Battle of Highgate Cathedral - St Keeler's Rest

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Tipping Point / Adapt or Die.

Primary Objective: Lynchpin.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Bringers of Flame.

The battle of Highgate Cathedral was a major engagement fought during the war for St Keeler's Rest. It began when a force of Sororitas engaged two companies of Rift Wardens who had captured the Highgate Cathedral. Although the initial Sororitas attacks were repelled, the outnumbered Sisters managed to repel the Rift Wardens flanking attempts and the space marines were later ordered to withdraw and the Sorotias reclaimed the cathedral.

Second Battle of Cemetery Fields - St Keeler's Rest

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Hammer And Anvil / Minefields.

Primary Objective: Scorched Earth.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Hallowed Martyrs.

Preliminary moves began during the night, as the Sororitas companies were brought up to Cemetery Fields, to the assembly areas along the front. The assault would be carried out by three of the four companies. The fourth was held in reserve and it subsequently occupied a depth position with several battle sister squads along the line that had been held. Paragon Warsuits were positioned a little further back. Even so, the Soroitas advance was slow going and as a result their initial targets could not be occupied before night fell that evening.

Throughout the day the weather had been clear and bright, and the Sisters in the assembly areas kept occupied with battle preparations. The need for some secrecy was important and the Sisters were under strict instructions to remain out of sight. Nevertheless, the Rift Wardens ultimately detected the Sororitas preparations and in the early evening, Rift Warden aircraft overflew the assembly area. An hour later, five Stormtalons flew across the front. This presaged a heavy tank bombardment soon after, but it was brief and resulted in only a handful of casualties among the Sororitas. Meanwhile, the space marines were placed on high alert in anticipation of a renewed attack.

As the dust settled, the Sorotias returned the bombardment with Exorcist missile tanks. The Sisters infantry assembled and awaited for the order to attack. Fifteen minutes later, as night began to fall, the Sisters attack began, under continued missile artillery barrage. Meanwhile, two other companies were held in reserve by Morvenn Vahl, ready to attack to the flanks. Her plan was to deceive the Rift Wardens into thinking the assault was being carried out across a larger front.

The Sisters advanced under the creeping barrage, with the Exorcists carefully planning the advance to avoid shelling their own forces. Nevertheless, some casualties were experienced due to friendly fire shrapnel. Heavy bolter fire was laid down down by the space marines, but in places this lacked support as the Sisters' bombardment forced the defending marines to remain in their trenches, while others withdrew. Resistance was strongest at the center of the battlefield. As the assault developed, the defence grew more stubborn as the Rift Wardens reorganised. This resistance was overwhelmed and within an hour, the Sisters had achieved their objective.

Battle of Cemetery Fields - St Keeler's Rest

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Tipping Point / Adapt Or Die.

Primary Objective: Linchpin.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Bringers Of Flame.

After their defeat at the drop site location, Arthurus realised that his forces were soon to face an overwhelming force of Sororitas determined to protect their shrine world. He ordered his brothers to dig into defensive positions and they formed a 1 mile long line of trenches between their landing site and the oncoming Sororitas. Arthurus called for rapid reinforcements and Captain Lorgraine arrived with terminators and hellblasters in drop pods. Most of the Rift Wardens reinforcements were unable to arrive in time however, due to overwhelming anti-air fire from the shrine complexes, and were forces to make planet fall at the chapter's initial landing zones.

The Sororitas reached Cemetery Fields part way through the evening. Heavy weapons fire pounded the Rift Warden positions and soon, the Sisters were attacking towards their lines. Frequent attacks were made one after the after through the night. Finally, Arthurus ordered his forces to pull back. They were running low on ammunition and had taken numerous casualties. Lorgraine retreated to a nearby shrine complex and set it on fire to draw the Sororitas attention away from the marines falling back. This led to his battle brothers fighting in close quarters combat and short range fire fights throughout the early hours. This engagement cost the chapter dearly in manpower but allowed the main marine force to regroup unoppposed.

Operation: Skyfall - St Keeler's Rest

Points: 1000.

Deployment and Mission: Tipping Point / Rapid Escalation.

Primary Objective: Scorched Earth.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Bringers Of Flame.

Following the conclusion of the Vigilus Cruasade, the Rift Wardens departed back into Imperial space looking for their next war zone. Arthurus was furious over the events at the dawn of the war where the Sororitas attacked them and that fury grew until he ordered his forces to change course to follow the Sororitas back to their shrine world. The plan would be to launch a surprise drop assault and eradicate their forces in revenge. It did not go well.

