Return to Armageddon - Armageddon

Points: 1750.

Mission: Battle Lines.

Secondary Objectives: Bring It Down, Thin Their Ranks and Vital Ground.

Following the appearance of the Cicatrix Maledictum, the world of Armageddon, still recovering from it's third war, was suddenly swamped with hordes of chaos daemons. The world was devastated as the Imperial defenders fought orks and daemons alike. With the aid of various space marine chapters, including the Rift Wardens, the Imperium has begun to turn the tide of battle.

The Rift Wardens had been operating under the command of a High Inquisitor of the Ordos Malleus, an infamous and heartless man named Butlerian. Before departing the system, Butlerian instructed captain Lorgraine to deal with a particular Cadian force lead by tank commander Pask. The inquisitor felt that this force had seen too much of the daemonic incursion and had most likely become corrupted. Better to see them burn than fall from the Emperor's Light. Vulkan He'Stan of the Salamanders chapter refused to follow this order, seeing the truth of the situation and warned that following Butlerian's orders would bring brother against brother. Lorgraine warned He'Stan that the Rift Wardens would do whatever was necessary, and if the Salamanders stood against them, they would suffer for it.

Vulkan and his battle brothers sided with the Cadians, lending their bolters to the defence of Pask's men. The Rift Wardens battled in the ruins of a fallen hive city for ten hours, fighting valiantly to achieve their aim but were unprepared for the sheer number of tanks and mortar teams deployed against them. Pask's command tank was destroyed but he himself was dragged unconscious but alive from the burning wreck. Lorgraine and Vulkan duelled in the ruins before both commanders were felled, and pulled from the conflict. With Lorgraine temporarily out of action, lieutenant Gaheris, a man of calmer mind, sued for peace and parley. With his council, Vulkan and Lorgraine both agreed to halt the conflict. Vulkan eventually convincing the Rift Wardens captain of the ill conceived nature of Butlerian's orders.