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Taros (T'ros) - Taros Campaign: The Taros Campaign pitched Imperial forces against the Taros Planetary Defence Force, the T'au, and their Gue'vesa and Kroot mercenary allies in a series of battles across the surface of the desert mining planet of Taros (T'ros). Prior to the campaign, the Imperial Planetary Governor Lord Uphir Aulis, the head of the Taros planetary govenment, developed friendly trading relations with the T'au who desired Taros' strategic metals to build up their war machine.Ultimately the governor sought to defect with Taros to the T'au Empire with the support of much of the planetary population once his illegal trading with the xenos was discovered by a team sent by the Adeptus Administratum. The Administratum sought to determine if the planet's tithe of ore could be increased to meet the growing demands of the Astra Militarum for materiel to prepare for the expected 13th Black Crusade of Abaddon the Despoiler.When his treachery was unveiled, a full company of Avenging Sons Space Marines were dispatched to kill him, but they failed in their assignment after being intercepted by T'au bodyguards who had been secretly assigned to the world to protect the governor.Following the assassination attempt, the T'au officially annexed Taros while the Imperium gathered an army made up of several regiments of the Astra Militarum to recapture the planet. A large-scale invasion of the world followed, ending in the defeat of the 4621st Imperial Guard Army and elements of the 3rd and 6th Companies of the Raptors Space Marine Chapter.This defeat is partially credited to the defection of a large percentage of the Human population of Taros to the T'au, including the Taros Planetary Defence Forces. Taros then became T'ros, a Sept of the T'au Empire's Third Sphere Expansion and its people are now considered Gue'vesa citizens and T'ros' ores go to serve the Fire Caste's military.
Taros (T'ros) - Terraforming: Once, in the distant past before the Age of the Imperium, Taros was a dead world. Uninhabitable by Humans, it was a bare, scorched desert wilderness.In the Dark Age of Technology, after the discovery of its rich mineral wealth, it was terraformed by the introduction of liquid water and genetically-engineered flora to produce an oxygenated atmosphere. This has managed to create an environment that a small population of Humans can survive in.
Taros (T'ros) - Flora and Fauna: There is no flora native to Taros. Genetically-engineered flora was imported to the world millennia ago and survives in the semi-arid zones as scrub and cactus-like plants.The seas contain toxic algae, which generates most of the planet's breathable oxygen. There is no recorded native fauna.
Taros (T'ros) - Geographical features: The Aestus -  The hinterland of Tarokeen and the populated area around the Taronian seas is called "The Aestus" and is home to approximately 6,000,000 of Taros' population. Living on scattered hydro-farms and temporary mining settlements around the mining facilties such as Tungusta Station, Fornax, Tyndaris, Gaidamark, Sarych Station, Deucalion and Erebus. This area has the most temperate climate on the planet, due to the proximity of the seas and the prevailing wind conditions and as a result, the majority of the world's population lives here.Iracunda Isthmus - The strip of land between the Ak-sai and the Em-sai seas on which the city of Tarokeen is situated. It is part of the hinterland of Tarokeen and the most densely populated area outside of the city itself.The Great Sand Sea - The vast empty deserts of Taros. The Great Sand Sea is uninhabited and there are no roads. It is empty except for rolling sand dunes. Huge mineral deposits may still remain undiscovered here, yet to be exploited.The Furnace - An area of desert surrounded on all sides by mountains. It is accessible only by aircraft. The highest temperatures on Taros occur within this heat trap.The Phyyra Heights - An area of rocky badlands and low hills with a reputation for banditry but also very lucrative mineral deposits.
Taros (T'ros) - Sources: Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros CampaignAeronautica Imperialis: Taros Air War Campaign Book (Specialty Game), pg. 33
Taros Campaign - Taros Campaign: The Taros Campaign was an Imperial military campaign fought by the 4621st Imperial Guard Army of the Astra Militarum and elements of the Adeptus Astartes to reclaim the Imperial desert Mining World of Taros from the Tau Empire and its Kroot and human (Gue'vesa) allies among the Taros Planetary Defence Force in 998.M41.The campaign was ultimately unsuccessful for the Imperium due to the high number of casualties taken at the hands of the technologically-advanced xenos. Taros remained in the possession of the Tau, who renamed it T'ros.
Taros Campaign - Departmento Munitorum Delegation: The man chosen to lead the delegation to Taros was Auditor-Prime Nymus Dree, a functionary from the upper ranks of the Departmento Munitorum. He was accompanied by a team of record scribes and messenger-cyphers. On leaving Terra, his first port of call was Stygies VIII to collect representatives from that Forge World, including a High Magos Metallurgicus, an expert in the study of metals. Dree also needed to confirm his own figures and calculations with the needs of the Forge World before moving on to Taros. Given the location of Taros, an Imperial Navy escort was requested, and granted, for the delegation’s transport ship.The first Taros’ rulers knew about the delegation from Terra and Stygies VIII was when a transport and two Imperial Navy frigates unexpectedly arrived in system. This was a deliberate policy by Dree, so as to not forewarn the Planetary Governor of his arrival and thus give the delegation the best chance of seeing how efficiently the mining operation was currently being run.After a long and arduous Warp journey, the three ships of the delegation entered orbit around Taros. Dree’s delegation boarded a flight of Aquila Lander shuttles and were transferred down to the spaceport at Taros City (Tarokeen), the planet’s only city. The Planetary Governor, with his advisors and officials, awaited the delegation’s arrival and greeted them with due ceremony. The entire entourage transferred to the Governor’s Palace, where an official meeting was scheduled for Dree to inform the Planetary Governor of the Administratum’s revised plans.After the meeting, Dree began a tour of the mining works to see for himself how the operations were conducted and interview the mine owners in person. Meanwhile, the Adeptus Mechanicus representatives would begin to assess the quality and purity of the ore currently being supplied from Taros.
