The First Battle Of Plinth

He is returning through the dark...



The Eve of the War
A backwater world, unremarked and unwanted by all, Plinth would become the flashpoint that drove the Xaphan sector into a war that would last decades.

In 901.m41, a Tau exploration vessel, Wondrous Abyss, detected unusual energy signatures eminating from the previously unremarkable world of Plinth. Always curious and eager to learn about the universe and uncover new technology, it's captain set course immediately for Plinth. His curiousity would doom billions to painful death.

The Portal Opens
Scanning the planet, the energy signature was eventually traced to a small area of ruins close to Plinth's northern pole. An exploration team was dispatched immediately, along with a squad of pathfinders and Stealth suits to defend the Earth caste investigators.

Such precautions proved woefully inadequate. For the Tau were not the only ones drawn to the planet. The Eldar had foreseen the events that would soon come to pass, and dispatched a squad of Aspect Warriors through the webway in a desperate attempt to avert disaster. Along the way, they managed to attract the unwanted attention of a roving band of Kabalite warriors. Always keen to partake in the suffering of innocents, the chance to prey upon a poorly defended group of naive Tau was seized by the Dark Eldar.

A third faction would also be drawn into this conflict. A Space Wolf strike cruiser, returning to Fenris friom battles against a splinter fleet of Hive Fleet Kraken, detected the Xenos swarming towards Plinth. Diverting from their journey, a small band of Space Wolves deployed to the surface.

All three forces converged upon the ruins, discovering the source of the energy emissions was a dimensional portal, leading to locations unknown. As they cllosed, conflict inevitably erupted.

The Best Intentions
The Tau were the first to suffer casualties, the Dark Eldar sweeping in without warning, decimating their ranks with hails of splinter fire. Scattered among the hail of projectiles were the super accurate shuriken shots of the Dire Avengers, taking out the leadership of the Tau.

Retreating from the Portal, the Tau found themselves caught directly in the path of the advancing Space Wolves. Soon bolter fire was added and the Tau found themselves surrounded. In desperation the last Pathfinder, Kius, dived into the active portal, choosing the unknown over certain death.

With the Tau defeated, the Space Wolves turned their attention to the Eldar, driving both back and killing all of the Dire Avengers. With the Xenos purged or in flight, the Space Wolf commander signalled his starship for retrieval, ready to celebrate the victory he'd achieved with next to no losses.

The Other Side
''Kius flew violently from the portal, skidding to a halt across a smooth surface. All around him was darkness adn immediately he felt cold seep into him. Pushing himself to his feet, he began to stumble forward, his optics completely incapable of penetrating the darkness around him. He paused as he heard a noise, turning around slowly.''

''In the dark a set of glowing, green eyes flashed into existence. Followed by another.And another.And another...''