The Stilling of Bharteth Narrative

Brought to the Enterigar System by a vermilion level distress beacon left by the Rogue Trader Gabrielle Kalothetos, the Imperial forces approached cautiously. Knowing only that the beacon signaled a significant and immediate threat to the Imperium, both Loyalist and Traitor fleets were reluctant to commit many vessels without additional knowledge of the threat, but neither were they willing to allow the other to seize what could potentially be a weapon in the ongoing civil war. By the time the first ships entered the Enterigar system in response to the signal, its broadcast had ceased. Initial scans of the translation points showed no significant vessel departures and there was zero response to hails or Imperial sub-frequency pings. However as the various vessels continued to explore amidst running skirmishes with each other, a discovery was made in orbit of the systems primary planet, Enterigar III. A small imperial beacon emitting a short range, encoded, signal on the same Imperial frequency as the Rogue Traders Vermillion threat sprang to life as the first ships entered range. While damaged and subject to massive data corruption the beacon contained tidbits of information which were gleaned from the scrap code; the Imperial Tribute, a Conquest Class Star Galleon belonging to the Rogue Trader Gabrielle Kalothetos, had been operating under a Writ of Exploration deep into the outer reaches. Interestingly the ships last recorded location was far from Enterigar, to the Galactic East.

The Tribute appears to have been destroyed at that location with a loss of 98% of its crew. Along with the site of its destruction and the coordinates of Enterigar, the location of Defos and a fourth set of partial co-ordinates were lodged deep inside the data trash; all four were marked with the Vermillion threat rating. Planet side the world of Enterigar III was a desolate but, barely, habitable waste world. Ruins of a previous civilization lay scattered throughout its continents, its ecology destroyed by some long ago cataclysm. Standard scans of the planet yielded nothing of interest until the Imperial astropaths aboard the ships attempted their own viewing, it was then that the distortions were encountered again. Scattered across the worlds surface were psychic null zones, impenetrable fields when viewed through the use of empyric powers. While there were hundreds of such zones dotted throughout the landmasses, one particular null zone was significantly larger than any other, large enough to cover an entire city and its surrounds.

The center of this huge zone was further shrouded with some form of interference that prevented any form of pict surveillance, augury scan or even auspex reading. Dispatching scouting teams into the territories surrounding the central null zone, the Imperial forces began surveying the area for potential landing zones while trying to secure positions in orbit for troop deployments. In was during one of these scouting operations that the Loyalists discovered a small facility in the ruins of the previous city housing a high powered containment field. Focusing their efforts on this anomaly a small contingent of the Loyalist forces initially mapped the field, searching for ways to breach its boundaries, latter using a xenos artefact, also found in the area, to break the fields bonds. With the containment field collapsed the area was revealed to have been protecting an ancient, but advanced, stasis chamber with a single female human psyker held within.

Reviving the occupant and evacuating her to the Iron Hands Battle Barge, the Ferrarias Incus, for medical treatment and questioning. Unfortunately the focus quickly shifted as the Enterigar engagement escalated into a full scale ground war when the central Null Zone collapsed revealing a huge city of monolithic structures. The battle had already been joined by previously undetected Aeldari forces working alongside rogue elements of both Astartes and Imperial Army units as well as a number of high profile commanders from the Rogue Traders Militant. Their target, however, was neither the forces loyal to the Emperor nor those of the Warmaster but another xenos race buried deep in the earth of Enterigar III. The world they had all been drawn to was in fact a Tomb World of the long slumbering Menkare Necron Dynasty.

As the war progressed, more of the worlds ravaged history was uncovered by the Imperial scholars accompanying the Rogue Traders. Too little too late though as it was revealed that the planet was not only home to the ancient Necron threat but also plagued throughout its history by visitations of the Enslavers, a deadly denizen not of the material realm drawn to pyskers. With that knowledge, for the Loyalists who had 'rescued' the woman in stasis, came the realisation of their grevious error... just as all communication with the Ferrarias Incus was lost. Desperate to contain the possible Enslaver outbreak, the Emperors forces dispatched multiple vessels to intercept the, now rogue, Battle Barge. Other elements on the planets surface also prepared to reactivate an ancient orbital defence network which had been uncovered as being a doomsday gambit built by the worlds previous human empire to counter the Enslavers incursions. Both actions failed as the Xenos controlled Battle Barge left orbit, broke through the hasty blockade and translated to the Warp. The vessels assigned to subdue the Ferrarias continued in pursuit and, suspicious of their actions, a number of capital ships of the Warmasters fleets followed shortly after.

