The onset of winter has plunged the surface temperatures on Megiddo Prime to sub-freezing numbers, the holy oils of the Adeptus Mechanicus barely able to keep the mechanized forces of the Imperial Guard at fighting strength. Scores of Tech Priests work round the chronometer to keep the armored divisions fighting, for it has become folly to fight with infantry as the death world-like environment has forced most of the armies underground to wait out the season long winter threat. The air has become thick with ammonia, making the use of rebreathers the only viable way to conduct any sort of infantry sweep. The Adeptus Astartes forces are not so hindered, their blessed armored suits providing ample protection from the elements. 

Thus, the main thrust of war has come from the forces of the Space Marines. Elements of Ultramarines and Blood Angels have fought a yearlong campaign of surgical strikes on key positions occupied by the Traitor Legions. McCready Airbase has been purged of the heretic menace by Captain Pejarium and his Ultramarine brethren, while forces of Blood Angels continue to fight in the mountain range near Zebra Station. The Night Lords continue to fortify their base of operations high in the peaks surrounding Zebra Station, the massive planet pounding guns of the station systematically leveling defenses being erected by the forward elements of the Imperial Guard. The Blood Angels succeeded in destroying several resupply convoys bound for the station, the discovery and summary execution of several score chaos Machine Adepts leading many among the Mechanicus cult to summarize that the guns need repairs and the time to strike might be at hand. Praying to the God-Emperor for better weather, his prayers were seen to be answered. Six hours after instructing Brother Chaplain Xerkes of the Blood Angels to pray to the Emperor for good weather, the clouds parted, and the snows ceased. Lord General Isen was overheard telling his subordinates “That man has a direct line to the Emperor! I plan to decorate him after this action!” 

Using this newly garnered intel, Lord General Isen has ordered the long-awaited attack up Zebra Station. Using the cover of darkness and a mysterious break in the weather, elements of the 34th Elysian Drop Regiments began the assault on Zebra Station at 0:1700, via Valkeries incursion. They soon fell under attack from the traitor legions, led by squads of nearly arrived Black Legionnaires! As the combat raged, armored elements of the Reiksverld 27th moved Baneblades and other artillery elements into position and began pounding the mountain fortress containing the Macro Cannons. Even as the base shook and small avalanches of ice and snow cascaded down the mountainous slopes, Hades Breaching Drills emerged into the icy caverns beneath the gun emplacements. Swiftly following regiments of Imperial Guard and Blood Angels swept into the gaps, the frozen hallways echoing with las gun and bolter fire as they meant the enemy head on! The icy hallways soon became thick with blood as the Night Lords and Angels of Rapture fought back. Mighty Demon Princes were loosed upon the attackers, driving them back to the breached tunnels with claw, horn, and demonic steel! As the forces of the Imperium were forced to fall back, the Demon Princes assailed the roofs of the tunnels, collapsing them upon themselves and their enemies, burying all in tombs of ice. 

At 0: 2100 hours Lord General Isen ordered the withdrawal of forces, weather conditions worsening and the loss of the tunnels making the assault on Zebra Station unwinnable at this point. His advisors were of the mind that a more direct approach would be needed to take the battle zone and so the armored regiments withdrew from the front, leaving behind a sizeable contingent of guardsmen to keep the traitors hemmed in while their commanders sought newer ways of taking down the enemy. Word has reached Lord General Isen that a sizable force of Black Legion marines has arrived from off world, while all contact with the Imperial Fleet is still impossible due to the asteroid belt around the planet and worsening weather conditions. Several Valkeries dispatched to bring news to the fleet have been systematically shot down by Ork Bommas. The greenskins continue to be a thorn in both sides of the war, striking at random from a hidden airfield and launching full blown attacks in crude armored formations. The Virgrid Plains are overrun with the green skinned aliens, and reports coming in from scouts detail a large action between the Black Legion and Ork tribes. Intel is sketchy at this point and Lord General Isen is awaiting further details. A scout force of Salamanders has been dispatched to the region, under the command of Captain Patton. A skilled military lifer, Patton has been ordered to map the region, record troop numbers and formations, and take any prisoners for interrogation. The force was dispatched over a fortnight ago, and no communications have been forthcoming since that time. The war in the ruined Artemis Hive has reached greater heights as the workers have joined the forces of the Imperial Guard and Adeptus Arbites to wage a running gun battle with the sinister forces of the Dark Eldar. Using load lifters, earth movers and ore smelters, the workmen have taken the battle home to the Dark Eldar, driving them out of the Hab Blocks and back into the outer sectors of the ruins. The Dark Eldar skimmers, their mainstay weapons and key to their lighting raids, have been all but useless as the weather conditions have caused them to be grounded time and again. Many of the Kabal warriors have died in crashes as snow and ice stall engines and they fall like stones to the debris below.

When news reached them that the Dark Eldar had overrun and captured the Arbites Precinct, the Imperial forces moved in haste, surrounding the fortress, and laying siege with the earth movers. The fortress withstood three sorties aimed at gaining purchase of the inner sanctum, but each time the forces were repulsed by scores of Wyches and withering splinter gun fire. Squadrons of Medusa siege guns were moved into position and began bombarding the outer walls of the fortress before the onset of bad weather forced them to withdrawal. As the forces withdrew, their rearguard fell under attack from Zebra Station! For their own unknown reasons, the Night Lords were aiding the Dark Eldar! Defense lines soon crumbled under the impact; the Medusas blasted apart as they sought to find cover. The bombardment lasted long into the night, forcing the infantry to seek shelter while hell rained down upon them from above. The constant pounding took its toll on men and machine, the icy cold of night further undermining morale. During the chaos, the Dark Eldar had moved out of the fortress, slaughtering whole regiments of guard during the night, the darkness and noise keeping their movements secret. As dawn broke upon the precinct house, the flag of the Kabal still flew from the battlements. All across the square surrounding the fortress were the burning remains of the Medusas, huge, blackened craters and the frozen corpses of scores of Imperial Guard, their blood frozen in crimson icicles, the looks of horror frozen upon their faces……