Taros Campaign - Evacuation: As night fell over the battlefield the Space Marine commander again took stock of his situation. The force had been reduced to approximately forty battle-worthy brothers and one Dreadnought, merely enough men to need only two Thunderhawk gunships for the extraction. The other gunships would fly as cover to those required to make the landings. Re-armed and refuelled, the Thunderhawks set about their new missionApothecary Actium started recovering the Progenoid Glands from all of the fallen brothers he could find, some were already buried deep under the ruins. It was an important task if the Chapter's heavy losses were to be made good. Chaplain Baraqel said prayers for the dead, standing over the lifeless form of Brother Caim. Once a proud war-machine and a hero of the Chapter, now nothing more than a smoking wreck of twisted metal and wires. Amongst all the losses for the Space Marines, his was the most grievous for the 2nd company.Captain Armaros took command of an understrength Tactical squad and the remaining Scouts as the rearguard, and gave orders to the first squads - including Brother Hakael, Apothecary Actium and Chaplain Baraqel – to withdraw to the first Thunderhawk when it touched down. After they blasted off, the second wave was then to abandon their position covered by the rearguard and make for the landing zone. In all, the evacuation operation should take no more than ten minutes; not enough time for the Tau to react in force.The distant sound of Thunderhawk engines approached and the evacuation began. Moving slowly through the darkness, crunching over rubble and broken glass, battle-scarred, scorched and wounded, the survivors loaded into the waiting Thunderhawk's hold. Overhead four other gunships circled. Brother Hakael was the last to climb the ramp, closing it behind him. The Thunderhawk blasted off for orbit, accelerating away from the battlefield. Alerted by the engine noise, Tau patrols cautiously crept forwards to investigate. Where once Space Marines had barred their advance with Boltgun fire, now there was nothing. Meanwhile, a second transport had landed and the remaining squads quickly embarked. Captain Armaros fell back to the landing zone, bringing up the rear of his squad, Boltgun in hand. He ran up the ramp and hit the door close button. The triple engines boomed into life and thrust the Thunderhawk skywards again. The battle was over, but the mission had failed.
Taros Campaign - Aftermath: The First Taros Intervention had been a heavy reverse for the Imperium. The Tau had inflicted serious damage on the Avenging Sons in two days of intense combat. The damage inflicted on the aliens was unknown, but must also have been significant. There had been many confirmed kills and the battlefield was littered with wrecks of Tau grav-tanks and Battlesuits.The Avenging Sons took the defeat badly. Space Marines Chapters enjoy a glorious reputation as the 'Shield of Humanity', and defeat by an alien-invader was not to be taken lightly. The death of Brother Caim was to be avenged. The Chapter's fortress-monastery mourned the dead, and the great bell tolled once for each of the brothers lost on Taros.Events on Taros, the failure of the Intervention Force, and the confirmed report of strong Tau forces fighting in the defence of the Planetary Governor, forced a change in attitude by officials of the Administratum towards the Taros problem. News of defeat was bad enough, but it seemed the Tau had already staked a claim to one of the Emperor's worlds. What had been a border skirmish was now a serious threat. Events around the Eye of Terror might be demanding many of the Imperium's resources, but Taros would not be ignored. Taros was officially declared Ex Imperius Rebellis, a system in rebellion against the Emperor's divine rule. The sacred Pax Imperialis had been torn up by Planetary Governor Aulis. His actions now made him not just a criminal, but a traitor. The Tau were already on Taros in force and must be ejected. The Master of the Administratum signed a document stating just this, as well as listing the Planetary Governor's crimes (over 100 in all, mostly punishable by death). The document, called the 'Taronian Declaration' was a licence to action a new, larger attack against the rebel world. Next time, the attack would not be a surgical strike by a single strike force of Space Marines. It would require the involvement of all those fighting arms of the Imperium willing to commit forces to repel alien aggression. The invasion of Taros was now in motion…
Taros Campaign - Adeptus Arbites Operations on Taros: Every world under the rule of the Imperium has its own Adeptus Arbites Precinct Houses or Fortified Courthouse. The Arbitrators are the Imperium's police and enforcers, tasked with combating and punishing crimes against the Imperium. Prior to the Avenging Sons' attack, the Magister commanding the Adeptus Arbites precinct in Tarokeen received a secure astra-telepathic communication warning him of events about to unfold. It also instructed his precinct to carry out a simultaneous operation to arrest the wealthiest mine owners. These men belonged to the hereditary noble class which had run the mines for generations. Having been found guilty of colluding with the Planetary Governor and the Tau, they must also face justice. They were to be arrested and imprisoned in the Precinct House, and then turned over to the Space Marine Commander once he had concluded his operations.After receiving his instructions Magister Skalka knew that his Precinct House was in great danger. If the Planetary Governor was planning on rebelling against the Imperium then, as the most obvious representatives of Imperial authority, the Arbites would have to be disposed of. He could expect to be attacked at any time. The Arbites commander did not know when the Space Marine attack would come, but prepared to act quickly when it did.As the Space Marines fought around the Governor's palace during the First Taros Intervention, the Arbitrators moved against the mine owners. Away from the city in the surrounding deserts, fearsome Arbites arrest units, clad in their black Carapace Armour and armed with Shotguns, Riot Mauls and Suppression Shields, moved in to surround and arrest the mine owners. Upon arrival at the mines, the Arbites found themselves confronted by gangs of angry mine workers. The confrontations rapidly became riots as the mobs refused all orders to disperse. The work gangs were very loyal to their mine, their fellow team members and their masters. At each mine, the attempted arrest became a pitched battle against the crudely armed miners. As more and more work teams joined the fighting the Arbitrators were forced to withdraw. Protected by their workers, the owners were safe from Imperial Justice, for now.Most of the battle-scarred arrest units did not return to the Precinct House in Tarokeen until after the Space Marines had evacuated the planet, leaving Magister Skalka's men trapped on the rebellious planet and now heavily outnumbered by Tau forces. They had little hope but to stand firm in the name of the Emperor and await relief.The Tarokeen Precinct House was attacked and destroyed three days after the Avenging Sons' evacuation. There were no known survivors.
