Jornath: Counter Attack in Korsnokrat

.15 Months Since the Fall of Usmilplatz.

As mechanicus forces pressed closer to Usamilplatz, Ork resistance began to increase exponentially. Xenos armored assets, and tougher ork nobles called "nobs" comprised the majority of the alien defense. While these forces were imposing, auguries anticipated that Skitarii maniples would still overrun the alien's defenses according to schedule. Perhaps a delay of a week or possibly even two were posited as likelihoods, but then the Emerald Scream occurred.

The Day of the Emerald Scream totally scrambled planetary vox communications for hours, as well as hampering the information tethers between the Skitarii and their Magos's commanders in Prima Jama. Skitarii units in the field were set into a state of total disarray as most of these soldiers possessed only a limited level of personal autonomy under the battle structure of the Adeptus Mechanicus, and as such were totally unable to adapt to the situations they suddenly found themselves in.  While the Orks did not immediately register the collapse of the Imperial communications network, they did quickly realize their opponents sudden collapse in coordination, as assaults suddenly fell apart, artillery suddenly stopped falling, or human forces withdrew from their positions with only a little pressure. 

Against a warband like the Dakka Boyz, which possessed such veteran warriors. This communication failure was to prove disastrous, three major flash points formed along the line of attack, as coordinated Ork assaults slammed into the disorganized Imperial battlegroups

Just behind the line of attack, acting as a supporting element for Mechancius forces. The 20th Pevrush Cheese Makers Guild Cohort, found itself squarely in the sights of alien shock infantry at flash point three. With skitarii units fleeing in disorder past their position, the Cohort commander, Aelfred Connley ordered their earthshaker batteries to engage the pursuing alien armor. The right flank of the battlegroup and the continued Imperial control of Korsnokrat, rested with one hundred men who had more experienced with curdled dairy than combat. 

While brave, the defense was surely doomed. Experienced and merciless alien infantry smashed into the cohort, shattering their battle line in short order. Even while the cohort was being surrounded and butchered, the earthshakers blazed away smashing holes into the passing alien armor. The battery only falling silent as the Orks dragged their operators to the ground and hacked them to pieces. 

With the total destruction of the 20th Pevrush, Ork warbands swarmed into Korsnokrat. But the cheese makers had bought precious time for the withdrawing mechanicus. It would fall to these Skitarii to rebuff the Orks. 

Thanks for reading!  This post was a part of an ongoing narrative campaign, in the "living setting" of Jornath. For more information about Jornath as a setting, including units, missions, and posts from other Jornath bloggers be sure to click on the Jornath [40k] tab at the top of this page for an up to date list of all posts.

-Your Favorite Madman-