8, 15 to 16 October 2010: Defending the capital and the palace

8, 15 to16 October 2010:  On the 8^th, Charlie Company, 1^st Battalion under Captain Pierson were manning a fort with 2^nd Platoon under Lieutenant Flynn and a few squads from 3^rd Platoon when suddenly they were set upon by Traitor Space Marines who were masquerading as Emperor-Fearing Loyalists and using stolen Imperial landing craft.  The Archenemy thus gained the element of surprise by using such cowardly and depraved tactics!  Our brave soldiers fought valiantly and inflicted heavy casualties upon the Traitor Astartes despite being wrong-footed.  Captain Pierson won the Valour Medal 1^st Class, Commissar Theres won the Valour Medal 2^nd Class, and Lieutenant Flynn won the Valour Medal 3^rd Class.  All medals were awarded posthumously. 

Displaying our customary stoicism and our ability to learn from setbacks, the Uradeln 21^st Regiment was much better prepared for the next encounter, this time on the 15^th and 16^th.  It was an epic clash of arms and a last ditch gamble by the Archenemy to win the war on Malis by capturing the Palace of The Lady in the planetary capital, Racon.  Archenemy forces could never have hoped to match the strength of the Uradelns, as well as allied Space Marines of the “Sons of Sadjuuk” Chapter, a Super Heavy tank escorted by Caladani Imperial Guard, and a Warhound Scout Titan.  Therefore, the Traitors made another dubious pact with roving orc war bands and this time the orcs came in as yet unprecedented numbers, clearly being drawn to fight the Uradelns as we are the strongest force on Malis.  Charlie Company, 3^rd Battalion under newly promoted Captain Toney Lee Smith dealt severe losses to the orcs, smashing the foul green skins with all the firepower of our combined arms.  The Traitor Astartes broke their own backs by sending in Terminators, Scouts, and Marine squads into a meat-grinding contest with the men of 2^nd Platoon, who were inspired by the heroic examples of Commissar Symmonds, Lieutenant Kemp, and no less than Lieutenant Colonel Nave, the Commander of 3^rd Battalion.  All three heroic individuals won the Valour Medal posthumously and although 2^nd Platoon was slain to a man, they dealt fearsome casualties to the Traitor Astartes, which are infinitely harder to replace.  Meanwhile, the Super Heavy tank and the Warhound Titan were dealt critical damage and there was a gloriously high body count all around, yet by the end of the 16^th, Racon and the Palace of The Lady remained firmly in Imperial hands and the enemies of the Imperium were broken and scattered.  “Even a man who has nothing can still offer his life.”