30/12-2003 – Inquisitor Seraph

Teaming up with the local Chaos cultists in Andeonium Hive, the self-proclaimed Omega Soldiers, an Alpha Legion force was tasked with the ambush of a reinforcing Blood Angel detachment from the East. The elite Blood Angel Terminators met stiff resistance from the Alpha Legion Commander Agamemnon, who defeated the Librarian in combat, before he was in turn defeated by a Dreadnought. The Blood Angel Chaplain led the Death Company on a rampage through the Chaos flank, and slaughtered their way through two Cultist units as well as the Raptors. Flamers of Tzeentch, summoned by the Cultists, seemed impervious to plasma, as they where bathed in the plasma cannon of the Dreadnought, but remained unharmed. At the end of the day, the Blood Angels were halted, but at the cost of the entire Alpha Legion force.

Meanwhile, two Death Cult Assassins tried to launch a pair of missiles into the Andeonium Hive. Their efforts were thwarted by Inquisitor Seraph, who suspected an attempt to launch or destroy the missiles and had thus stationed himself and his followers Mad Dog McGree and Argyle the Arco-flagellant. Simultaneously, an Aeldari Ranger and an Aeldari Pirate Princess arrived with a mission to destroy the missiles, who were targeting a hidden Webway gate unaware to the imperials. As the assassins neared the missile site, they came under fire from the Aeldari sniper, and had their priestly escort and his cyber mastiff sliced to pieces by the pirate. Enraged, one of the assassins charged the sniper, but was shot and killed before she could reach her target. The other assassin engaged in combat with the Arco-flagellant, but was crushed to a pulp after failing to dodge his decapitator. The victorious flagellant and the awakened Inquisitor then tried to dispatch the Aeldari, but failed as a malfunctioning melta bomb was placed on one of the missiles and blew the entire emplacement to pieces.

26/10-2003 – Andeonium Hive’s defences breached

Led by the injured Daemon Prince Phaedron, his World Eater force supported by a contingent of Drukhari, assaulted Andeonium Hive. The defenders made their stand at the West walls, but suffered heavy casualties after the initial bombardment. A large force of Imperial Guard and Black Templars held the wall for a few bloody hours, but was overrun by the Khornate minions in the end. Phaedron was wounded yet again after destroying a Rhino, being hit by a Ratling’s sniper rifle and a point-blank hit from a lascannon. The newest Emperor’s Champion had his head torn off by a Greater Daemon of Khorne. The Drukhari Archaon Kael was shot by a Commissar when he and his retinue stormed the defence walls. With this victory, Chaos had entered Andeonium. They immediately fanned out and tried to move towards the centre of the hive, where the imperial palace stood.

21/9-2003 – Anarchy on Rhoie

In the aftermath of Abaddon’s 13th Black Crusade, war still lingered on many of the neighbouring planets and systems. Cut off from the higher command that had been Abaddon, the many warbands that his army consisted of reverted to follow their own agendas.

On Rhoie, a World Eater force supported by Daemons attacked an imperial-held power plant in order to cripple the force field surrounding Andeonium. Defended by a stalwart force of Space Wolves, the imperials managed to stall the attack long enough for a force of Black Templars to reach the area and drive the bloodcrazed followers of Khorne back. The World Eater Daemon Prince Phaedron was defeated in close combat by a charging squad of Blood Claws, led by Wolf Priest Hjalmar the Brave. The Emperor’s Champion held true to his title and claimed the lives of many traitors. The Black Templar Chaplain Holmbaud bravely held his ground, but was pulled down and taken out of action by the vicious World Eaters, moments before the Emperor’s Champion arrived. But in the ensuing mêlée the Champion was bested by the Berzerkers, although the victory was still imperial.

15/4-2003 – Abaddon departs

The Blood Angels and Black Templars pursued the Orks and Alpha Legionnaires, and finally got a confrontation between them in a rocky region of the area. The Greater Daemon of Ork killed the Grand Master of the Grey Knights, but was in turn killed by the Grey Knight Terminators. It was a close call, with the battle switching from a certain victory for Chaos and Orks in the beginning to a minor victory for the imperials.

After this defeat Abaddon returned to the Eye of Terror to consolidate his forces gathering there. His forces on Rhoie and Messen dug in, as did the imperials during the events that would later be known as the Eye of Terror campaign.

11/4-2003 – Alpha Legion lure Orks to attack

An unholy alliance between Alpha Legion and Orks are driven off by a contingent of Blood Angels and Black Templars. A greater Daemon of unknown origin, but very much bearing the resemblance of one of the Ork gods appeared. This prompted a squad of Grey Knights to teleport in and deal with it.

2/1-2003 – Andeonium Hive

Andeonium Hive is roughly circular, with large habunits and mining facilities on the lower floors. The main Chaos force attacked from the South, with contingents of Alpha Legion and World Eaters circled round and advanced from the East and West. PDF troops held the city, but were harassed by Daemon and guerrilla forces. The Aeldari arrived from the Northwest at the same time as the loyalist Space Marines arrived from the East.

From an unknown source, a formidable force of Tyranids appeared in the western part of the research facilities on the upper levels, as well as some Drukhari raiders.

1/1-2003 – War on Rhoie

But Abaddon had still an unknown agenda as he directed the rest of his forces to the industrial world of Rhoie deeper in the system. This world was an important merchant world with rich mineral resources and a large spaceport. Abaddon swiftly crushed the port and landed his remaining forces on the planet, where they met stiff resistance from the local PDF and militia. The larger cities were also protected by large force fields, which were more than a match for Abaddon’s orbital barrage. As the invasion swiftly ground to a stalemate, more Aeldari and Space Marines appeared. The Blood Angels and Black Templars that had chased Abaddon arrived after defeating Abaddon’s rearguard and sent reinforcement to the loyal troops on the surface.

But then Abaddon sprang his surprise as all over the planet, local guerrilla and terrorist troops led by Alpha Legion Chaos Space Marines began attacking the force field installations and power plants. Soon, only the largest hive, Andeonium, stood. The few Aeldari troops along with the imperial and Chaos Space Marines began to converge on the hive for a final showdown.

14/8-2002 – Abaddon and Eldrad

The Aeldari had not been content to merely play the role of spectators in the ensuing drama and had secretly brought a large army to Messen. As the Abaddon’s Chaos forces deployed on the planet, using an old imperial outpost, the Aeldari struck. Led by Eldrad Ulthran himself as well as several Phoenix Lords, a combined force from several Craftworlds made an attempt to drive the Chaos forces away. Ulthran had foreseen the possible destruction of Messen and the closest Craftworlds if Abaddon was allowed to continue unhindered. After a hard struggle the noble Aeldari were defeated at the hands of Abaddon himself.

With reinforcements still coming in from the Webway gate, Abaddon’s forces had established a secure beachhead on Messen. As the Iron Warriors deployed on the planet and began the construction of several forts to acts as strongpoints when the imperial troops would arrive.