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+++ INTRODUCTION +++ The Defence of Dakota Minor was a series of conflicts in 884M41, that saw the Imperium defending the Matteus Subsector’s primary food provider against invaders. With only a token battlefleet and planetary defence force to protect it, Dakota Minor was expected to fall to the invaders in less than three months. Fortunately, intervention by local Astra Militarum regiments and the Adeptus Astartes saw the invasion quelled and the planet secured for the Imperium. The first theatre of conflict was the defence of the city Dakota Primus, culminating with the last stand in the city's centre known as the Bastion. The "Forge Brethren" (Salamanders 5th Company, 5th Tactical Squad) hold ground against an Ork onslaught, as the DMDC soldiers continue their withdrawal. +++ THE LAST STAND AT THE BASTION +++ Despite the assistance of the Salamanders, the Imperials could not stop the numerous Orks' advance through the city. What had worked against the Orks was the narrowing of passages and blockage of easy-access routes toward the city centre, preventing their vehicles from going further. Driven by impatience and the chase of the good fight, the greenskins contently abandoned their vehicles and proceeded on foot. Ork invaders proceed on foot through the narrowed passages towards the Bastion, leaving their scrap-vehicles behind. The Bastion - Day 54 to 63 The Imperial forces rallied at the Bastion, the heart of Dakota Primus. They prepared for what would be the Ork's final assault, knowing that defeat would ensure Ork control of the city. Imperial elements were positioned at key points in or around the Bastion: defending infrastructure, guarding cilivian shelters or establishing kill-zones in alleyways. The Salamanders continued to distribute their forces amongst the Imperial forces, sometimes only one per DMDC platoon or at most a non-contiguous combat squad. Salamanders and DMDC forces defend the entrance to civilian shelter "N5". The first few days saw numerous skirmishes and probing attacks against the Imperial defences. Slowly but surely the defenders were wittled down, either slain at their posts or forced to withdraw in a staggered manner. Even the Adeptus Astartes were overwhelmed by the onslaught; their genetic enhancements were no matter for the Ork's weight of numbers. As such, they too joined the DMDC soldiers in their withdrawal. Little did the Imperials know that the Orks had in fact exhausted the bulk of their own forces attempting to penetrate the city. Realising that they had overextended themselves, the Warboss fled the city with his deffkopta fleet to rearm and rally the remaining Orks at their Rok landing site. Thousands of overly excited Orks and gretchin were left behind, with nowhere left to go but forward. The Final Stand - Day 64 The Emperor and His Angels are watching. Let none of us be found wanting! For Dakota Minor! For the Emperor! - Lord-Governor Hastings Freeman addressing the DMDC soldiers on the Bastion’s paraphets. By the sixty-fourth day, the Imperial defenders were pushed to the base of the Bastion's centre spire. The Salamanders had lost few of their own, but the DMDC's casualties were significant and few remained to defend the spire. To make up the shortfall, Lord-Governor Freeman ordered the various labour guilds and unions to be pressed into service. Thousand of Imperial citizens who had spend their entire life as farmers, labourers and fertiliser producers took up lasguns in defence of their world. Able men and women of the Agri-Labour League (left, centre) and the AmSul Cooks (right), needed to take up arms against the final Ork push. With gleeful abandon, the Orks launched their assault knowing it would be their last great fight. The Salamanders were conditioned for the assault, but with boltguns and flamers running empty they struggled to hold the enemy back. The DMDC soldiers and citizen militia fought back with lasgun and bayonet, but man-to-Ork they were still inferior fighters. In short time, the Imperials were engulfed by greenskins; even the Lord-Goveror and the DMDC command staff were surrounded. Captain R'Keth and Lord-Governor Freeman, along with the remaining Imperial defenders, make their last stand at the Bastion. It was then that intervention of another kind arrived on Dakota Minor. On the same day, reinforcements hailing from the Asokan Rifles and Sartorian Rangers had arrived in orbit. Tens of thousands of soldiers grav-chuted into the city to support the beleaguered defenders of Dakota Primus. The jubilant Orks were undeterred, but still were bested by the superior and freshly supplied firepower. With the battle now tilted in the other direction, the Imperials began coordinated efforts to push