Blood On The Streets - Dirkden Hivesprawl

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Opposing Forces.

Primary Objective: Duel.

This skirmish was a week of significant street battles in Dirkden that marked the beginning of the fall of Dirkden. Six months after the Vigilus crusade started, the cult members were now ready to overthrow their Imperial oppressor's. 

The Rift Wardens and the remaining Astra Militarum joined the battle, but once the cult assaulted the Imperial command bunkers through the sewers and supply runnels, the loyalist resistance soon fell apart. Chapter Master Arthurus ordered an evacuation of the hive, deeming it presently lost to the Emperor's Grace.

The Fall of Mortwald - Mortwald

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Front Line.

Primary Objective: Relic Hunt.

The Fall of Mortwald is described in Imperial Records as a series of engagements around the hive city which ultimately led to the Imperial defenders abandoning the city. The Rift Wardens sought to evacuate as many Astra Militarum as they could while taking any available munitions and supplies as could be carried. Ultimately, the Death Guard forces present proved too strong and the space marines abandoned their human allies to an horrific end at the tentacles and plagues of Grandfarther Nurgle. 

Initial Assault - Calypsos

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Ground War.

Primary Objective: King of the Hill.

Calypsos, a fallen hive world within the Osirian Triangle. The planet fell to chaos forces a decade ago and as lain abandoned ever since. Recently rogue trader vessels passing the system have detected ramshackle ships in orbit and numerous shuttle craft ascending and descending from the surface. The Rift Wardens have been reassigned from their patrol routes to investigate. What they found was a hive of gretchin ships stripping the planet for anything valuable

 The space marine flotilla engaged and destroyed most of the gretchin ships with ease. A few escaping into a nearby asteroid field. A task force of battle brothers under the command of chaplain Leonidis descended by drop pod into the heart of the gretchin activity. The orbiting ships then commenced an orbital bombardment of the gretchin held sites.

The main reason for this was to assist the battle brothers deployed against the gretchin forces present, and to shock the enemy into submission. If the enemy sustained multiple casualties then that was a purging of the xenos.

Ultimately, the attack did little against the sheer number of gretchin present in the vicinity as there was always more to replace any losses. However, Leonidis' attack did pave the way for further space marine landings and a purge of the alien menance.

Dawn Of War - Santorini (The Barrens)

Points: 1000.

Mission: Strut Your Stuff.

The desert planet of Santorini is a fringe world of the Imperium. Governed by outdated corporations who owned the legitimate planetary governor through money, bribes, and threats. Santorini has one mega hive built into the slopes of a long dead volcano along the equatorial deserts. Mining gangs and Mechanicus cults mine this vast peak and the lava tubes below for rare and exotic minerals and compounds. The largest corporation is the Nivis Mining Consortium and Inquisitorial concerns had drawn them to call upon the Rift Wardens to seize control of the company and the planet fully for the Imperium.

A small force, designated Task Force Tantalus, led by librarian Quirion was dispatched by drop pod to initiate a tactical and literal hostile take over. The drop pod smashed through the plexiglass canopy of the boardroom and the space marines opened fire on any who attempted to flee or put up a fight. Within minutes the site was secured. But it was not to last.  Aerial patrols over the outer barrens, the last inhabitable zone before the desert reclaimed the original settlement, detected Death Guard forces moving through the streets. Quirion left a skeleton force and relocated his marines to engage these unexpected enemies. It soon became obvious that the plague marines target was a water supply station and that they sought to contaminate the hives drinking water.

The water supply station came under swift attack. Quirion made contact with the orbiting strike cruiser requesting reinforcements as hostile forces had been uncovered. Those incoming forces were turned back by flights of Heldrakes that burst forth from the warp in low orbit. Without these immediate reinforcements, Quirion's marines were on their own and low on munitions.

Quirion dispatched scouts to capture and hold the water supply station but they ultimately failed. The Death Guard, supported by a horde of plague zombies managed to reach the site following the deaths of the scouts.

Task Force Tantalus, although determined, struggled to withstand the enemy assault due to limited forces and supplies. The Death Guard were able to cut off escape routes and effectively isolate the area from easy evacuation. Intense close quarter fighting and the supernatural resilience of the enemy, eroded the space marine operation. However, the losses inflicted by the Rift Wardens was enough to just about prevent the Death Guard from being successful. Without the means to adequately contaminate the hive's water supply, they fell back into the Barrens. Task Force Tantalus had little option but to fall back as well.

Resurgence - Dirkden Hivesprawl

 

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Opposing Forces.

Primary Objective: Duel.

At dawn just days after the evacuation of Direkden Hivesprawl, in the shadowy hours before the sun arose, the Genestealer Cult attacked the last force of Imperial defenders along the outer wall. The Cult attacked with thousands of cultists armed with a variety of a small arms and machine guns, a couple fast moving buggies. The defenders were a handful of Rift Warden squads and a lone Knight..

Initially the attack was repulsed with heavy losses. One by one the Cult's vehicles were destroyed or rendered immobile. The Cult regrouped and attacked again later that morning. This time, the Cult attacked in multiple locations, wearing down the space marine resistance, cutting through the defences and engaging the Rift Wardens in close combat offensives. With such few forces left, the Rift Wardens found their position untenable and the survivours were evacuated, finally leaving the Hive in the hands of the cult.