First Strike Repercussions - Serpentis

Points: 1200.

Mission: The Gathering Shroud.

Detachment: Anvil Strike Force.

Opponents Detachment: Cohort Cybernetica.

Agendas: Drive Them Back, Monstrous Targets and Recover Mission Archives.

Opponent's Agendas: Cold Logic and Tech Scavengers.

Returning from a crusade against the Tau, the Rift Wardens diverted from their patrol to the Mechanicus facility on Serpentis VII to rearm and resupply. Upon making orbit and communicating to the facilities below, the chapter was told to leave or be fired upon. When Arthurus once again requested supplies, the orbital defences opened fire and crippled one of the smaller support ship. The orbital station was immediately destroyed and Arthurus ordered an assault on the Mechanicus. Such betrayal would not go unanswered. The chapter deployed by drop pod and thunderhawk assault.

This engagement was the first battle between the Rift Wardens and the Mechanicus forces on Serpentis. The battle took place in several miles from the Rift Wardens base of operations against a first wave  of cybernetica robots. A force led by Captain Gwaine had a big success on the northern flank and the space marines gained a substantial amount of ground northwards, giving them some vital territory.

Arthurus led an attack on the Grelutt Plateau on the southern flank which captured a considerable amount of ground but failed to reach his primary objectives. Robot counter-attacks recaptured most of the lost territory over the afternoon. Infrequent dust storms prevented much of the Rift Wardens programme of aircraft support, which made it easier for the Mechanicus reserves to assemble on the battlefield.

An unusually large electrically charged dust storm rolled in over the next day, which hampered both forces to a large extent. This severely reduced the mobility of the infantry and the poor visibility hampered artillery and aircraft. The storm and the costly Mechanicus defense successes during this time forced the Rift Wardens too halt the offensive three days.

Battle of Sector Theta 9 - Mortwald

Points: 1200.

Mission: Against The Swarm.

Detachment: Anvil Strike Force.

Opponents Detachment: Traitoris Lance.

Agendas: Head Hunters, Monstrous Targets and Priority Kill Zone.

Opponent's Agendas: Battlefield Survivours and Drive Home The Blade.

The Battle of Sector Theta 9 was the opening attack of a new Chaos assault on the Imperial defenders of Mortwald. Chaos marines, supported by House Vextrix on the flanks, attacked the Rift Warden positions, which defended the heart of Sector Theta 9. The forces of Chaos captured the outer districts with ease and they turned their attention inwards.

A phalanx of Chaos Knights marched into the center of District Theta 9, with three more in reserve behind them. They advanced from one district to another, slaughtering all in their way, and finally reached where the Imperial forces had built up a defensive position. A dark shadow fell across the streets, cutting the advancing war machines from view, just as the Rift Wardens counter-attacked. Meanwhile, the Astra Militarum fell back to higher positions although they suffered many casualties as they did so. The Rift Wardens found themselves locked into a deadly battle. One from which they could not, at this time, extricate themselves. 

A substantial amount of ground had been captured by the Chaos forces, except for some areas on the right flank, where Imperial resistance proved strong. A large number of casualties were inflicted on the Rift Wardens during the attack but they were able to regroup when chapter master Arthurus joined the fight, forcing the Chaos Knights back under his valiant attacks. For the next few days, bot sides made frequent attacks to improve their positions, much hampered by a constant barrage of heavy weapons fire. 

Finally, the Chaos Knights made a full on assault against the Imperial defence lines. At this time, Arthurus declared Sector Theta 9 lost to the enemy advance and pulled his battle brothers out. This proved a controversial act as it left the Astra Militarum defenders to be largely slaughtered by the Chaos forces.

Battle for Outpost Goliath - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 1200.

Mission: Insurgency

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Traitoris Lance.

Agendas: Drive Them Back, Monstrous Targets and Recover Mission Archives.

Opponent's Agendas: Battlefield Survivours and Critical Objectives.

The assault on the Rift Wardens position at Outpost Goliath started mid morning with several Chaos Knights advancing on a forward fire base from the desert wastes. They successfully took the position by assault and fortified their location about a half mile from the space marine trenches.

As the sun rose above the horizon, the Chaos Knights reached the foot of a high ridge, where the Rift Wardens lay waiting. The attackers split into two waves, both of which reached their objectives at the same time. One force slaughtered their way through numerous space marines in the north redoubt, where the Rift Wardens resistance was not as heavy as other locations. But to the south, the resistance was much more effective.