Taros Campaign - The Invasion: At 2392998.M41, the Taros Invasion Fleet officially came into existence under the command of Fleet Admiral Kotto, who raised his flag on board the Overlord-class Battlecruiser Righteous Power. The six ships of the line, their escort squadrons, and the troop transports began assembling. The holds of the transports were loaded with Imperial Guardsmen, artillery pieces, vehicles, tanks, and vast supplies of fuel, food, ammunition, and, most vitally, water. The fleet rendezvoused over the course of three days, each transport and its escorts arriving from different systems and forming up into lines astern to create the invasion armada. Each Imperial Guard regiment had been embarked on its assigned transports to a carefully-devised timescale, so as to bring all the transports together at the rendezvous point at the same time. As the fleet readied, only X Corp was present. The regiments of the XI Corp would follow behind as a second wave after the fleet had fought its way in-system, launched the invasion forces, and established a secure deployment area on the surface. Also not yet present was the Legion Ignatum Titan battle-group, but the fleet could not wait for stragglers. Already waiting at the rendezvous point, and forming the head of the column were the armada’s two largest ships, the Battlecruiser Righteous Power and the Raptors Chapter Battle Barge War Talon. These two ships and their escorts would be the first to arrive in the Taros system. They would be the spearhead of the invasion force, fighting their way in-system towards the objective. The three other cruisers of the line would be following closely behind, forming a potent battle-group in the vanguard of the invasion force. Behind them would come the flotilla of transports, with an escort of light cruisers and frigates for defense.Admiral Kotto was in supreme command of all the naval elements of the invasion plan. He did not know what resistance to expect within the Taros system, but from the formation of his fleet, he was preparing to meet Tau ships in a fleet action and to use his largest ships as a shield for the smaller and highly vulnerable transports. At 404988.M41, the astropathic signal was sent to the bridge of the Righteous Power instructing the fleet to get under way. Ship after ship engaged its main thrusters and began to move in formation towards Taros. The long-planned invasion had finally begun.
Taros Campaign - The Taros System: After three weeks navigating the fickle tides of Warpspace, the Righteous Power disengaged its Warp-Drives and emerged out of the Immaterium. The crews ran to battle-stations as klaxons blared through the decks. Immediately behind the Righteous Power was the War Talon. When the vanguard of the invasion arrived, it found no enemy fleet waiting for them. Admiral Kotto set course directly for Taros, but sensor readings showed no enemy ships in the vicinity. The Space Marines verified this; their more advanced scanners located no contacts. Admiral Kotto’s approach was cautious, maintaining his alert status and expecting a surprise attack, but none came. In the vanguard’s wake followed the cruiser-group, the mainstay of Kotto’s fighting force. As the Star of Cassiopeia, Black Duke and Hammer of Thrace powered towards their target, they were unemployed. The Tau fleet was nowhere to be found. Several of the escort squadrons were detached to begin wider patrols for enemy vessels, but they too found nothing. Maybe the Tau had abandoned the system to its fate, afraid to face the might of the Imperial Navy, or maybe it was a trap. Admiral Kotto proceeded towards Taros with due caution against zero enemy resistance, but the invasion transports would approach unhindered.The expected fight to gain low orbit and allow the invasion forces to disembark never materialised. The Imperial fleet moved steadily onwards. It seemed there would be no attempt to halt the invasion in space. With each passing minute it became clearer that there was no Tau fleet here. Free from defensive duties, the War Talon powered up and raced ahead, the Raptors' commanders keen to begin their deployment operations. The War Talon and her escorts were the first to arrive in low orbit, the rest of the fleet keeping a safe distance until the Space Marines had completed their mission.
