Purge The Foe - Hadex

Points: 1500.

Deployment and Mission: Hammer and Anvil / Martial Pride.

Primary Objective: Purge The Foe.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Champions of Vehemont.

This was an engagement fought between the two space marine forces, on the south-west corner of Hadex City. The Rift Wardens were led by their chapter master Arthurus and the Black Templars by chaplain Grimaldus. The battle was fought around a new long abandoned Arbites quarter. Arthurus goal was to stall the Black Templar forces and give his chapter time to prepare defences against the oncoming forces. The battle was brief and for a time, the Black Templars led a ferocious attack but the defensive tactics of the Rift Wardens held them back with minimal losses. Eventually, with Grimaldus struck low, the Black Templars retreated. This was the first victory on Hadex for the Rift Wardens but it would not be the last.

The Hadex Offensive - Hadex

Points: 1500.

Deployment and Mission: Last Stand / Adapt or Die.

Primary Objective: The Ritual.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Righteous Crusaders.

The Hadex Offensive was a major part of the war between the Rift Wardens and the Black Templars. It was an attempt by the Rift Wardens, led by Captain Pellenor, to seize the territories under the control of their rival chapter.

The two chapters classed and the Rift Wardens managed to advance into the disputed districts of Hadex City. Early on, Pellenor concentrated on preparations for a strike deep into enemy held territory. He anticipated that this would lead to the destruction of a great many Black Templar sword brethren and force them to concede this corner of the city.

The campaign was conducted over several weeks. At first, the war was successful for the Rift Wardens, who did successfully recapture territory, but soon the campaign's momentum halted and was dramatically revered, due to High Marshall Helbrecht leading a counter-offensive. In the wake of this advance, the Black Templars managed to create a new front and no man's land.

Battle At The Crossroads - Hadex

 

Points: 1250.

Mission: Tear Down Their Icons.

Secondary Objectives: Grind Them Down, Raise The Banners High, and Shock Tactics.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Bring It Down, Carry Out Your Vows and Shock Tactics.

After two days of heavy weapon bombardment, battle began mid morning with a preliminary raid to capture a vital crossroads on the edge of Hadex Hive. The Battle Templars advanced commenced shortly afterwards. Tank fire on the location was overwhelming and the Templars rapidly advanced through the streets to occupy a position a half mile from the target site.

However, the main Black Templars force did not advance as far as they had hoped as the Rift Wardens were somewhat sheltered from the deadly bombardment/ Their final position was a series of bombed out habitation blocks, fortified with plasticrete slabs and rocks.

On the right flank of the advance, the battle did not go well for the Templars. These marines lacked tank support and were massacred by the Rift Warden's under a volley of heavy bolter fire. Despite the opposition, they were ordered to press the attack but made little to no progress. By the time the attack was halted, they had lost half their number. Some units were so depleted that they had to be merged into composite units. When Helbrecht arrived on site, he was shocked that the Rift Wardens were able to hold off such a force so easily.

Arthurus was very concerned about the Black Templar advances as they threatened to encircle the chapter's right flank. The cross roads objective of the Black Templars became a scene of vicious and bloody assaults as the Rift Wardens commenced a series of counter-attacks during the night. Many marines died or were severely injured on both sides but neither chapter gained much from these night time raids.

The Rift Wardens, with plentiful manpower but lacking any significant artillery, made incessant counter-attacks over the next few days but all were repulsed. Still, the cross roads were denied to the Black Templars by the Rift Wardens assault intercessors. The Rift Wardens suffered four times the casualties of the enemy but the cross roads held. 

Battle for the Harbour District - Hadex

Points: 2000.

Mission: Front-Line Warfare.

Secondary Objectives: Assassinate, Raise The Banners High, and Shock Tactics.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Bathe Your Blade In The Blood Of Your Foe, Oaths of Moment and Vital Ground.

The first sign of the coming battle was shortly after a stand-off at the entrance to the Hadex harbour district, where the Black Templars reported seeing the Rift Warden squads moving on their position. The Tempars attacked with warning, calling battle oaths as they charged towards the Rift Wardens defensive position. Their fifth company followed closely behind, coming in from a diagonal approach and engaged the Rift Wardens in the flank. The Rift Wardens marines who survived that attack were either forced into derelict streets or back into their own lines. Reinforcements sent to bolster them were mowed down and by the following morning many had been killed.

To the immediate south, the chapter forces under Arthurus, had been fortifying a number of buildings and makeshift trenches. These were intended to provide a better firing position should the Black Templars risk assaulting them. It was during the construction that the Black Templars led by Helbrecht and Grimaldus attacked. Despite a lack of battle brothers, this assault and following waves were beaten back, although Helbrecht and Grimaldus did reach the Rift Wardens lines. Battle was joined in the trenchworks and the engagement lasted for several hours before the Rift Wardens were once more forced to retreat.

Crusade - Hadex

Points: 1500.

Mission: Open War deck.

A splinter crusade of Black Templars have decided that the existence of Primaris marines both within their own chapter and others, is an anathema and goes against the will of the Emperor himself. When this crusade descended upon the Rift Wardens recruitment world of Hadex, the chapter was forced to once again wage war upon their own brothers. Even when "loyalist" Black Templars arrived to halt their heretical brothers, the Rift Wardens still saw them as the enemy. There would be no peace, only war!

This initial engagement was a major conflict and was fought over a period of eleven days in the heart of the planet's capitol city. After a successful initial battle, the Rift Wardens pushed hard against the aggressors and managed to drive back the vanguard and occupy suitable defensive positions.

Over the next couple of days, the Rift Wardens were assaulted repeatedly by the Black Templars, held in place and unable to prevent them from bringing in further reinforcements from their own battle barges. After bitter fighting, however, the Rift Wardens managed to break out into the city streets. For days the fighting continued and the Black Templars fell back to regroup. Over the next two days the Rift Wardens pushed the enemy back into the outer districts. Because of this, the Rift Wardens received their own reinforcements, without much enemy opposition. The Rift Wardens were eventually stopped by significant Black Templar resistance although they did recapture some important territory.

The following day, the Black Templars attempted to encircle the Rift Wardens by applying pressure to their flanks. Unphased, the Rift Wardens successfully counter-attacked. On the Eastern flank, the Rift Wardens sought to break out of the encirclement, pushing into a manufactorum sector. The breakout was halted and the street fighting ground to a stalemate. On the Western flank, an offensive was launched with the objective of reaching the Black Templar command. This failed and the Rift Wardens took heavy casualties, especially in the South.

After nearly two weeks of heavy fighting in the streets, the Rift Wardens retained their position and were weathering the onslaught of incoming fire. However, it had allowed the enemy to gain a foothold on the surface and they controlled a large section of Hadex city.