Resource Grab - Santorini (Badlands)

Points: 1400.

Mission: Mana From Hell.

When reports came in from the wasteland traders that various valuable mineral deposits had been discovered out in the deserts, Librarian Quarion decided to send task force Tantalus to investigate. There they discovered a surprise mining base overseen by their allies in the Custodian Brothers, However, attempts to parlay were met by shot and psychic fire.

Following those initial shots, Quirin retreated his brothers to a defensive position extending away from the Custodian's position. The mining base was heavily fortified and looked to have been here for quite some time. It was easily defensible for the Custodians. A single track line ran west towards a fortified settlement about 30 miles away. This was where the Custodians were shipping the mineral ore they recovered.

Task force Tantalus launched a calculated strike against the mining base, where were easily, all too easily, cut down by the Custodians and their psychic sister allies. Quirion lost too many brothers in the engagement but failed to secure even a single chunk of the ore. He ordered a fall back to the city for now while he contemplated what the Custodians might be doing here in secret and unannounced.

Battle of Transit Station Beta Kappa 12 - Antares

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Opposing Forces.

Primary Objective: Seize Ground.

At this point in the conflict, both sides had forces in and around the area of Transit Station BK12. In the early hours, a large Rift Warden force advanced to the transit station without encountering any resistance from the Custodes. Further forces advancing from the north met with resistance but managed to advance forward with minimal casualties. By noon, all space marine forces had reached the target. Custodes reinforcements arrived shortly after forming a wall of golden bodies.

The Rift Wardens north of their position received intense fire from the Custodes. Both sides concentrated their destructive firepower and both took heavy casualties. Ultimately after several hours fighting, both sides retreated to rearm and resupply.

Clash At Emperor's Landing - Antares

 

Points: 3000.

Deployment: Behind Enemy Lines.

Primary Objective: Last Stand.

In the days since the failed battle of the space port known as Emperor's Landing, the Custodians fought several small engagements against Rift Warden patrols. A small force fought a series of successful delaying actions that allowed the defenders of the space port to ready a defence. Those patrols, however, fell to the blades and bullets of the Custodian brothers.

The following day, the Custodians continued their advance back to the space port, but found the Rift Wardens mobile defence difficult to breach. The garrison of the space port was composed of three companies, led by Arthurus himself. Among them, fresh reinforcements that had arrived from orbit during the lull in fighting and a lone Vindicare Assassin. Unable to breach the defences, the Custodes took to taking and holding three outer defence towers away from the main port.

The Custodes commander was left with three choices; she could assault the heavily defended space port, try to breach and capture the outer defences, or try a risky teleport assault. Despite having little knowledge of what forces actually awaited them within the Rift Warden perimeter, she did not expect a truly significant opposition and ordered her troops to prepared a full ground assault on the space port.

Saurian Counterattack - Tyraxis

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Front Line.

Primary Objective: Duel.

 The Imperial plan for the next stage of the was was based on two assumptions: that the Saurians would withstand a direct assault on their ziggurat once again and that the Rift Wardens would require time to regroup and re-arm to counter attack. For the later to be an option, a force of Custodians had to hold off a force of Saurian reinforcements incoming from the southwest.

Day 1 saw a sizeable force of Custodians deployed in the path of the Saurian warriors. The enemy forces consisted of many Saurian warriors supported by their dinosaurs. The Custodians had the numbers but they faced a threat and a foe that they had not been tested against.

The Custodians began by assaulting the Saurian infantry along an old road stretching between two distant ziggurats. The Saurian forces, mainly infantry with some monstrous support, offered stiff resistance for the duration of the battle. Despite their numerical advantage, it was not until the following morning that the Custodes finally broke the Saurian lines, routing the enemy. Even so, the Custodes suffered casualties in the aftermath from the Saurian artillery beasts.

The Saurian reinforcements were stopped and the Custodes fortified their positions, Before the Saurians could regroup, they were once again assaulted and forced back. A third attempt finally oblitereated the Saurian attackers.

Battle of Emperor's Landing - Antares

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Front Line.

Primary Objective: Duel.

