Battle of Hellfire Bridge - Birmingham

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Last Stand / Lords of War.

Primary Objective: Burden of Trust.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Skysplinter Assault.

While the chapter's various companies moved out to engage the Drukhari, Captain Pellenor and his battle brothers attacked the Drukhari positions on the Hellfire Bridge. The area was defended by many warriors with ravager and raider support, and were led by Lellith Hesperex. The Drukhari under her leadership formed strong pockets of resistance, a tactic that proved superior to their usual massed assaults.

Due to this, the Rift Wardens could not fully exploit their numerical advantage. In addition, poor command decisions caused the marine squads to begin their attacks on the Drukhari in a piecemeal fashion. In addition, Pellenor had ordered his forces to attack the enemy frontally across the narrow bridge. After the initial assault was repelled by heavy dark lance fore, the Drukahri counter-charged the Rift Wardens, and an intense hand to hand ensued. Both sides suffered major casualties, including the loss (for now) of Hesperex herself. When Drukhari reinforcements arrived from the under hives, Pelenor ordered a retreat from the field.

Battle of Oscott District - Birmingham

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Sweeping Engagement / Prepared Positions.

Primary Objective: Scorched Earth.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Skysplinter Assault.

With little to oppose them, the Drukhari dominated the streets of Birmingham, snatching slaves and murdering civilians with unbridled joy. Determined to stop their raids, the space marines attacked the enemy forces in the Oscott District. At the beginning, the attack looked like a success for the Rift Wardens, but with more Drukhari reinforcements emerging from the webway, the situation turned sour. 

The Drukhari poured fire from their ravagers and raiders, into the space marines. The clash lasted about three hours. Caught in the fire from all sides and having lost the initial advantage, librarian Camelard ordered a retreat under the cover of night. He split his forces into two demi-companies and sent each to assist their battle brothers in neighboring districts.

The Dark Streets - Birmingham

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Tipping Point / Hidden Supplies.

Primary Objective: Take And Hold.

Detachment: Vanguard Spearhead.

Opponents Detachment: Skysplinter Assault.

After receiving thousands of reinforcements from the webway, the Drukhari withdrew north to regroup against the space marine forces. Following an attack by the Rift Wardens, the Drukhari continued to fall back into the dark city streets, where they joined forces with more reinforcements. 

While the Drukhari bolstered their forces, the Rift Wardens set up defences around the surrounding districts, attempting to somehow contain the alien raiders. The Drukhari found themselves surrounded by space marine companies, with their tanks stationed along a high ground overlooking the alien staging grounds. Lillith devised a plan to break the encirclement - a surprise attack on the weakest link in the Imperial defence - and managed to convince the archon to enact the attack.

Lillith launched the attack during what passes for day on Birmingham. She led the charge while other Drukhari forces providied covering fire with raiders and ravagers. The wytch cult overtly approached the Rift Wardens, undetected by the space marines. The attack worked phenomenally well, forcing many marines to fall back or be slain. Many were pursued, captures and dragged away to the Dark City.

In the course of battle, the Drukhari captured territory and many prisoners. Many space marines died during this attack, and it led to the alien aggressors once again breaking out into the hive city once more.

A Dark And Stormy Night - Birmingham

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Crucible Of Battle / Rapid Escalation.

Primary Objective: Purge The Foe.

Detachment: Vanguard Spearhead.

Opponents Detachment: Skysplinter Assault.

Birmingham - a dark and gloomy world, eternally wrapped in darkest night and pounding thunderstorms. When it's population came under attack by the piratical Drukhari, the Rift Wardens responded quickly, deploying to the heart of the city and engaging the vile alien.

The initial engagement was the beginning of a pursuit by the Drukhari against the fleeing PDF. After this terrifying pursuit, the Drukhari attacked and captured a series of rearguard positions. These positions were held by brave PDF soldiers and they held out as long as they could.

The initial Rift Wardens forces marched in columns through the streets towards the districts targeted by the alien raiders. At the same time, more space marine forces were deploying along the Emperor's Highway,

The Rift Wardens entrenched themselves to cover the retreat of the surviving PDF. These rearguards were successfully attacked by the Drukhari, capturing a number of survivors, dragging them back to their Dark City in chains. The Drukhari continued their advance into the space marine lines.