Despite the initial orbital assault, which won the Rift Wardens some small victories, their forces were quickly overrun by Sororitas forces under the surprise command of Morvenn Vahl. The relative quick pace of the Sororitas counter-attack was due to limited forces available initially for the chapter on the ground. By the end of the first few days of fighting, the Sororitas had shown a strong devotion to defending their world and the Rift Wardens needed to alter their strategies if victory was to be assured.

Battle of Negation District - Hyperia Hivesprawl

Points: 1500.

Mission: The Scouring.

Secondary Objectives: Grind Them Down, Shock Tactics and Warp Ritual.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: A Leap Of Faith, Defend The Shrine and Sacred Grounds.

Day 1 and 2.

In the early evening as the sun set, a massive explosion detonated within the Rift Wardens territory. Debris was flung for hundreds of feet in all direction and two buildings collapsed into the streets.  The space marines suffered many casualties and in the confusion found themselves under direct attack by the Adepta Sororitas. An attempt to counter-attack by a company size force of intercessors led by Arthurus failed as the explosion had laid open a wide area with little cover for the space marines. Arthurus ordered his battle brothers back to consolidate. Just after midnight, the Rift Wardens had fortified the streets surrounding the attack site.

The battle sisters launched a barrage of missiles over the next day and as the second day turned into dusk, four battalions of battle sisters supported by multi-meltas attacked from three sides. The Rift Wardens repulsed this attack with a barrage of bolter fire. One company of intercessors managed to claim the crater and dug-in under heavy fire. In the early hours, three more attacks by the battle sisters but were repelled with many losses and those who breached the space marine lines were annihilated. The Argent Shroud released penitent engines into the battle field and forced the Rift Wardens back into the streets, except on the right flank, where they were forced further back. Sister attacks continued all day and it took the Rift Wardens most of the day to reclaim much of their lost territory.

Day 3 to 6.

Before dawn on the third day, the Rift Wardens were bolstered by reinforcements from other districts. The Argent Shroud maintained a heavy bombardment of melta fire. After two hours of heavy fire they attacked again. Two infantry assaults were attempted but were defeated by heavy bolter fire. Attacks by the battle sisters continued into the fifth day, by when the district had become a moonscape of overlapping shell holes and craters. The battle sisters of the Argent Shroud occupied the ruins across from the space marines and their positions were protected by war suits.

Day 7 to 13.

Over the next five days the Argent Shroud retook the battle site. On day 7, a sisters attack led by Morvenn Vahl and Saint Celestine themselves failed and she ordered a detachment of war suits to assault the Rift Warden positions and destroy them at any personal cost. Their attack was orchestrated so quickly that the Rift Wardens were unable to repel them. Some of the Rift Wardens were able to return fire, which gave the chapter time to regroup once more. The sisters attack was forestalled and hellblasters forced them back.

The Rift Wardens relocated to hold different positions on either side of the explosion site, and the sisters blasted them with multi-melta fire. The chapter lost many good marines trying to fend off the attacking battle sisters and holding the Negation District proved too difficult. Arthurus reluctantly ordered his forces away to the North, followed by the Argent Shroud.

Defend The Shrine - Hyperia Hivesprawl

 

Points: 1000.

Mission: Crossfire.

Secondary Objectives: Engage On All Fronts, Oaths of Moment and Slay The Warlord.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Attrition, Defend The Shrine and Slay The Warlord.

The battle of the Bloody Rose was a significant engagement between the Rift Wardens and the Adepta Sororitas during the Vigilus Crusade. 

Having escaped the ambush set by the Sisters of Battle just hours earlier, Arthurus, chapter master of the Rift Wardens, led his battle brothers to attack and capture a shrine devoted to the Order of the Bloody Rose. The Sororitas requested parley but Arthurus refused to surrender to them, countering that his chapter has done no wrong and that the sisters would pay for their aggression. The sisters of the Bloody Rose were left with no choice but to assault their own shrine, recapturing it from the Rift Wardens. Arthurus escaped swearing righteous vengeance against the sisters.

Battle of Mortem Abbey - Hyperia Hivesprawl

 

Points: 1500.

Mission: Forward Push.

Secondary Objectives: Assassination, Mental Interrogation and Thin Their Ranks.

The Battle of Mortem Abbey was a major engagement in the conflict for Hyperia Hivesprawl. It took place in the abbey of Saint Mortem between the Rift Wardens and the Order of the Bloody Rose.

A few days after the Rift Wardens were attacked by the Grey Knights, the Adepta Sororitas attempted to draw the space marines into a preselected kill zone with a campaign of selected misinformation. When the plan succeeded with the chapter lured into the ruined abbey, the Sisters deployed a force of a thousand battle sisters to entrap them within. The space marines suffered many casualties and injuries before they were able to force a point through the Sororitas lines and retreat.

Victory to the Sisters of Battle.