Saurian Counterattack - Tyraxis

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Front Line.

Primary Objective: Duel.

 The Imperial plan for the next stage of the was was based on two assumptions: that the Saurians would withstand a direct assault on their ziggurat once again and that the Rift Wardens would require time to regroup and re-arm to counter attack. For the later to be an option, a force of Custodians had to hold off a force of Saurian reinforcements incoming from the southwest.

Day 1 saw a sizeable force of Custodians deployed in the path of the Saurian warriors. The enemy forces consisted of many Saurian warriors supported by their dinosaurs. The Custodians had the numbers but they faced a threat and a foe that they had not been tested against.

The Custodians began by assaulting the Saurian infantry along an old road stretching between two distant ziggurats. The Saurian forces, mainly infantry with some monstrous support, offered stiff resistance for the duration of the battle. Despite their numerical advantage, it was not until the following morning that the Custodes finally broke the Saurian lines, routing the enemy. Even so, the Custodes suffered casualties in the aftermath from the Saurian artillery beasts.

The Saurian reinforcements were stopped and the Custodes fortified their positions, Before the Saurians could regroup, they were once again assaulted and forced back. A third attempt finally oblitereated the Saurian attackers.

Battle of Emperor's Landing - Antares

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Front Line.

Primary Objective: Duel.

The Custodians deployed from orbit via wings of shuttles and transports, landing several miles north of the the space port called Emperor's Landing, which was also taken after a battle with two companies of Rift Wardens. The Custodes assumed control and advanced out from the space port to intercept the space marines. After several fierce battles, the Custodes had captured large areas of ground surrounding Emperor's Landing.

The next day, a second assault force of Custodians arrived north of the space port. They were joined by other scattered squads over the course of the day. To counter this attack, Chief Librarian Uther gathered numerous reserves and formed two new companies, one to strike from the north into the flank and one for a frontal strike from the east.

For the next three days, the Custodes regrouped and halted their advance. The Rift Wardens attacked and the surprisingly, the Custodians could not withstand and began to retreat, until the front stabilized after a renewed Custodian counterattack.

The Custodians executed a third landing of some 300 brothers beyond the Rift Warden lines. They attempted to take the surrounding battle zone but were unable to advance to regroup. Their landing site was soon counter-attacked and within a couple days, these Custodians were destroyed.

Meanwhile, the battle brothers under Uther's leadership, had surrounded the spaceport and forced the Custodians to retreat back into orbit. The space port once again fell into Rift Warden control.

Primitive War - Tyraxis

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Front Line.

Primary Objective: Duel.

When a Rogue Trader reported to the Inquisition that they had made contact with a new xenos species on the edge of the remote Apophis Sector, Inquisitor Rosarius investigated. What she found, seemingly advanced intelligent reptilians, horrified her. She determined that they may be a threat to the Imperial holdings in nearby sectors and mustered a force to go in and eradicate them. She called upon the Rift Wardens to lead this xenocide.

This engagement was fought over three days as the Imperial forces descended from the skies in the vicinity of an arcanatech ziggurat. This site was an installation for the Saurians and the Rift Wardens stormed the location with brutal efficiency. The enemy were strong and dangerous but ill prepared for the Space Marine assault. By the end of the first days fighting, the site was in Imperial hands with the Saurians scattered into the surrounding jungles. As the two suns arose the next morning, the Saurians returned riding giant reptilian monsters.

The battle, while minor in the scheme of things, proved to be a strategic victory for the Space Marines. The Saurians eventually regained control of the ziggurat but not before the Ordos Xenos had had chance to study the nature of their new enemy.

Battle of Odin's Gulf - Vanaheim

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Crucible of Battles / Point Blank.

Primary Objective: Take and Hold.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Saga of the Beastslayer.

The battle of Odin's Gulf took place over several days during the battle for Vanaheim. Logan Grimnar and Ragnar Blackmane lead a sizeable force across the icy wastes where they led an assault on the Rift Wardens at a wide ice field known as Odin's Gulf. The battle took place south of the Rift Wardens main holdings on the ice. The Rift Wardens were led by chapter master Arthurus himself.

