Blood and Dust - Talos

Points: 1500.

Missions: Retrieval Mission..

Secondary Objectives: Bring It Down, Raise the Banners High, and Thin Their Ranks.

The fourth company under command of Captain Lorgraine was returning after a successful operation against the invading Tyranids. Oily rain and sodden mud made the going difficult on foot which caused the company to spread out as some units became bogged down. They became further extended when Lorgraine deployed small combat squads to back up the stragglers.

The hive mind observed that the strung out marines provided an ideal opportunity for an overwhelming force to roll up the spread out marines piecemeal and directed a large force to attack the rear guard.

Outnumbered the Rift Wardens set up a defensive position in an abandoned mining station and fought the oncoming horde in an hour long engagement that ended with the majority of the Tyranid organisms annihilated although the company took heavy casualties included a near death for Captain Lorgraine. 

Great bravery was demonstrated by the battle brothers as the casualties began to mount up. Lieutenant Andred would die shortly after the end of the battle from wounds sustained protecting his fallen Captain from a raging Heirodule.

The actions of the marines allowed time for reinforcements to arrive and a new defensive perimeter set up in the mining station. This prevented the Tyranids from continuing on and assaulting the Astra Militarum lines. The hive mind would have to revaluate it's strategies in the war for Talos. 

Victory for the Rift Wardens.

Greenskin Assault - Dontoria Hivesprawl

 Points: 1500.

Missions: No Man's Land.

Secondary Objectives: Raise the Banners High, Secure No Man's Land and Thin Their Ranks.

Prior to the arrival of the Rift Wardens, the Vigilus Astra Militarum regiments garrisoned to Dontoria Hivesprawl managed to inflict severe casualties upon the initial Ork invaders. This had enraged the greenskins and the invading Orks surged into the Imperial lines with unbridled rage. The Rift Wardens had set themselves up along the front lines in an derelict mining station and were preparing for their assault against the Orks when everything went wrong.

In the early hours as the sun began to rise over the wastelands south of Dontoria, the Orks made their move. The intercessors on sentry duty were taken by surprise as the greenskins crept over the outer defences. The greenskin forces then rushed the space marines who were arming themselves for the days warfare. The alarm was raised and the space marines began to fight back, loading for battle as the conflict raged around them.

The Rift Wardens suffered few casualties and were able to drive the Orks away with massed firepower. However, the surprise raid forced a set back in their operational plans while the Imperial outpost was reinforced and supplies were brought down from the orbiting fleet. 

Victory to the Orks.

First Strike - Corinthia

 

Points: 1500.

Missions: Retrieval Mission.

Secondary Objectives: Domination, Raise the Banners High and Thin Their Ranks.

In the aftermath of the Indomitus crusade, the Tau Empire sought to expand once again into Imperial territory. Their target at first was the Corinthian system. The Tau plan was to deploy ground forces, wear down the defenders and attempt to force a surrender and recruit the world into the Empire rather than destroy them outright.

The planetary governor dispatched an astropathic call for aid, and the Rift Wardens arrived to bolster the defences. Chapter master Arthurus led his men to intercept the vanguard of the alien army. Dismissing reports on the enemy size, he declared that the Tau would not survive their encounter with the Rift Wardens. Spying the approaching forces, Arthurus directed his captains to hold back and counter any outflanking actions. He then moved his forces forward into the outlaying ruins, planning to surprise the Tau. Unfortunately, Arthurus has underestimated the strength of the Tau forces arrayed against him.

The Tau completely swamped the space marines with their opening fire. Although he fought valiently, Arthurus suffered grievous wounds, and was forced to fall back out of the fight. The Rift Wardens suffered many injuries and casualties before the order was given to fall back to the nearest forward fire base. Tau casualties on the other hand, were extremely light.

Victory to the Tau Empire.

Hunt the Hive Mind - Talos

 Points: 1500.

Missions: Open War deck.

Secondary Objectives: None.

