Brother vs Brother - Paragon Secundus

Points: 1000.

Mission: Crossfire.

Secondary Objectives: Engage On All Fronts, Oaths of Moment and Slay The Warlord.

In the aftermath of the Plague Wars, the Rift Wardens assisted the Ultramarines in cleansing the Paragon system of the Nurgle infestation. Concerns had been raised that the Rift Wardens had been overzealous in their efforts to purge the chaos presence, killing innocent Imperial citizens. Chapter Lorgraine made the case that the only way to ensure that the taint of the ruinous powers was cleansed from Paragon Secundus was to eradicate the population and start again. Despite Ultramarines captain Chrissus requested a hold on the purge Lorgraine continued to decimate the civilian population.

This lead to Chrissus leading an attack on the Rift Wardens attempting to force a stay of execution. Lorgraine saw this as an attack on the chapter and unwarranted, and retaliated with extreme prejudice. The battle was brief and saw the Ultramarines killed to a man, including captain Chrissus. The Ultramarines, seething with anger, mobilised and brought the two chapters to war.

Battle for Avalonia - Dharrovar

 

Points: 2000.

Mission: No Man's Land.

Secondary Objectives: Engage On All Fronts, Oaths of Moment and Secure No Man's Land.

The next target in the Dharrover campaign was the city state of Avalonia. The Rift Wardens were deployed to the Avalonian space port in anticipation of an arrival of Astra Militarum forces arriving from orbit. The space marines were tasked with preventing the arrival of supplies and reinforcements ahead of the Imperial assault.

Avalonia was defended to two main fortresses, one on each of the east and west side of the city, as well as several smaller fortifications around the space port. Due to the surprise Imperial attack, these smaller fortifications were only partially manned. Orbital bombardments took down the void shields and decimated the city's fortifications. The Rift Warden attack was swift and sudden. Few of the defenders had survived the initial attack, with only a few sporadic groups of enemy guardsmen putting up a defence. Imperial command ordered the Rift Wardens to hold and occupy the space port ahead of the main landing.

Chapter Master Arthurus, took command of three companies to patrol the parameter of the landing zone. The Astra Militarum defenders attempted to launch a counter attack supported with what few artillery units they had left. Immediatly the Rift Wardens organised a defensive line to safeguard the landing zone. After two hours of trading small arms fire, Arthurus decided to lead his battle brothers in a direct assault, weathering the storm to bring down the traitorous guard and their artillery units. Although the defenders were supported by handful of lemun russ battle tanks, they were unable to hold back the space marine attack, an were cut down to a man. When the loyalist guardsmen arrived, they found a space port already pacified by the Rift Wardens.

The Battle of Bassilica - Dharrovar

Points: 2000.

Mission: Vital Intelligence.

Secondary Objectives: Bring It Down, Engage On All Fronts and Oaths of Moment.

Following the Imperial strike to liberate Dharrover from the traitorous King Kaligius, the planet fell into civil war with those knights and astra militarum forces loyal to the Emperor turning on the planet's ruler in support of the attacking forces. 

It was clear from the start that the Imperial forces must control the main urban centres on the planet, whether those be the major hive cities or heavily fortified fortress settlements. The Rift Wardens were tasked with the capture of a knightly stronghold known simple as the Bassilica. At the time it was not known that the fortress was held by an Astra Militarum regiment, the Neotian Saints, led by the the famous Commissar Yarrick. They were loyal but to start with, it was assumed they were traitors under sway of the enemy.

Yarrick had over ten thousand troops at his command but they now faced a space marine assault force of nearly 500 battle brothers. Attempts by Yarrick to communicate with the Rift Wardens failed due to sabotage by the former regiment who had occupied the Bassilica in the years previously. The Rift Wardens surrounded the city and launched simultaneous attacks which breached the gates within minutes.

The battle that chapter master Arthurus faced was different from those he was used to fighting. The Rift Wardens relied mostly on sudden and brutal assaults which allowed his battle brothers to engage in close combat with the enemy before small arms fire could be brought to bare. At the Bassilica however, the defenders were well fortified behind barricades and shield walls, and possessed heavy artillery which would make the assault charges ineffective. In addition, once inside the fortress proper, it would be the Neotian Saints who would have control of the avenues of fire.

On the first day, the Rift Wardens killed over a thousand of the defenders while sustaining minimal causalities. On the second day of the attack, the Rift Wardens destroyed the fortress' power generators, plunging the fortification into near darkness, lit only by the red glow of emergency lights. On the third day, Yarrick launched a general counter-assault and the Neotian Saints managed to dislodge the advancing space marines. Most of the fighting was hand to hand, with chainswords and bayonets, and any firefights were point blank range. No prisoners were taken by either side, and somehow the defenders repulsed the Rift Warden assault.

