Siege of Vraks - The Second Battle of Vraks: Whilst changes were being made in the higher command, the regimental commanders on the ground still had to deal with the enemy in front of them, whilst preserving their supplies and men. All offensive operations were cancelled, with the ultimate objective now placed to one side in favour of a policy of survival. The traitors now had the initiative and it would be they that launched any attacks, while the Krieg regiments dug in deep and tried to hold their positions and husband their diminishing resources until their relief could arrive.Whilst Marshall Kagori’s staff were busy collecting together the forces that would save Vraks, the enemy took advantage of their newly won supremacy. Supported by their new allies they began to attack in ever greater force. Attacks could be expected anywhere along the front and with defensive artillery fire heavily restricted due to ammunition conservation, many succeeded in capturing Krieg trenches and holding them. Soon salients had been pushed deep into the Krieg lines. They were losing ground that had been so costly to win and being slowly driven back. For almost a year the 88th army had to endure defeats, withdrawals and retreats at the hands of the reinvigorated enemy forces. As manpower and supplies of all types dwindled, it seemed they were on the very edge of defeat.But Marshall Kagori had been working unceasingly and on 084824.M41 his fleet was ready to set course for Vraks. It was a fleet containing a convoy of transports and supply ships, including the precious Legio Astorum Titan transport, defended by a potent flotilla of escorts. The defeat at the first Battle of Vraks was not to be taken lightly by Battlefleet Scarus and the presence of a Traitor battleship was a threat that could not be ignored.Battlefleet Scarus’ first move was to send a scouting force back into the Vraks system. Ordering the fastest vessels in the fleet to Vraks, the Cobra class destroyers of Ithica squadron were to discover and report on enemy strength in the system. When the three destroyers arrived they found the drifting hulks and wreckage of the previous battle, but no enemy vessels intercepted them. They returned to report it was all quiet.Where had the enemy vessels gone? Where was the Anarchy’s Heart? She could still be in the system, lurking in the outer asteroid fields. It would be prudent to expect attack. The twin Luna class cruisers Duke De Walle and General Dyhane were detailed to defend the convoy, along with a full strength escort squadron of eight Sword class frigates. The new Battlefleet Scarus fleet entered Vraks system ready for the second Battle of Vraks.The convoy’s approach was slow and cautious, surrounded by their escorts, the transports’ stately progress towards the planet was carefully plotted. The Duke De Walle led the way, with her sister vessel the General Dyhane as rearguard. For the first few days there was no contact with any enemy vessels. Leaving the dangerous asteroid fields behind, the fleet seemed to be in the clear. They passed close by to Vraks Tertius and still no enemy moved against them. Perhaps the raiding vessels had moved on in search of new richer pickings, or returned to their secret hideouts in the many dense nebula closer to the Eye of Terror.Most of the Traitor fleet had in fact dispersed. Their battle won, the raiders had sort new plunder and new victories. But the Anarchy’s Heart had remained, lurking, watching like a giant silent predator awaiting an unsuspecting prey. The relief convoy approached and she was ready to pounce.Hidden amongst the hulks and drifting debris of the Vraks system, the Anarchy’s Heart and her escorts were invisible with all systems powered down. They lay quietly waiting. Drifting amidst the wreckage she was almost undetectable. As the convoy approached she sprung her ambush.The battleship’s great plasma reactors roared into life and power surged down her ancient cables and circuits like warm lifeblood. Slave gun-teams were driven to their weapons by the lashes of their overseers. The battleship’s power signature lit up on the augurs of every vessel in the approaching convoy, and alarm klaxons blared their warning as ship crews raced to battle stations. The Anarchy’s Heart was already in range as the escort vessel’s captains called for flank speed, their reactors straining at the sudden demand for power The battleship’s first salvo impacted with crushing force. Two escort vessels vanished into expanding clouds of wreckage and space dust as they took repeated direct hits from the batleship’s big guns. The Duke De Walle's shields were screaming as repeated laser impacts flared off them, a second volley raked her hull and destroyed starboard thrusters and manoeuvre drives. One supply transport, loaded with fuel and ammunition was crippled and left drifting.The Imperial Navy cruisers responded to the ambush as fast as her crews could. The Duke De Walle returned fire, her broadsides sporadic at first, but then growing in intensity. The General Dyhane swung about, loosed a wide spread of torpedoes, then powered towards the enemy battleship. As the cruisers engaged, the transports made for Vraks with the escorts in close proximity interposing themselves between the valuable cargos and enemy guns. It was a brave act and cost the escorts more heavy losses, with two more ships quickly crippled as the Anarchy’s Heart thundered out with every gun she could bring to bear.The two cruisers closed into effective range themselves, and although the Anarchy’s Heart was a potent vessel and her armour was thick, she could not afford to ignore two capital ships. She turned her guns on them, taking repeated torpedo impacts. Deep inside fires started by the explosions could be seen raging - the beast had been wounded.But the wounded beast’s rage was unholy and merciless. Lances and macro-cannons pounded at the two cruisers. The Duke De Walle was caught in the maelstrom, riding the impacts as if tossed by a stormy sea. She was burning, massive oxygen leaks bleeding flames into the void. The General Dyhane was close now, and her guns ripped into the enemy’s armour. Who would break? Whose will to continue the brutal engage of close range gunnery would snap first?Damaged, and with her prey escaping towards Vraks, the Anarchy’s Heart disengaged. Her sudden devastating attack had destroyed four escort vessels and left the Duke De Walle crippled and dying. Hundreds of her crew lay dead at their guns, their bodies choking the lower deck corridors, but the General Dyhane had remained true to purpose and never flinched in the face of the battleship’s broadsides. She had torn into the enemy’s flank and set fires raging inside the Anarchy’s Heart. Rather than risk destruction to no further gain, the ancient leviathan withdrew, soon vanishing again into the drifting wreckage, her two escort ships remaining close for protection. The General Dyhane could pursue, but she would then be alone against a far greater enemy. Instead she offered what aid she could to the grievously stricken Duke De Walle. Crippled with damage beyond the crew’s capability to repair, the captain ordered the survivors to abandon ship, leaving the lower deck fires to gut the vessel. They burned for weeks. The surviving crew were ferried across to the General Dyhane, leaving the stricken cruiser as another hulk to add to the growing graveyard around Vraks. Her mission complete, the General Dyhane then set course for Vraks again.