Battle In The Wastes - Vigilus Wastelands

Points: 1600.

Mission: Overwhelming Dread.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Traitoris Lance.

Agendas: Calculated Devastation, Monstrous Targets and Priority Kill Zone.

Opponent's Agendas: Critical Objectives and To The Last.

As the sun rose over the deserts of Vigilus, the Rift Wardens chapter of space marines left their trenches following an hour long artillery preparation. Part of this was artillery fire directed an an oncoming traitor Knight lance advancing on the Imperial lines. A rolling barrage of artillery fore was calculated to give the Rift Wardens time to keep up behind it.

The Rift Wardens, led by chapter master Arthurus plus a handful of veteran aggressors and several land raiders captured territory from the enemy forces. This objective was situated on a high ground surrounded by broken rocks, making it an ideal observation for monitoring the Chaos Knights.

Because the Rift Wardens did not have them at hand, the Imperial Navy provided air cover, multiple artillery regiments and multiple guardsmen squads. The Rift Wardens themselves brought their own land raiders and spartans, whose purpose was to eliminate the smaller Karnivore engines. With the Astra Militarum artillery to aid them, Arthurus' battle brothers were victorious in destroying the enemy Knights. A much needed victory for the chapter.

Battle Of The Borderlands - Pariah

 

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Crucible Of Battle / Hidden Supplies.

Primary Objective: Burden Of Trust.

Detachment: Anvil Strike Force.

Opponents Detachment: Hypercrypt Legion

The Battle of the Borderlands was fought over several days on the Hell's Point front. The battle took place during the final stages of the Imperial offensive, The battle began as a penetrative action launched by Necron forces, to advance their lines and bolster their opposition through a series of small raids against the Imperium. Afterwards, both sides rotated their forces in the area and the Rift Wardens launched a counter-attack against forces led by Illuminor Szeras. This attack was eventually repulsed and the Necron line held.

Battle of Cemetery Fields - St Keeler's Rest

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Tipping Point / Adapt Or Die.

Primary Objective: Linchpin.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Bringers Of Flame.

After their defeat at the drop site location, Arthurus realised that his forces were soon to face an overwhelming force of Sororitas determined to protect their shrine world. He ordered his brothers to dig into defensive positions and they formed a 1 mile long line of trenches between their landing site and the oncoming Sororitas. Arthurus called for rapid reinforcements and Captain Lorgraine arrived with terminators and hellblasters in drop pods. Most of the Rift Wardens reinforcements were unable to arrive in time however, due to overwhelming anti-air fire from the shrine complexes, and were forces to make planet fall at the chapter's initial landing zones.

The Sororitas reached Cemetery Fields part way through the evening. Heavy weapons fire pounded the Rift Warden positions and soon, the Sisters were attacking towards their lines. Frequent attacks were made one after the after through the night. Finally, Arthurus ordered his forces to pull back. They were running low on ammunition and had taken numerous casualties. Lorgraine retreated to a nearby shrine complex and set it on fire to draw the Sororitas attention away from the marines falling back. This led to his battle brothers fighting in close quarters combat and short range fire fights throughout the early hours. This engagement cost the chapter dearly in manpower but allowed the main marine force to regroup unoppposed.

Operation Annihilation: Counter Assault - Vigilus Wastelands

 

Points: 1250.

Deployment and Mission: Sweeping Engagement / Hidden Supplies.

Primary Objective: Linchpin..

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Dread Mob.

The Rift Warden offensive against the Ork scrap cities was launched chief librarian Uther's forces marched South in order to block the Orks from receiving reinforcements. Uther cut the greenskin supply lines with ease. During the next two days, his battle brothers took several districts from the enemy, routing a force of killa kans and other mechanised forces back into the heart of the scrap cities. On the same day, the Rift Wardens pushed back against the Orks.

On the following evening, the Orks attempted to counter attack and poured numerous bodies into the front lines. Boss Snikrot led a force and were able to establish a defence line. Elsewhere the greenskin lines collapsed and fell back into the heart of the scrap cities. Snikrot was the only Ork warboss to remain in the area and he would led a defence for now.

Operation Annihilation: The Second Battle For Orks Drift

 

Points: 1000.

Deployment and Mission: Hammer And Anvil / Fog Of War.

Primary Objective: Terraform.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: War Horde.

The second battle of Orks Drift took place over three days, during the Imperial operation designated Annihilation. It is notable for being the first occasion in which the Astartes and the Orks fought major tank battles against each other. It was the biggest and most successful tank action of the Orks during the entire Vigilus crusade.