the Orks out of the city centre, and continue on to sweep the outer hive districts and destroy any remaining Ork presence. It would take another one-hundred-and-thirty days before the city was declared "Ork-free". +++ AFTERMATH AND LEGACY +++ The reprieve provided by the Sartorian Rangers and Asokan Rifles allowed the remaining defenders to rally and push the Orks out of the city and back into the Adatok Wastelands. Captain R'Keth convened with the human leadership and emphasised the need to maintain momentum to ensure the Orks' total defeat. With their combined might, the Imperial forces began their counter-attack to destroy the xenos invaders and stop the invasion. By the end of the war, it was estimated that thirty-seven percent of the city was destroyed or damaged; it would take six decades until it was rebuild to its original state. The battle of Dakota Primus would become a integral part of the city's culture. The Imperial victory imbued a newfound pride and confidence in the local populace, and created many tales of heroism, defiance and His Angels' interventions. Most notably, pict-recordings of Lord-Governor Freeman combating the Orks would be used for propaganda profusely for decades to come. One of many propaganda posters featuring Lord-Governor Freeman during the battle for Dakota Primus. +++ ARTICLE CONTINUES IN PART IV +++

+++ INTRODUCTION +++ The Matteus Delta system contains the more fertile and hospitable worlds of the Matteus Subsector. The seat of subsector governance and authority is situated here, and much of the foodstuffs and local labour is sourced from the worlds. The system would see its share of turmoil during "The Strifes" but would survive relatively unscathed until late M41. Visualisation of the Matteus Delta star system, showing the three key planets and satellite, and their relative orbital positions. Star System Data (as of 884M41): Segmentum: Obscurus Sector: Agripinaa Subsector: Matteus Star: Matteus Delta (yellow star) Major Celestial Objects/Phenomena: - Matteus Delta I (dead world) - Asoka (civilised world) - Dakota (gas giant); parent of: - Dakota Minor (civilised world) - 14 satellites (dead worlds/asteroids) System Governance: Lord-Governess: Yvonne Lawson Ruling House/Family: Lawson Guild Loyalty: Imperium of Man (Imperial Cult) Capital World: Asoka System Military (as of 884M41) System Defence Forces: - Asokan Rifles - SD Corps: - 120 infantry, armour and support divisions (approx. 450 thousand soldiers) Navis Imperialis: - Battlefleet Agripinaa - Matteus Delta Battlegroup - Dictator-class Cruiser "Triumph of Ragnar" - 3 Dauntless-class Frigates - 6 Cobra-class Frigates +++ MATTEUS DELTA I - DEAD WORLD +++ Matteus Delta I is a Dead World too close to the system's star for large-scale habitation. Its crust is rich in rare minerals; various high concentration deposits are mined and processed by the Adeptus Mechanicus, and then exported from the Subsector for further processing and use on various Forge Worlds. Matteus Delta I. Planetary Data (as of 884M41): Satellites: None Planet Classification: Dead World Population: 4 thousand humans, estimated 17 thousand servitors Imperial Tithe Grade: Solutio Extremis First Colony Established: 099M40 Orbital Radius: 5.20 x 107 km (semi-major axis) Period: 72 days (0.20 Terran years) Rotation: Tidally locked (1:1) Physics: Low-iron/silicate composition, high-iron ferronickel core Radius: 2221 km (0.35 × Terra) Gravity: 4.01 m/s2 (0.41 × Terra) Atmosphere: Trace Planetary Governance: Lord-Viceroy: Lord-Commander Federick Toron (to Asokan Lord-Governess) Capital City/Hive: n/a Planet Military (as of 884M41) Planetary Defence Forces: - Asokan Rifles - PD Corps: -2 infantry divisions, 2 support divisions (approx. 1200 soldiers) Navis Imperialis: - Orbital minefields +++ DAKOTA MINOR - BREAD BASKET TO THE SUBSECTOR +++ Dakota Minor is the largest of fifteen satellites orbiting the orange gas giant Dakota, and is the only hospitable one. It is the greatest supplier of foodstuffs to the Matteus Subsector, and contains several megafarms and food processing plants. Their output is far lower than a true Agri-World, but are still substantial to feed the Subsector populace and satisfy the Imperial Tithe. It also has the third highest population of all the worlds within the Subsector, and a substantial portion of labour is sourced from this world as part of its Imperial tithe (along with its foodstuffs exports). It's capital, Dakota Primus, is home to near forty-six percent of the world's human population. The remaining population is spread across hundreds of smaller settlements, farms and processing plants. The city is best known as the highest exporter of human labour to the Subsector, attributed to its high population growth. Coincidentally, it