The Rift Wardens quickly reorganized their forces and counter-attacked. Through this attack they reoccupied the greater part of their position although within an hour they were pushed out and the north redoubt firmly returned to traitor control. The Knights paid a heavy price in manpower during this engagement.

Arthurus ordered several counter-attacks along the front and it was not until two hours of close quarters combat that the Chaos Knights secured more territory. Arthurus personally led a flanking attempt but overshot the objective and came under heavy fire. The force took heavy casualties. Arthrus and lieutenant Tristan were almost killed by the enemy and barely escaped with their lives.

To the south, one force of Chaos Knights advanced and over three hours drove the Rift Wardens from their trench lines. However, the attacking forces unexpectedly opened up avenues of retreat for the Rift Wardens, and over several hours of fighting, they fell back into the deserts leaving the enemy in control of Outpost Goliath,

Battle of Krithian Peninsula - Talos

 

Power Level: 60.

Mission: Supplies From Above.

Agendas: Angels of Death, Reaper and Recover Mission Archives.

Opponent's Agendas: Hunt And Slay, Lord Of The Warp and Sentinel.

On the day in question, the Rift Wardens landed at five vital locations around the Krithian Peninsula in the path of the oncoming Tyranid horde. Landing sites Alpha and Beta were hotly contested and the chapter suffered heavy casualties. A supporting landing made at Lamba site on the coastline to the north were made without opposition but the marines had no specific orders so made made no attempt to advance and just fortified their position. The first day objectives of several defensible locations were virtually undefended. The Rift Wardens forfeited an opportunity for an early success when they were forced back from Beta site when the Tyranids arrived.

After much fighting, the space marines were able to secure the main landing sites. After a diversionary raid further up the coast, the chapter managed to bolster their lines. By afternoon on the second day, the Rift Wardens were able to make an advance of about two miles up the peninsula towards the primary objectives, ready for the main assault the following day. The success of the Tyranid defence, led the Rift Wardens to overestimate the opposition they faces. The Tyranid presence was actually outnumbered but believing their numbers higher, Arthurus assumed that the enemy was receiving a constant supply of reinforcements.

The main battle commenced in the morning of the fourth day with the chapter's thunderhawks performing a number of aerial strikes. The plan of advance was for the one company strength force to hold position on the right flank while the main force captured a series of tactical locations. The plan was poorly communicated to the various lieutenants who would be leading the individual attacks. One detachment remained far from the front, because of this, they were not able to exert any control as the attack developed. The initial advances were east but a pockets of Tyranid resistance were encountered, some stretches of the line were held up while others kept advancing and ended up outflanked. As the marines advanced further up the peninsula, the terrain became more difficult as they encountered a series of deep ravines.

On the extreme left, the Rift Wardens descended into a ravine but were halted by a surge of ravening bio-organisms. No further advance would be made until Arthurus arrived to lead their attack. When Arthurus was sorely wounded and required extraction that the chapter was forced to call off the attack. Significant damage had been inflicted on the Tyranids presence but it was not enough and the Krithian Peninsula was overrun by the enemy.

The Affair at the Kiara Oasis - Vigilus Wastelands

Power Level: 60.

Mission: Supplies From Above.

Agendas: Cull The Hordes, Kingslayer and Recover Mission Archives.

Opponent's Agendas: Kingslayer, Megawaaagh and Reaper.

The Affair at the Kiara Oasis (affair, an action or engagement not of sufficient magnitude to be called a battle) was fought by the Rift Wardens against Ork raiders in a remote desert oasis out in the wastelands between the hivesprawls. The space marine defenders mined the approaches to the oasis, destroyed any potential barricades and dug into the abandoned site ready to defend it against the greenskin raiders. The Ork attack was repulsed and then a counter-attack was ordered but it failed to defeat the enemy.

The Rift Wardens hunkered down for the night due to concerns that further Ork troops might cut off any retreat and outnumber them. The affair lasted for two days before the space marines received aerial evacuation. The Kiara Oasis fell into Ork hands and would remain so for the remainder of the campaign.

Battle of Fort Luka - Vigilus Wastelands

Power Level: 60.

Mission: Cut Off The Head.

Agendas: Know No Fear, Reaper and Titan Hunter.

Opponent's Agendas: Exterminate, Priority Target and Reaper.

Day 1 - 9

The initial operations of Abaddon's traitor knight detachments began with an assault on the Imperial defences surrounding the various hive cities. The battle for Fort Luka was one such engagement that involved the Rift Wardens chapter.

