Points: 1000.
Mission: Sacred Ground.
Secondary Objectives: Assassination, Engage On All Fronts and Retrieve Nephilim Data.
Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Engage On All Fronts, Grind Them Down and Mutate Landscape.
When not engaging in the continuous wars across Vigilus, Arthurus had his marines occupy and reinforce an old fortress known as Malbolge. This would serve as their own command base away from the Imperial command. The Rift Wardens operated out of this fortress for over a year before it came under attack by the forces of Chaos.
Day 1 to 5.
On the first day, Arthurus received information that a battalion of Thousand Sons were advancing through the wastelands towards Malbolge with obvious intent to assault the fortress. On day two, scout teams spotted them on the horizon engaging Astra Militarum patrols but still on course towards the fortress. On day three land speeders and outriders sortied towards the approaching the foe. Skirmishes took place with enemy vanguard patrols and late in the afternoon the rumble of artillery was heard which raised hopes that the threat of attack would be lifted after two days the wastelands went silent.
On day four, Fortress Malbolge had been surrounded and the fortress defences began speculative bombardments on large clusters of enemy positions, which had little effect. On day five, an outrider force sallied forth from the fortress towards the south and an inconclusive skirmish was fought out in the wastelands. None returned.
Day 6.
At noon on the sixth day, enemy bombardment and heavy weapons fire commenced on the fortress walls. Within hours the walls were severely damaged and the Rift Wardens were forced to the reinforced central structures. The Thousand Sons artillery concentrated on the permanent fortifications and wherever the Rift Wardens had bolstered barricades. Huge holes were blown in the walls and one shot detonated an ammunition supply killing a number of marines and serfs. The Rift Wardens attempted to reply to the enemy bombardment but the damage had become so severe that the fortress defences had fallen silent, and the chapter had little heavy weapons available to return significant fire.
Day 7 to 8.
After a massive psychic explosion, Arthurus was laid low severely injured during the night of day 7/8. Captain Galadhus took command and his inspiring words raised the morale of the chapter. When the outer walls fell the Thousand Sons marched inside in an attempt to occupy the site. The resulting battle was the beginning of the end.
Day 9 to 10.
Further squads of Rubric Marines advanced into the deluge of bolter and plasma fire and reached the central structures where the Rift Wardens defended. Many of the Rubric marines were gunned down out in the open although as more and more entered Malbolge, the Rift Wardens were forced to abandon certain locations and bolster others. With reluctance Galadhus requested evacuation as soon as possible. The Thousand Sons bombardment began again, reducing more and more of Malbolge to dust around the Rift Wardens.
The artillery soon smashed artillery and infantry positions. The Rift Wardens were soon forced to hunker down behind walls and in makeshift trenches as their defences came apart around them. Parties of enemy marines probed these new defences but concentrated bolter fire forced them to retire to the outer walls.
Day 11 to 12.
The weight of the Thousand Sons attacked increased on the north-east quadrant of the ruined fortress, forcing the defenders to bottleneck their positions and it soon became apparent that the enemy was looking to herd the Rift Wardens into specific overcrowded areas. Galadhus expected the main assault to come any time now as there was nowhere else to fall back to unless evacuation arrived.
The Rift Wardens withstood constant enemy assaults and sustained a great many casualties. At mid-afternoon on the twelfth day aid finally came with the arrival of several Thunderhawk transports from the orbiting fleet above. The remaining battle brothers and Arthurus were evacuated but not before the Thousand Sons were punished for the actions under the extreme firepower of the Thunderhawks. The survivors were immediately evacuated back to the fleet.
Meanwhile down below, the Thousand Sons, bolstered by the reanimation of their fallen Rubrics, continued on towards the hive sprawls beyond the wastelands. When recovered, Arthurus was shocked and dismayed at how powerful a force the sons of Magnus had become. He gathered about him his officers and captains, and began to formulate a plan to destroy the Thousand Sons forces on Vigilus once and for all.