Taros Campaign - Missile Silo Decima: For the landings on Taros, the Raptors Chapter had pledged its third and sixth companies to the invasion force. Under the command of Captain Orelius, the strike force would be supported by elements of the Chapter's armoury and fleet, including the immense power of the War Talon. The mission assigned to and accepted by the Raptors was of critical importance to the landings. They were to make sure that the only planetary defense missile silo in a position to threaten the invasion fleet in geostationary orbit above the landing zone was neutralized. Missile-base 'Decima,' as it was codenamed for the operation, was part of a network of such facilities built by the Imperium as Taros' primary defense against hostile aliens. If left unhindered, the silos could engage the vulnerable troop transports in orbit. The loss of a single transport would cause massive loss of life amongst the Imperial Guard units on-board, and could drastically affect the outcome of the landings and the following campaign. It was a risk that could not be taken, and thus Decima had to be silenced before the Imperial Guard's landings could commence.The target area was to first be subjected to a heavy bombardment of 250 rounds from the War Talon’ s bombardment cannons. If the silos were destroyed by the shelling that was all well and good, but there was no guarantee of success unless there were troops on the ground. The underground silos were designed to withstand the heaviest bombardments; even the fearsome weaponry of the War Talon might not be able to destroy the missiles within. High Command deemed Decima to be the single greatest threat to invasion forces, and it fell to the Battle-Brothers of the Raptors to ensure its destruction.The Raptors would be the first Imperial troops to land on Taros. The Third Company of the Raptors Chapter, led by Captain Orelius, would be responsible for this vital mission. The operation was to be a swift surgical strike from orbit, a task the Astartes were unrivaled at persecuting. There would be no supporting armoured vehicles. The objective was simple: destroy the missile silos at all costs. Once destroyed, the objective-achieved signal would summon the remaining landing craft to reinforce the ground forces by the Sixth Company and the Chapter's vehicular assets. Once landed, the Space Marines would be ready to strike overland or counter-attack enemy moves against the landing zone.
Taros Campaign - Intelligence Gathering: Once his mission was confirmed, Captain Orelius set about gathering all the intelligence he could about the target and its defenses. From the High Command’s earlier work, there was some relevant information to aid the Space Marines’ attack. One of the documents unearthed by Curator Adept Skel's search was a Departmento Munitorum construction report, almost a thousand years old, and it described the construction of a missile site by a penal labor corp. It gave details of what the site contained: two underground missile silos, a command bunker, and two personnel shelters, enough for a hundred-strong silo crew and security staff. External defense works included a minefield, trench, razor wire, and an anti-aircraft position equipped with a Hydra Platform turret, as well as other vehicle shelters and stores. Most of these would be below ground, making them nearly impossible to destroy with conventional artillery; even the War Talon’s bombardment cannons might not reach deep enough. Amongst the data recovered were also three faded vid-slate images of an inspection made by the then-Planetary Governor of the site after it came into service. From these images and the construction report, a map could be created of the target. Attacking the site based only on secondhand information was risky, though. What if the regime or the Tau had upgraded the defenses, or increased the size or the number of silos? It was not unreasonable to assume that given the planet's renegade status, the Planetary Governor would seek to increase his defenses against an outside attack. Captain Orelius needed firsthand information he could rely upon. Before any of his Battle-Brothers were committed to the assault, he would send his one available Scout squad to the surface to reconnoiter the site and relay their findings, thus giving him the information he sought.
Taros Campaign - Orbital Bombardment: With the vanguard of the invasion fleet now approaching Taros, the War Talon quickly manoeuvred into its bombardment position in a geostationary low orbit. Its target location already locked in, the bombardment cannons and lance turrets prepared to open fire as the planet's rotation slowly brought the target area into the Battle Barge's line of fire. If the gun crew's mission was successful, then the subsequent attack would be a simple mopping-up operation. With luck, the Demolition Charges would not be needed at all, and the War Talon's guns would knock out the missile silos with direct hits. This was unlikely, though; over such long distances, destroying a small, armoured target would be difficult, and confirmation would still be needed on the ground.Whilst the gunners prepared, the flight decks and launch bays of the War Talon were a mass of activity. Thunderhawk gunships prepped for take-off, fuel tanks were filled, every system was checked and double-checked. Four of the Raptors' Thunderhawks stood ready to begin the invasion of Taros. Each individual Space Marine was also prepared for battle. His Power Armour was calibrated for desert environments, 99% efficient water-recycling, and maximum heat-dissipation. Bolters and heavy weapons were test-fired on the ship's range before being issued. Extra ammunition, grenades, knives, Chainswords, and Bolt Pistols were handed out to the files of armoured Battle-Brothers. Finally, each Tactical squad was issued two bulky Demolition Charges, and the squad Sergeants were given the detonators.Before embarkation, the entirety of Third Company stood shoulder-to-shoulder in ranks as Captain Orelius addressed his Battle-Brothers. He told them that they would be the first to bring the Emperor’s justice to those that have chosen to turn away from his divine light: Theirs was the honor of striking the first blow. In life or death, each Raptor would do the Chapter great honor this day. Then, as one, they knelt before their Company Chaplain as he led them in the ritual pre-battle prayers. Third Company rose as one as the War Talon’s bombardment cannons opened fire, the concussion reverberating through the decks. The first shells to fall upon Taros itself would presage the beginning of the invasion. The Raptors Space Marines efficiently filed into position within their Thunderhawk gunships and awaited launch.
