Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Lucius left the Augury chamber in disgust. If the sorcerer was to be believed, his patrol on Shroud was ambushed and destroyed by a loyalist force. Another patrol was getting ready to disembark, but where to send it? Lucius went to the shrine of Astrogation and viewed the massive holographic projection of the Tyrus system. Glowing symbols showed the locations of both friendly and enemy forces. It was already becoming crowded in the outer system. Should he deploy them back to Shroud in order to exact vengeance or send them somewhere else where they might have more reign to capture resources? The Lord Commander made it clear that he would was not to engage the enemy directly until his force had built up to a size befitting a Lord of Chaos; and Lucius desperately hungered for direct engagement.

It was bad enough that Pox, not he, was assigned to lead the vanguard into the system. Now reports were coming in that Pox had only just begun consolidating his hold on the Void World of Hex and the bloated fool was already under siege from two Imperial forces! The loss of materiel due to the invasion was already being felt in the fleet. They were forced to postpone deploying a third cadre. Apparently the Daemon Prince had spent his time conducting rituals for his own benefit rather than building fortifications and deploying skirmishers. If the Lord Commander did not hold Pox in such high favor he certainly would have been "relieved" by now.

As always, anger helped focus Lucius on the task and he decided on a location to send the patrol force. He had a servant deliver the orders to his unit and walked inside the floating image of the system. Approaching the sun so that it hovered before him like a bauble, Lucius stared at the projection of the strange alien device orbiting it. "I will reach this prize first and claim it for Chaos."

Lucius spun around with inhuman grace and walked toward the exit with flourish. He grinned evilly as he left, "And then...we will see who is in favor and who is not."

The battle for Tyrus has begun!

Forces from all around the galaxy have converged on the obscure Tyrus system. No fewer than 4 Imperial forces have arrived, each with orders to claim the rich resources and artifacts and to stop any other forces doing the same. As happens all too often, strict adherence to orders from the far flung branches of the Imperium Administratus brings loyal troops in conflict with each other. In addition, a contingent of traitorous servants of the Gods of Chaos is also vying for dominion over Tyrus. From the depths of space a Necron Harvest Ship has silently glided into system and even now executes its inscrutable plans.

Thus far, only scouting forces have been sent forth to explore the many moons and asteroids of the outer solar system. Each power present has laid claim to one of the moons. Most have also sent spoiler forces to contest and disrupt the supply lines of their enemies. The only direct conflict occurred on the mist covered Moon of Shroud where a Daemonic incursion was driven off world by vigilant Anger Sharks.

The first two weeks of conflict brings the system to the current state:

The Anger Sharks, successors of the Blood Angels, have earned their dominance of Shroud through battle and are setting up facilities to process the unique chemical resources available there.

The Grey Knights have uncontested control of Borealis and are using the ancient sensor array complex there to assist in navigation throughout the system.

The Necrons, true to form, moved to take the dead world of Ash. What plans they have for the Dark Cathedral on this most ancient of worlds, none can know.

The forces of Chaos moved to take the moon of Hex, with its close ties to the warp. It is said that the Daemon Prince Pox has conducted foul ceremonies there. This has drawn the attention of both the Anger Sharks and the Sisters of Battle - who have both sent skirmish forces to crush this dark heresy.

The Sisters of Battle pacified the volcanic hell of Hephaestus and quickly exploited its many rich resources to field additional expedition forces. A Necron force has invaded to challenge the Sisters' supremacy here.

The mighty Astramalleus Space Marines landed in force in the dense jungles of Phrygia. There they have set up training facilities where unarmored marines fight the many powerful and hostile Xenos life forms. The Grey Knights, sensing the possibility that the Xenos are actually daemons, have sent an Inquisitorial Mission to cleanse Phrygia.

A second expedition from the Astramalleus is currently exploring the asteroids in the Lagrange point of the largest gas giant.

After an initial land grab by all the vying forces, there is little space left that can't be taken without conflict. Events should grow far more violent in the immediate future.

New Campaign to begin April 12th!

As you've no doubt read in email, the new campaign is getting ready to begin. We'll need to work out a venue for the first meeting, as the Lair and Forge are full that day. With six players, we can happily host on Salem, and get three 4x4 tables going (2 in the game room, and one in the living room). Russell has mentioned the possibility of Ninja Pirate for that day, and we've never been there, but I suppose it's possible if folks don't want to come to Salem.

Also, remember that it's "Take Daniel to Chipotle" night the 12th as well, in honor of his having won the Dalyth Campaign.

UPDATE: "Take Daniel to Chipotle Night" will have to be moved, due to Marcellus' declared absence on the 12th! Perhaps we should do this Sunday the 6th, after Babylon 5!