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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
m
→The Battle for Tarvor
In [[M36]], the [[Barrus System]], an important Mechanicus [[Forge World|Foundry]] and research system, had fallen to the Overlord [[Barhoth]], a [[Chaos Renegades|Chaos Renegade]] able to call upon a [[The Lost and the Damned|legion of followers]]. With the aid of the [[Dark Mechanicum]], the system had been overrun and its [[manufactorum]]s turned to supplying the Overlord's war efforts. Initial attempts by [[Skitarii]] with [[Imperial Guard]] assistance to recapture the system were repulsed with heavy losses. Despairing the loss of their facility to the [[Chaos|dark powers]], the Mechanicus would call upon the [[Iron Hands]] for aid - a chapter which had aided them in the past and shared many of their ideals. In response, the [[Iron Council]] would send three full [[Space Marine Company|companies]] of Space Marines under the overall command of [[Venerable Dreadnought]] [[Grixus]] of the [[Gravehold]] [[Iron Hands#Clan Companies|Clan Company]], to aid the Skitarii and Guard forces in retaking the system.{{Fn|8a}}
The campaign would prove harsh, with neither the Imperials nor the traitors expecting any quarter. The Iron Hands proved a godsend to the battered Imperial forces, attacking the Overlord's forces without warning before redeploying once resistance would stiffen. Skitarii and Imperial Guard forces would then move in to tie up enemy reinforcements sent to the area. Within months the foothold on [[Barrus III]], the main foundry of the system, would grow until 75% of the planet had been retaken. The three companies would also begin operations to retake other planets within the Barrus System. Within five years, the majority of the system was once again in Imperial hands, with the Overlord's last holdout being the planet of [[Tarvor]]. Tarvor was a planet that specialized in the research and manufacture of [[Force Field| shielding]] technologies, and was heavily defended. The Imperial forces expected heavy losses in the upcoming fight to recapture the planet.{{Fn|8a}}
Iron Hands [[Strike Cruiser]]s, alongside ships of the [[Imperial Navy]], would proceed with a long bombardment of Tarvors planetary [[void shield]]s. Eager to be at the forefront of the assault, and sensing an end to the campaign was near, the Iron Hands would commit all three of their companies. The marines were loaded in [[thunderhawks]], sent through a hole in the shields created by the bombardment. The Overlord had anticipated this, and laid a trap for the Iron Hands. He had aimed the planet's defense batteries where the shields were weakened, before loosing fire upon the Iron Hands aircraft once they were inside.{{Fn|8a}} Realizing the dire situation, Grixus ordered a retreat, hoping to reorganize and strike elsewhere.{{Fn|8a}} Before they could return through the breech, all communications with the Iron Hands fleet in orbit were cut, and the hole in the void shields resealed. With no other choice, Grixus ordered the thunderhawks to turn about and head towards the planet, knowing fully well they were surely entering another trap. Forced to push through the fire of the defense batteries, by the time they made planetfall only half of the three companies were left alive. Having taken the planet's spaceport, Grixus would try to organize a defense there hoping to hold out long enough for relief to break through the planetary shields and arrive.{{Fn|8b}}