As the battle dragged on into the third day, reinforcements arrived for the Rift Wardens with a hundred fresh battle brothers. At this point Yarrick felt the only way to end the battle was to take to the field and track down Arthurus, which he did in the ruins of the old armoury. Yarrick and Arthurus duelled until the commissar fell to the superior space marine. Arthurus recognised the hero of the Imperium and demanded to know why he had turned his back on the Emperor. Yarrick explained the situation and requested an end to the battle. Arthurus agreed pending the commissar and his regiment submit to the inspection for potential heresy. 

The battle ended on the fourth day with the Bassilica in Imperial hands. Yarrick and his men were found loyal, and joined the invasion force. The Rift Wardens, although successful in taking the fortress had lost much in manpower and equipment, a pyrrhic victory at best.

Counterinsurgency Action - Otek Hivesprawl

Points: 2000.

Mission: Vital Intelligence.

Secondary: Data Intercept, Engage on All Fronts, and Oaths of Moment.

This engagement was a counterinsurgency action fought by the Right Wardens in a desperate attempt to contain the cult and eradicate it from Otek Hivesprawl once and for all. Chapter master Arthurus decided that a dedicated push against the cult was needed here and called upon several companies to assist, pulling them from other duties across Vigilus. 

The attempted enforcement led to a major battle as the cult retaliated en masse. The Rift Wardens were able to hold the cult and push them into a central location where the plan was to annihilate them. However, the cult had centuries to prepare for their actions and soon cult reinforcements were attacking the rear of the space marine forces, locking them between two enraged groups of cultists. Arthurus was forced to listen to his captains and lieutenants, and the attack was changed to an organised fall back, pushing through the rear cult lines. The cult suffered major casualties but the hive remained in their hands.

Battle of Zann Spaceport - Pariah Nexus

Points: 2000.

Mission: No Man's Land.

Secondary Objectives: Engage On All Fronts, Oaths Of Moment, and Slay The Warlord.

The Battle of Zaan Spaceport was a major battle in the early days of the war for the planet Zann. The Rift Wardens were dispatched from Greyhaven to Zann to spearhead a new offensive. Arthurus led the initial strike against the Necron forces present at the main spaceport. The Necron detachment successfully defeated the Rift Wardens, severely wounding Arthurus and forcing his emergency evacuation. The battle ended with a significant defeat for the space marines and a major set back for the Zann offensive.

Battle of Sector 14 - Hesperous Prime

Power Level: 30.

Mission: Assassinate.

Agendas: Kingslayer.

While the Rift Wardens fought for survival in Sector 12 of Hesperous City, Librarian Ramirez was tasked with tracking down the Dark Angels command in the neighbouring sector. Taking a small contingent of marines with him, he hunted down the Dark Angels captain in the narrow confines of the city.

Ramirez' forces threaded their way through the ruined city from the west, while Aurthurus' forces fought the main battle way behind him.  Ramirez' forces encountered the Dark Angels forward fire base with ease and launched a sudden attack which initially took the enemy by surprise.

Unfortunately the battle was far too brief, as the two forces locked into combat in the sprawling alleyways. Within minutes, before they could even get close to the enemy captain, Ramirez had been slain and his battle brothers with him. The Rift Wardens had lost a hero for no gain in the war.

Battle for Sector 12 - Hesperous Prime

 

Power Level: 30.

Mission: Sweep and Clear.

Agendas: Reaper.

Following the previous betrayal by the Dark Angels, the Rift Wardens had fallen back to regroup and organise a counter attack. The initial plan was to perform a sweep and clear of the surrounding sectors to ensure that the enemy were contained away from the chapter's base camp. The detachment assigned to Sector 12 was the first to encounter the Dark Angel advance.

The engagement opened with the Dark Angels attacking from the cover of ruined habitat complexes, catching the Rift Wardens in a perfectly executed pincer attack. Reports came in that the enemy were attacking other scout patrols. 

By midday the battle for Sector 12 was largely static, with both forces hunkered down and trading bolter fire at a distance. The Dark Angels attack had made advances but they suffered heavy casualties doing so. Chapter Master Arthurus arrived to bolster his battle brothers and sent a team led by Librarian Ramirez forward to strike a blow against the Dark Angel command forces. Arthurus arrival helped but the Rift Wardens had taken severe causalities and Arthurus was forced reluctantly to withdraw his forces, leaving only a small group to cover their retreat.

The Dark Angels captain ordered his troops to pursue and destroy with extreme aggression. The Rift Wardens retreat was blocked by fallen masonry and they were forced to try and find other routes back to their command base. The Dark Angel pursuit was hampered by stiff resistance and heavy fire from the Rift Wardens honoured dreadnoughts, resulting in more casualties.

After heavy fighting the Dark Angels succeeded in pushing into assault range, causing the Rift Wardens lines to collapse and their left flank partially cut off from reinforcement. At the same point, further tactical squads arrived from Sector 13, enabling the Dark Angels to encircle the surviving Rift Wardens.

