Press The Advantage - Hesperous Prime

Points: 1000.

Mission: Desperate Raid.

Secondary Objectives: Assassination, Engage On All Fronts and Retrieve Nephilim Data.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Oaths of Moment, Raise The Banners High and Stubborn Defiance.

With the Dark Angels in retreat, one captain gathered about him his most experienced battle brothers. They held firm to prevent the Rift Wardens overrunning their forces. Together they launched a counter-attack  despite it leaving them separated from their own forces. Though they might die, they would go down in the records of their chapter.

The Rift Wardens attacked the Dark Angel position with full force and fury. The Rift Wardens had intercepted vox communications and thus were well prepared for what awaited them. The attack was a costly failure but their expectations were bolstered by the arrival of Captain Andred and Lieutenant Agrippa. Under their command advances were made and the Dark Angel force before them was once more forced to fall back. This time the Rift Wardens did not challenge the retreat. The Dark Angels were neither attacked not pursued.

The next day, Andred noted that the fleeing Dark Angels had been forced by terrain to split into two groups, which offered the possibility of an enveloping pincer attack from the flanks. The risk was that should the enemy be reinforced by their battle brothers before them that the Rift Wardens might suffer greater casualties. Andred chose a cautious policy of preventing the danger by targeting one force with everything at his disposal and then moving to eradicate the other, thus lowering the risks to his own forces.

Attempts by the Dark Angels to halt those attacks were repulsed and requests for reinforcements were sent out. With their arrival, Lieutenant Agrippa suggested to his captain that a direct large assault was what was needed here but Andred overruled his request. Although Andred reported his actions as a successful victory to chapter master Arthurus, in truth his own forces had lost a number of battle brothers to death and injury. Andred wisely pulled his forces back and looked at the possibility of flanking the Dark Angels as they further retreated away from the Rift Wardens.

Andred's Revenge - Hesperous Prime

 

Points: 1000.

Mission: Sacred Ground.

Secondary Objectives: Assassination, Bolster Barricades and Engage On All Fronts.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Engage On All Fronts, Martial Interdiction and Oaths Of Moment.

On the morning of the battle, the Rift Wardens led by captain Andred entered the warzone and attacked the Dark Angels present. Unlike previous battles where the majority of casualties inflicted by the Dark Angels plasma weaponry, this engagement was a close range fight where the Rift Warden's close range bolter fire caused devastating results upon the Dark Angels.

The Dark Angels deployed their devastator squads some 200 metres behind the rest of their battle brothers, while the Rift Wardens tanks had the range to open fire upon them. With this deployment, the Dark Angels has accidently increased the effectiveness of the Rift Wardens heavy weapons, because without heavy support the Dark Angels lacked the strength to repel their foe.

The Dark Angels fifth company was on the right flank, occupying a series of roads between two of the Hesperous hive cities. Their third company was in the centre of the battlefield, with the fourth company on the left flank. The road had taken heavy damage during the war against the Alpha Legion and has sunk in places, providing inadequate firing positions. In many places the Rift Wardens could close the distance to the Dark Angel positions largely protected from enemy fire. On the right flank, the Rift Wardens marched along the road, rapid bolter fire pouring into the enemy. The Dark Angels suffered heavy casualties and were forced to withdraw.

In the early hours, one of the Dark Angel chaplains decided to strike back at the Rift Wardens, strike hard and then continue to withdraw his forces. The fifth company had a "hold at all costs" mentality and it was evident in their fighting. The second company of the Dark Angels were soon forced to fight a delaying action as the Rift Wardens continued to advance into their lines.

Holding their ground despite many casualties, around noon, the Dark Angel right and the left flank began to collapse. The arrival of Captain Andred provided a boost to the Rift Wardens. He engaged the enemy chaplain and although grievously wounded, Andred was able to lead his battle brothers to victory over the enemy. 

Battle of Tannhauser Gate - Dharrovar

Power Level: 45.

Mission: The Ritual.

Agendas: Angels of Death and Priority Target.

Opponent's Agendas: Honour Must Be Satisfied and Kingslayer.