is also the largest consumer of food and water of all the cities within the Matteus Subsector. Dakota Primus was a prominent battleground during the Ork invasion in 884M41, which was successfully repelled by Imperial forces. Dakota Minor. Planetary Data (as of 884M41): Satellite of: Dakota (gas giant; one of 15 satellites total) Planet Classification: Civilised World Population: 188 million humans Imperial Tithe Grade: Exactus Tertius First Colony Established: 194M39 Orbital Radius: 1.07 x 106 km relative to parent; Dakota's orbit: 2.11 x 108 km Period: 30 days (0.08 Terran years) relative to parent; Dakota’s period: 540 days (1.48 Terran years) Rotation: 18.6 hours (0.78 Terran days) Physics: Iron/silicate/-magnesium composition, ferronickel core Radius: 7744 km (1.22 × Terra) Gravity: 9.34 m/s2 (0.95 × Terra) Hydrosphere: 76% water, 16% ice Atmosphere: Standard oxidising (23% oxygen) Planetary Governance: Lord-Governor: Hastings Freeman Ruling House/Family: House Freeman Loyalty: Imperium of Man (Imperial Cult) Capital City/Hive: Dakota Primus Planet Military (as of 884M41): Planetary Defence Forces: - Dakota Minor Defence Corps: - 100 infantry, armour and support regiments (approx. 200 thousand soldiers) - 20 air wings (9 thousand airmen) Navis Imperialis: - Orbital defence systems, including void docks, turrets and minefields +++ ASOKA - SEAT OF SUBSECTOR GOVERNANCE +++ The first Imperial pilgrims and pioneers to the Subsector colonised Asoka in 170M39, following the cartography of Rogue Trader Terrence Matteus. Originally a rich and fertile world, its foodstuff production once exceeded Dakota Minor's. However, overpopulation and depletion of nutrients greatly reduced its agricultural output and viabilty in recent centuries. As of late M41, it has diversified its production to support the wider Subsector and to satisfy the Imperial Tithe. As the most established world of the Subsector, it naturally became the seat of governance for the Subsector. Seventy-five percent of its population lives in the Subsector's prominent hive city, Sabre Hive. With the highest population of all the Subsector's worlds, Asoka contributes a substantial number of conscripts to the Astra Militarum and human labour to the wider Imperium. It is also the headquarters for the Asokan Rifles, which acts as both a Planetary Defence Force for Asoka and as a Subsector Defence Force for Matteus. Asoka. Planetary Data (as of 884M41): Satellites: None Planet Classification: Civilised World Population: 520 million humans Imperial Tithe Grade: Exactus Tertius First Colony Established: 170M39 Orbital Radius: 1.41 x 108 km Period: 301 days (0.82 Terran years) Rotation: 38.9 hours (1.63 Terran days) Physics: Iron/silicate/magnesium composition, ferronickel core Radius: 4327 km (0.68 × Terra) Gravity: 8.36 m/s2 (0.85 × Terra) Hydrosphere: 61% water, 11% ice Atmosphere: Standard oxidising (22% oxygen) Planetary Governance: Lord-Governess: Yvonne Lawson Ruling House/Family: Lawson Guild Loyalty: Imperium of Man (Imperial Cult) Capital City/Hive: Sabre Hive Planet Military (as of 884M41) Planetary Defence Forces: - Asokan Rifles - PD Corps: - 185 infantry, armour and support regiments (approx. 382 thousand soldiers) - 28 air wings (12 thousand airmen) Navis Imperialis: - Orbital defence systems, including void docks, turrets and minefields +++ END ARTICLE +++

+++ INTRODUCTION +++ The Defence of Dakota Minor was a series of conflicts in 884M41, that saw the Imperium defending the Matteus Subsector’s primary food provider against invaders. With only a token battlefleet and planetary defence force to protect it, Dakota Minor was expected to fall to the invaders in less than three months. Fortunately, intervention by local Astra Militarum regiments and the Adeptus Astartes saw the invasion quelled and the planet secured for the Imperium. The first theatre of conflict was the defence of the city Dakota Primus, which saw the arrival of the Salamanders Space Marine Chapter amidst the Ork siege. The Anvilbreakers (2nd Company 2nd Tactical Squad) charge the greenskins, engulfing them in burning promethium +++ DESCENT OF ANGELS +++ Salamanders Captain Ikarus R’Keth could not ignore the astropathic plea for assistance for the nearby world. Additionally, their Chaplain Kessus Numastus expressed concern for the lacking faith amongst their battle-brethren after the failure of the Yttrius Crusade. Both saw an opportunity to find atonement and redemption in the defence of Dakota Minor. Meanwhile, the beleaguered DMDC forces were being overwhelmed at every turn. Even the Ork servant races were proving to be superior to the underequipped and poorly trained PDF soldiers. DMDC troopers engage a gretchin horde and one of their many scrap-vehicles. The Salamanders