A small detachment of traitor Knights from House Lucaris crossed from the Vigilus wastelands and advanced upon the Imperial held Fort Luka. The Rift Wardens, who had been using the fortress as a base of operations against the Black Legion and Ork horde mobilized quickly and using the fortress defences were able to destroy a scout force of enemy knights. On the 9th day of hit and run raids by the smaller Karnivore units, the main force of Knights arrived.

Day 10

On the tenth day of the battle, the main enemy force attacked en masse but the Rift Wardens were able to hold them off initially. Smaller Knights attacked the sides of the fort drawing fire away from the larger walkers. As sections of the outer walls fell under the assault, the Rift Wardens fell back to the heart of the fortress.

The space marines had now lost their artillery pieces as the outer wall fell. Parties of Karnivores crossed into the ruins in pursuit and engaged the space marines. As bolters and melta weapons failed to inflict enough damage at this range, the space marines were continually pushed back. Assault intercessors, dreadnoughts and what few tanks the Rift Wardens had at this point, counter-attacked with great determination. Briefly, the enemy was forced back to the breaches in the walls with the space marines managing to retake some vital ground. The Knights of House Lucaris withdrew from the claustrophobic streets of the fortress at this point. The Rift Wardens attempted to continue their counter-attack but were prevented from leaving the fortress by significant heavy fire.

Day 11 - 17

On the eleventh day of the battle, the Rift Wardens sought to re-fortify the outer walls using fallen blocks and rubble to fill in the gaps. During this time, skirmishes took place with the Knights once again performing frequent hit and run attacks against the walls. The fortress was soon ablaze and sections of the fort were now longer habitable. The space marine commander was slain at this point and it fell to Lieutenant Agrippa to take charge and he choose to request reinforcements from the Astra Militarum forces in the wastelands west of the fort but such aid would be delayed in coming. 

Day 17 - 18

During the night at this point the main Knight force charged the fortress and smashed their way through the walls, sending rubble and marines flying. The Chaos Knights began destroying the fortress from the inside, denying the Rift Wardens anywhere to hide. Many of the space marines were slain during this brutal and bloody assault. Agrippa was left with no choice but the pull his forces out of the fort and into the wastelands. Many battle brothers were cut down as they retreated but at last aid arrived with a Astra Militarum tank detachment with Imperial Knight support. The space marines had survived, barely, but a vital fortress now lay in burning ruins.

Fort Imperialis - Talos

Power Level: 60.

Mission: Narrow The Search.

Agendas: Cull The Horde, Kingslayer and Witch Hunter.

Opponent's Agendas: Hunt and Slay, Kingslayer, Reaper and Tyranid Attack.

The Tyranid horde advanced across the surface of Talos slaughtering their way through the Astra Militarum defenders and converging upon the Imperial command and control centre, Fort Imperialis. When the attack came, the horde advanced from the south, smashing through the outer defences. The encircling bio-organisms then surged forward and through the breach the shield wall despite intense artillery and heavy weapons fire. That night, reinforcement came with a company sized detachment of Rift Wardens. The space marines concentrated their fire into the breach, slowing but not halting the Tyranid assault. Observing that the numbers of bio-organisms had faltered, the Rift Wardens took the opportunity to enter the fray and for a short time inflicted heavy casualties. The arrival of larger organisms stopped the space marines from sealing the breach. Forced to pull back, the Rift Wardens were then unable to hold back the growing tide of alien killers. In the early hours, the shield wall had been breached in multiple places. Fort Imperialis had fallen.

The Swarm Arises - Talos

Power Level: 60.

Mission: Supplies From Above.

Agendas: Cull The Horde, Know No Fear and Priority Target. 

Opponent's Agendas: Hunt and Slay, Kingslayer, Reaper and Tyranid Attack.

After the recent defeats, the Hive Mind now proceeded to marshal the local Tyranid forces, bringing up more bio-organisms and synapse creatures. The Hive Mind formulared a new play, where it's armies would feign an attack upon the Imperial command base from the south east while the main effort would actually be directed on the fortress area's southwestern flank.

The Tyranid artillery strike began with a preparatory bombardment by larger organisms, continuing through the day. Imperial counter-fire was hampered by limited supplies and ammunition. The Turanid assault was launched on the second day, with three pincers of organisms thrusting against the eastern and western sectors of the defensive perimeter. At the same time, a diversionary attack launched from the north. 

