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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
m
→Invasion
Assembling a moderately sized force under the command of [[Lord Commander]] [[Otto Ivan Gustavus]], the bulk of Imperial forces were organized into the 4621st Imperial Guard Army under 'Chief of Arms' [[De Stael]]. Imperial planning was initiated thanks to [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] reconnaissance missions but hindered by bureaucratic red tape and infighting between various Imperial services. The invasion took almost a year to organize and launch.{{Fn|1e}}
At 2392998.M41 the Taros Intervention Force was activated, and after three weeks of [[Warp]] travel arrived in the Taros system. The first Imperial troops on Taros were elements from the [[Raptors (Chapter)|Raptors]] who were assigned with disabling the planets Missile Silos. Aided by an orbital bombardment from their [[Battle Barge]] ''War Talon'', the Raptors landed [[Battle-Brother]]s aided by [[Scout]] Squad mapping. The Raptors first target, Missile Silo Decima, quickly fell while the second silo was destroyed as soon as the first. Tau [[Human]] collaborator forces were overwhelmed and fled while the Raptors only suffered 1 dead and 17 wounded (5 seriously). With the missile silos disabled, the main Imperial invasion commenced. Reeling from the Raptors attack, the Collaborator PDF did not resist the Imperial landings. Soon days went by as the Imperials consolidated their landing zone and no sign of the enemy was seen.{{Fn|1f}}
After two weeks of buildup unmolested, the Imperials made their move to capture Taros' capital of Tarokeen as well as the planets primary starport. Using [[Tallarn]] Guardsmen, a long hot trek across the desert began as the Imperials advanced towards their objectives, aided by [[Imperial Navy]] airpower and artillery strikes. However these bombardments did little, as the Tau's hidden [[Pathfinder]] and [[Stealthsuit]] teams were unaffected and still waiting to meet the Imperial thrust. The first pitched battle of the war took place at Tungusta Station where the Tallarn 17th [[Regiment]] battled Tau Pathfinder units. The Tau used their [[Seeker Missile]]s to destroy several [[Leman Russ Battle Tank]]s before their reinforcements and [[Barracuda]] air support arrived and forced an Imperial withdrawal. When the Imperials returned hours later under cover of darkness and [[Basilisk]] artillery, the Tau had already left. The Tau repeated this pattern of small-scale engagements during the Imperial advance, gradually weakening and exhausting the invasion forces before withdrawing.{{Fn|1i}}
