Defence of Tyrheim

The **Defence of Tyrheim** was an Imperial defensive campaign carried out by the Tempest Wolves Space Marine Chapter against Orks of WAAAGH! Death'and, to defend the worlds of the Tyrheim Sub-Sector.

## History

This campaign was a sub-sector wide defence of Tyrheim and its surrounding planets and is technically still ongoing. The attack was led by Ork Warlord Kork Death'and of the Blood Axe Clan and his Waaagh! Like the Beast of Armageddon, Kork proved to be a deadly commander able to plan ahead and keep the other clans that made up his force under his control through very ork like motivation. Alongside the Tyrheim Warhost and PDFs and the legendary Warrior Cults they held out for years slowly breaking enemy fronts and driving them back. Behind the lines the defenders also had to deal with chaos cults causing problems along supply routes that skirted the mountains.

## The First Signs & Contact

Early in 111.M42 listening posts scattered around the Tyrheim Sub-Sector started to notice more Ork activity on the border than normal, including more freebooter raids, Pack Master Vorgai along with the leading military officials started to prep at his behest. This preperation included cracking down on chaos cults and stockpiling rations. Months later a patrol led by Commadore Lee Vantertras discovered a huge Ork warfleet entering the system and pulled away as fast as they could however of the 30 ships only 3 arrived with one barely making it before being scuttled. this was the cue for the Tempest Wolves to have their fun, they assembled their forces and quickly deployed forces to key locations they knew the Orks would attack the 1st to 6th packs were deployed on the front supported by local PDF forces and 4 regiments (numbering roughly 2-3 million troops in total) each with naval forces in orbit to weaken any landings as much as possible. The first planet attacked was the Agri World of Harvent Wall under the care of Pack Lord Eric the Crimson of the 4th Pack, they attacking orks were led by Bolkral Bloodspitter and his horde.

The attack was fast and hard with speed freaks charging up and down the Imperium's lines and dealing heavy losses but the Imperium had fortified the planet so much it looked more like a Fortress World than an Agri World. However despite the defences the number of Orks pouring into the fight forced Eric and his forces to evacuate the civilians and withdraw to support the rest of the line. The Hive World of Bleak Spire was attacked next and was held by the Vaewolf Markus Warfang and Olash Blackfang of the 2nd Pack this planet held well and became the focal point for the defence while orks drove into the Sub-Sector the Vaewolf allowed the Imperium to hold the system and draw the bulk of the enemy to them. This wasn't without cost though as the Varangian Kvern was badly beatened throughout the entire conflict as their pride and duty wouldn't let them sit at the back and wait. The sheer savagry of the combat reduced the King's Guard of the Varangian were reduced from 100 elite warriors to 60 with several badly wounded and unable to fight for a time.

## The Bleak War

On the world of Bleak Spire Markus Warfang had turned built up the defences up to such a level that it was said that you couldn't move two inches outside the hive cities without finding a mine, gun emplacement or some other type of defence. This proved perfect for when the Orks attacked as their landing zones were kill boxes killing thousands of orks in minutes. However the number of orks arriving cleared the minefields and overran the forward defences just as quick. This forces the defenders to pull back towards the mainline with the Tempest Wolves providing rear guard, once the mainline was reached Markus started his plan. This involved fast mechanized and armoured units causing problems for the greenskinned attackers. This forced them to stop their advance and build their numbers up for a renewed attack The Blood Axe commander took the time to deploy his Kommandos against the defences.

Meanwhile Markus and his forces sure up the lines and prep some recon and raids and calling in more forces to bolster their numbers to drive the orks off world he was told however the ork fleets were makeing movements behind the lines problematic at best. This forced him to changed his plan to a more passive aggressive approch, this resulted in the Vanguard Marines and The Warhost's Raven Claws being let loose fully.