Taros Campaign - Defence of the Governor’s Palace – Day 1: Pre-warned of the approaching Tau Hunter Cadre by reports of the firefight at blocking position three, Captain Armaros set about reorganising his forces for a defence. Governor Aulis had not been found, and time was running out. The presence of strong Tau forces on Taros had been unexpected and unplanned for. Their swift counterattack had seized the initiative off the Space Marines and put them on the defensive. The Avenging Sons were now reacting to Tau moves. Captain Armaros' immediate task was clear, repel the counterattack with the forces he had at his disposal. Phase two of the mission, and his hunt for the Planetary Governor, would for now have to wait.The Tau’s next attack was preceded by the roar of jet engines. Barracudas raced low over Tarokeen to launch missiles in the Governor’s palace. Already battle-scarred from the Space Marine attack, the once elegant buildings were rapidly becoming ragged ruins. Masonry and support beams collapsed under the repeated impacts. Fires were burning out of control and spreading rapidly, smoke billowing high into the sky. Through the wreckage stalked the armoured bulk of the Space Marines finding positions from which to repel the coming attack. Captain Armaros had few illusions; this would be a stern test of his men. He was now heavily outgunned by the Tau. When it hit, the attack would be powerful and concentrated. It would be deadly close quarters combat, building to building, room to room, but this would be to his battle-brothers' advantage. Any Space Marine was easily a match for the aliens at close quarters. The ground fighting followed close behind the Tau's air strike. Tau ground forces were infiltrating through the buildings, and Rail Rifle-armed marksmen had moved into position at any high points overlooking the palace courtyards. Firefights started to break out as perimeter squads were engaged by Pulse Rifle fire. Along the surrounding streets came Devilfish transports, disembarking Fire Warrior units who attempted to rout out the Space Marines with Photon Grenades and Burst Cannon fire. It seemed each squad was fighting its own small but deadly battle. As the Tau attempted to press forwards the Space Marines stood firm and threw them back, inflicting heavy losses in the close quarters combat. The Terminators and Assault squads were the busiest. Stalking from room to room through the now empty and burning barracks buildings, they repeatedly charged the enemy, Chainswords whirring and Storm Bolters barking. Against such fierce counter-attacks the Tau gained no headway and eventually retreated, leaving their dead and dying scattered through the buildings.As night fell, Armaros and his men were still holding their positions, but casualties were mounting, and the supply situation was becoming a problem. Armaros took stock. Ammunition, especially Frag and Krak Grenades, was running low, but he had some eighty one men still battle-worthy, including all the Terminators and both Dreadnoughts. The Tau must also be feeling the strain of battle. The Hunter Cadre had been mauled by the Space Marines' stoic defence. After a day of fighting there was finally a pause. For the first time since the Drop Pods had landed, Tarokeen did not reverberate to the sounds of gun fire and explosions. It was as if both sides were taking a deep breath before resuming.The second night did not pass without combat. The Tau sent out small teams to infiltrate into good firing positions, using the darkness as cover, but the Space Marines had their own roving patrols moving through the rubble in pairs or threes. In the darkness, short firefights would suddenly erupt when two patrols clashed, only for the Tau to quickly withdraw.It was now that the Space Marines began to show their true worth. For a second night they did not need to sleep like Imperial Guardsmen, their Power Armour continuing to supply them with the nutrition and liquid they needed to keep fighting at peak efficiency. Their endurance and superior powers of recovery meant that after a day and night, they were all still as ready for the fight as the moment they landed. Many bore wounds that would have killed mere men, but still fought on regardless.