Battle Of Outpost Draconis - Paragon Secundus

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Hammer And Anvil / Hidden Supplies.

Primary Objective: Supply Drop.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

The battle of Outpost Draconis was fought over two days when the Sons of Oar attacked and captured the Rift Wardens outpost Draconis, protecting the chapter's flanks in the campaign for Helghast. This outpost, which had successfully repelled frontal attacks during the campaign, became vulnerable, after a six week stalemate, to a flanking maneuver by the Sons of Orar. This was made possible by the capture of local objectives, which had pushed the Rift Wardens back to their outpost in the fields south of Helghast. The Sons of Orar attacked the eastern end of the defences from the flank, while a second force attacked Draconis from the south-east.

The eastern end of the Draconis defences was captured in a preliminary attack, which was followed by the main attack, supported by terminator strike forces. The attacks by three companies of the Sons of Orar, supported by effective artillery barrages, resulted in the capture of the last row of defences after fierce fighting. Towards dusk, the Sons of Orar under captain Jamius, reformed in preparation for an attack on the outpost itself. The attack was progressing after sundown, when the Rift Warden garrison detonated an ammunition dump near the station, lighting up the night sky. The Sons of Orar attack, having lost the benefit of darkness, was halted for the night. Fierce fighting during a series of counter-attacks prevented the Sons of Orar from advancing.

Dreadnoughts were ordered to clear the way for the main Sons of Orar battle brothers, when the terminators deployed to attack the strongest Rift Wardens position. Although they dominated the battlefield, the limited heavy weapons of the Rift Wardens did succeed in decimating the dreadnoughts. After being held through the day, late in the afternoon another attack by the Sons of Orar captured the outpost. This attack, broke the Rift Warden lines and the survivours were forced to fall back towards their main force assaulting the Ultramarine positions in Helghast.