Ground War - Tyraxis

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Ground War.

Primary Objective: Seize Ground.

This engagement known to some as the battle of Saragos Creek, was an important though minor engagement in the Imperial attack on Tyraxis. The battle lasted consistently for 22 days, through the jungles along the Saragos River, near the site of the archaeotech ziggurat already being fought over.

In the end, the Rift Wardens emerged victorious over the Saurians and their Slann masters, but the loss of life for the chapter was exceptionally high. Further engagements had to be specifically chosen to prevent further casualties, leaving the Astra Militarum and Inquisitional forces to bear the brunt for some time after.

Primitive War - Tyraxis

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Front Line.

Primary Objective: Duel.

When a Rogue Trader reported to the Inquisition that they had made contact with a new xenos species on the edge of the remote Apophis Sector, Inquisitor Rosarius investigated. What she found, seemingly advanced intelligent reptilians, horrified her. She determined that they may be a threat to the Imperial holdings in nearby sectors and mustered a force to go in and eradicate them. She called upon the Rift Wardens to lead this xenocide.

This engagement was fought over three days as the Imperial forces descended from the skies in the vicinity of an arcanatech ziggurat. This site was an installation for the Saurians and the Rift Wardens stormed the location with brutal efficiency. The enemy were strong and dangerous but ill prepared for the Space Marine assault. By the end of the first days fighting, the site was in Imperial hands with the Saurians scattered into the surrounding jungles. As the two suns arose the next morning, the Saurians returned riding giant reptilian monsters.

The battle, while minor in the scheme of things, proved to be a strategic victory for the Space Marines. The Saurians eventually regained control of the ziggurat but not before the Ordos Xenos had had chance to study the nature of their new enemy.

Battle of the Medigo Salt Flats - Serpentis

 

Points: 780

As the Rift Wardens deployed their forces to the surface of Serpentis, a new threat arose from the deserts. A force of Iron Hands marines, garrisoned with the Mechanicus, marched forth to battle their brothers and defend the Mechanicus secrets.

The battle was an offensive by the Iron Hands intended to drive the Rift Wardens away. The contending forces were three companies of their battle brothers mostly equipped as Aggressors. The series of battle took place in the salt flats between the Mechanicus factorum complex and the Rift Wardens landing zone. After Mechanicus forces attacked the Rift Wardens left flank, the Iron Hands attacked and broke through their lines resulting in heavy close combat actions. 

The battle resulted in numerous casualties on both sides before the Iron Hands fell back. A communique was sent to Arthurus ordering his forces off world but the chapter master would not accept such a threat.

The Battle of Darkhold Keep - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 400.

Mission: Outriders (Solo Game).

Following their recent successes against the Black Legion, the Rift Warden moved against other enemy holdings in the wastelands. The advance was soon repulsed but the initial conflict was extremely successful. Under Arthurus' leadership, the Rift Wardens overwhelmed the Black Legion forces encountered. The fortress of Darkhold was the only Black Legion position that held out and was soon completely surrounded by the loyalist marines. The Rift Wardens were now in a position to threaten the Black Legion holdings in this part of the wastelands.

Darkhold Keep was protected by multiple trenchworks and miles of razor wire to ward off enemy attacks. Inside the fortress, the Black Legion held a garrison of some two hundred legionnaires and Khornate berserkers. For several days, the Rift Wardens bombarded the trenches and walls with whirlwind artillery strikes. As the death toll increased, the Black Legion marines sought to escape the confines and take the fight to the Imperial dogs!

Arthurus began the siege of the fortress with six companies of his battle brothers. After a brief artillery bombardment, ordered a full-scale assault on the fortress. For three days the Rift Wardens attacked and accomplished nothing at the cost of many fallen battle brothers.

Within a week, the Black Legion armies were pulling out of the area and moving towards Mortwald Hivesprawl. At this time, a second siege of Darkhold began. This time Arthurus decided not to launch any frontal assaults, but instead settled on pounding the fortress to rubble with whirlwinds. For the next few days, the fortress was blasted by ceaseless artillery fire until at last it collapsed killing or entombing the traitor marines forever.

Against The Despoiler - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 400.

Mission: Incisive Attack (Solo Game).

With the arrival of the Vengeful Spirit in the skies above Vigilus, Arthurus' arrogance led him to declare that the Rift Wardens would be the ones to bring low the great despoiler. Gathering around him a small strike force, Arthurus led his battle brothers out into the wastelands on the hunt for the Black Legion.

With the Black Legion making planetfall in the wastelands, Arthurus main military objective was to seize control of one landing site to ensure that at least in one area, the Black Legion would be reduced in numbers. Within two days, Arthurus and his chapter had successfully captured their primary objective.

They had begun by utilising whirlwinds to shell the site prior to launching a direct assault. The small force encountered fire from Black Legionnaires who were entrenched in the ruins and on higher ground. As the engagement progressed, Rift Warden reinforcements arrived from Hyperia Hivesprawl and assistance in the assault. The Black Legion now came under increasing heavy fire and as the day wore on, the Rift Wardens launched a major assault into the survivours and the enemy were finally defeated. The initial campaign against the Black Legion was off to a good start.