men in the army.

After being on standby for three days the Raptors Space Marines were withdrawn back to their battle barge. They had completed their mission, and enough Imperial Guard forces were now in place to resist any attack long enough for the Raptors to re-deploy if needed. The only Space Marine unit to remain of the surface was the lone scout squad, they were to assist in the pre-offensive intelligence gathering. The Imperium's forces were now securely on Taros and amazingly, barely a shot had been fired. Reconnaissance reports indicated some enemy activity in the deserts. Traces of Tau movement or occupation were found, but as yet there were no sightings. If the Tau were out there in the desert then they were playing a patient waiting game. It was De Stael's next task to find them and bring them to battle.