Following the Battle Barges Warp signature, the Loyalist fleet translated and began traversing along a previously undiscovered route leading rimward from the Helix Cluster. Although stable, the Warp route was certainly tumultuous, the Gellar fields on many ships were battered to within a fraction of their resilience before the fleets could translate back to realspace. Finding themselves even deeper into the Eastern fringe, far from the reach of the Astronomicon, the Loyalist fleet entered the system with caution. While the warp signature indicated that the Enslaver vessel had certainly translated into realspace at this point, there was no telling how long ago they transitioned, two hours or two months. Their own journey had lasted only three days, but according to the Navigators over six months realtime had passed. With wide band auspex scanning the system, the Imperials quickly identified the primary planet of Bharteth, a human Hive World with what appeared to be a Mechanicum forge dominating its single huge moon. Caught between the need to be cautious, not knowing where the Enslavers had gone, but knowing that the Traitors own fleet could emerge from the warp literally any minute, the Loyalists powered their ships to the inner system and opened comms with the planets orbital posts.

Almost immediately the Imperial ships hails were responded to, initially, by the Mechanicum conclave identifying themselves as being from the Tolleth Forge moon. The message from the Magi was, as to be expected from representatives of the Mechanicum, brief and to the point. Apart from a cursory greeting to the system the primary content of the message was a demand for incoming ships to declare their intent. Following this came a series of additional hails sent directly from the planet itself in various forms of secure and unsecured comms. Responding to all of the parties in an open band, the Loyalists lead ship transmitted the standard message of Imperial greeting and offer of entry into the Imperium without conflict or face Compliance.

Taking a calculated gamble, the fleets commander hoped to present the guise of a unified Imperial presence as was the case during the Great Crusade and bring the system under Loyalist control before the Warmasters trailing fleet could compete for their allegiance. The ploy almost worked; had it not been for the fact that the planet itself was also in the midst of its own civil war and there was not clear faction who had the authority to speak for Bharteth. Many responses were received, all pledging loyalty with various conditions, but common amongst them all was the request for support in placing their faction in control of the System and backing their authority.

Knowing this, the Tolleth conclaves response was also conditional, recognising the Imperial strength but listing the Forge Moons own orbital defenses and manufacturing capabilities as being significant. However amidst the flurry of communications from Bharteth, a single transmission bearing Imperial encryption markers was received from a different planet. Myran, a giant frozen world on an orbit in the outer system, had initially appeared uninhabited but the communication crew confirmed that there was definitely a tight beamed signal being sent from the world's surface. Entering the corresponding decryption key to unlock the message, the commander was momentarily caught off guard when the hologlith image of Voldin Olafsson appeared on the bridge declaring his location and requesting retrieval. The Praetor of the VIth Legion had been reported as Missing In Action shortly before the fleet had left Enterigar. His presence in the Bharteth system, on a frozen death world without any ship was certainly not anticipated. The arrival of the Traitors warships, however, was something which was anticipated, although the Loyalists had been hoping for more time to secure the system.

The moment the first Traitor ship translated in system an encoded transmission burst was detected from somewhere within the main Bharteth Hive directed towards the new vessel. The efficiency and level of encryption, coupled with the knowledge of the Imperial bandwidths were hall marks of the XXth Legion. How they had gotten there before the Loyalist fleet is unknown although the answer could be tied to the presence of the Space Wolf commander recovered from the ice world of Myran. Within hours the Warmasters fleet had swelled to equal that of the Loyalists and both had taken defensive positions throughout the inner system, unwilling to engage one another with such limited resources and so far from reinforcements.

It was then that the realisation came that whilst on Enterigar the Emperors Astronomicon had been faint, just barely perceivable, but the Helix Cluster had been navigable with Corabie providing an anchor point with its psychic choir. Bharteth however, provided no such beacon. The navigation lighthouse of the Imperium was dark this far from the boundaries of their empire. Both fleets were without a return passage until some form of choir or other anchor could be established in Bharteth.