The Custodians deployed from orbit via wings of shuttles and transports, landing several miles north of the the space port called Emperor's Landing, which was also taken after a battle with two companies of Rift Wardens. The Custodes assumed control and advanced out from the space port to intercept the space marines. After several fierce battles, the Custodes had captured large areas of ground surrounding Emperor's Landing.

The next day, a second assault force of Custodians arrived north of the space port. They were joined by other scattered squads over the course of the day. To counter this attack, Chief Librarian Uther gathered numerous reserves and formed two new companies, one to strike from the north into the flank and one for a frontal strike from the east.

For the next three days, the Custodes regrouped and halted their advance. The Rift Wardens attacked and the surprisingly, the Custodians could not withstand and began to retreat, until the front stabilized after a renewed Custodian counterattack.

The Custodians executed a third landing of some 300 brothers beyond the Rift Warden lines. They attempted to take the surrounding battle zone but were unable to advance to regroup. Their landing site was soon counter-attacked and within a couple days, these Custodians were destroyed.

Meanwhile, the battle brothers under Uther's leadership, had surrounded the spaceport and forced the Custodians to retreat back into orbit. The space port once again fell into Rift Warden control.

The Battle of Novavosk - Antares

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn of War / Lords of War.

Primary Objective: Take and Hold.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Shield Host.

The battle of Novavosk was fought over two days between the Rift Wardens and the Custodes, under the leadership of Inquisitor Draxus. The Custodes arrived to launch a counter-attack against the space marines who were besieging the Novavosk fortress.

Inquisitor Draxus, commanding a small shield host detachment, led an attack to contain the space marine right flank. The Custodes took the offensive, crossing open ground and capturing the space marine flank. On the second day they brought up their tanks and begun pummeling the Rift Wardens.

Draxus' leadership and tactical knowledge, allowed the Custodes to clear a bridgehead and launch a sucessful counter-offensive. Arthurus withdrew his troops and abandoned the fortress for now.

The Battle of GrayKeep - Antares

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Hammer and Anvil / Point Blank.

Primary Objective: Take and Hold.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Lions of the Emperor.

The Adeptus Custodes battle companies reached the area around a small fortress hive named GrayKeep. They immediately engaged in a battle with the Rift Wardens guarding the nearby crossings. The Custodes tried seize the crossing points but were repelled by heavy bolter fire.

After a short resupply break, Trajan decided to carry our two simultaneous attacks - targeting the crossing site and GrayKeep itself. He dispatched three companies south to bolster their forces there near KastleHall. Soon afterwards, two Custodes companies captured the crossings and the Rift Wardens abandoned the site.

The first stage of the battle ended with a Custodes victory, but the Rift Wardens continued to control the surrounding countryside, and prevented the Custodes from pulling back to their staging zones. Trajan requested reinforcements and then renewed their assault on the space marines. The Rift Wardens were ready and met the Custodes with renewed heavy bolter fire. Trajan ordered his troops to engage the Rift Wardens in close quarters combat. Neither side took prisoners, and after several hours the Rift Wardens were forced to retreat.

The Second Battle of Ashen Fields - Antares

Points: 1000.

Deployment and Mission: Crucible Of Battle / Smoke And Mirrors.

Primary Objective: Burden Of Trust.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Shield Host.

As the Rift Wardens pushed forward along the trade route from Kastlehall, the Custodes started building trenches, and bringing in tanks to form a defensive line some kilometers from the first battle. During this time, the Rift Wardens captured several strong points overlooking the Custodes lines. The offensive against the Custodes launched just days later. The main force commanded by Captain Oberon took the trade route and cut the Custodes reinforcements, and led the assault against the enemy defenses. After a grueling battle, the Rift Wardens smashed through the Custodes and captured their defences by nightfall. All of this occurred with hardly any resistance, It's unknown why the attack took the Custodes by surprise, as they could see the Rift Wardens approaching.

The Battle of Ashen Fields - Antares

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn Of War / Minefields

Primary Objective: Priority Targets.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Shield Host.

