1500 Points: Modified Planet Strike/Seize Ground Mission.
17th Cadian Forces:
HQ:
* Colonel Colwyn Dray (Senior officer) with Company Command Squad, (2 snipers, standard bearer, Vox), Astropath & Master of Ordnace. (All with Krak greandes and Carapace Armor)
Elites:
* Stormtroopers: 10 man squad, Sgt, w/ power weapon; Plasma gun, Melta gun: Mission: Recon Squad.
Troops:
* Infantry Platoon: 2 x grenade launchers, Vox, Flamer
* 3 infantry Squads: 10 men each, all Vox, Grenade Launcher, Autocannon
* heavy weapons squad: 2 x Lascannons, 1 x Missile Launcher
* Veteran Squad: 3 x meltaguns, Sgt w/ plasma pistol & Power weapon (Mounted in Valkyrie)
Fast Attack:
* Valkyrie Assault Carrier: Lascannon & Mulitple Rocket Pods
* 2 x Scout Sentinel Walkers (Multilaser & Autocannon)
Heavy Support:
* Leman Russ Battletank: lascannon, sponson heavy bolters, pintle mounted heavy stubber, dozer blade
* Leman Russ Demolisher: Lascannon, pintle mounted stormbolter, dozer blade
Hambali 501st Regiment Forces:
HQ:
* Siabolst Ghan, Primaris Psyker
* Inquisitor Lord Aki, two sages, one warrior, mounted in a Chimera with a multilaser and hull mounted heavy bolter.
Elites:
* Sgt Barnes (Marbo)
* three Deamonhosts
Troops:
*Two veteran squads with three meltaguns each mounted in Chimeras with multi-laser and hull-mounted heavy bolter.
*One veteran squad with three plasmaguns mounted in a Chimera with a turret and hull mounted heavy bolter.
Heavy:
* Leman Russ Battletank (C01 - Bad Humor)
* Leman Russ Executioner (B01 - Riddler)
Aboard the Cobra-Class Destroyer Aggressor , Colonel Colwyn Dray addressed his troops.
"We may have been deceived, and I expect all troops to be on high alert. We have lost contact with the team aboard the Lander, Skyhawk. Inquisitor Lord Aki is not sanctioned by the Inquisition to be here. I expect a trap."
Lieutenant Balkan spoke up, "Sir, you always expect that every situation is a trap...."
The Colonel frowned and looked down at his subordinate. "That, Lieutenant, is why I am still alive after all of these years." Turning his attention back to the troops, the commander continued.
"I want all troops to prepare for a 'hot' landing. We will be deploying via grav chuts and rappel lines. I want all units to form up a defensive perimeter. Reports of active force or warp storms are causing a lot of electrical and atmospheric distortions. Use extreme caution. Communications have been disrupted, but I could have sworn I saw creatures of the Warp around the Inquisitor and his psyker companion. I know that Ghan must be behind this, so he will be our top priority. I want to confront him, and if things turn hostile, either capture him or terminate him."
The troops haven't seen their commander this sober since their days on Armageddon. Most of the troops were new recruits, trying out their hands in the recon forces. Some were veterans for those campaigns, and Squad #17 was going to be deployed via a Valkryie Assault Carrier. Another veteran, Sgt. James 'Jumpin' Jim' Gavin of the 005th Stormtrooper Squad was going to lead the flank attack teams. Sgt Gavin has been with Colonel Dray from his younger days when he was just a Lieutenant and Gavin was a raw recruit. Col. Dray was confident in his men's capabilities, but was hoping for a peaceful encounter with the Inquisitor. Instead, his worst fears were to come to reality.
As the drop ships closed in on the planet's surface, the coordinates for Inquisitor Lord Aki and his host unit of guardsmen revealed that they were in a battle torn section on the outskirts of a small town. The rolling hills and landscape of a broken park with trees was littered with debris from buildings that were blasted by various orbital bombardments and surface fire.
(17th Caidan turn 1):
As the troops of the 17th Cadian Recon force made their landings, the sky was alight with a blinding array of sparks and flashes and glowing cloud bursts from some type of electrical or warp generated storm. The arriving units deployed in a defensive perimeter around the Inquisitors forces, though making them out in the blinding light was very difficult.