A few weeks into the campaign, the Imperial forces began to advance upon the Tannhauser Hive City. The Rift Wardens are directed to take the centre of the defenders lines, as this was judged to be the weakest point. Little did they realise that the defenders were supported by Knight units. Inititally the Rift Wardens were successful and managed to take control of the Tannhauser Gate, the main entrance into the hive city, while the Astra Militarum pushed on and into the city proper. The Rift Wardens were able to limit the Knight advance, House Hawkshroud in particular, fighting with great tenacity. Imperial attacks across the city were repulsed however by traitor guardsmen. To force further into the streets, the Astra Militarum moved to the centre of the city from the flanks. This manoeuvre was exploited by the Knights and the guardsmen were forced back lest their be destroyed in the close confines of Tannhauser.

During the night, the Knights continued to decimate the Imperial attackers and they concentrated their efforts against the Rift Wardens. They then launched an early morning attack to back the Tannhauser Gate. The Knights attacked en masse against the forces defending it. The effort was a success but the Rift Wardens counter-attacked inflicting light losses upon the knightly house. Even so, this attack had a devastating effect on the Imperial morale who had expected a much easier engagement and should have been celebrating the liberation of the city. The Imperial lines were kept under almost constant bombardment and eventually the Imperial lines fell and retreated.

The Battle for Mortwald - Mortwald

Points: 1500.

Mission: No Man's Land.

Secondary Objectives: Oaths of Moment, Secure No Man's Land and Slay The Warlord.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Despoiled Ground, Slay The Warlord and Spread The Sickness.

After weeks of fighting throughout the outer districts of Mortwald, the Rift Wardens found themselves in danger of being surrounded by ever-increasing numbers of plague marines. Outnumbered, the Rift Wardens continued to resist the Death Guard attacks, especially from the hivesprawl's interior. Things became worse when it was revealed that Mortarion, daemon primarch of the Death Guard, was active upon Vigilus and leading his armies against the Imperium. Arthurus bravely fought Mortarion to a standstill giving his battle brothers time to fall back and regroup beyond the hivesprawl's walls. Things had changed. Not just Abaddon walked the sands of Vigilus but now the master of plagues as well.

The Second Battle of Chernobog - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 2000.

Mission: Conversion.

Secondary Objectives: Assassination, Bolster Barricades and Engage On All Fronts.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Despoilers of Reality, Nourished By Terror and Reality Rebels.

The second battle of Chernobog was a battle in the Vigilus Campaign that took place near the site of that polluted ruin. It would prove a victory for the daemons of Chaos but one that they would struggle to replicate later in the war.

On the day of the battle, a Rift Wardens patrol came under attack by a fresh horde of daemons. After the initial assault, the space marines were forced to retreat to a nearby fortification. Meanwhile the daemons poured forth from the corrupted ruins of Chernobog and spread out into the wastelands. On the second day, the Rift Wardens found themselves once again assaulted by a horde of daemonettes. Little was achieved by either side after two days of fighting, other than a reduction in fighting strength of the Rift Wardens.

On the third day, the space marines were attacked from the east by new force of Slaanesh daemons led by more powerful daemons. The Rift Wardens put up a desperate fight but by the end of the day were forced to retreat. With no one to stop them, the Slaaneshi daemons dispersed into the wastelands only to attack Imperial convoys or assaulting the walls of the great Hivesprawls.

Fire and Ice - Vanaheim

Points: 1000.

Mission: Crossfire.

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

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Attrition, Engage On All Fronts and Slay the Warlord.

The reason for the war between the Rift Wardens and Space Wolves has been lost to the ages. The archives of both chapters has been purged of this engagement and the lords of the two chapters will not speak of it. Even so, the war between the two chapters on the ice world of Vanaheim lasted for several months before both chapters departed leaving a blasted world in their wake.

Going into battle, the Space Wolves enjoyed two key advantages over the Rift Wardens: superior numbers and a better strategic position. Wolf Lord Danki Frostblade's force enjoyed a numerical advantage of two to one. On the morning of the first day, Danki's marines encountered the Rift Wardens under Captain Gwaine, near the town of Zakilov. At midday the Space Wolves engaged the Rift Wardens and secured a series of vital objectives. By the end of the first day, the Rift Wardens were driven back in disarray.

