Blood On The Streets - Dirkden Hivesprawl

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Opposing Forces.

Primary Objective: Duel.

This skirmish was a week of significant street battles in Dirkden that marked the beginning of the fall of Dirkden. Six months after the Vigilus crusade started, the cult members were now ready to overthrow their Imperial oppressor's. 

The Rift Wardens and the remaining Astra Militarum joined the battle, but once the cult assaulted the Imperial command bunkers through the sewers and supply runnels, the loyalist resistance soon fell apart. Chapter Master Arthurus ordered an evacuation of the hive, deeming it presently lost to the Emperor's Grace.

Resurgence - Dirkden Hivesprawl

 

Points: 2000.

Deployment: Opposing Forces.

Primary Objective: Duel.

At dawn just days after the evacuation of Direkden Hivesprawl, in the shadowy hours before the sun arose, the Genestealer Cult attacked the last force of Imperial defenders along the outer wall. The Cult attacked with thousands of cultists armed with a variety of a small arms and machine guns, a couple fast moving buggies. The defenders were a handful of Rift Warden squads and a lone Knight..

Initially the attack was repulsed with heavy losses. One by one the Cult's vehicles were destroyed or rendered immobile. The Cult regrouped and attacked again later that morning. This time, the Cult attacked in multiple locations, wearing down the space marine resistance, cutting through the defences and engaging the Rift Wardens in close combat offensives. With such few forces left, the Rift Wardens found their position untenable and the survivours were evacuated, finally leaving the Hive in the hands of the cult.

Battle of Glaive Point - Dirkden Hivespawl

Points: 1600.

Mission: Spawning Grounds.

Detachment: Anvil Strike Force.

Opponents Detachment: Biosantic Broodsurge.

Agendas: Duel of Honour, Eradicate The Swarm and Headhunters.

Opponent's Agendas: Genestealer's Kiss and Silence Detractor.

The battle of Glaive Point was the last battle fought in the war for Dirkden Hivesprawl, involving the Rift Wardens, under chapter master Arthurus against an unsurmountable force of Genestealer mutants, in the region known as Glaive Point. Although these engagements were relatively small in light of the larger Vigilus crusade, it marked the first time that the Imperial forces surrendered a hive to the alien aggressors. Under command of Marneus Calgar, Dirkden was handed to the Genestealer Cults, while the defenders concentrated on more important hivesprawls. 

Operation: Skyshield - Dirkden Hivesprawl

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Crucible Of Battle / Targets Of Opportunity.

Primary Objective: Vital Ground.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Skysplinter Assault.

This engagement occurred during the Rift Warden's attempts to dislodge the Drukhari slavers in the spires and streets of Dirkden Hivesprawl. Operation: Skyshield continued for several weeks before the chapter was able to drive the Drukhari from Vigilus. Before this goal could be achieved however, two engagements had to be fought in the spires to drive the enemy into the streets where their forces could be more easily contained. Both operations were successful and led to the chapter's ultimate victory.

Operation: Skyshield was successfully fought by the Rift Warden's veteran company, phobos company and several squads of marines against a strong Drukhari opposition in the streets of Dirkden and in the vicinity of the southern gates. The loss of the spire forces and many of their transports constituted a grave setback for the Drukhari.

As a result of these victories, Rift Warden forces under the command of Captain Galadhus, captured the main hivesprawl highway and established a new strategically strong fortified line. This line ran the length of the hivesprawl and continued into the neighbouring the districts. With the capture of this vital location and decimation of the Drukhari, saw the alien raiders driven from Vigilus. For the Imperial defenders and the civilian population, this victory was a huge morale boost.

Streets Of Dirkden - Dirkden Hivesprawl

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn Of War / Minefields.

Primary Objective: Deploy Servo Skulls.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Realspace Raiders.

This engagement was fought during the Dirkden crusade, by the Rift Wardens against the Drukhari raiders who had launched raids into the spires in weeks previously. Despite repeated attempted by the space marines, the strategic objective of a decisive victory had not been achieved although the infliction of many casualties on the alien attackers and the defensive of several battle zones was considered a considerable tactical victory.

