User:CanoptekPotato/Sandbox2

The Umbra Mortis Stalemate was a battle between an Adeptus Mechanicus Explorator fleet and Omni Legion (ADD NAME) and the Vexhi dynasty in 587.M37. It ended inconclusively after the Vexhi Dynasty forces fought the attacking force to a standstill and they were forced to rtreat.

History
In 586.M37, not long after intercepting a vessel held by the Hereteks of the Blind King, the Vexhi dynasty territory was transgressed upon by an Adeptus Mechanicus Explorator fleet. Dismissing it as yet another minor vessel, the Regent, Ankhra paid no heed to it, until it landed upon Verta 3, upon which the Regent dispatched a small force to wipe the incursion from their domain.

] The assault opened up with a warning strike from 3 Doom Scythe craft, opening fire on the deployed Skitarii and Omni Legion forces. However, they would disengage soon after, leaving the explorator forces alone for 2 or so days, before the first marching Warriors would have reached them from one of the planet's 3 surface-level Eternity Gates. Ankhra awas not surprised to learn that the forces of the Imperium had not taken the warning strike seriously.

A prolonged battle of attrition began, as Ankhra's forces slowly grew in number with more Warriors joining in, as well as a host of Immortals, and 3 full Canoptek swarms joined the fray. The Doom Scythes also rejoined the battle, now facing opposition in the sky as the explorator force had called in for aerial reinforcements as well as tanks. [] The Vexhi would utilise a tactic specific to their dynasty, as their forces would keep in a wave-like motion, interchanging attacks with short retreats and repeated strikes from various angles, like the flowing waters of their Crown World's vast oceans. The flow and ebb of the ground forces, as well as the almost unrelenting tide of scarab swarms would lead to the small force's longevity against the rather well-prepared enemy, however, by the end middle of the second month, the surroundings of the Adeptus Mechanicus camp site would be littered with deactivated Warriors and Immortals.

[] At this point Ankhra decided to join in herself, and, summoning her Command Barge, she headed out to face the opponent. With her appearance on the field of battle, she utilized a Resurrection Orb, bringing nearly all of the damaged Necron troops back from their damaged state, and quickly proving to be a deciding factor in the engagement. [] The Vexhi Regent however had no way of knowing of the Adeptus Astartes tennacity, and the sometimes nearly unbelievable power their zeal and fervor could drive them to. What she could only describe as a last bid attempt, the Champion of the Omni Legion would charge her Barge and successfully tackle her out of it. While the Barge reared to open fire with it's underslung Tesla Cannon, Ankhra ordered it to retreat and assist the troops assaulting the now actively retreating explorator forces. Ankhra gladly accepted the non-verbal challenge to a one-on-one duel, and even toyed with the idea of letting the Champion live with only a missing limb, however, the venerable Astartes was capable enough to last nearly two days locked in brutal melee combat with the Regent. With a daring cleave, she drove her warscythe, aiming to slice through his heart, but the Omni Legionnaire dodged it in the last second. This could have been fatal for him, as the massive opening in his defences gave the tireless Ankhra the chance she needed. However a Omni Legion Honour guard, appearing practically out of nowhere, dove in and took the lethal cleave instead of the Champion, being sheared in half in the process, and grabbing on to her legs, to stop her from advancing.

As the Champion retreated, the Regent took her victory, and made sure to make a display of ruthlessness, aimed at the fleeing forces. She drove her warscythe through the Honour guard's skull, and tore off his shoulder pad, placing it on her own necrodermis carapace. [] What follows is a chase out of the dynastic holdings, though the accompanying warships seemed to hold at a warning distance, rather to close in for the kill, amd broke off pursuit, after the forces of the Imperium had left the Vexhi territory.