Battle of the Stygian Defence Line - Talos

Points: 3000.

Deployment: Spearhead.

Primary Objective: Random Objectives Deck.

The first classes took place as the sun arose over the horizon, and giant Tyranid beasts stormed the central position of the Imperial lines, while smaller organisms crawled or flew over the northern and southern positions. The Rift Wardens were the first Imperial forces to engage the enemy. The space marines initially put up a solid resistance along the front, but lacked coordination between different Imperial factions. Imperial tanks and artillery fire inflicted casualties among the smaller hordes. The Tyranids in general suffered heavy fire as they attempted to breach the walls. Artillery beasts took a toll upon the defenders and within a couple hours, the Tyranids had broken through the central defences. The Rift Wardens split up their forces and relocated squads to help isolate and destroy numerous gaunts and genestealers. However, as the day crept forward, the battle was effectively over, having turned fully in the favour of the Tyranids. By midday, the Tyranids had reached the Imperial command bunkers, unhindered by the various minefields and automated turrets. 

Operation: Thunderbolt - Dharrovar

Points: 1000.

Deployment: Front Line.

Primary Objective: Duel.

Operation: Thunderbolt was a military operation to capture the religious center of Hive Gothos. It took the Rift Wardens three days of heavy fighting in the streets, but the district came under loyalist control. The enemy guardsmen in adjacent districts attempted to counter-attack but no amount of manpower and tanks could dislodge the Rift Wardens.

Battle of the Colicos Mines - Pariah

Points: 1000.

Deployment: Front Line.

Primary Objective: Duel.

The battle of the Colicos Mines took place in and around an abandoned mining station less than a mile from the main battle site at Hell's Point. The Necron forces advancing on the left flank were attacked by a sentry patrol of Outriders. The Rift Wardens engaged in heavy fighting but had to pull back from the mines themselves. The Necron commander pushed the warriors under his command in to swamp the Imperial defenders. With the arrival of Skorpek warriors, the site was seized in a matter of hours.

The following morning, a Rift Warden assault was repulsed but some time later, the warriors were ordered to abandon the mines, allowing the space marines to recapture it, although cautiously. Two days later, the Necrons returned in even greater numbers and once again the Rift Wardens fell back. A bloody battle begun in which the Rift Wardens took significant casualties. The mines were captured but Lieutenant Tristan led a tactical counterattack and after a fierce battle, the site had exchanged hands once again. That night, the Necrons surged forward again. Tristan's forces were pinned down in the mine opening.

Reinforcements, intended for the Hell's Point front, arrived to bolster the Necron forces. Tristan ordered his outnumbered battle brothers to fall back, but fighting continued throughout the night, Tristan pulled his few units back and retreated to the main Imperial lines. The Necrons abandoned the mines to give pursuit.

Second Battle of the Olatu Valley - Talos

Points: 1000.

Deployment: Front Line.

Primary Objective: Duel.

The second battle of the Olatu Valley took place just two days after the Rift Wardens abandoned their territory at the western end of the valley. It largely took place at the valley entrance where a few units had been left to guard against the Tyranid advance. It was part of a larger offensive by three waves of Tyranid organisms, aimed at encircling the space marines. 

In the battle both sides suffered heavy losses. While the site was overrun by the Tyranids, they failed to outflank the space marine defenders. Because of that, the battle, being less decisive than the Hive Mind wanted, was a both a tactical victory and a strategic defeat for the Tyanids.

Tyranid Assault - Talos

 

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Front Line.

Primary Objective: Duel.

Following the Battle of Olatu Valley, the Hive Mind launched a surprise attack on the Rift Wardens fire base at the western end of the valley. As a result of the subterranean assault, the space marines were forced to evacuate despite repelling most of the alien attack. 

Battle of Olatu Valley - Talos

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Front Line.

Primary Objective: Duel.

This engagement arose when the Imperial defenders, already stretched thing, failed to maintain control over the Olatu Valley which ran between two of the surviving Hive Cities. The Tyranids overran the area and skirmished with Imperial defenders. The hive mind initiated a punitive cleansing of the few defending forces. The Tyranids invaded from the eastern half of the valley, blocking off ground assistance from that direction. The actual engagement was extremely brief and eventually the Rift Wardens determined that for now, the Olatu Valley was not a priority and withdrew from the battle grid.

The Battle of GrayKeep - Antares

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Hammer and Anvil / Point Blank.