The Drukhari defensive successes on the right flank made exploitation and the use of outflanking units impossible. Raiders and Ravagers dominated the airspace between the spires and without air support, the Rift Wardens found themselves in a difficult position. The Drukhari advance did fail due to the sheer amount of small arms fire but they were slowly taking ground. Outriders did eventually make it through at the rear of the enemy to expose their weaker lines. 

The rear attack was a limited success, after supply issues and enemy counter-attacks. Drukhari reinforcements were soon incoming and the Rift Wardens were driven back, sustaining heavy casualties. The Rift Wardens suffered the greatest losses here than they had anywhere else during the Vigilus Crusade.

Battle Of The Spires - Dirkden Hivesprawl

Points: 1000.

Mission: Death And Zeal.

Secondary Objectives: Bring It Down, Engage On All Fronts and No Prisoners.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Bring It Down, Herd The Prey and No Prisoners.

The battle of the spires was a minor engagement that took place during the defence if Dirkden. When reports of missing civilian workers, arbites and Astra Militarum patrols in the upper spires reached the ears of Arthurus, it was assumed to be the work of the Genestealer Cult active within the hive. Arthurus personally led a force into the spires to engage the xenos but found out that the enemy was none other the Drukhari seeking slaves. Thankfully for the space marines the spires proved easy to defend and the chapter hunkered down awaiting their foes return.

Over the course of days the two forces engaged in brief firefights which quickly developed into a stalemate. In an effort to break this deadlock, the Drukhari launched an offensive upon the space marines by dropping incubi in to contain them in close combat while aircraft strafed their positions. As part of this effort, the infamous Drazhar also took part.

Two squads of incubi led by Drazhar mounted a futile attack on the Rift Warden positions in the upper spires. Due to the superior skills of the space marines and some inflexible decision making, the incubui were all slain and Drazhar cast from the parapets - although unsubstantiated rumours suggest that he somehow survived. Over four successive waves of attack the Drukhari lost their entire force while losses to the Rift Wardens were negligable.

Dirkden City Fight - Dirkden Hivesprawl

Points: 1500.

Mission: Abandoned City.

Secondary Objectives: Assassinate, Engage On All Fronts and Oaths of Moment.

The battle began in the early morning before sunrise when the Genestealer Cult detonated a series of explosives in the sewers and waste tunnels beneath the Imperial lines. This act of terrorism killed many thousands of guardsmen and dropped a number of tanks and artillery pieces into those fire filled tunnels. The Astra Militarum commanders sought permission to the withdraw but the Rift Wardens advised that retreat was cowardice and would only undermine the victories that the space marines had so far achieved in the Dirkeden Hivesprawl. Cultists began making probing attacks within a few hours of daybreak.

By mid-afternoon, the cult had suffered heavy casualties thanks to the Rift Wardens, and had only been successful in dislodging the Astra Militarum from some entrenched forward positions. Although outnumbered the Imperial forces had better weapons and a higher rate of fire. Both sides were committed to a tight city fight by early evening. By nightfall, the cult had suffered extreme losses while the Astra Militarum had not weathered their attacks surprisingly well. The failure of the xenos attacks bolstered the Imperial defenders morale.

The Genestealer Cult counter attack came during the midnight hour with the cult attacking the Astra Militarum left flank, quickly overrunning them and into the central lines. The cult captured territory that had been hard won by the space marines just days earlier. The cult moved it's heavy weapons forward but little return fire took place. The cult forces emerged from their hiding places and captured further territory from the Imperium. This final engagement saw the cult drive the Astra Militarum from their positions, forcing the Rift Wardens to perform a rear guard action to cover the retreat. The chapter was far from pleased and the company soon needed a new commander, one more agreeable to the chapter's efforts in the war.

Battle of Fortwall - Dirkden Hivesprawl

Points: 1000.

Mission: Centre Ground.

Secondary Objectives: Assassinate, Engage On All Fronts and Oaths of Moment.

The battle of Fortwell was a major initial battle against the Genestealer Cults in their stronghold of Dirkden Hivesprawl. It took place in the Fortwall district which, if retaken, would allow Imperial forces the opportunity to stage a retake of the hive city. After the Rift Wardens successfully fought through the hybrid defenders, they were able to fortify Fortwall district and weaken the cult forces in the area. The battle was a victory for the Rift Wardens, but with heavy casualties on both sides.