Return to Antares - Antares

Points: 1000.

Mission: Forward Push.

Secondary Objectives: Engage On All Fronts, Oaths of Moment and Slay The Warlord.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Attrition, Auric Mortalis and Engage On All Fronts.

In the aftermath of the Vigilus crusade, the war weary Rift Wardens have translated their fleet to Antares. one of the recruitment worlds used by the chapter. Upon arrival, the chapter find the planet has been occupied by forces of the Adeptus Custodes who have called quarantined it. When chapter master Arthurus requested an explanation the Custodes informed him that the planet was out of their hands now and they should move on. Arthurus, in his usual arrogance, refused. The chapter deployed to the surface and a new war began.

That morning, the Custodes began their assault on the Rift Wardens initial deployment zone. The Custodes attacked the Rift Wardens main force frontally, their advance hampered by heavy weapon fire and the maze of ruined streets. In the meantime, a detachment of jetbikes conducted a flanking manoeuvre from the west with the intention of cutting of their potential retreat. 

The Rift Wardens were outnumbered and the Custodes outflank successfully blocked the space marines off from any potential escape route. The jetbikes swooped in and easily overcame the stiff resistance presented against them. They failed to get into the heart of the Rift Wardens encampment due to increased heavy weapons fire by the chapter's dreadnoughts. As the battle wore on into the afternoon, the main bulk of the Custodes artillery was brought into the battle. The Custodes halted some 1000 meters from the Rift Wardens base of operations.

The Custodes commander demanded that the Rift Wardens stand down but Arthurus, enraged, refused and ordered his battle brothers to assault the enemy. The battle swiftly booked down in a bloody battle and against such powerful opposition, the space marines faired poorly. Many of their already limited numbers were slain before Arthurus finally called to the orbiting fleet for evacuation. 

Calling his command staff to him, Arthurus began drawing up plans to defeat the Custodes and liberate Antares.