628.995.M42: Defence of the Shelldrake Silos

With it already clear that the tyranids were moving in large numbers out of the broken ground to the north of the Shelldrake Silos, the Black Templars moved quickly in an attempt to seize key points that would block any xenos advance on the complex. As the Templars advanced, the silos themselves were held by a scratch unit of Guild's Men and refinery workers.

Shelldrake Silos

Miners and Scott Guild's Men - a scratch unit holding the silos as the Black Templars advance

Even as the Templars moved on their objectives, a hoard of tyranids, composed mostly of genestealers and gaunts, broke cover, and raced to seize the same objectives which, if held by them, would open the way towards the silos.

Tyranid's break cover

Striking with speed, a Templar skimmer smashed a group of gaunts, which were close to gaining a low ridge which flanked the main approach. The tactical unit The Fist of Dorn moved quickly to hold the ridge, and control the right flank of the battle field. To the left, the Swords of St Clair, carried into battle aboard a razor back, secured a key hill. Between the ridge and the hill was a pile of abandoned storage canisters, a point where the Castallan and the Emperors Champion established a strong point to black tyranid advance.

The heart of the battle: Templar's and Tyranids lock for combat

On the left a broodlord led his retinue of genestealers up onto the hill, and, in a ferocious assault, swept the Swords of St Clair back towards the silos, routing them. The razor back moved to block the tyranid break though, holding the broodlord long enough for the skimmer from the right flank to cross the battle field, and break up the genestealer retinue.

In the centre, the strong point held by the Castallan and the Emperor's Champion was assaulted by a group of genestealers. At the same time a tyranid lictor attempted to infiltrate this position. In a clash of sword and claw first the lictor, then the genstealers were destroyed. This left the Black Templars holding the right and the centre of the battlefield with only scattered resistance on the left.

Emperor's Champion and the Castallan in hand to hand with the last genestealers.

The Black Templars had secured victory, but narrowly, and with some casualties. The Swords of St Clair all suffered wounds, and carried two of their number dead from the battlefield.

624.995.M41: Imperial Guard - Images!

After intelligence sharing between Crusade Command on Grettoris and the Imperial Guard units deployed in the sector, all data on movements beyond the Eastern Fringe is pooled for analysis. With tensions running high, tyranid movements clouded in obscurity, and battle reports from Shelldrake, false alarms are inevitable. A strong movement towards Shellack places the whole garrison on alert.

Elements of the Shellack Garrison waiting on the station walls. Built of Scott Guild modular manufacture 'porta perimeter' sections, and with only a handful of Imperial Guard to defend it, no one expects the wall to be held for long, should the tyranids come.

There are just a handful of men here to defend an imperial listening post, and they know that they have little chance should the tyranids land. After a few hours the movement towards the world is identified as an asteroid group and the alert is cancelled, however eyes are still turned nervously towards The Fringe. An automated distress signal, containing no information about what has befallen the ship, has been received from a prospecting vessel operating beyond Shellack.

The signal halts abruptly.

617.995.M41: First Assault on Shelldrake - Images and Battle Report!

With civilian evacuation ships landed at Station Shelldrake's secondary landing pad, a surveillance skull spotted a massing of tyranids due south of the main field.

Massing tyranids, due south of the main Shelldrake landing field

Determined to buy time to protect the evacuation, and distract the tyranids from the civilian ships now being loaded, The Black Templars established a strong defencive position on the main field, openly manoeuvring a razorback and a skimmer into place. 

Behind the Black Templar defencive line.

With the tyranids still gathering under cover of spike-bushes in a shallow valley, the Black Templars, having learnt lessons from previous encounters, opened fire with heavy ordinance. Many genestealers were destroyed in this opening salvo. 

Tyranids sheltering after Black Templar missile salvo.

As the dust settled the surviving genestealers, led by a broodlord, broke cover. At the same moment gaunts, armed with fleshborers, swarmed over a low ridge, and surged forwards. The skimmer engaged the gaunts, and slowed, but failed to stop, their advance.

Tyranids charge for the Black Templar lines.

The lictor emerges...

As it seemed that the tyranid advance might be stopped short of the defencive line, a lictor emerged from concealment, close to the barricade, and tore into the closest templar unit, the Swords of St Clair - veterans of the taking of the Longsight Facilty. The Swords held their ground, engaging the lictor fearlessly in hand to hand combat, holding it on the far side of the defences.

Genestealers and broodlord assault the barricades.

As the lictor pressed the attack, savaging the Swords, the remaining genestealers and broodlord battered the tac squad 'Eastward Crusaders', which took heavy casualties. For a brief moment the defence line wavered, but the 'Swords' brought down the lictor, even in the face of further casualties. The 'Eastward's' flamethrower incinerated the broodlord, and the Emperor's Champion leaped onto the defences, felling a genestealer. The tyranid assault broke, and the remaining creatures fled the field. In the distance three columns of vapour rose skyward as, loaded at last, the evacuation ships lifted off, leaving only a volunteer civilian team to assist the Templars.

The main field is too far from the principal structures of Station Shelldrake for prolonged defence, and with the evacuation complete, the Templar's abandoned their positions, retreating back towards the secondary field and the control bunker. 

Three brothers fell in this battle, and will be commemorated by their order for all eternity. They gave their lives to protect the civilians now lifted to safety. May the Emperor bless their sacrifice.