Sabbat Worlds Crusade - Operation Hell Storm - Balhaut (765.M41): The assault on Balhaut would, in the future, remain a shining example of a planned military action that went according to plan and brought about the desired victory.Slaydo constructed his assault plan, code-named "Hell Storm," around the following key principles: firstly, to achieve orbital superiority by fleet assault and to cause as much gross damage to enemy shipping as possible; secondly, use sustained orbital bombardment of key surface regions; thirdly, use a rapid and covered landing of primary planetary assault forces; fourthly, use a rapid and covered landing of secondary planetary assault phases in reinforcement, contingent on the outcome of earlier phases.Slaydo organised the fleet assault into four waves. The first "spearhead" wave was comprised of rapid attack warships under Admiral Kristor. They arrived in-system 16 solar hours before the initial start of hostilities, translating into realspace on the far side of the local star. His warships then utilised the radiating mass of the star to conceal his fleet formations from the Archenemy's planetary detector grids.The second wave was composed of troopships -- mass conveyance vessels and heavy orbital assaulters under the command of Vice Admiral Gharnhorst. They arrived in-system 5 solar hours later, holding position within the sugar and hydrocarbon clouds beyond the system edge.These two waves endeavoured to get on station in readiness without detection. The Warp ripples caused by the gathering Archenemy fleet in-system also served to make their own translation and mass-displacement patterns.The third wave was the primary assault warships under the command of Admiral Shaever. They translated directly into the inner system zone at the beginning of the attack, leading the assault on the high and low anchor stations and orbital batteries. After Shaever's signal of engagement, Admiral Kristor's forces struck hard and fast against the great orbital dock facilities of Balhaut Highstation and Hallidan Threshold.Gharnhorst's third wave then began its move in-system, coming in from behind the massing warships, preparing for the surface assault. Commanded by Vice Admiral Sanloque, the fourth wave then arrived out-system, carrying the mass reinforcement divisions.By the end of hour twenty-one, after the initiation of hostilities, orbital superiority had been achieved. Planetary bombardment then commenced against the key surface targets.By hour thirty-three, the planetary drop began in earnest, with Astra Militarum forces delivered to the surface, with an attrition rate of only 32 percent lost during the landings. North of the Oligarchy, the percentage ran as high as 58 percent.By hour fourty-four, intense ground fighting ignited in the vast hive cities of Balhaut. Balopolis was one such city that saw extraordinary levels of fighting which resulted in numerous casualties amongst the senior ranks of Guard officers.General Currel initially commanded the forces at Balopolis, finding himself in a brutal confrontation with the Kith, commanded by Magister Sholen Skara. Currel was severely injured soon after hour fourty-eight, forcing him to withdraw, and his replacement General Korsen was killed around hour fifty-three of the assault, and his replacement Marshal Bernz was killed around hour fifty-eight.With General Delanyi unable to get through to take command, Curell's command fell, by default, to the senior surviving officer amongst his staff, Commander Macaroth. When word reached Warmaster Slaydo of the dire circumstances that had befallen Curell's forces at Balopolis, he sent an immediate dispatch, promoting Macaroth to the brevet rank of Marshal.The Warmaster elected to command the assault on the Oligarchy himself. His landing force, the second largest single Imperial army fielded after Lord Militant Cybon's, was cutting a bloody path into the heart of the enemy. Slaydo faced intense opposition from the hosts of four magisters, including the infamous Heritor Asphodel, and the murderous Chaos Cult army of the archon himself.The Warmaster's final assault on the Oligarchy raged for ten consecutive solar days. The sustained orbital bombardment had reduced the terrain into so much rubble, and a series of severe storms turned the entire area into an expanse of mud lakes. Several thousand Imperial Guardsmen perished in these deplorable conditions, sucked down into the slurry of mud or slaughtered by the archon's forces when they became mired.On day five, the first breakthrough for the Imperial forces came in the form of Astartes from the White Scars Chapter. They broke through the defence line at the Hallow Wall and routed the forces of Magister Khul Kolesh. The magister was slain during a subsequent gun battle.On day seven, squads of Astartes from the Silver Guard under Chapter Master Veegum broke through the outer line of the Emancipatory, where they faced stiff opposition from Chaos Dreadnoughts and Magister Asphodel's Woe Machines.This deadlock was eventually broken by a massed Imperial armour support involving multiple armoured brigades. Chapter Master Veegum then led the Silver Guard through, taking the Emancipatory in two solar hours and stormed the Monastery of St. Kiodrus with the aid of three Astra Militarum regiments. The Jantine Patricians and elements of the Mordian Iron Guard 11th Regiment took the precinct of the Oligarchy.On day nine, Slaydo drove his left flank into the resolute Oligarchy Gate, which was commanded by Captain Allentis of the Silver Guard, but was devastated by the murderous Woe Engines. The Hyrkan 8th Regiment was the first to reach the Oligarchy Gate and breach the enemy buttress fields and blow the gateway wide open.This breakthrough was swiftly supported by the Astartes of the Silver Guard, another Astra Militarum regiment and four armoured divisions. Following an intense assault by the Hyrkan forces the Tower of the Plutarch fell later that day.Slaydo himself finally entered the inner precincts, at the head of 8 regiments and his personal bodyguard force, prepared to face Archon Nadzybar.