(All infantry units deep struck, and landed safely. Due to the night fight rules for the light, no enemy forces could be seen to be shot at).
The forces of the 17th Cadian rapidly deployed, each seeking shelter and position on their hosts unsure if they were in for a fight or a greeting. Lt. Balkan and his infantry retinue moved up into one of the abandoned buildings, signaling to a nearby tank crew. He was hoping for a friendly gesture. Col. Dray awaited his reports.
(Hambali turn 1):
Not wasting any time with pleasantries, it became very evident what Inquisitor Aki's motives were. The Leman Russ Executioner turned it's multiple plasma cannons on Lt. Balkan's squad, and dumped plasma fire into the structure. When the smoke and electrical blasts cleared, Lt. Balkan could be seen falling back, running through the building and out past the heavy weapons team that took up position behind the building his squad was in.
Other units of the Cadian 17th dug in deep (going to ground) from more attacks coming. Most of squad 317 was gunned down by combined fire on the right flank in front of Col. Dray.
(Cadian 17th turn 2):
Col. Dray was most displeased with the turn of events. "Time to show the Inquisitor that we serve the Emperor!", he bellowed to his troops. "All squads, open fire, shoot to kill! shoot to kill!" yelled the angered commander.
The Astropath, Vimillian, who was attached to Col. Dray's command squad immediately telepathically transmitted the orders and coordinates to the scout forces that were outflanking the main strike force. The Astropath proved to be quite good, as all forces arrived on the Eastern Flank, right where Col. Dray had instructed them to arrive.
The Sentinel Walkers came in first, stomping through the trees and ruined buildings. Autocannon fire pummeled the rear of the command vehicle, a Chimera, where Col. Dray was certain the traitorous psyker was issuing orders. The fire from the Sentinels crippled the vehicle, forcing the squad inside to disembark quite unexpectedly. (Enemy forces were pinned). Sgt. Gavin's squad of stormtroopers arrived at the same time the Valkyrie dropped of the Veteran squad and they combined their fire into the command squad with the psyker Gord.
(Hambali 501st turn 2):
The forces of the rogue inquisitor proved to be quite lethal and ready to fight. Three daemonically possessed creatures that appeared to be former Astartes warriors blinked into existence. On the south west flank, one in the central west, and one in the north central sector.
Battlecannon fire from the rogue Leman Russ injured some of the Veteran squad #17 and forced them to take to the ground.
(17th Cadian turn 3):
The warp storms were whipping up again, and the light in the sky was blinding. Col Dray had to avert his eyes from his binoculars, due to the interference. Col. Dray ordered the scout units to close in and take the command psyker. Stormtroopers combined fire with the Sentinel Walkers cutting down more of their number. Meanwhile the Leman Russ demolisher managed to cripple another Chimera with it's lascannon. The Valkyrie moved forward firing it's rocket pods into the squad that was forced to disembark from its ruined transport. The veteran forces of the enemy held their ground.
The Sentinel squad marched through the rubble into the wreckage of the Chimera hoping to kick and stomp their way into the command squad of the psyker. As they stepped on one man, killing him, the other walker swung around and as the blow hit and should have killed the psyker he disappeared. Another man turned to run at this but was chased down by the walkers before he could get away.
(Hambali 501st turn 3):
The radical inquisitional forces continued to harry the Cadian 17th. One of the Daeomonhost monstrosities grew in size and strength and tore into an infantry squad, killing half of the squad and scattering the rest of them, running for their lives. Another of the monstrosities stormed the infantry squad in the woods to the north west corner. That's when the "Marbo Man" Sgt. Barnes showed up. This crazed psycho (not psyker) serves the Jokers and shows up out of nowhere and throws bombs. Well, this time, his demolition charge didn't go very far and Barns realized his mistake and was forced to flee from his own attack. (Essentially killed himself, but Barnes always gets away. ;-) ) Sgt Drake stepped up, carving a piece out of the daemonic being with his chain sword, but lost a couple of his men.
The forces from the inquisition were able to damage the Valkyrie, forcing it to crash land. Hopefully, Col. Dray thought, that vehicle may be able to be salvaged.
