4,441
edits
Changes
→Vigilus' Status
===Vigilus Alone===
====Vigilus' Status====
In the aftermath of Abaddon's withdrawal, Imperial commanders saw the situation change little for them on the ground. Chaos Space Marines continued their attacks as Genestealers and Orks rampaged across the planet. At Megaborealis Hive Sprawl, the [[Stygies VIII]] ruling Tech-Priests ignored calls to abandon their [[Blackstone]] mining network despite attacks by the [[Brazen Beasts]], Genestealers, and Orks. However the Mechanicum soon launched a counterattack of their own, launching Sicarian-class [[Skitarii]] against the Greenskins into the mines. While initially successful, the Skitarii became bogged down in subterranean ambushes by Genestealers. Meanwhile at Hivesprawl Mortwald, the Black Legion and Daemons of [[Slaanesh]] continued to run amok, using warp power to bypass Imperial defensive lines manned by exhausted Imperial Guard. The hivesprawls chem factories had long since ceased production, and the outer defensive ring formerly manned by Space Marines were under attack from both Chaos and Ork forces. With many Space Marines having since withdrawn from the warzone, many Imperial Commanders considered Mortwald a lost cause. However Human resistance continued in the face of [[Corpse-King Rat]], a former Hive [[gang ]] boss who scored a number of unlikely victories against Chaos forces. Death Guard and Thouand Sons forces had ravaged Vigilus' capital Hivesprawl of Hyperia but soon enough turned on one another. The hivesprawls suffered tremendously in these battles, and warp anamolies saw huge disturbances which toppled entire hive spires seemingly at random. While the defense in Hyperia depserately continued, nearby Oteck Hivesprawl was declared lost to Genestealer Cults. {{Fn|8a}}
Dirkden Hivesprawl had likewise been abandoned in the face of Genestealer Cult assaults, and fighting soon erupted between the Xenos cultists and [[The Scourged]] Chaos Space Marines. Storvhal was initially lost, but determined Skitarii counterattacks were seeing some gains being made against Orks and Genestealers. Only Kaelac's Bane, the southern industrial and water production region, had managed to stay relatively intact against invaders. Despite this, water production suffered greatly in the face of Dark Eldar, Genestealer, and Chaos attacks. In the wastes, Warbands of Orks continued to rampage with near-impunity, operating their fast-moving vehicles out of massive scrap cities. The greatest of these was Fort Dakka, seat of Krooldakka himself. The Warboss' latest scheme was to supplement his capital with an even greater fortress, and he coveted a usubterranean ancient stronghold that had been exposed during battles between Abaddon's forces and the Dark Angels. However the lair was inhabitated by the Iron Warriors warlord [[Venghaz]], and the Greenskins soon came into conflict with hordes of [[Daemon Engine]]s. In space, the remaining Ork and Chaos Space Marine ships continued to battle one another while still posing a threat to any surviving Imperial vessels. Chaos forces remained active on Vigilus' moon of Neo-vellum, battling Genestealers for control of its Astropathic Choir. Meanwhile, the satellite planetoid [[Hearthlack]] became occupied by the [[Word Bearers]].{{Fn|8a}}