Taros Campaign - Reinforcements: The Raptors' Sixth Company arrived in a flight of Thunderhawk gunships and transporters, setting down inside the silo site perimeter to unload Marines, vehicles, and fresh ammunition supplies with machine-precision. They had run the same operation countless times in the past. Quickly, smoothly, and without a hitch, the Space Marines prepared for the invasion force following behind them. They had cleared the way with a ruthless efficiency only the Adeptus Astartes could provide. Even as the custodians of the strike forces' vehicles climbed aboard their charges and awoke the Machine Spirits within, the Taros Invasion Fleet was moving into orbit. Captains Orelius and Kaedes awaited new orders. Their task now was to sit tight, and should any enemy force threaten to attack the landing site, launch a fast armoured counter-attack. They had cleared the way for the Imperial Guard transports, now they acted as a security shield around the landing zone.
Taros Campaign - The First Offensive – Sixty Days to Tarokeen. Day One: At 514998.M41 De Stael ordered his regimental commanders to begin the long drive towards Tarokeen. The offensive began with a sustained rolling artillery bombardment all along the front line. Mortars, battle cannons, Earthshaker Cannons and Griffons began an intense barrage. It was as if the gods themselves were hurling thunderbolts across Taros. The noise, concussion and great belches of fire from each muzzle made a huge din. Thunderous explosions rolled across the desert, followed by geysers of sand and flame, one here, another there, the blasts coming so thick and fast that they merged into a single roar. Pillows of smoke and flame shot skywards in a wall of high-explosive, which crept, metre by metre, across the desert. The rolling barrage crept forwards for thirty minutes before the infantry began their advance. Every gun in the Corp was blazing away. It was a barrage designed to soften up any enemy forces lying immediately ahead of the first advance. As the infantry rose from their dug-in positions they could feel the ground shaking and hear the out-going artillery shells whine and scream overhead. If the enemy was out there, they were taking a pounding, and that gave the Guardsmen great heart. Then, as suddenly as it had started, the barrage ended. A strange calm descended after the storm. Ahead of them, the infantry could see a thick pall of dust rising, into which the first platoons advanced.Strung out in line abreast, the lead infantry squad began to move forwards at a steady rate. Alongside or just behind them followed the tanks. Leman Russ ground the desert sand into dust, engines revving and belching thick black fumes into the air. Each platoon began to find its own way forwards. The screen of reconnaissance troops in front still reported no enemy contact. Eventually, the frontline reached the barrage area. It was a landscape scarred by still smoking shell craters. The sand had been scorched black, boulders had been shattered into pebbles, but there was no evidence that the opening bombardment had hit anything other than empty desert.The advance moved deeper into the desert, a steady march that continued all day, and still no sign of any resistance. Some started to think that perhaps the Tau had given up Taros, and the campaign would be a walk over. By nightfall on the first day the forward units had covered the required twenty kilometres. As darkness fell, the artillery pieces hooked up their Trojan tows and began to move forwards into new firing positions. Already the advance had outstripped the guns’ ranges; even the long Earthshaker Cannons were at the extreme edge of their range. It was a night-long task to drive or drag the weapons forwards, dig new firing positions, and prepare for tomorrow with fresh ammunition supplies from the stockpiles.
Taros Campaign - Day Two: The night was as bitterly cold as the day was stiflingly hot. Ice had formed on many of the Imperial Guardsmen's weapons during the short hours of darkness, but it soon melted with the dawn sun. Day two was to be a repeat of day one, but without the pre-planned rolling barrage. Such a high ammunition expenditure could not be maintained every day. Instead, the guns would target those locations the Tau might be occupying for brief harassing fire missions, before standing by to assist any units that came under attack. As the artillery and mortars opened fire again, the infantry began their advance. Morale was high, and so far there had been no resistance. By mid-morning all that had changed.The Tau had been waiting for the advance since the landings on Taros. Their Pathfinder squads and Stealthsuit teams had already scored significant successes before a shot had been fired, by observing the locations of Imperial Guard units and alerting the Hunter Cadre commanders as to the most likely routes of advance for the Imperial Guard’s armour. The Hunter Cadre commanders, following Shas'O R'myr’s instructions, were well-hidden in the desert and waiting to move forward and counter the advance. The Hunter Cadres were formidably equipped for mobile desert warfare with its wide open battlefields and engagements which commonly took place at long ranges, most notably with Railguns and Seeker Missiles. Twenty four hours before the offensive was set in motion, crack Stealthsuit teams, operating in darkness and evading Imperial Guard patrols, had noted the build-up of equipment and stores, and forecast that the Imperium’s forces were readying for an attack. The Tau had left no formations within artillery range, but as their mechanized Hunter Cadres were well-supplied with Devilfish transports, they could move forwards and react quickly and decisively when the time came.It was finally judged that the time had come on the second day of the Imperial offensive. The Imperial Guard infantry and tanks had left their perimeter defences of sand bags, razor and minefield behind, and were now in the open. Attacks would be swift, keeping the enemy at a distance. The Tau needed to inflict casualties before withdrawing back into the desert. Hopefully the Imperial Guard would pursue. The next day they would be hit again.Tau forces engaged in brief long-range firefights all along the front on that second day. The 17th Tallarn regiment suffered the strongest counter-attack at midday. Approaching an abandoned mining facility, called Tungusta Station, the Tau struck in force with Hammerheads and Seeker Missiles.