(Cadian 17th turn 4):
Col. Dray was concerned with the continued Warp Storm. Visibility was bad. He could hardly make out his own troops, let alone those of the enemy. Captain Fawkes, the Master of Ordnance was forced to hold off on most of his orbital strikes to come from the Destroyer over head.
The troops from the infantry squad and stormtroopers combined their fire into the Daemonhost creature that charged them. They successfully managed to cut down the creature. On the west side of the battlefield things dind't go so well. The daemonhost in the northwest finished off and scattered squad 812. Sadly, the Demolisher tank on the Western Flank continued to either miss the daemonic creatures, or they somehow were able to withstand lascannon and demolisher cannon fire.
(Hambali 501st turn 4):
With a daemonhost holding the north west objective, the Hambali turned their attention to the heavy weapons team, that was blinded by the light of the warpstorms. The Riddler, the plasma cannon armed Executioner tank obliterated the heavy weapons team with concentrated plasma cannon fire. Fire from the Leman Russ battletank managed to rout Sgt. Gavin's team, forcing them to fall back.
As it stood, the Cadian 17th had one objective, and eliminated the enemy HQ. At this point, the Hambali had 2 objectives and was closing in on a 3rd with 2 more turns to go.
(17th Cadian turn 5):
With a break in the blinding light of the warpstorm, Col Dray ordered his Leman Russ tank to fire upon troops by the wreckage of the chimera in the north central part of the battlefield. Their attacks pinned the troops into their position, temporarily keeping them "off" the objective. The Demolisher tank turned its attention to the North West corner, firing lascannon and demolisher cannon at the daemon host in the woods on the objective there. To no avail. The daemonic creature held up under heavy cannon fire, again keeping it's foothold on its prize.
(Hambali 501st turn 5):
Troops from another Chimera moved to close in on the western flank. It threw a track upon trying to make it onto the wooded hill. Another one, that was believed to be Inquisitor Aki's transport moved to the central western objective. Combined fire from the Chimera and Leman Russ took out the Sentinel Walkers, thus preventing them from contesting the central objective.
(17th Cadian turn 6):
Time running out as well as manpower, Col. Dray issued one last order to fire. Again the Demolisher tank unleashed is payload at the Daemonhost creature on the north west objective, and again the horrid creature avoided death. The Leman Russ Battle Tank, snipers in the command squad as well as the Master of Ordnance called upon all they had at the troops sitting on the central objective. Again, the inquisitorial guardsmen dug in deep in their cover and proved just as tough to dig out as an Alabama Tick. Sgt. Gavin managed to bring his troops back around, but all they could do any more at this point was to lay down cover fire to allow his commander, Col. Dray and his forces to withdraw from the battlefield.
(Hambali 501st turn 6):
With their daemonic forces holding out against all odds, they moved into position, thus securing 3 objectives. They fired a few parting shots, Inquisitor Lord Aki climbing atop his Chimera and looking straight across the battlefield to meet the gaze of Col. Colwyn Dray. Peering through his binoculars, Col. Dray could see the defiant sneer upon the Inquisitor's face.
Colonel Dray turned to his command squad. "I think it's best we pull our forces back and contact Imperial Command. This situation has grown dire. We will need to come back with reinforcements."
As the 17th Cadian Recon force pulled back, the Warp Storm grew in intensity. The blinding light providing ample cover for the "Loyal" Imperial forces to make their escape.
As they made their way back to a safe zone, Col Dray asked Sgt Gavin about the enemy commander. "Jim, what happened to that damn psyker, Ghan?" Sgt James Gavin removed his helmet and stroked his mohawk. "I'm not quite sure. I saw the Sentinels walk into the wreckage of the chimera. One man got crushed by a stomp and the psyker got knocked back but then he disappeared."
Col Dray looked at him puzzled. "What do you mean he.....disappeared?"
The Sgt looked at him with a concerned look on his face, and brow furrowed. "That's just it, the second kick should have gone right through him, but he vanished. Like when that daemon warrior got popped that we shot at...."
Quite a game. At turn 5, If I could have killed the Daemon host and pushed the other unit off the central objective, I could have won the game 3-2. Instead, Inquisitor Aki and his men take a 6-3 victory, but we did manage to get his Commander.
For more pictures of this battle, click here.
For more information about the Pillars of Hatred Campaign, click here.
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