On day two, the Rift Wardens under Gwaine, tried to continue their advance south, unaware that Danki's forces were laying in wait for them. This second engagement lasted most of the day, well into the afternoon, when the Rift Wardens fell back to their staging area.

The Battle of Tannenburg - Talos

Points: 1000.

Mission: Ransack.

Secondary Objectives: Bring It Down, Raise The Banners High and Shock Tactics.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Attrition, Engage On All Fronts and Ransack.

The Battle of Tannebburg was fought between the Rift Wardens and the Tyranid horde over four days. The battle resulted in the almost complete destruction of two space marine companies and the death of captain Lamorak. A series of follow up battles destroyed several Astra Militarum regiments and kept the Imperium off balance for several weeks.

The battle is notable for the speed at which the Tyranid forces moved, enabling them to concentrate against the Rift Wardens and the Astra Militarum in turn, first destroying the space marines and then the guardsmen before pushing into Imperial held territory. 

Battle of Brackenheim - Dharrovar

Points: 1000.

Mission: Forward Push.

Secondary Objectives: Bring It Down, Forward Push and Shock Tactics.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Engage On All Fronts, First Strike and Raise The Banners High.

At dawn on day 1 of the battle, a basilisk artillery bombardment began on the loyalist lines; throughout the day the traitor Militarum concentrated on the Imperial forces at the forefront of their lines. After a couple hours of bombardment the first enemy infantry assault began, with the enemy attempting to force their way across four bridges that crossed a vital viaduct. Four enemy battalions attacked the Alpha bridge, which was defended by a company of Rift Wardens. Advancing at first in close column, the enemy guardsmen made easy targets for the space marines. So heavy was the Rift Warden bolter fire throughout the battle that the enemy were swiftly demoralised. 

The traitor Militarum attack was a costly failure and they switched to an open formation and attacked again. This attack was more successful, as the looser formation made it harder for the space marines to inflict such heavy casualties. The outnumbered Imperial defenders were soon hard-pressed to defend the bridges and two bridges were only held due to piecemeal reinforcements and exceptional bravery. At Alpha bridge, Captain Lamorak took direct control of a several squads and launched a counter-attack. Although successful, Lamorak took severe injuries and had to be evacuated. The chapter's tech marines managed to destroy Beta bridge but were prevented from destroying the other three.

The enemy Militarum pressed their attack against Alpha bridge and the Rift Wardens. Greatly outnumbered, the space marines suffered many casualties but inflicted considerable damage upon the attacking forces. The enemy expanded their attack, assaulting loyalist defences along the length of the viaduct. They used the cover of ruined fortifications that lined the river and advanced to within a hundred yards of the river, to rake the loyalists with heavy weapon and artillery fire. The attack fell heavily upon the Rift Wardens, who despite many casualties repulsed the traitors throughout the day.

By afternoon, the Imperial position had become untenable, with thousands of guardsmen and officers killed or wounded. To the east, traitor infantry had begun to cross the bridges in force, threatening the Imperial right flank. With the loyalist Militarum now forced to deal with an unexpected front, the Rift Wardens lost supporting fire and the enemy were able to increase pressure against them.

Captain Lorgraine joined his battle brothers and upon reading the battle reports was convinced that an advance could still be made. However by mid-afternoon he was forced to order a retreat to positions a short distance to the south and the loyalist guardsmen performed a similar retreat towards evening. By nightfall, the loyalist forces had established a new defensive line running through a series of smaller fortifications. The enemy seized control of the bridges and were approaching the loyalists in great strength. The loyalist Militarum retreated further, dangerously exposing the Rift Wardens to the full might of the enemy advance. Shortly after midnight, Lorgraine have the reluctant order to retreat to the south-west to reach defensible positions. Lorgraine accepted that an advance would not be position and that the retreat was an unfortunate necessity. 

Both sides had success at the battle of Brackenheim: the Imperium had been outnumbered about 3 to 1 but managed to withstand the enemy forces for 48 hours, inflicted more casualties on the enemy and then retired in good order. Although the bridges were lost, the battle was an important moral victory for the loyalists as they felt that they had got the upper hand during the fighting. The traitor Militarum appeared to recognise that they had been dealt a sharp blow by an army they thought would have been an easy kill.