Taros Campaign - Move and Counter-Move: Lord Marshal De Stael’s staff began to analyse and understand the tactics the Tau had adopted, and looked to counter them. First of all, the Pathfinder teams needed to be hunted down more vigorously. Reconnaissance squads were reinforced with more Sentinel units to aid them in this new mission. Neutralise the Tau scouts and long-range ambushes would be harder to achieve. This had some success, with scout units regularly clashing in small skirmishes. The light Sentinels still proved to be vulnerable to the Tau's weaponry, and many were lost during these engagements. But each clash of scout patrols meant the frontline behind would be free from the Seeker Missile ambushes. The losses in Sentinels were compensated for by the saving in tanks and men behind them.Next, De Stael looked to his own mobility to counter Tau speed. As a response force he turned to the Imperial Navy. The Thunderbolts and Lightnings of the lmperial Navy fighter wings would be the solution. If the tanks could not bring the Tau decisively to battle, then the aircraft could. Air patrols over the front line would be increased, with pilots given license to roam, locate and engage targets of opportunity. Squadrons were put on standby to scramble should a front line unit report contact with the enemy. These would race to the front line and deliver devastating volleys of Hellstrike Missiles. The Tau might outrun De Stael’s artillery, but they could not outrun the Imperial Navy.As De Stael's operational tactics evolved, naturally so must have the Tau's. For the commanders, the war was a to-ing and fro-ing of move and counter-move, plan and counterplan. The Imperial Navy was heavily active for several days over the front line, the sky criss-crossed with vapour trails and filled with the roar of jet engines. The Thunderbolts of the ImperialNavy began to find ground targets, scoring notable successes and inflicting heavier losses on the Tau than the ground forces had managed. The Tau's response was to commit its own air forces in increasing numbers. Barracudas began to be seen over the battlefield, not in a ground attack role, but diving from high altitude to intercept the Imperium's aircraft. From distant bases on the Iracunda Isthmus the Barracudas kept up patrols to defend their ground forces. The air war over Taros had begun. Dogfights became common between the two evenly matched forces. This drew theImperial Navy's resources away from its ground attack role, and once again the Hunter Cadres were freed up for their probing counter-attacks. Despite the losses and the escalation of the ground war into the skies, the offensive continued to grind forwards through the desert. After ten days it had made up to one hundred and fifty kilometres: it was behind schedule by between 30 and 50 kilometres, but the broad front was still moving northwards daily.
Taros Campaign - New Impetuous: With the 17th Tallarn regiment now involved in a protracted battle against Kroot warbands to capture the Phyyra Heights, Lord Marshal De Stael turned to his other three regiments to carry his stalling offensive to the mouth of the Iracunda Isthmus. He ordered his reserve regiment, the 3rd Tallarn Armoured, to reinforce the 89th and 12th Armoured regiments, adding fresh firepower to the frontline. The 3rd regiment, under Colonel Hasso Ras-Aziz, was divided into three battlegroups titled A, B and C. Battlegroup A moved to reinforce the 12th Armoured, B moved to reinforce the 89th regiment, and C remained as a reserve. The new tanks added new impetus to the offensive, and for a while the pace began to increase again.At 596998.M41, Battlegroup A spearheaded a fresh attack. Amidst the heavy diesel stink and creaking tracks of armoured vehicles, the combined weight of the regiment’s first and second tank companies struck northwards with renewed vigour. A cloud of dust hung over the desert as tanks passed by, followed close behind by Chimeras and Basilisks. As ever, the Tau were waiting, picking off tanks with Railguns before falling back again. The attrition continued, the first day alone cost the 3rd regiment six vehicles.On the third day, the lead elements of Battlegroup A came into sight of a large mining operation at Gaidamak, where the land was scarred by deep quarries in the earth and surrounded by towering soil heaps. Surveying the area through his magnoculars, General Ras-Aziz made plans to attack and capture the mine
Taros Campaign - Air War Over Taros: Worrying for De Stael was the Tau's growing air superiority. The Tau had obviously established a network of good airfields on Taros, with smaller forward bases hidden in the deserts and larger facilities closer to Tarokeen. The Tau had assembled an unknown quantity of aircraft, but Air Marshal Denvelt was estimating at least ten squadron-sized groups, maybe 120 Barracudas and 40 Tiger Sharks. Despite losses inflicted by Imperial Navy Fighter squadrons, the Tau were airborne relentlessly. The situation had not been helped by the Tau raid against one of Denvelt's forward airbases and the loss of six fighter aircraft in one night. In all, the Imperial Navy had four Fighter wings, two Bomber wings and one Tactical wing committed to the Taros campaign. At the peak of its strength (the start of the campaign), Air Marshal Denvelt commanded 78 fighters, of which the vast majority were Thunderbolts, 24 Marauder bombers and 18 Valkyrie transports (not including those of the 23rd Elysian Drop Troop regiment). Since the campaign had started, he had received exactly zero replacements, despite repeated requests.The squadrons were starting to feel the strain of prolonged combat. As well as aircraft and aircrew losses, the fuel situation was not good, and air dropped munitions were running low. Imperial airbases were mostly situated far to the rear, close to the original landing zone, where Departmento Munitorum Engineer and Labour Corp had been instructed to construct them. As the front advanced, this left Imperial aircraft further and further behind, with longer mission times, and hence less time in the air over the battlefield. An original plan to move fighter bases forwards had been cancelled. Since the Tau raid, it was considered too risky to expose grounded aircraft to roving Stealth teams. As it was, all airbase security had been increased, with forces being drawn back from the forward Imperial Guard regiments.The Bomber squadrons had hammered Tarokeen and the lracunda Isthmus with repeated air raids, pounding the city and suspected Tau bases. It seemed to be having little effect on the Tau. Attempts to hit Tau Hunter Cadres in the deserts seemed to expend a disproportionate amount of munitions for slim results, and bomber losses to the ever present Barracudas had been alarming: five in the first two days. In summary, the air war was (much like the ground war), slowly slipping away from the Emperor's forces. Because of this, the Imperial Guardsmen on the ground faced the ever-present danger of low-level Barracuda attacks. The Tau aircraft would slip along low over the desert, hugging valleys and ridge lines, only to rise suddenly in a with a whirl of Ion Cannon fire, Missile Pods and Burst Cannons that raked the sand and sent everybody diving for the nearest cover. Supply convoys were a priority target and suffered heavy losses. Without reinforcements the Imperial Navy was struggling to defend them. By the time Operation Comet was launched, Air Marshal Denvelt commanded just thirty-seven fighters, twelve bombers and thirteen Valkyries. Still no replacements had reached him, and none ever would.