Reassessing the strategic disposition of the imperial forces now doubled in size, but split into two factions, the Tolleth Conclave communicated a new response to the previous demand for Compliance. Sealing themselves deeper into their fortified Forge Moon, the Mechanicum declared that either faction were free to use the resources found on the surface of Tolleth to repair and refit their forces, but any damage done to such infrastructure would result in swift reprisals. As to their allegiance; the Conclave committed that they would capitulate to the Imperium once control of Bharteth was determined. With that, the Forge Moon severed communications and sealed its many access gates to the labyrinth complex beneath its surface. In an instant Bharteth itself became the focal point of control for the entire system. During the Great Crusade an Imperial Compliance force would not be concerned with such ultimatums or contingencies, instead simply bringing the Imperial Truth and the rule of the Emperor at gun point. But the Great Crusade was over and the unified strength of the Imperium was splintered, Compliance of this world would not be accomplished through planetary invasion alone.

Fighting skirmishes in the void surrounding Bharteth and its Forge Moon, both Imperial fleets proceeded to conduct surgical insertions of strike teams directly into the Hive while larger forces began amassing on Tolleths surface.

While the engagements on the Forge Moon began escalating quickly as both the factions limited ranks of Titans and Knights began securing repair bays and refit cradles, the conflicts on Bharteth were far more subtle. Small Kill Teams made their way into the Hive in an attempt to secure the loyalties of the various Houses and their associated gangs which controlled the various levels. Predominantly infantry cohorts began securing bases of operations in the outer sections of the Hive where there was less territorial conflict and began coordinating with larger detachments to create landing zones to bring even more ground forces to the surface. It was slow, arduous and extremely dangerous with limited support and potential enemies in all areas. It became even more hazardous when the first of the Blackstone Pylons were encountered.

Responding to a number of anomalous auspex readings various scouting teams began reporting encountering localised null zones similar to those discovered on Enterigar III. Within each of these zones however were monolithic pylons of Blackstone seemingly built into the structure of the Hive itself. Fearing a repeat of the Necron incursion, a focus was put on gathering information. As the operations continued, both Imperial faction began mapping more and more of the pylons latticed throughout the Hive. Some were in pristine condition, cordoned off and treated as if they were a monument of heroes by the local residents, while others were barely recognisable their surface etched and mined out. Coordinating the collation of information from the scores of strike teams on the ground, a history of Bharteth began to take form as the cogitators sifted through the rumors, legends and scraps of recorded events being uncovered.

Like Enterigar III, it appeared that when Bharteth had been founded during the early days of colonisation it been done so on the ruins of a previous civilisation. Alongside scattered xenos ruins and abandoned, half operational technology, the colonists came across a concentration of monolithic pylons reaching kilometers into the sky. Like an archaic forest grown from an exotic mineral the Blackstone pylons were clustered into a region of no more than fifty kilometers across, but contained hundreds of towering spires. Their purpose was completely unknown but they provided the growing colony with an exceptionally strong framework on which a towering hive city could be erected.

Early into the new worlds history, the coming of a Mechanicum Explorator ship changed the direction of the planet and its people forever. Recognising the industrial potential of the planet and eager to research the caches of xenotech the, soon to become, Tolleth Conclave formed an alliance with the Bharteth Hive which would last for millennia to come. Taking possession of the huge moon orbiting Bharteth the Mechanicum would help expand the planets industrial coverage and provide them with Orbital security in exchange for a monopoly on the extraction and research of the xenos ruins scattered throughout the system. Throughout the historical records though, there were no references to the Necrons awakening and purging the surface like that of Enterigar III. Had the Xenos race been cleansed of the planet previously or was this not one of their Tomb Worlds? Instead like so many human worlds the conflict and strife came from within. The unrest of millions and than billions of people contained within a single unending towering city built around the ominous Blackstone pylons would result in hundreds of civil wars and uprisings. Perhaps more so than the average Hive world, Bharteth suffered from a constant instability, a lack of absolute control by one governing faction or House which could enforce order and peace.