On the first day, the Space Wolves crossed the Iceflow River undetected and assaulted the Rift Wardens. Ragnar attacked them at their weakest point, a gap between two patrols unnoticed by the space marines. Ragnar decided to take advantage of this and turned his forces towards them, slamming into the Rift Wardens.

During the night, after brutal hand to hand combat, the Space Wolves seized this section of the outer defences. On the second day, Arthurus led an attack to take the location back but due to Grimnar's intervention, Arthurus failed.

On the night of the second day, the Space Wolves continued to encircle the Rift Warden command site, capturing large sections of the outer defences. Arthurus once again took to the field with his bladeguard, ordering his brothers to drive the enemy out. The Rift Wardens advanced supported by multiple dreadnoughts, forcing the Space Wolves to retreat and threatening their flank. Grimnar decided to call in all his available reinforcements and through the night, the Rift Wardens were once again pushed back by superior numbers.

On the night of the third day of fighting, Space Wolf battle brothers, together with waves of thunderwolf cavalry, reinforced the frontline north of the space marines position. With these in place, Grimnar planned to attack the divided Rift Wardens fighting across multiple fronts. The Rift Wardens successfully held their lines, launched two counter attacks but the Space Wolves held their encircled positions.

As the battle progressed, the Space Wolves regrouped. The Rift Wardens used this opportunity to again drive their foe back out into the snowfields of Odin's Gulf, but were unsuccessful due to overwhelming enemy forces. Reluctantly, Arthurus ordered an evacuation, and the the chapter escaped via thunderhawks back to their flotilla in orbit. 

Arthurus called his commanders to him and they began to plan for their revenge.

Silurian Invasion - Siluria

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Front Line.

Primary Objective: Duel.

Deep below the core worlds and the galactic plane lies a world forgotten for millions of years. Epochs of time have passed since the Slann of this world put themselves to sleep following their war with the Necrontyr. Now, ancient proximity alerts have triggered and roused the slumbering ancients from their dreams beneath the arcanatech ziggurats to face a new foe descending from the skies.

The initial engagement between the Saurian Starhost and the invading forces of Leviathan was brief, lasting just two days. Monstrous beasts tore through the jungles and one of the Slann took to the battlefield to lead the defence. The line was drawn on the edge of the great city ruins. At least the Saurians would have some local knowledge of streets and passageways.

On the first day, the Tyranids threw everything that had at the Saurian lines, concentrating their assaults within the tight street confines. The Saurians brought up their ankylosaur artillery beasts, opening fire upon the hordes. During this time, more awoken Saurian warriors came forth to reinforce their lines.

The Tyranid force was fresh, newly arrived in the galaxy and this would be a test of their abilities against a foe the Hive Mind did not know. Inexperienced, the hive mind forces were weak, and millions died within those few hours.

On the second day, the Slann decided to push the invading creatures out of the city to secure the outer defences and gateways, and open up room for further reinforcements. The Saurian warriors, supported by Tyrannosaur riders, pushed into the alien lines, successfully pushing them back. Other forces came forth to back them up, by two sections of the city walls had fallen during the ages and it became impossible to hold them. Here, the Tyranids had a significant advantage.

After an artillery barrage of their own, the Tyranids poured through the ancient walls slaughtered thousands of the reptilian defenders, even as the Saurians received more and more reinforcements. In took those newly arrived Saurians and Geckos with advanced weaponry to hold the Tyranid push back.

The Tyranids continued to pour their warrior bioforms into the battle, regardless of the losses. The Slann once again, ordered their warriors to assault the enemy. The Saurians suffered horrendous casualties, but after savage hand to hand fighting, the Tyranids were forced to retreat, and Saurians began to barricade the outer defences.

The initial invasion had been costly for both sides. This defence by the Saurians may have been considered a victory but the cost in lives was far too great.

