Betrayal - Hesperous Prime

Power Level: 60.

Mission: Overrun.

Agendas: And They Shall Know No Fear and Recover Archeotech.

Responding to an Alpha Legion attack on the Imperial world of Hesperous Prime, the Rift Wardens find their brothers, the Dark Angels, engaged in the battle. Over the course of a month the two marine chapters cleanse the planet of traitor astartes. However, unknown to the Rift Wardens, their brothers had come to this Imperial world in search of the Fallen, several of whom were within the ranks of the Alpha Legion. Unwilling to allow that potential knowledge to leave with the Rift Wardens, the Dark Angels turn upon their brothers in a surprise attack.

The battle began with the Dark Angels company moving towards the Rift Wardens through the streets of the ruined city in which they had fought the Alpha Legions. Not expecting betrayal, the Rift Wardens paid little attention as they swept the ruins for any survivours.

Once within range, the Dark Angels captains ordered their brothers to open fire into the Rift Wardens. The plan being to pin the Rift Wardens down while then striking hard into their lines with aggressors and dreadnoughts. The Rift Wardens suffered casualties in the initial attack and in places were forced to fall back.

The Dark Angel assault successfully turned the Rift Warden's right flank. forcing the chapter to regroup near the entrance to a series of mine workings. By nightfall, the Rift Wardens had sustained a number of casualties but held their ground. Captain Andred ordered his assault units into the battle and their counter-attack forced back the Dark Angel momentum. 

The Dark Angels soon began to retreat following the counter-attack. Some of their brothers were unable to complete the fall back due to the presence of the Rift Wardens assault intercessors, who had overrun their positions. By nightfall, the Rift Wardens had turned the tables and broken through the Dark Angels lines. The chapter continued to fall back although they in turn took casualties as they rear-guarded the retreat.

At this point, the Rift Wardens consolidated their positions. There had been no communication from the Dark Angels during or after the engagement. Captain Andred vowed vengeance against the Dark Angels for this betrayal.

Battle of Sentinel Hive - Oteck Hivesprawl

Points: 1750.

Mission: Overrun.

Secondary: Assassinate, Engage on All Fronts and Oaths of Moment.

The Battle of Sentinel Hive was a major battle fought during the early days of the Vigilius Crusade, between the Rift Wardens and the growing Genestealer Cult. It occurred as the chapter marched into the Sentinel Hive district to bolster the defenders. After recent cult victories across the planet, the cult's leaders planned to conquer the whole hive while the Imperial forces were occupied with the Chaos invasion. The battle ended with a cult victory as the Rift Wardens were forced to retreat back into the wastelands. The cult looted the space marine dead for equipment which enabled them to further their cause in the Hivesprawl. The Rift Wardens regrouped and reported the increased xenos presence within the hive.

Battle of Arnmort Gate - Mortwald

Points: 2000.

Mission: Homebrew.

When further elements of Abaddon's forces arrived from the rift and made planetfall, a contingent moved to bolster their traitor brethren at Mortwald. Upon arrival, their warlord divided his forces. One third was assigned to attack the Astra Militarum defences further south, while he himself led the rest to converge on the Rift Wardens postions at Arnmort Gate.

Chapter master Arthurus planned to counter the traitor advance with a series of planned withdrawls, intended to trade some territory for the time needed for reinforcements to arrive to give him a decisive numerical advantage. However, this strategy failed as the reinforcements fell under attack themselves from cultists hidden deep within the labyrinthine streets of Mortwald.

The battle for Arnmort Gate was short but decisive for the traitor marines, who claimed territory freely given but inflicted heavy casualties on the Rift Wardens while doing so.