Battle of Negation District - Hyperia Hivesprawl

Points: 1500.

Mission: The Scouring.

Secondary Objectives: Grind Them Down, Shock Tactics and Warp Ritual.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: A Leap Of Faith, Defend The Shrine and Sacred Grounds.

Day 1 and 2.

In the early evening as the sun set, a massive explosion detonated within the Rift Wardens territory. Debris was flung for hundreds of feet in all direction and two buildings collapsed into the streets.  The space marines suffered many casualties and in the confusion found themselves under direct attack by the Adepta Sororitas. An attempt to counter-attack by a company size force of intercessors led by Arthurus failed as the explosion had laid open a wide area with little cover for the space marines. Arthurus ordered his battle brothers back to consolidate. Just after midnight, the Rift Wardens had fortified the streets surrounding the attack site.

The battle sisters launched a barrage of missiles over the next day and as the second day turned into dusk, four battalions of battle sisters supported by multi-meltas attacked from three sides. The Rift Wardens repulsed this attack with a barrage of bolter fire. One company of intercessors managed to claim the crater and dug-in under heavy fire. In the early hours, three more attacks by the battle sisters but were repelled with many losses and those who breached the space marine lines were annihilated. The Argent Shroud released penitent engines into the battle field and forced the Rift Wardens back into the streets, except on the right flank, where they were forced further back. Sister attacks continued all day and it took the Rift Wardens most of the day to reclaim much of their lost territory.

Day 3 to 6.

Before dawn on the third day, the Rift Wardens were bolstered by reinforcements from other districts. The Argent Shroud maintained a heavy bombardment of melta fire. After two hours of heavy fire they attacked again. Two infantry assaults were attempted but were defeated by heavy bolter fire. Attacks by the battle sisters continued into the fifth day, by when the district had become a moonscape of overlapping shell holes and craters. The battle sisters of the Argent Shroud occupied the ruins across from the space marines and their positions were protected by war suits.

Day 7 to 13.

Over the next five days the Argent Shroud retook the battle site. On day 7, a sisters attack led by Morvenn Vahl and Saint Celestine themselves failed and she ordered a detachment of war suits to assault the Rift Warden positions and destroy them at any personal cost. Their attack was orchestrated so quickly that the Rift Wardens were unable to repel them. Some of the Rift Wardens were able to return fire, which gave the chapter time to regroup once more. The sisters attack was forestalled and hellblasters forced them back.

The Rift Wardens relocated to hold different positions on either side of the explosion site, and the sisters blasted them with multi-melta fire. The chapter lost many good marines trying to fend off the attacking battle sisters and holding the Negation District proved too difficult. Arthurus reluctantly ordered his forces away to the North, followed by the Argent Shroud.