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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, 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 +++

Introduction Like many established Imperium worlds, Dakota Minor has a planetary defence force simply known the Dakota Minor Defence Corps (or DMDC). Most of its number are conscripted from the local population; a small number of citizens willingly join to escape the tedium of farm life that is prevalent on Dakota Minor. The DMDC is organised in a manner similar to Astra Militarum regiments, albeit more limited in their makeup. For the most part, it consists of dozens of infantry battalions, mechanised infantry battalions and light armour squadrons. DMDC corpsmen are on average sub-par for the standards of the Astra Militarum; physical standards, marksmanship and discipline is moderately enforced. In addition, much of their equipment is passed downed from the Asokan Rifles, (as part of an agreement between the governors of Dakota Minor and Asoka), and so the DMDC is forced to make do with whatever equipment and munitions they are provided. Their second-hand arsenal limits them to small arms, transports and scout units, along with a variety of weapons and equipment that saw limited production on Forge World Agripinaa. The undiscliplined and under-equipped DMDC corpsmen are overwhelmed by the advancing Orks, on the outskirts of Dakota Primus. Dakota Minor does not have its own division in the Astra Militarum, instead offering its best recruits to the Asokan Rifles and the Sartorian Rangers as part of its tithe. DMDC Archer-Sentinel The Archer-Sentinel is a variant of the Sentinel walker, armed with a Typhoon multiple missile launcher and a Hunter-Killer missile. It was only produced on Forge World Agripinaa and only in production for 50 years, after many Astra Militarum regiments dismissed it as “useless and redundant”. The DMDC received a massive shipment of this Sentinel variant form the Asokan Rifles in 843M41, and then-Governor Golffe believed she scored a great deal. After many wargames and simulations, it was discovered that the Archer Sentinel was not suitable for long range combat due to requiring direct line of sight, nor was it suitable for close quarters due to its high profile and minimum range required for its missile salvoes. These drawbacks were easily exploited during the Ork invasion in 884M41, whose preference for close quarters combat forced DMDF Sentinel pilots to launch their payload near point-blank or be swarmed by Orks. DMDC Archer-Sentinel, with its standard loadout of Typhoon missile launcher, hunter-killer missile and searchlight. Personalised markings are common on DMDC vehicles. The DMDC were nonetheless forced to employ these legions of walkers to hold back the Orks in the Liberation of Dakota Minor, fuelling and arming them at little as possible. Sentinel pilots were drafted from the infantry battalions, and would received the minimum training required to drive the walkers. The war of Dakota Minor would be a victory for the Imperium, but only an academic review could prove if the near-sacrifical tactics of the Archer-Sentinels were to thank for the success. DMDC 50th Infantry Battalion The 50th Infantry Battalion is one of the "esteemed" battalions of the DMDC, having been the winners of multiple wargames held annually on Dakota Minor. Their accomplishments were less a result of skill and more lack of competition. The life of the DMDC is a privileged and uneventful one (relative to the rest of the populace of Dakota Minor) and the wargames are seen by many DMDC Battalions as a large social event, with troopers engaging in fraternisation and consumption of alcohol. Despite their success in the wargames, the 50th Battallion are no stranger to the festivities of the annual wargames. DMDC 50th Battalion corpsmen holding their ground in the ruined processing plant of Dakota Primus. The Ork Invasion in 884M41 was the first true trial-by-fire for the DMDC as a whole, and they were woefully unprepared for the xeno menace. The combination of poor skill, poor discipline, and subpar equipment saw entire battalions decimated under the green tide. The 50th Battalion was fortunate to be assigned an Astartes support during the defence of Dakota Primus, the capitol hive. With the Astartes leadership, the 50th corpsmen rallied behind the superhuman figthers and fought tooth and nail against the Ork invaders. After eight weeks of combat, the Orks were eventually driven out of the hive and into the Adatok Wastelands to the north. DMDC 50th Battalion corpsmen, alongside Adeptus Astartes of the Salamander chapter, force the Ork invaders out of the hive and The 50th Battalion would receive a commendation directly from Chaplain Numasus of the Salamanders, for their "outstanding courage and feat of arms in the face of the xenos menace", during the defence of Dakota Primus. They would be the only DMDC element to receive battle honours from the chapter at the conclusion of the war for Dakota Minor. The honour was begrudgingly given by the Salamanders chaplain, but Captain R'Keth felt that the 50th's bravery in the defence of their world needed to be acknowledged, despite the performance of the other batallions. Had the Salamanders been any other Adeptus Astartes chapter, their appraisal of the DMDC could have been far more damning...