Arrive: Day 14 With their drop pod pool depleted from their previous campaign, the Astartes mobilised to the surface via Thunderhawks and Stormravens. This delayed their efforts to bolster the local defences, taking eighteen hours to fully deploy from orbit. Their first target of priority was the Orks moving towards the hive centre along St Celestine's Highway. A strike force of Astartes skimmers, bike squadrons and aircraft engage the Ork flyers that had persisted in guerrilla strikes throughout the conflict. Though the Salamanders rack up an impressive kill tally, they exhaust their ammunition quickly. They are forced to withdraw for resupply and are ultimately unable to stop the flow of innumerable Orks through the outer hive districts. Salamanders Bike Squadron "Quicksliver" (5th Company 9th Assault Squad) engage enemy units along St Celestine's Highway. The remaining Salamanders units would deploy deeper within the Imperial battlelines. The action is not a tactical one but an inspirational one; to restore the morale of the panicking DMDC forces, who had come to believe they were forsaken by the God-Emperor. +++ WITHDRAWAL INTO THE CITY +++ We must turn about this disaster you have set for yourselves. The greenskins are flowing like hot slag through the city. We can slow them down here, until their momentum breaks. - Captain R’Keth, directing the Dakota Minor command staff on the chokepoint strategy. Captain R'Keth met with the DMDC command staff, and together they devise a strategy to create a series of strategic chokepoints within the city to delay the Ork advances. The Chokepoints: Day 18 to 45The majority of the chokepoints were positioned on arterial roadways leading from St Celestine's and St Arabella's Highways. Each were designed to funnel the greenskins into Imperial kill-zones. In addition, numerous narrow passages, bridges and tunnels were closed to redirect or delay the Ork advances. In many cases, these access ways were demolished by the DMDC with explosives. Tactical map of Dakota Primus, displaying Ork and Imperial movements after the implementation of the chokepoint strategem. With the Salamanders now distributed amongst the local defences, the Imperial forces prepared for prolonged defensive actions. As the Orks confidently marched through the narrow road sections, they are savaged by fusillades of Imperial lascannons and missile launchers. The resulting wreckage formed their own roadblocks against the xenos advance, though it was a double-edged sword: the Imperials were also blocking themselves in. All chokepoints would hold for twenty-five days. The frustrated Orks eventually make a concerted push on foot, abandoning their mechanised assault. The rush of greenskins through the hab blocks, sewer pipes and structures, saw many Imperial chokepoints overrun on the forty-third day. Many Astartes and DMDC armour had depleted their fuel and ammunition, and their crews were forced to abandon their vehicles. As a result, Captain R’Keth ordered a fighting withdrawal towards the city’s centre. Meanwhile, Imperial air forces were persistent in intercepting Ork flyers, to maintain air superiority over the hive. By the forty-fifth day, they are successful in securing the airspace, but are of limited assistance within the depths and narrow passages of Dakota Primus. Salamanders Stormhawk Interceptor "Ember One" executes a strafing run on Ork infantry formations Reinforcing The Bastion: Day 50 to 54 For the next five days, the Imperial forces rallied at the “Bastion”, the central Administratum hub at the heart of the Dakota Primus. Lord-Governor Hastings Freeman convened with the Salamanders Captain and the DMDC command staff, to prepare a last stand. Meanwhile, the greenskins continued to march unto the Bastion on foot… +++ ARTICLE CONTINUES IN PART III +++

+++ INTRODUCTION +++ The Defence of Dakota Minor was a series of conflicts in 884M41, that saw the Imperium defending the Matteus Subsector’s primary food provider against invaders. With only a token battlefleet and planetary defence force to protect it, Dakota Minor was expected to fall to the invaders in less than three months. Fortunately, intervention by local Astra Militarum regiments and the Adeptus Astartes saw the invasion quelled and the planet secured for the Imperium. The first theatre of conflict was the defence of the city Dakota Primus, against the opportunistic and nimble Ork Waaagh! ChoppaTide. Imperial forces counter-assault a rabble of Orks after they breached the outer defences of Dakota Primus. +++ ORK INVASION OF DAKOTA MINOR +++ It is unknown why Waaagh! ChoppaTide showed such interest in the fecund world of Dakota Minor. As a minor civilised world with significant foodstuff production (albeit far lower than a true