The bridges had fallen into enemy hands but realistically, the enemy were now contained if they wished to continue holding such strategic locations.

The Affair at the Kiara Oasis - Vigilus Wastelands

Power Level: 60.

Mission: Supplies From Above.

Agendas: Cull The Hordes, Kingslayer and Recover Mission Archives.

Opponent's Agendas: Kingslayer, Megawaaagh and Reaper.

The Affair at the Kiara Oasis (affair, an action or engagement not of sufficient magnitude to be called a battle) was fought by the Rift Wardens against Ork raiders in a remote desert oasis out in the wastelands between the hivesprawls. The space marine defenders mined the approaches to the oasis, destroyed any potential barricades and dug into the abandoned site ready to defend it against the greenskin raiders. The Ork attack was repulsed and then a counter-attack was ordered but it failed to defeat the enemy.

The Rift Wardens hunkered down for the night due to concerns that further Ork troops might cut off any retreat and outnumber them. The affair lasted for two days before the space marines received aerial evacuation. The Kiara Oasis fell into Ork hands and would remain so for the remainder of the campaign.

Titanic Engagement - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 1500.

Mission: Data Scry Salvage.

Secondary Objectives: Bring It Down, Bolster Barricades and No Prisoners.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: A Fitting Challenge, Path of Destruction and Ruthless Tyranny.

Following the arrival of Abaddon the Despoiler and his heretic forces, the Rift Wardens found themselves fighting alongside many of their Imperial allies in a forty kilometre long front protecting the advance towards Mortwald Hivesprawl. The first threat these defenders would face would not be the Black Legion but a vanguard force of Chaos Knights roaming ahead of the Legio Mortis.

Day 1.

On the morning of the first day of this engagement, Imperial Navy spotter aircraft reported to command that a phalanx of Chaos Knights were moving towards Mortwalk. In accordance with established plans, those battalions ranging ahead moved forwards to intercept the enemy then seek to assist the remaining defenders where possible. The Cadian 1567th were ordered to bolster the defence lines and the Rift Wardens were tasked to cooperate in this by filling in the gaps along the defences. Unknown to the defenders, the Knights of House Vextrix had already clashed with the Astra Militarum vanguards. By late afternoon the Chaos Knights were still on advance towards the hivesprawl, and in consequence the spotter aircraft were ordered to reconnoitre their movements and informed the defending marines and guardsmen to be ready to attack. 

By evening, vanguards had pushed back the Vextrix assaults. Communications revealed that the Chaos Knight presence was much larger and more powerful than had been expected. The forward lines were evacuated as night fell and the survivours made haste to join the main defence lines. For now the enemy had succeeded in pushing into Imperial held territory largely with impunity.

On the eastern front, outposts of the Rift Wardens had been attacked mid-afternoon. Despite initial failures, the Chaos Knights continued with their attacks and forced their way through. A space marine counter-attack inflicted severe damage but failed to push the enemy back. By late evening, Captain Lorgraine reported continuing efforts to defeat the enemy.

Day 2.

In a report the following morning, Lorgriane confirmed to Imperial command the violence presented by the enemy against their lines. In further communications, he requested that the loyalist Knights and Titans "make themselves felt as soon as possible."

On the Imperial west flank, the Astra Militarum and what what space marine forces there were, were ordered to make movements in preparation of an offensive action. At the same time, Imperial command hastened the relief of the Rift Wardens by a number of loyalist Knights. The offensive movements were stopped by an attack by Knights of House Griffith. Although the attack did not prevent the relief of his own troops, Lorgriane reported that he would be unable to reinforce the Rift Warden position due to the number of casualties his company had suffered.

Day 3.

On the third day, the Knights of House Vextrix attacked the Imperial lines en masse. The attack threatened to cut the Imperial line of retreat but the Rift Wardens bravely stopped their advance with a brace counter-attack. This allowed the Astra Militarum to retreat to Mortwald with minimal loss of life. With the majority of Imperial forces retreating towards the hivesprawl, Lorgraine signalled the order to withdraw, lest his battle brothers by encircled and cut off from escape. House Vextrix was victorious in this engagement.