Like all societies, Bharteth Hive split itself into factions, Houses, which represented various industries or economic classes. While one House would officially rule the Hive, their authority only ever extended to the territories which they controlled and some of their allies. The rest of the Hive remained firmly under the control of the remaining Houses and their militia gangs. Without an external threat or even neutral parties outside of the Tolleth Conclave, there was little need for the Hive to present a unified front. Any inter system raiders which happened upon the far flung empire were dealt with by the Mechanicums orbital defences, which were constantly being augmented by the technology being unearthing from the planet below. Likewise potential trade partners and allies were hosted on the Forge Moon and rarely was Bharteth even made aware of their presence. Ruling factions rose and fell, alliances were formed and broken, Houses splintered and reformed, the roiling society of Bharteth continued to fight amongst itself century after century.

The mining of the Blackstone Pylons had started only a few centuries prior to the arrival of the Imperial fleets. While there were laws against it and it was in direct violation of the Tolleth Accord, without a central controlling government it was impossible to enforce such an edict. The Enforcers of the Hive, funded by the ruling House, made it a priority to protect such structures, their forces were stretched thin and they were often overwhelmed by the level of crime throughout the entire Hive. In response the Conclave themselves became involved in the politics of the Hive for the first time.

Equipping select gangs with some of their best weapons and armour the Magi created the foundations of what would become a rapidly rising House which served their interests in protecting the integrity of the Pylons. Even still, they were but one House in a Hive of dozens of such factions. Decade after decade more and more of the Pylons located within the Inner Hive were pillaged, the Blackstone making its way into the hands of the wealthy and powerful in the form of trinkets, amulets and, occasionally, powerful artefacts. With the destruction of so many Pylons, the null fields which they emitted started to weaken in the core of the Hive. The Psychic mutation which had previously been kept at bay by the effects of the Blackstone began to creep into the population. Psykers, witches, started appearing more and more often, nearly always hunted down and executed by the zealots of certain Houses, still some began to escape and were hidden deep in the lower levels.

It is here that the Enslavers re-emerge into the picture. Whether it started prior to the arrival of the rogue Battle Barge or if the insidious race can spread as quickly as they have in such a short time is a question still needing investigation. But as the scouting teams began delving deeper into levels of the Inner Hive, the presence of these Warp creatures were discovered. Preying on the bright, vulnerable and untrained minds of the Psykers taking refuge in the depths of those sectors, the Enslavers have taken root in the darkest of territories, amassing a protective throng of drones around them as they hunt down more victims. Many squads have already been lost when confronting the creatures, but it appears that the desire to exterminate their threat is at least shared by the forces of the Warmaster as well. Both factions have seen what these foul entities can do to an Imperial world, let alone a Hive world without any central control. Beset on all sides by threats both human and xenos, time now works against us as we must secure the support of enough of the Houses and ensure that the forces of the Warmaster are overcome. Only then can the control of the Hive be wrested from the ineptitude of squabbling warlords and the full force of the Imperial might combined with that of the orbiting mechanicum be brought to the fore in combating the Enslaver threat. If this is not achieved, than that threat will surely become a plague that will overrun the Hive in months.

Having such an infestation on the borders of the Imperium whilst it itself is consumed by civil war can only result in doom. But, the presence of the Tolleth Conclave, their Forge Moon and the secrets that they have plundered from Bharteth make this, a system to fight for and one which neither Imperial force will allow the other to have control of.

Amidst all of the mysteries and unanswered questions that assail the Imperial commanders at the commencement of this campaign, one which may be paramount to them all, is the whereabouts of the rogue Battle Barge, Ferrarias Incus.

The opening waves of the Bharteth invasion were brutal; Loyalist and Traitors both sending significant numbers of strike forces directly into the Hive itself via forward deployments ahead of the main fleet. The ability for the Traitors to have launched such a large number of attacks so quickly confirms my earlier suspicions that they may have, in fact, had forces here ahead of the primary fleets. Against the recommendations of some on the war council the decision was made to not negotiate with the incumbent factions or to make any concerted effort to win over the allegiance of the local Houses on Bharteth itself. The hubris that this war could be won by the sheer might and will of the Imperium like a normal compliance action during the Great Crusade surely played a role in this campaign. The Emperors forces not only faced the opposing troops of the Warmaster, the native defence militia, but the conflict also drew the attention of other elements as well, both Blackshields and Xenos. The only saving grace was that the Traitors adopted the same initial tactic and attempted to seize ground on their own.

