Asteroid M40 - The Core

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Tipping Point / Bloodlust.

Primary Objective: Take and Hold.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Needgaard Oathband.

The conflict for Asteroid M40 began shortly after the Imperial attack on the Votann mining colonies and the space dwarves would not cede control so easily. Thus far, the Leagues had successfully expelled most of the Imperial occupiers. The Leagues mining this asteroid formed a sizeable retaliation force with many of the miners volunteering to fight. Uther took command of the force, which consisted of some 4000 dwarves. The gathered what weapons they could and soon they marched out to confront the oncoming space marines.

The League forces fought like madmen and against the space marines, they lost many of their warriors. Further League reinforcements arrived to bolster their numbers but the fighting separated into numerous smaller engagements. Eventually the Leagues fell back and barricaded their defences against the Rift Wardens. On Asteroid M40, the fighting would continue for months.

Void War - The Core

Points: 1000.

Mission: Display Of Spiritual Might.

Secondary Objectives: Bring It Down, Oaths Of Moment and Warp Ritual.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Lay Claim, No Prisoners and Retrieve Battlefield Data..

A week after the Rift Wardens first attacked the Leagues asteroid defenses they finally reached their initial objectives. The Leagues heavy weapons were still very operational and inflicted many casualties among the advancing space marines. Any tanks and incoming aircraft were subjected to continued artillery fire from the League forces, which left the Rift Wardens to bolster around their recent gains. The Rift Wardens' attacks changed from large operations on broad fronts, to narrow focused attacks with more limited objectives.

The Rift Wardens did succeed in capturing a single forward fire base from the Leagues. After a bombardment from the fleet, the chapter attacked another two fire bases and these too fell to the Imperial forces. Arthurus ordered a pause in the attack, to consolidate the captured ground and await a further bombardment from the fleet. Two days later, the Rift Wardens attacked the next fortress line of the enemy but were met by mass artillery fire from the League land crawlers, which effectively ended the space marine advance.

Into The Core - The Core

 

Points: 1000.

Mission: Display Of Spiritual Might.

Secondary Objectives: Assassination, Grind Them Down and Shock Tactics.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Grind Them Down, Grudge Match and Lay Claim.

Inquisitor Rosalyn Rosarius, a long time ally of the Rift Wardens, made contact with concerns that a series of lost Mechanicus mining facilities close to the galactic core had fallen under the sway of a xenos threat. Having been given the co-ordinates of these facilities, the chapter made way through the gravitational anomalies surrounding the Core towards the nearest location. The chapter landed upon a large asteroid and scouted out the complex. An unknown vessel drifted towards them and demanded they leave this sector, claiming it under the flag of the Votann, or be destroyed. 

On day one of the battle, six battalions of Votann deployed to the surface of the asteroid and attacked the Rift Wardens at the complex. With support of their fleet, the chapter held back the Votann throughout the night. The following day saw reinforcements translate in system and bolstered the chapter's forces on the ground. The second day was a ferocious battle to control the Mechanicum facility. Arthurus made a plan which proved overly complex and was poorly communicated to his captains. The Votann surrounded the Rift Wardens and prevented their escaping the facility, inflicting heavy casualties.

As more Votann reinforcements arrived, the possibility of a swift victory for the space marines disappeared and the battle became one of simple attrition. On day four, the remainder of the Rift Warden fleet translated into the system and came to the assistance of their beleaguered forces. The Votann Kâhl, believing that the space marines were on the verge of defeat, put out a call for further reinforcements from his fleet and more arrived on the surface within hours. These reinforcements bolstered those already fighting but subsequent attacks were repulsed by massed bolter fire. The following night, Arthurus ordered Lieutenant Agrippa to lead an attack pushing out of the fallen facility and out into the field. Covered by plasma fire and some support from the orbiting starships, these marines advanced a short distance before being separated from the main force. They came under massed small-arms fire and were pushed back, suffering many casualties. 

The Rift Wardens had lost any element of surprise and although the chapter would survive this engagement, their war against the Leagues of Votann had begun.