The first Tyranid units, with monstrous support, breached the defensive line early in the morning, and during the following hours the Imperial defences were broken in five places. As a result, the defending Rift Wardens pulled back immediately to avoid encirclement. Rather than taking the fight to enemy, as they would have preferred, the space marines were forced into a defensive role. By the next day, the Tyranids had largely overrun the fortress.

As a consequence of the Tyranid advance, two further Imperial fortresses were cut off within 16 hours and isolated from reinforcements. As night fell, the fortresses ceased firing and their garrisons abandoned them, trying to escape the great devourer and regroup. The Rift Wardens retreated to their command cruiser to plan a new counter-attack.

The Shrine of Saint Bathory - Paragon Secundus

Power Level: 60.

Mission: The Relic.

Agendas: Angels of Death and Reaper. 

Opponent's Agendas: Know No Fear and Reaper.

As part of the ongoing civil war between the Rift Wardens and the Ultramarines, the sons of Guilliman retreated from their superior opponents and regrouped at the Shrine of Saint Bathory. The Rift Wardens under Chapter Master Arthurus seized strategic objectives from the Ultramarines and then sent his battle brothers to help besiege the shrine. Arthurus' forces advanced south, encountering heavy resistance from the Ultramarines, and had to wait for reinforcements to arrive. These reinforcements arrived quickly enough to turn the tide of battle, and with dreadnought support, Arthurus was able to smash aside the enemy line, capturing the shrine with ease.

The next day, following the destruction of the Ultramarine defenders, the Rift Wardens right flank pushed through the enemy lines. Within days, the Rift Wardens had secured several vital locations including the minor hive city of Oridighast.

First Contact - Bellaraphon

 

Power Level: 60.

Mission: Raze and Ruin.

Agendas: Kingslayer, Know No Fear and Reaper. 

Bellaraphon, a mist-shrouded arboreal world that borders the Great Rift close to the Eye of Terror. For many centuries, the adepts of the Cult Mechanicus have used this world for their strange and esoteric studies. In recent days the Rift Wardens have received transmissions from the planet requesting help following a spate of attacks by Aeldari raiders. The chapter translated into system and deployed to the ground via thunderhawks. The xenos had attacked several remote research stations, leaving them in ruins and most of their acolytes dead. The survivours report that the Aeldari appeared to be searching for something. Arthurus decided to lead a small force to one of these research stations in the hopes of luring the enemy to attack them.

The morning that the patrol arrived was thick with fog and light rain. Their reconnaissance was severally hampered by the terrain and the conditions. Unknown to the space marines, the attackers - a troupe of Harlequins -waited in the shadows. They watched the space marines scout out the ruins and mocked them for their foolishness.

The Harlequin troupe leader concluded that the space marine force was weak and no match for the troupe. Once the marines had entered the ruined complex he ordered an attack. The battle opened with heavy fire from a squadron of starweavers which destroyed the redemptor dreadnought escorting the Rift Wardens. The Rift Wardens tried to pull back but they had been surrounded and unable to escape.

After an hour of heavy fighting, the Harlequin's leapt from their transports to engage in close combat. The Rift Wardens counter-attacked but were kept at bay by close range firepower which took the lives of many battle brothers. As the squads fell, Arthurus was pinned to the ground by the Harlequin attackers. The troupe leader lent in and informed him that this world was not for them. They should leave before more were killed. The Harlequins then faded back into the mists. Arthurus cursed the alien and promised retribution.

Assault the Scrapcities - Vigilus Wastelands

Power Level: 60.

Mission: Ambush.

Agendas: Breakthrough, Cull the Hordes and Kingslayer. 

The time had finally come and the war effort was directed to the growing scrap cities in the wastelands. With the constant influx of traitor astartes flooding into Vigilus, the ork menace had to be contained as much much as possible. The Rift Wardens were once such chapter tasked with destroying the scrap cities and their greenskin defenders eradicated.

The Rift Wardens advanced on one scrap city outpost ahead of the main force. It had been estimated that the Orks numbered over 20,000 within. The chapter was to conduct a series of limited offensives, mainly to draw the main body of the Orks to the edges of the encampment. Tje chosen area featured two major fortifications, along with several smaller forts that guarded the approach. These were equipped with artillery emplacements, bunkers, trenches and barbed wire.

The Rift Wardens entered the perimeter around midday capturing two of the smaller forts. The Orks counterattacked initiating a major bloodbath and the space marines were forced back by overwhelming numbers. After regrouping with the their fellow chapters, the Imperial forces went on the offensive again. This time the combined space marine forces were able to establish a breach but it had cost the Rift Wardens dearly in the lives of their battle brothers.

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.