++++Transmission: Imperial Command: VADINAX SECTOR++++
TRANSMITTED: Levrivor IV
RECEIVED: Iq-DCKKVI
DESTINATION: TERN'S ENDEAVOR
TELEPATHIC DUCT: Astropath-terminus
+++++
DATE: 5124023/M42
REF: Inq/40675099654/BR
BY: Inquisitor Nirobe Vant
RE: Assault on VALERN CITADEL
THOUGHT: Trust no one else and trust yourself less.
Primus Faustus:
The importance of VALERN CITADEL, the very bastion of the Imperial presence on Tern's Endeavor, cannot be stressed enough. The Lord-Commander is relieved that ultimately the daemonic incursion was turned away, but not without great cost to TASK FORCE 'FAUSTUS'.
STRIKE FORCE 'PEGASUS' has had great success in maintaining imperial order, perhaps through coordination with the Sons of Medusa, the battle lines around the strategic stronghold can be reenforced.
It goes without saying that when the BATTLE BARGE EXCELSIOR emerged from the warp after being lost for almost ten thousand years, there are many keen to look more closely into the events surrounding this curious event, those that emerged on it, such as yourself and the space marines under your command. The dark age technology and relic artifacts at your disposal are a true wonder, but could be seen by some as heresy, however, it is a true gift from the EMPEROR that you and your men have returned to defend humanity.
Inquisitor Nirobe Vant
++++Transmission End++++
Here we are on Mission 3 in the local Vadinax Crusade! I must say I'm having a ton of fun, and it has been great encountering several different factions that I haven't played before. This time it was the Adeptus Sororitas (AKA Sisters of Battle). Of course, these were 'Twisted Sisters' - or 'Sisters of Slaanesh' - corrupted by the dark gods to do dark things. My opponent, James, had a great back story for these 'fallen angels' and chief among them was "Canoness Ezzie the Murderess" - who has at this point ascended to be a dark princess and can deal out insane amounts of mortal wounds.
Battle Report:
Ruleset: Core Crusade 2023 Arks of Omen Grand Tournament - Incursion, 2023 Q1 Balance Datasheet & Points, and Goonhammer Vadinax Crusade rules
Mission: Arks of Omen GT: 32 Display of Spiritual Might
Points: 1000
My Forces:
**Chapter Selector**: Ultramarines
Battle Size [3CP]: Incursion (51-100 Total PL / 501-1000 Points) [3CP]
Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: Arks of Omen Grand Tournament + Crusade
+ HQ +
- Primus Leo Exevio Faustus - Captain Terminator Armour: Rites of War, The Sanctic Halo, Power Fist, Wrist mounted grenade launcher, Storm Bolter, Warlord (Warleader)
- Praelior Tarquinius Iulian Regulus - Chaplain in Terminator Armour: Benediction of Fury Storm bolter, Canticle of Hate, Litany of Hate, The Imperium's Sword
+ Troops +
- Squad Cornelius - 5 man Tactical Squad - Power Fist, Plasma pistol, Bolt pistol, Meltagun, Bolters
+ Elites +
- Apothecary Hulm Singa - Apothecary: Astartes Chainsword, Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, The Armour Indomitus, Conversion Field
- Venerable Brother "Fury" - Dreadnought: Dreadnought melee weapon w/ Storm bolter, Twin Lascannon
- Squad Nox - 5man Terminator Assault Squad - Teleport Homer, 5x Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield
- Squad Tourbillion - 5 man Terminator Squad - Power sword, Storm bolter, Assault cannon, Chainfist 3x, Power fist
+ Heavy Support +
- Squad Nero - Devastator Squad: Power sword, plasma pistol, 2x Lascannon, Missile Launcher, Plasma Cannon
+ Fast Attack +
- "One Charlie" - Land Speeder Tornado: Heavy flamer, Multi-melta
Sisters of Slaanesh:
**Order Convictions**: Our Martyred Lady
Battle Size [3CP]: Incursion (51-100 Total PL / 501-1000 Points) [3CP]
Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: Arks of Omen Grand Tournament + Crusade
+ HQ +
- Ezzie the Murderess - Canoness: Blade of Sacrifice, Martyr's Strength, Righteous Rage, and a whole bunch of gifts from the dark gods...