The battle of Ashen Fields was fought over several days in the wastelands beyond the walls of Kastlehall, between the Rift Wardens and the Custodes. For most of the battle both sides occupied trenches along the trade route out of the hive. The battle ended with the Rift Wardens forced to withdraw back behind the walls of Kastlehall, awaiting the next attack from the Custodes.

Flames of War - Antares

Points: 2500.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn Of War / Delayed Reserves.

Primary Objective: Vital Ground.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Auric Champions.

This was an engagement fought on the outskirts of Kastlehall. It involved a Custodes force, led by Valoris, and a small Inquisitorial force, led by Inquisitor Greyfax, attacking the Rift Warden defences, and resulted in the capture of several key positions. The Rift Wardens under captain Lorgraine, had been sent south of Kastlehall to help step the tide of the Custodes offensive against the space marine positions. The main Custodes concentrated their assault on the route between Kastlehall and Hive Gothos. 

Their attack at the boundary of the Rift Wardens defences, overwhelmed the space marine front line troops and captured some support trenches. A counter-attack in the late of the day wrested the initiative from the Custodes and their attack petered out, leaving the Rift Wardens still in position of most of the high ground around Kastlehall.

The Fall of KastleHall - Antares

Points: 1000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn Of War / Maelstrom Of Battle / Minefields / Vox Static.

Primary Objective: The Ritual.

Detachment: Ironstorm Spearhead.

Opponents Detachment: Shield Host.

In the aftermath of the battle for the fortress of KastleHall, Arthurus brooded on how to secure a victory against the Custodes and eventually he formulated a plan. Rather than risk hundreds of his battle brothers, he ordered the Techmarines to awaken every dreadnought the chapter had, and they would capture the fortress for the chapter.

When the Rift Wardens returned with a veritable army of dreadnoughts at their head, they captured the surrounding lands and encircled the fortress of KastleHall. The dreadnoughts performed far better than Arthurus had anticipated and many of the Custodes were slain or executed by the chapter in the aftermatch. Only Trajan Valoris was left alive and as a hero of the Imperium, Arthurus had him released back to his brothers. This was just the first victory in the retaking of Antares and Arthurus made sure that Valoris knew this.

Battle of KastleHall - Antares

Points: 2000.

Mission: Conversion.

Secondary Objectives: Bring It Down, No Prisoners and Raise The Banners High.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Behind Enemy Lines, Grind Them Down and Raise The Banners High.

The battle of KastleHall was the besieging of the Rift Wardens garrison at a small fortress south of the immense Antares Majoris hive sprawl. Over 600 of the space marines were garrisoned there. When the Custodes attacked in force with knightly allies they managed to breach the walls with ease and laid waste to many battle brothers. In the records of the Rift Wardens it goes down as the worst defeat of the chapter to date. 

Strangely, at the behest of the Emissaries Imperatus, all captured Rift Wardens were returned to the chapter unharmed but bearing the message that this world was no longer theirs. Arthurus railed at this warning understanding where it had come from but his drive and ego prevented him from accepting those worlds. The fighting continued.

Abortive Assault - Antares

Points: 1000.

Mission: Reconnaissance Mission.

Secondary Objectives: Codex Warefare, Oaths of Moment and Shock Tactics.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Auric Mortalis, Might of Terra and Stand Vigil.

Due to a shortage of tanks and artillery, the Rift Wardens counter-attack was split into two parts with the forces available being split to form a pincer attack. In addition to seeking revenge, Arthurus planned this battle to be a diversion to allow the rest of his battle brothers to deploy from orbit

The Rift Warden attack did manage to capture some territory from the Custodes, but these were quickly recaptured by the Emperor's Chosen. The Rift Wardens attacked again and once more successfully captured those same objectives before being driven out by the Custodes with Knightly allies. The arrival of the Freeblades ensured the chapter was unable to hold any ground and the chapter suffered many casualties. The Custodes then launched an attack of their own and forced the Rift Wardens out of their planned deployment zone. 

From here the Custodes repeatedly surged into the Rift Wardens. The fighting continued for several days before it finally subsided. Afterwards this battlefield would remain one of the busiest and more violent of the campaign.

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.