The Central Hive became the primary battleground with both independent and Xenos forces making sorties into the tight corridors, raiding and testing the Imperial forces who were establishing themselves there. The Loyalist gained a slightly stronger foothold in the depths of the city compared to the Traitors but only marginally, the cost to both Imperial factions to secure those territories was exceptionally high with the majority of the advance forces isolated and stretched beyond their supply lines, unable to venture further until reinforcements arrived with the main orbital invasion.

In the outer Hive things thing were somewhat different, the Loyalist had been denied access to this area utterly with both Traitors and Independent forces shutting down the access tunnels and creating defensive staging areas to expand their sphere of influence throughout the factories. There were numerous rumours of Xenos scouting parties, but no worthwhile engagements were reported, and what limited augury feeds we had access to did not recorded any such instances. The Rad Wastes became the clear domain of the Traitor forces at that early point. Having landed dominating ground forces early, with perhaps even covert assets on the ground prior to the main fleet’s arrival, assisting in securing huge landing zones for further expansion attempts. The Loyalists secured a small fortified section to the south of the main Hive structure, while under constant attack by Traitor forces they managed to hold them off but were unable to expand our holding. The orbiting Forge-Moon saw the most violent start to the campaign with Traitor forces inflicting significant damage to the conclaves infrastructure contrary to the conditions of engagement outlined by the Magos. And while the Loyalist and Traitor Engines stood at a stalemate, reports of more Xenos forces in the engagement zone circulated, however no survivors were found to indicate which race was leading the attack.

The search for the Ferrarias Incus met with some success compared to the martial endeavours, although the results of the investigation were concerning. The silhouette of a Battle Barge was briefly detected entering the upper atmosphere of Bharteth in the general vicinity of the primary Hive docking spires. Confirmation of this and the possible final location of the vessel would only be possible once the fleet gains orbit around the planet, although it was clear that had the Incus docked with the Hive it would mean that the Enslavers would have disembarked and secreted themselves away amidst the vast city.

The movement of the Imperial fleets into a Bharteth orbit to support the full scale landings and compliance of the world however met with an unanticipated delay in the form of a significant naval presence commanded by the Hive world. With both the Warmaster’s and the Emperors ships denied access to the inner system, the advance forces on Bharteth and Tolleth began sustaining heavy casualties and were forced to go to ground awaiting for the supply lines to be established. This was felt the most on the Forge-moon as more and more Imperial Engines, both Loyalist and Traitor, fell victim to the raiding Xenos Titans. While planet side the invading units fared a little better, although were unable to extend their holdings or prevent both Xenos and incumbent forces from fortifying their own positions. Inside the Hive itself the war had turned the already unstable environment into outright chaos. Factions began to splinter and isolate themselves and the previously balanced political machine which ruled from the spires collapsed into anarchy.

Out of this anarchy though a new threat took form. A consortium of sorts, led by none other than at least three renegade Rogue Traders, rallied the remnants of the native Bharteth military and a number of the major Houses, coordinating their actions in a series of effective counter assaults against Loyalist positions. The motivations of these former Imperial agents are a mystery, perhaps they saw a chance to secure a place in the fractured nobility of Bharteth and repel the Imperium’s attempt at Compliance or perhaps there was a more sinister reason for their betrayal.

Similar to the situation in the main hive, the Loyalist holdings in the outer hive came under significant assault. This time by three different factions; both the growing local Bharteth forces and the encroaching Traitors forced their way into Loyalist territory and taking advantage of the chaos a number of Xenos led insurrections were also reported. The early strangle hold of the Rad Wastes for the Traitors evidently paid off with their ability to throw more and more resources at forcing their way into the Hive proper.