Taros Campaign - Situation Deterioating: By 639998.M41 the war on Taros had been going on for forty two days. The deserts were littered with the debris of many battles, and De Stael's men were now starting to feel the effects of the Tau strategy biting. They were weary and morale was low after weeks of daily raids, ambushes, strafing runs and counter-attacks. The Tallarn regiments were drained of men and equipment, and there were no longer any secure supply lines. The stockpiles of food, fuel, and most importantly water, were now low, with no prospect of quickly building them up again due to the Tau fleet's blockading actions. A lack of fuel supplies had stalled the offensive. The Leman Russes and Chimeras were now strictly rationed, with each regiment trying to husband its dwindling supplies. The tanks may be immobile, but worse still was the lack of water. In the cruel heat of the day the men could not operate without water, and whilst the men of Tallarn had greater tolerance for dehydration than most, and knew how best to conserve their water supplies, even they could not go for days in such high temperatures with empty canteens. Under the burning sun, men started to drop from the effects of dehydration. Growing numbers of casualties were further affecting the fighting strength or all regiments. For the commanders, it was an ominous sign of the worse yet to come. The situation was bad now, but it would only get worse unless a secure supply of water could be found. Soon the Guardsmen would be faced with the prospect of dying of thirst in the desert, or surrendering to the Tau and relying on their mercy. Such a prospect could not even be considered, especially within earshot of a Commissar, but unless drastic action was taken soon, De Stael's X Corp would have no regiments left. A critical logistical crisis was engulfing the staff of the 4621st Army.On 640998.M41 a staff meeting was held on board De Stael's Leviathan command vehicle. Present were all the regimental commanders of the army, along with representatives from Lord Commander Gustavus' High Command. Up for discussion was how to best continue the war given the supply restrictions. Amongst heated debate, it was General Syckava of the 23rd Elysian Drop Troop regiment that proposed the initial idea for Operation Comet (as it was later to be christened). His idea was to seize Taros' means of producing water and turn it to their own use. Syckava argued that the 4621st Army should change its objective and target the hydro-processing plants that existed on the world. The coastal areas of the Aestus region were the location of the planet's largest hydro-processing plants, which drew the highly alkaline sea water and converted it into clean water before pumping it down pipelines to Tarokeen. The largest processing facility on Taros was Hydro-Processing Plant 23-30, situated towards the northern end of the Iracunda Isthmus, and capturing this plant intact would give the Imperial army enough water to press on to Tarokeen itself.
Taros Campaign - Epilogue: The war on Taros had cost the Imperial Guard in excess of five complete regiments. The 3rd and 12th Tallarn Armoured regiments had lost all their combat vehicles and much of their equipment. The survivors would be pooled together to reform an under-strength 3rd regiment, which could then be rebuilt. The 17th and 89th Tallarn regiments had ceased to exist as coherent forces during the retreat, most of their men were now Tau captives, condemned to labour in Taros' mines for the Greater Good. The remnants were given over to the 331st regiment, which had survived the campaign remarkably well. Now the 331st had its first campaign honour and a new core of veterans. It would go on to serve in other warzones. The 23rd Elysian Drop Troops had been all but annihilated during Operation Comet, although the regiment still retained over one hundred aircraft. The regiment would be reformed with a new recruitment of men from their homeworld, to rise and fight again. The 114th Cadian regiment had lost only several hundred men, but over 90% of its vehicles. It could be quickly re-equipped with new Chimeras mothballed as war reserves. It would soon be ready for redeployment to the Cadian Gate. Legio Ignatum lost one of its four Warhound Titans.For the Imperium the death toll was large, and precise figures are not known. It was estimated that ten thousand were killed in action and fifteen thousand wounded. As many as twenty thousand may have been captured by the Tau. Approximately three hundred and fifty tanks had been lost, over seven hundred Chimeras and two hundred artillery pieces. Aircraft losses totalled sixty eight out of seventy eight. Fleet Admiral Kotto's Taros Invasion Fleet had lost the cruiser Hammer of Thrace, the light cruiser Cerebus, and eight escorts. The battlecruiser Righteous Power was damaged, as was the Black Duke. Both would require work at Kar Duniash shipyards before returning to duty.It was estimated that Shas'O R'myr commanded a Tau Coalition consisting of at least one hundred Hunter Cadres, a grand total of between eight and nine thousand Fire Warriors and maybe as many as five thousand Kroot allies. Added to this were in excess of eight thousand human traitors who fought in the Tau cause. Actual Tau numbers and losses remain unknown, but must have also numbered in the thousands. The Imperial fleet could confirm kills on one Custodian-class carrier, the A'rho, and eight escort vessels.Following their victory, the planet and its mineral resources were now firmly in Tau hands. Over the following years the Tau would increase their grip on T'ros. Their young empire had been expanded, and ships from T'au and Dal'yth would soon be in orbit, loaded with alien colonists. Meanwhile the Imperium was powerless to strike back. Another invasion would require a far greater force than that sent to Taros under Lord Commander Gustavus, and it was just not possible at this time. There would be no second invasion for the foreseeable future. With T'ros secure, the Ethereal councillors on T'au shifted their gaze to the new borders of their empire and the next world for conquest...
