Moross became a frontline system following the Traitors’ conquering of the Perditian and Zeugan systems in Xyphos.
The planet was deemed a possible vector for a traitor assault and so by early 009.M31 it had a reasonable garrison including Ultramarines of the 77th Company. Additionally, 19th Corps from 216th Expeditionary Fleet was planetside, acting as a bodyguard for General Sheev Verox who was assessing the planet’s defences.
Fortuitously, a detachment of Iron Hands from Ordo Pentarii, Clan Avernii was also present. As recorded elsewhere in this chronicle, the Iron Hands refused to submit to Horatio’s sub-sector theatre command. Instead is understood that they were merely on Moross to refuel and rearm ahead of a planned probe into the traitor-held Zeugan System.
First assault
Vox missives recovered from traitor forces indicate that Julius Kaeseron chaffed under orders to wait in orbit. Instead Kaeseron took his millennial planetside, launching an assault on the capital hive from several Stormbirds. These burst into the upper hive, disgorging their inhabitants to begin pillaging, massacring and capturing slaves.
It is interesting to note that the traitors were not the only faction to struggle with obeying orders. Clan Avernii had suffered greatly on Isstvan V under the Emperor’s Children. It was no surprise then that, on receiving vox-reports of purple and gold marines in the upper spires, the Iron Hands abandoned everything else to pursue their most hated foe.
The two forces clashed in a brutal melee, with no quarter given or asked for. Iron Hands who had endured countless nightmares on Isstvan fell here in a remote corner of the galaxy, whilst disciplined volkite fire cut down howling palatine blades. The fight was even until the Iron Warriors arrived, Warsmith Draxion committing to the assault out of necessity to try to carry the day.
It was everyone’s surprise when sable armoured marines uncloaked themselves from the ruins and began firing on the traitors. These Raven Guard had been dispatched unbeknownst to anyone else and had chosen the perfect time to appear. The traitors could not match the cold aggression of this new foe and so retreated from the city centre to consolidate and recover.
+++8th Talon access codes accepted+++
+++Data Inload Code Rose+++
+++Supplemental Orders from Supreme Headquarters Loyalist Forces Xyphos+++
+++Re-route to Moross+++
+++EFIC information indicates possibility of Horusian forces assaulting this system. Confirmed through astropathic somnal scouring+++
+++Primary Objective: Keep General Verox alive, extract if required+++
+++Secondary Objective: Secure Xenoflora samples from Hegian Research Base+++
+++Tertiary Objective: Defend Moross+++
+++Your authority is above General Verox and HLFM+++
+++For the Imperium+++
Headquarters Loyalist Forces Moross:
Theatre command: General Sheev Verox
2iC: Captain Arrias Cordos
Mechanicum Liaison: Magos C’Ctics’Cston
Fleet Command: Sub-Admiral Theoion
Air command: Group Marshall Eddox
Corps Logisticae: Under-Marshall for the Supervision of Morossian affairs Yuri Yugvertchi
Warsmith Draxion Kord smiled a little as the Iron Hand in front of him collapsed under his thunder hammer. The joy was short-lived when he remembered how far the mission had gone awray. His carefully lain trap for General Sheev Verox of the 216th Expeditionary Fleet was thrown into chaos when Kaesoron and his cavoclade of madmen had rushed into the city intent on enslaving the citizens for throne only knows what. A lesser man would’ve felt pity for the fate of those enslaved by the Emperor’s Children, but Draxion only felt disgust at his ‘allies’ and what they had become.
Unsurprisingly the Emperor’s Children were attacked by the loyalist garrison, Iron Hands charging heedlessly to seek revenge whilst Arrios Cordos and his Ultramarines cut into Kaesoron’s terminators.
Draxion had been on his way to wrestle the Emperor’s Children from the plaza when a third force arrived – Raven Guard descending from orbit with thunderous fire. This renewed the loyalists and Draxion and Kaesoron were forced to withdraw.
Any hopes of unity amongst the Warmaster’s army were dashed when Kaesoron took his force into the manufactorum district to claim supplies, whilst Draxion regrouped to pursue the fleeing Verox. He was intercepted again and though he had cut down many loyalists, they had bought time for the Imperial Army high command to escape.
Still, this war was far from over, and Draxion had orders from the Warmaster’s counsel to bring this Sub-sector, and his ‘allies’ to heel. Xyphos must burn…
“Emperor, why have you forsaken us?”
Looped vox message recovered from hab block Durangh, first victim to the Emperor’s Children assault.
Aftermath
Following this fighting, the traitors gained a nominal foothold on Moross. However their planned overrunning of the system was blunted by the loyalist marines, particularly the surprise counter-assault of the Raven Guard.
The war for Moross was merely the opening move in the next phase of war on Xyphos…
Mutant Snake Eyes 