Planet Strike: Imperial back story

The wheels of war have begun to churn on yet another front for the Imperium of Men.  Loki's men will soon be facing off against Zaszz's Tau forces in a campaign of epic proportions.  Quite litterally this will be a series of battles to decide the fate of 12 billion souls.  Below you can now read the first background story from the Imperial perspective, as both sides prepare for a war that promises to turn Byzanthis into a blood soaked nightmare.

Planetary Designation: Byzanthis
Planetary Category: Industrial World
Location: Ultima Segmentum
Capitol: Antimon
Governor: Andras
Population: 12 Billion
Chief Exports: Ammunition (las-based), Dark Angels recruiting world
Planetary Garrison: PDF Regiment Lions Wrath
PDF Status: Full Strength, accompanying armored support, small Dark Angels detachment.

Byzanthis Conflict Log Entry 1:  Located on the eastern fringe with an abundance of material resources and hearty people worthy of recruitment by the Dark Angels, Byzanthis was a tempting target for the greedy Tau xenos.  The Tau began as expected of a cowardly race, trying to worm their way onto the planet with bribery and deceit.  The Tau "diplomats" got into private contact with governor Andras and offered him plots of land on Tau worlds and riches beyond his imagination.  Foolishly Andras considered these offers, choosing to revel in his own fantasy of power, instead of bringing these communications to the military.  However the days grew to weeks and the Tau became impatient, soon the offers became threats until a final chilling message was received.
 

"One way or another, This world will belong to the greater good."

Realizing his folly, Andras informed Lieutenant Colonel Julius Hawke, Commander of the Planetary Defense Forces, of the imminent Tau attack.  When Hawke learned the source of Andras' information, he did not hesitate to put in the order for the governors immediate execution.  A sentence that would be carried out in the heart of Antimon, to a crowd of frenzied citizens, hungry for the blood of a man who had brought the threat of annihilation to their door.  Control of the entire world would be granted to Hawke upon the execution of Andras, which would lead to a ruthlessly efficient series of changes.  The very face of Byzanthis was turned from industrial juggernaut to unbreakable fortress in the blink of an eye.  The factories and frenzied workers churned out emplacement after emplacement, to fortify the countless bastions and bunkers that were erected seemingly overnight.

Hawke gathered his trusted advisers Lord Commissar Samuel Zeriah and Primaris Pysker Hathor Malidus, there were still some matters that must be resolved.  Zeriah spoke firmly, "The men are prepared, they shall not fail us, their faith is strong!".  Malidus spoke with a voice worn from years of enduring the life of a psyker, "The astropathic message of our plight has been received by Eliath Zurias, Dark Angels 6th Company.  They have ended their recruitment detail and are on route to ensure our victory sir."  Hawke stepped away from his advisers without a word, looking down upon the hell scape he had created, he could not help but grin.  All Hawke would have to do is keep the enemy from their command center long enough to allow the Dark Angels to close in behind.

The Tau would be walking right into a hammer and anvil strategy, and Hawke had the hardest anvil that the Imperium could muster.

Look forward to the following coming soon:

• Planet Strike: Tau back story (for the Tau perspective before conflict)
• Planet Strike Terrain Project (as we assemble terrain to represent the various bits we will use in our campaign)
• Planet Strike Campaign Project (as we use other systems as inspiration to create a campaign system to represent the Byzanthis conflict.