With their focus shifting from holding landing zones which went unused to the actual taking of the main Hive, the Traitors abandoned large sections of their positions in the Rad Wastes. Rushing to fill the vacuum both the Loyalists and the growing incumbent Bharteth military seized multiple fortifications in the area. Like the Outer Hive, a number of reports indicated a growing Aeldari Xenos presence on the world and not just in orbit performing raids as previously believed. No longer willing to be impeded by a lesser force the Imperial flotillas unleashed their full strength in an effort to break the blockade and reinforce the ground positions. The Bharteth’s navies hold on the void was utterly shattered; devastating clashes in the flare regions and deep system crippled many of the Bharteth system defence fleets with Loyalist ships taking control of many shipping lanes, Traitors seizing others and Xenos raiding forces attacking all in a frenzy of piracy. Amidst it all however the disappearance of multiple Rogue Trader vessels was missed, a sign which could have given warning to their defection earlier had they been detected.

Continuing the naval onslaught, the Loyalist fleet all but seized complete control of the systems void areas. Most shipping lanes, orbital paths and translation points fell under Imperial garrisons loyal to the Emperor while elements of the Traitor fleet raided the overstretched defense lines. Reports that a number of Rogue Trader Militant vessels had indeed defected from the Imperial fleets were confirmed with at least one ship, the Augello, being identified as it entered low orbit over the primary Hive. Unable to pursue due to the sheer amount of ground to orbit weapons in the area under opposing factions control the vessel was noted assigned for monitored. The presence of the Enslaver controlled Ferrarias Incus was finally confirmed as being docked with the primary Hive spire, its engines powered down. The Xenos raiding vessels withdrew from Imperial controlled space, largely regrouping around the mining planet of Scalles, considered a low strategic priority their hold of the area went uncontested.

Unwilling to yield the Forge-moon and with fresh reinforcement the Loyalist launched a renewed assault on the surface of the warzone, pushing back both Traitor and Xenos forces with the few mercenary elements all but eliminated. To further placate the Magos, the Emperors forces diverted additional resources to begin repairs to the damaged sections of the surface caused by skirmishes and wayward fire.

The seemingly unstoppable juggernaut of the Loyalist forces continued onto the surface of Bharteth itself, albeit at a slower pace. In fact even though some strategic gains were indeed made, the focus of the conflict had shifted inwards to the Hive itself and most other factions had even started abandoning positions outside in order to reinforce their efforts inwards. Nonetheless the Emperors forces claimed upwards of 50% of the primary staging areas and strategic locations, similar to their holding on Tolleth. This, perhaps in hindsight, was a tactical error on the part of the Loyalist war council.

Inside the boundary walls of the primary Hive, protecting the city from the Rad Wastes the war had taken a different turn. Like feeding a growing bonfire both Imperial forces had been sending ever more troops into the fray had made, what we thought, were substantial gains. Instead these advances forced a number of rival Houses to ally and repel the invaders, and with great success. In many areas multiple Aeldari strike teams raided the Imperial emplacement, although they did not appear to be fighting in concert with the Bhartethian forces. Both the Loyalist and Traitors lost significant ground and local forces regained control of many vital transit hubs including multiple orbital uplinks.

While the losses in the Outer Hive were acceptable to the Imperial commanders to some extent, their losses within the Inner Hive itself were totally unforeseen and devastating to the Campaigns progress. Uniting behind one of the most zealot Houses, an alliance comprising of many of the most powerful remaining nobles and the renegade Rogue Traders, the incumbent Bhartethian forces reclaimed huge sections of their home. However Imperial defeats did not just come at the hands of the local forces, the Enslavers finally fully revealed themselves with huge slave armies emerging from the depths of the Hive. The plague like spread of the Xenos went unchecked in the lower levels with the fanatical witch hunters being too occupied with the invasion to attend their regular duties below levels. Initial strategos estimates believe that up to one twentieth of the population was already under enslavement at that stage.

Without a stable warp path the ability for either Imperial force to call in reinforcements from the greater Imperium was impossible and the existing campaign forces were growing stretched with continued loses beginning to mount. Thus it became a priority on both sides to create a psychic beacon in order to try and reconnect with the Helix Cluster and what forces remained at Enterigar.

As the plans were put in place for the endeavour, Loyalist Astartes of the Librarius were redeployed from across the various war zones to the site of the summoning. Following the gathering psykers like predators on the scent of blood, the Enslavers grew in numbers on the outer edge of the dome being used to house the beacon. In response the Bhartethian forces largely withdrew from the area while intelligence had indicated Traitor forces had gathered for an assault, there was little which could be done, however, once the ceremony had been initiated.

