tom_reynolds
Member
The Battle for Vasco Prime
Located in the north eastern extremity of the Ultima Segmentum, the Vasco system is a relative backwater of the Imperium. Comprised mostly of uninhablitable gas giants and sun-scorched asteroids it has only one permanently inhabited planet - Vasco Prime. Originally settled as a base for mining of the other planets in the system, before the Age of Strife it had grown into a major administrative centre for number of surrounding systems. However, by the time of its absorption into the Imperium during the Great Crusade it had effectively reverted to a tribal society of hunter gatherers. No longer the proud centre of a small autonomous region of space, the inhabitants retain an institutional memory of independence and distinct culture that is the source of constant concern and monitoring from the Inquisition and the Imperial administration.
Being on the outer fringes of the Imperium the system is used to dealing with localised incursions from Orks and Eldar raiders, and combined with the separatist tendencies of the inhabitants this has resulted in a permanent garrison of Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy units based at Vasco Prime. Usually sufficient to deal with small raids from Eldar pirates and opportunist Ork Warbosses.
All changed when Imperial Astropaths picked up signs of a large space hulk appearing on the edge of the system. Concern was further raised when all communication ceased from the mining outpost of Botxo on the edge of the system. Units of the Imperial Navy were sent to investigate and found no survivors, only ruined installations and the remains of the miners. On leaving the asteroid the culprits became clear as the ships were confronted by a large force of Ork vessels and the space hulk Gazan - Waaagh Badziste had made planetfall!
The Imperial garrison sacrificed itself valiantly in an attempt to prevent the Orks landing on Vasco Prime itself. Despite the contingent of the Imperial Navy being virtually annihilated their sacrifice delayed the Orks sufficiently for Imperial reinforcements to arrive, but not before the Orks had gained a foothold on the planet's surface. The outcome of the struggle between the Imperial Guard & reinforcing Space Marines and the forces of Warlord Badziste would be decided in the rolling terrain around the main city of Airotiv...
Located in the north eastern extremity of the Ultima Segmentum, the Vasco system is a relative backwater of the Imperium. Comprised mostly of uninhablitable gas giants and sun-scorched asteroids it has only one permanently inhabited planet - Vasco Prime. Originally settled as a base for mining of the other planets in the system, before the Age of Strife it had grown into a major administrative centre for number of surrounding systems. However, by the time of its absorption into the Imperium during the Great Crusade it had effectively reverted to a tribal society of hunter gatherers. No longer the proud centre of a small autonomous region of space, the inhabitants retain an institutional memory of independence and distinct culture that is the source of constant concern and monitoring from the Inquisition and the Imperial administration.
Being on the outer fringes of the Imperium the system is used to dealing with localised incursions from Orks and Eldar raiders, and combined with the separatist tendencies of the inhabitants this has resulted in a permanent garrison of Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy units based at Vasco Prime. Usually sufficient to deal with small raids from Eldar pirates and opportunist Ork Warbosses.
All changed when Imperial Astropaths picked up signs of a large space hulk appearing on the edge of the system. Concern was further raised when all communication ceased from the mining outpost of Botxo on the edge of the system. Units of the Imperial Navy were sent to investigate and found no survivors, only ruined installations and the remains of the miners. On leaving the asteroid the culprits became clear as the ships were confronted by a large force of Ork vessels and the space hulk Gazan - Waaagh Badziste had made planetfall!
The Imperial garrison sacrificed itself valiantly in an attempt to prevent the Orks landing on Vasco Prime itself. Despite the contingent of the Imperial Navy being virtually annihilated their sacrifice delayed the Orks sufficiently for Imperial reinforcements to arrive, but not before the Orks had gained a foothold on the planet's surface. The outcome of the struggle between the Imperial Guard & reinforcing Space Marines and the forces of Warlord Badziste would be decided in the rolling terrain around the main city of Airotiv...