All but encircled and with no hope for victory, Arthurus gave the order to retreat. The Rift Wardens withdrawal was complicated by the sheer number of enemy marines in their path, and soon it turned into an organised rout. 

Purge The Heretics - Otek Hivesprawl

Points: 2000.

Mission: Retrieval Mission.

Secondary: Engage on All Fronts, Oaths of Moment and Slay The Warlord.

In response to their previous defeat, Arthurus issued orders to his battle brothers to attack the genestealer cult forces in a manoeuvre to outflank their vanguard and drive them back into the tunnels before further reinforcements could arrive. However, due to cult sabotage some companies were blocked from arriving in time. 

The battle began with an attack on a fortified stronghold of the cult leaders. The battle was swift and decisive but the Rift Wardens took severe casualties. Outrider squads intended to surround the enemy found their routes mined or blocked, and were forced to find other, more lengthy routes to get to their intended way points. A number of intercessor squads were lured away by the sudden arrival of cultists from storm drains and service hatches. These diversions soon forced the space marines to pull back

By the next morning, the Rift Wardens forces had been split up by the cult diversions and with further reinforcements, the chapter was at a severe disadvantage. Even so, Arthurus insisted that they continue the offensive. Even his lieutenants and captains could not sway him from this course of action.

Over the next two days, the Rift Wardens were able to secure forward territory for the Astra Militarum forces behind them but it cost the chapter dearly in manpower and equipment. A pyrrhic victory at best. 

Brother vs Brother - Iago

Points: 2000.

Mission: No Man's Land.

Secondary Objectives: Engage On All Fronts, Oaths of Moment and Secure No Man's Land.

Opponent's Secondary Objectives: Bring It Down, Engage On All Fronts, and Secure No Man's Land.

For several weeks the Rift Wardens have been fighting alongside their brothers, the Crimson Fists, against the greenskin menace occupying the Iago system. A hard fought engagement that finally saw the Emperor's finest seizure these vital worlds back from the enemy although at great cost. Unfortunately events took a downturn at the end of the crusade when the two chapters came to blows over the treatment of the surviving Imperial citizens.

The situation took a turn when the last surviving orks took refuge in an overpopulated settlement. Rather than use scouts and eliminators to remove the last remnants of the ork threat, the Rift Wardens charged in. They killed orks and Imperial citizens alike in their crusade to eradicate the greenskins. In retaliation for the slaughter, Pedro Kantor led his battle brothers against the Rift Wardens.

As the Rift Wardens scoured the area of their last battle for signs of any remaining orks, the Crimson Fists dropped an ambush upon them. Drop pods fell from the skies and stormtalons roared in across the wastelands. The Rift Wardens weathered a storm of bolter fire that halted their search. They held their ground and returned fire, enraged that their fellow battle brothers would turn on them.

The element of surprise worked in the Crimson Fist's favour ultimately and they were able to deal a fatal blow the Rift Wardens present. Word had reached the Rift Wardens command though and chapter master Arthurus vowed revenge upon Kantor!

Betrayal - Hesperous Prime

Power Level: 60.

Mission: Overrun.

Agendas: And They Shall Know No Fear and Recover Archeotech.

Responding to an Alpha Legion attack on the Imperial world of Hesperous Prime, the Rift Wardens find their brothers, the Dark Angels, engaged in the battle. Over the course of a month the two marine chapters cleanse the planet of traitor astartes. However, unknown to the Rift Wardens, their brothers had come to this Imperial world in search of the Fallen, several of whom were within the ranks of the Alpha Legion. Unwilling to allow that potential knowledge to leave with the Rift Wardens, the Dark Angels turn upon their brothers in a surprise attack.

The battle began with the Dark Angels company moving towards the Rift Wardens through the streets of the ruined city in which they had fought the Alpha Legions. Not expecting betrayal, the Rift Wardens paid little attention as they swept the ruins for any survivours.

Once within range, the Dark Angels captains ordered their brothers to open fire into the Rift Wardens. The plan being to pin the Rift Wardens down while then striking hard into their lines with aggressors and dreadnoughts. The Rift Wardens suffered casualties in the initial attack and in places were forced to fall back.

The Dark Angel assault successfully turned the Rift Warden's right flank. forcing the chapter to regroup near the entrance to a series of mine workings. By nightfall, the Rift Wardens had sustained a number of casualties but held their ground. Captain Andred ordered his assault units into the battle and their counter-attack forced back the Dark Angel momentum. 

The Dark Angels soon began to retreat following the counter-attack. Some of their brothers were unable to complete the fall back due to the presence of the Rift Wardens assault intercessors, who had overrun their positions. By nightfall, the Rift Wardens had turned the tables and broken through the Dark Angels lines. The chapter continued to fall back although they in turn took casualties as they rear-guarded the retreat.

At this point, the Rift Wardens consolidated their positions. There had been no communication from the Dark Angels during or after the engagement. Captain Andred vowed vengeance against the Dark Angels for this betrayal.