Agri-World), it is suspected they were simply enthusiastic about the food supplies on the planet, as well as seeing a good opportunity to engage in the “sport” of war. An Ork Stormboy charges head-on into a squad of DMDC guardsmen. The Warning: Day minus 13 Local astropathic choirs intercepted the Ork psychic missives detailing an intent to “pillage a food-stuffed world”. The planet's Lord-Governor, Hastings Freeman, was convinced of the threat and ordered a Sector-wide astropathic alarm calling for assistance. The Navis Imperialis forces were the first to arrive in orbit ten days later. The Matteus Delta Battlegroup (a detachment of Battlefleet Agripinna) formed a defensive perimeter in anticipation of Ork arrivals from the expected Mandeville points. Meanwhile, the Asokan Rifles and Sartorian Rangers regiments of the Astra Militarum declared their intent to aid in the defence, but would take several weeks to arrive. For now, the only surface defenders were the Dakota Minor Defence Corps (DMDC). The Incursion: Day Zero The Ork scrap-fleet of Waaagh! ChoppaTide approached Dakota Minor from the blind side of the parent gas giant, triggering the planet’s orbital alarms. The Matteus Delta Battlegroup were forced to quickly redeploy their battleships in attempt to intercept the Ork fleet. Physical map of Dakota Primus and surrounding regions, with force deployments and movements in the first few days of the Ork invasion (884M41). The Orks seized the advantage and charged past the meagre Imperial defences, making planetfall via their Roks. Landing in the Adatok Wastelands, they assembled their tribes and scrap columns, and advanced on the human settlements. A small contingent of Orks marched north-east towards the hydroponic hive 2-Xi, but would be promptly interdicted by the stationed DMDC regiments. The bulk of the Ork Waaagh! headed south towards Dakota Primus. The remaining Ork kroozers and gunboats continued to engage the Imperials in orbit. Despite preparing for a head-on engagement, the Imperial fleet were instead drawn into a series of hit-and-run maneouvres that lasted eighty days before a victor was determined. The Amassing: Day 2 to 8 The bulk of the Orks rallied for eight days in the Adatok Wastelands, just at the outskirts of Dakota Primus. Their leader, Warboss Gruzka Koptadrilla, was intent on building their strength before committing to an all-out assault on the hive. Imperial forces, equally unconfident, prepared their defences in anticipation of an assault. Many skirmishes, artillery barrages and air raids occured between the armies in the interim, but were inconsequential. An Ork fighter-bomber begins a strafing run on the outer defences of Dakota Primus It was on the eighth day that the Lord-Governor’s astropathic pleas were responded to by an unexpected ally: the Salamanders chapter of the Adeptus Astartes. The DMDC high command were excited by this development, and could not help but spread the word: the Emperor's Angels were coming. +++ SIEGE OF DAKOTA PRIMUS BEGINS +++ Lookie there at all da grub deez ‘umies have for us! Mount up, lads! Da mighty feast awaits us! - Warboss Gruzka Koptadrilla, addressing his tribes before setting out to Dakota Primus. Aboard his "kustom deff-kopta", Warboss Gruzka Koptadrilla warcry marked the start of the Dakota Primus siege. Squadrons of rotorcraft, scrap-vehicles, and jetpack-equipped warriors hurled themselves at the scrambling Imperial defences. Siege of the North Wall: Day 9 to 12 The Ork assault began on the north defensive wall of Dakota Primus. As Ork artillery pummeled the wall sections and emplacements, a combination of hit-and-run attacks by skimmers and foot-slogging warriors wittled away at the defenders. The DMDC forces did their best to hold them off for three days, but were eventually overwhelmed. The lack of experience and armaments made it impossible for the Imperials to hold back the tenacious invaders. The North Wall Breached: Day 12 to 15 The northern gate was breached on the twelfth day, giving the Orks free access to the city centre via St Celestine's Highway. Having exposed the weakness in the Imperial’s defences, Warboss Koptadrilla convoyed his forces through the highway and deeper into the hive. The invading forces of Waaagh! ChoppaTide charge forward into the hive of Dakota Primus along St Celestine’s Highway With the promise of "His Angels' intervention" yet to come to fruition, morale amongst the DMDC was shattered. Commanders struggle to rally their forces, resulting in disordered fighting withdrawals deeper into the hive. Strategic estimates were re-evaluated to five days until Dakota Primus fell to the Orks. Unbeknownst to the people of Dakota Minor, divine intervention was not far away… +++ ARTICLE CONTINUES IN PART II +++