Title: Nemesis Tessera: The Storm Before the Storm
In the vast, grim darkness of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, the Imperium of Man is under constant threat from the forces of Chaos. This time, it’s the Chaos Armada, led by none other than Abaddon the Despoiler and his planet-obliterating flagship, the Planet Killer. A multi-part series will delve into the pivotal battles and strategic manoeuvres that shaped this epic conflict. Today, we’ll focus on a critical prelude to the assault, the siege of Nemesis Tessera, an Inquisitorial fortress world.
Our story begins with an ominous, titanic fleet of Chaos, preparing to power up the Planet Killer. A behemoth vessel of such magnitude requires not only time but also a sizable distraction. The Imperium’s naval forces are kept at bay, their focus diverted by the overwhelming threat of the Chaos flotilla. Battle stations across the galaxy are on high alert for any signs of this formidable fleet.
The first wave of Abaddon’s invasion crashes across the sectors surrounding the Cadian Gate. It quickly becomes apparent that the Inquisition Fortress world of Nemesis Tessera is the main target of Chaos’ initial assault. This is not a random choice, but a strategically planned attack. The first blow lands on the Chima Lomus system, Nerus, the primary world, falls under enemy control, securing the lines of communication for the forces of Chaos along the Rog conduit.
Despite the overwhelming odds, the planetary Defense Force Army groups, supported by the Imperial Guard’s battlegroup Neth, contest the enemy’s planetfall. The defenders of Nerus valiantly stand against a force fifty times their strength, battling for a whole solar day. General Neth, in his last transmission, vows to make the enemy pay dearly for every inch of ground.
The next phase of Abaddon’s assault starts with a rapid crossing of the Kenzie Gulf to Nemesis Tessera. A feat of astronavigation through the warp is accomplished with alarming speed, hinting at the use of the darkest sorcerous arts. The choice of Nemesis Tessera as the initial target remains a mystery, but speculation suggests it may be out of sheer hatred for the Golden Throne’s potent agents.
The forces of Chaos invest significantly in the assault, and for a moment, it seems as if the Inquisition’s fortress might hold. However, the sheer number of traitors and heretics making planetfall threatens to overwhelm the defenders. Those who survive the inhospitable climate of Nemesis Tessera face the relentless pursuit of the Inquisition.
Yet, this assault on Nemesis Tessera is merely a prelude. A greater storm is about to engulf the Cadian sector. Soon, the skies above the worlds of the Segmentum Obscurus turn black with countless drop crafts, heralding the dread forces of Chaos’ invasion. The Planet Killer, Abaddon’s flagship, drifts ever closer to the Cadian system, while Chaos Space Marines, driven by an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, set foot on worlds they haven’t touched for 10 millennia.
As the relentless advance of the Chaos War fleets continues, the Imperial Navy fights a desperate battle. Orbital defences are breached, fleets are forced into withdrawal, and one by one, the worlds of the Cadian sector come under attack. The forces of Chaos pause only to allow their Blackstone fortresses to scour Demos Binary to a barren rock, killing millions of Imperial servants and destroying every structure in mere solar hours.
The outermost planet of the Cadian system, Solar Maratas, quickly falls, its orbital defences overwhelmed by the traitor forces. These traitor guard regiments, the infamous Volcani Catfacts, establish a forward base of operations on Solar Maratas, ready to launch attacks throughout the system.
Finally, the prison world of St. Josman’s Hope succumbs to the onslaught. Inmates hoping for freedom throw their lot in with the invaders, only to find their liberators are the renegade Space Marines of Chaos, offering nothing but eternal damnation.
Stay tuned for the next chapter in this saga, as we explore the blood-soaked battles and desperate last stands of the Cadian sector under the shadow of Abaddon’s Planet Killer. The Warhammer 40,000 universe is about to get darker.
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