- Palatine: Plasma pistol
+ Elites +
- Celestian Sacresants
- Dogmata: Litany of Enduring Faith
- Paragon Warsuits: Multi-Meltas and Swords
- Sisters Repentia
+ Heavy Support+
- Mortifiers
- Retributor Squad: Multi-Meltas
+ No Force Org+
- Repentia Superior
Takeaways & Analysis:
Again I did my homework coming into this game. I had a plan. I knew the Warsuits and Retributor squad (i.e. the meltas) had to die right away. I also knew that my hail of storm bolters, Squad Tourbillion would be best suited to deal with the Sisters Repentia and other infantry. So of course all my plans went out the window when James elected to put both the Warsuits and Retributor in reserve. But it was ok because I could adjust. The next high priority target for the heavy weapons were the Mortifiers, and so I still put Tourbillion in the teleportarium to beam into the Repentia and give them a bad time.
I also planned on using an orbital strike to deny an objective. For the first half of the game I would say things went well according to the plan. The orbital bombardment did keep the sisters off their home objective and so I was able to get a slight early lead. However, I played very cautious, so I didn't venture out to contest the midfield objectives as much as I would have liked knowing that a lot of meltas were waiting in the wings to strike.
Per usual, the Terminators and Chaplain Regulus beamed in. They destroyed the Mortifiers (with some pot-shot support from Nero's Devastators) and almost entirely eliminate the Repentia (the last one bravely ran away).
 |
| Teleport blooms blind the Twisted Sisters - oh wait, they're wearing blindfolds. |
 |
| Regulus takes a critical hit, but does not waiver from intoning the litanies of battle to inspire Squad Tourbillion as he falls. |
That was when Ezzie the Murderess struck back though. I had read some things, but I wasn't expecting the terrifying power of mortal wounds. In a single combat she obliterated Squad Tourbillion. Still I felt that I was in ok position. Also, surprisingly the orbital strike went off and took out the Repentia Superior! First time Faustus ever got a kill this way.
 |
| *Five versus one? Ha, she doesn't stand a cha-- Wha? * *Static* |
Meanwhile, the cautious play mostly paid off when the Warsuits did arrive, I was able to take them out by just sacrificing my tactical squad - a fairly good trade.
When I brought my Dreadnought in, I still had a chance to control the west side of the board, and if I could have snipped Ezzie with his lascannons (she was away from her bodyguard Sacresants) I think I could have won.
 |
| The pivotal moment... |
But critical misses from both the lascannons and storm bolter meant that she was able to charge and blend him while the rest made short work of my Land Speeder (who heroically lasted a lot longer than in previous games and managed to get another kill! Actually he killed Ezzie, but she has an ability to get up again).
 |
| *Negative, negative, the shot went wide. It was an honor to serve wi--- * *Static* |
The Retributor squad came in from the other side and melted a good chunk of Squad Nox were were out in the open after fighting the warsuits. They retreated into safety, basically allowing Apothecary Singa to achieve his survival objective (and get promoted to Chief Apothecary). Squad Nero was not able to do much to the Retributors, also a critical turning point.
Ezzie and her entourage faced down Faustus and his retinue in a rumble in the center. It was great fun and we let them fight a bit carelessly just for narrative purposes, and so Squad Nox was able to strike Ezzie down again, but the Sacresants got their revenge on Faustus who also went down in a heap.
After the battle, only Faustus got a battle scar - loss of reputation - which is awesome for narrative purposes, and now he will be on a Quest for Atonement in subsequent games!
+++++++++++++++++
The communique from the Inquisition was not a surprise to Faustus.
That he and his men, loyal Legiones Astartes of the Ultramarines, emerged from a warp storm off course and ten millennia into a stagnant, dark future reminded him that the duty of Astartes (now Adeptus Astartes) would be never-ending. Of course there would be suspicion, it was logical. It was the inevitable curse of the Horus Heresy.
But, as transmission display dimmed on the screen, he had no doubt it would only be on the battlefield where his loyalty must be demonstrated, perhaps in perpetuity.
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