Over the course of eight hours the Imperial forces waged a war with one another while fending off the incursions of the Enslavers and their mind shackled hordes. The Warmaster’s own psykers poured their arcane might into the beacons creation as well, not to assist the Loyalists but instead to try and overwhelm and take control of the psychic bonfire for their purposes. Unable to maintain the continued assault against the Emperors forces, however, and with their psykers drained, the Traitors withdrew, conceding defeat but content to piggyback on the beacons creation. At its zenith, the fleets Navigators claim that the beacon was like a flowing fountain of pure light illuminating the Hive and its Blackstone framework like a latticework of pure black and white. A light which pierced the turbulent warp storms and calmed the path back to the Helix Cluster.

It had been that moment that the Bhartethians forces had been waiting for. Not to launch a counter assault, nor to invade an undefended section, but instead to commence their evacuation. Having embarked the remnants of the Bharteth nobility and allied Houses into four capital ships, including the former Enslavers Ferrarias Incus, the small flotilla led by the renegade Rogue Traders broke low orbit. Rather than making a sprint for the Mandeville point, however, the four vessels took the already distracted Imperial forces by complete surprise and instead opened fire on the closest ships.

With the commandeered battle barge at the fore, absorbing what little fire was directed at them, the Bhartethians had then proceed to initiate a warp translation directly above the planet. The ensuing tear in the veil between the warp and the materium obliterated seven cruiser class vessels instantly and crippled another four with at least a dozen more ships damaged as they had fled the area. After firing a final salvo the Incus was the first to flee with the Augello, Scynthisia and the Nosblig arrayed to follow.

It was moments after the Augello had translated that the Necrons fail safe device buried deep under the surface of the planet Scalles activated. Not content with lacing the world which would become Bharteth with a network of warp dampening Blackstone pylons in an attempt to shore up the protection from the Immaterium and its denizens, the ancient Xenos had created a secondary line of defense. Should the Pylons fail and allow a sudden rise in psychic energy, like that of the beacon, the device buried on Scalles had been programmed to overload itself and the remaining to create a catastrophic burst of anti-psychic fields. The resulting wave of null energy killed every psyker who were using their powers at the time, including dozens of Librarians tending to the beacon and even more Astropaths sending messages to the Imperium. Dozens more were rendered unconscious and hundreds of latent sensitives were rendered dumb and dazed.

The gateway to the warp opened by the Bhartethian fleet collapsed, both the Scyhthisia and Nosblig were caught partway through translation and severed like an arm beneath a power sword. The two ships had hung in space for what seemed aeons before decompression explosions cascaded down what remained of their hulls. What became of the Augello and the Ferrarias Incus is unknown, their warp trail eradicated by the Necrons null waves. While the detonation was devastating for the Imperial forces, it was even more lethal for the Enslavers and their subjugated army. Thousands upon thousands of mind shackled humans, and some Astartes, simply fell dead where they stood. The Enslavers themselves appeared to implode, some leaving gruesome remains, others disappearing without a trace.

Reacting swiftly both Imperial factions had gathered themselves and had taken stock of the cataclysmic event. With the Blackstone pylons no longer emitting their null fields, it was observed that psychic activity would be easier to undertake, with what psychic forces were left to each of them. However this in turn would appear to have further weakened the veil between the immaterium where the Enslavers had initially emerged. With the abandonment by their leaders and major Houses the remaining peoples of Bharteth too scrambled to react to the new situation that had presented itself. Previously concealed allegiances were made obvious; the fanatical legions of witch hunters were under the control of the insidious Slaugth, the psyker harbouring cult of the Underhive revered the Enslavers and worked for their return and the eccentrically armed vigilantes adhering to their Code claimed it was their technology that had saved everyone.

Almost overlooked amidst the calamity, and only due to the ever present observations of an Astrocartologist, the ascendency of Myran had brought the planet into extreme close proximity with Bharteth for the first time in nearly two centuries. The myths and stories of the giant Psychic Wasps were to soon manifest into reality.