Taros Campaign - First Taros Intervention (Imperial Forces): 2nd Company, Avenging Sons ChapterCaptain ArmarosChaplain BaraqelApothecary Actium5 First Company Terminator Veterans6 10x Tactical Marine Squads2 10x Assault Marine Squads2 10x Devastator Marine Squads10 Rhinos2 Dreadnoughts2 Land Raiders2 Predator DestructorsPredator Annihilator2 Razorbacks3 WhirlwindsProxima Justus, Strike Cruiser5 Thunderhawk Gunships3 Thunderhawk Transporters24 Drop PodsDeathwind Drop Pod
Taros Campaign - 4621st Imperial Army (Taros Campaign): X Corps17th Tallarn Desert Raiders Regiment commanded by General Barim-Abas89th Tallarn Desert Raiders Regiment commanded by General Izra Omdurman331st Tallarn Desert Raiders Regiment commanded by Colonel Hamid3rd Tallarn Armoured Regiment commanded by General Hasso Raz-Aziz12th Tallarn Armoured Regiment commanded by Colonel Ahsa Bilad2356th Storm Troopers Company2378th Storm Troopers CompanyXI Corps23rd Elysian Drop Troops Regiment commanded by General Syckava11th Sareinnian Assault Engineers commanded by Colonel Horul114th Cadian Shock Troops Regiment - Mechanised commanded by Colonel Stranski19th Krieg Armoured Regiment commanded by Colonel Weidemark8th Brimlock Dragoons Regiment commanded by Colonel Fouks
Taros Campaign - Legio Titanica Support: Legio Ignatum Warhound-class Titan Scout Titan Battlegroup
Taros Campaign - Adeptus Astartes Support: 3rd Company, Raptors Chapter6th Company, Raptors ChapterWar-Talon, Battle-BargeEscort vessel, Gladius-class Frigate
Taros Campaign - Adeptus Ministorum: Ordo Hospitallers Field HospiceOrdo Dialogus Interpreter Teams (Tau Lexicon)
Taros Campaign - Adeptus Administratum: Mortuary TeamsAdeptus ArchivistsStatisticians Teams
Taros Campaign - Officio Assassinorum: Agents (Classified)
Taros Campaign - Departmento Munitorum: Labour Corp (2)Engineer Corp (1)Supply Columns (78)
Taros Campaign - Adeptus Mechanicus: Enginseer Teams (224)Ordnance Teams (12)
Taros Campaign - Imperial Navy: Ships of the LineRighteous Power, Overlord-class BattlecruiserStar of Cassiopeia, Dictator-class CruiserBlack Duke, Dictator-classHammer of Thrace, Lunar-class CruiserAugust, Dauntless-class Light CruiserCerebus, Dauntless-class Light CruiserEscortsErrant Squadron, Sword-class FrigateInvincis Squadron, Sword-class FrigateOmna Squadron, Cobra-class DestroyerNovem Squadron, Firestorm-class FrigateTransportsImperius Javelin, Armed TransportImperius Gauntlet, Armed TransportImperius Anvil, Armed TransportGraf Derzki, Armed TransportPrince Maud, TransportMarcouf, TransportSaint Machree, TransportIsolde, TransportSon of Jucha, TransportColossia, Heavy TransportPiety, Heavy TransportKagul, Heavy TransportEmpress of Svedeg, Heavy TankerHonorus Rex, Behemoth-class FreighterFighter Wings (4)83rd Fighter Wing386th Fighter Wing1002nd Fighter Wing2774th Fighter WingBomber Wings (2)501st Bomber Wing2424th Bomber WingTactical Wings (1)71st Tactical Wing
Taros Campaign - Tau Order of Battle: Tau Fire Caste Taros ArmyKroot mercenary unitsTaros Planetary Defence ForceTaros Mining Work Gangs (Irregulars)Tau Invasion FleetA'Rho, Custodian-class3 Warden-class EscortsIo'Phi, Protector-classIo'Tar, Protector-class4 Castellan-class Escort squadrons, each numbering 5 vessels