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.

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 Black Fields Campaign Begins - Grendel

Points: 1000.

Deployment and Mission: Hammer And Anvil / Scrambler Fields

Primary Objective: Scorched Earth

Detachment: Gladius Strike Force.

Opponent's Detachment: Teleport Strike Force.

The Black Fields campaign took place over two weeks following the initial battle of Black Fields just days previously. Initially, the Grey Knights committed to large incursions into Rift Warden held territory. Firstly the main trade road into Ascension Hive was successfully captured over two days, followed by the capture of overlooking escarpments. The first battle for the larger Black Fields took place over several days when the Grey Knights mounted a large teleport strike, reinforced with terminator squads and dreadknights.

The Rift Wardens command base located in the Black Fields was strongly garrisoned and during the battle received reinforcements from units of eradicators coming from Ascension Hive itself. Their presence on the battlefield proved effective and eventually forced the attacking Grey Knights to retire back to their own lines. Their retreat and other victories here allowed the Rift Wardens to consolidate their positions. The front line was adjusted to compensate for expected teleport assaults.

After several unsuccessful attempts by the Grey Knights, a new attack was led by grand master Voldus against the main trade road once more. The Grey Knights under his command came under heavy fire from the entrenched Rift Wardens but they fought through to reach the space marines, and under Voldus' leadership they began recapturing former positions.

Meanwhile strike teams and purifiers marched north and south of the main assault. Their objective was to effectively cut the space marines supply lines from Ascension Hive. That supply line was strongly defended by the Rift Wardens and their positions had been reinforced to better repel the Grey Knights. The strike squads and dreadknights were sent forward to bolster the attack to the north but this took considerable time to organise. Athought the combined force of Grey Knight battle brothers with dreadknight support made a determined attack but Voldus was forced to withdraw them when it became clear that the defenders were too strong, making it difficult if not impossible to achieve the operation's objective. After days of fighting, the only territorial gains the Grey Knights achieved were minimal.

A Friendly Fire Incident - Dharrovar

 

Points: 1000.

Deployment and Mission: Search And Destroy / Hidden Supplies.

Primary Objective: Priority Targets.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Noble Lance.

In the deep southern deserts a detachment of Rift Wardens were relayed incorrect information from Imperial Navy pilots about the disposition of enemy forces and led to them coming into conflict with their own allies.

Having detected the supposed enemy forces, the Rift Wardens engaged in a series of fast hit and run strikes, preventing the enemy from recovering easily. However, the return fire and counter-attacks led to significant casualties among the space marines. It was only after an hours fighting, and the destruction of a team of Inquisitorial henchmen that the space marines realized the error of their ways and brought a halt to the fighting.

Despite the death and destruction on both sides, the situation was rectified in parlay, and the chapter offered their services to their Knightly Household in a future engagement. No one told the Inquisitor what happened to to their henchmen.