Battle for Polia
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The Battle for Polia was a battle between the T'au Empire and Imperium.[1]
Background
With the majority of Imperial forces on the Eastern Fringe committed to combating the tendrils of Hive Fleet Kraken, the T'au Empire seized the opportunity to annex lightly defended border worlds, such as Nimbosa. Commander Brightsword led the Tau forces in their invasion of Nimbosa. Upon landing he started a campaign of extermination against the local human populace. The only Imperial Guard force on the world able to respond was Graf Toschenko's Vostroyan Firstborn IX Regiment. Graf Toschenko and his regiment made their stand in the city of Polia.[1]
Battle
The Vostroyans set up strategic strongpoints within the city of Polia to better defend against the Tau. Several buildings were rigged with bobby traps, and sections of the city were demolished to allow easier movement and the construction of barricades. Ammunition was stockpiled in three separate locations in the city. The manufactoria complex that Graf Toschenko made his command centre was soon named the Toschenko Fortress by the Vostroyans.[1]
Whilst other Tau commanders may have offered the Imperial defenders a chance to surrender, Commander Brightsword did not. A student of Farsight, Brightsword instead attacked the Imperial defenders with the aggression characteristic of Vior'la. The initial phase of the battle was waged for several days, with little Tau success, with even heavy bombardment from Sky Ray Missile Defence Gunships failing to break Toschenko Fortress. Brightsword switched to his own variation on kauyon tactics, and begun to send waves of Kroot forward to draw the Guardsmen out. Supported by Pathfinders the Kroot eventually broke through the Imperial Defences.[1]
Toschenko's Counter-Attack
Graf Toschenko came to the realisation that the Tau would eventually prove victorious, unless he could mount a successful counter-attack. The remaining two thousand Vostroyans were given orders to surge forth and assault the Tau. Supported by what few remaining tanks they had, the counter-attack at first seemed to be a massive success. However, as the attack continued forward, out of cover, Brightsword sprung his trap. Crisis suits emerged on the rooftops to slaughter the Imperial forces as Pathfinders directed Seeker Missiles into the Imperial tanks.[1]
Toschenko's command squad were caught in the open, at the head of the advance, and cut down by Tau stealth teams. Toschenko himself, bloody and injured, grabbed the fallen banner of the Firstborn IX and urged his men to fight to the last. Brightsword himself would deal the final blow, soaring above his troops and killing Graf Toschenko.[1]
Aftermath
With the death of the last Imperial defenders the world of Nimbosa fell to the Tau. When the Imperium reconquered Nimbosa, the Black Templars dispatched a force to find the site of the last stand of the Vostroyans. Brother Lodhuvicus reported back the site of their final stand had remained untouched, and that the Tau had no presence within Polia.[1]
Sources
- 1: Warhammer 40,000: Cities of Death, pgs. 56-57