Primary Objective: Take and Hold.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Lions of the Emperor.

The Adeptus Custodes battle companies reached the area around a small fortress hive named GrayKeep. They immediately engaged in a battle with the Rift Wardens guarding the nearby crossings. The Custodes tried seize the crossing points but were repelled by heavy bolter fire.

After a short resupply break, Trajan decided to carry our two simultaneous attacks - targeting the crossing site and GrayKeep itself. He dispatched three companies south to bolster their forces there near KastleHall. Soon afterwards, two Custodes companies captured the crossings and the Rift Wardens abandoned the site.

The first stage of the battle ended with a Custodes victory, but the Rift Wardens continued to control the surrounding countryside, and prevented the Custodes from pulling back to their staging zones. Trajan requested reinforcements and then renewed their assault on the space marines. The Rift Wardens were ready and met the Custodes with renewed heavy bolter fire. Trajan ordered his troops to engage the Rift Wardens in close quarters combat. Neither side took prisoners, and after several hours the Rift Wardens were forced to retreat.

Eastern Flank Engagement - Mandragora

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Front Line.

Primary Objective: Duel.

After several recent engagements along the front line where the Rift Warden and Deathwatch faced off, on the eastern flank, the Deathwatch commander decided to create a bridgehead over a fast flowing river that split their forces. After a recent assault by outriders and jump pack assault squads had been repelled, the Deathwatch commander feared that the Rift Wardens might try and assault the bridgehead directly. To prevent this and to disrupt any preparations to do so, an assault group was formed from the best veterans the commander had to hand. These were swiftly loaded into cargo transports and flown into the enemy positions on the other side of the river.

In the early morning, the Deathwatch landed and assaulted the Rift Warden positions, where the chapter was preparing for the foreseen assault. Although numerically inferior, the Deathwatch managed to take the space marines by surprise, and after a short skirmish, the Rift Wardens withdrew towards the center lines of the battle. After taking what supplies they could quickly carry on to the transports, the Deathwatch returned to their own forces.

Although the losses on both sides were low, the assault managed to disrupt the Rift Warden preparations for the assault on the bridgehead,

The Second Battle of the Vangalt Defence Line - Vigilus Wastelands

 

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Defensive Line / Night Fighting.

Primary Objective: Purge The Foe.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Soulforged Warpack.

The second battle of the Vangalt Defence Line was part of an ill-fated offensive by the Rift Wardens on the Black Legion occupying this strategic site after the recent battle. In this case, they found that Abaddon had summoned Vashtorr the Arkifane, and they would be forced to deal with his followers as well.

The Rift Wardens assault with the aim of cutting off one division of Black Legion and encircling them. One of the assaulting forces, managed to breach the front line and assaulted a fortified bunker, defended by a small number of cultists. After a brief skirmish, the chapter had captured a suitable command position, As the Rift Wardens took no prisoners, they slaughtered hundreds of traitor marines and even brought down Vashtorr, banishing back to the Warp. Following this, Abaddon joined the battle was forced to teleport back to the Vengeful Spirit having suffered grievious wounds from Chief Librarian Uther. The Rift Wardens had suffered minimal casualties as now the Black Legion lacked enough firepower to repel the loyalist forces and their counter-attack was repelled. Over the next twenty four hours the Rift Wardens broke through the defence line and obliterated the enemy forces. A significant victory had been achieved.

Battle of Hellfire Bridge - Birmingham

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Last Stand / Lords of War.

Primary Objective: Burden of Trust.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Skysplinter Assault.

While the chapter's various companies moved out to engage the Drukhari, Captain Pellenor and his battle brothers attacked the Drukhari positions on the Hellfire Bridge. The area was defended by many warriors with ravager and raider support, and were led by Lellith Hesperex. The Drukhari under her leadership formed strong pockets of resistance, a tactic that proved superior to their usual massed assaults.

Due to this, the Rift Wardens could not fully exploit their numerical advantage. In addition, poor command decisions caused the marine squads to begin their attacks on the Drukhari in a piecemeal fashion. In addition, Pellenor had ordered his forces to attack the enemy frontally across the narrow bridge. After the initial assault was repelled by heavy dark lance fore, the Drukahri counter-charged the Rift Wardens, and an intense hand to hand ensued. Both sides suffered major casualties, including the loss (for now) of Hesperex herself. When Drukhari reinforcements arrived from the under hives, Pelenor ordered a retreat from the field.