The Talos system is heavily populated due to the mining operations and support structures that allow the Imperium access to much desired mineral and chemical resources. Recently psykers in the Talos system began to suffer headaches and reports of whispers in the ether. The planetary governor recognised this as a source of potential xenos activity and was able to dispatch a call for help.

The Rift Wardens chapter were close enough to receive the garbled communication and made all hast to the Talos system. By the time they arrived, the Imperial Navy were engaged in a space battle with Tyranid bio-ships. The chapter made planetfall and set to assisting the planetary defenders in repelling the xenos menace. This would be a challenge to test the Rift Wardens to the extreme.

Upon making planetfall at Talos, chapter master Arthurus made the decision to attempt to take out the hive mind creatures in the local area. The idea being to disrupt the tyranid swarms assaulting the Astra Militarum lines. 

The battle brothers set themselves up ahead of the incoming force, hidden from sight. As the tyranid organisms came into range, the battle brothers of the Rift Wardens emerged and opened fire, slaughtering hundreds of the lesser creatures. Arthurus and Uther directed the Bladeguard to hold off the encircling creatures while they charged into the hive tyrant leading this swarm.

The chapter fought hard, bringing down many of the tyranid creatures but their numbers where too great. The Rift Wardens fought hard and did succeed in bringing down many of the larger creatures but Arthurus and Uther were brought low before the hive tyrant could be slain. Their brothers rescued them and fell back but the tyranids were too strong and the outer defences began to crumble.

Victory to the Tyranids.

First Shots of the War - Hyperia Hivesprawl

 Points: 2000.

Mission: Retrieval Mission.

Secondary Objectives: Assassinate, Raise the Banners High and Thin Their Ranks.

Upon their arrival into the Vigilus system, the Rift Wardens flotilla fought through the orbital battles, ready to deploy their force to the surface of the planet. While the chapter split to different war zones initially, chapter master Arthurus lead a company of marines to the edge of Hyperia Hivesprawl in response to a call from the Adepta Sororitas. The Sororitas shrine of St Keeler's Rest was under attack by a daemonic force brought forth by the sorcerers of the Black Legion.

The crusade to purge the shrine of the daemonic infestation was lengthy and brutal but finally with aid from the Grey Knights and Sisters of Battle, the Rift Wardens were successful in defeating it. However, certain elements within the Ordo Malleus and the Inquisition felt that the chapter had seen and experienced too much. They ordered the chapter to stand down for spiritual examination but chapter master Arthurus refused saying that his brothers were needed in defending Vigilus from the various threats assaulting the hive cities. A task far more threatening than what had been encountered here.

The defenders of St Keeler's Rest took this as a sign of corruption and began an attempted purge of the Rift Wardens. The conflict was short until finally the chapter master relented and the chapter was declared free of taint, and allowed to continue the Benthic crusade, although dealings with the defenders of the shrine world remained strained during that time.

While the Rift Wardens recovered after the defeat of the daemonic hordes, the Grey Knights, who had until this point been close allies, took up arms against the loyal space marines. In retaliation chapter master Arthurus employed a sweep and scour campaign to drive the Grey Knights from the area.

The Grey Knights used a three-pronged strategy in return. Firstly, they fought to prevent the separate companies of Rift Wardens reuniting. Second, the Grey Knights dealt with any communication issues so that the chapter could not adequately communicate and lastly, wear the space marines down to better defeat them.

During this campaign, the Grey Knights were reunited with Kaldor Draigo, who although requesting a cessation of hostilities could not convince the other grand masters that the Rift Wardens were pure. Instead, he was able to persuade them that capture was preferable to death in this situation. Draigo led a force into the mountains above the shrine to Saint Keeler where the Rift Wardens were believed to be regrouping.

The initial engagement was short lived, lasting only a few short hours. The Rift Wardens sustained casualties and a number of their battle brothers were captured and taken away for further study and interrogation. The others managed to retreat. During a brief engagement between chapter master Arthurus and Kaldor Drogo, the Grey Knight commander informed the Rift Wardens master that this campaign would continue until he relented and allowed the Grey Knights to assess their purity. Both sides being stubborn, neither would listen to the other.

Victory to the Grey Knights.