A counter-attack by two huge mobs of boyz led by Ghazkul Thrakka attacked the Rift Wardens by night and they forced the space marines out of the area. Ghazkul's presence was crucial in pushing back the space marines with the greenskins fortifying the former Astartes positions.

The Second Battle of Ashen Fields - Antares

Points: 1000.

Deployment and Mission: Crucible Of Battle / Smoke And Mirrors.

Primary Objective: Burden Of Trust.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Shield Host.

As the Rift Wardens pushed forward along the trade route from Kastlehall, the Custodes started building trenches, and bringing in tanks to form a defensive line some kilometers from the first battle. During this time, the Rift Wardens captured several strong points overlooking the Custodes lines. The offensive against the Custodes launched just days later. The main force commanded by Captain Oberon took the trade route and cut the Custodes reinforcements, and led the assault against the enemy defenses. After a grueling battle, the Rift Wardens smashed through the Custodes and captured their defences by nightfall. All of this occurred with hardly any resistance, It's unknown why the attack took the Custodes by surprise, as they could see the Rift Wardens approaching.

Operation: Skyfall - St Keeler's Rest

Points: 1000.

Deployment and Mission: Tipping Point / Rapid Escalation.

Primary Objective: Scorched Earth.

Detachment: Gladius Task Force.

Opponents Detachment: Bringers Of Flame.

Following the conclusion of the Vigilus Cruasade, the Rift Wardens departed back into Imperial space looking for their next war zone. Arthurus was furious over the events at the dawn of the war where the Sororitas attacked them and that fury grew until he ordered his forces to change course to follow the Sororitas back to their shrine world. The plan would be to launch a surprise drop assault and eradicate their forces in revenge. It did not go well.

Despite the initial orbital assault, which won the Rift Wardens some small victories, their forces were quickly overrun by Sororitas forces under the surprise command of Morvenn Vahl. The relative quick pace of the Sororitas counter-attack was due to limited forces available initially for the chapter on the ground. By the end of the first few days of fighting, the Sororitas had shown a strong devotion to defending their world and the Rift Wardens needed to alter their strategies if victory was to be assured.

Second Battle of Arnmort Gate - Mortwald

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Sweeping Engagement / Prepared Positions.

Primary Objective: Terraform.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Veterans Of The Long War.

The second battle of Arnmort Gate was fought over two days by Abaddon and his Black Legion against the Rift Warden defenders. Together with two other attacks on the wall, it was one of three battles breaching the walls of Mortwald. The Black Legion breached the walls despite the Rift Wardens opposition under captain Lorgraine. Abaddon had his own plans for Mortwald and planned to conquer the outer districts as quickly as possible. 

Further Black Legion reinforcements arrived by drop pod and the Arnort Gate district fell to their control eight days later. The Rift Wardens did not have defensive lines or barricades so resorted to brutal close quarters fighting within the abandoned hab blocks. Slowly, they forced the space marines out and into the heart of the hive.

The Battle of Ashen Fields - Antares

Points: 2000.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn Of War / Minefields

Primary Objective: Priority Targets.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Shield Host.

The battle of Ashen Fields was fought over several days in the wastelands beyond the walls of Kastlehall, between the Rift Wardens and the Custodes. For most of the battle both sides occupied trenches along the trade route out of the hive. The battle ended with the Rift Wardens forced to withdraw back behind the walls of Kastlehall, awaiting the next attack from the Custodes.

Flames of War - Antares

Points: 2500.

Deployment and Mission: Dawn Of War / Delayed Reserves.

Primary Objective: Vital Ground.

Detachment: Anvil Siege Force.

Opponents Detachment: Auric Champions.

This was an engagement fought on the outskirts of Kastlehall. It involved a Custodes force, led by Valoris, and a small Inquisitorial force, led by Inquisitor Greyfax, attacking the Rift Warden defences, and resulted in the capture of several key positions. The Rift Wardens under captain Lorgraine, had been sent south of Kastlehall to help step the tide of the Custodes offensive against the space marine positions. The main Custodes concentrated their assault on the route between Kastlehall and Hive Gothos. 

Their attack at the boundary of the Rift Wardens defences, overwhelmed the space marine front line troops and captured some support trenches. A counter-attack in the late of the day wrested the initiative from the Custodes and their attack petered out, leaving the Rift Wardens still in position of most of the high ground around Kastlehall.