The Battle of Novavosk - Antares

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn of War / Lords of War.

Primary Objective: Take and Hold.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Shield Host.

The battle of Novavosk was fought over two days between the Rift Wardens and the Custodes, under the leadership of Inquisitor Draxus. The Custodes arrived to launch a counter-attack against the space marines who were besieging the Novavosk fortress.

Inquisitor Draxus, commanding a small shield host detachment, led an attack to contain the space marine right flank. The Custodes took the offensive, crossing open ground and capturing the space marine flank. On the second day they brought up their tanks and begun pummeling the Rift Wardens.

Draxus' leadership and tactical knowledge, allowed the Custodes to clear a bridgehead and launch a sucessful counter-offensive. Arthurus withdrew his troops and abandoned the fortress for now.

Purge The Foe - Hadex

Points: 1500.

Deployment and Mission: Hammer and Anvil / Martial Pride.

Primary Objective: Purge The Foe.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Champions of Vehemont.

This was an engagement fought between the two space marine forces, on the south-west corner of Hadex City. The Rift Wardens were led by their chapter master Arthurus and the Black Templars by chaplain Grimaldus. The battle was fought around a new long abandoned Arbites quarter. Arthurus goal was to stall the Black Templar forces and give his chapter time to prepare defences against the oncoming forces. The battle was brief and for a time, the Black Templars led a ferocious attack but the defensive tactics of the Rift Wardens held them back with minimal losses. Eventually, with Grimaldus struck low, the Black Templars retreated. This was the first victory on Hadex for the Rift Wardens but it would not be the last.

Battle of Water Refinery AA23 - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Front Line.

Primary Objective: Duel.

The battle for Water Refinery AA23 took place in the wastelands just beyond the frozen polar region. It was part of a larger series of engagements, where Imperial forces sought to make swift strikes on smaller enemy forces in a series of actions designed to demoralise the foe. During the day, the Rift Wardens has successfully managed to take control of the water refinery, but were repelled later that day by a smaller force of Death Guard in a sudden counter-attack. Although this engagement was a failure, it was the first in a series of such operations across Vigilus.

The Final Battle of Hell's Point - Pariah

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Tipping Point / Night Fighting.

Primary Objective: Burden of Trust.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Canoptek Court.

This engagement was a series of battles fought over several days that resulted in a decisive victory for the Necrons in the Hell's Point offensive. It saw an almost total disintegration of the Imperial forces and saw them retreat and into other less important warzones.

Operation: Retribution #2 - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Search and Destroy / Rapid Escalation.

Primary Objective: Take and Hold.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponent's Detachment: Warpforged Cabal.

The first stage of this operation began with a frontal assault by the Rift Wardens at a Thousand Sons defense point at the base of Mount Sybo. The Rift Wardens captured the objective and breached the enemy lines. The site exchanged hands several times however, during periods of heavy combat.

The plan for the battle was straightforward for both sides. The Rift Wardens wanted to break through the Thousand Son's defences, while the traitor legion's aim was to defend the area long enough for a two-pronged counter-offensive from the south.

After three days of intense fighting, the Thousand Sons managed to repel a direct assault by Arthurus and his company. The struggle for control forced the enemy sorcerer lord to start the counterattack earlier than planned. The site was captured and this victory proved to be the turning point in the tide of war. Having suffered crippling losses, the space marines had no choice but to leave the site to the enemy.

After three days of intense fighting, the corps-sized 1st Polish Army under General Franciszek Latinik managed to repel a direct assault by six Red Army rifle divisions at Radzymin and Ossów. The struggle for control of Radzymin forced General Józef Haller, commander of the Polish Northern Front, to start the 5th Army's counterattack earlier than planned. Radzymin was recaptured on August 15, and this victory proved to be one of the turning points of the battle of Warsaw. The strategic counteroffensive was successful, pushing Soviet forces away from Radzymin and Warsaw and eventually crippling four Soviet armies.